Until that day, only Toby knew. It was somewhere during the third or fourth inaugural ball – CJ couldn't quite bring herself to remember which. At any rate, she'd just had a call from her father and he'd been having another spell. He'd called her originally to re-convince her of writing a forward to his book, and somewhere the conversation had lapsed. He'd thought he was talking to her mother. Needless to say, the experience had left CJ sitting in the lobby of the hotel trying to keep tears at bay until she could regain her composure and head back to the party.

"Claudia Jean" the first lady's voice echoed from the top of the stairs. CJ turned to look up at her, a wan smile passing across her face as Abbey proceeded towards her. "Whatever are you doing out here all alone?"

"I was speaking with my father." CJ murmured quietly, tears threatening again. Abbey noticed, and frowned.

"Hmm…I was going to invite the girls up to the room for some wine, but perhaps it should just be you and me."

CJ nodded her assent and allowed the first lady to pull her to her feet, following her absently towards the elevator.

They sat in silence while waiting for room service to deliver the wine, CJ lost in thought and Abbey observing her carefully, a slight crinkle in her brow as she tried to think what could be troubling the woman she had come to think of as one of her only friends in Washington.

Once the wine had arrived and they each had a glass in hand, she decided to broach the subject. "Is he alright?" she probed gently. CJ simply shook her head.

"No." she replied, her voice cracking. "And he won't let me help him." Tears gently worked their way from her eyes, making trails down her cheeks. She brushed them away roughly. "He needs to be taken care of."

Abbey ventured a guess. "What's his diagnosis?"

"Alzheimer's." CJ took a large gulp of wine, her shoulders shuddering a little and then calming. Abbey moved to share the couch with her, putting a gentle hand on CJ's back and rubbing slowly.

"I'm sorry." There wasn't really anything else to say.

Two and a half bottles of wine later, the story had worked its way out. The two women were curled up together on the couch, shoeless, still in their ball gowns, and in much higher spirits. They were telling stories, which was always a way to make one laugh, with the people they knew.

Abbey had just finished relating a story involving the president, Zoe, and a petting zoo which had left the two in stitches.

"We should probably get back." CJ pointed out reluctantly, starting to get to her feet, and failing miserably in her drunken state.

"No-one's come looking for us." Abbey objected poignantly, "and besides, as you have just illustrated, we're rather drunk, and would probably just be a cause for embarrassment. Let's stay here. I'm having fun."

"True enough." CJ conceded happily. Who was she to argue with the first lady? She split the remaining wine between them and leaned back. "Where were we?"

"I just finished the story about my husband and the llama." Abbey straightened up. "But let's move on." She eyed CJ scrutinously. "Claudia Jean,"

"Yes ma'am?" CJ was rather worried by the glint in Abbey's eye.

"Well, for starters, don't call me ma'am. Call me Abbey."

"Yes m…Abbey."

"Good. Now. Why aren't you seeing any one?" Abbey fired off.

"I…" CJ had no response.

"You're a beautiful, talented, well-spoken woman. You're on the senior staff of the White House. Why the hell aren't you dating anyone?" Abbey glared at her accusingly.

"Er…"

"Precisely my point." Abbey smiled widely, leaning forward to brush CJ's hair out of her face. "Just because you're a busy woman doesn't mean you can't have a life. Look at me!"

CJ winced. "Abbey?" she ventured "No offence, but your private life only exists between the hours of 2 and 5 am. And even then only occasionally."

The first lady sighed and leaned her head on CJ's shoulder, looking up at her wistfully. "You're right." She said glumly, playing with the stem of her now-empty wineglass. "It does. And for four more years, too."

CJ petted the woman's hair absently. "It's not so bad," she pointed out, "at least you know he loves you."

"Yeah." Abbey murmured comfortably. "He does."

CJ giggled suddenly. "Look at us. Two of the country's most successful women, lying drunk on a couch in a hotel room" She smiled down at Abbey. "Silly, isn't it?"

"Sounds rather naughty to me" Abbey said wryly.

CJ frowned. "Oh. Yes, I suppose."

"Don't be a prude, Claudia Jean."

"I'm not a prude!" CJ exclaimed in self-defence. She frowned again. "Abbey, why do you always call me Claudia Jean? No-one else does, except my father."

"It's your name, isn't it?" Abbey poked her in the ribs from her position curled against CJ's side, her head still resting comfortably on the slender shoulder. "Would you rather I didn't?"

"No, its fine." CJ surprised herself with the response. Somehow it was okay, coming from Abbey. She just made it sound so natural and not hick-townish at all. "I was just interested." She repositioned the pillows to her side so she could lie against the arm of the couch and started petting Abbey's hair again. Abbey yawned.

"I'm exhausted." She mumbled against CJ's side, wrapping her arm around her slim waist.

"Me too." CJ admitted. "And extremely drunk."

"We could take a little nap, couldn't we?" the first lady asked quietly. "No-one seems to be looking for us."

"Yeah." CJ whispered back, already half asleep, her hand resting lightly in Abbey's hair.

"Good." Abbey turned a little so she could wrap her arm more comfortably around CJ's waist.

The president found them there later, curled up together like to little girls, and smiled to see his wife had found a friend in CJ Cregg. Whistling to himself, he decided to leave the two women asleep on the couch, and took the king-size bed for himself. He saw no reason to wake them.

CJ woke groggily the next morning, confused to find herself still in her dress from the night before, and with a large crick in her neck due to her choice of sleeping positions. Not to mention a rather large hangover. As she relocated into a sitting position, Abbey woke up too, looking up at her sleepily. "Hey, there."

"Hey to you too," CJ smiled. "I guess we fell asleep."

"I guess so." Abbey pulled herself upright. "I'm ridiculously hung over."

"Me too." CJ stretched, like a cat, and was surprised to see Abbey watching her, almost hungrily. "Where's the president?" She questioned, to cover her confusion.

Abbey gestured to the bed. "Fast asleep."

"Okay. Well, I think I need a shower." CJ rose unsteadily.

"I do too." Abbey looked up at her slyly. "Want to order in breakfast to your room?"

CJ smiled. Breakfast sounded good. "Alright."

"I'll meet you there in half an hour."

Abbey stood and proceeded into the bathroom while CJ made her exit.