Title: With a Little Help from my Friends
Disclaimer: The awesome and totally incredible CJ Cregg does not
belong to me, nor do the others. Please don't sue, I'm a very poor
college student. Also, I know that this was the title of and ER
episode, but I thought that it fit this perfectly.
Rating: PG-13 (I think—for now anyway)
Pairing: CJ/Jed/Abbey—Friendship CJ/Bruno romance?
A/N: This is definitely AU. I don't know when CJ's mom actually died,
so…..
Also, since I am a International Affairs and Political Studies major,
I know that it would not be possible for the actual president to do
some of the things that Jed and Abbey do.
CJ Cregg looked at the 4th test. It was positive just like the other
three. "Oh my god, what am I going to do?" She wailed as she slid
down the wall to the tile floor of her bathroom and buried her head
in her hands. "Pregnant! I'm pregnant!" she sobbed. She thought back
to the past months and her affair (If one could even call it that)
with Bruno Gianelli. All it was, was sex. It had started on airforce
one 8 months ago, when they were both wound up and yelling at each
other. Since then, they slept together at least 2 times a week. That
is they slept together until about 3 weeks ago. Bruno wasn't around,
and when he was, he always seemed to be busy. CJ thought his neglect
didn't hurt that much, after all, it was just sex, wasn't it?
CJ wished that she could call her dad, but being as he had
alzheimers, and couldn't always remember her anyway, she decided not
to. She obviously couldn't call her older brothers either. It was
times like these in her life when she found herself wishing that her
mother hadn't died when she was 15. Just then, a totally random
thought popped into CJ's head. "The president has always looked on me
as a daughter, I wonder if he would be willing to listen?" She
picked herself up off of the floor, threw all the tests and their
wrappers into the trash and made her way into the living room. She
paced back and forth and stared at the cordless phone on the coffee
table. Having finally worked up the nerve to actually pick up the
phone and call the president, some 10 minutes later, she glanced up
at the clock and noticed that it was 11:30pm. "How did it get so late
already?" she wondered. "Well, it is a Friday night, perhaps he's
still up. I hope." CJ dialed the number to the president and first
lady's private line, and waited anxiously for the president to pick
up.
"Whoever it is must really want to die painfully!" growled
Jed Bartlet as he picked up the phone.CJ's voice caught as she began
to speak. "Sss..sir, it's CJ, I'm sorry to bother you, but….." she
trailed off. "BUT WHAT CLAUDIA JEAN!" Jed roared "DO YOU REALIZE THAT
THIS IS THE FIRST NIGHT IN WEEKS, THAT I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO
SLEEP IN THE SAME BED AS MY WIFE LET ALONE GET SOME SLEEP? WHAT IS
IT!" "Never mind sir!" CJ sobbed "I was stupid to think you
would care enough to want to listen in the first place!" CJ slammed
down the phone and collapsed onto her couch sobbing.
"No, CJ wait!" Jed replied, but all he got was a dial
tone. "Damnit!" he swore loudly, causing Abbey to jump. "What's
wrong Jed?" she asked. "CJ just called here crying her eyes out, and
I yelled and she cried even harder and said that she was stupid
enough to think that she could call and I would actually care enough
about her to want to listen to her." He finished all in one
breath. "My god Jed! CJ never calls this line, not to mention that
I know for a fact, that CJ rarely, if ever cries!" Abbey shouted as
she jumped out of bed. "Come on Jed, get dressed!" she commanded.
Jed gave her a confused look "W..Where are we going
sweetknees?" "We, and I do stress the WE here, are going to CJ's
house, obviously she's in some kind of trouble. Tell Ron to get the
car ready!"
Needless to say, Ron was not pleased, but Abbey's tone
brooked no argument, and less than 20 minutes later, they were
pulling up outside of CJ's condo. As was customary, the agents had to
do their security check of the premises, the only problem, was CJ
wouldn't let them in. "Go away and leave me alone!" she
screamed. "CJ, it's Ron Butterfield, can you let me in?" "NO!
What did he dispatch you to listen to crazy CJ? He probably figured
that you would be able to handle a crying woman! Well guess what? You
can go back and tell him that I QUIT! I can't stand being treated
like crap because I'm the only girl in the boys club!"
Why couldn't anyone understand? She knew, somewhere in the back of
her mind, that there were hormones involved somewhere here, and that
she was totally being irrational, but at the same time the rest of
her brain was telling her that she was being totally rational.
As CJ was inside, crying for herself, her future, the baby
she was carrying, and over the realization, that she actually had
fallen in love with Bruno, but that he obviously had moved on, Ron,
Abbey and Jed were deep in discussion. "Mr. President, I cannot
justify you going in there without a proper security check." Ron
stated "What about me, can I try?" asked Abbey. "Well.." said
Ron. "I'm not totally ok with it, but sure go ahead." Tentatively
Abbey knocked on the door. "CJ, sweetie? I know that my husband was a
jackass, but I also know that you need a friend and some serious girl
talk. Ron needs to do the security sweep for me though, can you
please let him in?" "CJ could be heard shuffling around, and then
she opened the door and placed a fake smile on her face. "Why sure
Ron, come right in." she stated. Upon confirming that the premises
were indeed safe for liberty' and spitfire', Jed and Abbey were
allowed to come in. They were both shocked by CJ's appearance. Hair
disheveled, makeup streaked because of the tears streaming down her
face, and dressed in pale pink satin pajamas with a matching kimono
over the whole ensemble. CJ never looked like this, not to mention
she hated pink. Even when sick, she always looked like a sleek,
sophisticated professional who had it all together. Upon seeing
Abbey, CJ burst into tears again and sank back down onto her
couch. "My god CJ, what's wrong?" Abbey exclaimed as she rushed over
to her.
"Abbey, I…I…I'm pregnant!" she started crying again. "And"
Abbey prompted. "And I just realized that I love him, but he doesn't
want me anymore! It started on airforce one 8 months ago, and all it
was, was sex, but now he won't look at me, he won't talk to me, he's
traded me in for a younger, skinner blonde with a larger chest or
something!" It was at this moment that Jed decided to speak up. "Um
CJ? Can I ask two things?" "yeah" " Why did you call me, and why
were you having sex on my airplane?" he questioned. "Because I can't
call my father! He can't even remember who I am half of the time! My
mother died when I was 15, and I can't exactly call my older brothers
up and tell them and I have no idea in hell, why I had sex on your
plane!" That's all it took to break Jed's heart. He had always
looked upon CJ as one of his daughters, and the fact that she had
turned to him as the father figure she needed in this time of crisis
moved and deeply honored him as much as her tears broke his heart.
Without a word, he walked over to CJ and gathered her in his
arms. "Shhhh it's alright Claudia, I've got you. I'm so sorry I
yelled. I do care, CJ. To me, you are one of my daughters, even if it
isn't biologically, and when you cry, it breaks my heart. Who did
this to you my CJ, who used you just for sex and then left you when
he got bored? I'll send the marines in after him." "It…it…was
Bruno." She replied "Gianelli?" questioned Abbey. "Uh-huh" hiccuped
CJ, starting a brand new wave of tears.
CJ cried herself to sleep on Jed's shoulder. Abbey helped Jed
tuck her into bed, before going into the kitchen to make some tea.
Jed joined her a few minutes later. "Wow. I've never seen her like
that. It just breaks my heart, that she's in that much turmoil."
Stated Jed. Abbey just sighed. Being the liberated and enlightened
woman that CJ was, Abbey was surprised that CJ would let any man
treat her like a sex object. Still, she reasoned with herself, maybe
CJ saw Bruno as a chance to have somewhat of a personal
life. "Well," she responded, "she needs people who love her and who
will love her baby around her right now, and as much as she may not
agree, she needs to be taken care of. Our CJ is gonna have a baby
Jed, and while I wish she had Bruno's love, it doesn't change the
fact that she needs to see a doctor and she needs to rest and then
get on with life. She's gonna make a wonderful mother. That is gonna
be one lucky kid."
CJ slept through the night and awoke somewhat refreshed the
next morning. She was so glad that it was Saturday and that she
wouldn't really have to go in until Monday. As she turned on the
shower she caught sight of the pregnancy tests in the trash can. She
climbed in the shower and put her hands on her stomach as she let the
hot water stream over her. She may have lost Bruno's love, but she
would always have the love of her baby and her friends. The more she
thought about it, the more she got excited. "A baby! I'm gonna
finally be a mom! I'm so excited!" She finished her shower and padded
back across her bedroom for some comfy pants and her Notre Dame
hoodie ( She had Carol order her one just in case she ever got into
trouble with the president on that subject again), then she brushed
her hair and teeth and put her contacts in. On her way to the kitchen
for some tea and food, she happened to look into the guestroom as she
passed by and found Jed and Abbey sound asleep on top of the covers.
Oh wow! They stayed all last night? The president and first lady
gave up their night to spend it with me. That is just….wow. Well, I
might as well make breakfast. CJ smiled to herself as she started
making toast, eggs, tea and coffee. Everyone in the west wing thought
that CJ couldn't cook. Unbeknownst to all of them, she was actually
an excellent cook.
Abbey and Jed woke to the delicious smell of eggs and coffee
floating towards the guestroom from the kitchen. "MMM hot pants that
smells so good!" exclaimed Jed "Well, don't look at me, I didn't
sneak out of bed to make you breakfast." Retorted Abbey. Jed's
response was to climb out of bed and head towards the kitchen. Abbey
was quick to follow.
"CJ, you didn't have to make us breakfast, you should be
sleeping." Said Abbey. "Yeah, what she said. Whoa, wait a minute,
you can actually cook?" asked a surprised Jed. CJ giggled as she
turned around with a bowl of fluffy, scrambled eggs in her hand. "Of
course I can. I just don't want the guys to know, cause then they
would bother me all the time to cook for them. I can also sing,
crochet, and communicate in two different languages, not to mention
the fact, that I'm an excellent swimmer." "Whoa" said Jed "Why
didn't you ever tell any of us and by the way, that is an excellent
shirt." "Why should you need to know Mr. President? What would you do
with the information? I thought you'd like that. I had Carol order me
one. I actually have a large collection of college hoodies. They are
so comfy!" she said with a smile. "Can I ask you guys something
serious for a second? I was wondering if you would like to be my
baby's godparents." CJ finished nervously. "Oh CJ!" gushed Abbey. "We
would absolutely love to!" CJ let out the breath she didn't
realize she had been holding. "Thanks, and thanks for staying with me
last night. I'm sure you must have had better things to do." Jed
walked across the kitchen to her and gave her a hug and a
kiss. "Claudia Jean, there was no place else, that we would have
rather been than with you." "Thank you sir." She sniffled. The three
of them ate in silence, and Jed loaded the dishwasher while Abbey
settled CJ on the couch with some tea, pillows, a blanket and the
remote control. "Now CJ, I want you to rest. We'll call to check up
on you later." "Ok Abbey, thanks for everything, CJ sighed as she
drifted off to sleep dreaming about her friends and her baby, while
Abbey and Jed silently left.