TITLE: "I'll Take Boarding School for $200 Alex" (1/7)
RATING: A
CHARACTERS: Toby and the gang
SUMMARY: Piper and Toby go head to head
POV: Toby
TIMEFRAME: Continuation from In the Hands of a Stranger
***one***
A week has already gone by since the nightmare and people are still asking me how CJ and I are surviving the ordeal.
Every night I get up to check on Piper, to make sure that she is still in her little pink bedroom. And then once I am satisfied that she is safe, I sit on the floor in her doorway and I thank God for bringing her back to me.
That is how I have been surviving.
For some reason watching her sleep puts me at ease. I feel powerful as long as I have her near me, but how silly is that? The only power I have is what little she allows me to keep.
CJ once complained that Piper had me wrapped around her little pinky and I denied the accusation. I was wrong. I was dead wrong.
My Monday morning started out as regular as any other day. CJ and I get up and prepare for work while Piper dawdles around taking her time getting ready.
Once the coffee is sucked back and Piper is dropped off at the daycare with her own secret service agent sitting close by, (CJ is convinced this is a phase. I only hope she set a place for him at the table for Thanksgiving) we then head to our perspective office's do conduct another day's business.
When I got into my office Ginger had already laid out my schedule for me and Sam was waiting outside my door with a fresh cup of hot coffee. Taking the cup from his hand he followed me into my office as I began to settle in.
"What's up Sam?"
"Nothing."
I glanced at Sam. "Nothing doesn't usually bring me coffee Sam. Spill it."
Sam smiled and said, "Josh and Amy broke up."
"That's good."
"Good? Toby that's great news. You know I never did like her."
"So you have pointed out many many times Sam. And for the record, you don't like any girl Josh has ever dated."
"I like Donna."
"Josh never dated Donna."
"I know. But if he should, I already like her."
"Josh will be glad to hear that I'm sure."
"Did you like her?"
"I don't have time to like people Sam, I'm married."
Sam chuckled. "Wouldn't it be great if they got married too?"
"I haven't really given it some thought. Sam?"
"Uh huh."
"Where is all this coming from?"
"All what Toby?"
"This sudden interest in Josh's love life. You've never cared before, and I know I haven't cared before so why now?"
"I'm just happy for him that's all."
"You need to date more Sam."
"I need to date once Toby. Do you know how long it has been since I have had a date with a woman?"
"As opposed to what? You're dates with men?" Sam laughed me off.
"I'm serious Toby. Pretty soon I am going to be the only one single in this environment. Do you know how embarrassing that will be. Oh look, there goes Sam Seaborn. Such a shame that handsome man can't find a wife."
"Handsome Sam? I didn't get the memo on that?"
"I'm really serious Toby."
"I heard you the first time Sam. 84% of the people surrounding you are presently single and as for people discussing you it's not about how shameful it is that you are wifeless Sam, it's more about your sounding pathetic at this very moment."
"Okay then, this was a good idea." Sam was about to leave.
"Sam, why don't you ask Ainsley out?"
"What, like on a date?"
"That was the topic of discussion was it not?"
"I can't ask out Ainsley Hayes."
"Why not? She's single, smart, successful and attractive. I'm sure she's on your level."
"But-"
"But-" I mimicked Sam. "But what?"
"But she scares me."
I laughed and shook my head. "You scare me Sam."
"Yeah but you're not trying to date me. Are you?" He grinned at me.
"There isn't enough Prozac in the world to make me do such a thing my friend."
"Well that's always good to know."
"Sam, get out of my office and do some work."
"Sure, we can continue this later."
"No we can't."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not interesting conversation."
"But it's about me."
"Exactly."
***two***
It was coming close to lunchtime so I packed in my 3rd meeting of the day and made my way to the daycare. My new routine was meeting up with Piper and spending our lunches together. Usually CJ would join us but today she was unavailable so it would just be the two of us. I decided to make use of the outside lawn as our destination.
Piper helped me layout a blanket and then we took out our lunches and began our special time. I wasn't prepared for what was to come.
"Daddy?"
"Yes sweetie," I answered taking a bite out of my tuna on whole wheat.
"Can we have a growd up convistation?"
"That all depends. Are you running away with Justin to get married?" Justin was the little boy that Piper always seemed to be talking about. For a small child he was getting on my nerves and I have only met him twice.
"Don't be silly. I wouldn't run away to get married." That was good to hear. "I'd get married here."
The tuna was trying to come back up. After nearly choking I responded, "I beg your pardon?"
"It's so pretty here," Piper motioned to the private area behind the White House.
"I did tell you that you have to be atleast 50 before you can get married right?" I wanted to clarify things.
"50!" Piper was astounded. "That's almost forever." Close but I can live with that.
I nodded to Piper as I reached for my can of Pepsi. "Yep, that's the law. You have to be 50."
"When did you turn 50?" I almost choked again. What is she trying to do? Off me?
"Piper honey, Daddy is only 45, and with my youthful looks I can still easily pass for 30."
"But you got married."
"I'm special." She accepted my answer and bit into her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"So what is the grown up discussion you want to have?"
"I had to play with Tommy again today," she said sadly.
"What's wrong with Tommy? He's a nice little boy."
"He pulls my hair all the time."
"I'll have him destroyed once lunch is over."
"Really?" she asked excited with the idea.
"No," I answered sullenly. "But I can ask Terri to make him stop. That much I can do."
"Daddy, big peoples can't make little peoples like Tommy stop being mean right?"
"Well, in a way you're right. I can't make Tommy stop pulling your hair but if I beat the crap out of his daddy I betcha that would work."
"Really?" again the excitement. What is with violence that gets this kid worked up?
"No," I said once more.
"Can you stop saying no?"
"Yes," I smiled at Piper and then she swatted me with her dripping sandwich.
"Piper, kids are sometimes cruel and unfortunately that's a part of life. Mommy and Daddy will do our best to make sure that no one ever hurts you but we can't punish children for bad behaviour. As much as we'd like to, and your mother more than me, we just can't. It's against the law."
Piper sighed. "Well then I have made my deshishon."
"About what sweetie?"
"The baby."
"What about the baby? What baby? Our baby?"
"Yep," she answered nodding her head. "It can't come."
***three***
I was halfway into my fifth meeting of the day when my mind wandered back to my conversation with Piper. Up until lunch she had always been so excited over being a big sister and now she didn't want the baby at all. How was I going to bring this up to CJ without her getting hysterical? The tiniest thing can bring out the biggest outburst from her and I don't think I am up to another one of those.
"What do you think Toby?" There was a pause before my name was repeated again.
I brought my attention around slowly to Sam who was waiting on a response. "I'm sorry Sam what did you say?"
"Are you alright Toby?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I tried to smile to show him that all was well.
"Are you sure? Because you haven't been paying attention."
"I have been paying attention Sam, I just didn't hear your last comment." I snapped back.
"Alright then what's your decision regarding page 7?"
I glanced down at the pages in front of me. "I think it's fine," I gave Sam an "are you satisfied look."
"Really. That's funny you would say that Toby considering there is no page 7 and you're still sitting on page 4."
I double checked the page that I had displayed in front of me and realized that Sam was right. My heart just wasn't into this right now. Sam looked at Bruno who was the other member involved in our meeting and asked if he would give us a few minutes alone.
Once Bruno exited the room Sam put his attention back to me. "Toby is there something on your mind?"
"There's always something on my mind Sam. I just drifted of is all. It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal, Toby if it was me you-"
"Well it's not you SAM!" I cut him off by shouting at him.
"Do you want me to get CJ?"
Now that irked me. "No Sam I don't want you to get CJ. If I want CJ I'll get her. Just because I am married to her doesn't mean I am no longer my own person you know."
"You're right. I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
"As a matter of fact there is. You can take this meeting without me." I grabbed my notes and got up and left the room. I stood outside the door for a few seconds until I decided on where I wanted to go next.
I headed to the oval office and met with Charlie. He informed me that the President didn't want to be disturbed but once I explained the situation he immediately went in to speak with Bartlet. It only took seconds before I was granted permission to enter his office.
"Toby, Charlie tells me there are problems with the middle east and the media. What's going on and why are you telling me this?"
"I lied Sir," I said still standing near the entrance.
Bartlet glanced up at me. "Excuse me?"
"I said I lied Sir."
"That's what I thought. Do you want to know what I'm thinking now Toby?"
"Not really Sir."
"Well then I guess you're out of luck because I'm wondering why you would come in here and not only lie to me but to Charlie as well?"
"I have a problem Sir."
"You and me both Mr. Ziegler." Jed Bartlet took a second to relax and then beckoned for me to continue with my reason for being there.
"I had lunch today with Piper Sir and it didn't go very well."
"What, you need some money?"
I laughed at his comment. "No Sir, it wasn't anything like that. I'm doing well in that area with her. She hasn't been able to beat me yet at checkers."
"Well then I want your secrets before you leave this room. I think between Abbey and myself we will have paid for that child's college education."
"She told me something today that has me disturbed and I don't know how to handle it. And I figured-"
"You figured that because I have three daughters that I would be able to help you. Jesus Toby, I can make them and I can pay for them but their problems I send Abbey's way."
"I understand that Mr. President."
"What did she say that upset you?"
"She doesn't want the baby."
Bartlet looked at me to see if I was pulling his leg. When he realized that I wasn't he said, "Well it's a tad bit late for that. What does she want instead, a puppy?"
"A puppy Sir?"
"Well when Ellie was little and Abbey was pregnant with Zoe she didn't want the baby either. She thought it was best if we invested in a new puppy. I'll tell you something though, sometimes I think she was on to something."
"Well luckily Piper doesn't want a puppy."
"Not yet anyways. Give her time. All little girls want a puppy."
"Sir, my little girl wants me to get rid of my baby and Tommy too if I have energy left."
"She what?"
"Yeah apparently Tommy isn't a nice fellow and she doesn't want him sharing her planet. Or something like that." I stopped talking and watched the President laugh at me. "What is it you find amusing Sir?"
"Is she talking about Tommy Baker, John's son?"
"That would be the one."
"Hell, I'm with Piper on that one. That kid stepped on my foot at the Christmas party last year."
"If I recall correctly Sir that was an accident."
"Accident my ass. The little brat was mad because I wouldn't lift him onto my lap."
"Well in his defense Sir, you were playing Santa Claus and that is what he does."
"Yeah well Santa can only sustain so much weight on his knees. Give me a break. Actually that's what he would have given me had I given in to him."
Inside I was laughing at the memory of that time. Little Tommy desperately wanted to sit on Santa's knee and as much as Abbey and Donna pushed for Bartlet to let him, he refused to do so. Afterwards as Santa (Bartlet) was leaving Tommy did deliberately step on his foot.
"What happened with the Ellie situation?"
"What do you think happened? Abbey went into labour and out popped Zoe. It wasn't like we actually considered her proposal Toby if that's what you're asking me?"
"Of course not Sir. It's just, well how do I get her excited about the baby again? How did you and Abbey do it?"
"We didn't, we couldn't. I mean we tried everything but Ellie was stubborn like-"
"You perhaps?"
"No Toby. I was going to say Abbey. She was very devoted to her outrage regarding the baby. She even refused to bathe unless we gave in."
I couldn't help but laugh out loud for that one. "What did you two do?"
"What we could do. We stocked up on air fresheners and every chance we got we sprayed her down with some kind of fragrance. I'll admit it wasn't pretty, and it didn't help Abbey who was pretty much nauseas most of the time because of the smell. Not to mention Elizabeth wouldn't even go near her and started sleeping in our room"
"I don't think Piper is that vindictive Sir. She is only 3."
" In Piper's words she's 3 ½ and let's not forget she isn't just a regular kid. She happens to have your genes so all innocence right there is thrown out the window. Plus, she plays games for money and has a vocabulary that scares even myself." He had a point.
"I haven't told CJ yet."
"Why the hell not?" I looked at Bartlet giving him the obvious expression. "Oh yeah, that's a wise decision I guess. But Toby sooner or later, moods or not you are going to have to tell your wife about this."
"I know. I was just hoping to do it after Piper leaves for college." We both laughed.
"Toby I know you love your daughter and I respect the way that you have grown to be a remarkable father. But you need to remember that YOU are the parent. Not Piper. Remember that because it's the best advice I can give you."
"Is that how you managed in a household of women Sir?"
"No, I remembered that Abbey was the parent and I learned to keep my big mouth shut."
I smiled at the President and excused myself. I felt somewhat better but I was still worried about what was going to come next. It seems like such an irrelevant problem but I have learned that there are no small problems, only large consequences.