TITLE: 'The Morning After' (2/6)
RATING: R
CHARACTERS: Toby and the gang
SUMMARY: Toby tries to dodge Congressman Wyatt
POV: Toby Ziegler and then the rest of the characters in 3rd view.
TIMEFRAME: Continues from "I'll Take Boarding School for $200 Alex."
***Three***
"Okay now I know you're nuts."
"Toby I am serious."
"Seriously delusional if you think I'm going to believe this shit."
"I realize it might come as a shock but-"
"But what Andi? This I've got to hear. You trying to explain to me why after all of these years you would drop such a horrible bomb on me."
"Horrible? Is that what I was to you?"
"If you weren't then you sure as hell are now," I was fuming. I didn't know whether to scream or strangle her. The idea of being legally married to her and not CJ was just beyond what I could fathom.
I was rubbing my hands on the top of my head, something I do unconsciously when I am upset. I glanced back at Andi. The sight of her was making my skin crawl. "I can't believe you would do such a thing. I can come up with numerous schemes that you would be capable of but never in a million years would I dream this."
"Why Toby, is that a compliment?" She was still sitting behind my desk wearing a sly expression.
"NO!" I screamed as loud as I could.
"Toby relax honey, you'll give yourself an ulcer."
"Don't you dare tell me to relax. Don't you dare tell me to do anything," I shouted.
"Listen Toby, I'm sorry. I know this must come as a shock to you but put yourself in my shoes. You come home after being away so long and you find your spouse not only remarried but with children-"
"Oh spare me the bullshit scenario Andi."
"I am in as much pain as you are Toby, I-"
For some reason I started laughing. "You need help Andi. You seriously need help. What kind of fucking pain could you possibly be in?"
"I am your wife and you are parading around with CJ and her baby and-"
I got right up in Andi's face. I could feel all the blood rush to my face as I snarled, "Let's get one thing perfectly fucking clear. You are NOT my wife, CJ is now, tomorrow and for the rest of my life and that baby, that baby is MINE and CJ's so you better start watching what falls out of that ugly mouth of yours or so help me-"
"What are you going to do Toby? Any move you make will ruin you and your new little happy family."
"You don't get it do you? We are DeeVorSSSSED. Over. Kaput. No more!"
"Well I have papers that say otherwise."
I tilted my head to look at her better. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
She suddenly drew serious. "No Toby I'm not. I love you. I have always loved you. That is why I didn't divorce you, I wanted to wait and see."
"I'm dying to know what after many many years it was that you waited so patiently to see. Come on Andi spit it out. Don't be shy now," I screamed.
"If I really loved you," she blurted.
I lowered my head for a minute and I took in the silence. I was appreciative of the stillness. I exhaled a deep breath. "It took you this long to discover whether or not you loved me?" I asked.
"Don't get me wrong Toby. I have always loved you but-"
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I didn't know how to."
"Bullshit. I have never known you to not know how to say something."
"I didn't expect you to get married again Toby. I thought I would have more time."
"Do you have any idea how much it hurts to know you have not only done this to me but to my wife and child? Do you?" I was yelling and I didn't care who heard me.
Andi didn't respond. "What were you hoping Andrea? That I would be thrilled with your news and we'd go to lunch and then what, maybe catch a movie afterwards? That maybe somehow I would lose my heart and completely forget about my family?"
"I never meant to hurt you Toby but-"
"But what Andrea? Huh? How could you not know that your deception wouldn't hurt me?" I was fighting back the tears. I'll be damned if I shed a tear for her. "You make me sick."
"Toby I just want us to be a family," she started to cry.
"You BITCH!" I turned in the direction of the statement and was surprised to see Sam standing in my doorway.
"Sam," I didn't have the energy anymore.
"How dare you come in here with your lies and deception. I can't believe you of all people could stoop so low. You're a disgrace and I want you out of this office now," Sam directed to Andi.
She looked over at me but I just closed my eyes. I was so grateful for the interruption.
"You can either move that ass of yours out this fucking door now, or I'll have it thrown out. And don't be looking at him for help lady because he's not about to offer you any."
Way to go Sammy. Andrea whispered something about calling me and made a quick getaway. Sam was still standing in the same spot. I could hear him breathing heavily but I didn't make the attempt to turn and look at him. I didn't have the courage to face him.
What felt like forever was only a few minutes before Sam took a seat. I opened my eyes again and whispered, "How did you-?"
He cut me off. "That see through wall we have between us, you remember the one you threatened to throw me out of earlier this morning, well its made of glass. And for future reference glass isn't sound proof."
I smiled as I recalled our earlier conversation. "Sam," I whispered again trying to find my voice.
"Don't explain anything to me Toby. I heard everything and I am so fucking angry-" Sam stopped in mid-sentence. Today's events will have that effect on you.
"What am I going to tell CJ Sam?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing Toby. Atleast not until we can fix this. (pause) I am going to tell Josh. I don't know anyone as vicious as he is and we're going to need that."
I took a seat behind my desk. I felt so tired and so afraid of what was going to happen between CJ and I. It took us a long time to get where we are and I was terrified of having that taken away from us. I couldn't bare living my life without her in it. She and Piper were my world, and right now it was crumbling.
"Listen Toby," Sam sat forward in his seat a bit hunched over. "I need you to get yourself together. I am going to get Josh and we are going to have to talk about this. We need to get on it right away."
I finally broke down when I said, "I'm going to lose my family Sam."
"No you're not," he responded in a comforting tone. "Listen to me Toby. I swear to God I will move heaven and earth to take care of this. You will not lose anything except for the past hour, do you hear me?"
I nodded my response. Sam stood up and placed his hand on mine before he left me all alone to dwell on what had just occurred.
***Four***
Sam returned after an hour. I was still sitting at my desk, the back of the chair in view of Sam.
"Toby, Josh will be here any minute. Is there something I can get for you?" Before I could answer Josh came in.
"Hey guys, what's up? Donna mentioned something about this meeting being urgent or something?"
"Sit down Josh," Sam instructed the Deputy Chief of Staff as he closed the door behind him.
"Okay I know what this is about and let me just say for the record, she had it coming."
"Who had it coming?" I heard Sam ask Josh.
Josh made a chuckle like sound as he responded, "Are you kidding me? You don't know? (pause) Ah man you seriously don't know."
"I will if you tell me," Sam pointed out.
"So we're not all here to discuss my incident with Meaghan Keefe?"
"No Josh we're not," Sam leaned against my desk and crossed his arms. I had just turned around to face them. Josh looked over my way and then back at Sam.
"Okay, what's going on here?"
"That's a good question Josh," I said. I turned more to my right so I could see Sam better who had just removed his ass print from my desk. "I thought you would have told him all of this already?"
"Uh yeah well I couldn't because I had to go out and, and he wasn't here."
Josh stood up. "I can vouch for Sam on that one. I was out to lunch."
"It wouldn't be the first time," I smiled at Josh. The first time since this all happened I had finally smiled.
"We have a problem Josh," Sam spoke up.
"What, what kind of problem?"
"A big, big problem Josh. And we need you."
"Well I'm satisfied with that information. Where do I begin?"
"Sarcasm isn't required Josh. This is serious," Sam explained.
"Yeah well so is beating around the bush Sam. Just tell me what it is. It helps for me to fix things when I have some slight idea as to what they are," Josh argued back.
"Andi was here and she told Toby that they are still married and-"
"Andrea Wyatt?"
Now I spoke up. "Why do people get surprised when the name Andi comes up?"
Josh moved slightly to the left to have what I assumed was a better view of me. "Why would she want to talk to you? There is nothing going on with her department and this one and-(pause) did you just say they're still married?" Josh was now facing Sam who nodded his response.
Josh smiled at Sam and then at me. "What? Am I on some kind of candid camera or something?"
"Do you see a camera Josh?" Sam asked him.
"No, but neither did those suckers on that Jamie X show but trust me my friend they were there," Josh started roaming the room with his eyes.
I stood up from my seat and clasped my hands behind my back. "There are no camera's in here Josh. What Sam told you is true. Andi came here and she thought it best to wait all these years to inform me that my marriage to CJ is illegal because she and I are still married."
"That's bullshit. She's lying!"
"That's what we're hoping Josh," Sam said.
Josh turned back to me. "And she just decides now of all times to tell you? After you've remarried and began a family?"
I lowered my eyes and stared at my feet. "Apparently she was out of town when that memo went out."
"This is ridiculous. There has to be some sort of law against this?"
My eyes darted up to Sam and then to Josh. "Well since you and Sam are both lawyers I thought that maybe you might know."
Josh looked at me with a blank stare. "I-I-I would imagine so." He ran his hands through his hair and glanced at Sam for help. "Sam?"
"Yes it's called FRAUD!" Sam over emphasized the word fraud towards Josh. "What? Were you asleep during those years at Yale Josh?"
Josh went to say something and then thought better of it I presumed. He heaved a deep sigh and addressed his question to Sam. I seemed to be invisible in this event. "What do we do?"
"Well I guess we figure out a way to get this marriage ended for starters."
"Shouldn't we try talking to her first?" Josh suggested.
"I already did," Sam and I said in unison. I glanced at Sam.
"What do you mean you already did?"
"When I couldn't find Josh I went to see Andi."
"YOU WHAT? Are you insane?"
"Toby I-"
"What the hell were you thinking Sam? Jesus-." I covered my left eye with my fingers and held them there for a few seconds while I imagined what happened between Sam and Andi.
"Okay so what did she say Sam?" Josh asked.
"She told me to get the hell away from her or she would have me charged."
"Oh that's just great Sam."
"Toby-" Josh cut Sam off.
"Charged? With what, walking on fraud filled fairy world? No offense Toby but this women is obviously a few fries short of a Happy Meal."
"No offense taken. (pause) Rambo here had it out with Andi earlier. I can only assume she is a tad bitter."
"Rambo?" Josh mouthed while looking confused at the same time.
"I sort of told her to leave," Sam tried explaining.
"No Shit. Good for you Sam, I'm impressed," Josh gave Sam a pat on the back when he walked by him. "Did she by any chance tell you why she came and dropped this bomb on Toby before she intended to lay charges against you?"
"Actually she did."
Sam had my attention. "Well?" I said impatiently.
Sam looked at me with a sad expression. "Toby, she wants Piper."