Title: I Saw You There
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not my characters.
For tww100 challenge 81: REM lyrics. Song used is Leaving New York.
Characters: CJ, Mrs. Landingham, Donna, Ainsley, Abbey
It's quiet now and what it brings is everything
When the shock wears off, the tears come. CJ hates crying, thinks of it as a sign of weakness, refuses to show her pain to the world.
(After all, they were never lovers, so why does it hurt so damn much?)
She pretends she's fine, that it doesn't matter, that everything is okay. Toby sees right through her mask, but for the first time in her life, she won't let him through the walls.
(Maybe she's grieving the loss of what could have been, what should have been.)
A year later, she takes flowers to Arlington, but still doesn't cry.
You don't need me to tell you now that nothing can compare
You think you're the only one who knows this kind of pain? You think you're the only person who's lost someone he cares about? Who's lost a child?
It is not your fault, Jed. You didn't drug her. You didn't fire the gun that killed Molly. You didn't kidnap Zoey.
It's okay to be afraid, you know. You may be the President, but you're still human. You're still a father.
I can't tell you how this will end, but it's not going to be easy. Right now, Abbey needs you. And though you won't admit it, you need her. Go.
You might have succeeded in changing me, I might have been turned around
Donna's fingers hover over the keyboard, her head clouded with second (third, fourth, fifth) thoughts. She takes a deep breath and presses print.
(That was the easy part.)
Re-reading the letter for the hundredth time, she folds it and slips it in an envelope.
(He's not going to like this.)
Donna crosses the bullpen, knocks on the door and enters. He smiles at her, and her resolve falters.
Before she can change her mind, she drops the letter on the desk and flees.
"Donna"
(Don't look at him.)
She keeps walking, and tries not to cry.
And her heart breaks.
It's easier to leave than to be left behind
"It's not that I never fit in. It's just that I—"
"Never fit in"
She laughs, tucks her hair behind her ear, and nods. "Well, yeah. I'm not saying I didn't like working there. Y'all were great. Especially you."
He pulls her closer. "Really."
"Yeah, I think it's because you never really fit in either." He looks offended, so she presses on. "You're an idealist, Sam. You care so much about, well, everything."
"But that's what you love about me."
Relieved he's not mad, she grins, kisses him and says"One of the many reasons. Now, what's for dinner?"
I told you, forever
I love you, forever
I told you, I love you
I love you, forever
Abbey remembers when being First Lady was new and exciting. She knew when she married Jed that life would never be boring, and she was right. What she hadn't counted on was the nights spent apart in different time zones, different countries.
She didn't count on watching Jed's surgery after someone tried to shoot Charlie.
She didn't count on her baby girl being kidnapped.
But she promised to love him forever, and she does, so she holds his hand and smiles for the cameras.
And counts the days until the term's over and she can have her life (husband) back.
