"Reconciliation"

Toby was packing up his office for the few weeks he had off between terms when his cell phone rang.

"Toby Ziegler," he said irritated. If this was another student calling to inquire about a grade he was going to scream. The Internet generation wanted everything instantly and Toby wasn't about to have it.

"Toby," Sam said. "Hi."

"Sam?" Toby asked surprised. He sat down in his desk chair.

"Yeah," Sam replied. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Toby said. "I'm packing up my office for a few weeks."

"Summer term over?"

"My classes. Finally."

Sam chuckled. "It sounds like not a moment too soon."

"You'd be right about that," Toby said. "I'm not volunteering for the summer session again."

"You volunteered?" Sam asked shocked.

"They approached me in a moment of weakness," Toby said.

"So are you going on vacation?" Sam asked.

"Am I a vacation kind of guy Sam?"

"No."

"I'm going to visit Andi and the kids for a few weeks," Toby said.

"That'll be nice," Sam said. "It's good you and Andi have such a good relationship."

"Well she did get pregnant after we were divorced. I guess we knew what we were in for," Toby replied.

"Yeah," Sam said unsure of how to approach Toby about why he was calling.

"CJ tells me you're running for Senate," Toby said bringing up the topic for Sam.

"She told you?"

"I assume the big announcement is forthcoming."

"Yeah," Sam said.

"How's Josh feeling about it?"

"He's very supportive," Sam replied.

"He is?" Toby asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Sam said. "He thinks it's the right thing to do."

"Me too," Toby offered.

"Really? Thanks."

"You're the guy Sam," Toby said. "You've got the brains, the looks and the conviction. You're too good to be a bully. That's what people like Josh and I are for."

"You're not bullies," Sam said.

"We know how to get people in line," Toby said.

"Well actually," Sam said sensing an opening. "Since you mentioned it, I was wondering how you'd feel about writing my stump speech?"

There was silence on Toby's end of the phone as he mulled over the question.

"Toby?" Sam asked.

"Yeah?"

"Did you hear me?"

"Yeah."

"What do you think?"

"I think it's a bad idea," Toby admitted.

"I don't," Sam insisted.

"You don't want my name coming up in your campaign," Toby said.

"Toby," Sam said. "Someone once asked me who was my favorite writer and you know who I said? I said you. There's no one who understands cadence and rhythm and words better than you."

"You worked for me Sam," Toby said. "You have talent enough to write it."

"I want you to do it," Sam insisted.

"Yeah well…who's on your team? Who would be crafting your positions?"

"Me and you and one other person," Sam replied.

"Josh?"

"Ainsley Hayes," Sam replied.

"Ainsley Hayes the Republican?" Toby scoffed.

"Yeah."

"And that makes sense to you?"

"The governor of California is Republican," Sam pointed out. "Their state legislature leans Republican right now."

"Yeah, but Sam, I don't know if you've forgotten, but you're a Democrat," Toby replied. "You ideologically oppose everything Ainsley Hayes stands for."

"I don't ideologically oppose everything she stands for," Sam said. "She can be objective and I can be objective."

"You sleeping with her?" Toby asked without a pause for discretion.

"Toby," Sam admonished him.

"That would be the only reason I can think of for her helping you with your positions on things," Toby said forcefully.

"I'm not sleeping with her," Sam said.

"But you want to."

"I don't want to," Sam said feeling his cheeks redden. "Toby--"

"Then what is it Sam? Do you want to lose the election? There is no reasonable explanation for why she'd be helping you."

"Other than she's smart, articulate and already has years of experience working in a Democratic White House?" Sam countered. "Besides, she's not crafting my position. She's going to help me pick up some of more Republican-leaning Independents and liberal Republicans."

"Liberal Republicans are usually called Democrats Sam," Toby replied trying to understand why Sam would work with Ainsley on something so important as a Senate seat.

"Toby, it's the right thing s to do," Sam said.

"Who else is running your campaign?"

"I'm looking at Simon Whitney," Sam replied. "He ran Owens in the Michigan eleventh a few years ago. He got the win."

"He's good," Toby. "You know who'd be better?"

"Josh?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"Yeah," Sam replied. "He's kind of busy running the White House."

"I heard Santos ran the White House," Toby said. Between the rumors that floated around town and the conversations Toby had with Josh, he figured that Josh was running the White House in title only.

"Yeah, well, he's tied up," Sam said.

"So I'm right about Santos?"

"President Santos," Sam reminded him.

"Am I?"

Sam sighed. "You're not right, but you're not far from the truth."

"What does that even mean?"

Just as Toby asked the question he heard his call waiting beep in his ear.

"Sam, hold on a minute okay?" he asked. Without checking the caller ID Toby clicked over to the other line. "Hello?"

"Toby," a familiar said. It took Toby a moment to realize who was on the other end. His hesitation resulted in a stunned silence.

"Toby, are you there?"

"Uh, yes Mr. President," Toby replied. "Can I put you on hold for a just a minute?"

"Sure," Jed replied.

Toby quickly pressed a button on his cell phone and abruptly ended his conversation with Sam with the promise that he would call him back later.

"Sorry sir," Toby said when he clicked back over to the line of the former president.

"It's okay," Jed replied. "I wasn't interrupting anything important was I?"

"I was talking to Sam sir," Toby said. Though it had been years, the verbal courtesies and respects had not been forgotten between Toby and Jed. Unlike CJ and Danny, Jed didn't insist on an informal tone between them.

"I heard Sam is running for Senate," Jed replied.

"Yes," Toby said. "He is."

"He wants you to write his speech?" Jed asked.

"Yes," Toby said surprised. "How did you know that?"

"Just a hunch," Jed replied. "Sam called me the other day to get some advice. I told him to get the best speechwriter he could find. He needs to get his campaign off on the right foot."

"Yes, sir, he does," Toby replied still flabbergasted that he was talking to his former boss.

"I was implying that I told Sam he should get you Toby," Jed reminded him.

"I understand that, sir and I appreciate it." Toby's voice was quiet and his words were carefully measured.

"Look," Jed sighed. "Obviously small talk isn't what we do. I wanted to call…I'm calling because its time Toby."

"Its time, sir?"

"Its time that we put everything behind us," Jed said. "Abbey has told me, CJ's on my case, Danny's got this theory…its just time."

"Okay sir," Toby said. He stood up and paced back and forth a few times.

"The day the shuttle had problems, you came to my office," Jed said. "Do you remember that?"

"Of course."

"I was agitated and you asked me what was wrong," Jed refreshed his memory. "I told you about the shuttle and CJ's position on the matter. I told you I didn't know what I should do. Do you remember what you suggested?"

"I suggested that you should save the astronauts," Toby recalled.

"Yes. Do you remember how?"

"I said it was a shame that the public was in the dark about the military shuttle. If they knew it would be easier for you to use it."

"What did I say?"

"Sir?"

"I honestly don't remember how I responded," Jed replied. "I've tried to recall but it's a blur. Those months were a mess and the MS was a problem and I literally don't remember how I responded to you."

"You nodded sir," Toby said.

"I didn't say anything?"

"You said yes and you nodded."

"And you took that as the signal," Jed said.

"Sir?"

"You read it as a signal and then CJ told Greg Brock to see you about the shuttle and you talked to him thinking I wanted you to," Jed said.

"No," Toby said.

"Toby it makes sense," Jed replied.

"Sir, my brother has died not long before that and I had a lot of conflicting feelings about NASA and the government's response to his condition before he died," Toby explained.

"But you told Greg because you thought I wanted you to," Jed repeated himself.

"Sir--"

"Damn it Toby!" he exclaimed. "Just tell me the truth."

"I wanted to tell him sir," Toby said. "I wanted the astronauts to get home safely. I also…I suppose a small part of me thought that I was doing what you wanted."

"You were protecting me," Jed said.

"Yes sir," Toby replied.

"Because I violated code word clearance by even telling you," Jed said.

"Yes sir."

"Because you thought I was giving you a signal."

"Not entirely, but yes," Toby said.

There was silence on the line and neither man spoke. Toby sighed audibly and sat back down in his chair. His heart was beating so quickly that he was certain it could be heard over the phone, possibly in New Jersey. This was unexpected. He hadn't ever counted on getting a call from Jed Bartlet to discuss what happened years ago. He was perfectly content to live with his indignation and self-pity and now he wasn't sure what to do next.

"I wanted to tell Greg Brock about the military shuttle," Toby offered. "It was more about my brother than anything else."

"But it wasn't all about your brother," Jed replied.

"No."

"I suppose its time that I give you that apology," Jed said.

"Sir--"

"No," Jed cut him off in mid-sentence. "I don't know about you, but this has been weighing on me for the better part of two years. I'm sorry if you thought I wanted you to leak the information about the shuttle. I should have been more direct. I know that, but with Leo on the campaign trail, CJ giving me those disapproving looks and Zoey's…I fell back to the signals, like a crutch. I shouldn't have expected you to be a mind-reader."

"You didn't," Toby replied.

"Obviously you didn't see it that way."

"We all do things we're not proud of sir," Toby offered. "I can't say I felt relieved when I was talking to Greg. I was trying, in my own way, to make the pain stop. I was trying to please you and make the pain stop."

"Did it?"

"No."

Now it was Jed's turn to sigh. He tapped his cane on the floor a few times and shook his head.

"Do you still write my obituary in your mind?" Jed asked finally.

"That seems a little dark sir," Toby replied with a small grin spreading across his lips.

"Which seems right up your alley," Jed replied with an equal smirk. "Do you?"

"No, sir."

"If you had to, would you say that my better angels finally lost the fight?"

"Sir?"

"All those years ago you told me--"

"I remember what I said," Toby cut him off. "And no. I don't."

"You never liked me much," Jed said.

"That's not true," Toby said quietly. "I was just always waiting for you to become the leader I knew you could be."

"I'm sure I disappointed you."

"Sometimes," Toby replied. "I sure you felt the same way about me."

"Sometimes," Jed replied.

Both were silent again. Jed didn't know how to proceed and Toby wasn't sure what more to expect. He surely didn't expect the phone call in the first place.

"Anyway," Jed said looking to wrap up the conversation. "I think you should write Sam's speech."

"I'm thinking it over," Toby replied.

"I think you should also come to New Hampshire next May," Jed said hesitantly.

"Mr. President?"

"My library is opening and you should be there," Jed said.

"Mr. President," Toby said. "I really don't think it would be appropriate."

"Screw appropriate," Jed replied. "I want you there. Your words are plastered all over the damn thing. You should come."

"I'm…I don't know how to respond to this sir," Toby said.

"I will consider rendering you a speechless a good thing," Jed said. "It's time we move on now Toby."

"Are you sure about this?" Toby asked.

After a pause Jed replied, "Yes. At least think about it."

"I will sir," Toby said. "I also want to tell you how truly sorry I am for causing you to feel betrayed."

"But you're not sorry you did it," Jed said knowingly.

"No sir, I'm not."

"That's the Toby Ziegler I know and that's the Toby Ziegler I'm inviting to the library opening," Jed replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, my grandson has just come in the door."

"Yes sir," Toby said. "Thank you, sir."

"Goodbye Toby," Jed said as he hung up the phone.

Toby pressed a button on his phone to disconnect the call and stared at it for a moment. He sat in shock and disbelief. It was the last call in the world he expected to receive from the last person in the world he expected to call first.

Toby shook his head and let out a forced chuckle. He looked at the phone in his hand and dialed Sam's number.

"Hello?"

"Sam," Toby said. "I'll write your speech."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I can't talk now, but I'll come down from Maryland before the end of the month and we'll talk."

"Okay," Sam said surprised.

"Good," Toby replied before abruptly hanging up the phone.

Somehow Toby felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. Although he was Jewish he had received the absolution he didn't realize he wanted. It was almost as if he felt his sin washed away with the words of one man. He continued packing away a few things and made a mental note to send CJ an e-mail thanking her for whatever it was that she said to the former commander-in-chief.

TBC