Josh knew the best thing to do was just get it over and done with. He had to be a team player on this. Truthfully he'd rather walk on glass. He figured his moodiness came from several factors- he was here without a date, he had pissed off a Congressman, and he was being persuaded to dance with a woman he had little love for while her father, who was also his boss, watched on warily.
"Joshua," C.J taunted him in a singsong voice as she leaned slightly to put herself more level with him. "Are you asking her or not?"
Charlie was grinning from ear to ear, confident that he had a win. He had bet on the dance happening, more than that he had specifically bet on Josh and Cadence agreeing to dance.
Initially, Zoey had been cross with her boyfriend for betting on her friend until she learned that Cadence had offered up ten dollars for C.J dancing with Gavin and that Mallory had made a twenty dollar wager on all of the chosen participants betting. Now Zoey was as invested in the outcome as Charlie, although she was forbidden from making a financial contribution.
Toby, who had put down thirty dollars for Cadence and Josh to dance, had called it unethical for a minor to gamble.
C.J pointing out that it was unethical for anyone to gamble in the White House, had been promptly silenced when Danny had disclosed her wager. C.J had bet against Josh and Cadence dancing.
"Remember C.J you're not allowed to influence your bet," Danny chided her.
C.J gave the reporter an innocent look. "I'm not, it's an innocent question and we will be here all night if he doesn't make a decision."
The redhead whirled round to face Josh again. "Of course there's no pressure," she said sweetly with a grin.
"Jackal," Josh scorned her as he smiled sardonically back.
Her grin widened as she shook her head. "Not tonight," she retorted.
"I didn't meant that, never mind," Josh trailed off quickly. He knew C.J had understood his meaning.
Josh glanced past her to Danny. The reporter was smiling, which was nothing new for him as he was generally a laid back, pleasant, charming man but tonight he seemed to ooze with merriment. Although he was here on official business like the rest of them he seemed relaxed, enjoying the atmosphere rather than working the scene.
Josh wondered darkly if Danny had come to know about his quarrel with Senator Rosencroft yet. It had been a little more public than Josh had expected as the senator was one of those irritating people who felt that raising his voice was the best way to convey his anger. Josh had banked on the senator not wanting to make a scene at a public function and he had been wrong.
Josh swallowed down a sigh as he turned his gaze forward. He caught a flash of purple out of the corner of his eye and gave a small smile. It was Donna. At work her attire was typical for an office worker on a budget and her makeup was minimal giving her a somewhat ordinary appearance. At least in Josh's opinion but now he wondered if it was just because he was so used to her presence that he had let her slip into the ordinary. Tonight she was stunning. Her normally straight blonde hair was curled up into loose locks, and her make up was a subtle smokey drawing attention to her eyes. Josh had never really noticed until tonight how Donna's eyes could gleam with a certain suggestion of allure.
Donna didn't even notice Josh's curious gaze. She was engaged with talking to a member of Prince Giovanni Amalfitano's entourage.
The Deputy Chief of Staff forced himself to look past Donna and keep searching until he spied Cadence McGarry. She was standing talking to Gavin and Jeremy. Josh didn't like that there was going to be close witnesses for this but he figured he was better getting it over and done with. Judging from the looks Gavin and Jeremy were giving Josh and C.J he figured they were having a similar conversation.
Josh raised a finger in question as he glanced to Charlie. "What are the terms here anyway? Are we all dancing to the same song?"
Charlie smiled and nodded. "Yes, we thought that would be photogenic."
"Photogenic," Josh repeated. He gave Charlie an accusatory stare. "You mean you want a memory of it."
"It would be nice," Charlie admitted.
"Right. Charlie, when you next need a favour don't ask me," Josh retorted.
Josh sucked in a breath before striding forward, feeling a little like the condemned man venturing over the Berlin wall as he crossed from the President's party to the Vice President's. He wondered how it was that the White House had turned into high school.
Cadence gave Josh a wide, shit eating grin that let him know straight away she wasn't going to make this easy.
"Good evening Josh," she greeted brightly.
"Evening," he retorted with a more subdued cheer.
Josh glanced from Cadence to Gavin and Jeremy, hoping they would leave. Gavin was grinning back cockily, eager to watch the show whilst Jeremy looked a little sympathetic. Josh held Jeremy's gaze for a tad longer than intended. Jeremy was meant to dance with Donna if all went to plan, which Josh hoped would prove difficult for him now that she was chatting up a handsome European nobleman.
"How can we help you?" Cadence queried eagerly as she folded her arms and looked at Josh expectantly.
"Um well," Josh began awkwardly. He shook off the uneasy shadows of his youth and pressed a hand to his brow. He was tired and he didn't want to play the game. "Yeah forget it," he grumbled. "It's been a long night."
"For me it's been a long month," Cadence countered.
Her grey-blue gaze softened and she relaxed her stance slightly. "Tell you what Josh, ask me the question, don't make me ask and maybe I can make the roses smell sweet again."
Josh gave a quizzical look as he pondered her odd statement. He realised what she had to be referring to. "Word spreads fast," he said dryly.
"I'd say what have you got to lose but I think that's a bill on women's rights in the workplace," Cadence responded. "One the President is keen to pass because the First Lady is keen on it," she reminded him.
Josh gave an angry sigh as he waved his palms at Cadence to silence her. "Alright, alright," he said angrily. "Would you dance with me?" he snapped out the question.
Cadence clapped a hand to her chest and answered with a mock Southern accent. "Why Joshua Lyman I thought you'd neva ask!"
Jeremy let out a low chuckle at this before raising a hand to his mouth as he tried to hide it.
Josh gave Cadence a biting smile. "Yes well, they always say better to face your demons and a dance with the devil has got to cover that," he grumbled.
Cadence raised her hand to her mouth to feign a yawn. "You've got to come up with better insults than devil and demon," she scolded him. "Why not try Shakespeare or something? 'I do desire we may be better strangers', now that's clever!"
"I'll save my wit for better adversaries," Josh retorted smugly.
Cadence frowned at this and folded her arms again. "When do we do this?" she queried with a hint of annoyance.
Josh gave a shrug and glanced over to C.J and Charlie. "They want us all to dance at the same time if it's happening. I mean I don't really care, the night isn't getting better so it may as well get worse."
Cadence's frown deepened at this. "Really, you upset a senator and it's the end of the world, try some real suffering Josh."
She turned and walked off before he could respond.
Josh watched quietly as she veered back to her table. He felt a small jab of guilt pierce through him and tried to smother it. He certainly didn't want to feel bad for Cadence McGarry. Given all the problems she had caused for them lately where did she get off acting like the only one who had been hurt was her?
Gavin tutted loudly drawing Josh's irate brown gaze upon him. Gavin just grinned back. He looked every inch the wealthy elitist in a designer black tuxedo with a crisp snow white shirt and a waistcoat of black with subtle silver embroidery. The idea of black tie was that the men should have been on a largely equal placing since they couldn't vary too much on their outfits except it never quite worked out that way. Somehow one could tell the difference in the value of the suits and then there were the embellishments- the silk handkerchiefs, waistcoats, cummerbunds, watches, shoes, and rings, they were akin to the feathers of a mating bird, flashy and extravagant to draw the admiration of the fairer sex and put their rivals to shame.
Gavin was good looking enough not to need much help but one couldn't deny that his sharp fashion sense and obvious wealth didn't hurt.
By comparison Jeremy was humbler and plainer which reflected his decidedly quiet, neutral nice guy persona. He should have been the preferred one but his muted neutrality had him slip into Gavin's cocky, commanding shadow all too often this evening.
"C.J has two left feet," Josh blurted out childishly, "and she's wearing some sharp heels so good luck with your toes."
Josh departed with that warning, retreating back to the safety of his own people.
C.J and the others were all waiting where Josh had left them, at once curious for his news.
"She stormed off, so is that a no?" C.J asked hopefully with a grin she couldn't contain.
"She did not storm off," Josh retorted heatedly. "In fact she said yes alright, we're dancing."
"Unlucky C.J," Danny teased.
C.J folded her arms and shook her head. "Hey no claiming wins until it actually happens, she could still say no," she insisted.
"So could you," Danny murmured.
C.J seemed to miss his comment but Josh noted it and the dipped look of wistfulness that went with it.
"No bet influencing," Toby commented sternly as he counted out notes in his hand.
Charlie glanced at his watch. "Well we have the President and the First Lady dancing first," he said, "then the Vice President and the Second Lady, then Prince Giovanni Amalfitano and his party will be invited to dance. After that you guys should."
Josh shrugged. "Sounds swell," he muttered wearily. "I'm going to get a drink."
Josh took a vantage point at the back of the room to observe the dancing. He drank little knowing it would be poor show to do otherwise. He watched with disinterest as the President and the First Lady took the floor first. Of course they were graceful, long practised at it but favouring a slow, twirling ballroom dance that was safe and brief. The President was tired and still feeling the burden of devouring so many courses.
It was John and Suzanne who put on the show unsurprisingly. Suzanne was full of energy and enthusiasm. She sought out their audience, turning the perfect smile at just the right time for the cameras yet she never put a step wrong. Josh marvelled as she simultaneously managed to dance through a brisk complicated step without hesitation and yet never missed a single lens.
Josh's grim mood worsened when he saw Donna up with Prince Giovanni Amalfitano's party as the chosen partner of his companion. She laughed gleefully as she was spun about the room with great enthusiasm to a slightly livelier tune conjured up mostly by the brass section. Josh was careful to watch Donna's dance partner's hands but she seemed indifferent to where they were put.
Josh's sullen stare was interrupted by the approach of Cadence. He heard her heels upon the smooth floor and glanced over briefly to see who was intruding. Spying the young fair haired woman who was to him a herald of doom, he immediately looked ahead. He knew it was childish but he had no energy to listen to her berate him and reject his request to dance.
"Senator Rosenencroft will support the bill," she addressed him quietly. "One would think he would do it because you know, we women deserve it but alas no. He wanted time with the President to discuss a policy related to tax on crops, I settled on a face to face meeting with the Vice and advised it was more favourable since modernisation for the rural parts of the country has always been a personal interest of the VP."
Josh glanced up at Cadence in bafflement. "But I insulted you," he pointed out. "At least you think that I did," he added defensively.
She was standing with her hands raised to her hips in a formidable pose. "You did," she said firmly, "and I went and I had some wine and I figured swaying the senator was less a favour to you than a gain to the party as a whole."
"Uh huh." Josh almost felt a smile creeping out as he admired her attempt to distance from the suggestion that she had helped him.
Cadence glanced over to the dance floor. "Anyway, our grand moment is coming, shall we?"
Josh followed her gaze, he had missed the end of the dance and Donna's departure. He noticed the blonde had not gone far and was standing on the edge now looking at Jeremy with a warm smile.
Josh stood up and pushed down the creases in his shirt before nodding. "I suppose we shall. Now you will be careful not to have your hands on my rear, I don't consent to that," he jested.
Cadence pulled a face at this. "I'd sooner touch a cactus."
"And you'll let me lead," Josh insisted as they started to walk. "I am the man."
"Not in this lifetime," Cadence retorted cheerfully with a smirk.
"Well I know more about leading than you do," he retorted smugly, "my boss did get the leadership role after all."
"Yes Josh exactly," Cadence replied sweetly as she kept her stare ahead, "your boss did, not you."
They reached the dance floor where the others were waiting. Everyone had agreed to the dance, much to the amusement of their audience, although there were a surprising number of political figures muttering curses over financial losses.
The President scowled slightly as he saw Josh and Cadence approach the dance floor and murmured, "damn it."
Abbey, seated beside him, glanced at him curiously. With a put on ignorance she quipped, "Jed darling, why are you cursing?"
"No reason dear," he retorted quickly, "no reason at all."
"Really? I thought you had forty reasons for it," Abbey jested with a teasing grin.
Jed glanced at her in surprise before waving his hands outwards at her. "Nooo, no, no," he said briskly. "I know what this is."
"Oh Jed really what are you talking about?" Abbey retorted with mock annoyance slipping into her face.
"Entrapment," he pounced upon the word as he pointed at her with one finger. "You're trying to get me to make some admittance of guilt well it's not happening."
Abbey turned her gaze forward. "I'm trying to do no such thing. I imagine that's your conscience getting at you," she then added quietly with another mocking grin, "or your wallet."
The band struck up a lively tune that had Toby flustering immediately. He didn't even really know his dance partner, Clare, he knew she'd something to do with speech writing but that was it, he didn't even know her surname.
The tune got livelier and faster causing some chaos on the dance floor.
"Dance Claudia Jean!" Jed called out. "Toby that's a woman you're guiding not a sack of flour! For goodness sakes people we don't want Prince Amalfitano telling his people Americans can't dance!"
"Sir really," Leo chided him.
Leo had come to stand behind Jed and Abbey to watch the dancing with them. His grey gaze suddenly widened as Cadence urged Josh to send her out in a wide spin before he pulled her close and inadvertently grasped at the side of her thigh to steady her.
"Josh Lyman watch those hands!" Leo roared as he glowered out at his subordinate.
Jed immediately started laughing at this. "Leo it's how people dance," he mocked him.
"That's not how I learned," Leo grumbled.
Josh winced slightly as he heard his boss' yell even over the music. He was horribly conscious of where his hands were even before Leo's admonishing. Cadence's dress was backless and he wasn't going any lower to touch cloth. He embraced her loosely, all too aware of how his palm was starting to sweat against her spine.
Gavin winced as C.J stomped on his feet a couple of times as the music seemed to accelerate to a pace he could barely keep up with.
"This is great!" C.J enthused as she moved around rapidly with a gleeful smile.
Josh caught Gavin's wince and grinned over at him mockingly as he back stepped before moving left.
"Why the hell did I agree to this?" Toby complained loudly over the fast paced strings performance. He stomped loudly on the outskirts of the dancefloor as he attempted to move round it but kept looking ahead for obstacles instead of at his partner.
"I wasn't going to lose anything if I stayed out of it!" he lamented. "You couldn't bet on yourself!"
Clare ignored him, looking woeful as she prayed for the tune to end.
Charlie, Zoey and Mallory all stood at the edge of the dance floor, clapping jovially. As Josh and Cadence came towards them, Mallory enthusiastically wolf whistled.
"Go Cady!" Mallory cheered.
"Hey Josh I hope you like the music, I thought you guys would appreciate something lively!" Charlie called to them.
"Wait this is your fault?" Toby yelled as he heard Charlie's call. He glowered over at the young man and vowed vengeance.
Josh and Cadence managed to complete three more trips around the dance floor before the music mercifully ended. The dancers were surprised with the applause they were praised with and pleased as Prince Giovanni and his companions seemed delighted with their performance as they clapped enthusiastically.
Cadence gave Josh a small smile before breaking from him. "Now you can tell everyone you danced with the devil and survived," she joked.
Panting and red faced, Toby stormed over to Charlie with a scowl.
Spying him coming, Charlie seized Zoey's hand and hastened her away through the crowds to the opposite side of the room.
Feeling warm and a little fatigued, Cadence headed first to the ever watchful Agent Casper.
"I'm going to go outside for a bit," she informed him. "Can you give me a few minutes?" she queried pleadingly.
Agent Casper glanced to the two tall patio doors which were guarded by two neutral faced Secret Service agents. His stare returned to Cadence and he nodded.
"I'm going to be near," he advised quietly, "but inside for a few minutes."
Cadence nodded back before heading to the doors with relief. Outside them was a well lit patio with a few small groups of people sharing cigars, cigarettes and a few drinks. It was bitterly cold outside, which kept most in and there were no outdoor heaters so no one would be encouraged to linger there for long.
Cadence slipped out and bypassed another pair of agents on duty on the opposing side. She gave a small grin thinking to herself that it was a little like stepping through the looking glass.
She breathed in the cool air as she stepped out to take a few of the cloudy night sky. Out here the voices were just a low murmur instead of a deafening collision of conversation. She felt a little calmer as for just a moment she didn't have to wear a mask of deceiving joy. Sure tonight was good, fun even, but not enough to suddenly shake off her woes and uncertainty. Slipping back into her P.R role wasn't easy and yet she knew the only person who was making it difficult was her.
"That's a very dramatic dress," John murmured as he stepped up beside her.
Cadence had heard his footsteps approaching from behind, light on the stone and caught a whiff of a familiar oak aftershave that gave her a clue as to who was arriving.
She nodded as she continued to stare up at the sky, spying out the white pinpricks of stars almost lost behind veils of ghostly grey clouds.
"Yes, I suppose I hoped people would just take in the dress," she confessed.
John took a stance close to her, frowning as he surveyed budding bumps on her arms.
"And is there a coat to go with it?" he pried.
"Of course," she retorted, "at least," she added with uncertainty, "I arrived with it. I don't know where it went to." She glanced up at John in puzzlement. "Does the White House have some sort of cloakroom?"
John smiled at this. "You are terrible with keeping a coat," he scorned her, "and I imagine they don't call it a cloakroom," he retorted.
"No, maybe it's State Room of Over Garments," Cadence ventured. "Do you know they have an entire collection of China, that each President can commission one, I mean I know there are a lot of these functions but it seems a waste of good China not to use the existing one. Although, President Bartlet hasn't commissioned any yet, I'm going to suggest phoenixes."
John arched a dark eyebrow at this. "Not raccoons?"
"I'm a realist sadly," Cadence retorted. She gave John a grin before glancing about them. Satisfied that no one was within hearing, she stretched up to him, rising onto her tiptoes and raising a hand in a conspirational manner.
John felt himself tensing as she brought her face close to his and he caught a whiff of her light winter rose perfume. He wondered if she was really going to be so bold as to snatch a kiss and a thrill of excitement raced through him in anticipation.
"My code name is raccoon," she informed him happily in a hushed voice.
John was stunned. When she shrank back to the ground he felt a prickle of dismay as he realised there was no kiss forthcoming.
"Why are you out here?" John pried.
As he subdued his primal urges at feeling her close to him he finally noticed that her stare didn't match the happiness she was trying to convey.
"I'm tired," Cadence admitted as she dipped her head slightly. "I didn't think it would take so much out of me."
"Dancing?" John queried.
"Just the evening as a whole," she replied vaguely, "after...everything. I feel like I'm on probation, everyone's watching to see what new wild thing I might do. Not that I blame anyone," she added awkwardly. "I mean what with everything I did do." She glanced around awkwardly and then flashed John another hollow smile. "You know I'm glad that photo is in the news now, it actually takes away from everything else."
"Yes. I didn't leak that photo you know," John murmured.
Cadence glanced at him with surprise. "Sir I wasn't-"
John cut her off as he gave her a serious stare. "I know I like to show off," he said quietly, "but I wouldn't do it like that."
Cadence nodded. "I know sir, I know you didn't leak it."
"I wouldn't do it for points or popularity either even though it's served to get me that," he continued. "My post as Vice President might limit my opportunities to reach for the wider audience I need but I wouldn't stoop to this."
"Sir, I know," Cadence said firmly. She gave him a questioning look. "Has someone said that you did?" she pried.
"There were a few innocent suggestions of it by reporters to Jeremy, I thought you had heard and it was why you haven't been near my office," John confessed. "The Republican fans think, as one put it, that I'm not satisfied with funerals and weddings." John gave a biting smile at this remark.
Cadence turned to face John fully, staring up at him though she found it a little difficult to meet his intense blue stare. She gave him a small smile as she tried to placate him.
"I heard but I know you wouldn't do that," she addressed him in a serious tone, "and those Republicans would do well to remember that twelve Vices went on to become Presidents, including former President Truman."
John raised his right hand up to his hip, pressing light wrinkles into his designer black trousers. "I didn't mean to turn this into a pity party," he jested sardonically. "And what's with the sir, Cady?"
Cadence glanced about them again but there was no one nearby and the few who had been out here had retreated back to the warmth of the party leaving them alone.
"It's appropriate," she retorted quietly.
"Cady I'm not sure what to say anymore," he admitted, "or what you want me to say. I've thought about it for a while, my feelings for you. After seeing you like that in Colombia, well it brought it all to the surface. I think about you every day, I wonder about you when I don't see you and I worry about you when you do. You haven't told anyone about Colombia yet, not in full and you need to."
John raised his free hand as Cadence opened her mouth to protest. She had taken on a defensive stance, raising her arms up to cross in front of her chest.
"Cady I'm not going to stir all that up tonight, it's a party and you deserve to enjoy it and be happy. I saw you dancing with Josh and I did want it to be me, I did." John cocked his head slightly and gave another bitter smile before shaking his head. "I'm tormenting us both with this, I can see that but damn it if I don't just tell you I'm always going to wonder about that too."
"Your wife is standing in there sir," Cadence retorted quietly. Her expression was torn, her mouth in a line that tried to be neutral but her eyes sparkled with emotion as she wrestled between grief and anger.
Cadence turned from the Vice President and headed for the doors, slipping back into the warmth and the light. She knew it was cowardly but she had been telling him the truth when she said she was exhausted, whatever complication he wanted to stir up she could not handle it tonight.
Cadence spied Zoey standing with Charlie, waving to Cadence excitedly as she spotted her. Cadence veered towards them with a bright smile.
"Cady cat you owe me a dance!" Zoey called to her jovially. "Josh can't have all the fun!" she teased as she reached out with both hands to grasp Cadence by the waist to pull her close.
Cadence winced slightly before feigning a smile. The gesture was missed by Zoey but immediately picked up on by Gina.
"Are you hurt?" Gina snapped quietly as she immediately stepped forward with a wary look.
Cadence kept her smile as she shook her head, wishing that just for once Gina wasn't so astute. She realised it was a selfish thought considering Gina's job. Zoey was looking worried now however and had dropped her hands from Cadence and Cadence did not want her worrying.
"I'm fine," Cadence insisted, "it's an old wound acting up, that's all. You're right Zoey, I do owe you a dance."
Cadence held out her hand to Zoey. She caught Gina's wary stare and tried to ignore it as Zoey giggled and took Cadence's waiting hand.
"We're just going to the dance floor," Cadence informed Gina awkwardly.
Gina nodded. "I know," she said stiffly.
Cadence's gaze shifted to Charlie.
Charlie smiled and waved them on. "Go ahead, I insist," he said. "Zoey has been talking about dancing with you for a while."
Cadence gave Zoey a wide grin. "Well I must oblige then, let's go."
The pair headed off to the dance floor followed discreetly by Agent Casper and Gina.
John, who had returned to the room just a couple of minutes after Cadence, paused to stare over at the dancing. He watched carefully as Cadence's blue hem spun in the air as she and Zoey danced a mocking tango with some wild turns. Her fair hair flew up and twirled with each spin and her head seemed to blur keeping her expression a mystery to him. He gave a slight frown, suddenly jealous of her young companion, wishing he could have that carefree moment with her.
John turned away and headed for his wife. He met her amongst the small crowds as she retreated from the bathrooms, ready to return to a circle of socialites and unimpressed to meet an obstacle in the form of her husband.
John raised a hand to embrace Suzanne lightly and kissed her cheek with a smile.
Suzanne smiled back but there was a tenseness to her bold, fire truck red mouth. John stared at the red lipstick and loathed it, it was too bright and had him thinking of blood and rage and pain. Red was passion sure but passion could be hate as easy as love. He realised Cadence never wore lipstick and that anytime he kissed her he was only ever tasting her, not some smooth border of makeup that would stain him.
"John I have people waiting for me," Suzanne informed him. "It's been difficult getting out of the shadow of the First Lady and the novelty act my husband has become. Funerals and weddings John, that quote is doing well," she sneered.
Despite the scorn of her voice, Suzanne's mask never fell and to any observer she looked like a devoted wife, smiling and having a wonderful, merry evening with her husband.
"Well I'm glad you're having a good evening darling," John retorted with a feigned smile. "I didn't give the quote by the way."
"No, you held your tongue, are you ever going to get that balance right? It was the same with the campaign, you were never quite ready to voice a real opinion and look how we ended."
Suzanne gestured outwards to their surroundings, still with her false smile in place. Her gaze paused upon Abbey and Jed. "Close dear but still on the outside."
"Right, go talk with your friends," John murmured.
Suzanne nodded and leaned into him to finally return his kiss, giving him a chaste one on the mouth. "I will."
John tasted her fiery anger in a brief, waxy mouthful of red lipstick.
They parted and John found himself approached by an eager senator and his wife. He readied up the smile, knowing he had to muster up the charm he was known for. These people could be his allies when the term was up and it was his turn for the title.
He held out his hand to welcome the senator's handshake but his smile dimmed slightly as over the senator's shoulder he glimpsed another flash of midnight blue.