Chapter Twelve
Thursday, February 19
"There's no way this is going to work."
Sam tossed a half-hearted glare at Jake as they walked through the West Wing towards his office.
On his other side, Jamie gave an amused snort. "How much do you want to bet Toby figures it out in five minutes?"
"Twenty bucks says he gets it two minutes after he sees Sam," Jake said.
Sam rolled his eyes. He'd known by the time the hospital had released him that he'd have to deal with two frantic parents and an overprotective Secret Service agent, but he hadn't anticipated his brothers' refusal to let him out of their sight. "This isn't what I meant when I agreed to let you tag along with me today," he stated, his voice hoarse. He winced slightly at the pain that flared in his throat.
The small group walked into Sam's office, Elliot giving it a once-over before leaving the three brothers alone.
"How do you plan on working when you can barely speak?" Jamie asked, dropping into a visitor chair.
Sam hung up his winter coat. "I guess it's a good thing I'm a speech writer and not the speech giver then," he rasped. He moved to his desk and began shuffling through his notes. "Besides, the administration goals speech is on Tuesday. I don't have time for a break; there's still research to do and sift through, meetings to have, drafts to revise . . . Which is why I tried to tell you not to waste time shadowing me today. You're going to be bored."
"Maybe, but you also managed to turn a simple lunch into a fire," Jake pointed out. "You turned another lunch into a confrontation where someone tried to grab you, and you were attacked last night while picking up a book. I'm not taking any chances."
"Yeah," Jamie added. "And who knows; you might get abducted by aliens on the way to your staff meeting."
Sam paused and gave Jamie a pointed look. "And just how do you think you being here will stop that from happening?"
Jamie shrugged. "I don't know; I can tell them that you're a troublemaker and better off left here with us?"
The comment was made in jest, but the truth of it hit a little closer to home than Sam expected. He turned back to his notes, his movements a little more subdued.
Jake reached out and smacked Jamie on the back of the head, then turned to Sam. "We just want to be here in case you need us," he stated. "I hate that you've been having such a hard time, and I want to be nearby to help."
Jamie nodded his agreement enthusiastically. Sam smiled faintly.
A brisk knock drew their attention to Elliot standing in the doorway. "You've got Senior Staff in ten," he told Sam. "We need to get moving."
Sam nodded, stacking the rest of his notes on his folio and lifting it into his arms. "You guys are sure you'll be okay in here?" he asked his brothers. "I don't know how long I'll be."
Jamie waved off his concern. "We'll be fine. I'm sure we can find a way to entertain ourselves in the meantime."
The reassurance, if that's what it was, fell flat. Sam didn't have time to protest as Elliot shooed him out of the office and on his way.
Sam was several minutes early for the meeting, but was the last to arrive in Leo's office. He slipped quietly into the room to claim a chair near the back as Leo called them to order.
"I know we've got Tuesday's address at the forefront of our minds with it being only five days away, so let's get through the other stuff first," Leo stated. "Who's up?"
CJ lifted a hand quickly. "There's a news story developing around the status of illegal immigrants being detained in Texas," she announced. "It's only hit the local outlets so far, but it's got wings."
"What's the current status of the immigrants?" Toby asked.
"No one's been injured so far, and no deaths have been reported," CJ answered. "But an anonymous inside source is reporting crowded and unsanitary conditions. The public is demanding answers; it's just a matter of time before it hits national channels."
Leo jotted down a quick note, then looked over at his deputy. "Josh, get a hold of the Director of ICE and get us some more information. I want to see the full picture before bringing the president in on this."
Josh nodded. "Got it, Leo."
Leo turned his attention back to CJ. "In the meantime, if the press asks, tell them the president is ensuring the safety of all our citizens and that he is looking into the matter."
CJ nodded, writing the instructions down on her notepad.
"What else?" Leo prompted.
"The date for the next G7 Summit has been set for May," Toby announced. "The preliminary topics seem to include government transparency, trade, and the current stability in the Middle East, but I'm anticipating more information over the next couple of months."
"Go ahead and get the ball rolling on background research," Leo told him. "Coordinate with the State Department. Someone over there should be able to help."
Toby nodded over at Sam, who nodded back.
"Any other new or urgent business before we move on to the administration goals speech?" Leo asked the room at large.
Everyone glanced around to see if one of the other staffers would speak up.
With nothing forthcoming, Leo continued. "All right, Toby. Where are we at?"
"We're just about done with the first draft," Toby answered. "We should be able to finish it this afternoon with one exception. We're going to need some time with the president to practice for Tuesday so we can do the revisions."
"I already reserved time in the president's schedule for tomorrow morning at nine," Leo told him. "We'll use the press briefing room after CJ's initial press briefing. What's the one exception?"
Josh immediately scowled. Sam blushed and looked down, avoiding looking at anyone. Toby merely rolled his eyes.
"I take it that the work on 286 is going well, then?" CJ joked weakly.
"I saw Winters yesterday," Josh stated. "I'm hoping he's finally changed his mind, but I haven't heard back yet." He looked pointedly at Sam, who missed it entirely as he continued to examine the folio balanced on his knees.
"You're not going to," Leo told Josh firmly.
Josh and Sam both looked at Leo in surprise. Leo's sympathetic look in his direction told Sam that Leo knew about last night's events.
"What do you mean?" Josh cried.
"I mean that that door is closed," Leo said. "We'll either try our luck as 286 is written, or we'll shelve it for later."
Josh spun in his chair to face Sam. "What did you do?" he demanded fiercely.
"Josh!" Leo barked.
Sam flushed in anger. "Nothing!"
CJ frowned. "What's wrong with your voice?"
Josh steamrolled over CJ's question. "I sent Winters to talk to you! What, did your new family shut him down too?"
"Josh, that's enough!" Leo snapped. He glanced at the rest of his staff. "All of you, get to work. Josh, you stay."
No one argued. CJ, Toby, and Sam quickly rose to their feet and walked swiftly out the door. Elliot fell into step behind Sam, not questioning the sudden exodus.
"Seriously, why do you sound like you swallowed gravel?" CJ asked Sam.
"You sounded fine last night," Toby chimed in. "Did something happen?"
Sam glanced back at Elliot. Elliot shrugged at him, then nodded.
Sam sighed. "Uncle Chris came to my apartment last night. I was there to pick up a book for Zoey."
"Wasn't he issued a restraining order?" Toby asked.
Despite himself, Sam snorted. "That wouldn't stop him anyway. We got into an argument."
"What happened?" CJ asked.
Sam hesitated for a brief moment. "Elliot arrested him."
Toby and CJ stared at Sam in disbelief as they came to a stop in the middle of the hallway. As one, they turned to look at Elliot.
"What really happened?" Toby asked the agent.
"Hey!" Sam exclaimed.
"Winters tried to attack Sam," Elliot answered with far less amusement than expected. "The vice president and I stopped him. Winters is currently in custody on charges of assault and attempted murder."
Toby and CJ gaped in shock.
"Murder?" CJ echoed.
"What the hell?" Toby cried, his voice blending with CJ's.
"I'm fine," Sam insisted. "He just tried to choke me. Dad and Elliot stopped him before he went too far."
Sam was still speaking as CJ reached out to lift his chin up. She tugged at his collar to get a closer look at his throat. Sam tried to bat her hands away, but CJ slapped back and continued to loosen his tie.
Toby folded his arms. "'Just', he says," he stated. He shifted a glare to Elliot. "And where the hell were you when this was happening?"
Sam finally succeeded in pushing CJ's hands away and fixed his tie. "Leave Elliot alone," he told Toby. "I told him I'd be fine on my own. I was only supposed to be gone a few minutes. He didn't do anything wrong."
Elliot's expression suggested otherwise, but he remained silent.
"Who else knows about this?" CJ asked.
"Leo, apparently," Sam answered. "Though I'm not sure how."
"Agent Butterfield reported the incident to President Bartlet last night once we processed Winters," Elliot stated. "Leo was with him when he called."
"My family knows," Sam added. "My brothers are actually in my office now. They think I'm a walking trouble magnet."
Toby let out a humorless laugh. "That's only because they know you."
Sam gave him a half-hearted glare.
"Can I get a copy of the incident report?" CJ asked Elliot. "I'd like to start preparing a statement once the press gets wind of this."
Elliot nodded. "I believe Agent Butterfield was going to contact you today. Check with Carol; it might already be waiting for you."
"I'm going with you," Toby told CJ. To Sam, he said, "Meet me in my office at one o'clock. We need to finish the draft and get it to the teleprompter before tomorrow."
Sam nodded as Toby and CJ changed direction and left. He began to continue down the hall towards his office when a sharp order stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey!"
Sam and Elliot turned around to find Josh storming down the hall towards him. The look on his face promised a fight, and Sam automatically braced himself for it.
"What the hell, Sam?" Josh yelled, planting himself in front of his friend. "Destroying this bill wasn't enough for you? Now you have to destroy the career of a good man, too?"
Sam blinked in shock. "Good man?"
Elliot looked around, seeing the attention they were beginning to draw. "Let's move this somewhere private," he suggested.
His comment went ignored, but neither Sam nor Josh resisted as Elliot guided them into an unused office nearby. He closed the door behind them and planted himself in front of it.
"Yeah, a good man!" Josh thundered, continuing their argument. "Your uncle took care of you all these years, and you just cast him aside at the drop of a hat? God, you're like a completely different person! It's like I don't even know you anymore!"
Sam flushed, hot with anger. "Maybe you should get all the facts straight before taking sides!"
"You want facts? Here's some facts for you," Josh fired back. He held up one finger. "You're suddenly spending all your free time with Hoynes." He lifted a second finger. "You suddenly decided to side with Hoynes over 286." A third finger joined the first two. "You decided to make this ridiculous claim of assault by a man twice your age!"
Sam had spent the last several weeks enduring Josh's blind and manipulative enthusiasm followed by his disdain, and he'd had enough. "First of all, I'm spending time with Hoynes because he's my father. And for your information, we don't talk about 286. Believe it or not, 286 is not the axis upon which we all spin!"
Josh opened his mouth to counter, but Sam wasn't done.
"Second," he said, cutting Josh off, "I didn't 'suddenly' decide anything. I agreed with his point on internet access back when I learned about 286, before I knew he was my father. Now, you might have missed this class in law school, but simply ignoring the other party's argument is no way to mount an offense!"
"I never-," Josh tried.
"And third?" Sam wrenched his tie loose and tugged the collar of his shirt down, baring the vivid bruises around his neck. "That 'ridiculous claim' of assault you mentioned? That claim was made by the Secret Service and my father after catching Winters with his hands around my throat! Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass for two seconds, you'll notice that there's been more going on around here than just trying to pass a stupid bill!"
Josh was speechless, his face pale as his eyes stared at the bruises ringing Sam's neck.
Sam released his collar and started to leave, but paused. "Oh, and the part about me being a completely different person?" he asked. "Since learning the truth about my family, I've felt more like myself than I ever have. Maybe you should keep that in mind the next time you decide to accuse me of ruining the work we're doing here."
Having said his piece, Sam brushed past Elliot and out of the office, leaving Josh staring, stunned, after him.
Friday, February 20
There was an undercurrent of tension thrumming through the press briefing room as Bartlet practiced his speech. No one commented on it or drew attention to it, but everyone knew it was there.
Toby and Sam were seated a few rows back from the podium, their heads bent together over a copy of the draft of the speech. Occasionally they would make marks or point at something on the paper in front of them, but never said anything urgent enough to stop the president.
Josh and Leo sat together near the middle of the room, watching Bartlet speak. CJ had claimed a chair near them, making her own notes to help her prepare for the follow-up questions that would come the day after the speech.
Toby mumbled something to Sam, who nodded and scratched a note on the draft, as Bartlet wound down. The president looked around at his staff. "That was better, I think. What about you?"
"Very good, Mr. President," Leo responded. "Much more natural."
Bartlet nodded, then sharpened his gaze. "Good," he said. "So . . . mind telling me now why 286 was not included anywhere in this speech?"
CJ glanced over her shoulder at her coworkers. Leo and Toby's expressions clearly stated their frustration with the rift 286 had caused in their team. To everyone's surprise, Josh was mute on the subject.
Sam was careful to avoid looking in Josh's direction. He felt somewhat guilty for losing his temper with his friend, but there was still enough anger left to stop him from seeking Josh out and apologizing.
Bartlet raised an eyebrow. "Don't everyone answer all at once," he said.
"We've run into some snags, Mr. President," Leo said.
"I don't want snags, Leo," Bartlet replied, frowning. "I want solutions. I want to announce to Congress, and to the American people, that we're putting computers in every classroom."
"Do we really need to rush?" CJ asked. "I mean, it's not like those classrooms are going anywhere."
Bartlet turned to her. "And neither are those kids if we don't try." He glanced at his watch, then over at his aide who nodded at him. Looking back at Leo, he said, "I want our plan for 286 added to the speech. Make it happen."
"Yes, Mr. President," Leo replied as everyone rose to their feet.
As soon as Bartlet had moved out of the room, the staffers gathered together around Leo. Leo looked at Josh. "You heard the president. Josh, what have we got?"
Josh wore a hangdog expression on his face. "Nothing."
Leo gave him a warning look. "Josh . . ."
Josh held up his hands in surrender. "What?" he said. "I'm not being a smart ass! I leveraged every bit of our resources and tapped into as many contacts as I could, but it's no use. Hoynes' contacts have contacts, and that network is moving against us. We lost a ton of votes with Winters taken out of the picture, and what we have left won't get us 286."
"There's got to be something we can do," CJ insisted.
"There is," Sam spoke up. "We talk to the vice president."
Irritation flashed in Josh's eyes, but it was much more subdued than in the past. "We've been over this."
"No, you've just dismissed it each time I bring it up," Sam replied. He looked at Leo. "No matter what angle we take, we keep coming at this like he's on the other side of the fence."
"Because he is," Josh pointed out.
Sam ignored him. "Everyone we've talked to keeps telling us that we won't get anywhere without the vice president's support; why are we even trying? If we just set up a meeting-."
"Sam, come on!" Josh cried. Noting the thoughtful expression on Leo's face, he continued, "Leo, you can't seriously be considering this! There's no way Hoynes will cave!"
"Why does he have to cave?" Sam demanded hotly. "It doesn't have to be just his way and our way!"
Leo held up a hand. "All right, enough." He looked at Josh. "How many votes can you guarantee me, right now?"
Josh shrugged and shook his head. "Enough to get it out of committee and onto the floor, but no further."
"I'll take that," Leo stated. "Call our sponsor. Find out when we can go to the floor. That will buy us some time to work on the next step until after Tuesday."
"Leo-," Sam began.
"Toby, Sam," Leo pressed on, stopping whatever Sam was about to say. "Work on a way to add 286 into the speech without going too heavily into specifics. Can you have it done by the end of the day?"
Sam opened his mouth to protest, but Toby placed a hand on his arm, warning him into silence.
"We'll have it done, Leo," Toby promised.
Leo nodded. "Good. Josh will get with you once he hears back from our sponsor."
"Uh, Leo?" CJ spoke up. "While I'm sure this is a great plan to get us through Tuesday, I'm pretty sure it's going to fall apart the minute the press briefing starts on Wednesday morning. They're going to go hunting for those specifics."
Leo glanced at Sam and Toby. "Go on and get started. I'll touch base with you later."
Toby tugged Sam away as Leo, Josh, and CJ began to lay the groundwork for Wednesday's press briefing. Sam obediently followed, but couldn't quite disguise the stormy look on his face.
"It's for the best, Sam," Toby stated, not unkindly, as they headed back to the communications bullpen.
Sam's frown only deepened. "How is not talking the better solution?"
"I'm not saying that," Toby replied. "I'm saying that you're too close to this issue to be objective. This is not something you want to be placed in the middle of."
"I'm not in the middle," Sam argued. "I'm not even on the edge of this."
"Sam-," Toby said wearily.
"We need to talk to the vice president if we want to get anywhere, and you know it!" Sam insisted.
Toby narrowed his eyes at Sam as they paused just outside of their respective offices. "Sam, you're not thinking of doing something stupid, are you?"
"Of course not!" Sam protested.
Toby was unconvinced. "Sam!"
"I'm not going to do something stupid, Toby!"
Toby was right. This was stupid.
Sam paused in the doorway to his father's West Wing office, finding Hoynes' head bent over a file on his desk, his face a mask of concentration. Despite the assurances from Hoynes' assistant that the vice president had time for the visit, Sam couldn't help the flutter of nerves in his chest as he knocked tentatively on the open door.
Hoynes looked up, a smile immediately lighting up his face once he saw his son. "Sam," he said warmly, standing and moving around his desk. "This is a pleasant surprise."
Sam entered the office, accepting the welcoming hug Hoynes offered. Hoynes gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk, which Sam took.
"What brings you by?" Hoynes asked, taking the seat beside Sam.
Sam felt another flutter of nerves, but he swallowed them back. "I came because . . . I wanted to talk with you about 286."
Surprise and dismay chased one another across Hoynes' face before his expression became blank. "Oh?" he replied, leaning back.
Sam nodded. "This whole situation is ridiculous," he stated, his pulse beginning to pick up with a wave of conviction. "Both of our staffs want to see 286 succeed, but we're so busy trying to one-up each other that we're losing sight of the original purpose behind the bill."
"I see." Hoynes' tone was flat.
Sam was oblivious to the slowly growing anger simmering in Hoynes. "I really think that if we work together, we can make sure that 286 passes in a way we can all be happy with. We just need to sit down together and talk about it. What do you think?"
Hoynes studied Sam's earnest expression for a long moment. "I have to say," he finally said, "I'm really disappointed in you."
Sam reared back in utter shock. "What?"
Hoynes stood and moved to the nearest window, looking out but not seeing anything. He shook his head. "Jed must be getting desperate over 286 if he's sending you to me."
"Nobody sent me," Sam snapped, offended. "I just thought-."
"You just thought what?" Hoynes whirled around, eyes piercing Sam's. "That you could manipulate me the same way your staff tried to manipulate Winters?"
The accusation struck deep. Sam surged to his feet, hurt coloring his words. "Of course not! I'm not trying to manipulate anybody! I want to see 286 succeed just as much as you!"
"I don't think you do!" Hoynes fired back. "If you did, then you and your team would listen to me when I tell you that it won't work the way you've rewritten it! And now they've sent you here to try and get me to agree to it! I'll tell you something; I don't appreciate you abusing your position as my son to try and get me to see things your way!"
The words were too similar to past rants by Winters for Sam not to react to them. "How can you say that?" he cried. "I'm not abusing anything! I'm just trying to see if we can sit down and talk about this, but you're being just as pigheaded as Josh!"
Hoynes jabbed a finger in his direction. "Don't you dare compare me to Josh Lyman! He's done nothing but try and bully his way through Congress to get people to vote his way because in his mind, his way is the only right way! He doesn't care about anyone or anything except getting ahead of the other guy! I knew that about him; hell I expected it. What I didn't expect was for my own son to be just as self-serving and narrow-minded as him!"
Sam flinched back as if physically struck, his father's words ringing in his ears. Whether it was the last chance to fix at least one thing broken in his life, the hurt from Hoynes' characterization of him, or the residual anger left over from his argument with Josh, Sam couldn't say, but the dam within him finally burst.
"You know, I told Toby that this whole situation with being your son was too good to be true," he said, feeling his heart breaking. "There was no way you could be so understanding with me in all this; turns out I was right after all. I mean, Uncle Chris never bothered to listen to anything I had to say either."
"I am nothing like that abusive asshole!" Hoynes thundered.
"You never even gave me a chance to explain!" Sam shouted back on a second wave of anger. "You just assumed that I would use our relationship for my own gain! Chris used to punish me for that very thing! I'm tired of people always assuming the worst about me! I thought you were different! But you're just as bad as the rest of them!"
"I'm your father-," Hoynes started.
"So that gives you the right to act like I committed treason just for asking a damn question?" Sam cut him off. "If that's what I can expect from now on, then forget it! I don't need you or your family in my life!"
Tears burned in his eyes, but not a single drop fell as Sam stormed out of the office, leaving a shocked Hoynes gaping after him.
It was getting late. Most of the assistants had already left the West Wing for the day, and the few stragglers left were just packing up to go.
Toby glanced impatiently at his watch again, his attention split between the third revision of the administration goals speech and the window to Sam's darkened office. Whatever it was that Sam said he needed to take care of should not be taking so long, though the vague nature of Sam's rushed explanation told Toby that Sam was trying to hide something from him.
He glanced at his cell phone. He had Elliot's number; had demanded it, in fact, once he became aware of Elliot's identity. Sam might be ignoring his messages, but Elliot knew better.
Before Toby could convince himself that he wasn't overreacting, John Hoynes suddenly appeared in his doorway. Toby immediately rose to his feet. "Mr. Vice President," he stated respectfully.
"Toby." Hoynes' eyes scanned the office. "Sam's . . . Sam's not here?"
Toby shook his head. "No, sir, I haven't seen him for a couple of hours. I was expecting him back a while ago."
Hoynes ran a hand through his hair. Toby studied the man, noticing worry, shame, and regret on his face. Whatever had happened had done a number on him.
"Damn," Hoynes swore under his breath. "I really need to find him."
"Is everything okay?" Toby asked.
Hoynes stepped into the office. "No," he replied honestly. Pained eyes met Toby's. "Sam came by my office earlier. I think . . . I really screwed up. I need to find him to apologize, but I don't know where he is. My detail won't tell me because Sam told his detail not to. Suzanne says he's not at home, but I don't know where else to look."
"If you don't mind my asking, what happened?" Toby asked.
Hoynes rubbed his face with both hands. "I lost my temper," he admitted. "He came to talk to me about 286 and I didn't take it well. I said some things . . . I said a lot of things I didn't mean. Please, Toby; if you know where he is . . ."
"I might," Toby said. "Why don't you wait here and I'll see if I can't track him down?"
Toby almost felt uncomfortable at the depth of gratitude emanating from Hoynes.
"Thank you, Toby," he said. "I . . . thank you."
Toby nodded, collecting his cell phone and walking out of his office. He paused long enough to fire off a quick text and, receiving a response to his query, headed in the direction of the Mess.
Two of Sam's security detail were positioned in front of the closed doors when Toby arrived. Neither agent stopped him from pulling open the door and walking into the darkened room.
Upon first, and even second glance, the room appeared deserted. Chairs had been turned upside down and placed on tables, and the faint scent of cleaner filled the air. Toby moved further inside, his eyes scanning for his deputy.
A faint, rhythmic sound reached his ears through the silence. Toby followed it around a corner and found Sam's slumped figure on the floor, morosely tossing coffee stirs and a variety of sugar and ketchup packets into a silver bowl several feet away. Hovering nearby was Elliot, who looked relieved as he nodded at Toby and moved back to give the two men some privacy.
Toby wordlessly walked over to Sam and sank onto the floor beside him. He watched Sam's unerring aim for a few moments, knowing Sam would break the silence when he was ready.
His patience was rewarded. "I did something stupid."
Toby kept his eyes on the silver bowl. "I figured."
Thunk. "I screwed up," Sam admitted.
"Everyone screws up now and again," Toby replied. "That's not surprising."
Sam switched to coffee stirs again, tossing a couple more. "I ruined everything."
Toby glanced at him and read the abject misery in Sam's eyes. He turned his attention back to the bowl. "Can't be that bad."
Sam faltered at his next toss. He shook his head. "It's worse. Being Charlie Hoynes . . . it was the best thing that ever happened to me, and now it's gone."
Toby frowned, confused. "Pretty sure you can't just undo being him."
Sam's smile was bitter as he switched to tossing ketchup packets into the bowl. "I said some stupid stuff. I doubt Hoynes ever wants to see me again."
Toby once again found himself wondering just what had happened between father and son. "Well, given that I have a very distraught vice president wearing a hole in the floor of my office upstairs, I'd have to disagree."
A ketchup packet suddenly flew wide at the pronouncement. Shocked blue eyes turned to Toby.
"He . . . he is?" Sam stammered, incredulous. "Why?"
Toby turned bodily to face Sam. "From what I can tell, he's been trying to find you since you left. He said he had to find you to apologize."
Shame dropped Sam's eyes to the floor. "He shouldn't apologize. I should. The things I said . . ." He peeked up at Toby. "I told him I didn't need him or his family. How could he even look at me after that?"
Toby fought back a wave of fond exasperation. "Sam, you are not the first person to get angry and say things you regret to your father. In fact, I'm pretty sure it'll happen again, given how very similar your tempers are. There's nothing wrong with having an argument. What's wrong is allowing things said in anger to fester and drive a wedge between you."
Sam's shoulders sagged. "He hates me," he said lowly. "He's never liked any of us, especially since the president won the nomination. And our staff can't stand him." Pained blue eyes shimmered in the dim light. "I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything," Toby countered. "Yeah, our two staffs don't always get along, and sure, there's been some minor feud with Hoynes and Bartlet. But that doesn't have anything to do with you. At the end of the day, you're his son, and that's all that matters."
Sam nodded, half-convinced at the words.
Toby considered him. "I'll tell you, though; the man who I've seen go toe-to-toe with Jed Bartlet and Leo McGarry? The man who isn't afraid to shout down belligerent congressmen and lobbyists alike without blinking? That's not the same guy who's been meeting you for breakfast, or who rushed through the hospital when news of that fire hit. And it's definitely not the same guy upstairs who is frantically searching for you. That man is your father, and no matter what else happens, he is always going to put your best interests before his own."
A small, hopeful smile grew on Sam's face. "Thanks, Toby."
Toby patted Sam's shoulder. "It'll be okay," he replied. "Now, the way I see it, you've got three options. Option one: I take you upstairs to my office and the two of you get your apologies out of the way now. Then you take the weekend to square things with each other. Option two: I sneak you out the back and take you to your apartment. Of course, that leaves the possibility of unexpected visitors, but you call Hoynes from there and let him know that you'll talk to him tomorrow. Then you take the weekend to square things between you."
"And option three?" Sam asked, unable to help the small, amused smile.
"Option three: I sneak you out the back and take you home with me," Toby told him. "This option guarantees no unexpected visitors, but you call Hoynes and let him know you'll talk tomorrow."
"And take the weekend to square things between us?" Sam added, his smile growing. He swiped at his eyes.
Toby smiled back. "So?" he said. "What'll it be?"
Sam took a deep breath. "I guess there's no point in delaying the inevitable, huh?"
"Attaboy." Toby stood and held out a hand to help Sam up. "Come on. Let's go and put your dad out of his misery."
They fell into a companionable silence as they made their way back to the communications bullpen, flanked at a discrete distance by Sam's security detail. The closer they drew to Toby's office, the more Sam's steps began to slow. Toby could practically feel Sam's renewed anxiety and doubt rolling off of the younger man.
Toby slowed and paused beside Ginger's desk, gesturing for Sam to keep walking. Sam took several more steps, but stopped just shy of the door to Toby's office the instant his eyes fell on Hoynes' frenetically pacing form.
Hoynes glanced up as he spun around and froze when he found Sam watching him. Father and son stared mutely at one another, neither one certain how to begin.
Sam cleared his throat nervously. "Um . . . hi."
Hoynes took a single step forward. "Hi," he said quietly.
Sam saw none of Hoynes' earlier anger or disdain and found the courage to continue. "I . . . I said some things that . . . that I shouldn't have said. I let my temper get the better of me, and . . . I need to apologize . . . I'm so sorry . . . I didn't mean-."
Hoynes suddenly surged forward, grabbing hold of Sam and gathering him into a tight embrace. Sam tensed at the sudden move, but barely a minute passed when he melted into the hug, clinging just as tightly to his father and burying wet eyes into Hoynes' shoulder.
"You don't need to apologize," Hoynes told him. "I do. You were right; I wasn't listening to you, and I should have."
He gently pulled back and ducked to catch Sam's eyes.
"We need to talk," he stated. "And we will. But I need you to understand right now that I love you, and nothing will ever change that."
Sam nodded, words tangled into a lump in his throat. Hoynes smiled sadly and drew him back into a hug, tightening his arms around Sam. Sam's arms squeezed back in response.
Lifting his gaze, Hoynes sought out Toby in the dimly lit bullpen. "Thank you," he said, the depth of his gratitude clear on his face.
Toby nodded and silently moved away, leaving father and son to their reconciliation.
end chapter 12