Cadence was wary of the extra agents on guard as she paced up the corridor towards Zoey's college suite. They weren't even subtle like Gina, with no attempt to blend in as fellow students. Two stood to attention at either side of the door and asked Cadence for her I.D before they permitted her to knock. When the door was opened Cadence discovered the reason for the additional security.
Eleanor 'Ellie' Bartlet's gaze of surprise was brief before she banished it for hostility.
Ellie glanced over her shoulder immediately and called out, "looks like your friend's here Zoey."
Cadence stiffened at the impersonal terminology for herself as she continued to stare at Ellie in shock. The middle daughter of the Bartlet family hadn't changed much since they had met. She had the same red toned brunette locks as her sister and mother coupled with her mother's dark stare but it was her father's solemn side that dominated her features. She was demure, dressed casually in loose trousers and a jumper, ever eager to force herself into the mould of the 'plain Jane' of her family so she wouldn't attract attention. It had never quite worked for Ellie to evade the limelight, she blamed her father's lifestyle choices for this, unable to see that she had the same appealing spark in her that her sisters Zoey and Liz had only they had fuelled it into a fire.
Ellie turned her hostile stare back onto Cadence.
"How have you been Ellie?" Cadence queried quietly.
Ellie folded her arms and frowned at the woman. "I'm usually fine until I read a newspaper," she replied in low voice heated with anger, "you seem to court them." Ellie's frown deepened as her dark eyes began to simmer with rage. "He doesn't deserve to have his memory tarnished so much, I'm not sure if you have even made it to a year in your post and yet in such a short space of time I've seen Robbie's name multiple times." Her voice became full of woe as she raised it slightly. "Each time it's a fresh pang through me, I cannot even begin to imagine what it's like for his family. Do you ever think of them Cadence or do you just think of headlines? Is it a case of all press is good press?" she quipped bitingly.
"Ellie stop," Zoey's voice pleaded quietly from behind.
Zoey stood in her sister's shadow, a rare position for her despite being the youngest. She was a complete contrast to Ellie, ready for a night out wearing an eye catching dress of crimson.
Ellie continued to frown as she cast her gaze to the door frame. All the while the stoic agents stood silently by pretending not to hear the discussion.
"I told myself I would say something," Ellie said firmly, "for his sake."
"Ellie I never wanted his name dragged up like that," Cadence retorted as her mouth turned down and she raised her hands to fiddle with the buttons on her navy coat. "It upset me too," she insisted. "Every time someone said his name my heart broke all over again."
"Well given your position is public relations you should be taken better care," Ellie scolded her.
Cadence's body turned rigid with the accusation and she sucked in her bottom lip slightly before nodding. Anyone else and she might have bit back but Ellie's admonishing stare had her cowed into guilt.
"I'm trying Ellie, I am," Cadence insisted, "to make peace with what happened to him and to try and make sure it doesn't happen to someone else." She swallowed hard and raised her hand to push at her neatly curled locks. "I've been pushing the senator and the representatives in Chicago for better CCTV in the area." She trailed off seeing the anger continue to flash in Ellie's eyes. Her hand slipped back down to her side. "Look, it's Christmas-"
"That's why I'm here," Ellie interrupted. She glanced over to Zoey again, her gaze mellowed for her sister. "To see Zoey's accommodation at long last and have Christmas dinner with the family."
Cadence extended a hand out towards her in a gesture of offering. "You could join us tonight," she suggested softly.
Ellie shook her head at this. "No, I'd rather not ruin the mood for any of us." Ellie finally stepped back from the doorway. "I'm leaving anyway." She headed over to the chair where a tan coat was hanging, grabbed it and put it on. "Be careful of the press Zoey," she cautioned her sister, "especially considering the company you keep."
Cadence tensed again with the obvious accusation but she had no argument to offer, it was true, she drew a lot of press despite her best intentions.
"Ellie, come on, that's not fair," Zoey retorted. "Why don't you join us?"
Ellie gave her sister a small smile. "I'd really prefer not to and I promised mom I'd be there tonight. Have a good night Zoey and I'll see you tomorrow."
Zoey returned the smile although her gaze remained irritated. "Alright Ellie, see you tomorrow."
Ellie returned to the doorway, looking at Cadence pointedly until she stepped back.
"Have a good night Ellie," Cadence said quietly.
"Make sure Zoey does too," Ellie responded calmly.
Ellie started to walk off with her entourage of Secret Service, her frown making it clear that she didn't appreciate the attention they were drawing to her.
Cadence watched the woman go with a gaze of guilt-fuelled grief. They had been so close once and Cadence had many fond memories of the middle Bartlet child but there were many angry ones too as their shared relationship with Robbie had destroyed their friendship. Given he was now five years deceased, Cadence wondered bitterly how it was that his death hadn't been able to bring them back together again.
"Cady," Zoey called out to her friend gently.
Cadence glanced over to Zoey in surprise before giving her a wide smile. "Ready to go then Zoey?" she quipped with a forced happiness.
Zoey nodded. "Hey, did you get hold of Tom?"
The mirth vanished from Cadence's gaze and her mouth settled into a line as she tried to hold off the frown. "No," she admitted.
Cadence didn't want to labour Zoey with the details of the day. How she knew that Tom had suffered a humiliating loss in the House thanks to some sly manipulations from the West Wing team and a quick manoeuvre from the Vice President. She had been trying to get hold of him after learning of the outcome in the House in part to console him but also to extend him an invite to her night out with Zoey as Charlie was also coming.
The entire situation had made Cadence feel awkward. She knew she be glad for the victory and she was, it was good P.R for John after all and he had been able to deal a blow against Senator Whyte, although Cadence was wary he might pay for that. She knew if she didn't know the Republican at the heart of it she would have been delighted but she did know him so she couldn't feel the joy of victory like the other Democrats. Cadence was just grateful she hadn't seen John today and wouldn't see him until after Boxing Day.
"Oh, do you want me to tell Charlie not to come?" Zoey offered. "It won't be a problem," she added quickly with a smile.
Cadence smiled back and shook her head. "No, it's fine, the more the merrier. I know you're not seeing him tomorrow B.B and you want some Christmas time with him."
Zoey gave a grateful smile before she hastened to grab a coat. As she pulled one on, she paused at her vanity table to spray on more perfume.
Cadence's smile widened as she watched Zoey. It was nice to see that despite her father's profession, Zoey was still capable of the normal teenaged experience of first love and the nervous butterflies and endearing mixture of vanity and self-consciousness that came with it.
"Well, you should try Tom again," Zoey suggested, "isn't it your first Christmas together?" she added with another grin.
With Zoey's words, Cadence blushed slightly as she wondered if she was falling into the trappings of young love, it wasn't the same as first love but it had a certain giddiness to it that came with the youth of a relationship when one was still in the honeymoon period and celebrating the firsts of it- first kiss, first date, first Christmas. There was also nerves with it, that worry about your partner's opinion because you didn't know them quite well enough to figure out their emotions, the fear of inadvertently scaring them off or getting too close because you might lose them. Cadence felt a tightness in her stomach at that thought as she wondered if it was maybe just her fear.
Zoey returned to the door and stepped out, taking care to close and lock it behind her. "You know I'll want to hear more about him tonight Cady cat, all I get from dad is that he's old and in the wrong party."
Cadence snickered at this. "Well, Tom has positive attributes too," she joked.
The pair started walking and it was only as they neared the end of the corridor that Cadence noticed the change in accompaniment.
"What happened to Gina? Is she on leave for the holidays?" Cadence queried curiously as she glanced over her shoulder to the two agents in tow. They were dressed smartly, not quite penguin suits, they stood out a little as bodyguards but Cadence figured they would blend in once they were actually out, fitting in with the other fancy dressed Christmas celebrators.
Zoey dipped her head slightly and pressed the tips of her two middle fingers together as she considered her answer. "Um, it was time for her to move on, some other Secret Service work I guess," she retorted awkwardly.
Cadence glanced at Zoey out of the corner of her eye curiously as they continued walking. "You guess," she stated flatly. "Did she not tell you B.B? No fond farewell?"
Zoey sighed. "She was um too strict," she murmured.
"So not it was time for her to move then," Cadence retorted. "Did you get her fired?" she queried suspiciously with a hint of mockery in her voice.
"Not exactly, look it's common to change over agents, keeps people from spotting them or spying a trend or something like that," Zoey muttered. "Can we not talk about it Cady, I want to try and just be a normal college student having a nice night out for Christmas."
Cadence held her hands up apologetically. "Alright B.B, we'll have merriment, festivities and tinsel galore."
"And eggnog?" Zoey pried hopefully. She turned an eager glance up to Cadence, showing off her silver, pine tree shaped earrings as she did.
Cadence laughed and pulled a face at the suggestion. "No, it's disgusting and you're underage. As Ellie reminded me, I've made the press enough without some headlines about getting the underage First Daughter drunk."
Zoey pouted slightly at this. They stepped out of the accommodation building at last and veered for the waiting private car. "When did you become no fun Cady cat? Are you acting mature now because you're dating a pensioner?" she teased.
"Ha, he's only thirty-eight," Cadence retorted even as she grinned, "and you won't be meeting him if you're going to call him that. Dad's complained so often about his age, I actually caught poor Tom hunting out grey hairs!"
Cadence's smile faded again as she thought of Tom and wondered how he was. She knew she was going to have to call him again, the feeling of worry for him had settled in her gut and it wasn't going to shift until she learned how he was.
Zoey laughed, missing how Cadence's expression had shifted to sombreness as they approached the car.
Josh had his head buried in his arms as he sought escape. He had settled for a lull that was neither asleep nor awake and was quite alarmed when his phone started ringing.
"Don...Donna," he mumbled as he fumbled to sit upright. "Donna noise!" He palmed his face and blinked at the red light flashing on his phone in confusion.
Wondering if he was still asleep, he glanced at his watch and let out a groan. It was after seven in the evening and Donna was away, seeking some sappy form of Christmas magic in the form of a Christmas Eve date. Josh had teased and taunted her over it, scorning her for such sappy cliches, unwilling to admit that he was just envious that she had a date and he didn't.
Josh reached out and grappled with his phone, dropping it on the desk by accident before he plucked it up again.
"Um hello, Josh Lyman, er Josh Lyman's office," he greeted tiredly as he reached a hand up to his brow and clenched his fingers against it.
"Wow I was right, you don't have a life outside work," Tom Landis' sardonic voice retorted.
"Tom," Josh greeted with surprise. He sat upright and glanced to his door, the blinds were parted and he could see no activity outside. He figured just about everyone had gone. He had some dim recollection of Sam and C.J wishing him a Merry or Happy Christmas, he couldn't quite recall which. He remembered clearly that Toby had been the one snarling about false merriment in a time of austerity.
"How...how are you?" Josh knew the question was dumb the moment it escaped him and he tried to avoid it but it was out there before he could help it.
"I think you could hazard a guess," Tom retorted, maintaining his sharp sarcastic tone. "Do you have plans Josh? I'm sure you do, it's Christmas Eve after all but maybe you don't, which is why I called. I could do with a drink and better the devil you know, right?"
Josh was stunned at the offer. "Um...you don't have local friends?" he queried. "Sorry, I didn't mean for that to sound how it did."
Tom gave a brief, biting laugh at this. "Yes, you did," he said calmly. "I don't have local friends without plans, most of them have family to spend the evening with and all my other pals are back in Chesapeake, seems a bit of a journey to make just to have someone to drink with."
"What about Cadence?" Josh pried.
There was silence on the line, long enough for Josh to guess that when Tom finally responded he wasn't telling the entire truth.
"She's out," Tom retorted bluntly, "with Zoey I think."
"Oh." Josh recalled Tom's confession about lacking parents and a sister. He could relate to it a little, it was why he was still in his office after all, trying to evade the holidays and the constant call of trumpets and flash of twinkling lights that conjured unpleasant memories for him. "Yeah, I've no local friends either," he admitted. "Sam's on a date with Mallory, C.J wants to drink and watch movies alone, Toby embraces solitude and hates anything happy plus he doesn't celebrate anyway, and anyone else I know lives miles away."
"So, would you like a drink with the enemy then?" Tom quipped, some of his usual warmth slipping back into his voice. "I won't even get mad if you call it a victory drink," he tacked on.
Josh gave a half-smile at this and glanced at his watch again. "Sure Tom, let's have a drink." He stretched and winced as his back gave a slight crack. "Where should we meet?"
"Midnight Midterms," Tom responded, "I have a table there."
"Alright then, er..." Josh glanced down at his wrinkled shirt. "Do I have to dress for this?"
Tom laughed. "Well I wouldn't comment but others might find nudity inappropriate."
Josh was surprised by the bashfulness that overcame him. He bowed his head and fidgeted with his dark curls as he smiled. "Right, um that's not what I meant," he answered quietly.
"I know Josh, wear what makes you comfortable."
"Don't be vague like that, last time I followed that advice from someone I was in jeans and everyone else was in black tie," Josh complained. "What are you wearing Tom?"
"Right now? Josh you'll have to pay good money for that answer," Tom joked.
Josh gave a nervous chuckle as he felt that same odd, uneasy embarrassment again.
"A suit, not white for a change," Tom remarked. "It is Christmas Eve after all even if it doesn't feel like it," he grumbled.
"Okay, well I can manage a suit, give me...an hour?"
"Sure Josh, I'll see you there and thanks."
"No problem."
As Josh hung up the phone he wondered what in the hell he was thinking agreeing to drinks with Tom. Leo was already sore with him for hooking Tom and Cadence up, despite Josh's insistences that he hadn't, he could only imagine the rage his boss would have if he thought Josh was socialising with him too. Then there was Toby, the thought of Toby's reaction to Josh 'fraternising with the enemy' made Josh grin. It was just so hard to think of Tom in those terms sometimes, sure he could be the bastard politician as he'd proved with his attempt to sway the House to a tax reduction but outside of politics he was charming and friendly. He had a warmth to him many politicians didn't, Democrats included.
Josh stood up and glanced at his watch again before he hurried from the office. He figured if he moved fast he could squeeze in a quick shower.
"Hey Tom, it's me again. Look, I don't want to be the needy, repetitively calling girlfriend so I'll make this my last call, I'd just like to know how you are. I'm out at the moment, at The Pearl Giftbox if you'd like to join us, looks like we're staying here."
Cadence's twisted the phone chord about her fingers as she left a voice message on Tom's home phone. It was the second message she had left after trying his office phone earlier in the day and leaving a message there. She stood in a partially closed off phone booth, her free hand pressed up to her ear as she tried to block out some of the club's noise.
"Anyway, I hope you're having a nice Christmas Eve."
Cadence hung up the phone and cursed as she realised she'd inadvertently knotted the chord about her hand. With effort she untangled it before grabbing her silver sequinned clutch from the shelf. She stepped back from the booth and made a beeline for the busy bar, ignoring the jovial calls she received from a group of middle aged men sharing shots at a table.
The Pearl Giftbox presented itself as an exclusive, classy but very much party oriented club. It had enough of a security presence for the Secret Service to consider it acceptable for Zoey to enter, although that didn't stop them from setting up at a table beside hers. The tables were both private, secured by Cadence in advance, it had been pricey but she was determined Zoey had a good night.
The music wavered between cheesy festive and the favoured pop hits of the decade picked by who mastered the music for two separate dance floors, one on the ground level and one for the more exclusive level above, where Cadence, Zoey and Charlie lingered.
The second floor was busy but not the crowded sweat fest of the ground floor, although the clientele for both floors tended to favour the rich college workers and high paid office workers, the second floor was that little bit pricier and fancier. Every table was decorated with sparkling, snow white covers, silver snowflake shaped coasters and in lieu of candles they had lit up snow globes for centrepieces depicting scenes of sleighs, snowmen, reindeer and Santa Claus. There were miniature, lightly frosted, false fir trees propped up in corners, decorated with lights, silver tinsel and topped with silver stars whilst silver baubles and glittering white snowflakes dropped down from the ceiling and the bar tops had glass topped that concealed a fake layer of glittering snow, highlighted by built in lights. Even the air had been scented with an odour of pine and spice although the colliding scents of expensive perfumes and aftershaves, and the mixture of scent tasting and smelling cocktails almost overwhelmed it.
Cadence matched with the décor unintentionally, having chosen a flattering, tight, silver sequinned dress for the evening with a silver snowflake charmed bracelet on her right wrist coupled with matching earrings. She also wore a pair of glittering silver pumps, not practical but they fit with the rest of her attire. Only her coat clashed with her outfit. It was currently resting on a chair at the table because she had refused to check it. Zoey had queried it and laughed when Cadence had refused to check it. Cadence had flustered to explain, blushing as Zoey giggled and rubbing her thumb over the Chessie pin protectively as she admitted the coat was a gift from Tom.
Cadence ordered a glass of sparkling wine at the bar and downed it eagerly from the champagne glass almost as soon as it was presented to her before requesting another eagerly along with a virgin Winter White cocktail for Zoey and a pint of beer for Charlie. She smiled at the barman as he offered to bring the excessively priced drinks to the table for her, before she paid by card.
As Cadence returned to the table she felt the fizz of the alcohol tinged bubbles begin to take effect making it easier for her to fake a smile for Zoey and Charlie. She didn't know how many drinks she had had now, she just knew she needed the alcohol to try and quell the knot of worry building in her but so far it wasn't working.
Charlie seemed to be forcing an effort too. He was tense, protective of Zoey and too wary of everyone around them. It wasn't that he didn't want to enjoy it, he did but part of him demanded that he stay on eternal guard for his girlfriend especially considering Rosslyn and another part of him was in a natural state of readiness in case disaster struck the White House and he got a call from work. It was the nature of the job, the President's business was all year long and matters of state ad country did not stop, not even for Christmas.
"Well guys, when are you dancing?" Cadence quipped as she sat down opposite them.
"Oh no," Charlie retorted with a smile and a wave of his hands. "You and Zoey can dance, not me." Charlie glanced over his shoulder to the dance floor and quipped, "I'm surprised there isn't a charge to go on there."
Zoey gave her boyfriend a playful nudge. "It's not that bad," she scolded him before she turned an excitable smile onto Cadence. "The music in here is great!"
Cadence gave Charlie a sympathetic look when he turned back to the table. "I agree the prices are a little steep," she admitted, "but I figured it would please Zoey's college friends," she said with a knowing nod to Zoey's entourage, "and it is Christmas."
"Oooh," Charlie pulled a face at Cadence's words, "that saying gets exploited a lot by Zoey."
"It does not!" Zoey protested instantly with wide eyes. She could not even feign a show of rage however as the smile slipped out.
Cadence smiled too. "Well it's only once a year you can use the phrase. I find it's a great excuse to devour cheese boards," she added eagerly.
"See now that I can't understand," Charlie said with a shake of his head, "I mean you have so many other better choices for dessert."
"Oh Charlie you just haven't had a good Parmigiano-Reggiano," Cadence retorted brightly.
Cadence glanced over as one of the Secret Service agents stood to accept their drinks. She stifled a smirk as he took the tray from the baffled, antler wearing waiter and scrutinised it carefully before presenting it to them.
"Thanks," she said with a nod as she reached for her drink whilst Charlie lifted down the others. "Wow, guard duty and waiter service, very practical," Cadence joked as she winked at Zoey.
Zoey giggled back before looking curiously at the cocktail she was presented with. It came in a tall glass with a honeycomb paper penguin and a glittering, white ball of fluff on a silver stick meant to resemble a snowball.
"Aww it's cute," Zoey enthused. She twisted the penguin round before adding, "although nothing like the guys you make Cady cat." Zoey glanced up to her friend and leaned across the table. "Did you get hold of Tom earlier?" she queried hopefully.
Cadence made herself maintain her smile as she shook her head. "No, he's probably out but I told him where we were just in case."
Zoey's gaze brightened. "Oh, well maybe," she chirped up.
Cadence nodded briskly this time, all too conscious of the concern in Zoey's eyes. She seized up her drink and downed half the glass as she stared out to the dance floor.
"I'm going to the ladies' room," she said as she sat the half-drained glass down, "but after, we'll dance."
Cadence stood up and headed for the staircase that led down to the toilets. She wobbled slightly on her heels. Telling herself she just wasn't used to her shoes, she grasped the bannister for support. The one thing the club lacked was two floors of toilets, a security hazard for Zoey for sure but there wasn't a lot that could be done about that.
Josh looked across the dark table at Tom curiously, unsure why the man had insisted on going out. He could understand the desire to have a drink to ease the sting of the day or to even have several to block out the misery entirely but Tom evidently wasn't feeling eased and he was drinking too slowly to hit the stage of merry denial.
The bar, Midnight Midterms, was a trap, it wasn't quite devil horns and hellfire but the Republican aura was there. The conversation amongst most of the small groups of drinkers was political, oriented around outrage over taxes and a desire for a stronger military presence, especially after Colombia. Josh wondered sardonically if they were ever getting out from under that cloud.
The bar itself was posh, man in a suit at the door posh, more of a hotel doorman than a bouncer, ready to turn away riffraff with a stare of contempt rather than a menacing show of muscles. Josh figured the wilting stare might be harsher, one could get over being told they were too drunk or rowdy for somewhere but simply not good enough because of class or a lack of wealth? That was cruel.
The bar was nice inside with a theme of black and gold with dark padded booths, subtle mood lighting and the detailed portraits of prominent politicians in history hung on the walls in gilded frames, mainly Republicans with a few token Democrats so one couldn't accuse the bar of being entirely one sided, even though it had chosen the conservative Democrats, renegades ill-liked by their own party.
Josh didn't really mind, the Christmas atmosphere was downplayed with a few small, black Christmas trees with gold baubles put up in corners grudgingly and a low hum of Christmas music over the speakers. No one was donning cheesy Christmas jumpers, flashing red noses or light up antlers. It was nice.
"Tom, are you okay?" Josh pried.
Tom looked up from his pint and gave Josh a bitter smile before his pale blue stare softened in apology. "No, I thought this might help but maybe I'm just wallowing now," he admitted. "I'm sorry I brought you out to wallow too."
Tom had been a million miles away and he knew it. Over and over he replayed that moment in Congress, not the political failure everyone assumed he was aggrieved with but those couple of minutes when the Vice President had drew him close to give a dark confession that Tom still couldn't come to terms with. He wondered sardonically how priests always managed to keep a solemn stare.
Josh gave an awkward grin at Tom's response. "Heh, wallow, I thought that was something warthogs or hippos did," he joked.
Tom offered Josh a courtesy smile at his jest but his stare was jaded as he was still lost in thought.
Josh took a gulp from his own almost finished pint. He didn't know what he was supposed to say and wondered again why he had come out.
"Tom, is it more than what happened today?" Josh pried. "I mean, is it more than the issue with tax reductions for guardians bothering you?"
Tom stared down at the table before sighing. "You know the VP said it wasn't personal but it was," he said angrily.
Josh's brown eyebrows lifted slightly at the anger that slipped into Tom's voice.
"It was personal for me," Tom muttered. He seized up his glass and took a deep gulp before setting it down again.
"What was? The legislation?"
Tom glanced up at Josh again, his gaze startled before the anger returned and he nodded. "Yes, that too. I wanted that to come from me, I wanted to be able to say, Merry Christmas, I've done this at least."
"Merry Christmas to who?" Josh pried quietly.
Josh didn't think he really wanted to know, sure he had a curiosity about the matter in that it would reveal more about Tom but making things personal in politics especially when it was the losing side was a mucky business. One couldn't get that way about it, then you became bogged down, that was why it had to be about the people, what might be good for one person might not be so good for others and that was had you had to justify it in the end, that it was for the greater good, the majority. He realised it was one of the divides between Democrats and Republicans, the Democrats believed and pushed for community responsibility whilst the Republicans looked to the rights of the individual.
Tom fixed a serious stare on Josh.
Josh felt a little intimidated by Tom's stare, his eyes were so pale when he was angry they were like literal shards of ice. Josh's dark brown gaze darted down slightly, wavering at the blue tie knotted askew at Tom's throat before he made himself look up again to Tom's stare.
"My nephew, Henry," Tom responded calmly. He stretched his right hand out across the table to tap on the wood with one finger. "He lives with his grandparents, his late father's parents, they don't earn much, never have and they've never taken a cent from me."
Josh's chocolate brown gaze filled with realisation. "Ah. You wanted the bill for them," he stated what now seemed obvious. He wondered at the mention of the boy's father being dead before pushing the thought away. Thinking about Tom's family grief only made him consider his own and with that grief came a rush of panic because he feared who might be next and how it might happen. It was the irrational fear that perhaps if he failed to do something or didn't do it right or on time it would lead to something which would lead to a catastrophic loss that couldn't be undone. It was the butterfly effect, some uncontrollable that Josh tried to control anyway.
Josh tensed and glanced to the tinted windows as he heard the faint blast of trumpets. Some street performers unseen trying to bring Christmas cheer. In that brief moment he despised them. He made himself return his focus to Tom, determined to stay in the present grim as it was.
Tom nodded. "Them and others like them, people who have to open their home without warning to extended relations to keep them from falling into the state's hands, to keep them with what family they can no matter what their financial situation is. They're not classified as fosters or adopters, not in the same way, guardians is the term and they never seem to have the support they should."
Tom leaned back in his chair with an angry shake of his head. "I suppose they're getting something now so I should be glad for it but damn it, you Democrats stole it away from me. It should have been my gift to them!"
Josh frowned at Tom's accusation. "Tom come on, I didn't do it and it was just politics, you know the game. You must have known the risks when you dropped it for Chicago," it took Josh a lot of self-control not to say 'Cadence' instead. "Involving Haffley and especially Whyte wasn't a good move, you knew we'd have to respond to that."
Tom sighed and waved off Josh's words. "I thought that maybe you guys could see reason with this," he grumbled, "that it was a good thing to do but you couldn't let a Republican have that kind of victory," he complained. "You took it from me, tweaked it and stamped the Democrats' name on it, made it official with your wonderfully charming VP," he snarled sarcastically as the right corner of his mouth crept up in a sneer. "Twice now I've got screwed by your party with my pants on."
Josh glanced at his watch and then turned his head outwards in frustration. "Why does that analogy keep coming up?" he quipped quietly. He didn't like the metaphor, it had him thinking inappropriately of its double meaning.
"I'm sorry Josh," Tom said quickly as he pushed his left hand up through his hair, mussing the gelled spikes slightly, "I am. I didn't invite you out to be the bearer of my rage, that's not fair. It just was an all round bad day."
Josh nodded before he turned back to his pint and finished it. He wondered again why Tom had invited him out, was he really the only one left in town for Tom to call? He knew it was Tom's insightfulness to have guessed correctly that Josh would be at work late even on Christmas Eve and without plans.
Tom finished his pint too. "Will you have another?" he queried.
Josh was ready to refuse after Tom's minor outburst but then he saw the plea in the man's blue eyes and knew his refusal would seem like another blow from the Democrats. Here he was getting personal again, he knew it was stupid, hell it was downright idiotic and risky considering the abuse he would take from Toby and Leo for it and probably some healthy dose of mockery from Sam too. He decided that Tom was too human for his liking, too charming and easygoing, it was impossible not to want to please him, to desire to banish the heavy woe in his arctic gaze and resurrect that odd, uneven smile of his.
"Sure Tom," Josh gave in, hating himself as well for being a little too human for his own liking. He figured he could and would blame the beer. "Tell me, is something else bothering you? I think, despite what you said, you did want to vent to someone. Is it Cadence? Did something happen with her?"
Tom pulled his hands into his lap and bowed his head slightly. "I don't think I really know her Josh," he said sombrely, "I thought I did but I don't know now. I think I made a fantasy of it and thought she liked me but I chased her I suppose. Maybe she is just trying to get back at her father and I'm too blind to see it." Tom shrugged as misery filled with his face. "I wonder about it now."
Tom turned his head up to Josh, offering him another smile, this one crooked and tense. "Here I am telling you and you know don't you? You call her names, you ward people off her, perhaps I should have listened. Hell she warned me too about complications." His gaze brightened slightly as his smile warmed. "But she's such a wonderfully quirky woman and she has endearing oddities. She's strong too considering all she's been through in life, to still be able to get up and face her job and the press and the public, that's impressive and she cares so much for people, too much perhaps, her guilt consumes her."
Josh knew he had a chance now to end Tom and Cadence and win back Leo's approval but hearing Tom's voice brighten as he listed Cadence's qualities had Josh realising that he just could not do it.
"Tom, Cadence took a risk dating you, she was already unpopular with the press, her father, the White House and the public after the Colombia mess. Yes, she earned back some support and forgiveness for her public apology there but if you need forgiveness it means you're guilty, publicly anyway," he added hastily as he saw fresh anger bud in Tom's frosty stare. He held up his right palm slightly in protest. "I'm not saying she needed it Tom. My point is, dating a Republican was the last thing she should've done and if it was just for fun or a dalliance she could've picked a Democrat and if she wanted to get back at her father, well there is worse than you."
Josh gave Tom a faint smile before he pushed his hands through his curls as he wondered how it was that he was now defending Cadence to her Republican boyfriend.
"Look Tom, I'm not exactly a fan of your relationship, mainly because Leo, her father and my boss, blames me for it, but I don't doubt the sincerity of it. I agree, she's problematic, super problematic, hell she just seems to attract trouble but I suppose she doesn't necessarily mean to and a lot of it has come from things she can't really help."
Tom frowned. "Things in her past," Tom said moodily, "at least, I think it's her past. I suppose we haven't known each other long enough for me to know for sure." His frown deepened and he folded his arms. "What if her past has more terrible things to offer?" he queried darkly.
"That's unfair Tom, everyone has a past." Josh's smile took on a sardonic tinge. "Granted, Cadence's past is more colourful than most and sadly a good chunk of it is quite public now." He gestured to himself with one hand. "I'm usually her biggest critic for it. The problems she's caused Leo and the president over things in her past but I'll admit she's doing her best to make amends for it. She's grown since I first met her. I think Tom, this isn't as random as you're making out," Josh guessed, "something has prompted this and it's a conversation you should have with her."
Tom nodded before he glanced to the bar. "Well, let's not get into it. Let's have another drink and maybe forgo the wallowing."
"Well Tom, if you don't want wallowing I'd suggest a better bar," Josh said with a smirk. "Come on, let me take you somewhere with some real atmosphere. We can get inebriated, sing Christmas songs and come morning Tiny Tim will tell me it's a miracle and Leo McGarry has decided he likes you and all is forgiven and the world will be at peace," he jested.
Tom laughed at this. "Sounds good. Alright Josh, show me how you Democrats celebrate."
Morose was not a mood for Christmas Eve. Cadence knew it and she knew that her poor form was affecting Charlie and Zoey's night despite her best efforts. It was why she had insisted on leaving them to it. They had been reluctant to share a dance despite her insisting and each one they had shared had been brief before they had hurried back to her, their poor third wheel. When they had both protested and worried over how she might get home, Charlie giving a serious stare that suggested he was concerned over the amount of alcohol she had consumed, Cadence had been jovial in an attempt to reassure them that it was no big deal.
Cadence hadn't given them much room to argue in the end. There had been a final drink and a farewell dance during which she had feigned some bright merriment so they accepted her mood was good. Then she had smiled, promised she was fine, reminded them she was an adult and grabbed her coat. Having Charlie insist on an escort to the taxi was unavoidable.
Cadence felt a little guilty over the matter but the crowd of party goers was beginning to feel suffocating even when they kept their distance. She had been surrounded by happiness and trying to fake it was exhausting and the alcohol hadn't helped. She couldn't shake her worry over Tom. Hell, if she really thought about it that was far from her only concern, especially since she figured he was probably fine just a little sore from the political beating he had taken. Although there was a slight fear that he might blame her for it somehow because she was indirectly to connected to him taking a desperate route to try and push his policy, which had ultimately led to its demise, a demise carried out by her boss the Vice President.
Cadence had been trying to block out thoughts of her family as well, tomorrow would be the first Christmas with her parents separated, the first Christmas her father had spent in a hotel and without Mallory. The worst was that Cadence's mother had yet to contact her, there had been no phone call to offer holiday cheer, a query over her plans or even a card.
Cadence felt a dull ache in her chest as she moved through crowds of merriment and festive well wishers. She had exhausted herself trying to fake a facade to blend in with them and keep Zoey's spirits high but the truth was her mood for the evening had been soured long before she had come out. First, there was Jenny's neglect, then Tom's failings and his avoidance of her, and then Ellie there in the flesh to confront her over all the bad memories of Robbie, Cadence had inadvertently caused to be publicly dragged up. It was hard to smile and say 'Merry Christmas' when thinking of one's murdered boyfriend. Every single time Cadence thought she had escaped that shadow something or someone always seemed to drag her back to it. It was as Tom had suggested, guilt was the penance she subjected herself to for the crime of living when Robbie had died.
Cadence sucked in a welcome breath of fresh air as she escaped outside. So many weren't seeing Christmas this year- the murdered people in Texas and Agent Benjamin Sparks were just a handful that came to her mind.
Charlie gave the woman a look of concern. Anxious as he was to return to Zoey and the warmth of the club, he wasn't going to let Cadence wander into the night.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Charlie queried quietly.
Cadence gave him a reassuring smile and nodded. "Charlie, I'll be fine, I promise, I know how to get a cab home from a club."
Charlie gave her a small smile in answer and nodded. "Alright, well let me get the cab at least but you don't have to go you know."
"I know but I want to and I want you and Zoey to have a good night. Come on, let's not keep her waiting."
Charlie nodded again before he waved over one of the waiting cabs. He opened the door for her and stood waiting, watching attentively as she got in.
"Thanks," Cadence murmured, "and Merry Christmas Charlie."
"Merry Christmas Cady."
She gave her address and sagged in the seat with a moment of relief.
Charlie closed the door after he heard her give her address, clearly despite her state of merry tipsiness. He watched the cab as it took off, making a note of the company and registration. It was simply paranoia coupled with protocol he learned over the years. Cadence was an adult and she had a right to go home alone if she pleased but he was a little concerned that perhaps she was a practised enough drunk to know how to feign some sobriety when necessary.
The night was almost over. Cadence could go home and sleep off her drunken stupor, maybe Tom would call, maybe he wouldn't, her mother sure as hell wouldn't at this rate but come tomorrow Cadence would fix on a smile and enjoy a Christmas lunch with her father. She gave a small smile as she considered that she was lucky to have another Christmas with her father. Tension replaced her brief joy as she considered just how close she had come to missing out on it. Colombia was another shadow she could never quite shake. Her hand brushed against her right side, shedding a silver sequin to the floor as her fingers pressed against an unseen scar. Tom had yet to ask about it but he had to know it wasn't natural. T for thief, T for traitor, T for tramp.
Cadence tensed up, reaching to grip her clutch tightly with both hands. She just wanted peace. A moment to hide from the world and delay dealing with it for just a few hours. Her hands abandoned the clutch to claw up through her scalp. Her head was spinning as her thoughts jumped about. She wondered if Tom would mind. She figured he could just not answer the door. Maybe he was in bed and she should just go home. Except she was wide awake, eager to hide from the world in Tom's spot but also filled with a desire to feel his warm body against hers and crush the terrible feeling of loneliness that haunted her.
Cadence smiled again as she figured if he didn't answer then she'd just head home but maybe he'd appreciate the surprise of her in a figure hugging silver dress. Her head bobbed forward to her lap and she reached her left hand up to her brow, she was feeling a little dizzy. Well Tom would have water, maybe she'd have water first and then some fun.
"Can you change the route please?" she quipped as she glanced up the driver. Her vision bounced slightly and she blinked hard.
"Sure, where to?" he grunted back without a glance.
Cadence's smile widened as she leaned back in the seat. "To my boyfriend's," she said happily, liking how the word sounded on her tongue.
The driver shook his head. "Lady where is that?"
"Oh." Cadence giggled before she gave the address. "He's not a snob," she insisted, "well so he says but he has a hat stand. I mean he says it's for coats but it's not," she babbled as the car changed route.
Cadence marvelled at the decorative lights they passed by before her head began to spin with the blur of lights prompting her to glance to her lap in an attempt to still the sudden rise of nausea.
Cadence closed her eyes as she tried to block out the bouncing. She was freezing and eager to be in a warm house, hers or Tom's it didn't really matter now, bed, water and heat seemed good enough.
Josh continued singing 'Jingle Bells' off-key as he stepped out of the cab whilst Tom offered up a generous tip. Full of humour and warmed by whiskey after Tom had insisted he take some at the last bar they had visited, Josh didn't even feel the ice in the air. Happy and merry, he ignored Tom's laughter filled hushing noises and continued to sing Christmas tunes as he started walking up the sidewalk.
"Wait, wait," Josh paused with a grin. He whirled round causing his long coat to swing out dramatically as he turned back to Tom with a grin. "Where do you live again?"
"Not that way," Tom retorted with a smile. "Come on." He turned round and started walking.
"Tom this really had better be the best whiskey in your house," Josh called as he followed. "I'm talking, super valuable, gold flecked and all that, otherwise it won't be worth it because if Leo ever finds out-"
"Finds out what?" Tom sneered mockingly. "That you had a drink with a Republican? He'd think we were drinking the blood of innocents," he remarked cheerfully.
"The old Republican," Josh teased before he could help it. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets regretting his choice not to wear gloves.
"Ha, ha," Tom retorted sardonically as he glanced back to Josh. "You're in my age group you know!"
"Yet I am younger," Josh continued to joke. "Seriously though," he raised a finger and mimed a 'shush' motion, "it's a seshcret."
Tom's snickered at this. "We're not having an affair," he mocked. "If I wanted that, I'd have picked Sam."
"Hey!" Josh lowered his hand and gaped at Tom in surprise as he leaned forward. "Why'd you pick him?"
Tom halted as he faced Josh, raised his hands to his hips and he grinned back. "He's the cuter of you two."
"Oh really," Josh let out a burp before he could help it, "well you wouldn't be my Republican pick."
Tom raised his eyebrows slightly at this and laughed. "You'd be lucky to have me."
"No," Josh protested as he pointed at him, "I'm the one getting the grief from Leo, you're...you'd be the lucky one." He grinned happily at this. "I'm making the sacrifices. Even tolerating you, Leo still has it in for you," he added.
Tom nodded. "I've noticed," he said bitingly as he slackened his hands and glanced over his shoulder. "A liberal president but no love for the liberal Republican."
"Is she worth it?" Josh jested. He regretted the question the moment it was out considering their earlier conversation. "Sorry, poor tact." Josh started to sing 'Frosty the Snowman' in an attempt to divert from the topic.
It was too late, Tom was once again thinking about the bombshell the V.P had delivered him earlier. That terrible, taunting piece of news that Tom had spent most of the night trying and failing to forget. Every time he thought he'd quashed the thought suddenly it was there, an image of Cadence and the smarmy, sneering Vice President. Tom couldn't fathom it, Cadence was young as everyone had pointed out so it was impossible that she had ever had a relationship with John Hoynes while he was single. Had it even been a relationship or was it just a night stand? Either way it had to have been an affair. Tom didn't know what to think, he simply wished he didn't know but he did and he couldn't forget because he had to wonder why the V.P had told him. What did John Hoynes gain from such a dangerous confession? He couldn't work that out but he couldn't believe it was a lie either.
Tom turned to the right to face the steps that led to his house. His mouth parted slightly as his glazed blue eyes suddenly sharpened, focusing in on the small figure crouched on the steps.
Tom stepped forward cautiously, wary of the doubled over figure until a face turned up, peering out from a straggly clump of loose curls.
Tom halted and blinked in puzzlement as the figure looked up to him, bewildered and confused.
"Cady?" he quipped, still caught up in a moment of shock.
She gave a weak smile. "Sorry Tom. This, this was meant to be a surprise." She let out a groan and burrowed her hands up into her hair.
"Well it's certainly that," Tom murmured.
"No," Cadence lowered her hands and looked up to him again. "A sexy surprise," she snapped moodily. "Shit, you didn't answer your phone, you probably wanted left alone."
"Rockin' around the Christmas Tree have a-" Josh paused in his singing as he arrived upon the scene. "Oh, um, Merry...Evening Cadence," he said awkwardly as he took in the young woman's form.
Josh froze up, statue like behind Tom as he felt like a criminal caught in the act.
"I wasn't home," Tom blurted out.
"Well you probably wanted alone or not alone not with me," she mumbled, "but I was worried, you had a bad day."
Tom smiled at her sympathetically. "I think you're having a worse one. Did...didn't..." He paused and scratched at his hair in confusion. "Didn't you have a good night?"
A burp escaped Josh before he could help it. "I am so sorry," he said as they both glanced to him. He waved his hands out at them with a grin. "I didn't mean to ruin the drama, keep going."
Cadence looked to Tom apologetically as she moved to stand, wobbling on her heels slightly. "I'm sorry Tom. I should've went home, we didn't make plans but I thought I'd surprise you and it's sexy because I'm in sequins and your daynight would be better and...and I was sick on your porch," she concluded quickly. "Sorry." She shrugged before groaning as her stomach churned and she raised a hand to her mouth.
"I should go," Josh said quickly.
Tom glanced over his shoulder to the man still with a glimmer of confusion in his eyes. "It's okay, you can come in."
Tom turned his attention back to Cadence, giving her another sympathetic smile. He stepped up to her, his grin stretching up his face as she shook her head and took a step back. "You little mess," he teased as he leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. "Beautiful, little mess."
Tom took the young woman gently in his arms. "I'm sorry, I didn't check my messages and I'm glad you're here." He reached up to stroke her hair with one hand, brushing it against her cheek as he did. "You're freezing!" he scorned.
"So are you," Cadence grumbled.
"Hmm, maybe, well let's get indoors then." Tom hesitated to climb up the steps. "Where were you sick Cady?"
She pointed forward to the right side of the steps, her hand wavering as she failed to select a spot. "Somewhere there." A hiccup escaped her. "Oh God," she groaned.
Josh snickered from behind.
"I think maybe I'm not going to drink for a while," Cadence murmured in between a chorus of hiccups.
Tom nodded agreeably as he guided her up the steps with effort. It took more concentration than he had expected as his own senses were dulled with alcohol. "Maybe we both should do that," he mused. He reached out to the keypad, squinting and frowning as the numbers blurred and seemed to bounce slightly as he reached out to them.
Once they were inside Tom's apartment he helped Cadence take her coat off whilst Josh whistled appreciatively at their surroundings.
"Cady, that arm's out don't put it back in," Tom said patiently as he wrestled with a sleeve.
"Is that a hat stand? Do you have hats?" Josh queried.
"See, you should have hats!" Cadence cried out as she tried to turn to face Tom.
Tom frowned as she became tangled in her coat. "Stay still," he scorned.
With effort and some stumbling, Tom got Cadence's coat off and then his own before he put them on the stand with a pointed look to Josh. "Your coat for the coat stand," he said as he held out a hand to Josh.
Josh had his hands in his coat pockets still and kept looking back as if for escape. "I'm not staying," he muttered.
"You crossed the threshold, you're already damned," Tom teased with a grin. "Come on, bad manners."
"Snob," Cadence murmured.
Tom held her to him with one arm whilst he waved his free hand out to Josh, waiting for his coat. He could smell vomit and champagne on Cadence, an unpleasant mixture that had him wanting to recoil.
Josh surrendered his coat reluctantly in one quick gesture. "Gold flecks Tom, I mean it."
"In what?" Cadence queried sleepily.
"Whiskey," Tom retorted as he released her to hang the coat. "None for you, bed for you."
"You sound like dad," she scorned. "I wanted to sit in the spot, it's quiet and safe."
Tom looked at her oddly. "Safe from what?" he queried.
"The world."
Cadence gave him a smile before she reached to him, slipping her right hand through a gap between the buttons on his shirt as she leaned close to him. "You're warm," she said happily.
"You said I was cold."
Tom raised his hands to steady her, squirming slightly as her other hand moved lower. "Company Cady," he hissed out as he jerked back.
Cadence giggled. "Oops."
"I really should..." Josh trailed off as he gestured behind him with a thumb.
Tom glanced to him apologetically, offering another lopsided smile. "No, give me a minute while I get Cady sorted. Come on, kitchen's through here I'll get you a glass of whiskey to have while you wait."
Tom guided Cadence by one hand through to the kitchen. It was a generous size with a large island table furnished for four, vibrant and cream with a French Colonial style that managed to dominate even with the modern appliances in it.
Tom released Cadence to hunt out some glasses. He got her water from a filtered tap at the front of the fridge and pressed the glass gently into her hand before hunting out the whiskey from a bottle rack built into the wall beside a cupboard of fancy glasses with a square split view glass door and spotlights inside.
"Tom," Josh murmured as he eyeball the kitchen.
"Yes?"
"You're kind of a snob."
There was a spatter and the sound of water spraying as Cadence choked on a mouthful.
Tom glanced in Cadence's direction with mild despair before he smiled and shook his head. "Just good taste," he insisted before he set the glass and bottle on the island.
Cadence gave a sudden yelp as she staggered on her heels and smacked into a worktop. "Oops," she murmured.
"Dangerous footwear," Tom scorned as he hastened to her.
Cadence smiled and nodded as she slipped a hand about Tom and squeezed his buttocks.
Tom jumped slightly at the gesture before he smiled down at her and shook his head. "Naughty girl," he scorned. He sighed and turned his head upwards, wondering if some higher power had guessed at his doubts and was now testing him. He was simultaneously grateful and hateful for Josh's presence, part of him wanted the man gone so he could give into his rising libido and Cadence's obvious urges but another part of him was glad he had a reason to resist her because he didn't think it was fair to jump into bed with her with his mind so clouded.
"Let's get you into more comfortable clothes," Tom suggested as he began to guide her away.
"You want me naked, now who's naughty?" Cadence retorted gleefully.
Josh stared after them with an uncomfortable gaze and wondered if Tom would actually return. He winced as he heard the sound of feet stumbling upstairs followed by some thumping, a few curses and giggling. Josh's stare fell on the bottle of whiskey, he figured he'd two choices- sneak off quietly or get drunker and block it all out. Figuring it was the holidays and he was due a moment of recklessness, he reached for the bottle.
Upstairs, Tom found himself dusted in silver sequins as he wrestled with the zip on Cadence's dress. When he finally freed it and tugged it down he couldn't help but feel an amorous stirring in his trousers. When Cadence shrugged off the dress and turned to face him with her breasts exposed, he was incapable of resisting when she reached up to him, grabbing his head to pull herself up to kiss him.
Tom tensed as he felt her hardening nipples press into his shirt as her hands settled about his neck and her tongue roamed through his mouth. He knew he had to focus on something but also sensible thinking had left him. His brain was fuzzy and his thoughts blunt, right now there really was only one repetitive thought.
Cadence pulled away suddenly with a pant. She groaned and reached for the glass of water she'd left on the cabinet.
Tom watched silently as she gulped half the glass down before pushing a hand through her messy hair.
Cadence turned back to him with an apologetic smile. "Sorry I'm so drunk, I think...I'm a little too tired for it Tom, sorry." She stepped forward, stumbling just a little even though she was out of her heels and on her bare feet. "Can we sit in the spot? Can I have that? You and me? Where it's happy. I'm happy with you Tom, it's such a rare feeling, I'm terrified I'll lose it, can we sit in the spot where the happiness can't be touched?"
Tom gave her a sincere smile in answer before he pulled her into a tight hug. He cradled her soft body as close into him as he could manage without hurting her. He tried to force off the doubts that pressed against him, that quiet wondering if the affair had ended and when. He couldn't believe it of her that she would be with him and the Vice President. Josh was right, she wouldn't bring such difficulties upon herself.
"You like me then hmm?" Tom queried quietly.
"A lot."
"Is it only me Cady?"
Cadence was confused by the question. She pulled back slightly to turn a glazed stare up to Tom. "It scares me, I lost them, Robbie and Benny. I thought alone was good but it's not. It's only you, only you to lose Tom." She shuddered slightly. "Please don't lose me. Can we sit in the spot?" she pleaded.
"Don't lose you?" he queried in surprise. Tom pushed some of her tangled hair away from her face as he gave her a look of concern. "To who?"
Cadence's eyes became damp as she suppressed a shudder. "I wanted to get lost but not like that." She swallowed hard. "They made sure I'd remember, they scarred me."
"Hmm, well I'll always look out for you Cady."
Cadence smiled. "And I'll always look for you Tom because you're the only one I would look at."
Tom laughed, amused by her confusion over her words and thrilled with the confirmation that he was her only one. He kissed her, pressing his lips gently against hers as he closed his eyes briefly, wanting just as much as she did to preserve the brief moment of blissful happiness.
When Cadence hiccuped in his mouth and he caught a taste of vomit, the reality came thudding back.
Tom jerked back with an expression of distaste. "Right, clothes."
Josh was half asleep when Tom finally returned downstairs. Slumped at the tabletop, he jerked upright at the sound of footsteps.
Tom gazed in at him sympathetically and beckoned him quietly.
Confused from drink and sleep detriment, Josh staggered to his feet. He walked forward silently, abandoning the half-emptied glass of whiskey and the open bottle. When he reached Tom he tensed slightly as Tom wrapped his arm over Josh's shoulders and drew him away from the kitchen.
Tom led him quietly to the stairs.
Josh felt a protest budding in his throat and Tom urged him up but for some reason he couldn't get the words out. Tom was making such an effort to maintain silence that Josh was afraid to break it with speech. Yet he didn't know what the hell was happening now and an odd sort of nervousness tried to creep up in him. The alcohol urged indifference and shoved back his fears, telling him that whatever would be would be.
Tom halted outside a door and opened it slowly to a cosy single bedded room with a bedside lamp on offering a welcoming glow.
Josh stared in, in confusion, there was a set of red plaid pyjamas sitting on the pillow and the room seemed in wait for a user.
"It's late," Tom finally broke the silence although he kept his voice low, "and it's Christmas, cabs are double fare. You can stay here, no one has to know," he added with a wink.
Tom stepped back, retreating before Josh could protest.
"Um..." Josh stared after him, determined to argue anyway.
Tom held up a protesting hand, before turning it into a 'hush' gesture as he pressed a finger up to his mouth. "Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men, even the Republicans," he joked almost in a whisper. "Merry Christmas Josh, I'll set an alarm, make sure you don't miss your plans."
"I don't...don't have any, not my thing."
Tom flashed another smile at this. "Ah, at last we have a common ground. It's not my thing either."
Tom finally retreated for bed, returning to his room where he'd left Cadence passed out. Tired but happy, he finally shrugged off his suit and slipped into bed beside the young woman. He wondered what she'd think of the Cromwell, Regis '98 t-shirt he'd put her in, a reference to the close but failed Republicans who'd ran against Jed Bartlet and John Hoynes in the Presidential Election.
