Part Ten
"Toby's being himself, you know, worrying about everything in general and trying to keep everyone involved from doing stupid things," Leo informed the President as they stood by the office doorway, observing the staff as each filed in and took a seat. Toby was followed quickly by CJ and Josh, who couldn't help but turn and pointedly and quizzically stare at the male and female secret service agents that lagged behind.
"Which means." the President nodded to them, his words quiet and prodding, directed at Leo, would have been amused had the subject not been so serious.
"He's the one doing the stupid things," he paused, a tiny smile creasing his face, "That he's worried about CJ, trying to keep her from attempting a resignation." he whispered, eyed clouded, as the two men observe the nearly forced casual contact between the subjects of their conversation, things were too hard for something so easy.
"What?" Bartlet responded, his voice rising, then lowering again before he continued, "I won't accept it."
Leo nodded, "I know that sir, so do they," after another short pause, he added, "She doesn't like the agents."
"Neither do I, but they're necessary. She's still refusing police and public involvement?" he asked, knowing it was unnecessary. "Ron's. being Ron, he's coordinated her detail for the next 72 hours, and he's spoken with a specialist friend of his who knows about these things, nutcases. Dr. McJohn, I think he said his name was, says this Bowman sonofabitch is an accelerated case. These obsessions usually develop over months, even years. But this one. days, weeks at the most."
"Actually," his friend reminded him, as CJ leaned closer to Josh, all three laughing, Toby grudgingly so, "he met her a year ago. at least a year ago."
"You think he was watching her. since then? before then?" the President asked, but his Chief of Staff only shrugged in response. Slowly, they entered the room, rounding to the front.
"Gossiping like schoolchildren?" CJ asked, standing and straightening, smoothing her skirt.
"Who? The President and Chief of Staff? Never. Impossible," Josh chuckled at his own words.
"Ha."
Leo rolled his eyes, "If you're finished."
"And how are you CJ?" Bartlet interrupted.
"As well as can be expected, sir," she responded, eyes wide and sincere as he continued.
"CJ, I need to speak with you," he began, as Toby cocked his head, "And I suppose you want me to say what I will and get down to business, so I think I shall," he paused and Toby straightened, "We've launched an investigation - it will be kept from the public eye - don't argue with me, it's in your best interest. Just ask Toby."
Her mouth closed, argument halted, as her eyes slid uneasily to the man whose hand had slipped inconspicuously to cover hers. "We'll get into the details after staff," Leo interrupted again, as the room descended into a temporary silence.
Toby nodded, and CJ glanced at him, seeking reassurance only he could provide. She mouthed an affirmation, then looked to the table as Toby squeezed her hand, hovering above her knee.
"Emile's, seven," she whispered to him, and Josh raised an eyebrow from his position across the table, observing with passive amusement as Toby nodded, unsure of her motives but aware of the unspoken request to see the President alone.
"CJ. I had hoped you knew I wouldn't accept your." he began as the door latched behin them. Toby had left behind an apprehensive glance as CJ stood and approached the President.
"I'm not going to resign, sir. And I do know that, even if I tried, you wouldn't accept it. Everyone on staff has insisted as much. I'm beginning to think I'm predictable." Her words elicited a chuckle from the President as he nodded at the chair, indicating she should sit. Once both were settled in their respective seats, she looked up at him and continued. "I. uhm. I love Toby, sir, I think I always have. And this," she waved her hand through the air, "this is killing him. I want to be able to. breathe without worrying, and Toby deserves so much more than this, this. shit," she sighed, frustration flitting across her features.
"Toby loves you," the President smiled, still unsure as to where the conversation was leading. "And I see no problem with a relationship, if that's what you're worried about."
She shook her head, "No. No, it's not that. I have an idea, a plan, if you will, Mr. President, but I need your help. I need a couple of agents - different ones, a tracking device, and the rest I can handle."
"You want to." he began, rising to his feet.
"Yes sir. I want to set a trap - albeit a foolproof one."
He paused, examining her. "This requires Ron."
"Yes, sir." She replied, and she began to plan.
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At 7:30, Toby nervously stood from his chair as his cell phone rang, for CJ had yet to arrive.
"He's got CJ, Toby. Dammit, he's got her!" Josh's voice was strained and Toby's hands shook as he dropped the phone moments later, fighting the urge to fall to his knees.
"Oh Claudia Jean," he whispered, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Toby's being himself, you know, worrying about everything in general and trying to keep everyone involved from doing stupid things," Leo informed the President as they stood by the office doorway, observing the staff as each filed in and took a seat. Toby was followed quickly by CJ and Josh, who couldn't help but turn and pointedly and quizzically stare at the male and female secret service agents that lagged behind.
"Which means." the President nodded to them, his words quiet and prodding, directed at Leo, would have been amused had the subject not been so serious.
"He's the one doing the stupid things," he paused, a tiny smile creasing his face, "That he's worried about CJ, trying to keep her from attempting a resignation." he whispered, eyed clouded, as the two men observe the nearly forced casual contact between the subjects of their conversation, things were too hard for something so easy.
"What?" Bartlet responded, his voice rising, then lowering again before he continued, "I won't accept it."
Leo nodded, "I know that sir, so do they," after another short pause, he added, "She doesn't like the agents."
"Neither do I, but they're necessary. She's still refusing police and public involvement?" he asked, knowing it was unnecessary. "Ron's. being Ron, he's coordinated her detail for the next 72 hours, and he's spoken with a specialist friend of his who knows about these things, nutcases. Dr. McJohn, I think he said his name was, says this Bowman sonofabitch is an accelerated case. These obsessions usually develop over months, even years. But this one. days, weeks at the most."
"Actually," his friend reminded him, as CJ leaned closer to Josh, all three laughing, Toby grudgingly so, "he met her a year ago. at least a year ago."
"You think he was watching her. since then? before then?" the President asked, but his Chief of Staff only shrugged in response. Slowly, they entered the room, rounding to the front.
"Gossiping like schoolchildren?" CJ asked, standing and straightening, smoothing her skirt.
"Who? The President and Chief of Staff? Never. Impossible," Josh chuckled at his own words.
"Ha."
Leo rolled his eyes, "If you're finished."
"And how are you CJ?" Bartlet interrupted.
"As well as can be expected, sir," she responded, eyes wide and sincere as he continued.
"CJ, I need to speak with you," he began, as Toby cocked his head, "And I suppose you want me to say what I will and get down to business, so I think I shall," he paused and Toby straightened, "We've launched an investigation - it will be kept from the public eye - don't argue with me, it's in your best interest. Just ask Toby."
Her mouth closed, argument halted, as her eyes slid uneasily to the man whose hand had slipped inconspicuously to cover hers. "We'll get into the details after staff," Leo interrupted again, as the room descended into a temporary silence.
Toby nodded, and CJ glanced at him, seeking reassurance only he could provide. She mouthed an affirmation, then looked to the table as Toby squeezed her hand, hovering above her knee.
"Emile's, seven," she whispered to him, and Josh raised an eyebrow from his position across the table, observing with passive amusement as Toby nodded, unsure of her motives but aware of the unspoken request to see the President alone.
"CJ. I had hoped you knew I wouldn't accept your." he began as the door latched behin them. Toby had left behind an apprehensive glance as CJ stood and approached the President.
"I'm not going to resign, sir. And I do know that, even if I tried, you wouldn't accept it. Everyone on staff has insisted as much. I'm beginning to think I'm predictable." Her words elicited a chuckle from the President as he nodded at the chair, indicating she should sit. Once both were settled in their respective seats, she looked up at him and continued. "I. uhm. I love Toby, sir, I think I always have. And this," she waved her hand through the air, "this is killing him. I want to be able to. breathe without worrying, and Toby deserves so much more than this, this. shit," she sighed, frustration flitting across her features.
"Toby loves you," the President smiled, still unsure as to where the conversation was leading. "And I see no problem with a relationship, if that's what you're worried about."
She shook her head, "No. No, it's not that. I have an idea, a plan, if you will, Mr. President, but I need your help. I need a couple of agents - different ones, a tracking device, and the rest I can handle."
"You want to." he began, rising to his feet.
"Yes sir. I want to set a trap - albeit a foolproof one."
He paused, examining her. "This requires Ron."
"Yes, sir." She replied, and she began to plan.
------------
At 7:30, Toby nervously stood from his chair as his cell phone rang, for CJ had yet to arrive.
"He's got CJ, Toby. Dammit, he's got her!" Josh's voice was strained and Toby's hands shook as he dropped the phone moments later, fighting the urge to fall to his knees.
"Oh Claudia Jean," he whispered, "Why didn't you tell me?"
