"Learning to Remember"

Written by: Melissa (Doc)

NOTES: This was written during Season Three, prior to any information on CJ and her family.

Part 1

"Good morning everyone." Leo greeted.

"Morning Leo," CJ replied first.

"Can we possibly start having these meetings a little bit later? This seven in the morning sucks." Josh sunk in his chair and yawned.

"Josh, stop whining," Leo warned. "Listen, the President is in Europe for some reason…"

"Abbey demanded a small vacation," CJ laughed when she remembered the Presidents reaction to Abbey demanding a vacation. All he did was look at her while she dictated orders to everyone.

"Anyway, if we can get our meetings done this morning, we can all go home early tonight." Leo offered. As an afterthought, he turned and looked at Josh. "Everyone except Josh."

"Why me?" Josh shouted.

"Because you started the morning whining," Leo answered with a smile. "Now, back to the meetings. CJ and Toby, you have meetings in about ten minutes. CJ, you will be meeting with Congressman Wilson. He was elected to let you know the Republicans' annoyance at what the National budget is, and where they think it should be."

"This should be fun," CJ moaned, sulking down in her seat.

"And Toby. You are not going to like this, but the NEA…"

"I finished this thing a month ago Leo," Toby argued.

"Well, they want to be yelled at some more apparently. They asked for you specifically. They like you," Leo smiled at Toby's glare.

"They know I hate talking about this…" Toby began to explain, waving his hands in the air to help illustrate his anger.

Leo knew Toby's look, and didn't want to spend the rest of the morning listening to Toby moan about the NEA, he interrupted. "Yes, but they get the feeling that you are at least listening to them. So just spent a little time with them and send them packing."

"Fine." Toby mumbled while he started pacing again.

Leo continued. "Sam and Josh, your meetings are around ten. Donna and Bonnie have the files."

"Yeah." Both grunted in reply.

"Anything else?" Leo looked around. "Have a great day."

"Thank you," Everyone moaned and walked out.

"Why do I get the NEA?" Toby asked as he walked down the hall next to CJ.

"They like you," She smirked.

"Quit having so much fun with this," He warned.

"If it makes you feel better, I have to go explain to an irate Republican Congressmen on why the National budget is where it is. Yet he's going to yell at me and tell me his ideas on how to fix it."

"Yeah well, he likes you," Toby smirked. "That does make me feel better. Thanks."

"Get away from me," CJ pushed Toby against the chest with a smile and walked back to her office.

CJ saw her secretary writing down a phone message when she arrived. "Carol, I need…"

"Right here," Carol handed the folder she would need for the meeting.

CJ smiled at Carol's quick action. "Thank you very much."

"He's waiting for you in the Roosevelt room." Carol mentioned.

"You think it's too late to call in sick?" CJ asked wishfully.

"Maybe just a little," Carol chuckled and went back to work. CJ tossed some papers in her office before heading over to the Roosevelt room to get the meeting over with.

"Ginger, this isn't the file I wanted," Toby shouted from his office.

"Toby," Ginger walked in. "you asked for the NEA report."

"This is last years. I need the report from this year." He looked at her as if she should have known that.

"Toby, you asked for the report for the year 2001," Ginger huffed.

"Isn't this 2001?" Toby asked seriously.

"This is sad. I'll get it," Ginger rolled her eyes and stormed out annoyed.

"Time goes by fast when you're having fun," Toby smirked to himself.

"Toby," Carol walked in.

"She in yet?" He asked while looking for something on his desk.

"Yeah, she went in about five minutes ago. He came early." Carol glared when she saw a smile flicker on Toby's lips.

"I would have made him wait," Toby said in no one in particular.

"Yeah, listen. There's some guy on line three for CJ. He said it's an emergency and refuses to hang up unless he talks to her." Carol explained.

"Then get her out of the meeting…" Toby began to mention.

"That's the thing. I can't. The Congressman put a 'Do not disturb' sign on the door." She dead-panned.

"Are you serious?" Toby said as the corner of his mouth began to curl up. Maybe the NEA isn't that bad of a meeting, he thought.

"Yeah," Carol shook her head at Toby's attitude regarding CJ's meeting from hell. "I told the guy on the phone she was in a meeting, and he said to get him you."

"Who is it?" Toby asked.

"He didn't say."

"What do you mean he…"

"I asked him, but he said he needed her." Carol defended.

"It's probably CJ's date from last night wanting to know why she left so early," Toby laughed, but received a glare from Carol. "That was a joke."

"Not funny. Can you take the call?" She asked while crossing her arms, protecting her boss by her look.

"Only because you look like you're about to hurt me," Toby replied softly.

"Line three," Carol glared before walking out, shutting the door behind her. She smirked once she left his office, happy she scared him.

"She's getting to be another CJ," Toby moaned while sitting down. He took the phone and pressed line three. "Toby Ziegler," He answered harshly. He sat there in silence as the person at the other end spoke. He put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. "I'll let her know," Toby offered when the man finished. Toby hung up the phone and sat there in shock. He leaned back in his chair and looked out the window for a minute. He took another deep breath and began to walk out.

"Toby, you're late," Ginger shouted when he walked out of his office.

"Get Sam to take the meeting…" Toby spoke without the authority that he usually has. His voice was low and breaking.

"Don't try to get out of it, Toby. Leo warned me not to let you. You have to take it." Ginger explained before she picked up on his look and tone of voice. She stepped closer to offer support. "Toby?"

"Something happened," Toby didn't even look at her. He just kept looking at the window in front of him. Looking lost in thought.

"Toby?" Ginger repeated softly. She knew something was wrong. "What happened?"

"Just get Sam to take the meeting." His tone yet again betraying him. He just looked at her with a pleading look.

"I'll find him," Ginger patted Toby on the arm. She gave him a quick smile and went to find Sam. Toby walked over to the Roosevelt Room and peered through the glass and saw CJ talking. He stood there for a few minutes and then tapped on the glass. CJ looked up and saw the look in his face as he motioned for her to come out. She ignored the Congressmen yelling for her to stay and walked out, shutting the door behind her.

"Did you come to gloat some more?" She smiled while walking up to him. "And why aren't you at your meeting?"

"CJ, I just took a call," Toby said quietly as he prepared to give CJ the dreadful news.

TBC