Part 2

"Toby, what is it?" CJ began to get worried. She didn't like what she saw in Toby's eyes.

"CJ, we should go to your office…" Toby said in such a soft voice, CJ almost didn't hear him.

"Tell me Toby," She grabbed his arm. "What happened? Is it your family?"

"No, CJ." Toby couldn't look into her eyes. He really didn't want to be the one to tell her this. "CJ, something happened this morning. That call I just took was from Michael."

"Michael who?" CJ asked dumbly.

"Your brother," He looked into her eyes this time. CJ knew it wasn't good. She moved back against the wall, feeling maybe if Toby didn't tell her the news, it wouldn't really be true.

"Toby, why did my brother call you?" She whispered.

"CJ, I'm sorry…"

"Don't," CJ cut him off. "Don't tell me this Toby," CJ could feel the tears fall down her face. She knew even before Toby told her.

"CJ," Toby grabbed her arms gently. "I'm sorry, but your father died this morning," Toby said softly.

"No," CJ felt her knees buckle and she started to fall to the floor. Toby had hold of her, making sure she went down easy so she didn't hurt herself. He put his arms around her as she buried her face into his shoulder. They were both on their knees, rocking back and forth. Toby looked up and saw Josh and Sam running down the hall, concern pouring off of them. When they got close enough, Toby shook his head.

"CJ, lets go to your office," Toby whispered in her ear. He didn't hear or feel a response. All CJ could do was cry and hang onto him. She was screaming hoarsely for her father, telling Toby he must have heard Michael wrong. Toby looked over at Sam and Josh and nodded his head toward the people who had gathered around them in curiosity. Josh and Sam got the hint and started moving people away. Ordering them to get back to work. As soon as everyone was gone, Toby tried to stand up, but CJ's grip on him made him stay down with her. Toby rubbed lazy circles on her forehead, which got her to look up at him.

"Please Toby, tell me this isn't happening?" She cried out to him. "Please, that's all I want to hear," Toby wiped some of the tears off her face, cursing himself for having to be the one to deliver the news that hurt her.

"I'm sorry," He whispered, complete honesty in his tone. She put her head back down on his chest and started screaming at him. Telling him that he was lying. He grabbed her arms and made her stand up with him. She moved her head up to his neck, and left it there. No one could see her face as they walked down the hall. They just heard the cries from CJ. As they walked into CJ's office, Toby laid her down on her couch and shut the door. He sat on the floor next to her and ran his fingers through her hair. Trying to calm her down.

"What the hell happened?" Josh asked while running into Carol near CJ's office.

"I don't know. Toby just took her to her office." Carol explained. She looked pale as a ghost. She's never seen her boss like that.

"They didn't say anything?" Josh looked over to CJ's office. He had watched Toby walk CJ into the office and shut the door. "Should I go in there?" His voice cracked. He wanted to help CJ with whatever it was that had happened. Normally, he would have just barged in without thinking about it. But his gut was telling him to let Toby help her for the moment.

"I think maybe they're better of alone right now," Carol said. "Whatever it is, she trusts Toby enough to help her." She asked herself if that call had anything to do with it.

"Yeah," Josh understood. "I just want to know what happened," Just then, Josh saw CJ's office door open and Toby watched as Toby walked out slowly. He quietly shut the door and then leaned against it. He looked down and took a couple of deep breaths. He looked up and saw Josh standing there with Carol. Sam came over with Donna and they all looked over to Toby. After a few seconds, Toby started walking over to them slowly.

"What happened?" Sam asked in a hushed tone once Toby got close enough.

"Her brother called this morning. She was in a meeting, so he asked for me." Toby replayed the scene of telling CJ the news again in his head. How her smile faded, and how he watched her face fall as he told her. How she held onto him as if she was drowning and he was the only thing standing between her and death.

"And?" Josh was getting impatient as he watched Toby staring at them with a blank expression.

"CJ's father died this morning," Toby answered in almost a whisper, then looked over at her office.

"Oh God," Carol shook her head as she began to cry for her boss and friend.

"How is she now?" Josh asked after the news sunk in.

"She's asleep. Carol, I want complete silence around her office. Sam, you take the briefings, and Josh, I want you to finish the meeting with the Congressmen." Toby voice still didn't covey his normal tone of authority.

"Yeah," Josh nodded without hesitation. "What are you going to do?" He asked as Toby's eyes darted between them and CJ's office.
"I'm going to get CJ a plane ticket to Dayton. The funeral is in three days." Toby replied.

"Should she really be going alone?" Sam asked in a voice full of concern for CJ.

"She won't be alone Sam. She has three brothers that will be there, and her mother. I'll call Michael and have him wait for her at the airport." Toby consoled.

"If you need any help, just let us know," Josh added before hurrying to the Roosevelt Room.

"What should I say if the Press asks about CJ?" Sam asked, getting down to business.

"Say we don't comment on the personal lives of the senior staff. If they harp on it, I'll take care of them." Toby threatened.

"Okay," Sam smiled at Toby's sudden protectiveness and went to work.

"Should I do anything?" Carol asked in a voice that begged for something to do.

"While I'm in my office making the arrangements, just keep an eye on her. If she wakes up, get me." Toby said.

"Okay," Carol nodded and walked back to her desk, staring at CJ's office door the whole time.

"Do you need any help?" Donna stepped in and asked.

"Yeah," Toby looked over at her. "Can you get Leo and tell him I need to speak with him and the President?"

"Sure thing," Donna smiled weakly. "This is really sweet of you, doing this for her."

"She did this for me when my father died. And, I think she needs some help right now." Toby replied with a shrug.

"I'll go talk with Leo," Donna squeezed his arm and walked away. Toby stood there for a minute and watched everyone running around, trying to get things done. He looked over at CJ's office once more and saw that the door was still closed. He closed his eyes tight to hold back the tears for his broken friend. Then when he opened them, he headed off to his office to start on the arrangements.

TBC