"Here," Josh walked in with a wet washrag. "Why do you need this?"
"It helps my headache," Toby said, laying the rag across his forehead. "Where is everyone?"
"Sam and CJ are upstairs working on a few things," Josh answered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Listen can I ask you something?"
"No, you can not take a ride in my wheelchair," Toby moaned.
"No, seriously," Josh looked over at Toby.
"Okay,"
"Were you scared?"
"When?"
"When you were in the accident. When you woke up. Anytime?"
"Well, the last thing I remember from the wreak was being tossed to the opposite side of the train car we were in. I just remembered that a few days ago," Toby looked up. "It seems like I'm remembering new things everyday."
"Yeah?" Josh asked, concerned.
"And when I woke up, it was a daze. I couldn't remember anything at first, but it just came rushing over me the moment I looked into CJ's face."
"What rushed over you?"
"The scared feeling, I guess," Toby looked around. "I'm not normally scared Josh."
"I know," Josh nodded.
"Why did you want to know?"
"Well," Josh looked down at him. "Remember when I was shot?"
"Of course I remember," Toby answered, sarcastically.
"Well, I was awake, for part of it. And I still remember that night. Sitting near the steps, watching everyone running for their lives, and there I was, unable to move. I could hear Sam and CJ talking, and I could hear more people screaming. There was over twenty people who ran passed me after I was shot. No one stopped," Josh looked down. "I thought I was going to die. And for the first time, I was more scared then ever. Then I heard you yelling for me, and your voice kept getting closer and closer, and when I saw you, I had this feeling that I would be okay."
"Why did you think that?" Toby asked, softly.
"Because you've never let me down," Josh smiled weakly. "I knew that you wouldn't let anything happen to me. So when I collapsed to the ground, you grabbed my head. You called for someone to help and you stayed with me, telling me that everything was going to be okay," Josh smiled.
"I didn't think you remembered that," Toby said shyly.
"I also remember laying in the hospital room two days after I got out of surgery. You thought I was sleeping when you came in to see me," Josh grinned. "I was too weak to talk, or move. And you somehow got a CD player in the room, and you brought in a CD,"
"How do you remember that?" Toby asked, amazed.
"Because that day that you came in and played that song for me, it made me fight harder to get better. You played, Ava Maria, and held my hand. You kept telling me that everything was going to be okay. That I just needed to fight a little harder. And I did. Now look at me," Josh laughed.
"Yeah," Toby smiled and patted Josh's hand.
"I never thanked you for that," Josh said, honestly.
"No thanks required," Toby shook his head.
"Toby, when you were in the accident, all I kept thinking about was the day you played that song for me. That you took the time and believed in me, and there I was, sitting in the waiting room, doing nothing," Josh looked down.
"Josh, what could you have done? I was in surgery, and then I was in a coma. You did what I wanted you to do,"
"Which was?"
"Being with CJ," Toby said, honestly. "That's what I wanted, you to be with her. And you helped her, which helped me," Toby smiled. "If that made any sense."
"It did," Josh laughed. "I'm glad you came back."
"Me too," Toby smiled. "Are you still going to be my wing man?"
"You got it," Josh smiled.
"Okay, leave him alone," CJ walked in. "He needs his rest."
"Get some sleep Toby," Josh smiled.
"Thank you Josh," Toby nodded.
"Don't drive him crazy," Josh asked CJ before leaving.
"What was that all about?" CJ asked, covering Toby up.
"Nothing," Toby smiled. "Why did you agree to this?"
"Because you needed someone to take care of you. And I wasn't about to let that one nurse give you a sponge bath," CJ snapped. "And I wanted to."
"You can't keep feeling guilty,"
"I know, I just wanted to do this, besides, the President won't let me go back to work until you do."
"The doctor told me three more weeks, and I may be able to go back,"
"Well, until then, we rest," CJ smiled and kissed him.
"I can get used to these kisses," Toby smiled.
"I know," CJ laughed. "Get some sleep,"
"Thank you Claudia,"
"You're welcome.
THE NEXT DAY
"Lift your head up more!" CJ demanded.
"I'm not going to eat anymore of that jello!" Toby moaned.
"It's good for you," CJ smirked. "The doctor said soft foods."
"I'm never going to eat jello again," Toby proclaimed.
"How old are you?" CJ snapped.
"I hate jello," Toby pouted.
"Fine, what do you want?" CJ gave up and threw the jello on the floor.
"Steak and mashed potatoes," Toby began to drool.
"Idiot, I can't even have that," CJ smacked him.
"You're beautiful when you're mad," Toby winked.
"I asked already," CJ smirked and stood.
"What?" Toby asked, confused.
"I asked Richards before we left. No sex until you can walk by yourself," CJ smiled.
"Well, now there's something I can work for," Toby sat up. "Help me stand,"
"You're not walking now," CJ laughed.
"I'll show you, I'll walk around the block," Toby smiled as he stood.
"You're a hound," CJ smiled, as Toby wrapped his arms around her.
"You know I'd walk the World for you, right?"
"I know," CJ laughed and kissed him. "But right now, you need rest."
"Well, can we make-out then?" Toby gave CJ his best puppy dog look.
"Let me think," CJ smiled. "Okay," She smiled and fell on the bed with him.
"CJ." Josh walked in. "Damn Toby, moving a little fast are we?" Josh asked as CJ buried her head in Toby's chest.
"Josh, go away," Toby moaned.
"Did they supply you with Viagra when you were at the hospital?" Josh joked.
"Go away!" CJ snapped.
"Fine, but Abbey Bartlet it here to see you two," He laughed as he turned around, coming face to face with Abbey.
"I decided to follow you back," Abbey smiled at Josh. "We'll leave you two alone."
"It's okay," CJ stood. "I was just leaving."
"Liar," Josh began to laugh, but was smacked by Abbey.
"Go away Josh," Abbey demanded.
"Yes ma'am," Josh smirked once more before walking out.
"I want you to stay CJ, please," Abbey came closer. "Why is Toby not wearing a shirt?" Abbey smirked.
"Sam spilled soup all over it earlier and took it out to clean it," Toby moaned, covering up.
"Listen," Abbey laughed. "With everything that has happened, I want you two to know that Jed and I are here to support you. Whatever you decide,"
"Are we being fired?" Toby asked, jokingly.
"I just want you two to know, we can handle things a little longer without you guys,"
"The President kicks off his re-election campaign in two weeks. And the Democratic Convention is in a month. I think we need to get back to work," Toby mentioned.
"The doctor told you three weeks," Abbey warned.
"He said he would like us to wait three weeks, but we are able to go back next week," Toby said. "I just can't walk everywhere like I used to. But I can still write and take meetings. I'll just have to put up with a damn wheelchair."
"When were you planning on coming back?" Abbey asked.
"We've discussed it," CJ looked over at Toby. "Monday."
"That's three days," Abbey pointed out.
"We'll be okay. The sooner, the better," Toby smiled. "Besides, getting back to work will help me heal faster. Trust me."
TBC
"It helps my headache," Toby said, laying the rag across his forehead. "Where is everyone?"
"Sam and CJ are upstairs working on a few things," Josh answered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Listen can I ask you something?"
"No, you can not take a ride in my wheelchair," Toby moaned.
"No, seriously," Josh looked over at Toby.
"Okay,"
"Were you scared?"
"When?"
"When you were in the accident. When you woke up. Anytime?"
"Well, the last thing I remember from the wreak was being tossed to the opposite side of the train car we were in. I just remembered that a few days ago," Toby looked up. "It seems like I'm remembering new things everyday."
"Yeah?" Josh asked, concerned.
"And when I woke up, it was a daze. I couldn't remember anything at first, but it just came rushing over me the moment I looked into CJ's face."
"What rushed over you?"
"The scared feeling, I guess," Toby looked around. "I'm not normally scared Josh."
"I know," Josh nodded.
"Why did you want to know?"
"Well," Josh looked down at him. "Remember when I was shot?"
"Of course I remember," Toby answered, sarcastically.
"Well, I was awake, for part of it. And I still remember that night. Sitting near the steps, watching everyone running for their lives, and there I was, unable to move. I could hear Sam and CJ talking, and I could hear more people screaming. There was over twenty people who ran passed me after I was shot. No one stopped," Josh looked down. "I thought I was going to die. And for the first time, I was more scared then ever. Then I heard you yelling for me, and your voice kept getting closer and closer, and when I saw you, I had this feeling that I would be okay."
"Why did you think that?" Toby asked, softly.
"Because you've never let me down," Josh smiled weakly. "I knew that you wouldn't let anything happen to me. So when I collapsed to the ground, you grabbed my head. You called for someone to help and you stayed with me, telling me that everything was going to be okay," Josh smiled.
"I didn't think you remembered that," Toby said shyly.
"I also remember laying in the hospital room two days after I got out of surgery. You thought I was sleeping when you came in to see me," Josh grinned. "I was too weak to talk, or move. And you somehow got a CD player in the room, and you brought in a CD,"
"How do you remember that?" Toby asked, amazed.
"Because that day that you came in and played that song for me, it made me fight harder to get better. You played, Ava Maria, and held my hand. You kept telling me that everything was going to be okay. That I just needed to fight a little harder. And I did. Now look at me," Josh laughed.
"Yeah," Toby smiled and patted Josh's hand.
"I never thanked you for that," Josh said, honestly.
"No thanks required," Toby shook his head.
"Toby, when you were in the accident, all I kept thinking about was the day you played that song for me. That you took the time and believed in me, and there I was, sitting in the waiting room, doing nothing," Josh looked down.
"Josh, what could you have done? I was in surgery, and then I was in a coma. You did what I wanted you to do,"
"Which was?"
"Being with CJ," Toby said, honestly. "That's what I wanted, you to be with her. And you helped her, which helped me," Toby smiled. "If that made any sense."
"It did," Josh laughed. "I'm glad you came back."
"Me too," Toby smiled. "Are you still going to be my wing man?"
"You got it," Josh smiled.
"Okay, leave him alone," CJ walked in. "He needs his rest."
"Get some sleep Toby," Josh smiled.
"Thank you Josh," Toby nodded.
"Don't drive him crazy," Josh asked CJ before leaving.
"What was that all about?" CJ asked, covering Toby up.
"Nothing," Toby smiled. "Why did you agree to this?"
"Because you needed someone to take care of you. And I wasn't about to let that one nurse give you a sponge bath," CJ snapped. "And I wanted to."
"You can't keep feeling guilty,"
"I know, I just wanted to do this, besides, the President won't let me go back to work until you do."
"The doctor told me three more weeks, and I may be able to go back,"
"Well, until then, we rest," CJ smiled and kissed him.
"I can get used to these kisses," Toby smiled.
"I know," CJ laughed. "Get some sleep,"
"Thank you Claudia,"
"You're welcome.
THE NEXT DAY
"Lift your head up more!" CJ demanded.
"I'm not going to eat anymore of that jello!" Toby moaned.
"It's good for you," CJ smirked. "The doctor said soft foods."
"I'm never going to eat jello again," Toby proclaimed.
"How old are you?" CJ snapped.
"I hate jello," Toby pouted.
"Fine, what do you want?" CJ gave up and threw the jello on the floor.
"Steak and mashed potatoes," Toby began to drool.
"Idiot, I can't even have that," CJ smacked him.
"You're beautiful when you're mad," Toby winked.
"I asked already," CJ smirked and stood.
"What?" Toby asked, confused.
"I asked Richards before we left. No sex until you can walk by yourself," CJ smiled.
"Well, now there's something I can work for," Toby sat up. "Help me stand,"
"You're not walking now," CJ laughed.
"I'll show you, I'll walk around the block," Toby smiled as he stood.
"You're a hound," CJ smiled, as Toby wrapped his arms around her.
"You know I'd walk the World for you, right?"
"I know," CJ laughed and kissed him. "But right now, you need rest."
"Well, can we make-out then?" Toby gave CJ his best puppy dog look.
"Let me think," CJ smiled. "Okay," She smiled and fell on the bed with him.
"CJ." Josh walked in. "Damn Toby, moving a little fast are we?" Josh asked as CJ buried her head in Toby's chest.
"Josh, go away," Toby moaned.
"Did they supply you with Viagra when you were at the hospital?" Josh joked.
"Go away!" CJ snapped.
"Fine, but Abbey Bartlet it here to see you two," He laughed as he turned around, coming face to face with Abbey.
"I decided to follow you back," Abbey smiled at Josh. "We'll leave you two alone."
"It's okay," CJ stood. "I was just leaving."
"Liar," Josh began to laugh, but was smacked by Abbey.
"Go away Josh," Abbey demanded.
"Yes ma'am," Josh smirked once more before walking out.
"I want you to stay CJ, please," Abbey came closer. "Why is Toby not wearing a shirt?" Abbey smirked.
"Sam spilled soup all over it earlier and took it out to clean it," Toby moaned, covering up.
"Listen," Abbey laughed. "With everything that has happened, I want you two to know that Jed and I are here to support you. Whatever you decide,"
"Are we being fired?" Toby asked, jokingly.
"I just want you two to know, we can handle things a little longer without you guys,"
"The President kicks off his re-election campaign in two weeks. And the Democratic Convention is in a month. I think we need to get back to work," Toby mentioned.
"The doctor told you three weeks," Abbey warned.
"He said he would like us to wait three weeks, but we are able to go back next week," Toby said. "I just can't walk everywhere like I used to. But I can still write and take meetings. I'll just have to put up with a damn wheelchair."
"When were you planning on coming back?" Abbey asked.
"We've discussed it," CJ looked over at Toby. "Monday."
"That's three days," Abbey pointed out.
"We'll be okay. The sooner, the better," Toby smiled. "Besides, getting back to work will help me heal faster. Trust me."
TBC