TITLE: The Ziegler Conspiracy. (2/?)
AUTHOR: Melissa Orr
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, never will.
PART 2
"Hey," Mandy stood as Toby walked over to the table.
"Long time no see," Toby said, sitting down.
"It's good to see you," Mandy tried to make small talk.
"Mandy. I must admit, I was taken aback by the fact that you wanted to see me. So can we just get on with it?"
"It's good to know some things don't change," Mandy growled. "I didn't come here to argue."
"To be honest. You're not on my good list."
"Toby. You don't have a good list," Mandy mentioned.
"I've formed a small one," Toby defended. "The people who stick with you, through bad times and good times, those people are on my good list. The people that our on the bad list are those people who leave when the going gets tough. And besides staying with your friends and family when something bad happens, they run off," Toby said. "Which, by the way, is what you did."
"I have my reasons for going," Mandy defended.
"You were scared," Toby said.
"Damn right I was," Mandy snapped.
"So was I!" Toby snapped back. "Did you know I found Josh? Yeah, I was running around trying to locate everyone and the only one I didn't see was Josh. Sam and CJ were together, but I didn't see Josh. When I found him, he was sitting against a wall, looking up at me. Begging me for help," Toby yelled. "I was scared. But I stayed, because we all needed each other then. And I stay with my family. Josh, Sam, CJ, Leo, the President, they're my family. You, you are what I call the enemy. The person who comes strolling in with her wit and her smile, do a job, and then leave when something looks bad."
"You have no idea how I felt after that night," Mandy offered. "I felt numb."
"So did I," Toby said simply. "Why did you ask to meet with me?"
"I thought it was time to tell you why I left," Mandy shrugged. "Why I couldn't go back to work."
"You don't have to explain to me why. You left, and that was all you had to do," Toby glared and stood. "I was scared. Josh was scared. The President was scared. Yet we all stuck together. And in the end, that's how we overcame the fear," Toby said softly. "Have a good lunch," He said as he walked out of the restaurant.
THE WHITE HOUSE
"She called?" Josh asked. "What the hell does she want?"
"To talk with Toby," CJ shrugged.
"She's got a lot of nerve," Sam shook his head. "Why Toby?"
"She felt she had a trusting relationship with him," CJ smirked.
"Did she tell you this?" Josh asked.
"Yeah. She said she was wearing him down."
All three of them couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Toby asked, walking into the Bullpen where everyone was.
"What did she want?" Josh asked.
"She wanted a chance to explain herself," Toby answered and walked into his office.
"Did you let her?" CJ asked.
"What do you think?" Toby gave her a questioning look.
"That's my man," CJ smiled.
"What did she say?"
"She didn't speak all that much. I couldn't seem to shut up long enough to hear her out," Toby said, acting surprised. "I wonder what came over me."
"Toby," Ginger walked in. "Danny said he needs to move up that appointment with you."
"To when?"
"Now."
"I have Ed and Larry," Toby mentioned.
"He said it's important."
"Then why isn't he talking to CJ?"
"Because he wants to see you," Ginger said, annoyed.
"Where is he?" Toby gave in.
"At my desk," Ginger said, which made everyone turn and look at him. Causing Danny to smile nervously and waive idiotically.
"Gomer," Josh smirked.
"Shut up," CJ smacked him. "He's nervous."
"About what?" Toby snapped.
"Well, your bad mood would do the trick," Sam mentioned.
"Everyone out," Toby moaned. "Ginger, send him in."
"Yeah," Ginger nodded.
"You need to me to stay?" CJ asked as everyone started leaving.
"Why?" Toby shrugged.
"Just wondering," CJ smiled weakly and walked out.
"Danny, go on in," Ginger said.
"Thanks," Danny nodded his acknowledgment towards CJ and walked passed her. As he entered Toby's office, he made sure to shut the door behind him.
"Danny. You're very lucky I let your ass in," Toby moaned. "I have 100 things I have to finish before the day's done."
"I understand," Danny nodded. "But this couldn't wait."
"What couldn't wait?"
"I got a phone call last night and she gave me a short, yet very descriptive interview," Danny mentioned. "I want to make that clear. She called me, I did not call her."
"Who? Why? And why do I care?" Toby asked, unfazed.
"Because the interview was mostly about you."
"Why me?"
"Because she has a past with you. And you are a threat to her. And she just got promoted."
"Danny, what the hell."
"It was Ann Stark," Danny blurted out, after realizing Toby was about to explode.
"Ann Stark is working in New York," Toby mentioned. "Shallick fired her about a year ago."
"She says that she quit because he wasn't going to get any further because he was afraid to run for the Presidency. He knew he would lose."
"Danny. Last time Ann Stark was here, we had a little coming apart."
"I know," Danny nodded. "Toby, she got a job offer and last night, she took it."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'd rather see Josiah Bartlet in the White House a second term," Danny said honestly. "Toby, a reporters job is to take any story that is offered to them and run with it. This story no one will know about until tomorrow, and she called me to give me a heads up. This is what reporters wait for, yet I'm in here, risking all that to tell you what you'll be hearing tomorrow morning so you guys can suit up for it," Danny said quickly.
"What?" Toby asked, curious.
"Ritchie hired her," Danny mentioned.
"As what?" Toby's eyes grow large.
"His Chief of Staff."
"Are you kidding me?" Toby snapped. "What the hell happened to Henry?"
"Ritchie thought Ann Stark would get him to the top. She's more abrasive. She's more willing."
"No, she's a bitch who doesn't know her head from the ground. Of course she's with Ritchie," Toby snapped, sarcastically. "What the hell did she say?"
"She talked about you two having a past and what it consisted of."
"Why is she talking about me?" Toby questioned.
"Toby, with my years working in the Pressroom of the White House, I've learned a few things. Re-election is going to be tough for you guys to win. But in the short time you all have from now to the election, you will all need each other. If one of you leaves, everyone will be thrown off balance. As much as I like Sam, he's not ready to become Communications Director, he'll even tell you that himself. Toby, I'm not a politician, but I can see what's going on."
"They're targeting me," Toby finished. "Because I have a past with Ann Stark."
"If they can find something on you, to get rid of you, they can almost ensure that they will take this election. The President can't win without you. And they know that."
"I don't know if you can, but is there any way I can get a copy of the interview?" Toby asked.
"Here," Danny handed over the folder he was holding. "Toby, she called me last night. I could have gotten this in the paper this morning, but I'm waiting. I'm still writing it. It will still be in the paper tomorrow. I just thought you should have a heads up."
"I appreciate it," Toby nodded as he took the folder. "Thank you."
"Knock 'em down hard," Danny smiled as he walked out.
"Ginger!" Toby yelled.
"Yeah?" Ginger walked in.
"Did you cancel any of my appointments?"
"You have meetings until six. Then all you have in the speech."
"Okay, call over to Ritchie's office and make me an appointment with Ann Stark."
"Ann Stark?" Ginger asked, confused. "She's in New York."
"No, she's with Ritchie," Toby moaned. "If they say they can't get me in, tell them I'll show up anyway."
"Yeah," Ginger walked back to her desk.
"I want to see her tonight!" He yelled from his office.
"Yeah!"
"See who?" Sam walked in.
"Nevermind. Where's the speech?"
"Toby. Ed and Larry have been waiting for a while," Bonnie mentioned.
"Later," Toby told Sam and walked out.
"We don't need to finish it or anything. It's not like people listen to what the President is saying anyway," Sam said sarcastically and went back into his office.
TBC
PART 2
"Hey," Mandy stood as Toby walked over to the table.
"Long time no see," Toby said, sitting down.
"It's good to see you," Mandy tried to make small talk.
"Mandy. I must admit, I was taken aback by the fact that you wanted to see me. So can we just get on with it?"
"It's good to know some things don't change," Mandy growled. "I didn't come here to argue."
"To be honest. You're not on my good list."
"Toby. You don't have a good list," Mandy mentioned.
"I've formed a small one," Toby defended. "The people who stick with you, through bad times and good times, those people are on my good list. The people that our on the bad list are those people who leave when the going gets tough. And besides staying with your friends and family when something bad happens, they run off," Toby said. "Which, by the way, is what you did."
"I have my reasons for going," Mandy defended.
"You were scared," Toby said.
"Damn right I was," Mandy snapped.
"So was I!" Toby snapped back. "Did you know I found Josh? Yeah, I was running around trying to locate everyone and the only one I didn't see was Josh. Sam and CJ were together, but I didn't see Josh. When I found him, he was sitting against a wall, looking up at me. Begging me for help," Toby yelled. "I was scared. But I stayed, because we all needed each other then. And I stay with my family. Josh, Sam, CJ, Leo, the President, they're my family. You, you are what I call the enemy. The person who comes strolling in with her wit and her smile, do a job, and then leave when something looks bad."
"You have no idea how I felt after that night," Mandy offered. "I felt numb."
"So did I," Toby said simply. "Why did you ask to meet with me?"
"I thought it was time to tell you why I left," Mandy shrugged. "Why I couldn't go back to work."
"You don't have to explain to me why. You left, and that was all you had to do," Toby glared and stood. "I was scared. Josh was scared. The President was scared. Yet we all stuck together. And in the end, that's how we overcame the fear," Toby said softly. "Have a good lunch," He said as he walked out of the restaurant.
THE WHITE HOUSE
"She called?" Josh asked. "What the hell does she want?"
"To talk with Toby," CJ shrugged.
"She's got a lot of nerve," Sam shook his head. "Why Toby?"
"She felt she had a trusting relationship with him," CJ smirked.
"Did she tell you this?" Josh asked.
"Yeah. She said she was wearing him down."
All three of them couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Toby asked, walking into the Bullpen where everyone was.
"What did she want?" Josh asked.
"She wanted a chance to explain herself," Toby answered and walked into his office.
"Did you let her?" CJ asked.
"What do you think?" Toby gave her a questioning look.
"That's my man," CJ smiled.
"What did she say?"
"She didn't speak all that much. I couldn't seem to shut up long enough to hear her out," Toby said, acting surprised. "I wonder what came over me."
"Toby," Ginger walked in. "Danny said he needs to move up that appointment with you."
"To when?"
"Now."
"I have Ed and Larry," Toby mentioned.
"He said it's important."
"Then why isn't he talking to CJ?"
"Because he wants to see you," Ginger said, annoyed.
"Where is he?" Toby gave in.
"At my desk," Ginger said, which made everyone turn and look at him. Causing Danny to smile nervously and waive idiotically.
"Gomer," Josh smirked.
"Shut up," CJ smacked him. "He's nervous."
"About what?" Toby snapped.
"Well, your bad mood would do the trick," Sam mentioned.
"Everyone out," Toby moaned. "Ginger, send him in."
"Yeah," Ginger nodded.
"You need to me to stay?" CJ asked as everyone started leaving.
"Why?" Toby shrugged.
"Just wondering," CJ smiled weakly and walked out.
"Danny, go on in," Ginger said.
"Thanks," Danny nodded his acknowledgment towards CJ and walked passed her. As he entered Toby's office, he made sure to shut the door behind him.
"Danny. You're very lucky I let your ass in," Toby moaned. "I have 100 things I have to finish before the day's done."
"I understand," Danny nodded. "But this couldn't wait."
"What couldn't wait?"
"I got a phone call last night and she gave me a short, yet very descriptive interview," Danny mentioned. "I want to make that clear. She called me, I did not call her."
"Who? Why? And why do I care?" Toby asked, unfazed.
"Because the interview was mostly about you."
"Why me?"
"Because she has a past with you. And you are a threat to her. And she just got promoted."
"Danny, what the hell."
"It was Ann Stark," Danny blurted out, after realizing Toby was about to explode.
"Ann Stark is working in New York," Toby mentioned. "Shallick fired her about a year ago."
"She says that she quit because he wasn't going to get any further because he was afraid to run for the Presidency. He knew he would lose."
"Danny. Last time Ann Stark was here, we had a little coming apart."
"I know," Danny nodded. "Toby, she got a job offer and last night, she took it."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'd rather see Josiah Bartlet in the White House a second term," Danny said honestly. "Toby, a reporters job is to take any story that is offered to them and run with it. This story no one will know about until tomorrow, and she called me to give me a heads up. This is what reporters wait for, yet I'm in here, risking all that to tell you what you'll be hearing tomorrow morning so you guys can suit up for it," Danny said quickly.
"What?" Toby asked, curious.
"Ritchie hired her," Danny mentioned.
"As what?" Toby's eyes grow large.
"His Chief of Staff."
"Are you kidding me?" Toby snapped. "What the hell happened to Henry?"
"Ritchie thought Ann Stark would get him to the top. She's more abrasive. She's more willing."
"No, she's a bitch who doesn't know her head from the ground. Of course she's with Ritchie," Toby snapped, sarcastically. "What the hell did she say?"
"She talked about you two having a past and what it consisted of."
"Why is she talking about me?" Toby questioned.
"Toby, with my years working in the Pressroom of the White House, I've learned a few things. Re-election is going to be tough for you guys to win. But in the short time you all have from now to the election, you will all need each other. If one of you leaves, everyone will be thrown off balance. As much as I like Sam, he's not ready to become Communications Director, he'll even tell you that himself. Toby, I'm not a politician, but I can see what's going on."
"They're targeting me," Toby finished. "Because I have a past with Ann Stark."
"If they can find something on you, to get rid of you, they can almost ensure that they will take this election. The President can't win without you. And they know that."
"I don't know if you can, but is there any way I can get a copy of the interview?" Toby asked.
"Here," Danny handed over the folder he was holding. "Toby, she called me last night. I could have gotten this in the paper this morning, but I'm waiting. I'm still writing it. It will still be in the paper tomorrow. I just thought you should have a heads up."
"I appreciate it," Toby nodded as he took the folder. "Thank you."
"Knock 'em down hard," Danny smiled as he walked out.
"Ginger!" Toby yelled.
"Yeah?" Ginger walked in.
"Did you cancel any of my appointments?"
"You have meetings until six. Then all you have in the speech."
"Okay, call over to Ritchie's office and make me an appointment with Ann Stark."
"Ann Stark?" Ginger asked, confused. "She's in New York."
"No, she's with Ritchie," Toby moaned. "If they say they can't get me in, tell them I'll show up anyway."
"Yeah," Ginger walked back to her desk.
"I want to see her tonight!" He yelled from his office.
"Yeah!"
"See who?" Sam walked in.
"Nevermind. Where's the speech?"
"Toby. Ed and Larry have been waiting for a while," Bonnie mentioned.
"Later," Toby told Sam and walked out.
"We don't need to finish it or anything. It's not like people listen to what the President is saying anyway," Sam said sarcastically and went back into his office.
TBC