TITLE: The Ziegler Conspiracy. (3/?)
AUTHOR: Melissa Orr
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, never will.
PART 3
"Ann," A young man quietly knocked in her office door.
"He's here?"
"Yeah."
"Send him in," Ann smiled. She waited until she saw Toby walked in before standing. "Toby Ziegler."
"I remembered during our last meeting that I had to call ahead of time," Toby said, glaring at her.
"Yes, but you had your secretary threaten me by saying that you would barge in if I didn't set you up an appointment," Ann smiled.
"Yes," Toby said simply. "What are you doing?"
"Working my way to the White House," Ann answered, sitting back down. "What are you doing?"
"Stopping you," Toby grinned at himself.
"Where's my gift?" Ann looked at Toby's hands.
"I accidentally ran over it," Toby sat down. "Listen."
"Danny talked with you, didn't he?" Ann asked. "Toby, this is politics, live with it."
"When you start bringing my problems, and my past, front and center, I'm going to express my anger," Toby snapped.
"CJ's right. You're hot when you're like this," Ann smiled.
"I'm not here to mess around," Toby pointed.
"Damn. And I was hoping for a hot, sweaty night with you."
"I'm serious," Toby glared.
"And what are your objections?" Ann shrugged.
"Whatever this is," Toby waved between Ann and himself. "It doesn't go together well. When you're around, I seem to do the wrong thing."
"The Leadership Breakfast? Toby, that was years ago."
"It still feels recent to me," Toby mentioned. "Why are you after me?"
"I'm not a hunter Toby," Ann laughed.
"Yes you are," Toby said simply. "Why me?"
Ann waited for a minute and looked at Toby. "Because you're the bowling ball."
"What the hell."
"And Leo, Sam, Josh, CJ, and the President are all pins. If I throw you the right way, I may just get a strike."
"I will not let you use me for your political game."
"Why do we fight every time we're together?" Ann asked.
"Because I don't like you."
"Yes you do," Ann smiled. "I have some work to do."
"Ann."
"Goodnight Toby," Ann smiled.
"Yeah," Toby shook it off and left.
"You have a plan?" Ritchie asked from the back corner.
"Yes," Ann nodded. "I do."
OVAL OFFICE
"Toby," Leo walked in after he saw Toby arrive. "We need to talk."
"I already met with Ed and Larry, and Sam's dealing with the people on the hill," Toby said, looking at his notes.
"That's good. But that's not why I'm here," Leo walked over to Toby's desk. "Is it true?"
"What?"
"Ann Stark?"
"So I heard," Toby moaned. "Don't worry."
"I do worry. Because every time Ann Stark comes up, I have to deal with a very irate Press Secretary."
"CJ's fine."
"Toby. Ann knows how to push your buttons, and every time she does, I have to play referee to a fight against my Communications Director and Press Secretary. You two do not get along when it comes to Ann Stark."
"Don't worry about it," Toby snapped. "CJ and I are professional."
"I remember what happened two years ago Toby."
"That was my mess up. Not CJ's," Toby mentioned.
"I don't care. Look, if Ann ever has to meet with one of the staff, she'll meet with Josh, Sam, or me. I don't want you or CJ dealing with her."
"Fine," Toby glared. "I have no problem with that."
"Good," Leo paced around a little. "Don't forget to meet here at six tomorrow morning."
"Why are we leaving for California at six?"
"Because the President wanted to leave a little later this time," Leo shrugged. "You, CJ, and Sam will go first."
"What about Josh?"
"He needs to stay behind and help me with a thing," Leo mentioned. "We'll follow you guys out there on Thursday."
"Yeah," Toby moaned. "I had to take Donna and CJ tan lotion shopping last night."
"I bet that was fun."
"It wasn't all that much."
"Six in the morning," Leo repeated before leaving. "And don't talk with Ann Stark until I can fix this."
"Yeah," Toby watched as Leo walked out. "What a day," Toby moaned and fell on his couch. He rested his head back and closed his eyes.
"It's only ten o'clock. Are you already tired?" CJ joked and fell next to him.
"I've been tired for twenty years," Toby said with his eyes still closed.
"Toby," CJ smiled. "How much do you love me?"
"What do you want?" Toby asked.
"Well, something's been on my mind."
"What?"
"About Danny," CJ said, casually. "He talked to you."
"Yeah."
"Not me."
"Yeah."
"So, I don't know what was said."
"Yeah."
"Toby," CJ said in a high-pitched, whiny voice.
"Stop that," Toby snapped. "I hate when people whine."
"Yes, but I do it so well," CJ smirked. "Come on. Spill it."
"It's nothing to concern yourself with," Toby said, all too seriously.
"Well, now I know this isn't going to be good," CJ moaned.
"You'll find out tomorrow," Toby mentioned. "I'm way to tired right now to get into a long discussion on this."
"We're heading to California tomorrow," CJ pointed out.
"You'll find out tomorrow," Toby finally looked at her and raised his eyebrows, which indicated he really didn't want to talk about it.
"Okay," CJ nodded and stood. "Is it bad?"
"Yeah," Toby mumbled and went back to reading his notes.
"Great," CJ moaned. "I'll see you later."
"Goodnight."
"Toby."
"Don't worry about it," Toby nodded at her.
CJ moaned and walked out. Toby knew she was going to be pissed tomorrow, so he decided to stay as far away as possible during the plane ride to California.
THE NEXT DAY
"Okay, we'll be touching down in California at ten o'clock this evening. After that, everyone will be able to check in at his or her hotel rooms and get some sleep before we start the day tomorrow morning at eight. That's when the President will have a short meeting with Senator Michaels and then he'll be having breakfast with senior staff at nine," CJ looked around to the Press and noticed that most of them were falling asleep. "Anyway, for those still with me, Josh Lyman and Leo McGarry will fly in on Thursday."
"What's the schedule look like after the breakfast?" Chris asked.
"Well, he has more meetings that you people can't attend and I'm pretty sure after the breakfast, we're going to be running behind, so I'm not even going to try to time everything."
"You learned your lesson last time, didn't you?" Danny smirked.
"We ran a little behind last year, and you people still mock me."
"You guys ran five hours behind," Chris mentioned.
"Shut up," CJ moaned.
"When will the President meet up with Senator Ritchie?"
"The President will meet with Robert Ritchie tomorrow afternoon."
"Has there been discussion yet on Ritchie's new Chief of Staff, Ann Stark?" Chris asked.
"No. And like I said before we left Washington DC, we won't be having a discussion. We're not in charge at who works for Senator Ritchie."
"Has finding out about Ann Stark pushed a wedge between you and Toby?"
"Toby and I are professionals and we know how to do our jobs. We had some problems two years ago, but people, that was two years ago. Let us not dwell on the past."
"So, we don't have to worry about hearing about how the Communications Director was killed by the Press Secretary?" Danny asked.
"Not yet," CJ whispered to herself. "I'm leaving before you all give me a headache," She said and walked off.
"Nice," Sam nodded, meeting her in the hall.
"Where is he?" CJ asked.
"He's talking to the President," Sam mentioned. "Are you mad?"
"Just a little," CJ nodded and walked off, just in time to see Toby emerge from one of the conference rooms. "Hello?"
"Hi." Toby stopped in his tracks when he saw her. "How are you?"
"Don't pretend nothing happened," CJ warned. "Is this what you wouldn't tell me about last night?"
"Yes," Toby said simply.
"Well, you managed to ignore me most of the night."
"I wasn't ignoring you," Toby said. "I was running away from you."
"At least you're honest," CJ smirked.
"We're going to land soon."
"Yeah," CJ nodded and sat down, motioning for Toby to sit next to her. "Don't let her get to you again."
"I won't."
TBC
PART 3
"Ann," A young man quietly knocked in her office door.
"He's here?"
"Yeah."
"Send him in," Ann smiled. She waited until she saw Toby walked in before standing. "Toby Ziegler."
"I remembered during our last meeting that I had to call ahead of time," Toby said, glaring at her.
"Yes, but you had your secretary threaten me by saying that you would barge in if I didn't set you up an appointment," Ann smiled.
"Yes," Toby said simply. "What are you doing?"
"Working my way to the White House," Ann answered, sitting back down. "What are you doing?"
"Stopping you," Toby grinned at himself.
"Where's my gift?" Ann looked at Toby's hands.
"I accidentally ran over it," Toby sat down. "Listen."
"Danny talked with you, didn't he?" Ann asked. "Toby, this is politics, live with it."
"When you start bringing my problems, and my past, front and center, I'm going to express my anger," Toby snapped.
"CJ's right. You're hot when you're like this," Ann smiled.
"I'm not here to mess around," Toby pointed.
"Damn. And I was hoping for a hot, sweaty night with you."
"I'm serious," Toby glared.
"And what are your objections?" Ann shrugged.
"Whatever this is," Toby waved between Ann and himself. "It doesn't go together well. When you're around, I seem to do the wrong thing."
"The Leadership Breakfast? Toby, that was years ago."
"It still feels recent to me," Toby mentioned. "Why are you after me?"
"I'm not a hunter Toby," Ann laughed.
"Yes you are," Toby said simply. "Why me?"
Ann waited for a minute and looked at Toby. "Because you're the bowling ball."
"What the hell."
"And Leo, Sam, Josh, CJ, and the President are all pins. If I throw you the right way, I may just get a strike."
"I will not let you use me for your political game."
"Why do we fight every time we're together?" Ann asked.
"Because I don't like you."
"Yes you do," Ann smiled. "I have some work to do."
"Ann."
"Goodnight Toby," Ann smiled.
"Yeah," Toby shook it off and left.
"You have a plan?" Ritchie asked from the back corner.
"Yes," Ann nodded. "I do."
OVAL OFFICE
"Toby," Leo walked in after he saw Toby arrive. "We need to talk."
"I already met with Ed and Larry, and Sam's dealing with the people on the hill," Toby said, looking at his notes.
"That's good. But that's not why I'm here," Leo walked over to Toby's desk. "Is it true?"
"What?"
"Ann Stark?"
"So I heard," Toby moaned. "Don't worry."
"I do worry. Because every time Ann Stark comes up, I have to deal with a very irate Press Secretary."
"CJ's fine."
"Toby. Ann knows how to push your buttons, and every time she does, I have to play referee to a fight against my Communications Director and Press Secretary. You two do not get along when it comes to Ann Stark."
"Don't worry about it," Toby snapped. "CJ and I are professional."
"I remember what happened two years ago Toby."
"That was my mess up. Not CJ's," Toby mentioned.
"I don't care. Look, if Ann ever has to meet with one of the staff, she'll meet with Josh, Sam, or me. I don't want you or CJ dealing with her."
"Fine," Toby glared. "I have no problem with that."
"Good," Leo paced around a little. "Don't forget to meet here at six tomorrow morning."
"Why are we leaving for California at six?"
"Because the President wanted to leave a little later this time," Leo shrugged. "You, CJ, and Sam will go first."
"What about Josh?"
"He needs to stay behind and help me with a thing," Leo mentioned. "We'll follow you guys out there on Thursday."
"Yeah," Toby moaned. "I had to take Donna and CJ tan lotion shopping last night."
"I bet that was fun."
"It wasn't all that much."
"Six in the morning," Leo repeated before leaving. "And don't talk with Ann Stark until I can fix this."
"Yeah," Toby watched as Leo walked out. "What a day," Toby moaned and fell on his couch. He rested his head back and closed his eyes.
"It's only ten o'clock. Are you already tired?" CJ joked and fell next to him.
"I've been tired for twenty years," Toby said with his eyes still closed.
"Toby," CJ smiled. "How much do you love me?"
"What do you want?" Toby asked.
"Well, something's been on my mind."
"What?"
"About Danny," CJ said, casually. "He talked to you."
"Yeah."
"Not me."
"Yeah."
"So, I don't know what was said."
"Yeah."
"Toby," CJ said in a high-pitched, whiny voice.
"Stop that," Toby snapped. "I hate when people whine."
"Yes, but I do it so well," CJ smirked. "Come on. Spill it."
"It's nothing to concern yourself with," Toby said, all too seriously.
"Well, now I know this isn't going to be good," CJ moaned.
"You'll find out tomorrow," Toby mentioned. "I'm way to tired right now to get into a long discussion on this."
"We're heading to California tomorrow," CJ pointed out.
"You'll find out tomorrow," Toby finally looked at her and raised his eyebrows, which indicated he really didn't want to talk about it.
"Okay," CJ nodded and stood. "Is it bad?"
"Yeah," Toby mumbled and went back to reading his notes.
"Great," CJ moaned. "I'll see you later."
"Goodnight."
"Toby."
"Don't worry about it," Toby nodded at her.
CJ moaned and walked out. Toby knew she was going to be pissed tomorrow, so he decided to stay as far away as possible during the plane ride to California.
THE NEXT DAY
"Okay, we'll be touching down in California at ten o'clock this evening. After that, everyone will be able to check in at his or her hotel rooms and get some sleep before we start the day tomorrow morning at eight. That's when the President will have a short meeting with Senator Michaels and then he'll be having breakfast with senior staff at nine," CJ looked around to the Press and noticed that most of them were falling asleep. "Anyway, for those still with me, Josh Lyman and Leo McGarry will fly in on Thursday."
"What's the schedule look like after the breakfast?" Chris asked.
"Well, he has more meetings that you people can't attend and I'm pretty sure after the breakfast, we're going to be running behind, so I'm not even going to try to time everything."
"You learned your lesson last time, didn't you?" Danny smirked.
"We ran a little behind last year, and you people still mock me."
"You guys ran five hours behind," Chris mentioned.
"Shut up," CJ moaned.
"When will the President meet up with Senator Ritchie?"
"The President will meet with Robert Ritchie tomorrow afternoon."
"Has there been discussion yet on Ritchie's new Chief of Staff, Ann Stark?" Chris asked.
"No. And like I said before we left Washington DC, we won't be having a discussion. We're not in charge at who works for Senator Ritchie."
"Has finding out about Ann Stark pushed a wedge between you and Toby?"
"Toby and I are professionals and we know how to do our jobs. We had some problems two years ago, but people, that was two years ago. Let us not dwell on the past."
"So, we don't have to worry about hearing about how the Communications Director was killed by the Press Secretary?" Danny asked.
"Not yet," CJ whispered to herself. "I'm leaving before you all give me a headache," She said and walked off.
"Nice," Sam nodded, meeting her in the hall.
"Where is he?" CJ asked.
"He's talking to the President," Sam mentioned. "Are you mad?"
"Just a little," CJ nodded and walked off, just in time to see Toby emerge from one of the conference rooms. "Hello?"
"Hi." Toby stopped in his tracks when he saw her. "How are you?"
"Don't pretend nothing happened," CJ warned. "Is this what you wouldn't tell me about last night?"
"Yes," Toby said simply.
"Well, you managed to ignore me most of the night."
"I wasn't ignoring you," Toby said. "I was running away from you."
"At least you're honest," CJ smirked.
"We're going to land soon."
"Yeah," CJ nodded and sat down, motioning for Toby to sit next to her. "Don't let her get to you again."
"I won't."
TBC