By six, the house was full. Toby was trying to greet everyone from the
couch, but was being unsuccessful.
"Josh!" Toby yelled to get his attention.
"Yeah?" Josh sat next to him.
"Where's Sharon?" Toby asked.
"She's with Ginger and Bonnie. Their exchanging stories about Sam," He said softly.
"You think she's doing okay."
"She just lost her son."
"You know what I mean," Toby snapped.
"I think under the circumstances, she's doing okay," Josh smiled. "How are you doing?"
"I'm starting to get pissed that I can't stand and greet people," Toby snapped.
"Sounds like your pain medication is wearing off," Josh joked.
"At least Sharon found me some pie," Toby smiled.
"Yeah," Josh started laughing and patted Toby on the back. "Leo told me that the President wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" Toby asked.
"I'm not sure," Josh said. Just then, they heard someone knocking on the door. Donna opened it, and two young woman walked in. "Sam's sisters." Josh took a deep breath.
"I never met them," Toby said. They saw Sharon rush over to them and hug them. All three of the women were crying.
"After Sam moved out here, they lost touch. He was meaning to visit them," Josh said.
"Yeah," Toby said as they all started walking over to the couch.
"Josh, you remember my daughters Sarah and Madison," Sharon said as they walked up to him.
"Of course I do. I'm very sorry for your loss," Josh leaned over and hugged both of them.
"Thank you Josh. It's good to see you again," Sarah said.
"Sam here Josh," Madison smiled.
"And this is Toby Ziegler. He was Sam's boss," Sharon pointed out. "And a close friend." She smiled.
"It's nice to meet both of you," Toby shook their hands.
"We've heard a lot about you Mr. Ziegler," Madison said.
"Please, call me Toby."
"Our mom speaks highly of you," Sarah smiled.
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Toby smiled and winked at Sharon.
"Come along girls, let me introduce you to some more people," Sharon walked them over to where Donna and Margaret were.
"How's it going?" CJ walked up.
"I just met Sam's sisters," Toby answered back.
"Yeah, same here," CJ said. "Sharon brought them over."
"Yeah," Toby said.
"Do you think Sam is watching all of this?" Josh asked as he sat down. CJ sat in between the two men.
"What do you mean?" CJ asked.
"I mean, do you think he's watching all of us right now. All of his friends and family under one roof," Josh looked straight ahead.
"I think he's watching with a smile on his face," Toby looked down and played with his shirt. "He always loved parties."
"Yeah," CJ added. "I think he's happy right now that this is happening. With all of us here thinking about him." All three of them smiled a little. Knowing that he was watching. Just then, the door opened and Sam's father walked in. For the first time that evening, the room got quiet.
"Jack," Josh stood and walked over to him.
"Joshua," Jack nodded. The room was still quiet and everyone was looking over at them.
"Okay everyone, who's ready for some food?" CJ jumped up.
"Yeah," The room said as everyone headed off near the kitchen.
"Donna, will you help me serve the chicken?"
"Yeah," Donna followed her as they went into the kitchen. At this time, everyone began to talk again.
"It's good to see you sir," Josh said as he shook Jack's hand.
"It's good to see you too Joshua," Jack smiled weakly. "Is my wife here?"
"I'm right here," Sharon walked up to him.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner," Jack said as he hugged Sharon.
"I'm just glad you made it."
"Why wouldn't I? He was my son," Jack said.
"I just know how your schedule is," Sharon shot back.
"I didn't come here to fight," Jack said.
"Neither did I."
"Then can we talk for a minute?"
"We are talking," Sharon said. Just then, Jack looked over to Josh and other people that were around him.
"You can go upstairs to my room of you want," Toby said from the couch.
"I just need to talk for a minute," Jack said.
"Fine," Sharon began to walk upstairs as Jack went over and shook Toby's hand.
"Good to see you again Toby."
"You too," Toby faked a smiled. Jack walked up and followed his wife.
"He's not going to stay," Josh walked back over to Toby.
"What do you mean? He's son just died."
"He wore a suit," Josh pointed out. "Means he's going on business."
"Who told you that?"
"Sam," Josh looked at him.
"Toby, do you want anything?" CJ came out of the kitchen. "And no pie."
"Why can't I have pie?"
"Because you already had pie," She smiled.
"You ate it all, didn't you?"
"Maybe," CJ looked down.
"Can I have some chicken?"
"Sure," CJ ran back in the kitchen.
"She ate all my pie. I had two pies!" Toby whined. He looked over and saw Josh smiling.
"What?"
"When are you two going to get together man?" He started laughing.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Toby yelled.
"You and CJ. It's like you two are already married," He continued laughing.
"You think that's funny?" Toby smiled. "When are you and Donna getting together?" He smirked as Josh stopped laughing.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"It's like you two are already married," Toby said sarcastically.
"Shut up!" Josh sat back and started to pout.
"Here you go," CJ walked out with a plate made for Toby.
"Thank you. It looks good," Toby smiled.
"Where's mine?" Josh asked.
"Here Josh," Donna walked out and handed him a plate full of food.
"Thanks," He smiled.
"Can we go take care of the rest of the guest now?" CJ asked.
"I guess," Toby smiled.
"Thank you," The two walked back to the kitchen. The two men stopped and looked at each other. Wondering if what they just said was true.
"No way," They both said and ate their meals.
Toby's bedroom..
"You're leaving?" Sharon snapped. "Our son just died!"
"You don't think I'm hurting here?" Jack snapped. "I loved him just as much as you. But I have to go on this trip. It's important to my business."
"He's funeral is tomorrow," Sharon sat on the bed.
"I'm sorry Sharon, you know I want to be here."
"Then be here!" She yelled.
"I can't," He looked down. "I'm sorry Sharon. I really am."
"Have you even cried Jack?" She looked up at him with tears falling down her face.
"Sharon."
"Have you!" She jumped up and pushed him. "Have you cried for our son?"
"I can't." He felt a lump in his throat.
"He loved you so much Jack. Even after finding out about your affair. He loved you," Sharon cried out.
"I loved him too."
"Then cry for him," She wrapped her arms around him as she started crying. Jack patted her head, trying to be strong. But the tears won over him and he began to cry.
"I'm so sorry," He hugged Sharon tight. They stood there, crying for their lost son. Apologizing for any mistakes that they made in the past.
Downstairs..
"Toby, we're going to take off. We have the dinner with mom and dad," Liz walked over with her two sisters.
"Okay," He smiled and hit Josh in the arm.
"What?" Josh looked over at him.
"Help me up."
"Fine," Josh took a deep breath and pulled Toby up.
"I can stand fine, I just can't walk," Toby pointed out, and Josh released slowly.
"Are you sure?" Josh asked.
"Yeah," Toby took a deep breath and looked at the girls. "I want to be able to hug my girls while I'm standing up," He smiled.
"Oh Toby bear," Zoey smiled and hugged him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Take care of yourself. Don't do too much."
"I promise," He smiled.
"You better take that advice," Ellie warned as she hugged him. "Or you'll mess with me." She smiled.
"I will," He kissed her forehead.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Liz waked over and gave Toby a friendly kiss on the lips and hugged him. "Tell Sharon that she knows where we are if she needs anything."
"I will," Toby smiled and kissed her back. "Drive safe you three." He smiled and watched them as they walked out.
TBC
"Josh!" Toby yelled to get his attention.
"Yeah?" Josh sat next to him.
"Where's Sharon?" Toby asked.
"She's with Ginger and Bonnie. Their exchanging stories about Sam," He said softly.
"You think she's doing okay."
"She just lost her son."
"You know what I mean," Toby snapped.
"I think under the circumstances, she's doing okay," Josh smiled. "How are you doing?"
"I'm starting to get pissed that I can't stand and greet people," Toby snapped.
"Sounds like your pain medication is wearing off," Josh joked.
"At least Sharon found me some pie," Toby smiled.
"Yeah," Josh started laughing and patted Toby on the back. "Leo told me that the President wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" Toby asked.
"I'm not sure," Josh said. Just then, they heard someone knocking on the door. Donna opened it, and two young woman walked in. "Sam's sisters." Josh took a deep breath.
"I never met them," Toby said. They saw Sharon rush over to them and hug them. All three of the women were crying.
"After Sam moved out here, they lost touch. He was meaning to visit them," Josh said.
"Yeah," Toby said as they all started walking over to the couch.
"Josh, you remember my daughters Sarah and Madison," Sharon said as they walked up to him.
"Of course I do. I'm very sorry for your loss," Josh leaned over and hugged both of them.
"Thank you Josh. It's good to see you again," Sarah said.
"Sam here Josh," Madison smiled.
"And this is Toby Ziegler. He was Sam's boss," Sharon pointed out. "And a close friend." She smiled.
"It's nice to meet both of you," Toby shook their hands.
"We've heard a lot about you Mr. Ziegler," Madison said.
"Please, call me Toby."
"Our mom speaks highly of you," Sarah smiled.
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Toby smiled and winked at Sharon.
"Come along girls, let me introduce you to some more people," Sharon walked them over to where Donna and Margaret were.
"How's it going?" CJ walked up.
"I just met Sam's sisters," Toby answered back.
"Yeah, same here," CJ said. "Sharon brought them over."
"Yeah," Toby said.
"Do you think Sam is watching all of this?" Josh asked as he sat down. CJ sat in between the two men.
"What do you mean?" CJ asked.
"I mean, do you think he's watching all of us right now. All of his friends and family under one roof," Josh looked straight ahead.
"I think he's watching with a smile on his face," Toby looked down and played with his shirt. "He always loved parties."
"Yeah," CJ added. "I think he's happy right now that this is happening. With all of us here thinking about him." All three of them smiled a little. Knowing that he was watching. Just then, the door opened and Sam's father walked in. For the first time that evening, the room got quiet.
"Jack," Josh stood and walked over to him.
"Joshua," Jack nodded. The room was still quiet and everyone was looking over at them.
"Okay everyone, who's ready for some food?" CJ jumped up.
"Yeah," The room said as everyone headed off near the kitchen.
"Donna, will you help me serve the chicken?"
"Yeah," Donna followed her as they went into the kitchen. At this time, everyone began to talk again.
"It's good to see you sir," Josh said as he shook Jack's hand.
"It's good to see you too Joshua," Jack smiled weakly. "Is my wife here?"
"I'm right here," Sharon walked up to him.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner," Jack said as he hugged Sharon.
"I'm just glad you made it."
"Why wouldn't I? He was my son," Jack said.
"I just know how your schedule is," Sharon shot back.
"I didn't come here to fight," Jack said.
"Neither did I."
"Then can we talk for a minute?"
"We are talking," Sharon said. Just then, Jack looked over to Josh and other people that were around him.
"You can go upstairs to my room of you want," Toby said from the couch.
"I just need to talk for a minute," Jack said.
"Fine," Sharon began to walk upstairs as Jack went over and shook Toby's hand.
"Good to see you again Toby."
"You too," Toby faked a smiled. Jack walked up and followed his wife.
"He's not going to stay," Josh walked back over to Toby.
"What do you mean? He's son just died."
"He wore a suit," Josh pointed out. "Means he's going on business."
"Who told you that?"
"Sam," Josh looked at him.
"Toby, do you want anything?" CJ came out of the kitchen. "And no pie."
"Why can't I have pie?"
"Because you already had pie," She smiled.
"You ate it all, didn't you?"
"Maybe," CJ looked down.
"Can I have some chicken?"
"Sure," CJ ran back in the kitchen.
"She ate all my pie. I had two pies!" Toby whined. He looked over and saw Josh smiling.
"What?"
"When are you two going to get together man?" He started laughing.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Toby yelled.
"You and CJ. It's like you two are already married," He continued laughing.
"You think that's funny?" Toby smiled. "When are you and Donna getting together?" He smirked as Josh stopped laughing.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"It's like you two are already married," Toby said sarcastically.
"Shut up!" Josh sat back and started to pout.
"Here you go," CJ walked out with a plate made for Toby.
"Thank you. It looks good," Toby smiled.
"Where's mine?" Josh asked.
"Here Josh," Donna walked out and handed him a plate full of food.
"Thanks," He smiled.
"Can we go take care of the rest of the guest now?" CJ asked.
"I guess," Toby smiled.
"Thank you," The two walked back to the kitchen. The two men stopped and looked at each other. Wondering if what they just said was true.
"No way," They both said and ate their meals.
Toby's bedroom..
"You're leaving?" Sharon snapped. "Our son just died!"
"You don't think I'm hurting here?" Jack snapped. "I loved him just as much as you. But I have to go on this trip. It's important to my business."
"He's funeral is tomorrow," Sharon sat on the bed.
"I'm sorry Sharon, you know I want to be here."
"Then be here!" She yelled.
"I can't," He looked down. "I'm sorry Sharon. I really am."
"Have you even cried Jack?" She looked up at him with tears falling down her face.
"Sharon."
"Have you!" She jumped up and pushed him. "Have you cried for our son?"
"I can't." He felt a lump in his throat.
"He loved you so much Jack. Even after finding out about your affair. He loved you," Sharon cried out.
"I loved him too."
"Then cry for him," She wrapped her arms around him as she started crying. Jack patted her head, trying to be strong. But the tears won over him and he began to cry.
"I'm so sorry," He hugged Sharon tight. They stood there, crying for their lost son. Apologizing for any mistakes that they made in the past.
Downstairs..
"Toby, we're going to take off. We have the dinner with mom and dad," Liz walked over with her two sisters.
"Okay," He smiled and hit Josh in the arm.
"What?" Josh looked over at him.
"Help me up."
"Fine," Josh took a deep breath and pulled Toby up.
"I can stand fine, I just can't walk," Toby pointed out, and Josh released slowly.
"Are you sure?" Josh asked.
"Yeah," Toby took a deep breath and looked at the girls. "I want to be able to hug my girls while I'm standing up," He smiled.
"Oh Toby bear," Zoey smiled and hugged him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Take care of yourself. Don't do too much."
"I promise," He smiled.
"You better take that advice," Ellie warned as she hugged him. "Or you'll mess with me." She smiled.
"I will," He kissed her forehead.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Liz waked over and gave Toby a friendly kiss on the lips and hugged him. "Tell Sharon that she knows where we are if she needs anything."
"I will," Toby smiled and kissed her back. "Drive safe you three." He smiled and watched them as they walked out.
TBC