"You want me to help you sit back down?" Josh asked.
"I have to make a speech," Toby looked over at him.
"I got you," Josh smiled. "Listen up everyone!" Josh yelled to get everyone's attention.
Everyone stopped talking and looked over at Josh. "Toby wants to make a speech," Josh said as he walked over to stand by CJ. Just then, Sharon and Jack came down and stood behind everyone to listen.
"Well, since I'm up I thought I would make a speech," Toby smiled. "Hopefully I don't fall over in the middle of it," Everyone smiled. "I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I know it must have been hard for you all to come out here tonight to pay your respects to our friend, co-worker, and all around great guy Sam Seaborn. I felt tonight would be a good way to ease some of the pain we are all feeling. It would give us the chance to spend some time with people that we sometimes don't get to see very often. Sam once asked me why we all didn't spend a lot of time together outside work. I told him it was because we were always at work, and if we had a day off, we all wanted to catch up on the lack of sleep we had that following week," Everyone in the room laughed. "I never met anyone like Sam before. He was brilliant, he loved life, and he was a very good guy. Those are three things that you don't see together that often. I learned from him. I learned to be a better friend. I learned how to look at my life in a different light because of him. He was always the one with a positive attitude, even when we were both having writers block," Toby felt tears start to form in his eyes. "Sam was not only our co-worker, but he was a friend, brother, and son," Toby looked around and smiled weakly. "Will everyone please raise your glasses," Josh grabbed a glass for Toby and handed it to him. "I would like to make a toast," Everyone in the room raised their glasses. "To Samuel Norman Seaborn. You will be in our hearts. May you watch over and guide us to where ever our futures may lead. We thank you for being our friend, and our brother, and our son," Toby smiled. "Cheers."
"Cheers," Everyone in the room said. After they all took a drink, they applauded Toby on his speech.
"Well done," Josh yelled over the applause and walked over to shake Toby hand. "That was the best speech I think I ever heard." He smiled.
"Thanks Josh," Toby smiled. "I think I need to sit down now." He said in pain.
"Oh, right," Josh grabbed his arm and helped him down. "Better?"
"Much," Toby eased out.
"I'm going to get another drink," Josh said before leaving.
"Toby," Charlie walked over.
"Hey Charlie, I didn't see you before," Toby said while looking up.
"I've been outside, just getting some air. I came back in to hear the speech. It was really well done," Charlie said while shaking Toby's hand.
"Thanks."
"I should get going," Charlie mentioned.
"You can stay if you want," Toby offered.
"Thanks, but the sitter I got for my sister has school tomorrow. And it's getting late."
"Okay, thanks for coming," Toby smiled.
"It was really a good speech Toby," Charlie smiled.
"Thank you," Toby smiled and watched as Charlie left.
"Everything okay?" Josh asked as he walked back over.
"Yeah, Charlie had to take off."
"Yeah, everyone's starting to leave."
"It's getting late," Toby agreed.
"Sharon asked if I would help you get to bed tonight," Josh said sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, I knew you wanted to help," Toby laughed as CJ walked over.
"What's so funny?" CJ asked.
"Josh is going to put me to bed," Toby joked.
"I think that was more information that I needed to know," CJ smiled.
"Toby," Sharon and Jack walked over to the couch.
"We'll wait over there," CJ grabbed Josh and walked over to see Donna.
"That was a miraculous speech Toby," Jack smiled. "Thank you."
"I meant every word sir," Toby nodded.
"I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of my son. He really respected you Toby."
"I respected him too Jack. He was a good man."
"If you need anything, please feel free to call," Jack shook Toby's hand.
"The same goes for me. If you need anything, just call," Toby smiled.
"I sure will," Jack smiled and looked over at Sharon. "Call me when you get home."
"I will," Sharon said and kissed Jack on the cheek. Then he walked out.
"Is he coming back?" Toby asked.
"No," Sharon sat next to him. "He's going to Paris tonight for a conference."
"I'm sorry," Toby grabbed Sharon's hand.
"Its okay," She smiled. "He doesn't do well with funerals. At least he came tonight."
"Yeah," Toby looked over at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," She turned over and smiled. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"That speech. I know it meant a lot to Sam."
"I just wish I could have told him how I felt when he was here," Toby looked down.
"He heard you tonight," She lifted his head up with her finger. "He's smiling right now."
"You think?" Toby smiled.
"I know," Sharon smiled and kissed Toby on the cheek. "Everyone seems to be taking off."
"I think I'm scaring them," Toby grinned.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because I've never sustained being nice for this amount of time," He smiled.
"Very funny," Sharon hit him gently in the arm.
"Toby, I think we're going to take off," Ginger walked over with Margaret, Carol, and Bonnie.
"Okay, thanks for coming," Toby said while each woman bent down and hugged him.
"That was a great speech boss," Ginger smiled.
"Thank you," He smiled back. "I'll see you four tomorrow."
"Yeah," They all said as they said goodbye to Sharon and walked out.
"Well, congratulations Toby. You cleared the room," Josh joked as he looked around.
"I still have Sharon, Donna, CJ, and you. I think that's pretty good," Toby said sarcastically.
"Better then usual," Josh joked.
"Knock it off you two." Sharon smiled. "You three help Toby upstairs. I'll start cleaning."
"No you won't," Toby looked over at her. "It will get done. You go get some rest."
"I can clean Toby."
"I know you can, but I'm not going to let you," He smiled and kissed her. "Go get some rest."
"Fine," She smiled.
"I can take you," Donna said. "It may take a while for Josh and CJ to get Toby in bed." She smiled while receiving a glare from Toby.
"Thank you Donna," Sharon stood. "I guess I'll see you all tomorrow."
"If you need anything tonight. Just call," Josh said.
"I'll be fine," Sharon hugged him. "Thank you though."
"Sure," He smiled.
"And CJ," Sharon hugged her and whispered in her ear. "Remember what we talked about."
"Go away," CJ smiled.
"Yeah," Sharon laughed. "Toby." She said sternly.
"Sharon," Toby smiled.
"Be careful tonight," She bent down and kissed him again. "And thank you again."
"Your welcome," He smiled.
"Bye," She waved as she walked out.
"You need me to come by tomorrow?" Donna asked Toby before leaving.
"I'll be okay. Thanks for everything Donna," Toby smiled. "And for the pie that I didn't get to eat." He glared at CJ.
"I'll see you guys later," Donna laughed.
"Hey Donna?" Josh ran over to her.
"Yeah," She turned around and faced him.
"I just wanted to." Josh smiled and leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. He then looked into her eyes. "I wanted to thank you," He grabbed her hands with his.
"I'm always here for you Josh," Donna smiled and started leaning in for another kiss.
"Okay, if I have to see anymore of this, I'm going to puke," Toby growled.
"Toby! Shut up!" Sharon screamed from outside.
"How did she hear me?" Toby looked up at CJ.
"Goodnight." Donna smiled and kissed Josh quickly before walked out.
"Goodnight." Josh said as he watched her get in her car and drive away.
"Josh?" CJ asked. Josh was still looking out the door. "Josh?" She said again.
"Joshua!" Toby yelled and got his attention.
"Oh, yeah," Josh walked back over. "I'll get his left side, and you get the right." Josh said as they lifted Toby up.
"Ouch.. Ouch.. Ouch." Toby kept saying every time he had to move his legs.
"Maybe you should just stay on the couch?" Josh asked as they came up to the stairs.
"If I have to sleep on the couch again, I'm going to hurt someone." He growled.
"Okay," Josh said. "You're going to have to help us here Toby, just lift one leg up at a time."
"Ouch!" Toby cried out.
"What?" CJ asked as they stopped moving.
"My knees feel like they are busting open," Toby bent down.
"That's it," Josh walked behind him. "CJ, lift his legs up, slowly."
"Okay," CJ bent down and held onto his ankles.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"Okay," Josh grabbed Toby's waist.
"What are you doing?" Toby asked.
"Lift!" Josh yelled. Josh lifted Toby upper half, while CJ lifted his lower half. "You got him?"
"Yeah," CJ said.
"Now walk up the stairs slowly. You trip, we all trip." Josh warned.
"Yeah."
"This is not happening," Toby hid his face in his hands. CJ and Josh carried him up to his room and laid him down gently on his bed.
"There," Josh said. "You're going to use the damn crutches tomorrow," He glared trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah, yeah," Toby moaned. "Thank you."
"Where's my tip?" Josh asked.
"You'll get your tip when I start walking again," Toby said in a warning voice.
"Now there's that old grumpy Toby we all know and love," Josh smiled.
"Go away," Toby growled.
"I should get going. Do you need me to pick you up in the morning?"
"No, I can get him. I'm probably going to be here anyway cleaning," CJ offered.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I think I can handle him," She smiled.
"It's like I'm not even in the room," Toby said to himself.
"I'll see you later," Josh smiled and patted Toby on the chest. "You did god tonight."
"Thank you," Toby smiled and patted Josh's hand.
"I'll see you two tomorrow," Josh walked over and hugged CJ before leaving.
"Well, I guess it's just you and me," Toby smiled and looked up at CJ.
TBC
"I have to make a speech," Toby looked over at him.
"I got you," Josh smiled. "Listen up everyone!" Josh yelled to get everyone's attention.
Everyone stopped talking and looked over at Josh. "Toby wants to make a speech," Josh said as he walked over to stand by CJ. Just then, Sharon and Jack came down and stood behind everyone to listen.
"Well, since I'm up I thought I would make a speech," Toby smiled. "Hopefully I don't fall over in the middle of it," Everyone smiled. "I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I know it must have been hard for you all to come out here tonight to pay your respects to our friend, co-worker, and all around great guy Sam Seaborn. I felt tonight would be a good way to ease some of the pain we are all feeling. It would give us the chance to spend some time with people that we sometimes don't get to see very often. Sam once asked me why we all didn't spend a lot of time together outside work. I told him it was because we were always at work, and if we had a day off, we all wanted to catch up on the lack of sleep we had that following week," Everyone in the room laughed. "I never met anyone like Sam before. He was brilliant, he loved life, and he was a very good guy. Those are three things that you don't see together that often. I learned from him. I learned to be a better friend. I learned how to look at my life in a different light because of him. He was always the one with a positive attitude, even when we were both having writers block," Toby felt tears start to form in his eyes. "Sam was not only our co-worker, but he was a friend, brother, and son," Toby looked around and smiled weakly. "Will everyone please raise your glasses," Josh grabbed a glass for Toby and handed it to him. "I would like to make a toast," Everyone in the room raised their glasses. "To Samuel Norman Seaborn. You will be in our hearts. May you watch over and guide us to where ever our futures may lead. We thank you for being our friend, and our brother, and our son," Toby smiled. "Cheers."
"Cheers," Everyone in the room said. After they all took a drink, they applauded Toby on his speech.
"Well done," Josh yelled over the applause and walked over to shake Toby hand. "That was the best speech I think I ever heard." He smiled.
"Thanks Josh," Toby smiled. "I think I need to sit down now." He said in pain.
"Oh, right," Josh grabbed his arm and helped him down. "Better?"
"Much," Toby eased out.
"I'm going to get another drink," Josh said before leaving.
"Toby," Charlie walked over.
"Hey Charlie, I didn't see you before," Toby said while looking up.
"I've been outside, just getting some air. I came back in to hear the speech. It was really well done," Charlie said while shaking Toby's hand.
"Thanks."
"I should get going," Charlie mentioned.
"You can stay if you want," Toby offered.
"Thanks, but the sitter I got for my sister has school tomorrow. And it's getting late."
"Okay, thanks for coming," Toby smiled.
"It was really a good speech Toby," Charlie smiled.
"Thank you," Toby smiled and watched as Charlie left.
"Everything okay?" Josh asked as he walked back over.
"Yeah, Charlie had to take off."
"Yeah, everyone's starting to leave."
"It's getting late," Toby agreed.
"Sharon asked if I would help you get to bed tonight," Josh said sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, I knew you wanted to help," Toby laughed as CJ walked over.
"What's so funny?" CJ asked.
"Josh is going to put me to bed," Toby joked.
"I think that was more information that I needed to know," CJ smiled.
"Toby," Sharon and Jack walked over to the couch.
"We'll wait over there," CJ grabbed Josh and walked over to see Donna.
"That was a miraculous speech Toby," Jack smiled. "Thank you."
"I meant every word sir," Toby nodded.
"I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of my son. He really respected you Toby."
"I respected him too Jack. He was a good man."
"If you need anything, please feel free to call," Jack shook Toby's hand.
"The same goes for me. If you need anything, just call," Toby smiled.
"I sure will," Jack smiled and looked over at Sharon. "Call me when you get home."
"I will," Sharon said and kissed Jack on the cheek. Then he walked out.
"Is he coming back?" Toby asked.
"No," Sharon sat next to him. "He's going to Paris tonight for a conference."
"I'm sorry," Toby grabbed Sharon's hand.
"Its okay," She smiled. "He doesn't do well with funerals. At least he came tonight."
"Yeah," Toby looked over at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," She turned over and smiled. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"That speech. I know it meant a lot to Sam."
"I just wish I could have told him how I felt when he was here," Toby looked down.
"He heard you tonight," She lifted his head up with her finger. "He's smiling right now."
"You think?" Toby smiled.
"I know," Sharon smiled and kissed Toby on the cheek. "Everyone seems to be taking off."
"I think I'm scaring them," Toby grinned.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because I've never sustained being nice for this amount of time," He smiled.
"Very funny," Sharon hit him gently in the arm.
"Toby, I think we're going to take off," Ginger walked over with Margaret, Carol, and Bonnie.
"Okay, thanks for coming," Toby said while each woman bent down and hugged him.
"That was a great speech boss," Ginger smiled.
"Thank you," He smiled back. "I'll see you four tomorrow."
"Yeah," They all said as they said goodbye to Sharon and walked out.
"Well, congratulations Toby. You cleared the room," Josh joked as he looked around.
"I still have Sharon, Donna, CJ, and you. I think that's pretty good," Toby said sarcastically.
"Better then usual," Josh joked.
"Knock it off you two." Sharon smiled. "You three help Toby upstairs. I'll start cleaning."
"No you won't," Toby looked over at her. "It will get done. You go get some rest."
"I can clean Toby."
"I know you can, but I'm not going to let you," He smiled and kissed her. "Go get some rest."
"Fine," She smiled.
"I can take you," Donna said. "It may take a while for Josh and CJ to get Toby in bed." She smiled while receiving a glare from Toby.
"Thank you Donna," Sharon stood. "I guess I'll see you all tomorrow."
"If you need anything tonight. Just call," Josh said.
"I'll be fine," Sharon hugged him. "Thank you though."
"Sure," He smiled.
"And CJ," Sharon hugged her and whispered in her ear. "Remember what we talked about."
"Go away," CJ smiled.
"Yeah," Sharon laughed. "Toby." She said sternly.
"Sharon," Toby smiled.
"Be careful tonight," She bent down and kissed him again. "And thank you again."
"Your welcome," He smiled.
"Bye," She waved as she walked out.
"You need me to come by tomorrow?" Donna asked Toby before leaving.
"I'll be okay. Thanks for everything Donna," Toby smiled. "And for the pie that I didn't get to eat." He glared at CJ.
"I'll see you guys later," Donna laughed.
"Hey Donna?" Josh ran over to her.
"Yeah," She turned around and faced him.
"I just wanted to." Josh smiled and leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. He then looked into her eyes. "I wanted to thank you," He grabbed her hands with his.
"I'm always here for you Josh," Donna smiled and started leaning in for another kiss.
"Okay, if I have to see anymore of this, I'm going to puke," Toby growled.
"Toby! Shut up!" Sharon screamed from outside.
"How did she hear me?" Toby looked up at CJ.
"Goodnight." Donna smiled and kissed Josh quickly before walked out.
"Goodnight." Josh said as he watched her get in her car and drive away.
"Josh?" CJ asked. Josh was still looking out the door. "Josh?" She said again.
"Joshua!" Toby yelled and got his attention.
"Oh, yeah," Josh walked back over. "I'll get his left side, and you get the right." Josh said as they lifted Toby up.
"Ouch.. Ouch.. Ouch." Toby kept saying every time he had to move his legs.
"Maybe you should just stay on the couch?" Josh asked as they came up to the stairs.
"If I have to sleep on the couch again, I'm going to hurt someone." He growled.
"Okay," Josh said. "You're going to have to help us here Toby, just lift one leg up at a time."
"Ouch!" Toby cried out.
"What?" CJ asked as they stopped moving.
"My knees feel like they are busting open," Toby bent down.
"That's it," Josh walked behind him. "CJ, lift his legs up, slowly."
"Okay," CJ bent down and held onto his ankles.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"Okay," Josh grabbed Toby's waist.
"What are you doing?" Toby asked.
"Lift!" Josh yelled. Josh lifted Toby upper half, while CJ lifted his lower half. "You got him?"
"Yeah," CJ said.
"Now walk up the stairs slowly. You trip, we all trip." Josh warned.
"Yeah."
"This is not happening," Toby hid his face in his hands. CJ and Josh carried him up to his room and laid him down gently on his bed.
"There," Josh said. "You're going to use the damn crutches tomorrow," He glared trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah, yeah," Toby moaned. "Thank you."
"Where's my tip?" Josh asked.
"You'll get your tip when I start walking again," Toby said in a warning voice.
"Now there's that old grumpy Toby we all know and love," Josh smiled.
"Go away," Toby growled.
"I should get going. Do you need me to pick you up in the morning?"
"No, I can get him. I'm probably going to be here anyway cleaning," CJ offered.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I think I can handle him," She smiled.
"It's like I'm not even in the room," Toby said to himself.
"I'll see you later," Josh smiled and patted Toby on the chest. "You did god tonight."
"Thank you," Toby smiled and patted Josh's hand.
"I'll see you two tomorrow," Josh walked over and hugged CJ before leaving.
"Well, I guess it's just you and me," Toby smiled and looked up at CJ.
TBC