Author: Sirius
Disclaimer: Rating and disclaimer info in Part I.
Archive: Just ask.
Chapter Summary: Jean-Paul's stupidity.
Author's Note: I will (after I've finished Desolation) be posting a more in-depth version of the Jean-Paul drop-kicking scene in response to the "How to Lose a Frenchman" challenge on the Color_Blind_Love list. Enjoy and reviews are always welcome.
The kitchen staff had been informed that Charlie was awake and had set out a variety of tempting items. Charlie went the simple route and made a sandwich; he wasn't particularly hungry. Zoey kept an eye on the small amount of food on his plate, but said nothing. It would be easier to get him to eat a snack later than a big meal now.
The two had already fixed their food and taken seats at the small dining table by the time Josh and Donna entered the kitchen area, having wished to give the younger pair some time to themselves.
"Alright, so you hear things," Josh was saying to Donna as they came in the door. "Do you know what's happening with Albrecht?"
"Albrecht?" Charlie interrupted, a slightly confused look on his face. "Are we talking about the Senator from North Carolina or Danny Concannon's stand-in from the Post? I've been out of the loop. Fill me in, would you?"
Charlie missed the questioning look that Josh cast to Zoey… and the look that she sent back, the one that said Tell him.
"K. This would be the Albrecht who was Danny's stand-in. Of course, considering that Danny decked him, I'd gather that they weren't the best of friends."
"Whoa, wait a minute. This is Danny Concannon you're talking about, right?" Josh nodded. "What did Albrecht do to piss him off?"
Josh paused, but knowing that Charlie would eventually find out and wanting him to hear it from a friend, took a deep breath and answered. "He ambushed CJ in yesterday evening's briefing with a question about Deena – for one. That would have been enough." Charlie's face was calm, but his fingers started to tap slowly on the table.
"What else?" the younger man asked. "You said `for one' and that implies that there was more than one thing that he did."
"Yeah, Danny came back from vacation early and had him reassigned. He was supposed to turn in his Press Corps ID to his editor, but the next time Danny saw him, he'd used it to get back into the West Wing. He said a few things, but no one other than Danny and Albrecht really know what they were, unless Danny told the President. The rest of us were talking with Leo and disobeying what was for all intents and purposes an Executive Order, and the only things we heard were shouting and then a loud thump as Albrecht had an unintentional meeting with Leo's office door. When Donna and I came through the door, I was just asking if she'd heard anything new."
"And if I'd had the chance to respond," she replied, "I would have reminded you that the President will be giving us more information in the Senior Staff, et al briefing."
"And who exactly constitutes `et al' for those of us at this table who haven't the slightest clue what's been going on here for the past – " Charlie looked at his watch – "twenty-eight hours?"
Josh and Donna filled him in on what they could – the inclusion of Donna, Margaret and Ainsley at the meetings, their search for him after they'd learned about his sister, the President's rage and determination that his aide not be made to go through this alone. Josh almost said "son" instead of "aide" in that last moment, only stopping himself because he didn't know if Charlie could stand to hear that right now. It's not a bad thing, Josh thought, but I'll try to go a little easier on the emotional side of things at the moment. Besides, the President's feelings are his own to reveal, even if everybody can see it regardless.
It was Donna who revealed Charlie's new codename to him, though not even she knew exactly how he'd gotten it. Charlie looked somewhat astonished at the faith implied by the name – faith in him, in these people around him. Zoey rested a hand on his shoulder and continued to watch him as Josh resumed speaking. He revealed to Charlie that his apartment was being monitored by agents, that Leo was in constant contact with Captain DiMenna, and that there would be no reporters asking for or being granted interviews unless he allowed it, courtesy of the President and CJ.
In the end, Josh, growing uncomfortable with the topic and the contemplative look on Charlie's face, switched topics. "So, Zoey, what's been up with you lately?"
"Not much. Toured France, took pictures, ditched Jean-Paul and had Gina threaten to shoot him… your typical vacation."
"Wait a minute… back up. You had Gina threaten to shoot Jean-Paul?" The look on Josh Lyman's face was priceless – sheer amazement mixed with a hint of manic glee.
"Actually, that's not entirely accurate." Zoey looked around the table and saw the expressions of confusion – mixed with a very tiny smile lurking on Charlie's face. She took pity on them and started to explain. "A little over two weeks ago, he and I went out to dinner – fancy place. We'd talked earlier in the day about his liking for public events. He likes crowds; I haven't been fond of them for a while. He wanted us to go places where we could be seen, and I was tired of stressing out Gina and Xander with the unnecessary security risks. I'd agreed to the dinner that night because I thought it would be a chance to talk things out, settle our disagreements. I was looking forward to going someplace small. It didn't happen, and the evening got worse from there."
Zoey paused for a second and took a breath, remembering all too clearly what happened next. She was still furious with the little…
"Halfway through dinner, I went to the restroom and came back to find Jean-Paul having a nice little chat with one of his buddies. Said friend was saying that, seeing as I didn't seem to be very happy with Jean-Paul at the moment, dear, dear old Jean-Paul had best pay up. To this, he replied that it didn't matter how angry I was, he could still talk his way into my bed by the end of the week, and then the cash would be all his. Of course, he didn't know that I was standing right behind him at the time. I very politely said that it had been a very memorable evening, and that I'd rather not repeat it. Then, I went back to my flat. Jean-Paul showed up about an hour later and tried to sweet-talk his way in the door. Gina wanted to handle it, but I said I'd talked to him. I went to the door and told him that if he ever came by my apartment, Gina would shoot him. I'm not sure he believed me until Gina added the final touch."
"What?" Donna's face revealed feelings of anger and an almost menacing anticipation.
"He pushed past me to try and get inside the flat. Gina grabbed him by his suit jacket, looked him straight in the eyes… and then, she grinned. Not a happy grin, exactly. It was more one of the `Oh, please, be stupid enough to try this' kind of grins. She… showed him out the door, and the last I saw of him, he was trying to maintain whatever dignity he had left as he hobbled down the hallway. The jackass probably still has bruises."
On the other side of the building, as Gina finished telling her version of events, the President broke out into a laughter so deeply felt that it brought tears to his eyes. He had no doubt that Jean-Paul had deserved everything he'd gotten.
TBC…
