Author's note: Sorry for the delay, again!
*
Bartlet Farm
They had decided not to wake up Leo until it was time to have dinner. If they didn't he'd be more like they were used to see him, which they knew he wanted, and not so weak and tired later.
"It's so good to see you all," Leo said softly and looked at each one of them.
He stopped at Jed and nodded once as a silent thank you. Jed smiled slightly then had to look away to not burst out in tears.
"It's good to see you too," CJ said and put her hand over his on the table. "I've missed you so much." Then she turned to the others around the table. "All of you. It's now when I'm here that I realize we don't see each other often enough."
"Maybe we can change that," Leo said and everyone looked away because he wouldn't be around for it.
An awkward silence spread around the table. It was Abbey who first said something.
"I hope the steak tastes good. Its Angela's special."
"Tell her it was wonderful," Josh said with a huge grin.
"Yeah, but you probably shouldn't mention that. Josh think all food is wonderful," Sam filled in with a smirk.
Josh playfully pushed his shoulder against Sam's.
"Living with Amy and her food makes anything else wonderful. Don't tell her I said that."
Everyone laughed.
"Now, kids, why don't you tell the rest of us about work," Leo said.
Abbey groaned. "Leo, they're here on vacation. They shouldn't so much as think of work this week."
"I'm afraid that's rather impossible, ma'am," CJ said. "If it makes Leo happy I'm glad to tell him about work."
Leo smiled and leaned back and listened too first CJ, then Sam and at last Josh tell them about work. It was nice for him, not only because he liked to know what was going on in their lives but it was also relaxing to just sit and listen.
"How's Jordan?" CJ asked when Angela brought in dessert.
"She's fine."
Josh pushed Sam's shoulder again and smirked. "And what about Mallory?"
Sam looked uncomfortable and nervously shifted on his chair.
"She's fine too," Leo said and smiled at Sam. "She's married now, expecting her third kid although I'm pretty sure she never really got over you." He winked at Sam who looked as if he wanted nothing else than to leave the room.
CJ noticed and decided to change subject. "What about Amy and the kids, Josh?"
As Josh began to talk about his family Sam smiled thankfully at CJ. She raised an eyebrow to ask if everything was okay but then he just looked away.
"Joanie's so sweet. She draws already perfectly. Sophie is walking now and Leo Jr. is busy with his baseball," Josh said with a proud smile.
"Isn't he like three years old?" Jed asked.
Josh shrugged and blushed. "Okay, so maybe not busy but he likes to throw the ball a lot."
"They must have grown inches since I last saw them," CJ said and looked sad.
Abbey groaned again. "Okay, why do you all have to be so sentimental tonight? We've already agreed that we'll see each other more after this week, right?"
"It's just, I can't believe we worked together for eight years. We saw each other every day," CJ said. "And now it takes a." She swallowed and turned to Leo. ".An occasion like this to bring us together."
Everyone looked sad but then Leo grinned. "I'm glad I could help with something."
"How's Margaret?" Sam asked. "Why isn't she here? I thought everyone important to you were coming here."
Leo smiled and waved with his hand in the air. "I see Margaret every day in Boston. She didn't want to come here either. She thought she'd let us be alone. Speaking of which, I thought Toby was coming."
Jed looked sadly at his friend when he heard the disappointment in his voice. He made a mental note to call Toby tomorrow and tell him a few things about old friends and to be there for each other.
"He's coming," Sam said, sounding as if he wanted to convince himself mostly. "He told me himself when I called him last week."
Leo looks smiled sadly. "Yeah, but this is Toby we're talking about."
CJ looked away and bit her lower lip feeling the tears burn behind her eyelids. She hated when people said bad things about Toby even though he most of the times deserved it. It still hurt, though.
Angela knocked on the door and then entered. "I'm sorry, sir, ma'am, but someone's coming."
Everyone looked at each other and all minds went to the same person.
"So, he's coming after all," Leo whispered to no one in particular.
CJ, who's face gone pale quickly rose. "I'm sorry. Will you excuse me?"
Without waiting for an answer she left and hurried to her room. The others looked worriedly after her. Josh rose but Abbey held up her hand and shook her head.
"She'll probably need to be alone for a while."
Sam looked nervously at everyone in the room, then he suddenly rose with such power everyone looked confused at him.
"I'm going out to meet him," Sam said quietly.
"I'll come with you," Josh offered.
After Josh and Sam had left the room Jed looked worriedly at Leo.
"Are you okay?"
Leo nodded slowly. "I just, although I knew he was coming I really wasn't expecting it."
"I don't think anyone did," Abbey said with a small smile.
When Josh and Sam came out on the porch Toby was already there. He was leaning against the car and just looked at the house. Josh and Sam nervously walked over to him. Josh held out his hand and Toby took it after a short while.
"Hey, Toby. It's good to see you," Josh said, not sure if he should smile or not.
"Hey, Josh."
When he let go of Josh's hand he turned to Sam. Something in his stomach twitched and he held out his hand, first now realizing it was slightly shaking. Sam ignored Toby's outstretched hand and took a small step closer so that he could embrace him.
"Hey Toby," he said softly.
After a second Toby let his arms gently hug Sam back. "Hey, Sam."
Josh smiled a bit nervously then picked up Toby's bags. "I'll take your bags inside."
"Thanks," Toby said only looking at him for a short moment before turning back to Sam again.
Sam nervously looked away. Toby smiled slightly and put his hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Want to take a walk?"
"Aren't you tired? I mean after your flight?"
Toby shook his head. "Come on."
Sam nodded once and then followed Toby towards the pond.
"The others weren't sure you were coming," Sam said after a while.
Toby laughed quietly. "I could imagine."
"I was though."
Toby stopped and turned to Sam. "I could imagine that too," he said softly.
Sam looked down on the ground and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. I wish you'd come and seen me in D.C."
"Yeah, well I've been busy," Toby said for the first time sounding harsh and annoyed since he came.
Sam was surprised over how cold Toby sounded but then decided to try again.
"I've missed you."
This time it was Toby's turn to look away. He didn't say anything.
"I just wanted to talk to you before we went in to the others," Sam said nervously after a while. "I wanted to know if you."
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He didn't want to bring this up, not now, not when he hadn't seen or talked to Toby in years. He forced himself to say what was on his mind because if he didn't he'd probably have a breakdown soon.
"Before I left you said things to me that made me think that you might know. something."
Toby looked Sam in the eyes without showing any kinds of emotions. "I know Sam."
Sam just looked at him not knowing if he should be terrified or relived that someone finally knew what he's been keeping inside him since he was a teenager.
"I'd known for a while," he added softly.
Sam looked shocked and he began to pace. Then he walked down to the pond and stopped there. A few seconds later he felt Toby's hand on his shoulder.
"Why didn't you say something?" Sam asked, his voice thick because of the lump in his throat.
"I don't know." Toby shrugged. "I've never been the one to butt into other people's lives. I thought maybe you weren't ready to tell me."
Sam snorted and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "It'd made things a lot easier if you'd said something."
"Probably," Toby admitted. "Sam, do you want to talk about this?"
Sam shrugged and looked away briefly. "Toby, even though we haven't had contact in thirty-one months your opinion still means everything to me."
Toby smiled slightly. "You've counted the months?"
"Toby!" Sam said warningly.
Toby became serious. "I know, Sam. And it means a lot to me that you think of me that way even though I can't understand why." He paused for a second. "Sam, you're still the same person to me. I just want you to be happy."
Sam let out a sigh of relief.
"I should probably go and say hi to the others."
Sam nodded. "Nervous?"
Toby glared at Sam. "Well, the last time I saw most of them we weren't on the best of terms."
"I know," Sam said softly.
Toby began walking back towards the house expecting Sam to follow. When he didn't he turned and waved with his hand in he air.
"You aren't coming?"
"In a while."
"Okay." He took a few steps but then turned. "Are you okay? I mean, do you want me to stay?"
Sam shrugged and looked away.
"Okay," Toby said slowly walking back towards Sam. "I'll stay here with you but only because I'm scared as hell of going in to that house all by myself."
Sam smiled thankfully and sat down on the grass, putting his arms around his knees. Toby sat down next to him and Sam chuckled.
"What?"
"It's just. I don't think I ever expected to see you sit next to me on the grass looking at a pond."
"Yeah, well. Listen, can I do anything for you? I kind of feel guilty for not staying in touch."
"I understand."
"Josh, CJ, do they now?"
Sam shook her head. "No one does. Just you."
Sam looked at Toby, his eyes full of admiration and relief. Toby took up a cigar and lit it.
"I'm glad you talked me into come here. Even if the rest of this week suck this moment will be worth it."
Sam smiled again.
"So, Congressman Seaborn," Toby said and grinned. "Tell me what's going on in D.C."
TBC.
*
Bartlet Farm
They had decided not to wake up Leo until it was time to have dinner. If they didn't he'd be more like they were used to see him, which they knew he wanted, and not so weak and tired later.
"It's so good to see you all," Leo said softly and looked at each one of them.
He stopped at Jed and nodded once as a silent thank you. Jed smiled slightly then had to look away to not burst out in tears.
"It's good to see you too," CJ said and put her hand over his on the table. "I've missed you so much." Then she turned to the others around the table. "All of you. It's now when I'm here that I realize we don't see each other often enough."
"Maybe we can change that," Leo said and everyone looked away because he wouldn't be around for it.
An awkward silence spread around the table. It was Abbey who first said something.
"I hope the steak tastes good. Its Angela's special."
"Tell her it was wonderful," Josh said with a huge grin.
"Yeah, but you probably shouldn't mention that. Josh think all food is wonderful," Sam filled in with a smirk.
Josh playfully pushed his shoulder against Sam's.
"Living with Amy and her food makes anything else wonderful. Don't tell her I said that."
Everyone laughed.
"Now, kids, why don't you tell the rest of us about work," Leo said.
Abbey groaned. "Leo, they're here on vacation. They shouldn't so much as think of work this week."
"I'm afraid that's rather impossible, ma'am," CJ said. "If it makes Leo happy I'm glad to tell him about work."
Leo smiled and leaned back and listened too first CJ, then Sam and at last Josh tell them about work. It was nice for him, not only because he liked to know what was going on in their lives but it was also relaxing to just sit and listen.
"How's Jordan?" CJ asked when Angela brought in dessert.
"She's fine."
Josh pushed Sam's shoulder again and smirked. "And what about Mallory?"
Sam looked uncomfortable and nervously shifted on his chair.
"She's fine too," Leo said and smiled at Sam. "She's married now, expecting her third kid although I'm pretty sure she never really got over you." He winked at Sam who looked as if he wanted nothing else than to leave the room.
CJ noticed and decided to change subject. "What about Amy and the kids, Josh?"
As Josh began to talk about his family Sam smiled thankfully at CJ. She raised an eyebrow to ask if everything was okay but then he just looked away.
"Joanie's so sweet. She draws already perfectly. Sophie is walking now and Leo Jr. is busy with his baseball," Josh said with a proud smile.
"Isn't he like three years old?" Jed asked.
Josh shrugged and blushed. "Okay, so maybe not busy but he likes to throw the ball a lot."
"They must have grown inches since I last saw them," CJ said and looked sad.
Abbey groaned again. "Okay, why do you all have to be so sentimental tonight? We've already agreed that we'll see each other more after this week, right?"
"It's just, I can't believe we worked together for eight years. We saw each other every day," CJ said. "And now it takes a." She swallowed and turned to Leo. ".An occasion like this to bring us together."
Everyone looked sad but then Leo grinned. "I'm glad I could help with something."
"How's Margaret?" Sam asked. "Why isn't she here? I thought everyone important to you were coming here."
Leo smiled and waved with his hand in the air. "I see Margaret every day in Boston. She didn't want to come here either. She thought she'd let us be alone. Speaking of which, I thought Toby was coming."
Jed looked sadly at his friend when he heard the disappointment in his voice. He made a mental note to call Toby tomorrow and tell him a few things about old friends and to be there for each other.
"He's coming," Sam said, sounding as if he wanted to convince himself mostly. "He told me himself when I called him last week."
Leo looks smiled sadly. "Yeah, but this is Toby we're talking about."
CJ looked away and bit her lower lip feeling the tears burn behind her eyelids. She hated when people said bad things about Toby even though he most of the times deserved it. It still hurt, though.
Angela knocked on the door and then entered. "I'm sorry, sir, ma'am, but someone's coming."
Everyone looked at each other and all minds went to the same person.
"So, he's coming after all," Leo whispered to no one in particular.
CJ, who's face gone pale quickly rose. "I'm sorry. Will you excuse me?"
Without waiting for an answer she left and hurried to her room. The others looked worriedly after her. Josh rose but Abbey held up her hand and shook her head.
"She'll probably need to be alone for a while."
Sam looked nervously at everyone in the room, then he suddenly rose with such power everyone looked confused at him.
"I'm going out to meet him," Sam said quietly.
"I'll come with you," Josh offered.
After Josh and Sam had left the room Jed looked worriedly at Leo.
"Are you okay?"
Leo nodded slowly. "I just, although I knew he was coming I really wasn't expecting it."
"I don't think anyone did," Abbey said with a small smile.
When Josh and Sam came out on the porch Toby was already there. He was leaning against the car and just looked at the house. Josh and Sam nervously walked over to him. Josh held out his hand and Toby took it after a short while.
"Hey, Toby. It's good to see you," Josh said, not sure if he should smile or not.
"Hey, Josh."
When he let go of Josh's hand he turned to Sam. Something in his stomach twitched and he held out his hand, first now realizing it was slightly shaking. Sam ignored Toby's outstretched hand and took a small step closer so that he could embrace him.
"Hey Toby," he said softly.
After a second Toby let his arms gently hug Sam back. "Hey, Sam."
Josh smiled a bit nervously then picked up Toby's bags. "I'll take your bags inside."
"Thanks," Toby said only looking at him for a short moment before turning back to Sam again.
Sam nervously looked away. Toby smiled slightly and put his hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Want to take a walk?"
"Aren't you tired? I mean after your flight?"
Toby shook his head. "Come on."
Sam nodded once and then followed Toby towards the pond.
"The others weren't sure you were coming," Sam said after a while.
Toby laughed quietly. "I could imagine."
"I was though."
Toby stopped and turned to Sam. "I could imagine that too," he said softly.
Sam looked down on the ground and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. I wish you'd come and seen me in D.C."
"Yeah, well I've been busy," Toby said for the first time sounding harsh and annoyed since he came.
Sam was surprised over how cold Toby sounded but then decided to try again.
"I've missed you."
This time it was Toby's turn to look away. He didn't say anything.
"I just wanted to talk to you before we went in to the others," Sam said nervously after a while. "I wanted to know if you."
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He didn't want to bring this up, not now, not when he hadn't seen or talked to Toby in years. He forced himself to say what was on his mind because if he didn't he'd probably have a breakdown soon.
"Before I left you said things to me that made me think that you might know. something."
Toby looked Sam in the eyes without showing any kinds of emotions. "I know Sam."
Sam just looked at him not knowing if he should be terrified or relived that someone finally knew what he's been keeping inside him since he was a teenager.
"I'd known for a while," he added softly.
Sam looked shocked and he began to pace. Then he walked down to the pond and stopped there. A few seconds later he felt Toby's hand on his shoulder.
"Why didn't you say something?" Sam asked, his voice thick because of the lump in his throat.
"I don't know." Toby shrugged. "I've never been the one to butt into other people's lives. I thought maybe you weren't ready to tell me."
Sam snorted and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "It'd made things a lot easier if you'd said something."
"Probably," Toby admitted. "Sam, do you want to talk about this?"
Sam shrugged and looked away briefly. "Toby, even though we haven't had contact in thirty-one months your opinion still means everything to me."
Toby smiled slightly. "You've counted the months?"
"Toby!" Sam said warningly.
Toby became serious. "I know, Sam. And it means a lot to me that you think of me that way even though I can't understand why." He paused for a second. "Sam, you're still the same person to me. I just want you to be happy."
Sam let out a sigh of relief.
"I should probably go and say hi to the others."
Sam nodded. "Nervous?"
Toby glared at Sam. "Well, the last time I saw most of them we weren't on the best of terms."
"I know," Sam said softly.
Toby began walking back towards the house expecting Sam to follow. When he didn't he turned and waved with his hand in he air.
"You aren't coming?"
"In a while."
"Okay." He took a few steps but then turned. "Are you okay? I mean, do you want me to stay?"
Sam shrugged and looked away.
"Okay," Toby said slowly walking back towards Sam. "I'll stay here with you but only because I'm scared as hell of going in to that house all by myself."
Sam smiled thankfully and sat down on the grass, putting his arms around his knees. Toby sat down next to him and Sam chuckled.
"What?"
"It's just. I don't think I ever expected to see you sit next to me on the grass looking at a pond."
"Yeah, well. Listen, can I do anything for you? I kind of feel guilty for not staying in touch."
"I understand."
"Josh, CJ, do they now?"
Sam shook her head. "No one does. Just you."
Sam looked at Toby, his eyes full of admiration and relief. Toby took up a cigar and lit it.
"I'm glad you talked me into come here. Even if the rest of this week suck this moment will be worth it."
Sam smiled again.
"So, Congressman Seaborn," Toby said and grinned. "Tell me what's going on in D.C."
TBC.