Note: Many of you have wondered what I've done with Donna in this fic. I felt that if Donna was going to be a part of the story she'd have something to do with Josh. Since I don't like the thought of Josh and Donna as a couple, I wouldn't have been able to write it well. Donna won't show up and the romance part is, as you may have noticed, dedicated to another couple (.

*

Bartlet Farm

"Where did Sam and Toby go?" Abbey asked no one particular and looked out the window. "It's getting darker."

"Abbey, they're both grown men," Jed said and smiled but he couldn't hide he also was a bit worried. "They haven't seen each other in years. Let them have some time together before we send out the search-party."

Leo groaned quietly. "Sam hasn't spent this much time with any of us and he hasn't seen us in a long time either."

No one said anything, just looked a bit awkward.

"Has someone talked to CJ yet?" Josh asked softly.

Abbey shook her head. "You go up, dear."

Josh nodded slowly but didn't move. He wasn't sure of what to say to her but he wanted nothing more than to comfort her and make her feel better.

"It's okay, Josh," Abbey said and put her hand on his arm. "You're probably the only person she wants to see right now."

Josh nodded again and then slowly left the library.

"I'm starting to regret we asked Toby to come here," Leo muttered and ignored Jed's angry eyes. "What?! Everything was fine before he came. Now we have CJ crying in her room and Sam's been gone for an hour."

Jed stuck his hands in his pockets and looked seriously at Leo. "If I were you I wouldn't talk so much about making CJ cry."

He raised an eyebrow and Leo had to look away. Then Jed turned to his wife.

"Is she going to be okay?" He asked softly.

"I'm not sure," Abbey said quietly.

*

CJ angrily wiped away her tears with a tissue and took a quick look in the mirror before she opened the door.

Josh's heart ached when he saw her. "Can I come in?"

"Be my guest," CJ said and did her best to sound normal.

Josh sat down on her bed and motioned for CJ to take the spot next to him.

"Have you talked to him yet?" CJ asked after several minutes of silence.

Josh shrugged and looked away.

"Come on, one of us had to bring it up sooner or later. I thought, why not sooner?"

"He's out somewhere with Sam now. They've been out for an hour. I guess they needed some time."

"I guess Toby will need time with most of us here."

Josh took her hand and gently moved his fingers over her knuckles. "You?"

CJ shrugged and bit her lower lip. "I don't know if I can do it, Josh. Imagine it was Amy and you hadn't talked to her in years and then she's back. The only person you ever loved."

Josh gently wiped away a tear from CJ's cheek and then let his hand stay there.

"Is there anything I can do?"

CJ smiled slightly. "No, but thanks for asking. Do you mind? I kind of want to be alone."

"Sure, that's fine."

At the door he turned to her. "Are you coming down later?"

She shook her head in the slightest move he barely saw it. He nodded once then left.

*

"Are you ready?"

Toby shrugged but nodded and Sam knocked softly on the door before opening it.

"Look who I brought," he said and smiled as the others in the room noticed Toby.

Abbey took a few quick steps towards Toby with her arms stretched out.

"Toby, it's so good to see you! You haven't aged a bit."

Toby smirked under his beard as he let go of Abbey. "When did you become such a hypocrite, ma'am?"

Abbey hit him playfully on the arm. Jed walked over to them with a small smile.

"Mr. President," Toby said and held out his hand.

Jed waved with his arms in the air and let out a deep sigh. "I've already told the other. No more Mr. President! Understood?"

"Of course, Mr. President," Toby said seriously.

Jed didn't argue anymore. Instead he smiled and put a hand on Toby's shoulder.

"It really is good to see you."

"Why do you sound so surprised, sir?" Toby asked in a mock voice . The room became silent and Toby noticed Leo in the corner of the room, sitting in a chair. As Leo rose Toby took a few steps towards him. He held out his hand and Leo took it after a moment of hesitation.

"Leo, it's been a long time."

"Yeah," Leo said quietly. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to bed."

"Obviously not long enough," Toby added after Leo left the room.

Josh put a hand on his shoulder. "Just give him some time, Toby. This is hard for him."

"This is hard for me too, Josh!" Toby said, sounding harsher than he intended. "He told me things that still hurt like hell but all everybody cares about how it's hard for Leo!"

He nervously rubbed his forehead and began pacing in the room. Then he sat down in a chair putting his head in his hands. The others nervously looked at each other then at Toby. Toby put his hands between his knees and looked up.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "It's not your problem, I shouldn't have yelled like that. This is something between me and Leo and I won't put you in the middle."

"We appreciate that, Toby," Abbey said softly and put her hand on Jed's arm.

Jed smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "We're going to bed now as well. We'll talk more tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night, sir," they all said in unison and Jed looked angrily at them but then smirked.

"Night boys," Abbey said before closing the door.

Josh poured up a drink and handed it to Toby. Then he sat down on the other chair so he was facing him.

"Listen, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made it sound as if this is worse for Leo."

Toby held up his hand. "I overreacted. Lets not talk about it anymore. Sam, you're up for a game of chess?"

Sam raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Do you really want to be humiliated?"

Toby put his empty glass on the table and rose. "Bring it on!"

Sam smiled as they walked over to the other table.

"Hey, what about me?" Josh asked and walked after them.

Toby leaned back against the chair as he thought of what was going to be his first move. "You just watch, learn and give me a cigar."

Josh raised his eyebrows but then gave Toby a cigar.

"Sam, a turtle walks faster from here to New York than you make a move," Toby said irritated.

"I'm thinking!" Sam replied quickly.

Josh leaned back in his chair and chuckled. This was just the way it should be.

*

"Jethro," Abbey said rolling to her side to she was facing her husband.

"I don't know any Jethro," Jed muttered without opening his eyes.

Abbey smiled and then said softly, "Jed."

Jed opened his eyes and couldn't help smile as well.

"What if I made a mistake again? You know, one of those famous Abbey- Bartlet-mistakes I do when I meddle in."

Jed put his hand on her upper arm and gently stroked it. "Abbey, you just want everyone to feel good. There can't be any mistake with that."

Abbey looked away for a brief moment. "No, but as Leo said; CJ is crying, Sam's acting weird, Josh obviously sense something is wrong and Leo and Toby. Who knows where that might go?"

Jed sighed. "I can't believe he just left when Toby finally had the guts to come in."

"Jed, what really happened that night in the Oval Office?"

Jed looked away, obviously uncomfortable with the subject. He was still embarrassed over the way he had acted and how he had let Leo take the decision for him.

"We asked for Toby's resignation, then John Evans came and I had to talk to him in the Mural Room. Five minutes later I came back to the Oval, Leo was there, Toby wasn't. Leo was pale and looked shaken but he wouldn't tell me why. All he said was; 'We'll probably won't see Toby anymore.'"

Abbey gently stroked his cheek. Jed closed his eyes and when he opened them again they were damp and Abbey knew he wasn't far from crying.

"Abbey, if I hadn't taken the meeting with John Evans."

Abbey shook her head. "Jed, it wouldn't have prevented what ever happened. Don't blame yourself. It's not like you."

Jed shrugged. "No, it's just that when you no longer can have two of your best friends in the same room."

Abbey kissed him lightly on the lips. "I know, honey. I know."

*

CJ walked down the stairs as quietly as possible. She entered the kitchen and poured up a glass of water then sat down around the table. On the other end of the hallway she noticed that the light was still on in the library. She looked at the time, it was past midnight. It was probably Leo who had fallen a sleep while he was reading. She smiled sadly as she opened the door to the library. She could tell someone was sitting in the chair facing the fireplace.

"Leo?" She whispered softly.

"Wrong pick," someone said and she felt her stomach twitch.

For a second she thought of running away pretending she never had been there. But then he got up from the chair, a glass of scotch in one hand and a cigar in the other.

"I thought you were sleeping," he said simply.

CJ put her fingers over her temple. "I was. I was thirsty."

"Are you tired or would you like to join me?"

She wasn't sure because he spoke with no emotion in his voice but she thought she heard hope in his voice that she would.

Her heart ached but she took a step into the library and closed the door behind her. "Sure."

Toby waited for her to sit down before he sat down on the chair next to hers.

"So, um, how have you been?" She asked nervously after a while.

"Cut it out," he said.

CJ looked surprised at him and raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Could you just. please could you cut the small-talk?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered obviously shaken by how cold he was acting. "Listen, maybe I should. Goodnight, Toby."

She rose but when she walked past his chair he gripped her arm. She flinched but then let him hold her. She closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat although it didn't seem to go away.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Can you please stay?"

"Why?" She asked and hated herself because she knew he knew she was close to tears.

She looked down on him and he looked her straight in the eye.

"Because I want you too," he said simply and shrugged.

After a second she nodded, knowing there was no point in trying to leave. "Okay."

TBC.