Disclaimer: They are mine. And if you believe that, I have some ocean front
property for sell in Arizona. Honestly, I have no idea who they belong to
now.
Author: Catgurl83
Title: Changes Abound (2\?)
Feedback: Is adored.
Spoilers: Everything through season four is fair game.
Rating: G
Author's note: I am aware that small children cannot testify in court. For the purposes of the story, I am ignoring those particular laws.
For anybody who recently found this story it is the sequel to Continued Changes which is the sequel to Unexpected Changes. Both stories can be found on Fanfiction.net by clicking on my profile.
Huge thanks to Classic She for beta reading this for me!
************
Jan. 15
*************
Serena shifted on the seat of the limo so that she could see out the window. She squirmed restlessly as the vehicle turned down a side road. She could see the building from here.
As the car pulled to a stop, Serena swallowed hard.
Josh ran his hand through his hair. "Are you ready?" He gently asked Serena.
"Yes." Serena answered softly.
The door swung open. The occupants of the car could hear the excited murmur that went through the assembled crowd.
With a reassuring smile for Serena, Dillion stepped out of the car. As they had already discussed, Clara followed him. Next, CJ stepped out. Josh took a deep breath before stepping out of the car and holding out his hand for Serena to join him. Serena took a deep breath and then climbed out of the car.
As Serena appeared, cameras all over the lawn went off. Reporters pressed forward as they began shouting their questions.
Serena stepped closer to Josh. Clara stepped up on Serena's other side and the little girl reached for her hand. Dillion and CJ stepped in front of the three to shield them as they started pushing their way through the throng of reporters.
"Serena! Are you going to be testifying today?"
"Do you miss your grandmother Serena?"
"Do you want to live with Josh?"
"How do you feel about being here today?"
Serena ignored the questions just like her Uncle Josh and Aunt CJ had told her to. She kept her eyes focused on the steps in front of her.
They entered the courthouse and the door swung shut, effectively blocking out the reporters congregated outside.
Dillion led them all to a small waiting room near the courtroom. The room contained a small sofa, two chairs, a small coffee table, and a TV. A small toy box occupied one corner of the room.
Serena gave Josh a hesitant look and then glanced at the toys.
Josh gave her an encouraging nod. "You can go play. It will be awhile before this starts."
Serena slowly made her way over to the toys. As she played, she glanced over at Josh every little while as if to assure herself that he was still there.
"I hate this." Josh whispered harshly.
Clara laid a hand on her son's arm.
"You know we have to do this." Dillion told him.
Running his hand through his hair Josh let out a frustrated sigh. "I know but I still hate it." He looked over at Serena. "I hate that I have to do this to her. Look at her. She is so scared."
"This is what is best for her." CJ assured him.
"I know that but it is scaring her. She barely slept last night. And this morning she refused to eat breakfast." He sighed again. "She kept asking me to promise that she wouldn't have to go live with Alana." He confided.
"Did you?" CJ wondered.
"Of course I did." Josh answered adamantly. "There is no way in hell that Alana is going to take my little girl away from me."
Dillion sighed wearily. "You didn't tell her that did you?"
"Of course not." Josh snapped. "I did promise her that she could stay with me though." He finished softly.
They were silent for several minutes until Josh abruptly stood up. He grabbed the remote control to the TV off of the table and jammed the on button. The TV flipped on to a news channel and Josh flipped the volume onto low.
A reporter in front of the courthouse was talking about Serena's battle with leukemia and about the car accident.
The image changed to show a limo pull to a stop. Several reporters could be seen pushing toward it. The door was opened by a man Josh knew as a Secret Service Agent.
Questions were shouted as Zoey stepped out followed by Leo and Toby. The three showed no sign that they even heard the questions as they hurried up the steps and into the building.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Leo, Zoey, and Toby stepped into the room. Serena looked up from the castle she was building out of blocks. A grin lit her face as she jumped up. She smiled at Toby and gave Leo a hug before turning to Zoey. She gave Zoey a hug. "I'm building a castle." She announced.
Zoey looked across the room at the lopsided building. "It's a very nice castle." She complimented the child.
"I know." Serena answered seriously. "I just finished it. Do you want to be the princess?" She asked hopefully.
Zoey grinned Zoey loved playing make believe with Serena. "Sure." She allowed Serena to take her hand and lead her to the castle.
"You sit there." Serena ordered pointing to a spot behind the jumble of blocks.
Zoey dutifully sat.
Serena faced the rest of the room. Everyone was watching with amusement. "Aunt CJ you can come sit with Zoey. You are her Lady in waiting."
Josh let out a snicker.
CJ hit Josh on the top of the head as she stood up. "Can't I be the Queen?" She asked Serena as she joined the make believe party
Serena pretended to think about it before shaking her head. "There isn't a queen in this story."
CJ sighed as she took a seat next to Zoey awaiting further instructions.
Serena once again pursued the rest of the room. With a hand on her hip, she carefully studied each of the remaining people. "Uncle Leo you are a bodyguard."
"Can't we just let the Secret Service outside be the bodyguards?" Leo asked hopefully.
"No. We need a bodyguard inside to help slay the dragon." Serena answered as if she was talking to a very small child.
Leo, Josh, and Toby all blanched when they heard "slay the dragon".
"Uncle Toby?"
"Yes?" Toby asked wearily. Serena's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"You get to play the dragon." She announced as if it was the greatest honor.
Toby cast a sideways look at Josh. "I think Uncle Josh would make a far better dragon than I would."
Serena shook her head in immediate denial and Josh smiled triumphantly. His smile quickly faded. "Uncle Josh is the prince that has to kill the dragon."
"Can't Leo do it?" Josh whined. "He is the bodyguard."
"How exactly are they going to kill the dragon?" Toby asked, a bit fearfully.
CJ stopped laughing long enough to give him a sweet smile. "Didn't you ever read fairytales as a child? They put a sword through its heart."
Toby gave Josh a horrified look. "You let her read things like that?"
A pale Josh shook his head. "No."
"The last time I visited Grandma Alana she read a story about dragons to me." Serena informed them. She didn't notice Josh clench his fists in anger.
Serena turned back to Toby. "The dragon goes over there." She pointed to the far side of the room. "That's your cave." She looked at Josh. "Uncle Josh you have to go over to the castle."
"What about Grandma Clara?" Leo asked. If he had to play this game, so did everyone else.
Serena smiled. "She can help me be the narrat. narrat." She looked at Clara.
"Narrator." Clara supplied.
"Narrator." Serena finished as she walked over to the toy box. She handed a toy crown to Zoey. She then handed Josh and Leo each "swords" made out of Lego's taken from the toy box. "Remember to roar." She admonished Toby and CJ snickered at his expression. He'd rather be having a root canal than playing this game, she thought.
Fifteen minutes later they had all gotten into their roles. Some of them were even having fun. Toby left his "cave" and approached the "castle". He let out a half-hearted roar.
"Not like that." Serena reprimanded. She dropped down onto her hands and knees. "Like this." She roared loudly as she held a hand out like a claw. She looked more like a lion than a dragon and Zoey, Josh, Leo, CJ, and Clara all fought hard to keep their laughs back. Toby and Dillion stared at the girl in mild amusement.
"Now you do it." Serena ordered Toby as she stood up.
Toby groaned as he dutifully and carefully got down onto the floor. He gave Serena a look and she nodded encouragingly.
"Roar."
"Louder. You have to be scary."
Toby sighed. "Roar!" This time he swiped a hand out into the air in front of him.
Serena burst into giggles. All of the adults broke into laughter.
"That looks like fun."
They all looked up in surprise when they heard the voice in the doorway.
The social worker was standing there with a smile on her face. She stepped into the room and softly shut the door behind her. "What are you playing?" She asked Serena with a smile.
Serena gave her a shy smile as she always did and moved a little closer to Josh. "Castle."
The social worker knelt down next to Serena. "I used to love to play castle when I was a little girl. I was always the princess. Are you the princess?"
Serena shook her head. "No. Zoey is the princess. I'm narrating." She gave the social worker, who had told her to call her Kristen, a genuine smile. "The narrator gets to tell everyone else what to do."
"Ah." Kristen chuckled. "Is castle your favorite game?"
"I haven't played it before."
"What do you usually play?"
Serena shrugged. "Different games."
"Does Uncle Josh usually play with you?"
"Yep." Serena answered cheerfully. She was comfortable now. "Everyone plays with me, although some of them grumble." She gave Toby an accusing look. "Even Uncle Jed plays with me some times." She grinned. "One time we played school and Uncle Jed was the teacher."
Leo, CJ, Toby, Josh, and Zoey all groaned.
"He made all of his Senior Staff, Zoey, Charlie, and even some of the Secret Service Agents be the students." Serena's voice was gleeful as she remembered how everyone had tried in vain to get out of the game. Leo had made up a meeting, which Margaret had quickly informed the President was bogus. Josh had faked being sick until the President had threatened to call Abbey down to examine him. And CJ had hidden when she'd heard about the game.
"Do you need to use the restroom or get a drink Serena?" Kristen asked.
Serena nodded. "I need to use the restroom."
Zoey stood up, grinning as she handed her crown to Josh. "I'll take her."
After Zoey and Serena had gone, Kristen turned to Josh. "She seemed to be enjoying herself."
Josh nodded. "She loves role play."
Kristen smiled. "Most children her age do. Most parents however, don't. Serena is a very fortunate little girl to have such a large extended family that is so close to her."
"Yes, she is." CJ agreed softly. She gave Toby a small smile. This was working in their favor.
Zoey and Serena returned and Kristen turned back to the little girl. "It is time for you to go meet the Judge. Are you ready?"
Serena looked at Josh.
Josh smiled and gave Serena a nod.
Serena slipped her hand into Kristen's outstretched one. "Okay." She turned to Josh. "I love you Uncle Josh."
Josh knelt down. "I love you too Angel."
"You'll be here when I get done?"
"I'll be here." Josh promised as he gave her a hug and a kiss
Kristen gave Josh a small smile before leading Serena from the room.
***********
Kristen led Serena to the Judge's chambers.
Serena looked around the room. "Is this where the Judge works?"
"Yes, it is."
"It is a nice office." Serena said as she looked around.
Kristen led her across the room to a visitor's chair facing the desk and had her sit down. "The Judge will be here soon. Would you like to color while you wait?"
"Okay." Serena agreed readily. She loved to color.
Kristen gave the child a piece of paper and a box of crayons before sitting down to look through a file.
Serena, perched on the edge of the edge chair, quietly and diligently setting to work.
After a while the door opened and a woman in her early forties stepped into the room. She smiled at Serena who had looked up at the sound of the door closing. "Can you tell me about your picture?"
Serena glanced at Kirsten.
"This is Judge Smith, Serena." Kirsten said and Serena nodded.
Serena held the picture toward the Judge. "This is my family."
The Judge blinked. She hadn't expected such an easy opening. "Can you tell me about your family?" She asked as she sat in the chair next to Serena.
She pointed to a small figure standing next to a tree. "This is me. I'm holding my puppy, Tuft. I'm holding Uncle Josh's hand." Josh had a backpack next to him on the ground.
"That's Mommy." She pointed to a figure lying down at the side of the picture. "She is in the hospital cause she is very, very sick. Daddy's up there, in the sky because he died. He is an angel now." In the picture, Sam was very small, barely bigger than the birds flying near him.
"This is Aunt CJ." CJ was standing next to Josh and was as tall as the tree. "Uncle Toby is holding Aunt CJ's hand cause they are going to get married. Grandma Clara is right there. That's Aunt Patty."
She pointed to a cluster of three people. "That is Uncle Jed. He is President so that is a Secret Service Agent standing next to him. Aunt Abbey is on Uncle Jed's other side." The agent was all in black and was frowning. "This is Uncle Leo." Leo had a shock of white hair.
She pointed to the last two people in the picture. "This is Zoey and this is Amy."
"That is a very nice picture." The Judge complimented and meant it. The child had artistic talent, she thought. "Is that everyone in your family?"
Serena shook her head. "No. Aunt Patty has children but I don't know them very well so I didn't put them in." She paused for a moment. "And I didn't put Grandma Alana in because she doesn't like anyone else and she wants to kill Tuft."
"What makes you think that she wants to kill Tuft?" Judge Smith was taken back by the answer, had Serena been prepped to say this?
"I heard her tell Uncle Josh to get rid of Tuft and she didn't care how. She said he better do it or else she'd find a way to do it." Her eyes turned pleading. "You won't let her will you?"
"I won't let her hurt your dog." Judge Smith told her as she thought of her three-year-old granddaughter. Who said something like that in front of a child so young?
Serena smiled brightly. "Good."
Judge Smith looked down at the picture. "Tuft is a very pretty dog."
Serena beamed. "Thank you."
"How long have you had Tuft?"
"Uncle Josh got Tuft for me as a Hanukah present. Tuft is a Hairless Chinese Crested." She spoke enthusiastically. "Hanukah is right before Christmas. Uncle Toby says it is the Jewish equivalent of Christmas."
Judge Smith raised an eyebrow at the child's vocabulary. She shouldn't be surprised, she thought. She should have expected that a child raised in the environment Serena was raised in would be advanced.
Serena frowned. "Grandma Alana came for Christmas but she didn't stay very long. She didn't like Tuft because Tuft makes her sick but it isn't Tuft's fault."
"Oh?"
Serena nodded vehemently. "She got really angry when she found out that Uncle Josh hadn't gotten rid of Tuft." She lowered her voice. "It scared me cause she was acting mean. I don't know what happened then because Elsie took me upstairs so she could meet Tuft. I heard Grandma Alana yelling at Uncle Josh before she left though."
"Had Grandma ever scared you before?"
Serena thought for a few moments. "No."
"Do you like DC, Serena?"
Serena answered immediately. "Yes, but only because that is where Uncle Josh and my mommy are. I like living with Uncle Josh. He moved into my Mommy and Daddy's house, to take care of me." She was comfortable now so she was volunteering information.
"Can you tell me about your house?"
"The backyard is really big. Daddy said that was really important because I needed somewhere to let my energy out at. Now, Tuft gets to play out there with me. He can only go outside if I'm with him though. Uncle Josh says that Tuft is fragile and could get hurt if he was outside without me."
Judge Smith smiled. Serena's excitement over having the puppy was obvious in her voice. "That sounds nice. Can you tell me about your bedroom?"
Serena laughed. "Uncle Josh doesn't like my room. I know because he scrunched up his face a little when I was choosing everything. Zoey says he doesn't like it cause it is girly and he has no appreciation for that." She paused as if trying to picture her room. "It is decorated in shades of pinks and white. I have stuffed animals every where." She beamed. "I collect stuffed animals. I have stuffed versions of native animals from every country and state we visit with Uncle Jed."
"Do you take a lot of trips with the President?" Judge Smith was surprised at how easy it was to get this child to be open with her. It was usually a lot more difficult than this with a child Serena's age.
She nodded. "Sometimes. Before the election we traveled a lot. Now we only travel sometimes. Sometimes Uncle Jed goes but Uncle Josh and I don't."
"Do you have fun on the trips?"
"Most of the time. I really like the rides on Airforce One." She grinned. "Last time, Uncle Jed played hid and seek with me during the plane ride. It was easy to find him though because his agents wouldn't hide. He said they were no fun. Sometimes Uncle Josh lets me go hear Uncle Jed's speeches. When they have meetings that I can't go to, Amy takes me sight seeing. Sometimes Aunt Abbey comes too."
"It sounds like you have a really good time with Uncle Josh."
"I do." She met the Judge's eyes. "I really miss my mom and dad but if I can't live with them, I'm glad that I have Uncle Josh."
"Can you tell me about your nanny?"
Serena nodded. "Amy has taken care of me since right after I moved in with my Daddy. I love her a lot and she loves me too." She smiled. "Zoey says I'm lucky like that. A whole bunch of people love me to pieces. She says that that is why Grandma Alana is fighting Uncle Josh to raise me. Grandma Alana loves me and wants to be with me all the time." Her smile faded. "I love her too but I don't want to live with her. I'd miss Uncle Josh too much."
Judge Smith smiled, then began a new line of questioning. She had noticed Serena spoke quite a bit about Zoey, "You're talking about Zoey Bartlett aren't you?"
"Yes. She is Uncle Jed's daughter."
"Do you spend a lot of time with Zoey?"
Serena nodded emphatically. "Zoey comes over a lot and some times I go see her at the White House. Sometimes she even goes places with Uncle Josh and I."
The Judge carefully kept her expression neutral. "Oh? Do you mean Zoey sometimes goes along when you and Uncle Josh go on Airforce One with the President?"
"Sometimes she does but that wasn't what I meant."
"Oh?"
"A few weeks ago, she went shopping with Uncle Josh and I to help me get new clothes." She rolled her eyes. "I love Uncle Josh but he has no taste. But Zoey does and Uncle Josh listens to her." She paused before continuing. "Last weekend she went to a movie with us."
"Did you enjoy the movie?"
"It was a good movie." Serena told her. "It was about a horse named Spirit."
Judge Smith smiled. "I took my granddaughter to see that movie. She really liked it. Did Uncle Josh and Zoey like it?"
Serena grinned. "I don't know. Every time I looked at them, they were watching each other, not the movie."
Judge Smith blinked not exactly sure what to make of the child's observances. Serena seemed very astute but she was only four. She could be reading things wrong. Smiling, she stood up. "It was very nice meeting you Serena."
Serena smiled back. That was easy just like Uncle Josh, Aunt CJ, and Dillion had told her it would be. "You too. Can I go back to Uncle Josh now?"
"Yes, you may."
"Thank you."
*************
When Serena got back to the small waiting room, Amy had joined the others.
Josh smiled when Serena came through the door holding on to Kristen's hand. "I drew this picture for you Uncle Josh."
Josh accepted the drawing. "Thank you, Angel. It's a very pretty drawing."
Serena shrugged. "I know."
CJ choked back a laugh at the nonchalant tone of Serena's voice.
"Amy's going to take you home, okay?"
"I don't want to go home if you're staying here." Serena's eyes pleaded with Josh to let her stay.
Josh sighed. "The rest of us have to go to the court room so we can talk to the Judge."
"Can't I come to? I promise I'll be really quiet." Her tone turned petulant. "I don't want to go home yet." Her lower lip protruded.
Josh fought back his sigh. This was not the time for Serena to throw one of her rare fits.
Thinking fast, Clara knelt down next to Serena. "You know what?"
"What?" Serena asked suspiciously.
"You can stay if you want to."
Serena grinned. She had gotten her way.
"But." Clara continued. "I didn't think you'd want to."
"Why?" Serena asked quizzically.
"Because we are all here." Clara said as if that should make it all clear.
"Yeah." That was the point.
Clara shrugged as she stood up. "I just thought that Tuft might be lonely without any of us."
Serena's eyes widened. She turned to Josh. "Tuft is alone?"
"Yes, he is."
She looked at Amy. "I want to go see Tuft before he gets scared. He probably misses me already."
Josh glanced over at his mother after Serena had given all of them hugs and left clutching Amy's hand. "You're good."
Clara laughed. "How could I not be, with you as a son?"
"You used to do that with me?"
Leo burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? All she had to do was tell you your fish was lonely and you'd beg to go home. It worked until you were about six."
The social worker was watching them all with amusement. She was now positive that she'd made the right recommendation to the Judge.
*********
An hour later
*********
Josh stepped into the courtroom and glanced around. The last few rows on both sides of the room were filled with reporters who were furiously writing even though nothing was happening yet. His eyes quickly skimmed over them without bothering to take in any details.
Stepping farther into the room, his eyes fell on Toby and CJ who were sitting together near the front. CJ had leaned towards Toby and was whispering something to him. Whatever she had said, Toby nodded barely perceptively.
A tiny frown came to his face as he saw the occupants of the row directly behind where he and Dillion would be. His mother was sitting with Leo. They were talking quietly, both smiling. They should know better, Josh thought. The last things they needed were rumors about them. His frown disappeared. Zoey was sitting on Leo's other side and had turned a bit so that she could meet Josh's eyes.
Holding Zoey's gaze as long as he dared, Josh moved forward to slip into his seat next to Dillion who was glancing over his notes.
Josh glanced across the room to where Alana and her lawyer were sitting. Alana's lawyer was busy writing something but Alana was staring across the room at Josh. Josh hid his scowl when he noticed that the woman looked far different today than she always did when she came to visit Serena. She was wearing a stylish and very modest dress suit in navy blue. Her hair was styled differently than it had been at Christmas and traces of gray had been allowed to appear near her temples. Her makeup was very light and she wore only a simple necklace and her wedding band from her late husband.
He forced himself out of his reverie as the Judge entered the room and everyone stood.
CJ watched as the first witness, a child psychologist, took the stand. The man had met with Serena several times in the last couple of weeks and knew her relatively well. He told the court that Serena was an extremely well adjusted child and very advanced, not just mentally but emotionally as well. Things that other four-year-olds had little concept of, such as time, Serena understood very well.
Dillion asked the psychologist what could happen if a puppy were to be taken from Serena and the psychologist responded that at Serena's age that could permanently affect her ability to bond with people as well as with animals.
Next, Serena's pediatrician took the stand. She testified that Serena was a happy, healthy, and well cared for child. She was still seeing the child monthly but as of her last checkup, Serena was leukemia free. It was however, imperative that Serena continue to see her once a month as she had had an acute case and was not cured. She was only in remission and the disease could return at any time. It would not be wise for Serena to be away from DC for long periods of time as she missed appointments.
Alana's lawyer asked why Serena could not see a pediatrician in Maryland when she was visiting Alana. The doctor responded that she was a pediatric cancer specialist and was familiar with Serena's case and Serena was comfortable with her. While Alana might be able to find a pediatric cancer specialist, she would not be able to find either of the other two things as easily.
Next, Zoey was called to the stand. Zoey gave Josh a small smile as she passed him. Josh returned the smile, knowing that no reporters could see it.
"How long have you known Joshua Lyman?" Dillion asked.
"Since my father's first campaign when I was about sixteen-years-old."
"Do you consider yourself close to Josh?"
"He is one of my closest friends and has been for years." Zoey answered truthfully.
"How long have you known Serena Seaborn?"
Zoey smiled as she pictured the adorable toddler that Serena had been, even with leukemia ravaging her body. "I met Serena during her first visit to DC with her father, Sam. She was almost two-years old."
"Did you see Serena often after that?"
"Yes, I did."
"Were you at Sam Seaborn's wedding to Donna Moss?"
Zoey's smile faded temporarily. "Yes, I was. I held Serena through part of the ceremony."
"Would you say that you are close to the child?"
Zoey's smile broadened. "Very close."
"Were you at Josh and Serena's home on Christmas day?"
"No, I was not. I was in New Hampshire with my family."
"Do you know anything about what happened at the house on Christmas?"
"I saw Josh and Serena a few days after Christmas. While I was upstairs, alone with Serena, she told me about her Christmas."
"What did she tell you?"
"She told me that she wished she was in New Hampshire with my family and I because Christmas was scary at her house. She said that her grandma Alana got very angry and said that Tuft had to go and she didn't care where. She said that she thought Alana wanted to kill the puppy and take her from Josh."
"Objection, your honor, hearsay."
Judge Smith warned Dillion, "Counsel, you should know better."
"Yes, Ma'am, let me rephrase that."
"Ms. Bartlett, what did you observer about Serena when she told you about her Christmas experiences?"
"She was frightened." Zoey took a deep breath and stole a quick glance at Josh as it pained her to have to say this in public. "She told me that Christmas wasn't fun this year."
"No further questions." Dillion stated.
Alana's lawyer stood. He wasn't going to let her step down without questioning her as he had done the last time. "You spend a lot of time with Serena and Mr. Lyman, don't you Miss. Bartlett?"
Zoey met his gaze. "Yes."
"What is your relationship with Serena?"
Zoey frowned. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."
"Do you consider yourself to be an aunt, a cousin, a maternal figure.?" He prompted.
"She calls me by my name, without a title attached."
"That is not what I asked."
Zoey had no idea how to answer him. She didn't even know how to answer herself on that one. "I guess I'm more of a friend." She finally said.
The lawyer looked pleased with her answer. Or perhaps it was her hesitation, Zoey thought.
"What is your relationship with Mr. Lyman?"
"He is one of my closest friends." Zoey said for the second time in less than a half-hour. Did these people not listen?
"How much time do you spend with Mr. Lyman and Serena?"
Zoey shrugged. "It just depends. There isn't a set amount of time that I spend with them each week."
"Do you ever spend time with Mr. Lyman without Serena along as well?"
"Yes I do."
As he listened to the line of questioning, Josh shifted in his seat. He glared at Dillion, willing the other man to do something. Dillion remained seated, wondering where opposing counsel was going with this line of questions, if there might be something he knew, which Dillion didn't.
Leo studied his Goddaughter carefully. She was beginning to look very uncomfortable, as though she didn't know how to answer the questions she was being asked. He shifted his gaze to Josh. The younger man's hands were clenched by his sides. Leo hoped that the reporters could not see that.
"How often do you see Mr. Lyman? That is, without Serena present?" The lawyer asked.
"Again, I'm not exactly sure. It varies."
" Miss Bartlett, are your and Mr. Lyman's." He hesitated, then went on in a staged voice, "Meetings" He said the word in a manner which insinuated something other than the usual meaning of the word, then paused, for dramatic effect, "related to his job as your father's Deputy Chief of Staff?"
Zoey did not like his tone and did not have to hesitate this time. This did not involve her father. "No. The time we spend together is personal."
Toby held back his groan. Personal? Did she have to say that? Without looking, he knew that the reporters were writing furiously. They were undoubtedly elated at this development, true or not.
Zoey did not realize her blunder.
"Miss Bartlet, what is the exact nature of your relationship with Mr. Lyman?"
The tension in the room was palpable as they all awaited Zoey's answer. The opposing counsel saw the look of uncertainty in her eyes, and realized he had made a rookie's mistake. Never ask a question if you don't know the answer. He suddenly realized that forcing the President's youngest daughter to publicly admit to what he assumed was a sexual relationship with one of the President's senior counselors was not a good career move. He backpedaled quickly, before she could answer.
"Let me rephrase that, Zoey, are you dating Josh Lyman?"
"Josh and I are just friends, close friends." Zoey replied firmly, even though she realized she had blindly walked into the attorney's trap. She forced herself to not look at Josh, she had tiptoed her way around publicly acknowledging their fledging romance.
Dillion saw Josh's face cloud with anger and met his eyes warningly. Without glancing down he wrote a word on his pad of paper and pushed it into Josh's line of site - 'Serena'.
Josh looked down at Serena's name and choked back his anger. He knew that it was imperative that he stay in control for Serena's sake. It would break Serena's heart if she was forced to leave him and everyone else she was close to, to move to Alana's house. And he didn't know if he could survive loosing his little girl.
Clara bit her lip. She had warned Josh a few days before Christmas. He had insisted that there was nothing more than friendship between himself and Zoey. Now, she wasn't sure if that was the case. She could see her son's anger at the questions. He had been doing a very good job of keeping himself under control until Zoey's testimony.
Alana grinned. This was exactly what she needed. She needed for the Judge to have doubts about Josh's moral integrity. Plus, as an added bonus, she was going to get to watch the press crucify Josh and President Bartlett's amoral Administration.
The lawyer saw the Judge watching Josh's reaction and decided that the seed of doubt had been planted, no need to push that line further. "No further questions."
As Zoey walked back to her seat, she met Josh's eyes again. This time it was he who smiled, just barely. They both knew that this could be bad.
Next, Will was called to the stand and Josh mentally crossed his fingers that Will's testimony would help get them back on track.
"Have you ever met Alana Farrel?"
"During the last year and a half I've met Mrs. Farrel several times in passing."
"When was the last time you saw Mrs. Farrel?"
Will forced his grin back. "On Christmas morning at Josh Lyman's house."
"Can you tell us about that morning?"
"We all arrived at Josh's at about 8:00 in the morning."
"Who is 'we all'?" Dillion interrupted.
"Mrs. Farrel, CJ Cregg, Toby Zeigler, Leo McGarry, my sister Elsie, and myself." Will answered before going on. "Serena started opening her presents as we all watched. Once all of the gifts were opened, CJ asked Serena if she had thought of any names. Mrs. Farrel asked whom Serena was naming. Someone told her that Serena was naming CJ's new fish as well as her own puppy and Mrs. Farrel got very angry at Josh."
Will paused to let those words sink in before he continued. He knew how to pace a speech for dramatic effect.
"Purportedly, the dog would make her ill. I pointed out that she had been at the house for over an hour and was having no symptoms so as long as she stayed away from the animal she should be fine. Serena was very upset so my sister took her upstairs to see the dog, Tuft. Mrs. Farrel continued yelling at Josh."
Yet another pause.
"Josh listened to her until he had had enough and told her to leave. She told him that he had to let her stay because of the court ordered visitation. He again told her to leave and she left the room. I picked up the camcorder CJ had been using to videotape Serena opening her gifts and followed after the others. Mrs. Farrel said that if she couldn't stay than she'd take Serena with her. CJ blocked her and Alana got even angrier. After a few more minutes Toby got her to leave but she said one last time that a court would now have to decide."
Will took a sip of water, waiting for his words to sink in.
"Serena came downstairs a few minutes later clutching the puppy close. She was terrified and very insecure, it took us several hours to calm her down."
Dillon nodded, Will was an excellent witness. "Did you continue to video tape after Mrs. Farrel left?"
"Yes I did."
Dillion faced the Judge. "Your Honor, I'd like to submit the tape in question as evidence."
As the tape was shown, Josh couldn't help but grin. Sure, he cussed in it but Alana was acting like Cruella DeVil.
After the tape played, Alana's lawyer approached Will. "Did my client know that you were video taping the incident?"
"She knew that we had a camcorder there to tape Serena's first Christmas with Josh."
"But did she know that you were taping at that moment?" He pressed.
"No." Will admitted.
"Did the others know that you were taping their reactions?"
"No they did not."
"But they found out before Serena came downstairs?"
"Yes."
"So one could say that Serena was led to say what she did on tape?"
"She wasn't led. She said what she wanted to say." Will disagreed.
"So, the child knew the camera was there?"
"No." Will admitted.
"No further questions."
This guy was good, Toby couldn't help thinking. This was going to be more of a fight than they had thought. They had expected that Josh would win hands down but this was likely going to be very close.
"Ms. Cregg," Dillion said once CJ was seated at the witness stand and sworn in. "Are you close to Serena?"
"Very."
"You are, in fact, named to take custody of the child if something were to happen to Josh Lyman, aren't you?"
"Yes, my fiancée, Toby Zeigler and I are so named."
"Do you spend very much time with Serena?"
"Yes, I do."
"Is Josh ever there too?"
"Quite often." CJ answered, suppressing a smile. Dillion was obviously trying to draw attention away from the possibility of a relationship between Josh and Zoey by showing that he spent a substantial amount of time with the rest of them on non-work related things as well.
"You are close to Josh?"
"He is one of my closest friends." She answered as Zoey had.
"In a non-romantic way?"
"In a non-romantic way." CJ confirmed.
"No further questions."
"How much time do you spend alone with Mr. Lyman, Ms. Cregg?" Alana's lawyer asked.
"We work relatively closely together."
"Non-work related." He interrupted.
"Not very much." CJ admitted.
"No further questions."
They took a short recess before Leo and Toby each took the stand. They testified on the things that had already been covered. Both insisted that they knew nothing about a romantic relationship between Josh and Zoey.
The last witness was the assistant manager from the hotel Alana had stayed at over Christmas.
The reporters sitting at the back of the courtroom were watching the high profile occupants of the room. A few of them noted that several of them had tensed a bit when the hotel manager took the stand. They seemed to be watching the man intently as if they were waiting for something. The reporters looked at each other, none had a clue as to why the man was called to testify.
Alana's attorney did not understand why this witness had been called. He objected when the bill was introduced as an exhibit, but was over ruled. Apparently the bill had been included in the trial exhibit package, as part of Josh's financial documents, but the attorney hadn't looked at it. He quickly scanned it and felt his stomach sink as its implications sunk in.
Alana felt her back stiffen as Josh's lawyer started to go over her hotel bill in detail. She could not believe her stupidity. She had not even thought of this possibility and she should have as Josh had agreed to pay the bill. Why would he pay it without going over it in detail? He had probably planned something like this the whole time, she fumed silently.
CJ bit the inside of her cheek hard as Dillion started to read the room service charges on the bill. This was good. So, so good.
Zoey choked back a laugh as Dillon finally started to detail the alcohol that Alana had had sent to her room during the nine days that she was staying there. How could the woman have been that stupid? She'd known that Josh was going to get the bill. Had she actually thought that he wouldn't read it?
The reporters wrote furiously. Apparently, Alana Farrel was an alcoholic. This court case was going to be an even bigger story than any of them had thought. First the revelation that the youngest First Daughter might be involved in a romantic relationship with her father's Deputy Chief of Staff, now this.
Judge Smith looked out at the people in her courtroom at the end of the day's testimonies. This decision was harder than she had expected it to be. "Let's break for a half-hour recess."
An impatient Josh paced the courtroom, everyone left him alone in his thoughts as the time crept by. Josh caught Dillion's eye. "What do you think?"
Dillion immediately remembered a similar conversation with Donna and his expression softened a fraction. He would have liked to get to know his friend's wife better. She had seemed like a very special person. "Josh, this doesn't necessarily mean anything. She may need to go to the restroom or get something to eat."
"We recessed like an hour and a half ago." Josh argued. "She wants to go over something again."
"Possibly." Dillion agreed.
***********
Judge Mary-Ellen Smith exited the courtroom and quickly made her way to her chambers. Sitting behind her desk, she picked up Serena's very thick file. She had never seen a file so thick for a child so young.
Opening the file, she flipped through the transcripts from the prior hearings. Next, she reread the statement from the child's nanny. She noted that the statement was witnessed by a lawyer outside the case. She had halfway expected it to be witnessed by someone from the White House staff.
Closing the file, she reached for her notes from her meeting with young Serena Seaborn earlier in the day. The child obviously adored Josh Lyman and the others from the White House. Her drawing and the explanation for her grandmother's absence had been very compelling.
She frowned as she remembered the child's preoccupation with Zoey Bartlett. Serena had spoken about Zoey more often than anyone else, save Josh and the puppy. She was obviously very close to the young woman and spent a lot of time with her. Then, in court Mrs. Farrel's lawyer had brought up the possibility of a romantic relationship between the First Daughter and Josh. Everyone from the White House staff had categorically denied the accusations. But could they be wrong? Could there be a relationship that they didn't know about?
She had watched Josh's reactions and expressions during Zoey's testimony. The man had been very upset. He had showed more reaction to that than anything else during the hearing. For a few moments, she actually thought that he might be about to lose control and say something. His lawyer had quickly reined him in by writing something on his pad of paper. She had to admit she was curious as to what the man had written.
It was possible that no one was lying. It was possible that Zoey and Josh had not yet started dating but were about to. Since it was unproven, she couldn't let it impact her decision but she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if the two started dating.
They were both adults, but he was at least twenty years older than her. He was also raising an impressionable young child. But it appeared that Serena was being actively included in their relationship, whatever it was. Zoey and Serena obviously adored each other.
But a romantic relationship between the Deputy Chief of Staff and the First Daughter would spark a media frenzy which wouldn't be healthy for the child. Still, it had to be better than being raised by an alcoholic.
Alana Farrel had had an inordinate amount of alcohol delivered to her room by room service. And the fact that she hadn't thought about the probability that Josh would read the bill was proof of how addicted she was to the liquid.
The woman's anger issues were also very unhealthy and terrified the child. The video had proven that better than any testimony could have. The tape had begun in the middle of Serena opening presents delightedly. Once the child had finished, the camera had swept the room, showing the piles of presents everywhere. The room had looked like a children's store, she had thought amusedly. But the child she had met didn't act spoiled.
Then the camera had been set down, still on. You could hear Alana's angry outburst but couldn't see anything. After a few minutes the camera was picked up and she had seen the rest of the incident unfold.
Finally, Serena had come down the stairs clutching a tiny puppy to her chest, clinging to a young woman's hand, her eyes shining with fear and unshed tears. When she spoke, her voice held a tremor. Releasing the hand she was holding, she reached into her shirt and pulled a small charm necklace out. She held onto the tiny golden angel throughout the rest of the tape.
Josh knelt down next to the little girl. His anger immediately faded and was replaced with a softness that Judge Smith was sure was reserved for the child. His opponents would probably be shocked to learn that he could display such tenderness. His voice had been gentle and loving when he spoke to the little girl.
The tape alone had been enough to convince her of what she needed to do.
***********
They were all back in the courtroom by the time the Judge returned.
Taking her seat, Judge Smith faced the audience. She skimmed over the anxious reporters in the last several rows, through the rows of friends for both Alana Farrel and Josh Lyman, and finally, at Alana, then Josh. Alana appeared calm and composed except for her eyes. Her eyes showed that she knew what the verdict was going to be. Josh looked more nervous. The Judge raised an eyebrow slightly when she noticed Zoey Bartlett lay a calming hand on his shoulder. His squirming instantly stopped.
"This was not an easy decision for me to make." She began. "Both attorneys presented compelling cases as to why their client should raise Serena Seaborn." She smiled. "Serena is a delightful and well rounded child. You should both be very proud of her."
Josh grinned at her words. It appeared that yet another person had been instantly rapped around Serena's finger.
"It was apparent from my conversation with the child that she is a part of a very large and loving extended family. The removal of any of those people whom she loves so dearly from her world would crush her emotionally. She has had too much loss in her young life already for that to happen. "
"The child psychologist presented a powerful argument for the damage removing the puppy, Tuft, from Serena would do. Based on my conversation with Serena, I agree. The puppy is very much a part of her immediate family."
Alana scowled. The puppy. It was all that damned puppy's fault.
"The idea of having Serena live with an excessive drinker also concerns me. Especially as the child is now very frightened of her grandmother. It would not be healthy for Serena to constantly live in a state of fear."
"Full custody of Serena Seaborn goes to Joshua Lyman."
Josh heard those nine words and immediately tuned out the rest of the Judge's words. Dillon would tell him anything else he needed to know. "Full custody of Serena Seaborn goes to Joshua Lyman." The sentence replayed in his mind. He had full custody of his little girl. She was his completely now. Not completely, he reminded himself. Not yet at least. There was still one more step he had to take before she would truly be his daughter.
Alana scowled as the Judge left the courtroom. He had gotten full custody. She hadn't even gotten visitation. She was totally out of her granddaughter's life. She watched as Josh hugged his mother, Zoey, and CJ and was congratulated by Dillion, Leo, Toby, and Will.
With one last sneer at Josh and his friends, she stood up and turned toward the door. She ignored her lawyer as he spoke to her and pushed past the reporters blocking the door.
Walking down the steps, Alana refused to answer any questions. Starting her car, she realized that this was it. She was out of her granddaughter's life, possibly forever.
She thought about appealing but what was the point? She knew that after today she had no chance of winning. And as much as most people probably doubted it, she really did love Serena. A senseless court battle wouldn't be healthy for the little girl.
She'd miss Serena but maybe this was best. Josh and his friends all seemed to dote on the child. She was safe, happy, and well cared for with him.
Pulling out of her spot, Alana silently said goodbye to her granddaughter.
********
Author's note: My knowledge of leukemia is limited and there may be mistakes in the material presented regarding the disease as some of my information comes from knowledge of Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and has been adapted to fit leukemia.
Author: Catgurl83
Title: Changes Abound (2\?)
Feedback: Is adored.
Spoilers: Everything through season four is fair game.
Rating: G
Author's note: I am aware that small children cannot testify in court. For the purposes of the story, I am ignoring those particular laws.
For anybody who recently found this story it is the sequel to Continued Changes which is the sequel to Unexpected Changes. Both stories can be found on Fanfiction.net by clicking on my profile.
Huge thanks to Classic She for beta reading this for me!
************
Jan. 15
*************
Serena shifted on the seat of the limo so that she could see out the window. She squirmed restlessly as the vehicle turned down a side road. She could see the building from here.
As the car pulled to a stop, Serena swallowed hard.
Josh ran his hand through his hair. "Are you ready?" He gently asked Serena.
"Yes." Serena answered softly.
The door swung open. The occupants of the car could hear the excited murmur that went through the assembled crowd.
With a reassuring smile for Serena, Dillion stepped out of the car. As they had already discussed, Clara followed him. Next, CJ stepped out. Josh took a deep breath before stepping out of the car and holding out his hand for Serena to join him. Serena took a deep breath and then climbed out of the car.
As Serena appeared, cameras all over the lawn went off. Reporters pressed forward as they began shouting their questions.
Serena stepped closer to Josh. Clara stepped up on Serena's other side and the little girl reached for her hand. Dillion and CJ stepped in front of the three to shield them as they started pushing their way through the throng of reporters.
"Serena! Are you going to be testifying today?"
"Do you miss your grandmother Serena?"
"Do you want to live with Josh?"
"How do you feel about being here today?"
Serena ignored the questions just like her Uncle Josh and Aunt CJ had told her to. She kept her eyes focused on the steps in front of her.
They entered the courthouse and the door swung shut, effectively blocking out the reporters congregated outside.
Dillion led them all to a small waiting room near the courtroom. The room contained a small sofa, two chairs, a small coffee table, and a TV. A small toy box occupied one corner of the room.
Serena gave Josh a hesitant look and then glanced at the toys.
Josh gave her an encouraging nod. "You can go play. It will be awhile before this starts."
Serena slowly made her way over to the toys. As she played, she glanced over at Josh every little while as if to assure herself that he was still there.
"I hate this." Josh whispered harshly.
Clara laid a hand on her son's arm.
"You know we have to do this." Dillion told him.
Running his hand through his hair Josh let out a frustrated sigh. "I know but I still hate it." He looked over at Serena. "I hate that I have to do this to her. Look at her. She is so scared."
"This is what is best for her." CJ assured him.
"I know that but it is scaring her. She barely slept last night. And this morning she refused to eat breakfast." He sighed again. "She kept asking me to promise that she wouldn't have to go live with Alana." He confided.
"Did you?" CJ wondered.
"Of course I did." Josh answered adamantly. "There is no way in hell that Alana is going to take my little girl away from me."
Dillion sighed wearily. "You didn't tell her that did you?"
"Of course not." Josh snapped. "I did promise her that she could stay with me though." He finished softly.
They were silent for several minutes until Josh abruptly stood up. He grabbed the remote control to the TV off of the table and jammed the on button. The TV flipped on to a news channel and Josh flipped the volume onto low.
A reporter in front of the courthouse was talking about Serena's battle with leukemia and about the car accident.
The image changed to show a limo pull to a stop. Several reporters could be seen pushing toward it. The door was opened by a man Josh knew as a Secret Service Agent.
Questions were shouted as Zoey stepped out followed by Leo and Toby. The three showed no sign that they even heard the questions as they hurried up the steps and into the building.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Leo, Zoey, and Toby stepped into the room. Serena looked up from the castle she was building out of blocks. A grin lit her face as she jumped up. She smiled at Toby and gave Leo a hug before turning to Zoey. She gave Zoey a hug. "I'm building a castle." She announced.
Zoey looked across the room at the lopsided building. "It's a very nice castle." She complimented the child.
"I know." Serena answered seriously. "I just finished it. Do you want to be the princess?" She asked hopefully.
Zoey grinned Zoey loved playing make believe with Serena. "Sure." She allowed Serena to take her hand and lead her to the castle.
"You sit there." Serena ordered pointing to a spot behind the jumble of blocks.
Zoey dutifully sat.
Serena faced the rest of the room. Everyone was watching with amusement. "Aunt CJ you can come sit with Zoey. You are her Lady in waiting."
Josh let out a snicker.
CJ hit Josh on the top of the head as she stood up. "Can't I be the Queen?" She asked Serena as she joined the make believe party
Serena pretended to think about it before shaking her head. "There isn't a queen in this story."
CJ sighed as she took a seat next to Zoey awaiting further instructions.
Serena once again pursued the rest of the room. With a hand on her hip, she carefully studied each of the remaining people. "Uncle Leo you are a bodyguard."
"Can't we just let the Secret Service outside be the bodyguards?" Leo asked hopefully.
"No. We need a bodyguard inside to help slay the dragon." Serena answered as if she was talking to a very small child.
Leo, Josh, and Toby all blanched when they heard "slay the dragon".
"Uncle Toby?"
"Yes?" Toby asked wearily. Serena's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"You get to play the dragon." She announced as if it was the greatest honor.
Toby cast a sideways look at Josh. "I think Uncle Josh would make a far better dragon than I would."
Serena shook her head in immediate denial and Josh smiled triumphantly. His smile quickly faded. "Uncle Josh is the prince that has to kill the dragon."
"Can't Leo do it?" Josh whined. "He is the bodyguard."
"How exactly are they going to kill the dragon?" Toby asked, a bit fearfully.
CJ stopped laughing long enough to give him a sweet smile. "Didn't you ever read fairytales as a child? They put a sword through its heart."
Toby gave Josh a horrified look. "You let her read things like that?"
A pale Josh shook his head. "No."
"The last time I visited Grandma Alana she read a story about dragons to me." Serena informed them. She didn't notice Josh clench his fists in anger.
Serena turned back to Toby. "The dragon goes over there." She pointed to the far side of the room. "That's your cave." She looked at Josh. "Uncle Josh you have to go over to the castle."
"What about Grandma Clara?" Leo asked. If he had to play this game, so did everyone else.
Serena smiled. "She can help me be the narrat. narrat." She looked at Clara.
"Narrator." Clara supplied.
"Narrator." Serena finished as she walked over to the toy box. She handed a toy crown to Zoey. She then handed Josh and Leo each "swords" made out of Lego's taken from the toy box. "Remember to roar." She admonished Toby and CJ snickered at his expression. He'd rather be having a root canal than playing this game, she thought.
Fifteen minutes later they had all gotten into their roles. Some of them were even having fun. Toby left his "cave" and approached the "castle". He let out a half-hearted roar.
"Not like that." Serena reprimanded. She dropped down onto her hands and knees. "Like this." She roared loudly as she held a hand out like a claw. She looked more like a lion than a dragon and Zoey, Josh, Leo, CJ, and Clara all fought hard to keep their laughs back. Toby and Dillion stared at the girl in mild amusement.
"Now you do it." Serena ordered Toby as she stood up.
Toby groaned as he dutifully and carefully got down onto the floor. He gave Serena a look and she nodded encouragingly.
"Roar."
"Louder. You have to be scary."
Toby sighed. "Roar!" This time he swiped a hand out into the air in front of him.
Serena burst into giggles. All of the adults broke into laughter.
"That looks like fun."
They all looked up in surprise when they heard the voice in the doorway.
The social worker was standing there with a smile on her face. She stepped into the room and softly shut the door behind her. "What are you playing?" She asked Serena with a smile.
Serena gave her a shy smile as she always did and moved a little closer to Josh. "Castle."
The social worker knelt down next to Serena. "I used to love to play castle when I was a little girl. I was always the princess. Are you the princess?"
Serena shook her head. "No. Zoey is the princess. I'm narrating." She gave the social worker, who had told her to call her Kristen, a genuine smile. "The narrator gets to tell everyone else what to do."
"Ah." Kristen chuckled. "Is castle your favorite game?"
"I haven't played it before."
"What do you usually play?"
Serena shrugged. "Different games."
"Does Uncle Josh usually play with you?"
"Yep." Serena answered cheerfully. She was comfortable now. "Everyone plays with me, although some of them grumble." She gave Toby an accusing look. "Even Uncle Jed plays with me some times." She grinned. "One time we played school and Uncle Jed was the teacher."
Leo, CJ, Toby, Josh, and Zoey all groaned.
"He made all of his Senior Staff, Zoey, Charlie, and even some of the Secret Service Agents be the students." Serena's voice was gleeful as she remembered how everyone had tried in vain to get out of the game. Leo had made up a meeting, which Margaret had quickly informed the President was bogus. Josh had faked being sick until the President had threatened to call Abbey down to examine him. And CJ had hidden when she'd heard about the game.
"Do you need to use the restroom or get a drink Serena?" Kristen asked.
Serena nodded. "I need to use the restroom."
Zoey stood up, grinning as she handed her crown to Josh. "I'll take her."
After Zoey and Serena had gone, Kristen turned to Josh. "She seemed to be enjoying herself."
Josh nodded. "She loves role play."
Kristen smiled. "Most children her age do. Most parents however, don't. Serena is a very fortunate little girl to have such a large extended family that is so close to her."
"Yes, she is." CJ agreed softly. She gave Toby a small smile. This was working in their favor.
Zoey and Serena returned and Kristen turned back to the little girl. "It is time for you to go meet the Judge. Are you ready?"
Serena looked at Josh.
Josh smiled and gave Serena a nod.
Serena slipped her hand into Kristen's outstretched one. "Okay." She turned to Josh. "I love you Uncle Josh."
Josh knelt down. "I love you too Angel."
"You'll be here when I get done?"
"I'll be here." Josh promised as he gave her a hug and a kiss
Kristen gave Josh a small smile before leading Serena from the room.
***********
Kristen led Serena to the Judge's chambers.
Serena looked around the room. "Is this where the Judge works?"
"Yes, it is."
"It is a nice office." Serena said as she looked around.
Kristen led her across the room to a visitor's chair facing the desk and had her sit down. "The Judge will be here soon. Would you like to color while you wait?"
"Okay." Serena agreed readily. She loved to color.
Kristen gave the child a piece of paper and a box of crayons before sitting down to look through a file.
Serena, perched on the edge of the edge chair, quietly and diligently setting to work.
After a while the door opened and a woman in her early forties stepped into the room. She smiled at Serena who had looked up at the sound of the door closing. "Can you tell me about your picture?"
Serena glanced at Kirsten.
"This is Judge Smith, Serena." Kirsten said and Serena nodded.
Serena held the picture toward the Judge. "This is my family."
The Judge blinked. She hadn't expected such an easy opening. "Can you tell me about your family?" She asked as she sat in the chair next to Serena.
She pointed to a small figure standing next to a tree. "This is me. I'm holding my puppy, Tuft. I'm holding Uncle Josh's hand." Josh had a backpack next to him on the ground.
"That's Mommy." She pointed to a figure lying down at the side of the picture. "She is in the hospital cause she is very, very sick. Daddy's up there, in the sky because he died. He is an angel now." In the picture, Sam was very small, barely bigger than the birds flying near him.
"This is Aunt CJ." CJ was standing next to Josh and was as tall as the tree. "Uncle Toby is holding Aunt CJ's hand cause they are going to get married. Grandma Clara is right there. That's Aunt Patty."
She pointed to a cluster of three people. "That is Uncle Jed. He is President so that is a Secret Service Agent standing next to him. Aunt Abbey is on Uncle Jed's other side." The agent was all in black and was frowning. "This is Uncle Leo." Leo had a shock of white hair.
She pointed to the last two people in the picture. "This is Zoey and this is Amy."
"That is a very nice picture." The Judge complimented and meant it. The child had artistic talent, she thought. "Is that everyone in your family?"
Serena shook her head. "No. Aunt Patty has children but I don't know them very well so I didn't put them in." She paused for a moment. "And I didn't put Grandma Alana in because she doesn't like anyone else and she wants to kill Tuft."
"What makes you think that she wants to kill Tuft?" Judge Smith was taken back by the answer, had Serena been prepped to say this?
"I heard her tell Uncle Josh to get rid of Tuft and she didn't care how. She said he better do it or else she'd find a way to do it." Her eyes turned pleading. "You won't let her will you?"
"I won't let her hurt your dog." Judge Smith told her as she thought of her three-year-old granddaughter. Who said something like that in front of a child so young?
Serena smiled brightly. "Good."
Judge Smith looked down at the picture. "Tuft is a very pretty dog."
Serena beamed. "Thank you."
"How long have you had Tuft?"
"Uncle Josh got Tuft for me as a Hanukah present. Tuft is a Hairless Chinese Crested." She spoke enthusiastically. "Hanukah is right before Christmas. Uncle Toby says it is the Jewish equivalent of Christmas."
Judge Smith raised an eyebrow at the child's vocabulary. She shouldn't be surprised, she thought. She should have expected that a child raised in the environment Serena was raised in would be advanced.
Serena frowned. "Grandma Alana came for Christmas but she didn't stay very long. She didn't like Tuft because Tuft makes her sick but it isn't Tuft's fault."
"Oh?"
Serena nodded vehemently. "She got really angry when she found out that Uncle Josh hadn't gotten rid of Tuft." She lowered her voice. "It scared me cause she was acting mean. I don't know what happened then because Elsie took me upstairs so she could meet Tuft. I heard Grandma Alana yelling at Uncle Josh before she left though."
"Had Grandma ever scared you before?"
Serena thought for a few moments. "No."
"Do you like DC, Serena?"
Serena answered immediately. "Yes, but only because that is where Uncle Josh and my mommy are. I like living with Uncle Josh. He moved into my Mommy and Daddy's house, to take care of me." She was comfortable now so she was volunteering information.
"Can you tell me about your house?"
"The backyard is really big. Daddy said that was really important because I needed somewhere to let my energy out at. Now, Tuft gets to play out there with me. He can only go outside if I'm with him though. Uncle Josh says that Tuft is fragile and could get hurt if he was outside without me."
Judge Smith smiled. Serena's excitement over having the puppy was obvious in her voice. "That sounds nice. Can you tell me about your bedroom?"
Serena laughed. "Uncle Josh doesn't like my room. I know because he scrunched up his face a little when I was choosing everything. Zoey says he doesn't like it cause it is girly and he has no appreciation for that." She paused as if trying to picture her room. "It is decorated in shades of pinks and white. I have stuffed animals every where." She beamed. "I collect stuffed animals. I have stuffed versions of native animals from every country and state we visit with Uncle Jed."
"Do you take a lot of trips with the President?" Judge Smith was surprised at how easy it was to get this child to be open with her. It was usually a lot more difficult than this with a child Serena's age.
She nodded. "Sometimes. Before the election we traveled a lot. Now we only travel sometimes. Sometimes Uncle Jed goes but Uncle Josh and I don't."
"Do you have fun on the trips?"
"Most of the time. I really like the rides on Airforce One." She grinned. "Last time, Uncle Jed played hid and seek with me during the plane ride. It was easy to find him though because his agents wouldn't hide. He said they were no fun. Sometimes Uncle Josh lets me go hear Uncle Jed's speeches. When they have meetings that I can't go to, Amy takes me sight seeing. Sometimes Aunt Abbey comes too."
"It sounds like you have a really good time with Uncle Josh."
"I do." She met the Judge's eyes. "I really miss my mom and dad but if I can't live with them, I'm glad that I have Uncle Josh."
"Can you tell me about your nanny?"
Serena nodded. "Amy has taken care of me since right after I moved in with my Daddy. I love her a lot and she loves me too." She smiled. "Zoey says I'm lucky like that. A whole bunch of people love me to pieces. She says that that is why Grandma Alana is fighting Uncle Josh to raise me. Grandma Alana loves me and wants to be with me all the time." Her smile faded. "I love her too but I don't want to live with her. I'd miss Uncle Josh too much."
Judge Smith smiled, then began a new line of questioning. She had noticed Serena spoke quite a bit about Zoey, "You're talking about Zoey Bartlett aren't you?"
"Yes. She is Uncle Jed's daughter."
"Do you spend a lot of time with Zoey?"
Serena nodded emphatically. "Zoey comes over a lot and some times I go see her at the White House. Sometimes she even goes places with Uncle Josh and I."
The Judge carefully kept her expression neutral. "Oh? Do you mean Zoey sometimes goes along when you and Uncle Josh go on Airforce One with the President?"
"Sometimes she does but that wasn't what I meant."
"Oh?"
"A few weeks ago, she went shopping with Uncle Josh and I to help me get new clothes." She rolled her eyes. "I love Uncle Josh but he has no taste. But Zoey does and Uncle Josh listens to her." She paused before continuing. "Last weekend she went to a movie with us."
"Did you enjoy the movie?"
"It was a good movie." Serena told her. "It was about a horse named Spirit."
Judge Smith smiled. "I took my granddaughter to see that movie. She really liked it. Did Uncle Josh and Zoey like it?"
Serena grinned. "I don't know. Every time I looked at them, they were watching each other, not the movie."
Judge Smith blinked not exactly sure what to make of the child's observances. Serena seemed very astute but she was only four. She could be reading things wrong. Smiling, she stood up. "It was very nice meeting you Serena."
Serena smiled back. That was easy just like Uncle Josh, Aunt CJ, and Dillion had told her it would be. "You too. Can I go back to Uncle Josh now?"
"Yes, you may."
"Thank you."
*************
When Serena got back to the small waiting room, Amy had joined the others.
Josh smiled when Serena came through the door holding on to Kristen's hand. "I drew this picture for you Uncle Josh."
Josh accepted the drawing. "Thank you, Angel. It's a very pretty drawing."
Serena shrugged. "I know."
CJ choked back a laugh at the nonchalant tone of Serena's voice.
"Amy's going to take you home, okay?"
"I don't want to go home if you're staying here." Serena's eyes pleaded with Josh to let her stay.
Josh sighed. "The rest of us have to go to the court room so we can talk to the Judge."
"Can't I come to? I promise I'll be really quiet." Her tone turned petulant. "I don't want to go home yet." Her lower lip protruded.
Josh fought back his sigh. This was not the time for Serena to throw one of her rare fits.
Thinking fast, Clara knelt down next to Serena. "You know what?"
"What?" Serena asked suspiciously.
"You can stay if you want to."
Serena grinned. She had gotten her way.
"But." Clara continued. "I didn't think you'd want to."
"Why?" Serena asked quizzically.
"Because we are all here." Clara said as if that should make it all clear.
"Yeah." That was the point.
Clara shrugged as she stood up. "I just thought that Tuft might be lonely without any of us."
Serena's eyes widened. She turned to Josh. "Tuft is alone?"
"Yes, he is."
She looked at Amy. "I want to go see Tuft before he gets scared. He probably misses me already."
Josh glanced over at his mother after Serena had given all of them hugs and left clutching Amy's hand. "You're good."
Clara laughed. "How could I not be, with you as a son?"
"You used to do that with me?"
Leo burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? All she had to do was tell you your fish was lonely and you'd beg to go home. It worked until you were about six."
The social worker was watching them all with amusement. She was now positive that she'd made the right recommendation to the Judge.
*********
An hour later
*********
Josh stepped into the courtroom and glanced around. The last few rows on both sides of the room were filled with reporters who were furiously writing even though nothing was happening yet. His eyes quickly skimmed over them without bothering to take in any details.
Stepping farther into the room, his eyes fell on Toby and CJ who were sitting together near the front. CJ had leaned towards Toby and was whispering something to him. Whatever she had said, Toby nodded barely perceptively.
A tiny frown came to his face as he saw the occupants of the row directly behind where he and Dillion would be. His mother was sitting with Leo. They were talking quietly, both smiling. They should know better, Josh thought. The last things they needed were rumors about them. His frown disappeared. Zoey was sitting on Leo's other side and had turned a bit so that she could meet Josh's eyes.
Holding Zoey's gaze as long as he dared, Josh moved forward to slip into his seat next to Dillion who was glancing over his notes.
Josh glanced across the room to where Alana and her lawyer were sitting. Alana's lawyer was busy writing something but Alana was staring across the room at Josh. Josh hid his scowl when he noticed that the woman looked far different today than she always did when she came to visit Serena. She was wearing a stylish and very modest dress suit in navy blue. Her hair was styled differently than it had been at Christmas and traces of gray had been allowed to appear near her temples. Her makeup was very light and she wore only a simple necklace and her wedding band from her late husband.
He forced himself out of his reverie as the Judge entered the room and everyone stood.
CJ watched as the first witness, a child psychologist, took the stand. The man had met with Serena several times in the last couple of weeks and knew her relatively well. He told the court that Serena was an extremely well adjusted child and very advanced, not just mentally but emotionally as well. Things that other four-year-olds had little concept of, such as time, Serena understood very well.
Dillion asked the psychologist what could happen if a puppy were to be taken from Serena and the psychologist responded that at Serena's age that could permanently affect her ability to bond with people as well as with animals.
Next, Serena's pediatrician took the stand. She testified that Serena was a happy, healthy, and well cared for child. She was still seeing the child monthly but as of her last checkup, Serena was leukemia free. It was however, imperative that Serena continue to see her once a month as she had had an acute case and was not cured. She was only in remission and the disease could return at any time. It would not be wise for Serena to be away from DC for long periods of time as she missed appointments.
Alana's lawyer asked why Serena could not see a pediatrician in Maryland when she was visiting Alana. The doctor responded that she was a pediatric cancer specialist and was familiar with Serena's case and Serena was comfortable with her. While Alana might be able to find a pediatric cancer specialist, she would not be able to find either of the other two things as easily.
Next, Zoey was called to the stand. Zoey gave Josh a small smile as she passed him. Josh returned the smile, knowing that no reporters could see it.
"How long have you known Joshua Lyman?" Dillion asked.
"Since my father's first campaign when I was about sixteen-years-old."
"Do you consider yourself close to Josh?"
"He is one of my closest friends and has been for years." Zoey answered truthfully.
"How long have you known Serena Seaborn?"
Zoey smiled as she pictured the adorable toddler that Serena had been, even with leukemia ravaging her body. "I met Serena during her first visit to DC with her father, Sam. She was almost two-years old."
"Did you see Serena often after that?"
"Yes, I did."
"Were you at Sam Seaborn's wedding to Donna Moss?"
Zoey's smile faded temporarily. "Yes, I was. I held Serena through part of the ceremony."
"Would you say that you are close to the child?"
Zoey's smile broadened. "Very close."
"Were you at Josh and Serena's home on Christmas day?"
"No, I was not. I was in New Hampshire with my family."
"Do you know anything about what happened at the house on Christmas?"
"I saw Josh and Serena a few days after Christmas. While I was upstairs, alone with Serena, she told me about her Christmas."
"What did she tell you?"
"She told me that she wished she was in New Hampshire with my family and I because Christmas was scary at her house. She said that her grandma Alana got very angry and said that Tuft had to go and she didn't care where. She said that she thought Alana wanted to kill the puppy and take her from Josh."
"Objection, your honor, hearsay."
Judge Smith warned Dillion, "Counsel, you should know better."
"Yes, Ma'am, let me rephrase that."
"Ms. Bartlett, what did you observer about Serena when she told you about her Christmas experiences?"
"She was frightened." Zoey took a deep breath and stole a quick glance at Josh as it pained her to have to say this in public. "She told me that Christmas wasn't fun this year."
"No further questions." Dillion stated.
Alana's lawyer stood. He wasn't going to let her step down without questioning her as he had done the last time. "You spend a lot of time with Serena and Mr. Lyman, don't you Miss. Bartlett?"
Zoey met his gaze. "Yes."
"What is your relationship with Serena?"
Zoey frowned. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."
"Do you consider yourself to be an aunt, a cousin, a maternal figure.?" He prompted.
"She calls me by my name, without a title attached."
"That is not what I asked."
Zoey had no idea how to answer him. She didn't even know how to answer herself on that one. "I guess I'm more of a friend." She finally said.
The lawyer looked pleased with her answer. Or perhaps it was her hesitation, Zoey thought.
"What is your relationship with Mr. Lyman?"
"He is one of my closest friends." Zoey said for the second time in less than a half-hour. Did these people not listen?
"How much time do you spend with Mr. Lyman and Serena?"
Zoey shrugged. "It just depends. There isn't a set amount of time that I spend with them each week."
"Do you ever spend time with Mr. Lyman without Serena along as well?"
"Yes I do."
As he listened to the line of questioning, Josh shifted in his seat. He glared at Dillion, willing the other man to do something. Dillion remained seated, wondering where opposing counsel was going with this line of questions, if there might be something he knew, which Dillion didn't.
Leo studied his Goddaughter carefully. She was beginning to look very uncomfortable, as though she didn't know how to answer the questions she was being asked. He shifted his gaze to Josh. The younger man's hands were clenched by his sides. Leo hoped that the reporters could not see that.
"How often do you see Mr. Lyman? That is, without Serena present?" The lawyer asked.
"Again, I'm not exactly sure. It varies."
" Miss Bartlett, are your and Mr. Lyman's." He hesitated, then went on in a staged voice, "Meetings" He said the word in a manner which insinuated something other than the usual meaning of the word, then paused, for dramatic effect, "related to his job as your father's Deputy Chief of Staff?"
Zoey did not like his tone and did not have to hesitate this time. This did not involve her father. "No. The time we spend together is personal."
Toby held back his groan. Personal? Did she have to say that? Without looking, he knew that the reporters were writing furiously. They were undoubtedly elated at this development, true or not.
Zoey did not realize her blunder.
"Miss Bartlet, what is the exact nature of your relationship with Mr. Lyman?"
The tension in the room was palpable as they all awaited Zoey's answer. The opposing counsel saw the look of uncertainty in her eyes, and realized he had made a rookie's mistake. Never ask a question if you don't know the answer. He suddenly realized that forcing the President's youngest daughter to publicly admit to what he assumed was a sexual relationship with one of the President's senior counselors was not a good career move. He backpedaled quickly, before she could answer.
"Let me rephrase that, Zoey, are you dating Josh Lyman?"
"Josh and I are just friends, close friends." Zoey replied firmly, even though she realized she had blindly walked into the attorney's trap. She forced herself to not look at Josh, she had tiptoed her way around publicly acknowledging their fledging romance.
Dillion saw Josh's face cloud with anger and met his eyes warningly. Without glancing down he wrote a word on his pad of paper and pushed it into Josh's line of site - 'Serena'.
Josh looked down at Serena's name and choked back his anger. He knew that it was imperative that he stay in control for Serena's sake. It would break Serena's heart if she was forced to leave him and everyone else she was close to, to move to Alana's house. And he didn't know if he could survive loosing his little girl.
Clara bit her lip. She had warned Josh a few days before Christmas. He had insisted that there was nothing more than friendship between himself and Zoey. Now, she wasn't sure if that was the case. She could see her son's anger at the questions. He had been doing a very good job of keeping himself under control until Zoey's testimony.
Alana grinned. This was exactly what she needed. She needed for the Judge to have doubts about Josh's moral integrity. Plus, as an added bonus, she was going to get to watch the press crucify Josh and President Bartlett's amoral Administration.
The lawyer saw the Judge watching Josh's reaction and decided that the seed of doubt had been planted, no need to push that line further. "No further questions."
As Zoey walked back to her seat, she met Josh's eyes again. This time it was he who smiled, just barely. They both knew that this could be bad.
Next, Will was called to the stand and Josh mentally crossed his fingers that Will's testimony would help get them back on track.
"Have you ever met Alana Farrel?"
"During the last year and a half I've met Mrs. Farrel several times in passing."
"When was the last time you saw Mrs. Farrel?"
Will forced his grin back. "On Christmas morning at Josh Lyman's house."
"Can you tell us about that morning?"
"We all arrived at Josh's at about 8:00 in the morning."
"Who is 'we all'?" Dillion interrupted.
"Mrs. Farrel, CJ Cregg, Toby Zeigler, Leo McGarry, my sister Elsie, and myself." Will answered before going on. "Serena started opening her presents as we all watched. Once all of the gifts were opened, CJ asked Serena if she had thought of any names. Mrs. Farrel asked whom Serena was naming. Someone told her that Serena was naming CJ's new fish as well as her own puppy and Mrs. Farrel got very angry at Josh."
Will paused to let those words sink in before he continued. He knew how to pace a speech for dramatic effect.
"Purportedly, the dog would make her ill. I pointed out that she had been at the house for over an hour and was having no symptoms so as long as she stayed away from the animal she should be fine. Serena was very upset so my sister took her upstairs to see the dog, Tuft. Mrs. Farrel continued yelling at Josh."
Yet another pause.
"Josh listened to her until he had had enough and told her to leave. She told him that he had to let her stay because of the court ordered visitation. He again told her to leave and she left the room. I picked up the camcorder CJ had been using to videotape Serena opening her gifts and followed after the others. Mrs. Farrel said that if she couldn't stay than she'd take Serena with her. CJ blocked her and Alana got even angrier. After a few more minutes Toby got her to leave but she said one last time that a court would now have to decide."
Will took a sip of water, waiting for his words to sink in.
"Serena came downstairs a few minutes later clutching the puppy close. She was terrified and very insecure, it took us several hours to calm her down."
Dillon nodded, Will was an excellent witness. "Did you continue to video tape after Mrs. Farrel left?"
"Yes I did."
Dillion faced the Judge. "Your Honor, I'd like to submit the tape in question as evidence."
As the tape was shown, Josh couldn't help but grin. Sure, he cussed in it but Alana was acting like Cruella DeVil.
After the tape played, Alana's lawyer approached Will. "Did my client know that you were video taping the incident?"
"She knew that we had a camcorder there to tape Serena's first Christmas with Josh."
"But did she know that you were taping at that moment?" He pressed.
"No." Will admitted.
"Did the others know that you were taping their reactions?"
"No they did not."
"But they found out before Serena came downstairs?"
"Yes."
"So one could say that Serena was led to say what she did on tape?"
"She wasn't led. She said what she wanted to say." Will disagreed.
"So, the child knew the camera was there?"
"No." Will admitted.
"No further questions."
This guy was good, Toby couldn't help thinking. This was going to be more of a fight than they had thought. They had expected that Josh would win hands down but this was likely going to be very close.
"Ms. Cregg," Dillion said once CJ was seated at the witness stand and sworn in. "Are you close to Serena?"
"Very."
"You are, in fact, named to take custody of the child if something were to happen to Josh Lyman, aren't you?"
"Yes, my fiancée, Toby Zeigler and I are so named."
"Do you spend very much time with Serena?"
"Yes, I do."
"Is Josh ever there too?"
"Quite often." CJ answered, suppressing a smile. Dillion was obviously trying to draw attention away from the possibility of a relationship between Josh and Zoey by showing that he spent a substantial amount of time with the rest of them on non-work related things as well.
"You are close to Josh?"
"He is one of my closest friends." She answered as Zoey had.
"In a non-romantic way?"
"In a non-romantic way." CJ confirmed.
"No further questions."
"How much time do you spend alone with Mr. Lyman, Ms. Cregg?" Alana's lawyer asked.
"We work relatively closely together."
"Non-work related." He interrupted.
"Not very much." CJ admitted.
"No further questions."
They took a short recess before Leo and Toby each took the stand. They testified on the things that had already been covered. Both insisted that they knew nothing about a romantic relationship between Josh and Zoey.
The last witness was the assistant manager from the hotel Alana had stayed at over Christmas.
The reporters sitting at the back of the courtroom were watching the high profile occupants of the room. A few of them noted that several of them had tensed a bit when the hotel manager took the stand. They seemed to be watching the man intently as if they were waiting for something. The reporters looked at each other, none had a clue as to why the man was called to testify.
Alana's attorney did not understand why this witness had been called. He objected when the bill was introduced as an exhibit, but was over ruled. Apparently the bill had been included in the trial exhibit package, as part of Josh's financial documents, but the attorney hadn't looked at it. He quickly scanned it and felt his stomach sink as its implications sunk in.
Alana felt her back stiffen as Josh's lawyer started to go over her hotel bill in detail. She could not believe her stupidity. She had not even thought of this possibility and she should have as Josh had agreed to pay the bill. Why would he pay it without going over it in detail? He had probably planned something like this the whole time, she fumed silently.
CJ bit the inside of her cheek hard as Dillion started to read the room service charges on the bill. This was good. So, so good.
Zoey choked back a laugh as Dillon finally started to detail the alcohol that Alana had had sent to her room during the nine days that she was staying there. How could the woman have been that stupid? She'd known that Josh was going to get the bill. Had she actually thought that he wouldn't read it?
The reporters wrote furiously. Apparently, Alana Farrel was an alcoholic. This court case was going to be an even bigger story than any of them had thought. First the revelation that the youngest First Daughter might be involved in a romantic relationship with her father's Deputy Chief of Staff, now this.
Judge Smith looked out at the people in her courtroom at the end of the day's testimonies. This decision was harder than she had expected it to be. "Let's break for a half-hour recess."
An impatient Josh paced the courtroom, everyone left him alone in his thoughts as the time crept by. Josh caught Dillion's eye. "What do you think?"
Dillion immediately remembered a similar conversation with Donna and his expression softened a fraction. He would have liked to get to know his friend's wife better. She had seemed like a very special person. "Josh, this doesn't necessarily mean anything. She may need to go to the restroom or get something to eat."
"We recessed like an hour and a half ago." Josh argued. "She wants to go over something again."
"Possibly." Dillion agreed.
***********
Judge Mary-Ellen Smith exited the courtroom and quickly made her way to her chambers. Sitting behind her desk, she picked up Serena's very thick file. She had never seen a file so thick for a child so young.
Opening the file, she flipped through the transcripts from the prior hearings. Next, she reread the statement from the child's nanny. She noted that the statement was witnessed by a lawyer outside the case. She had halfway expected it to be witnessed by someone from the White House staff.
Closing the file, she reached for her notes from her meeting with young Serena Seaborn earlier in the day. The child obviously adored Josh Lyman and the others from the White House. Her drawing and the explanation for her grandmother's absence had been very compelling.
She frowned as she remembered the child's preoccupation with Zoey Bartlett. Serena had spoken about Zoey more often than anyone else, save Josh and the puppy. She was obviously very close to the young woman and spent a lot of time with her. Then, in court Mrs. Farrel's lawyer had brought up the possibility of a romantic relationship between the First Daughter and Josh. Everyone from the White House staff had categorically denied the accusations. But could they be wrong? Could there be a relationship that they didn't know about?
She had watched Josh's reactions and expressions during Zoey's testimony. The man had been very upset. He had showed more reaction to that than anything else during the hearing. For a few moments, she actually thought that he might be about to lose control and say something. His lawyer had quickly reined him in by writing something on his pad of paper. She had to admit she was curious as to what the man had written.
It was possible that no one was lying. It was possible that Zoey and Josh had not yet started dating but were about to. Since it was unproven, she couldn't let it impact her decision but she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if the two started dating.
They were both adults, but he was at least twenty years older than her. He was also raising an impressionable young child. But it appeared that Serena was being actively included in their relationship, whatever it was. Zoey and Serena obviously adored each other.
But a romantic relationship between the Deputy Chief of Staff and the First Daughter would spark a media frenzy which wouldn't be healthy for the child. Still, it had to be better than being raised by an alcoholic.
Alana Farrel had had an inordinate amount of alcohol delivered to her room by room service. And the fact that she hadn't thought about the probability that Josh would read the bill was proof of how addicted she was to the liquid.
The woman's anger issues were also very unhealthy and terrified the child. The video had proven that better than any testimony could have. The tape had begun in the middle of Serena opening presents delightedly. Once the child had finished, the camera had swept the room, showing the piles of presents everywhere. The room had looked like a children's store, she had thought amusedly. But the child she had met didn't act spoiled.
Then the camera had been set down, still on. You could hear Alana's angry outburst but couldn't see anything. After a few minutes the camera was picked up and she had seen the rest of the incident unfold.
Finally, Serena had come down the stairs clutching a tiny puppy to her chest, clinging to a young woman's hand, her eyes shining with fear and unshed tears. When she spoke, her voice held a tremor. Releasing the hand she was holding, she reached into her shirt and pulled a small charm necklace out. She held onto the tiny golden angel throughout the rest of the tape.
Josh knelt down next to the little girl. His anger immediately faded and was replaced with a softness that Judge Smith was sure was reserved for the child. His opponents would probably be shocked to learn that he could display such tenderness. His voice had been gentle and loving when he spoke to the little girl.
The tape alone had been enough to convince her of what she needed to do.
***********
They were all back in the courtroom by the time the Judge returned.
Taking her seat, Judge Smith faced the audience. She skimmed over the anxious reporters in the last several rows, through the rows of friends for both Alana Farrel and Josh Lyman, and finally, at Alana, then Josh. Alana appeared calm and composed except for her eyes. Her eyes showed that she knew what the verdict was going to be. Josh looked more nervous. The Judge raised an eyebrow slightly when she noticed Zoey Bartlett lay a calming hand on his shoulder. His squirming instantly stopped.
"This was not an easy decision for me to make." She began. "Both attorneys presented compelling cases as to why their client should raise Serena Seaborn." She smiled. "Serena is a delightful and well rounded child. You should both be very proud of her."
Josh grinned at her words. It appeared that yet another person had been instantly rapped around Serena's finger.
"It was apparent from my conversation with the child that she is a part of a very large and loving extended family. The removal of any of those people whom she loves so dearly from her world would crush her emotionally. She has had too much loss in her young life already for that to happen. "
"The child psychologist presented a powerful argument for the damage removing the puppy, Tuft, from Serena would do. Based on my conversation with Serena, I agree. The puppy is very much a part of her immediate family."
Alana scowled. The puppy. It was all that damned puppy's fault.
"The idea of having Serena live with an excessive drinker also concerns me. Especially as the child is now very frightened of her grandmother. It would not be healthy for Serena to constantly live in a state of fear."
"Full custody of Serena Seaborn goes to Joshua Lyman."
Josh heard those nine words and immediately tuned out the rest of the Judge's words. Dillon would tell him anything else he needed to know. "Full custody of Serena Seaborn goes to Joshua Lyman." The sentence replayed in his mind. He had full custody of his little girl. She was his completely now. Not completely, he reminded himself. Not yet at least. There was still one more step he had to take before she would truly be his daughter.
Alana scowled as the Judge left the courtroom. He had gotten full custody. She hadn't even gotten visitation. She was totally out of her granddaughter's life. She watched as Josh hugged his mother, Zoey, and CJ and was congratulated by Dillion, Leo, Toby, and Will.
With one last sneer at Josh and his friends, she stood up and turned toward the door. She ignored her lawyer as he spoke to her and pushed past the reporters blocking the door.
Walking down the steps, Alana refused to answer any questions. Starting her car, she realized that this was it. She was out of her granddaughter's life, possibly forever.
She thought about appealing but what was the point? She knew that after today she had no chance of winning. And as much as most people probably doubted it, she really did love Serena. A senseless court battle wouldn't be healthy for the little girl.
She'd miss Serena but maybe this was best. Josh and his friends all seemed to dote on the child. She was safe, happy, and well cared for with him.
Pulling out of her spot, Alana silently said goodbye to her granddaughter.
********
Author's note: My knowledge of leukemia is limited and there may be mistakes in the material presented regarding the disease as some of my information comes from knowledge of Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and has been adapted to fit leukemia.
