CJ, in what seemed a reversal of a year before, when Danny had moved in, was packing up her and Danny's things. Not too much and not too little. Boxes were scattered about the apartment and CJ had finally made her way into the kitchen. She was placing newspaper-packed plates into a box on the table when she heard a sound at the door.
"I hope you brought extra packaging tape with you," CJ called out as she walked into the living room. Only it was wasn't Danny in her doorway.
"Hello?" she asked the man wearing a baseball hat.
"Hi. I'm sorry the door was open." He looked around. "Moving?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I heard."
"Can I help you?"
"I hope it's alright I stopped by. I was in the area and someone....well...I had been calling."
"I'm sorry, have we met?" He did looked a little familiar.
"Yes, I'm sorry. You don't remember me."
"No, I don't?" CJ didn't move from where she was.
"I'm sorry. We met a few years ago. I was writing a movie on the White house and you-
helped me out with----
"Yeah, the writer guy." She smiled remembering. "You wrote that cute movie about the president who falls in love in the White House..."
"Yes."
"I didn't have a chance to see it. I saw clips. I heard it was good."
"Thanks."
"Didn't you also write that military movie.... with the truth thing and the wall—."
"Yeah."
"Oh....you've been the one calling me..."
"Yes, that's why I stopped by."
"Listen, I'm sorry. Things have been kind of busy and well.. I don't really do that kind of stuff anymore----you really should talk to Josh Lyman or someone at the White House..."
"Well, actually I'm looking for long term help."
"I'm sorry?"
"I've been green lighted to write a pilot..."
"Green lighted means go and a pilot is a first episode right?"
"Yes? Weren't you once publicist in LA?"
"Well, yeah. But I'm bad at remembering details when it involves things----I don't care about....Listen, I really have to finish my packing. If you need help writing, you're looking for Toby Zeigler, or Sam Seaborn, they're great writers....I'm not a writer-----not that way...I'm not. I just write small political essays--You want those guys."
"No. I'm looking for you."
"I really don't think so?"
"I've written a pilot about life in the West Wing."
"The West Wing? No one's going want to watch a show about that." She laughed at its oddness.
"I think they would. And I need a consultant?"
"Me?"
"Is it true your moving to LA?"
"For a short time yes, my husband's taking a job out there?"
"I just need someone to help me with things like policy----the goings on." He took a script out from under his arm. "I have a copy of it." He held it out. CJ took the script, looking at the man with uneasiness and uncertainty. She looked at the title.
"The West Wing." She read the cover.
"Just read it and tell me what you think."
"You know I usually don't like people in your business." She smirked.
"I've heard."
"--But you came to me?"
"I like you. I like the way you speak. You have a good sense of humor about yourself. I like that."
"Thank you?"
"I think you'll like it when you read it. When will you be in LA?"
"In a few weeks."
"Call me when you get out."
"Okay?"
The man in khakis and a baseball hat left CJ and Danny's apartment.
CJ walked into the gala party for the Bartlet's anniversary. The Manchester home was all decked out as if it was a party at the White House. A footman even met CJ at the door. Another took her coat. CJ didn't seem to know anyone at the party so far. It was still early and she passed up a drink that was offered to her. She, dressed in a red dress and wrap, looking shining and glowing -- a cliche of her condition, stood around feeling awkward about standing alone, but gleeful nonetheless. She looked around and noticed Toby in the corner, talking with a group of people, but looking as if he had been watching her the entire time and not involved in his conversation.
CJ smiled and gave him a little wave. He still looked at her. CJ gave him a question mark look back. After a moment she even looked behind her to see if it wasn't her he was staring at. Toby walked away from his group and toward CJ.
"Hey, there Toby." She smiled. Toby said nothing. "What?" She asked him.
A waiter walked past and offered her a glass of champagne. "No, thank you." She told the boy. She focused again on Toby who began to circle her.
"You're not drinking?" He asked her plainly.
"No?" She followed him with her head and eyes and he circled her.
"You never say no to a drink?"
"I drank to much last night...what's going on with you?"
"You look good? Where's Danny?"
"He went out to California early to set up a----house...Toby?"
"I see." Toby was on his second turn around CJ when he reached her left ear.
"Your pregnant?" Toby whispered into CJ's ear. She couldn't help it, and she wasn't sure if it was the way he said it or what he said, but she couldn't help laughing. It was one of her full smiling and guttural laugh. She tried to hold it in, but it came out sputtered and classic CJ.
"Toby."
"I think I'm right." he continued in her ear.
"I..." She couldn't speak, she was still laughing so much. CJ calmed herself down and looked around.
"I've been around enough pregnant women to know."
"One pregnant women, Toby, one."
"One's enough."
"Come with me."
She took Toby by his hand and pulled him into the bathroom.
"Ok, don't say anything. I'm telling everyone after dinner!"
"I'm right?"
"Yes." She smiled.
Toby got a huge smile on his face and Toby hugged her.
"That's wonderful." He pulled away. "Mazel Tov! This is so great. I'm so happy for you."
"Yeah, it is." She said sheepishly. "I didn't think at least at this point it was possible. I figured my time had passed." She smiled larger. "But then boom. There it is."
"You're happy?"
"Very."
"That's great...how far along are you?"
"Just a month."
"Everything good?" He said like an all-knowing parent.
"Yes, Toby." She eyeballed him.
"Because..."
"Yes." She watched Toby's concerned face. "Women in their forties have babies all the time Toby. I'm good."
"Ok, ok. "
"But you have to promise not to let anything slip."
"I won't, I won't"
"Alright. Well. Good." There was a pause. "What?"
"I'm just thinking how we're going to get out of here with out it looking strange.
"I think we cleared that when you pulled me into the bathroom."
"You think someone saw us?"
"A good guess is yes."
"Right." She paused. "After you."
"You first."
"Ok."
There was a pregnant pause. CJ stood there with a dazed look on her face.
"You're not moving CJ?"
'That's because I think I'm going to vomit soon. Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
"It's not morning and you're getting morning sickness?"
"Now is not the time to debate, Toby, now is the time to get out of my way."
"This is very strange?" Josh spoke as he and CJ walked the halls of the back lot set of a new show called The West Wing. "Like out of body strange?"
Josh watched a beautiful women walk past and then he watched her walk away. The girl noticed this and turned around to give Josh a small smile. He was not used to that. CJ smirked at what he was doing.
"Josh?" she tried to get his attention.
"Man, I love LA."
"Josh."
"We really don't spend enough time here."
"So, this is the Communications Bullpen." CJ walk behind a set and into another. "Hey Carl." She said to a man on a ladder.
"Hey CJ." He hollered back.
"That's the craft service table."
"The what?"
"It's food."
"Then why don't they call it food?
"I don't know? I guess everyone has to have a craft to hone. Theirs is food service." CJ noticed a man dressed a brown suit going over lines. He was boyish and full of energy.
"Josh, this is Troy, he'll be playing the Deputy Chief of Staff."
"Wow, man." Troy took Josh's hand. "It's so great to meet you. I have so many things to ask you."
"Well, Troy, Josh doesn't have a lot of time."
"Yeah, I have to catch Air Force One back home or else I have to hitch it back to DC."
"We should have lunch sometime." Troy said eagerly.
CJ started to take Josh away with a head signal for "we really need to get going."
"Yeah, sure!? Josh was uneasy.
"I want to learn everything about you." The actor continued.
"Ok?" Josh walked away. "That was strange?"
"He's actually a nice guy.""So, you're having a baby." It was the first time Josh had seen his friend since he heard.
"Yes, Josh, We've been over this."
"I mean it's great.... you miss one party you miss everything."
"You don't seem so terribly excited for me."
"No, I am. I just mean... you're not the first person I think of when I think of the words maternal?"
"Hey, I'm maternal. I do maternal things. Remember when you were sick and I brought you those pajamas. That's maternal--"
"Sick. Shot. Same difference."
"---I think that was very maternal."
"They were like eight hundred sizes too big. You going to learn to cook?"
"I can cook."
"I mean well."
"Ok. I guess I'd have to learn that. You know how I could learn that?"
"I don't know, classes?"
"You've been a big help there, Josh." She said with great sarcasm.
"Consider it my baby gift." He smiled.
"Generous to a fault."
"Yeah, I'm a saint."
"I'm very maternal."
"Yeah, yeah----." He was encouraging
"I am...I'm the epitome of maternal....that's me... whatever that is."
"Hey, CJ." The writer came up to CJ. "I didn't mean to overhear, but I love you guys' rhythm."
"What rhythm?!" They asked at the same time. Josh looked at his watch.
"I'm sorry. I really have to go." He shook hands with the writer with the hat. "Nice to me you."
He walked away and pointed at CJ. "I'll call you...Say hello to Danny for me."
"Yeah". She yelled back to him.
"I'm very maternal," she seemed to speak to herself. "I am!!" She spoke out loud.
"I'm not maternal!"
"CJ," Danny assured her.
"What if I drop it on it's head?!"
"You won't drop it on it's head."
"I can't do this, Danny." CJ was really feeling her extra hormones.
"Of course you can." Danny leaned in and kissed CJ's three-month large belly and then her on the lips. CJ smiled at the sweetness. It didn't last long.
"I can't even take care of a cat."
"When have you ever had a cat?"
"I've been around cats----"
"CJ, you'll be fine."
"I can't cook! Mothers need to know how to cook!"
"Wait? You can cook? Right? You're always offering."
"Oh, yeah, that....do you ever notice how when I offer to cook--something happens and well-----I don't." Danny thought for a moment.
"Yeah!?" He noticed.
"Yeah, I do that. I have this urge to take care of the men in my life, by offering to cook. Comes from having so many brothers."
"Oh."
"Sorry."
"No, it's ok. I just feel kind of stupid for not noticing that."
"Hey, you were blinded by love."
"You know cooking for loved ones even though you can't. I'd call that maternal."
"Really?" CJ's hormones were really kicking in and her eyes teared up.
"Yeah."
"Ok." She said like a child
"Repeat after me. I am a very maternal women."
"Danny?!"
"Say it."
"No."
"Say it."
"I am a very maternal women."
"I don't believe you-."
"I am a very maternal women!"
"And I'll make a great mother."
"And I'll make a great mother," she spoke sincerely knowing Danny was telling her something he already felt.
