DISCLAIMER: See chapter 1
A/N: Thank you for the reviews nattieb, lynn563, daffycat7, maltz, and Ktis2fun! I do realize now that I didn't pick up on that sarcasm. Lol. I am really horrible at picking up on sarcasm. So in my story.... Mallory did go to Tamzania. Haha. Wow... I can't believe I did that. Anyway... sorry this took so long. The next chapter will probably take a while too. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Jeez! What the hell is that noise?! It can't be my alarm. It's too dark out for that. I roll over to look at my clock. I have to squint because I'm not wearing my glasses. 12:36. Definitely not my alarm.
Just now, I can make out the noise. It's a ring. My phone. Who is calling at this time of night?! The one night in what seems like the past five years that I've gotten to bed early.
I suppose I'd better answer it. Whoever it is isn't giving up. I don't hide my annoyance with the phone as I let out a deep sigh of exasperation. My hand gropes around on the night table in search of the phone. I finally grab it and turn it on. "What?!" This had better be good.
"CJ?" Donna's voice sounds unstable. She sounds really upset. Whatever this is, it isn't good.
"Donna, what's wrong?" She doesn't answer me but instead I hear her let out a sob. Something is definitely not right. "What is it? Is it Sam? Emily? JJ?"
Another sob. "It's President B... Bartlet."
This was not good news. Was he sick? "What about President Bartlet?"
"He's... he's... dead." Her sobs thicken.
My breath caught in my chest. "Are you kidding?" Donna's sobs continue. "How? When? Who was with him? Was he in Manchester?" That's all I can think of to say, even though it's obvious that Donna's not going to answer me. She's crying too hard. "Listen... I'll call you back later when you're ready to talk, okay?" I try my best to sound sympathetic.
"Okay," comes her muffled reply. She hangs up and I do too.
My hand searches for the nightstand to put the phone down on, but it can't find it. My arms aren't under my command anymore. My hands go to my face. I feel the tears coming, they're burning a path from the back of my throat to my eyes, slowly. I can't let Toby see me like this. I have to be strong when I tell him. Trying to make no noise or move the bed, I creep out of bed, out of the bedroom, and down the hall to the study.
The study is lit enough by the glowing fish tank. I walk to the swivel chair behind the desk and sit down. I gaze over all of the photos on the desk: me and Toby, Huck and Molly, photos from Sam's campaign. And then my glance falls on it: a picture of all of us on President Bartlet's first campaign. There he is, smiling, in the middle of the group. He looks so happy, so energetic, so full of life. My eyes begin to leak and the tears begin to cloud my vision.
CJ did not want to walk back into the campaign headquarters. Everyone was going to be angry with her, and she was angry enough with herself at the moment. She didn't think that she could tolerate any more anger. Her breathing was shallow and unstable as she stood at the door, trying to come up with an excuse. It was no use.
Suddenly, the door burst open and out popped Sam. Upon seeing CJ, Sam attempted to smile. CJ didn't even try, her face was too numb. "I was just going to get some coffee. You want some?" She shook her head. Sam's glance quickly reverted to the window into the store before he turned to face CJ. "They're not happy with you in there."
"You think?!," she yelled sarcastically.
"I mean, it's like a war zone in there and they're just waiting for the signal to fire."
"I kind of figured Sam!"
"I'm just saying that I'm on your side. Everyone makes mistakes every once in a while... I guess."
"Just go away!" Sam jumped and dashed away down the street.
With a deep breath, CJ pushed open the door and walked inside. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at her. She smiled awkwardly, and in what seemed like an eternity later, everyone resumed their work.
Donna stepped up to CJ. "Josh wants to see you," she whispered before giving CJ an encouraging smile. That reassured CJ a little bit until she heard a loud bang and looked up to see Josh marching toward her.
"HIS IDEAS ARE ADMIRABLE?!?!?!?! He's a REPUBLICAN, CJ!!!!"
"I know, Josh, let me explain—"
"What is there to explain?! We are so completely screwed right now and it's all because of you!"
"Josh..." Donna chimed, giving Josh a stern look. "I'm sure that there are ways to fix this. It isn't that big of a thing, right? And you should really give her a break. Everyone makes mistakes."
Josh looked back and forth from Donna to CJ, not sure of what to say. Finally, his gaze rested on Donna. "You sound exactly like Sam."
"Well then Sam's right."
"No he's not!"
"Yes... I think he is."
"No he's not Donna! You apparently know nothing about pol—"
"What the hell were you thinking?! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!," Toby's voice boomed. He appeared into CJ's vision, and he looked quite apoplectic.
"I made a mistake—"
"You think?! No... no... I don't even want to talk to you right now! It's because of you that I'm going to be doing damage control for the next six months! There is no possible way that we're going to win this election now! It's because of you that crackpot Republican is going to be running this country!" Toby began to mumble to himself and pace around the store, throwing a rubber ball wherever he went. Josh, much angrier from his argument with Donna, stormed off to his makeshift office. Donna continued to try and look supportive.
CJ exhaled loudly. "Where's Leo?" She was hoping to get the worst of it over then and there.
"At a rally in New York. Remember? I think he knows though. I wouldn't be surprised if you got a phone call in the near future."
"And Governor Bartlet?"
Just as the words came out of her mouth, Mrs. Landingham appeared in front of CJ. "CJ... the governor would like to see you now." CJ nodded and followed Mrs. Landingham on what felt like her death march. She didn't comprehend her surroundings until she reached the governor's temporary campaign office. "You can go on in."
CJ took a deep breath. This was it. She was going to be fired. She had really enjoyed this job, too. Slowly, she walked inside. Governor Bartlet was reading a memo of some sort. CJ cleared her throat and the governor looked up with a cold gaze. "Sit," he said sternly and CJ obeyed. She waited for him to make the first move. After a few minutes, he took off his glasses, set them on the desk, and looked up to CJ. As he spoke, he spoke in a quiet, firm tone that scared CJ. "Do you realize the damage you could have done to this campaign?"
"Yes... and I'm sorry. It was a slip of the tongue. I didn't mean it at all. You know I'm a democrat. I didn't want to make the other guys look good." She talked very hurriedly. "I promise I'll fix it all myself. No one needs to worry about anything."
Governor Bartlet stared at her for a few moments. "This could cause me to lose the campaign."
"I know. I'm really sorry sir. I'll just go and pack up my things," CJ said dejectedly.
As she stood to walk out, she noticed the governor giving her a confused look. "What did you say you were doing?"
"Packing up my things. You're obviously going to fire me."
"You think you can predict my actions now?"
"No sir. I just..." CJ trailed off. She didn't know what to think.
"I'm not going to fire you CJ. Everyone makes mistakes. I believe in second chances."
CJ smiled. She couldn't believe her ears. "Thank you sir."
"But if you have one more slip-up then I will fire you. You understand?"
"Yes sir." CJ stood in the doorway, not knowing what to do next.
"That doesn't mean that I'm very keen on talking to you right now. I'll let you know when I want to see you again."
"Yes sir!" CJ turned and quickly bustled out of the office, content with the fact that she still had a job.
President Bartlet gave me more chances than I deserved. I swear he must have given me six-hundred second chances. He was a great man, like a father to me, especially after my dad died. I can't even imagine what this world is going to be like without him. Tears keep trickling down my face, and I realize that I haven't felt this empty since my dad died.
