Part 3
Toby pulled into CJ's driveway less then a half-hour later, and waited for her to come out. He remembered the time she bought this house. He went all over DC trying to find her a house that she had wanted. She purposely made out a list of things she wanted for the house. The list ended up being nearly five pages. This house covered three of the five, and he manually helped her build her other demands from her final two pages of requirements and apparently 'made and house a house'.
"Sorry I took so long," CJ apologized while getting into the passenger's side of Toby's car. She smiled at him, looking nothing like the departing figure he saw last night before she left. Worry, anger, curiosity. This morning she looked calm, cool, collected, and stunning.
"It's okay," He smiled back as she buckled her seatbelt. Loving the way the scent of her perfume filled his car, and how it would linger on his clothes for the rest of the day.
"Thank you so much for this Toby." CJ turned to him, showing her gratitude through one of her big smiles she knew he loved. She allowed herself a moment to take in the scent of aftershave that lingered on him. And the sight of how good he looked in his brown suit. She loved brown on him.
"Don't mention it." He nodded and acted like the favour was nothing important to thank him over. A friend helping a friend.
"So, did you get some sleep?" She asked as he pulled out of the driveway and started toward work. She smiled as he drove like a maniac, just like he did when she met him in New York. Maybe they won't be late, after-all.
"Yeah, I did. It was nice," He smiled as he realized he actually did get some sleep last night. "I normally don't get any sleep." He said as an afterthought. He knew he didn't have to explain how sometimes the job didn't allow more then a few hours here or there. She lived the same life he did, in that respect.
"So leaving work at the office helps, huh?" She was still amazed he had gone home last night with nothing at all. And after confronting him about it in the parking lot, he just mumbled unheard words and bounced up and down on the heels of his shoes. He looked confused last night, maybe even bitter. But she knew it wasn't directed toward her, which somehow made all the difference. But that didn't keep her up most of the night thinking about it. Thinking about him.
"Yeah, you should try it sometime." He mentioned, trying to keep his eyes on the road, and away from her new dress he knew she had on today. The slit on the dress showing bare leg, which would capture his undivided attention and the road in front of them would become an afterthought. Something he might regret when the car ran straight into a tree, or down a ditch. He vowed to get them to work in one piece. No bare leg obsession for him to feast on today. Another thing shot to hell today.
"Yeah, maybe," CJ laughed at the thought. She wouldn't know what to do if she didn't give herself a hernia every night carrying piles of work from her car into the house. Then resurrecting the hernia that next morning when she hauled everything back to the car. "I never thought you would ever be able to do that." She confessed quietly, afraid of hitting a nerve from his mood last night. She fixed her new dress she wore to allow the slit to show off more leg, sort of a thank you for the rescue he did for her this morning. He was always a legs man.
"Yeah, well, I sort of had to leave it there." He said without thought. He was too busy eyeing the bare leg as the slit grew larger, showing even more leg. Damn. Leg, leg, and more leg. Shit, road, road, stay on the road.
"Why?" She asked automatically. She had this problem when she was around Toby. She never stopped asking him questions. Especially when they were about him and what was going on in that brilliant mind of his. Seems he likes the thank you gift that was coming from her new outfit, she smirked.
"It's a long story." He answered simply. His eyes darting between the road and bare leg that woke a part of him up inside his stomach that he had simply forgotten about. Damn, he was multitasking again. Road, conversation, and more leg then he thought possible on a woman. He glanced down at the sad shape his neck tie was in. He was dealing with it when he was dealing with the call from CJ, Mrs. Landingham and her thumbs-up, and tying the tie. Poor tie. It lost the fight of his attention this morning, and was now limp. He made a mental note to fix it when he got into his office.
She smiled at his simple answer, knowing that was all she was likely going to get out of him now, and looked out the window. The simple answer was an easy out for him, but it was also a lie. And that was something they agreed never to deal with again. She knew something was up with Toby, but she had no idea what it was and decided it best to leave it alone for now. She bounced her leg up and down, allowing the slit to extend. She smirked at she imagined how dizzy he was going to be once we got the car parked. Eyes are not meant to dart back and forth for a long period of time. But she knew that was the last thing on his mind. As long as they didn't crash into a tree, she didn't care.
"I'll buy lunch," CJ offered as Toby parked his car in his reserved spot in the White House parking lot. His eyes hurt, and he had a headache. He should have just kept his eyes on one damn thing. But, he would have chosen leg, and they'd be turned over in the car by now. He shut his eyes tight to make the pain lessen. It didn't work.
"What?" He looked over at her after the offer finally hit a working brain cell, debating with himself if she might be asking him out on a date. Yep, he was a goner. Call the nut house and reserve him a room in solitary confinement.
"You were nice enough to pick me up and bring me to work this morning at the last minute. I think it's only right I buy us lunch," She explained to him with a smile as she emerged from the car, letting her slit move across her thigh openly. She noticed Toby suddenly turned still. She smiled inwardly. She's still got it.
After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, and to get the picture of a naked thigh out of his mind. He answered her with what he thought she would want to hear. "It's okay. You don't have to."
"But I want to," She said seriously as she met his gaze. His eyes were on hers, not her leg for once that morning.
"Okay," He gave in, despite himself. Smiling at her, he simply nodded. "I would like that." Can I see more leg and thigh? Please.
"Good," She smiled and motioned for them to start walking. Noticing his eyes were back on her leg. She laughed. Then laughed more when he shrugged at her with a knowing smirk and set his eyes back down on her bare skin. He didn't care he was ogling her in public, all he wanted was his daily allotment of bare leg images.
They both walked through the doors moments later, entering The White House. Preparing themselves for another long day. Ginger snapped his attention away from CJ's leg, and glared at her. CJ laughed, and Ginger rolled her eyes at him.
After Toby and CJ got further in the White House, they didn't even have a chance to sit down. CJ went directly to the pressroom to give the morning briefing, and Toby grabbed Sam and they both went into Toby's office to start on one of the Presidents' 'running for reelection' speeches he would have to give in the next few days. Weeks. Months. Toby smiled and welcomed the work. He would have to take some it home, so Mrs. Landingham can go order someone else around.
"We have to be careful on what we say right now. We need votes, and pissing people off right now with what we say and/or do, will ensure no chance of being here for another four years. We have to kiss ass to win this thing," Sam explained for the fifth time that hour. He hated it. Everyone hated it.
"Sam…"
"No Toby. This is not going to work if we say what's on our minds. It can't..."
"Sam!" Toby yelled, interrupting Sam mid-sentence. The bouncy ball Toby had been tossing against the wall for the past hour missed the desired target, and smashed into the water pitcher that was set out in the meeting room. Everyone eyed the mess besides Toby.
"What?" He asked briskly, his eyes darting between the mess and his boss.
"Let Bartlet be Bartlet. If they kick our ass out of here for being right, then screw 'em. We are not going to back down because we're afraid to piss people off. We're going to do this thing, and we are going to do it our way." Toby explained harshly. No one took him as being an ass, or smacking Sam down. He was just making his point be heard.
Toby finished and looked around. He saw Leo, Josh, CJ, and Sam standing there looking at him instead of the watery mess one of the janitors began attending to, shooting a few glares in Toby's direction after tossing the wet ball back into Toby's hand. He wondered if the looks he was receiving were of a condescending nature. He shrugged them off suddenly and bounced his ball against the floor.
"What?" He asked, almost nervously. Aware no one was talking, just staring at him. He thought the janitor was plotting the perfect revenge that would wreck havoc in the near future. He was thankful for the loud breath CJ took, gathering everyone back to attention.
"I got to tell you Toby. You're hot when you're like this," CJ stated with a wink. Causing Toby to blush. She was the only one who could make him blush. Sadly for him, she knew that too.
"He's right. If we are going to do this thing, we are going to do it right," Leo added. "Let Bartlet be Bartlet." He nodded his agreement, smiling at Toby and silently giving him a pat on the back.
"Yeah," Everyone in the room jumped in, agreeing with all the statements being made. Everyone sending looks of thanks and appreciation in Toby's direction, which he ducked from at random.
After the meeting, Toby slowly walked the halls back to his office. He was glad that everyone was on the same track. He thought that if everyone did his or her best that everything would work out and Jed Bartlet would be reelected. He just hoped for an easy few days, which he knew deep down wouldn't happen.
"Oh man," Toby said, yawning as he walked into his office, and fell into the chair behind his desk. He didn't know why, but he was so exhausted. He shut his eyes and rested his head back against the back of his chair, groaning inwardly.
"Good man." Mrs. Landingham's voice rang out like a buzzer. His five seconds of rest were up, and his grand prize is...more 'orders' from Mrs. Landingham. Toby tried to determine the moment his life turned into the worse game show. No matter what door he picked, nothing but torment and misery were awarded to him.
Toby jumped and literally fell out of his chair and landed on his butt on the hard floor. He sighed loudly, so his guest could hear it.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" Mrs. Landingham asked between laughs.
"You think that was funny? That hurt." He replied, trying to sound hurt.
"I bet. You don't really have very much cushion to fall on." She mentioned with humor.
"What?" He looked at her with a confused look.
"Oh, just admit it Toby. You have a flat butt." She snickered.
"Why are we talking about my butt?" Toby asked, slowing pushing himself back up on his feet. He brushed the unseen dirt off of his behind, quickly checking to see if he did indeed have a flat butt. Before he could answer the question, he rolled his eyes at himself for even caring. He left it unanswered.
"It's just fun," Mrs. Landingham replied between laughs. She hadn't laughed like this is a long time, she thought. Too bad it was at Toby's expense.
"Whatever." He mumbled.
"You did very well today Toby." She congratulated him, her words sincere.
"With what?" He asked as he made his way back to his chair.
"They are all listening to you Toby. Don't you see? They are all waiting for you to say something so they can follow you. Josh, Sam, CJ, even Leo, are all listening to you for guidance. They trust you and respect what you say. They need you to guide them, and you did very well in doing so. You know what needs to be done." She said, pride pulsating through her voice.
Toby sat back in his seat and looked over at her. He noticed the sincerity in her face and eyes, but it caught his attention in her voice. He actually flickered with a small smile.
"I really miss you Mrs. Landingham," Toby mentioned truthfully. She might have been poking her nose in the part of his life he worked desperately at to keep private, but she was a person whom he enjoyed very much when she was alive. And even now, in a form of a ghost, she's still the Mrs. Landingham who would never give him a cookie unless it was a special occasion. He would always have Josh or Sam talk their way into getting two from Mrs. Landingham, then sliding it into Toby's hands without her knowledge. He asked himself if she ever knew that happened. Then he smiled and answered his own question. Of course she did. She knew everything, and even he'll admit Josh or Sam can never be charming enough to get her to relinquish two cookies in one day. He smiled at the memory, gaining a look from her that questioned what he was thinking of. "Cookies." He said simply. She tilted her head back and laughed.
"I'm right here Toby." She looked at him with tears in her eyes. That was hard for him to say, she knew. That was why she was here. He bottled everything inside. The fact that he sneaks secret birthday gifts to Ginger and Bonnie once a year, always signing the card with 'wouldn't you like to know'. Offering to take CJ and Donna suntan lotion shopping prior to each California trip. The two women seem to always find themselves drunk off cheap booze by the end of the day, so he would take control and makes sure they got home safe. Secondly, it helps serve his leg obsession since both women will wear short shorts, no matter the weather in DC. Another secret being how he helped Josh after the shooting with shopping and cleaning on the days Donna couldn't make it. How he had been the one Josh confided in, when it got to be too much for him during one Christmas season. Toby had talked Josh into talking with Stanley, with Leo as backup just in case. Also, much to his dismay, he knew just about every detail, good or bad, about Sam Seaborn. Late night discussions or shop talk turned into late night confessions. For Sam anyway. Being a good friend, and making sure no one else was around to witness the kind act, Toby offered his ear to listen, and gave his opinions on some of the problems. It would always end with Sam smiling like a five-year-old on Christmas morning, and hugging Toby for what seemed like hours.
"You know what I mean." He rolled his eyes at her sarcasm, but found himself smiling right along with her. He didn't know she knew all his secrets. She probably shouldn't have known, but she always listened to conversations around her desk, and hints began dropping like flies. She once asked if he was the, Secret Birthday Gift Sweetheart, that being the name Ginger and Bonnie came up with. All Toby did was shrug, but walked away with a grin she'd never seen before. Guilty as sin.
"I know Toby." She nodded her understanding, smiling at all the memories she had here. How she missed being here.
"We all miss you. You were the face that everyone looked to for support when things looked bad. You always looked at the positive side of everything. Always." He said in a shy tone, treading into unknown waters with his candid speaking. His eyes glazed over with sadness when he realized she was really gone, and he was damn lucky to have her here with him now, if only for a short time. 'Ordering' him into doing things he wanted to keep a distance from. She was making him face his fears. No one ever did that for him before. Ever. She was pushing him into facing his feelings about everything around him. His job, his life, his friends, what his place here really means, CJ. She was making him see the light if his true feelings for CJ, the feelings he buried so deep inside himself he had almost forgotten they existed. He didn't want to love her. He didn't want to want her. He hates to admit his feelings for her stem from the moment they met, but he was married after that time. He loved Andrea, wanted it to work with her, wanted to make her happy and thankful for someone like him. But he screwed that up. Hurt her in ways he hated to admit. And he didn't want to think his feelings for CJ clouded any mistakes he made with his wife. He even went as far as moving across country away from CJ to work on his marriage. Nothing worked. They divorced, yet remain great friends. And CJ was back in his life full time, and he refused to take a step toward something more. He would not hurt her like he hurt Andi. He couldn't. He wouldn't.
"That's because I had faith in all of you." She explained, feeling as if his mind had drifted away from the conversation they were having. "I have faith in you. And I trust you will do the right thing. Not only for others, but for yourself. You deserve to be happy, Toby. Happy can be your default position." She cracked.
He chuckled at the last line, filing it away for possible future use. Then took his time to file away the rest of what she said. Wishing she was right about him. Wishing he could believe in himself as much as she apparently did. "You are one of a kind." He looked back into her eyes and smiled, hoping he was speaking in a way that told her how serious he was. Wishing she was here for everyone right now. He had never been that lucky in life, yet out of every member of the staff, including the President, Mrs. Landingham or the Powers That Be, chose him to be the one she came to. He was picked to be the one. That didn't happen to him.
"I know," She smiled as she accepted his words, wishing he would accept the words she spoke to him. About him. "Toby?"
"Yeah?" He was trying hard to get out of his head, wanting to treasure this moment with her as if it would be the last they would share. He could deal with his demons later, right now Mrs. Landingham should have his complete attention.
"How did it go with CJ?" She asked with major joy in her voice. She watched his face fall, and felt a twinge of something totally opposite of joy for bringing him down again. No, she was here to fix that about him, she reminded herself. She held her head up and smiled like a proud mother.
"How did I know you were going to ask me about that?" Toby replied sarcastically as he leaned back into his chair and ran his hand over the top of his head in mock frustration. He hid the smile that took over his mouth at the site of Mrs. Landingham looking at him with such nervousness. Like he was about to confess that they were getting married, and having a baby. The image of that gathered in his thoughts, and he swiftly shoved them alongside the demons that were waiting next in line to be dealt with. He quickly had a look into the future. And it had him still fighting the demons and the dreams until he was old and withered. He frowned when he saw himself alone, fighting with the damn haunts in his head. And smiled when he heard himself curse Mrs. Landingham for letting them out of the gate. Even well into his nineties, he'll remember this impromptu visit that let the prisoners in his mind escape. Yep, she better be saving him a very comfy seat on whatever cloud she's taken over.
TBC