TITLE: News Flash

AUTHOR: Doc

SPOILERS: Anything that has happened through season six.

RATING: R for language. Rating may increase.

PAIRINGS: Toby/CJ

Part 1

"Toby!"

"Toby!"

"Toby!"

Toby leaned against the podium, gaining the courage not to jump down and throttle every member of the press. He looked over at Annabeth, who motioned for him to stand up straight. He refused.

"For the last time, I have no comment!" He snapped. "I'm going to steal one of CJ Cregg's most popular phrases. The White House does not comment on the personal lives of its staff.' "

"But Toby, did you or did you not have sexual relations with..."

"That's it! I'm done. Enjoy the rest of your day." Toby grabbed his papers and stormed off, nearly running into Carol who was holding the door open for him. "Sexual relations." He mumbled to himself.

"You slouched." Annabeth was soon behind him, eager to keep up. "Is it true?"

"Is what true?" Toby turned the corner and hurried into his office, trying to slam the door in her face.

"I'm faster than I look." She stepped in and shut the door. She put her hands on her hips and smirked at Toby as he fell into his chair. "Does CJ know?

"No." Toby mumbled as he played with his tie.

"Does the President?"

"No." He refused to meet her stare.

"This is too good." She smiled and moved over to lean against his desk, staring down at him. "Does Josh know?"

"No one knows!" Toby finally tossed his hands in the air.

"Not even..."

"No."

"Wow." She shook her head. "And here I thought it was going to be a slow news day."

"Get out." He pleaded.

"How long?"

"What?" He looked up, confused. "How long what?"

"How long did you and her have this thing?" She waved her hands in the air. "Was it simple sex. Or was it something more?"

"Please get out of my office and jump in front of a moving van." He dead-panned.

"That long, huh?" Annabeth ignored him and began pacing in front of his desk. "Was it really serious? Did you almost marry? You didn't have a kid, did you?"

"Get out!"

"Tobias Zachary Ziegler!" CJ's voice could be heard before she even entered the Bullpen. Her heels were banging against the floor so hard, Toby thought something might fall off the walls.

"You know. It was fun working with you. You're cute and you keep me on my toes." Annabeth leaned over and patted Toby on the chest. "We could have had fun together."

"Get away from me." Toby mumbled while his eyes focused on his tie again.

"Yep. Good times could have been had. Too bad she's about to kill you." Annabeth laughed and left right before CJ stormed in, slamming the door behind her.

"Have you lost your mind?" CJ slammed the newspaper on his desk. "It's all over the news!"

Toby shrugged as he eyed the paper. The photo of him was actually flattering. He looked young, thin, and handsome. He missed being young. It was a photo of him holding hands with a now well-known person. They were smiling and looking in each others eyes. Toby remembered the time and place this photo was taken. Her smiled unknowingly.

"Toby!" CJ snapped him out of his trance. "You're actually smiling about this?"

"This isn't going to be a thing." Toby finally looked up at her. "It happened over 20 years ago!"

"How long were you two together?" She asked, her voice still high.

"Did you not read the paper?"

"Don't be cute Toby!"

"Three years." Toby stood and grabbed the newspaper. "This was taken a week after we started dating."

"How did it end? Sadly, the paper didn't mention that part." CJ said, sarcastically.

"I got the job with Jamison and moved out to New York." Toby answered. "She stayed to finish College. We promised to keep in touch. We didn't. We both moved on."

"Did anyone know?" CJ asked, almost pleading that he said yes.

"No. We didn't think we should say anything. It was a long time ago." Toby said. "Just because last week..."

"Her husbandhas just won the Democratic nomination to become President, and you didn't think this was going to be a thing?"

"No, actually. I didn't even think about it." Toby looked over at the television, which was tuned to CNN. His face was plastered all over the screen with Matt and Helen Santos. He grimaced. "This is stupid, who cares who she was with 20 years ago?"

"The Republicans." CJ answered quickly. "This is going to be a big thing, Toby. Have Annabeth do the briefings until things cool off. And whatever you do..."

"Toby!" Josh barged in with a copy of the newspaper in his hand. "Are you trying to kill me here?"

"How did you get in?" CJ asked while looking behind him for any guards.

"I get him the nomination and then this! Do you know hard it was to get him to this point?" Josh snapped. "And for some damn reason I can't seem to get that pissed at you." He shrugged and fell back onto the couch.

"Thank you." Toby nodded and looked at CJ. "See, he understands."

"Oh, shut up." She glared. "What was the reaction?" CJ asked Josh.

"I don't know. They wouldn't let me in the hotel room this morning. I did hear a few phrases I wouldn't feel comfortable saying here in the White House, though."

"What about Leo?" CJ questioned.

"He's about to have another heart attack!" Leo barged in with a copy of the newspaper. "You couldn't keep Mr. Happy in his pants, could you?"

"First of all, it was 20 years ago!" Toby yelled. "And second. Never refer to it as Mr. Happy."

"Maybe this won't be a thing?" Josh shrugged. "Toby's right, it happened 20 years ago."

"The Democratic Presidential nominees' wife had a relationship with the current President's Communications Director, and you don't think it will be a thing?" CJ tossed her hands up in frustration. "Toby might as wellhave slept with the First Lady!"

"Hey! I would never touch the First Lady!"

"And why the hell not. She's a fine-looking woman." The President said, standing in the doorway.

"Good morning sir." Everyone stood.

"So, Mr. Happy is in trouble this morning." Jed smirked.

"I swear, the next one to call it Mr. Happy..." Toby rolled his eyes when Ginger entered.

"Sorry sir." Ginger smiled at the President. "Toby, Matt Santos's office is on line two."

"Could I have a minute?" Toby asked after noticing no-one moving. "I'd like to have his conversation in private."

"What's the fun in that?" Josh smiled.

Leo grabbed Josh's tie and pulled him out of the office, Jed chuckled at Toby before walking out, and CJ stood staring at him. She didn't move.

"CJ?" Toby darted his eyes between her and the door.

"Nope." She stood her ground. "I'm standing here until you fix this."

"Get out!" He ordered.

"Remember Toby, I'm your boss now. Pick up the phone." She ordered while taking a seat on his couch.

Toby gave up and sat back down in his chair. He glared at CJ as he picked up the phone and pushed line two. "Toby Ziegler." He answered.

"It's me."

"Why are you whispering?" Toby leaned back and began to play with his tie again.

"I'm in the bathroom."

"You know, you could have called me when you finished up in there."

"Quit being a smart ass." She snapped. "Are you alone?"

"I'm in my office playing with my tie as the Chief of Staff shoots daggers at me with her eyes."

"Sounds like you're having as much fun as I am. Say hi for me." She said, sarcastically.

Toby tilted the phone slightly. "Helen Santos says hi." He smiles as CJ stands up and walks over toward the desk.

"I was being sarcastic!" Helen snapped. "What is she doing?"

"Well, she's walking up to me like she's going to strangle me." Toby mentioned. CJ stopped and leaned against his desk. "So Helen, how's you day?" He asked, trying to sound enthused.

"If you're having fun with this, so help me..."

"I'm not. Look, I'm sorry this happened. I don't know where they got the information from." Toby said seriously. "I'll make some sort of statement later. Should I come down and talk with the Congressman?"

Both Helen and CJ rolled their eyes.

"This is going to be a major thing Toby. You coming down so my husband can use your face as a punching bag isn't going to help."

"I think I can take him." Toby shrugged. CJ smacked him across the chest. "Ouch."

"What?"

"CJ hit me."

"Good."

"Why am I the one everyone is pissed at?" Toby askedto no-one in particular.

"I'm not pissed at you, Toby. I just never worried about this getting out." Helen said sincerely. "I don't regret the time we had. But we're two different people and we have a problem now."

"I know." Toby nodded. "What can I do?"

"Nothing yet. Wait until I talk with Matt and we'll go from there. Will you be in the office tonight?"

"Probably."

"I'll come down around ten. Hopefully everyone will be gone so we don't have to worry about anything."

"I'll be here."

"I don't blame you Toby. You do know that, right?"

"I can't really have this conversation right now." Toby mumbled.

"CJ's still there?"

"Yep."

"I'll see you tonight. " She hung up.

"So tell me," Toby continued talking into the phone in a low voice after he heard her disconnect. "What are you wearing?"

"Toby!" CJ grabbed the phone and hung it up. She noticed him laughing. "She had already hung up." She realized. "This isn't funny."

"All I can do is laugh at it, CJ." Toby stood and faced her. "She's coming over tonight se we can talk."

"I'm coming too."

"We need to talk alone." Toby mentioned.

"I don't care. We need to fix this."

"Hey Toby," Cliff stuck his head in and gave a thumbs up. "Way to go, man."

"Get out!" CJ walked over and slammed the door. "I knew your dick was going to cause problems!"

"Whoa," Toby put his hands up in surrender. "Calm down."

"I should cut it off." She mumbled as she reopened the door and began walking out. "Keep it in your pants, Ziegler." She yelled over her shoulder.

TBC