Part 9

It was only nine in the morning when she looked at the clock. Her body felt like it had been hit by a bus last night. She fumbled out of bed to the bathroom, where the minimal dinner she had last night revisited. After the room stopped spinning, she padded over to the medicine cabinet that was over her sink. She found a bottle of Tylenol, popped two of them in her mouth, and went back to bed. Her head was pounding so hard, so half-thought it would explode. She now remembers why she doesn't drink scotch. "It's all his fault." She murmured. Her mind was back to Toby. How that man drinks as much as he does, and still get up for work in the morning, was beyond her.

CJ covered her head with a pillow, and just wished that the day was already over. It was Sunday, and all she wanted was to be left alone to sulk. But as her luck goes, the bedroom door opened and a figure walked in. CJ jumped up when the door closed. She was about to start screaming when she saw the person, who was staring over at her with big brown eyes and a grin. CJ instantly grabbed her head and moaned.

"Gotta headache?" Molly climbed up on the bed with CJ.

CJ couldn't help but smile when Molly began rubbing her temple. CJ leaned back and let Molly work her magic.

"I do." CJ mumbled. She was trying to shut her eyes to focus on the sensation, but it had been a long time since she spent quality time with Molly. She didn't include the mess that happened yesterday morning in Toby's kitchen. God, was it only yesterday.

"Daddy has headaches sometimes. Uncle Josh says it's because he drinks like a fish. I don't really understand what that means, but I do this for daddy and it helps." Molly spoke softly as she applied more pressure to CJ's temple. "Does it help?"

"Yes, it does." CJ smiled at the little girl, who seems to be getting bigger by the minute. CJ could remember when she was just a baby and pulling Toby's beard. "How did you get here?" CJ questioned, praying Toby didn't bring her and Huck. She looked like shit.

"Donna drove us. And I stole daddy's key to get in. The guard outside was really nice and made sure we came in peace. Or that's what Donna said."

"Donna's here?" CJ looked around subconsciously.

"She's in the kitchen making coffee with Annabeth and Kate." Molly shrugged.

"Why are they here?"

"I can't drive. I can't even walk out passed my front yard. Dad gets mad if I do."

CJ chuckled at her seriousness. Molly was smart for her age, which wasn't surprising because of who her parents were. But she had Toby's temperament, and his snappy retorts. She would grow up to be either the world's best lawyer, or a loan shark. She smiled at the memory of telling that to Toby, and his refusal to accept those jobs for his little girl. According to him, she would be a doctor or a teacher. He didn't want his kids anywhere near politics, if he could help it. Something Andi wasn't too happy with.

"And where's your brother?" CJ asked.

"At home playing with the trains with Sam." Molly smiled as she hurried into the bathroom.

"Sam who?" CJ sat up, thankful the pills she took were kicking in. She watched Molly run back out with the hairbrush. CJ smirked when Molly climbed back up behind CJ and started brushing her hair.

"Dad introduced him last night as a friend who worked with him before at the White House. He's cute, too."

"Sam Seaborn?" CJ asked, her voice going up an octave. What the hell was Sam doing here? "When did he get in?"

"Last night. Uncle Josh and Donna came over with him. He stayed over." Molly explained while fighting with CJ's hair. "It was weird. Dad was smiling and hugging him. He's usually passive when we have company."

CJ laughed at Molly's choice of words. Molly was always listening to people around her, and would pick up on words she was unfamiliar with. She'd then file them somewhere in her memory, and bring the words up later during discussions.

"Passive?" CJ couldn't help but ask.

"The President said that my dad was passive. When I asked him what the word meant, he spent an hour answering. That was the longest hour of my life, so I'm going to use that word a lot." Molly sighed. "Anyway, I thought we could spend the day together. We could shop, talk about things."

"Talk about what things?" CJ knew Molly was up to something. She might be able to trick her parents, but CJ could see right through her. Probably because she was the one who taught her. "And why all five of us?"

"Well, Donna isn't here a lot anymore. I don't know Annabeth or Kate that well. And you're my best friend." Molly finished with CJ's hair and climbed back around so she could face CJ. "I miss you. I know dad says you have a new job and that keeps you really busy, but I haven't seen you in a long time."

CJ wanted to scream when Molly began to pout. Yet another thing she picked up from her father.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around a lot lately." CJ gave in and wrapped her arms around the girl. "I've missed you too."

"Then will you come out with us?" Molly smiled.

"I'd love it." CJ looked down at Molly. "But I want you to tell me something first."

"Anything."

"What exactly are you up to?" CJ eyed her carefully.

TOBY'S HOUSE

Huck and Sam were both sitting near the trains, trading off the remote every few minutes.

"Coffee's ready." Toby came out of the kitchen with his cup in hand. He grinned at the scene. Huck was working the remote, while Sam made signs for the building that surrounded the tracks. "Sam?" Toby tried to get his attention again while sitting on the sofa.

"Hold on. I get the remote in a minute." Sam waved him off.

"One minute and forty-two seconds." Huck corrected.

"Ah, that forty-two seconds will give me time." Sam said seriously and hurried into the kitchen to get some coffee.

"So, Molly went with Donna?" Toby looked at his son, and noticed his shoulders tense when he asked the question. "Where are they going?" He asked, knowing something was going on.

"You know them. Some girly stuff." Huck answered, refusing to turn around and face his father.

"Fifty-one seconds." Sam reclaimed his spot on the floor next to Huck.

"Huckleberry." Toby ignored Sam's childlike behavior.

"Sounds like you're in trouble." Sam whispered.

"Here." Huck gave up and handed the remote over to Sam. "But I get thirty-two more seconds on the next turn." Huck stood up and walked over to his father. "I have a feeling you don't believe me."

"What makes you say that?"

"Your tone. And your look."

"I was just asking a question."

"And I answered. Do you believe me?"

"No." Toby said automatically.

"Why?" Huck held his ground. "I'm feeling conflicted."

Toby bit his lip from chuckling. "Why?"

"You never believe me."

"I do so."

"Last week you gave me the same look when your candy stash came up missing."

"Because I found all the wrappers under your bed, and you were bouncing off the walls."

"Oh," Huck looked down and blushed. "So, that was a bad example."

"Your sister is up to something, and she confides in you. Now, just tell me the truth and I won't get mad." Toby said sincerely.

"You won't get mad?" Huck eyed him carefully. "Because Molly hits really hard, dad."

"I won't get mad."

"And you won't tell Molly I told you?"

"Promise."

"And you'll come to my soccer game next week?" Huck smiled.

"Huck..." Toby warned.

"Donna took Molly to get Annabeth and Kate." Huck confessed.

Toby's eyes widened. "That can't be good." He mumbled. "Why?"

"They were going some place." Huck looked over at Sam for some help. He had explained the plan to him that morning while they set-up the trains. All Sam did was shrug.

Toby noticed the exchange between Huck and Sam, and groaned. This was not going to be good news.

"You promised not to get mad!" Huck snapped when he saw the familiar look on Toby's face.

"I won't. Just tell me where they went." Toby said slowly.

"Well, they sort of when for a ride." Huck began toeing the carpet nervously.

"I knew that already. Where did they go?" Toby's voice began to get louder. He had a good idea where this was going.

"They went to Aunt CJ's house." Huck murmured.

"WHAT?"

TBC