Author's Note: There is one more chapter to wrap things up after this one. Thank you to all who have reviewed. For those who are reading and not reviewing thanks for sticking with it. Happy New Year to all!

CJ collapsed on the couch after entering her apartment. Catching up with Donna was just what she needed to reconnect with her old life. Although a lot of time had passed, having dinner with Donna was as comfortable as CJ's old flannel pajama bottoms. It was almost as if no time had passed at all, yet Donna seemed so much more assertive and capable. CJ always knew she had it in her to become much more than Josh's assistant. CJ turned on the television and decided to wait up for Danny.

Donna drove away from CJ's apartment and smiled as she thought about the dinner they shared. It had been so long since Donna had a real "girl's night out" and she was happy that Danny had called her and suggested she call CJ. Danny, like CJ, seemed to be extremely happy and Donna was glad that they had finally had a chance to make their relationship work. She knew if CJ and Danny would just get to a place where they didn't have conflicts of interest that they would make a spectacular couple. She had always secretly hoped that the same could be true of her relationship with Josh. However, given his initial refusal to hire her, the result of the election and the fact that she hadn't heard from him in weeks her hope had long since faded.

Donna pulled into a parking spot and opened her car door. It was at that moment that she saw CJ's purse sitting on the passenger's seat. Instead of being irritated Donna was bemused. She turned her car back on and pulled out of the parking spot and made a quick right turn. It was still early and Donna decided that it was easier to return CJ's purse now rather than later.

"Where are we going?" Toby asked as the men walked down the tree-lined avenue. "What street is this?"

"Federal," Josh replied. He led the group of Toby, Sam and Leo as they turned the corner and walked a bit farther. He knew that if the cab had dropped them off that Toby wouldn't have gotten out of the car.

Upon hearing the street name Toby stopped dead in his tracks. "No," Toby said simply. He started to turn around.

"Toby," Josh said turning and walking after him.

"I don't get it," Sam said to Leo. "Where are we going?"

"CJ's," Leo informed him. "She moved to this side of town two years ago. Toby hasn't spoken to her since the leak."

Sam nodded. "Tonight's shaping up to be talk show reunion special," Sam commented.

"Yeah," Leo agreed.

"Does CJ know we're coming?" Sam asked.

"I don't think so," Leo replied. "Josh just told me we were stopping by about an hour ago. You and Toby were at the bar."

"You think she'll want to see him?" Sam asked.

"No one really knows what happened between them," Leo replied. "It couldn't have been easy for either of them."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. The two men stood back and watched Josh try to convince Toby to keep walking.

"You and Sam decided it was time for me and Leo to talk," Josh said. "Leo and I think it's time for you and CJ to talk."

"You don't get to tell me when I'm ready," Toby said angrily.

"But it was okay for you?" Josh countered.

"It's a completely different situation Josh," Toby said.

"How? I let Leo down. You let CJ down. How is it different?" Josh demanded.

"You have no idea how wrong you are about all of this," Toby insisted. "She's not going to want to see me. I don't know if I can see her."

"You and CJ have known each other for years," Josh reminded him. "She's not going to turn you away."

"Don't be so sure," Toby replied. "You weren't there. This is between me and CJ. This is about what I did and it's about what she did, or didn't do."

"Toby you know she couldn't defend you. She couldn't have talked to you or come to your aid or else she would have been indicted," Josh said.

"Maybe she should have been Josh," Toby replied heatedly. "You don't know. You weren't there. I was there and she was there. We're the ones who know what happened and I'm telling you that I can't talk to her."

Josh studied his face for a moment and didn't see stubborn resolve. He saw that Toby was scared. His eyes conveyed a sense of fear that he'd never seen before. Josh knew that he was afraid of CJ rejecting him.

"Then let her talk to you," Josh said quietly.

"What?"

"Let her talk to you," Josh repeated. "It's us. It'll be all five of us together again. You don't have to talk to her because we'll all be there. We'll be there for you."

"Josh," Toby started to protest.

"You can leave whenever you want," Josh offered. "At least come with us and knock on her door and say hello."

Toby sighed and turned his back toward Josh for a moment. "You're not going to take no for an answer are you?" he asked.

"No," Josh informed him.

"Well we better go now before I change my mind," Toby said.

"Let's go then," Josh said starting to walk. Leo and Sam led the way and Josh made sure to stay one step behind Toby as they walked up the street. He could tell this was hard for him, but he didn't really care that much about Toby's feelings. It was hard for Josh to see Leo before he was ready, but the evening had turned out quite well.

The men trudged up the steps to CJ's brownstone apartment and Sam knocked on the door. After a few seconds they heard footsteps behind the door. The door opened and CJ was greeted by the expectant faces of Sam, Leo, Josh, and in the very back, Toby.

"Oh my gosh," CJ said shocked. "You guys!" CJ threw her arms around Sam's neck and pulled Leo over into a hug with her other arm. After letting Sam go CJ replaced him with Josh. Her eyes smiled brighter than her lips as she surrounded herself with Sam, Leo and Josh. It took her a moment to notice Toby standing farther away from the group. She let Josh and Leo out of the embrace.

"Toby?" CJ asked as if she didn't really believe it was him.

"CJ," he said quietly.

"I'm glad everything worked out for you," she said rather formally.

"Thanks," he replied not looking at her.

"Do you guys want to come in?" CJ asked.

"It's kind of nice out here," Josh said.

"We should just sit out here," Sam suggested. "Like old times."

"I'll go grab the beer," CJ said. "Ginger ale for you Leo?" He nodded and she disappeared inside and Toby was about to make an excuse to leave when he saw Leo lock eyes with him and nod his head toward the door. It was clear that he was being instructed to follow CJ in the house.

Toby sighed outwardly and pursed his lips. "I'll go help her I guess," he said grudgingly as he walked up the steps and let himself in the house. He made his way to the kitchen and found her opening the bottles.

"Hi," he said.

CJ looked up from the bottles. "Hi," she said.

"I didn't know they were coming here," he offered.

"It's fine," CJ replied trying not to look him in the eye.

"If I'd have known they were going to stop by--"

"You wouldn't have come," CJ finished for him.

"Yeah," Toby said feebly.

"Fine," she said tossing the beer caps forcefully into the trash.

Toby scoffed at her reply. "You have some nerve," he said angrily.

CJ had picked up a few bottles and at his comment she placed them back on the counter. The time had finally come for them to talk.

"I have some nerve?" she replied. "That's rich Toby."

"What exactly are mad at me for? Because I leaked the story or because I did what you didn't have courage to do?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know I did the right thing," Toby said angrily. "You wanted to tell the world about the military shuttle but you couldn't."

"Because it was illegal," CJ countered.

"But not immoral," Toby shot back at her. "I did what you wanted me to do."

"I didn't want you to do that Toby," CJ said turning her back on him. "I never asked you to go shoot off your mouth about classified information."

"Then why did you tell me to?"

"I didn't tell you to," CJ yelled.

"Not in so many words," Toby replied.

CJ gave him a hard look. She saw anger and resentment in his eyes, but she also saw uncertainty and fear. "I may have overstepped my bounds when I talked to you about the shuttle, but you made a choice Toby. You chose to talk about it. I never asked you to do that."

"I know," Toby said lowering his voice. "I know you didn't."

"They thought it was me," CJ went on. "For weeks they thought it was me. You knew that they thought it was me and you just let it play out."

"I knew it wasn't you," Toby said. "I was confident that they'd find you innocent because you didn't do it."

"And there was no danger of me taking the bullet because we always got the right guy didn't we?" CJ replied sarcastically turning toward him again. When she finally turned he could see that she had been fighting back tears. Her eyes were puffy, but she had done a valiant job of not allowing the tears to roll down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he said simply. "You are the last person in the world I would ever want to hurt."

"I'm sorry too," CJ replied. "I know what I said to you put you in a compromising position. I should have kept it to myself. I can't help but feel incredibly guilty for that."

"It wasn't your fault," Toby insisted. "I leaked the story, not you."

"You leaked the story because I told you about it," CJ replied.

"No," Toby shook his head. "I leaked the story because of what my brother told me about a military shuttle. I already knew. You know I already knew about it."

"But I confirmed it," CJ shook her head.

"CJ you know me," Toby said forcefully. "Would I ever do anything I didn't believe in?"

"No," she agreed.

"I didn't agree with the president," Toby replied. "I didn't agree with leaving astronauts in outer space because we were too damn stubborn to show our hand. They were resolved to murder patriotic Americans rather than help them. I couldn't get on board with that."

"I know," CJ said.

"It was one more compromise than I wasn't willing to make," Toby justified himself. "We lost so much of ourselves and our ideals and I couldn't do it anymore."

"You left me alone," CJ said.

"What?"

"You left me there," CJ repeated. "Sam, Leo, Will, Donna, Josh…they all left. You and I were the only two left and you abandoned me."

"I know," he said biting his lip.

"You think I liked having to compromise my beliefs? It started in our first year Toby. You weren't the only one losing little pieces of yourself along the way."

"I know," Toby said again.

"It about killed him," CJ told him. "When we realized it was you, it about killed him."

"You could have fooled me," Toby said sullenly.

"You know he had to fire you," CJ said.

"I understand that," Toby said. "The look on his face was…he's been playing Christ since the day we were elected. He looked at me as if he always knew I'd be Judas to his Jesus."

"You always knew it," CJ said. "Why couldn't he?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Toby said. "It wasn't intentional."

"You had him on a pedestal," CJ offered. "No one would have been able to live up to your expectations."

"Yeah," Toby said absently. "You started compromising your beliefs and I started to see the cracks in his armor from day two in office, but it was one hell of a ride."

"For a while," CJ agreed.

"Are we okay?" Toby asked her.

"Yeah," she said nodding slightly. She walked over to the counter finally bridging the physical distance between them. She picked up the bottles and started to walk out of the kitchen.

"Really?" Toby asked.

"We're okay," she said giving him a small smile. "I missed you."

"Me too," Toby said.

"Make it up to me by grabbing Leo's ginger ale will you?"

She flashed him her toothy grin and he remembered how much he missed her over the weeks and months they were forbidden from speaking.

"I'll see you out there," CJ said walking out of the kitchen.

Toby obliged CJ and pulled a glass out of the cupboard. He opened the refrigerator and filled the glass with ginger ale. He smirked to himself as he replaced the bottle. Somehow the night was shaping up to feel like old times. It was almost as if the clock had been turned back eight years and everything was new again. Toby made it outside to see his old friends lounging on the steps and he heard the middle of an interesting conversation.

"Danny thinks we're having a torrid affair," CJ told Sam.

"Who doesn't think that?" Josh quipped.

"Why would Danny think that?" Sam asked slightly alarmed.

"I told him we were having a torrid affair," CJ smiled.

"Why would you tell him that?" Sam asked.

"To rile him up," CJ replied.

"Thanks. Thanks a lot."

"Oh don't worry Sam he's not going to rough you up by the bike racks after class," CJ mocked him.

"And we can still carry on our torrid affair?" Sam asked hopefully.

"Sure Spanky," CJ laughed.

"Hey, you bought me pajamas," Josh whined. "All these years I thought that meant something."

"Yeah it meant your ratty Wesleyan sweatshirt was grossing me out," she replied flashing him a smile.

"I did save her life once," Sam spoke up. "She kind of owes me."

"I'm his indentured servant as a sex slave," CJ laughed.

"Kinky," Josh said. "But then again I always knew you had it in you."

"I really don't want to hear this," Leo spoke up.

"I second that," Toby piped up as he handed the glass to Leo.

"So, you and Danny are good?" Josh asked CJ.

"Yeah," CJ smiled. "We're really good actually."

"He's not threatened by us men-folk?" Josh asked.

"Well he didn't know you were coming over tonight," CJ pointed out. "But I think he'll be fine with it. He's had years of practice. He knows I like quality time with my spin boys."

"I haven't heard that one in a while," Toby said.

"Really," Sam agreed.

"I always liked it," Josh spoke up. "It made us sound powerful."

"Like the Wizards of Oz?" Sam teased him.

"Exactly like that," Josh replied rather sarcastically.

"Toby is going to teach at Columbia," Leo spoke up.

"Columbia?" CJ asked. "You're moving?"

"The day after tomorrow," he told her.

"Wow," she said taking a sip of her beer.

"Yeah," Toby nodded. "It's not that far away though."

"I wasn't marveling at the move Toby," CJ informed him. "I was silently thanking God that I didn't have any college-aged children attending Columbia."

She smirked when she said it as did the rest of the group. Toby chuckled and lowered his head. "I'm gonna blow their minds," Toby said confidently.

"I have no doubt," Leo commented. "I actually have to get going. I have a plane to catch."

"You're leaving?" CJ asked.

"Yeah, I have to be at the airport in a little while," Leo said. "It was great to see you again though CJ."

CJ stood up and gave Leo another hug. The group started to say their goodbyes to Leo when they saw a car slow down outside CJ's house.

"Undercover cop?" Josh asked.

"We're breaking about ten ordinances," Sam told them. "Not the least of which is having open containers."

"We're not drunk," Leo pointed out.

"Speak for yourself," Toby joked as he put down his second beer. The whiskey he had at dinner combined with the beer and euphoria of being with the group made him feel giddier than usual.

"I'm glad to know I'm sitting out here with a bunch of street thugs," CJ said recognizing the car. "You can all relax it's just Donna."

The car's headlights suddenly turned out and Donna opened the door. She surveyed the group when she pulled up and noted that the whole gang was there, including Josh. For a moment she wondered if she should turn around or just pass the house quickly and avoid them, but she knew she couldn't. She had CJ's purse in her hand as she crossed the street. She was somewhat puzzled and somewhat hurt that she had been left out of the reunion. She surmised that CJ knew Josh would be stopping by later and that her friend had lied to her about it.

"You forgot your purse," Donna said holding it out to CJ.

"Thanks," CJ said standing up to meet her a bit farther from the stoop. She could tell that Donna's tone indicated her irritation with the situation. "I didn't know they were coming over," CJ told her in a hushed tone.

"Donna, it's great to see you," Sam said walking over and giving her a hug. Sam knew could tell that Donna was on the verge of leaving and he wanted her and Josh to have a chance to talk. "How have you been?"

"I've been okay," Donna smiled. She was happy to see Sam in all honesty. It had been years and they had always enjoyed camaraderie. "I heard about the run for governor."

"Yeah, it's pretty exciting," Sam said. "We just stopped by to surprise CJ. Josh and I were in town and Toby just got his good news so we planned an impromptu meeting."

"Sounds great," Donna forced a smile.

"Join us," Sam invited her.

"Yeah, stay," CJ insisted.

"I probably shouldn't," Donna hesitated as she glanced over at Josh. He was avoiding eye contact with her at the moment.

"Stay Donna," Leo called over.

"Please?" CJ asked. "I'm the only girl here and as much as I like to think of myself as one of the guys I need a little more estrogen to balance it out."

"Okay," Donna said grudgingly.

"Great," CJ said. "Come inside and we'll get you something to drink." CJ led Donna up the steps and into the house.

"We'll be back," CJ said pointedly before closing the door behind them.

"Great," Josh muttered as the door shut.

"Josh," Leo said adopting that paternal tone that Josh hated and loved at the same time. "Go talk to her."

"What's with you today?" Josh asked light-heartedly. "First you show up to have a talk with me, then you pull a Jedi mind trick on Toby to get him to talk to CJ and now you're trying to coerce me into going to talk to Donna."

"I'm not trying to coerce you," Leo said seriously. "I'm telling you. Get your ass in there and talk to Donna."

Josh sighed and rolled his eyes. "It's time for you to grow up Josh," Leo said. "I know you two have had your issues, but it's time to put it behind you."

Leo gave Josh a hard look that indicated he should do as he was being told.

"Now, I've got a plane to catch," Leo said looking at his watch. "It was good catching up with you. Tell CJ and Donna that I'll be in touch."

"Where are you going anyway?" Toby questioned.

"I'm going to New Hampshire to visit an old friend," Leo said.

"Give the president my best," Sam said.

"Me too," Josh seconded.

"Toby, I'll tell him you said hello?" Leo asked.

"Yeah," Toby said quietly. He may have been able to make amends with CJ, but he knew it would be a while before he was able to mend fences with Jed.

"Okay, you all have a good night," Leo said walking away. "Josh, get in there."

Leo walked up the street with an eerie sense of calm. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this peaceful. Somehow he knew that Josh would make amends with Donna. He felt like CJ and Toby had made the inroads they needed to mend their friendship. Sam was running for governor and the stress that Leo had felt for the last ten years of his life seemed to fade into oblivion. He smirked his quiet, contented smile as he walked to the corner to hail a cab.

Sam, Toby and Josh watched Leo walk down the street.

"Well?" Sam asked Josh.

"Well what?" Josh asked.

"You heard Leo," Sam replied.

"I had to go talk to CJ," Toby reminded him.

"I had to talk to Leo first," Josh whined.

"Trust me when I tell you that your chat with Leo had nothing on the issues between me and CJ," Toby said.

"Fine," Josh moaned. "I'm going." He scuffed his shoe on the pavement and made his way up the steps. Sam and Toby watched him go, like a soldier off to war, resolved and terrified at the same time.

"Good luck," Sam called as the door swung closed behind Josh.

He made his way to the kitchen and CJ stood up straight when she saw Josh enter. Donna, with her back turned toward the door, didn't see him enter. She noticed CJ's change in demeanor and she turned.

"Well," CJ said. "I'm going to go catch up with Sam and Toby. I haven't seen them in a while."

"Thanks CJ," Josh whispered as she passed him.

"Yeah," she said squeezing his shoulder as she left.

Josh and Donna stood and stared at each other for a moment. The physical distance between them was nothing compared to the emotional and the room was thick with the tension.

"Leo thought I should come in and talk to you," Josh said running his hand through his hair.

"So you're only in here because Leo told you to?" Donna asked.

"No," Josh said as he pulled a chair out from the table. "I, I wanted to talk to you, I just didn't know how."

"Well you're talking now," Donna pointed out in way that indicted she wasn't trying to be particularly helpful.

"Yeah, I know," Josh said. "It's just hard to talk to you sometimes."

"It never used to be."

"But it is now."

"Why?"

"Because we're not who we used to be Donna," Josh said taking a seat. "We're not Josh and Donna. I can't say things that I used to be able to say to you."

"I'm still who I always was," Donna said.

"No," Josh said looking up. "You're not. Don't you get that I made you different?"

"I don't understand," Donna replied puzzled.

Josh sighed. "I don't either," Josh said. "I just know that you're different and we're different and it's my fault."

"Josh," Donna said taking a few steps toward him.

"It was Gaza," he said before she could say anything else. "I sent you to Gaza and you almost died and I will forever hold myself responsible for that and so will you. It's why you left."

"It's not why I left," Donna said.

"Yeah it is," Josh insisted. "You just don't realize it."

"Josh, it's not," Donna said pulling out a chair and sitting across from him. "I needed more than you were willing to give me. That's why I left."

"I knew it would happen one day you know," Josh said. "I knew that one day you'd wake up and realize you could be so much more if I weren't around."

"You shut me out," Donna said.

"I did what I thought was best for you," Josh insisted.

"You wouldn't hire me again," Donna said. "Do you have any idea how hard that was for me?"

"Yeah," he said leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He rested his head in his hands to obscure his face. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to turn you away?"

"No, I don't. It didn't seem hard for you."

"It was."

"Why?"

"Why?" he said looking up at her. "Because you're the best thing to ever happen to me and I couldn't risk messing it up again. I almost got you killed, I was holding you back and I couldn't be around you anymore because every time I saw you it was a reminder of how unworthy I was to be around you."

"Josh come on," Donna said in disbelief.

"What?"

"You were unworthy to around me?"

"Donna why do you think I didn't want you on the campaign?"

"Because you were angry with me for leaving the White House," she said simply.

"Yeah, I was, but that's not why," Josh said. "I didn't want you there because I knew there was a good chance I'd let you down again. I've had to look you in eyes so many times and feel ashamed because I wasn't everything you deserve."

"You take things too personally Josh," Donna said. "I just wanted a job. I just wanted more to do. I was ready for more."

"And I knew I couldn't give you more," Josh said. "Don't you see that?"

"No I didn't," Donna said standing. "I didn't see it until CJ had to point it out to me. Everyone knew that you could never give me what I wanted except me. I left when I finally figured it out for myself."

"What did you want from me?"

"I don't know," Donna said feebly.

"You wanted more from me but you don't know what?" Josh asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah," Donna said.

"Tell me," Josh said deadly serious. He looked into her eyes and tried to read her. He used to be so good at it. She always teased him about being able to read his mind, but the truth was he never had trouble reading her. But, at that moment, Josh couldn't tell what she was thinking or feeling. He just knew that he wanted to hear what she had to say.

Donna swallowed hard. She knew what she wanted from Josh. She wanted him to be with her. She wanted to take his face in her hands and kiss him hard, just so she would know what it felt like. It didn't even have to work out; she just wanted to know the nearness of him for a moment.

"I wanted," Donna started to say before she hesitated. "I wanted to do more. I was ready to do more."

She decided to lie to him. It seemed easier to keep up the pretense than to tell him the truth. She saw his face deflate slightly. Had he really wanted her to tell him the truth about her feelings?

"I was holding you back?" Josh asked.

"You weren't taking me seriously," she said.

"I take you seriously now," Josh said sincerely.

"I know."

"No, I mean I really understand now," Josh explained. "You blew me away during the campaign. You're an amazing person and you did an incredible job."

"Thank you," Donna said almost embarrassed.

"I didn't tell you that enough," Josh said. "When I had you I didn't tell you enough how great I think you are."

"It's okay," Donna shook her head.

"It's not," Josh insisted. "I'm sorry if I let you down."

"You didn't let me down Josh," Donna informed him.

"I still miss you," he said quietly.

"I miss you too," Donna said slowing reaching out her hand. She laced her fingers through his lightly and he responded by squeezing her hand gently. They looked each other in the eyes and in that moment they both understood everything they'd kept from each other. It only lasted a moment, but their eyes and their hands said more than words could capture.

"We ought to get back out there," Josh said reluctantly.

Donna let go of his hand and stood up quickly. "Will you call me next time you're in town?" she asked.

"Call you?" Josh asked. "I'm staying with you now that you're a townie. Hotels around here are expensive."

Donna chuckled and she knew that everything between them was okay. There were still a thousand things they hadn't said and would probably never have the courage to tell each other, but somehow it was understood. It was understood that Donna loved him. It was understood that Josh placed Donna on a level so high that it transcended friend or lover.

They walked outside and found Toby and Sam laughing at CJ's expense until she finally broke out into a giggle herself.

"Everything okay?" Toby asked Josh quietly as he walked passed him.

"Everything is great," Josh confirmed.

Donna smiled at CJ to let her know that everything was okay.

"This is probably the last time we'll be together for a while," CJ commented. "You're going back to California tomorrow Sam?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," Sam confirmed.

"What about you?" CJ asked Josh. "You still freeloading on Sam?"

"Nah, he needs a break from my unattainable genius for a while," Josh said. "I'm going to visit my mom for a few weeks. I'll probably be back in town after that."

"Until he comes to run my campaign of course," Sam said.

"I think you need to be governor for a while before we jump into that," Josh said. "Toby you're off the Columbia the day after tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Toby sighed. "I have to get acclimated to my new surrounding before the next semester."

"I still can't believe you're teaching the youth of America," CJ chuckled.

"That makes two if us," Toby replied gently nudging her shoulder with his.

They spent the next few hours on the stoop reminiscing about old times and giving each other grief for things passed. Josh had tears streaming down his face as he remembered telling Danny that CJ liked goldfish. Donna snickered when she recalled the assistant's intrigue over the gossip that Sam had accidentally slept with a call girl. For the first time they talked about the good, the bad and the ugly of the Bartlet administration without reservation or embarrassment. It was the conversation of soldiers who had fought on the front lines together. They embraced their mistakes and they acknowledged their faults, each knowing they could have done it better.

TBC