January.
Jed Bartlett looked down at the book on his desk. He turned it on it's side admiring the binding. It was War and Peace, a very nice and seemingly original copy. He opened the cover. On the left side in CJ's small cursive lettering was this.
Often before the day dawned I have had to speak of my cares, alone: there is now none among the living to whom I dare clearly express the thought of my heart. I know indeed that it is a fine custom for a man to lock tight his heart's coffer, keep closed the hoard-case of his mind, whatever his thoughts may be. Words of a weary heart may not withstand fate, nor those of an angry spirit bring help. Therefore men eager for fame shut sorrowful thought up fast in their breast's coffer.
-The Wanderer
Happy Reading Jed.
Love and Thanks
Claudia Jean.
"Debbie? Get me Will." He rifled through the papers on his desk until he came across the one he wanted. He held it in his hand for a long time before he signed it. Embossing it with the Presidential Seal.
"Sir, Will Bailey?"
"Send him in."
"You packed up, Sir." Will smiled at him over his glasses. The President returned the smile with a nod. He handed the paper to Will.
Will's eyes ran over it. He looked back at Bartlett.
"Do you know who to give it too?"
"Yes, Sir." Will said softly. "What do you want me to tell the press sir?"
Bartlett looked down at the nearly empty desk before he spoke.
"Tell them this." He handed will a paragraph in his own handwriting.
Will nodded as he walked out of the office.
The question will be asked, in the political circuit anyway:
Where were you?
Josh Lyman was in his daughters room painting everything purple or pink.
It was Donna who called to him from down the hall in their new bedroom watching CNN and eating for two.
"Josh! Here he comes."
He put down his paintbrush and walked down the hall. His eyes fell on Will's face. He tried to read it. He tried to see what Jed Bartlett had chosen to do.
"Sam needs to see this." She said, grabbing Josh's phone and typing out a text message.
Josh watched as Will made the announcement. He sat back on the bed with Donna while he read the words Bartlett had handed him.
Where were you?
Sam Seaborn was on the plan that would tomorrow become Air Force Two.
He and Ainsley were on there way back from their honeymoon when Sam's phone had buzzed in his pocket.
The simple text message from Josh read, 'Turn on CNN now'.
Ainsley looked at him curiously as he pressed the button to turn on the television. He took a hard look Will's calm face before turning up the volume. "I have one more announcement."
"He's going to do it." Sam's voice shook.
"He's going to do what?" His wife said softly leaning into him.
"He's going to pardoned, Toby." Sam's voice broke and he swallowed back the tears coming to his eyes. Ainsley ran her hand down his arm and took his. "He pardoned Toby."
Where were you?
CJ was in the West Wing of the Bartlett White House.
She had been watching the new staffers trying to hammer out who goes where and what needs to be in who's desk. She was on her way out of the bull pen when she heard the words she never had expected to hear again, her own from November. She turned towards the screen, trying to comprehend what Will was saying. Her mouth dropped open a little when it sunk in. Her phone rang on her hip, she picked it up slowly.
"CJ." Danny's voice woke her from her revelation.
"He did it." She breathed, not able to control the tears that slipped out of her eyes. "Danny he actually did it."
Where were you?
Toby Zeigler was in a minimum security penitentiary in Virginia.
He was also totally oblivious to what was about to happen. A guard had brought him to the main office, and flipped on the television screen.
"What's this?" He asked.
The guard found it hard to comprehend that he didn't know. He looked at Toby's confused face. He really didn't know.
"We thought you might want to hear this." Another prison official said smiling and shaking his head slowly.
Toby looked at Will on the screen. His stomach dropped.
"Despite earlier responses to the contrary, President Bartlett has pardoned Toby Ziegler. He personally had this to say in response to your questions."
"Oh my God." He gasped as he blinked in realization.
"Toby Zeigler served this Presidency well for almost seven years. He was a good public servant and a good friend to the President. He made one awful mistake for an emotionally torturous reason. The President feels, that Mr. Zeigler has given enough of himself and of his life to this country, to get clemency in return."
Matt Santos entered the Oval Office, which was now his office, almost immediately after being sworn in.
He moved around the perimeter, then crossed between the two couches and up to the desk. He put his hands on the surface. In the middle, on top of the presidential seal, was a piece of stationary.
From the Desk of Jed Bartlett:
No man may indeed become wise before he has had his share of winters in the world's kingdom. The wise man must be patient, must never be too hot-hearted, nor too hasty of speech, nor too fearful, nor too glad, nor too greedy for wealth, nor ever too eager to boast before he has thought clearly. A man must wait, when he speaks in boast, until he knows clearly, sure-minded, where the thoughts of his heart may turn.
- The Wanderer
It's a lot of power, Matt.
-Jed
President Matt Santos smiled, letting his hands slip across his desk, as he dropped into his chair.