House Call

Hi, everyone (cough, cough), I'm sick today (cough, cough), so I will be home the whole day...(cough, cough)Anyway, here's chapter 8.


This was getting just plain bad. B-A-D, bad. First Toby had stopped showing up. Then they had lost Josh to the hospital. Now CJ was gone, and Margaret was hiding under her desk. Leo rested his hand on his forehead. Could things get worse? Not to mention the CJ incident… And the President was not taking any of this well.
Jed Bartlet picked up a dart from his darts set and tossed it at a window. Smash. He picked up his desk lamp and hurled it at a passing secret service agent. He paced angrily. How did all this happen in a few days? Everything was a blur of uncertainty, and things just weren't working out. Worst of all was—

"Jed?"

"Abbey, I thought you'd never come," came the sarcastic remark. Abbey knew he meant it though; she was a great comfort to the President.

"Huh. So, what's wrong?"

A glare that could have melted Antarctica. Even global warming wouldn't be as bad, thought Abbey.

"You know what its like, Jed?"

"What?" came the angry retort. But really, Abbey heard the hint of curiosity in his voice, as well as he had sheathed it in anger. Hmm…she could make a game of this.

"Never mind, I can see you're in a bad mood."

"No—I mean, well, yes, but…" Jed knew she was toying with him. He banged the table in frustration.

"Just tell me Abbey!"

Abbey considered saying something like, "Oh, so you want my advice now?", but decided against it; she felt bad for the homeless-to-be penguins.

"Well…I was going to say…it's like the radio."

"This?"

Jed held up the box.

"Why won't you let me throw it away?"

"Because, Jed," Abbey felt like his mother, "It can teach you a lesson."

Jed snorted.

"It went out of tune…and so did we. Well, would you say that things around here have gone out of tune? So should we go along with them?"

"What? That makes no sense, Abbey." But Jed did think it made sense. He had a plan, and Abbey sensed it.


"Hi, Donna."

"Hello, Mrs. Bartlet. Can I help you?"

"Is Josh still in the hospital?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'm afraid so."

"Hmm…" Abbey seemed deep in thought.

"I would have put Josh in charge of this, but you'll do."

Abbey thrust a package on Donna's desk.

"Get to work."

"But what—"

It was no use. Abbey was gone.


It was time to find out what was going on with Toby. The last time he tried, an explosion had gone off, and now Margaret was refusing to let him make a call without an excuse. She always managed to stop him. He had considered asking CJ to call him earlier; in fact he had even asked her, but decided to take the old "never mind" way out. He could tell that CJ was curious, though…

But what did it matter? Leo needed to talk to Toby and find out why he was absent, and that was final. He was the Chief of Staff, he could make a phone call if he wanted. He picked up the phone…and Margaret actually wasn't on her extension.

"Eh-ehm, I am now calling Toby Ziegler. Eh-ehm. I am about to dial his number."

Leo dialed the first digits, and listened. Nothing… had Margaret finally given up? He finished dialing, and waited as the phone rang.

"Toby Ziegler," came his colleague's voice on the third ring.

"Toby! I missed you," came Leo's astonished cry.

"Oh…well, I'm sorry about that. What do you need?"

"I need to know just why you aren't here today."

"Oh…flu."

"Flu?" Had Margaret told the truth? Toby was now suddenly going into a fit of fake coughs. He didn't do a good job; they sounded like a donkey's "hee-haw"s.

"Toby…what's going on? I'm coming over there. Now."

"N-no…" Toby said weakly.

But Leo was already half-way across the room, putting on his jacket. As he passed into Margaret's work area, he saw why she hadn't intervened; she had dared to leave the office, perhaps to snatch a donut or a cup of water. Some time later, Leo turned the key in his car, and was off.