Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet, Democrat President of the United States, scrutinised Cadence McGarry not just with the weight of the White House but that of a close family friend, which Cadence was considering might actually be worse.
Cadence was transfixed she looked at the man as if she were seeking out the hidden picture in a colourful illusion. He was a family friend but now he was also the president, it was two things she was struggling to fit together and she was trying to see where either Jed was hidden in the president or the president was hidden in Jed.
Jed had never been a tall or muscular man and yet he had always stood a measure above most men with an aura of power that came from within. As intimidating as he could be there was a warmth and charm to him too, and a sense that he carried an almost forgotten, wholesome belief in the world and its people.
It was this faith of Jed's that made Cadence anxious as she stood taller than him and yet felt much smaller. She could see the warmth of welcome brightening his blue eyes and his lips curling up into a smile that told her he was happy for her presence. Already she felt the weight of an expectation she knew she could not live up to.
Leo McGarry felt some of his fears wash away at Jed's smile. He knew Jed well but had felt a certain caution over presenting Cadence to him despite it being by Jed's request. Jed still hadn't forgiven Hoynes for his actions during the election race so why should Leo assume anyone on Hoynes' team had been forgiven?
"Cady you've gotten better with age unlike your father," Jed greeted her cheerfully as he stepped towards her and parted his hands slightly. "Has he given you the tour yet?"
Cadence shook her head. "No um...Mr. President." She flashed an awkward smile. "Sorry, I'm having a little trouble getting used to titles today."
Jed looked at her with confusion before his puzzled blue gaze darted over to Leo.
Leo suppressed a sigh, he had hoped not to conjure memories of Cadence doing work experience with John Hoynes so soon. "We passed the Vice President," he explained.
"Ah." Jed's smile dimmed slightly and he lowered his hands. "And was he his usual agreeable self?" he quipped with a touch of mockery to his tone.
"He was fine Mr. President," Cadence retorted quickly before her father could disagree. "I hadn't really intended on a meet and greet."
"But you're going to do it anyway because that's what Leo wants, right?" Jed quipped as humour filled his face again. "And we both know how difficult it is to say no to your father." He talked fast and loud, just as Cadence remembered, direct with a firmness to his voice even with the joviality attached to it.
"Do we?" Leo quipped as he smiled. "You seem to manage it well enough sir."
"Not without effort. Enough of that," Jed swept his hands outwards dismissively. "Cady I want to find out how you've been," he said as he turned his merry stare back on the young woman. He glanced at his watch. "Can I meet with you both in an hour and we'll do that? I'd do it now but in this office work comes first and I am told there is some matter of a law regarding labour to discuss."
"That's fine Mr. President, assuming we can all keep to schedule," Leo answered with a suggestion of scorn to his tone. "I'm going to take Cady to meet our team," he added a little more optimistically.
Jed caught Leo's stare and read the sudden sternness in it as Leo guessed that Jed wanted to tack on 'again' to Leo's sentence. Jed simply nodded before offering Cadence another smile. He understood why Leo wanted to act like meeting the team was a new experience for Cadence.
"Well that should be fun but first, tell me Cady, do you know who came up with this office?" Jed quipped.
Cadence smiled back as she felt a welcome wave of familiarity at last. Jed had always been fond of trivia and in a way, she realised, she had missed his often random and unexpected questions and facts about things. "President Theodore Roosevelt," she retorted, "or more correctly, his wife Edith."
Jed beamed at her. "Very good."
"On that note, we'll see you soon Mr. President," Leo interjected.
"Indeed you will. Oh, be sure to get a cookie from Mrs. Landingham, Cady, she's very favourable in giving them out to new visitors, after that you have to work hard to earn one," Jed advised.
Cadence looked confused. "Um is this cookie figurative or metaphorical?" she quipped.
Jed let out a loud laugh at this whilst Leo frowned.
"It's real enough, come on," Leo urged his daughter.
Leo guided Cadence out of the oval office and back to Mrs. Landingham's station.
The elderly blonde woman remained seated at her desk, occupied with a small, neat pile of letters until Leo and Cadence arrived. She looked up and regarded Cadence with a kind stare. "Well, was it as impressive as you hoped?" she queried.
"The man or the room Mrs. Landingham?" Leo queried.
Cadence smiled back at the woman. "Very pleasant for a work environment," she retorted, "certainly better than some offices I've been in, although maybe a degree too warm for my liking."
"And here we are with the sarcasm again," Leo scorned as he frowned at her.
Mrs. Landingham smiled but it was hard to say if she was amused by Cadence's response or dismissive of it.
"Would you like a cookie dear?" Mrs. Landingham asked. She reached out a hand to the glass cookie jar on the end of her desk, lifting her lid to expose trivial treats that were treated like gold dust in the West Wing.
Cadence eyed them up with little interest. "I'm sorry, I only like the ones with raisins," she confessed. "Sorry," she repeated again, thinking of how Jed had advised of their value.
"Oh dear, I've only chocolate." Mrs. Landingham returned the lid to its rightful place. "Never mind, I'll get some more for next time."
"Um." Cadence swallowed down the desire to state that there wasn't going to be a next time, wary of offending her father by it. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate a chance to view the White House in such detail, it was just the current staff was a little troubling for her.
"Let''s go meet the others," Leo said. "At this rate it will be dark before we get to them. See you later Mrs. Landingham."
"Bye Leo." Mrs. Landingham smiled up at Cadence again. "I'll see you later Miss McGarry."
Cadence bristled slightly at the title. For so long she had gone as 'Ms. O'Brien' it was a little odd hearing the McGarry title of her youth.
"Bye," she said softly in an attempt to smooth over her obvious unease.
Cadence turned and followed her father dutifully from the room and into the thicket of the West Wing. She felt a mixture of intrigue and unease as their surroundings started to thrive with activity. It was almost like a first day at work, there was all the curiosity of seeing new colleagues and office spaces and all the fear of what you didn't know coupled with the phobia of screwing up on the first day.
Cadence reminded herself that she had already botched the first impression with most of these people and figured since that was the case there was no point in her fear. With that in mind, she adapted a swing to her step, following after her father with a renewed enthusiasm.
Leo didn't know whether re-introductions would be better one on one with people so Cadence wasn't intimidated, or as a group so she could get everyone out of the road in one fell sweep. As he spied an unusually crowded office ahead he realised he wasn't going to have to make the decision. The gossip circle was in full swing and he could easily guess at the topic of discussion.
Leo quickened his pace so that he could have a few seconds to give warning to the office gathering before Cadence followed him through and perhaps overheard something less than favourable.
Leo opened the office door just in time to hear the Deputy Chief of Staff remark loudly, "they should really reconsider letting people vote for tarring and feathering as a punishment."
"Josh that's a little medieval and just a touch psychotic for someone in the White House to suggest," Leo interrupted bluntly.
Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman turned rapidly in a moment of obvious panic. He fixed a nervous smile to his face for his boss before he spied the young woman arriving behind him. His smile vanished and his brown eyes struggled to settle on neutrality as a wash of emotions trickled through them.
Leo fixed his hands behind his back as he regarded Josh and the three others who were with him with a careful, warning gaze.
"Everyone I would like you to say a nice hello to my daughter, Cadence McGarry. Cadence, I would like you to say an equally nice hello back," Leo commanded cheerfully.
Cadence stepped fully into the office. It was a small office space, crowded with files, a desk clustered with notes and now six human beings. Despite being a part of the West Wing it was entirely unremarkable in appearance having the same cliches of most offices- the obligatory clock on the wall, a computer desk complete with a phone and sullied with post-its and pages scattered in a form that could be nominated as an expression of modern art, and the weary sense of a never ending workload. All that was missing was the sad office plant and the cold, forgotten cup of coffee.
"Hello," Josh said quickly as his brown stare shifted from the woman to Leo.
"Hi there," C.J Cregg was next to greet. Her tone was lighter and she even managed a smile for the woman.
C.J had joined the team from Hollywood in its early campaign days, coming at Toby's behest and rising to the lofty heights of White House press secretary. The truth was C.J couldn't even recall Cadence and knew about her only the exaggerated tales Josh had fed them this afternoon.
C.J glanced the woman up and down quickly, trying to spy the similarities she shared with her father.
Cadence smiled back at C.J as she spied the curiosity in the woman's small blue stare. She recalled C.J well enough, they had met only briefly but she had given a lasting impression of a woman full of determination to find success in an unfamiliar world.
"Hi I'm Sam," Sam Seaborn, Deputy White House Communications Director, greeted as he stepped forward. He held out a hand before rethinking the gesture and pausing to push his round glasses up his nose.
"She knows," Josh murmured dryly. He was resting his hands on his hips in a hostile manner as his gaze continued to dart between Cadence and Leo.
"Hi," Toby finished the greetings sombrely. He was Sam's boss, the White House Communications Director.
"Hello," Cadence retorted. She glanced over to her father. "Is this part where I say my name, how old I am and what I want to be when I grow up?" she queried mockingly.
Leo smiled as he refused to be baited by her. "That's not a bad idea actually, what do you want to be?" he pried. "Because your mother and sister won't tell me."
"Well sure isn't Mal still in the fourth grade, maybe you should ask what she wants to be when she grows up," Cadence commented mischievously as she smiled over at Sam.
Sam felt the heat of embarrassment wash over him as Toby gave a soft, brief chuckle. He stepped back and frowned.
Leo turned his pale blue gaze back on his team. He had known this would be a disaster, it was unavoidable, all he could hope for was that it was a minor one and not a catastrophe.
"Cadence has, at long last, decided to visit me," Leo explained to his team, "and I thought it would be nice to get her acquainted with the people I work with."
"Why?" Josh queried bluntly. He flinched at the glower Leo sent his way and realised he had spoken without thinking.
"Because that's how taking your daughter to work day works," Cadence scolded him as she turned her smirk his way.
Josh frowned back at her as he felt a childish urge to stick his tongue out at her. It had been two years since he had last seen the woman and yet seeing her again made him think it was far from long enough.
"Is that a thing in the White House?" Toby queried. "Because I would imagine the Secret Service taking issue with that."
"She's joking Toby," Leo informed him flatly.
"Relax guys, I'm only here to see my dad," Cadence remarked, "and we have to meet with the president later and we have dinner plans, I don't really have time to fit a scandal into all that."
"Cadence," Leo chided her sharply.
"You owe me five bucks Sam," Josh commented as he turned to face Sam.
"What for?" Leo demanded angrily.
Josh tensed up and refrained from looking at his boss as he answered, "a completely unrelated matter Leo. I lent Sam money for..." He trailed off as he struggled for a lie.
Cadence folded her arms and looked at Josh. "You bet on how long it would take for me to say something inappropriate, didn't you?" Cadence accused.
Josh continued to remain as he was, noticeably stiff with his back to Cadence and his boss, a desperate gaze upon Sam as he hoped his friend wouldn't blunder into it like usual and might cast him a lifeline.
"It was just...well..." Sam began awkwardly.
Cadence shrugged. "Sam don't pay him," she advised brightly. "Mentioning a scandal isn't the same as actually committing one nor is it inappropriate to simply say the word scandal. I said I've to meet with the president soon, didn't I? Give it time, wait it out and maybe you'll earn that valuable five bucks. As for you Josh, I'm very disappointed you didn't make it more than that."
Cadence glanced at her father and saw he was trying very hard not to give into his anger for Josh, Sam and his daughter. "I did the meet and greet dad now let's see your office," she suggested.
Leo pulled back from his rage at his daughter's words. "Right." He gave the small group a telling look of disappointment before ushering his daughter from the office.
Josh waited exactly a full minute before speaking. "Well she hasn't changed," he scorned.
C.J folded her arms as she looked down at Josh scornfully. "How on earth can you tell that?" she demanded. She gestured one hand out towards the now closed door. "That was what, all of two minutes greeting?"
"I can tell," Josh said confidently.
"You know Josh it was just an essay," Toby piped up, "it's not like she burned the flag."
"Toby did you read the essay?" Josh demanded as he looked at his colleague in disbelief.
"No Josh," Toby admitted, "I was a little preoccupied with other things at the time, like winning a presidential campaign."
"Well you should read it," Josh grumbled as he waved his hand out dramatically in Toby's direction, "you should."
"Why? She was a student when she wrote it and isn't it entirely possible that it wasn't her opinion but simply the response to a thesis question?" Toby suggested. He was giving Josh a weary look like the younger man was unhinged.
"No because if it was she could have said so and you have to consider the timing of it," Josh argued, "to release that right when President Bartlet's campaign was gaining momentum."
"Hoynes," C.J corrected automatically. She was glancing at her watch now.
"What?" Josh retorted. He moved with a surge of energy as he turned to face C.J.
"Hoynes," she repeated calmly as she lowered her watch and looked at Josh, "you said President Bartlet's campaign but Cadence's thesis was exposed while she was still on Hoynes' campaign team."
"Yes but it had lost momentum because it lost me," Josh said smugly. "It was Bartlet's campaign she risked damaging, especially since it came out that she was Leo's daughter at the same time."
"I really don't think she intended any of that," C.J commented neutrally. "I mean it ruined her career prospects too."
"Well not by much," Sam said quietly. "I mean Hoynes lost, I suppose her prospect was that she could have joined his staff in the White House."
Josh let out a loud, almost panicked laugh at this before shaking his head.
"I know I ask this often of you," Toby spoke up in a deadpan manner as he eyeballed Josh again, "but do you need help?"
"Me?" Josh clapped a hand to his chest, creasing his blue shirt slightly as he looked to Toby in disbelief. "Not me Toby." He pointed to the door with one finger. "That traitor who walked out of here, maybe she needs the help."
"Josh you are being way too dramatic about this," Sam scorned him. "C.J is right, Cadence hardly intended for her identity or thesis to be exposed at that time and it was two years ago. Be nice, for Leo's sake," he advised in a gentle tone.
"Mallory's you mean," Josh grumbled back. "I'm onto you Sam, you're afraid of what she'll say to her sister."
Sam frowned as he felt his cheeks heat up again. "I don't know what you mean."
"Anyway," Toby interrupted, "I think we all have better things to be doing right now."
"Like coming up with an appropriate grovelling strategy for Leo?" C.J quipped.
Toby shrugged as he walked towards the door. "I was just going to blame it all on Josh and say he influenced us."
"Works for me," Sam said as he followed after him.
C.J's face brightened at this. "Good idea Toby," she enthused cheerfully.
"Hey no!" Josh protested as he followed after them. "Bad idea Toby, bad idea!"
"You are the one who blundered into it," Toby pointed out as he entered the busy corridor. "You're also the one who made Cadence out to be some sort of boogeywoman to half the staff round here. You're already doomed with regards to Leo, have the dignity not to drag the rest of down with you."
"What?" Josh flustered as the group dispersed and headed in different directions. "She's only here two minutes and she's already causing problems," he grumbled loudly.
"Josh who are you talking to?" Josh's chirpy, blonde assistant Donna Moss had arrived on the scene. She had come quickly, hurrying as rumour reached her of Cadence's arrival. "You know, talking to yourself isn't quirky, it's crazy," she berated him.
"Donna I don't have time for this," Josh retorted as he raised his hands up into his short, light auburn tinged brown curls dramatically. "I need to work out how to fight a girl, in a work manner I mean," he added quickly as he saw Donna's look of disgust, "or type up my resignation."
Josh pulled his palms slowly down his pale cheeks before dropping his hands down to his sides again.
"So she's here then, the mysterious Cadence McGarry," Donna marvelled with a smile. "What's she like? The way you talked about her I'm expecting horns."
"Yeah and a pointed tail and a pitchfork to stab you in the back with," Josh grumbled. He started walking, heading for his office. "Leo is a saint Donna but his daughter is the devil," he advised.