"Cady cat I know you don't want to hear it," Mallory began in a calm tone.
"No," Cadence interrupted flatly.
Mallory glanced across the bench to her sister and smiled. "But," she continued firmly, "you can't fall out with family coming up to Christmas." She paused to breathe over her take out coffee cup. "Besides," she added quietly, "you've got to spend Christmas with one of them."
"No, nope and not gonna happen," Cadence retorted cheerfully. She pushed the ends of her scarf over her shoulder before taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
The sisters were sitting outdoors on a cool morning watching people pass them by, walking quickly even as they tried to avoid patches of ice.
Mallory shook her head and gave a tut.
"Don't do the teacher thing," Cadence complained.
"Don't do the pouting thing," Mallory chided with another teasing smile. "Look, Sam and I are going out to dinner tonight with Zoey and Charlie and I want you to come."
"No."
"You can bring your mystery man."
Cadence glanced over to Mallory in surprise. She was silent as her cheeks flushed a faint pink giving away her embarrassment.
Mallory laughed at her sister's face. "I found the parcel of cheeses in your fridge, definitely a gift, a very strange, smelly gift but still a gift."
"That could just be from a friend," Cadence ventured defensively. "What were you doing hunting in my fridge anyway?"
"Getting milk, the smell compelled me to make sure there wasn't anything rotting in there." Mallory took another sip of her coffee. "Also, dad keeps complaining about the company you keep so either it's a boyfriend or a drug dealer," she jested lightly.
"You got me, I've decided to add being a stoner to my long list of offences," Cadence murmured dryly.
"Is it the same person who got you that raccoon teddy when you were sick?"
Mallory marvelled at the astonished look Cadence gave her. "Cady I do notice things. Now come on, I'm your big sister and I want to know about the possible men in your life."
Cadence's gaze turned sorrowful. "We're not dating, it's just...he deserves better than me and I keep messing up when we do meet and..." Cadence bowed her head to face her lap and clenched her styrofoam cup tightly in both hands. "Benny's only buried."
Mallory gave her sister a sympathetic stare as she reached over a hand to squeeze her shoulder. "Cady don't take this the wrong way but you didn't know Agent Sparks, you've said that yourself, you were part of his cover. Look, from what you've told me I think you both had real feelings for each other but it was a while ago. Cady, you don't deserve to be alone and you need to stop punishing yourself, for Agent Sparks and for Robbie."
The funeral of Benjamin Sparks had been a week ago. Cadence hadn't been able to go, she wasn't invited but she understood why. To his parents if she was anything at all she was partly to blame for his terrible demise. Mallory was right, she hadn't really known him but she had still cried the day he was buried anyway and spent the day in her apartment with Mallory and Zoey round, adamant that they were eating junk food and watching comedies all day.
In the wake of Benjamin Sparks' death and upon learning how deeply distraught Cadence was over it, Zoey had pushed aside her anger for the older woman and they had made peace. It had been a little awkward but they had gotten there. Cadence had apologised and acknowledged that Zoey was still dealing with her own trauma after Rosslyn. Some tears and sharing a big bowl of ice-cream in Zoey's dorm under Gina's disapproval gaze had helped with the apologising and forgiving.
"You're coming for dinner tonight, I don't believe you've eaten properly in days," Mallory scorned as she gave Cadence's shoulder a gentle shake before releasing it. "Then we'll discuss who's getting mom for Christmas and who's getting dad. I know," Mallory continued as she gave her sister a stern stare, "that you aren't talking to either of them right now but tough, you can only be mad at one of them over the holidays or preferably neither."
Cadence sighed. "Christmas isn't a Hallmark movie Mal."
"No, it's several of them," her sister enthused with a happy smile. "Dinner's at seven, Paradiso Stellato, plus one preferred."
Cadence stared over at Mallory accusingly. "It's December, you don't get tables without reservations."
Mallory's smile widened. "We have reservations."
"For how many?" Cadence frowned as her stormy grey-blue eyes filled with suspicion.
"Six," came the cheery answer. "I've already asked Sam to uncover the mystery."
"Why would Sam know?" Cadence almost yelled out the question as she gaped at her sister in a mixture of horror and embarrassment.
"Dad said if Josh wasn't already in a bad place right now he'd put him in one," Mallory answered humorously. "Now since dad loves Josh like a son, I have to assume he's making threats because there's a connection between Josh and your mystery man."
Cadence frowned before looking concerned. "What's wrong with Josh?"
Mallory frowned this time. "You didn't hear?" she quipped.
Cadence shook her head. "I haven't been at the White House in over a week," she admitted.
Cadence remembered her last day there all too easily, she had stood in the lobby blaming her father and the President for Benny's fate and wishing she had never come back. She still believed what she had said, both that her father and the President were accountable for Benny's death and that things would have been better if she had continued to stay away.
"Well," Mallory said quietly, "Josh has PTSD from Rosslyn, understandably and Sam said he lost it a little at the President."
"Lost it?" Cadence echoed.
Mallory nodded. "He shouted at him. Dad's got him seeing a psychiatrist. I asked why he didn't do the same for you," she added as her tone took on a hint of anger.
Cadence frowned back moodily. "Mal I've done that before, I'm not going to go down that road again."
"No, you just make paper animals and hope it goes away," Mallory chided. Her gaze softened at Cadence's look of hurt. "Cady cat I'm sorry, it's just, you do need help. You've been through a lot and you carry so much blame and guilt when you shouldn't."
Cadence held up a hand in protest. "Mal, I need to get back work," she said.
She stood up and smoothed down her grey jacket.
Mallory stood up as well. "Dinner at seven," she said firmly. "It's non-negotiable and if Sam wants to stay over at my house after I'll have your mystery man's name by this afternoon to invite him too," she added happily.
Cadence shrugged at this. "There is no mystery man," she insisted.
Mallory reached out and gave her a sister a light hug. "I'll see you later."
"See you later Mal."
Josh gazed up at Sam tiredly wondering why the man seemed even more hyper than usual.
Sam paced about Josh's office energetically, pausing every so often to open his mouth as if to say something before rethinking it and shaking his head.
"Sam I know I definitely have work related to the running of this country to do," Josh murmured, "so could you maybe just come out and say what's bothering you?"
Sam halted again and gave Josh a sheepish look. "Sorry, I'm just trying to think of a tactful way to say it. That is," he raised one finger as if to point before pushing his glasses up his nose, "I'm not sure it's appropriate, it's invasive really."
Josh wound his hand about impatiently in a forward clockwise motion. "Sam," he said pleadingly. He was trying not to snap but the urge was there. He had had a few sessions in therapy but if anything it had only added to his paranoia and irritation.
Sam lowered his hand and looked down at his co-worker apologetically. The office had a slight winter's chill to it but Sam was warm from his frantic pacing about and glad that he had abandoned his jacket in his office.
"Sorry, Mallory wants me to find out who Cadence's new boyfriend is so she can invite him to dinner," Sam confessed hastily.
Josh gazed up at him dumbfounded. "Um...okay. I feel like maybe there's some vital information you've missed out that explains why you're in here."
Sam nodded with an apologetic smile. "Right, well, she says Leo said some things about you that have led her to believe you know who this person is." Sam held up a protesting hand and waved it. "I don't know what they were or if she's interpreted them correctly. Maybe you don't know."
Josh sighed as he leaned back into his chair. He had always known he would rue the day he tried to help set Congressman Landis and Cadence McGarry up. He was surprised to hear Sam say the word 'boyfriend', he didn't think that was accurate and felt a little odd about it.
Josh still saw Tom in the West Wing although Leo had demanded last week that he wrap up 'the Nessie nonsense' and grumbled that 'the Republican could get cosy in the White House when 'his own man made it in'. Although Josh knew Leo was blinded by a father's wary nature he agreed that Leo did have a point. Josh's business with Tom was far from important but Josh found the light hearted, pleasant nature of the congressman a welcome crutch to lean on. Josh had started to resume his serious duties again but he needed that bright moment to keep him going otherwise he feared his despair, uncertainty and paranoia would devour him.
Sam gave Josh a surprised stare when Josh didn't protest. "You do know," he accused.
Josh nodded as he placed his palm against his brow and pushed his fingertips up into his curls. "Sure, sort of, I don't think they're dating. They're not dating," he said with more certainty.
"What's his name Josh? I'm sorry to be persistent," Sam added hastily in a sincerely apologetic manner, "but Mallory has gotten a little crazy over this and she won't let me...ahem...stay over until I get a name." Sam blushed faintly at his confession.
Josh immediately lowered his palm to gaze up at Sam in disbelief before a wide grin broke out across his face. "Are you saying Mallory is withholding sex if you don't get the name of the man she thinks her sister is dating?" Josh snickered at this.
Sam frowned. "Yes."
Josh let out a loud laugh before he could help it. "And they say it's worse to be single. I'm telling Toby about this, it'll comfort him."
Sam's frown deepened. "Come on Josh," he begged as he held out his hands. "Help me out, please, what's his name? I mean if you don't think they're dating then there's no secret really."
Josh continued to smile as his laugh faded to a chortle. "I suppose. Alright, it's Congressman Landis."
It was Sam's turn to look surprised. "The Republican?"
"He's more than that Sam but yes."
"Are you sure?"
Josh shrugged and continued to smile. "Well no because I don't think they're dating so maybe it's someone else."
"No," Sam interrupted as he looked thoughtful, "that would give Leo a reason to want to kill you."
Josh swallowed hard as the humour faded from his face. "Kill me?" he repeated warily. "I thought you didn't know what Leo said." He glanced up at Sam suspiciously.
Sam shrugged. "Well it's speculation really," he retorted awkwardly with a small smile. "Anyway, thank you for that Josh. I'm going to go now, I have a few speeches to edit."
"You're going to call Mallory," Josh said it accusingly as he stretched back in his chair.
"Well yes," Sam confessed, "but then I will be completing my amendments to speeches for the President, Toby gets a little...high strung when I delay over editing."
"High strung," Josh repeated quietly as he sat forward again, "that's putting it mildly."
"Is Tom a serious Republican?" Sam queried suddenly as he glanced at Josh.
Josh gave a bemused smile at this. "What other kind is there?"
"Well, I'm going for dinner with Mallory tonight," Sam trailed off with an embarrassed look.
Josh's dark stare filled with mockery as it glittered up at Sam. "That was implied Sam and you once went for dinner with a prostitute, I would say a Republican is usually less controversial."
"A call girl," Sam corrected sternly with a frown, "and it really does depend on the Republican."
"Sam, I only know him through our meetings, I've never socialised with the guy but he seems alright."
Sam nodded. "Alright, I can deal with alright but suppose he talks politics."
"Suppose you do Sam?" Josh threw his hands up in the air wearily before wincing and letting them drop back to the desk. "It is the nature of our job, well usually, you've spent a long time in here talking about dinner dates and sex."
Sam's cheeks turned a faint pink at this accusation and his awkward smile returned.
"Sam talk about Christmas and tinsel and the weather and dinner," Josh muttered dismissively as he dragged a hand down his face wearily, "I don't know and I don't care. Cadence will probably turn it into a disaster anyway," he added spitefully.
Sam's cerulean gaze sparked with surprise at this jibe. "Josh," he said quietly.
Sam gave his friend a look of concern. He had witnessed Josh's outburst at the President, most of them had and they all knew it came from a place of trauma and fear. The man was going through something that only the President could relate too and unfortunately Jed Bartlett had a few too many other things to be dealing with than trading tales of trauma with his Deputy Chief of Staff so Josh had no one to relate to.
Josh waved Sam off. He was weary of the looks and the frowns, the hushed murmurs and worse, the silences and sympathy. No one knew what to say and only Donna wasn't treating him like a ticking time bomb, showing no fear to the possibility of a verbal outburst from him. Donna was quite used to his irate yelling anyway Josh supposed.
"Sam, I'll be fine," Josh remarked grudgingly. "Have a nice dinner, don't let Mallory scare Tom off and don't you scare him off either, Cadence probably should have at least one decent date with him, it is coming up to Christmas after all."
Sam nodded with another smile, too pleased at the thought of dinner to notice how Josh used the congressman's forename this time. "Right, thanks Josh. You know, you could-"
Josh held up a hand to cut off the offer before Sam could hear it. "I'm really not in the mood," he insisted, "I'd be a fifth wheel and I still believe Cadence is the devil incarnate."
"She's not that bad Josh and no one would treat you like a wheel, seventh wheel that is, Charlie and Zoey are going too," Sam retorted. "I could ask Toby and C.J as well," he said.
Josh shook his head. "Sam, that's nice but we both know Toby would most likely start a fist fight with the Republican," he sounded out 'Republican' mockingly.
"Alright, well the offer's there Josh," Sam insisted, "it will be fun."
Josh looked confused for a moment and gave Sam another accusing stare. "Wait a minute, Zoey and Charlie are going?"
Sam nodded. "Zoey wants a normal dinner date too."
Josh gave a half-smile at this as he nodded. "Huh. It seems...a little risky," he murmured.
"I know," Sam agreed quietly, "but we'll take every precaution." He gave Josh a slightly happier stare. "Well thanks for the information, I'm going to tell Mallory and she can do with it as she will, that way I won't be blamed for a Republican attending dinner with the President's daughter."
Josh let out a chuckle at this as he wondered what Jed Bartlett's reaction might be to that news.
Sam finally headed out of the office and retreated for his own. He felt Toby's disapproving, impatient gaze upon him as he entered his own office and wasn't surprised when a soft ball started bouncing off the glass window as he picked up the phone to call Mallory.
"Hey Mallory," Sam greeted brightly as she answered. "Yes, I got a name," he assured excitedly.
Sam paused to push his glasses up his nose as he smiled.
Sam hesitated as he heard his office door open. He glanced over expecting to see an irate Toby but was surprised to see a tired looking Josh standing there instead.
"Sam," Josh addressed him softly as he leaned against the door frame.
Sam could hear Mallory shouting at him impatiently for a name. "Just a moment Mallory," he said softly as he reached up a hand to cover the mouthpiece. He lowered the phone slightly and looked questioningly to Josh.
"Let me speak to Congressman Landis," Josh insisted. "I mean he might not want to go but if he makes that decision Cadence should really be told. I just want to let him know what he's up against but also," Josh paused and gave an awkward smile, "that he should make it clear if he's not going to go and not let her wonder."
Sam was bewildered by Josh's kind offer and wondered at it before he recalled what Mallory had told him about Cadence and Robbie when that story had been leaked. Cadence had stood in her prom dress waiting for Robbie, not even knowing for part of the night that it was him she was waiting for and then confused and worried as she had no way of knowing for sure where Robbie was or what had happened. Yes, Sam got what Josh was thinking but he was shocked that Josh was the one to think of it or cared enough to act upon it.
Sam nodded. "Thanks Josh," he retorted sincerely, "and seriously, think about coming, it will be good. It's at seven, Paradiso Stellato."
Josh gave a weak, half smile. "That's it, that's all I wanted," he confessed quietly as he glanced about Sam's office awkwardly.
Sam smiled as he raised the phone again. "Hey Mallory, I'm back. It's Congressman Tom Landis," he explained, "although Josh isn't certain that they're dating but he's going to ring Congressman Landis and test the waters, see if he wants to come."
Josh tensed when he bumped into someone behind him and felt a sense of slight unease when he heard the unmistakable grunt of Toby Ziegler.
Toby stood with his arms crossed and a frown on his face that Josh was starting to think was permanently etched there, as much a feature of Toby as his dark blue eyes or greying beard.
"Toby," he said with a put on joy as he faced the moody man, "good morning." The excitable energy that normally came to Josh effortlessly had become a drain on him lately and it took a lot for the Deputy Chief of Staff to smile to his colleagues.
Toby frowned back at Josh.
Josh's smile faded slightly. "Toby what's wrong? You look a little stressed."
Toby folded his arms and fresh wrinkles appeared in his balding brow as his dark indigo eyes filled with scorn. In his right hand he clutched a white soft ball. "I heard the name of a Republican, one whose name gets invoked a little too often around here," he said accusingly.
Josh let out a mocking snort at this. "Invoked," he sneered, "you make it sound like we're sacrificing goats and trying to summon him."
Toby raised his dark eyebrows slightly at this. "That might be preferable to what it sounds like you are doing."
"Which is?" Josh quipped as he tried to play dumb.
"Dating him," Toby said it stonily as he continued to frown. He nodded in to Sam as Josh's face filled with amusement. "Or trying to test the waters with him anyway," he added as he pulled a face of disgust.
Josh started to laugh loudly, unable to help it.
Sam glanced out the open door curiously as he wondered at the conversation. He spied Toby and filled with concern even as he tried to keep focused on Mallory's voice down the phone.
"Toby I..." Josh's throat seemed to catch on his protest and he felt a rush of heat creeping up his neck. He shook his head. "No!" he exclaimed with a wave of his hands. "How could you think that? It's Cadence," he snapped as he laughed again, "Cadence is dating him, well maybe, no scratch that, we don't know for sure so saying it as a certainty might give Leo heart failure."
Toby remained full of disapproval as he retained his hostile stance. "Well whilst I have little to no concern for Cadence McGarry's dating life I have to wonder why it should be of concern to either you or Sam. Surely you two have better things to do than attempting to arrange dates between Democrats and them."
"Them," Josh echoed with another snort of mirth. He raised a hand to his mouth in an attempt conceal his smile. He shook his head again and lowered the hand. "Toby, don't worry about it," he said calmly, "we do have other things to concern ourselves with, like this oil business and some concerns over explosions in Syria and a protest in Qumar."
Toby nodded agreeably. "Yes. We have a meeting with the President in ten minutes to address some of those very things."
"I know," Josh said. He pushed his hands through his curls before stepping past Toby.
Toby glowered in at Sam before tossing the ball.
"Ouch!" Sam let out a cry of both protest and surprise as he was struck with the soft ball on the forehead. The offending ball fell harmlessly to the floor. "Sorry Mallory," he said as he rubbed at his brow, "Toby is throwing stuff, which means I have to go. No, it didn't hurt, it's a ball, a soft ball Mal. Yes, I'll let him know." Sam smiled widely. "Okay, bye Mallory. Yes of course I'll let you know how the phone call went! Right, bye."
Sam ended the call and grinned over at Toby. "Mallory says her children learn that violence usually isn't the answer from the age of four and that you need a time out."
"Mallory doesn't know what I put up with on a daily basis from you," Toby retorted moodily. "Now Sam, whilst I doubt you've carried out those amendments yet do you have something we can show the President?"
"Of course," Sam retorted confidently as he reached for some neatly stacked sheets on his desk.
"Then let's go," Toby snapped impatiently as he made a coaxing motion with his hand.
Jed surveyed his core team with a warm smile. He stood in the centre of the Oval Office, between the front of the Presidential desk and the seats C.J, Sam, Toby and Josh were currently occupying.
Leo stood opposite him and at the other side of the seats. He was especially happy to see Josh back in his usual position although he did notice the nervous spark in the man's dark brown eyes.
"Well, how has everyone's morning been?" Jed quipped brightly.
"Good sir, thank you for asking," Sam enthused with a smile.
C.J gave him a nudge before she smiled over at him mockingly.
Jed raised his eyebrows slightly at this. "Claudia Jean that wasn't an assault in the workplace that I just witnessed, now was it?" he queried calmly.
C.J smiled up at Jed benevolently. "No sir, just a gentle suggestion to Sam that his remark is all too transparent as an attempt to win favour."
"Oh I see." Jed clasped his hands behind his back and nodded. "Sam, do you have any defence to offer?"
Sam frowned at C.J before looking up to Jed protestingly. "I was being sincere sir," he insisted.
Josh gave a soft chuckle from the opposing chair. "No it's true sir," he said as he pointed over to his friend, "he has dinner plans, he's truly happy and his morning is genuinely good."
"Dinner plans with the devil," Toby grumbled before he could help it.
"Also true," Josh agreed merrily with a smirk.
"And what does that mean?" Leo snapped as he stepped forward and frowned down at Toby.
"Cadence."
"A Republican."
Josh and Toby answered together.
"Ooh dear," Jed remarked dramatically as he stared across the room at Leo.
Leo's face filled with fury as he frowned from one to the other and his mouth opened as if ready to let out a yell.
"Now Leo, before you give yourself a heart attack, let's have Sam explain this one," Jed suggested as he held up a hand to Leo.
Jed lowered the hand and turned a questioning stare down upon the flustered Sam.
Sam shot a glare across to Toby and Josh who both showed indifference to it.
Josh had raised a finger to his chin and was looking thoughtful whilst Toby retained his familiar frown.
"Well Sam, we're waiting," Jed remarked, making it clear that Sam was going to have divulge his plans for the evening.
"We're having dinner, it's not a big deal," Sam insisted as he glanced nervously from Jed to Leo.
"Who's we?" Jed pried. His blue gaze sparkled with amusement as he considered Sam's squirming a delightful distraction from his daily woes.
"Um...well myself and Mallory of course, and Zoey and Charlie, Mallory invited them," he added quickly as he turned up to Jed with an anxious stare, "and Cadence and maybe...er..." Sam swallowed hard. He could feel the heat burning in Leo's grey stare and knew the man was only a few minutes away from an outburst. "Maybe," Sam forced himself to be calm, "Tom Landis, it's a possibility."
"No," Leo snapped angrily. "No."
"I agree," Jed said, surprising Sam. "It sounds risky to have our girls out there like that, let's do it here."
"WHAT?!"
It was hard to tell who shouted out the protest first or the loudest- Toby, Sam or Leo had both yelled the word at the same time.
C.J glanced around the room in mild surprise before smiling, amused that something as simple as dinner could create such a hostile atmosphere.
Josh stared up at Jed in shock. "Excuse me sir, could you repeat that?" he quipped with a small smile.
Jed smiled back at Josh obligingly.
"I think dinner should be here, I haven't seen Mallory or Cady, or even my dear daughter Zoey for a while," Jed remarked. "And it would be safer for them and more private." Jed frowned down at Sam. "Did you even consider the intrusion of the press Mr. Seaborn?"
Sam winced slightly. "No sir, I was thinking of Zoey's insistence that we try and keep things normal and Mallory saying that a dinner date might be mundane enough to get Cady out of the house."
Jed frowned and shook his head. "Zoey's always pushing that barrier, teenagers, even when you're a President they don't change. Well you and Charlie should know better," he added sternly as he pointed down at Sam in a scolding manner.
C.J, who had been struggling not to laugh, glanced up at the President with humour as she tried and failed to force up a serious expression. "Sir, how will you keep this from the press?" she queried.
"A dinner with my daughter and women I consider to be like daughters?" Jed marvelled as he parted his hands theatrically. "C.J the news can't be that slow."
"No sir, I meant-"
"The Republican," Leo growled out in interruption. He stepped forward to Jed appealingly. "Sir you can't and you won't, I won't let you," he insisted.
"Leo, Leo, you're thinking as a father," Jed replied warmly. He closed the gap between them and put an arm about his friend.
"No sir," Leo protested as he pressed a hand into his chest, "I'm thinking as a Democrat. He'd be like the Trojan Horse, in to get all our intimate secrets."
"Our recipes you mean?" Jed scoffed. "We're hardly going to let him into the War Room and I'm sure Margaret has your diary safely locked up," he added mockingly.
Leo nudged the hand off his shoulder and took a step back so he could face Jed directly again. "Sir I'm not kidding, this would be terrible if it leaked that you were inviting Republicans to dinner! And you're forgetting that Cadence certainly won't come here."
"Couldn't we say it's a gesture of peace?" Jed gave a wide, pleased smile at this. "Yes, goodwill and peace for Christmas time, I like that. Peace with Cady, it's about time that happened Leo, and peace with the Republicans, at least for the season. C.J what about that kind of story?"
"Sir, please don't," Josh objected. He flinched slightly as everyone looked to him.
"I mean invite Congressman Landis to dinner sure," Josh said, "but don't use him like that, it would be bad for his career." Realising how he sounded, Josh added hastily, "Cadence wouldn't thank you for it, it could appear like you're using her to make a show of good relations with the Republicans."
Jed's smile dimmed slightly but he nodded. "I suppose you're right. Well my invitation is to the girls and their plus ones and all of you, should a Republican happen to be included in that group, well I'm sure we could keep it quiet."
Jed gave Toby and C.J both a warning stare. "We will keep it quiet," he said sternly. "And Leo, you won't be getting near any knives, in fact you can't come."
"Sir!" Leo snapped a protest.
Jed wagged a finger at him scornfully. "No Leo, you would only embarrass Cadence, let her enjoy her dinner."
"You could do that by letting us stick to our plans," Sam suggested hopefully. He sank into his seat at Jed's look of disapproval and knew that Mallory was going to be yelling at him for this unintentional blunder soon.
"Cadence won't come," Leo remarked adamantly. He raised his hands slightly as he faced Jed. "She's still very mad with us over Agent Sparks' suicide, sir."
Jed's expression was oddly calm as he stared back at Leo.
"There is going to be dinner," Jed said firmly, "it will be in this White House," he added as he pointed down to the carpet, "it will be lovely and everyone will be happy and enjoy it. If Sam has to lie about the location to get Cadence here he will and if a man with political beliefs that are opposing to ours come we will avoid the topic of politics and treat him politely. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir," they answered as a group with weak enthusiasm, except for Leo who was stubbornly silent. Jed grinned. "See how nice it is when you all agree with me, marvellous. Now Sam, what time was dinner to be at?"
Sam was still sagging in the couch as if he could vanish into it and wearing an expression of despair as he thought about how angry Mallory and Zoey were going to soon be with him. "Seven sir."
"No, that's no good, make it eight," Jed ordered.
Sam swallowed down a protest. "Alright sir but please do not hold me responsible for Mallory if she is um..disagreeable tonight," he concluded weakly.
"Can we please talk about something else now?" Toby queried loudly. "Maybe explosions or oil or protests?"
Jed laughed. "Why Toby are you suggesting dinner plans aren't as important as potential world wars?"
Toby glanced up at his boss and tried not to frown. "I feel that there is a certain level of importance when considering matters of war," he remarked calmly.
"You've clearly forgotten the fun of a family dinner," C.J mocked with a smirk. "They can often be considered matters of war."
Toby burrowed his head into his hands with a sigh of despair. "If there's talk like this at dinner we'll be handing the next election to them," he groaned to his palms.
"Them," Josh repeated tauntingly. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Isn't that a horror movie? The dreaded them, it sounds like one."
"Could we please move on to one of the topics we're supposed to be discussing?" Leo queried irately. "No one in this room has time for this," he added heatedly.
Toby lowered his palms and looked to Leo. "See, that's why I'm trying to say."
"Alright, if you pair must ruin the fun of the morning," Jed said with a slight frown, "what's next then?"
Josh felt stupid as he held the phone to his ear and listened to it ring. He didn't know why he was getting involved again when it hadn't worked out so well last time. He felt like he was about to invite Tom into a trap.
"Congressman Landis' office," a cheery female's voice answered.
"Um hi," Josh said as he leaned forward on his desk and pushed his free hand up into his messy curls. "I'm Josh Lyman, Deputy Chief of Staff, at the White House," he tacked on. He smiled awkwardly and added, "you probably knew that didn't you?" When he didn't get a response he continued on hastily. "I need to speak to T-Congressman Landis, is he there?"
"Yes, stay on the line and I'll see if he's free."
The line switched to a succession of beeps to give him the hope of being in wait for a conversation, each beep a promise that he hadn't yet been cut off. Josh considered hitting the receiver and cutting himself off, he had agreed to pass a suggestion of dinner on to Tom when it was casual and in a restaurant but this was a formal invite to the White House with the President, not exactly the same. He realised he couldn't end the call like a coward since he had given his full name and title, which the secretary was liable to pass on to Tom.
"Hello," Tom's chirpy voice called.
"Hey, Tom, it's Josh."
"Yes, from the White House," Tom retorted mockingly.
Josh winced slightly at this. "Well you know, there might be another," he retorted lamely. "Um look I'm sorry to interrupt your day but are you free this evening?"
"For a meeting?" came the confused response.
"No, for dinner." Josh mouthed out a curse as he lowered his hand from his curls to his cheek and leaned against it. "I'm passing on an invite," he added hastily, "for Cadence."
"Cadence asked you to ask me to dinner?" Tom queried, still puzzled but sounding happier at the mention of Cadence.
"Well no," Josh confessed awkwardly. "Sam asked me to ask you actually for Mallory, for Cadence. Although I'm not entirely sure Cadence knows you're being invited, in fact I'm not sure she's definitely going because she might not like the venue, you probably won't either."
"Josh you're not making any sense here," Tom said, trying to sound gentle rather than annoyed. "You're asking me to dinner to a venue I won't like and Cadence may or may not be going?"
"Yeah, I knew this was a bad idea," Josh murmured more to himself than Tom. "I think it was supposed to be Mallory and Sam with the President's daughter Zoey and Charlie, just a nice night out for dinner but Mallory wanted to Cadence to go and she got the idea that Cadence had someone to bring, you, and she wanted to meet you. The problem is the President learned about this and he's not happy to have his daughter, Cadence and Mallory all out in a public restaurant where there could be danger and press." Josh shrugged. "Same thing sometimes."
"Wait, wait, where is this dinner Josh?"
"In the White House Tom."
Josh was not surprised by the laughter that followed but he began to feel annoyed when it continued on for a good twenty seconds.
"This a joke right?" Tom quipped between snickers.
"Um no, eight o'clock if you're interested, the President will be there, Leo won't. Cadence is a maybe, she's not really a fan of this building at the moment," he added awkwardly.
"I know," Tom mused.
Josh scratched at his right ear. "I'm not even sure she's getting told, it's possible Mallory and Sam will just force her blindfolded into a car and bring her here."
"Are you going to this dinner or is just for people who don't want to be in the White House?"
"Well I'm sure Sam," Josh began a convincing defence before abandoning it, "and no, you're right, Sam just wanted a nice dinner without complications and Mallory is going to be angry with the venue change too."
"Josh, was that a yes or no? Are you going?"
"I don't know," Josh admitted, "I don't think the President is giving me a choice." Josh winced at Tom's chortle. "Tom could you maybe forgot that faux pas of mine? It would do wonders for Leo's opinion of you being a Republican spy if you did."
"How am I spy? The last time we talked you said I may as well wear a flashing sign saying Republican," Tom scorned.
"Well, okay. Can I ask one more thing?" Josh queried. "If you're not going to go to this dinner and I'm assuming you won't and absolutely no one would blame you but could you let Cadence know?"
"Could I let Cadence know if I'm attending a dinner she might not know about at a venue she's not getting told about?" Tom queried teasingly.
"See," Josh said with a small, bitter smile, "I knew you'd get it but seriously Tom," he added quietly, "the uncertainty for her would be cruel, I mean she'd have all these crazy worries about something have happened to you. I mean turn the dinner down, absolutely, just let her know, please?"
Josh wondered again why he cared. He hadn't heard much about Cadence and Robbie, just what the press had cruelly divulged. Leo never wanted to share when it came to his daughter's complications. Josh remembered the scars on her arms that she had exposed on the Hoynes' campaign, it had taken her a while and explained her odd choice of long sleeves even on hot days. He could recall how sometimes she had rubbed her arms, evidently uncomfortable with her exposure, and would get a dark look in her stare. Now there was this business with Agent Sparks, another mystery to Josh, all he knew was that news of his suicide had led to Cadence having an outburst in the White House lobby before opting to avoid the building altogether. Josh just knew he never wanted to see any new scars on the woman.
"I'll talk to Cady," Tom assured.
"Thanks Tom. You're not going are you?"
"I am if it gets me a dinner date with Cady, and you Josh," he added teasingly, "I mean you've made it sound so irresistible."
Josh gave another smile at this. "Tom, you're an odd sort of Republican aren't you?"
Tom laughed again. "No, I just happen to be very interested and fascinated by a fun, quirky woman and the only way I can ever seem to see her is through odd, unusual encounters on hostile territory."
"You really do like her, don't you Tom?"
"I do Josh," he said seriously, "but hey I like you too," he tacked on jokingly, "does that make me the nice Republican, liking two Democrats?"
Josh shook his head, wondering why he was still continuing this conversation. "I'm not sure."
"Me either. Well, if Cady agrees to it, I'll see you at dinner."
I really like the Republicans on the show, is it the good acting or dialogue or just because the show has so many good characters? Ainsley, Glen Walken, Cliff Caley, Tom Landis, Jeff Hanley, maybe not Robert Ritchie (although I like James Brolin), Joe Quincy or Jack Reese and yeah, Donna really seems to like Republicans too it seems.