Authors Notes: This takes place between Faith-Based Initiative and Drought Conditions. The impetus of this chapter is actually the tiny conversation that Josh and CJ have on the phone in Freedonia. I assumed they had to have talked more in between, but we never saw it.

"Hundreds of Miles Away"

Josh had left the White House and CJ had been trying to keep her head above water. Being one man down was difficult; especially when that one man was so important to the political process. CJ and Toby had tried to divide Josh's workload as best they could, but CJ always kept the thought that Josh would be back. The work and things falling through the cracks was merely a temporary inconvenience, at least in her mind.

CJ was thinking about the things that needed to be accomplished when Margaret entered her office. "CJ?" she asked.

"Yeah?" CJ said turning towards her.

"I've got Josh on line three," Margaret informed her. "I wasn't sure if I should put him through."

Although when he left CJ had been mad at him, she brightened at the thought of speaking with him. "Yeah, put him through," CJ told her.

Margaret dutifully walked back to her desk and CJ's phone rang a moment later.

"Josh?" CJ said as she answered the phone.

"Hi," he said quietly. "I wasn't sure you were going to take my call."

"Why is that?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"You weren't too happy with me when I left," Josh said simply.

"I'm over it," she said.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"So what's going on? How's Iowa?"

"I take it you haven't been watching the news," Josh said.

"There's been a lot going on here," CJ explained. "It's mostly on in the background. It seems like Hoynes and Russell are getting a lot of the press. Oh, and your old friend Arnie Vinick. It's pretty ballsy not to take the ethanol pledge."

"Santos took the pledge," Josh said. He was still feeling guilty for forcing him to take it. But Matt Santos didn't have the gravitas of Arnold Vinick. Josh knew for sure that Santos had to take the pledge to be taken seriously. The Republican primary wasn't going to be as crowded as the Democratic field.

"He had to," CJ assured him.

"I know," Josh replied.

"Do you?"

"He didn't want to."

"Who truly does?" CJ asked. "The president took it because he had to and it worked out okay for him."

"You're right," Josh said. He wanted to change the subject. He didn't like the idea of CJ having to build him up. It was unsavory to him. "Is Greg Brock back in the pen?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your friend," Josh said using the same tone CJ used when she called Arnold Vinick his friend. "Greg Brock from The Times."

"He's not my friend," CJ said with a small chuckle.

"Really? I've heard otherwise," Josh teased her.

"You have not," she dismissed him. Josh had mentioned Greg Brock to her with a tone once before. CJ found it interesting that he brought him up again. She further wondered if she was that far removed from the gossip of the West Wing that she didn't know people were talking her and Greg Brock in the same sentence. "Has he been annoying you?"

"He followed me to New Hampshire," Josh explained. "I thought he was there to cover Santos and he tells me that he's there following me."

"You?"

"Apparently I'm big news," Josh said.

"You are," CJ said simply.

"No I'm not," Josh said. "Why would he be following me? Santos is the story."

"Not yet," CJ said wisely. "No one knows Matt Santos. People know you. You left a high-profile White House job to run his campaign. It's the nature of a journalist to wonder why."

"People want my perspective because no one knows who he is?" Josh asked.

"Because you're a high-profile operative. They want to see what you see in him and then they'll cover him."

"Okay," Josh said absently.

There was a pause on both ends of the line. Josh wanted to ask how things were going at the White House, but he felt like it wasn't his right to know anymore. CJ wanted to ask Josh how he was holding up, but she didn't feel like he would take it the right way.

"CJ," Josh said.

"Josh," she said at virtually the same time.

Margaret took that moment to burst into CJ's office and tap her wrist indicating that CJ was running late for yet another meeting.

"I have to go," she said with sadness in her voice.

"Yeah," Josh nodded wishing she could stay on the phone for just a moment longer. "I'll talk to you later."

The line disconnected and Josh stood staring out his hotel window with the feeling that his connection to his old life had just been severed once again.

Weeks later and CJ and Josh had exchanged a few phone calls here and there. Neither of their schedules really permitted much time to catch up with each other's lives, but at least they were able to converse under the guise of venting about work. CJ found herself looking forward to her weekly call from Josh.

"Hi," she said happily as she picked up the line after Margaret informed her Josh was on the other end.

"You sound happy," Josh commented.

"Let's just say your call might be the only bright spot in my day," CJ replied.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. It's nice to get my head out of the office for a few minutes. How are things?"

"The same," Josh said evasively.

"You want to talk about it?" CJ asked.

"No. What's going on there?"

"The usual."

Neither seemed to want to discuss work, either because they were already too absorbed in it or because they were both too beaten down by it.

"So what do you want to talk about?" CJ asked.

"How's Toby?" Josh asked.

"Fine," CJ said. "He seems a little distracted lately, but that's Toby."

"I talked to him last week," Josh said. "He seemed…I don't know, more standoffish than usual."

"He hasn't said anything to me," CJ said.

"When you think back on Bartlet for America do you remember it as a good time?" Josh asked suddenly.

"Which parts?" CJ asked with a hint of flirtation in her tone that she couldn't quite explain.

Josh smiled in spite of his sour mood knowing exactly what CJ was referring to. The campaign trail was where their little arrangement had started. He would always look back on those times as nothing but excellent. "The parts with us were never bad," Josh said. "I was thinking more about the work. Was it ever this frustrating?"

"Yes," CJ replied. After a beat she added, "Josh, if you think this thing with Santos is going to be Bartlet for America…"

"I know," Josh said cutting her off. "It's not. I was just wondering if we were shielded from a lot of this stuff because Leo was there to deal with it."

"Could be. Santos isn't quite as malleable as you thought?"

"If I had 100 words to describe him malleable isn't one I'd use," Josh retorted.

"I'm sorry," CJ replied, though somewhere deep down she was kicking herself for being glad to hear it. She thought that the quicker Josh lost the illusion of Santos, the sooner he might come back to the fold. She hadn't even contemplated the thought of replacing him yet because it was so unconscionable to her.

"It'll work itself out," Josh said confidently.

"Before or after you lose your mind?"

Josh smiled again. She knew him so well. He missed her. "Preferably before."

CJ thought she caught a smile in his tone and it made her happy. "I miss this," she said before she even realized the words coming out of her mouth. Once she became conscious of the fact that she had betrayed herself she opened her mouth to walk back her unexpected statement, but Josh started speaking before she could verbalize anything.

"I miss you too," Josh said. He realized that he had said he missed her and not their banter, but he didn't care. He liked feeling that he still had a friend in the world. Santos surely wasn't his friend yet. Toby was being oddly cantankerous and although he'd kept running into Donna there was tension between them so thick that not even a trained chiropractor could relax it.

"Is it weird out on the road again?" CJ asked, deciding not to make a big deal out of the statements that had just passed between them.

"Yeah, without you guys, it's really weird. I mean, it's invigorating. I feel like I'm flexing a few muscles I haven't used in a while, it's just different."

"I bet."

Josh was startled by Ronna running into his room with a message. "Hey," he said. "I've got to go."

"Bye," CJ said quickly knowing that time was always of the essence when one of them had to get off the phone.

Josh disconnected the call and threw himself into yet another issue between him and Matt Santos. For a few minutes anyway, he was able to forget everything and just be the Josh he used to be.

CJ was at her desk again, trying to push paper from one place to another. It seemed that her days consisted of trying to piss off the least number of people. She'd had a run-in with the president and Abbey about the wake-up call. She had raised her voice to him. Things had seemed fine again, but the tension she felt for the last few days wasn't as easily forgotten for CJ.

She was almost grateful when Margaret came into her office and hovered by the side of her desk. "Am I late for something?" CJ asked as she signed a document quickly.

"No," Margaret said. "I was hoping I could talk to you about something."

"Okay," CJ replied, backing away from the desk. She gestured for Margaret to take a seat, which she did dutifully after she shut the door.

"Please tell me you're not quitting," CJ said suddenly. Margaret never asked for a moment to speak with her and she surely didn't shut the door to do it. CJ braced herself for the worst.

"You've probably noticed I put on some weight," Margaret said.

CJ took a moment to look at Margaret. In all honesty she hadn't noticed anything different about her, but when she was prompted to really look CJ became completely aware of what she was missing by not paying attention.

"Oh Margaret," CJ said once her mind connected to the fact that she had put on weight, in her stomach.

"I assumed you didn't say anything just in case I was getting fat, but I thought it was time I confirm that I'm pregnant," Margaret explained.

"That's…wow!" CJ said. She was fairly certain that Margaret hadn't been dating anyone seriously, but given the fact that she looked pregnant and CJ didn't bother to notice, she couldn't be sure of anything. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," she replied with a smile. "I've been trying to keep it quiet. No one here really knows, but obviously, I'm going to be needed a few months off soon."

"Yes," CJ nodded. "How soon exactly?"

"I'm due in three months," she said.

"Okay," CJ nodded. She really wasn't sure how excited she was supposed to be about Margaret's pregnancy. She didn't have a lot of details and so she tried to just go with the flow. "We'll figure it out."

"I'm sorry to just spring it on you like this," Margaret said. "It's been a strange time for me."

CJ nodded unsure of what to ask. She didn't want to pry, but part of her also wondered if Margaret had anyone around to help her with a child.

"I'm with someone. We're not getting married," Margaret babbled to CJ. "He travels a lot and right now we're just…"

"It's okay Margaret," CJ cut her off. "If you need anything just let me know."

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because I'm pregnant and leaving you in the lurch for a few months while I'm on leave."

"Margaret, you're having a baby," CJ pointed out. "You're not running away to join the circus. I'll work it out. Don't even worry about it."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely sure," CJ replied, though she was thinking about a few logistical things, the most of which that Margaret was like her right arm and working without her for a few months would hurt.

At that moment CJ's phone rang and Margaret picked it up. "It's Josh," she said quietly while covering the receiver.

"Thanks," CJ said taking the phone from Margaret. She took her leave of the office and CJ spoke into the phone, "What's going on mi amour?"

"The usual," he said giving her his standard response. They'd spoken like this for weeks. Josh would be evasive about why he was really calling until they'd caught up with mundane details first. "What's going on with you?"

"My day took an odd turn about five minutes ago," CJ said. She didn't feel comfortable telling Josh about Margaret, but she could definitely share her concern that it was kind of strange.

"Good stuff?" he asked.

"Interesting stuff. Do I seem like an oblivious person?"

"Never," Josh assured her. "Why?"

"Just wondering," CJ said.

"So, I'm going to be in town next Thursday for the DNC thing. Do you want to have lunch?" he asked.

"Sure," CJ replied. "That sounds great. I'll have Margaret put it on the schedule." She found herself already looking forward to their lunch date. She hoped nothing would come up to ruin it.

"Good," Josh said feeling more excited about his one day layover in D.C. already. "I'm looking forward to it."

"So," CJ said paving the way for conversation. "What's going on?"

"Two words: Amy Gardner," Josh said.

"You ran into her?" CJ asked with piqued curiosity. She knew that Amy was an itch that Josh couldn't help but scratch.

"Santos hired her for debate prep!" Josh exploded.

"You okay'd that?"

"He didn't tell me," Josh continued.

CJ began to busy herself with work while she spoke with Josh. Even though they only spoke for a few minutes a week she was glad for the connection. Much as she hated to admit it to herself, she kind of liked the idea that Josh might be burnt out on the Santos campaign. The sooner he found that the grass wasn't greener on the other side, the sooner he'd come back. It might have been a selfish thought, but she had it nonetheless.

Josh continued to talk about the campaign and CJ continued to commiserate with him. He seemed a bit worked up about things. On one hand she hoped that he'd find some kind of common ground with Santos, but with the New Hampshire primary so close, she wasn't sure they would gain any ground. It only would be a matter of time before he came back. Until then she'd have to just enjoy their conversations from hundreds of miles away.

CJ rolled over to the other side of the bed. She thought she heard her door open, but she had finally gotten home and into bed before eleven and she decided to continue to sleep. She had so many thoughts running through her mind lately that she didn't want to acknowledge the sound. She had an idea who it was and she didn't concern herself. It wasn't until she felt the covers next to her move and a body slid next to her that she decided to remain slightly conscious. She felt him scoot next to her and pull her body close to his.

He brushed the hair over her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Sorry I was late. The plane was delayed."

She smiled and used her hand to pull him even closer to her. "You're here now," she said with a tiny smile.

She felt how Josh's lips traveled slowly down her neck and she found that she missed him even though he was lying right next to her. His hands ran down her side and settled on her abdomen before she rolled over to look at him and kiss him hungrily on the mouth. His tongue tangled with hers with an intensity that she hadn't felt in a long time. Too long. CJ moaned audibly.

"I take it I'm forgiven for being late tonight?" he asked.

"I didn't think I'd get to see you until our lunch tomorrow, so yeah, you're forgiven," she replied before running her hands under his t-shirt.

"I missed this," he said as she ran her hands down his chest.

"I missed you," she said twisting their previous phone conversation around on him. "A phone call once a week just isn't doing it for me."

"Me either," he replied. Josh took her face in his hands and pulled her lips up to his. He devoured her mouth with his, as a man who had been denied water in the desert. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him towards her with vigor. It had been too long since they were together. Besides they didn't work together anymore. She wanted him powerfully and she wanted him now, but there was a nagging in the back of her mind. She had to talk to him about something.

"Josh," she panted in between kissed.

"Hmm?" he asked not letting his lips leave her collarbone as his hands traveled her body under her shirt. She felt his hand on her hip, caressing her in ways that way her squirm and she hated even bringing up a conversation and so she didn't. She let him peel off her shirt as she tugged on his boxer shorts. She let herself feel something good and real because it had been too long and Josh had been too far away for so long.

A while later CJ pulled her t-shirt back on and cuddled next to Josh. She said, "How's the campaign?"

"You really want to talk about that now?" he chuckled.

"Sure, why not?"

"I thought maybe you'd want to talk about the other thing," he said.

"The other thing?"

He ran his hand down her side and rested his hand on her stomach again. "The thing we've both been avoiding," he said.

CJ was silent and so Josh continued, "I'm going to around more," he said.

CJ forced a laugh. "Sure you will," she said.

Josh looked at her in the eyes and said, "I'm going to be here for you and our baby Claudia Jean. I mean that."

"I hope you will," CJ replied.

"Count on it," Josh said before she felt his lips on her again. CJ knew they should talk more, but she felt herself give in to his ministrations and rolled over with a moan.

Suddenly she felt like she was falling and CJ heard her elbow crack against the hardwood and she was very conscious. She opened her eyes in the dark and knew that it had all been a dream. She sat there on the floor for a moment. She was wearing the same clothes she had gone to work it, which was not new, but having a dream about being pregnant with Josh's kid was definitely something new and alarming.

She ran her hand through her hair. "Get it together Claudia Jean," she said.

She sat on the floor for a moment. Her heartbeat still hadn't returned to normal. She wasn't sure if the rapid heartbeat had to do with falling out of bed or the dream she was having. She half-wondered if she wasn't having a light panic-attack at the thought of her dream. She shrugged off her coat, which she had also fallen asleep in and left it on the floor as she crawled back into bed.

It had been a while since CJ had a dream that vivid and realistic. She mentally cursed Margaret and her pregnancy announcement for causing this. CJ lay there on her back and tried to fall back to sleep, but she felt too wired to really relax.

She had many unsettling thoughts flying through her head. The first of which she dreamt she was pregnant. However, the most disturbing aspect of the dream wasn't the fact that she was pregnant, it was the fact that she was having Josh's baby. Yes, they'd slept together on many occasions, but Josh was currently hundreds of miles away, plus, he was Josh. CJ wondered if this wasn't the infamous biological clock that so many people talked about.

CJ ran her hand over her face and took a few deep breaths. There was nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she needed to put to rest before she would ever get any sleep. She rolled on her side and pulled her PDA from the nightstand. She squinted at the light that was emitting from the device while she scrolled to her calendar. She scrolled back a month and saw with her own two eyes that she had nothing to worry about based on her expert tracking.

CJ was about to toss the phone back on the nightstand when it started to vibrate in her hand. She sighed and answered the phone, "Hi Margaret."

"Sorry to bother you so late," Margaret said. "I know you haven't been home before eleven in weeks, but the president needs you to meet with the Israeli ambassador tomorrow."

"Okay," CJ said running her hand absently through her hair. "Tomorrow is crowded. We've got the DNC thing at night. What have I got going on in the morning?"

"That's the thing," Margaret explained. "The only pocket of time is the time you set aside for lunch with Josh."

CJ thought about that for a moment. While she really wanted to see him, she knew she had to set this meeting. Further, she wondered if her interaction with Josh might be best suited to group situations after her disturbing dream.

"Yeah, okay," CJ said. "Cancel it. I'll see him at the thing later anyway."

"Okay," Margaret. "See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight Margaret," CJ said.

She tossed the phone on the nightstand and rolled her. One way or another she was going to get a good night's sleep. While part of her dreaded the thought of having another dream like the one she'd just had, there was another tiny part that hoped she might be able to pick up the dream where it left off.

TBC