TITLE: 'In the Hands of a Stranger' (5/8)
AUTHOR: Cindy ()
RATING: R
CHARACTERS: Toby and the gang
SUMMARY: The West Wing's past comes back to haunt them.
POV: Toby Ziegler and then the rest of the characters in 3rd view.
DISCLAIMER: The characters used from the West Wing do not belong to me; they are the property of Aaron Sorkin.
TIMEFRAME: After "I Used to Know Everything, Now I Know Nothing."
***9***
"So how was I?" CJ asked rubbing herself against me. We had just returned from the press room. Nothing turns me on than a pregnant woman hitting on me in the middle of the day.
"You were great," I kissed CJ full on the mouth and put my hands on her ass and gave her a squeeze.
"Hmmm, I should have you in the room more often," CJ stated. We broke apart and she went behind her desk and turned her computer on. I myself had to get back to Sam and Josh who were still going through the list of names we had.
"Did you sign Piper's forms?" CJ asked me before I slipped out. I had totally forgotten.
"What forms again?" CJ gave me a distressed look.
"The forms for her trip to the zoo Toby. How could you forget? It's all the kid's been rambling about for days, her trip to see the monkeys?"
Ah yes, our house hasn't been this noisy since the day of the welcome home party for Piper. She grew her obsession from Barbie to the animals that were at the zoo. I think only because Barbie has yet to come to town for Piper to see. Although she still loves Barbie she has been looking forward the trip with the daycare.
"I will sign it now I promise. I will go right up there and do it."
"You better Toby, because you won't have to deal with me it will be Piper. And you know you stand a better chance with me than you do with mini-you." CJ couldn't have spoken the truth better. Piper could work me like a charm and she and everyone else knew it.
"I'm on my way now. I love you," I said to CJ. She told me she loved me too and then I left to go to the daycare. They were in the midst of naptime so I quietly talked to Terri and signed the appropriate forms as quick as I could. Daddy had saved the day once more.
***2nd Sitting Room***
"Okay who had this guy? A Paul Walker, apparently pissed off because of the cleanliness of the hospitals in Nebraska," Sam asked.
"You got to be kidding me? He came all the way from Nebraska for that?" Josh asked.
"Apparently cleanliness is important to him," Sam joked. Nor Sam, Josh and I could recall this guy so we put him aside and moved on.
"What about Mary Marsh?" Sam questioned Josh.
"The Christians Rights rep? What about her?" I asked Sam
"Now there is a name from the past. Talk about someone who's bad side I got on," Josh said.
"Exactly," Sam pointed out.
"Hey you don't think-"
"Well you did insult her Josh and she tried to have you fired," Sam reminded Josh.
"I don't think the person we are looking for is Mary Marsh," I said.
"How do you know though?" Sam asked me.
Before I answered I waited until I had Josh looking at me and then I said, "Because I'm Jewish. I know everything," Josh understood and started laughing.
"Yeah but-" Sam didn't get to finish because Josh cut him off.
"Cross her out Sam."
"But-"
"Cross her out!"
***Toby's***
The work-day had finally ended and CJ and I were preparing for a dinner date with Josh and Amy. While CJ was fussing over what to wear I took a seat on the bench that sat at the end of our bed and asked, "Do you think this is a good idea? Going out to dinner I mean?"
CJ came out from the closet with two more dresses. "Why because Josh isn't in love with Amy because he is completely head over heels in love with Donna?"
I just looked at CJ. How the hell did she know that was what I was thinking? "Something like that," I mumbled, peeved that she had beaten me to the punch.
"Despite his immaturity Josh is a grown man and he is therefore responsible for his actions. Should he continue to carry on this fake romance with Amy, it's own doing if and when he screws it up," CJ said as she slipped into a purple maternity dress.
"That was cold," I said to her.
"No it's not. It's the truth." CJ turned from me and looked at her appearance in the mirror and began to get angry. She whipped around on her heels and said, "I look like bloody Barney."
I laughed at her comparison. I would never admit it but when she wore purple she did resemble the big purple pain in the ass.
"So pick one of the others that you already tried on. CJ Abbey will be back in a couple of hours with Piper and it will be too late to eat so let's just go already," I complained laying back onto our bed.
"This is all your fault you know, the least you could be is be supportive," CJ said angrily as she removed the purple dress with a little too much force.
"What's my fault?" I asked sitting back up.
"This," she said pointing to her swollen belly.
"I didn't hear you complaining the night it happened," I came back with.
CJ stared me down until I looked away. I was always the one to look away first. She fluffed her hair out and then said she was ready to go. I was already eager for this evening to end.
***Josh's office***
Josh came into work early to get a head start on the list of names that were still left. He wasn't able to sleep so he felt he would be better of use at work. With the newspaper in his hand he sat down his office with a fresh hot coffee. Donna was going to be returning to work today and that was partly the reason for his inability to sleep.
Last night's dinner with Amy, Toby and CJ helped Josh see that the person whom he wanted to be with wasn't Amy after all. It was Donna.
Seeing how Toby and CJ were able to keep their marriage separate from Josh convinced him that it was possible for he and Donna to do the same. Pending that it was something Donna wanted as well.
Josh turned on the lamp on his desk and laid the paper flat out so that he could read it easily. The first page caught his breath and he spit out the sip of coffee he had just taken. He grabbed his phone and called Toby's house but there was no answer. He then dialed Toby's cell phone but there was no answer there either. Josh was beginning to panic.
***10***
I was sitting in the waiting room of the Doctor's office bored out of my mind. At this early hour there isn't much one can do to keep themselves occupied. I reached into my pocket to use my cell phone and realized that I had forgotten to take it out of my dinner jacket from last night.
Great now I was cut off from the outside as nobody had any way of getting a hold of me. CJ and Piper came out twenty-eight minutes later with reports of good health all around. I usually go in with CJ but considering Piper was having a checkup I decided to let them tough it out on their own. Piper was sucking on a red lollipop when she came over to me.
"Hand it over," I demanded of her. Piper's happy face suddenly changed to the pout she was so famous for. She reminded me so much of Josh when she did that. "Your pouting isn't going to affect my decision Piper. It's 7 am and you are not chewing on candy this early in the day, now please give it to me."
She finally relented and handed me the sucker, making sure to press the candy part firmly into the palm of my hand. Little did she know I was onto her and took a wipe out of my briefcase. Having a child prepares you for all their little antics that they so desperately try. Mine was no different. A tad sneakier but still no different.
"I forgot my cell phone," I informed CJ as we headed to our car.
"You'll live Toby," was her response.
"Can I have yours?"
"No," CJ answered quickly knowing that I was going to ask her for it. Piper giggled as she climbed into the backseat. With these two I didn't stand a chance. I sure hope this baby is a boy. I don't know if I can handle three against one. Someone up there has to like me a little bit.
***The Daycare***
CJ went to her office while I did my morning routine of taking Piper to daycare. She was so excited because this was the day of her trip. I can't call to mind ever being that energized to go to a zoo. I was happy for her though, it was a nice treat for her. It wasn't everyday she got to do things that were fun considering the hours CJ and I put in.
"Okay we're here," I announced. "And how is our behaviour going to be today?" I asked my little one.
"100% as negotiated," Piper said looking into her backpack.
"Did you forget something?" I asked her fearing she was going to go without something important.
"No, I'm just checking out the lunch mommy made me." She pulled out her Barbie snack box and peeked inside making a face. CJ wasn't known for her lunch ideas.
"What did she put in it this time?"
"Mystery meat, an apple, an orange, a banana, a juice box and," her hopes suddenly dashed as she looked further, "carrots."
"That's a very healthy lunch Piper," I said trying to be reassuring.
"But there's no cookies. Why come I don't ever get the good snacks like the other kids Daddy?" I started laughing. CJ had yet to learn the importance of cookies in a child's lunch. Plus her why come question I thought was irresistible. We were able to fix her l's and R's but sometimes words just didn't fit the way she wanted them to.
"How about this then?" I pulled out my wallet and removed a few bills. "Daddy will give you some money to buy a lunch." I took the Minnie Mouse backpack from Piper and inserted the money into the zippered pouch.
"How much do I get?"
"Just a few dollars to get some lunch, that's all you're going to need," I answered her.
"What if I get thirsty?" My daughter was working me and being the sap I was I took some more money out. "Can I buy a toy with this much?" Piper asked as she accepted the other bills I gave her.
"No, but you can buy yourself a new father to sucker," I said to her. Piper weighed her options and put the money into the pouch. She leaned into me and gave me a big kiss and an extra long hug.
"Alright here," I took out a twenty dollar bill. "Make sure you don't lose this and tell Terri that you want to buy a toy before you leave the zoo." Piper nodded her head enthusiastically as she put the money with the rest I had given her.
"Now, what are the rules of this trip?" I quizzed her.
"I don't leave Terri and the kids and their mommies. I am not allowed to talk to strangers unless they are the zoo people and policeman. Them I can ask animal questions."
"And?" I waited for the one thing I wanted her to prevent.
"And I am not allowed to be sassy or use my pouting face," Piper answered me.
"Why not?" I wanted to make sure she knew why.
"Because if I do and they tell you I won't ever ever be allowed to go on a trip again. And ever is a long long time." Perfect, I succeeded. This father role was becoming easier everyday.
"Good girl, you have a good time pumpkin okay."
"I will, I love the animals Daddy."
"I know you do. Okay Daddy has to go to work now and Terri is here. So how about a kiss and a hug goodbye?" I hugged Piper tight and gave her three kisses before I let her go.
"She'll be fine Toby. Don't worry," Terri assured me.
I stood up and tried to act like a cool father. "I know. You have a good time and I will be here when you get back." I told Piper.
"Okay Daddy, bye bye," Piper waved to me. I turned around and headed to my office. If it wasn't noticeable I was terrified of her leaving the building.
***West Wing***
I was just coming onto the main floor where I was heading to go to my office when I noticed CJ standing a few feet away from me. I smiled at her but as I got closer I saw that she wasn't smiling back. In her hands was a newspaper.
"Hi, what are you doing here?"
CJ hit me with the newspaper and let it fall into my hands. "What the hell is this Toby?" I opened the folded paper and on the front page was the heading, 'DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS CALLS KIDNAPPER A COWARD'. This wasn't good.
I skimmed the article that quoted what Josh and I had said privately to one another yesterday during the press conference. Someone had obviously overheard us and printed it without our knowing.
"Does Josh know about this?" I asked her.
"Yes he does. What were you thinking Toby?"
"I wasn't, I-"
"Well that part is obvious. Jesus Toby."
"CJ, Josh and I were talking to each other. We didn't seek out a reporter or anything. Someone must have overheard us, it's not our fault."
"Tell that to the President. He wants to see you."
"Now?"
"No Toby, ten minutes ago." CJ turned and walked away from me. She didn't even wait for me to walk with her. Josh and I without meaning to had just made her job a tad bit more difficult.
***2nd Sitting Room***
I entered the room to expecting to find both Sam and Josh but I only found Josh.
"I was wondering when your lecture would end?" he said as I came in.
I motioned to where Sam was usually sitting and Josh picked up on it. "He's gone to run a check on someone we found."
"Really? Who?" I sat down anticipating what Josh was going to tell me.
"Elliot Roush. Ever heard of him?"
"Sure he ran against Bartlet in New Hampshire. What about him?"
"Sam and I think he's a good contender."
"Come on, Elliot Roush? The guy's a wuss it's not him."
"Oh yeah, he ran against Bartlet for the Board of Education and Bartlet defeated him. That had to have pissed him off." Josh explained.
"The Bible and his homophobia defeated Elliot Roush. It wasn't this administration Josh." I said. Elliot Roush to me was just grasping at straws.
"Toby, the four boys that have gone missing have more than their parents place of work in common."
"You have my attention Josh. What do you know?"
"Hunter Emanuel and Robert Creaser were in the same grade. Ethan and Jesse were in the same grade. But there is more than that Toby, they were all attending the same school."
Josh's words were running through my head. They all went to the same school. Why hadn't that come up earlier? "
"Do we know this for sure?" It sounds like a stupid question I admit that but it was all I could think of.
"Yes it was confirmed this morning. I don't know why it took this long, I guess they were concentrating on the staff instead."
I was thinking. "So the boys not only have parents that work here, they attend the same school and they are the only sons as well."
"Only sons, where do you get that?"
"CJ told me about her discussion with Leo. Scott, Ron and Nancy have daughters as well but only one son. Carol only had a son and that was something they were focusing in on yesterday."
"Holy shit. Do you think that is something Roush might put into consideration with his victims?"
"No. How would he know that kind of information? I don't think Elliot is who we are looking for, I seriously don't Josh." I was waiting for Josh's argument but he didn't bring one up. He just sat taking in all the information as I was.
"Hunter doesn't remember anything Toby," Josh changed the subject to the first child who was taken and later found yesterday.
"As much as that is frustrating Josh, I find it a relief. What that boy probably went through I don't think I would want to remember."
"True." A slight pause. "Fuck me. This is bullshit man, I want to get this guy so bad."
"Me too Josh, and we will. I promise we will find him one way or the other. The FBI don't get paid the big bucks for nothing." We laughed. It was well needed.
Josh finally got around to asking me about my meeting with the President. I was surprised he waited this long. "How did it go in there?"
"I survived. Five hail Mary's and get the hell out of my office and all is well again."
"Not bad. Any idea who leaked it?"
"I don't think it was a leak Josh, I think one of the reporters actually heard us talking."
"But we were like whispering?"
"Incase you haven't noticed, you and I have yet to conquer the art of whispering." Josh smiled.
"Man, we could have gotten so screwed."
"Let's just hope Josh that we didn't hurt those children. That's the only thing I am praying for right now."
At that moment Sam came into the room. "Scratch out Elliot Roush, he has been in Vermont for the past month and has a gazillion witnesses." Sam sounded so depressed. I am sure like us, he was hoping that he may have been onto something worthwhile.
"Well let's get back to work," Josh suggested. And that is what we did for a few more hours and then all hell broke loose. From inside the room we could hear CJ screaming my man. The scream was unlike any I have ever heard, it was a loud shrieking sound.
I ran out into the hallway, Sam and Josh right behind me and there was CJ crying in the hallway. When she saw me she waddled over as fast as she could and threw her arms around me crying.
"CJ, CJ what's wrong?"
"Pi-Pipe-" she was in hysterics.
I grew frantic right away and screamed at CJ, "What about Piper CJ? CJ, where's Piper?"
"He's got her Toby," CJ wailed.