—-~*~—-
An hour before in the SUV
"Are you sure this is the right address for that fucka Jay?"
"Si homes, Carrillo said if he's not in Baltimore, el esta aqui con su novia."
"Merida! This is a nice ass neighborhood and her ass is fine, I could fuck that all day!", he started brashly gyrating his hips up in a stroking motion laughing crassly with his tongue sticking out vulgarly flapping it up and down.
"Hey shut the fuck up man! You think this is funny? This is a fucking joke to you? Nino Rojo, Javier esta muerto! Jose, Mateo, Sergio in jail! 2.5 mil en cocanía tomada por DEA y por el señor Vice. And you here talking about fucking some puta!", he smacked him on the head then situated himself back in the driver seat looking at CJs house. "We wait. Ese cabrón va a llevarse un tiro, he muttered.
"Lo siento. Pero Carlos, who's the carajo?"
"Ex marido."
—-~*~—-
"Lissy! Lissy!", CJ screamed frantically.
"CJ?! Are you okay?"
"Yes! Lissy John." He helped CJ up and they ran over to where Justin and his daughter fell. The sounds of sirens already wailed in the distance compliments of Regina.
"Mommy!, Daddy!", Lissy cried at the sight of blood covering her.
"Justin!, Oh my God! Justin don't move! the ambulance is on the way", CJ tended to him. She didnt know how many times he was shot but it didnt look good.
"Lissy, baby are you hurt!", John tried to examine her with out moving Justin.
"My arm Daddy, my arm hurts", she cried.
The police pulled up and immediately ran over. John introduced himself, title first and explained thr situation as best he could. While he observed the paramedics move Justin onto the gurney.
"Can someone check her out too?", he pointed to CJ.
"I'm fine John. Im going with Justin van you go with Lissy?"
"You're pregnant and I knocked you to the ground! Please Claudia let them check you out!", he pleaded and CJ obliged as a paramedic walked over. She stopped to kiss Lissy then Justin when she flew in a rage.
"Why is he handcuffed?"
"Ma'am, he's one of the assailants."
"Why would you assume that? Because he's black? He happens to be a police officer asshole! And he saved my daughters life! Now take these cuffs off of him before I sue your department", she shouted. She was so upset she was crying.
John ran over to CJ after hearing her.
"CJ relax", he held her. "And she's a hundred percent correct. Baltimore Vice. Please remove the cuffs now and get this man to the hospital", John firmly stated.
They watched as the police officer uncuffed him and they load him in the ambulance.
"Go with Lissy, I'll go with Justin", when CJ began to protest John added, "trust me." She nodded as he climbed in the back and the ambulance drove off.
It was at that moment CJ took a breath and looked around. The scene drew all of her neighbors from their homes. Their stares and whispers were louder than ever. The ground littered with bullets and glass. At moment CJ doubled over in pain. Regina who was talking to the police saw out of the corner of her eye and ran over.
"Are you okay? Where you shot?"
"No, something is wrong!, Oh, God! Regina, I'm pregnant." Her neighbor yelled for help and someone immediately ran over.
—-~*~—-
"John!", Kerrie ran into the ER at Walter Reed embracing her brother in law. "Its all over the news! My mother is on the way. How is everyone?"
He just shook his head on the verge of crumbling.
"Oh", Kerrie feared the the worst, "CJ?"
"I pushed her out of the way-...She lost the baby", he said crying still forcing himself to continue. "Lissys okay, broken arm but okay. She's resting."
"Justin?", she asked anxiously trying to hide her true feelings.
"Still in surgery. I doesn't look good. One of the officers alerted precint who notifed his grandmother. She's elderly and can't make it. I spoke with her."
"We'll keep her updated", Kerrie hugged him again. "Why don't you go sit with CJ. I'm sure she needs you. I'll tend to Lissy and Justin."
John nodded. "You know he threw himself in front of Lissy."
"John", its going to be okay. "Go. Ill take it from here."
Lissy and CJ was discharged into Johns care. A his behest they went to Johns suite at the Watergate. After John settled CJ in bed he went into the kitchen to call his sponsor when Lissy walked in with tears falling off her cheeks, he immediately hung up.
"Hey Jellybean, come here", she ran into his arms.
"I didnt mean it Daddy!", she cried out sobbing loudly. "I'll never say anything like that again!"
"I know, Shh, I know honey. Stop crying sweetheart." He looked up to find CJ standing at the door. "Is Justin going to die?", she asked after she calmed a little.
"I don't know. I hope not. Aunt Kerrie and Grandma Beth are at the hospital with him." He glanced at a weary CJ.
"Claude?", you should really be lying down.
"I want to go to church."
"Me too", Lissy added.
"Sure, then rest?", she nodded and gathered Johns sweatshirt since they hadn't made it home yet to get some clothes.
John put his phone away and went with them.
While CJ and Lissy lit a candle and prayed, John snuck away from to the vestibule. With everything that transpired since dropping off Lissy the night before at CJs house he was worn down. Everything they'd experience in the last 24 hours was weighing heavy on him.
"Mcgarry"
"Leo I-, I'm", he dissolved into tears.
"John, what are you doing right now?"
"I'm at Saint Thomas with CJ and Lissy."
"Can someone take them home? John!"
"Huh? Um yeah her step mother is here, I guess I can call her."
"Good do that then get to a meeting. I'm here now."
"Yeah okay."
After taking a moment to compose himself, re-entered the sanctuary and made his way to CJs side whispering his intentions into her ear. She turned with saddened eyes just now taking into consideration his feelings on everything that transpired. With a soft smile he kissed her temple.
"I'll be okay baby don't worry. I'm not leaving until Beth gets here."
It didn't take long for Beth to arrive, luckily the hospital wasn't far from the church. John greeted her as he was anxiously awaiting her arrival. Truth be told he was quickly unraveling and a bourbon neat was looking more and more appetizing as time rolled along.
"John! How are you doing?", his ex mother in law greeted him with a warm embrace.
"As well as I can. Any word on Justin?"
"Still in surgery. Kerrie is there with him. How's CJ?"
"Not doing well. Beth we-, she lost the baby. She needs to be home in bed but-", her comforting hands clasped his, stopping him from going further. She could feel his agony in every word he shared.
"I'll take it from here. I'm sorry for your loss Johnathan." A small smile parted his lips. Only Beth and his mother call him that until this day. "Go to your meeting. Get yourself straight. This family will need you at your best, she reached into her purse and retrieved a Kleenex then wiped his tears. You guys will heal but it will take time", she said giving him a generous smile. "When is Cybil coming?"
"In the morning."
"Good, go", she gently encouraged. John nodded and left.
—-~*~—-
John walked to the door of the steam pipe distribution venue on the lower level of the OEOB. Prior to two years ago he'd never knew this room existed. Hell he didn't even know if the current administration knew this room and what occurs there in existed.
But here amongst great men, flawed men he found refuge and solace. John stood on his last leg in front of a man guarding the door.
"May I help you sir?"
"Uh yes, I'm here for the poker game." The muscled bodyguard stepped to the side allowing him entry.
"John", a friendly voice rang out. "The man stood shaking his hand inviting him further into the room. We stayed for you."
"You didn't have to."
"Yes we did." Leo Mcgarry knew the look in Johns eyes because he'd seen it in his own right before he fell off the wagon.
John sat down in the empty aluminum folding chair amongst the group. His sponsor cleared his throat getting his attention as it seemed to drift to his shoes.
"Oh yeah, um. My name is John and I'm an alcoholic."
"Hi John", the group said in unison.
"I, um I guess you all saw or heard the news by now. My wife, he cleared his throat, ex wife was seeing someone. A um, police officer, sorry a detective who was involved in a drug bust. Well that led to a drive by happening outside of my wife house."
"It all happened so fast. I've been forcing myself to piece everything together. It was like something out of a movie. You never expect something like this to happen in Chevy Chase. I heard the neighbor scream, I looked up and Lissy was the closest to the street but I knew I couldn't get her. Something just said get CJ down. She was trying to run to Lissy but I knew she wouldn't make it and I couldn't loose her. His palms were sweaty as he rolled them together reliving the ordeal."
"I choose my wife over getting to our daughter. And in the process I um", he finally broke down crying. Someone handed him a tissue. He cleared his throat and sniffed while straightening himself up in the chair before continuing. "I pushed CJ so hard to the ground so called protecting that I caused her to have a miscarriage."
"And the man I was jealous of protected my daughter with his life, while I took one."
"I'm sorry", he stood in a rush. "I shouldn't have come." Before anyone could stop him he bolted out of the room.
"John! John!", his sponsor shouted behind him but John kept going. "Three guesses where he's going", Leo said with a sigh to the group.
"Go get him Leo", Congressman Edwin Andersson said. "We have all been there. He's laying a lot of guilt on himself and I'm a hundred percent sure it's misplaced. He can go. Not like this."
"Yeah, I have an idea of where he's going and I know a short cut. Gentlemen", he quickly shook everyone's hand before he made his exit.
—-~*~—-
Beth knelt on the bench next to CJ, said a short prayer and marked the sign of the cross before looking at her step daughter.
"Mom?", CJ whispered.
"I'm here baby, embracing her", she turned toward her crying into her neck.
"Shh. It's going to be okay."
Beth was Tal Cregg's third wife. CJs birth mother Jane died when she was three. Two years after she passed he remarried to a woman named Phyllis. CJ never bonded with the woman which was Tal's hope but Phyllis had two grown children of her own and wasn't interested raising Talmadge Cregg's orphans. Due to that and whatever else transpired in their brief marriage they divorced in less than a year.
A short while after that he introduced Beth. For every ounce of sour Phyllis was Beth was sweet. She was also younger than Phyllis and didn't have any children of her own. CJs took an instant liking to Beth but her brothers Martin and Tommy were seven and six years older than her stayed at bay. They even chastised her for calling Beth Mom especially after she had Kerrie. And every since, whenever she did Beth knew something was wrong. Now was no different.
"Let's get you and Lissy home, back to Johns suite." CJ nodded but soon realized that the 11 year old had fallen asleep on the pew next to her.
"I'll carry her." John had an important appointment-
"I know CJ", she looked at her step mom with wide eyes uncertain of what she actually knew. I'll spell it out. I know about John going to AA, long overdue if you ask me but he got there that's the point, she smiled. I know about that bun you had in the oven and I know that my Kerrie loves that man in the hospital who saved my granddaughter's life. I also know that you used to date him.
I'm sorry CJ said feeling the overwhelming need to apologize to someone. To anyone.
No need to say those words to me. Save that for someone more deserving. And you will most definitely not carry little Ms Hoynes. Let's get her up so we can get both of you in bed. Then I'll make you my famous broccoli and cheddar soup, she offered finally earning a smile from CJ. I thought that would make feel better. Come on let's get going.
—-~*~—-
Leo Mcgarry looked in the window to the The Rusty Nail. Which is something he hoped he never had to do again. There he found John Hoynes seated at a table alone in a dark lit corner holding a glass of brown liquid.
"Please tell me that Coke", he stated as he sat across from John.
"Leave Mcgarry", John said staring at the glass.
"It's not that easy. Why don't you put that down and go home. Your family doesn't blame you and you can't blame yourself for something that you can't control. Come on, you've been coming to meetings enough to know that and I think you also know you're not Superman."
"Good Evening I'm Mya, can I get you a drink Sir?"
"No thank you", he said tersely.
"I'm sorry but it's Saturday night. There's a two drink minimum so you have to order something or you can't keep the table."
Leo reached into his billfold and threw a fifty on the table.
"Order what you like just give us a moment please", Leo stressed. She took one look that John who was still staring at his glass picked up the fifty and walked away.
"You couldn't save them all but somehow you all are here. Stop worrying about things that are out of your control and worry about the things that are like putting that glass down now John", he said in an authoritative tone. Even someone like Leo Mcgarry can be tempted in an environment like this.
Somehow Johns grip loosened and he dropped the glass, both he and Leo exhaled.
"Let's go", he stood first and thankfully John stood too and they left.
—-~*~—-
When John entered the suite he was immediately bombarded by his daughter.
"Daddy! Justin is okay!!"
"Seriously?", a wide smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, Aunt Kerrie called and Grandma Beth is here!"
John waved to her in the kitchen before he could make it there Suzanne appeared from out of his living room and Ashton took up residency with his right leg since Lissy had the left.
"Hey buddy you feeling better? Ashton nodded his reply. Suzy? What are you-", she ran over to him hugging him as well.
"We were so worried about you. Everyone tried calling you. I feared the worse. You were doing so good John."
"I still am", he confirmed. "By the was everyone this is Leo Mcgarry my sponsor."
"Good to see you again Mr Secretary", Suzanne extended her hand to him.
"It's just Leo now. And I guess I'll be going."
"No please stay. Come in. Lissy, where's mommy?"
"Sleep Grandma Beth made her."
"Okay, let me go for a minute guys, I'll be right back."
"We can go,"
"Suzy, it would mean the world if you stayed. I think Beth is cooking up something tasty. Please."
She nodded and took Lissy and Ashton into the living room.
"Johnathan", Beth interrupted his departure, "Sit and relax. Let her rest. We'll wake her when everything is ready."
He didn't want to but he knew she was right so he joined his family in the living room. Both his children climbed on top of him each vying for his attention.
—-~*~—-
An elderly woman was slowly escorted down the long white hall of the hospital with the support of her cane in her right hand and a nurses aid on her left.
"Here we go, Room 521", the nurse said as they stood outside the door. The heart monitor could be heard from the hall.
"Is he going to make it?", the older woman asked.
"With lots of rest and physical therapy Yes, his prognosis is good. He's stable." She commented watching the older woman stare at the woman in her grandsons room watching over him attentively. "She been here all night. She must really love him. "
"It appears that she does", she commented as the nurse opened the door for her.
"Hi", Kerrie stood to greet the woman. "You must be Justin's grandmother. I'm-"
"Yes Claudia Jean right? My grandson has spoken of you thank you for being here with him."
"Actually I'm Kerrie CJs sister. I just I'll leave now that you are here. I'm glad you could make it."
"You don't need to. I would very much enjoy the company of the woman who loves my Justin."
"Yes ma'am."
"Call me Roberta", she said with a smile sitting next to her grandson.
A few hours later after Kerrie had fallen asleep Justin woke. His grandmother on shaken hands rose to his side.
"I'm sorry to worry you", he replied looking at her.
"No need to apologize. I'm glad that you are still with me. I've buried your mother I couldn't bare to do the same with you", she squeezed his hand.
"CJ?", Justin questioned looking over at the woman's frame laying on the couch in his room.
"No, it would appear that you have attracted the affections of another. Kerrie has been here all night. While you were in surgery. She even called me to keep me updated on everything. If you have enough strength perhaps you could tell me how this happened."
"That's just it grandma I don't know", a puzzled Justin looked on as his grandmother smiled.
—-~*~—-
CJ heard quiet knock before someone opened the door. She looked over only to find Suzanne of all people entering the room from a lit hall that pierced through the darkness of the room.
"Suzanne?", CJ asked as she sat up turning on the bedside lamp. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, your mother finished cooking. She told me to come get you so you can eat."
"It's smells delicious but I'm just going to go back to sleep it's okay. I'm really tired."
"Well she's pretty insistent that you in her words 'bring you butt out there'." Both ladies smiled.
"Alright in a minute."
Suzanne closed the door behind her and sat at the foot of the bed. CJ was uneasy. The two women barely had a full conversation let alone were in the room together by themselves for any long period of time. In fact this was the first time CJ had seen her since right after the affair.
"I just wanted to tell you that I know how you feel. I had a miscarriage after the day after Ashton's second birthday", CJs head popped up in her direction, her eyes softened at to what she just shared.
"I'm sorry I never knew that." Suzanne waived it away.
"We didn't tell anyone. I was only five weeks but part of me always wondered what if. I like to think it was a girl. I would imagine she would look as beautiful as and be as wonderful as Felicity." They both smiled. "I also hoped it would bring John and I back together. I knew about the affair CJ."
"Suzanne-"
"No I think I should speak. As much as I hated the both of you part of me had always known that I never truly held Johns heart. That was all yours and bringing another child hoping for-… I think life has a way of working things out. John is a wonderful father and since the divorce and him sobering up, I see my friend in there. I missed him. But since he's with you again, I see how great his capacity of love is."
"Take this opportunity to heal and love one another. Never that that for granted. John is a great man deserving of a great woman's love."
"May I ask, why didn't you say anything?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I loved him. He's a beautifully flawed man. If I had to share him with you I would have. I did. But I guess I woke up one day and decided that I deserve better."
"And your better is out there. I am sorry Suzanne."
"No you're not. You love him and there's nothing we won't do for love." Suzanne stood from the bed and opened the door before she left she turned to a now standing CJ. "Don't ever break his heart again. Don't worry I told him the same thing. Both women stood smiling at each other. Come on I think your mother cooked everything in the house."
CJ smiled knowing her mother all too well, "I'm sure she did!"
—-~*~—-