Hi, so here is my first big story for this fandom and it's part one of a two part series! I hope that you enjoy this chapter and this story.
Now I love Danny/CJ. I love the character of Danny, I love how CJ and him got their happy ending at the end but there was always just something about Toby/CJ. The two of them just had such a connection and so this little monster of a plot was born.
This will cover Seasons 1-4 and will not be episode specific, certain episodes will be skipped. Dialogue will not be the same. If that's something you look for in a story then please don't start because you won't get it here.
Also in my West Wing Universe Sam doesn't leave and Ainsley joins full time.
Pairings are CJ/Toby (eventually) Josh/Donna, Sam/Ainsley, Jed/Abby.
Disclaimer-Nothing but Jacob is mine.
And on a side note, I like so many other Fanfiction Authors no longer receive notifications via email about reviews/PMs etc. So if you do send any it might be a while, if ever before I get back to you. Please keep that in mind for it is not intentional-If anyone has a fix please let me know.
There will be a second part that follows this...eventually. Each series should cover about seven chapters some chapters several episodes. Flashbacks included when needed.
Also I do not do Private Messaging anymore, any questions stick them in a review and I will get back to you next chapter note.
Also please be aware of a bit of a time jump between these chapters.
Also after much thought and consideration I have decided not to include Mandy in this story. She's there for like one Season and misses half of the episode and while she was an okay character played by a very good actress her disappearance and everything that follows is just too hard to write. So no Mandy. Ever.
And a couple of the episodes are mixed around here but please keep that in mind.
Perhaps Love
Chapter 7-Last Day On Earth
Final Chapter of Season 1-Jake, his crush (at the President's insistence) and his parents go to a town meeting in Rosslyn. You know what happens next.
You never think that today was going to be your last day on Earth. You never think it's even a possibility. You never think that as you have a cup of coffee and head to the White House because for reasons beyond comprehension the President of the United States wants to help you with your math homework because it's a welcome distraction, that it's going to be your last day but…
"Jacob, I just gave a rather ingenious explanation of algebraic formula there and you weren't listening to me?"
"Sorry Mr President"
"What's going on son?"
"Mr President…can I ask you a question, man to man?"
"Shoot?"
"How did you know Mrs Bartlett was the one?"
The President looked at Jacob through his glasses and then…
"Oh God"
"Sorry Mr President I'll just get this stuff and go and—"
"What's her name? Or his name? I don't really care you understand?"
"Anna"
"Ah…do you inspire such beaming joy in her?"
"I don't know Sir, I just…I just know that I really like her and I think she really likes me. She's a democrat too so Mom and Dad will like her on site."
"Even better. I'll tell you what! I've just had a brilliant idea"
Jake who was in the process of gathering his books paused. It was never a good thing when you heard those words coming out of the Presidents mouth. The President was one of the few people who were capable of doing some real damage when words such as these were spoken.
Like you know…World War Three.
"Oh?"
"Your coming to this Town Hall meeting tonight in Rosslyn aren't you?"
"Yes Sir"
"Excellent, bring her along too"
Jake paused nearly dropping his book. He managed to catch it just in time and he stuffed it into his bag.
"Sir?"
"I mean it! Give her a flare of what we do here. It's not much I grant you but if she can find this appealing I'd say your in for a good shot"
"Are you…are you trying to set me up Mr President"
"Jacob…Jacob…Jacob…Jacob. Yes, yes I am."
The Leader of the Free World was offering to help him with his girl troubles. Jake discreetly pinched himself just to make sure this wasn't some kind of bizzarro dream gone wrong, because you know round here…anything could happen.
"Won't the Secret Service object?"
"Why is she a radical Democrat?"
"Do those exist?"
The President who had now moved to the desk shot him a look.
"You ever been to the Woman's Leadership Caucus Jacob?"
"No Sir?"
"Be relieved son, be very relieved. Does she want to shoot me? Tear down the Government? Take a few ugly looking statues on the way out? Because I've got to tell you Jacob there's an old statue of a angel that my mother in law gave me that I have been trying to break while dusting for thirty two years and somehow have never managed"
Jake paused. He hated this, he hated being the guy who had to say this but the Secret Service was going to do a background check and the Secret Service were going to tell the President and he figured it was better him saying it than it was Ron Butterfield who Jacob liked immensely but who had no tact. And…and he supposed it was better than telling his mother who would have to know.
"She has two Dads Mr President"
The President looked at him and then he took his glasses off.
"And?"
"And nothing. Doesn't bother me, I know it doesn't bother you, or my mother, or my father or Leo or Josh or Sam or Charlie or anyone else in this building and it doesn't bother her either but you and I both know it's gonna bother a whole lot of people outside of this building."
"To hell with the lot of them" the President said putting down his papers and then in the contradictory nature that was the President of the United States he picked them back up again. "Tell Anna if she wants to go she can go, I'll talk to Ron…what do her father's do?"
"I think one of them is a surgeon and one of them is an mechanic?"
"Oh well" The President said sarcasm in his tone. "I'm sure there is a lot there that would worry the Secret Service"
Jake grinned and took that as his excuse to leave. Senior staff were coming in and just as his Mom and Dad entered the room he turned and said…
"Your enjoying this aren't you?"
"So long as your not after one of my daughters Jacob I take my pleasure in anyway I can"
His mother looked between the two of them but Jake just grinned.
"I don't know how you did this but I want to say you are all kinds of awesome"
"Thanks"
"I mean it. Harrison told me when I moved into his AP English class that you had connections but I thought he was making it up"
"He's been here once or twice too?"
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, I can't show you the Oval Room or the Press Room as we can't go anywhere were the President or the Press might be at the minute but your going in the motorcade so that's cool"
"And I'm on the plane…this place has…wow"
Anna sat down on the seat looking around and Jake grinned. She had thought he was lying right up until the car they'd gone in had dropped them off in front of the biggest plane that she had ever seen in her life. Her Pops was going to be so jealous that he didn't get a chance to work on this thing…
"Why do we take the plane?"
"Because if it's more than a certain distance the Secret Service ask the President to use the plane, we'll take the motorcade to the Town Hall and then back again. If it's in the States we fly back and forth in the same day too."
"Wow" she said watching him. "You really know this stuff?"
"Yeah well" he said blushing a bit. "It's just something you get used to. Dad tells me it's a privilege and he's right. Do you want a coffee or something? They can cook up a pretty good steak too—"
"How about champagne?"
"Yeah that doesn't work. Tried that when we won the damn thing"
"Yes you did—"
The President was there. Jake stood up jeans and polo freshly clean and Anna who had worn a skirt (not her best skirt mind you because she had not taken this seriously and boy was that now biting her in the ass) stood up too and then paused because…what was the protocol when meeting the Leader of the Free World.
Was it like when you met the Queen? Was she supposed to curtsey?
"Mr President, this is Anna Grey—"
"Anna! Lovely to meet you, so glad you could come and join us for this little get together"
"Thank you Mr President"
"Jacob tells me you have two fathers, that's wonderful! And I hear one of them is a surgeon?"
"Yes Mr President"
"Well tell the other one Godspeed cause I'm married to one"
"Yes Sir"
"You like softball Anna?"
"Err…sure?"
"Wonderful"
"Mr President" came a tired reply from the older man who had the look of perpetual Why Me? Etched on his face.
"Leo—"
"Leave the kids alone Mr President"
The President sighed a tad too theatrical and winked at them both and as he passed he touched her arm.
"Love is love Anna, and while I am in Government I will do my best to make sure that nobody is ever going to regulate what love is"
She was so oddly touched by that she didn't know what to say but he carried on walking past her and she thought actually that despite the fact she hadn't said anything he understood.
"Wow" she said finally.
"Yeah" Jake said as if he understood all of what she was feeling and more. "He has that effect on people. And it never really goes away"
Anna didn't know what to make of that.
"Our little boy's all grown up"
"I'm just proud, just so, so proud"
"You two dimwits do know that CJ and I are Jake's parents right. Not you two?"
That was said to Josh and Sam both of whom had their noses pressed up against the window of the office looking down the corridor at Jake and Anna who were sat talking over what looked like hot chocolate and popcorn.
"You know her Dad is one of the finest brain surgeons in the country and before he retired to open up his own business her other one was a mechanic in the Navy, worked on the planes and—"
"CJ did you swipe that file from the Secret Service?"
"Doesn't it bother you he didn't tell us about her?"
"No" Toby said though he supposed it did. To be honest between David up in space and the answer on Cuba that Sam still had not written he had given up all of his attention. Jake and his first crush could be something that they could deal with tonight when they got back. Depending or not on whether he would have to shit Shiva for his brother.
"It doesn't?"
"Okay yes it does but which one of us doesn't keep their first crush a secret? Tell me CJ did you tell your mother and father about your first crush?"
CJ paused and then nodded closing the file.
"Fair enough, take this from me before I violate any more of her civil rights"
Toby did just that.
For a second they were all silent and then Josh gave a long lamented sigh.
"They grow up so fast"
"Joshua!"
It descended into chaos as it always did but Toby took the opportunity to sit down next to CJ.
"He's fine" he said quietly and she turned and smiled at him.
"I know" she said though she sounded a little sad. She saw the look on his face and elaborated.
"I just…he really is growing up fast isn't he?"
"Yes" Toby said quietly. "But what a good kid he is yeah?"
"Yeah" CJ said still holding his hand.
They were still holding hands when the plane landed in Rosslyn.
Everybody noticed but nobody said anything.
It was just the way.
"Decisions are made by people who show up. Thank you all, God Bless you and God Bless the United States of America!"
And the room descended into applause and Jake looked at Anna through the haze of people applauding the President and she looked at him and then suddenly she kissed him.
It was on the cheek but it had to count right.
He didn't think that anyone noticed but he caught Charlie's eye as they began to leave the building and he winked. Jake liked Charlie. He made a mental note to grab a hold of Charlie at some point over the next few days. Charlie knew things about woman and right now that was what Jake needed.
They stepped out outside and he saw his Mom and Dad talking to Sam and he paused stopping and looking around as the President began to walk the rope line.
"It always this loud?" Anna shouted over the noise watching and Jake nodded.
"To be honest it's kinda louder during the bigger events, like the ones were he has to run for something. Come on, I'm pretty sure they'd do steak sandwiches on the—"
But he had carried on walking and so had bumped into Gina, Zoey's Secret Service agent had stopped walking and Jake all but bounced off her.
"Sorry Gina" he said but she was still looking around her eyes wide and he thought he heard her mutter something before she turned to look at the window.
It was like everything was happening in slow motion. For a second she stared at whatever she was staring at and then she whirled around screaming.
"GUN!"
And then the shooting started.
Gina shoved Jake to the side to grab Zoey and he could see out of the corner of one eye the mass of black descend on the President. He turned and the mirror of the car exploded and he fell to the ground dragging Anna with them as a hail of bullets surrounded them. Charlie was next to them his face to the concrete as screaming increased tenfold and the shooting got worse.
Someone was shooting. Someone was shooting. Someone was shooting.
Mom and Dad.
He wanted to move but he couldn't. He was stuck there frozen and Anna next to him had scrabbled her hand on the ground until it had found his and then before they could move Charlie had ducked closer to them blocking them off with his own body as the roar of the limousines went and Zoey, the President, Leo maybe disappeared from view.
Suddenly another body was on top of them and he saw the Secret Service agent, another nameless, faceless one with grey hair standing over the two of them, crouching over them and Jake realised that he was there to catch the bullet.
He closed his eyes and breathed in and breathed out and then the weight was gone but he didn't open his eyes. Anna next to him was shaking against the pavement but they stayed there face down in the gravel and they waited.
Jake didn't know what had happened. It was funny though, he'd have never marked today as the day where he was going to die. He wouldn't have marked this day as anything other than ordinary.
His eyeline was level with the gravel again and there was another spray of gunfire. He didn't want to look.
And so Jacob Cregg-Ziegler closed his eyes.
He did not open them for a long time.
And so that is the last one of our Season 1 arc! Bring on Season 2.
Next Chapter-The shooting in the aftermath, AKA CJ and Toby try to get to their son. First Chapter of the Season 2 arc.