Title:      The Prodigal Son

Series:    The Prodigal Series

Rating:    PG

Spoilers:    No obvious ones

The Prodigal Son

Part One

The alarm clock went off, the buzzing sound invading her dreams. CJ turned over and reached for the offending item, hitting it hard. She shifted slightly and pulled herself upright, regretting it immediately as the first wave of nausea washed over her. She fell out of bed, half crawling, half walking to the bathroom. Dropping to her knees she heaved until her throat hurt.

Sitting up, her back to the bath she reached up and blindly poured a glass of water, which shortly came back up. CJ closed her eyes and waited until the nausea went over before crawling back to the bed. Once there she pulled the covers over her and picked up the phone, dialling her assistant’s room.

‘Hello?’

‘Carol, it’s me.’

‘CJ.’

‘Yeah, look I’m not feeling too good, I need an hour, can you let the others know?’ CJ asked.

Carol moved the phone to her ear, rustling through papers, ‘You have a briefing at nine, Toby can take that, you rest. Sick again?’

‘Yeah, it’s probably something I ate,’ she mumbled.

Carol nodded, yeah right but just answered, ‘Okay, I’ll come by in awhile.’

CJ put the phone down and turned over, waiting for the next wave to come over.

Carol knocked once on the Presidential suite, smiling at the agent on duty as she waited. Charlie appeared at the door and showed her in. The senior staff were sat around the table chatting about the Hockey game while the First Couple finished their breakfast. Leo acknowledged her first,

‘Hey Carol, what can I do for you?’

Carol hesitated, ‘CJ’s not feeling very well, she’s going to stay in bed for an hour and see how she feels.’

‘Great, did you guys hit the bar last night?’ Leo snapped, annoyed that his staff were enjoying themselves and putting work second.

Josh piped up, ‘We did, CJ went to bed, she wasn’t feeling well.’

‘She’s been off colour for about a week. Can someone take the briefing?’ Carol asked looking at Toby.

‘Yeah,’ he growled.

Abbey rose from her chair and made her way over to the group.

‘Nobody else is feeling off colour?’

They all shook their heads.

‘Carol, what are her symptoms?’ Abbey asked concentrating on the young woman’s face.

Carol coughed, ‘Ma’am. She’s tired all the time, there were stomach cramps. And she’s sick,’ Carol whispered looking directly at the older woman.

Abbey stared back nodding; the assumption had also crossed her mind.

‘I’ll take your key and check on her, I’ve got some Odansetron in my bag.’

Abbey knocked on the door and turned the key at the muffled go away. Her eyes searched for the patient and when she couldn’t find her she walked in the direction of the retching sound. CJ was leant over the toilet, tears streaming down her face, clutching her stomach.

She turned slightly and shook her head from side to side at the sight of Abbey.

‘Ssh, it’s okay,’ Abbey whispered, moving to kneel beside her and stroking her back. ‘I can give you something to ease the sickness.’

‘Ma’am, Carol shouldn’t have sent you, I’ll be fine.’

Abbey continued to rub her back, ‘How long?’

CJ shrugged her shoulders, struggling to keep her hair from her face, ‘a few days.’

Pulling the clip from her own hair Abbey grabbed CJ’s hair and tied it back. ‘Are you seeing anyone?’

The implication was suddenly clear and CJ shook a resounding no.

‘When was your last period?’

CJ closed her eyes as she went dizzy and fell back against Abbey, blacking out. Abbey held onto her stroking her hair and talking to her, trying to bring her around to no avail. Finally she yelled out into the room and an agent appeared.

‘Can you get me Toby or Carol?’ The agent ran off leaving his protectee sat on a bathroom floor.

When he returned minutes later Toby was with him.

‘What happened?’ he asked puffing.

‘She passed out. Can you get her into bed?’

Toby bent his knees and lifted the limp woman up, carrying her to the bed. As he did so Abbey went to stand and noticed the blood on her skirt.

‘Scrap that. We need to get her to the hospital,’ Abbey ordered.

Toby glanced down and growled, ‘Shit, Abbey?’

Abbey handed her bag to an agent and followed Toby towards the service elevator, agents checking the way and directing others to organise a car.

The car waited at the back of the building, two agents guarding the alley. One of the detail got into the car and placed a blanket over the seat, taking CJ from Toby.

Toby climbed in afterwards, Abbey facing him as she dialled the local hospital and spoke rapidly to someone. Toby continued to hold CJ, whispering against her hair, his hand in hers.

Abbey put down the phone and turned to him, ‘Dr Garrett will meet us in Casualty. Toby, you and her?’

She tried delicately.

‘No. There was someone over Christmas. She didn’t say who,’ his eyes failed to meet hers as he watched for signs of waking.

The staff meeting had pretty much ended when Toby had dashed out without a word. Minutes later the agents had increased chatter on their radios. Finally the President spoke to one of them,

‘Ron, what’s going on?’ He was irate.

‘Sir, Miss Cregg is on her way to hospital, Mrs Bartlet and Toby are with her.’

The others raised their heads at the news.

‘Get me over there,’ he ordered.

Ron looked at Leo for assistance.

‘Sir, you can’t go. You need to go to the meeting. If you go now the press will be all over the hospital and until we know about CJ…. Sam, go and brief. Josh, accompany the President. Sir?’

‘I know Leo, it’s just, Claudia Jean?’

Leo looked at him for the first time, the worry was etched on his face, the same concern he would have for anyone of them, except his voice was saying something else. The term of endearment was unexpected, especially from him, nobody called her Claudia without permission. Of course they all felt protective of her, she was new to politics, and she was like a sister to the guys, but maybe there was something more underlying.

‘Sir, as soon as we hear I’ll tell you.’

CJ awoke to bright lights and white ceiling; she lifted her hand and almost passed out at the sight of the needle. Abbey moved from the window and took the other hand.

‘CJ, it’s me, how do you feel?’

‘Like one of Josh’s hangovers. What happened?’

Abbey smiled at the mention of someone familiar. ‘You passed out. You were losing blood so we got you here.’

‘Oh. Miscarriage?’ she said, barely audible.

Abbey squeezed her hand, ‘He, or she, is holding on CJ.’

******

At some point that morning CJ fell asleep and managed to sleep for ten hours. She awoke to the sound of a newspaper rustling and opened her eyes to find Toby working beside her. CJ smiled and watched as he tried to read and write on his knees. She laughed and he looked up, throwing his papers to one side.

‘CJ, how do you feel?’ He asked taking her hand and squeezing it gently.

‘Like I’ve been run over by a ten ton truck. Shouldn’t you be somewhere?’ She whispered.

Toby shook his head, ‘Nah. The President wanted someone here when you woke up. Do you need anything?’

‘Chocolate,’ she grinned. ‘Toby, have they said anything?’ her voice cracking at the end.

‘They won’t know for a few days but you’ve stopped bleeding and the foetus hasn’t…’

He left the sentence hanging, not really wanting to get into the dynamics of it all.

‘Okay. Anything good in the papers?’ She asked smiling, no longer wanting to continue the conversation, knowing he would ask the inevitable.

‘Well…’ For the next hour they discussed articles and editorials, avoiding all discussion of her reason for being there.

At midnight a man stepped into the room, checked around and left. The door opened seconds later and the President stepped in. Toby rose from his seat and stood away from the bed.

Jed looked at the woman in the bed and made note of the paleness of her skin and the obvious sleep deprivation. Stepping closer he leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.

‘How are you feeling CJ?’

‘I’m fine Sir.’

Toby grumbled and shuffled from foot to foot.

‘Toby doesn’t seem to think so. Can you give us a few minutes, please?’

Toby glanced at CJ and she nodded, picking up his paper he headed through the door.

Jed turned back to the patient and covered her hand with his, ‘Claudia Jean, if you had told me you were sick you could have stayed in DC.’

‘It was nothing, a touch of sickness, besides it wouldn’t be the same without me.’ She grinned and he returned the smile.

‘No, it wouldn’t,’ his lips quirked but his eyes told a different story. ‘How long are you going to be out of action?’

CJ tucked her hair back behind her ears, ‘Missing me already? I have to rest until they’re sure he’s out of danger.’

Jed stared at her in shock. CJ gazed back and realisation suddenly hit her, he didn’t know, Abbey hadn’t told him. He was still staring, his eyes wide, an endless stream of thoughts running through his head.

‘You’re…pregnant? Why didn’t you say something that night?’

For a second she wondered about lying then saw the horror in his face, the disgust that he had made love to her when she was someone else’s, and by lying to her.

‘Sir, I haven’t been seeing anyone for a long time,’ she allowed herself to smile as it dawned on him what she was admitting.

‘Oh my god, you mean it’s mine?’

CJ nodded, lowering her head to stare at her hands now twisting the sheets. She wouldn’t get rid of it, not after what she had been through, he would have to accept that. The longer the silence continued the more she started to plan her future, a future outside the White House, a future where she and her son could be together.

Finally he spoke, ‘What are we going to do, Abbey, the election, Leo?’

‘I won’t get rid of him.’

‘My god CJ, I wouldn’t ask you too. He, you keep saying he.’

‘Cregg’s always have sons first, he’s going to be a boy.’

He began to pace, not really sure what she was expecting, or how he was going to help. This woman, who he had wanted for so long; the only woman he had ever been unfaithful with was carrying his son, the one thing he had longed for his entire lifetime. In a single second the MS scandal disappeared into oblivion, this one simple thing he had always wanted was there for the taking but at the expense of everything he had cherished and worked for.

CJ watched him wrestle with his own turmoil, unable to help him or hold him. In that second it became all too clear for her, she had strong feelings for him, feelings that had been tucked away in the recesses of her job. Taking a deep breath she knew she had to get him out of there, give herself time to deal with the latest surprise in her life.

‘Sir, you should be going, you have a full day tomorrow.’

He looked at her for the first time in minutes, ‘CJ, I…’ he stopped, words painfully adequate. ‘Yeah, you’re right. You won’t do anything rash until we’ve had chance to discuss this? I need you.’ His eyes were the only indicator of how deeply he meant that statement, his voice unusually unemotional.

‘I won’t make a decision until I’ve discussed it with you. Now go, and take Toby with you.’

Jed allowed a smile to play at the corner of his mouth, ‘You’re going to be a bossy mother.’ Lightly he squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, call if you want anything.’

He turned at the door and watched as she snuggled into the covers, closing her eyes and felt nothing but admiration for the woman who was giving him such a special gift.

******

The President sat in the limo thinking over his life, his marriage to Abbey, his daughters, his illustrious political career, and now with the MS, the battle ahead. But most of his thoughts centred on CJ and the son she was carrying. He needed someone to talk to but there were few he could or would trust with his secret.

As the agents led him up in the elevator to the Presidential suite he made a split second decision and asked the agents to stop two floors below. As he walked down the corridors, agents flanking him on all sides he half expected one of the Press Corp to jump out and question him. Indeed it was less than normal for The President of the United States to be wandering hotel corridors in the middle of the night. The agents weren’t totally surprised, he often paced the Residence at night and they were thankful he chose not to venture outside.

He came to a halt at Leo’s door and tapped on the door. A few seconds later he repeated the process and eventually his Chief of Staff appeared at the door in his vest and pyjama bottoms, hair stuck up, eyes laced with sleep.

Leo opened the door with force ready to boom at whoever had disturbed him. He stopped at the sight before him, stepping back to allow the agents to scout the room. Jed stared back at him, not saying a word.

Once the agents had finished he stepped inside the room and closed the door behind them.

‘Sir, what’s happened?’ Leo began. ‘Give me a second and I’ll dress.’

Jed shook his head, ‘As you are. And you might want to call me Jed.’

Leo watched his best friend seat himself on the bed, ‘Mr President, what’s wrong?’

‘Leo, CJ’s pregnant.’

The simple phrase took him by surprise and Leo sat down, his hand unconsciously smoothing down his hair. ‘Wow, of all the things I was expecting that wasn’t one of them. Is she resigning?’

‘Aren’t you even curious about the father?’ POTUS asked.

‘I don’t even want to go there. CJ will insist on doing it alone and under the circumstances we can’t allow her to stay on. Unmarried mothers aren’t a vote winner.’

Jed stood and stared down at him, ‘It’s my baby.’

‘Shit, what the hell?’ Leo shouted, forgetting who the man was.

‘Unless you want the whole building knowing and the secret service charging in I suggest you lower your voice.’

‘Excuse me. Let me just refresh your mind. Nine months ago you told the world you have a serious illness, which you kept secret for eight years, for five months we’ve been deposed, subpoenaed and had our lives torn apart. Abbey, your wife is on the verge of losing her licence. So you get your Press Secretary pregnant. Don’t you think this campaign is hard enough.’

Jed sighed, ‘Leo stop being my Chief of Staff and be my friend for a minute. Please.’

Leo turned to look at him, suddenly aware of the change in demeanour. Jed looked devastated.

‘Tell me how.’

‘The Christmas party. We got stuck in the lift and I kinda fell on her.’ He shrugged. ‘I ended up in her…, laying on top of her and then I was kissing her. And one thing led to another. She thought I was drugged up and I suppose she couldn’t stop me.’ he turned away from Leo and walked the length of the room. ‘Leo it’s a boy.’

Leo’s head snapped up, ‘Jed.’ He knew what Jed was going through, the torment he and Abbey had suffered with each miscarriage, each son that had failed to survive. ‘What did CJ say?’

‘She wants to keep it, I cut her off before she suggested resigning, or running away. Leo, I don’t know what to do.’ He sat back down on the bed and put his head in his hands.

Leo rested an arm around his shoulders, forgetting for a second that he was President, only too aware of a day long ago that Jed had done the same for him. Then he had ended up in rehab with Jed yelling at him about Jenny, now the tables were turned.

‘Do you love her?’

Jed raised his eyes, tears forming, ‘Do you think I would have risked the world if I didn’t care about her?’

‘I’m not talking about caring, or attraction or lust or any of the other stupid half hearted things that every man in Washington has for her. I’m asking if you love her? I’m asking if it’s a choice between the Presidency or her would you choose her?’

Neither man said a word for what seemed like an eternity, an invisible current running through the room. Finally Leo released his shoulders and walked away.

‘I guess that’s my answer. I’ll handle it,’ he stated firmly.

Jed raised his head once more, ‘What do you mean?’

‘If you need to think about it then you don’t care that much about her,’ he spat back.

‘Go to hell. Yes I love her. Screw the Presidency, that’s not what I have to consider. The election is the least of my concerns. There’s Abbey to think about.’

‘Shame you didn’t think about it before she screwed CJ.’

Jed stood and walked towards the door, ‘I made a mistake coming here. Goodnight Leo.’

The door slammed behind him and Leo slid into the chair, aware of his less than sympathetic attitude but under the circumstances he had every reason to be mad. Abbey was as much a friend as Jed, he had always been honest with her and now he wasn’t sure if he could ever look her in the eye again. And CJ, well he had had a rather large crush on her since she walked into their lives, but realised early on she would never be interested in him and he settled for friendship. The more he considered the situation the more he realised this was a mess no one was going to come out of unscathed.

Jed undressed, placing his clothes over the chair. Abbey stirred as she sensed someone in the room and rolled over.

‘Hi, what time is it?’ she mumbled.

‘Three thirty,’ he replied.

‘You’ve been with CJ all this time,’ she asked pulling herself up, ‘Is she okay?’

Jed climbed in next to her, ‘I went for a walk, CJ’s fine. She thinks it’s a boy.’

Abbey opened her eyes and stared at her husband, ‘Oh. Are you okay?

He looked at her and guilt bubbled up inside, he had betrayed this woman and now he was about to hurt her all over again. ‘Just tired. Night Abbey,’ he whispered kissing her gently on the forehead and rolling over, his back to her.

Abbey snuggled back down into the bed and wrapped her arms around him.

The first thing Leo did two hours later after showering and changing was to phone Josh’s room and instruct him to take over the days agenda. Next he ordered a taxi and rode over to the hospital. He had not slept since the President left and the more he thought about it the more he needed to talk to CJ.

The corridors were quiet, patients still asleep, nurses preparing for breakfast. He located her room and knocked gently, hearing no response he slipped through the door. The room was dark, the blinds drawn and the early morning light barely filtering through.

CJ shifted in bed at the sound of his footsteps. ‘Who’s there?’ she called.

‘CJ, it’s me Leo.’

CJ reached for her glasses sending things flying. Leo moved to help and wrapped her hand around the glasses. Once on CJ struggled to see through the dimness and finally made him out. Leo took the vacant chair by the bed and rubbed the sheets.

‘Not a great lover of hospitals eh?’ CJ asked.

‘No, it’s not that. The President came to see me last night.’

CJ stiffened on the bed.

‘He told me about the baby. What are you going to do?’

‘Resign and return to California, I have family who will love to help with their grandchild,’ she offered, trying to gage how much he knew.

Leo moved closer, ‘He won’t let you go. He’ll want to see his son grow up.’

She thought of crying but she didn’t think that would stop Leo, then she thought of yelling but right now she needed someone to talk to.

‘He told you everything then. I need to leave,’ she said matter of factly.

‘What do you want to do? You love your job, you have friends here. The situation aside what would be best for you?’ He started to unconsciously stroke her hand.

CJ laughed and snatched her hand away, ‘What I want doesn’t really come into it. He’s got too much to lose, I have to be out of the equation.’

‘You love him.’

She wasn’t sure if it was a question or a statement, an assumption or a fact but he obviously wanted a response so she shrugged.

‘CJ,’ he whispered, ‘be honest with me.’

‘Maybe, I don’t know. I definitely feel something.’

He watched her eyes light up and realised she was thinking about him and his mouth moved before his mind could.

‘So marry me.’

They stared at each other, both aware of what had just been proposed.

‘Excuse me?’ she managed, eyes wide.

He took a breath, ‘I said marry me. You can carry on working, stay in DC. He can see the baby and Abbey need never know.’

She continued to look at him in silence.

The corridors were starting to get busy, patients were buzzing for attention, breakfast was being served and nurses were doing the tea thing. CJ continued to stare at Leo, she wasn’t repulsed by the idea, hell her and Toby had had an arrangement that if he reached forty without being married she’d do the decent thing. Actually she was angry, okay so the President wasn’t about to leave his wife, resign and go off with her in the sunset but she didn’t think he would send his best friend to deal with it. No she was pissed and her eyes were lit up, a warning flare sparking in the deep brown sea.

Leo did a double take and composed himself for an onslaught.

‘Leo, get the hell outta here,’ she snapped.

‘CJ, I…’

‘And tell your best friend to go to hell.’ CJ pulled the button from the wall and a nurse appeared in seconds. ‘Mr McGarry is just leaving.’

Leo shrugged, not really sure why she was so mad and exited via the open door.

‘Can I see the doctor, I’d like to go home?’ She asked the now perplexed nurse. The nurse smiled sweetly and disappeared out via the door.

Abbey called the hospital at noon to check on the patient only to discover the patient had discharged herself. Next she phoned the hotel to be told Miss Cregg had checked out and was on the 11.30 plane to DC. Handing the cell back to her assistant Abbey headed across the room to the table where the senior staff were having lunch.

‘Jed, she’s gone.’

‘Huh.’

‘CJ, she discharged herself and is on her way to DC.’

Jed dropped his eyes to the table, ‘Is she well enough?’

Abbey shook her head, ‘Apparently she promised to rest but wanted to be at home. Did she talk to you Toby?’

‘No,’ He grumbled. ‘Who was the last one to see her?’

Leo lowered his eyes, ‘Me, I went this morning. We, uh, had a discussion.’

Jed raised his eyes, ‘You had a discussion? Was she upset when you left?’

He nodded.

Josh looked around at everyone and sighed, ‘Look, I’ll phone Donna, she can meet her at the airport, make sure she gets home okay.’ He stood and disappeared outside.

CJ sat on the plane, drinking water. She thought about telling Toby what she was planning but she knew he would talk her out of it and right now she needed to be on her own. She had a simple plan, go home, email Margaret her resignation and drive to New England. Once there she would walk the beach, catch up on her sleep and start job hunting. Of course there wouldn’t be many jobs for a Press Secretary who would need three months off shortly. By the time the others returned to DC she would be well away and maybe she’d let Toby know what she was planning.

She had just grabbed her suitcase when she saw her. Donna was leaning on a post scanning the crowd. CJ headed towards her and plastered a grin on her face.

‘Hi, how did you know?’

‘Josh phoned, I’m to take you home and ensure you rest. Let me take that.’ She wrestled the bag off her and started in the direction of the parking lot. CJ sat in silence on the way home, trying to figure out how to get rid of Donna, she needed a hour to pack and get out of DC before anyone knew what she was up to.

They reached CJ’s apartment and Donna followed her in.

‘Is there anything you need?’

CJ smiled, this was going to be easy, ‘Yeah, but you’ll need to go across town.’ She scribbled a list and within seconds Donna had gone.

It took thirty minutes to pack the two suitcases she needed, five minutes to write an email to Toby and another ten to draft her resignation. Grabbing her passport and various papers CJ pressed the send button and loaded her belongings into the car.

When Donna arrived ten minutes later CJ was gone and the apartment was in darkness. Donna pulled out her cell and phoned Josh.

He picked it up in seconds.

‘Josh, she’s gone.’

Josh groaned, ‘You left her.’

‘She wanted groceries…’

‘Er, Leo,’ came a shout from the background.

Leo wandered over to Margaret and looked down at the computer screen. It was a simple typed page of two paragraphs and he groaned as he read it, his headache deepening as he realised just what it meant.

She expressed her joy at working for them, her apologies for not doing this in person but her need to leave. CJ informed them of her pregnancy, that she was taking owed holiday and she would not be back.

Leo looked back at the senior staff and took a deep breath.

‘CJ’s resigned.’

All eyes in the room stared at him and Josh spoke,

‘She’s gone. Donna went for groceries and CJ packed and left. She’s serious about this.’

‘Yeah,’ Jed growled and everyone looked at Toby, expecting him to comment, instead he was staring at his laptop.

‘Toby?’ Josh inquired.

He looked up, ‘She thought the baby would cause too many problems, Simon is capable to take over, and she’s moving away but not to try and find her. Last time she did this it was two years before she got in contact.’

‘We have to find her.’

They all turned to look at the President and back at Leo.

Part Two

CJ sat on the plane reading the magazine, not really paying attention to the article.

It had been five years since she had been to DC and at least two since Toby had seen her last. Now she felt guilty, he was in hospital and it had taken his doctor to contact her. Of course no one else knew where to look.

In that first year she had moved about as she searched for a job and therefore had been difficult to trace, the second year she had contacted him and sworn him to secrecy. In the third they had all been too busy writing legislation that would define the administration to be concerned about her.

Now she was going back to face them. Of course she had seen pictures of them all, the most recent from the inauguration but now she would actually have to speak to them and answer their questions. Glancing across at her son she checked he was still asleep.

James was four and a half, and growing more like his father everyday, with his dark wavy hair and piercing blue eyes. That was going to be the hardest to deal with, seeing the man she had given it all up for and watching father and son together for the first time.

The captain announced they were getting ready to land and CJ reached across gently stroking her son until he awoke.

CJ went straight from the airport to the hospital, her luggage in one hand and her son holding tightly to the other as she battled the queue for a taxi. The ride to George Washington seemed to go on for ever and she stiffened as they pulled up outside the building. The same building she had practically lived in as Josh battled for life.

The driver unceremoniously dumped her case on the pavement and disappeared.

The first thing she saw when she stepped out of the elevator onto the third floor was the back of a man’s head, a man she would recognise her entire life. CJ walked quickly towards him, James pushing the suitcase from behind.

He turned at the scrapping sound and his jaw dropped.

In turn she dropped the case and closed the distance between them. ‘Leo,’ she began tentatively and finished by wrapping her arms around his neck.

He pulled her to him and hung on for dear life, fearful she would suddenly disappear again.

‘CJ, you’re here.’

She grinned, ‘Well you know, Toby unable to talk, wasn’t about to miss that.’

James appeared at her side and Leo let his eyes drift down. It took a minute for him regain his composure and look back up at her.

‘He’s his father’s son, Leo. James this is Leo.’ The child stuck his hand out and Leo shook it. ‘How’s Toby?’

Leo smiled, ‘Better, the surgeon thinks he’ll be strong enough for the operation in a few days, then he’ll need six weeks to recuperate.’ He stopped and glanced across her shoulder.

CJ spun around and noticed the agents for the first time, ‘He’s…here.’

Leo nodded, ‘Yes. Do you want to wait until he’s gone?’

She turned back to Leo and stood up straighter, pushing her bangs to oneside. ‘Might as well get it over with. We can’t keep avoiding each other for the next few months.’

‘You’re staying in DC?’

CJ turned back to him, ‘Of course, Toby needs someone to take care of him, and I can home school James. Is Abbey…?’ Her voice faltered.

‘She gets in tonight.’

‘Okay, James honey, remember what I told you, Uncle Toby is sick so you need to be good.’

James clung to her hand as she walked towards the agents and stopped outside the door. Leo motioned with his head that it was fine for her to go in. The agent pushed open the door and they stepped through.

Jed watched as he slept, he liked to spend an hour with him, talking through the days events and imparting trivia. Normally Toby managed to stay awake, today he had drifted off quickly. The door opened behind him and expecting Leo he didn’t turn.

‘I think I’ve cured his insomnia.’

CJ took a deep breath, her stomach full of butterflies, ‘Nah, it’s just he doesn’t like to hear you speak unless he’s written it for you.’

He turned suddenly at the familiar voice and his eyes lit up. She was as he had always remembered her, tall and beautiful with a smile that sent his heart racing. He forgot to be angry as they stood staring at each other. A voice broke into the moment.

‘Mommy, is Uncle Toby asleep?’

CJ looked down and lifted him up, ‘uh huh, but you can give him a kiss.’

Jed watched the scene play out, goosebumps breaking out all over his body as he saw his son for the first time. He stood and allowed her to sit James on the bed.

‘James, this is…’

‘Jed. Pleased to meet you James.’ he held out his hand and smiled as the child took it firmly in his own.

‘He’s great Claudia.’

CJ watched, a solitary tear in her eye, ‘yes, yes he is.’ She leaned down and placed a kiss on Toby’s temple, ‘I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.’

Jed stared back at her, ‘You’re not going to run away again?’

She shook her head, ‘I stopped running in January.’

It was hard, even after so many years apart to be alone with him. His temples were greyer and he had lost weight but he seemed as well as ever. She saw in his eyes something she couldn’t quite place but then it had been five years and she hadn’t been all that good at the signals before that. Coming back had been an obvious decision under the circumstances but there was a conversation they needed to have and she had hoped it would have been later rather than sooner.

‘You didn’t need to run in the first place,’ His voice held some of the anger she knew she deserved.

‘Sending Leo to marry me wasn’t your best decision,’ she threw back.

James watched them argue and his first instinct was to move closer to his mother.

‘I didn’t know, I mean it was his idea, I found out later,’ he replied softly.

CJ closed her eyes, not really sure what to say.

‘Claudia Jean, I have to go. Can we talk at some point? Please don’t leave without talking to me,’ he pleaded.

She let her eyes open and nodded, ‘You can find me at Toby’s apartment.’

 Abbey swept into the townhouse and found her husband in his study, staring out of the window at the garden.

‘Jed,’ she began, ‘Is everything okay?’

He turned at the sound of her voice, not quite slowly enough to compose his face.

‘Yeah, Toby is settled now. The girls?’

‘All good, send their love.’

He nodded, the words barely registering. ‘The nursing situation has been resolved.’

‘Oh?’

‘CJ arrived this afternoon,’ he replied, his voice barely audible.

‘CJ’s in DC? Where? When? How?’ she asked.

He turned away, ‘She’s staying at Toby’s for the duration, they’ve kept in touch apparently,’ he added flatly.

Abbey shrugged off his mood as fatigue and moved to kiss him. He allowed her to graze his cheek before he turned to the window.

‘Okay. I’m going to see Toby, talk to the doctor. I’ll visit CJ on the way back.’

He didn’t even respond as he returned to his reverie.

CJ sat James at the counter, placing the toast in front of him. She moved from room to room tidying, unnecessarily as it was obvious Ginger had been in. It gave her something to do as she tried not to think about him and their one night together. Abbey had been her friend, and she had betrayed her, and sooner or later they would meet again, the only problem was how long it would take her to realise about James.

She was startled by the door and headed out into the lobby to answer it. She opened the door and gasped when she saw who it was.

‘CJ,’ Abbey said, moving to hug her.

Taking a deep breath CJ replied, ‘Abbey, this is unexpected.’

‘Jed told me you were here and I wanted to see you,’ Abbey’s tone was neutral but there was an underlying sadness to it.

‘Come in, I’ll make coffee,’ CJ said heading back into the sitting room.

Abbey followed, mentally rehearsing all the questions she wanted to ask. When CJ reappeared she was carrying a tray and quickly poured coffee for two. Silence again filled the room.

‘So where have you been?’ Abbey began.

CJ settled back into the chair, ‘I went to Cape Cod and Kennebunkport until the baby was born, worked in a PR firm. Then we moved to Boston and I teach Communications to college students.’

‘Married?’

CJ shook her head, ‘Between the baby and work there hasn‘t been time.’

‘Why did you leave?’

‘I explained that in my resignation,’ CJ replied, her voice uneven.

Abbey shook her head, ‘Yeah. I thought we were friends. No goodbye, no letters. Do you have any idea what your leaving did to them all?’

CJ stared down at her hands and twisted the fabric of her skirt, ‘I have some idea. Toby was pretty mad at me when I phoned him and Donna had a hard time with Josh.’

‘Damn CJ, I don’t understand. Do you think we cared who the father was?’

The sound of footsteps echoed through the apartment and CJ turned to stare at the door.

His face appeared in the frame and the rest of him came to a stop at the sight of someone else in the apartment.

Abbey turned and her face went deathly white as she gazed into the deep blue eyes of the child. She seemed frozen as she continued to look at him.

The child stared back, aware that he was something to this woman.

CJ looked from one to the other and braced herself, no words came to explain it and she knew just how much pain it was going to inflict.

Abbey wasn’t sure when she first saw the mop of dark hair come around the corner but when she saw his eyes it became clear. The pieces fell into place as she continued to stare. It’s a boy, Abbey. We have to find her. CJ’s back. Finally she turned to CJ and caught the same emotion reflected back in her eyes. The difference was CJ had had a damn sight longer to deal with it.

‘I thought it was Leo,’ her voice was uneven to her ears. She rose and walked across to the small child, standing over him.

CJ stood and crossed to join them, ‘No. James, honey, go and get ready for bed.’ She ruffled his hair and he disappeared down the corridor.

‘How long?’ Abbey’s voice cracked.

‘You need to talk to him about this,’ CJ whispered reaching for her arm. ‘it’s between Jed and you.’

‘Jed?’ she laughed sadly, ‘Oh I will. Why now?’ She asked pushing the arm away.

CJ stepped back, ‘For Toby. I’m not kidding myself that the world is going to be any different.’

‘He won’t leave me for you, he didn’t then, and he won’t now. He loves me, we have a family, a history.’

CJ didn’t say a word as Abbey walked towards the door, pausing as she reached it.

‘Of course James is part of that family…’ She let the sentence hang as she left the building.

CJ wrapped her arms around her middle, feeling suddenly cold, all too aware that for Abbey the hurt had barely reached the surface.

James called to her from the bedroom and she headed towards him. Kissing him goodnight she crawled in beside him and held him tight, wishing she had never come back and pondering what Abbey had meant.

*****

Jed had been relieved when Leo had arrived on his way to the hospital. He had badly needed someone to talk to, especially someone who knew what CJ’s return meant. They sat in the sitting room with the fire burning, Jed unburdening himself to his oldest friend. He wanted to know everything, he needed to reconnect with her if he was ever going to understand why she disappeared, and his anger had turned to questions. For Leo it was different, he was glad to have her back and maybe be part of her life again.

‘Did Toby ever mention she’d been in touch?’

‘Jed, don’t blame him for this.’ Leo stated. ‘And no he didn’t say anything, I guessed he must have been.’

Jed sipped at his brandy, ‘I’m going to go see her.’

‘Is that wise?’ Leo asked.

The door rocked in it’s frame as a cold draught breezed through the room. Both men looked up and Leo stood as Abbey walked, or rather stomped in, and Leo put down his glass.

‘I’m going to go,’ he muttered edging his way past her.

‘Yeah, good idea, we can have this conversation later,’ Abbey pointed out, pouring herself a large glass of port.

‘So Sweet Knees, anything you want to tell me?’ She asked, a fake smile plastered on her face.

Jed watched her swig her brandy as her hand shook, and mentally prepared himself for an outburst. ‘Where have you been?’

‘To visit an old friend,’ she said flatly.

Jed sighed and stood, they faced each other across the carpet.

‘Where would you like me to start?’

Abbey knocked her drink back in one go, ‘I want to hear it all, when it started, how long, and don’t spare the details.’

He took his seat and told her how he had lied to CJ, that it had been a one off and his surprise at later discovering she was pregnant. He finished up telling Abbey why CJ had left, realising that in so doing he would have to make it up big time to Leo, and reiterating that until that day they had not been in touch. Abbey, stood over him and continued to drink as she listened, groaning and making comments as he went.

He stopped talking and waited.

‘You had better talk to a solicitor in the morning,’ she said simply.

‘Uh?’ he mumbled.

‘I haven’t even reached the depths of my anger yet, you’ll know when I do. For now WE are going to apply for full custody of your son. No discussion, or everyone will know you cheated, and if the girls hear the full story I don’t anticipate them wanting you in their lives.’

Jed stared at her, his mouth opened. ‘You’re kidding?’

‘I rarely ever kid. James is your son, he’s family and I’m sure with your connections you can get him. Just make sure she doesn’t fight this, for your sake.’ She placed the glass down and swept out of the room. Jed watched her go, torn between following her and starting the inevitable argument, and pouring another stiff drink, he chose the latter and fell back into the chair.

*****

CJ spent the next few days either in the hospital visiting Toby or teaching James at home. She rarely saw anyone and wasn‘t sure she would know how to react if she did.

Josh phoned her one evening and they talked for an hour, promising to have dinner while she was in town.

Sam had walked in on her at Toby’s bedside, yelled a little and stormed out again, Josh had promised to talk to him.

Leo, she knew, spent nights there watching over his friend and she deliberately left before he arrived.

Today Toby was having his operation and she didn’t have to go to visit him until later and James was still sleeping. The mail hit the mat and CJ picked up the pile, looking for anything important or official. She was surprised to find a letter addressed to her. Tearing at the paper she had to read it twice before she took in the words and then she realised just how alone she had made herself. The phone rang in the apartment and she moved to answer it.

‘Hello?’

‘Hey, it’s Leo. Can I come over?’

CJ held the receiver tightly, ‘He wants James.’

Leo groaned, ‘I know, I wanted to talk to you before you got the letter. Look I have a message. CJ, please let me come over. I’m still your friend .’

‘Okay,’ she whispered and he had to listen hard to catch it.

‘Twenty minutes and I’ll bring muffins.’

CJ allowed the phone to drop into it’s cradle and slumped on the sofa to wait for Leo.

He arrived as promised, bringing breakfast and a large gift bag.

CJ opened the door and virtually fell into his arms.

He held her tight, whispering into her hair, hoping he had the strength to support both his friends.

Slowly she regained her composure and pulled away, smiling faintly at him. ‘Please come in, I’m sorry. Let me take that.’

‘CJ, slow down, it’s okay. This is for James,’ he said holding out the bag.

She motioned with her head to the bedrooms, ‘That way. I’ll make coffee.’

Leo disappeared and minutes later she heard whoops of joy and the sound of crashing.

‘JAMES,’ she called, and he appeared clutching a small car.

Leo shrugged and tried to look sheepish, which only made her laugh. ‘I bought him the car, we had trouble with the steering.’

CJ looked between them and shook her head, ‘You, go and get dressed. We’ll take the car over to the park. You, kitchen now.’

Leo followed and pulled out a stool, dangling his legs, for a second she envisioned him with a fishing rod but shook the thought off.

‘So, how’s Toby?’

‘Okay, he slept well and they were taking him to theatre when I left. He’s glad to have you here. So am I,’ he added quietly.

CJ squeezed his arm, ‘You knew about the custody hearing.’

He nodded and took her hand in his. ‘I kept hoping I’d see you but then I thought I should come here.’

‘Can they do this?’ She sounded so fragile to him.

‘I’m no family lawyer but if the DNA proves he’s the father he has access rights.’

She turned away from him so he wouldn’t see the unshed tears, ‘It will. He can see him anytime he wants but why take him?’

It was Leo’s turn to look away, ‘Jed has barely been out of Abbey’s sight the last few days but he told me this much. Abbey came home from you and he told her everything. Her only response was an ultimatum, file for custody or she tells everyone, including the girls.’

‘And if they get custody, how exactly are they going to explain it?’ CJ asked unsure of the logic in Abbey‘s stance.

‘I suppose that you wanted him adopted and they felt able to step in. Jed is stuck. His daughters mean the world to him.’

‘James means everything to me.’

CJ stood, her food untouched and walked into the living room.

Leo waited then followed, wrapping his arms around her waist as she leaned back against him and let the tears fall.

James stood in the doorway watching, his mom was upset and he thought the man had done it. ‘Mommy, why are you crying?’

She tried to wipe her eyes but Leo released her and crouched down.

‘James, Mommy is just worried about Uncle Toby. Sometimes when adults worry they bottle it up and then all of a sudden they get upset. She really needs you to give her a hug.’

The child nodded and wrapped himself around his mother. Leo stepped away and located the phone, dialling a local number. Minutes later he rejoined them.

‘Right, we’re going for a ride. There’s someone I need Mommy to talk to and then you and I are going to Schwarz.’ Leo looked at CJ, ‘He’s very good, Simon will do all he can and nobody will know.’

‘I can’t afford…’ she started.

He waved her off, ‘I’ll help, and the shopping’s on me. Go, do whatever it is you do to look so good.’

CJ gazed into his eyes and saw the reassurance she needed, she gave him the smallest of smiles before going to change.

Returning minutes later she found the two of them sat on the kitchen floor, the car spinning around between them, giggling like naughty school boys. She watched from the doorway and wondered if perhaps marrying Leo wouldn’t have been such a bad idea.

******

CJ spent an hour with Simon Levin, going over the story of James’ conception and the events that followed.

He was sympathetic, probing her for anything that would qualify her as a bad mother. He promised to deal with the matter as quickly and as privately as possible.

CJ refused a paternity test, ensuring him it was not in question, and went on to query the money.

Simon reassured her that Leo had taken care of everything.

Leo was waiting when she left the office, his car littered with bags of toys and boxes from other stores she recognised. Climbing in beside him she kissed him lightly on the cheek.

‘Thank you for being a good friend.’

He grinned back at her, ‘That’s all I’ve ever tried to be. You’re going to fight it?’

She nodded and then stopped, ‘The message? You said you had a message.’

He ducked his head, ‘From Jed. He said to tell you he’s sorry to put you through this but he will find some way to make it up to you. He can’t stand the thought of Abbey destroying him.’ Leo left out the rest, not wanting CJ to get any more upset than she already was

‘What do you say?’ she asked glancing back at her son.

‘He’s my best friend but he’s a jackass. I love Abbey and I love you. To be so vindictive isn’t like her, and he’s not normally so weak, until they fight this out I can’t persuade either of them to change their mind. There’s more than just you to all this.’ He looked at James and back at her, ‘I say fight them, James is your son, you’ve been there for him. Jed should have made a decision five years ago, he’s got to make a decision now.’

‘He has, he wants everything.’

Leo reached across and stroked her arm, ‘Then you’ve got to show him he can’t always have everything he wants. You have me, and Toby, we’re here for whatever you need.’

Leo turned back to the wheel and headed for the hospital.

Toby was still in surgery when they arrived and they were directed to the waiting room.

Leo set up a bunch of toys on the floor for James to play with and turned his attention to dog-eared magazines. CJ was quiet and he really didn’t have a clue what she was thinking about; he knew how she felt about Toby and in the last few hours he realised how much she loved her son. He wanted to ask how she felt about Jed but it didn’t really seem to be the place.

An hour and several coffees later Toby was still in surgery and Leo was reading to James.

They all looked up as the door opened and an agent walked in, followed by Jed. He failed to hide his look of surprise at the scene playing before him. CJ faired much better by turning away and avoiding his intense gaze. Leo greeted his friend cordially and filled him in on the details.

When Abbey entered seconds later they sat in silence. James glanced around at the people nervously, all too aware of the tension filling the air.

Over an hour later the doctor informed them all that Toby was in recovery and if they cared to wait they could see him shortly. Once again they lapsed into silence.

James was the first to react when the door opened again; he jumped up and screamed, ‘Donna.’

She caught him as he flung himself into her arms.

‘Hey honey bunny. Do I get a kiss?’

He wrapped his arms around her neck and planted kisses on her face. Finally she put him down and turned to Josh, ‘James this is Josh. Josh this is the other man in my life.’

It took Josh time to recover as he stared at the child and at his wife, connecting her absences with the incident before him, before he hugged the boy, looking over his shoulder he spotted CJ and made his way over. His arms encircled her and he squeezed her until she thought she couldn’t breathe.

‘Hey Josh.’

‘Boston?’

CJ nodded and embraced Donna. Greetings followed and the room returned to quiet.

‘So how long are you here for?’ Donna asked.

The tension rose an inch as everyone waited for CJ’s response, ‘Until Toby’s better then I’ll probably return to Boston.’ She pulled herself up straighter. ‘Of course that depends on whether my solicitor has settled the matter in hand.’

‘Solicitor, are you in trouble?’ Josh asked, a panicky look on his face.

CJ shook her head and smiled, ‘No. I think the phrase is I’m gonna win.’

Leo smiled at her use of words. Jed lowered his eyes as Josh scanned the room.

‘Why do I get the impression I’m the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?’

Donna knelt beside James and whispered in his ear. He smiled and reached up to take her hand.

‘We’re going to get ice cream, we won‘t be long,’ she said directing a pointed look at the others in the room and squeezing CJ’s shoulder on the way past.

‘Okay, someone want to tell me?’ Josh shouted.

Leo grabbed his arm and motioned for him to stop but CJ was staring directly at Jed, her shoulders straight and her eyes bright for the first time all day.

‘You want to tell him, or shall I?’

‘CJ?’ he warned.

CJ tucked her hair behind her ears and shrugged, ‘Guess it’s me then. James father is taking me to court for full custody.’

Josh continued to look confused, ‘So what’s the problem, we’re all lawyers, we’ll help?’

Leo stood and began to walk around the room massaging his temples, the whole situation was about to get ten times worse and he couldn’t stop it.

Jed glanced up and almost smiled at the CJ he knew and loved, full of determination and self assurance, and said, ‘I’m the father Josh.’

Okay, if the situation had been less fraught the look on Josh’s face would have been hysterical, his jaw dropped, his eyes crossed as he looked between them and he rubbed his head. The fact that he was speechless was funny enough in itself. He dropped into a chair, ‘Holy hell.’

******

Leo continued to walk around the room, pretending he wasn’t paying attention to anyone but observing them all.

 CJ sat in her chair, watching Josh out of the corner of her eye, she wasn’t the same woman he had found that morning, her fighting spirit had returned.

Josh was in turmoil, the former President had just admitted paternity to CJ’s son, the same son Donna had been visiting twice yearly for four years. He kept rubbing his face and groaning. All it really needed was for Sam to walk in and the proverbial really would hit the fan.

Jed was staring at CJ, his face blank but his eyes intense.

It was in that second Leo realised how bad the situation could get; Jed still had feelings for CJ. And by the scowl on Abbey’s face she did too. He hoped that at last she would call him on it and they would have the long awaited argument.

The doctor finally appeared and asked for CJ, she walked to the door and stopped, her voice clear and low,

‘If Toby finds out about any of this I’ll go to the Press.’

Jed watched her go with a sense of respect; her world was in turmoil yet she was more concerned for someone else.

CJ spent an hour with Toby, holding his hand and telling him all the things she had forgotten in their twenty years of friendship.

As he listened he knew something was bothering her but he let it lie, she would tell him when she was ready.

Eventually there was a light tap at the door and Leo appeared. ‘Hey Toby, how you feeling?’

Toby groaned and muttered.

‘Josh is going to sit with you while I take CJ home, then I’ll be back. James is asking for you,’ he added.

CJ rose and kissed her friend on the cheek. The others were still gathered in the waiting room as she entered but she barely acknowledged them as she took James from Donna and wished her goodnight.

Leo followed her to the car his hand on her back. James firmly secured they lapsed into silence as James fell asleep quickly.

‘You okay?‘ Leo asked, casting a glance in her direction.

She nodded, ‘Yeah, I feel as though a great weight has been lifted. You don’t think I should have told Josh?’

‘No, it makes it more likely it will get out. But it was your decision, not mine.’

‘Thank you for being here, with Toby sick I feel so alone. I’m sorry I ran away, forgive me,’ she said turning to face him.

‘You had your reasons; you would never have loved me like I did you. I value your friendship.’ He paused before he asked the question, ‘You still love him, don’t you?’

‘Every day I think about him, every time I look in James eyes I remember.’

Leo pulled over on the side of the road, ‘Then it’s time you went after your everything. I saw the way he looked at you and I know how much he wanted a son, you can give him that. He and Abbey haven’t been happy for a while, he loves her but they seem to have forgotten how to communicate. Jed has a habit of making decisions without consulting her first, and she likes to avoid confrontations. It was all bound to blow up eventually.’

CJ shook her head firmly, ‘I won’t destroy him, Leo. That’s not me. I’ll fight for my son but I will never take everything away from him.’

‘So what are you doing to do?’

She lifted her eyes to look into his, ‘It’s out of my hands.’

******

Abbey waited until she saw Leo heading for the cafeteria and slipped into Toby’ s room. Picking up the charts she nodded at the quality of his aftercare and took the vacated seat. He awoke minutes later and smiled as she came into focus.

‘Good morning Doctor Bartlet.’

‘Toby, your BP’s good, oxygen at 95 percent and your kidneys are functioning well. We’ll have you out of here in no time.’

He smiled weakly back at her.

‘So what’s wrong?’

She waited, pondering whether she should go through with it, ‘It’s CJ?’

‘My god, what’s happened?’ He shifted to sit up and she pushed him down.

‘She’s fine, it’s just the court case.’ He looked at her blankly and she continued. ‘Jed’s decided to file for custody of James.’

‘HE’S WHAT? What the hell is he thinking of?’ He yelled then lowered his voice as he watched the door. ‘And you’re letting him?’

His reaction certainly confirmed her suspicions. Toby knew about James, as obviously Leo had for years, which meant she felt like even more of a fool for not knowing. Now all she had to do was convince Toby Jed was an ass, not that difficult. That way Jed’s friends would turn on him one by one and she would be the only person he had to turn too. It would be like the early days when they first met; she had been his everything, in fact that had pretty much been the case until he entered the White House. She had almost given up but her love for him had never wavered.

‘He’s determined. She took the child away and he’s scared she might again.’ She continued with the truth, ‘We had trouble conceiving boys and in the end we gave up. James is his chance to try again. I probably shouldn’t have told you this.’

‘Of course you should, CJ will need me on side. Are you okay?’

Abbey shrugged, hoping to keep her face neutral, ‘I’m mad it happened, but it was so long ago and Jed and I stayed together, her coming back has stirred it all up again. I’m too old to raise a child now.’

Toby squeezed her hand gently, ‘I’m sorry this has all happened, Abbey. I hope after this is all settled you and I can still be friends.’

She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead. She hated to use him; despite appearances she had always had a soft spot for him. Quietly she slipped back out of his room.

CJ slept late, the events of the day before catching up with her.

Donna stopped by at nine and took James out for the day, leaving CJ a rare opportunity to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, curled up in her fleece robe.

She groaned when the phone rang and picked it up, her voice quiet.

‘Hello.’

‘Claudia, it’s Jed.’

Her stomach did somersaults as he said her name, ‘You really need to go through my solicitor.’

He sighed, ‘look, I can’t explain right now and I know I have no right to ask but please don’t go to the press.’

It hit her immediately, ‘Who told him?’

‘Abbey. Leo arrived back after she left and Toby told him everything. They’ve sedated him now but he’ll want the truth later. And if you thought he was protective of you before you wanna hear him now. Anyone this changes things but I need to find Abbey first. And I want to talk to the girls. Give me twenty four hours, if I haven’t dealt with it by then you can go to the Press.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t know, this has taken her badly and I don’t think she knows what she’s doing. Claudia, she’s taking her anger at me out on you, if you were in her position you’d probably do the same.‘ He paused and listened to her breathing as he had done a thousand times. That was always how he gauged her moods; erratic breathing and she was angry, soft and hiccupy, giggles would follow. Right now she was angry. ‘ I’m not going to take James; I would like to be part of his life though. I don’t care if this goes public but I don’t want to lose the girls.’

CJ wanted to reach out and hold him, ‘Okay.’

The phone went dead and she sat staring at it.

*******

CJ hadn’t seen or heard from Jed in three days. He had left Washington shortly after their conversation and CNN had shown him at the airport.

Leo was practically living at the apartment, on his own ingenuity or on Jed’s instructions she wasn’t sure. He had informed her Abbey had disappeared too.

Remembering their conversation she kept her promise, and refrained from going to a journalist; he had sounded so earnest on the phone she truly believed he was dealing with things.

Toby was being difficult, having heard the whole story he was stealing for a fight and it took both Josh and Leo to keep him in hospital.

That being said the whole situation reminded her of the days in the White House and her constant worrying. CJ worried Jed was about to lose it all, that Abbey was heading for a nervous breakdown, that Sam would never forgive her or try to understand, in their last conversation he had thrown her words back at her-it’s not what it is it’s what it looks like that matters- and now he wouldn’t talk to her.

Leo was her rock, keeping James occupied and making sure they all ate every night.

 Josh was still trying to comprehend the situation, maintain his job as Secretary of Home Affairs and keep an eye on Toby.

She was concerned about Toby most, he was heading for a relapse and her intention of taking care of him was becoming less of a priority. At least it kept her busy and for that she was grateful; the urge to call the secret service and find him was a little too tempting.

On the fourth day Leo arrived at the hospital, concern etched on his face. He stood outside the room for a few minutes watching as CJ and Toby joked over the day’s newspapers. Then he tapped lightly and waved as she turned.

Extracting herself she joined him in the corridor. CJ took one look at him and became scared.

‘What’s wrong?‘ She knew before he said a word who he was worried about. ‘Jed?’

He nodded, ‘CJ, Donna phoned me. He turned up at the house…’

‘Oh my god James.’

She collapsed and fell into him. Leo caught her and led her over to a chair. He wanted to tell her it would be alright but after his conversation with Zoey that morning he wasn’t sure it would be.

‘Donna let him in thinking he wanted to see James, for the first time in his life Josh kept her in the dark. She went to get him juice, when she came back they were both gone. I tried Ron and the apartment but there’s no sign anywhere. I don’t want to make things worse but he left his agents behind.’

CJ lifted her eyes, ‘Christ Leo, he’s my son. What are they doing?’

He placed an arm around her, ‘Nothing. We can’t get the police involved and the service haven’t got the man power, though Ron is calling in favours. We wait. Jed won’t hurt him.’

‘I know, I just…’

‘You need to go sit with Toby, leave me to find Jed. I’d say don’t worry but you will.’

CJ stood and opened the door, ‘You’ll tell me…’

‘Yeah.’

She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. Leo watched through the window for a few minutes then disappeared to contact the Bartlet girls.

Leo called Liz first and got an earful for his trouble. When she had finally calmed down, at least stopped her tirade, he asked whether she had heard from either of her parents. Her answer made them both rub their temples in frustration. He promised to call her if he had news and she reciprocated.

His call to Zoey was an easy one. She couldn’t reassure him but was in the process of phoning family friends and had dispatched Charlie to the farm to check if anyone had been there. Her greatest concern was for James, relieved that he was with her father she quickly became concerned about the possibility of Jed having an attack. As he talked to her it occurred to him that she wasn’t a child anymore, sure she was pissed that her dad had cheated on her mom but having lived with them intermittently in DC she knew there had been problems for years. When he put the phone down he promised to call her when Jed appeared, and sat back in Toby’s study with one extra worry, what if the stress did bring on an attack.

He dialled Ellie, listened as she called him a few choice names and slammed the phone down. At least he had one less place Jed was likely to go.

He phoned Ron one more time and got the same answer he had had every day, the man had disappeared.

Leo considered the scotch in Toby’s top drawer but shook off the urge, he needed to be there for CJ and for Jed when the time came. Instead he went to the kitchen and made dinner for CJ, at least he could get her to eat that way.

******

The rain had been falling since the early hours and it mirrored CJ’s mood.

Leo had persuaded her not to go the police, that Jed would turn up but James had been missing for three days now.

She sat on the window seat staring at the puddles on the pavement, she hadn’t slept all night and terrible thoughts were filling her head. She was comforted by the fact the secret service were looking for him too, she would have felt a lot better if he hadn’t given them the slip. And Abbey still hadn’t turned up since leaving the Johns Hopkins. Her greatest fear was that he would never be found, especially if he didn’t want to be, hell she had managed to hide for five years.

‘Have you slept at all?’

His voice carried from the hallway.

‘I can’t. What if he never brings him back?’

Leo sat down beside her, ‘He told you he would never take James. He must have his reasons.’

‘Have you spoken to Zoey?’ She asked twisting the tie from her robe around her fingers.

He nodded, ’Yeah, I just got off the phone. She’s pretty upset and worried. I promised we’d phone if we heard anything. She wants to meet James. Ellie apparently is threatening blue murder.’

‘So, they all know?’

‘Yes.’ Leo paused. ’CJ, Jed flew to see Liz, then to Manchester to see Zoey. Before he could get to Baltimore Abbey had told Ellie and there was a hell of a fight. They both left separately…’

‘And he came and took James. Are you going to see Toby?’

Taking a look at his watch he grinned, ‘I promised him newspapers and an update. You okay here on your own?’

CJ shrugged, she was never going to be okay until her son was back.

Once he’d left CJ took a shower, allowing the spray to wake her up. Climbing out she wrapped herself in the robe and towel dried her hair. The sound of the doorbell set her hair on end. Pulling the robe tighter around her she padded through to the lobby and almost fainted at the sight before her.

Jed stood on the stoop, his hair stuck to his scalp, his sweatshirt drenched. Next to him stood an equally wet child. CJ dropped to her knees and hugged her son. Finally she released him, and glared at Jed.

‘We need to get you warm and changed, come in.’

She dragged James into the shower and turned on the spray. Five minutes later she pulled him out, towelled him dry and dressed herself and him in clean clothes. That done CJ sat him on the couch with a blanket. Looking around she noted Jed still stood in the doorway, a puddle appearing around him.

‘Get those clothes off,’ she ordered.

He smirked at her.

‘Jed, move your backside now.’ he followed her into the bedroom. ‘Put your clothes on the bathroom floor, there are towels in the bathroom and I’ll find some of Toby’s things.’ He stood staring at her.

‘Jed now. Then we’re going to talk.’

CJ made her way back into the living room and began to fuss over her son.

‘You want chocolate. Mommy make you dinner.’

He nodded but she pulled him to her and held him tight. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you mommy.’

She was still in the kitchen when Jed appeared , dry and dressed in a pair of Toby’s brown cords and a sweater. CJ ignored him as she made scrambled eggs on toast and handed him a mug of chocolate.

‘James, table. You sit.’

The three of them sat in silence as they ate, James looking between the man, who had spent the last few days taking him to football games and baseball museums, and his mother. He liked the man, he told him stories about his mother and they had fun. His greatest wish was for a daddy, well that and a brother, and now he was it felt like he had several, Uncle Toby , Uncle Leo, and now Uncle Jed.

‘James, honey, why don’t you go and have a nap, I need to talk to Uncle Jed.’

James jumped up and disappeared down the hallway.

CJ rested her chin on her hands and stared at him. He waited for her to start yelling, but she continued to stare. Finally he gave up.

‘Claudia Jean.’

‘Josiah.’

‘I need you to listen, just for a minute or two while I explain.’ She didn’t respond so he continued, ‘When I got to Ellie’s Abbey was there, things got heated, we started arguing about you and ended up in a full out brawl about my second term. Her parting shot was that if James wasn’t on the scene things would be okay. It’s crap but she left in such a state. I rushed back here and took James. I should have phoned but I didn’t want her to know where I was and I enjoyed spending time with him. You have every right to be mad at me and to shout.’

‘Yes, I do.’ He didn’t take it as a good sign that her voice was so quiet and she was so composed. ‘Where is Abbey?’

He shrugged, ‘I’m not sure. After I spoke to you I checked the bathroom, there was a prescription for anti-depressants. I had to find her, I didn’t realise she was in trouble, that being married to me had become too much. I was so blind, I should have known, I went through it with Leo.’

CJ stood and placed an hand on his back, ‘It’s not your fault. Abbey is a doctor, she knows how to hide things.’

‘Yeah she’s better at hiding things than I am,’ he looked up at her, his eyes misted over.

CJ wanted to pull him closer but the phone rang and she rushed to answer it.

‘Hello?’

‘CJ, it’s Zoey. Mom’s here at the farm, totally hysterical and not making much sense. The doctor’s on the way.’

CJ turned to Jed before she spoke, ‘Zoey, your father’s here, do you want to talk to him?’

Zoey practically squealled as he took the phone. CJ left them to talk and went to check on James.

******

He was just putting the phone down when she returned. His back to her she heard him sigh and reacted automatically.

Her arms were around his waist, her chest against his back before her brain had time to think.

Jed stood startled for a few second before his hands covered hers and held her close.

CJ felt him shake and, thinking he had a cold, turned him in her arms to check. She saw the first tears fall as he lowered his head on to her shoulder. CJ held him as he cried, intermittently telling her he was sorry.

Finally the tears stopped and he stood up straighter.

‘This is such a mess.’

‘Do you need me to get you a flight to Manchester?’ She asked.

He shook his head, ‘Zoey doesn’t think it’s a good idea, it would give Abbey false hope.’

‘I’ll drive you to the apartment then,’ she offered softly.

‘I don’t want to be alone,’ his voice broke as he looked at her full of hope. ‘Can I stay here?’

She wondered for a second if that was a good idea, he was upset and needy and she didn’t want to be just a source of comfort.

The phone rang and she made a split second decision. ‘Go turn the fire up, I’ll take this.’

Leo was elated to hear his friend was back and immediately wanted to rush home.

CJ told him to leave it a while, Toby needed company and she didn’t want to leave James, or Jed she didn‘t add. Jed was fast asleep on the couch when she reached him, snoring softly.

CJ pulled the blanket over him, leaving only his face exposed. She sat down beside him on the floor and watched him sleep, her hand moving to stroke his forehead. He was running a temperature and she knew at some point that would need to be checked out by a doctor but for the minute she didn’t want to disturb anything. Her son was asleep down the hall and his father on the couch, they were a family.

CJ must have drifted off because when she opened her eyes he was staring at her, his hand in her hair, stroking her scalp. A blush covered her face and neck and he smiled. The gentle kiss he placed on her forehead seemed overly intimate in the setting. CJ moved to get up.

‘I should check on James.’

He held her arm, ‘He’s not here. Leo took him to McDonalds when he came by a while ago.’

She sat up straighter, ‘Why didn’t he wake me?’

‘We both thought you needed the sleep. Why don’t you go to bed?’

‘Will you still be here when I wake up?’ It seemed suddenly important to her that he wouldn’t leave again. Her anger at his disappearance had abated and now she was more concerned about what he would do next.

‘I’ll stay as long as you want,’ he whispered and they both knew he wasn‘t only referring to the next few hours. ‘Though it may not be easy, my being here. The Press, Toby’s recovery, maybe I SHOULD go for a while.’

‘NO.’ She looked at him, her eyes full of emotion for the first time. ‘We still need to talk.’

His face fell at her words, he was on the verge of throwing it all away, of going public, and she wanted to talk, no doubt to discuss access and such. He sat up on the couch and rubbed his face.

‘We can do that tomorrow, you sleep.’

‘Come with me,’ she asked. To hell with comfort and talking, Leo was right now was the time for her to get what she wanted. ‘Jed, are you and Abbey going to try again?’ she questioned, her voice barely audible above the sound of the fire.

‘No. Are you going back to Boston?’ His eyes never leaving her face as he waited for the answer.

‘Where are you going to be?’ she asked her hand closing over his on her arm.

He thought before he answered, ‘I can’t stay in Washington, and the farm’s not an option, I don’t know.’

CJ smiled and took a chance, ‘How do you feel about Boston? No strings attached. No one knows me there and you can get to know James.’

‘And if I want strings?’ he replied, moving closer to her position on the floor.

‘Then strings would be good,’ she grinned up at him as his face moved closer.

His lips captured hers in a kiss and she sighed, memories of that night coming back to her. Jed allowed his tongue to tease at her lips and she opened her mouth.

Time stood still as the kiss took them from one time lovers and friends to the start of a new and somewhat complicated relationship.

Neither heard the door open until footsteps echoed down the hallway, and they broke away as a little voice called out.

‘I’m back.’ He skidded to a halt as he caught sight of his mother and Uncle Jed in an embrace.

Leo stood behind them grinning, ‘The Prodigal son returns.’

CJ nestled her face in Jed’s chest, stifling a grin, ‘He’s your son, you explain,’ she whispered.

Jed lifted her chin to look at her, ‘Are you sure?’

CJ nodded in response, her face full of contentment.

Jed turned to look at his son and best friend, his arm lightly resting around the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again as James edged closer.

‘So if you’re going to be my dad does this mean I can have a brother.’

Leo burst into laughter at the sight before him. James stood staring at them, his face a picture of innocence as CJ flushed crimson.

Jed grinned, ‘Oh boy is he our son.’ He held out his arms wide and James flung himself into them, nestling himself against his parents.

Leo watched for a few seconds before slipping away, leaving behind the little family.

The End