Mornings were never great in CJ’s house. Her son never seemed to sleep beyond five am, which she had to admit in her previous job was her norm too. These days however she often did not get home before three am and the lack of sleep combined with a tiring job and a small child were starting to take their toll.

This morning in particular had started at four forty two am with the sound of the television going on in the lounge. Three hours later and she was trying to clear up her son’s trail of disaster and get ready for work.

“Mom,” the small red headed kid yelled urgently. “Mom, you better come see this.”

CJ dropped the armful of toys into the overflowing toy box and followed the sound of his voice. Her steps were light as she headed down the hallway, fully expecting to see an advert for the latest toy he wanted. “What Sweetie?”

He pointed at the television screen with one hand, sucking feverishly on the other thumb as he always did when he was about to cry.

CJ’s eyes followed his finger and her heart dropped into her stomach as she fell onto the sofa, pulling him against her.

The President graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a major in American Studies and a minor in theology. It is commonly known that he initially intended to join the priesthood but instead met his wife. He received a Masters and a Doctorate at the London School of Economics and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Dartmouth University where he was a tenured professor. In the 1980s President Bartlet also received a Nobel Laureate in Economics.

After serving three terms in the US House of Representatives and two terms as Governor of New Hampshire Josiah Bartlet took office on January 20^th 1999.

After spending his final years largely out of public view, unable to walk or carry on conversations even with his children and wife of forty six years, Abigail, the former President died at his home in New Hampshire with his family at his side.

Serving in office from 1999 to 2007, President Bartlet was the only President to be censured by the United States Congress for misleading the public regarding his illness, concealing his Multiple Sclerosis until he decided to run for a second term. Despite his admission, he went on to win in a landslide and served another full term as President.”

CJ closed her eyes and forced herself to remember to breathe. Hearing the announcers words and seeing the tag flash across the screen, she knew that it was true, that the man she loved like a father had finally succumbed to his illness.

“His Presidency was one of firsts. In the summer of 2002, President Bartlet invoked Posse Comitatus, authorising the assassination of a Qumari defence minister Shareef, whom it has been alleged was behind a terror plot in the United States. After his daughter’s kidnapping in 2003, President Bartlet invoked the 25^th Amendment, handing over power to the then Speaker of House Glenn Allen. It was by many seen as a heroic act, by a man putting his daughter and his country first.

President Bartlet’s legacy lies in the confirmation first female Supreme Court Chief Justice and the Palestinian-Israeli Pace Deal that he brokered at Camp David.”

The disembowelled voice continued to list the Bartlet Administration’s high and lows but CJ had heard enough. Her hand reached for the phone, but before she could pick it up, it rang. “CJ Cregg.”

“CJ, it’s Zoey,” a timid voice, she barely recognised, said softly, devastation clearly evident in her voice.

“Zoey. I’m so sorry, I just saw the news. . .” CJ choked back her own tears as she ran her fingers over her son’s soft downy hair.

“We meant to phone you, we were trying to contact everyone before the media got it but what with the time difference and then someone leaked it. I’m so sorry. Mom didn’t want you to find out this way.”

“It’s ok,” CJ replied, wishing CNN would stop showing clips of the President and her. “Don’t worry about it. How is your mom holding up?” She ignored the sudden dampness on her cheek.

“Good. I think she knew that it was coming. We‘ve all been in New Hampshire since yesterday morning and I guess we had time to say goodbye,” Zoey replied, not really sure whether her next request would be granted. “Is there any way you can come here?”

“For the funeral? Of course.” Zoey didn’t need to ask. CJ would be there for the funeral and the burial and memorials that had become part and parcel of burying former Presidents. “Are you already in DC?”

“We’re not having the funeral in DC. Mom didn’t want it, in fact she was bitterly opposed to it, and Dad always loved New Hampshire.”

“Of course.” It seemed logically that Jed would want to spend eternity in his beloved state, near the woman he had loved most of his life.

“Mom was wondering if you could get up here before the circus.” Zoey hesitated briefly, staring out of the window as her mother walked towards the apple orchard. “Josh is coming. And Toby, maybe, Sam.”

“Isn’t this a time for family?” CJ swiped at the tears running openly down her face.

Zoey closed her eyes briefly, her mother’s words running through her head. “You are family, CJ. Dad used this quote every time someone asked him in an interview how he felt about you guys, I’m not sure where it came from but we all endorse it. Rarely do members of the same family grow up under the same roof.”

“When?” Her voice had dissolved into sobbing and she could no longer hide her emotions.

“How soon can you jump on a plane?” It had been a simple request of her mother’s that the whole family be there to grieve and share her father’s final wish together. Simple but almost the only thing holding her mother together.

“As soon as we’re packed.” CJ glanced down at her son, staring up at her. “I’m bring Thomas with me.”

Zoey nodded before she realized that CJ couldn’t see her. “Mom will be pleased, we all are. And you’re to stay here. Liz and Ellie have to head back so there’s plenty of room. Just phone when you know the details.”

Before she even returned the phone to it’s cradle, CJ was running through her head what needed to be done, her thoughts running to seeing everyone for the first time in years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CJ wrapped her black woollen overcoat tightly around her and headed across the terminal towards the car rental agency.

Despite the heating the airport was freezing and she could only take a guess at what the temperature would be like outside. February in New Hampshire was not known for sun or blue skies. If it wasn’t snowing with temperatures in the minuses it was raining and foggy.

Her son shivered beside her, the only coat he had wrapped tightly around him, his head and ears obscured by a bobble hat CJ had discovered in the back of a closet. The last time he had come to New Hampshire he had been barely walking, now he was shuffling along behind her, his eyes taking in everything.

“Once we get in the car, we’ll turn up the heat and get the blood circulating.”

Thomas nodded, stamping his feet and dragging his case behind him as they went in search of the car rental agency.

CJ had pondered her choices, and decided on a four by four. The weather, she predicted, would get worse before it got better and the roads were likely to be icy. There was also the chance that she would play chauffeur to Toby as he had long since given up driving, favouring New York public transport instead. This way if he or Josh got a hold of her keys there was less chance of them fishtailing into a ditch.

“This is so cool,” Tom commented, wrapping his seat belt around him and glancing at the dash board. “We should get one of these.”

“I’ll think about it. Now are you comfortable?”

“Yeah.”

She checked his seat belt, and child locked the door before pulling out of the parking space and heading towards the farm. The roads were relatively clear of traffic and provided she kept her speed under control the ice did not prove to much of a hazard.

With in seconds her son was sound asleep and in little under an hour she pulled up outside the farm.

CJ climbed out of the car and smiled briefly as Charlie made his way down the steps to meet her.

Engulfing her in an embrace, he announced, “We weren’t sure what time you would get in so I offered to stay up. Can I get your bags?”

She stepped back and shook her head. “How are you doing?”

Charlie stared back at her in silence, his eyes telling her how much losing his former boss and mentor was affecting her.

“You can help with Tom,” she suggested, wanting to get in the warm and away from the raw pain that she knew would encompass the house that would be her home for the next few days.

“Sure.” He opened the passenger door and lifted the small boy up in one swoop. “Leave the bags and I’ll get them in a minute.

CJ moved around to the back of the vehicle and lifted the two cases out before following him into the house.

“I would have done that,” he complained, climbing the staircase.

“It’s fine.”

“Do you want a coffee or something to eat?” Charlie asked, pausing and glancing back over his shoulder.

“No, I think I’m gonna go straight to bed.” She yawned, finally giving in to the tiredness that had shadowed her all day.

“Follow me then,” he said, continuing up the stairs “and I’ll show you to your room. Abbey’s put Tom on the foldout in your room.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Two

There was something about the Bartlet family home that made everyone feel at home. The house itself was a warren of strangely shaped rooms, decorated when the children were young and updated every three or four years in the same style, just perfect for hiding in when Josh’s presence became too much.

Whatever the circumstances for the visit, the peacefulness and warmth of the house made everyone sleepy, and however stressful their lives, guests had a habit of sleeping in and waking to the aroma of fresh coffee.

This morning the house was still quiet, everyone still in their rooms, the coffee pot brewing happily in the kitchen.

Toby opened the refrigerator door and removed the pie. His eyes lingered on the tray and the large triangular space where half an hour earlier there had been a slice. He scrunched up his face in consternation.

“It was very nice pie, Toby.”

His lips quirked upwards into something resembling a smile as he turned around to face her. “You ate my pie.”

“Just a sliver.” She licked the remains of cherry filling from her lips.

“Abbey made it for me.”

“No need to get petulant there, Pokey. I’ll make it up to you,” CJ promised.

He raised a sceptical eyebrow.

“Well, maybe,” she grinned, taking a step further into the kitchen. “So, aren’t you going to say hello?”

“I was. But then you ate my pie and wouldn’t apologize so I decided against it.” Toby took a step towards her, lowering the pie dish to the table.

“We never have been very good at apologies.”

The embrace was tentative, awkward even but he held her longer than he should, not wanting to have a conversation, or at least a conversation that involved their feelings. It was she who broke the contact, stepping back and studying him.

“How have you been? How’s Andi? The kids? Do you have any students left? Are you making friends?”

“Making friends? What am I? Three?”

“There have been times . . .,” she trailed off, running her fingers along the line of buttons down the front of his shirt.

There were times like these when Toby found it hard to believe they had been friends for so long, through some of the worst and some of the best times of his life. Harder still to remember that they were just friends and had never been more than that.

“So?”

He shook his head, the remains of grey hair barely moving. “Let me see. I’ve been well. A cold that seems to linger, but that‘s what you get for working with the younger generation. Andi is fine. Still in Congress, still berating me at every opportunity. She and the twins are coming up for the funeral. They’ll be pleased to see you despite the circumstances. I seem to have a way with students.”

“And friends?” CJ asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Why is it so important that I have friends?”

“Because I need to know that you have room for an old one.” Her voice was flat and emotionless but her words revealed enough for him to know how badly she was hurting.

Toby looked at her, his eyes trying to read what she was hiding behind the violet pools. He came up empty. “I will always have room for you.” Silently, he placed his hand over his heart and they stood, staring at each other in silence.

“Toby, is there something wrong with the pie?” Abbey asked, her eyes darting between them and falling on the pie dish.

“No, Ma’am. Except CJ ate some.”

“There are three more in the freezer, Toby, you couldn’t share?” The two of them acted like school children sometimes and she had long since deduced the cause of it. She continued to stare between them, noting the barely discernible distance between them and wondering if they were finally moving to a place where their relationship would finally turn into what destiny, and she, had always envisioned. “I’m going to make breakfast shortly.”

“You just got in?” he asked, watching Abbey as she opened the refrigerator and began to remove butter and eggs and juice.

“We arrived late last night,” CJ replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Everyone was asleep.”

“We?” he asked, making his way to the coffee pot.

“Tom’s with me. I thought it was best if I kept him with me.” She smiled as Toby handed her a mug and headed to the refrigerator. “Can I help with breakfast?”

Abbey shook her head as she opened a drawer and pulled out a bread knife. “I’m fine.” She had also heard about CJ’s cooking. “It takes my mind off other things.”

“I’ll lay the table,” Toby offered, adding the right amount of cream to CJ’s mug. “Are the plates in the same place?”

Abbey nodded. “Do you think anyone will want pancakes?” she asked, turning toward them, concern evident on her face. “I could make some batter.”

Toby crossed the room until he was standing behind her. “I don’t think anyone will mind if they don’t.”

“Jed always liked us to have pancakes when the family were here. With syrup, had to New Hampshire of course.”

CJ lifted her palms upwards and shrugged, her eyes betraying to Toby that she was as unsure as he was as to what to do.

“Why don’t I make the batter and if they want some we’re ready.”

Abbey smiled up and him and turned back to carving fresh bread. “The syrup’s in the fridge.”

Toby glanced at CJ and she had to turn away before he could see the watering in her eyes, tears not for the man she had lost but the woman left behind. Abbey and Jed had been married for most of their adult lives and she could only imagine what the sudden wrench was doing to her friend, and she didn’t want to contemplate what it would be like to lose the man you loved with every fibre of your body.

Toby opened the fridge and stood there staring at the contents as he breathed in and out, desperately trying to keep his emotions in check. Jed and Leo were both gone and Josh had never dealt with loss well, not that anyone should have to deal with loss, so he had to be the one to stay strong. It wasn’t going to be easy, especially when all he wanted to do was hold the ones he loved and make it better, but it was his role now and he wasn‘t going to let them down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Three

“I hope nobody minds but it’s kind of a pot luck supper,” Abbey called from the kitchen.

“I wish you’d let us help,” Donna reiterated, rising to her feet and making her way to the doorway between the kitchen and dining area.

Nobody was really hungry. After a breakfast that could have fed the entire west wing staff, there had not been much to do other than sit around, reading the papers and waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive. The papers filled with stories and obituaries for Jed had all become a little too much after a while and they had taken to sitting around the fire, the odd snippet of conversation and the children playing outside the only interruption to quiet contemplation.

Kate had arrived late morning, sharing a cab with Annabeth. Will had finally arrived as they were about to sit down to lunch.

While the children had spent the afternoon in the den watching television, their parents had each made the trek into Manchester to see Jed, taking the time to say their private goodbyes.

Now the children were in bed and Abbey had taken to the kitchen again, Toby never far from her side.

Abbey waved Donna off. “You have enough to do taking care of the kids and Josh.” She placed a large bowl of potatoes on the table. “Besides, Toby’s pretty handy in the kitchen.”

“Really?”

“Josh!” CJ said in warning, finally popping the cork on the first bottle of wine and filling each of their glasses. Something told her it wouldn’t be the last bottle they shared that night.

“It’s just I wasn’t aware he was so in touch with his feminine side,” Josh continued, no amount of CJ’s glaring or Donna’s groaning stopping him.

“Perhaps he can whip up a soufflé for dessert,” Sam commented with a smile, his voice deliberately low in fear of riling Toby again. Both he and Josh had been on the receiving end of Toby’s wrath that afternoon, his anger fooling nobody and barely masking his pain.

Annabeth glanced up from staring at her wine glass, not really sure why she had been invited to the family only gathering, but feeling the loss as much as any of them. “Leo could make an amazing soufflé.”

The others fell silent, staring at her. Her simple memory of Leo had brought them all crashing back to reality.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring everyone down.” She really couldn’t help herself. Leo’s death had come so suddenly and ended what had promised to be a wonderful relationship. It hadn’t prevented her from coming to the realization that she loved him and time certainly hadn’t made her want to move on.

Toby appeared in the doorway, an apron tied at his waist, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. “I’d forgotten that he could cook.”

“I’m not entirely sure it was the cooking he was interested in or the woman cook, Nigella Lawson.”

“Yeah, cause Sam watches the Lakers for the sport,” Donna teased.

“Hey!”

“Children,” Abbey scolded, her voice betraying the fondness she held for these people. “Can we have at least one meal where you play nicely?” In less than twenty four fours she had realized that nothing had changed. The brightest and the best, Jed had always referred to them as, but together they were more like siblings forced to spend long vacations cooped up together in a tent, bringing out the worst in each other.

“In that case you’d better sit Toby and Josh at opposite ends of the table,” Sam announced.

CJ rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen, returning with a bowl of food.

“Sausages?” Kate asked, a little surprised by the addition to the feast.

“Like I said - Pot Luck,” Abbey said apologetically.

“There's two things in the world you never want to let people see how you make 'em: laws and sausages.” Toby fell silent.

He had been dead for eight years, but his loss was felt as deeply then as it had been the day they buried him, probably deeper with the passing of his best friend. Both men loomed large in the company of their friends.

“I had woot canaw! I have to cancew the bwiefing.”

“Excuse me?” CJ said, her eyes firmly fixed on Josh.

“I thought we were comparing silly quotes,” he offered by way of explanation.

“Oh boy,” Toby mumbled, taking his seat and helping himself to food. “You pick that one, after your secret plan to fight inflation.”

“Kate, Will, Annabeth, I apologize for what this may become,” Abbey said with a smirk.

“Cause they’re the sanest of the bunch?” Josh asked dryly.

“Compared to you, Josh, everyone’s sane,” Will chipped in.

“Don’t I know it.”

CJ watched Abbey take her seat. She noted with some concern that she wasn’t eating and she seemed to be lost in thought.

“Are you ok?”

“He was right, I wasn’t sure until now,” she offered quietly. “About having you all here.”

“Why did he want us here?” Toby asked, taking a large sip of wine.

“It can wait till after dinner.”

“Abbey, now is as good a time as ever.” Toby had some inkling as to why they had been invited and it wasn’t for the funeral or a cosy get together.

She relented. “I want to thank you all for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.” She paused momentarily and rose to her feet. “Jed knew that his time was coming, he’d probably known for a few months. But as stubborn as he was, and remembering what you were like after Leo died, he wanted it to be painless as possible. He also wanted to have the chance to say goodbye.” Abbey opened the bureau and lifted out the envelope. “He wrote you a letter.”

Jed had wanted her to be the one to read it, for her voice, her inflections to impart his devotion to these people but now the time had come, she couldn’t do it. Her eyes drifted around the room, trying to decide who she could ask to do the deed.

“You want me to read it?” CJ asked, reaching over and covering Abbey’s hand with her own.

“He wanted. . . I should. . .” She released the envelope.

CJ cleared her throat and slowly opened the envelope, pulling out several sheets of paper. “I see he went for brevity.”

A light ripple of laughter went round the room.

“So I guess if Abbey, or probably CJ are reading this, I’ve finally joined Leo. For that, please don’t be sad. He was, and is and always will be the best friend I ever had, and together we are the most formidable. I know that you will mourn and I know that you ask the interminable question as to why but you should know that I am ready and I have finally achieved everything that I ever wanted.”

Abbey rose from her chair and crossed to the window, her back to them as she fought tears. Jed’s own letter to her had announced his love for her and said all the things she needed to hear, but hearing that he was ready to leave her didn’t make it any easier.

“The eight years in the White House, the year we spent campaigning and the years since have been truly wonderful. I made friends in those few years that I know most people don’t make in a lifetime. Friends that to me are more like family. Of course there is so much I wanted to say to each of you before it was too late. Never being one short of words I have left you each a letter, which Abbey will give you." CJ paused and glanced at Abbey, not really sure if she wanted to read Jed’s last thoughts or not.

“Like all the best families, we had our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements but I have leaned a lot from each of you. From Annabeth I learnt about love. You hold a special place in my heart for making Leo’s final days so happy. You took away his pain and showed him that it was possible to love again. Kate, you are everything a man looks for in a woman - sexy, sassy, classy with a challenging mind. You asked me questions others were to afraid to ask. My darling Claudia Jean, you have always been like a daughter to me and I know my expectations for you were so high that I haven’t really been fair to you. Always so capable and beautiful and energetic and so willing to put us before yourself that you’ve let happiness slip you by. Don’t do it again. You taught me how to treat people with respect and how to be classy even when scrutinized beyond all reason. ”

No one was eating, they were all listening to CJ and trying to hide emotions that were raw and close to the surface.

Sam opened a second bottle of wine and moved around the table, filling glasses that had mysteriously emptied.

“Abbey will tell you that I wanted a son, one that I could impart my wisdom to and enjoy sports with. I was blessed with four of you and discovered that sons bring so much more. Will, I feel as though I hardly knew you but I respect you for your choices and for your commitment. And for never beating me at Chess. Sam, your words amaze me. You gave my ideas the passion they lacked. Your forgiveness brought me humility. Josh, I once berated you for not wanting to run, for wanting to be the guy, the guy counts on. I was wrong. Sometimes it’s good to have a guy to count on and I know that I can count on you to finish our work. And you gave me grandchildren, a true blessing. I just thank God for Donna and her limitless patience and love.”

Josh reached out and wrapped his arm around Donna’s shoulders as she began to sob.

“Toby, you are a wise and brilliant man, except when it comes to what you need. You can also be an idiot sometimes but when you love someone you forgive them their eccentricities. I pardoned you not because I agreed with what you did or forgave you but because my better angels told me to. I did it out of love because I could never have done better than you for a friend.”

Toby covered his face with his hands, knowing that he was weeping. His letter he knew would leave him feeling ten times worse and he could only hope that CJ would be there. He really didn’t think either of them could do it alone.

“I wanted you to all be together when you read your letters, to share, to mourn and to look to the future together. I want you to know how proud I am of all of you, as a friend and a father, of every achievement you’ve made. Abbey once told me that people who loved me had my back. You guys must have loved me great deal, and I’m asking you to take care of my girls and Abbey. I wish we‘d had a little more time but it wasn‘t to be. With love. Jed. ”

CJ looked up from the sheet of paper, her cheeks stained with her tears, to find the other occupants of the room equally as wrecked.

Abbey continued to stare out of the window. “I wanted to say something too. I haven’t watched the television much the last day or so but Zoey told me to watch the NBC news last night. I wanted to thank you for your words, for all the wonderful things you said about Jed.”

“Abbey,” Annabeth said softly through her tears.

“I also wanted to tell you how much I love you all too.”

“It goes without saying that we’d say nice things about you too,” Josh grinned, needing to dispel the sadness in the room.

“I’m not planning on going anytime soon, Josh. “ She gave him a small smile.

“That’s good to know. You’re the only woman I know who can cook like this.” He ducked, waiting for the inevitable slap across the back of his head, causing the slightest ripple of laughter. Each loss was more painful than the last but they had each other and they had this, and this was what would get them through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Four

The day of the funeral started with a thunder storm and a downpour reminiscent of a tropical storm on another sad day. Inside the Bartlet house it began with several freshly brewed pots of coffee and numerous hangovers. After dinner and Jed’s letter, Abbey had retired to bed leaving the others to read their personal letters. When she had awoken empty wine bottles stood lined up like soldiers on the counter. Someone had also gone to the trouble of washing the glasses and leaving them on the drainer. If the number of empty bottles was anything to go by the letters were as difficult for them to read as hers had been for her, she concluded.

No one had really said much, as they settled down for breakfast, trying desperately to hold it together for the sake of the children and each other. The women had busied themselves trying to get the children dressed and to the service on time, the men on the other hand sat in silence, pretending to read the morning papers, not really wanting to talk about mundane things.

Abbey had been more than a little taken a back by the number of people who had asked if they could attend the funeral, her daughters had been more than a little angry at how a funeral could be used for political gain. Protocol had been thrown aside by the girls in favour of privacy and they had restricted the mourners to those Jed actually respected. The Cathedral had still been full to overflowing for the service - family, old colleagues and political foes all gathered to bury the former President and friend. The press, except one lone former White House Reporter, were not invited

The hardest decision for Abbey had been who to give the eulogies. She had received so many requests from so many people that she knew liked Jed and would say wonderful things about him that in the end she had chosen two people who hadn’t asked - Mallory O’Brien and Charlie Young. Despite their surprise neither had refused and both had brought her, and most of the congregation, to tears.

The graveside service had been more private. Secret Service agents, past, present and off duty had ensured Jed’s final resting place was private and that only those invited could attend.

The rain had ceased as Josh, Toby and Sam joined the Bartlet son in laws to carry the coffin to it’s final resting place. Placing it carefully on the ground, they had slipped back to their rightful places.

Toby shuffled backwards and forwards behind the Bartlet women, checking constantly on Abbey, never more than a few feet behind her. He had practically hovered over her since they had left the house and as much as it was driving Abbey insane it also gave her a modicum of security, that she still had one strong man she could rely on.

Andi brushed her red hair from her face. The wind had suddenly whipped up around the cemetery and everyone was struggling to stay upright. It didn’t help that the ground was soggy from the morning’s rain and her heels were sinking. She had come as much for Toby as she had for a man who had changed a generation. Molly and Huck stood either side of her, dressed head to toe in black, their faces the only skin visible as they shivered in the cold February wind.

CJ held back from most of the mourners, her height making it easy for her to see over everyone and grieve quietly. Sam hovered to one side, the ever watchful friend, with no wife to watch over he wasn‘t sure what he was supposed to do and being there for her made him feel useful.

Josh held firmly to Donna’s hand, his other arm around his youngest son. He still couldn’t believe his luck that someone like her loved him enough to stick around. Even with his insecurities, and he was pretty sure she had been on the phone to his shrink earlier, she stuck by him. Ever since Zoey’s call she had never been far from his side, fearful he supposed that he was heading for a breakdown. He couldn’t tell her that she was the only thing stopping that from happening.

Surrounded by the rest of the former staffers, Annabeth and her daughter stood on the opposite side of the grave. Annabeth had been unsure as to whether to bring her. Hannah seemed to be permanently sick and poorly. A cold winter day standing in a cemetery didn’t really seem like the place to take her but Hannah adored Jed and there was no way she was going to stay back in DC. So Hannah bounced up and down beside her, trying to get warm despite the thick wool coat.

The priest was saying something but Annabeth wasn’t really listening, her eyes firmly fixed on her child.

Hannah stared at the single white lily in her hand and into the grave before her. She glanced up at her mother inquisitively.

“What’s a matter, sweetie?” her mother asked quietly.

“If we put Uncle Jed here, how are he and Daddy going to find each other?” She had never questioned whether there was an afterlife or even what happened when someone died, for which Annabeth was grateful. Her devastation at Leo’s death had made her question too much on her own.

Annabeth opened her mouth to speak and words failed her. Hannah had been robbed of her father, and Jed had stepped up to the plate as soon as he discovered she was expecting, offering her a refuge and negotiating with Mallory for a trust fund, knowing that was what Leo would have wanted. Hannah adored him because he indulged her and loved her without question. Now she had lost him too.

Mallory slipped out of her husband’s hold and crouched down to the ground. “When we get back to DC we’re going to go see Daddy and you can tell him where to find Uncle Jed.”

Hannah pondered it for a second and finally nodded. “’k.” The answer was satisfactory and gave her all the reassurance she needed, at least for now. She slipped her hand in her big sister’s and held on more tightly to the lily. Her eyes watched intently as the large oak coffin was disappeared into the ground.

A slight nudge from her mother and she threw the solitary flower into the grave, watching as it fluttered downwards, landing with all the others on top of the coffin.

“The eulogy was beautiful,” Sam said, sliding up behind Mallory and lightly brushing her arm as everyone began to move away from the grave.

She turned and gave him the smallest of smiles. “Sam. Thank you.”

He had been blown away, fresh tears streaking his face as he listened to Mallory eulogise her father’s best friend and talk about the two men’s devotion to one another. “Are you coming back to the house?”

“Abbey insisted.”

“Ride with us?” he asked, taking her arm.

She nodded and allowed him to lead her down the path towards her waiting husband and son.

CJ glanced back towards the grave and her eyes caught the solitary figure crouching down.

“Donna?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“Yeah?”

She motioned to the young boy beside her and back towards the grave.

Donna nodded and took his hand and began to lead him towards her car.

CJ waited until they were out of sight before she turned and crossed to where Toby was staring in to space.

He didn’t turn or acknowledge her presence, other than to pull his hand out of his pocket.

Quietly, she slipped her gloved hand in his cold one.

“I went to see Leo before I flew out.” He had said it so quietly that she had to strain to hear him.

It didn’t surprise her, she talked to Leo nearly every day, stopping for a personal visit whenever she was in DC. She had been lucky enough to talk to both of them shortly before they died. Toby had been robbed of that and she could only imagine how much that was eating at him.

“Toby.”

He shook his head as words again failed him. They seemed to be doing this too often these days, burying their friends and watching a generation pass.

Silently, she crouched down and slipped an arm around his shoulder. “Come back to the house.”

“I just need a minute.”

“I’ll wait by the car. Donna’s taken Tom with her and Danny‘s, well I‘m not sure where he‘s gone.”

“Stay?” he pleaded, glancing up at her for the first time, the complete emptiness in his eyes enough to give her cause for concern.

CJ ignored the pain shooting up her leg in complaint of her position and leaned in closer to him. “For as long as you need.”

“I think you should read my letter.”

“Isn’t it private?”

“I want you to read it.” He needed her to see what Jed had written, to know that Jed had finally forgiven him. She, more than anyone, he knew, would appreciate how much it meant.

“Tonight, after the wake, we’ll take a walk or something.” CJ wasn’t sure she wanted to read it, not after reading her own letter, but Toby had asked and he rarely asked for anything. “Let’s go.”

He finally nodded, rising steadily to his feet and leading back towards the cars.

~~~~~~

CJ shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as she walked the porch, her tears falling onto cheeks, red from the cold. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her brothers or even Josh, because she did, dearly, it was more that they weren’t the ones who shaped her life, the ones that she had come to depend on.

Leo had hired her as Press Secretary, he’d fought with her, pushed for her to be Chief of Staff, and taught her about politics, and showed her that friend scan be found in the most unlikely of places. He was for her the true measure of a man, someone she could care about, respect and someone who’s death had left her with a hole in her heart.

Her father had passed away, silently, while she tried to get across country to him. Tag had raised her after her mother died, guided her through school and her first job, and persuaded her to go for her dreams. His decline and her inability to be there had shaken her but she still had her marriage then.

Then there was Jed, her surrogate father. She loved him enough to throw herself in harms way, enough to be angry yet forgive him. All three were now gone, the hole left too big, the scars too deep, her absence in their last few weeks omnipresent.

The only person left was inside the house yet so far away most of the time. Toby was never far from her mind. Sometimes she hated him, sometimes she loved him. Their relationship had more kinks than her shoulders but it was constant. She knew she would be lost without him too.

“CJ?” a voice called, breaking into her thoughts.

She turned at the sound of the voice, her face barely masking her surprise as she swiped at her eyes. “John.”

John Hoynes hovered in the doorway, fully aware he had disturbed her but he had one last favour to repay. “I’m sorry. I needed to talk to you. And I know it‘s probably not the best time, it‘s the only chance I may get.”

“What can I do for you?” she asked wearily, not wanting to spend a moment longer with him than she had to.

“I thought you should know there’s a book coming out.”

“You’re gonna write about us?” Her tone was incredulous.

“No, I’m actually writing a book about Congress, a nice dry read for politics 101. My publisher mentioned that he has a best seller on his hands. A tell all, the real story, Bartlet book.”

“Oh?”

“I just thought you should have advanced warning in case you wanted to lodge an injunction or get your own out there.” Despite all the bad blood he really didn’t harbour any bad blood towards Jed Bartlet. It was his own choices that had robbed him of the Presidency. The least he could do was give those that were left behind chance to protect the former President one last time.

“I’m not sure we’d have legal grounds.”

“You know one or two lawyers,” he said gently without bitterness. “I’m sorry for your loss, CJ.” He moved away and she turned back to the distance, her thoughts turning to Abbey and what could possibly hurt her. She knew she would have to tell the others but it wasn’t going to be today, they deserved time to mourn before they needed to fight again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“How’s she holding up?”

CJ turned around and managed a small smile. “Nancy, how are you?”

“I’m ok. How’s Abbey doing?” Nancy McNally asked again.

“In public she’s the First Lady, in private she’s his wife.”

“A prefect answer as I would expect.”

“She’s devastated. Right now she’s too busy taking care of everyone. In time it’s gonna hit her,” CJ said, watching Abbey hand out canapés, stopping and chatting to everyone to make them feel better.

“How are you doing?” Nancy asked, turning to look at her, noting the visible tear tracts and the lack of sparkle in her eyes.

“Me?” CJ asked, not really sure why everyone kept asking how she was.

“Leo’s gone, Jed’s gone. Josh and Toby are going to look to you for guidance.”

“They really don’t.”

Nancy smiled wryly. CJ may not see it but she was the glue that kept them together. She was the only one they called - maybe not about foreign policy, but pretty much everything else. In the coming months they were going to need CJ more and more, and if the looks of CJ were anything to go by they had already started.

“We should have lunch next time you’re in town.”

“I’d like that.” CJ glanced around the room, catching Kate’s eye. “I need to . . .”

“It’s ok,” Nancy said, watching as CJ headed across the room. She knew she was right and she could only hope that someone would be there to pick up CJ when she fell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toby stepped into the living room, his eyes searching the room, finally finding the person he had been looking for. She had disappeared shortly after they had arrived back at the house, and concerned he had set about finding her. Somehow he’d missed her as she slipped back into the room and now she was amongst the group by the window, seemingly alright but out of his reach for a while.

For almost eight years he had been surrounded by strong, intelligent and beautiful women, for the last eight years he had been inundated with emails from them, at first showing their support then later sharing news and gossip. Seeing them all in the same room took him back to the first term and an infamous chilli night. Jed Bartlet had been blown away by ‘these women’ as he referred to them. It had taken a little longer for Toby to realize how amazing they were and he imagined he was going to spend the rest of his days paying for that mistake.

“Amazing, aren’t they?” Josh mused, appearing at his side, grinning broadly. Women had always migrated to him, most of which had drifted away again. The women that had stuck around had become his closest friends and confidants, most of which were in the room, all of which he knew would always be there for him, and him for them.

CJ stood with her back to him, the tallest of the group, and his best friend. Despite their bickering they were extremely close. Today her height was giving her an air of authority, her hands moving as she tried to express her point, her head thrown back as she riled about something. To her right, stood his wife, the love of his life, the one he was determined not to let get away. To CJ’s left stood the two short blondes, doing a double act as they finished each other sentences. Margaret held herself slightly away from the group, clutching a tray of canapés as she continued to try and look after everyone, even now not willing to accept that she was an equal to this wonderful group of women.

Toby had to agree. His eyes drifted back to the couch and his ex wife and the NSA chatting. It had taken him nearly ten years but he had finally given up the idea that he and Andi could ever be reunited. Instead they were friends, devoted to their children, and not hurting each other any more than they already had.

“It can’t have been easy for any of them.”

“Working with you? No,” Toby offered dryly.

Josh rolled his eyes dramatically. “I meant raising children alone.”

“Uh?” Toby had always had a problem following Josh’s line of thought, except of course when they were both drunk, which was inappropriate at the wake but later he fully expected both of them to be in no condition to communicate at all.

“Annabeth and Hannah, Margaret and Jamie, Andi.” He glanced at his friend. “Donna for the most part.”

“CJ and Tom.”

“We’re not very good at marriage in this family despite having Jed and Abbey as role models,” Josh acknowledged sadly. His own marriage was happy, having ridden out the storm that almost tore them apart, in no small part due to the group across the room.

“We’re blessed, Josh. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Of course some of us are more blessed than others,” Sam said dryly, creeping up behind them. “Is it possible you’ve lost more hair since last yesterday?”

“Very funny. If you had a wife and three kids . . .”

“If it wasn’t for you I would have been married twice by now with a dozen kids.”

“Then you should thank him for saving you a fortune in alimony,” Toby teased.

“What are you boys talking about?” CJ asked, appearing at Toby’s side, her fingers running gently up his arm, a gesture that didn‘t go unnoticed by the men around her and one they knew better than to ask about.

“Not much.”

“In that case, while Donna and I start clearing up, could you like try and encourage the guests to leave.”

“Encourage them to leave?” Josh asked, his voice relieving his confusion.

“Well you managed to get half the democratic party to leave, Josh.” She grinned at him. “No, seriously, Abbey’s tired is all.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The guests were quietly leaving, shaking Abbey’s hand and making promises that would never be fulfilled and offers that she would never accept. The one thing she really wanted she could never have, and there was little anyone could give her to make up for it. She shook another hand and wished longingly for some time to herself.

It was inevitable that the family would remain a little longer, putting the house back the way it normally was.

CJ and Donna had disappeared into the kitchen before Abbey could, intent on cleaning up.

Toby had borrowed CJ’s SUV and taken Andi, and the twins to the airport. Josh had followed, his car full of former assistants, one of many to get everyone back to DC.

Will found himself in the small family sitting room, waiting for Josh. He suppressed a smile as he caught sight of the only other person in the room. Taking a deep breath he took a chance.

“Would you like to have dinner tonight?” he asked, staring at the photos over the fireplace.

“Are you asking me out on a date?” Kate asked, surprised, turning to look at him.

“Yes.”

“I’m seeing someone.”

“I heard that.” Josh had taken it upon himself to make sure Will knew Kate was seeing someone finally. So Will hadn’t made a move in the seven years they had been apart, except maybe the Congressional Christmas Party where they’d gotten hammered and woken up in a hotel room. Josh didn‘t seem to think it was a problem. “So I know this little Ethiopian place.”

“In Manchester?” Kate asked, knowing full well there wasn’t and enjoying watching Will stammer his way through the conversation.

“You’re not flying back tonight?” He sounded disappointed.

“No,” she gave him a small smile. “I have a room downtown.”

“Oh?”

“There’s a four poster bed.” It was crazy but after the two days they’d had it didn’t seem like such a bad idea to be with someone she loved, even if together they were a disaster waiting to happen.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked confused and amused all at the same time.

“I wasn’t aware I had to try,” she offered dryly, placing her glass on the mantle piece. “Can I give you a lift?”

“Ok.” He looked around for someone to say goodbye to, failing he picked up his bag from the hallway and followed her out to her car.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey,” Sam said, leaning against the door jamb, smiling.

“Hey yourself.” The petite blonde stepped back to allow him entry to the hotel room. “I was under the impression, or at least led to believe that, you were staying at the farm.”

“Last night, yeah. But the Bartlet family are all there tonight so I volunteered to check in here.” He shrugged out of his jacket and dropped into the armchair. With the Bartlet girls staying over and Josh and Toby and CJ, there was little room for anyone else. Sam had opted to move out and Annabeth and Will were heading back to Washington.

“Would I be reading too much into it if I assumed by the luggage that you have not booked a room but are intending to stay here with me?”

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” Sam admitted, his voice betraying just how much he needed her.

They were slipping into a pattern, one that ten years ago could have led to a walk down the aisle and a bundle of kids but they were well beyond that now. Instead they were friends who took comfort in each other when they could, in hotel rooms, and on his boat but never in his apartment.

Ainsley slipped the oversized cardigan off of her shoulders. “So, do you want to just go at it or would you prefer to have a drink, maybe order room service and watch the news before hand?”

Sam smiled and loosened his tie. “You hungry, Sweetheart?”

“Am I not always in need of a little nibble?

“I have never known you to nibble, bite and gnaw maybe.”

Ainsley threw the menu at him, missing him by inches. “I’ll have a turkey sandwich, fries, coleslaw, a muffin and maybe some fruit.”

Sam picked up the phone and dialled room service. He placed his order, adding a bottle of wine and a couple of cupcakes for when she got hungry in the middle of the night.

The food arrived within twenty minutes and they settled on the bed to watch television, avoiding the replays of the funeral and sticking to vintage comedy instead, and ate dinner.

Satisfied, for food anyway, Ainsley slid off the bed and padded into the bathroom. “Did you bring a clean shirt?”

“Of course. Never underestimate the powers of a clean shirt,” he called, clearing off the bed.

She appeared in the doorway, grinning. Carefully and decisively, she crossed the room and ripped open his shirt.

“Ains?”

“I haven’t got the patience tonight to wait for you to fold it neatly,” she explained.

“Are you trying to take advantage of me?”

“All evidence is that you of all people do not need encouragement and tonight I feel like taking charge.”

His eyes studied her, a little afraid, a little aroused as she slid first one then the other strap off her shoulder and the gown dropped in a puddle on the floor.

“Hubba Bubba.”

“Ok, you are most certainly spending way too much time with Joshua when maybe you should be spending time with someone more articulate.”

“So convince me, baby,” he groaned as she hopped up on the bed and propped herself up on one elbow, her blonde hair falling across the pillow. His body reacted immediately, his pants tightening and his heart beginning to race. Silently, he crawled up the bed to her, reigning gentle kisses over the slight curve of her stomach and breasts, and wondering when it was that he lost the battle and she became such an intricate part of his life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a long day in the West Wing, one that had started with a six am wake up call and ended in a late drink, or three, with the minority whip. Josh had finally arrived home to find his wife sat up waiting for him, which he should have known indicated he was in trouble.

Dropping his jacket on the back of the chair and tossing his back pack across the floor, he leaned in and kissed his wife. “Hey, baby.”

“Joshua.” She barely glanced up from her reading.

“So how was your day?” he asked, loosening his tie.

“Peachy. How was your day?”

“I may have to fly to Portland on Friday to stump,” he replied, starting his nightly routine of getting undressed, oblivious to the tone in her voice.

“Oh. Well I‘m going to New York so I‘ll have to see if the nanny will work late.” Donna glanced up from the open folder on her desk. “Wouldn’t want the kids coming home to an empty house.”

He nodded, only partially listening.

On the inside Donna seethed, on the outside she smiled sweetly. It was the fourth night in a row that he had come home way past the children’s bedtime, only the second that month he had forgotten to phone and wish them goodnight. Ordinarily she would have yelled and screamed but her day hadn’t exactly been a bed of roses either. “CJ phoned to remind me it’s Abbey’s birthday next week.”

“Ok.” He leaned over his back pack and pulled out a pile of papers before climbing into bed.

“I thought we could send her some flowers or a nice scarf.”

“Yeah.”

She inwardly groaned as he continued to ignore her, absorbed once again in his work. “The First Lady is a closet Republican.”

“Yeah?” Ignoring the self-induced pounding in his head, the proposed Bill on Transportation was doing little to lessen his nightly insomnia.

“Josh.” Donna had patience it was just running a little thin with Josh at times. Tonight was one of them. All she had wanted was a quiet night with him, a nice dinner and a conversation about something other than the West Wing.

“Yeah.”

“Joshua!”

He finally looked up and caught sight of her red tinged cheeks. “Yes, Donna,” he said softly, knowing that he was suddenly walking a fine line.

“We need to start thinking about booking a vacation. It‘s March and if we booked soon we can get the early bookers discount.”

“It’s an election year.” He stared back at her, his expression one of a petulant child.

She lowered the brochure and stared at him through hooded lids.

“I need to be in town. There’s the convention and the President will need to campaign with at least fifteen House Democrats and ten Senators.”

“I’m sure he can manage without you for a week or two.” Donna had already cleared Josh for two weeks in early August with Sam. The last thing the Party needed was an overworked, stressed out Josh in the middle of an election.

“Donna,” he whined.

“Joshua,” she replied firmly.

“Can we even afford a vacation? This time next year we’ll both be unemployed.” To say he was a little concerned about what was going to happen when they left office was an understatement. They had three kids and a house to pay for. Of course if they actually sold his apartment they’d be a little better off but that had been a bone of contention for years. Instead, as his wife was so fond of telling him, he would have to suck it up and get a real job.

“You may be. I actually have skills.” In truth she had been offered a job by an old friend and fully intended to take her up on it. “So I thought we’d rent an RV and drive South.”

He looked at her horrified. So they hadn’t had a proper vacation since their honeymoon, but he’d kind of looked forward to taking in some sun and maybe a little baseball the next time they did.

“I am not staying at your mothers, and CJ must be fed up with us descending on her every year. Abbey has enough to contend with and everyone else we know lives in DC.”

“Days out?” he asked hopefully.

“Fine. I’ll work and you can take care of the kids for the summer holidays.” Not that she would ever put her kids through that.

“What about camp?”

“You have six thousand dollars in your sock drawer I don’t know about? Then there’s the secret service.”

“Cause they’re gonna love an RV.”

“They can discreetly follow us and the agents can rent one of their own.” She wasn’t entirely sure their lead agent wasn’t going to have a nervous breakdown but she’d deal with the details after Josh had finally come around to her way of thinking.

“But an RV. That’s so . . .”

“Practical, Josh.” She continued to flick through the brochure. “Maybe we could take Hannah and give Annabeth a break.”

Josh placed the folder on the beside table and briefly wondered how he could possibly get out of a vacation with his wife, three boisterous boys and a mini Annabeth. Suddenly a national emergency was starting to look more inviting than a family vacation.

“Josh,” she said after a few minutes, her voice sultry.

Dropping the folder on the table he rolled over to look at her. “Yes, Baby.”

“Close the window. It’s suppose to rain later.” Donna turned over and flicked off the light, a self-satisfied smile on her face. “And check on the boys while you’re up.”

He sighed deeply and padded across the room in the knowledge that any hope of action in the bedroom was definitely out of the question. He made a mental note to finish early the next day, maybe have his assistant send her some flowers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Kate doesn’t want to write the book, “Toby said, propping himself up on his pillow. “She doesn’t think it’s appropriate while she’s still working in the NSA.“

“That counts Sam out too,“ CJ replied, her lips quirking up into a grin as she realized that he was going to have to write it.

“Yeah.“

“What about you?“ She asked, her voice betraying little of the satisfaction she felt that they finally had the right man.

“I’m not sure I’m the right person.“

“Yeah, because some Harvard political studies graduate knows so much more about this family than you do.“

“I’m not sure he would have wanted me to write it,” Toby offered, in his trademark growl.

“I can’t think of anyone he’d rather. Except maybe me. And we both know my prose needs work.” She waited for his witty comeback.

He wisely that let that one slide by. “No publisher is gonna touch me.”

“Leave that one to me.” CJ already had a list of publishers who were ready to take on the project she only had to sell them Toby as the author. With Amy’s book on Abbey as a sweetner she was sure one of them would be willing to cough up the reserve.

“What do I write about?“

“His time in office, the campaigns, the man he was, the real Jed Bartlet. When they finally get out, Kate can write about Bartlet the early years and Sam can do Santos.”

“You have it all planned out,” he said dryly, rolling onto his back and staring at the ceiling.

“But you need to approach Abbey.”

“You always did give me all the easy jobs,” he mock-grumbled, hoping that Abbey would allow him the privilege of writing the biography.

“Well, you have such a way with people.” She smiled to herself. “Have you bought Abbey a gift yet?”

“Oh hell, it’s her Birthday.”

“We’ve bought her opera tickets. I put your name on the card,” CJ announced, fully aware that he would have forgotten.

“CJ?”

“Just hope she doesn’t invite you to accompany her.”

This had become their ritual in the three weeks since the funeral. After Temple on a Saturday morning Toby would phone and they would meander through a conversation that resolved nothing but intensified the connection they had, if only for twenty or so minutes. He hadn’t told her and he wasn’t sure he ever could but at some point in the last few weeks he had begun to look at her differently. Naturally he had always thought her beautiful and sexy but now he felt something entirely more emotional when he thought about her. Knowing that she was stretched out in bed wearing little more than her underwear wasn’t helping his libido any.

“Pokey?”

“Sorry, I was zoning out there,” he acknowledged, unconsciously turning pink.

“It’s the silk panties again isn’t it?” she asked, lightly.

“Darn, and I was hoping you’d forgone them for me.”

“Defeats the object when you’re there and I’m here,” CJ teased, a shiver shooting through her body. It was crazy to be flirting with him but there was something about him that brought out the worst in her.

Toby could feel the blush starting at the ears and engulfing his face. “What am I supposed to say to that?”

“You could start with inviting me to New York.”

“Anytime, CJ.” The invitation was genuine enough, after all he loved to see her, he was just a little unsure of what might happen when she did.

“You make it seem so appealing.”

“Come to the Big Apple, Claudia and I’ll take you somewhere where you can pick up some new silk drawers. In fact come now.”

“If only it was that simple. Maybe next month,” she suggested, knowing that between her son and work she couldn’t drop everything, at least for a few weeks.

He heard the sudden change in her voice, a sadness enveloping her tone. “You need to drop Tom off?”

“Yeah, Danny gets him for the weekend.”

“Any plans for tomorrow?” Toby asked, savouring his last few minutes of her time.

She shook her head then remembered that he was on the other side of the country. “No.”

“I’ll phone you before I go to bed and we can figure out dates.”

“You really want me to come visit?” she asked, a little taken a back by his enthusiasm, especially when it was usually so non-existent.

“Can you come?” he asked in reply, not willing to admit how much he wanted her there.

She smiled. “I’ll figure it out. Gotta go.”

He waited a few seconds before he replaced the receiver, the biggest smile on his face, and a new spring in his step as he headed into the kitchen to do chores.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The corridors were busy, nurses delivering dinner to the patients and doctors on rounds but Annabeth was oblivious to the commotion as she walked out of Hannah’s room and lowered herself onto the hard plastic chair in the paediatrics waiting room. For the last week she had been practically living there, going home for clean clothes and little else.

Tears fell freely as she replayed the doctor’s words, relived the look on his face as he gave her the test results. It was too much, she did not deserve it, she’d lost too much already.

“Annabeth,” Donna asked, pausing to study her friend and compose herself before gently laying a hand on her shoulder.

Her eyes gazed up at her, glistening, her cheeks streaked with wet tracks. “I didn’t know who else to call.”

“You did the right thing,“ Donna said softly. Donna, it seemed, had become everyone’s first call. She suspected it was partly geographical, CJ being on the West coast, present in spirit, absent in an emergency, and partly dependability. Josh was useless when it came to an emergency, his tragic past making it hard for him to deal, and Toby was far too driven to deal with human emotion most of the time. In times of crisis they all chose Donna.

“Thank you.”

“I came as quickly as I could. What did the doctor say?” She slipped into the empty seat beside her friend and covered Annabeth‘s hand with her own.

Fresh tears threatened to spill. “Hannah needs a bone marrow transplant.”

There was a moment of stunned silence as they both contemplated the enormity of what Annabeth had said.

“How do we go about getting one?” Donna asked, ever practical, always efficient, and determined to help.

“I don’t know.” Annabeth shook her head, her nails digging into her palm as she tried to prevent fresh tears.

“Ok, so you go back in with Hannah and I’ll find out,” Donna whispered.

Annabeth gazed up at her hopefully.

“I promise whatever needs to be done I‘ll take care of it.” She wasn‘t entirely sure what was required only that she abided by the Bartlet code of conduct and you did all that was necessary. “Let me do this for you. Go. Give her a cuddle from me.”

Annabeth rose unsteadily to her feet and headed back to her daughter’s room, glancing briefly over her shoulder to give Donna a weak smile

Hannah was Leo’s daughter, a little darling to the family, who had given them all deep joy in the aftermath of sadness. No one would, or could, give up before they tried everything to help her. Of course, before everything, Donna needed to find out what they needed to do.

Donna walked purposefully down the corridor to the elevator. Reading the directory, she selected the fifth floor and waited. The nurse on duty at the counter in oncology explained everything in detail, patient as Donna took notes and mentally ran through a list of names she needed to call, years of working for Josh finally paying off. She thanked the nurse for her help and promised to call if she needed anything else.

Walking down the corridor and pulling out her cell, Donna punched in a speed dial number and waited. “Margaret, it’s me.”

“Hey.” Margaret hit save on her computer and gave her friend her full attention.

“I don’t have much time. And I haven’t got time to sugar coat it.”

“Donna?” Margaret asked warily.

“Hannah needs bone marrow.”

“What?” Margaret took a deep breath. “Ok. What do you need me to do?” she asked, as efficient as ever.

“Make some calls. See if anyone is willing to be tested.”

“Done. Is she ok?”

“Hannah is pretty poorly. Annabeth isn’t coping very well.”

When Donna tucked her phone back in her purse she considered calling Josh but it was a conversation she needed to have face to face. He would feel guilty she knew and the unravelling was easier to control when he was in the room with her. Instead she made her way down to the parking lot and set about making the rest of her calls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of her phone ringing bought Ainsley to her senses, or rather crashing down from her orgasm. Reaching for the receiver, she lifted it to her ear. “Ainsley Hayes.”

“Hey, can I speak to Sam?” Donna asked, her mind racing to what would have Ainsley so breathy and shaking her head at the images.

Ainsley moved the phone away from her ear and stared at it, wondering if she had by accident answered the wrong phone. “Huh?”

“Ainsley, it’s Donna. Can I talk to Sam please?”

“It’s Donna for you.” Ainsley handed over the phone and turned to face him, her expression one of complete confusion.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked, wrapping the sheet around him, embarrassed, as if Donna could see him.

“You’re not at your office, or your apartment, you had a rough day, where else would you be?” She sighed deeply. “Sam, we all know.” It wasn’t strictly true. Donna was pretty sure Toby didn’t know and Josh was in denial about the whole situation.

“Oh.” He wasn’t sure if there was a correct answer to that or if he should be surprised, after all they knew each other better than they knew their own families.

“Look, I don’t have much time. Hannah needs a bone marrow transplant.”

He sat up in bed. “Ok, ignoring the obvious questions.” And he had a few hundred of those. “Annabeth isn’t a match?”

“She can’t donate after the infection last year. They won‘t even test her blood. They‘ve put Hannah on the waiting list and contacted the donor registry but that could take months, maybe forever.”

“You want me to get tested.” He glanced at Ainsley and nodded as Donna continued to explain what he needed to do.

Ainsley’s ears pricked up as Sam began to talk about her.

“She doesn’t like needles or blood but I’ll see what she says,” he said into the phone, smiling at Ainsley. “No, I won’t force her but I’ll hold her hand if necessary.” He finally put the phone down and climbed out of bed, picking up his clothes from where they had tossed them in the heat of the moment. “Leo’s daughter needs a bone marrow transplant. Donna wants me to get tested.”

“Right now?” Ainsley asked, taken aback.

“No time like the present.”

“Ok, then I presume that I should locate my clothes and accompany you, that your offer was to hold my hand,” she rambled, shivering as her feet touched the cold floor boards.

“You don’t have to.” Although the idea of her fainting in his arms was rather sweet, he knew that she would work herself up into such a state that he would have to ply her with alcohol to calm her down.

“I would like to help in any way I can.” She stopped what she was doing and stared at him. “Leo was always very good to me. I mourned when he passed away. And I, like you and so many others, would do anything for his daughter.”

Sam gave her one of his sweetest smiles. “Thank you.” In that second he realized how much he loved her and how much more they were than casual lovers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What do I need to do?” CJ asked, cradling the phone between her shoulder and head as she scanned through her day planner. The call had come as she was sitting down for dinner. Her appetite had disappeared the second Donna told her the news.

“Can you get to your doctor and get a blood test?” Donna asked, staring through her window. “He can fax the results to Hannah’s doctor.”

“I can fly up there if it’s easier.” She had no hesitation about cancelling her schedule and getting on the next plane.

“It’s not necessary. Unless you’re a match.”

“Ok.” CJ put a line through the next few days schedule and began to make a list of what she needed to arrange. “Anything else I can do?”

“No. I’ve spoken to Toby, and Sam and Will, and practically everyone who every worked with Leo. Even the President. And Bruno, who it turns out is already on the Register.”

“I’ll ask Danny,” CJ said, her mind racing to the possibilities. “And I’m due to have lunch with Joey.” She would have to cancel the lunch but when she talked to Joey she would tell her and hope she could help.

“If nothing else the Registry needs as many donors as possible.“

“We’ll find a match, Donna. Give Annabeth my love. And you, take care, ok?”

“I always do,” Donna replied, climbing into her car.

“Call me later if it gets complicated with Josh.”

Donna smiled to herself and nodded, knowing full well that she would end up on the phone in the middle of the night pouring her heart out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes heroes were found in the strangest of places, Annabeth mused, as she watched her daughter sleep soundly. Not that they weren’t all heroes to her, the way her friends rallied round and got tested and bullied and badgered so many others to do likewise. It was just that he was the last person she expected to be compatible.

Down the corridor her friend was about to be wheeled into surgery for an uncomfortable procedure but he had never once wavered in his determination to help Hannah. There were really no words to express how eternally thankful she would be for his generosity. Of course right about now she imagined he was having second thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CJ stifled her grin as Toby bent over to pull back the sheets. The gown, Nurse Rachet had forced him to wear, exposed his backside for all to see, not that it wasn’t a great backside but it was slightly amusing to see Toby struggling with his modesty.

She waited for him to climb into bed before she spoke. “Nice ass, Toby.”

He groaned and shot her his most menacing look.

“You never were very good at taking compliments.” CJ settled herself on the edge of the bed and covered his hand with her own. “You’re very brave to be doing this.”

Toby shook his head. “Not really.” In truth he hated hospitals and avoided needles at all costs but Hannah needed him and he was damned if he was going to let her down. He owed it to Leo for one thing, for not being there when he needed him, and to Annabeth for all the times he’d been hard on her. “Are you sticking around?”

While he was in theatre under anaesthesia, she was going to head down to the cafeteria and get everyone coffee and food. Annabeth, she was certain, had given up eating when Hannah had gotten sick. Josh looked a little anaemic, not that she was surprised, torn between his concern for the small child he considered a god child, moments of panic about his own children’s health and running the White House. “Thought I might take in a little shopping.”

“Funny girl.”

“I could have you in stitches,” she grinned.

He groaned audibly.

“Hey, maybe I should ask the doctor if he can tattoo my name on your ass while he’s sticking you with the needle.”

“CJ!”

“No, I was gonna go for Claudia Jean.”

Toby rolled his eyes dramatically. “You should take the act on the road.”

“Nah, too old for living in hotels,” she remarked casually, smoothing down his bed sheets. “I guess I should get going.”

“Yeah.” His face suggested anything but as the door opened and two orderlies wheeled a trolley in.

CJ leaned in and gently brushed her lips against his temples. “Take care,” she whispered, picking up her purse and moving towards the door.

“CJ,” he called, sliding across the bed onto the trolley.

She turned and gave him a smile.

“You’re really not that old.”

It was probably one of the sweetest things he had ever said to her but it meant even more because he hadn’t needed prompting.

“I’ll be here when you get back.”

He would never admit it to her, but he was counting on it.

~~~~~

“How do you feel?” CJ asked softly as Toby opened his eyes and gazed up at her.

“Like someone stuck a bloody great needle into my hip,” Toby deadpanned.

“Nurse Rachet left some Tylenol.”

Toby swallowed the tablets and gulped down the glass of water CJ proffered.

“They’re gonna let you out of here tomorrow.”

“So much for doctor patient confidentiality and not releasing information to non-family members,” he mumbled. “It took me two days to find out what sex your baby was.”

“Maybe it was your tone of voice.”

He scrunched his face up in consternation. “You told them you were family.”

“Me, no. Josh sort of told them I was your wife.” CJ’s face remained devoid of emotion.

“Ah. Was it a white wedding?”

CJ rolled her eyes.

“Josh is here?” Toby asked as the anaesthesia began to wear off.

“He and Donna are watching Annabeth.” CJ glanced at the door and back at her watch. “Did you book a hotel room?”

“I’m going back to New York.” He slid back down the bed. “Unless of course you and I have a use for a hotel room.”

She shook her head and groaned. “No. In that case you’re staying with Donna and Josh.”

He looked horrified.

“You need to rest.”

“Yeah, like that’s gonna happen with those two.”

“Nonsense,” she said in a tone she regularly used on her son. “They’ll be at work, the kids will be at day care and you can watch their widescreen high definition television come microwave come whatever.”

“It really doesn’t have a built in microwave.”

“Anyways, you’ll be thirty minutes from the hospital so you can visit.”

Toby allowed himself a small smile. “You have it all worked out.”

“Well someone has to sort your life out.”

“And it’s gonna be you, right?” he asked, not minding in the least that she was back in his life and practically taking over.

“Who else?” CJ settled herself in the visitor’s chair and smiled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~