Title:    It’s All About Family

Series: Story Of Us

Rating: PG

It's All About Family

In Washington on July the Fourth you cannot move for people, picnicking in the parks, swimming in the Potomac and later watching the fireworks. Every year The President packed up his family and headed home to New Hampshire. This left the staff to enjoy the holiday and, being that they really didn’t have any friends outside of the West Wing, they chose to spend the day together. Josh took over the plans and organised the barbecue in the grounds of Leo’s townhouse. He had high hopes, stocking up on food and naturally on alcohol. It had catastrophe written all over it, with his disaster prone nature, but Margaret and Carol promised to assist and if necessary call in the Fire brigade.

CJ was still dressing Anna when he arrived, at almost one she had already mastered the intricacies of crawling and had moved on to walking. CJ watched from the window as Leo and Josh pulled out the barbecue and set to work lighting it. Nothing changes, she mused, Leo was still trying to tell Josh how to do it, and Josh was listening patiently then doing it his own way. CJ lifted Anna and headed out into the garden to redirect her husband to preparing the salad and leave Josh to his own devices. Josh grinned at her in relief. Sam arrived at lunchtime with Ginger and their three week old son George, and the terrible duo teamed up once again, Sam playing with the heat and Josh tossing on food. By two everyone was there except Toby, milling around the garden drinking punch and chatting amicably. Josh started cooking, his stash of Samuel Adams disappearing faster than the food cooked, eventually Margaret pushed him aside and took over, waving a spatula at him. Leo watched from the porch, laughing at Josh‘s inability to stand up against a woman..

Toby appeared twenty minutes later, Ainsley by his side. They all looked up in surprise at his hand on her arm. CJ handed her the daughter to Carol and dragged Toby to one side.

‘How long have you two been together?’

‘A while.’

‘How long’s a while?’

‘Sam’s wedding.’

CJ groaned, ‘And you didn’t think to mention it?’

Toby shrugged, ‘Nothing to tell. I call her, she comes around, we screw like rabbits, she leaves.’

CJ flung her arms in to the air, ‘So you bring her to my house for a family party?’

‘Is everything alright in here?’ Leo called entering the kitchen.

CJ smiled, ‘Just great, Jackass here is shagging the associate counsel, nothing serious, a casual fling, so he brings her here today of all days.’

‘I can just go again. And who knows maybe I’ll marry her.’

Leo looked between them, groaned and returned to the party, he knew better than to get between them when they were like this. Their fighting at work had been steadily getting worse, culminating in Leo sending Toby across the country with the President and taking his wife away for a weekend. For a while it had gotten better, recently they were back to their old ways.

CJ glared at him, ‘After Andi? You knew each other what two months.’

‘Go to hell.’

‘That‘s the best you can do?’ She snapped back.

He looked at her, grinned beneath his beard and whispered, ‘No, this is,’ before he captured her lips in a kiss. It took a few seconds for the shock to wear off before she stepped away.

‘TOBY,’ she yelled.

‘You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.’

She continued to stare at him wide eyed, ‘You’re kidding right? Have you been drinking?’

He shrugged.

‘I ought to knock you into tomorrow. My husband is out there, my friends, your….’ she flung her arms around looking for the right word. ‘…whatever. You are so wrong.’

‘Okay, if you say so, I’ll go and find my date.’

‘Just keep out of my way.’

The afternoon turned into evening with no sign of anyone leaving soon. Margaret continued dishing up endless amounts of food and, with the children napping, Josh and Sam embarked on their usual antics. Leo stayed on the porch watching his family, the sons he thought he would never had, sure he shook his head in dismay at them but they had always been the first to run to his defence. He desperately wanted to find Josh a wife but he wasn’t sure if he would ever get over Donna. Margaret was like a second daughter and Ginger had given him the grandchild he longed for. He was most proud of his wife, she was beautiful, trying to line dance with Ginger and Carol and failing miserable. He longed to be able to join in but at times like these his age held him back, that and the constant pain in his stomach. For one day he put all his concerns to one side and ruminated on what a perfect day it was, his family all around him. As darkness fell CJ joined him on the porch, curling up at his feet to watch the fireworks, glaring at Toby as he cuddled up to his Republican Sex Kitten, and laughing as Sam and Josh fell asleep in each other’s arms. It was just another night in the McGarry house.

***********************************************************************************

CJ was in the middle of a briefing when the call came. Simon slipped into the room and handed Carol a slip of paper, Carol read through the black ink on yellow and went white. She glanced across at CJ making a joke at a reporter’s expense and prepared herself. Her feet sounded too loud as she crossed the podium and slid the piece of paper to her boss. CJ finished up her answer and stared down at the note, she swayed a little and looked at Carol helplessly. Carol took her firmly by the arm and led her away leaving Simon to handle the ever suspicious press corp. Once outside the door CJ clutched the wall, struggling to hold the tears in. The arms that engulfed her were warm and she felt safe.

‘Abbey is with him, I’m going to drive you over there, the President is doing all he can to be there too,’ it was only then she realised it was Toby who was holding her.

‘What happened?’ she cried.

Toby slipped his hand into hers and half dragged her and half helped her to the parking lot. ‘Far as we know he was leaving the Capitol when he collapsed and started to throw up. Someone called an ambulance and when they realised who it was called The President. CJ there was blood.’

She swayed again and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, practically lifting her into the car. He drove as fast as he dare through the streets, casting glances at her when he could.

‘Has he said anything to you about being sick?’

‘NO,’ she replied balling her hands into fists, ‘he wouldn’t want me to worry. Abbey spoke to you didn’t she?’

Toby concentrated on the road, fights and mistaken advances forgotten, ‘Yeah.’

‘And?’

‘They’re still doing tests. Most likely it’s linked to his drinking or an ulcer.’

CJ turned to stare at him, ‘How long ago was it?’

Toby gulped, ‘thirty minutes, he was unconscious and they didn’t want to worry you until they knew something.’

CJ turned back to the window and asked very softly, ‘Is he going to die?’

Toby hit the brake and skidded to a stop earning him blaring horns from all directions, ‘Jesus CJ. No, he’s overcome worse, and he has too much to fight for.’

He put his foot back on the accelerator and they reached the hospital minutes later. Abbey was waiting in the emergency room for them. She stepped forward and pulled CJ into a hug, holding her tight as the tears fell once more, finally CJ stepped back and wiped her eyes.

‘Can I see him?’

Abbey smiled at her, ‘He’s asking for you, second door on the right. We’ll be here if you need anything.’

CJ took a deep breath and paced in the direction Abbey indicated.

‘How bad is it?’ Toby asked.

Abbey paled, ‘Serious but if he’s careful not life threatening. He’ll need medication, rest, less stress, and if he was my patient I would recommend quitting work.’

They continued to stare at each other, wondering what such a suggestion would do to Leo and if there was anything they could do for CJ.

CJ pushed open the door and stepped in, the room was the general sterile white, Leo in bed, linked to various machines, a nurse fussing over him. He looked up at the sound of the door and grinned. CJ shook, he looked so old, so ill, his face was deathly white, his hands transparent except for the bruises where they had tried to insert lines. She crossed the room and rested her hand over his.

‘Do you think you could leave us for a second? I need to speak to my secretary before my wife arrives.’

The nurse looked at them both, frowned and left.

‘Leo. You shouldn’t have said that,’ she scolded. ‘How do you feel?’ she added softly.

Leo turned his hand palm up and held onto hers, ‘Pretty crap actually. If I’d gone to a doctor two weeks ago this wouldn’t have happened. Are you okay?’

CJ shook her head, ‘I’m fine, it’s you I’m worried about.’

‘I told them it wasn’t a good idea to give an addict drugs, they didn’t laugh. So I think I’m on the bad list. Hey don’t cry my jokes aren’t that bad.’

CJ leaned forward and rested her head against his on the pillows, tears falling onto the linen.

‘It’s only an ulcer, too much Chinese, stress. We’ll have a vacation and I’ll be as good as new.’ he held on to her hand tightly, unable to do anything else.

The door opened a fraction and an agent stepped in, looked around and stepped back to allow the President through. He took one look at the scene and sent an agent to fetch his wife. Crossing the room he stopped at Leo’s side and gently rubbed his hand, ’You scared us there.’

CJ lifted her head and wiped at the streams on her face, ’Mr President…’

‘SSh, you have your work cut out. He’s a lousy patient. He had shingles once and ended up staying with us, Abbey wanted to put him out of his misery.’

‘Something I should have done to you years ago,’ Abbey added entering the room, ’Can I steal CJ for a second?’

Leo mouthed go to her and she reluctantly went with the First Lady.

‘So a week in here, meds, and a month’s rest.’

‘Mr President, I’m coming back,’ Leo stated.

The President took a chair and lowered his voice, ‘Not your decision. Give it time, listen to the doctors and CJ. We’ll talk about it later.’

‘I have an ulcer.’

‘You have a potentially life threatening condition. Your job, your diet even your past lifestyle don’t help, we will sort something out.’

He squeezed Leo’s hand and they sat in silence, both thinking of another night when the situation was reversed.

Abbey lead CJ down the corridor and into the doctor’s office where Toby was waiting.

‘Right, Leo has an ulcer, he needs drugs, a month’s rest and long term a complete lifestyle change. Ideally a career change.’

CJ looked at her in horror, ’he’ll never go for that.’

‘Then we have to find a way to lighten the load, cut his hours.’ Toby offered. ’I’m going back to the West Wing, sort his office out, is there anything you need? Ginger is going to keep Anna for you and Carol will run over anything she needs.’

CJ shook her head, ’I’ll stay here. Tell them all thank you. The Press?’

‘Not your concern. I’ll draft a brief statement, issue a warning about invasion of privacy. Speak to Ron about an agent.’

‘Taken care of,’ Abbey added.

‘Right you have my cell, phone anytime for anything.’ Toby wrapped his arms around her trying to impart his strength , placing his lips to her ear he whispered, ‘I apologize for last week. I overstepped the mark.’

CJ stepped back and squeezed his hand.

‘I need to go back in.’

‘And I need to take my husband home before the service have a fit. Same applies, call.’

Leo drifted in and out of sleep for the next few hours, CJ slept next to him in a chair stirring each time he moaned and the nurse gave him the next dose of synthetic morphine. About three am he opened his eyes wide and stared around the room, his eyes resting on his wife. He reached out a hand and smoothed her hair, she stirred and sat up.

‘Hey you.’ she whispered.

‘You should go home and get some rest,’ he whispered back clutching her hand.

CJ smiled, ‘Like that’s going to happen. I’m staying, if only to keep you away from the nurses.’

Leo grinned, ‘Nah, I’d rather have you in a nurses uniform. Where’s Anna?’

‘With Ginger. Toby and Josh are at the office trying to clear your desk. All you need to do is get better.’

‘I’d feel better if you were in bed with me,’ he gave her a lopsided grin and allowed his fingers to tickle her earlobe.

CJ stood and climbed on the bed beside him as he moved over. Leo extended his free hand and wrapped it around her back holding her against his chest. CJ nestled in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes.

‘So where do you want to go on vacation?’

CJ opened her eyes and looked up at him, ‘If I come with you there won’t be much rest.’

‘I’m counting on it.’

She leaned up and kissed him lightly on the mouth. Leo deepened the kiss for a second and pulled away.

‘So we could go to California and see your parents. You can show me the beach, and we can tour the studios. I’m sure your folks would love to see Anna.’

CJ smiled, ‘You really want to? Mom’s hard work.’

‘I’d rather stay in Washington with the kids, but I’m under doctor’s orders.’

He was released four days later, his ulcer under control and him well rested after his first real sleep in five years. CJ picked him up and drove him across town, pulling up outside the townhouse. She helped him out of the car, hanging his bag over her shoulder. They took the low steps together and CJ pushed the oak door wide.

‘Welcome Home,’ came a loud cry.

Leo glanced around his living room and the party which seemed to have taken over his home, and back to his wife.

CJ shrugged, ‘It was Josh’s idea.’

Josh bounded over, ‘If I promise not to provide the food will you relax and enjoy yourself?’

Leo shrugged as Sam cried out from the other room, ‘Josh, were you boiling eggs?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Cause there’s no water in the pan.’

Josh gave Leo a sheepish smile and disappeared into the kitchen.

CJ grinned, ‘You wanted to stay here with the kids.’

He smiled back in reply, ‘Yeah, yeah I did, at times like this it’s all about family.’ He shuffled off after Josh to instruct him on the finer points of boiling eggs.

The End