Chapter Six
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| The West Wing My Way Chapter Six |
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| Jed walks over to CJ and shakes her hand. "You're the new press guy, right?" CJ nods, hating the fact that Jed called her a guy and loving it at the same time because if makes her feel like she's one of the guys. "Yes, Governor. Claudia Jean Cregg at your service." Jed nods. "You came with...which one?" Jed looks around at the small group of workers surrounding him and Toby nods. "That would be me, Governor Bartlet. Toby Zeigler." Jed nods. "What time did your plane get in?" Toby rubs his head knowing where this conversation is heading and knowing that he can't do anything about it. "Three this morning, sir." Jed raises his eyebrows. "I'll bet the guys in the lobby of your hotel hated you for coming in that late." Toby shakes his head and tries to catch CJ's attention to warn her about the turn in conversation. She's looking through polling numbers. "No, the lobby was closed when we got in. CJ stayed in my room last night." | ||||||||||||||||
| Jed looks at Toby with disgust. "I hope you got a shot after sleeping on the floor! Those floors in those rooms are disgusting!" Toby nods, wanting to let the conversation go at that, but CJ, who obviously picked up on where Jed was going in his line of questioning, wouldn't let it go. She wants her candidate to say what he means. "No one slept on the floor, Governor Bartlet. Toby and I have known each other for twenty years; we shared his bed." Jed glares at Toby. | ||||||||||||||||
| "You're married! I may not remember your name right now, but I remember a certain Congresswoman who wears your ring on her left hand. And you're sharing a room with her! Leo asked you to bring us a PR guy and you bring us Malibu Barbie! TOBY, if I find out that you convinced Leo to let her join the campaign because you're sleeping with her, so help me God I'll--" CJ heard enough. She walks up to the Governor and glares down at him. "I don't know who you think you are. I think you should think about this before you make any accusations. It was three a.m. This is New hampshire. Every Democrat and Republican running for President has an office in town. Toby and I have been friends for, like, twenty years. Not to mention the fact that, yes, he's married, and no, I would never sleep with a maried man." She looks at Toby as she say she would never sleep with a married man. He's the only one who knowns about John. "There aren't going to be any rooms in town. And even though-" "CJ." "Shut up, Toby! Even though I am honored by the fact that Leo McGarry asked me to come help you, I think you're a jackass who doesn't even deserve to be Governor. Find yourself another press handler. Toby, take me to John Hoynes." CJ throwns the file she was reading at Jen and storms out of the office without waiting for Toby to follow her. "Leo." Toby looks at Leo, begging him to fix this. Leo nods and Toby runs out the door to calm down his friend. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back inside, Leo looks at his friend. "She's the best there is, Jed. Andrea Wyatt, Toby's wife, once called her the future of politics, and she was right. We need her if we're going to win this thing." Jed nods knowingly. "How do I get her back?" Leo pats Jed on the back. "You apologize." | ||||||||||||||||
| ** ** | ||||||||||||||||
| CJ doesn't get another letter from Toby until three years after his wedding. He had sent her Christmas cards, and they'd seen each other at Democratic functions in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles, but their beloved letters had stopped after she left his reception with Tim. Toby writes to invite her to Andi's fundraiser. Andi is the front-runner for a seat in the Senate left open in Maryland. CJ agrees to go to the party and is on a plane to the east coast before her next letter reaches Toby. | ||||||||||||||||
| He knows the moment she walks into the room. The party is at Toby's and Andi's DC apartment. CJ is wearing a black skirt, a red tank top, and black boots. Her hair is longer than it was at the wedding. CJ looks around nervously, searching the crowd for Toby. He walks up to her and she sighs. "Toby, hi." He hugs her akwardly. "CJ, you look great!" CJ smiles and looks around. "Thanks. Where's Andrea? I'd like to wish her luck." There it is; without saying it outright, CJ lets Toby know that things are different. She takes his arm and he shows her to Andi. | ||||||||||||||||
| "Andrea, hi." Andi looks suprised and tries to cover up her contempt for CJ. "Claudia, hello." She higs CJ; a politician's hug. "I had no idea you were running! Now you're the front-runner! Good for you." Andi nods and grabs Toby's hand. "Yeah, thanks. This one ahs been a big help." CJ smiles, hating the fact that Andrea feels the need to flaunt her claim over Toby. "Well, I'm gonna go mingle. Good luck, Andrea." Andrea smiles as CJ walks off. Tim, Toby's Best Man, walks up and hands CJ a martini. Toby watches her take his arm and circle the room with him. | ||||||||||||||||
| You could have been a little nicer, y'know. She did fly all the way across the country to wish you luck." Andi glares at Toby. "She flew all the way across the country because you asked her to, Toby." Andi lets go of Toby's hand and walks away to mingle with her supporters. Toby watches CJ laugh too hard at a joke Tim tells her, and nods her way to catch her attention when she looks up. He motions to the hallway and she nods, indicating that she'll meet him out there. She leaves Tim and walks to the hallway where Toby joins her with a bottle of wine. "Can I talk to you for a second?" CJ nods and Toby leads her down the hall and into the nearest room. Once inside, he locks the door and leans against the wall. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Chapter Seven | ||||||||||||||||