“Ms. Wyatt?” Her young assistant’s voice erupted through the intercom.
She sighed and pressed the key.

“Yes, Peter?” She asked.

“There’s someone here to see you.” Peter replied uncertainly.

“Who is it?” She asked tiredly.

“Mr. Ziegler, ma’am.” Peter replied softly. Andy froze and looked at the
door. What had KD told him? It didn’t matter. She had deniability. It was simply a
matter of who he believed.

“Send him on in.” She said softly. A moment later the door opened and
Toby walked in, looking remarkably calm. “Toby, what a pleasant surprise. How
was your trip to Dallas?” She asked.

“It was one of the best trips I’ve taken in ages.” Toby replied as he made
himself comfortable on her couch.

“Well that’s good. You deserve a nice pleasant trip.” She replied sweetly as
she moved towards him.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Toby snapped, his emotions emerging.
She stopped in her tracks and did her best to look confused.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“I mean what the hell were you thinking? It almost worked, Andy, but KD is
stronger than you think.” He retorted. “You lied to me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Toby.” She said solidly. “What did
she tell you?”

“Everything.” Toby answered just as solidly. “She’s home, Andy, and she’s
here to stay.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Andy replied, her voice faltering a little.

“Why did you do this, Andy?” Toby asked softly, his face softening a little.
“I’ve never tried to stand in the way of your happiness and now I find you popping
up every now and then, appearing to sabotage the life that I’m trying to build for
myself.”

“Toby –“ Andy started.

“Don’t deny it, Andy. I’m not gonna buy it.” Toby interrupted. Andy paused.

“You say she told you everything?” She asked. Toby hesitated.

“She told me about the wonderful offer you made her. You blackmailed her,
Andy.” He replied.

“If you want to put it that way. I told her that if she didn’t leave, I would
spare her and her colleagues the humiliation of seeing her past on prime time
news. Did she tell you what that past was?” Andy asked sharply.

“I know enough about her past that—“ Toby started.

“Did you know that nine years ago, she and Jed Bartlet had an affair?”
Andy snapped. Toby stared at her incredulously.

“What are you talking about?” He asked softly.

“The Bartlets were separated and she was there to give him her full
support.” Andy snapped.

“I’ll have you know that they did not have an affair.” Toby started.

“Toby, I’m telling you—“ Andy started.

“He kissed her.” Toby said softly. “He was drunk, depressed and out of his
right mind. He kissed her and she hit him. She slapped him and made him go to
sleep. That doesn’t constitute an affair.” He said coldly. Andy froze where she
was. KD had taken the right procedures. She’d told Toby everything he needed to
know so that he would be ready. That had to be it.

“Did your girlfriend happen to mention to you that she spent her nights in
Olympia in his hotel room?” She asked sharply.

“On his couch.”

“Do you really believe her?”

“Yes.”

“The people have a right to know about the closeness of this President and
his aide, one that he hired after her being in town for nearly five hours, mind you.”
Andy tried a different route.

“They don’t have to know that, and if they do find out somehow, the truth
will reveal itself. If you took that to the press, with no proof mind you, you’d be
hurting the President and his staff, and the entire country.” Toby countered. Andy
watched him carefully.

“And when they know this aide of his once took a very large kickback to
keep quiet about –“

“About the illegal actions of her boss, Senator John Matthews? Why do
you think the guy didn’t get re-elected?” Toby interrupted. “She fulfilled a contract
and was paid. That’s all it will look like. In the meantime, John Matthews will be
pulled into the spotlight and he won’t be very happy with you for getting him
thrown in jail.”

“Toby, are you here to convince me to leave your girl alone?” Andy asked
sharply. “Here to defend her honor, to stop the wicked witch from following
through on her plans?”

“Yeah, I guess you can say that.” He admitted.

“Well, then listen to this. I talked to her that day for less than fifteen
minutes and she left you ten minutes later. She didn’t have to think about it. She
had to go ‘okay, I either leave and everything’s okay or I stay and Andrea Wyatt
takes it to the press that I’m a lying slut’—“ Andy started.

“Don’t you dare call her that!” Toby snapped as he got to his feet. “She’s a
better person than you are, and look who’s talking! You lied to me and you hurt
her because you wanted what? Wanted me? That’s a pretty lousy way to get on
my good side!” He snapped.

“I’ll call her what I want to call her. It’s call freedom of speech.” Andy
retorted loudly. “And yes, I did what I could to her because I wanted to be with you
and I felt she didn’t deserve you. I would think you would be flattered.” She added
snidely. Toby nodded.

“Okay, here’s something for your freedom of speech.” He retorted as he
reached into his pocket to pull out a small black box of sorts. She watched as he
pressed a button on the box and then another one. Then Andy listened as she
heard her own voice speak.

“--I told her that if she didn’t leave, I would spare her and her colleagues
the humiliation of seeing her past on prime time news.—“ Her voice declared.
Toby pursed his lips and pressed another button. “—Yes, I did what I could
because I wanted to be with you and I felt she didn’t deserve you. –“ Toby pressed
a button and the voice stopped.

“There’s something for the press.” He said calmly.

“You son of a bitch.” She muttered.

“Aww, sweetie, changed your mind so soon?” He growled. “You leave her
alone. While you’re at it, you leave me alone.”

“Toby, give me that tape.” She ordered. He shook his head and put the
recorder in his pocket.

“I really don’t think so.” He retorted.

“Toby, I think –“

“Is it time for ‘let’s make a deal’ already?” He interrupted.

“All I wanted was to be with you again.” She whispered.

“I don’t want to be with you.” He said softly. She looked at him and nodded.

“Fine. Enjoy it.” She muttered and went back to her desk. “Have fun. I give
in.” She consented. Toby nodded and buttoned his jacket.

“Have a nice day, Andy.” He said evenly before walking out the door. There
was a pause and then he walked in again. “Andy, what are you doing on Saturday,
around two?” She looked at him in surprise.

“Um, nothing.” She replied hesitantly.

“Well, if you want to stop by the temple, there’s going to be a wedding. I’m
getting married.” He replied before walking out again. Andy stared at the door
blankly and then ran her fingers through her hair.

“Goddamn it.” She muttered and rubbed her eyes.