"Toby, what's eating ya?" Josh asked as he stepped into the communication
director's office and made himself comfortable on the couch that was pushed
up against the wall.

"Who said you could come in?" Toby retorted as he looked at his colleague.

"What, you want me to close the door? Toby, you're not your normal bitter,
vocal self today. You're civil, quiet, and worse yet, polite. Still though,
your alarmingly silent behavior is enough to scare Ginger behind her desk
where I could barely find her. We're all worried about you, so spill it."
Josh retorted. Toby sighed.

"Close the damn door." He snapped. Josh did as he was told and then returned
to the couch where he seemed extremely comfortable.

"Now will you tell me?" He asked, looking at Toby expectantly. Toby sighed,
stood up and walked around the desk to sit in one of his armchairs that was
actually free of papers for once.

"I feel like I have to tell someone, and it may as well be you, but you can't
tell anyone." Toby replied.

"My lips will be sealed." Josh replied, clearly interested.

"Not even Moss."

"Donna? Nope, not telling."

"If you do, I'll know it and I swear, no one will ever find your body."

"Toby, I promise. I won't tell anyone." Josh assured him. Toby sighed and
nodded, clasping and unclasping his fingers repeatedly.

"Last night, KD Brody showed up at my door, extremely upset and asked if she
could sleep on my couch." Toby said in one quick breathe. Josh took in the
information and nodded.

"Okay. So what, you said no?" He asked.

"I said yes. She came in, sat on the couch, and I went to work. A moment
later, I got . . . well . . "

"Frisky?" Josh asked with a wink. Toby glared at him.

"Curious. I peered out of the hallway to see her very close to tears on the
couch. So I . . . I . . ." He corrected.

"God, Toby, she's a good girl. How dare you take adv-" Josh started to
exclaim, still playfully.

"Oh, shut up. I didn't do anything of that sort. We just danced." Toby
interrupted.

"Danced? You? Toby, I never knew." Josh retorted, stifling extreme laughter.
Another glare from Toby caused him to calm down a little.

"It wasn't even dancing. We just . . . moved to music. I was trying to make
her feel better." Toby tried to explain.

"You mean you were actually human?"

"Call it a moment of weakness."

"Sounds like you had a nice night. What's the problem?"

"She was gone this morning."

"You two didn't . . . ?"

"No, we didn't. She slept on the couch, because my room is also my office and
she didn't want to inconvenience me."

"Your room is your office? That's one scary thought."

"Josh . . ."

"Toby, are you trying to tell me you miss her?"

"No! No, I just . . . I just wonder if anything happened last night. When she
wasn't there, I felt almost . . . disappointed." Toby said softly. Josh
watched him carefully, considering his next words.

"No one knows where she went. Far as I know, you're the last one to see her."
Josh exclaimed. Toby nodded.

"Yeah." He affirmed.

"Do you know what she was upset about?" Josh asked.

"No. We didn't actually talk very much."

"It's hard to imagine you not talking."

"Josh."

"Yeah, okay. Well, Toby, I'm really flattered you trusted me with this
information, but I don't know what to do with it."

"Shove it up your ass where no one else can find it. You did enough just by
listening. Now act like this didn't happen, and get out." Toby exclaimed,
standing up and returning to his seat behind the desk. Josh nodded and hopped
to his feet.

"Glad to be of service." He chirped and then disappeared out the door. Toby
sighed and looked at the screen of his iBook, then at the piles of files that
covered his desk and filled his office. It was going to be a long day, but
maybe it would be all the better now that he'd gotten some stuff off of his
chest.

He didn't think so.

"Hi, Leo. Did you call me?" Sam asked as he leaned into the chief of staff's
office. Leo nodded and made a beckoning motion, for he was caught on the
phone with a loudmouthed politician. Well, they're all loudmouths, he mused.

"Yeah, I understand you, Mike. Yes, I know. We're taking care of it, I
promise." Leo exclaimed, rolling his eyes. Sam stifled a chuckle. "Okay,
yeah. Great. I got to go, someone's here. I'll call you later, I promise.
Okay, bye, Mike." He said before slamming down the receiver.

"What's up, boss?" Sam asked as he made himself comfortable in one of the
small chairs opposite Leo's desk.

"The president and CJ are reviewing the available facts for the press
conference at three. Toby is working on a speech for the damn dinner party
tonight, cause everyone loves speeches. He's trying to make it funny. Josh is
on the phone with Mathis's people, trying to "negotiate" and that just leaves
an enormous amount of work not being done, which has been assigned to you and
me." Leo explained, tossing a thick file at Sam.

"I'm a communications man. What can I do?" Sam asked, flipping through the
assorted papers.

"You're a white house staff member, and a senior one at that. I'm the chief
of staff. You'll do what I tell you." Leo retorted with a tired harshness.
Sam looked at him, a little surprised.

"I get the strangest feeling that this was not your idea." Sam exclaimed
after a short pause. Leo didn't confirm nor deny.

"It's an accident of the circumstances." He retorted.

"Sir?" Margaret's voice exclaimed as she leaned in the door.

"Yes, what is it, Margaret?" Leo asked, leaning forward to meet her gaze.

"Sir, Josh is asking that there be an emergency meeting in the President's
office. He says he has found something strange and he needs to update you
guys. They're gathering in the Oval office now." She exclaimed. Leo sighed
and nodded, rising out of his chair. Sam stood up and followed his boss
through the doors into the Oval office where Jed, CJ, Josh and Toby were
waiting. Leo nodded to everyone, and everyone nodded back, save Toby who was
still in some sort of trance. Sam followed suit and found a place standing
near the couch.

"What's up, Josh?" Jed asked.

"'The White House released a statement earlier today to the press in regards
to the human rights violations occurring in China,'" Josh began to read off
the front page of the newspaper that was in his hand. Suddenly, he had
everyone's attention. Toby moved to look over his shoulder.

"We did? I don't remember this." CJ exclaimed.

"'In regards to the complaint that the White house has been sidestepping the
issue, a response comes that the President has it on his agenda to discuss
with foreign diplomats in a move to end the injustice.' Sir, I have no idea
where this came from." Toby said after reading over Josh's shoulder.

"It goes on, sir. According to this, the White House released a information
rich statement that described everything that the White House plans to do AND
reasons why we've done nothing so far." Josh exclaimed, handing the newspaper
article to Toby. "I got that packet, and as far as I can tell, it's damn near
perfect for our case."

"Is it that easy for someone to release something to the press in our name?"
Leo asked harshly. Josh and Sam both shook their heads while Toby moved to
the couch, still reading.

"Not at all, sir. Definitely not as thoroughly as Miss Brody did." Josh
replied, glancing at Toby, who had abruptly looked at him upon mention of the
name.

"What? Miss Brody? What does she have to do with all this?" Jed asked,
standing up out of his chair.

"Miss Brody released the statement. She's the one that signed off on its
release, so I can only assume that she wrote it. When you gave her the
temporary assignment here, she got the clearance. She managed to get the
statement out, and to be honest, I don't think it's a bad thing." Josh
exclaimed, glancing back at the President.

"In other words, she cleaned up the mess that she made?" Sam asked, looking
over Toby's shoulder at the paper.

"Exactly, but I'm not sure that's all." Josh replied.

"What do you mean? What else?" Jed asked, almost dumbfounded that anything
more could have happened.

"This is unreal." Toby murmured.

"I'll say." Leo retorted softly.

"Someone leaked to the press that, uh," Josh pulled a piece of paper out of
his pocket. "'The President felt very strongly that the Works bill does not
function in the best interest of the country, but he was not willing to admit
this forthright due to his respect for Senator Mathis and his opinions' plus
a few other things that has the country buzzing about how great we are. I was
talking to Mathis's assistant, and the little brat told me that the senator
has 're-evaluated his position' and will be releasing a retraction later on
today." Josh exclaimed as he shoved the paper back into his pocket.

"Let me guess." CJ started with an amazed grin.

"KD again." Leo finished, a subtly but equally amazed expression on his face
as he looked at Jed. Jed pressed his fingers against his temples and leaned
back into his chair.

"Someone pinch me, and then be really patronizing. Is this good or is this
bad?" CJ exclaimed.

"Well, it's a little disconcerting that KD can get as much done as she can
in, what," Josh checked his watch. "Six hours?"

"Eighteen hours. She's been gone since last night." Jed murmured.

"Someone has seen her since then." Josh corrected. Toby glanced at his friend
nervously.

"Who?" Leo asked sharply.

"I dun remember, but I know someone saw her leave last night. Some people say
they saw her this morning when she signed everything off." Josh replied
quickly, flashing Toby an assuring glance.

"In the long run, CJ, this is very good. Once we get briefed on everything
that has changed, we'll have a lot less work to do in the long run." Sam
exclaimed, staring at Leo and counting his lucky stars.

"So how come she could get all this done in however many hours and we could
barely even get started yesterday?" CJ asked, glancing at the faces of all
the men around her.

"Because she doesn't have the same restrictions as we do." Toby mused. "She
doesn't have to be polite. She doesn't have to follow any protocol or rules.
She can do whatever the hell she wants."

"Plus she's got plenty of friends in the media, as we've seen. She probably
managed to pull a few strings." Josh added.

"The final question is why." Leo exclaimed, still staring at Jed harshly.

"No, the question is where. Where is she?" Jed retorted, glancing at Leo and
then at the others. "Why hasn't anyone seen her, and where did she go? People
don't just disappear."

"If they want to, they do." Toby replied softly. Everyone looked at him, and
then at each other. An awkward silence filled the room, a silence that was
interrupted by Jed's phone ringing. He leaned forward and snatched up the
receiver.

"Yes? Hello, Mrs. Landingham. Canconnon?" Jed exclaimed, glancing at his
equally confused staff members. "How'd he get back here? KD? Right, okay.
Send him in then." He finished and hung up the phone. "KD left something with
Danny Canconnon, along with a pass to the office, good for today only, so
that he could deliver to me. He won't leave it with Mrs. L."

"And that's because KD told me not to." Danny exclaimed as he stepped into
the room. He thanked Mrs. Landingham who exited the room and closed the door
behind her. "And it's for all of you guys, apparently."

"Hey, Danny." Josh murmured. Similar greetings came from the other staff
members. CJ just stared at Danny carefully, pondering many things, most
especially her curiosity as to what the exact relationship between Danny
Canconnon and KD Brody was.

"Hey, guys. Don't you look chipper for a group of people who just got their
asses bought some time?" Danny exclaimed as he moved through the room towards
the big desk.

"What do you know about that?" Toby exclaimed.

"I know that KD is gone now, but she felt that she owed you guys something.
Don't ask me why. I know that she was hurt by somebody in this room, but I
don't know who." Danny retorted, resting his gaze on the president. Jed
sighed.

"Like hell you don't. Give what you have, Danny, or I'll have the Secret
Service take you out back and beat you to a pulp." Jed exclaimed harshly.
Danny grinned.

"Is that on the record, sir?"

"Danny . . ."

"Here you go." Danny said softly as he dropped an envelope on to the desktop
in front of the President. "My duty is done, so I hereby discharge myself."
He added and moved back in the direction he came.

"What's this, a letter?" Jed asked as he picked up the envelope and pulled
out the thin paper inside. Danny chuckled.

"Very good, Mr. President. A +." He retorted as he opened the door and closed
it behind him. Leo turned his head from the closing door to look at the paper
that was in the president's hands.

"It's addressed to all of us." Jed exclaimed absentmindedly, his eyes
scanning the black and white written words on the page.

"Well, then read it." CJ insisted. Jed glanced at her. "Sir." She added. He
smiled and handed it to her.

"Why don't you?" He assured her. She checked with Leo, who shrugged yes, and
then took it.

"Uh, okay, here we go." She started. "Ahem. Uh. . . 'To Jed's special ole
staff huddled back there in the office.'" She started to scattered smiles and
chuckles. "'Sorry to be leaving you so soon, but I got a call from my best
friend on Mars and I must go where I'm called. Hope there are no hard
feelings. It was more than a pleasure meeting all of you. CJ, you're the
sister I never had, and Josh you're the brother I never had. I guess that
means you two are brother and sister now. Sorry about that. Mr. Ziegler, as I
know you prefer me to call you, I thank you for your civility. You've
certainly presented a challenge over the past few days. Made you much more
interesting than most old fogies I meet around the political arena. Sam,
didn't talk to you much, and I regret it a great deal, for what few
conversations we had involved a great deal of intelligence, and nearly half
of it came from you.'" More chuckles erupted as Josh playfully smacked Sam's
back. CJ grinned and continued.

"'Leo, you always have, and always will be like a father to me, and no, that
does not mean you're old. Everyone, be sure to tell Mrs. Landingham, Charlie,
Donna, Ginger, Margaret, Abbey, Zoey, Bonnie, Carol and every single one of
those lovely slaves of yours that I said hello. Mr. President, I haven't
forgotten you. You've given me something to chew on, perhaps a little more
than I wanted, and even though it wasn't your place, I can understand where
you were coming from, because after all, you're the commander in chief, so
why shouldn't you command me? In any case, I hope the load is lighter in the
office around you, and I hope more so that it will have something to do with
some of the work I've managed to eke out this morning.

'Alas, I must fly away to my friend on Mars, and there is no telling when I
shall see you again. Perhaps this is just one of those rare episodes in life
that happens for no reason, a random event that enables all of us to see
something in each other that we may not have seen before. Either that or it
was just a really nice, fun few days. Farewell, my new friends. Wish me luck,
for I do the same for you. All my love to my new family, Kathryn Dylan
Brody.'" CJ finished reading with a warm smile on her face.

"So that's what KD stands for." Josh mused aloud. Leo led a round of chuckles
as Sam returned the playful slap, only his was upside Josh's head. Josh
grinned and glanced at Toby who was sitting on the couch, a quiet, passive
look resting on his face. He looked the same as he did only a few hours
before. He didn't seem any happier, nor any sadder, upon hearing from KD.

"Well, that's nice that she wrote that." Leo exclaimed, walking to CJ and
taking the paper in his fingers.

"Well, Dad," Josh said, poking fun. "Sis, who should keep this poignant piece
of legislature?" He asked, grinning at the two newest members of his
"family". CJ chuckled and gave him a little shove on the shoulder. Sam
glanced at the couch to find that Toby had left.

"I think Leo should, personally." CJ exclaimed. In the midst of trying to
point out Toby's departure to Josh, Sam glanced at CJ and nodded. Josh nodded
as well while getting the message.

"All right then. How about I frame it and put it up next to the
constitution?" Leo joked. "We still have work to do here. Where'd Ziegler
go?" He asked as he folded the paper to put it back in its envelope.

"Um, I dunno. He's been feeling kind of . . . uh, ill today." Josh asserted.
Leo glanced at him and nodded.

"Okay then. Remind me to check in with him later. Sam, Josh, get together all
the latest information we have. We're going to need it for when we make our
statements, plus we've got that dinner for the President tonight. CJ, head
over to your office and see what the buzz is with the press. You might have a
better access to some information than those guys do. Sam, make sure Toby
gets to work on rewriting . . . well, everything." Leo exclaimed, taking
charge and ushering the younger workers out of the oval office. Everyone just
smiled and moved with his orders. Soon the oval office was empty, save
President Jed Bartlet and Chief Of Staff Leo McGarry.

"Why'd she do all this for us, Leo? Isn't it just one more shred of proof
that she's capable of so much more?" Jed asked as Leo turned back to face
him. Leo sighed and walked up to his friend.

"Or maybe it's one more shred of proof that she knows what she's doing." He
replied, fingering the envelope gently. Jed sighed and looked out the window,
resting his eyes on the giant lawn that stretched in front of the White
House, the lawn that was soaked with rays of golden sunlight.

"Mr. President, you have a day to get through. I suggest you stop worrying
about her and move on. I've got work to do too, so I will see you at the
staff meeting at eleven." Leo exclaimed and strode out of the room. Jed just
rested his chin on the palm of his hand and continued to stare out the
window. Charlie leaned in the door a moment later to interrupt his session of
deep thinking. The sound of the door creaking pulled Jed's attention back to
the world around him, and the country that he still had a responsibility to.

"I'm coming, Charlie. Don't get your neck in a knot." He exclaimed with a
grin and started moving towards the open door, ready to start yet another
day. His first meeting was with National Security, but the foremost thing on
his mind was to ask Mrs. Landingham to get a message to the cook to prepare
Abbey's favorite appetizers for the dinner party that evening.

"Toby? You busy?" Danny asked as he rapped on the communication director's
door. Toby looked up from staring at the packet in front of him, which served
its purpose by hiding the fact that he was truly just staring into space
trying to figure out what had just happened within the White House.

"No, come on in, Danny." Toby exclaimed, not really thinking about it. He
never really gave Danny very much thought, but after today, he wasn't sure
what to think about anything.

"You miss her?" Danny asked with a grin. Toby glared at him.

"What do you want?" He snapped, reverting back to his normal self. Danny
grinned even wider and stepped forward, dropping an envelope on the desk.
Toby frowned and took the envelope, seeing KD's handwriting on the outside.

"I don't understand. I thought Jed took-" Toby started.

"She wrote one to you. What can I say? You touched her somehow. She must have
seen a side of you that you've never let us see." Danny said softly, a
friendly all-knowing smile replacing the happy grin.

"You don't know anything, Canconnon." Toby retorted, fingering the edges of
the letter nervously.

"I do know this, Ziegler," Danny returned the last name favor. "If you ever
see her again, don't let her go. That kind of girl comes once in a lifetime."
The reporter added, leaning on Toby's desk. Toby glanced at Danny and looked
up to meet his gaze.

"You sound as if you speak from experience." He replied carefully. Danny
chuckled and started to back out of the room.

"You'll never know. The past disappears, we move on. Sometimes there are
regrets, Ziegler. I'll leave you to your own." He retorted and slipped out
the door. Toby smiled weakly and opened the envelope carefully. He pulled out
the enclosed paper, unfolded it and read the words with extreme interest. A
moment later, Ginger leaned in the door and peered at Toby.

"Mr. Ziegler, I have that-" She started.

"Ginger, didn't I tell you to get me the communications update to me before
eleven' o'clock?" Toby snapped as he shoved the letter into a drawer, away
from view. She winced.

"Yes, sir, you did." She replied.

"What time is it, Ginger?" He quipped.

"Eleven fifteen, sir." She replied.

"Where's my update?"

"I'll get it right now."

"Get it to me fifteen minutes ago. Come on, chop, chop." Toby replied and
began leafing through the packet again with an almost sour smile, if one
could imagine such a thing. It was a Toby smile. Ginger smiled and moved out
the door. She grabbed the update and walked back into his office, holding it
out to him. He reached to take it, but she held it back a moment.

"Welcome back, Toby." She exclaimed. He stared at her for a few seconds, a
twinkle in his eye.

"Ginger." He started. She smiled even wider. "Give me the damn update." He
exclaimed. She sighed and threw the paper at him. He chuckled and she
grinned.

"Oh, god, Toby." She retorted and walked out. Toby's grin spread and he began
to read the update with that same Toby smile on his face.


THE END