Alanna went to Jenny's house for dinner and apologized for not having come home last night and that she planned to be away tonight as well.

``So what's his name?'' Jenny asked, a knowing smile on her face.

``Jenny! What makes you think it's a man? I told you I was staying with friends.''

``Alanna, a woman does not stay over with `friends' two nights in a row and then walk around with a glow on her face. I'm not blind, you know. So who is it? I can't imagine you've had a chance to meet anyone outside of the West Wing...'' Jenny stopped when she saw Alanna's face turn beet red. ``Oh my, someone from the West Wing? Who is it? Not that Sam Seaborn, I hope. He's too pretty for his own good. Not to mention very forward.''

``No, Jenny, not Sam. But he has been a confidant these past few days.''

``Must be Josh, then.''

``Actually, it's Toby.''

``Toby Ziegler?''

``Do you know another Toby who works in the West Wing?''

Jenny's expression showed her surprise. ``Toby Ziegler. Well, I must say I am surprised. I never thought he'd get over that divorce. This is good news!''

``Thanks, Jenny. I'm pretty happy about it.''

``Well, it's certainly good for Toby. But don't move too fast. Toby is still pretty fragile, I think.''

``Do you know why he got divorced?''

``Well, I know a bit. But you really should hear it from him.''

Alanna nodded.

``Does Leo know, Alanna?''

``I didn't tell him yet. You know how he can be. I'll wait and tell him before I leave on Sunday.''

Jenny nodded.

After dinner, she and Jenny talked some more and Alanna left the house with her bags around 8:30 p.m. She told Jenny she would spend the rest of her trip at Toby's but would stop by to say good-bye.

Leo stopped by Sam's office just before 9 p.m. ``Hey Sam, do you know where Toby is?''

``He headed out about a half-hour ago.''

``Toby?''

``Yeah.''

``Hmm. I thought he would still be here so we could go over a few points on the Carson bill.''

``Well, I can do that with you, if you want.''

``That's okay. I guess I'll call over to Jen's and see if Alanna wants to have a late dinner.''

Sam stood up abruptly. ``I wouldn't do that.''

``Why not?''

``Uh, well, they probably already made plans since they thought you would be working late,'' Sam sputtered.

``You're probably right but I'm gonna try anyway. Good night.''

When Alanna arrived at Toby's apartment, she knocked first to see if he was home. She hadn't seen any lights on so she figured he wasn't. She used the key to get in and brought her bags to Toby's bedroom. She wondered if Toby was still at work or on his way.

Alanna grabbed some things out of her suitcase and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. She changed into a rose-colored negligee and put out some candles she had bought before going over to Jenny's. She lit the candles and placed them throughout the apartment, then turned off all the lights.

She sat down on the couch, the flickering light gave the room a slightly eerie glow. At the same time, the light softened the room's sparseness. Alanna's heart started to beat faster as time passed. He'll be home any minute, she kept thinking. She heard his key in the door about 20 minutes after she had finished lighting the candles and she stood up to greet him.

Toby opened the door, his eyes sweeping across the room and coming to rest on Alanna. The light from the candles illuminated her and Toby felt his breath catch in his throat. Her eyes glowed with love and passion. She was wearing light colored lingerie, which fit her shapely body. He moved toward her after he composed himself. Alanna met him halfway across the room and she could see the desire and longing in his eyes.

Toby reached for Alanna and pulled her into his arms and kissed her greedily, afraid she might disappear before he could hold her and tell her how he felt. A strange kind of delicious pain squeezed his heart; something he had not experienced since Andi.

Alanna touched Toby's face as she kissed him. She gently stroked the top of his head and she felt him shiver. She wanted to memorize every curve and line on his face; every hair in his beard so she could carry the memory with her when she went back to New York. A spike of pain shot through her heart at the thought of leaving Toby, even temporarily.

Toby caressed Alanna's soft skin; her shoulders, her arms. It was as if he couldn't pull her close enough to him. His lips moved over hers sensuously, urgently and she greeted them with her own fervour. Her hands deftly slipped his tie from around his neck and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Toby thought his heart would burst from his chest when he felt Alanna's hands on his skin. He slipped his fingers under the straps of her negligee and moved them down her arms and let the gown fall to the floor. Alanna led Toby down to rug, where she had set up a blanket. Surrounded by the glimmering light of the candles, they made love gently but fervently as if they were racing against time.

Later, as they snuggled in Toby's bed, Alanna and Toby talked about what they would do with the rest of their time together. He knew he would have to go into work on Saturday for a bit but Sunday could be theirs all day. Alanna would push her flight back as late as she could.

``So, no one you need to get home to?'' Toby asked, a contented smile on his face.

``Just my cat but my neighbor is taking care of him. Michael has already left for school,'' she said.

``Michael?'' Toby asked, his face showing confusion.

``My son.''

Toby sat up. ``You have a son?''

``Yes, I thought you knew. Leo never mentioned Michael?''

``I don't remember,'' Toby said dismissively. ``Are you...married?''

``No! Toby! Of course not.''

``But you were?''

``Yes, when I was 20. And I was widowed at 22. Michael was a year old.''

``I didn't know.''

``I guess I just assumed you did. I'm sorry I didn't mention it.''

``I was just surprised. That's all.''

``Well, I guess we'll have a lot of those as we get to know each other,'' she said.

Toby smiled and pulled her close. ``Yes, we will.''

Thursday, August 22

Alanna arrived at the West Wing midmorning on Thursday and headed straight for Toby's office. Ginger stopped her before she went in.

``Leo wants to see you,'' Ginger said.

``Really? And how did you happen to get that information, Ginger?''

``He let everyone know.''

``What? Is he summoning me like one of his employees?''

Ginger shrugged.

``I think you'd better go see him, Alanna,'' Cathy remarked, sounding serious.

Alanna smiled. I guess Leo's got these people a bit scared of him. ``Okay, thanks,'' she said and headed for Leo's office.

When she walked by Margaret's desk, Margaret wouldn't even look at Alanna. ``He's waiting for you,'' she said.

Alanna walked into Leo's office and found him reading something on his desk. He looked up at her and took of his reading glasses. His expression was that of tightly controlled anger.

``Please, sit down, Alanna.''

``Oh, Leo, don't even give me that look. I am not one of your employees.''

He ignored her. ``Where the hell were you last night? And the night before that?''

Alanna folded her arms across her chest and stared at her brother silently.

``Alanna, I have a right to know where you were!''

``You have a right? Excuse me? Leo, you are not my father and I am a grown woman, so I have to disagree with your assertion.''

``Jenny has been worried about you.''

``You called Jenny to check up on me?!''

``No, I called Jenny because I decided to leave work early last night and wanted to see if you wanted to meet for dinner. She said you were gone out with friends and that the night before last, you never came back to the house.''

``I called Jenny and told her I would be staying with a friend.''

``Yeah, but you didn't tell her anything about this `friend.' I didn't know you had any friends in Washington.''

``Well, Leo, I guess you don't know everything about me.''

``Alanna, I don't like your tone.''

``And I don't like yours, Leo! You are talking to me like I'm a child. I won't be treated that way.''

``Okay, I'm sorry about the attitude but I have been worried since last night. And when I talked to Jenny this morning...''

``You called her again this morning to check on me? Leo!''

``I'm sorry! But I was worried. Can't you understand that?''

``Yes, I can. But you could try a different approach!''

``I said, okay! I give up. Would you please tell me where you were for the last two nights? Who is this friend? Is she trustworthy?''

Alanna laughed and shook her head. Then she took a deep breath.

``I stayed at Toby's.''

Leo looked at her, as if he was waiting for more information. When none was forthcoming, he scrunched his face into a question.

``Toby?''

Alanna nodded but Leo still didn't seem to understand.

``Toby who?''

``Oh Leo, please.''

Then it looked like a light went on. ``My Toby?''

Alanna nodded again.

Leo looked incredulous. ``Our Toby? My communications director, Toby Ziegler?''

``Yes, Leo. How many times do I need to confirm that before it sinks in?''

But Leo was still struggling with it. ``Toby?'' he said, more to himself than to Alanna. ``Toby,'' he said again and shook his head.

He looked at Alanna. ``So you and Toby...?'' he started to ask.

``Yes, we are seeing each other.''

``Toby?'' he said again shaking his head. ``I just can't picture...''

``Toby happens to be a very passionate man,'' Alanna blurted, getting annoyed with Leo's incredulity.

``Oh Gee, thanks for that image! I didn't really need to hear that, Alanna!''

``I'm getting annoyed with your reaction.''

``Sorry but could you give me some time to wrap my brain around this, please?''

``You'll send me a memo when you're ready?'' she asked sarcastically.

``Very funny. You know, your name might end up in the press.''

``I think I can take it, Dad,'' she said sarcastically.

``Very funny,'' he said. ``Hey, Alanna, go slow with this. Be careful.''

``What do you mean?''

``Toby is...uh...well, when things aren't going well, he can be very difficult. Sometimes he can even be...cruel. I don't want you to get your heart broken.''

``I know Toby is not the easiest going guy but I am not looking for that kind of guy. Besides, Toby has a huge heart.''

``Yes, he does. But it's been broken and there's a lot of scar tissue. Just be careful.''

``Okay,'' she said, getting up to leave.

Toby was sitting at his desk with his head resting on his left hand when Alanna arrived at his door. He looked up at her but his expression was unreadable. She was surprised because she expected a smile or a look of affection.

``Please, come in. Close the door,'' he said softly but there was an edge to his voice.

Alanna did as he asked. Toby invited her to sit down. Alanna was beginning to feel like she was on a job interview or maybe something worse.

Toby folded his hands together and looked at Alanna.

``So you and Sam had a nice chat yesterday?'' he asked, his voice calm.

Alanna was puzzled as to where Toby was taking this conversation.

``Yeah, I guess so.''

``Hmm. That's good. Tell me, under whose authority did you advise Sam to pursue a romantic relationship with a hooker?'' His voice was still eerily calm but his eyes stared daggers at her.

Alanna could not have been more surprised by his question. She leaned back in her chair, feeling extremely irritated with Toby. ``Authority? Oh, please Toby. Besides she is not working as a call girl anymore.''

``Don't be cute with me!'' he exclaimed, the volume rising just a little.

``Okay, I can do that. If you can stop reprimanding me like one of your employees!'' she exlaimed. ``God! First Leo, now you,'' she muttered.

Toby took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead with his fingers. ``My job is to,'' he started and paused. ``My job is to...We had already dealt with that problem and moved on. You had no right to...to...''

``To voice my opinion? Come on, Toby! It was a casual conversation between friends. He asked me for advice. I gave it to him. I didn't break any laws.''

``I know that. I know that but you stirred up a bee's nest. We had the matter settled,'' he said, pounding on his desk. ``This was very irresponsible of you. You know how hard we work around here. You know the kind of crap we have to deal with from the media. Are you trying to make my job harder than it is?''

``Toby, Sam is a grown man. He is going to do what he wants to do despite what I say; despite what you tell him. Don't even try to place the blame on me! You're just pissed because you thought the problem had been swept under the rug and now it's all messy again.''

``That's right! It is messy again and it's your fault. Sam was fine with the decision to be friends with Laurie until you started him thinking again!'' Toby was standing now, his voice booming through the closed door.

``Who's decision was it, Toby? Sam's decision? Somehow, I doubt that he made it without a lot of coercion from you, Leo and C.J. The man in obviously in love with Laurie or he wouldn't be second guessing himself.''

``I can't have this conversation right now,'' Toby said, lowering his voice. ``I'm getting upset and I don't really want to be upset.''

``It was your idea to have this little chat. And I have a news flash for you, Toby. You can't control everything and everyone. Sometimes people do what they want and consequences be damned. You'll just have to get used to it.''

``Oh, believe me, I am very used to it. But I certainly don't have to like it!'' His eyes were flashing anger as he spoke and Alanna wanted to smile despite her irritation with him. He's so damn sexy when he's angry, she thought but wisely kept it to herself.

``If you're done berating me, I'm going to go now.''

Toby waved her toward the door without saying a word. He sat back down in his chair and put his head in his hands.