When Alanna woke in the morning, Jenny told her that Leo had left her a message on the answering machine. She checked it and he said, ``Alanna, this is Leo. I hope you have fun tomorrow seeing the monuments or wherever you are planning to go. If you want, stop by the office in the mid-afternoon and I might have time for a quick lunch.''

Mid-afternoon? Boy,these Washington types sure do eat late.

After making plans to meet Jenny that evening, Alanna took a cab to the metro and hopped on the orange line and got off at George Washington University. She walked down 24th Street until she got to Virginia Ave. She followed that to 23rd and then walked down to Constitution Ave. until she found the Vietnam Memorial.

She walked along the wall, feeling the spirits of all the dead soldiers and the heavy sorrow of their families. She walked by wreaths, pictures, clothing and other things left by friends and family members who visited. Alanna felt like she was in a church as she walked. Most of the visitors talked quietly or not at all. She stopped at one of sections and read some of the names to herself.

By the time she finished walking the wall, Alanna felt a heavy cloud hanging over her head, as if she was taking some of the spirits with her. She then walked over to the other side if of the Mall and visited the Korean War Memorial. The sculptures of the soldiers were huge but from a distance, they looked very realistic. This mood at this memorial was not quite as sad as the Wall but it was solemn just the same.

Afterwards, Alanna walked back up town and stopped at Tower Records at Pennsylvania and I Streets. The lights and music helped lift some of the cloud off her. If I feel this bad, I can only imagine how the families and friends must feel, she thought. She wandered through Tower for an hour or so and picked up a couple of CDs to buy. Then she headed down Pennsylvania towards the White House.

Alanna arrived a little after 1 p.m., probably too early for lunch with Leo so she decided to stop by Sam's office and see if he wanted to chat. When she arrived, Sam wasn't there and Toby was not in his office either.

``They're all in a staff meeting in the conference room,'' said Cathy.

``Oh, okay, thanks. I guess I'll just wait.''

Cathy walked down the hall and Alanna slipped into Toby's office. She closed the door slightly and made sure the blinds were closed so no one would see her. She decided she would be nosy today; see what she could find out about this mysterious Toby Ziegler who had so captured her imagination.

Alanna sat down at his desk to get a feel for the place. She took a deep breath and realized she could smell his scent; she closed her eyes and breathed again. He smelled bit like clean laundry and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on but she liked it.

She carefully rifled through some papers on his desk, looking for anything that might tell her about Toby - the person behind the communications director. She found his handwriting on small slips of paper and she examined them. His handwriting was rather messy but still legible. There were notes to check on various things, to make phone calls, to talk to different staff members about things. He had no date book that she could find, unless he carried it with him.

Inside the top drawer, she found pencils, pens, paper clips, tacks, more papers and a small black book. She opened the black binding and discovered it was a personal address book. She opened it under Z and found a listing for his brother, David and another for his parents. Alanna turned to W and found a listing for his ex-wife. ``Andie,'' it said with just a phone number and nothing else. She closed the book and put it back where she found it.

As she looked around, she saw very little that was personal; no nicknacks, no photographs. It was like his whole world was work. Big surprise there, she thought. I guess that's true of almost everyone here. She found a slide board on the side of the desk and pulled it out to find a monthly calendar taped to it's flat surface. It was for the month of August, which surprised Alanna. She didn't expect Toby to be up to date. On yesterday's date, she saw a scribble which took her a minute to decipher. Alanna? Does that say Alanna? she wondered. Next to it was a question mark. What the heck does that mean? Well, at least he was thinking of me, she thought and giggled out loud at the absurdity of it.

She covered her mouth, hoping Cathy hadn't heard. Alanna got up and walked over to Toby's bookshelf. She saw lots of political books and reports. I wonder if he's even read half of these.

``Actually, I've read them all,'' Toby said, startling her.

``What?'' she said, turning around to face him. His face was blank. She couldn't read his mood.

``The books and reports. I've read them all. Or at least parts of all of them.''

``How did you know I was thinking that?''

``You whispered it outloud.''

``Good ears.''

``What are you doing in my office?'' His voice was calm; too calm.

``I had a feeling that topic might come up.''

He just tilted his head and raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

``Just wanted to see if I could learn more about you. I didn't search your computer files or read your papers, if that's what you're worried about. Just trying to get a feel for who you are.''

``Then I'm surprised you're not in Sam's office,'' he muttered under his breath as he walked past her and sat down in his chair.

``Actually, Sam is very open about who he is. He's not a mystery like you.''

``Well, please don't mistake me for a puzzle that's begging to be solved. I don't want to be figured out,'' he said, rubbing his hand over his forehead.

``Have it your way,'' Alanna said and walked toward the door. She wanted to leave before he really did get angry.

``Please don't come in my office anymore when I'm not here.''

``Sorry if I intruded on your privacy.''

``You did,'' he said - very calmly again as if he was holding himself back.

She looked back at him. He was sitting in his chair, his cheek leaning on his hand, his skin pressed into several folds. He looked tired. Alanna decided not to speak again and quietly slipped out.

Sam saw Alanna leaving Toby's office and waved her in.

``Hi, how was your staff meeting?''

``Pretty routine. Hey, you want to join us tonight for an informal staff party?''

``What's the ocassion?''

``Just an end-of-the-summer, last-fling-before-Congress-comes-back-in-session sort of thing.''

``Wow, that's a mouthful.''

``Well, it's our slow time of year and things will be gearing up in another week or so. We like to let loose while we can.''

``Slow time? You guys are here until all hours - I haven't even seen Leo outside of his office - and this is the slow time?''

``Yeah, well, some of us invent work even when there isn't any. Leo is one of those kind of guys.''

``Okay, then. I just want to make sure Leo doesn't mind if I go. I also need to call Jenny and tell her. We made plans.''

``Okay.''

Alanna walked out of Sam's office but she didn't see Toby just behind his door, leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, as if he was in some kind of pain. He had heard the entire conversation between Sam and Alanna. He had gone to the doorway and listened like some sort of peeping Tom and felt deeply ashamed that he allowed himself to do it.

Toby knew that Alanna would go for Sam. All the girls did. Hell, even hookers couldn't seem to stop themselves from falling for Sam. Forget it, he thought. It's not worth the aggrevation. Then he went back to his desk to get some more work done.