An hour after Alanna left, Toby came out of his office and told everyone to go home. Ginger, Cathy, and Bonnie grabbed their things and ran out without saying a word. Sam walked out of his office, looking puzzled.

``You're sending everyone home?''

``Yes, I am. Go. Go! Before I change my mind.'' Toby carried his briefcase down the hall.

Sam nodded and went back into his office to gather some things. Just then he heard Toby's phone ringing. He decided to answer it.

``Hello?''

``Sam? Hi, it's Alanna. Is Toby there?'' She had told Mallory and Jenny she needed to use the ladies room but called Toby instead.

``He just went home, Alanna.''

``What? Are you sure?''

``Yeah, why?''

``Can you wait there for a minute? I need to talk to you.''

``Where are you? Maybe I can meet you.''

``I'm just finishing dinner with Mallory and Jenny. I'll just take a cab to you.''

``Okay.''

Alanna made her excuses to the ladies and told them she was meeting some friends for drinks and would be back to the house later in the evening. Mallory lent Alanna her key to the house so she wouldn't wake Jenny.

She arrived at the West Wing 20 minutes later.

``Sam, thanks for waiting.''

``Sure, what's up? Why were you looking for Toby?''

Alanna told him about her confrontation with Toby and how they ended up kissing. Sam sat there listening, a stunned expression on his face.

``Toby told me he would be here and asked me to call him, Sam. So I am confused as to why he left. Did he say anything at all?''

``He just told us all to go home. That's it.''

``Damn. What should I do?''

``I don't know.''

``Do you know where Toby lives?''

Sam's eyes opened wide with horror. ``Oh Alanna, you are not asking me what I think you are.''

``Yes, I am, Sam. Please, I need to talk to him.''

``If I give you his address without his permission, I will never hear the end of it.''

``I'll tell him I snooped and found it on my own. He wouldn't be surprised about my snooping.''

``I don't know...''

``Please, Sam.''

Sam thought about it for a minute, weighing the pros and cons. ``Alright but you better swear that it didn't come from me.''

Alanna nodded as Sam wrote it down.

She arrived at Toby's place a little after 10. He lived in the basement apartment of a townhouse on the outskirts of Capital Hill. She found his name on the box to be sure and then knocked on the doorbell.

Toby answered a moment later. When he saw who it was, he didn't really looked surprised. Instead he looked down at the floor, as if avoiding Alanna's eyes.

``Hi,'' he said quietly.

``Toby, I don't understand what is going on here. Why didn't you wait for me? You asked me to call.''

``I know,'' he admitted and lifted his eyes back to her face. He had changed from his suit into casual clothes.

Alanna stood there waiting for him to explain or ask her in but he just stood there and averted his eyes.

``Well?'' she prompted him.

``I started thinking after you left to meet Mallory and Jenny and I decided that it would be a bad idea for us to see each other.''

``So that's it? You decided to go slinking off into the night without so much as an explanation?'' Alanna asked angrily, so he wouldn't see the hurt she was feeling.

``I'm sorry. I just didn't think I would be able to say it to your face tonight,'' he said, a hangdog expression on his face. ``Did Sam give you this address?''

``Yes,'' Alanna said without thinking. She was still reeling from everything he had said. ``Are you going to invite me in?''

``I don't think that would be wise.''

``Toby, you asked me to see you tonight and I came all the way down here. The least you can do is invite me inside and explain why you've made the decision you have.''

He averted his eyes again and, after a moment, he stepped back to let Alanna in. He walked over to a chair and sat down. Alanna closed the door behind her and looked around his apartment. The furnishings in the living room looking at least 15 years old. There were no pictures on the wall. But it was neat and clean. He probably isn't here enough to get it dirty, Alanna thought.

``Please sit down,'' Toby said, waving his hand toward the worn couch.

Alanna chose instead to sit on the footrest in front of Toby's chair so they were face to face.

``Okay, Toby, now you're going to tell why you and I are a bad idea.''

Toby sighed. ``My life is very complicated right now. My work takes precedence over my private life. That is part of the reason Andrea and I split up. I have no time for romance.''

``Is that it? Is that all you have?'' Alanna asked, challenging him as if they were in a debate.

``Yes,'' Toby admitted, looking down at her knees and then back up at her eyes. If he had any idea how damn seductive that was, Alanna thought.

``Well, I can give you three reasons why you and I are a good idea.''

Toby smiled. ``Three? I guess you've thought this out.''

``Yes, I have,'' Alanna said and took his hands in hers. She looked in his eyes. ``The first and best reason is that I like you a lot, Toby, and I know that you're crazy about me,'' she said, smiling.

Toby arched his eyebrow, as if to ask, ``Oh yeah?''

``Yes,'' she said. Now it was Alanna's turn to avert her eyes. She felt her heart pumping blood through her body. ``The way you kissed me Toby. That's how I know,'' she whispered.

Toby felt his heart constrict and he closed his eyes to try and control the emotions flooding through him.

Alanna looked back at Toby's face and saw that what she said had hit home. ``The second reason is that I live in another city. I won't be here all the time and I won't be expecting you to be around all the time. When I do come to visit, it will be when you have some time to see me. I can get here by train in three and a half hours.''

Toby looked at her and realized that her argument made sense or maybe he just wanted to believe that it did.

``What's the third reason?'' he asked, his mood lightening.

``We have nothing to lose and everything to gain,'' Alanna said, looking intently into Toby's eyes.

``Oh God,'' he said, letting his emotions take over, and pulled Alanna to him. Toby's lips fiercely captured hers and he wondered why he had been fighting this feeling. Alanna's tender and heartfelt words had blown a hole in his armor. Now he wanted only to hold her, kiss her, touch her, please her.

``Will you stay tonight?'' Toby whispered, his voice warm and erotic.

Alanna shivered. ``Mm hm,'' she mumbled, her lips still caressing his. Alanna wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt the ends of his curly hair tickling her arms as she pressed herself against him. Toby stood up slowly, still kissing Alanna; bringing her up with him. Toby reached up behind Alanna and cradled her head in his strong hand. Her body melded to his and she felt tingles of pleasure.

Toby moved his mouth and began kissing her face and her neck. He slipped the strap of her sundress down her arm and kissed her shoulder. Joy suffused Alanna and she wondered for a moment if anyone had ever died from pleasure. She closed her eyes and let the wonderful feelings wash over her.

Toby stopped for a moment to look at Alanna. She was flushed red with desire and he felt his own body react. ``Alanna?'' he whispered and she opened her eyes. He took her hand in his. ``Come with me,'' Toby said. She nodded and he led her down the hallway and into his bedroom.

Toby kissed her again and closed the door.