Disclaimer: The West Wing and it’s characters are the
property of Aaron Sorkin, Warner Brothers and NBC. No
copyright infringement is intended. The song "I Know
Why the River Runs" is the property of Lee Ann Womack,
MCA Records and the writers of the song. No copyright
infringement is intended with it either.
Rating: PG-13 (some hints of violence, also some
romantic situations)
Author's Note: Takes place after A Parental Visit.
Summary: Well, I really don't want to give one at this
time, because if I do I'll give away the entire story.
“Are you certain there’s nothing I can help you
with?” CJ asked Toby who was packing a suitcase.
“No, I’ve got everything, I think.” Toby said. “The
flight leaves at nine tomorrow morning, so you’ll take
Meghan to daycare? Since she is feeling better.”
Meghan had been ill with a ear infection for the last
two days, and was starting to get well.
“Yes, that’s a stupid question.” CJ said.
“Yeah, I know it was, I’m sorry. I guess I’m just
trying to keep from thinking.”
“You’re worried about your father?”
“Yes, why has he called David and I to see him? And
why does he want us to go alone? He doesn’t want you
and Meghan, or David’s wife Melanie to come.”
“You’ll have to wait until you get to Jerusalem to
find that out.” CJ said.
“I know that. Still I wonder. You know I don’t know
how long I’ll be gone.”
“Yes, I know.”
“This is just to say that I don’t know if I’ll be
back for our anniversary.” Toby said.
“Are you planning to give me my anniversary present
now?”
“No, if I’m still in Israel, then I’ll tell you where
it is.”
“Oh, okay.” CJ said in a disappointed tone.
“CJ, come here.” Toby said.
“What?” CJ said. She sat down on the bed after Toby
had moved the suitcase.
Toby sat down beside her. “I’m going to miss you and
Meghan while I’m gone.” He said as he took her hand.
“We’re going to miss you too. I especially will miss
you.” CJ said and kissed him.
“You wouldn’t be planning to show me how much you’re
going to miss me.” Toby laughed.
“Yeah, I was.” CJ said as she kissed him again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toby looked at the clock when he woke up the next
morning. It was five thirty. He turned and looked at
CJ who was sleeping beside him. He got up, careful not
to wake CJ, and went to check on Meghan. She had an
ear infection earlier in the week, and was just
starting to get better.
When he went into the nursery, Toby found that Meghan
was awake. He walked over and picked his year and a
half old daughter up.
“Hey angel. What are you doing awake. Is your ear
hurting again?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Daddy.” Meghan said. “Daddy go.”
“Yeah, Daddy has to go today.”
“Why?”
“Because my daddy wants to see me.”
“Mommy go?”
“No, you and Mommy are staying here. Are you going to
take care of Mommy while I’m gone?”
“Yes.”
“Good, you want some breakfast Meghan?”
“Yes.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When CJ got up she found Toby sitting with Meghan in
the living room.
“How long have you two been up?” She asked.
“About an hour.” Toby answered. “She has already
eaten.”
“So, all I have to do is get her ready?”
“I’ll do that. It will be awhile before I get back.”
Toby said.
“Okay.” CJ said and kissed the top of Meghan’s head
and then kissed Toby’s cheek.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later CJ was ready to leave with Meghan.
“Give me your car keys.” Toby said to her as she was
getting ready to go out the door.
“Why?” CJ asked.
“Because you’re using the Lincoln while I’m gone.”
“I am?”
“Yes, you are.”
“I ask again, why?”
“Because I think the Lincoln is safer.” Toby replied.
“You do? You think your Lincoln is safer than my
Grand Cherokee?”
“It’s our Lincoln.”
“Okay, fine.”
“And yes, I think it’s safer.”
“But I like my vehicle.”
“I know that. But I’d feel better if you were driving
the Lincoln.”
“And you don’t want to leave it in parking at the
airport?”
“No, I don’t. David said he would have his cab pick
me up.”
“Okay, then why do you want my car keys?”
“Okay, then you keep the car keys.” Toby said.
“Oh, I planned to.” CJ laughed.
“Okay.” Toby said and walked away from her
“Hey,” CJ said walking closer to him, “I love you.”
Toby turned and put his arms around CJ. “I love you
too. God, I’m going to miss you.”
“It’s not like you’re going to be gone forever.
You’ll be back soon.” CJ said as she laid her head
against his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know. It’s just it will probably be the
longest we’ve been apart.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“You should go. You’re going to be late if you don’t
go.”
“Yeah, I know. Promise me you’ll call.” CJ said
softly.
“You know I will. Are you going to stay up that
late?” Toby asked.
“You know I will.” CJ replied.
“You should go now.” Toby said and kissed her. “I
love you, Claudia Jean. Take care of yourself and
Meghan.”
“Love you too.”
“You’re going to take care of Mommy, while Daddy’s
gone?” Toby asked Meghan as he picked her up.
“Yes.” Meghan replied.
“And you’re going to be a good girl for Mommy?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I love you Meghan.” Toby said as he handed
Meghan to CJ.
“Call me when you get there.” CJ said and kissed him.
“I will.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hey, CJ.” Josh said.
“Good morning.” CJ said. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m fine. How about you?”
“The plane hasn’t even left Dulles yet and I miss him
already.”
“Oh, you’ve got it bad. Don’t you Claudia Jean?” Josh
laughed.
“You’ve just now figured that out?” CJ said.
“No, I’ve known it for a long time. Josh said.
“Okay.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So do you think we’ll keep from killing each other
while we’re there?” David Ziegler said as he sat down
next to Toby in the first class section of the plane.
“Let’s see, you want to get back to Melanie, and I
want to get back to CJ and Meghan. So, I’d say there’s
a good chance we won’t kill each other.” Toby said.
“You’ve got a point there.” David said.
“I do?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re admitting to that?”
“Yeah.” David said.
“Okay.”
“You know you’ve changed a lot in the last few
years.” David said.
“I have?”
“Yeah, I’d say a happy marriage and fatherhood agree
with you.”
“It’s obvious that you’re very much in love with CJ.
And as for Meghan she’s the proverbial Daddy’s girl.”
“Yeah, I guess she is.”
“She really is. It’s good to see you happy.”
“Thanks."
to be continued...