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[krazykitkat]

Surfacing 8/?


Jed placed the phone receiver in its cradle. His eye was caught by one of the framed photos on his desk. The whole family at the Inauguration Ball. He lightly caressed a face.

"Oh, CJ. God keep you and watch over you."

He rose to his feet and strode to the outer office. He'd sent Mrs Landingham on a break.

"Charlie, I'm just going to see Toby."

"Yes, Sir."

He automatically nodded and greeted as he walked through the corridors. Reaching Toby's office, he stood in the doorway for a minute and observed. Toby's chair was facing the window, the reflection showing his forehead resting on his steepled fingers.

"Seeking inspiration for the Insurance Association speech?"

The chair swung around and Toby pushed himself to a standing position.

"Mr President."

"Sit down, Toby." Jed entered the room and closed the door, before moving to the chair in front of the desk.

"Any news?" Toby asked.

"Abbey called a few minutes ago."

Toby's voice dropped to a whisper. "She's dead?"

"No," Jed emphatically stated. "But there's been serious complications. She'll be in surgery for a while yet."

"What kind of complications?"

"They're having problems controlling the bleeding. She's lost a massive amount of blood and combined with the shock, her heart keeps stopping. They've had to resuscitate her three times."

There was silence as the news sank in.

Toby gave a nervous cough. "Is she going to make it?"

"I honestly don't know." He was the most powerful man in the world, he could spout trivia from here to eternity, but when it most mattered, he was helpless. "Abbey said it's a good sign she's made it this far. She's not giving up without a fight." Jed watched Toby shift uncomfortably in his chair. "What are you doing here, Toby?"

Toby adopted a defensive posture. "I'm writing the speech."

"Don't give me that crap. Why aren't you at the hospital? She's your best friend."

"Someone has to get some work done."

"I won't be delivering that speech for another month."

Toby hauled himself to his feet and started pacing and mumbling.

Jed caught the occasional word. "What was that, Toby?"

"Why am I the only one here concerned about the conflict of interest? How are the press going to be able to believe anything she says? How can we trust her not to leak him stories? Or him not to pry them from her? We warned her to stay away from him so many time and she went behind our backs." Toby's hands were working overtime to keep up with his tirade.

"Why don't you speak up, Toby? I think they missed a couple of words in the press room." Jed cut him off before he could reply. "No. Shut up and listen to me. Yes, we all warned her. But you know as well as I do that the concern is more about the appearance of impropriety, rather than any possible transgressions. They both love their jobs and are highly professional. I can't believe either of them would deliberately compromise their ethical beliefs."

"They already have by getting involved in the first place. And the reality is that this job is all about appearances." Toby was quieter but still on edge.

"It's a sad world where appearances mean more than reality. Why don't we institute new workplace rules. Every government employee will be chained to their desk, food and drinks provided, though nothing alcoholic or high fat. The chains will be long enough so you can sleep on your couch. Every word you speak and write will be monitored. No friends, family or lovers allowed, you can't be trusted to be professional." Jed paused briefly. "Tell me, Toby. Was there anything over the last seven months that led you to believe CJ was leaking stories she shouldn't have or that Danny was receiving an unfair advantage? Any complaints from the press?"

Toby sat down with a shocked expression. "Seven months?"

"Seven months. Maybe I should call the CIA Director. They'd make great deep cover agents." Jed's voice softened. "They fell in love, Toby. It shouldn't be a federal crime. And right now, they're going through one of the worst events any couple could experience. I am not going to compound it by destroying their professional reputations. CJ's job is safe. Danny told Leo that she never leaked him anything. And we have no evidence to the contrary. So, we're going to trust their word. That's not to say Leo and I won't be giving them a good talking to. But that can wait."

"What about Danny?" Toby shuffled the papers in front of him without meeting Jed's eyes.

Jed rubbed the nape of his neck, trying to release the tension. While Toby was a great speech writer and someone you wanted on your team, he could also be immensely frustrating. "Danny's already set things in motion. He's made inquiries about a new job and taken leave."

"He should've done that in the first place."

"Yes, he should have. They both made mistakes. But they're not hanging offences." Jed leant forward to rest his elbows on the desk. "Danny's a good man, Toby. He's been a good friend to this administration. He's kept things quiet and given us a heads up on many an occasion. And the most important thing is that he loves her. Leo and Abbey are barely holding him together."

"Which is why I shouldn't be there." Toby pursed his lips, his manner almost daring Jed to ask him the question.

"And yet you fought Leo on going back to work. Or was that just for the sake of an argument?" Jed waited a minute for an answer he didn't expect to arrive. "What's the problem, Toby? That Danny's the one she chose? Or that she didn't tell you?" Jed's voice was almost a whisper.

Toby stared at the desk, his hands clenched and shoulders stiff. Strangers would consider his face impassive, devoid of emotion. But Jed knew why he kept his eyes downcast. They offered a porthole to the battles waging within.

Jed stood. "I'd better get back. Mrs Landingham's probably waiting with my feast of garden clippings. Plus she and Charlie actually partake in this unusual activity called conversation."

The only reaction from Toby was his standing, an automatic gesture.

Jed walked to the door, turning back to face Toby as he reached for the doorknob. "One piece of advice, Toby. Don't make her choose."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The extended family had calmed considerably since Abbey's news. Danny immediately leapt to the worst-case scenario, dragging the others with him. It had been several fretful minutes before Abbey could convince him CJ was alive. She wasn't good, but she was fighting.

Leo examined each of his people carefully, his Chief of Staff hat impossible to discard. Memories of another hospital waiting room crept into his conscious thoughts. Slightly different players, but the same sense of helplessness and worry.

Sam sat with hands clasped tightly, staring at the wall. Filled with nervous energy, Josh alternated between pacing and rocking on the edge of a seat. Donna had given up trying to keep him in one place, but kept a close watch. Leo caught her eye and gave her a nod of thanks. She returned a weak smile before grasping Josh's hand as he sat once more.

The focus of his concern struggled to hold himself together. Danny leant forward, elbows on his knees and his face buried in his hands. Carol gently rubbed his back, maintaining the human contact that was the only thing keeping him tethered.

"How is Danny?"

Leo turned to find Abbey by his side. "I have no idea. You talk to him?"

She nodded. "He's going to tell Toby. I talked to Charlie first. Everything's quiet."

"Good." He watched Abbey check her watch.

"It's after six. Might be an idea to get some dinner."

Leo nodded in the direction of the other occupants. "You want to convince them to leave?"

"No." Abbey smiled sadly. "Just send them down to the cafeteria and bring it back here."

"Josh, Sam, Donna." Leo walked over to them and waited until he had their attention. "Could you go to the cafeteria and get enough food for everyone."

Donna took charge. "Anything in particular?"

"Sandwiches, anything hot that can also be eaten cold, " Abbey replied.

Leo turned his attention back to Danny as the trio left on their mission. The younger man had returned to an upright position, eyes glazed and features aged ten years in just the previous few hours. Abbey relieved Carol from her vigil, taking Danny's hand in her own.

"Is there anything we can do, Danny?" she asked.

Danny cleared his throat, but his voice was raw. "I need some fresh air." His eyes met Leo's, sending a silent plea, as he stood and disentangled his hand before heading for the door.

She attempted to follow, but Leo caught her arm. "Leave him, Abbey."

"I don't think that's wise, Leo."

"He needs to be alone. Just give him some time."

"All right." And exhausted sigh whistled through her lips. "But if he isn't back in twenty minutes--"

"I'll go find him." He guided her back to the chairs and gently pushed her down. "Try to rest, there's nothing more you can do." Leo sat beside her, their hands seeking comfort in each other.

He wasn't sure how long they'd been sitting there when the food arrived. But he was only finishing off his first pastry when Abbey indicated her watch.

His first and last stop was the small park outside the emergency entrance. Danny's gaze was unfocused, his body rigid. Leo sat down next to him on the park bench.

"Is she out?"

Leo barely heard the whisper. "No. There's food in the waiting room."

Danny ran his hands over his face. "I'm not hungry."

"The First Lady will force feed you if necessary."

"Maybe I shouldn't be here when her parents arrive."

Leo frowned at him, but Danny was staring straight ahead. "You aren't thinking of walking out on her? Because if you do, I'll personally let Toby loose on you."

"No, I'd never do that." Danny looked at him for the first time. His hands started to shake and he gripped them into fists. "I just...I thought it might be easier for them."

"She's not sixteen, Danny."

"But she's still their baby girl." His voice caught on a muffled sob. "I don't even know if I had a daughter or a son."

"They say it's easier to lose a baby at this stage, when they're not recognisably human, when you haven't felt them move."

"You and Jenny?"

"Yeah. We lost three. One before Mallory and two after." Leo paused, not wanting to revisit old wounds, but knowing Danny needed to know he wasn't alone. "We had a little girl before Mallory. She was three months premature, so tiny. She fit into the palm of my hand. She only lived for a few hours. The two after, they were early in the pregnancy. But losing them hurt just as much."

"She, he, I don't know what to call it."

"Your baby?"

"Our baby." Danny smiled sadly. "Our baby was taken away before we even knew we were parents. CJ may never know."

Leo clasped Danny's shoulder. "She will."

"I do love her, Leo."

Leo just nodded. "We'd better go back in, before Abbey sends out a search party for both of us."

They rose and walked silently back to the waiting room. Over the next half hour Abbey tried valiantly to get Danny to eat something. Josh and Carol attempted to engage him in conversation, but Danny had withdrawn into himself again.

Leo called Margaret to check up on everything and everyone. No news on that front was good news. He settled into a chair and closed his eyes for a moment. A second later his head snapped up as the door opened.

Comments

[sternel.livejournal.com]

...so I finally had a chance to catch up on my flist, and read this.

if you don't finish i'm going to cry. you must tell me what happens. ::impatiently waits::

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

I hope you didn't cry.
Thank you.