Author: coffeeplease
Rating: PG-13 (Some bad words)
Category: General, AU
Spoiler Info: Everything up to A Good Day
Disclaimer: WB, NBC, John Wells, Aaron Sorkin....
owners. I just lease and try not to stain the carpet.
Lawsuits dont look good on me.
E-mail address for feedback: jamhandy1@...
Archiving permission: Sure, just tell me first
Notes: This is the same universe as Grocery Store,
Race Car,Wills Glasses, and Gin Gimlets. Two
things: I have taken certain liberties with years, as
I have no idea how many years ago Rosslyn would be
from the convention in Wells timeline. Also, I
apologize to people who like Will. I liked him,
too.... a couple seasons ago. I put some pretty
malicious words in his mouth in this one and perhaps
Joshs reaction in Wills Glasses should have been
stronger. But I digress. Someday, Ill get back to
Noah, but for now...
Toby Ziegler.
Joshua Lyman.
Josh lumbered onto the bar stool next to Toby, who was
having a hard time looking up at him. The old anger
had faded into apprehension and a bit of
embarrassment. They had behaved like the children C.J.
always accused them of being. They had continued
throughout the campaign to speak, but never to talk.
Words like yes, no, okay and good-bye, from
two men who liked, more than anything else, to hear
themselves pontificate.
It had taken four words, one repeated, over a cell
phone late at night. Four words and Toby was the first
to learn about Josh and Donna. He counted the bottles
of wine by the bar as the conversation replayed in his
head.
Its a memo from 2001 about school vouchers.
I dont remember.
Toby exhaled through his teeth and counted to ten. He
was pacing his office. Cliff cant find it.
Try the EOB.
Josh had said six words to Tobys twelve. Hes
winning, Toby thought. Best to reduce myself to
monosyllabic grunts.
Hmm.
I dont know, then.
Yeah.
Toby, Im trying to run a campaign here and...
Josh was muffled as he began talking to someone else.
His hand mustve been over the phone; Toby couldnt
hear much other than it was a woman. A woman who was
with Josh, eleven oclock on a Wednesday night,
probably in his hotel room.
Donna says you should try the file room in the
basement.
Toby was silent for a moment as it sunk in how much,
indeed, Josh Lyman was winning.
He was astonished that his own voice sounded friendly.
Okay, I will. Josh...
Yeah.
So...
Yeah.
Well, all-right, then.
Night, Toby.
Night, Josh.
Bigger words hadnt been needed, Toby thought as he
admired the label of the Pinot Noir. So and Yeah
said pretty much everything and the last thing Toby
wanted was details of kisses and romances. He knew and
it may have been at that point, pacing his office,
that the anger began to wane. If Donna could forgive
him for sins much larger than Toby was even aware of,
he could learn to speak to Josh in paragraphs again.
But he wasnt at all sure he wanted to do it tonight,
during the convention, on an uncomfortable bar stool.
C.J. and Donna are upstairs, drinking gin gimlets.
Room service?
Room service gin gimlets and strawberry cheesecake
and chocolate mousse.
Toby grimaced. Sounds... sickening.
The bartender took Joshs drink order, a simple
bourbon with beer chaser. Josh settled himself into
his seat and looked at Toby. I was drowning in
estrogen and sugar. I had to leave.
Had to leave?
I may have been kicked out because I have a penis.
Toby refrained from saying what had obviously popped
into his mind. That sounds about right.
Four words. Baby steps.
Josh fiddled with the paper coaster. C.J. also
thought that you and I... should, you know.. talk.
That also sounds about right.
So, in order for us to start talking... youre going
to have to, um, talk. Josh downed his bourbon.
Okay.
Im really sort of doing all the talking here, Toby.
Im working on it. Couldnt Josh see how
uncomfortable this was? Toby wanted to clear the air,
but not right now, at this bar, when Santos was going
to be nominated tomorrow. Josh had won and Toby didnt
begrudge him for it, but he didnt particularly want
it rubbed in his face, either.
He knew Joshs ego and bravura well. It was only a
matter of time before the gloating began.
Although, looking at his former colleague, Toby
realized that At The Bar Josh was quite different from
White House Josh or Throwing Papers Josh. He seemed...
stilled. The inner nervous energy had dissolved and
his face didnt even look boyish anymore. His eyes
were solemn, but they had inner wells of peaceful joy
that Toby had never seen before.
This was Engaged To Donna Josh. A newer, quieter model
that didnt walk so fast.
This Josh took a sip of his beer. We still have some
things in common, Toby. You know that I punched Will
Bailey?
Punched? Not like the idiotic wrestling match you and
I had, but an actual punch? Maybe Throwing Papers
Josh was still around, hiding underneath the glow.
Josh grinned. It feels better to talk about it,
doesnt it? Yeah, I punched him. Probably not my
finest hour.
Was Russell playing dirty pool?
No, Josh bit his lip slightly. He.. found out about
Donna and I in Portland. He told her that was probably
going to have to fire her. She cried... I never saw
someone cry like that. At first, I didnt really
understand why she was upset and then she explained
it, told me what he said and I.... I kinda saw red. I
went to his room and we had it out.
Toby frowned into his drink and then motioned the
bartender to bring him another. I am completely and
utterly jealous that you were given such an honorable
excuse to hit him.
Hes not a bad guy, Josh took another sip of his
drink. Hes just caught up in it.
He started off being a decent man and a very good
writer. Then he became Bingo Bobs bitch. Then he
became absolutely a waste of my time.
Three sentences and Toby didnt feel nauseous.
I wont ever forgive him for what he said to Donna,
what he said about Donna, but I think with time Ill
be able to tolerate being on the same planet with
him.
What did he say to her, if you dont mind my asking?
Josh swallowed hard and Toby could almost see tears in
his eyes. He... he said that all of Washington
thought she was just my gal Friday and if she had
anything to do with me, she would never have a future
in the Democratic party. That she should remember that
she didnt have a degree and she was doing work that
people with JDs and Masters were doing. Said that by
sleeping with me, all she was doing was cementing a
reputation as... as.... Josh Lymans eye candy. Josh
laughed bitterly and pounded the bar. He said he was
looking out for her, that he was being her friend.
When she was hired, he told her that he, I cant
fucking believe this part, would like to be as close
to her as I was. He wiped at his eyes.
Taking calming breaths,Toby counted to ten. And you
only punched him once?
I was practicing restraint.
I would not have bothered to restrain myself. When I
see Will Bailey again, I may not bother to restrain
myself. Toby took a long sip of his fresh drink. I
think that entire paragraph you just quoted qualifies
him as a bad guy. Very bad, like, without a soul bad.
Dont get me wrong, Toby. Ill never forgive him.
Joshs voice wavered slightly. But when I thought
about it... if you and I were ten or fifteen years
younger and one of the most prominent faces of a
campaign we were slaving over was dating the campaign
manager for the opposition... we might have thought
those things. I dont think wed have said them, but
we would have thought them.
Well, first off, while Donna is an incredibly
beautiful woman... please stop making that face and
morphing into the possessive freak you always become
when people point out that shes attractive... I cant
think of anyone ever calling her your eye candy. Shes
intelligent and gifted and people in Washington know
that. She doesnt have a degree, but she has more
national campaign experience than Will does. I bet
that pisses him off. And the last part... hes
obviously delusional. Being Russells bitch has
obviously caused him to lose his mind. Tobys voice
grew stronger and louder. He needs to be kept away
from our women, our liquor and our Democratic party.
Not necessarily in that order.
Josh laughed. Toby had lost count of the words. It
didnt matter; he had one more sentence to say. More
importantly, you need to know that none of what he
said is true, Josh.
I know. Josh glanced at his shoes. But its far more
important that Donna knows.
Im sure you managed to convince her...
Me, C.J....
Toby nearly sputtered into his drink. C.J. knows and
Will still has kneecaps?
Shes practicing restraint as well. Feels guilty
about things she said to Donna awhile back.
About you and her?
Sort of. Nothing like what Will said, obviously.
Shaking his head, Toby took a small sip. Like trying
to run the country, improve the country, wasnt enough
work. His coworkers, past and present, seemed to make
throwing stones about other peoples lives a hobby.
Most assumed Toby didnt care, which wasnt exactly
true in his mind. He cared about Josh and Donna enough
never to discuss their relationship with them. Not his
business, even if they had been foolish and stopped
practicing restraint while working in the White House.
There had been times in those seven years where Toby
sincerely wished that they would. Because he did care
and he wanted to see them happy. But for Toby to add
voice and words to that wish wasnt necessary.
Speaking of you and Donna... when are you, you
know...
Getting married?
Yeah.
If I had my way, tonight, but, you know, people want
to be there to see it, so...
After the election?
Yeah. I hate the waiting. I want to be her husband
now.
It was the most romantic sentence Toby had ever heard
Josh Lyman say. He considered repeating it to Donna.
In an instant, he dismissed the idea.
I regret that I missed the whole proposal...
Josh looked a bit forlorn. Was it... an excuse?
What?
You being out with chicken pox. Was it that you just
didnt want to see me?
Toby smiled the smallest of smiles. No, I actually
had the chicken pox. Kids will give you the strangest
diseases, Josh. Spots all over my body. Consider
yourself warned for the future.
You didnt have chicken pox when you were a kid?
I was blissfully spared.
Josh raked his teeth across his lower lip and took
another sip of beer. I really thought it was an
excuse. I thought you couldnt stand to be in the same
building as me.
I can see why you would... Toby clenched his hand
around his drink. Well, anyway, I would have liked to
have been around for it.
I... Josh seemed stuck on his words for a moment. He
looked down at the bar, then looked up to meet Toby
square in the eye. I know... I know a way you can
make it up... no, that sounds wrong... Josh looked
back down.
What?
Well, you see, the thing is Sam feels like its too
much pressure and... no... obviously, it cant be C.J.
cause shes already in the thing, but anyway, what
Im trying to get at is...
Is this how you proposed to Donna?
Suddenly, Josh straightened his shoulders and met
Tobys eyes again. Toby, Id like you to be the best
man at my wedding.
The bar stools were as hard as concrete and the
grenadine in his drink was red. Red had mushroomed on
Joshs shirt. Red had been on Tobys hands and he had
knelt on the cold red concrete, wondering how a May
night in Virginia could be so frigid.
Now, he was in a hotel bar waiting for a nomination
that, for the first time in eight years, he had
nothing to do with. The red, the blood was long gone.
Only a faint white line was left on Tobys cheek. He
was being asked to be Joshs best man; would have
seemed far out of the realm of possibilities on the
cold concrete. Or on the dark day in his office when
they had acted like children.
It was seven years ago to the day. The words left
him and he couldnt grab them back.
What?
You proposed to Donna seven years after Rosslyn. It
was seven years to the day.
Yeah.
Nothing more needed to be said.
Toby cleared his throat. Id be.. honored, Josh.