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TITLE: Playing With Fire AUTHORS: Morgan morgan@camelot72.screaming.net SUMMARY: Josh decides to interfere in two of his colleagues lives - a decision he may live to regret. DISCLAIMER: The West Wing belongs to NBC et al. I'm not quite sure why I'm doing this, I just am - but its for entertainment purposes only - no disrespect is intended. Playing with Fire - part 4 Wednesday 8am I suppose it was inevitable that we'd start the day watching Jayne Hamilton's first encounter with the press. I was slightly surprised to find that we all seemed called to do so from Leo's office - I mean its not as if we don't have our own TVs. Only CJ was missing - she was in the press room supervising the conference and ready to intervene if things went disastrously wrong. Even Toby was there, looking as though he thought he had better things to do but still as compelled to be there as the rest of us. And for once things were going our way. The first two questions actually related to the report - which is as close to a miracle as you can ask for. They gave Ms Hamilton the opportunity to demonstrate her credentials and to give the salient points some airtime. It couldn't last of course. 'Ms Hamilton, how do you think the relevations concerning your private life will affect the report?' We all groaned and shouted abuse at the TV and the reporter who'd asked the question - even though we'd been expecting it. 'I regret that any publicity my private life has engendered may overshadow the findings of this report. However, I am not ashamed of the fact that my marriage of 25 years ended because I chose to ask for a formal separation rather than remaining in the marriage and being unfaithful to my husband.' 'That's a good response,' Leo murmured. 'It was CJs,' I glanced up at Toby, checking that he had said what I thought he'd said. He was very carefully avoiding everyone's gaze. 'The response. CJ came up with it. That's all I'm saying.' We watched the remainder of the press conference with an enthusiasm growing from the realisation that we were actually winning the argument and that there was every sign that Jayne Hamilton's sex life was going to be a footnote to this story. 'All right people, the show is over, lets get back to work.' Leo favoured me with a quick smile and a shake of his head as he shoved us out of his office. A sure sign he was both pleased and bemused. As I strolled back to my office there were a few shouts and bursts of applause. I joined in, knowing how deserved they were. CJ and Carole were being greeted enthusiastically by the staff as they returned from the press room. Just rewards for what everyone knew was a job well done. CJ looked a little embarrassed, but was smiling at our whoops and hollers. As I watched her she very discretely started scanning the group, looking for one person in particular. It didn't take her long to find him, her eyes came to rest on Toby and he inclined his head in a slight nod of approval and his lips quirked into a rapid but genuine smile before he turned away and headed for his office. Wednesday 9.30pm We'd had a good day. Our message was getting through, almost unencumbered by the messenger's personal life. CJ had been on the press corps all day and every now and again I had detected those small flashes of genius that were a sure sign that Toby was on the case as well. Our Commander in Chief was in a jovial mood as we all congregated in the Oval Office for an impromtu end of the day briefing. Only breaking off from teasing Leo to ask, 'Where's Toby?' 'CJ isn't here either.' Sam pointed out. 'I'll get them,' I offered getting to my feet before anyone else. If they were both missing there was a chance they were together and I didn't want to miss the next installment of what was shaping up to be an entralling drama. CJs office was empty, which confirmed my suspicion that wherever they were they were together, a possibilty that had me bursting with curiousity. Toby's office door was open as I approached, as it often is, (it gives him the opportunity to bellow at Sam or Bonnie and Ginger). The only light was from a small lamp and my first impression was that there was no one there, but I realised almost at once that I was mistaken, there were two figures in the room, it was just that their stillness and silence had almost deceived me. Toby was standing by the window, looking out into the night. There was nothing in his body language to show he was aware of the woman standing by his desk. They appeared to be studiously ignoring each other. Or at least they were until CJ spoke. 'I just want to know what's going on - that's all. Its not too much to ask,is it Toby?' More silence greeted her question, he didn't even move, made no sign of acknowledgement. 'Well apparently it is too much to ask. Fine.' She headed for the door, clearly having decided to abandon this attempt to reach him. I moved to intercept her, prepared to intervene or to go after her when she left. I hadn't really decided which would work better, perhaps because I knew that I would be a poor substitute for the person she really needed to discuss this with. She'd reached the doorway before his voice stopped her. 'I think I'm in love with you. So that's the thing, I've admitted it, it isn't very interesting. I wouldn't have mentioned it at all if it weren't for the fact that it seems to have affected our working relationship. I regret that. I want to assure you that it won't from now on. Now lets move on.' Coming from the President's top speech writer this was a little tame. I've heard Toby more eloquent on the drier aspects of taxation. But perhaps he was just a little too close to this. 'Toby, you've got to know, right now most of my instincts are telling me to walk away. There's just this one, quiet little voice telling me to stay here and make you talk about this.' Finally he turned away from the window and when I saw his face I realised he really hadn't expected her to still be standing there after his confession, let alone considering staying. 'Problem is - the instincts telling me to leave are the same ones that tell me its complete lunacy to walk into the press room every morning , and I still do that.' She glanced up at the ceiling, perhaps searching for inspiration. 'In case you're interested the voice telling me to stay belongs to my heart - and its never let me down yet.' As she spoke she took a step back towards him and I crept away, they needed to fight this one out themselves. To Be Continued
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