|
Rumors Jane Harper RATING: R for language and violence SYNOPSIS: Begins immediately after "Blood & Thunder"-in fact, it starts between the climax and the epilogue. This one's about playing telephone. ARCHIVE: Sure, just let me know where. DISCLAIMER: Sarah's mine; the rest of the characters herein belong to the Evil Genius and his minions. I'm just tossing them into a bag, shaking it up, and seeing what happens.
It was one o'clock when she woke up again, to another ringing phone. "Hmmmm?" "Sarah?" "Umm-hmm." "CJ. You had lunch yet?" "Uh, I was asleep. Haven't slept in two days--" "I'm sorry. I thought I'd come over for lunch. I really need to talk to you. "OK. I'll order in. Just come on up when you get here." CJ arrived before lunch did. "Hi, Sarah." She tossed her coat on a chair and came over to give the older woman a hug. "You doing ok?" "Yeah. I saw you on CNN last night, with Leo - good job." "You mean you saw Leo with me, don't you?" she giggled. "Oh excuse me!" She giggled. "Now, I have no idea what either of you were saying because I was completely blotto, but you both looked real good!" That made CJ laugh out loud. "Well, we were talking about the events of yesterday afternoon. People tend to get curious when the DCPD descends on the Chief of Staff's apartment like a plague of locusts. Especially when shortly thereafter someone leaves in a body bag." "How much did you tell them?" "That someone had broken into Leo's apartment and was holding two women hostage. That this someone had assaulted Leo with a knife and was killed in the struggle. That we have confidence that it will be ruled self-defense by the Coroner's office." "That Margaret rode in like the cavalry and saved the day?" "No, Leo wanted to keep both your names out of it." "Right, like we haven't been photographed up the kazoo together." She shrugged. "Listen, I want to get this business out of the way. There's no easy way to ask you this - and God knows I value our friendship, but I have to know. Did the Vice President spend the night here last night?" "No." "He was seen coming in a little after three and leaving just before six." "That's not all night." "True," she said with a sigh, "but you know what I mean." "Are you asking whether I'm sleeping with him?" "I guess I am. That's certainly what the buzz is." "I can categorically deny that." "OK, you can categorically deny that you're sleeping with him. Can you categorically deny that you're having sex with him?" Sarah burst out laughing. "Girlfriend, when I've already got prime rib, you think I crave pot roast?" CJ giggled. "Thanks for loading me up with that image." She waited a beat. "Was that an unequivocal no, or a non-denial denial?" "That was an unequivocal no. If I'd met him first .. who knows, but now, no. Absolutely not. Without reservation or purpose of evasion." "Then, if you don't mind my asking, what was he doing here?" "CJ, you've got to keep this quiet." "You mean, I've got to keep this from Leo." Sarah nodded. "Both that John was here and also what I'm about to tell you." "I'll do my best. Leo's not above having people followed, you know." "I know that." She felt a momentary pang of panic. "It wasn't somebody working for him that started this buzz, was it?" "I don't think so." "Thank God." "And you were about to tell me what the Vice President was doing here at all hours." "I got loaded last night. First time in twenty-six years. The Vice President is my sponsor." "Oh great," she responded. "So either he's perceived as fucking the Chief of Staff's... uh... girlfriend, or he's exposed as being in recovery." "Yeah. Shit on one side and manure on the other." "Glad I'm not his Press Secretary." "CJ!" "Well it's not like there's not enough going on this week. Or... had you heard? Did Leo tell you... ?" "Tell me what?" "Sarah, the President has MS." "Really? He must have good doctors." "That's it? He must have good doctors?" "Well, and an excellent staff." She grinned. "I gather this wasn't something widely known until recently?" "It was pretty much a state secret. Mrs. Bartlet told the President's doctors when he was shot, and it got out." Her eyes flitted away for a moment. "There's more than that... What aren't you saying?" "Well … theoretically, this makes the President vulnerable to a 25th Amendment challenge." "That he's not fit to serve? That's bullshit! And besides, doesn't a challenge like that have to be brought by--" She stopped abruptly as her mouth caught up with her brain. "By the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet," she finished slowly. "John would not do that, CJ. He wants the Oval Office, but he's willing to wait his turn." A faint look of surprise crossed her face. "You sure about that?" "Absolutely." "Sure you're not a little biased?" Sarah didn't answer, and lunch arrived. Over their salads, CJ brought the question up again. "I really, really think you should tell Leo about last night." "What happened last night?" McGarry asked as he walked in the door. "I think that's my cue to go," the Press Secretary said. "Thanks for lunch, Sarah. Good luck." "Thanks so very much, girlfriend." Once CJ was gone, Leo repeated his question. "What happened last night? You were OK when I left." "I had nightmares. Awful nightmares." "About what happened at home?" She nodded. He threw off his overcoat and suit jacket and took off his tie. Kicking off his shoes, he lay down on the bed and patted the mattress next to him, and she came over and snuggled up to him. "I'm sorry I wasn't here, Toots." "Oh, Irish, you're gonna kill me." She started to cry. "Hush, of course I'm not." He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. "I wish you'd called me." "I did. Four times." He didn't respond. "I called Mallory. I called Sam. I called my old sponsor." "Oh God, Sarah, tell me you didn't--" "I did." "Where did you get it?" "Out of the bar. I got drunk." "I warned you about switching addictions." "I know. I feel awful." "Good. Remember that feeling." "When I couldn't reach anybody else, I called John." "John who?" She didn't respond. "Hell's bells, Sarah!" he sat straight up and she fell off his shoulder with a thud. "You called Hoynes?" She leaned back on her elbows. "Yeah, I did." "What did he-- you called _Hoynes_?" "YES! Get over it!" "And did he get up on his white horse and ride over?" "No, he got into his limo and rode over." "Well that's just fucking great." He got up off the bed and started to pace. "Getting him over here was like bringing a brass band and the Cirque de Soleil." "Actually, there was more steel than brass, and not a single acrobat!" He stopped pacing and rubbed his face with his hand. "I can't believe you did that." "Leo, I tried to reach you, four times. You would rather have had me just sit here and drink myself into a stupor?" "Let me think about that one." "Wait just a goddamn minute. I knew coming into this relationship that you weren't going to be available at times, that I was going to have to handle things on my own and that you couldn't come running home every time I stubbed my toe. And now you're telling me that I can't have you when I need you, but I can't have anybody else either???" "Well, no, that's not--" "Fuck you very much!" "That's not very likely," he muttered. "You got that right." She was furious. Getting up into her chair, she grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom to dress. "Sarah, what the hell are you doing? Isn't it a little late to change clothes in the john?" Through the door it sounded as if he was stifling a laugh. That was the last straw. She threw the clothes down on the bathroom floor and began to sob. He opened the bathroom door, gently, and came in, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Why him, Toots?" "Because he was there," she answered. "And he dropped what he was doing and came to help." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Doesn't it strike you as the tiniest bit skewed that I can get my boss to come when I need someone, but not a man who claims to love me?" "Didn't manage to sneak that past ya, huh?" Again with the half-grin. "Almost. It didn't register until you were in the elevator." She chuckled in spite of herself, and looked down at the pile of clothing on the floor. "You're standing on my skirt." "Better than standing in it." "It's not your color, Irish." He bent over and picked it up, holding it by the waistband. "Not my size, either." "Stop it!" She couldn't keep from giggling. "How am I supposed to stay mad at you?" He shrugged and handed her the skirt. "Were you going somewhere?" "I gotta find a meeting," she answered. "I gotta do 90/90." "Says who?" "My new sponsor." "And that would be ??... Jesus Christ, Sarah, don't tell me." "OK, I won't tell you." "I don't trust him." "That's your problem." "Well he sure as hell won't be goin' to meetings with ya!" "Like you will!" She turned to leave the bathroom but he blocked the way. "You have no idea what you've done, do you?" "I slipped, Leo. It happens. Today is another day." "I'm not talking about that." "Then what the fuck are you talking about?" He threw up his hands. "Fine. Go. You'll see."
TBC
|
|
|