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Title: Reaching Out
Author: Sam Singing Wolf
Email: SngngWolf@aol.com
Rated: PG
Warnings: Angst
Spoilers: The Women of Qumar
Characters: Mostly Jed and CJ. Toby and Abby also appear.
Summary: Missing scene(s) from The Women of Qumar
Disclaimer: I can only wish they were mine. No infringement is
intended.
Archive: I'd be honored. Please just drop me a line so I can
visit your site.
Feedback: Is really very nice. I respond to all notes and
letters. Constructive criticism is also appreciated.
Notes: This starts during the episode "The Woman of
Qumar" when Toby and President Bartlet are discussing the
sale of weapons to the Arab country of Qumar, where women have
absolutely no rights and whose laws allow men to beat and kill
the women for any reason they wish.
***
"CJ's gonna be cool with this, right?"
Toby looked surprised. "CJ's the one you're worried
about?"
Yeah, dumbass, it's CJ I'm worried about, Jed thought angrily. He
looked closer at Toby's face. He looked honestly confused. Toby
might be insensitive to a lot of things, but with CJ, he was
different. Shit. She doesn't know.
Without even a moment of hesitation that might have caused
suspicion, he shrugged. "I'm just saying, she knows who the
good guys are, right?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, thanks. What's next?"
"Mr. President, we feel that…"
Jed's attention wandered. *I'm sorry, Governor. I- I came to see
Abbey…* He blinked and tried to listen to the Secretary.
"…We can get the votes, sir. Congressman Rowan is
wavering and Congressman Thorne is…"
*I'm sorry Governor. I- I came to see Abbey…* Jed took off
his glasses and rubbed his eyes. God. Not now.
*I'm sorry, Governor…*
***
----Three Years Earlier----
"CJ?"
"I'm sorry, Governor. I- I came to see Abbey."
For the first time since Jed had met her, CJ sounded uncertain,
shaken. Her wide eyes were slightly unfocused and wouldn't quite
meet his after a brief, surprised contact when he had opened the
door of his hotel room.
"Come in." He stepped back to allow her to enter.
After a brief hesitation, she stepped just inside the door then
stopped, her expression uncertain.
Jed closed the door and waved toward the couch, feeling a little
uneasy himself. "Take off your coat and have a seat. Can I
get you something to drink?"
She shook her head dazedly. She made her way to the couch, her
steps slow and faltering. He watched her sit on the edge of the
couch, his concern growing. She stared down at her clasped hands.
She hadn't removed her coat.
He filled a glass from a water pitcher and took it to her. She
didn't look up at his approach. He cleared his throat softly.
"CJ."
She looked up sharply. "Oh. Thank you, sir." She took
the glass and stared into it.
Jed sat beside her. "CJ, what's wrong?"
"Is Abbey here?"
"She went out to the pharmacy. We're out of aspirin."
CJ looked around. "Oh. I should go." She started to
rise.
"CJ…" Jed put his hand on her wrist. She jerked
away, the glass slipping to the floor. Her eyes finally met his
and he nearly recoiled at the fear in them. He pulled his hand
back.
She stared at him a moment longer, then dropped her gaze.
"I'm sorry…" She leaned over to pick up the glass
and gasped.
"CJ? What's wrong? Are you sick? Should I call
someone?"
She wrapped her arms around her abdomen and lowered her head. Her
hair shielded her face from him and swayed as she shook her head
vehemently. He watched her carefully as she took several slow,
shallow breaths. Finally, she relaxed and sat up straighter. He
gently took her hand.
He opened his mouth to ask her again what was wrong, when he
looked down at her hand in his. Her finally manicured nails were
broken and ragged, and when he looked closer, he saw the edge of
a bruise peeking out from underneath the edge of her coat sleeve.
His mouth went dry. "CJ?" He looked up to meet her
startled gaze.
She was staring back at him, and her eyes filled with tears.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
She shook her head and looked away.
"CJ, please. Are you hurt? Let me help you."
"I was just… I just went- I just went for a walk."
He waited a moment, but she didn't continue. She shivered, her
hand was icy in his own.
"Why don't you take off your coat? I'll get you a
blanket." He stood before she could object and went into the
bedroom for a thick comforter. He lingered for a moment,
attempting to calm his thoughts.
When he strode back into the sitting room, he stopped suddenly,
his attempts at calm lost. "What the hell happened?" he
asked, his voice hoarse with a combination of concern, worry and
outrage. He crossed the distance between them in a few long
strides and this time she didn't pull away. She sat back down
heavily.
She had taken off her trench coat, revealing a torn, dirty blouse
and skirt. Her hose were in shreds, and he could see the angry
bruises on her legs, her arms… her throat. He gently placed
the blanket around her shoulders his arm followed in a comforting
gesture. "CJ, what happened?" he asked again, his voice
softer this time.
"It was beautiful out tonight. I- I went for a walk."
Her voice shook. "It was beautiful…"
He rubbed his hand gently up and down her arm. She relaxed, just
a little, at the comforting touch.
"I didn't see him. I didn't." Tears welled up in her
eyes as she looked at him, imploring to believe her, to absolve
her of the irrational guilt she felt. "I fought back, I
tried all the moves they taught me in the self defense classes. I
tried!" The tears fell. "He was so big, so heavy-"
The tears turned into sobs, great aching sobs that sounded as
though they were ripped from her. Her cries tore into Jed's
chest, and broke his heart. She collapsed into his arms, seeking
some feeling of safety.
"Shh, shh. It's okay. It's okay. You're safe, CJ. I won't
let anyone hurt you. Nobody's going to hurt you." He
swallowed his own tears. This woman, she was so strong. Yet she
felt so small and vulnerable in his arms. He was nearly
overwhelmed by equal parts intense worry for her and overpowering
anger at her attacker. He considered himself a peaceful man, but
at this moment, he could have committed murder without thinking
twice.
He continued to carefully rub her back, mindful of any injuries.
He wished Abbey would get back. He worried that CJ was in shock,
not to mention her physical injuries. He brought his hand up to
stroke her hair. Finally, her sobs abated and she relaxed against
him.
He leaned back on the couch, bringing her with him. He continued
to murmur nonsensical words of comfort and he felt her relax
further, until he was certain she was asleep.
The door opened. Abbey froze in the doorway, the shock at seeing
another woman in her husband's arms clear on her face. A thousand
scenarios must have flashed through her mind, he knew his wife
well. It didn't matter. His gaze locked with hers and she, as she
always could, read his emotions there. She looked closer at CJ
and paled.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Jed silenced her with a look.
She nodded, understanding and closed the door quietly. By the
time she had reached the couch, her doctor's professional mask
had settled into place, compassionate and strong.
"CJ?" she whispered. She touched the other woman's arm.
CJ jerked awake at the feel of a hand, so different from the
hands from the hands that had hurt her and so different from the
hands she had found solace in tonight. When she saw her friend,
she relaxed again and tried to calm her ragged breathing.
"Abby-"
Abbey smiled. "Hi, sweetie."
"Oh, God…" The tears started again and Abbey
enfolded the younger woman in her arms. She sat beside her, so
that CJ was between them, protected. Her eyes met Jed's over CJ's
head. She nodded slightly.
The tears he had held back glittered in his eyes again. He
reached out and touched his fingertips to the back of CJ's head,
lightly running them over her hair.
"It'll be all right," he said. "I promise it
will."
***
----Present----
I promised you, CJ, and I failed you. Jed sat heavily in the
couch in the Oval Office.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Yeah."
Charlie opened the door. "CJ's here to see you, sir. Do you
have a moment?"
"Yeah, send her in."
He didn't have to wait long.
"Good evening, Mr. President."
"Hi, CJ." He waved to the opposite couch. "Have a
seat. I saw your briefing, you did good."
"Thank you, sir."
The silence stretched between them.
"Sir, I wanted to tell you that I don't hold this against
you."
He shook his head. "CJ, I swear to God, if I could base all
my decisions solely on what I, myself believe is
right…"
"I know. It just…"
"Yeah."
"It hurts."
"I'm sorry, CJ. I wish things were different. I wish we
could force the whole world to behave in a civilized manner. I
wish I could change things."
"And that means a lot to me." She reached out a hand.
He looked at her hand, her perfectly manicured fingernails smooth
and even. He reached out. Her hand was warm in his.
End
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© 2001 Sam SingingWolf All characters mentioned in this story
who have appeared in the series The West Wing together with the
names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of
Aaron Sorkin, John Wells Production, NBC and Warner Brothers.
This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights
and solely meant for entertainment. No profit is being made by
this story. All other characters, the story idea and the story
itself are the sole property of the author.
