The Jukebox Series: Now and Forever


Cara


The reception is a madhouse, but it doesn't seem to affect C.J. at all. She gazes around the throng of people, of whom more than a fourth are secret service agents, and reflects. All those years ago, catering to those movie slimeballs. And then Toby walked back into her life, and this is where she winds up. Married to a wonderful man, and dancing at her wedding.
        
Her eyes sweep over the crowd. There is her mother, on Leo's arm despite the shocked stare of Jenny McGarry, who was invited out of courtesy. They look quite happy, and even though she still thinks it's weird, C.J. has to smile. Her mother is grinning at Abbey Bartlet, no doubt sharing some embarrassing story that C.J. will regret later. Well, no matter. Her mother and Abbey both deserve a little happiness. And Leo looks better than C.J. has seen him look in quite some time. Evidently Eleanor's company agrees with him. He's told C.J. that he is proud of her, and proud of the man she married. They are like children to him, and it is obviously a source of filial pride to him that she has found love. And even though his daughter has come out the loser in the fight, Leo still acts like a gentleman.

Mallory herself is standing against the wall, quite composed. C.J. was so frightened that she would not 'hold her peace' during the ceremony. But Mallory has behaved perfectly, to everyone's collective relief. Still, C.J. has treaded lightly around the younger woman. After all, if she were Mallory, and Mallory still carries a torch for C.J.'s husband, would C.J. want to be at the wedding?

Josh stands with Donna in a corner, politely chatting to Toby. C.J. smirks to herself as she sees Toby fiddle with his tie for the umpteenth time. Still, she appreciates the sacrifice he has made – she knows weddings aren't his favourite affairs. They remind him of another, long past. Josh and Donna look closer than ever. He has his arm around his assistant's thin shoulders, and she is leaning into him. Earlier C.J. laid a bet with her fiancé that they would be attending Josh and Donna's wedding before long. Judging from the way they are acting tonight, C.J. will win that bet.

Ainsley has found an odd audience: Mrs. Francesca Seaborn. The two stand together, chatting animatedly. C.J. finds the picture a bit strange, but is forced to smile. Her new mother-in-law is an intelligent woman, and since Mr. Seaborn's defection has become a forceful proponent of women's rights in every aspect. To watch her with the woman who believes the ERA redundant is an interesting thing.

And last of all, there stands her husband. Sam is off to the side, by the main table, chatting with President Bartlet. He makes a joke; the President laughs. It's all so free and easy. C.J. smiles. It's still so funny the way he has won her heart. One day in Maryland pushed both of them over the edge. Recently Sam told her that he'd harbored a crush on her since the minute they'd met at the start of the campaign. She couldn't say that to him, but she knows she would not trade this for anything.

She goes over to him and takes his hand. It is a touch of calm and unity; they are in this together. He responds very warmly, yet not being rude enough to take his attention from the man who is speaking to him. When President Bartlet finishes he congratulates them both. He calls them wonderful people, and says he is blessed to have them. They respond as they must, but the newlyweds both know there is more in their thanks than they could ever express tangibly. Had Josiah Bartlet never decided to run for President, they would never have been together.

They owe him everything. They owe Leo everything, for pushing him. They owe Abbey everything, for being there. They really are blessed.

But C.J.'s eyes pick up a new element. Standing quietly against a pillar of the White House's East Room, a red-haired man watches her. They lock eyes and the man raises his cup in a respectful salute. Still his mien is one of resignation, not acceptance. Danny Concannon has lost this match. It does not mean he is content with the results. But he will not challenge the ruling. His heart melts with her happiness.

Sam's eyes do the same, only the effect is far worse. His eyes lock with a young woman. Brown-haired and brown-eyed, she stares at him with a look often found on the demonic minions of Hell. He pales and lets C.J.'s hand drop to her side. He moves over to her to say hello and be nice.

But Lisa Worth doesn't want to be nice. She wants to make Sam miserable.

She moves towards him quickly, eyes narrowed. C.J. can't hear what she's saying – she's had the sense to keep her voice down. But it's clear that Sam looks absolutely abashed. He puts a hand on her arm, in a placating gesture, but Lisa's having none of it. In an impulsive gesture she puts her hands on the sides of his face and kisses him – a long bombshell that smacks C.J. in the face.

She's over there instantly. Without a word she separates her husband from the angry, hurt young woman. She recites the facts. Lisa has given up her claim. She never had a claim to begin with. Betrayals that stretch as far back as Gage Whitney Pace have nothing to do with the present.

From his corner Josh watches his friend defend herself as well as her husband. He is aware, as she is not, about the political gossip surrounding this marriage. And he is proud of her for handling this the way she has. She's the real bulldog; not him. Watching her protect what is hers makes him realize this.

Sam is also proud of her. Lisa is his enigma, but she has shown that his enigmas are also hers. Their demons are shared along with their angels. Though he wishes she hadn't come, and wonders how she got here, he all the same thanks Lisa silently. She has helped him realize once and for all how right this decision really was.

Once Lisa has walked away C.J. turns to her husband. There are no words. She's asking a thousand questions. What happened? Why did that happen? Why does she believe what she does?

Sam knows what to say. It's an exercise in devotion as well as simply telling her the truth. He's wanted to do this as soon as he proposed. Now that she is his wife it is an irony so fitting that another moment cannot pass.
He speaks to the singer of the band. The young man nods and cues up his friends. Without words Sam summons C.J. to his side. Through the usual fanfare of the couple's first dance and all the crowd watching the newlyweds, the groom takes the bride into his arms to the strain of the song that says so much. They all watch, wanting to fly. Eleanor. Leo. Francesca. Josh. Donna. Ainsley. Jed. Abbey. Lisa. Mallory. Danny. Even the young singer smiles as the words come out. Only the couple can fly. Sam and C.J. C.J. and Sam. They are each other's wings.
“Whenever I'm weary from the battles that rage in my head
You made sense of madness when my sanity hangs by a thread
I lose my way, but still you seem to understand
Now and forever, I will be your man …

Sometimes I just hold you, too caught up in me to see
I'm holding a fortune that Heaven has given to me
I'll try to show you each and every way I can
Now and forever, I will be your man …

Now I can rest my worries and always be sure
That I won't be alone anymore
If I'd only known you were there
All the time,
All this time.....

Until the day the ocean doesn't touch the sand
Now and forever, I will be your man …

Now and forever,
I will be your man.”

THE END

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