I Try

Title: I Try
Author: LuckyLinz03
Pairing: Jed/Leo
Rating: PG-13 (references to sexual situations)
Category: Episode Rewrite to “The Wake Up Call”, with Romance and a little Angst
Spoilers: Kinda for Wake Up Call
Disclaimer: Oh yeah, I own them right, and I am actually the queen of England too!
Authors Note: Ok So I don’t think I was the only one pissed off about this episode so I’m rectifying it. This is my first Jed/Leo West Wing Fanfic but all feedback is helpful! Also I know people around here are too fond of song fics and this isn’t one of them but I was listening to a song while I was writing this and it just fits so I stole the title for my story… the song is “I Try” by Macy Gray. And I gotta thank Marcia for the awesome Beta work, and keeping me motivated, when I was so often distracted! You’re the best girl! So with out further ado:

Games, changes and fears
When will they go from here
When will they stop
I believe that fate has brought us here
And we should be together babe
But we’re not
I play it off, but I’m dreaming of you
And I’ll try to keep my cool, but I’m feenin’

I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not here

I may appear to be free
But I’m just a prisoner of your love
And I may seem all right and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
Just a front, hey
I play it off, but I’m dreaming of you
And I’ll try to keep my cool, but I’m feenin’

I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not here

Here is my confession
May I be your possession
Boy, I need your touch
Your love, kisses and such
With all my might I try
But this I can’t deny
Deny

I play it off, but I’m dreaming of you
(but I’m dreaming of you babe)
And I’ll keep my cool, but I’m feenin’

I try to say goodbye and I choke (yeah)
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
(when you are not near aahh)
Goodbye and I choke (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble (hey, hey, hey)
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear (say it lord)
My world crumbles when you are not here

Goodbye and I choke (I’m choking)
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
(when you are not near, yeah, yeah yeah)
Yeah, yeah..

The First Lady was gone on a trip to God knows where promoting women’s rights. It was already eight o’clock and CJ knew the President was still in the Oval Office. She knew she had to get him to go to the residence soon or the First Lady would be after her head first thing tomorrow. As she entered the Oval, the President started rambling about his Valentine’s Day plans with the First Lady.

“Ok Sir, it’s late and you have a six a.m. call tomorrow morning, I think you should head up to the residence.”

“Really? Because, CJ, I was thinking we’d gather the boys up and head out for a night on the town, you know, kick our heels up.”

“First off Sir, in case you haven’t noticed, there are no more boys. It’s me, Toby, and Leo, who I don’t think will be partying anytime soon. And if you remember, every time we kick our heels up someone always happens to get themselves arrested, usually Charlie and Toby.” CJ remembered the good ol’ days when Charlie got arrested after Zoey was being harassed at the bar with the crew and Mallory and the time in California when Toby and Charlie got arrested after someone started to harass Andy.

“I guess you’re right Claudia Jean, the boys have all grown up and moved on. I can’t say I’m not proud of them though.”

Just then Toby walked into the Oval with some professor. Oh no, CJ thought, this is it, he’ll never go to the residence now. The President did not think twice about taking the opportunity to talk to the professor. He loved this stuff. This could go on for hours. They sat down after introductions and talked for a while. The door to the Oval slowly opened. CJ had no idea who it could be. As far as she knew pretty much everyone was gone for the night. In walked the once so strong, rock of everyone’s Gibraltar. If one could see just how the President’s face lights up as soon as Leo walks in a room, they would be dumbstruck.

“Leo!” the President cheered.

“Sir,” Leo replied and nodded to everyone else in the room. Toby introduced Leo to the professor. Leo now understood exactly what was going on in the Oval at this hour.

“Leo, come sit, we are discussing constitutions of the world,” the president said with enthusiasm, praying Leo wouldn’t leave.

“As entirely gruesome as that sounds, I actually need to borrow you for a minute,” Leo looked at CJ and shook his head to let her know what they needed to discuss was not White House related. CJ thought to herself, oh good maybe Leo can get the President to the residence. The President thought about arguing with Leo but caught the look in his eyes daring him to say no and see what happened next. Deciding not to take that dare, the President got up and followed Leo out to the portico.

“What is it Leo?”

“What the hell are you doing in there?” Leo asked, not angrily but in a reprimanding tone.

“Having an intellectual conversation with an intelligent man,” Jed answered smugly.

“Try again Sir,” Leo said, giving his own version of the evil eye.

Now annoyed for being called on his actions, the President answered. “Oh shut up Leo! If you have all the right answers why are you asking?”

“Sir, it’s late and you are sitting in the Oval talking bullshit with a man you have no true respect for because he will never question your statements which probably make no sense anyway because you are just making them up as you go along. You are bored out of your mind and avoiding going back to the residence and since Abbey’s out of town you know you can get away with it. Now I know all of that from being in that room for all of sixty seconds, so you want to question me now?”

“If you want me to go back to the residence so badly, why don’t you join me” Jed asked in his best seductive tone.

“Well why don’t we get rid of this asshole then give you an hour of playing some poker with CJ, Toby, myself, Charlie and maybe even Debbie. Then if you behave I’ll go up to the residence with you.”

“Sounds like a deal,” Jed replied smiling.

Jed and Leo haven't spent much time together since the heart attack and when they have it has been so superficial. An old remedy they have both used for ages is to ignore what’s really bothering them an act like nothing is wrong. The duo walked back into the Oval. Jed continued to bullshit with the professor. Leo pulled CJ over and informed her of his plan.

“Leo, you’ll be the one I send the First Lady to when she wants my head tomorrow.”

“Just send her my way CJ; I’ve been dealing with her for over thirty years now.”

“Professor, it’s been so nice chatting with you but I’m afraid we must still discuss a few affairs with the President. Hopefully we will be able to do this again sometime,” CJ said kindly. They all respectfully excused themselves. Toby walked the professor out. As soon as the professor was out the door, Leo turned to CJ and the President. He wanted them both to hear this at the same time.

“Let there be no misunderstanding, if the President ever so much as thinks about pulling another stunt like that CJ, I am not the First Lady and although I may no longer possess the title of Chief of Staff or work in an adjoining office to the President, you call me, and trust me he will do as I say, or so help him God,” Leo ended with a deadly look in his eye aimed directly at the president.

“Yes Sir,” CJ replied with mock salute towards Leo.

The President just turned to look out the window with his hands in his pockets and rolled his eyes.

“Ok, let’s play some poker,” Leo stated in a cheerful tone.

“Are you ready to lose some money Claudia Jean?” the President asked.

“In case you haven’t noticed Sir, I don’t get paid enough to lose that much.”

“Hit Leo up for some cash, he’s the rich one of the group,” the President replied.

Toby walked back into the Oval with Debbie following him. He had two cigars in his hand and handed one to the President. The President took the cigar hesitantly and looked at Leo waiting for him to say something about it. Surprisingly, he didn’t. Leo had seen what went on. He’d reasoned that although he loved Jed, he wasn’t his mother. If he wanted a cigar once in a blue moon, then who was Leo to stop him? At least he can enjoy something.

“Let play,” Debbie interrupted Leo’s thoughts.

“Boy times have changed,” the President said thoughtfully as they played. “I hope Josh is ok out there on his own.”

“He’s fine Mr. President,” Toby answered in a cold tone.

“Toby, get off your prissy ass and stop acting like you are more honorable than he is. Do you know how hard it was for him to come to me and tell me what he was doing? I assured him he was not abandoning me. If I called him right now and said he needed to come back because I needed his help he would be on a plane before I hung up the phone. He is just fulfilling his destiny. He did the right thing and you know it. He believes in this Santos. If he does, so do I and I think I speak for Leo on that also. He is going to need your help soon and he will need yours too CJ and Charlie. You guys can’t abandon him. Together the group of you are unstoppable, you got me here, remember? You need to work together not against each other. Understood?” the President finished his tirade sternly.

“I know Mr. President. I will,” Toby answered.

“I hear even Donna has deserted him,” Debbie said.

Leo interjected, “I wouldn’t say deserted him but rather she is putting him in his place. She will go back to him as soon as he humbles himself and asks after a heartfelt apology. He takes her for granted.”

An hour passed quickly and Leo brought the game to an end. “It’s been a nice evening guys but it’s late and I’m not as young as the rest of you so let’s call it a night.”

“Goodnight all and thank you…for everything,” the President sincerely stated.