Don't Take it Out on the Post-It's
“Don’t Take it Out on the Post-Its”
Rating: G
A/N: I found this on my hard drive, and it amused me. It was supposed to be a challenge response to writing a fic about the first West Wing episode you ever saw. “In This White House” was it, and I was hooked from the teaser. This is totally unfinished, from the original conception, but it stands I think.
Disclaimer: The dialogue you recognize? That's Aaron's.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Toby, come quick! Sam’s getting his ass kicked by a girl!”
“Ginger, bring the popcorn.”
Toby followed Josh as he jogged back to CJ’s office and settled in on her couch to watch the carnage. Toby had to hand it to his deputy though, he took the opportunity of the commercial break to get it together, and he handled himself quite well in the next segment. Sam was smart, Sam was professional, and he took his ass-kicking like the professional that he was.
Which was how Toby came to be lurking in Sam’s office, sitting in the visitor’s chair with the light off. Sam stalked through the bull-pen speaking to no one, and went straight in his office, turning on the harsh over-head light and the desk lamp, and took his frustration out on his phone messages. Toby didn’t know it was possible to even do that, but there Sam sat, reading each message before slamming it down on his desk and viscously flipping to the next one. The corners of Toby’s mouth tipped up just slightly in a smile, and said, “You know, I’m pretty sure it’s not the post-it notes’ fault.”
The look on Sam’s face changed from angry determination to shock as he jerked his head up to face Toby, of whose presence Sam had been totally unaware.
“God, Toby.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Yeah.”
“You did good, you know, after.”
“I was unprepared. I was over-confident.”
“Yeah.”
“I should never go into debate spots like that.”
“No.”
“She made me look like an idiot.”
“No.”
“No?”
“She made you look un-prepared and over-confident. And then you got it together, and she made you both look like smart, articulate people debating an issue. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it just a little.”
Sam thought about it for just a second, about the fire that had been in the blonde woman’s eyes, and then he smiled, that rakish, Sam smile and said, “You know, I did.”
“We had popcorn.”
“You save me any?”
“You eat cold, stale popcorn?”
“I just ate crow. I’m thinking cold, stale popcorn sounds pretty good about now.”
“If there’s any left, it’s in CJ’s office.”
Sam thought about the abuse he would most certainly have to take from CJ and decided he would really rather just go home, and with a small laugh, he said, “Yeah. Never mind. Good night, Toby.”
“Night, Sam.”
Sam turned off his lights, grabbed his brief-case, and headed home.
Rating: G
A/N: I found this on my hard drive, and it amused me. It was supposed to be a challenge response to writing a fic about the first West Wing episode you ever saw. “In This White House” was it, and I was hooked from the teaser. This is totally unfinished, from the original conception, but it stands I think.
Disclaimer: The dialogue you recognize? That's Aaron's.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Toby, come quick! Sam’s getting his ass kicked by a girl!”
“Ginger, bring the popcorn.”
Toby followed Josh as he jogged back to CJ’s office and settled in on her couch to watch the carnage. Toby had to hand it to his deputy though, he took the opportunity of the commercial break to get it together, and he handled himself quite well in the next segment. Sam was smart, Sam was professional, and he took his ass-kicking like the professional that he was.
Which was how Toby came to be lurking in Sam’s office, sitting in the visitor’s chair with the light off. Sam stalked through the bull-pen speaking to no one, and went straight in his office, turning on the harsh over-head light and the desk lamp, and took his frustration out on his phone messages. Toby didn’t know it was possible to even do that, but there Sam sat, reading each message before slamming it down on his desk and viscously flipping to the next one. The corners of Toby’s mouth tipped up just slightly in a smile, and said, “You know, I’m pretty sure it’s not the post-it notes’ fault.”
The look on Sam’s face changed from angry determination to shock as he jerked his head up to face Toby, of whose presence Sam had been totally unaware.
“God, Toby.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Yeah.”
“You did good, you know, after.”
“I was unprepared. I was over-confident.”
“Yeah.”
“I should never go into debate spots like that.”
“No.”
“She made me look like an idiot.”
“No.”
“No?”
“She made you look un-prepared and over-confident. And then you got it together, and she made you both look like smart, articulate people debating an issue. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it just a little.”
Sam thought about it for just a second, about the fire that had been in the blonde woman’s eyes, and then he smiled, that rakish, Sam smile and said, “You know, I did.”
“We had popcorn.”
“You save me any?”
“You eat cold, stale popcorn?”
“I just ate crow. I’m thinking cold, stale popcorn sounds pretty good about now.”
“If there’s any left, it’s in CJ’s office.”
Sam thought about the abuse he would most certainly have to take from CJ and decided he would really rather just go home, and with a small laugh, he said, “Yeah. Never mind. Good night, Toby.”
“Night, Sam.”
Sam turned off his lights, grabbed his brief-case, and headed home.