Knitting Therapy

Topic given by leiascully, one drabble each for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight snack.

Domestic Bliss (Breakfast) (Toby/Andi, G)

"Coffee," he grunts, stubling to the kitchen. It's been that way since I married him, since I divorced him, and twice as badly since the twins were born. The most important meal of the day and he wastes it downing mug after mug of black sludge before he's awake enough to notice the screaming babies and piles of bills for a house we can't afford, and I wonder why I let him talk me into marriage again.

But then the caffeine has kicked in, he feeds Molly banana mush, and Huck flings his sippy cup. Toby smiles, and I remember.


Dining, Presidential Style (Lunch) (Bartlet, G)

I can't eat like a teenager, anymore, she says. Red meat will be my death, she says. Well, a little bit of prime Omaha steak never killed anyone.

All right. Maybe it has. Abbey's a doctor, I suppose she knows these sorts of things, but I absolutely refuse to eat only vegetables in one sitting.

Right. It's a salad, yes. And people eat salads everyday. I even saw Toby eating one, but I'm the President and I think I can choose my own lunch —

I set the steak aside, and can almost imagine the ghost of Dolores Landingham applauding.


Fast Forward (Dinner) (Josh/Donna, G)

"This stupid dress won't zip." Donna yanked the door of Josh's office open and gestured wildly for him to get inside. "We're late. And your watch sucks, don’t even try to tell me we're on time!"

Josh couldn't help but tiptoe around her, when she was like this — it was hormones, Abbey told him, but it was too dangerous to bring that topic up.

It was his fault they had so many state dinners to attend, his fault she was wearing maternity evening gowns, and certainly his fault that Donnatella Lyman was the Second Lady.

He wouldn't change a thing.


Midnight Snack (Josh/Donna, G)

He woke with a start, a snort, and a curse once he realized he'd drooled all over the budget figures. His watch said midnight, but it was probably after since, as Donna always reminded him, his watch sucked. He wanted to sleep for a few days, but the OMB would need confirmation if the President approved...

He stumbled to find caffeine, only to come face to face with Donna. In her hands were a Starbucks' cup and a bagel. "Just a snack to keep us up. It’s not coffee..."

Who needed coffee? Donna was there, and she was his focus.

Eek! Have seen West Wing season premiere - eeeeeeek! Cannot stop bouncing in chair! Poor Leo! Poor President! Poor Zoey! Joshanddonna! Sad, sad music at end, with symbolism, and now I want to write a paper about it! Gah!

Will stop with exclamation points, really.

In honour of West Wing Wednesday, the first for parts of a drabble series entitled "Blackout":

Tough Ride (Toby, G)

Toby couldn't help but curse under his breath. The subway's overhead lights flickered once and plunged the car full of people into darkness. Down the way, a few children screamed. The train didn't start up again, nor did the lights come back.

He groped for his cell phone and, though he couldn't find a signal, pale lights began to illuminate the car from each businessman. The man next to him was hyperventilating.

He would definitely be late for the trade summit dinner.

A woman across the car glared over her phone. "Hey — don't you work for Bartlet?"

Joy — a critic.


Roughing It (Jed/Abbey, G)

"Abbey, this summit will smooth over argreements with OPEC."

She raised an eyebrow. "OPEC? Jed, it's a summit about Swiss exports. Zip me up. How can that -?" She stopped abruptly as the room plunged into darkness.

"Mmm, this won't be good," he remarked and wasn't surprised when the door of the suite crashed open. Agents with flashlights poured in.

"Stay right there, Mr. President. This location is no longer secure."

Abbey shielded her eyes. Her husband stuffed his hands in his pockets and gave a strained smile. "Well, at least we don't have to listen to the Swiss Ambassador."


Doorframe in the Dark (Josh, G)

He usually didn't spend time with assistants other than Donna, but with Toby visiting his father, Will driving in from the airport after his weekend Air Force Reserve duty, CJ doing press things, Leo staying in D.C. and Donna playing poker with the assistants... he played poker. He was down fifty to Donna — the hand was essential to prove his talents...

All of a sudden, the hotel room was plunged into darkness. Ginger let out a shriek and Donna snagged his sleeve. "Oh my God, Josh, the President! He's upstairs!"

Another attack? Panicking, he stumbled and ran into the door.


Traffic (Will, PG)

The traffic was terrible — though, New York City traffic was seldom anything else. Will banged on the steering wheel in frustration, though nothing would get him to the dinner faster. The cabbie in front of him simply wouldn't move. He should've taken the bus.

And then, just as the cab in front of him took off, he noticed lights turning off, everywhere. It wasn't overwhelming, due to daylight, but people started pouring out of a buildings. He had to get to the President.

Will hit the gas too fast, only realizing too late that the street lights were out, too.