Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing this story. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I wasn't initially sure I was going to tackle Leo's death in a story, but then this sort of poured out. Thanks for reading!
"One Year Later"
The day was gray and cold, much different than it had been one year earlier. The day of Leo's funeral was sunny and slightly warmer than usual. This November was much different. The air was damp and the sky gray. The birds still sang and the sun occasionally peaked through the clouds, but it still remained somber.
Toby approached the gravesite that he couldn't visit one year ago and paced back and forth for a moment before sticking a small American flag into the earth.
"I'm probably the last person you'd expect to see here," Toby said taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here last year. There were things that I just couldn't bring myself to do and places I couldn't be. I was here though. I was just…farther away, on the outside looking in, which I suppose is appropriate because I've always kind of felt that way."
Toby shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets and stood still, staring at the marker that displayed the name Leo McGarry.
"This still doesn't seem real," Toby commented. "I'm obviously not very good at this. Speeches I can do, yelling I can do, but how do you talk to someone who you respect and care about then they're not really here? I don't know, maybe you are here. If anyone has a presence it's you, even if you're not around."
Toby chuckled nervously before he continued. "I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did. I know I disappointed you and let you down and I never got the chance to tell you that I was disappointed in myself. Of course I guess you never really got the chance to tell me how disappointed you were in me, which is probably a good thing for me."
Toby resumed a light pace back and forth in front of the grave marker. "What I really want to say is that I hope I didn't let you down completely. I never wanted you to think less of me and I hope that wherever you are you can forgive me."
"I guess this is the part where I'm supposed to tell you how I'm doing and what I've been up to. I've really only seen this in movies. I'm not big on sentiment, but you know that because you were the same way. I thought about writing a speech for you, what I would have said in a eulogy, but that seemed a little forced so I'm gonna wing it."
"Huck and Molly have really turned into little people," Toby said thinking about his children. "I don't know that Andi and I knew what we were getting into because they seem to have inherited all of our special qualities like being stubborn and resistant and stand-offish, but it's better than I ever thought it could be, having kids. Luckily, they've also inherited Andi's sense of humor and my love of pie so we've got that going for us anyway. You know the thing I worried about most when I thought I might go to jail was missing them. I worried I'd miss their childhood. President Bartlet saved me from that though."
"I think you'd be happy to know that President Bartlet doesn't hate me…too much anyway," Toby grinned. "We've talked a few times and it was okay. We seem to have found common ground, which is just about as much as I can hope for considering the circumstances. I know you hated it when he and I fought, mostly because you always thought I got into his head, which might be true sometimes I suppose."
"We're all meeting tonight," Toby continued as he finally stopped pacing and looked at the ground. "I'm here because Sam insisted that we all meet up again. I'm secretly glad that he forced us to schedule the time, but don't tell anyone that if they stop by. It might be the last time I see everyone for a while. I'm mulling over a job offer from Columbia. Apparently scandal gets you blacklisted from just about every government job, but they seem to thrive on controversy on college campuses. It should be interesting anyway."
Toby started to walk away and then he took a few steps back and turned his head back to the grave marker. "I should probably say that you're missed Leo. I don't know if you ever knew how much respect and admiration you commanded, but now that you're gone…you're missed greatly."
With that Toby shoved his hands into his pocket and walked back to his car. A few rays of sunlight poked through the clouds and for a moment the wind stopped blowing and it felt like a beautiful day.
Josh walked up the aisle and passed the grave markers until he got to Leo's. He hadn't gotten over to visit in a while and he was sorry to say that he couldn't quite remember where Leo's grave was exactly. He finally found it and noticed that there was a lone American flag sticking up from the ground.
"Hey Leo," Josh said bending over and placing a box of M & Ms on the ground. "I brought you a box of White House M & Ms. I'm not sure how that's going to affect the environment, but what the hell. It looks like someone beat me here today. We're all getting together so I figure you're going to have a busy day ahead of you."
Josh stood up and looked around the cemetery. He noticed how the leaves rustled in the breeze.
"I never know what to say when I come here," Josh admitted. "I guess I'll just catch you up on what's been going on in the White House. We've been taking a beating on health care. I sure wish you were around to help us figure it out. Haffley's still around, unfortunately, and he's making it a hell of a fight in the House. Just once I'd like a clear mandate from the voters of a Democratic House and Senate, but I guess that's a lot to ask for since we won. I still can't believe we won Leo. I don't know if you ever felt this way, but some days I wake up and think it's a dream, like there's going to be a recount any second. That's probably stupid, but there it is."
Josh sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I should probably tell you that things are a little weirder than usual in the West Wing. Donna and I are kind of dating. Well, not kind of, we are dating and have been for a while. It makes for some pretty unusual Senior Staff meetings. She's still sort of mad at me because I missed her birthday a few weeks ago, although she won't admit it in that womanly way she has. I should preface that by saying I knew it was her birthday, but I couldn't get away. So, since it's our anniversary tomorrow I'm having this elaborate dinner set up. Don't worry, I decided no on a violinist because I know after a few songs it can get weird. You taught me well."
"I guess you were one of the people who actually saw the Donna thing a long time before I did. According to CJ, Sam and Toby they all saw it, but you actually said something to me. How dense was I for so long? A harder nudge in that direction might have been helpful," Josh chuckled. "It's good though. I think it's easier to date someone on your team in the West Wing. We basically have the same hours and the same stresses so it's working out."
"Just between you and me," Josh confided. "Tomorrow I'm asking her to marry me. I figure an engagement ring is a pretty good anniversary gift. I really can't imagine my life without her in it at this point. So much of the last ten years of my life are connected to her that it's like she's a part of me."
Josh sighed and looked up at the sky before looking down again. "Wow, I didn't mean to get all sappy on you there," Josh said. "I was just thinking out loud."
"Anyway, President Santos is doing all right," Josh said. "He still has a few things to learn about time management, but I think it's going pretty well. I hope you'd be proud. I think you would be. Helen is finding her way too. She's no Abbey Bartlet, but who can really measure up to Abbey?"
Josh laughed a little bit. "So, I just wanted to pay my respects and let you know that the country is still in good hands. I think about you a lot. I think about the decisions I have to make and how difficult some of them are. I have this new respect for you and CJ and pretty much every Chief of Staff in the history of the United States. I can only hope that I measure up to a fraction of what you accomplished in that office. I miss you Leo."
Josh nodded, satisfied with his visit and he walked back to his car. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a familiar number.
"Donna Moss," she answered.
"Hi," Josh said as he walked.
"Hey, did you have a good visit?" Donna asked.
"Yeah, yeah I did," Josh said. "Just in case I haven't said it in a while, I love you Donnatella Moss."
"I love you too," Donna smiled.
"'Kay," Josh smiled as he got into his car to head back to the office before the dinner that night.
The wind was picking up by the time CJ arrived at the cemetery. She had a bouquet of flowers with her as she approached Leo's grave.
"Well I'm not the first here," she said as she set the flowers down next to the flag and the M & Ms. "Looks like Josh beat me and I'm going to guess Toby was here as well. You're having a busy day."
CJ took her coat and bundled it tightly around her as she pulled on her gloves. "I forgot how cold it got here," CJ commented. "I know it's been a while and that's because Danny and I moved to Santa Monica. Don't worry we're not living sin or anything. He's made an honest woman out me. Who would have thought, right?"
"I guess I should start at the beginning," CJ said. "Danny and I got married in March right here in D.C. I know it probably seems a little sudden, but honestly I've never been happier Leo. I just had to stop fighting it long enough to see that Danny is exactly what I need after eight years in the White House. I hope you approve, but somehow I think you do."
"Danny and I moved to California about four months ago," CJ informed him. "He quit the newspaper business and he's writing a book and I've been doing some consulting work for the West Coast division of MSNBC and things are really good. I never thought I'd look at a 50 hour work week as relaxing, but it really is."
"I guess I should tell you about the book Danny's writing. It's about you. Well you and President Bartlet specifically. He said that the friendship you had spans decades and the President agreed with him so that's what he's working on. When we're not in California we're at the farm in New Hampshire talking to the President and Abbey about you. They miss you. We all miss you, but they miss you more than anyone could put into words I think."
"I hope you'd be okay with Danny's book. I know you didn't like the spotlight but we all agreed that the world should know how wonderful you are. It seems wrong to keep it to ourselves. You don't have to worry. Danny isn't writing anything you wouldn't approve of and President Bartlet has threatened action by the Secret Service if he prints anything you wouldn't like."
CJ wanted to laugh as she recalled the exact wording of the president's threat. It was couched in jest, but she knew that he was partially serious. Although they all knew that Danny would never write anything to sully Leo's name or reputation, it was still up to Jed to protect him.
"You know, I don't think any of us ever realized how much stress was involved in being Chief of Staff," CJ continued. "Josh and I joke that we're going to start a club and get t-shirts made that say 'What Would Leo Do?' You always seemed to know how to fix everything. It was effortless. I did the best that I could and I'm proud of a few of the things I accomplished as Chief of Staff but I know I never measured up to you. I'm still not sure why you picked me, after all this time. I guess it doesn't matter now, but it means something to me to know that you had faith in me even when I didn't."
"I'm sure Josh or Toby mentioned it but we're all getting together tonight," CJ continued. "The old guard back in one room again. It should be interesting. I guess it's comforting to know that half the old guard is part of the new guard as well. President Santos has had to make some concessions already, but he's getting through. He's no President Bartlet, but I suppose I'm bias. I have a feeling you are too, though I know you'd never admit it. We can keep that between us though."
CJ heard sirens in the distance and she looked up to see a motorcade approaching slowly.
"Looks like I'm not your last visitor today," CJ said watching the motorcade for a moment. "We've all been together since your funeral. Everyone came to my wedding and Charlie and Zoey got married too, but it always feels like there's a void in the room and I know it's because you're not there. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you have time in your schedule tonight, you should stop by and eavesdrop on all of us. I know if anyone has the power to wiretap up in heaven it must be you, so you might want to listen in tonight. It should be pretty interesting. We're planning on giving Josh and Donna a lot of grief and I'm sure Abbey will be hounding me and Danny about kids, so it should be some good stuff to overhear. I guess I'll let someone else take up your time for a while. I really miss you Leo."
CJ walked back over to the road where the car was parked and Danny waited for her. He had been leaning against the side of the car and he stood up and put his arm around her shoulder giving her light kiss on the forehead.
"You okay?" he asked her as he saw her eyes seemed glassier than usual.
"I'm fine," CJ smiled. "I still miss him."
"Yeah," Danny said.
They turned to watch the motorcade pull up behind their car and it took them a moment to realize who was coming to visit Leo. The Secret Service opened the door and CJ approached the door as the occupant of the limousine emerged.
"Hey CJ," he said giving her a light kiss on the cheek. "Danny how are you?"
"Very well, thanks," Danny said.
"Mr. Vice President," CJ smiled.
"Stop," Sam said waving his hand.
"What? That's your title," CJ pointed out.
"It's still a little weird when people I've known for years use it," Sam admitted.
"Relax, you'll always be Sam, Sam the Sunshine Man to me," CJ grinned.
"Thank you very much," Sam said a little patronizingly. "Did you two just get in?"
"We got in late last night," Danny said. "I forgot how cold it got here in winter."
"That makes two of us," Sam replied with a smile. "Maybe being exiled to California for all those months wasn't as bad as I thought."
Sam glanced down the row of grave marker and noticed how Leo's had many mementos already there.
"Looks like I'm the last one here," Sam commented.
"Josh was definitely here," CJ said. "He left the tell-tale White House M & Ms. I'm pretty sure Toby brought the flag."
"You haven't seen President Bartlet?" Sam asked.
"No, you're the only person I've seen so far," CJ told him.
"Tonight, seven o'clock," Sam reminded them.
"Seven," Danny replied.
"We'll get going," CJ said. "We've got a few other stops to make while we're in town."
"Okay," Sam replied. "I'll see you tonight."
"You will," CJ said as she and Danny turned to walk back to the car. Sam noted how relaxed and happy CJ looked. It was a far cry from the worn, sad CJ he'd seen a year ago.
"Hey CJ," Sam called.
"Yes Mr. Vice President?" CJ turned with a chuckle.
"The California tan agrees with you," he said.
"Yeah? Thanks," CJ smiled. "See you tonight."
"Yep," Sam replied with a small wave. After CJ and Danny had driven away Sam went to the back of the car and pulled out a helium balloon with stars and stripes on it. He walked over to Leo's grave and tied the string of the balloon to the flag.
"Hi Leo," Sam said. "I guess it's been a year since we were all here at one time. It's gone by faster than I could have imagined. I'm Vice President now, which is all at once odd and amazing. I'm trying to fill your shoes, which I know is impossible, but I'm doing the best I can. It's starting to feel like I belong now, which is nice, but I'd still give anything to see you in the office rather than me. I think my political career will probably be written about as a weird confluence of events that all added up to my advantage. Hopefully I'll make my own legacy, but we have yet to see I suppose."
"It's kind of weird being back in the White House. The view from the OEOB is a little different than we thought. Well, different than I imagined anyway. There are times when I can understand where Hoynes was coming from if you can believe that. I'm an insider, but not quite as inside as I'd like. Everything is done at arm's length. You probably could have navigated it a little better than I am."
"Sometimes I wonder what kind of Vice President you'd be. You were such an amazing Chief of Staff that I wonder if you'd have tired of shaking hands and making calls and not being able to be in the Sit Room. I guess what I'm saying is that the role of Vice President is a little like being the understudy in a play. You know the lines, the blocking, the character, but you have to sit backstage and wait. You have to learn the role of the chorus before you have a chance to play the part you always wanted. I don't know if you ever wanted to president. We never really talked about it. I think you'd have been amazing though. I hope you know that."
"We all look up to you Leo," Sam said. "A year later and it hasn't changed. I sit in my office and wonder what you would have done in certain situations. Josh is still trying to live up to your expectations even now. Sometimes he tells me he feels like he failed you. I tell him that he got you elected Vice President. Leo Thomas McGarry's name will forever be written in the history books as it should be."
"I remember learning about patriots in grade school. You know, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Payne and all the men who believed that a new government was needed. The men that had the vision and forethought to put together a country as great as the United States are taught to each and every generation. You know when I hear the word patriot now I think of you. I think of how you put your heart, soul, passion and vigor into every aspect of your work. I think about the times when you wouldn't let us quit and you wouldn't let us down. I think it's only fitting that your name is added to the list of men who may not have been president, but their work, their blood, sweat and tears is what American was founded on."
"You never have to worry about being forgotten because we won't let that happen. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it was a pleasure to work with you, but more than that, it was a pleasure to know you. You taught me so many things and I observed a man of great integrity, honor and capacity to care about the people he worked with and I strive to emulate that everyday. You may not be here physically, but your memory and spirit lives on in all of us."
"I miss you Leo," Sam summed up. "I hope that I'm making you proud."
Sam looked up at the sky and noted that it looked like it might snow. He glanced over at the motorcade that waited for him. It had almost been a year and it was still hard to get used to the idea that the car was waiting for him. He walked over to the car, took one last glance at the sky and got inside as the door was shut behind him.
An hour after Sam's motorcade pulled away from the cemetery another one pulled up. As the door opened a cane poked out of the opening before President Bartlet emerged from the vehicle. He turned and extended his hand to help Abbey out of the car shortly after.
"It's chilly today," Abbey noted. "Are you warm enough?"
"I'm fine," Jed replied waving her off.
They walked a few feet before Jed stopped and looked at Abbey. She understood before he even opened his mouth that he wanted a moment alone at Leo's grave.
"I understand," she told him before he could speak. "Just call me over when you're almost finished."
"Thanks," he said giving her a small smile and grateful that he still Abbey in his life to read his mind. "I won't be too long."
"Take your time," she replied.
Jed walked slowly with the help of his cane over the gravesite. His gait was strong but sluggish on his down step and the damp air made his knee ache, but he continued to walk as quickly as possible to visit his old friend.
"Looks like you've had quite the crowd here today Mr. Vice President," Jed commented quietly as he noted all the tokens which had been left behind throughout the day. The snow clouds were replaced by the sun, which was beginning to set in the November sky.
"You probably think you're special with all these visitors, but don't let it go to your head," Jed reminded him with a chuckle. He stood silent for a moment and just picked through the thoughts in his head before he spoke again.
"It's been a year," Jed finally said. "I don't know if you've noticed but I've got the cane again. I've been using it less than usual, but today I need it. I needed it at your funeral too. I'm not happy about that fact just so you know. I can't believe it's been a year. The first few months went pretty fast. I had all those end of administration duties to deal with, including averting World War III. We were right about sending those troops as a buffer. We were able to talk both sides down and there are still troops in the area but it's nothing on the scale we had envisioned. I guess Santos get the credit now though."
"You know, Danny is writing a book about us. Apparently our friendship is like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis only we're far cooler according to Danny," Jed joked. "Anyway, since Danny is writing this book I've been thinking a lot about my legacy and I've come to the conclusion that it's not really mine, but ours. You were the one who shaped my presidency Leo. Some days I think about it and I feel like we accomplished a lot and other days I think we accomplished nothing, but I've been thinking about it a lot more lately."
"For a while I thought the Supreme Court was my legacy. It wasn't something that everyone talks about but we got to appoint three justices to the highest court in the country and I'm deeply proud of that. Other days I thought the Sharif assassination would be the black mark on my presidency and then this morning I finally realized what it was."
"Our legacy is alive and well in the people that surrounded us. Josh is running the country for Santos, Donna has blossomed from an assistant to the Press Secretary, Will Bailey is running for Congress, CJ is shaping news stories for the media, Toby is going to teach at political science at Columbia, Sam is the Vice President of the United States. My legacy is that my White House was the training ground for all the people who are the future of this country."
"The thing is that it was all you. You're the one who surrounded me with those people. You're the one who told me not to fire Josh during the whole Mary Marsh fiasco. You're the one who kept Toby and fired the rest of the staff in the beginning. You're the one who saw the potential and the passion in all those people and without them I was nothing. Without you running the show for so long I was nothing. I hope you don't mind, but I told Danny all this too."
Jed shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets and scanned the sky. The colors were brilliant and alive for a cold November day, though the wind blew heartily.
"You know I still regret that rough patch we went through before your heart attack," Jed said. "I know we patched it up and things were back to normal but I still think about it. Abbey tells me I didn't cause your first heart attack, but I'm not so convinced. I still think about that day at Camp David. I never truly thought there would be a day where I didn't have you to hold me up. I guess it had to happen eventually. You were so much greater than the office of Chief of Staff. I sometimes wonder about this damn cane. I wonder if it's a substitute for you. I never needed it until you left the White House and I wonder if subconsciously I need it to feel secure. Stanley would have a field day with that one so let's just keep that thought between us."
Jed looked over at Abbey and nodded his head for her to come over. "Abbey's coming over to visit with us now," Jed said. "Before she gets here I just wanted to say that I still miss you. You were, and still are, I might add, my closest friend."
Abbey walked up quietly and wrapped her arm around Jed's waist. "Hi Leo," she said. "Is he talking your ear off?"
"I was being poignant," Jed insisted.
"Yes, you're poignant a lot lately," she said sarcastically. "We miss you Leo. Without you around Jed and I actually have to talk to each other about everything."
"Including foreign policy and you know how that gets," Jed interjected.
"Messy," Abbey answered. "I wish you were here to talk foreign policy with him. Luckily the grandkids keep him busy. Ellie and Vic had a baby boy and Jed is already teaching him about Notre Dame."
"You can never start too early," Jed said. "Charlie and Zoey got married. Did we tell you that?"
"Poor Charlie," Abbey said. "When they officially told us I thought he was going to sweat through his coat. I've never seen him so nervous."
"I had to make sure he was committed to Zoey," Jed said. "We don't need another Doug on our hands."
"You love Charlie," Abbey insisted.
"I love Charlie as a friend and co-worker. I don't so much love Charlie stealing my baby girl out from under me."
"Would you listen you listen to him?" Abbey asked Leo. "Charlie didn't steal Zoey and you love him. He puts on a façade Leo. He loves Charlie."
"I do love Charlie," he admitted. "Not only because he's a good man, but because he loves Zoey. That and they promised to name their first born after me."
"God help Josiah or Josie Young," Abbey said.
"Bartlet Young," Jed corrected her. "Don't listen to her Leo. She's just jealous they're not naming their first daughter Abigail."
Abbey sighed and stared at the marker with Leo's name on it. "I still can't believe he's gone," Abbey said talking to Jed rather than the spirit of Leo.
"Me either," Jed sighed wrapping his arm around her tighter. "It's been a whole year."
"The world kept on turning," Abbey said.
"It felt like it turned a little slower without him here."
"Yes, it did," Abbey agreed. "I still wait for the phone to ring at two in the morning with Leo on the other end."
"Yeah," Jed said. "We were going to play chess."
"What?" Abbey asked looking at him.
"Leo and I talked about retirement one day," Jed confided. He'd never told this to anyone. "We talked about how we were going to end up in the old politicians home and while you were out shopping or at some charity function we were going to play chess in a winner take all match that would last years. I had my first few moves already planned."
"I'm sorry you never got to use them," Abbey said.
"Me too," Jed said digging into his pocket.
He produced a black marble queen from a handcrafted chess set. He placed the queen next to the candy, flag and flowers.
"You're giving him your queen?" Abbey asked.
"He wouldn't have won it eventually," Jed replied.
"You're a master chess player," Abbey reminded him.
"Yeah, but Leo would have figured out my strategy. He always did."
The sun was beginning to set and the sky was a beautiful orange and magenta flecked with speckled of deep blue above the horizon. For a dreary as the day began it had turned into a miraculous sunset.
"We should go," Jed said.
"Are you okay?" Abbey asked.
"I'm okay," Jed nodded. "We have a party to get to."
"It'll be nice to everyone again," Abbey said. "All in one place I mean. CJ and Danny haven't been strangers and Josh and Sam have called enough, but everyone together will be nice."
"Yes it will," Jed said turning to walk. "Leo would have loved it."
"I think he would," Abbey agreed.
They walked back to the car arm and arm grateful for the company of each other.
The sun dipped just below the horizon and the magenta sky bathed the grave of Leo McGarry in a soft light. The metallic balloon picked up the sunlight and reflected tiny rainbows on the items left by Toby, Josh, CJ, Sam and the President Bartlet. It was a small collection of affection, honor and gratitude to the man who got them where they were today. The sun set over Washington D.C. that evening and somewhere, beyond the horizon and magenta sky, beyond the clouds and stars and commotion of life, Leo McGarry smiled.
The End.
A/N: I know I'll probably get some reviews saying a Vice President Seaborn isn't plausible but it's what I'd like to see anyway.