Author: coffeeplease
Rating: PG
Category: General, AU
Spoiler Info: Everything up to A Good Day is game,
although I think theres not a spoiler to be seen.
Disclaimer: WB, NBC, John Wells, Aaron Sorkin....
owners. I just lease and try not to stain the carpet.
Lawsuits dont look good on me.
E-mail address for feedback: jamhandy1@...
Archiving permission: Sure, just tell me first
Notes: This is the same universe as Grocery Store,
Race Car et al. A big, big leap into the future.
Daddy!
Josh had just gotten to sleep. More accurately, he had
just shut one eye and then the other and had thrown an
arm loosely around his wifes waist. Some nights that
was as close to sleep as he got; other nights he was
comatose as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Mommy! Daddy!
He sat up on the second yell. Beside him, Donna
stirred awake as well. She sat up, rubbing the sleep
out of her eyes. Do you want to get that or should
I?
He yelled for me first. Josh climbed out of bed,
slightly chilled in just his boxer shorts. Donna
flopped back down on the pillows, quickly falling back
asleep. She was exhausted recently, and not without
good reason. They hadnt realized that children would
require hours far more strenuous than the White House.
They had both ignored the advice of many well-meaning
politician parents, like Toby and Andi, who warned
them. They had laughed that it couldnt be any more
exhausting then twenty-hour days during MS hearings.
They had been so wrong. Joyously wrong, happily wrong,
but wrong nonetheless.
Josh padded quietly through the house until he came to
his sons room. The light was on and the door was
ajar. He pushed it open and saw Noah sitting in the
middle of the floor with his Bristle Blocks and
Spiderman action figure. A Spiderman action figure
missing one arm, it looked like.
He was jumping off the building and his arm fell
off, Noah explained tearily.
Buddy, its past your bedtime. Josh folded his arms
and tried not to fall asleep still standing.
But Daddy, you have to fix Spiderman. You have to!
Noahs voice wobbled and definitely rose a few
decibels at the end.
Shhh.. youll wake up Mommy and Claudia.
At the mention of his sister, Noah scowled. He had
been doing that a lot recently, scowling like his
father and pouting like his mother. Usually whenever
someone held Claudia, cooed over Claudia or mentioned
Claudia. Josh didnt need any parenting book to tell
him what was going on, but he didnt think he had the
energy to fix sibling rivalry at twelve-thirty at
night.
Put his arm back together, Daddy! Noah began to bang
the tiny arm back into the socket, tears falling out
of his eyes.
Noah Josiah.. Josh began sternly, only to be
interrupted by the sound of Claudias cries from the
next room. He listened for a moment. Hunger,
definitely hunger. He could also hear Donna get up
from bed, the floorboards creaking as she went to tend
to their daughter.
He stifled many curses. Ill fix his arm, but youve
got to get back in bed.
Im not tired.
Josh groaned inwardly. Maybe it was time to ax Noahs
afternoon nap, seeing that this was the fourth night
in a row he had been up past nine. Get in bed and
Ill fix Spidermans arm. Didnt he have about ten
Spiderman action figures?
Noah pondered this for a moment, sniffled and then
stood up and climbed into his big boy bed. Josh sat
down on the bed and Noah handed him the broken toy.
Quickly, Josh popped the plastic arm back into the
socket. See, good as new. Hell be able to jump off
all kinds of tall buildings tomorrow.
He gave his son a quick kiss to the forehead and
reached to turn off the teddy bear lamp on the night
stand.
Daddy, dont turn it off.
Noah, you wont be able to sleep if the lights on.
Not tired.
Of course not. Josh ran through his options in his
head. He was supposed to be firm on bedtimes and
Noahs bedtime was about five hours ago. Noah had been
asleep at nine; Donna had checked on both the kids.
How long have you been awake, buddy?
I dunno. I opened the door and it was all dark in our
house.
About twenty minutes, just enough time so he was wide
awake now. Josh couldnt say the same. His eyelids
felt heavier and heavier.
The darks scary.
Joshs eyes snapped open. Theres nothing to be
scared of, Noah. Everythings just the same as it is
during the day, its just dark.
I dont like it.
I understand, buddy. Josh began to slowly rub Noahs
back, trying to get him to nod off. But you have your
night light... A Spiderman night light, naturally.
... and Mommy and I are just down the hall.
Can I sleep with you and Mommy tonight?
Josh sighed inwardly. Saying yes would mean an easy
night: Noah would climb in between him and Donna and
fall immediately asleep. However, he knew Noah would
easily take ten miles from the inch given to him. He
was in that stage. He would demand to sleep with Josh
and Donna every night or he wouldnt fall asleep. It
was like negotiating with the toughest, most
conservative Republican senator. Except senators
usually werent wearing Spiderman pajamas.
No, kiddo.
Daddy! I wont be able to sleep!
Josh felt his temper rising and took two deep breaths
and counted to ten. Noah, thats enough. Youre old
enough to sleep in your own bed at night. Youve
already slept with Mommy and I once this week. Its
almost one in the morning. Go to sleep! Josh stood
up.
Daddy! Dont go yet, please! Noah gave a
Donna-worthy pout and his brown eyes were crying, yet
again. Josh began to get the feeling, judging from the
amount of tears, that Noah wasnt just overtired and
cranky. He immediately felt guilty for speaking
harshly. Buddy, what is it?
Sniffle. Just dont. Sob. Want you. Big sniffle.
To go.
Whats wrong, Noah? Josh sat back down on the bed
and took his son into his arms.
Noah buried his face into Joshs neck, something he
hadnt done much since he was two. Gently, Josh rocked
to and fro, rubbing Noahs back, listening to him cry.
He was also listening to the soft creaks of the
rocking chair in the next room, where Donna was
probably nursing Claudia Joan. Whats the matter,
baby?
Pulling away, Noah scrunched up his face to his
father. You love Claudia more than you love me.
Now Josh felt tears spring to his eyes. Damn it. It
was inevitable, though. He and Donna had known it was
coming. From the day they brought Claudia home, Noah
had been that much more irritable. Leo had told them
that Noah had called her that dumb baby during the
welcome home party. For awhile, he had taken to
regression, sucking his thumb again, trying to steal
back all the baby toys that had been handed down to
his younger sister. They had done everything the books
had suggested. Tried to include Noah in taking care of
the baby. Blocked out time everyday for just the three
of them.
But Noah had said the words and Josh felt tinges of
failure. He knew he shouldnt and that this would take
care of himself, with enough time and love. Right now,
though, he couldnt help that his sons accusation was
breaking his heart.
A thought crossed his mind: had Joanie said the same
about him?
Oh, Noah, thats not true at all. Not at all. Mommy
and I love you very, very, very much.
More than Claudia? Noah sniffled.
He kissed his sons forehead. We love you and Claudia
exactly the same amount.
But its not fair! I was here first.
Josh sighed deeply. I know its hard. It was just you,
me and Mommy and now theres another person. But dont
ever think that Mommy and I love Claudia more or that
we dont have time for you now.
It feels like you dont.
Well, I do. Josh stated firmly. And you know what,
Noah?
What?
Someday, Josh smoothed out the craziness that was
his sons hair and laid him back on the bed. Someday,
I think youre going to like having a sister.
I will?
Maybe not anytime soon. Josh gave his son a grin.
But someday you will. Trust me on this, buddy.
I dont think so. Noah yawned. His eyes drooped,
much like his fathers had earlier. Joshs grin grew
wider. He would sleep, finally. Tomorrow, Josh and
Donna could talk about what to do to make Noah feel
better, but tonight he would sleep.
Night, buddy. Love you. He kissed his son again and
turned off the lamp. Noahs breathing had evened out.
He turned around to see Donna at the door. She smiled
at him in the darkness, then turned and walked towards
their bedroom. Josh left Noahs door ajar and followed
her down the hall.
She was hungry?
Hungry and starting to teeth. Donna flopped back in
bed as soon as they reached their room. She pulled off
the sweater she was wearing and threw it to the floor.
She used to be the neat one, Josh thought ruefully. He
climbed into bed and she scooted closer to him. They
relaxed into each others arms.
Tomorrow, you and I need to have a conversation about
our eldest child, Josh said sleepily.
Mmm, Donna hummed and nuzzled Joshs shoulder. We
should probably stop nap time.
Well, that and... Josh rubbed his foot with hers,
playing a bit of light footsie at one in the morning.
He felt like he was about to pass out. He said that
we loved Claudia more than him.
Oh, jeez, Donna hugged her husband harder. Well,
well talk to him tomorrow.
He might just be playing us for another Spiderman
action figure.
He has thirty of them... Donnas voice trailed off
as he feel asleep.
Josh was already asleep. Neither of them woke up until
twenty minutes later, when Noah crawled in between
them.