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Doing It, And Doing It, And Doing It Well
Violet
"They are."
"They are not."
"I'm telling you, I'm absolutely convinced."
"And I'm telling you, there's no way."
"I know it in my heart," Ginger said firmly.
"Your heart's out of its mind," Carol shot back. "It's not true."
"They're doing it." Ginger drawled the words out teasingly.
"Shut up." Carol pushed her chair back slightly. "Just because they went to lunch together--"
"No, it's not just because they went to lunch. It's because they've been acting suspiciously. And I don't know about you, but I pay attention to what Toby brings to work in the morning."
"What do you do, raid his briefcase?"
"I pay attention." Ginger sat on the corner of Carol's desk. "They're doing it right now as we speak."
Carol shook her head. "Something's seriously wrong with you. Don't you have anything else to do?"
"Not really, because my boss isn't here. And neither is yours. And you know why?"
She sighed. "Because they're doing it?"
"Bingo." Ginger smirked.
"No way."
"Come on. It's not that big of a stretch."
Carol glared at her. "No, no, no."
"I don't see what you're so upset about. I think it's sweet."
"Sweet?"
"Well, haven't they known each other for a long time? They're entitled to have some fun together. It shouldn't be a big deal that they're doing it. Which they are."
"Go away."
"Getting all sweaty. Yelling. Breathing hard." Ginger laughed.
Carol covered her face with her hands. "Stop. Stop. Stop."
* * *
Outside the White House, C.J. took off her work outfit and changed into something special. She stepped through the door and walked toward Toby with a smile.
"I'm ready," she said.
He looked her over. "I can see that."
She chuckled. "So. Let's go."
After that, they didn't talk for a while.
* * *
Ginger took a carrot stick from Carol's lunch and bit into it with a crunch. "I'm just saying it's not that bad."
"It's that bad!" Carol whimpered. "Look, I just don't see it happening. Not those two."
"Why not?"
"Well, for one thing, he's no match for her."
Ginger drew herself up. "Excuse me?"
"I'm not sure Toby could keep up."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you casting aspersions on Toby's abilities?"
"I'm not casting... whatever. Just look at him." Carol nibbled her sandwich. "I call 'em like I see 'em."
"Well, trust me, he can keep up. Maybe she couldn't handle him. He's good."
"How would you know how good he is?"
"I've heard things," Ginger said cryptically.
"Don't believe everything you hear."
She leaned closer and spoke quietly. "Bonnie did it with him once."
Carol gasped. "No!"
"It was during the campaign, and he was desperate."
"God, is there anything else I don't know around here?"
Ginger looked around. "Well, I did hear that Leo and Margaret do it."
"That's just bizarre. I don't want to imagine him doing that. Ever. With anyone."
"I know!"
Carol looked nauseated. "I can't believe you put that image in my head!"
"I can't believe the two of you are still talking about this," Donna commented, as she walked by.
Ginger looked up at her. "Come on, don't you think something's going on?"
"It's none of our business if it is," Donna said, sweeping out of the bullpen.
Ginger shook her head. "Whatever. She just wishes she and Josh were doing it."
"Obviously." Carol leaned forward and watched Donna walk down the hall.
"Honestly. Just think about the guys around here. If C.J. was going to pick one... and Josh doesn't count."
"Well, what about Sam?"
"Sam's such a geek, he probably doesn't even know how to do it," Ginger said. "Are you going to eat that cookie?"
"Here." Carol pushed the remnants of her lunch in Ginger's direction. "This conversation has killed my appetite."
Ginger picked up a cookie. "You've really got a mental block about this, haven't you?"
"No, I just don't believe it. And you've spent way too much time thinking about this."
"It's more interesting than the tax plan I've been researching all morning."
"Dead bugs are more interesting than that," Carol said. "But there's still no way they're doing it."
"You know they've done it before, right?"
"I know no such thing."
"It's true." Ginger finished the cookie and licked a chocolate crumb off her finger.
"Yeah, right. You just want to see things where there's nothing there. Next you'll be telling me you're doing it with the President."
"Don't be silly."
"You're not being silly?"
"Who's being silly?" C.J. asked, as she came in. "Hey, Ginger. Toby's looking for you."
"Thanks." Ginger jumped to her feet and shot a knowing look at Carol as she departed.
She ignored it. "You want to do messages?"
"In a minute," C.J. said. She walked into her office and closed the door. Smoothing her hair with one hand, she placed her bag under her desk and started to read a column in the paper. Then, unable to resist, she pulled the bag out again, opened it, and lifted something out.
"Next time," she murmured happily, "We're going to give Steffi Graf a run for her money."
She put the racket away again. "Carol?"
"Messages?" Carol entered, and caught a glimpse of the bag on the floor. One corner of the white skirt stuck out of the zipper. Oh, God, she thought.
C.J. nudged the bag under the desk with her foot. "Yeah," she replied. "Let's do it."
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