Chapter Text
CJ Cregg was returning home from being fired. She saw the gate to her backyard was open. “A weird way to break in,” she thought. She went to investigate, the box of her former office contents in hand. A figure was sitting at her patio table, but for the life of her she couldn’t make out who it was. When she asked “Who is that?” the figure sitting with a Starbucks just said, “It’s me,” with a wave. She recognized the voice as Toby Ziegler’s.
“Toby”
“Yeah.”
“What the hell are you—”
CJ slipped, doomed to fall into the pool like the clumsy protagonist of a romantic comedy, but Toby shot up his hands and intervened. CJ was frozen in time, suspended above the pool. She could move her eyes. She had them on Toby.
Toby grabbed her and moved her to safety, then he unfroze her.
“What’s it like, having a power that comes in handy?” she asked.
He unfroze the box, letting it drop in the water.
“I tried to call you at your office. They said you were fired. Were you stealing things?”
“Is it legal for them to tell you I was fired?”
“You want to sue?”
“I want the power to turn back time. I want a power with some use. I didn’t see this coming. Last thing I saw coming was a Jehovah’s Witness knocking on my door five minutes beforehand.”
“They have them in LA?”
CJ sighed.
Toby told CJ how Jed Bartlet was impressed with her work, which Toby revealed to be a lie when CJ asked if Jed Bartlet had ever heard of her. Toby told her that Leo McGarry wanted her.
It was getting late at the Bartlet ‘98 campaign headquarters, Leo orbed into his office with a coffee. He used his ability as a witch-whitelighter to orb from his office while the door was locked. It gave the staff the impression he was always there. A small enough of an act of personal gain to not evoke the wrath of the Powers that Be.
Leo went next door to Jed’s office.
“I just got a call from Toby. CJ Cregg is coming on as press secretary.”
“Is she good?”
“I think so.”
“What’s next?”
Josh Lyman’s new assistant, Donna, who had hired herself had been showing capabilities that made Josh quick to forgive her initial deception.
That was until she helped teleported him back to his hotel room from headquarters. She absorbed him in a warm, pink light. Josh, the descendent of a witch who survived the Hartford Witch Trials that predated the trials of Salem, was quick to call his father. Noah Lyman was fairly well-versed in the supernatural. Knew as much about magic as he did about the law. Him and Leo McGarry had been in a coven together when they were working at the same firm. Josh practiced magic as much as he practiced Judaism. He wasn’t one to say incantations.
“You’re asking me about magic?” asked Noah.
“I just want to make sure she isn’t a demon.”
“You look for any reason not to like a girl.”
“You sound like Mom.”
Josh could hear his father flipping through the pages of the family Book of Shadows.
“You should ask Leo,” said Noah.
“I don’t want to ask him.”
“I’m looking through the Book of Shadows. Can’t find anything, and I read the Book of Secrets enough to know that there’s nothing in there about a demon that travels by pink light.”
“Okay,” said Josh.
“Maybe she’s a succubus,” said Noah.
“I thought you’ve encountered succubi.”
“I was speaking metaphorically.”
Josh was heading to Donna’s hotel room to confront her when he encountered Sam Seaborn, a friend of his since working together on a mayoral campaign a decade prior. Sam did not know about Josh being a witch, and Josh wanted it that way.
“Where you heading?” asked Sam.
“Donna has some paperwork I need. I think.”
“I wanted to wait in the lobby for Toby. He’s bringing on CJ Cregg,” said Sam.
“I’m aware.” said Josh.
“I’m just looking forward to having a new person come on board, and I want Toby to like me. I figure if I can get CJ to like me, Toby will like me.”
“Sam, your pathological need to have everyone like you will be your undoing.”
They were near Donna’s room, Josh told Sam it was a private matter.”
“Oh,” said Sam, smiling.
“It’s just business.”
“Alright.” Sam whistled “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” with a bit of a dance in his step.
Josh said her name without knocking.
She answered the door.
“Hi, Josh.”
“I need to have a word with you.”
She let him in. He told her to close the door.
“You can’t be a demon. You’ve had every opportunity to kill me.”
“What?”Her eyes were fearful. A demon doesn’t show fear.
He evoked the Angel Michael in Hebrew to reveal her true form.
She remained unchanged.
“Are you alright, Josh/”
“Are you a whitelighter?”
“You’re scaring me.”
“Just be honest with me.”
“I’m being honest, you’re scaring me.”
“Tell me what you are?”
“I’m a cupid.”
“A cupid?”
“The Powers that Be sent me.”
“Why?”
“My guess is that they think you need some help in the romance department. It’s strange. We only interfere with a witch’s love life when they’ve cast a love spell, or we try to intervene at least. You’re popular with the ladies. They fawn over you, but you’re only form of flirting is banter and you don’t know how to make the first move.”
“Well, this is horrible timing to fix my love life. I don’t have time for one.”
“I’m here to help.”
“I hate being lied to, Donna.”
“I hate lying, but I never lied.”
“Except when you lied about being hired to work for me.”
“I still feel horrible about that. Lies go against love. Unless they’re to protect someone you love, but I don’t like it.”
“Aren’t cupids invisible?” asked Josh
“We can be invisible. But it’s hard being immortal and invisible. I’d like human interaction. I work better that way.”
“How many people have you, you know, cupid-ed?”
Donna admitted that he was her first, but she spent centuries shadowing many cupids who were only ever invisible and they seemed the worst for it.
“Cupids are loving creatures. It’s how we came to be. We are the spirits of people who died for love.”
Josh didn’t feel right asking specifics.
“I don’t have time for romance, Donna. I have to get Jed Bartlet elected president.”
“I know, Josh, but like I said, I’m here to help. We help you find work-life balance so you have time to find love and then we’ll find you someone to love.”
“This isn’t going to be good for anyone involved,” said Josh. He opened the door and slammed it shut behind him on the way out without using his hands.
Sam was in the lobby waiting for CJ and Toby, sitting on a couch that gave the impression it desperately needed to be cleaned.
Josh sat beside him. After enough silence, Josh said, “isn’t it weird that Bartlet smokes?”
“Lots of people do it.”
“It’s just weird that he does it because he’s a smart guy who knows all the dangers. His wife is a smart doctor. Yet he still smokes.
“Maybe it’s better to just keep on smoking because if he were to give up smoking then for the rest of his life he’d want to smoke or he’d spend it trying not to think about smoking.”
“I feel like we’re not really talking about Bartlet smoking.”
On the plane from California Cj read up on Jed Bartlet while Toby worked on a speech for the charity gala the following night. Sam said he would do it, but this was a backup in case Sam’s speech sucked.
“Are you still practicing,” asked CJ.
“I saved you from the pool, didn’t I?”
“Beyond just…” she made a gesture with her hands similar to what Toby did whenever he used his power.
“Does Leo McGarry know about me?”
“I can’t say.” Toby said in a whisper, “Witches originated the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.”
“I hope I am being brought on for my normal skills.”
He said in a whisper, “With all due respect, CJ. You’re a lot better at PR than you are at magic.”
She whispered back, “I grew up in a family that feared what we were. I’m the great-great-great-great granddaughter of a witch that got caught, whose daughter saw her die for what she was. Until me, everyone in my family rarely even talked about what we were. Mom did a little bit, but she kept it a secret from everybody but me.
“I started my family spellbook. There’s not much in it yet. I would like to be in a coven. Not just the two of us. It’s a lot of fun, but we really need to bring more people in.”
“I don’t know CJ. Quality over quantity.”
“We can have better quality if we increase our quantity.”
Jed was going over some material Leo gave him.
Abbey came in.
“Jed,” said Abbey.
He was engrossed in work.
With a swish of her finger, all of his paper’s flew.
“Dammit, Abbey!”
She kept her arms crossed ash use willed all of the paper’s to pile on top of one another like they were acting on their own will.
“It’s getting late, Jed.”
Jed said he was almost done.
“You’re done now.”
“I’ll only be a few more minutes.”
Abbey threateningly shook her hand, like she was warming it up.
“I oughta have Leo bind you.”
“I’d like to see him try.”
When CJ and Toby arrived Sam and Josh were asleep in the lobby
“The tan one is Sam Seaborn. The one with the dimples is Josh Lyman.”
“Is this the welcome committee?”
Toby whistled. Sam and Josh got up. In a dreamy haze Sam said h”Hello,” and introduced himself. Still sitting down, Josh shook CJ’s hand and tol her his name.”
“I assume you’re sleeping out here you’re done with the speech,” said Toby to Sam.
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
“You don’t seem stressed,” said Toby.
“I’m not.”
“Then that probably means it’s a good thing I wrote a speech of my own,” said Toby.
Sam laughed drily and said he knew Toby would write his own speech. It made him that
much better while writing, knowing that Toby would turn it into a competition.
“He’s your friend, right?” Toby asked Josh.
“He is.”
“That means you’re biased to judge which speech is better. CJ is biased in my favor.”
“Do you guys put your names on the speeches? We can always use Whit-out,” said CJ.
“Our styles are distinct. Transcending the need for bylines,” said Toby.
“Let’s have Donna decide,” said Sam.
Sam explained to CJ, “Donna is Josh’s assistant. She’s very nice, but I think she’ll be fair. Donna is also a better soundboard. She represents the voting public.”
Josh laughed to himself.
Donna admitted she wouldn’t be the best judge.
“You’re not a judge. You’re a normal American; the type of person we’re trying to appeal to,” said Sam.
Donna read the speeches aloud and ended up choosing the speech that Sam wrote. It had more passion.
Toby froze the room so the he could tell Sam about how he was a spoiled, Orange County WASP whose idealism would get the best of him. He then made fun of Sam’s mannerisms, and addressed small slights that annoyed him, like Sam’s habit of clicking his pens ad nauseum.
Toby’s power could freeze just about anybody, but for naturally born witches, like Josh and CJ, they would be aware they were frozen and the movement of time. They could move their eyes, and, if they’re powers were strong enough, they could break free from the spell.
“Hey,” said Josh.
Toby stared at him.
Josh put his hands up in a way to say “Well?”
“Homeschooled?” asked Toby.
“Summer programs. After school lessons.”
CJ could see them talking. She was too jealous to be surprised. “Unfreeze me!” she thought. “Let me join in!”
Toby, as if hearing her thoughts, unfroze her.
She said with a gasp to Josh, “You’re a witch? I’m a witch!”
Toby asked Josh if Leo knew.
“He’s a family friend,” said Josh.
The three couldn't help but think they weren’t hired for their skills as political operatives.
Josh yelled, “Leo!”
Leo orbed into the room.
CJ was quick to introduce herself adding, “I have the power of premonition, but I didn’t see this coming.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Leo.
“You have telepathy?”
“No. But I know you must be thinking that you are all here because of your powers. I want to make it very clear that I am not some magical headhunter. I don’t want to start a coven to get Jed Bartlet elected president. I hired Toby before I even knew about his powers. I only found out because he froze my ass and called me a little Irish bastard when he wasn’t getting his way.”
“How many times must I apologize?”
“The way you use your powers its amazing you aren’t getting back what you give out thirteen fold.
“Josh, you don’t practice anymore and I honestly think that’s for the best. CJ, you were hired because the Powers That Be told me to.”
“The Powers That Be? God?”
“Not God. The Powers That Be.”
“What’s the difference?” asked CJ.
“This will be a lot easier if you just keep in mind that The Powers That Be and God are two different things. God’s like the President of the Universe. The Powers That Be are like his staff.”
CJ put her hands over her heart. The Powers That Be, whatever they may be wanted her where she was.
Leo gave her a friendly smirk, “Welcome aboard, CJ. Sam is just Sam, so keep the magic to a minimum in front of him.”
Leo orbed out of the room.
“Unfreeze Donna first,” said Josh.
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
When Toby unfroze Donna, she said that just because she was immortal didn’t mean that her time wasn’t valuable.
Toby asked Josh, “What is she?”
“Wouldn’t you rather ask me that?” Donna said, smiling brightly.
“I’d rather have us unfreeze Sam and bring this night to an end,” said Josh.
Sam didn’t seem to notice that ten accounted for minutes had passed. He went back to his room tired but chipper over his victory.
“You can’t be a witch,” said CJ to Donna. “What are you?”
Josh gave her a pleading look.
“I’m a muse!”
“There’s not a whole lot of good a muse will do for a campaign,” said Toby.
“There’s creativity to politics,” said Josh.
“Why do you get a muse and I don’t?” said Toby.
“You don’t need one. You’re a brilliant man,” said Josh. He put his hand on Toby’s shoulder.
“Do not touch me.”
Josh removed his hand.
“I lost to Sam because of her.”
“It’s late, Toby,” said CJ.
“Show me your power and I’ll go,” said Toby.
Josh flung about his hands nearly like a music conductor to open the door, pick up Toby, and put him out like he was Dino in The Flintstones. Then he locked Toby out.
CJ, still present, had an expression of shock and awe.
“That’s something.”
Josh used his magic to open the door. Toby was gone.
“Scared him off,” said Donna.
“No. He’s probably just embarrassed,” said CJ. “I don’t know why Leo doesn’t think you should use it.”
“Leo has a similar power. He doesn’t want me on his turf,” said Josh.
“I can’t believe the Powers That Be have a plan for me,” said CJ.
Abbey had woken up from a deep sleep and was heading to get a glass of water when a vision came to her.
Pyres along the National Mall. The current republican frontrunner, Cal Caradoc was standing in the center on stage as Abbey, Toby Ziegler, Josh Lyman, CJ Cregg, her daughters, Liz, Ellie, and Zoey stood with hundreds of others in shackles while thousands watching cheered, “The only good witch is a dead witch!”
Donna appeared in Josh’s room.
“I was almost asleep,” said Josh.
“I didn’t like lying back there. Why’d you make me lie?”
“I didn’t—”
There was a knock at the door. Leo’s voice said, “Josh, are you awake? It’s important.”
“What is it, Leo?”
“Important.”
Josh told Donna they would talk later.
CJ and Toby were heading Josh and Leo’s way in the hall.
“I know,” said CJ.
“What?” asked Leo.
“That you have something to tell us.”
Leo looked around to make sure they were alone. He instructed everyone to put their hands on him, then he orbed them all to a parking lot where Abbey Bartlet was sitting on a car.
“Before you get excited, the only reason I know what you three are is because I had a vision where we were all about to be burned alive at the National Mall.”
“This is why the Powers That Be wanted me to hire you, CJ,” said Leo.
“To magic it away/”
Abbey asked if they had ever heard of the Power of Three. CJ asked if it was like the Threefold Law. Abbey said that the Power of Three was a prophecy told by her ancestor Melinda Warren; each generation of witches in the Warren line would grow in power until three witches would emerge.
“Those witches are my daughters,” said Abbey. “It’s powerful magic. They aren’t ready for it. The girls want to live normal lives. The Power of Three would make them a lightning rod for every devil in Hell, but it might be the only way we can stop Cal.”
“Stop Cal?” asked Toby.
Abbey said how Cal was likely possessed by a demon. He was on the stage as president in her vision. Most witch trials throughout history had been orchestrated by demons when they were too lazy or cowardly. They’d just have humans kill good witches for them. With enough good witches dead, it would be easier for demons to come to the mortal world and bring about a hell on Earth, since demons are imperialists at heart.
“You want us to train the girls?” asked CJ.
Abbey shook her head, “They want to live normal lives. Zoey is starting college. Liz has children. Ellie wants to be a regular doctor. Zoey has the power of premonition. Ellie, the power to immobilize people and things, and Liz has telekinesis.”
“I think I see where this is going,” said Josh warily.
“It’s our only chance. They willingly give you the Power of Three and we use it against Cal and all his evil cohorts.”
“More magic, more problems. We lay low and stop using our powers every ten seconds, we won’t have to worry about a witch hunt.”
“I think I’m on Josh’s side.”
CJ laughed.
“What?”
“What would you do if you weren’t able to turn people into statues whenever you wanted?”
Abbey said, “I’m fine with my daughters not wanting my life. But I like being a witch, and you do too, CJ.”
“The demons planted a seed in Hartford and Salem, but the men of those colonies nurtured the carnivorous plant. There wouldn’t have been any problems if only men could have magic. Dammit, how I wish the Power of Three wasn’t going to be a boy’s club, like everything else.”
Josh turned to Leo. “What about it being for the best that I don’t practice magic/”
“This is our best chance.”
“There’s a problem with that.” Josh snapped his fingers. A nearby tree burst into flames. He pointed at the tree. “That.”
Abbey put out the fire with a spell after Toby made it inanimate. The flames didn't’ lick up too much of the tree. CJ cast a spell to heal it.
Donna was still in Josh’s room. She was sitting on his bed.
“Josh, I have a good view of the parking lot from here. I saw a tree burst into flames.”
“Four people had to fix up my mess.”
“A mess you chose to cause. You didn’t have to snap.”
“I’ve spent years learning to control it. I used to be able to do it just by getting angry. The snapping thing is how I control it. But that’s not always enough. I once set a term paper on fire.”
“Have you ever thought about binding or stripping your powers?”
“I was bound for a while. It felt horrible. It’s called binding for a reason. As for stripping, we talked about it once, but—I’m worried that I’ll miss it. I’m worried about a lot actually. I’m worried about having to use my powers. I’m worried about the imminent Republican nominee being a demon.”
“I’m sorry. What was that last part?”
“Do you know about Joanie?”
Donna didn’t say anything.
“It was my fault. I was having a nightmare…”
“You were a little kid, Josh. Pyrokinesis is very rare.”
“She was my sister. Not a tree. There was no magic to undo it. My parents talked about stripping my powers but those powers have to go somewhere. They didn’t want them falling into the wrong hands, but I made it very clear that I am the wrong hands!”
There was a knock at the door.
“Josh,” said CJ.
He unlocked the door and opened it by magic.
“Have you ever done that in front of a normal mortal?”
“I’ve been around long enough to know there’s no such thing as normal mortals,” said Donna.
“They sent you to talk to me?” asked Josh.
“Leo was going to talk to you, but I told him I wanted to.”
“Why?”
“Because I just met you. I hardly know anything about you, and I’d like to change that.”
“Do you want to do it?”
“I’ve always wanted to be part of a coven, but things never panned out. I have to think if it’s fate, it won’t be so bad.”
“Have you ever fought a demon?” asked Josh.
“Can’t be any harder than what we do for a living.”
“It’s a little bit harder and very dangerous.”
“If we do nothing, a lot of people are going to die. You may not care about magic, but you gotta care about human lives.”
Josh said, “I care about magic.”
“Then prove it.”
Abbey, Leo, and Toby were still out in the parking lot.
“Are you sure you can’t talk to the girls/”
“They haven’t used their powers in years, Leo. Let’s not baptize witches by fire.”
CJ called out to them with Josh strutting behind.
“We’ll do it,” said Josh.
“Assuming you’re cool with it, Toby,” said CJ.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Let’s be the Power of Three,” said CJ.
“One thing about that,” Leo began.
Abbey broke in, “Your Power is the Power of Three, but the Powers That Be and all the witches familiar with the prophecy refer to you as The Charmed Ones. It was Melinda Warren’s last words: ‘They will be known as The Charmed Ones.’”
“I’m known for my charm,” said Josh.
“Sounds like an ‘80s new wave band,” said CJ.
“Can we talk to them about that?” asked Toby.
Leo asked that the name not get in the way of the objective. “Tomorrow is the charity gala. There will also be a full moon. The best time to do a power absorption ritual is on a full moon. Please wear something that will fit both events.”
Jed Bartlet woke up. It was almost four o’clock in the morning and Abbey was gone. He knew what that meant. He took out his rosary and started praying in Latin.