This story 'Present timeline' happens around the middle of a, slightly off-canon, season two.

The italicized texts are flashbacks from season one and two.

PRESENT TIME

C.J. walked into her office, her nose buried into that morning's Post. She put down her purse and coat and turned around to see Carol looking at her with a strange look.

"Good morning, Carol," she said cheerfully.

"Morning," Carol answered, looked at her — concern etched on her face.

Something's not right, C.J. thought, as her cheery mood subdued.

"Carol?" She looked at her assistant.

"I, uh, Toby's looking for you," she answered looking at her.

"C.J., have you seen.." Carol began but was interrupted by an irate Toby who was charging into her office.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, C.J.!" He yelled at her.

C.J. looked from Toby to the concerned look on Carol not understanding what was going on.

"C.J." Carol began again but Toby cut her off.

"OUT!" He said loudly, pointing to the door.

Carol looked at C.J. again, clearly trying to tell her something with her eyes. She stalled and looked purposefully at the crumpled up newspaper in Toby's hand.

Toby turned away from C.J. to glare at Carol, who backed out of the office, closing the door quietly.

C.J. moved behind her desk and stood facing Toby. As he turned away from the door to look at her again she saw the anger bubbling on his face. She had never seen him like this before.

"Toby, what.." She began but he cut her off as well.

"What were you thinking?" He repeated staring at her.

"I don't know what you're talking about.." She tried but he interrupted again.

"You're sleeping with him!" He bellowed at her, his chest heaving and his face contorted with anger.

Before C.J. could mutter anything he threw the newspaper he was holding on her desk. He found the opening he was looking for and pushed it towards her. C.J. stared at the page-six headline "Scandal at the White House". Below the headline was a grainy newsprint photo of her and Danny standing close together in front of her car, her hand touching his jacket and Danny's hand held her waist. The angle of the picture made it somehow seem much cruder like they were indecent. C.J. grabbed the page and looked horrified at the pictures below, of her leaving the morning after, of Danny standing in his underwear kissing her in the doorway, of her walking away looking guilty. This wasn't happening! This can't be happening, she thought over and over.

"How could you do this?" Toby said incredulously. "How could you be so stupid?"

At that, she looked at him. He looked angry but also hurt.

"Toby, I.." But she couldn't finish. What could she possibly say?

"C.J., how could you?" Toby's voice was very quiet but trembling. The intensity of his stare made C.J. feel small, weak. She knew he was taking this very personally.

A small knock on the door made them both look away. Carol entered and said quietly, "C.J., Leo wants to see you. Right now." Carol looked at C.J. who took a deep breath and tried to find some sense of balance.

"Thank you, Carol," she said, avoiding Toby's gaze. She walked out of the office, Toby following. They walked in silence towards Leo's office and C.J. felt like she was walking to the gallows. They neared Margaret's desk and she looked at them solemnly.

"You can go in." She said seriously.

-WW-

C.J. stirred. The sun was shining through the curtains and birds were chirping outside the window. She slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she made out was an unfamiliar dresser. For a few moments, she stared at it. Then she became aware of the arm around her naked waist. Slowly she stretched her arm to turn the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was very early. She ought to be panicking. Or at least berating herself for this colossal mistake. But she couldn't. It felt too nice to not wake up alone. She pulled the comforter over them and sighed. She knew this was the calm before the storm.

As she closed her eyes again she felt Danny stir behind her. The arm around her waist pulled her tighter and he kissed her shoulder. The small gesture stirred something inside her. Damn it, she thought. This was going to be complicated.

-WW-

C.J. entered the office and Leo was standing in front of his desk, awaiting them.

Toby closed the door quietly and stood in the back of the office. C.J. looked at Leo.

"Explain yourself," he said simply.

C.J. looked at the floor and said softly, "I made a mistake."

She heard Toby scoff behind her. Leo ignored him.

"How long has this been going on?" Leo said, his voice filled with quiet outrage.

"Not long," C.J. said and her voice was like a child's. "A while," she added guiltily when she saw the look on Leo's face.

"When did this start?" Toby said menacingly.

C.J. looked at him and for the first time ever, she was frightened by him. He took a step nearer her and looked uncharacteristically furious.

When she didn't answer he took another step closer to her.

"When," he said his voice raising, "did you start fucking Danny, FUCKING, Connanon?" He yelled at her, emphasising Danny's name with contempt.

This was so unlike the quiet, dry-witted Toby C.J. knew that she was completely speechless.

"Toby!" Leo said warning him.

"C.J," Toby said as he took another step towards her.

"Out Toby, right now!" Leo commanded, taking a step forward.

Toby stared at Leo then turned around and walked out of the office.

C.J. shook as Toby slammed the door shut. Leo looked at her sympathetically.

"You know how this looks, don't you?" Leo asked looking at her.

"Yes," C.J. said very quietly. Her mind was racing. How could she ever go back to the press room? She would be ridiculed.

'How could you be so stupid?' Toby's question reverberated in her mind.

-WW-

"Four other press secretaries and you never took a free lead, if they... ?"

"Nah, I always took a free lead,"

"Then.."

"Not from you."

What was she doing? This was such a monumentally bad idea. C.J. drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. She knew she ought to turn the car around and drive straight home. Or better yet, just go back to the office. It would soon be time to go back anyway. She could take a nap on her couch and then go to the gym early. She could probably run this feeling away. Wouldn't be the first time. As she was about to turn the key in the ignition a small tap on her window made her jump so violently she punch the steering wheel and the car horn bellowed loudly. She turned to look out the driver side window where a familiar figure stood chuckling.

"What are you doing C.J.?" He asked in a teasing, but kind matter.

Oh holy hell, she thought. Seeing him made it worse. She felt her resolve disappear and in an almost trans-like state she opened the car door and exited the car.

"How you doing?" Danny said cheerfully as if he did not find it odd in the slightest that she was parked outside his apartment building at well past one in the morning. He looked at her curiously and C.J. realised she still hadn't said anything.

"Hi," she said softly as she moved slowly towards him, seemingly involuntary.

Danny's whole exterior changed as she closed in on him. His breath caught while he looked at her heavy-lidded eyes staring deep into his own. He moved closer to her and felt a tug below his waist as she looked at his lips and let out a small gasp. C.J. moved even closer so now they stood nose to nose. Danny could almost taste her. She touched his jacket lapel and straightened it unnecessarily.

"Hi," Danny whispered and turned his head minutely. He really wanted to kiss her but he wanted her to make the first move, although he had to use all the willpower he could muster to not simply grab her, push against the car and have his way with her. For a week he'd been walking around in a constant state of semi-arousal as she kept kissing him and leaving him. The briefings had been especially interesting. He'd been feeling almost faint with the constant change of stream with his blood flow… But now she was here. And looking at him with a dangerous look. God almighty. She slowly closed the gap between them and kissed him so softly that he didn't realise if it had really happened or if he had imagined it. His heart beat loudly in his ears. She kissed him again. This time the kiss deepened quickly and Danny grabbed the back of her head and pulled her closer. She moaned into his mouth and put one hand on his chest. Her other hand moved downwards and found his hand and their fingers interlinked. The kiss seemed to be suspended between time and space. But then a car door opened and they let go of each other like they'd been forced apart. They were still holding hands as Danny lead her to his apartment. Neither spoke. C.J. thoughts were spinning and every sound in the quiet street seemed to be amplified. Danny let go of her hand as he opened the door. He looked into her eyes as he stood in the doorway to his home. C.J. looked at him and felt giddy, nervous and terrified. They were moving into uncharted waters now. Just as she began convincing herself that she should return to her car he grabbed her hand again and pulled her towards him. She responded immediately and pushed him to the door as she kissed him. He held her waist and began taking her jacket off. They stumbled into the apartment and Danny closed the front door clumsily. C.J. laughed as he turned quickly towards her again. How Danny loved that laugh. He held her close and began kissing her neck. C.J. laugh turned into delicious moans. She started unbuttoning his shirt and then pulled his face up so she could kiss him again. Danny's hand ghosted over her breast and then grabbed her hip as he pushed his pelvis into hers. C.J. gasped and whispered softly "bedroom," in his ear. Danny couldn't help grinning as he took her hand and walked her to his bedroom. As soon as they entered the room C.J. finished unbuttoning his shirt. Danny observed her face and felt his heart swell. Quietly he had been falling in love with this woman that now stood in front of him, slowly undressing him. This was really happening. But as soon as he let himself think he began feeling doubt's cold hands slowly grab his senses. They shouldn't be doing this, or rather, he shouldn't be doing this. C.J. was obviously not feeling right. Something must be wrong. He really ought to stop her, he thought. But then she had removed his shirt and she smiled and kissed him. As her lips touched his, his weak protest died away. All he could think now was that she was far too dressed. Danny pushed down her pants and tugged her shirt over her head and kissed her newly exposed clavicle. Then he slowly kissed down her chest. He walked her backwards to the bed while C.J. removed her bra. Danny groaned as he looked at her perfect breasts. C.J. sat on the bed gloriously naked and pulled him on top of her. He kicked off his pants tried to climb as gracefully as possible on the bed. He hovered over her and gazed into her eyes.

She gasped as he entered her and held him tightly. He was so passionate and they simply seemed to fit. Danny kissed her neck and C.J. put her long legs around his waist. Feelings that she'd been suppressing for a while bubbled at the surface and her heart hammered in her chest. She held his face and looked into his eyes. They looked into each other's eyes as they moved and then C.J. kissed him desperately. Danny held her even tighter and increased the speed. C.J. closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation and also to protect her vulnerable heart. Looking him in the eye made this real in whole other way.

-WW-

"C.J.?" Leo asked

"Yeah," she answered lamely

"You're going to have to make a statement," he said.

C.J. nodded, feeling sick.

"Does the president know already?" she asked, not looking at him.

"I'm not sure," Leo said. "We haven't had time to talk." He sighed and looked at her. At that moment Charlie opened the door leading to the Oval office. He looked at Leo and then at C.J.

"Leo, the president needs you," Charlie said avoiding C.J.'s gaze.

"Yeah, I'm coming" Leo answered. Charlie closed the door.

Leo sighed, "wait in your office, and don't talk to anyone. Do you understand me?" Leo said looking seriously at her.

She nodded in response.

"C.J. I mean anyone," he repeated, emphasising the word.

"Yes," she replied and got up.