SPOILERS: Not really...and somewhere near end Season Two

DISCLAIMER: They're not, I wish they were.

FEEDBACK: Yes please :)

IT'S NOTHING

CJ walked through the park on her way to the office. She loved this time of day; 5.45am, her time; everyone and everything still at arm's length. She lifted her face to the slight breeze that bristled through the trees - fall was on its way. Too warm still for a heavy coat, but too chill for just a suit jacket. As she neared the gate her eyes were caught by the figures at the bench; often she'd sit there for a moment to gather her thoughts before entering the building, but today a young woman in her mid to late twenties maybe, who was arguing with a police officer, occupied the bench. As CJ walked nearer, the woman raised her head and looked at her.

"Ceej" she said quietly.

CJ stopped in astonishment, thrown by the use of the name. Coming over to the younger woman she looked down at her.

"God. Jilly", she whispered.

"Ms Cregg, you know this woman?" the officer said.

"Yeah" she replied, distractedly.

"I was about to move her on for begging." he said.

"Except he can't, as I'm merely sitting on a bench. I have neither begging card nor bowl, nor have I asked anyone for anything, so I've got him on a technicality. Also, he's confused by the fact that my hair has that freshly washed look which, with long hair, tends to only last a day. And I smell of soap. Bit too clean for a beggar, wouldn't you say? And I guess that's why I'm bugging him" the woman said.

"Ma'am, you're hardly clothed for a stroll in the park" the officer sniped, embarrassed by his predicament.

"Washington has fashion laws now?" she replied.

"She's waiting for me. I'll take her to my office" CJ said.

"Very well ma'am." the officer moved away a bit, but kept watching the two women.

CJ turned to look at the younger woman properly. She realised what the officer meant; the woman was wearing a threadbare man's cardigan over a camisole and a thin faded cotton floral skirt; her knees were drawn up under her chin so that the long skirt covered her feet. Sitting down on the bench next to her, she turned and faced the woman.

"Jill, what the hell is going on? What are you doing here? Does anyone know you're here?" CJ said anxiously.

She gave a half-smile. "Still the same old CJ...why ask one question when you can ask ten..."

"Still the same old Jilly. Evading all the questions with that smile and hoping no-one will notice" she replied. "Come on, let's go".

"I can't go till the officer takes his beady little eyes off us." Jilly said, somewhat abashed.

"What? Why the hell not?" CJ asked

In reply, Jilly gently drew the hem of her skirt back, displaying her bare feet, then let the skirt fall back to cover them.

"No kidding Jilly, the minute we get inside I want chapter and verse on what the hell is going on, and I mean it" CJ said angrily.

"Still the same old bossy CJ. Also, there is the other problem of why I can't go to your office.." Jilly said, looking at the older woman out of the corner of her eye.

CJ sighed. "Well that answers one of my questions I guess. No-one knows you're here."

"Actually, no-one cares that I'm here, I think you'll find, Ceej." she said, finally turning to look CJ straight in the eye for the first time.

CJ began to contradict her, but sighed and let it go. She looked over to where the officer had been standing; he was no longer there. She looked back at Jilly, checked her watch and took her cell phone out of her pocket. Punching in a number, she waited for the other end to pick up. "Hey, it's CJ. Is he in yet? Ok. No, I just wondered. I'll find him when I need him. Thanks." She snapped the phone shut, and turned to the younger woman.

"He's not in yet. Let's go." Standing, she held her hand out. When the girl made no move to take it, CJ leant down and picked up Jilly's hand, gently pulling her to her feet. "Let's go to the office before you freeze to death" she told Jilly and led her out of the park towards the White House.

CJ led Jilly in past security, a hand in the small of her back. She worried that Jilly would turn tail and run...except CJ didn't think she would have the strength to do that. Jilly looked considerably thinner than the last time they had seen one another. Steering her towards her office, Carol looked up from her desk.

"Morning Carol. You're you get us a couple of coffees, please? No, actually a coffee and a tea. White, no sugar. Send someone; I want you to guard the door." she smiled, knowing her assistant could be relied upon.

CJ gestured for Jilly to sit down, waving her to the couch. Dropping her briefcase and hanging up her jacket, she closed the door, then sat down next to Jilly.

"Can I wait for the tea before you start the Spanish Inquisition?" Jilly asked gently.

CJ smiled. She turned to look at Jilly properly. "How long has it been?" she asked.

"I'll take that as a 'no', then, shall I?" Jilly smiled. "I don't know," she shrugged "You tell me."

CJ thought about it. "The funeral? Was that it?"

"Yeah. The funeral." she whispered.

A knock on the door and Carol appeared with two cups, which she handed to CJ. " Toby's looking for you".

"He's in already? I'm not here."

"That's what I told him. I'm not sure he believed me…he saw the cups. Not here for everyone or..."

"Yeah."

"And especially-"

"You got it" cut in CJ.

"No problem" smiled Carol, shutting the door.

"I shouldn't have come...I didn't plan it...I just started walking..." Jilly was beginning to panic.

"But you're here now, and there's obviously something wrong, so drink your tea and talk to me." CJ said, handing her the cup.

Jilly put a thin blue-tinged hand out to take the cup, but was shaking so much that CJ took the cup back.

"Oh sweetheart. Take a sip." CJ held the cup to Jilly's lips and let her take a few sips.

"Sorry...I'm just cold...I've had the shakes for a bit." Jilly said quietly.

Putting the cups on the floor CJ made a long arm, grabbed the comforter from the chair opposite and shook it out. Draping it around Jilly's shoulders, she lifted the long hair back to move it free. She saw the large bruise on the nape of her neck, yellowing now, but vivid enough to see it's original size and impact. "God, Jilly, what happened? Who did this?"

Jilly didn't answer, but drew her hair from CJ's hand and let it fall back down.

"It's nothing."

"Remember when you fell off the veranda railing and broke your arm?" CJ asked

"Yeah... but I don't see..."

"You said that was nothing too." CJ reminded her.

She drew the comforter tighter round the girl, and held the cup for her to take another drink.

They sat in companionable silence as they drank their drinks; CJ taking quick big gulps of her coffee between gently making Jilly drink her tea. When they were done, CJ set the cups on her desk, turned to Jilly and said "OK. Time to answer some questions."

"It's all turned to dust...I don't know why I came... and I believe I've already answered the other question." Jilly smiled softly, lowering her head.

"I'm not kidding here, sweetheart. You turn up out of the blue after, what, almost 3 years; with just the clothes you're standing up in, no shoes, a massive bruise on your neck, blue with cold and looking like you haven't eaten in months. Talk to me."

Jilly's head hung down, her eyes tight shut. Suddenly she raised her head, and her eyes shot open as her skin took on a grey and clammy sheen. CJ grabbed the decorative china bowl off the bookshelf behind her just in time as Jilly vomited up the tea CJ had just fed her. CJ held her hair back and had a sudden rush of deja vue: Jilly's birthday. They'd had a party at CJ's and unaccustomed to much alcohol, Jilly got drunk quickly. CJ had taken Jilly outside to get some air and as they were leaving they reminded her not to let Jilly be sick; she had a phobia about being sick and she would panic. And just as they returned to the apartment, Jilly was indeed sick. CJ remembered the night so clearly now, although she hadn't thought of it in years; Jilly's panic coupled with her heaving body had made for a fairly traumatic few hours. Spasm after spasm had racked her body, even long after she'd stopped actually vomiting. CJ remembered the scared, wide-eyed chalk-white face that had looked up at her, pleading for help, searching for reassurance.

And it looked like they were in for a repeat performance. Jilly was retching painfully, bent over, clutching her stomach as if hoping to force it's contents out, but her stomach was long since empty. CJ put the bowl out of the way and tried to ease the heaving. The comforter had slipped off her shoulders, taking the cardigan with it and CJ saw for the first time how much weight Jilly had lost. She was absolutely skeletal. Skin and bone…nothing else. For a moment she was frozen with shock at the sight, then turned to the matter in hand. Gathering Jilly into her arms she began to try to calm her as she'd done all those nights ago.

"It's OK, J…I'm here, Ceej is here...Sshhhh baby". Holding her close, stroking her hair, she rocked the younger woman until the retching ceased and Jilly had released the grip on her stomach. CJ shifted on the couch till she was leaning back in the corner, Jilly still cradled in her arms. Now CJ could see the bruises and marks on her arms, not fresh, but not scars from childhood either; she knew those scars. She heard Jilly murmur something and lifted her head to hear her properly. "I'm sorry Ceej...sorry"…she drifted.

"It's ok, sweetheart. I just need you to answer two questions, then you should lie down. When did you last eat, and what was it?" CJ asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer.

"3 days. Some apple. Just apples. 7 months."

"Oh, baby…no wonder…Look, I've got Staff in 5 minutes then a briefing. I want you to try and get some sleep."

CJ got up from the couch and placed a couple of cushions at one end. Slipping the cardigan back on, she gently lifted Jilly's legs up onto the couch and laid her head down on the cushions. Covering her with the comforter, she crouched down by her head and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Close your eyes, Jilly. I'll be here when you wake. It's going to be OK, sweetheart, I promise."

CJ stroked Jilly's forehead until the soft touch had the desired affect and Jilly's eyes started to close.

"Ceej…."

"Ssshhh. Go to sleep Jillybean."

CJ waited until the breathing was deep and steady, then left the office, quietly closing the door behind her.

Carol looked up; "Am I still on-"

"Yeah. Please. And send Suzanne in for the briefing in your place, will you?"

"No problem. You need this for Staff and I'll have the Stats for the briefing when you're done. I'll give them to Suzanne. I'll sit in front of your door, if necessary." she said handing the papers over with a smile, knowing that CJ would explain everything when she needed to.

"You're a gem. She's sleeping, but if she wakes come get me straight away, will you?" CJ asked, heading to Leo's office.

"Sure thing, boss."