This chapter is set around episode 7.13ish. A few weeks after Internal Displacement but before the election.

When someone knocked on Danny's door at 11pm he had no idea who it was going to be. If he had known, he probably would have at least thrown a robe over the tatty, checked pyjamas he was wearing. He definitely hadn't expected it would be CJ Cregg stood on the other side of the door flanked by two special agents.

"Can I come in?"

Last time he'd seen her she'd been running out the restaurant to deal with, what he now knew was, a nuclear disaster. They'd spoken briefly on the phone since, but he'd agreed to keep his distance until after the inauguration, she needed to focus on these last few weeks of the Bartlet administration. She was the last person he expected to show up on his doorstep in the middle of the night but he was thrilled she had.

"Yeah, of course."

One of the agents stepped forward asking to look around the apartment first. He let him in and waited. As she looked him up and down he suddenly realised what he was wearing.

"Sorry I woke you. I—"

He cut her off, not wanting her to worry anymore than she clearly was. "It's fine, you didn't."

"It's late."

"It's fine."

The agent returned, thanked Danny and left the apartment, allowing CJ to come in.

"So what's the special occasion? I didn't know you made home visits." He closed the front door behind them and got out of her way. "You can hang your coat there, unless this a flying visit?"

She hesitated briefly but then took her coat off and hung it next to his on the rack.

"It's erm—" Honestly she didn't know what this was.

"Do you want a drink?" Danny asked as he wandered down the corridor into the kitchen. CJ followed him, stopping short in the doorway.

"I'm fine."

"Glass of wine?" he offered.

"No, thank you."

She looked awkward and unsure of where to put herself.

"Come. Sit down. Coffee?" He gestured through to the connecting lounge and she made one step forward but didn't go any further.

"It's late," she said, referring to the caffeine, but Danny wasn't entirely sure if she was actually still talking about her arrival. He opened the fridge, pulled out a cold bottle of beer for himself and placed it on the counter.

"Yeah, you're right. Beer? Water?" He left the fridge door open while he waited for her response.

She reached up to her neck and fiddled with her necklace. "I'm fine Danny, really."

Shutting the door, he started rummaging in the drawers looking for his bottle opener. "I'm gonna have a beer. Have you eaten?"

"No, I'm fine." She was still playing with her chain.

"I can fix you something. A sandwich? Soup?" He still couldn't find the bottle opener.

"I'm fine."

He continued, "Chips and salsa? I think I've got a pizza in the freezer if you're really hungry."

"Danny," she snapped. She was sharp with him. She didn't mean to be but his fussing was getting to her. He frowned at her more out of concern than upset but she panicked.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I came here, this is so stupid, I shouldn't be here." She paused momentarily, looked at his confused face and made a decision, "Yeah, I'm gonna go. I'm sorry."

"CJ!" he called after her as she turned and hurried back down the hallway, collecting her belongings as she went. "CJ, wait! You don't have to go."

"No, I do Danny. I don't know why I came here. This was stupid. I just didn't—" She didn't want to finish that sentence.

"You don't have to go. Talk to me. What's going on? I was worried about you today. You didn't seem yourself." Danny had texted her earlier, something seemed off in the few replies he had gotten.

"It's been a rough day."

"Wanna talk about?"

She shook her head sadly, "I can't, it's classified."

"Wanna talk about something else?"

"I have to be up early tomorrow." She continued to make excuses. He didn't want to push her but something was up and he didn't want her going home to an empty apartment if she was upset.

"You're here now. Why don't you stay a while?"

She took a minute to consider it. Danny honestly couldn't tell if she'd stay.

"Okay," she finally said. He smiled at her. "I mean I've already woken you up, I should stay a while right?"

Danny laughed, "You didn't wake me up. If you really want to know," he cringed as he told her, "there was an incident with a stick blender while I was making dinner and I've been in my pyjamas since 7:00."

"You own a stick blender?" She was incredulous and Danny immediately leapt to his own defence.

"Hey, I make a mean spicy bean soup, best in the district."

She was still laughing. "I just never had you down as the type of guy who makes soup."

He was glad to see her laugh even if it was at him. "I'm full of surprises. There loads left in refrigerator if you want some."

"I'm not hungry."

"Sure?" He knew he was on the edge of pushing too far so gave her a cheeky smile, "It's delicious."

"I'm sure. I'll have a beer though, if it's still going?"

"Of course."

He returned to the kitchen and she followed. She still looked awkward but at least she'd made it past the doorway this time. He opened the fridge and pulled out another beer. He lined it up on the counter next to his and returned to the drawer he'd been searching through earlier. "So how are you doing? Really?"

She sighed and fiddled with the pile of takeout menus on his counter. "I haven't slept."

He glanced up at her briefly before continuing to rummage. "Well that's not good." He looked puzzled, closed the drawer and set about searching through a pot of utensils on the counter next to her. She stepped back and let him look.

"No, it's not. I'm living off coffee. I think the caffeine's making me loopy," Danny, finally locating the bottle opener, let out a little cry of success and pulled the caps off the beers. "I feel like my heart's pounding out of my chest."

He handed her one of the bottles and took a swig from the other. "It's a good job you turned down my coffee then, maybe the beer will balance you out."

CJ looked down, her face crumpling for a brief second before she seemed to pull herself back.

"Yeah maybe." She was trying to match his jokey tone but it just seemed force.

Danny cocked his head to the side, "You okay?"

"Yeah," she said with a smile that never quite reached her eyes.

Danny wasn't convinced, "You sure?"

"Yeah." She clenched her jaw as she started to tear up. "I'm fine." She laughed sadly and wiped her eyes before any tears could escape. I'm-" she breathed deep, unable to talk and stay in control at the same time.

"Hey. Hey." Danny reached out towards her and she took a step back, shaking her head. "What's wrong? Come here." He pulled her into a bear hug and she weakly protested once again that she was fine, before pressing her face into his shoulder and clinging on to him. He held her while she cried; reassured her she'd be okay. Then as quickly as she'd started she stopped.

She pulled back and wiped away the last of the tears. Danny handed her a piece of kitchen roll which she gladly accepted. She cringed at the damp patch on his shirt.

"Sorry."

He didn't care, he just worried about her. "You okay?"

"I'm just overtired." She was trying to brush it off as nothing but Danny had never seen her like this. He knew what she was like when she was overtired, he'd seen it many times before.

"Sure?"

"I told you the coffee was making me loopy." To Danny's relief she laughed more genuinely this time. Her red eyes now the only sign of the last two minutes. It was impressive how quickly she'd composed herself.

"CJ, you know you can talk to me about anything right? Maybe not national secrets…"

"I'd have to kill you." she joked.

"Yeah I'd rather not die just yet. But anything else, I mean it. I'm a good listener if you just want to talk."

CJ knew he meant it. "Thank you. It's been a tough day. I'm tired."

"Of course. Do you want to stay here? You don't have to go home, if you don't want to." He got the impression that might have been why she'd come here. She didn't want to go home.

"Can we just watch TV or something?"

"Sure." She was staying for now.

They walked through to his lounge and settled down on the sofa. He pressed the power button and the TV blinked into life. It was on CNN. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah." They sat in silence, side by side, watching the news. None of it was news to them, but the silence was comfortable.

"Former White House Head of Communication, Toby Ziegler, was sentenced today—" Footage of Toby leaving court flashed across the screen. Danny glanced over at CJ to see her look away. He had wondered if this was what had been getting to her. He was sure there really was other stuff going on at work, things she couldn't talk about. Things that caused her to stay late and feel stressed, but he knew she'd take them in her stride. Toby however, he didn't know how she was coping with that, she never mentioned him. While the investigation and trial had been going on she'd be unable to talk about it but he felt she probably wouldn't have discussed it with him regardless because of that little part of her that never got past him being a reporter. But it wasn't just the leak, CJ never mentioned him at all.

They'd agreed no dates until after the inauguration but there had been the occasional text messages, always instigated by Danny of course. A quick hello, a line or two about something he thought would amuse her. Her replies always came hours, sometimes days later, starting with an apology but a reply nevertheless. If he caught her at the right moment they'd text back and forth. Sometimes conversations turned to the old days, life on the campaign trial, her first few months in the White House, fighting for respect among the press corp. Those conversations seemed to be more common as she approached the end of her time as Chief of Staff. Toby was never mentioned.

"Can we change channel?"

Danny picked up the remote and started flicking through, "What do you want?"

"I don't know just not—"

"Comedy?"

"Yeah." He settled on an episode of Malcolm in the Middle. He doubted she'd ever seen it before but it was lighthearted and that seemed to be what she needed now. He put the remote back down between them and gently stroked the side of her hand with the back of his finger. He half expected her hand to move away but instead she took his and held it. She carried on staring ahead at the TV, pretending to watch but he could see her thoughts were going a mile a minute.

"He—" She started abruptly, seeming out of nowhere, then sighed, unsure of what she wanted to say. Maybe she shouldn't be saying anything but with it all whirring around her head something needed to come out. "I want to kill him."

"Toby?"

"I could kill him." She was surprisingly calm with her statement, he knew she meant it. She wouldn't, not literally, but she could, she was angry enough.

"He'll rest easy knowing he's got the state keeping him safe from you for the next five years then." She glared at him and he quickly realised the joke was a step too far. "Sorry too soon." He didn't say anything else, just gave her the space to start talking again. She was still holding his hand. He took it as a good sign.

"The night he—I hadn't slept then either. I was hopped up on coffee and he came to see me right at the end of the day. I—I told him we should open the bottle of champagne he got me for my birthday because it might balance out the caffeine."

Danny suddenly realised her reaction earlier, "The beer."

"Yeah." He wondered if she was going to cry again.

"I think you need to switch to decaf." CJ laughed and shook her head at him. Trust Danny to keep the jokes going.

"I'd made a joke about it being a final toast before they led me out the White House in cuffs. I was the main focus of the investigation at that point. I'd spent all day waiting to be subpoenaed. He told me he'd gotten a lawyer and that's when I knew. He hadn't said but I knew and I just hoped I was wrong and then he said it and I was—" CJ let go of his hand, closed her eyes and rubbed at the bridge of her nose. The tenison was visible in her jaw. She pulled her hand away from her face quickly and her eyes opened. "I'm so mad at him." Her voice wavered between hot rage and exhaustion.

"I know," Danny whispered. He reached over and put his arm around her. She leaned into him and rested her head against his chest, her arm slung across his middle. He started to gently stroke up and down the arm. He hoped it was comforting.

"I just don't understand why." The fight that had been in her voice was now gone. He squeezed her bicep and struggled to think of the right words to say.

"He thought he was doing the right thing," he offered.

"He left us, Danny. He left me." And there it was, the thing that upset her the most about the whole Toby situation, the betrayal. One by one they'd left, first Sam, then Leo, then Josh. Toby, she thought, would be there with her until the end. He was the one who brought her in, he'd be the one who left with her. But he was gone. He'd gone against them, gone against the President, gone against the team, gone against her. It felt personal and that's what made it hurt so much.

Danny felt at a loss for the right thing to say. She was right, he'd leaked information and betrayed them but Danny could see why he'd done it. He'd been just as shocked as everyone else when the news hit, never in a million years would he have questioned Toby Ziegler's loyalty to President Bartlet, and yet he'd gone ahead and leaked classified information. He'd undermined Bartlet and forced his hand. He'd saved lives, but now Danny could also see the pain and destruction he'd left behind in doing so.

"CJ I don't know if it was right but I don't think he did it to hurt you. I guess he thought it was the only way to save them." He treaded carefully, still morally unsure himself, but not wanting to seem to side with Toby, especially not while she was clearly still angry and raw.

She shook her head slightly against his chest and didn't say any more so he just wrapped his arms round her tighter and let her think.

Minutes passed in silence, the two of them staring at the screen, while he waited to see if she'd say anything else. But she didn't speak, instead she let out a gentle laugh at the TV.

"What's this show called?"

"Malcolm in the Middle."

"It's funny," she stated. Apparently that was the end of the Toby conversation. The moment had passed.

"Yeah I like it," Danny agreed.

"Not long to go until I can start watching TV again. You'll have to tell me what's good."

"I'm sure I can come up with a few suggestions."

As the episode was starting to draw to a close CJ let out a big yawn. The hand she'd raised to her mouth dropped back down lazily onto his chest. "I'm tired," she said.

"Do you want to stay?" he asked in response. She looked up at him and nodded her head. "Do we need to tell the men in black you're staying?"

She pushed off him, sitting up fully and rubbed at her eyes. "Yeah. My driver will be waiting." She scrunched her eyes closed for a second then did a few big blinks, trying to wake herself up slightly. Danny reached over and brushed a piece of hair off her face. He got it on the first swipe but she followed him and brushed her hands across her face as well.

"I'll sort it. You go and use the bathroom. There's a new toothbrush in the cabinet, have a rummage, help yourself to anything you need. I'll go and talk to them and find you something to sleep in. Okay?" She rubbed at her eyes again and nodded.

Danny was still rifling through his chest of drawers when CJ walked into his bedroom. She'd taken off her shoes and jacket while she was in the bathroom and washed her face. She'd taken her contacts out and put on glasses she must have had in her bag. He hadn't seen her wearing them for a long time.

"How about this?" He held up a faded grey Fighting Irish t shirt. CJ laughed in spite of herself.

"I'm sure the President would approve," she smirked.

Danny grinned and went back to rummaging. "He's a man of great taste. Do you want shorts or sweatpants? I think these would fit but they might be a bit short." He held up a navy pair of sweatpants followed by a black pair of shorts.

"I'll wear the shorts." Both had drawstring waists but he was probably right about the length of the pants. She preferred her legs free while she slept anyway.

"Do you need anything else?" She shook her head, "In that case, I'll be on the couch, sleep well. Shout if you need anything." He stood up, pushing the drawer closed as he went and handed her the clothes.

She felt bad. "Danny you don't have to sleep on the couch."

"It's fine, it pulls out."

"But it's your bed."

"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch." He insisted. He was brought up better than that. She was a guest.

"I don't mind. I slept on the couch in my office the other day."

"Exactly why you're taking the bed."

"I'm not kicking you out of your own bed."

"And I'm not letting you sleep on my couch."

"Well then, it seems we have reached an impasse."

"Sure looks that way...I mean," she looked from the bed to him, "it's a big bed, we could always share."

He raised an eyebrow at her, "You sure?"

"Yeah." She turned to the bed as if to get in. "Which side do you sleep on?"

"The middle," he answered with a mischievous grin. She rolled her eyes.

"I regret saying you could stay here."

"Well then I'll be—" He made to leave and she slapped him playfully on the arm.

"Just pick a side idiot."

"Left."

"Okay. I'm just gonna go and get changed." She waved the clothes Danny had lent her in the air and padded off back to the bathroom.

Danny was already in bed when she returned. The main light was off and the room was just lit by the glow of the bedside lamp. Danny picked up his alarm clock as she climbed in next to him.

"What time do you need to be in tomorrow?" Technically it was already tomorrow but she knew what he meant.

"Six thirty," she said with a grimace.

"Ouch."

"Yeah, there's a lot—" she sighed, "I can't talk about it. I'm sorry."

It didn't bother him but he knew it was bothering her that she had to hold back so much. It was the personal stuff he wished she open up more about.

"That's fine. What time do you want the alarm?"

"I need to go home and get changed," she started thinking out loud, "or I could use the gym shower and wear whatever's at the office."

"You would get to sleep longer then. I mean you're welcome to shower here if you wanted."

She considered it briefly but quickly realised she didn't have a clean set of clothes.

"You don't fancy rocking up in my sweatpants?"

"With my ankles blowing about in the breeze?"

Danny pulled a face of mock horror, "I'm not that much shorter!" She let out a huff of amusement.

"Nah it's fine. I'll go straight in and shower there." She took her glasses off, setting them on the bedside table and shuffled down further into the bed until she was lying down. "I'm sure Margaret will complain but she'll just have to deal."

"She's got you on a short leash?" he asked. CJ had always gotten on well with her assistants but he always wondered how she got on with Margaret's quirks. She was definitely different from Carol.

"She's not so keen on my ability to forget I've worn my office clothes and not brought in a clean set."

"So are you really sure you want to be passing on the sweats?"

"Yeah, I brought in a clean set a few days ago"

Another yawn from CJ reminded him how tired she was and how soon she would have to get up. They were wasting time. "So, what time we going for then?" He jangled the alarm clock for emphasis.

"Oh right…" She turned on to her side and looked up at him sat next to her, "ermm... 5:30?"

Danny nodded and set about setting the clock. "I'm telling you now, I'll be going back to bed as soon as you leave."

"I don't blame you."

He set the clock down and reach further to the lamp."Light off?" he looked over his shoulder for her reply.

"Yeah." He flicked the switch and settled down next to her.

"I'm glad you came here," he whispered into the darkness.

"Me too," she whispered back.