Series: New York City Cares

Disclaimers: The characters of the West Wing are not my property, I am not trying to make any money, just merely have a little fun. However, the character, "Ferdinand Miles" is mine.

A/N: This entire series takes place in an A.U., in which Simon Donovan did not die. This is my second attempt at Fan Fiction, It's a long one, but I hope if anyone starts reading it, you'll be able to follow it right on to the end. If you do read, please leave a little review, no matter what you think! It's all good. Thanks, peace, Zeki.

Chapter I: Miles

The play seemed to take forever to come to it's closing number. The darkened room had tempted a few with sleep, but tensions in the Presidential seating area held their eyes fixed to the movements on stage. Two greying men held heavy burdens; they whispered urgently in the shadowy arches away from the bright lights and the rousing song below. Urgency seemed to be rife. CJ Cregg wanted nothing more than for the play to end; the butterflies in her stomach were unbearable.

Yellow and white neon light played off the silver hair of a man pacing the side-walk. The Milky Way hadn't settled him the way he'd hoped; the quick arrests he made had unsettled him further, his heart still beat hard in his chest. His hands clenched into fists, his head was buzzing with what ifs.

"So this is New York's latest hero then?" A cynical, yet familiar voice startled Simon; Detective Ferdinand Miles of the NYPD stood not a few feet away. A smile broke across the detective's face and he offered his friend an open hand of congratulations. Simon took his hand heartily and smiled a smile as if between brothers.

Ferdinand Miles wore a face brimming of character; his teeth shone pearly white, while laughter lines drew you into his warm, black eyes. He was about six inches shorter than the Secret Service agent, yet blessed with good looks that rivalled his handsome friend. It was fair to say he looked younger for their age; his hair was still jet black and he looked more at ease – he didn't carry the heavy burdens Simon Donovan did. Indeed, despite the many hours spent studying suspects' profiles, Special Agent Sunshine thought you'd never have guessed Miles had turned fifty the January of the year before. The stocky, solid frame of his body filled a sharp, stylish grey Italian suit, a sweeping black trench coat hung perfectly on his shoulders; just from the way he held himself and the sparkle in his eye, it was unsurprising to learn that he was respected and liked by the people of New York City.

The men stood there, studying one another, it had been almost a year – they had celebrated their fiftieths together just under a year ago in New York style; Ferdinand and his family had adopted Simon as Uncle and brother a many years ago.

"We got my guy by the way." Simon casually dropped in.

"Yeah, you folk from Treasury causing trouble in my neighbourhood as usual. I can't wait for your boys to take him home with you, Donovan – you know how busy I've been here."

"So I've heard, but you know body guarding isn't as cushy as you always make it out to be. Especially not this one."

"She been givin' y'all grief?"

"You could call it that." Simon actually managed to suppress his smile under the expressionless duty mask, but there are some things friends always see through. The detective stopped and thought for a second, studying his friend's face, he thought he'd play a little.

"Since you're done, you wanna get a beer?" There was a half knowing smile on his face. Simon paused, trying to think of a way to explain that he was hopefully about to meet an ex-protectee for a date; knowing full well that Miles was no fool.

"Uh, I've got to debrief."

"Debrief huh? That can' wait?" Simon was stuck for words. "You goin' to woo her tonight ain't ya?"

"Miles!"

"Hey, I know you, and I ain't seen tha' look on you face for near twenty years"– Simon cut him off, his steel blue eyes burned cold.

"That was not my Aimee face, Miles."

"Hey, easy big guy – I didn't say that!"

"You said enough. CJ is nothing like her!"

"I hope no woman you meet is like her Simon! Why don't you just let it go?"

"Because!" There was a silence; Ferdinand's warm eyes resisted the deep freeze of his friend's. The men stood in a moment of potential; energy swelled up around Simon's heart and threatened to erupt. Miles knew what was best when his friend got like this. So, trying to hold in a deep laugh, he breathed out his words in a half whisper.

"So… y'all taken her for a date a'ready?" Simon's fury was let loose:

"Of course not damn you! She's a protectee!"

"Sure, sure." Miles chuckled – he loved goading Simon. "But your work's done here, ain't it?" The shorter man poked his friend's chest, Simon swatted his hand away, still trying to be something resembling angry.

"You wan-na date her, you wan-na kiss her, you wan-na lurve her!" the little man teased. The pair broke into laughter and the conversation degenerated into a girly play fight. The theatre's side door opened.

Simon Donovan froze with his best friend in a headlock at the sight of a woman. Her beauty hit him hard: he felt like that Milky Way might just make a swift evacuation of his tensed stomach. She cocked her head slightly to the right as her amusement broke a smile over her face that took his breath away.

"Hi." Despite nerves, her voice was confident. Simon was silent for a few seconds. Miles shrugged off Simon's weakened arms, smoothed his suit over with the flick of a tanned hand and jumped in to save his flailing buddy.

"Detective Ferdinand Miles, y'all must be Ms Cregg?" He dipped his head and held out his hand.

"Yes, yes I am." She held out a hand, which he took and kissed lightly. Slightly bemused by the scene in front of her, CJ blushed at the way Simon rocked on his heels, his steel blue eyes boring holes in his friend's head. Miles grinned wildly at Simon.

"So you letting this ruffian take you out some place nice then, ma'am?" CJ blushed. For the first time in a while, she was momentarily lost for words.

"You know, I…" She breathed a deep breath: "Yes, I am." She avoided Simon's eyes, but she caught the smile that exploded uncontrollably across his face.

"Well then." The detective's black eyes danced with fire as he whipped out a business card and started scribbling on the reverse. "Then I shall provide you with the finest of venues." He finished and handed the card to Simon. With sincerity that was perhaps surprising for the conversation, Miles spoke quietly to Simon as he placed the card in his hand. "Brother, ask for Francis and hand the card only to him." The men stood locked in a gaze, only for a matter of seconds, but CJ was astounded at the bond between them. She almost felt jealous of Ferdinand, and then she immediately scolded herself with the stupidity of the thought.

"Ms Cregg, it was an honour meeting you." He again held his hand out to her. "Take care of him. Really do – I know him like a brother – and he's no where near as tough as he looks." Simon studied the floor, and his face flushed a deep crimson: how would CJ take that, it was their first date and there was not a sniff of humour in his friend's remark. He felt like the world might just end before their lives had had a chance to begin.

Content that he'd caused a sufficient impact on their night, Ferdinand Miles let his pointed Italian boots lead him away from the bombshell of teenage awkwardness with a flash of teeth and swish of his coat.

They stood on the side-walk in silence. Simon was dumbfounded at the words of his friend. He was reminded every time he met with Ferdinand, how he could be read like an open book in super sized print. Was the fact that he wanted CJ Cregg so completely totally obvious to the world? Did she know it? Moreover, would she want that? Suddenly words erupted from his mouth:

"We've known each other a long time, and he says crazy things to, uh – ladies I'm trying to date, you should – uh, ignore him – I think." How did that come out so bad? 'Ladies I'm trying to date': how? CJ smiled, raising her eyebrows.

"So now you're trying to date me, Agent Donovan?" She seemed to find goading Simon just as much fun as his friend did, and as for flipping seriousness on its ass with humour: that was her speciality. Simon didn't think he could blush any deeper, but his face seemed to feel hotter. How was this happening to him? Where did the cool service smile go? All he wanted was a drink with her; it was really that simple, surely? No – of course not, that's why she's different, that's why you like her, idiot. She's different.

"Yes." He growled, his tone betraying the concoction of feelings inside him. He held his hands out to her, he laid himself open to her: "Yes, I really am." She smiled; her knees went weak as she placed her soft hands in his great warm paws.

"Where are you taking me then?"

"The Blue Lagoon."

They set off, walking slowly arm in arm down the street; their silence was anticipation. Their silence was plain disbelief that this was finally happening to them.

TBC-