Title: Out of Africa
Pairing: CJ/Danny
Author: Array
Email: array_
Rating: general
Disclaimer: They're not mine….but you know that
Feedback: why yes!
Author's Notes: Post Cannon
September 2008, California
He's waiting at LAX in the International Arrivals lounge but he's still angry. He hasn't spoken to her since she hung up on him a week ago, after telling him that her African itinerary was none of his business. Then out of the blue she emailed him yesterday to say she was coming home five days early because she wasn't feeling well and would he pick her up. He sent a one word answer; "Yes", so here he is. He can see the connecting flight from Addis Ababa has arrived so she should be coming through the doors any minute.
Amidst the hubbub of arrivals he barely hears them calling his name over the PA. When he goes to the airline counter the agent tells him she almost fainted at customs and they're arranging for a cart to bring her out with her luggage. So now he's frightened on top of the anger and when he sees her he's possessed by the conflicting urges to shake her senseless and wrap her in his arms. He stands motionless, watching as she thanks the driver. She's moving slowly and she's paler than anyone who's been in Africa for nearly three weeks should be. Her smile is a ghost of its former self.
"Everything hurts."
He kisses her forehead, "You feel hot."
"Yeah, I know. I tried so hard to appear well so I could make it onto the plane, but now I'm totally bagged. I don't know what it is, but I know what it's not. It's not Ebola, Dysentery or malaria. The guys at Médecins Sans Frontières gave me antibiotics, but said to come home." She leans on his arm. "Marcie made me an appointment with my doctor at 2pm. She's at the clinic today, but really, I just want to go home." She looks like she's lost about ten pounds.
"Oh no. I think the clinic is a good idea. When's the last time you ate?"
She shrugs. "I can't really keep anything down. It either comes back up or it goes right through."
"Are you okay while I go get the car?"
"Yeah. I just need to sit down."
He gets her outside, and she's shivering in the light breeze. He takes off his jacket and puts it around her. They find a bench, and she waits there miserably while he gets the car.