1 TITLE: Square Dance: Chapter 2

AUTHOR: Kansas J. Miller

PAIRING: CJ/Simon

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: she was already opening her mouth to tell him everything that she thought she understood but never really would.

SPOILERS: None this time :)

***

"Jesus, I'm sorry…" Simon breathed out, his heart still racing though he noticed CJ's slight grimace and moaned cry. They were sweaty, mostly from the exertions of their lovemaking, though the muggy night and open windows added to the warmth.

"No," CJ immediately responded, sighing deeply as Simon pulled out of her body, his heavy weight still on top of her. "That was good."

"Too fast," Simon murmured with a smile, kissing the side of CJ's neck softly as he slid an arm under her back. Pulling her closer with a wider grin, he admitted, "I couldn't help it."

CJ chuckled, running her fingers lightly up and down Simon's smooth, muscled back. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Simon moved off of CJ, the light rustling of the sheets almost painfully loud in the quiet of the night. It was nearing two in the morning and though the next day would bring work, neither Simon nor CJ felt sleep closing in. Still lying on her back, breathing methodically as she felt her body coming down from its high, CJ reached out to Simon. He'd rolled onto his side and was now propping his head up with an arm; just to catch his eyes was enough to make CJ's heart skip a beat.

"What?" she asked, tracing his jawbone lightly with her index finger. He was gorgeous, she thought, wondering what he saw when he looked at her. Simon shook his head, the thoughts almost unexplainable to even CJ. She moved her hand away from his chin to ruffle his hair, and even though the room was dark, the moonlight played reflectively over Simon's face. "Simon, what's bothering you?" CJ asked again, more articulate as she saw his eyes flinch away.

"Oh, nothing…" Simon said, casually propping himself up against the pillows. "Nothing," he repeated again after a minute, looking quickly over at CJ, into her intuitive eyes. Simon immediately knew that it was a lost cause; she was already opening her mouth to tell him everything that she thought she understood but never really would.

"Listen, Simon," CJ began, her voice far too clear for the late summer night. As she pulled the sheet over her naked breasts, Simon felt his mind wandering and wondering why her voice didn't sound hoarse or even soft. He'd just made love to her; she shouldn't be so talkative, she shouldn't be… but her crystal, television voice continued it's invasion.

"I know that Kelly called you last night. I heard the message, and I'm sure that's what's on your mind. If you want to have a drink with her, go for it, but I can't deal with you acting as if…"

"CJ," Simon cut her off, hearing the rambling quality that her voice was taking on. "It's fine, just drop it."

Struck by his short tone, CJ immediately fell silent. Turning his head away from her, Simon breathed out sharply, annoyed at himself. He had no desire to talk about Kelly, but it was an undeniable fact that his ex- girlfriend had called him, had asked him to go for a drink. Sure, there were work issues to make Kelly's request plausible—she'd been on assignment in California and was now being reassigned to the President's security detail for the post-convention. But was seeing Kelly a good idea? Simon didn't know. He was happy not having her in his life: he'd loved Kelly—their relationship had been long and serous—but she'd hurt him. She probably didn't know that Simon was engaged to CJ; she probably wanted to start their relationship over again. Just the thought of Kelly set Simon off; it was terribly bothersome that she could make Simon snap so at CJ.

Simon turned his head back to CJ and slowly moved closer to her until his arm was wrapped around her. She looked down at the white sheet, tangled and damp in her lap and fought giving in to Simon's touch. Eventually leaning against his chest, CJ allowed him to kiss her temple, to say what he wanted to say.

"I didn't mean to be…Hey, CJ, there's nothing for you to worry about. She doesn't mean anything to me. Not like you do."

CJ tucked her head under Simon's chin and played with his hand, resting on her shoulder. "I DO NOT feel threatened by this person," she vehemently insisted, sure that just for the moment she could tuck away the truth, "but if she doesn't mean anything to you, why are you so nervous about seeing her? Why didn't you tell me? It's all so…"

Simon twisted his head so he could see CJ's eyes. "I am not nervous," he said firmly, sure that he too could hide what was real. "And I didn't tell you because I didn't want to make it a thing."

Leaning into his lips, CJ kissed Simon softly before letting it go. "Fine, Tough Stuff, but you seem nervous to me. I hope I never freak you out this much."

With a grin, letting him know that she wanted to be kidding, CJ slid out of bed and gracefully exited the situation. Heading for the bathroom, CJ could almost picture Simon's baffled expression.

She sat on the closed toilet, pulled her knees to her chest and pondered what Simon was feeling. CJ was pretty sure that he didn't want to be with anyone else, but it was unnerving to see a man of his emotional stature so uncoiled. In the day since Kelly had left her message, every time the phone rang Simon had flinched at the thought of a second call; he'd been quieter and even more attentive than usual to CJ. The incredible sex they'd just had was testament to the silent claim, the silent reassurance.

Only, Simon wasn't reassuring CJ; he was reassuring HIMSELF that CJ—not Kelly—was in his life now. Biting her lip, CJ hated that and she hated the fact that she'd be jealous every time this woman was mentioned. She and Simon were adults, about to commit their lives to one another. CJ knew she shouldn't be in the bathroom alone, and with a sharp sigh, she felt that Simon knew it, too.

***

Monday morning was more hectic than usual and when CJ awoke, Simon was not keeping the bed warm beside her. Already dressed in a suit and on his cell phone when CJ's alarm shocked her at 5:30, Simon was now pacing rapidly in the kitchen. CJ was exhausted, sleep-deprived, and more than a little bit sore from the night before. Attempting to fix her hair, Simon's feet on the linoleum only distracted CJ from the task; he was making toast and coffee, talking to Ron Butterfield and surely trying to read the paper all at once.

Just hours before, when CJ had slid into bed on her stomach, Simon had covered her body with his own and whispered to her ear. He loved her very much. They could talk about anything and everything CJ wanted. Tomorrow, he promised, we'll talk in the morning. CJ had drifted into a hazy sleep feeling almost satisfied, feeling like maybe Simon really would tell her about the danger that Kelly brought.

But he was frenetic this morning; Simon was already buzzing with whatever pressing matters had arisen for the Secret Service. CJ, too, did not feel like talking this morning. What's more, she wasn't totally convinced that she even needed to hear about Kelly. As long as Simon knew what he wanted, so did CJ.

"Shit," CJ moaned with a smile, stumbling over her heels as she found the kitchen. "You did me in last night."

Pushing a coffee mug towards her, Simon hung up his cell phone and replaced it in his breast pocket. "Glad to hear it," he smiled, leaning over the smooth surface of the island counter to capture CJ's lips. Quickly the kiss was over as the ring of Simon's phone began again.

Rolling her eyes good-naturedly, CJ sipped the coffee and pulled her briefcase up from the floor. Papers, she thought with a sigh, so many papers… Catching the content of Simon's call, CJ looked up suddenly.

"Yeah, Kelly, we really should get together," he said, winking at CJ in a manner that was not totally reassuring. "Tonight sounds fine. I'm going to bring someone with me, though…Yes, there's someone I want you to meet." *