CUT TO: EXT. TIMES SQUARE - NIGHT

C.J. is teary-eyed. She walks amongst the people, the lights, the confusion. She bumps into someone, who just walks on.

Well, your faith was strong, but you needed proof

You saw her bathing on the roof

Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you

She tied you to a kitchen chair

She broke your throne, she cut your hair

And from your lips, she drew the hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah...

C.J. finds a bench to sit on. She gazes up and ahead, still crying.

It was a little chilly out tonight, but Danny figured the fresh air would do him good. He had a certain affection for New York in the evening. The bustle of the city was all about him. In the distance, sirens wailed, lights flashed, and Danny turned away. He continued to stroll in the direction of the square, thoughts swirling in his head. A figure in the distance caught his attention. He stopped and stared, heart pounding. Then he frowned. C.J. for sure. C.J. crying. C.J. barely noticing the crowds around her. His heart surged as she sank down onto a bench. It was only as he neared her, through the people thronging around them, that he realized she was sobbing.

Everything in him ached to pull her straight into his arms and kiss her tears away but he knew he'd scare her to death if he did that.

Danny: C.J?

C.J. looks up at him, confused. Recognition dawning, she sobs harder. Danny sighs, looks at her, sits down and wraps his arms around her, pulling her into his chest and soothing her. He rests his chin on top of her head while she sobs into his chest and shushes her.

Danny: C.J.? What happened?

C.J. continues to cry into his chest, apparently oblivious to the bustle of the city around them. After a few more minutes her sobs quieten a little.

C.J. Simon Donovan got shot.

Danny looks perplexed as he tried to recall the name. It comes to him suddenly.

Danny: The Agent?

Tears continues to roll down C.J.'s face as she sits up and looks at him. She nods, and fresh tears come faster. Danny is confused but can't bear to see her so upset. He rubs a tear away with the pad of his thumb, and C.J. looks briefly into his eyes.

C.J. I've got an agent. I've had an agent. I got death threats.

C.J. looks down, distraught. Danny looks around, and makes a snap decision.

Danny: Cee. It's freezing cold and you're wearing a ball gown. Come back to my room. My hotel's two blocks away. You're crying and cold. Let's get you warm.

C.J. considers this and then slowly nods. Danny wraps his arms around her shoulder and walks her back to his hotel.

Danny: What time is the performance done?

C.J. 10.30pm. The motorcade leaves at eleven.

Danny checks his watch. It reads 8.30pm. Some minutes later, they reach his hotel, and as they walk into the elevator he pulls out his phone and starts to compose a message. C.J. frowns through her tears. Danny sends the message

C.J. What are you doing?

The doors slide open on their floor, and Danny takes her hand in his and walks her towards his room.

C.J. Who are you texting?

Danny takes out his key fob, and opens the door to his room. He holds it open for her and then answers her.

Danny: I was texting Josh, so he knew where you were.

C.J. Oh.

Danny: Don't be pissed at me. They'll worry when they can't find you; especially given you've had secret service protection until two hours ago.

Tears start to dribble down C.J.'s cheeks again as she recalls Simon just hours earlier. The door slams behind them, and she flinches. Danny can't bear to see her cry like this and wraps his arms around her again, hushing her. They stand there in the dark, C.J. crying, Danny holding her protectively for minutes. The vibration of C.J.'s blackberry forces her to stir.

C.J. It's Toby, wondering where I am, no doubt.

She answers the phone, her voice a little shaky.

Toby: Hey.C.J.? Where are you?

C.J: It's okay Toby. I'm with Danny.

Toby: Danny Concannon? How'd you run into him? I was worried about you.

Another tear trickles down C.J.'s cheek.

C.J. It's okay Toby. I'll come back tonight.

Toby: you sure? I'll see you at eleven. Take care.

C.J. ends the call. Danny turns the lamp on, and removes his coat, gesturing that C.J. should sit down. She does, and Danny comes to sit next to her, hipflask in hand. He passes it to her and she takes a glug of the contents before wincing.

C.J: That's foul.

Danny: Yeah. Does it help?

C.J. nods.

Danny: You had death threats? My God, Cee. How long has this been going on?

C.J. It's not something you drop into an email. Besides, you've been in New York, all over.

Danny looks a little hurt.

Danny: How long, C.J.?

C.J. A while. I've had an agent assigned to me for a month now.

Danny: You're not being tailed now though?

C.J. They caught the guy tonight.

Danny: Is that when Simon….?

C.J. shakes her head, and tears well in her eyes. Danny instinctive cups her face in his hand, and catches her gaze.

C.J. He got caught up in an armed robbery. He just…went out. He kissed me goodbye and he went out.

Danny raises an eyebrow. He knows C.J. is a stickler for the rules. But his stomach lurches, knowing she's been kissing someone else. He shakes himself inwardly. This isn't about him. It's about her.

Danny: You were seeing him?

C.J. No. No. Not exactly… We….kissed. I don't know. I don't know.

C.J. leans forward and rests her forehead on Danny's shoulder wearily.

C.J. I don't know. I'm sorry.

Danny closes his eyes and resists the temptation to kiss the top of her head, however much he wants to. C.J. closes her eyes and breathes in the familiar scent of his cologne. This is confusing and reassuring all at once. Danny feels safe to her, and yet, less than two hours ago she was kissing someone else, kissing Simon Donovan on the street not five blocks away. But she's safe here, and right now this is what she needs. Comfort. Danny wraps his arms around her gently, and she relaxes into him. They sit together for some time, the occasional tear still rolling down C.J.'s cheek. After a while, C.J. pulls away a little.

C.J. What time is it?

Danny 9.15pm

C.J. Right. Pauses Danny, how did you come to find me? How did you even know I was in New York?

Danny (deadpan) Well, the motorcade was hard to miss, and so was the briefing you gave this morning. I knew you guys were in town.

C.J. Why didn't you come tonight?

Danny Because I'm working on other stuff C.J.

C.J. …

Danny C.J., I went out for some air and I saw you crying on a bench.

C.J. …

Danny looks at C.J., head cocked to one side.

Danny What kind of person would I be if I'd just walked past you? You're distraught. And we're friends. More than that even. You used to grab me and kiss me. How could I walk past?

C.J. starts to cry in earnest again.

Danny Ack, C.J.

C.J.'s head is whirling. Kissing Simon felt amazing. But he's dead, hours dead. And Danny's suddenly here and holding her close. Part of her wants to pull away. She's The Press Secretary. He's a reporter. They have history. People will talk. But a part of her just doesn't care. She needs someone tonight to hold her. And he's here. Even though he knows she was kissing someone else just hours ago. Which makes him a bigger man than she may possibly have realized before.