Title: Flashes of a Time to Come

By: Bartlegg

Pairing: CJ/Josh , maybe others later on

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: These characters are owned by NBC, WB, John Wells Production, and were created by Aaron Sorkin

Feedback: Gladly accepted

Chapter XI: The Epilogue

Claudia Jean Cregg passed through the metal detector that served as the electronic barrier between the west wing and the dangerous outside world. She half expected the machine to go off, to beep at her like an annoying puppy, but she walked through without a sound. That was not the only security measure however; in the two weeks it had taken to clear the smoke damage out of the West Wing to make it livable again, extra security measures had been implemented. CJ sighed as she walked through the third and final detector, this one designated for explosive material, and wondered if it was worth it to come back so late at night just to pick up some paperwork. Gliding through the empty walkways she realized that she might be the only staff member in the building save the security and cleaning crew.

CJ walked thoughtfully down the hallways, thinking about the past few weeks as she concentrated on each step. For some reason she walked with a slight limp now, mostly because her right leg pained her with the remaining shadows of her multiple injuries. She checked her watch, realizing that Annie and her family should be arriving home by now after a couple weeks of staying with the first family at their secret temporary residence. She said a silent prayer that things would work out all right for her Annie in the end.

Suddenly CJ noticed a ray of light emanating from an office down the hall. Josh's office. Ever so delicately she peeked her head inside.

Josh was sitting like a cardboard cut out at his desk.

"Hey Josh" CJ spoke softly, timidly. There was something strange about this chance encounter, like it had happened before.

Josh said nothing. He just sat, staring into her eyes with his own soul penetrating ovals.

CJ tried again. "Josh, is there something wrong? You look very upset…"

Josh simply nodded and reached under his desk, taking out a small already opened cardboard shipping box. As he dumped a pile of yellow crumbs onto his desk, he could only manage two words. "It came."

CJ stared at the pile of crumbs. Could it be? She thought, Oh no. It must be. "Josh, is that, is that the Bartlet Chip?"

Josh simply nodded sadly, lifting the crumbs of his broken fortune and scattering them back down as if they were golden coins. "It didn't do so well in shipping."

"I guess not…" CJ expressed sympathy, but her first instinct was to laugh. For Josh's sake she attempted to hold it in. "Did you complain?"

"Yeah. They said they would send me a free bag of chips."

CJ couldn't hold it in any longer. She cracked up. "You spend half a grand on a broken potato chip Josh! How do you feel?"

Josh stole the words out of his precious assistants mouth. "I want my money back."

"Yeah. So what were you going to do with the crumbs?" CJ inquired, suddenly realizing she hadn't fed Gail Jr. in quite a long time.

"I don't know. Probably nothing." Josh looked simply dejected.

"Follow me. Bring the crumbs." With that CJ led Josh out of the darkened office as the Deputy Chief of staff cradled his precious purchase in his hands. Eventually they were in CJ's slightly neater office, and the tired woman shut the door as she flicked on the lights.

"I forgot to buy more fish food, so if you wanted, we good feed it to Gail Jr…put it to some use…" CJ peered down at her poor hungry goldfish. Either she was playing tricks with herself or Gail Jr. looked decidedly skinnier.

Josh mashed the crumbs to near powder in his hands. Solemnly he handed some of it to CJ, and together they sprinkled it into Gail Jr.'s small water world. The goldfish skimmed the surface hungrily, searching for the small bits of greasy delight. CJ looked over at Josh. "Feel better?"

"Not at all."

"Yeah. I think my poor fish will probably get sick too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"How are your burns?"

How are your burns?"

"Fine."

"Yeah. Me too. Josh?"

"What?"

"Thanks again for saving my life."

"CJ?"

"What?"

"I was the one that pressed it, I set it off, I didn't know, but it…"

"Josh…"

"What?"

"I know."

"You know?"

"Yeah. I know."

Together the co-workers stood in reverent silence for what seemed to be several minutes. Through the events of the past few weeks, CJ had come to realize what she had always known deep in her heart. A tingling had turned to a warmth which had now, after her recent exchange of words, grown into that unmistakable sensation that is known to strike at the most inopportune and opportune times. In this moment, CJ realized that she loved Joshua Lyman, and the rest was history.

The End

I would like to thank everyone who read this story for reading it, and I would especially like to thank everyone who posted reviews. They were very helpful and encouraging, and were a constant source of inspiration.

In case this ended too early for you, just know that I am planning a sequel, tentatively titled "Two Trials". Perhaps you can guess things from there.

Here are responses to some of the latest reviews. Thank you!

Nexis44: Thank you so much for consistently reviewing this story! I'm glad I kept

It suspenseful. Oh, just in case you missed it, I tried to imply that the

Mystery guy on the plane was Sam. I prob. should of clarified that.

Nonnie: Same with you! Thank you so much. Oh, "next morning bomb's

Body count increased by one" implied that poor old Frankie died. (an

Indirect casualty of the bomb…) Any questions that were left unanswered

In this story, do not worry, I plan to address them in the sequel. Btw, its

Been a pleasure beta-ing your awesome story chapters.

Lexi Lyman: Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!

AEM1: Thank you for your compliments! My comedic to dramatic arc kind

Of happened by accident, but I think that in the next one its going to start

Dramatic and then transform back to comedic. Or that's the plan anyway.

Thanks!