An Open Heart
Note: This is absolutely Alternate Universe but plays off of some items in canon and things I think seem very possible and plausible.
The next entry in my A/U series that already includes:
"One Flu Over The White House"
"The Politics Of Poetry"
"The Consequences Of Poetry"
"Summit Time And The Lovin' Is Easy"
"The Scoop"
"Stepping Up"
An Open Heart 1/6
Maybe if he concentrated on something else, it wouldn't be so excruciating. Danny Concannon searched for a diversion to focus on. C.J. Cregg's gentle breathing caught his attention.
She slept on her side within easy reach. He stayed on his back but reached out a gentle hand to touch her silken skin. She sighed, and stirred a bit to inch closer to Danny. She returned to that same relaxing pace of breathing without waking.
He conceded C.J. had been correct, he shouldn't have finished the popcorn because it was too salty. But it was the only regret of the evening. The theme of their night out had been to achieve that relaxed state C.J. now enjoyed.
C.J. and Danny had kicked back from their high-pressure Beltway jobs. They planned to devote the whole weekend to the glorious and rare concept of free time.
It was theirs for the taking because President Jed Bartlet and his wife, Abbey were out of town. Their daughter Elizabeth was celebrating a birthday and it would be low-key since she was the most private member of the family.
Elizabeth insisted on her privacy meaning there was no huge media entourage along. Chief Of Staff Leo McGarry would handle anything that came up with C.J. only a phone call away. An official White House photographer was along for family photos.
That left the rest of the West Wing Senior Staff with the weekend off. They'd scattered just like the leaves stirred by Marine One as it lifted off from the White House lawn on the way to Air Force One.
Once C.J. knew the President had taken off and landed safely, she'd gotten out of the White House. She was joined by a general exodus as she signed out. C.J.'s plans for a Friday night were delightfully mundane. She'd catch up on a few things at home like laundry, grocery shopping and even reading something mindless that didn't involve a government security clearance.
She reserved Saturday evening and the rest of her weekend for Danny.
C.J. had reveled in just doing the routine. Plus, she'd had a long, uninterrupted night of sleep. Unusual because it had been early to bed and alone in bed, C.J. missed Danny but knew she needed to catch up on her sleep when she could.
For Danny, the time was a bonus. He figured somehow C.J. would be required to go with the First Family. Or he'd be suckered into covering the trip. It hadn't happened and he had her all to himself.
They'd started their Saturday evening at a sports bar. Danny called it a great warm up for courtside seats at the Washington Wizards game. They'd been part of C.J.'s Valentine's Day present to him.
The sports bar was crowded but not wall-to-wall. C.J. was nervous about being in such a public place with Danny. However, no one noticed them, allowing C.J. to be at ease. She giggled when Danny wiped chicken wing sauce off her nose. She tried to do the same on his face but couldn't figure out where it hid in his beard.
Her trepidation returned as they approached their seats in the MCI Center. They were directly behind the Wizards' bench. The players were in the middle of the warm up drills as the couple settled into their seats. Immediately players, coaches and reporters started calling out to them.
C.J. blanched, certain they'd been outed. It took her a second to realize all the attention was directed at Danny. No one even spoke to C.J. until Danny introduced her to a few players. They acknowledged her without much recognition. It dawned on her that they had no idea she was White House Press Secretary. "How come they know you so well?" she demanded.
"I've covered a couple of games when sports is shorthanded. Hang out here some too and played in a couple of pick up games." Danny shrugged.
"You went one on one with them?"
"I didn't say I was any good. It was fun and decent exercise."
"They claim they haven't seen you lately."
"Well C.J., I've found a better way to get exercise and work off my pent up energy."
She blushed under his intense gaze. "Oh. I'm glad to offer an assist. Still, nobody knew who I was."
Danny took a chance that they'd been together long enough for him to laugh at her, just a little bit. He gambled she wouldn't close off or go running. The laugh was in his tone, "Hey, sorry guess your publicity people didn't get the releases out to them announcing your presence and trumpeting your arrival. But at least we won't be discovered."
"Shut up." She decided he was right, it was silly. C.J. could just enjoy an evening out. And she did. They settled in to see what became a good game. As it went on they forgot the crowd around them. She unconsciously held Danny's hand. He threw an arm around her shoulders when they stood to cheer a run down the court.
Once Danny had offered to explain basketball to her in "the patronizing manner women like". In reality, he wouldn't do that. When C.J. asked a question he answered it knowing she was brilliant and he was just adding to her basic knowledge. She was having a great time.
But it didn't stop her from warning him to avoid finishing the bucket of popcorn they shared. It was drenched in salt, however Danny still polished it off along with his beer, the remainder of her beer and a couple of soft drinks.
The game went to overtime allowing the Wizards to pull out an upset with pizzazz and attitude. At the final buzzer, C.J. threw her arms around Danny in celebration. He pulled her close and for a moment they were oblivious to the crowd and the noise.
C.J. realized where they were before their moment ended in a kiss. Danny draped an arm around her shoulder when they unclasped. She let it stay put and reached to hold his hand as it lay there. "Danny, I had a great time."
"Agreed. Maybe we can do this once an administration."
"Don't push our luck. This is way too public most of the time."
"Stop looking at me like that C.J. or I'll have to kiss you until your brain melts."
"Hold that thought." She gave a swift glance around before planting a quick kiss on his lips.
Danny's voice was urgent, "Let's get out of here."
Even a parking garage traffic jam can be fun when you're with the right person. Danny and C.J. decided to wait out the crowd in the car. He punched in the post game show and worked his arm around the back of her seat. "You warm enough? Want my jacket?"
"I'm okay. We won't be here long, right?"
"It takes a good twenty minutes to get things unclogged. Are you bored?"
"A little but I can think of something to do." She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. "What was that about kissing me brainless?"
"My pleasure." He slid closer to her and brought his lips to hers. The kiss wasn't enough for C.J. She ran her hands over his back and then ran her tongue over his lips.
Danny turned up the heat by nibbling on her lips, her throat and her ears. They were lost in an old fashioned make out session in a car. They also lost track of time until a sharp knock on the driver's side window brought them back to reality. They scrambled to adjust clothes and their positions in the car as Danny opened the window. A security guard stood there ready to shine a light into the car's interior. "Everything okay, folks?"
"Yes, sir." Danny figured these might be his last words. He was certain C.J. would kill him. "We were just waiting for the garage to clear and. . . " Danny's voice trailed off.
"Appears to me Mr. Concannon, it's cleared out. Course you probably didn't notice that. Good night." As he ambled away, the guard called back. "I'm a real fan of your stories, you sure keep that press lady on her toes."
Danny glanced out the open window. They were the only car left as far as the eye could see. But they couldn't have known because the car windows were steamed up. The post game show was now the music of an oldies station.
He turned his gaze to C.J. ready for his fate. "Hey, " he said weakly.
"Hey", she answered. C.J. had envisioned the headlines. "Press Secretary And Reporter Caught Necking." She'd tried to disappear into the car's upholstery. She decided Danny looked dejected and incredibly sexy in his disheveled state. "We'd better go, Danny."
"Okay."
"After all, if I am much later I'll miss my curfew." She gave him a saucy grin and then she started to laugh. "I can't believe we steamed up the windows. I feel like I'm back in high school."
"I'll bet you had the boys lined up around the block hoping for a chance to get you up to the local lovers' lane."
"Probably the same as you, Mr. A-V Club. While you ponder your past conquests, let's get out of here."
"We can trade tales of triumphs. "
"As in?"
"How often did you let a guy get to first base and beyond?"
"Down boy, classified information. But I like your chances, Slugger. You've got the stick."
"C.J." Danny's face reddened and his tone implied shock at her brazen innuendo. "I really do need to get you home."
"Go team."
The light tone continued when they returned to her place. C.J. and Danny felt no need to rush at anything this weekend. They spent part of the night necking on the couch continuing their imitation of teenagers.
There was a lot of teasing, laughter and those vibes that indicated an easy familiarity and true intimacy.
When they finally made it to the bedroom, their lovemaking wasn't the usual frantic scramble. Tonight, they both found they had all the time in the world. It was a new dimension, a feeling of permanence, something to savor.
And savor they did. Hours later, C.J. nestled in Danny's arms. She was satisfied, sleepy and smiling. "Do you think if we asked the Bartlets to run the White House from Elizabeth's basement we could stay like this here?"
"Let's see if we can get Congress to consider it." Danny stroked her hair and considered himself to be the luckiest man in the world. "Sweet dreams."
Sleepiness made her more daring. "I don't need dreams anymore, Danny. You've made my reality incredibly sweet."
Danny had enjoyed reliving all of that again. It was pleasant but not diverting enough to quench his thirst. He was going to have to get some water or he'd die.
But he decided he WOULD die before letting C.J. say, "I told you so." about the popcorn one more time. He figured if he was careful he could slip out of bed and quietly complete his mission for water. Danny concluded he'd spent enough time in this room to make his way through the dark.
He inched his way out of the bed, easing covers back and treading lightly on the floor. He was about to make the turn at the foot of the bed. As he started to congratulate himself, Danny slammed his foot into a small table.
Danny swallowed the howl of pain and made more noise as he grabbed blindly to right the teetering objects. From memory he pictured the objects on the lace covered table. A teddy bear was showcased under a glass dome and next to it was a picture frame. He recalled there were a couple of pictures in the heavy silver frame.
That weighty keepsake was now making a dent in his foot before it crashed to the floor. Danny made a desperate attempt to save the glass dome before it shattered on the ground.
He succeeded but yelped when the edge of the glass cut him. The few seconds of juggling stretched out to what seemed like an eternity. Then he heard C.J.'s sleepy voice, "Danny, what. . . where are you?"
"It's okay." He kept his tone reassuring. "I needed some water and banged into the table. I'm fine."
"I told you not to. . . wait, which table?"
"The one with the lace on it and the bear."
"Oh, God." There was alarm in C.J.'s voice. He heard her shifting in the bed and fumbling for the nightstand light. "Is anything broken?"
"I'm fine, C.J., maybe a cut from the glass."
"Not you." The light snapped on. "My things." C.J. looked frantically at the table and Danny.
"Hey, excuse me for bleeding. The dome is fine, maybe a chip." He held it up and then put it back on the table gingerly. Danny bent to pick up the frame and C.J. shot across the bed to push him aside.
"Leave it. I'll get it." She leaned down to the carpet. "Is it broken?"
Danny felt a little put out. He was hurt, it was minor but still she only cared about a picture. It was unlike C.J. "Uh, C.J., can I get a little T.L.C. here?"
She ignored him to stare at the frame on the floor. He stopped her hand, "Don't pick it up. There might be glass there and you'll get cut too. The picture's not going anywhere, chill."
He stuck his bleeding finger in his mouth and tried to control his temper at her indifference.
C.J. sat back on the bed and put her face in her hands. "You don't understand, it's all I have left of my daughter."
(TBC)