Danny hit ignore on his phone for the umpteenth time that morning. It was his editor calling, again, but he was ignoring him. He had meant to take a few personal days, but somehow, he didn't find the time to do it. Danny hardly slept anymore. Since he had visited C.J.'s neighbour, he had barely left his laptop. He had gone deep in his research of C.J.'s stalker, but to be honest, he had spent about half his time finding out more information about agent Donovan. All he'd found out was his name and a very rough outlining of his time with the secret service. That alone bothered him, almost as much as the fact that C.J. was in danger. Danny had his ways of getting information, but the lack of information was suspicious in his mind. He tried to convince himself that this was what bothered him, not the fact that this tall secret service agent was making her happy, whatever that meant. He stood up from the kitchen table and stretched as he turned up the volume on the T.V. His living room filled with the sound of laughter.
"I meant to say 'unavoidable.' The delay was unavoidable. The President will make a short visit at City Hall and be in his seat at 7:30," C.J. said from Danny's old tube T.V. Good God, she is beautiful, and she looks like herself… Happy. There was no other way to describe her, Danny thought, and he chuckled as C.J. said: "The play is nineteen hours long."
It physically hurt seeing her, now that they were in the same city. He missed being close to her every day, following her back to her office. Hearing her joke with his former colleagues forced him to recall their last days together, and he had spent the entire year trying to avoid thinking about it. He was a coward —and he knew it.
It had been after the flight to Portland. He'd spent his time there teasing her, testing the waters after declining the editor's position. He'd been back at the White House typing away at his computer when he noticed C.J. standing in the dark press room. When she saw him watching her, she turned around to leave. He jumped up and ran to her.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hi," she looked at him, and he noticed she looked like she might have been crying.
"Look, I'm sorry about before…" Danny began as he slowly walked towards her.
"Don't be. It was very you…" She stopped abruptly, and he saw tears forming in her beautiful eyes.
"C.J.," he said, his voice breaking with emotion, as she stood by the door.
"I shouldn't be here. I'm sorry — I should go," she said and turned around.
"Please stay," Danny whispered, stretching out his hand. C.J. stopped, and Danny closed the
distance between them, pulled her towards him, and kissed her deeply. She melted into his embrace, giving a soft moan as she pulled him closer. And suddenly she pushed him away.
"No… Goddamit, we can't do this," she said exasperatedly, putting her arm across her chest in a protective manner
"I know," he said sadly, "I'm sorry about the…" he couldn't finish the sentence.
"I," her voice broke off, "I can't do this Danny," she said as she turned around, trying to hide her tears.
He watched her walk away from him, and his heart broke in two. When he'd finally gone home, he was feeling reckless and hurt. He wrote an email to a colleague stationed abroad, who was always trying to get him into foreign correspondent. He couldn't imagine seeing her in the morning, looking professional and sad; he needed to leave. After a phone call from his colleague, he hastily packed his bag and rummaged for his passport. He would leave the next evening. He had just enough time to deal with his editors.
And that was it. He'd left.
The sound of C.J. deflecting a question pulled Danny back into reality. "Yeah, there's movement. It's close."
"How close?" Danny heard Katie ask.
"Look at the colour of Josh Lyman's hair," C.J. quipped back. Danny stared at her and then made up his mind. The lack of information was driving him mad, and C.J. was going to New York today. He needed to go to the White House, needed to get more information. He needed to see her.
-WW-
C.J. left the press room and walked towards her office. She had made up her mind as she woke up, drenched in sweat after last nights latest trip down the sinful dream-mind of one Claudia Jean Cregg. She had woken up frustrated with her hand between her legs. After a steamy shower, she regained her senses and decided she could no longer have him around her. She would demand that he stay away from New York; otherwise, the temptation of getting a hotel room in a seedy part of town was surely going to be the end of her. As she turned to the corridor that led to her office, she noticed him rough-housing with a young man.
Of course, he is wonderful with kids, C.J. thought as she made sure Carol would give young Anthony a keychain, just what my ovaries needed to hear. He followed her to her office, and she just wanted to turn around and… well, it was good that she was making him stay behind in D.C., she mused as her gaze was drawn to his neck.
"Listen. I was thinking there's really no reason for you to make the trip to New York."
"Yeah?"
"I'm gonna be traveling with the President the whole time."
"Can I say something?"
"Sure."
"I'm not allowed to date a protectee."
"Who's trying to date you?"
"I'm not allowed to kiss a protectee."
"Who's trying to kiss you?"
"You did."
"No, I didn't."
"C.J., I'm trusted with a serious job."
"Aren't you not allowed to call a protectee by their first name?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm gonna take Anthony home."
"There's really no reason for you to come to New York."
"See you on the plane."
Well, that went well, C.J. sighed as she stood at her desk and watched Simon leave her office. She'd been mean, she knew it. But she didn't like feeling like this; like she was unable to control herself around him. After Danny left, she'd promised herself to take care of her heart. She let her guard down with him, and it seemed like she was doing the exact same thing with Simon. What was wrong with her?
-WW-
Danny stood in his old haunts and breathed in deeply. How he'd missed this. He looked down at his visitor's badge, with disdain. He didn't belong here anymore, at least according to this badge. He left it all behind, and now someone was hunting her. He let her down. He was keeping his head down, which was easy as most of the press were going to New York to cover the president's trip. He saw his reflection on one of the windows and thought he probably should have put a little bit more effort into his appearance before arriving. His hair was unruly, he had bags under his eyes, and even he noticed the slight manic glint in his eyes. But that didn't matter; he had to warn her. He left the press room and immediately bumped into Josh.
"Danny?" Josh exclaimed.
"Hey, man," Danny greeted him back, trying to sound like himself. He desperately needed coffee.
"I didn't know you were in town?" Josh said, jovially.
"Yeah, just lay-over you know," Danny said, with a good imitation of his old self.
"How you been buddy, do you have time for a quick catch-up?" Josh asked.
Danny saw an opportunity and agreed, "sure, I would love that." They walked towards his office, Danny looking around, trying to catch a glimpse of her. Josh noticed this and smirked.
"I think she's getting ready for the flight," he said knowingly.
"Uh, what?" Danny said as he sat down.
"C.J.," Josh said, looking his friend in the eye.
"Oh, yeah, a bit obvious?" Danny gave a, calculated, sheepish smile. He hated trying to play his friend, but he just had to get more information, and right now, Josh was his best source.
"Yeah, just a bit," Josh grinned.
"Well, I heard about the security detail, and well you know… I just care, that's all," Danny said.
"I get it, man…" Josh said, "just so you know, they're going to catch the guy, and until then, she's safe."
"You know, they're going to catch the guy," Josh said after Danny didn't respond to his ramble about the Welfare Bill. They sat in Josh's messy office, Donna having left a minute ago after bringing them coffee.
"What?" Danny said, looking up at Josh.
"They're going to catch the guy, the psycho," Josh reassured.
"Oh," Danny replied.
"No offence, Danny," Josh grimaced, "But you look terrible."
Danny chuckled, "That's life in a suitcase for ya'," he said.
"You sure that's all?" Josh asked.
"I…" Danny sighed, "I just feel," he looked up at his friend. He and Josh had both moved to D.C. around the same time and quickly became friends. Danny had been there when Josh met Mandy and had seen him through the first, of the several break-ups to come. Josh was his friend, but he needed answers.
"I actually came back when I heard," Danny lied easily, "You know, about her." As he had expected, Josh looked sympathetically, albeit there was a hint of pity in his gaze.
"You know how I feel about her," Danny continued, "And the feeling of helplessness does not exactly help," he finished gesturing his appearance.
"Buddy," Josh began, but Danny cut him off.
"I know," Danny said, "It's pathetic. I can't do anything; I know that. I'm just scared… About her."
"I'm going to see what I can find out," Josh said seriously, "But Danny I swear if even an inkling of this appears…"
"No, of course not," Danny said, "Off the record — completely."
Josh looked at him as he dialed a number. He spoke in hushed tones to the person on the other line, nodding and muttering thanks before he hung up.
-WW-
Danny walked out of Josh's office, deep in thought. Something didn't add up. He couldn't explain it, but he felt it desperately in his heart that C.J. shouldn't go to New York. He quickly made up his mind and waltzed towards her office. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice Katie, who was hurriedly walking towards him, looking grim.
"What are you doing here?" She said in a carrying whisper.
"Hi, what… What do you mean?" He said, feigning innocence.
"What are you doing here?" She repeated seriously.
"Look, I just need to talk to her…" Danny began.
"You need to leave!" Katie said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Katie, you don't understand, I just need to see her…" Danny tried.
"Are you out of your mind? You promised you'd stay away, Danny!" Katie said, raising her voice.
"Katie…" He tried again, getting frustrated.
"No, Danny!" Katie said, almost yelling now.
"Calm down, I just need to," Danny was having trouble focusing, the lack of sleep these past days finally sneaking up on him.
"No, Daniel, I will not calm down," she grabbed his arm and began dragging him away from C.J.'s office. A small crowd of people had begun looking out of their designated workspaces. Danny yanked back his arm and made to turn back.
"Katie please, I just need…" Danny began.
"You need what?" Katie interjected.
"I need to warn her!" Danny blurted out, much too loudly, "she can't go to New York, she just… can't." The crowd of people was getting bigger, and Danny rubbed his eyes, trying to find a semblance of inner focus.
"Danny?" A voice from the group of people behind him made him turn around so fast he almost fell.
There she stood, dressed in a black, floor-length dress, clutching her coat around her, looking perplexed.
"C.J." was all he could muster. How could he have forgotten how beautiful she was? She was breathtaking, and he lost his train of thought. And then he saw him. Lurking behind her, staring at him — that tall bastard. He felt Katie standing behind him, pulling hard on his sleeve.
"Let's go, Danny, now!" She whispered in his ear.
"No," Danny finally said, pulling his sleeve back.
"C.J. I, I… I need you," he stopped, "— I need to talk to you," he corrected himself. He noticed a man, presumably a secret service agent, approaching him.
"Danny, I…" C.J. stared at him at a complete loss for words. Danny noticed Carol standing next to her, and was startled to see her staring daggers at him.
"You need to get going," Carol said to C.J., not taking her eyes off him. Danny tried to take a step closer to C.J. but felt someone holding him back.
"No, Danny," Katie said, pulling him backwards, eyeing the approaching secret service agent.
-WW-
Carol guided the confused looking C.J. into her office.
"Carol, what the hell is going on? Why is Danny out there, and looking like shit?" C.J. asked.
"You don't need to worry about that ma'am," Carol said.
"When did he get back?" C.J. asked curiously, although she tried to sound casual.
"He's not," Carol replied quickly, "Danny's been working a lot, he's been under a lot of
pressure lately. I think he just needs some time off." C.J. looked at her, not really buying the excuse.
"You need to get going," Carol said, handing her a thin folder, "and Sam wanted to meet you before you took off." C.J. looked intently at her assistant and then begrudgingly looked at the files. She looked up when the door opened and noticed the way Carol relaxed when Simon entered.
He looked a little stunned as he saw her standing there, dressed in the Vera Wang. Carol tried to hide her smile as she left the office.
"Two minutes," she called over her shoulder as she left.
"Well, I need to get going," C.J. said, after an awkward silence. At the sound of her voice, Simon seemed to snap back.
"Yes," he paused, "you look… great. I mean, gorgeous," he said and immediately seemed to regret his words.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't ha…"
"Thank you," C.J. interrupted him. She felt a blush creeping up her chest, and she had to fight the impulse to grin like an idiot. They stared at each other for, until they heard Carol knocking on the office door frame.
"Sam's waiting for you," she said, failing terribly to hide her Chesire grin.
"I'm coming," C.J. said, still looking at Simon. She smiled shyly and grabbed her coat and folder and left her office.
-WW-
"Have you completely lost your mind?" Katie said, now yelling at Danny as she pulled him out the hallway.
"Katie," Danny began, but she cut him off.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Katie asked.
"Come on," Danny dismissed, but he stopped in his tracks as an irate looking Carol suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their way.
"What are you doing?" Carol asked icily, then she looked seriously at Katie, "did you know about this?"
"Of course not," Katie said.
"Why did you come here?" Carol asked, turning her attention back to Danny. "Why today?"
"I just…" Danny began, closing his eyes as he tried to regain some of his focus, "I had to see her."
"I thought Katie had made it perfectly clear that you should stay away from her," Carol said harshly.
"Carol, relax," Katie said, looking hurt.
"I'm sorry, but he cannot be here, not now," Carol said.
"I know that," Katie replied. She looked to her side, and her eyes went wide. "We need to leave," she said hurriedly.
"What do you mean?" Carol asked.
"There's a secret service agent on his way here," Katie said alarmed.
"Come here," Carol said, grabbing Danny's arm and pushing open the door next to her. She dragged Danny inside, Katie hurrying in after them closing the door hastily.
tbc.