1 TITLE: One in Ten Million: Chapter 3
AUTHOR: Kansas J. Miller
PAIRING: CJ/Simon
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: He was the only one she could ever see herself with…why did the idea of marrying him sound so horrible?
SPOILERS: None, except for the past stories. Simon lives! Yay!
***
"CJ!" Josh yelled, practically scaling the walls in the bullpen to get to the Press Secretary. She stopped in her tracks, spinning around to meet the harried Deputy Chief-of-Staff.
"Where are you going?" she asked, noticing his packed bag and heavy backpack.
"I'm being punished—Leo's sending me on the trip…And CJ…Bruno's gonna be there," Josh whined with a grin, dropping the shoulder bag on the hardwood hallway floor.
With an amused smile, CJ shook her head. "Well, we gotta campaign. It's nothing like last time, though is it?" she asked wistfully, looking at Josh for a silent second. "Did you need something?"
Josh rolled his eyes, snapping himself out of old memories. "Donna's at breakfast. Tell her where I am when she gets back, would ya? This was extremely last minute."
Laughing, CJ nodded. "I'm not even going to ask what you did…"
Josh bid her goodbye and CJ continued her way down the hallway, subsequently running into Leo. "CJ," he ordered gruffly, "keep your eye in the media, would you? Ritchie is speaking in New York when the President's in Detroit."
"I'm on it, Leo," CJ sighed, almost amused by the way they were running for re-election. Had been four years ago, she would have been in the back of the campaign bus clinging desperately to a cell phone. Now CJ had instant access to the press, at any time. It was ironic, CJ thought, realizing how little of that access she actually used today to control a story. Back in the day she would have killed for this…
"Where's the President?" Sam's voice startled CJ, who was now standing outside of her office staring blankly at the floor.
"He had the cabinet before a thing with Leo. Now he's in a Secret Service meeting, then he's swinging through Detroit and Madison," CJ ticked off the schedule, remembering how a 'swing' through two major cities used to take three days.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked, noticing CJ's lackluster tone.
"I wish we could campaign again. Like last time," she murmured, knowing that Sam would feel that same nostalgia.
"God, yes…Knowing what we know now…" Sam smiled, cocking his head. "Ritchie's camp gets all the fun this time. They're a very little bit like we were."
CJ stepped into her office quickly, meaning to head for the pressroom. She met Sam's eye for a moment. "We weren't running against an incumbent."
Sam nodded with mock-solemnity. "If that's all we've got going for us, I'd say it's a pretty big advantage."
CJ laughed as Sam went his way; they'd be all right in the end—this election was predicted to be close, but no closer than last time. They would be fine…
"Donna!" CJ called, catching a glimpse of the younger blonde woman. "Josh got sent to Detroit with the President."
Donna stopped with raised eyebrows, humored. "Are you kidding me?"
"No," CJ smiled as she approached Donna's area. "Some kind of punishment. They're scheduled to be back by five."
Donna looked pleased with the situation. "Guess I'm a free agent today…Hey, speaking of agents…" Donna's grin exploded as she looked over CJ's shoulder. CJ was confused at first, but upon turning around her own grin grew.
"Simon, what are you doing here?" CJ asked, stepping past Donna, unable to help her softer tone. Simon managed to make CJ feel shy, even when she was in full work mode.
"Well," Simon grinned, nodding quickly at a still-smiling Donna. " Ron and I were meeting with the President before he left."
CJ forced herself to keep a respectable distance between her body and Simon's, but the physical proximity of him was dizzying. Even with Donna's nearby presence, CJ found it difficult to tear her eyes from Simon's. Simon felt it too, working hard to keep his countenance semi-straight; he didn't want to get googly-eyed on CJ here in the hallway…
"Good," CJ smiled sweetly, enjoying the image of Simon in his own work-mode. She hadn't seen him so professional since the days he stood in the hallway guarding HER. "Did you want something in particular, or just dropping by?"
Simon nodded, "Actually, I wanted to see if you could meet me tonight. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
CJ pressed her lips together, absently worried about what THAT could mean. "Sure. Seven-thirty?"
Simon nodded his agreement, but was focussed instead on the ear piece he wore. Touching it briefly, eyes on CJ, he spoke into his sleeve. "1050, this is Donovan. Yes. I'll be down in five…."
CJ smiled, still intrigued with the way the Secret Service communicated. Before heading backwards, Simon picked up CJ's hand and brought her fingers to his lips. "I'll meet you in the lobby at 7:30…"
Donna stood at her desk, thoroughly enamored with the scene that had just unfolded before her. Simon was an absolute doll and it was clear that CJ was completely taken with him; in fact, in the five years that she'd known CJ, Donna had never seen her so happy. This was a wonderful thing, Donna smiled, laughingly wondering if Simon had any younger brothers.
***
Simon returned to the Secret Service office, his mind running circles around how to pop the question. Hardly looking where he was going, Simon ran smack into Pam Thayer.
"Get your head out of La-La Land!" the female agent teased, lightly slapping Simon's arm. "We have to look at layouts and mark up the exits and command posts."
Simon raised an eyebrow, fighting a smile. "I know of no such place called La-La Land, Agent."
Agent Thayer smirked as the two sat down at a large round table covered in blue prints of the Convention stadium and hotels. Looking pointedly at Simon, Pam grinned wickedly.
"It's also known as 'I-just-saw-CJ-Cregg-and-now-I'm-whipped' Land. Does that ring a bell?" Pam laughed, knowing that as a friend, Simon wouldn't take her teasing the wrong way.
Raising his chiseled chin, Simon let himself laugh. "Clever, Pam, clever…Let me ask you something, though."
"Sure," Pam responded, running a marker over the blue prints, outlining a press area. Simon, for his part, did nothing but rest his arms on the table.
"How would you go about asking a woman to marry you?"
Without missing a beat, Pam responded, "Well, Simon, I wouldn't be asking a woman to marry me, so…"
Pam looked up into Simon's mock-annoyed expression. Smiling, she put down the marker. "You're going to ask her to marry you?" Pam asked quietly, her eyes dancing with pleasant surprise. This was big.
Simon cleared his throat, leaning back with anticipatory nervousness. "I'm going to try…"
***
As seven-thirty approached, apprehension grew in CJ. She was almost sure that whatever Simon wanted to talk about didn't spell good news. No one ever wanted to talk unless there was a problem, or…
Carol interrupted CJ's thoughts. "It's 7:30, CJ…You'd better get out of here."
CJ met Carol's eyes, biting her lip. "Can you go and see if he's out there? I'd appreciate that…"
Carol walked out silently, leaving CJ with the unfinished thought. Simon couldn't want to break it off, could he? They were so happy. CJ brooded briefly, unable to pinpoint a single trouble spot in their relationship…except that Simon always told her that she didn't eat enough. CJ didn't know what THAT was all about, but she'd had a slice of pizza the night before to appease his prodding.
Carol was back. "He's waiting," the brunette smiled. CJ nodded, gathering her coat and feeling slightly melancholy. What if she wasn't even aware of a problem? This night had potential to end badly.
Simon stood in the lobby, facing the door as he waited for CJ. He was taking deep breaths, both excited and nervous for what he was about to do. There was still no plan, Simon realized with a giddy snicker, he still had no clue how to ask her this important question.
"Simon?" CJ's hand on his arm turned the tall agent around. CJ stood before him, her face tense despite her best efforts to smile. Leaning in for a quick, chaste kiss on the lips, Simon took CJ's briefcase.
"I'm off duty," he explained with a smile, only able to carry her things on off-hours. CJ cocked her head as they headed out the door, deciding tonight to give in to Simon's chivalrous attempts. Allowing him to open the door for her, CJ noticed his overly happy expression.
"Where are we going?" CJ asked, tentatively linking her arm through Simon's as they began through the security gate. She was on high alert for signs that something was wrong, but so far CJ couldn't see anything but her usual, affectionate Simon.
As they filtered into the staff parking lot and found the blue Mustang, Simon spun CJ towards him with a grin. "How about Italy? Or are you more of a France girl?"
Caught of guard, CJ's melodious laughter escaped as she leaned into Simon's embrace. He tilted her head up for a kiss, deeper than the first, and as his tongue danced around her own, CJ threw her worries out the door.
"Christ," she breathed with a grin as they parted, "what did I do to deserve that?"
Smiling down at her, Simon quickly brushed the hair from CJ's face. "Nothing. I love you, that's all."
Simon didn't tell her every day, preferring to let actions stand as testament to his feelings; as such, it never ceased to move CJ when he told her that he loved her. It made her heart flutter, it turned her knees weak with an indescribable emotion. "I love you, too," she whispered, a light bulb switching on in her head the moment the words left her lips.
He didn't want to break up, CJ realized with a slowly building pressure in her chest, he wanted to talk about getting married. Simon's joking comment the night before had been a dead giveaway, and the ultra- sweet way he was acting…
"Oh, Simon…umm…" CJ stuttered, her hands on his chest poised to push him away. Stopping herself just before the point of no return, CJ forced herself to get it under control. Maybe she was reading too much into nothing; maybe there was no idea of marriage in Simon's head, maybe she just subconsciously WANTED him to ask her.
No, CJ breathed, she was pretty sure that she didn't want him to ask her. And she could read Simon pretty well…God, she cursed herself as Simon kissed her lips again, she loved this man, he was the only one she could ever see herself with…why did the idea of marrying him sound so horrible?
"I made reservations at that little place you like on Constitution Avenue. How's that?" Simon asked, guiding CJ to the car door with a smile. This was going to be wonderful, he smiled again, almost unable to wait for the coming moment.
"Ah, good…. Simon?" CJ asked, sliding into the driver's seat as Simon quickly went around to the passenger side. The top was down, giving CJ all the freedom she could ask for from a car. Freedom, she thought with a slight shiver, is not what a marriage is made of. Or could it give her more freedom? CJ was sick over the fact that she did not know.
"Yeah?" he asked, instinctively taking CJ's hand as she shifted her body towards him. CJ looked down quickly at the leather seat, feeling shy and more than a bit uncomfortable.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" she let out in a rush, suddenly wanting to get this out in the open before sitting through an entire dinner. CJ bit her lip as she waited for Simon's response, hoping she could calmly and maturely explain her awful fright of marriage.
He cocked his head, pressing his lips together. "I was going to wait until later," Simon managed smoothly, his warm tug on CJ's hand slightly reassuring. With his charming smile, Simon leaned forward. "But since this is pretty important to me..."
The last thing CJ saw before she squeezed her eyes shut was Simon's hand reaching into the breast pocket of his coat. He has a ring, her heart cried, he wants you and you want him. CJ mentally pleaded with herself to get a hold on this; with her thoughts spinning in dizzying circles she repeated a mantra. You love him, you love him, you love him, she breathed hanging hard to Simon's hand, you love him…*
AUTHOR: Kansas J. Miller
PAIRING: CJ/Simon
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: He was the only one she could ever see herself with…why did the idea of marrying him sound so horrible?
SPOILERS: None, except for the past stories. Simon lives! Yay!
***
"CJ!" Josh yelled, practically scaling the walls in the bullpen to get to the Press Secretary. She stopped in her tracks, spinning around to meet the harried Deputy Chief-of-Staff.
"Where are you going?" she asked, noticing his packed bag and heavy backpack.
"I'm being punished—Leo's sending me on the trip…And CJ…Bruno's gonna be there," Josh whined with a grin, dropping the shoulder bag on the hardwood hallway floor.
With an amused smile, CJ shook her head. "Well, we gotta campaign. It's nothing like last time, though is it?" she asked wistfully, looking at Josh for a silent second. "Did you need something?"
Josh rolled his eyes, snapping himself out of old memories. "Donna's at breakfast. Tell her where I am when she gets back, would ya? This was extremely last minute."
Laughing, CJ nodded. "I'm not even going to ask what you did…"
Josh bid her goodbye and CJ continued her way down the hallway, subsequently running into Leo. "CJ," he ordered gruffly, "keep your eye in the media, would you? Ritchie is speaking in New York when the President's in Detroit."
"I'm on it, Leo," CJ sighed, almost amused by the way they were running for re-election. Had been four years ago, she would have been in the back of the campaign bus clinging desperately to a cell phone. Now CJ had instant access to the press, at any time. It was ironic, CJ thought, realizing how little of that access she actually used today to control a story. Back in the day she would have killed for this…
"Where's the President?" Sam's voice startled CJ, who was now standing outside of her office staring blankly at the floor.
"He had the cabinet before a thing with Leo. Now he's in a Secret Service meeting, then he's swinging through Detroit and Madison," CJ ticked off the schedule, remembering how a 'swing' through two major cities used to take three days.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked, noticing CJ's lackluster tone.
"I wish we could campaign again. Like last time," she murmured, knowing that Sam would feel that same nostalgia.
"God, yes…Knowing what we know now…" Sam smiled, cocking his head. "Ritchie's camp gets all the fun this time. They're a very little bit like we were."
CJ stepped into her office quickly, meaning to head for the pressroom. She met Sam's eye for a moment. "We weren't running against an incumbent."
Sam nodded with mock-solemnity. "If that's all we've got going for us, I'd say it's a pretty big advantage."
CJ laughed as Sam went his way; they'd be all right in the end—this election was predicted to be close, but no closer than last time. They would be fine…
"Donna!" CJ called, catching a glimpse of the younger blonde woman. "Josh got sent to Detroit with the President."
Donna stopped with raised eyebrows, humored. "Are you kidding me?"
"No," CJ smiled as she approached Donna's area. "Some kind of punishment. They're scheduled to be back by five."
Donna looked pleased with the situation. "Guess I'm a free agent today…Hey, speaking of agents…" Donna's grin exploded as she looked over CJ's shoulder. CJ was confused at first, but upon turning around her own grin grew.
"Simon, what are you doing here?" CJ asked, stepping past Donna, unable to help her softer tone. Simon managed to make CJ feel shy, even when she was in full work mode.
"Well," Simon grinned, nodding quickly at a still-smiling Donna. " Ron and I were meeting with the President before he left."
CJ forced herself to keep a respectable distance between her body and Simon's, but the physical proximity of him was dizzying. Even with Donna's nearby presence, CJ found it difficult to tear her eyes from Simon's. Simon felt it too, working hard to keep his countenance semi-straight; he didn't want to get googly-eyed on CJ here in the hallway…
"Good," CJ smiled sweetly, enjoying the image of Simon in his own work-mode. She hadn't seen him so professional since the days he stood in the hallway guarding HER. "Did you want something in particular, or just dropping by?"
Simon nodded, "Actually, I wanted to see if you could meet me tonight. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
CJ pressed her lips together, absently worried about what THAT could mean. "Sure. Seven-thirty?"
Simon nodded his agreement, but was focussed instead on the ear piece he wore. Touching it briefly, eyes on CJ, he spoke into his sleeve. "1050, this is Donovan. Yes. I'll be down in five…."
CJ smiled, still intrigued with the way the Secret Service communicated. Before heading backwards, Simon picked up CJ's hand and brought her fingers to his lips. "I'll meet you in the lobby at 7:30…"
Donna stood at her desk, thoroughly enamored with the scene that had just unfolded before her. Simon was an absolute doll and it was clear that CJ was completely taken with him; in fact, in the five years that she'd known CJ, Donna had never seen her so happy. This was a wonderful thing, Donna smiled, laughingly wondering if Simon had any younger brothers.
***
Simon returned to the Secret Service office, his mind running circles around how to pop the question. Hardly looking where he was going, Simon ran smack into Pam Thayer.
"Get your head out of La-La Land!" the female agent teased, lightly slapping Simon's arm. "We have to look at layouts and mark up the exits and command posts."
Simon raised an eyebrow, fighting a smile. "I know of no such place called La-La Land, Agent."
Agent Thayer smirked as the two sat down at a large round table covered in blue prints of the Convention stadium and hotels. Looking pointedly at Simon, Pam grinned wickedly.
"It's also known as 'I-just-saw-CJ-Cregg-and-now-I'm-whipped' Land. Does that ring a bell?" Pam laughed, knowing that as a friend, Simon wouldn't take her teasing the wrong way.
Raising his chiseled chin, Simon let himself laugh. "Clever, Pam, clever…Let me ask you something, though."
"Sure," Pam responded, running a marker over the blue prints, outlining a press area. Simon, for his part, did nothing but rest his arms on the table.
"How would you go about asking a woman to marry you?"
Without missing a beat, Pam responded, "Well, Simon, I wouldn't be asking a woman to marry me, so…"
Pam looked up into Simon's mock-annoyed expression. Smiling, she put down the marker. "You're going to ask her to marry you?" Pam asked quietly, her eyes dancing with pleasant surprise. This was big.
Simon cleared his throat, leaning back with anticipatory nervousness. "I'm going to try…"
***
As seven-thirty approached, apprehension grew in CJ. She was almost sure that whatever Simon wanted to talk about didn't spell good news. No one ever wanted to talk unless there was a problem, or…
Carol interrupted CJ's thoughts. "It's 7:30, CJ…You'd better get out of here."
CJ met Carol's eyes, biting her lip. "Can you go and see if he's out there? I'd appreciate that…"
Carol walked out silently, leaving CJ with the unfinished thought. Simon couldn't want to break it off, could he? They were so happy. CJ brooded briefly, unable to pinpoint a single trouble spot in their relationship…except that Simon always told her that she didn't eat enough. CJ didn't know what THAT was all about, but she'd had a slice of pizza the night before to appease his prodding.
Carol was back. "He's waiting," the brunette smiled. CJ nodded, gathering her coat and feeling slightly melancholy. What if she wasn't even aware of a problem? This night had potential to end badly.
Simon stood in the lobby, facing the door as he waited for CJ. He was taking deep breaths, both excited and nervous for what he was about to do. There was still no plan, Simon realized with a giddy snicker, he still had no clue how to ask her this important question.
"Simon?" CJ's hand on his arm turned the tall agent around. CJ stood before him, her face tense despite her best efforts to smile. Leaning in for a quick, chaste kiss on the lips, Simon took CJ's briefcase.
"I'm off duty," he explained with a smile, only able to carry her things on off-hours. CJ cocked her head as they headed out the door, deciding tonight to give in to Simon's chivalrous attempts. Allowing him to open the door for her, CJ noticed his overly happy expression.
"Where are we going?" CJ asked, tentatively linking her arm through Simon's as they began through the security gate. She was on high alert for signs that something was wrong, but so far CJ couldn't see anything but her usual, affectionate Simon.
As they filtered into the staff parking lot and found the blue Mustang, Simon spun CJ towards him with a grin. "How about Italy? Or are you more of a France girl?"
Caught of guard, CJ's melodious laughter escaped as she leaned into Simon's embrace. He tilted her head up for a kiss, deeper than the first, and as his tongue danced around her own, CJ threw her worries out the door.
"Christ," she breathed with a grin as they parted, "what did I do to deserve that?"
Smiling down at her, Simon quickly brushed the hair from CJ's face. "Nothing. I love you, that's all."
Simon didn't tell her every day, preferring to let actions stand as testament to his feelings; as such, it never ceased to move CJ when he told her that he loved her. It made her heart flutter, it turned her knees weak with an indescribable emotion. "I love you, too," she whispered, a light bulb switching on in her head the moment the words left her lips.
He didn't want to break up, CJ realized with a slowly building pressure in her chest, he wanted to talk about getting married. Simon's joking comment the night before had been a dead giveaway, and the ultra- sweet way he was acting…
"Oh, Simon…umm…" CJ stuttered, her hands on his chest poised to push him away. Stopping herself just before the point of no return, CJ forced herself to get it under control. Maybe she was reading too much into nothing; maybe there was no idea of marriage in Simon's head, maybe she just subconsciously WANTED him to ask her.
No, CJ breathed, she was pretty sure that she didn't want him to ask her. And she could read Simon pretty well…God, she cursed herself as Simon kissed her lips again, she loved this man, he was the only one she could ever see herself with…why did the idea of marrying him sound so horrible?
"I made reservations at that little place you like on Constitution Avenue. How's that?" Simon asked, guiding CJ to the car door with a smile. This was going to be wonderful, he smiled again, almost unable to wait for the coming moment.
"Ah, good…. Simon?" CJ asked, sliding into the driver's seat as Simon quickly went around to the passenger side. The top was down, giving CJ all the freedom she could ask for from a car. Freedom, she thought with a slight shiver, is not what a marriage is made of. Or could it give her more freedom? CJ was sick over the fact that she did not know.
"Yeah?" he asked, instinctively taking CJ's hand as she shifted her body towards him. CJ looked down quickly at the leather seat, feeling shy and more than a bit uncomfortable.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" she let out in a rush, suddenly wanting to get this out in the open before sitting through an entire dinner. CJ bit her lip as she waited for Simon's response, hoping she could calmly and maturely explain her awful fright of marriage.
He cocked his head, pressing his lips together. "I was going to wait until later," Simon managed smoothly, his warm tug on CJ's hand slightly reassuring. With his charming smile, Simon leaned forward. "But since this is pretty important to me..."
The last thing CJ saw before she squeezed her eyes shut was Simon's hand reaching into the breast pocket of his coat. He has a ring, her heart cried, he wants you and you want him. CJ mentally pleaded with herself to get a hold on this; with her thoughts spinning in dizzying circles she repeated a mantra. You love him, you love him, you love him, she breathed hanging hard to Simon's hand, you love him…*
