ON THE ROAD WITH DANNY CONCANNON: TORONTO

Companion Piece to: An Khe 5.14

Title: "Josh Lyman White house .gov "

In Toronto Danny walked to the check in desk and checked himself into the busy hotel room. He could hear the footsteps on the marble floor as they echoed their the atrium and blended with the fail of the small man made water fall.

"Danny Concannon." He spoke adjusting his carry on bag on his right shoulder. "Checking in."

It was late and not many people were around except for the usual. Josh Lyman walked in his usual pace into his office, hitting the doorway on his way, biting down on his lower lip like he had an agenda. Outside his office Donna was busy with what ever Josh had told her last to do. What he couldn't remember, but it was something. He sat himself down at his desk in his low-lit office. Something about harsh light at night made his office look more and more like a prison or school house hall way. Josh opened his email, going directly to his address book taking out the address: . Josh needed a favor.

Danny set up his laptop first before he did anything in a hotel room. Much like a smith and Weston of times gone past it was his life force and center of all his life and trips. The computer made its usual noises and opened up onto his welcome page. Danny had an email. The email was from Josh Lyman. Danny sat down to inspect the letter.

(Danny Concannon) Concannond Washpost . com

From: (Joshua Lyman) Joshlyman Whitehouse. gov.

Hey Danny,

Hope your well? Listen, I need a favor from you. What do you know about Ken O'Neal?

Will be forever in your debt-well not forever.

Josh

Ps. where the hell are you now?

Josh looked up into space, well the space of his office with his chair sidewise in parallel to his desk. He took a breath and stood.

"Donna!" He yelled walking toward the door. His computer beeped showing he had a message. Josh's attention changed toward the computer.

"Never mind!" He looked toward his desk, circling it, and sitting down.

"What?," Donna asked at the door.

"Never mind," he waved her off.

"Ok?" She walked away puzzled.

Josh opened his email box, and as he had thought, it was a letter from Danny.

Hey there yourself Josh,

Not much. I probably know as much as you do. It does not look good. I know he's a friend of Leo's. I'm sorry. Last post we had on the story was from Alicia Noble. If I hear anymore I'll give you the heads up before it goes to print.

I'm up in Toronto right now. Why, I can't tell you? Read it tomorrow. It's good.

-Danny

Ps. How's CJ?

Josh read the email and hit reply.

"Thanks Danny. Toronto eh?" Josh wrote. He paused. "Was that a good joke?,' Josh thought and really pondered "Yeah, it's Danny," he thought to himself again letting it stay.

"Let me know when your coming back to town?" Josh wrote. He took a moment and wrote the line." And CJ"

Josh looked up, and out his door, to see CJ arguing with Carol through a few plates of glass. The noise had taken him from the email. She didn't look happy. In fact no one looked happy around this place lately, especially CJ. Were they all getting jaded he feared, tired and warn out by it all. "No," He shrugged it off. But something was up with CJ. It was like she had gone to the Deli with Toby and said, "I'll have what he's having."

Josh watched CJ walk out view with Carol close behind. Josh returned to the email and his beginning of a line: And CJ.

Josh placed his finger on the backspace and deleted the J, followed by the C, followed by the D, and the N, and finally the A.

"How's CJ?" He wrote. "I think you should ask her yourself?" he wrote with no intention of malice. Josh signed his name.

Josh hit send and made sure to delete Danny's email from his hard drive.

Josh walked over to his office door that connected to CJ's.

"Come in." CJ answered flatly to Josh's knock. Josh opened his door and leaned in the doorway.

"We haven't opened theses in a while." Josh asked with real purpose and whimsy.

CJ never looked up keeping her eyes on business. "That's because he was too much like an episode of The Love Boat." CJ placed the paper she was looking at over and next to her setting her attention on the next.

"CJ—?"

"Yeah," CJ still didn't look up.

"You want to come get a cup of coffee with me?"

"I got this work to do—."CJ circled something and continued reading.

There was a pause as CJ continued to ignore Josh.

Josh folded his arms. "CJ, you all right?" He looked at her, like his words, with real concern and worry.

CJ must have sensed this because she took off her glasses and looked at Josh. Maybe she was just surprised he asked her such a question.

"Yeah? I'm fine."

Josh nodded his head as CJ continued giving him a question mark face.

"Ok."

CJ nodded her head and went back to her work.

"I'll be here if you need me."

"Yeah ok." CJ didn't look at him. "Shut the door will you?" CJ motioned with her hand, but never gave Josh her eyes. Josh looked back one last time as he exited CJ's office for his and closed the door behind him. His face was a look of puzzlement, trying to put his finger on something. Josh put his hands in his pockets hoping Danny would do what he had told him. Maybe she would talk to him.

Danny Concannon stopped his work after a long train of thought had passed and opened his email from Josh. He read the email and focused for moments on the words, "ask her yourself." Danny knew Josh meant no malice. He knew what Josh meant. Danny deleted Josh's email and continued his story. By midnight's past Danny posted his story and turned his computer from blue to black. Danny couldn't get himself to call CJ with out a reason. It only made seem to be more vulnerable to her. He wasn't ready to do that yet.