On The Road With Danny Concannon: Japan

Title: "The Call."

Companion Piece: Eppur Si Muove 5.16

Danny had been sleeping for at least four hours and since before that he hadn't slept for the last thirty, so it was a good bet he was in a deep sleep. Danny's cell phone rang, taking him out of it enough to move his limbs, but nothing else. He reached his hand out from under the bed sheets and his pillow-covered head, reaching around for the phone and knocking over the contents of the dresser and the nightstand in the process.

"Yeah?" Danny said in a groggy, barley audible, voice from beneath his pillow.

"Did I mess things up with you?" CJ's voice came on the phone at a fevered pace like bullets from a machine gun..

"What? I'm sorry. What? Who is this?... What time is it?"

Danny really needed a better sleep pattern so his brain would process when needed.

"My god you haven't slept again?" CJ was concerned for Danny's well being.

"CJ?"

"And I woke you up—"

"CJ wait - I'm up. I'm up." Danny pushed himself up on to the side of the bed, but he really wasn't awake.

"Danny, go back to sleep it's not important-"

'No. No. Give me a minute." He shook his head looking down. "I'm fine."

"You're not—I can tell it in your voice."

"No, I am. Just give me a moment to make the nausea subside."

"I'm hanging up!"

"CJ!" He ran his hand over his face and beard looking up for a change. "I haven't talked to you in like ten months don't get off the phone!"

"Eight."

"Eight?"

"New York."

"Oh." He let out a breath. "New York."

There was silence for a moment.

"You called for a reason? Did you say something about, "messing it up?" Danny was confused.

"No, it's nothin'—"

"Yeah, it's coming—Yeah—see I told you-reflexes like a cat- my covert skills are honed." On the other end of the line CJ rolled her eyes, but she was loving every minute of It." -Did you mess up what with me?" Danny was finally almost awake as he held his sliver phone to his ear.

"Nothing?"

"Wait? Is "up" referring to what I think you're referring to? 'Cause then I'd have to say there was nothin' we had that would have let you mess it up. Well nothin' you'd let me have…" Danny paused. "Did that make sense, I think I'm still in REM."

"No." She paused. "And yes."

"Ok. Good." He squinted his eyes.

"You can count on me to understand what comes out of your mouth—other people I'm not too sure of there, bub."

"You're pretty funny?" Danny smirked at the joy in her voice.

"Yes, they beg me to go out on the circuit?'

"Circuit?"

"Yeah you know. Tour. Vegas. Caesars—"

"But, you declined-?" He loved humoring her. Danny loved being CJ's straight man. No pun really intended.

"Nothin' says home to a woman like a low paying government paid job."

"I raise your government paid joke with my reporter sized bankroll."

"You want to up the anity, huh?"

"I do think my third class air fair accommodations verses Air Force one wins me the pot."

"You can think it, but I got one word that'll make ya fold there, pardoner." She paused. "Pension," she said through perched lips.

"You win."

"Like always! I am triumphant! All must salute me and call me their Queen. Ok all jokes you're thinkin' of right now stay in your head."

"I wasn't thinkin' of any. You're the one with the dirty mind."

"You can always melt down the Pulitzer." She smiled gleefully. " Make me a necklace. I've been into jewelry lately. Something flashy, but with piazzas. Somethin' that goes with my eyes. " She couldn't help to smile again

"I see." Danny couldn't help smiling on his end.

"You do. Good for you. Comes in handy to be able to see when you're patrolin' for those stories."

"You're in a good mood." Danny loved her good moods.

"Yeah, it would seem. I wore perfume today."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." CJ was proud of herself

"Obsession?"

"Yeah?"

"I always found it extremely ironic."

"Yeah, I'll stay away from that one."

"So back to the reason you called?"

"The reason I called?"

"Yeah—"

"I don't remember," she pretended listlessly and rolled her fingers over the top of Gail's bowl.

"You don't remember?" He paused. "Ok." He paused again. "But you do know you're the one who said you wouldn't date me."

"I know. That was my decision," she said like a child who felt guilty about what she had done.

"I'm just sayin'-"

"I know Danny—"

'Cause I was…willin'. Very willing in fact - and you turned me down — many times." He paused. "I think you know I'm always-"

"I know, I know - I guess I just - "

"CJ?"

"Yeah," she winced.

"You're not the reason I didn't take the editor job. You didn't do anything. Don't ever think that. That one's all on me, ok? It's not on you."

"Yeah," she said sadly.

"You're not who I blame." He paused. "Ok?"

"Ok."

"Good."

"I guess I should go now." CJ took a breath.

"CJ?" No response. "CJ?"

"You can talk—I'm still here." She whined sincerely.

"We're just livin' in this natural thing in an unnatural state. I don't blame you, but CJ?"

"Yeah?" She askedsoftly.

"When you say, "Yes," you can never mess it up with me. Never. No matter what you do. No matter what you say-"

"Danny-?" She seemed to want to caution him. She felt it, but never wanted to promise anything. She felt that was unfair to him and she had put him through enough.

"I know, I know - don't say anything - let me think it...let me just know." He paused for a moment moving the phone away from his mouth afraid he was about to cry. "Just remember I have a calendar and I know when eight years is up." He had held it in. "Good night, CJ."

"Good night, Danny," she said with memories of him.

And CJ hung up the phone. Danny tried to fall back asleep and not dream of her.