Title: Just One Look

Disclaimer: Not mine-belongs to NBC and Warner Bros Television

--

Danny walked into the Bartlet For America office. He adjusted his travel bag on his shoulder and looked around for Josh. That's when he noticed her. She walked toward him almost in slow motion. His eyes focused on her as she smiled to people as they past. She adjusted her papers and looked toward Danny's direction one last time causing her hair to shift. 1950's rock songs like, "Just one look." rang in his head. CJ took two more steps and promptly fell to the floor, having tripped over her own feet.

--

Danny dropped his bag and ran to the women no one seemed to be helping.

"Are you alright?" Danny said helping her up.

"Yeah, yeah." She said, embarrassed, raising to her feet and looking at what she had done to herself. "Oh." She kneeled down and picked up her papers.

"Let, me help you?" He leaned down and helped her with her papers.

"No, I'm fine. Really—" She didn't look at him.

"No, really—" Danny laughed. "Let me help." CJ finally looked him in the eye. She felt like she knew him from somewhere, but couldn't place him. Danny looked around and noticed how no one stopped to see if the woman was all right, or even to help. "Well, people seem to be a real help around this place."

'I'm sorry?" She stood with her papers, as did Danny.

"You fell and no one even raised a finger—." He was disgusted.

"Oh. They're used to it." CJ began to walk, but limped. Danny took her arm to help her.

"I'm fine really?"

"You don't look fine—" He followed her.

"—They're all so used to me by now, if I took a header off the top stair, no one would notice--" She laughed as Danny helped her into a seat next to a large desk piled with Bartlet flyers. "Oww." She spoke, adjusting her foot in its position.

"Let, me see—" Danny leaned down and took her leg.

'No, really. I'm fine—I probably just twisted it a little. The feeling usual returns after a few minutes." She looked down at Danny holding her ankle.

"You're bleeding?"

"I am?" She said with shock, looking around her leg.

"Yeah, just in the back—" Danny stood up and took a napkin off the desk behind him. "Excuse me." He said to the women having taken one of the napkins from what looked like her Whopper meal.

"Really, you don't have too—" CJ tried to stop him, but it was too late, as Danny pressed the napkin above her heal. CJ couldn't help but like the man's gallant offering.

"Thank you." She said sweetly, but still embarrassed.

"No, problem." He said in his Michigan twang. "This should stop the bleeding in no time. The pressure."

"Pressure--" She repeated in her Ohio tones. Danny liked the way she said it: slowly and softly. It was unintentional on CJ's part, but nonetheless effective.

There was a small pause between them. CJ nodded her head, feeling awkward and stupid.

"You know I wouldn't feel so bad. Some of the great minds of our time were prone to klutziness—"

"Really?" She smiled. "Einstein was prone to falling over his own feet.—"

"Sure, how do you think he got his hair to look that way—" Danny smiled and CJ laughed.

"No one laughs at my jokes—"

"I laughed. I didn't say it was funny—." She smiled.

"Well, I thank you for the compliment—" Danny said sarcastically and lifted the napkin off her heal. "I think that should do it. Just a scrape. But I'd put something on it just in case—"

"Thank you." CJ stood oblivious to the way Danny was looking at her. He stood and faced her.

"Hopefully, someday I can return the favor—"

"Sure."

"I need to get back to work—."

"Listen, I don't usual do this, but---"

"But, what?'

"You wouldn't want to—"

"Hey, Danny you made it. Josh yelled from the side, clasping his hands together.

"Danny?" She questioned.

Josh walked up to the couple, "I see you've met CJ?"

"You're CJ Cregg?" Danny asked.

"I guess you haven't—" Josh began to introduce the two. " CJ Cregg, Danny Concannon."

"You're Daniel Concannon from the Post—." She was surprised.

"In the flesh. Everyone just calls me Danny—"

"Nice to meet you Danny—." CJ shook his hand. Danny started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Josh asked.

"Yeah, what's so funny?" CJ demanded.

'No, no. I'm sorry. I just thought CJ Cregg---'

"Was a man—" CJ said with pursed lips.

'Yeah, I'm afraid I did—"

"Most people do. But I can do my job—"

"—better than anyone—" Josh smirked.

"I just mean I wasn't expecting—." Danny assured her.

"It's alright. Isn't it CJ?" Josh inflected in his voice the fact that the media had to be their friend to be elected.

"Of course." She smiled.

"CJ, why don't you show Danny around? I'll see if the Governor's ready for you." Josh walked off.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting you till tomorrow." CJ told him.

"Yeah, I came early." He smiled. "I like to keep people on their toes-"

"I see."

"I can come back tomorrow if you like. I really just like to get a feel for the place, you know—"

"No, no. This is fine. Let me show you around." CJ smiled and Danny followed her. Danny had to catch up at first.

"I see that ankle's fine."

"Yeah. Thank you—" They reached the stairs as Mandy was walking down them.

"Hey, Danny."

"Hey, there Mandy."

"I see Josh wrangled you into to all this."

"Yeah, " He laughed.

"Nice to see you." Mandy walked away.

"Up stairs is our phone banks—" CJ walked Danny up the stairs. Danny followed.

"So, you're a friend of Josh's." She asked him.

"Well, we don't have brunch every Sunday, but our paths have crossed more than once in—"

"Is he your source—"

"A reporter never reveals his sources—"

"Of course. I didn't mean—"

"None, taken—"

"Josh and I use each other when needed—"

"Kind of scratch each other's back kind of thing—"

"Yeah—"

"So, are you here scratching our back or yours---"

"That's really not something I'm supposed to tell you, but since I already like you guys I'll be honest. Neither. But that could always change. I've been covering politics all of my adult life and I'm just looking for the truth—"

"Well, that's all we have here—"

"Good."

"Truth that is—"

"Yeah, I got that."

"Danny!" Leo walked over to Danny and put out his hand with a huge smile. "So glad you could come."

"Mr. Secretary—" Danny shook Leo's hand/

"No, please call me Leo—"

"Leo—"

"I see you've met our CJ—"

"Yes." He smiled at CJ. "She's showing me around."

"Great. I got a phone call to make. When you're done come talk to me before you see the Governor—" Leo smiled.

"Will do." Danny and CJ watched Leo walk down the stairs.

"Is there anyone you don't know—?"

"You work in Washington long enough, you get to know people—"

"I see—"

"Hence the reason I never met you. You, I'd remember---."

"I'll take that as a compliment—." She said dryly not knowing if he was making fun of her.

"I would."

"Yeah, well—" She looked around. "These are the phone banks—" She looked around unsure what to show him. Really she was just wasting time until the Governor was ready for Danny. Danny knew that, but he didn't mind getting to know the beguiling women.

"I see."

"Ok, yeah." She paused. "Why, don't we go back downstairs—'

"Ok." Danny smiled at CJ. "After you."

"No, really go ahead."

"Ok." Danny smiled and walked down the stairs. CJ found him at the bottom.

"Ok--" CJ looked around. "We can go talk to some of the volunteers--" She began to walk. "---We have college and high-school students from the area, a couple of interns, but most of them are volunteers—" Danny wrote a few things down in his notebook.

"Ok—"

"The Governor has a very large following in New Hampshire---"

"Well, it helps when your family practically founded the state—."

"It's more than that. The Governor is a good man—." CJ stopped to defend the Governor to Danny's face.

"And his people know it—"

"Exactly—"

"Yeah, that's what Josh told me—"

"Well, shall we---" CJ started to walk again.

Danny closed his notebook. "So what was the signal—"

"I'm sorry---"

"The signal?"

"What signal?"

"The signal to distract me while they prep the Governor—"

"There's no signal—"

"There's a signal."

"There's no signal---"

"There's a signal—"

"If you don't want a look around---"

"No, no. I do. I like to cover all the aspects.---it's just---" He stopped his thought. "Carry on."

"Ok." She said with pushed up enthusiasm.

They walked a bit. CJ watched him closely as he tagged behind her.

"How long have you been doing this?" Danny asked.

"Is that a knock on my skills, 'cause--."

"No, no. As you said. I know everyone. I don't know you. How long have you been doing this—where do you come from---?" Danny took his notebook out.

"Oh, I see—" CJ, noticed the notebook and the fact that this was an "on the record."

"Well—." She thought on what to say. "I'm a merit scholar. I have my masters from Berkley. And for the last six years I've been an expert on language in polling models. I worked for a couple of political organizations—."

"—But not in Washington--"

"Cal-I-fornia—."

"You from California?" Danny didn't believe that

"No. Ohio."

"Hey, Michigan. Go mid-west."

Bonnie walked past.

"CJ, Toby called, he's about thirty minutes away—"

"Great." CJ said to the women as she passed.

"So, where did you come from?"

"I'm sorry—? Oh--"

"Before this? Where did you work before this—"

"--I was around, It's not important—" CJ walked away. "Over here is where we s---" Danny followed her.

"You know you should just tell me, I'm only going to find out sooner or later. It is my job, after all. And I'm good at it---"

"Yes, your repetition precedes you—"

"I try—"

"You've been nominated for a Pulitzer and you just try--"

"Notice how I haven't won--- yet--" He saw how uncomfortable she was.

"Yet?" She noticed he added that on.

"Thank you." He smiled pretending she was the one who brought up the subject. "It can't be that bad. If not me, someone---"

CJ stood in front of Danny and she leaned back to whisper to him. "Ok, I'm not proud of this, but I worked in Hollywood."

"Really?" Danny laughed.

"I needed a job. And I guess the money was enticing. I needed the work, too. I didn't even want to work on the entertainment accounts--"

"But they roped you in."

"Yeah." She laughed, as did Danny.

"See, that wasn't so bad." He said to her slyly.

"You won't spin it around—"

"No, no." He laughed.

"'Cause I feel it was something beneath---not a real example of what I can do—"

"We all run into funks in our life--"

"'Cause it's a non- issue--"

"I don't think it is either."

"Good."

"Think of it as a favor. You owe me."

"I don't know if I like the sound of that."

Mandy reared her head. "Danny. Leo McGarry is ready to see you."

"That's my cue." Danny walked away.

"Margaret will show you to his office." Mandy showed an arm toward Margaret.

"Great." Danny turned and whispered to CJ. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." He smirked.

Danny introduced himself to Margaret and she took him away. CJ could hear Margaret laughing as they went. Mandy was about to join them when CJ stopped her.

"Mandy, what do you know about this guy?"

"Danny?" She paused. "You never heard of him?"

"Yeah, I heard of him--"

"--He's been a White House reporter for about five years now—"

"If he covers the White House why is he coming all the way out here?"

"Because Danny goes where the story is. It's really good for us that he's here CJ. It's real good. Just watch him. He's a good reporter. We can't be stupid."

"I'm not stupid, Mandy. I know how to handle the Press."

"I'm just saying be careful of this one. This is Danny Concanon from the Post not the local shopping pamphlet--" Mandy walked away as CJ stuck her tongue out at her behind her back. Mandy turned her head and CJ tried to pretend she hadn't done what she had done.

"He's really a nice guy CJ. He'll be fun to have around." Mandy disappeared down the stairs.

----

CJ laughed her ass off at her new gaggle of friends. She sat in a corner booth of the bar with Toby, Sam, Josh and Mandy. Danny entered the bar and placed his notebook in his pocket. He watched CJ laugh and joke with her friends. How could one woman be so much fun, he thought. Josh beckoned him over, his arm around Mandy.

"Hey Danny." CJ smiled her large toothy grin.

"Hi."

"Grab a chair? Or a piece of booth—" She joked laughing as she held onto her Corona.

"Yeah, join us!" Josh told him. "Just, off the record."

"Of course."

CJ walked up to the bar next Danny

"I heard you're not leaving us so soon." She motioned to the bartender for another round.

"Yeah, I've decided to come on the road with you guys."

"You really don't want to go back to DC." She smiled, tipsy as she was.

"Nothin's happenin' in DC. The action's right here. Plus I like you guys. I like what you stand for. I think Bartlet can really do something for this country."

"Well, he sure likes you Danny."

"Everyone likes me. It's a talent of mine--"

"Yeah--" CJ still didn't get his flirting. CJ took her drink and walked back to the group. Josh walked back from the bathroom and watched Danny watch CJ walk away. He wasn't sure what to make of it, even though he had a good idea what to make of it.

---

CJ lay in the cold grass and added relaxation to the hot August heat. Danny walked over to CJ who didn't notice him at first. She ran her naked feet through the coldness of the grass. It felt great.

"Hey, there CJ," Danny spoke, placing his hands in his pocket.

"Hey, Danny."

"They say the bus should be working any time now,"

"Thanks," She smiled. "Of course, that's what they said a half hour ago."

"Yeah."

"Want to take a walk."

"Sure."

CJ began to get herself up, grabbing her shoes as she went. Danny helped her the rest of the way up.

---

"So, I've noticed the Governor's been looking a tired lately."

"Seventeen hour days, a state almost every few days--"

"He could slow down."

"He can't. That's how much he cares. Write that down by the way."

"Ok."

"I don't see you writing--"

"I've made a mental note."

"Ah . . . I hear you and the Governor have been talking a lot after hours."

"Yeah, we've spent some time together talking pretty late. He likes talking to me. I'm easy to talk to--"

"I'm sorry?"

"My job. As a reporter. I have to be able to put people at ease. So they feel conferrable talking to me." They stopped and CJ put her hand over her forehead to see the people milling around the bus. Danny began to speak, causing CJ to look him in the eye. "I guess it's a gift I have--" He laughed. "People have to be able to look in my eyes and trust me instantly."

"Yeah. I could understand that."

"We got the bus working!" Toby yelled from about twenty steps away.

"OK!" CJ yelled and walked away. Danny watched her for a moment and followed.

----

"Want to hear a joke?" She asked the group, feeling giddy for a change as they crowded inside the bus.

"Sure." Sam looked up form his papers.

"We're off the recond right?" she said to Danny. He had been spending so much time with everyone, she sometimes forgot he was a part of the media. Only for a split moment, of course.

"Yeah." He said placing his notebook in his back pocket.

"Ok," she began to laugh before she told it. "Ok." She stopped herself and told the joke with a huge smile. "A guy walks into a restaurant--"

"Don't you mean a bar?" Josh asked.

"How do you know what joke I'm gonna tell? I haven't started it yet?"

"Well, most jokes start with, "a guy walked into a bar." Josh pestered.

"He's right." Sam spoke.

"Well, this one is a restaurant." CJ demanded.

"Let her tell the damn joke!" Toby yelled.

"Ok." Sam and Josh spoke at once.

"So he walks into the restaurant and he sits down and he overhears---no wait, that's if he tells the joke—ok. A guy is having a conversation with a friend"

"A friend?" Toby asked.

"A friend—And he starts, 'Canada, Canada. Only whores and hockey players come from Canada.' And the man with him says. 'Hey, my wife's from. Canada!' And the other guy says, 'Hey what team does she play for.' CJ cracked up into hysterical laughter and rolled over onto to her side. Danny laughed politely, but he didn't think it was as funny as CJ did. She let out a sigh and composed herself.

"Come on it's funny! Who wouldn't find that funny?"

"Canadians for one." Toby questioned. "And if I remember correctly we're running for an office that may or may not have relations with Canada. Don't go around telling that joke. Danny, this is off the record right?" He spoke to Danny, who shook his head and started to speak, but he was muffled by CJ

"And if I remember correctly we're running for a national office in this country and until the Canadians are able to vote for the President of the United States, I can tell any Canada joke I feel like—" Toby walked away from her down the aisle of the bus. CJ followed him.

"Don't let me hear you telling that joke when we're elected." He disappeared out of the bus.

"We're not even elected yet—and if and when we are I don't think we're going to have to head for cover when they show us their wrath— Toby!" She yelled as he walked further away. CJ disappeared out of the bus after him.

Danny laughed. Josh saw this.

--

Balloons came down from the ceiling. Jed Bartlet would soon be the next President of the United States. His staff beamed.

"Congratulations- Governor--" Danny said, shaking Jed's hand and raising his voice to be heard over the crowd. "Or should I say Mr. President?"

"All in good time," Jed yelled patting Danny on the back and making his way through the crowd of people.

"Hey there" Josh came up behind him.

Danny gave him a firm handshake. "Congratulations. Very well done, there, Josh"

"Thank you. Same to you."

"I just wrote what I saw," Danny looked out onto the crowd and his glance found CJ. She laughed and was generally excited for the moment. The President passed her and kiss her on both her checks. Abby gave CJ a hug.

"She's something, isn't she?" Josh broke the silence, seeing what Danny was looking at.

"Who?"

"CJ--?"

"Yeah, she's great."

"Yeah," Josh laughed. "And she's funny, and beautiful and nice," he mocked previous conversations the two had had. "Yeah, yeah. You, I'd remember--" He paused. "You have a crush don't you?"

"Nooo," he pushed it off

"You do, admit it. I see how you look at her. I think everyone sees how you look at her. Except maybe you and CJ." He paused. "Well, maybe just CJ."

"She's not dating anyone is she?"

"See I was right."

"I was just wondering."

"Ok, fine. I'm out of it. You're on your own. Don't try to get any help from me." Josh walked off.

Danny thought for a moment, back to the last few months of being around the Bartlets and maybe he did have feelings for CJ. He had a genuine fondness and affection for her, he couldn't get past that. But she didn't even know he was alive. He was just that reporter guy who sometimes went drinking with them. Danny groaned in his head. He should have known, he should have known it from the beginning when he saw her in the office. That's when his sparks flew. He never believed in love at first site and he still didn't now. Yes, he had that feeling in the pit of his stomach when he met her. Yes, he almost asked her out that first day. He had never met a woman like her and he felt he could talk to her for hours. Not to mention she had legs that wouldn't quit. That's all Danny needed to be in love with the new Press Secretary. A woman who he knew didn't go for guys his type. Danny saw how she fawned herself over the tall dark and handsome type. Danny would have to find other ways to woo her.

"Congratulations, CJ." Danny told CJ as she passed.

"Thank you, Danny," CJ smiled her sweet polite smile.

"I hear through the grapevine you'll be following us along to the White House."

"Yeah. It's my beat. Can't stay away. I should be back in the summer."

"Great!" She patted him on the arm. "It will be great to have a friendly face." She started to walk away.

"CJ--"

"Yeah," she looked back. "Maybe—" A man came up to CJ and introduced himself.

"Congratulations, CJ."

"Thank you." She said with a smile.

"CJ—" Danny got her attention again.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"I'd like to take you out for drink"

"Sure, I know we'd all love that"

"CJ?" Sam walked past CJ.

"Yeah. I got to go to this thing." CJ walked away. "I'll see you at the party, Danny." CJ walked off with Sam leaving Danny on the floor.

He watched her walk off and knew he would have her one day.

---

"When you flirt with me is to get a story?"

"No, I do it to flirt with you."

---