Chapter seventeen

CJ walked to Danny's room, but stopped. She was really afraid. For the first time in her ordeal, she was really afraid. She took a step and slowly walked into Danny's room. She found Danny doing just about the same thing CJ had been doing earlier, packing. Danny took the newspaper off his bed and set it in his duffle bag. CJ watched as Danny, having his right hand encumbered by a sling, zipped closed his bag. He then set the bag on the ground next to bed as delicately as he could with one arm; that's when he saw CJ.

"Hey." She said awkwardly.

"Hey." Danny said sweetly.

"I hear they're letting you out today?"

"Yeah? You too?"

"It's funny how dehydration and gunshot recovery is so similar."

"Don't forget the stitches?"

"You or me?"

"--I think when I was out I told Josh I wanted to get Fozzie bear made the vice presidential nominee for the democratic party?"

"I'll look into it. Who's his agent? I meant Fozzie bear--not Josh. But I'm sure if Josh honed his act I could at least get him booked at Snickers in the Bay area—"She paused. "Danny." CJ said lovingly as she approached him. "Thank---thank you—"

"Thank me for what? Almost getting you killed—"

"You saved me—"

"I didn't save you, CJ. Staff Gunnery Sergeant Wade saved you. I got hit on the back of the head, and shot in the shoulder; I didn't save you—"

"You tried—"

"Yeah, I did."

"Danny." She took hold of his face. "Just take the thank you."

"Thank you." Danny took hold of her hand and looked into CJ's eyes. CJ felt like she was about to cry.

"Danny?" She couldn't say it. "Did you tell Josh?"

"Did I tell Josh what?" Danny walked away from the bed to face her.

"That I was one of the only things you were sure of?"CJ leaned back on the bed. Danny faced CJ and his face gave him away before his words.

"Yes."

"Danny—"

"I know I know." He lowered his head. "I'm sorry—no one..." He shook it off. "I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry that I love you and I'm not sorry that I went into that woods after you—and yeah, I mangled it up big time, but I got to be there for you and that meant something to me—I've never felt this way about anyone, CJ and it makes my reasoning for things stray from the beaten path at times---and I can't make it go away and I can't make you admit you love me—Maybe, I am sorry. Sorry I can't hide my feelings as well as you." Danny looked at CJ sitting on the bed as the golden light of sundown beat on her golden face and hair. "I'm sorry. I'll leave."

"Danny, no." Danny stopped. He looked her in the eye and walked over to CJ taking her by the back of the head, gently, and kissing her soft and slow, a signature Danny kiss, letting go of her lower lip last.

"Don't tell me you don't feel anything." CJ backed up on the bed and sat herself crossed legged. "CJ. What are you thinking? Tell me?" Danny leaned on the bed in front of her and lifted her bandaged wrist to make her reveal her face to him. "CJ?" CJ lifted her face and Danny saw she was crying.

"When I held you in my arms and you were bleeding--- I thought I was going to lose you. All---"She was about to burst. "All—All I kept thinking was how much I messed up. It wasn't supposed to be this way—this hard. I was supposed to be able to have a great job and be myself and have a life and have a man and be in love—life isn't perfect and it didn't have to be perfect—it just had to be---and then you had to come into my life. The first man who had yes written all over him--- after so many men had ended up having no written on the back of their heads. And it shouldn't matter—I don't need a man---I don't have to have one—"

"CJ?"

"But I love you. Life isn't perfect. People get shot and kidnapped and bills don't get passed and you don't have enough votes in the House---and you had to come into my life and mess it up—"

"CJ!"

"I'm not done!"

"You know all those times when people need me to interrupt what you say—"

"Yeah?"

"This is one of them. You don't have to keep talkin'." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"I do—I need to say this---." She took a breath. "When I was holding you in my arms, and you were bleeding and---" CJ couldn't say it. "It was the single scariest moment of my life—and I've been shot at four times, almost been in air force one when it might have careened into the runway, kidnapped, stalked, and I work for the US Government." She took a breath. "My god, I sound like a Lifetime movie of the week." Danny leaned in and kissed CJ.

"What was that for?"

"For being you?" CJ looked at Danny with a sudden realization that made her want to cry again.

"You get me, don't you?"

"It's a scary thought, but yes."

"Why is everything so hard, Danny?"

"I don't know. It's more fun."

"Kiss me."

"Ok." Danny leaned in and kissed CJ. She dug into the kiss feeling warm and safe. "Now, say it."

"Danny!?"

"I've waited long enough. Say it."

"I love you, too, Danny."

"Ahh, there it is." Danny took her face in his hands and kissed her. CJ leaned into Danny's forehead.

"Don't die, ok?"

"Sure." He pulled her back so they could lie on the bed. Danny placed his hand on CJ's head as she maneuvered herself into his good shoulder. They looked like two pieces of a puzzle, finally finding the shape that fit into each other. CJ's head barely touched his beard as she looked off, content. Danny had eyes only for her.

End Music:

And you've got the look of love right in your eyes

And I was in a crazy motion till you calmed me down

It took a little time but you calmed me down.

Some people never says the words " I love you ",

It's not their style to be so bold.

Some people never says " I love you ",

But like a child they're longing to be told.

Josh walked down the hall toward Danny's room, looking for CJ. When he reached the door, he noticed them. Danny lay in the hospital bed with a smile on his face. CJ had climbed on the bed with him. Her hand rested on his chest and her head on his good shoulder. Her leg was placed over his and she was fast asleep. Danny's head was tilted on top of hers and his arm was around her waste. His other arm lay on her shoulder and he too was fast asleep. Josh slowly backed away with a huge smile on his face. He turned, slowly throwing back his elbow, and a clenched fist, in a gesture of "YES!"

Song:

They've got a wall in China, it's a thousand miles long

To keep out the foreigners they made it strong.

And I've got a wall around me that you can't even see

It took a little time to get next to me. When something goes wrong, I'm the first to admit it,

The first to admit it but the last one to know

When something goes right, well it's likely to loose me,

It's apt to confuse me because it's such an unusual sight,

Oh I can't get next to something so right, to something so right.

Some people never says the words " I love you ",

It's not their style to be so bold.

Some people never says " I love you ",

But like a child they're longing to be told.

They've got a wall in China

Mmm... Yeah... Yeah...

And I've got a wall around me.

-----Great Wall of China

Danny and CJ clung to each other as the golden light hit them and the sun began to set.