It's Just a Job

AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed Part 1 of this!! It was so encouraging to see as many reviews as I did! This is Part 2, from CJ's POV, starting right at the end of Third-Day Story. There's some CJ/Danny stuff in this, but just thoughts, no interactions. Enjoy!

He told me to jump off a cliff.

And then I denied the urge to tell him that I've been there and done that before.

How can he be giving this job to me? I'm the Press Secretary! It should go to Josh or Toby. They know about military actions and how to handle angry congressmen. I just handle crazy reporters who have nothing better to do than follow me around and ask me questions even after I have told them to shut up.

Multiple times.

This thought reminds me of my old annoying reporter.

Danny had been gone for so long that sometimes I forgot him. Multiple times in the last year I found myself searching the news sites for articles he had published or commented in. I wanted to find him. I wanted to find out if he was ever coming back.

Which it didn't seem like he was. About a year ago he had been writing for the New York Times. Then about six months ago he worked in Seattle for a while. Three months ago he dropped off the map.

Deep down, a part of me had wished he was coming back then. He wasn't a White House reporter anymore. When stuff, I guess stuff is the most appropriate term for it, happened between us, I had pulled away because he was a White House reporter.

If he had come back, I would have been enthralled. If he came back now, I'd be enthralled.

It's just a job. I keep repeating that. But, as I had been told, we're talking about the potential co-President.

How am I going to do this?

When people look at the Chief of Staff, they expect to see someone who will keep the President in line and give him good advice.

I don't know much about the military. All I know is what I've read in briefings and the small amount I've been part of planning/handling. And, I'm afraid of keeping the President in line. I'm too afraid that I will say the wrong thing or not say something with respect and get my wrist slapped for it.

Leo had a heart attack after having this job. Am I strong enough to handle this?

I bet if Danny was here, he'd be telling me of course I could. And then he'd make some inappropriate joke or ask me out just to get my mind off of it.

He used to keep me going. He'd tell me to keep my head in the game or give me a heads up just to protect me. It was moments like that where I felt like I belonged because I had the respect of this reporter who had a Pulitzer Prize and was so respected in the journalism field.

Who would be there to tell me I was doing okay? Would there be someone to make me laugh when all I wanted to do was hide?

I had to be strong. I'm going to be the highest ranked woman in America. I couldn't go out there with anything but a smile on my face.

It couldn't be that hard.

It's just a job.

'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

AN: So, there is the second installment of the "It's Just..." series. The lyrics at the end were from "Broken" by Seether featuring Amy Lee. Next time will be Josh's POV, "It's Just a Thought".