Title: Six Nights Prior (1/2)
Author: NancyD
Pairing: Will/Bonnie
Rating: G
Spoilers: Inauguration, Part I (Season 4)
Disclaimer: Not mine, only playing Feedback: Is interesting and welcome
Author's Notes: The title is in reference to the number of nights prior to the Inauguration.

For the first time in the last two hours there was lull in the conversation. The couple sitting in the corner booth in a darkened hotel restaurant suddenly found themselves quiet and feeling rather self conscience after their intimate conversation.

If anyone had asked neither of them were used to this. Their lives were consumed with politics; there was no time for romance; dating was infrequent and sex, when available, generally impersonal.

But these last few hours in each others company had been far more intimate than some of the dating rituals they usually follow.

To break up the silence, the dark haired beauty excused herself to go to the restroom. Trying to not be obvious, Will Bailey took great pleasure watching Bonnie cross the nearly deserted dining room.

He sighed. It wasn't everyday that a beautiful, intelligent woman offered to give him a ride back to his hotel and then proceeded to ask him out to dinner. Will couldn't turn down that invitation even it was over a non-descript meal at the hotel restaurant.

True, Bonnie was being helpful as she had a car that would move to his hotel some of the 14 or so boxes of President Bartlet's speeches that had been delivered earlier that day.

But when was the last time he had had a conversation such as this? Will had felt so comfortable with Bonnie, that he had even told her about the very spectacular break-up wit his most recent girlfriend. He had tried to stop himself but it was almost as if she had been drawing him out. But all she did was listen.

With a regretful sigh, he signaled the hovering server for the check. It was time to get back to reality.

Bonnie peered at herself in the mirror. The slightly darkened restroom gave her a strange pallid complexion. She dabbed her eyes to make sure no makeup was smudged and considered lipstick but when with a dab of lip gloss. Just in case, she thought with a small surge of butterflies in the pit of her stomach.

She told herself to stop being so silly. Just because you share a meal and open your soul to someone doesn't mean they're interested. But he had responded in kind and from what she felt, there was kindness and understanding.

Quickly shying away from these thoughts, Bonnie fussed with her hair a bit more, wishing she had worn a different outfit today. Maybe something a little sexier, a little more CJ Cregg. So she unbuttoned another button on her blouse and tossed her hair a little.

But this only made her feel more ridiculous. She re-buttoned her blouse and walked out to the restaurant.

Will was waiting for her at the host stand. Before he could say anything, Bonnie reminded him of the boxes in her car.

"Let me help you bring them up."

"Don't worry about it," Will protested.

"There are three boxes. And it's not like you can leave this stuff with the front desk while you haul the others up."

Will couldn't argue with her common sense. Besides he was secretly please with spending just a little more time with her, even if it was only a few minutes.

They managed the boxes with ease but once they made it into the elevator, the mood shifted and the easy banter replaced by silence. By the time they got to the room, they couldn't look at each other in the eye.

It took Will three tries to open his room door. And when he finally did get it open, he couldn't find the light switch for the room. After listening him fumble for a few moments, Bonnie saved him by switching on the bedside lamp, illuminating the room overflowing with papers.

"Home sweet home, courtesy of the U.S. Government," he said, wishing for his beach cottage in Southern California.

"I see the maid hasn't been by today," Bonnie joked. Will looked a little sheepish and she immediately regretted it.

"Yeah, well, I can't let anyone in with what I've got here," and he indicated the boxes. "I change my own sheets and get clean towels."

Bonnie could tell hew was uncomfortable with the state of his room and liked him even more for it.

"Hospital corners?" she asked.

Will reached over the bed and pulled up the corner of the comforter to show the linens crisply folded and tucked.

"Military training."

They smiled at each other as if they shared a secret of some sort, unknown even to themselves. Will had felt this before, earlier in the evening, at dinner. He thought it might be lust but it felt deeper. And sweeter.

"Well," was all he could say, for reasons unknown.

Bonnie knew what was next: An awkward good-bye, another lonely night and a bittersweet day at work.

"Thank you for helping me with the boxes and having dinner with me," Will said sincerely.

"You're welcome. And what do I owe you for dinner?" Bonnie reached for her handbag.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it."

"But I was the one who asked you to dinner."

"It's all I can do to thank you. I feel like a new man. Or at least human again," said Will, with a grin.

"After what we've put you through these past couple of weeks and dealing with Bryce Lilly today, no wonder you felt that way. We're not an easy bunch to work with, but once you get to know us, we'll be family."

He suddenly felt disappointed and tired. "Well, I'm not going to be here to know that."

"Yeah. I know." Bonnie was wistful, something that wasn't lost on Will. "Well, good night," and turned to the door.

"Tonight doesn't have to end you know." The words came out so quietly that Bonnie wasn't sure if she heard him right.

She turned around. "Did you just say…?"

"Yes," he said. He waited for a moment. He was expecting an angry or embarrassed response from her. How could he have been so stupid? "I just thought that I felt an, ah, something at dinner."

"You felt it too?" Bonnie's eyes widened a little, surprised.

"Yes." Will felt a little breathless. "And in the elevator."

Bonnie took a few steps closer. "And what about now?"

"Most definitely."

Will knew he had given the right answer for Bonnie was kissing him gently, passionately.

/end Chapter One