Author's Note: Sorry this one took so long, the muse hasn't been so kind with this story (has with others, though, so I'm not complaining). Anyway, here the next chappy is!

For anything else, see the first chapter…

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If The Whole World Would Stop Looking

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/-/-/ Two Months After Iowa: Hotel, Maine /-/-/

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It had happened so fast, the rush had surprised her. And yet, she was comfortable with it, prepared and past anxious for it.

Days had sped by with an odd tranquility to them. The days, as hectic as they were, were broken by Danny's sporadic visits, bringing her food or coffee or simple conversation. Nights came, and that was when the hours slowed and she was able to relax to the sound of Danny's voice.

Since that night in Idaho, midnight talks had slowly become tradition. They met at the end of the day and often walked with each other to the hotel or wherever they may be sleeping that night. Those walks were quiet, unlike most of their time spent together. At first, they spent their time in the lobbies or wherever they could get some space. But with every time he escorted her to her door, they lingered outside her room longer and longer until CJ finally broke.

It was two months after Idaho, when Danny led CJ down the hall. She laughed at something he said, though the joke would have been lost upon anyone who might have walked past. Their banter was often like that, confusing even their friends on the staff and members of the press. But that hardly bothered them, for they preferred the odd connection they had formed.

CJ stopped before her door, Danny stopping at her side. The conversation halted as it always did, leaving a silent void fell over them. Danny looked reproachfully at the door, as if blaming it for its presence. CJ opened the door slowly, staring in longingly, quickly smothering the desire. Turning in the door, she leaned against the frame. It was another tradition. She watched from just inside her room, Danny standing with his hands stuffed in his pockets looking so lost. Every night she searched for the strength to act on the thoughts running through her mind. To let go and simply obey the urges she felt. Every night, she couldn't find it.

Danny watched her, shyly looking past her shoulder. He couldn't always meet her eye. But sometimes he skirted furtive glances, gauging her emotions. He knew what she wanted to do, knew that he wanted it as well, but he couldn't bring himself to make the first move. He felt as if the ball was in her court. He was more than willing, more than ready, but he was terrified. Ready, but terrified.

Almost timidly, she caught his eyes. "Danny…" she stopped, unable to find the words she wanted to say. She was torn, wishing so badly to say what she felt rather than the traditional words that always followed. "I…"

"I should…" he shrugged his head to the side.

"Yeah."

"Okay…"

A glimmer of a smirk appear as she watched him, standing still before her. "You're not moving." That had become another of their traditions. He said he would leave, and yet he didn't move. She reminded him. Another few minutes or so would pass before Danny would force himself to leave.

But, that night, he didn't. That night he cracked a smile at the remark. CJ watched his features light up. The light was intoxicating, and she began to smile too. She dropped her chin to her chest and huffed out a little laugh. The scene captivated Danny. He took a few hesitate steps forward, pulling his hand from his pocket and brushing her hair over her shoulder. She looked up at him, her eyes clouded with a mixture of emotions. Danny held her eyes, breaking down all the walls. He stepped even closer, his hand sliding around to cup her chin. He watched her eyes, making sure CJ was okay his actions.

CJ froze under the touch of his skin against hers. She couldn't breath, couldn't move. She watched him in utter disbelief. His searching eyes forced her body forward. She brought herself close, brushing her temple against his. He leaned in, capturing her lips softly with his.

It hadn't been planned, had only been dreamed in past lonely nights. It was something forbidden in the back of their minds.

CJ's fingers traced down his chest, skimming the edges of his loosened tie. She gave it a tuck, stepping backwards.

She turned into the door, the force of the door closing slamming Danny into her as CJ's back crashed into the door. He kissed her neck in earnest, making her moan, full and throaty. She tilted her head back, giving him better access.

Clothes fell to the ground, hands roamed, lips explored as feet led them away from the entrance.

His hands were like fire on her skin. She shuddered under the intensity of his gaze. Her head titled back under its over volition, granting his lips better access. She knew she should tell him to stop, knew she needed to tell him, knew that it was wrong.

But she didn't. She didn't want to.

Danny's hands traveled along her spine. Every nerve in her body was on fire. Burning desire coursed through her body as she leaned closer, pressing her lips against his.

Four months ago, she hadn't known this man. Hadn't known his sweetness, or odd quirks. Hadn't known the skilled reporter with the curly red hair and kind smile. Four months ago, he hadn't known the spunky press secretary. Hadn't known this amazing woman, holding herself up despite the testosterone surrounding her. Four months ago, neither had known something as wonderful as that single moment of bliss.

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/-/-/ After Roslyn Shooting: CJ's office /-/-/

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Her knees trembled under her weight, legs shaking as she stumbled into her office. She didn't remember how she found her way there. She wasn't even sure what had happened during the briefing. Her hand strayed back to her neck, rubbing it absently. It was unconscious now; she was no longer concerned about her missing necklace.

CJ looked up, seeing the far wall. It suddenly sank in that she had at some point collapsed onto her couch. She fell back into the cushions, head falling back and eyes dropping closed. Sighing, CJ allowed herself a rare moment to be absorbed into her own world. She never heard Danny walk in minutes behind her.

"You okay?" His voice was soft, so as he wouldn't startle her. She looked up slowly at him. He stood before her, hands in his pockets as he looked down at her, his face slacking in fatigue and concern. CJ noddedonce she realized he had asked a question. She groaned, exhaustion leaking from her body when she tried to move. She quickly thought better and sank back into the cushions. "You should go home, CJ. Get some sleep."

"Can't. I'm just going to sit here for a while. I'll be fine."

"CJ, you're-"

"Danny…" she sighed, prying her eyes opened to look up at him. He was watching her earnestly. "Stop talking and join me or leave."

Danny sighed, looking back over his shoulder. He took a few steps towards the door, feeling CJ's eyes leaving him as he did so. He pushed the door closed before he turned and joined her on the couch. The cushions strained under the pressure of his body.

He settled close against her, thighs and forearms touching, heat being allowed to radiate between them. Danny wrapped his arm around her shoulder and CJ rested against him. She leaned into him, slipping her feet out of her shoes and folding her legs underneath her butt to be more comfortable. Her head fell onto his shoulder, Danny's cheek nuzzling into her hair.

A peaceful silence fell over them. Neither moved, for neither had the energy to do so. Minutes passed before CJ shifted, breaking the silence with the rustling of her clothes. She sighed before burying her face into his chest. She muttered something incoherent. Danny's brows came together as he attempted to distinguish words from the noise.

"What?" Danny shifted, trying to see her face. His one hand continued to rub her back as the other one reached up to brush stray locks behind her ear. "Couldn't hear you."

"Last night… I-" CJ took a deep breath and Danny was troubled by the moisture collecting in her eyes. "I don't remember what happened, Danny. I remember walking outside. Someone pushed me down… then I was standing in front of a police care with its windows shot… I don't… I don't remember anything else, Danny."

"C-"

Danny broke off at the sound of the door swinging opened. Both looked, then froze when they heard a voice.

"CJ?"

Toby himself seemed far more shocked then they did. He froze, standing in the doorway as he took in their intimate position on the couch. Had she not been tired and worried and utterly drained of all energy and emotion, CJ might have thought it funny. She might have laughed at the thought that it was the most expression she had seen on his face for a long while.

Seconds stretched out and eventually Toby cleared his throat. He tore his eyes away from them, cheeks reddening some as he said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Sorry."

"Toby," CJ tried to say, but he had already fled from the room. She groaned, shutting her eyes tight and letting her eyes forehead fall back onto Danny's shoulder. "I should go talk to him."

"Talk to him later."

"No, I should-"

"You should go see a doctor."

"I don't need a doctor."

"You can't remember what happened."

"It's no big deal."

"It's freaking you out, CJ, that means it is a big deal."

"It's thirty seconds of my life. I've live. I'll get over it."

"CJ-"

"Danny! I'm not in the mood to argue. Please… I'm gonna go talk to Toby. Then I'm coming back here to try and convince myself to finish some work. Then I'll go check on Josh-"

"CJ, go home and go to bed. I'll call and find out what's happening. You can't do much more than that."

"Danny-"

"CJ, that's not negotiable. You're going home at," he paused to check his watch, catching her eye again as he said, "seven o'clock."

"I don't think I've ever gone home at seven o'clock."

"Well today you are."

"First I'm going to the hospital."

"No, you're not. You're going straight home. I'll drive you there myself."

She groaned, and Danny could have sworn she rolled her eyes at him. "Fine. I'm going to go talk to Toby."

"I thought you said you weren't in the mood to argue." That time she did roll her eyes as she stood up, sliding her sore feet back into their prisons. She had taken a few steps towards the door when she heard his voice say, quiet and uneven, "Are you going to tell him everything?"

She looked back over at him. He was still sitting on the couch, watching her as she retreated from the office. CJ nodded. "I think he deserves it."

"He's gonna be pissed."

"Yeah," she shrugged, "He's gonna be. But he'll get over it."

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"Can we talk?"

"I'm a little busy."

"You've been a little busy for the past two weeks."

"I've been a little busy for the past two years."

CJ sighed, shifting her weight as she stood in the doorway to Toby's office. Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked down at her feet, trying to force down all the emotions rushing to the surface. "Toby-"

"CJ, there's nothing more to say."

"Yes, there is."

Finally he looked up, holding her eyes. "I don't think so." CJ shook her head, a scowl obscuringher features. On impulse, she stepped forward and gave the door a violent shove, slamming it shut. "CJ-"

"I think I get to decide just how much there is to say." The outburst halted anything Toby was about to say. He watched her expectantly, waiting for CJ to say something. She, however, seemed without a clue as to what she wanted to say next.

"What I saw," he said after a long stretch of silence, "Was that something… spontaneous or-"

"No."

"Then…"

"Toby, we've been… dating for two and a half years now."

"Two… and a half? Since the-?"

"Yeah."

"And no one knows?"

"No one besides Carol, Josh, Sam… and you."

"And that's seriously it?"

"Well Mrs. Landingham smiles and winks at me whenever she sees the two of us together, so I'm not sure what she thinks, but…" CJ smiled even though Toby seemed not at all impressed. He gazed steadily at her with heavy eyes, nodding slowly to himself.

"CJ…" his voice trailed off, his eyes falling to his hands as he lost his nerve to say what he wanted to say. CJ stared at him, waiting for the man to continue speaking. He didn't. Instead he sputtered, looking at her several times to start speaking.

"Just say it, Toby. You don't like it. You're waiting for some reporter to see me with him and get an idea. Say it. You want us to break up."

"Fine! I do. I don't like it and I want the two of you as far apart as possible but I doubt you'll listen to me if I did say it."

"You just did." He rolled his eyes. "Toby-"

"What were you thinking? You are the Press Secretary to the President of the United States of America and he's a reporter who works in your pressroom!"

"Well, in our defense, I wasn't Press Secretary to the President when we first got together."

"No, you were just working for a man trying to become President who would be hurt just a little bit more by a sex scandal!" Toby stopped, breathing in deeply from his explosion. CJ glared at him, jaw slacked. He cleared his throat, searching his desk for his pen as if that were currently the most pressing issue of all eternity. After a futile search, he looked back at her. "Is Danny worth your job? His job?"

She nodded without hesitation, however she paused before, "We're getting married, Toby."

He froze, looking at her, dumbfounded. His eyes widened some, jaw slacking, she could see his mind searching for words. "You're serious? When?"

"When we're out of office." She paused, forcing herself to crack a smile, "We weren't planning on eloping and showing up married one day, Toby."

"I didn't think that." A comment was hot on her lips, but she chose not to say anything. Instead, she remained quiet, letting Toby speak. "When?"

"You already asked that. I told you-"

"I meant, when did he propose? I've never seen a ring or anything."

"We're not careless, Toby. Have you seen one thing that would make you suspect we've been dating for- let me reiterate this- two and a half years?" Toby just gazed up at her, saying nothing. She sighed, looking away to compose herself. She rubbed her hand under her nose, fingers splayed over her mouth. "The night of the election."

"Sorry?"

"The night of the election, he proposed. And I wear it on a necklace." Toby's eyes followed her jaw line down to her neck, truly noticing for the first time that she wore the same necklace every day.

He nodded, not saying anything else. CJ let out a long breath, readying herself to leave, but then Toby said, "You told Sam and Josh before me?"

She smirked and then shrugged. "They both figured it out before you."

"Josh figured it out?"

"Saw the necklace."

"And Sam?"

CJ shrugged. "Stole my necklace."

"Sorry?"

CJ just laughed. "I lost it at…" she let her voice trail off, "Well I lost it the other week and Sam found it for me. So obviously I told him."

"A couple weeks ago? And Josh? When did you tell him?"

"A little after we moved into office."

"Oh… I guess Carol's known since then too, huh?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "So… are we okay?"

"Okay? Not really. But I'm not about to go to Leo, if that's what you're worried about."

"No," she said softly, shaking her head, "I'm worried you'll be pissed at me for the rest of this administration."

"Will you be here until the end of this administration?"

CJ held his eyes for a long moment, letting the seconds drag by. She opened and closed her mouth several times before she shook her head. "No, probably not… I should go. Just… we're gonna be okay eventually, right?"

"Just… he is worth it?"

"Very worth it."

"And you love him?" She just nodded. "Then we'll be okay."

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One chapter to go… a bunch of reviews might make that last chapter appear faster. (Just a thought)