Title: Without You
Author: Writerinthemaking
Feedback: Greatly appreciated

Classification: The West Wing – CJ/Danny
Rating: T
Spoilers: None really – it's purely fictional - AU.

Summary: CJ and Danny face the challenges of their long awaited romance. Sometimes love is not enough, life is messy and we forget to listen. But some things are just too important to miss out on.

Disclaimer: All characters belong entirely to Aaron Sorkin and The West Wing

Authors Note: I have been extremely busy the last six months, so I have kept you waiting. I am really sorry - I know how much I look forward to updates. I just hope this new chapter will satisfy you! Thank you for reading and please review!

9. Teardrops in heaven

Dec. 05.

As soon as Danny stepped inside the hospital lobby, he was greeted by a nurse. She gently grabbed his arm and guided him to the elevators.

"The First Lady said to go to the 5th floor," she told him with a small smile. Danny thanked her. He knew he was being smuggled in but he didn't care. He was not here as a reporter but as; his thoughts paused to decide on what to call himself. As a friend he finally decided.

When the elevator doors parted on the 5th floor Danny looked into a small chaos. But it was not as he thought White House staff but doctors and nurses. He saw two women sitting in the waiting area around the desk, and a big family on the way to visit someone. He saw flowers and tasteful art on the walls. He stepped out and walked towards the desk but another young nurse came to him.

"Mr. Concannon?" she obviously knew him.

"Yes, that's me, I'm here to see C.J. Cregg I believe…" he didn't have a chance to finish.

"Ms. Cregg is resting, I'm to take you to our staff-room." She said and led him to a small office with a table, chairs, a couch, a small television and a lot of 'thank you' cards on the walls.

"Someone will come get you in a couple of minutes," and with that she left him.

Danny sat down on the couch; he got up and walked around the room. He was so close to her but yet so far away. He knew he had said the most horrible things to her.

He remembered her last words: "we are through!"

The door opened and he turned around to face CJ's assistant Carol. She slowly walked towards him and he felt very uncomfortable. Carol had been a great help during their courtship, but he also knew she was very protective of her boss. Therefore, it surprised him even more when Carol reached him and gave him a big hug.

"What took you so long?" she asked, her voice thick from exhaustion.

"I don't know" he answered truthfully as he realized he really didn't know what in the world could have kept him away for so long.

"How is she?" Danny asked knowing he was not out of the woods yet. Carol tensed up and went over to the couch to sit down.

"The First Lady will be here shortly," she saw the worry in Danny's eyes. "She's going to be just fine Danny. With you back in town, she'll have a reason too, right?"

Before Danny had a chance to answer her the door opened again and the First Lady stepped in.

"Hi Danny, oh Carol will you stand outside the door and knock if anyone want to come in?" Carol nodded and gave Danny a small smile before closing the door behind her.

Abbey took a good long look at Danny. She was happy he was back because she knew CJ needed him more than she would ever care to admit. But also because she was pretty sure CJ had been holding back when she told Abbey what had really happened when they split up.

He looked exhausted. The spark that usually shone through in his eyes when he was around CJ, was totally extinct. She knew none of them had dealt with this separation very well. They had been fighting for this love so long before they had a chance to enjoy it, and having it taken away was equivalent to them slowly dying inside.

"Is she going to be alright?" Danny asked not being able to wait for Abbey to speak.

"She will be fine but the two of you get it together and sort things out." Abbey looked directly at Danny while she spoke. She had said the same to CJ when she told her to call Danny a couple of hours earlier. But CJ shook her head and closed her eyes, the tears slowly sliding down her cheeks.

"It's over, I blew it Abbey, I told him to get out of my life for good"

Danny felt a little relieved. She was going to be all right and now he had the chance to take it all back, to hold her again, to kiss her and love her. If only he didn't blow it now.

"Do you think she will see me," he asked almost begging. Abbey looked at him. She smiled a little; these two really loved each other so much they couldn't seem to find each other in the big sea of gigantic feelings and thoughts.

"I'm sure she wants to but she's pretty shaken up and she's sleeping right now so when you get in there remember to take it slowly no matter what happens okay?" Abbey got up to show Danny CJ's room but realized when she reached the door that he was still sitting on the couch.

"Danny?"

"I never should have left. What if she won't take me back?" Danny spoke more to himself than to Abbey. She walked back and sat down.

"Danny love is not supposed to be easy and happy all the time, sometimes it's messy and we forget to listen, but when it's someone who really matters we eventually get our priorities straight, now go sit with her, she needs you," Abbey got up and pulled at Danny's hand.

They walked in silence to CJ's room where Donna sat holding CJ's left hand. CJ was sleeping but it was not a peaceful sleep, her head was going from one side to the other, her right hand was tugging slightly at the sheet and she had a thin layer of sweat covered her forehead. Donna rose as Danny walked over. She gave him a small peek on the cheek before handing over CJ's hand to Danny's left. When their hands touched she suddenly became peaceful and rolled over in her sleep to hold his hands between hers.

Danny sat down, tears slowly rolling down his cheeks. Donna and Abbey left the room as quickly and quietly as possible.

Danny's right hand reached over and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. He had been gone way to long but now he was back and he intended to stay forever.

It had been a couple of hours and Danny was about to doze off when CJ woke. She slowly opened her eyes. She had been dreaming of him. Of him coming to her, holding her hand, kissing her forehead. As she slowly came back to reality she realized that he was really there. She could feel his hand between hers. It was not thin and fragile as Donna's but strong and soft. She could smell his aftershave even before she realized she was awake.

She saw him sitting there, almost asleep. Then the reality came crashing back to her and she withdrew her hand in a sharp pull. Danny's head snapped back and his eyes locked with hers in an instant.

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I have been very productive in the last couple of days. If you want more, then please review! It's helps, encourages and inspires! Daisy Wilson, thank you for your encouraging words!