C.J. yawned and stared at her desk. She had to force herself to focus after the sleepless night in the hospital. She forced herself to also admit she missed Danny and the idea of a day without the sight of him prowling the White House halls added to the malaise.

She dragged out the journal and searched her mind for something to write. It came to her. There was news that Josh might be out of the hospital by week's end. Besides the positive aspect for Josh, it meant the end of one of the vigils maintained by the Senior Staff. They would just rotate being at the White House and sleeping on office couches in case the First Family or Leo needed them.

These were the first things C.J. noted in the notebook. Today, she felt the need to pour out her emotions. She finally recounted some of the emotions swirling through her since the night at Rosslyn. It left her drained but better focused. She hated to admit that Danny and Abbey might be right about finding balance by journaling.

She dashed off an e-mail to Danny sharing the news about Josh and wishing them well on their odyssey of baseball parks. She promised to update during the day and even got a little mushy. She could see him puffing up with machismo when he saw the words professing her love and desire for him. No way around it, truth must be served.

"Carol". C.J. summoned her assistant and prepared to face the day.

Danny played parent and insisted P.J. lay down for quiet time. The expected whining was music to Danny's ears. Typical parent child exchange. He didn't get to deal with many of those allowing him to enjoy the novelty.

They'd been on the go all day in Williamsport. Danny had played tourist treating his son to a ride on a paddle wheel riverboat. They'd spent a long time at the Little League complex snapping pictures and making up game scenarios.

On their walk around the area they'd found a local roasted nut business and sent off gift packages to Trish, C.J. and Donna. Danny figured nuts weren't on Josh's diet and Donna deserved a treat and a thinking of you moment from someone outside the White House Inner Circle. There was a large supply now in the room too to assuage P.J.'s constant hunger.

With Patrick quiet, Danny typed in some entries for his journal and saved them on a floppy. He downloaded some pictures and sent off one to Josh with a quick update about the trip knowing Josh would love the baseball leg of it.

This would be the only minor league game, tomorrow they'd head to Pittsburgh for a night game and then find a hotel. From there it was on to Cleveland for game three of their four game baseball tour.

Game four was in Cincinnati. After finishing the afternoon game it was off to the West Virginia mountains for a camping trip. Patrick was excited it would be guys only and anticipated male bonding rituals like belching the alphabet and scratching for reasons unrelated to bug bites. He'd begged his dad to include some water activities like canoeing. Danny wouldn't consider letting Patrick kayak yet even though he was happy to see P.J. following in his appreciation for the water.

Danny had found a good deal this late in the season on a lake cabin that included canoe rental. He'd have to leave the internet behind but would have a laptop and disks with him to maintain his journal. It would be out of wireless range too. Paper would have to do for the most part to keep in touch and he'd do his journal in a notebook as time allowed.

He glanced at the bed and saw P.J. zonked out. They'd done nonstop talking about everything but P.J.'s fear. Danny figured it would come up eventually at the opportune moment. He had to convince his son that life couldn't be lived if you were ruled by fear.

For now, he'd bide his time and scan his messages. He glanced at the e-mail tally and skipped through everything but a message from C.J.

"Picture of P.J. gave me a jolt, he's so much bigger than the last picture you have. It gave Josh a reason to smile when I shared it with him. Here's a reason for you to smile. Looks like he may be out of the hospital by the start of the week.

"Not sure what else you'd be interested in hearing from here except that I keep looking for you to pop up around every corner. It's tough realizing that I won't be feeling that spike in my blood pressure when you level me with your devastating and sexy grin. I want my hands on you and your hands on me.

"I can manage tonight but when I return to my place and my bed I'll really miss you. Wipe that shit eating self satisfied look off your face.

"In case I don't hear from you before you and P.J. go the Lewis and Clark route - listen up. Use sunscreen to protect those vital parts and be careful. I want you and I want you back in one piece."

Danny closed the laptop for the moment. He'd try to e-mail C.J. later. By his calculations, the first of his barrage of postcards should reach her today. He'd sent one from the D.C. airport before he took off and one from the Pennsylvania airport upon landing.

He'd stashed a set of white envelopes and stamps to send updates along the way. By encasing the postcards in the envelopes he ensured a little more privacy if he sent them to the White House. It was the best final destination since she would be there more than anywhere else.

As she'd reminded him tonight would be her night on her office couch. He'd made his own grid to keep track of her whereabouts right after he realized the round robin night patrol existed.

The lure of the luxury of a midafternoon nap pulled him to the room's other bed. Danny stretched out and closed his eyes imagining C.J.'s delight at the surprises he'd put in place to keep him prominent in her mind.

Plus, tonight baseball and his boy. Life was good.

Another day since Rosslyn done and day two of life without Danny endured. C.J. sighed and stretched out on her couch. It was nearing midnight with rain pounding on the windows and the lid long dropped.

She was on the schedule to bunk at the White House. The forced time in her office allowed her to catch up on the never ending supply of memos and reports. The load was heavier than usual with Josh out of the mix temporarily.

The White House was quiet now and she willed her mind to get on the same track. She stared at the ceiling and took deep calming breaths. Her arm was positioned behind her head and one of the throw pillows. She doubted sleep would come.

In an effort to prove herself wrong and find a more comfortable position C.J. turned on her side. Her hand slipped under the pillow. A small smile appeared when she touched the postcards there. She'd wanted them close by hoping by association it would keep Danny near.

Two plain white envelopes with preprinted address labels wouldn't seem to stand out in her stack of mail. C.J. nearly set them aside until she noticed the return address. It was the two lines listing street address and city with zip code + 4 that told her it was from Danny.

Before she could rip into them Leo strode into her office to discuss something. C.J. couldn't remember now what he wanted but she clearly recalled how the envelopes seemed to take on the warmth of Danny's skin in her hand. Her fingers had itched to open them.

They were a gift expressing his feelings as he waited at the airport for his departing flight and on his safe landing. Just a few phrases including the trite but true. Didn't matter because it re-enforced that he was thinking of her. She felt the connection and it steadied her while she coped with his absence.

C.J. had been alerted to look for a care package of roasted nuts from some place in Williamsport. She'd been touched that he wanted her to give Donna advance notice she was on the treat list too. He'd left a voice mail message from the ballpark sounding happy and content.

She'd replied to his e-mail including details of her day in them to contrast and compare his day. It was a poor substitute for the live and lively version of Danny Concannon. However, this time with his son was important to both generations of Concannons. She hoped Danny would calm P.J.'s fears about the safety of Danny remaining in D.C.

Danny's work was here and it was work he did because he felt it was as important as government service. She couldn't imagine him not in her Press Room "doing the people's business" as he'd once proclaimed while flirting with her before the first Bartlet White House State Dinner.

Her certainty about his ties here wavered because he was now away from her and with his family. What if his son and wife - ex-wife, C.J. corrected herself mentally, what if they pressured him to stay close? C.J. couldn't imagine dealing with life without him but didn't his son have to take precedence?

She clutched the postcards and shut down those thoughts. Her mind focused on the Concannon itinerary. He'd left her a copy and she'd memorized it. Tonight a minor league game in Williamsport and then tomorrow a Pirate's game before heading to Cleveland. She expected he'd send more messages any way he could and she smiled remembering she'd planned a surprise of her own.

C.J.'s smile stayed in place as she drifted off to sleep. It wouldn't be the consuming, restful sleep she found when she shared a bed with Danny. But the postcards conveyed enough of his presence to temporarily soothe her.

The nonstop pace of a vacation was different than the usual nonstop pace of Danny's work day. He was aware that once he and his son passed from the baseball touring phase to the camping phase, he'd be forced into slowing down.

P.J. hated missing a moment with his Dad and argued mightily over each bedtime. Danny solved the problem brilliantly on this night by loading his son into the car after the Pittsburgh Pirates game and heading west toward Cleveland.

The plan gave P.J. a chance to bounce off the car doors and share his observations about the game, the crowd and the food. His enthusiasm morphed into giant yawns and before they approached the state line the seven year old was asleep.

Danny missed the chatter from the backseat. He felt lonely driving through the starlit late summer night and reached for his wireless phone. With the push of one button, he hoped to assuage that feeling.

It was C.J.'s first night on her own at her place since Danny's departure. She was a little reluctant to face it until she decided it was one more way to know the calendar was moving ahead and this night brought him one day closer to coming back.

She let herself into her apartment and smiled at the hall table light burning. Mrs. Ellert never let her down. The elderly woman dutifully kept track of C.J.'s schedule and collected the mail on C.J.'s days away. There was a note on the pile of mail indicating she'd left C.J. a light meal in the fridge.

C.J.'s hunger was a sporadic thing these days and she decided the leftovers could wait. She'd have another night off from the hospital and the White House tomorrow. Looking forward to Mrs. Ellert's home cooking would ease C.J. through another day.

Tonight, she'd indulge in a long bath with bubble bath, candles and a glass of wine. Maybe she'd sleep in the piece of lingerie that Danny called his favorite. She smiled realizing whatever one she wore and he took off of her was dubbed the one he liked best.

She'd kicked off her shoes before noticing the bag on her bed. Danny had made the bed before he left. C.J. decided to drag out the anticipation. She started bath water, lit candles and removed her makeup.

Detouring to the kitchen for wine took her right past the bed, still she stood pat. On her return, she methodically hung up her suit and laid out her clothes for the next day.

Satisfied she'd earned her treat, she lunged for the brown paper bag. She hugged it to her and found it soft and squishy. She peeked inside and her face puckered into a puzzled pout. When upended on the bed, the bag yielded a couple of men's white t-shirts and a lined piece of paper. She snatched it up after recognizing it had been torn from one of Danny's reporter's notebooks.

Her pout dissolved into a smile as she read: "C.J., This will either make you happy or disgust you. Here are a couple of my tees in their unwashed state and doused with a little extra of my cologne. Foolishly, I hope you'll sleep in them and manage to miss me yet still feel closer to me.

"See the conundrums you inspire in my usually well order thought process? We'll chalk it up as a side effect of love.

"You know I love you and I miss you. Danny"

"I choose happy.", she whispered and buried her face in the white cotton. "Nice to have you here."

Danny drove onto the turnpike and sighed. She hadn't answered her wireless phone. He'd left a message reluctantly figuring she was somewhere working or tending the others. He let the miles pass as he mentally recalled her patchwork schedule that alternated between Josh at the hospital, the President at the White House and her place.

The fog cleared from his brain and he grabbed his phone again to hit another speed dial number.

C.J. was out of the bath and indulging in a good coat of moisturizer on her face and lotion on her body. It wasn't just practical but soothing as she decompressed from her day.

She was pulling one of Danny's shirts over her head when she became aware her apartment phone was ringing. The temptation to simply let it go to her answering machine nearly won out. Duty overcame desire and she sprinted toward the phone on the nightstand.

It was about to go to C.J.'s answering machine. Danny took a deep breath prepared to leave a message. C.J. took a long leap and grabbed it.

"Hello."

"I'm on the road and rather than call some radio station and request something to ease the lonely road, I dialed direct."

"Are you expecting phone sex?"

He groaned, "No, that won't make the drive easier." He sighed and debated whether or not to share. "Okay, just hearing your voice is doing a number on me."

Her chuckle was self satisfied. "Don't get nailed for speeding unless it's a female trooper. She might appreciate it."

"Not what I called to hear."

"How's this? I miss you and hearing your voice is a lovely surprise."

"That's better." He glanced at an exit sign. "I'm on the turnpike heading for Cleveland."

"Where's your traveling companion?"

"Zonked out in the back seat, dead to the world."

"Is he buckled in?" C.J. surprised herself by dipping into an untapped well of maternal concern.

"Yes, officer. He wound down quickly after the game despite three hot dogs, peanuts, ice cream and a pretty good game."

"Three hot dogs?"

"About average for a Concannon male at a baseball game or cookout."

"Amazing." Her voice softened, "Is it wonderful?"

"Yeah. He's a terrific kid; bright, funny, interested in everything and everyone. I'm never sure what'll come out of his mouth."

"Showed Josh the picture and updated him on your road trip. Looks like he'll be out of the hospital by the end of next week."

"That should give everyone a lift and you another night off."

"Not as much fun without you around."

Danny heard her swift intake of breath and sensed her regret. "You're pumping up my ego. I'll be back before you really adjust to me being gone."

"I didn't mean. . ."

"C.J., stop. It's tough for both of us. Remember, we've got faith and love on our side."

"And I've got something extra to hold on to."

"Do tell."

"I'm wearing a white t-shirt left for me by my lover."

"Not too gross?"

"Stop sounding smug." She stroked her hand down the shirt. "Running my hand over this soft material is the next best thing to you here and in it."

Danny groaned, "Change of subject, I beg of you. Hi, honey. How was your day?"

Her throaty laugh preceded her narrative of her day. She mentioned the mail and the two additional postcards from him. "You're spoiling me."

"Not possible. Libby keeping you honest?"

"Have you been reading the Post on line?"

"Just a quick glance. I promised P.J. I wouldn't get too involved."

The sound of his name penetrated his brain and C.J. heard a sleepy boy's voice. "Dad, were you talking to me?"

"Sorry, champ. Didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep."

"Are we there yet?"

"About another hour."

"You sure?"

"Yeah or I wouldn't have let my navigator sack out."

"Who you talkin' to?"

"I'm on my phone."

"Is it Mom?"

"No, I wouldn't call her without you. Settle back in now."

C.J. heard Danny shuffle in his seat and ask, "P.J.? Patrick?"

Danny gave the road and phone his attention. "Sorry about that. He already fell back asleep."

There was a catch in her throat. "Don't be. You're a wonderful father. All that soothing without skipping a beat. He sounds like a lovely boy. I can't imagine how you manage without him."

"The same way I'm barely managing without you - I compartmentalize and trust everything works out as it's supposed to for everyone. Besides, I've told you his Mom is an excellent parent and that makes it easier. Not much easier, but a little bit."

"Tell me about your day." She settled back on her bed and listened to Danny recount their adventures of exploring Pittsburgh and the game. The cadence of his voice was warm, caressing and punctuated with an occasional laugh.

His voice lulled her even as his shirt hugged her and C.J. slipped toward sleep. Danny realized she'd gotten too quiet and he softly called her name.

She stirred quickly, "Ooops. I'm not much of a traveling companion."

"It's okay. Turn out the lights and go to sleep. Sweet dreams, darling."

"I love you. Be safe and have fun. Come back to me."

He heard the click of her phone and hoped she'd slip off to sleep feeling his presence. The road sign alerted him that Cleveland was close. Danny continued west and wondered if he'd ever get everything in his life in some kind of balance.

(TBC)