Title: Home

Author: Novi T. Foxtrot - N123TF

Fandom: The West Wing

Parings: CJ/Simon

Set: implied season 6/7, but AU…

Disclaimer: Character rights belong to Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. and John Wells Productions.

CHAPTER 2

"Mommy!" the pajama clad girl yelled as CJ opened the front door to their Maryland home. They had moved in shortly after discovering she was pregnant. While living in the city was convenient for them both, Simon and she had decided that they didn't want their child to grow up in the city. Emma had not just been unplanned but a complete surprise that meant many life changes including marriage, nonetheless CJ could not imagine her life without the little girl in it. There would be many more changes in the next year. Bartlet would be leaving office in six months, his replacement as of yet unknown and it looked as if Simon would be getting a huge promotion.

Their marriage had done wonders to Simon's career. While he was an excellent agent to begin with and held in high regard, particularly after his role at Rosslyn, Simon had been thrust into the world of politics first hand. He now had a seat at the President's table at the same state dinners which he spent the first part of his career working. It probably didn't help that his daughter called the President of the United States 'Grandpa.' In addition Ron Butterfield, who had personally recruited Simon nearly 15 years ago, would become the Director of the Secret Service come December 1st and as his deputy Simon was a shoe-in for the hole Ron would be leaving as Special Agent in Charge of the Bartlet Presidential Detail. Not that it would be the Bartlet detail much longer after that, she reminded herself.

Which reminded CJ of the one thing she couldn't seem to forget as of late; she had no clue what she was going to do come January 20th. Toby, Josh, and Sam had handpicked the current Democratic Nominee and if luck and a bit of skill would have it, their offices would not be moving too far. Actually if Andi had her way Toby would be home a lot more, it didn't seem to be boding well for him now that she thought about it, but she couldn't blame Andi and she would bet Toby was looking forward to making up for lost time with the twins.

When Josh and Sam left to run the campaign, Toby took over the deputy chief of staff's legislative role, which left CJ scrambling to fill the empty shoes in Communications; she lasted a month juggling the extra pressures until she had finally broke down and hired someone to replace herself as Press Secretary. While she was loathed to give up the job she loved, in its last year the administration had successfully gone after their agenda at full speed after implementing several tactical communications changes.

Tonight though, she was content to be home in time to tuck her daughter into bed. Setting her bag down on the entry's hardwood floors she picked up her little girl who was obviously towing the line that existed between exhaustion and a meltdown. She had been up since six o'clock, sans her normal 45 minute nap. Emma rested her head against her mom's shoulder, her little hand rubbing CJ's arm a sure sign that she was tired, as the little girl talked in rapid fire about her day. CJ inhaled the sent of shampoo and bubble bath. Her head resting slightly against her daughter's as she ran a hand soothingly up and down her back. If the sight of the little girl in her PJs, wasn't enough the fruity sent caused her to admonish herself; she should have left work earlier. CJ mentally made a note to do so the following evening. Toby would understand, after all he probably felt the same thing when he finally arrived home to Huck, Molly, and Andi.

"Upstairs CJ," Simon's voice called.

Hoisting Emma up further on her hip she climbed the stairs that led to the bedrooms on the second floor and found her husband hanging up the wet towels from bath time.

There was no you're late, instead Simon kissed her hello, before dropping a soft kiss in the little girl's hair. They had both long ago realized the CJ made a concerted effort to get home early, but being realistic, being late happened more often than not and they choose to accept the fact, instead of making it a contention in their marriage.

"You want me to take her, while you go change?" Simon asked, seeing as she had already removed her shoes.

"No, I'm okay for now." She said still caressing the little girl's back. They had moved out of the bathroom and we're talking quietly as Simon straightened up the toys that scattered the bedroom carpet. The soothing voice of her parents had caused the already sleepy little girl's eyes to slowly drift closed as she burrowed deeper into the familiar warmth and scent of her mother.

Simon kissed his daughter goodnight, before walking out of the room and heading downstairs.

CJ relished in the ritual of putting Emma to bed; it was their customary time together. CJ had once told him that on stressful days, she looked forward to the time; a means to getting through the day knowing that there was something special, just for her, at the end of it. When CJ was forced to stay late at work, often she would come into Emma's room and just watch the sleeping child. Simon sometimes suspected it was in those moments, that CJ was able to leave the politicking behind, to remind her of a greater purpose.

In the morning, though, CJ and Simon shared the responsibilities. Emma was an early riser, but if CJ dragged herself out of bed by 5:00 she normally had enough time to work out for forty minutes and jump into the shower, before the girl awoke. While in the shower, Emma would wonder sleeply, clutching her worn bear 'Tedz,' into her parent's room, half asleep, and climb into the spot CJ vacated earlier cuddled up next to her daddy. Having dressed and dried her hair, CJ would emerge from the bathroom to wake those still asleep in the bed, often though spending a moment watching them. She would lazily awaken the two. Simon who was often half awake, he claimed since the moment she first got out of bed, would carry Emma into her room, to get her dressed. CJ would finish getting ready for the day, before heading downstairs to start breakfast. Putting the wheat bread in the toaster, she would pour herself a cup of coffee before heading to the front door to grab the morning papers. Simon would bring Emma down and deposit her at the table, before running upstairs and taking a quick shower; he never took more than fifteen minutes. CJ accounted it to the military showers he had been accustomed to earlier in life; nonetheless, the three of them were sitting at the table by 6:20 at the latest. CJ left Emma in Simon's care as she ran out the door at quarter to seven. Simon would wait for Ida, their nanny and housekeeper, to arrive before heading out for his commute himself, arriving at work before eight.

Somewhere along the lines the priorities had shifted in the White House. The ideals of the administration hadn't changed, at least since the last time CJ had checked, but the people slowly had. They had realized that there was more to life than work and while they were good at their jobs, the hours worked waned. It still wasn't a nine-to-five job, but slowly the staff started leaving earlier. First eleven o'clock then ten; now, CJ habitually left around seven, seven-thirty and so did several members of the senior staff. CJ accounted it to Debbie, the President's secretary, as throughout the last four years, she had gotten the President himself to leave earlier and earlier. Abbey probably had some hand in it too, CJ had speculated. Now CJ worked 11 hour days, with a hour long break for lunch with her daughter, which she made up for with an hour or two of work once she got home, but it was a lot better than the eighteen, nineteen hour days of the first term.

As CJ set the content child down on the bed, the little girl's eyes flicked open. "Mommy, a story?" CJ knew the girl, just didn't want her to leave and in truth she didn't want to.

"Sure Angel." She turned on the lamp by the bed, before turning out the overhead light and shredding her suit jacket. Picking up the book of stories on the nightstand she sat down on the bed, the little girl snuggled closer. CJ began reading softly, her voice completely different from anything she used in the pressroom.

Forty minutes, three stories, two good night kisses, and a glass of water later CJ softly shut Emma's door with a sigh. After changing out of her work clothes, CJ walked into the kitchen where Simon was sitting, work spread out across the table. She wrapped her arms around Simon's shoulders and nuzzled her face against his neck, laying a line of kisses up the soft flesh. "I missed you." She softly sighed.

"And I missed you, too"

"Yeah, but you were gone all weekend and us girls had to spend the weekend alone." CJ said pouting.

"Well we can't have that, can we?" Simon said kissing her

"It's my boss, I just don't know how to tell the leader of the free-world that he should stay home, so my husband can too." CJ said smiling.

"If Bartlet hadn't been scheduled for eight cities in three days… we'll I could have spent the weekend cleaning gutters and repainting Emma's playhouse." They both knew though that even if Simon had been home he still probably wouldn't have gotten to it. He was joking with her, the continuation of a tension that had become apparent in the first months of their dating. How they got through those months of campaigning CJ and Simon still didn't know.

While the had long ago agreed that because of their respective jobs they had empathy for the other, particularly from the first hand knowledge gleamed from the four weeks that Simon had headed CJ's own protection detail, there was a huge downside; their jobs often clashed as politics and protection were like oil and water. And while they tried not to bring it home or make it personal sometimes, especially in the beginning they had. It first came to a head seven weeks after they had started dating.

The navy blue Bartlet for America bus, pulled into the town square of a small Minnesota city. Bartlet bounded out of the bus and began pressing the flesh of the numerous surprised voters mingling in the couple blocks of the small downtown.

CJ stepped off the bus following the President and spoke to a troupe of reporters who were traveling on this stretch of campaign. CJ was here because the President and the media were, Sam on the other hand had lost a bet with the President and this was his punishment. Sam, though, was currently sitting on the air conditioned bus, talking strategy with Josh on the phone. After joking with the gathered press for a minute, she stepped under the shade of a tree and watched the President do what he did best.

"Damn it, CJ." She turned to find a familiar face wearing a not so familiar expression.

"What are you so cranky about today?" CJ asked Simon.

"We've been of the road less than two and a half hours and you guys are already on your fourth OTR," an off the record stop, Simon said coming up next to CJ.

"Simon" CJ asked, "what do you think I do, sit on the bus looking out the window and contemplate the best way to spite you today?"

"Of course not, but I also know who is in charge of media and campaign strategy." Only two weeks before Simon had taken CJ out to dinner as a semi-celebration, Bartlet's approvals had gone up after Bruno had decided to adopt a campaign strategy drafted by CJ. Simon using it against her hurt more than she would admit.

"Yes, my job is not just to feed stories to the press, but to affect the public's perception and I'm pretty good at it." CJ said defensively.

"We can't control these stops," Simon said. "For all we know there could be a crazed lunatic in this town with access to a gun. All it takes is one."

"Unplanned or not there can be crazed lunatics," she said remembering Rosslyn. "And if you had your way, you would bring the President out once a year in a bullet proof capsule to show the public that he is alive before taking him back into the security of the White House."

"And if that had been the case, Rosslyn would never have happened." Simon said.

CJ countered, "If racism didn't exist in this country Rosslyn would never have happened."

"And if you could have your way everyday he'd be out shaking hands with every tourist on Pennsylvania Avenue for an hour." Simon retorted, disdain in his voice.

"And we would win the election in a heartbeat." CJ stated her gaze watching the President as he interacted with the town's citizenry.

Softly in retort Simon said, "And if you did the President would be dead in a week." And there was silence.

CJ who had looked away at Simon's comment, slowly turned to look at him. "I'm sorry if doing my job hinders you from doing yours and wrapping him up in a cocoon of protection." CJ said sincerely. "But my job is getting him re-elected and this," she gestured at the scene before them, "is going to be what it takes."

Simon watched the President, his eyes skimming the now assembled crowd. After several seconds of silence, "I know. I'm sorry, campaigning in general and OTRs in particular are very stressful for the team."

"One way or another it'll all be over in six weeks."

"Yeah," Simon said. They both stood silently next to each other. Pressing his hand to his ear, Simon listened intently for a moment. "They're heading back."

"Okay," CJ said taking a step towards the bus.

Simon reached out and caught her hand, stopping her. "CJ," he called softly, her head turning to look at him.

"There was an incident on the Ritchi campaign about thirty-five minutes ago. It's not for the press, we want to keep it in house at least until after it has been investigated, but it just has me," he paused correcting himself, "us, on high alert."

CJ didn't say anything, but lightly squeezed his hand and gave him an understanding smile.

She went to release his hand, but he held on. "And CJ?" she nodded. "You're doing a good job." Her smile radiated across her face.

They didn't make anymore unscheduled stops, at least that day. They worked through it, they always worked through it, and CJ hoped they always would. Placing another kiss to his jaw line, she stood up releasing his shoulders and walked into the foyer to retrieve her bag and the work that filled it.

"So I heard back from Mr. Henderson on the parole board, about three o'clock." She said over her shoulder as she grabbed a diet coke from the fridge and returned to sit down in the chair next to him.

"He said and I quote," her good mood was an already dead give away for the outcome of the conversation. "'The Parole Board does not feel that Mr. Davis has met the necessary requirements for parole at this time and we have decided to reject his application."

"And you doubted me when I said it would never be granted?" Simon asked rhetorically, shutting the folder. "We should be celebrating; you should be drinking something more festive."

"Diet Coke's good." She said simply, clearly something was on her mind.

"If you think so," Simon said. Knowing that without any prodding CJ would discuss whatever it was in her own time. He turned back to the personal files he had been reviewing.

"It's not hypocritical of me, is it?" CJ asked Simon in a quiet voice he had to strain to hear. "I mean I wouldn't have you or Emma if it wasn't for him? And yet I would be content if he sat in prison for his entire sentence and then some." She looked at the soda can on the table twirling it back and forth in her fingers.

Simon thought about his answer for a moment. They had had this discussion several times in the past. Setting down the file he had been reviewing, he turned to his wife. "Yes, while indirectly he did have some impact on your life that is to be expected. Everyone impacts our lives, but we – you and I – CJ, we were the ones who decided to date, we decided to try this out, and we got pregnant with Emma." He watched her body language to make sure she was listening. "There is no way to know if it wouldn't have happened had you not been receiving threats. But at the moment Mr. Davis is still a tiny threat, by his own choice, and I will do everything in my power to prevent him from harming my family. Understand?" He said, tipping her chin up and turning her face slightly so she was forced to meet his eyes. She slowly nodded her head "And even if you had written a glowing review of him to the parole board today, his behavior speaks much louder than any words you could have written in his defense. Okay?"

CJ resembled Emma earlier in the day as she looked at him. "Okay," she finally said, but CJ still harbored guilt in the depths of her heart. Simon knew there was more going on in the head of hers, but CJ did things in her own time. So when it was clear the discussion was finished, Simon picked up the file again.

Simon was her rock, he had proved it time and time again and CJ had no reason to question him. It was nice to be able to have someone to help you home when you needed it; to come home at the end of the day and not have to pretend you were strong. Behind the doors of their home, surrounded in Simon's arms, she could confide the fears buried within her heart. It was nice, she admitted, to have someone to share the good and the bad with.