Post 'Election day Part 2'
"Good evening sir," the agent stepped past Danny, into his apartment. Danny kept his eyes on CJ the whole time.
"Thank you sir." The agent stepped out and CJ went in. Danny closed the door softly behind her.
She turned to face him.
"I'm sorry about…" his voice trailed off.
She swallowed, nodding, her lips forcing themselves into an upwards curve that could never honestly be called a smile.
"Are you okay?"
She half shrugged. Obviously not.
"Can I get you a drink?"
She moved as if some other force had pushed her forward. His lips were familiar, a comfort unexpected, but hoped for. His arms folded around her and his every thought of selfless charity flew out the window.
A minute later she pulled away, shock written on her features, "Sorry, I don't want to take advan-"
He pressed his fingers to her lips then kissed her softly, a gentle invitation.
She smiled and went back for more.
She woke two minutes before the alarm on her phone would go off. Somewhere in her psyche the dread of her alarm was greater than her need for another two minutes sleep. She made out his face in the dark and smiled at his sleeping form.
Rolling away gently, trying not to wake him, she reached for her phone on the bedside table and turned off the alarm.
She tip-toed out of the room, and picked up her clothes off the floor, on her way to the bathroom. She moved with stealth, closing the door carefully, then turning on the light. She snooped around a little, finding shampoo she could steal, but no hair dryer, a new tooth brush but no lotion.
She turned on the shower, cringing at the surely abnormally loud sound of water spraying against glass. Stepping into the hot torrent was bliss. She shut her eyes and let it run down her face, surrounding her body in a cocoon of comfort.
At a light knock on the door she rubbed her face and opened her eyes. "Come in," she smiled at his hesitation to walk in on her – what was that? Modesty? Maybe respect. Sweet.
He stopped stock still on the threshold, awe etched into his features as he appreciated the view.
"You're making me blush," she turned away, "Mind if I steal some shampoo?"
"Go for gold. Did you find everything you need? I'm a little sparse, haven't restocked very well for visitors."
"You wouldn't want to be too well stocked – might send the wrong message." She closed her eyes, put her head back and rubbed shampoo into her hair.
"What message would that be?"
She laughed, "Were you planning on joining me or just watching?"
"How'd I manage to get so lucky that those are my options?"
"I'd hate to limit you. I'm sure there are other options."
"Do you eat breakfast?"
"I wouldn't say no." She turned back to face him, running her fingers through the ends of her hair, rinsing out the suds.
"Don't get me wrong. I'd love to join you and watching – wow – but would making breakfast be more constructive?"
"Undoubtedly." She smiled watching his reaction to seeing her like this.
"Right then," he forcibly pulled himself away.
She got into her yesterday's clothes and, towelling her hair, walked barefoot out to the kitchen.
"Good morning," he passed her a coffee cup and turned back to the stove.
"Good morning."
"Sleep okay?"
She looked over his shoulder at scrambling eggs. "Yes. Definitely. You?"
"Like a baby – stupid saying really. They wake every hour on the hour, or so I'm told. So not like a baby actually."
"So you slept well." She leaned back against the bench and watched him till the toast popped. "Want me to butter that?"
"Sure."
He scooped the eggs onto the toast, handed her a plate and then carried his own through to the living room. A small round table in the corner suggested he didn't throw a lot of dinner parties but wasn't a tv-dinner regular either.
"I'm sorry I don't have much time." She took an eager mouthful.
"That's okay."
They ate.
She gulped her coffee. "I feel kind of bad to eat and run like this after…"
"Don't feel bad. I understand."
She stood up and took her dishes to the sink.
"I really have to go," she disappeared into the bedroom, gathering her belongings.
He sipped his coffee and watched.
"I don't know when I can see you again," she paused in front of him, checking she had everything, "But I'd really like to."
He smiled, put his cup down and stood up. "You have to go."
"I do."
He held her shoulders and gave her a very restrained kiss.
She looked into his eyes for a stunned moment before she snapped out of it. "I have to go."
He laughed, "So you said."
"I'm going."
"That's probably wise."
"Okay. Bye." She left him laughing, savouring the last bites of his breakfast, watching her leave, finally assured she wanted to return.