Author's Note: This chapter is inspired by the little shoulder bump/mumbled conversation that occurred between CJ and Josh when they were leaving the Oval Office at the end of Galileo. It seems I am able to read a lot into the little things. :)

"On a Scale of 1 to 10"

CJ wandered back to her office and tossed her shawl on her chair as she went over a few notes. She very quickly realized that someone was standing in her doorway.

"You're great in bed?" Josh asked as he entered CJ's office. He stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned in the door frame.

CJ looked up from her papers and smiled. "You know better than anyone else in that room that I was telling the truth," she retorted.

"Oh, I know it," Josh agreed. "I just never thought I'd see the day when you'd announce it in the Oval Office--to the president no less. It was all I could do not to let my jaw hit the desk."

"I thought I saw a look of restraint," CJ agreed.

"Toby almost had a coronary."

"I'm sure I'll hear about it from him later."

"I wanted to ask you about the details, but the president called you back. I was kind of waiting around for you."

"That was nice."

"So, why might there be a story about you being great in bed?"

"It's the truth," CJ said knowingly. "And also I might have gotten into it with Tad Whitney over the deputy position."

"Were you blackmailing him for sexual favors or something?"

"I went out with him for five minutes years ago and he felt I was punishing him for ending things," CJ explained. "As if I've spent my time pining for him or something."

"I hate Tad Whitney," Josh said.

"I couldn't agree more."

"What did you ever see in that guy?"

"Nothing much. It's why it ended."

"Still, Tad Whitney?"

"In case you hadn't noticed, my phone isn't exactly ringing of the hook with offers for dinner and a movie. At least not ones I can accept," she qualified herself.

"Well, you can definitely do better than Tad," Josh said standing up straight and making his way over to the center of the office. He rested his elbows on the guest chair and clasped his hands together. "So, did I tell you how good you looked tonight?"

CJ stopped organizing her folders and looked at Josh. "No, you didn't," she said.

"You do," Josh said with a small head nod. "The dress is really nice."

"Thank you," CJ replied, noticing that Josh had a familiar look on his face. It had been a while since either CJ or Josh had pursued their friends with benefits pact. In fact CJ could recall the last time they were together. It was the week before the shooting in Rosslyn.

"CJ," Josh said. "Come home with me tonight."

CJ swallowed hard. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked. She wasn't sure that Josh was physically ready for anything after the shooting and she was also unsure if she wanted to be the woman who took him off the bench for such activities.

"I think it could be the best idea I've had all day," he said confidently. "Aside from putting a guy on a postage stamp that is."

"Okay, I don't know how to say this," CJ tried to choose her words carefully. "It hasn't been that long since…are you sure you want me to be the one to…have you been cleared for strenuous activity?"

She wanted to crawl under desk with embarrassment after she finally, horribly, articulated what was on her mind. Luckily for her, Josh simply smiled and looked like he was suppressing a chuckle.

"Claudia Jean, there is no one I'd rather have take me for a test drive," he said sincerely. "And I got the okay from my doctor last week. All systems are go."

CJ was still unsure how to respond. While she had to admit, that after her encounter with Tad, going home with Josh sounded awfully nice, but she was a little nervous about the whole thing. Josh could see the hesitation on her face.

"I get it if you're not up for it," Josh backtracked. "But you have to know that announcing your superior skills in bed in the Oval Office has made my mind wander." He gave her an impish grin, which he knew she couldn't really resist.

"It's not that I don't want to," CJ clarified herself. "I just want to know that you'll be okay with…everything." She didn't know why she couldn't bring herself to discuss sex with Josh using her words. It wasn't like they hadn't discussed it before. Tonight she just felt unsure.

"You won't break me. I promise," Josh replied.

"Okay then," she finally conceded. "But can we go to my place? I've got a ball gown on and I don't know how I'd be able to explain why it was in my backseat tomorrow morning, aside from the obvious."

"That sounds fair," Josh said standing up. "I'll meet you there in an hour?"

"I'll see you then," CJ agreed.

An hour later CJ was in her apartment hanging up her dress when she heard a light rap on the door. She tightened the belt on her robe and took a deep breath before answering the door.

"Hi," Josh said as she opened the door.

"Hi," she replied. Josh leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek as he entered the apartment. It was short and sweet, but it did a little something to allay CJ's nerves.

"I brought some wine," Josh said holding up a bottle of CJ's favorite white.

"Great," she said shutting the door behind him and following him into the kitchen. She grabbed two glasses from the cabinet while Josh uncorked the wine.

"So, how was your night at the office?" CJ asked.

"Not quite as exciting as yours, but it had its moments," Josh replied as he poured two glasses of wine. "Donna was on your side by the way."

"On my side?" CJ asked after taking a sip of wine. She walked into the living room and over to the radio and turned on a CD that was in the player.

"About the stamp," Josh said following her out into the living room. "She was in favor of it. She accused me of being tyrannical. Although, I was a little surprised to have you go after me in the Oval."

"I didn't go after you," CJ said taking another sip. "I was expressing my opinion."

"Loudly," Josh teased her.

"Forcefully, maybe," CJ gave him as the song changed.

"It was hot, especially after the good in bed comment," Josh said sipping his wine.

"You're really not gonna let that go are you?"

"If it had been me, would you let it go?"

"Touché," CJ said raising her glass to him.

"I like this song. It's a Paler Shade of White?" Josh asked.

"A Whiter Shade of Pale and yeah, it's a good one. This song was my very first slow-dance," CJ said.

"Really?"

"I was at a family wedding," CJ explained. "I was fifteen and this boy asked me to dance, at the request of my step-mother, but still, I was feeling pretty good."

"Who sings this?"

"Procol Harum."

"That's a weird name."

"But a good song."

"Come here," Josh said setting his wine glass down and holding out his arms.

"What?"

"Dance with me."

"Seriously?"

"Of course."

"I should have kept on my dress," CJ commented as she set down her wine glass and walked over to him.

She reached Josh's outstretched arm and took his hand. "Nah," he said pulling her close to him. "I think I like the robe better. Much sexier."

CJ chuckled. "I'm sure," she said. "I should have kept on the fuzzy slippers too."

They swayed around CJ's living room, trying to keep to the area between her couch and sofa table. "When was the last time we danced?" Josh asked her.

"Hmm, you know I can't even remember. The last State Dinner?" CJ replied. She liked the feeling of dancing with Josh. Without her shoes on he was just slightly taller than her and it made her feel more feminine.

"So, how do I stack up to first slow dance guy?" Josh asked as he repositioned their hands on his chest.

"Well I had almost a foot on the first slow dance guy, so the eye-level thing is kind of nice," CJ said.

"You had a foot on him?" Josh asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, it was slightly awkward, but I remember thinking he was cute so…it wasn't until later that I found out my stepmother had arranged the whole thing. That was a little mortifying."

"Well you don't need anyone to arrange your dance partners now. I've seen the guys jockeying for position at White House events."

"Oh please," CJ scoffed.

"You really don't give yourself enough credit, you know that? Trust me when I say, there are guys checking you out when you don't even know it."

CJ just looked at Josh for a moment. "Well thanks for noticing for me," she replied.

Josh took a moment to rest his hand on CJ's hip and maneuver her expertly into a spin as the song ended. He even dipped her to add a flourish. She laughed as his picked her back up and then there was a silent moment in between songs and Josh and CJ were left staring at each other.

"We'll have to bust out that move at the State of the Union party," CJ said softly.

"Sure," Josh said, equally quiet.

Josh leaned in and kissed CJ lightly on the mouth. It was slow and teasing and different from how they usually were together. CJ opened her lips and allowed her tongue to trace Josh's bottom lip gently.

Josh stepped back for a moment to unbutton his shirt and quickly toss it on a chair while CJ removed his belt and threw it on the floor. Josh wrapped his arms around CJ's waist and pulled her close to him as she pulled on his tie slowly. He inched his hand slowly down her hip hitting a spot that made her moan lightly. He planted another kiss on her lips before asking, "Bedroom?"

"Please," CJ said taking his hand and pulling him behind her towards the bedroom.

The lamp was on in the room and it seemed to create a peach halo around CJ as she knelt on the bed and helped Josh escape his pants. Clad in only his boxers and t-shirt, CJ had forgotten how fit Josh was. He reached forward and pulled her robe off one shoulder and kissed it gently as CJ removed the belt and let the robe fall around her. Josh's kisses followed the line of her collarbone until CJ reached for his undershirt and pulled it over his head. It was at that moment that her eyes fell upon his chest. She pulled back.

"What?" Josh asked, leaning forward to kiss her again. He pulled back when he saw CJ's face.

"I," CJ sighed and threw her hands up in gesture to the large scar running down his chest. She looked at the angry, still-red mark that was the only visible evidence of what Josh had been through. CJ didn't realize that she'd be confronted with the scar, or that it would have this affect on her, but she suddenly recalled how close they had come to losing him.

"I'm fine," Josh assured her.

CJ reached out and ran her finger lightly around the scar. "It doesn't hurt," he promised.

"Josh," CJ said looking at him with glassy eyes. "My God Josh."

Seeing CJ's reaction and the look of sorrow in her eyes was almost too much for Josh to take and he wasn't quite sure what to say. Luckily he didn't have to do or say anything. CJ leaned forward and threw her arms around his shoulders. She squeezed him tightly to her. "I'm so sorry," she whispered in his ear. "You're okay now."

CJ gathered her emotions and eased up her grip on Josh. She looked him in the eyes and kissed him again. She let her lips trail along his jaw line and down his neck until she reached the top of chest. She rested her hands on his arms and tentatively kissed the top of his scar, marking a trail of kisses down his chest until the angry mark ended.

Josh breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't ask him how he was feeling. He was afraid that talking about it might bring tears to his own eyes and so he said nothing either. He simply succumbed to his physical response. This was why he wanted to be with CJ. For the first time since the shooting he would recall another sensation when he looked down at the scar and it would be CJ's lips.

"You gonna go easy on me now?" Josh tried to lighten the mood.

CJ surveyed his face for a minute and finally said, "I don't think you need it."

With that she grabbed his arms and pulled him down with her on the bed. She took the opportunity to roll on top of Josh, straddling him. Before she bent over to kiss him again, he reached up and ran his hand through her hair as if to thank her for making things as normal as possible.

Forty minutes later Josh was snuggled up against CJ's back, running his hand down her side. "You were absolutely right," he said.

"About what?"

"The great in bed thing. Tonight was…I don't know if it's because it's been a while or what, but Claudia Jean, you were amazing."

CJ rolled over on her side to face him. "I was just thinking the same thing about you," she replied.

"You were in the driver's seat tonight," Josh reminded her. "I was just a willing participant."

"You remember earlier when you told me I was selling myself short?"

"Yeah," he said scrunching deeper into his pillow.

"You're selling yourself short right now. That was seriously a mind-numbing, memorable outing tonight mi amour," CJ said giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"You're just saying that," Josh dismissed her.

"If I was just saying that I'd say they could write epic smut-filled novels about what just happened in here tonight," CJ corrected him. "Instead I'll put your mind at ease and tell you that you have nothing to worry about in the future."

"I wasn't…I didn't ask…this wasn't about getting a report card on my lovemaking prowess," Josh stammered, suddenly a little embarrassed.

"Your lovemaking prowess?" CJ asked with a grin.

"It has been referred to as a prowess before."

"By you?" CJ chuckled.

Josh was quiet and CJ could tell that he needed more reassurance.

"Joshua," CJ said looking him in the eyes. "Come on."

"Come on what?"

"You just got the green light and you expect me to believe you weren't a little nervous about how things would go?"

"I wasn't nervous," Josh said. "Slightly intimidated by mechanics might be a better assessment."

"Are you feeling a little better about that now?" she asked.

"A little," he said tentatively. He wasn't one to ask for criticism, but part of him did wonder if he measured up to how he was before the shooting.

"Let me ease your mind. You have nothing to fear in the future."

That comment seemed to please him and he nudged CJ's knee playfully with her his under the covers and ventured, "So on a scale of 1 to 10 tonight was?"

"Josh," she dismissed him. "It was epic okay?"

"I'm more of a numbers kind of guy."

"You don't even know where you stand on the scale based on past performance," CJ reminded him.

"Okay, then give it to me: 1 to 10 on past outings and 1 to 10 on tonight."

"10 being the best?" CJ asked.

"Yeah."

"Well," CJ said drawing out a dramatic sigh while she stretched. "Hmm. There's a lot to consider, especially if I'm rating lovemaking prowess."

"Claudia Jean," Josh whined.

"It's hard to rate it on a scale like that," CJ stopped teasing him. "What if I told you, you were in the top three?"

"Top three like top three of best ever?"

"Yeah."

"Am I?" he asked with a gleam in his eye.

"I'll say this, based on past sleepovers and tonight, you are most definitely in the top three."

Josh lay on his back and rested his hands under his head on the pillow. He was clearly proud of his ranking and his body language exuded a cocky confidence.

"Don't," CJ said warning him.

"Don't what?"

"You've got that look."

"That's the look of an excellent lover my dear."

CJ couldn't help but laugh. "I knew this would go to your head."

"Come on, top three? That is an excellent report card," Josh reminded her.

"You're too much."

"I'm just enough."

"According to you."

Josh loved that he and CJ could lie in bed and tease each other so easily after they were together. With relationships he always felt pressure to be more formal or controlled. With CJ it was just adding another dimension to their everyday relationship. It seemed so easy.

"Seriously though," Josh said suddenly. "Thanks for tonight. I hope it wasn't too weird or anything."

"You're thanking me for tonight? This is new."

"It's not everyday you go to bed with guys with physical scars from battle."

CJ noted a slight hint of something in Josh's voice and it made her worry. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he said brushing her off. "I just know that tonight might have been weird for you."

"It wasn't weird," CJ assured him. "I was a little nervous I'd hurt you in some way, but you're fine now. It's like it always was."

"Honestly?" he asked her, dropping his confident posture of earlier.

"Honestly," CJ said crawling closer to him and wrapping her leg around his under the sheets. "In fact, it was so normal and so good that I might not let you go to sleep tonight."

Josh surprised himself by responding physically to CJ's words and touch. "How did you know that's just what I wanted to hear?"

He put his hand on her waist and rolled over on top of her. "Now, let's say I make a play for the number one spot on your list."

He kissed CJ's neck in the spot that made her giggle and neither of them got much sleep that night; Josh regaining his confidence and CJ being his willing test-driver.

TBC