Author's Note: This takes place during season three's "The Indians in the Lobby." Reviews are appreciated.

"Be Thankful"

Josh and CJ walked side-by-side up the steps to her apartment. Mindful of the way things looked to the outside world they kept a respectable distance. Josh's backpack, slung over his shoulder, ensured that they didn't accidentally bump shoulders and ignite a firestorm.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?" CJ asked, making small talk while they climbed the steps.

"My flight?" Josh asked.

"Home. To see your mother. For Thanksgiving," CJ said slowly.

"Donna is still working on it," Josh said as they walked.

"You don't have a flight yet?" CJ asked.

"Not one that doesn't have a layover in Atlanta."

"You know Thanksgiving is a pretty reliable holiday Josh. The fourth Thursday of November, every year like clockwork should be easy to remember. Why did you wait so long to book a flight?"

"There was a…glitch in scheduling," Josh said.

"They canceled your flight?" CJ asked as she pulled her keys out of her purse and fumbled slightly to open the door.

"Not exactly."

"So?"

Josh was leaning against the wall outside her apartment; one shoulder on the wall, the other leaning in CJ's direction. "You promise not to laugh?" he asked looking slightly sheepish.

CJ looked at him with a smile before opening the door. "No," she said seriously.

Josh gave her a look, more playful than irritated. "I booked a flight to Connecticut."

"Didn't your mom move to Florida?" CJ asked.

"I'm from Connecticut," Josh reminded her.

CJ pushed open her apartment door and chuckled. "You forgot where you were going?" she laughed.

"Yes," Josh said following her into the apartment. "Okay, I forgot. Is it so hard to believe? I'm a very busy man dealing with a daily multitude of important and life-changing decisions."

"Who doesn't know where his mother lives," CJ finished for him with a laugh. "Wait until Donna hears why she's doing all this legwork for a flight."

"You're not going to tell her," Josh said tossing his backpack by the door. He hung up his coat and pulled down on his tie.

"I'm not," CJ agreed, hanging up her coat. "You are."

"Me? Why would I tell her?"

"Because mi amour, you have a big mouth," she said turning toward him.

Josh unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and made his way towards her, placing his hands firmly on her hips and backing her into the wall. "You love my big mouth," he said flirtatiously as he placed his lips on hers and kissed her deeply.

CJ wrapped her arms around Josh's neck and welcomed his tongue caressing her lower lip. She leaned her head back against the wall as Josh's mouth moved down her neck to the spot on her collarbone that always made her sigh audibly. He was absolutely right. She did love his big mouth and he was demonstrating one of the reasons she loved it very expertly.

Josh moved back to her lips and placed a few quick kisses on them in quick succession. He seemed a little distracted and he looked towards the kitchen. "It smells really good in here," he said.

"I baked last night," CJ said helping him remove his tie by unfastening the knot.

"You baked?"

"Pies," she said as she tossed his tie to the floor and unbuttoned his shirt.

"You baked pies?" he asked surprised.

"I can cook you know."

"I didn't say you couldn't. Pies just elevate it to another level."

"It's Thanksgiving," CJ shrugged. "I bring my brothers pie."

"What kind of pie?"

"Are you hungry?" CJ chuckled as she kissed his jaw line.

"No, I'm just intrigued by the pie thing."

"I made two apple and two pumpkin," she said.

"From scratch?"

"I bought the crusts, but otherwise, yeah. Oh, if Toby asks, tell him I made the crust from scratch."

"Toby?" Josh asked.

"I bake him a pumpkin pie every year," CJ explained pawing at his undershirt.

"You bake Toby pie?"

"For the last four years."

"You never baked me a pie."

"You jealous?"

"I just wonder why Toby rates a homemade pie."

"Toby loves pie."

"I like pie," Josh clarified for her.

"You like pie. Toby has a borderline inappropriate relationship with pie," CJ said as she moved her hands down to his waistband and started to unfasten his belt.

CJ could tell that Josh as bit distracted by the pie and she laughed inwardly at Josh's slight jealousy over the fact that she had baked Toby a pie.

"Josh?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm not sure why the pie is a big deal, but I'd like to remind you that I bake Toby a pie once a year and yet, lately, I'm sleeping with you pretty regularly," she pointed out. "More specifically, I'm trying to sleep with you right now."

"And sleeping with you is much better than pie," he said not so confidently.

"It better be!" CJ said swatting at him.

"No, it was a fact. I was stating a fact," he said quickly turning all his attention on her.

"I'd much rather be doing this than having pie," Josh said seductively. His hand trailed up her leg and under her skirt. He loved the way that her nylons felt on his fingertips. CJ liked the way his hand moving up her leg felt and she lifted it to hip-level to pull him even closer to her.

Josh kissed her and his eyebrows perked up when his hand reached the top of CJ's leg. "Thigh highs?" he asked, pulling away.

"I had a run in my only other pair," CJ explained.

"I'd go through your underwear drawer daily with a pocket knife if I knew it would result in thigh highs," Josh said mischievously.

CJ laughed and pushed Josh away from her, taking his hand and leading him down the hallway to the bedroom. Josh followed obediently while helping CJ remove her suit coat. CJ knew they'd spend time later trying to put together complete ensembles from the trail of clothes that lead to the bedroom, but right now she wasn't too concerned.

By the time they got to the bedroom Josh was clad only his boxers and CJ was down to her underwear and nylons. CJ lay back on the bed and Josh knelt on the floor and began to kiss CJ's ankle, calf, knee and thigh while he removed her stocking. CJ let her head roll back on the bed and enjoyed Josh's ministrations. The feel of his lips, tongue and stubble on her inner thigh made her hips buck. When he'd removed both stockings, CJ sat up and pulled him towards her, wrapping her bare legs around his waist.

Josh felt CJ's nail drag along his chest and down his hip. The sensation drove him wild and he couldn't help but pull CJ closer. When they were together like this there were times when Josh couldn't help but feel like there was nothing better in the world. It was so easy and enjoyable. He knew her spots and she knew his and when she touched him in the spot where his leg and hip met he knew he'd do anything she asked of him in that moment, the feeling was so sublime.

A short time later, Josh was fluffing his pillow and CJ was watching him, pleasantly sated. "What do you have going on tomorrow?' Josh asked.

"I plan on getting out early," CJ said contentedly. "By noon hopefully."

"How come you did the turkey thing today?" Josh asked, settling in.

"The president is going to Camp David tomorrow and he wants to get an early start," CJ explained.

"You aren't worried that something's going to come up?"

"I'm always worried that something is going to come up, but for right now, I plan to be home by 12:30pm with a full six hours before my flight leaves for Ohio."

"How come you're leaving so late?"

"Because I'm always worried that something is going to come up," CJ replied. "Besides, it sound like you'll be around for a while tomorrow anyway Mr. I Forgot I Was Going to Florida."

"Donna has to make this flight happen. Why do they insist on a layover in Atlanta? It's a short flight," Josh said.

"I still can't believe you booked a flight to Connecticut," CJ chuckled.

"I lived there for like twenty years," Josh protested.

"It's kind of weird that everyone is going to be gone for Thanksgiving," CJ commented.

"With the family at Camp David, nothing is really going to be happening," Josh shrugged as his eyes fluttered closed sleepily.

"Yeah, it's just we're usually all around, together," CJ said.

Josh's eyes opened. "Well that's why we're together now," he grinned. He reached out and rested his hand on her waist. "It's only right to give thanks so close to the holiday."

"And you're thankful for sex is that it?" CJ smiled.

"Oh definitely. And don't make this about just me. You know you are too."

"I didn't say I wasn't," CJ agreed. CJ leaned over and kissed Josh softly. "'Night mi amour."

"'Night," Josh replied, his eyes already closed.

CJ looked at him for a moment before shutting her eyes and smiling to herself with the thought that sex was kind of an odd thing to be thankful for, but she certainly wasn't complaining, especially since she was so content that she quickly fell asleep.

The next day Josh was sitting in the Atlanta airport, feeling pretty good about his victory with the DeKalb DA when his phone rang, "This is Josh," Josh said.

"I hate you," CJ said.

"Well that's a heck of greeting Claudia Jean," he replied, taking a sip of his ginger ale.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"Atlanta. I had a layover."

"Good."

"I can't help but think you're mad at me right now," Josh said.

"I was done," CJ replied. "You cornered me coming out of the Oval when I was done."

"You're still mad about the Indians in the lobby?" Josh asked. "I'm sorry about that CJ, but it was a press issue."

"I know it was," CJ sighed. "It doesn't mean I can't be mad at you for dumping it on me. I told you I was done at noon."

"Well you're on your way to Ohio now—wait a minute, wasn't your flight at six? Where the hell are you?"

"I'm in my office!" CJ replied.

"Because of the Indians?"

"They just left."

"Should I get to the nearest TV? Is this a thing?"

"No, it's not a thing, but it took me six hours to make it not a thing and I'm not exactly feeling happy about what happened today."

"Did you help them?"

"I helped them reschedule their meeting," CJ shrugged. "We've got to do better."

"We will," Josh said confidently. "What time is your new flight?"

"Ten-fifteen," CJ replied.

"I'm sorry," Josh said.

"I'm just glad you got stuck in Atlanta," CJ said with a hint of good-nature.

"See, you say that, but I can tell you don't really mean it."

"Oh I mean it."

"Only a little," Josh said. CJ had to grin because she knew he was right.

"Tell your mom happy Thanksgiving," CJ said.

"I will. Same to your family," Josh said. He paused for a moment before adding, "Hey CJ?"

"Yeah?"

"In the spirit of Thanksgiving, you should know that I'm thankful for you and not just because of the whole sex thing."

CJ bit her lower lip to suppress another grin. "Me too Joshua," she replied. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"I'll see you on Monday," he replied.

"Bye."

Josh hung up the phone and took the last sip of his ginger ale. He wasn't sure what made him say it, but he was happy he let CJ know that he was thankful for her for more than one reason.

TBC