Author's Note: Takes place during season four's Process Stories. Every time I watch this episode I think that CJ and Josh have a really nice chemistry in their conversation in the hallway and it annoys me that Amy is there ruining it. This chapter is born out of those feelings. Reviews are encouraged and appreciated!

"Temporary Things"

Josh popped his head into CJ's office after everything had mostly died down for the evening, or morning, actually. He already knew it was going to be a rough morning since it was already almost two.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," CJ replied as she was pulling the scarves from her lamps.

"Farewell to the House of Rising Sun I guess," Josh said shoving his hands into his pockets.

"The best things can only last for so long," CJ grinned. "What's up?"

"I was just checking to see if you were still around," Josh said a little sullenly. CJ could tell he was feeling a little down because of everything that had happened with Sam. Although he wanted Sam to run in California, CJ knew that deep down he'd miss him if he somehow won the election.

"I'm just cleaning up a few things," CJ replied. "It's going to be a rough morning tomorrow--or today I guess."

"I was thinking the same thing," Josh said. "It's been a long day."

"A good day," CJ reminded him.

"A good day, but a long day."

"I'll give you that."

"Stop by my office before you leave will you?" Josh asked.

"How do you know I'm not just sleeping here?" CJ asked.

"Are you?"

"No," CJ said with a little snort. "Sorry. I'm a little slap happy at the moment."

"It could be the champagne," Josh said.

"Nah, I've been sober for at least an hour."

"You'll stop by though?"

"I will," CJ assured him.

About twenty minutes later CJ had done the best she could in cleaning up her office. She decided that she'd better leave while she was still awake enough to drive. It wasn't that she wasn't used to late nights, but today had been a rollercoaster ride of emotion and she was ready for bed.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and turned out her office light when she remembered that she told Josh she'd stop by. She walked through the bullpen and noticed that Donna's desk was empty and her lights were off. CJ wondered if she and Josh were the last two people in the wing of the building.

She rapped lightly on the doorframe. "Josh," she said.

"Hi," he said looking up.

CJ walked into the office. "I'm headed home. Do you need a ride?"

"No, I'm good," he replied.

"Are you leaving soon?"

"Yeah, I was just…we won, but there's still a lot to be done you know?"

"I know," CJ nodded. She put her bag on the guest chair and walked over to Josh's side of the desk. She leaned on the corner of the desk and put her hand on Josh's arm.

"Are you okay with everything?" she asked.

Josh gave her a look of surprise. "Okay?"

"With Sam running?"

"I was the one who told you I thought it was a good idea," Josh reminded her.

"It doesn't mean you have to be okay with it."

Josh was silent for a moment. "What if I'm not?" Josh asked.

"I'd say that's to be expected," CJ replied. "Sam is your best friend. You don't really want him to leave, but he'll be back."

"Will he?" Josh asked.

"What do you mean?"

"If he loses, and he's going to, I worry that he won't come back."

"He loves working here," CJ said.

"I don't know," Josh said nibbling his lower lip. "It's just this feeling I have."

"It'll be okay," CJ tried to reassure him.

"Were you serious before?"

"When?"

"Earlier you said all great things must end. It's really true isn't it?"

"It's just a figure of speech," CJ countered.

"But it really is true," Josh said.

CJ paused for a moment and thought about it. "Everything ends," she said. "But endings are also the beginnings of something new. Sometimes endings signal something better."

"Sam leaving isn't better."

"For us, no," CJ said.

Josh pushed his chair back and stood up. He looked at CJ and said, "I'm not good with quick change."

CJ chuckled. "No you're not," she replied. "But you're gonna be okay. We're all gonna be okay."

"You know when you say it I almost believe it."

"Then just let me know when you need me to say it again," CJ said.

"Now wouldn't be bad," Josh said a little sheepishly.

"We're going to be okay. You're going to be okay," she said seriously. She reached out and squeezed his hand when she said it.

"Yeah, we are," Josh nodded.

They looked each other for moment and CJ let go of his hand before she said, "You know I half expected Amy to be here when I knocked the door."

"Amy? Why would she be here?"

"I don't know," CJ said standing up straight. "She was following you around like a lost sheep all night, so I didn't know if..."

She ended her thought with a shrug. "If what?" Josh asked with the hint of a smirk.

"If that was back on again," CJ finished.

"It's not. She put her coat in my office," Josh explained.

"And she needed to follow you around all night to make sure you didn't steal it?" CJ tried to joke, but there was a hint of seriousness in her voice. Josh was mildly amused by the thought that CJ might be jealous of Amy.

"Yeah I don't really know what all that about," Josh conceded.

"Josh, come on."

"What?"

"It wasn't obvious?"

"What wasn't?"

"She wants you back," CJ said.

"You think?" he asked. His face looked so innocent that CJ couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"What do women have to get men to take the hint if following you around all night didn't tip you off?"

"She was…that's just Amy," Josh explained.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that."

"It's not like that," Josh said. A silence fell between them before Josh continued, "I can't deny I'm still attracted to her, but tonight it wasn't…there was too much going on tonight for me to process anything Amy-related."

"Fair enough," CJ said.

"Besides," Josh added. "She wasn't the one I needed tonight."

CJ gave him a quizzical look. He reached out and grabbed her hand, interlacing his fingers with her.

"I never got to celebrate with you," Josh said.

"Celebrate the election? I think the aftermath of the party in my office would suggest otherwise."

"No I mean…" Josh seemed to try to search for the words he was looking for, but was coming up short. Finally he just leaned forward and placed his lips on CJ's. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. The kiss was soft and sweet and wholly unexpected. It took a moment for CJ to register what was happening. Once she did, however, she responded enthusiastically. Josh's tongue ran along her bottom lip and he felt CJ's fingers run through his hair.

It took a moment longer than either of them was proud of to realize that they were kissing in his office with the door open. They savored one more second of exploration before they pulled back. Josh took the opportunity to let his teeth pull on CJ's bottom lip lightly as they broke apart. It took a few seconds for CJ to catch her breath.

CJ's hands had come to rest on Josh's chest and she reached out and straightened his tie while he let her out of the embrace.

"Well," CJ said. "That was quite a celebration."

Josh smiled at her and his dimples showed. "Yeah," he said shoving his hands in his pockets.

"So that was?" CJ asked.

"My way of saying if Amy was following me around I didn't so much notice because I'd kind of been waiting for that," Josh replied. CJ thought she detected a hint of crimson in his cheeks.

"Okay," CJ said, feeling a blush creep into her cheeks as well. She reached her hand forward and ran her thumb across Josh's bottom lip to wipe away the trace of her lipstick that stained his lower lip.

"I should go. So should you. We've got to be back here in about four hours."

"Yeah. I'm on my way out," Josh said.

CJ made her way to the door. "Hey Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"Before when I said things are temporary, I meant situations, not people. Sam might go and maybe he won't come back, but it's just the situation that'll have changed, not your friendship."

"Thanks."

"I'll see you later."

"Goodnight," Josh said as he watched CJ leave his doorway.

He stood there and thought about her words for a minute. In the end, he knew she had a point. Situations were temporary, but he knew deep down that the bond he had with Sam, and with Leo and Toby and CJ, was permanent. The thought made him feel better. The kiss he shared with CJ didn't hurt either.

TBC