Author's Note: Takes place during season six's The Hubbert Peak. The reason for the chapter is based solely upon the act one exchange between CJ and Josh talking about their jammies or lack thereof.

"Check"

CJ pulled out her cell phone and dialed Josh's number. She'd taken a chance that he'd be just as pathetic as she was on a Saturday night and that he'd home. She figured he was probably out, but on hope and a hunch, she tried him anyway.

"Josh Lyman," he answered the phone.

"It's CJ," she said. "Are you home?"

"CJ? It's Saturday night," he said.

"Yeah, I know," she replied. "Are you home?"

"It's Saturday night," he replied again.

"So that's a no?" she asked.

"What do you need?"

CJ sighed. "I need to know if you're home right now."

"Yeah," he finally admitted. "What do you need?"

"Are you busy?"

"No," Josh said, wondering what the third degree was all about.

"Good. I'm coming up," she said.

"You're coming up? To my apartment?"

"Yeah."

"When?"

Josh heard a knock on his door. "Are you here now?" he asked, surprised.

He cracked the door and saw CJ standing there in the hallway with her coat on over some plaid pajama pants. She was holding two bags in her hand. One looked like Chinese carryout.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," Josh replied. He hadn't opened the door all the way.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah, just one minute," he replied.

Josh shut the door and made tracks to his bedroom to find his blue pajama pants. Before CJ called he had been sitting on the couch in his boxers and undershirt enjoying a beer. He walked quickly back to the door and opened it all way.

"Come on in," he said as he stood aside.

"I didn't interrupt anything did I?" she asked.

"No," Josh said. "I had to go find some pants."

"You had no pants on?" CJ asked. "Wearing your un-jammies?"

"Well, boxers," Josh admitted. "Nothing you haven't seen before but…"

The sentence lingered in the air. This was slightly awkward because Josh had thought that the last time they had been together was the last time. Now it was Saturday night and CJ called him out of the blue to come over. He wasn't sure what to make of the visit.

"I brought some Chinese if you're hungry," she said.

"Thanks," Josh said. "I was just thinking about dinner."

He took the brown carryout bag from her and she removed her thin coat. It wasn't yet cold enough to really merit a coat, but the night air was a little brisk. When CJ removed her coat Josh noticed that she was wearing an old Berkley t-shirt that had seen better days. He took in the sight. It seemed that he wasn't the only one in his pajamas for night. CJ was too; and she wore them over to his place.

"Nice jammies," he said as CJ walked into the kitchen and set down her other bag. "Not the ones I pictured you in the other day." He gave her a little boyish smirk.

"Thanks," she said. "I did warn you what my weekends were like now."

"You did," Josh confirmed. "So what can I do for you? You must want something if you brought Chinese."

"You play chess," CJ said as a statement of fact, rather than a question.

"I know how to play chess," Josh confirmed. "I'm not a grand master or wizard or whatever they call themselves."

"But you know enough to give me some pointers?" CJ asked.

"Are you taking up chess?" Josh asked as he unpacked the food. CJ had gotten his favorite kung pao chicken dish. He showed her the carton and said, "You trying to bribe me into teaching you?"

"Is it working?" she asked.

"Seriously," Josh said. "Why do you need to know how to play chess?"

"Leo and the president used to play a weekly game of chess," CJ explained. "I thought it was just a thing they did to mentally unwind, but it turns out that Leo used to play to keep an eye on the president."

"Like his mental ability?" Josh asked.

"Yeah."

Josh took a moment to take that in. They went through a lot when the MS was disclosed, but once the fervor died down he didn't really think about it much, only on days when the president was feeling under the weather. He didn't know Leo had ways of monitoring his condition.

"I set up a game between the president and this ringer from the Stanford chess team, but he wanted to play me," CJ explained. "I got help from the Stanford guy, but the play was all me."

"And you don't know how to play chess," Josh finished for her.

"I have a basic grasp of chess," CJ said. "But when you're playing the leader of the free world, who is also an excellent chess player, it's hard to remember how each piece moves. I thought we could play a few games so I don't look like the one whose mental abilities are being checked at my game next week."

"Okay," Josh said as he dumped the food out onto plates. "Is that a game board?"

"Yeah," CJ replied. She took a plate from Josh and they moved into the living room. They sat on the couch while CJ cracked the chop sticks and handed Josh a pair. It was like a choreographed routine that both seemed oblivious to.

"So, how come you came to me?" Josh asked.

"Sam said you played," CJ said as she took a bite of her egg roll.

"Sam?"

"I called him first. I know he plays, but over the phone it was a little difficult."

"You know you can look this stuff up online," Josh said.

"I know, but I thought it would be easier looking at my opponent, studying your strategy."

"Toby plays. You could ask him. The president gave him a chess board."

CJ was silent for a moment.

"His last few briefings weren't as bad," Josh said to fill the silence.

"Toby…I think it's best if Toby and I keep to weekdays in the office right now."

Josh gave her a quizzical look. "He's not adjusting to things as well as you," CJ clarified.

While it as true that Toby and CJ had already gone a few rounds over the press secretary business, Josh thought they had worked things out. He didn't know there was any friction.

"Okay," Josh replied a little skeptically. He decided to let the matter rest and eat his chicken. "You want a beer?"

"I'll get it," CJ said standing up walking back into the kitchen. She opened Josh's refrigerator and noticed it contained a six-pack, some coffee and a package of hot dogs. She sighed, grabbed a can of beer and walked back into the living room.

"The contents of your refrigerator is horrendous," she informed him.

"Thank you," he replied with a smirk.

"I thought you were going to start eating better," she prodded him.

"I eat fine," he assured her. "You see Leo lately?"

"I had lunch with him," CJ said. "You?"

"No," Josh said regretfully. "I haven't made it over there yet."

"You should," CJ said. "You should go tomorrow. Unless you have big plans to run over a compact with a dually diesel that is."

"Ha-ha," Josh said enunciating the syllables. "That was an accident."

"So you've said."

"Do you want me to help you or not?" he asked.

"Would I be here otherwise?" she asked.

The question seemed loaded. Josh couldn't help but feel that he wanted her to be there for "otherwise." He knew that it was wrong to feel it, but he couldn't help it. Things seemed to be falling apart lately and being with CJ was his go-to for when he was trying to feel some semblance of control over horrible life and work situations.

"No," he said finally and returned to eating his dinner.

CJ poked her rice with her chop sticks thinking that her response was a mistake. In truth, there were many times that CJ would show up at Josh's house for reasons other than work, or needing his help with something. She had almost forgotten that sleeping with him wasn't a possibility. It was what they did to feel normal when the universe seemed to be spinning out of control.

CJ placed her half-eaten plate onto the coffee table and cracked open her beer. She took a swig and glanced over at Josh. She wondered if she'd made a mistake in coming over.

"How are things with Donna?" CJ asked.

"Donna?" Josh asked.

"Yeah. I don't see her much now. I'm usually held hostage in my office or allowing Margaret to shuttle me to meetings I'm not prepared for," she tried to joke.

"She's doing better," Josh said. "The cast comes off soon. She's…that photojournalist guy bugs the hell outta me."

"Really," CJ said, unsurprised.

"He's been calling," Josh said. "He mentioned the other day that she shouldn't be at work."

"She told you that?"

"Based on my reaction I don't think she'll offer up anything like that again," he admitted.

"They went through a horrifying experience together," CJ shrugged. "It bonds people."

"I went through it too," Josh pointed out.

"Yeah, but you didn't see it happen," CJ replied. "He did."

"I guess," Josh said as he polished off his meal. "That was excellent."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"You didn't eat much. Trying to keep that girlish figure?"

"I do have a birthday coming up," she reminded him.

Josh snickered. "As if you have to worry about it."

"Thanks."

"So, go grab the game board and set it up," he instructed.

"Excuse me?" she said a little shocked at his blatant order.

"You have to learn," Josh explained. "You need to know how to set up the board."

"Right," she said with a raised eyebrow.

She obediently walked into the kitchen with her dinner plate and after putting it in the dishwasher she grabbed the bag with the chess set in it. She had just purchased it on the way to Josh's apartment.

She made her way to the living room and noticed that Josh had tossed a few of the items on his coffee table across the room so that they'd have room for the game board. She tried not to notice how good he looked in his t-shirt. She teased him about his weight, but in honesty, he had quite a nice physique under his work clothes. He caught her staring at him a little too closely.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said.

"Okay," he replied, not really believing her.

"I noticed you were wearing the pajama bottoms I got you, but not the top," she said.

"You've seen how big they are," Josh said. "Besides, the top is yours."

He shot her a mischievous grin as she set up the pieces on the game board and CJ had to stop herself from smiling. She had bought him the pajamas when he was recovering from the shooting, but in actuality she had bought them large so she could wear the top when she slept over.

"You might need the top," Josh said. "How old is that Berkley t-shirt you've got on there?"

"It's not that old," CJ defended her pajama choice. "If you really want to talk about ratty shirts, shall we talk about your Wesleyan gear?"

"That shirt is comfortable," Josh shot back.

"As is this Berkley t-shirt," she replied a bit smugly.

The board was set up and Josh asked, "Do you want another beer?"

"Sure," CJ replied. "Maybe a buzz will help me memorize the rules."

Josh wandered into the kitchen and returned with two fresh cans. CJ cracked hers and took a sip.

"So, what do you know?" Josh asked.

"I've got a handle on most of the pieces," CJ said. "I forget how the castle and knights move though."

"Okay, well the castle, as you call it, is actually called the rook," Josh explained. "It can move any number of squares along any rank or file, but it can't jump over other pieces."

"Okay," CJ said as Josh demonstrated it with a piece on the board.

"The knight moves in an 'L' shape and is the only piece that can jump over other pieces," he said, once again demonstrating the movement.

"Got it," CJ nodded.

"Any other movement questions before we start?"

"No, I think I just need to get a few games under my belt to build my confidence."

"Okay," Josh said. "Let's go. You should be advised that I'm going to kick your ass."

"We'll see about that," CJ said as she opened with moving her pawn one space.

"Interesting," Josh teased her.

"Shut up," CJ chuckled.

"That's the first time I've heard you laugh in weeks," Josh said as he moved.

"What? I laugh."

"Not for a while," Josh said.

CJ surveyed the board and frowned, both at her next move and Josh's comment. "Do you remember when we first got elected we thought Leo was always so grumpy all the time?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Is that how I am now?" she asked.

Josh looked down at the board and pretended to study his next move. "No," he said. What he didn't tell her was that he felt like she could be on the fast track to becoming that person.

CJ looked at the board and tried to think four moves out, but she could barely see two moves ahead. "I don't want to be that person," she said.

"Then don't be," Josh said simply.

"Yeah," she said. She wanted to talk more, but in some ways she felt like she couldn't really open up to Josh because of the guilt she felt for taking "his" job. They finished the game in silence, mostly because silence between them was comfortable, but also because neither really had anything to say. Josh beat CJ pretty handily and she challenged him to another game.

Once the second game had started CJ said, "I think chess is a weird game."

Josh smirked. "That's only because you're not great at it," he replied.

"No, really," CJ said as her knight took Josh's pawn. "I mean, think about it. Chess was developed in a time when men ruled the world, but if you look at the way the pieces move, the queen has a lot of power."

"But the game isn't over until the king is captured," Josh pointed out.

"But his movement is strictly one space at a time."

"I guess it proves the point behind every good man is a good woman," Josh grinned.

"I suppose it does," CJ agreed as she took Josh's bishop.

"Nice move," he said. "How did I not see that?"

"You were distracted by my astounding game play," CJ teased him.

"That must be it," Josh nodded.

The game continued and CJ managed to eek out a win over Josh, much to her delight. Once Josh knocked over his king in defeat CJ jumped from the love seat and threw her hands in the air in victory.

"Yes!" she rejoiced.

"Okay, okay," Josh said.

"I won."

"Yes."

"I beat you."

"It doesn't mean you're going to beat the president," Josh said standing up. The way the furniture was configured he was standing close to CJ.

"No, but it means I beat you," she pointed out.

"I told you I wasn't a chess master."

"It was a good game though, right?" she asked. While she was gloating, she was also clearly hoping that her skills had improved.

"It was," Josh assured her.

"Thank you," she said, leaning over and placing a tiny peck on Josh's cheek, a little too close to his lips. Their faces lingered near each other for a moment too long and suddenly their lips were on each other again. Josh's arms were holding CJ and her hands were running through his hair.

Josh took a step back and ended up tumbling onto the sofa with CJ falling on top of him gently. They made eye contact and while they both knew it was wrong Josh felt himself reaching for her and pulling her face towards his again. As much as CJ knew she shouldn't, she kissed him deeply.

It felt so good. CJ needed something familiar in her life, especially now. Josh loved the way CJ's familiar weight felt on his body. He pressed himself closer to her as his tongue probed her mouth. He wanted to move his lips down her neck, but he worried that if her lips were free to speak she might stop what was happening.

Sure enough, just as they readjusted themselves on the sofa CJ leaned back and placed her palm on his chest.

"Josh," she said breathlessly.

"Yeah," he said.

"We can't," she said. He thought he detected disappointment in her voice.

"I know," he said, trying to catch his breath.

"It's not that I don't want to," she said.

"I know."

"We just can't."

"CJ," Josh said. "I know."

They sat there for a minute, CJ still straddling Josh's waist. "It's kind of difficult to get into a different frame of mind when you're…"

Josh gestured to CJ's body. "Oh, right," CJ said as she jumped back like she'd just been burned. "Sorry."

She stood up and walked to the far side of the room. "Josh I'm so sorry," she said. She ran her hands over her face and tried to regulate her breath.

Josh stood up from couch. "It's okay," he said.

"It's not," CJ said.

"It's habit," Josh replied. "This is what we do when things fall apart. We just haven't figured out what to instead…now."

The word 'now' was so loaded. He clearly meant now that CJ was his direct boss, in a job he always thought he'd have if Leo ever stepped down.

CJ ran her hand through her hair. "Yeah," she said. "I guess a marathon at ten o'clock at night to loosen up would be a little out of the question."

Josh smirked. "Although I've got the excess energy now," he said.

"That makes two of us," CJ replied.

They stood in silence for moment, neither sure of what to do next. "I should go," CJ finally said.

"Okay," Josh said.

He started to pack up the chess board and CJ came over to help. Their hands almost touched a few times and each had to use their self-control to not give into the need that they both had for each other.

Once the board was packed up CJ said, "Thanks for helping me."

"Anytime."

They walked to the door and CJ grabbed her coat.

"Thanks for the Chinese food," Josh said.

"Sure," CJ said.

CJ opened the door a crack as Josh followed close behind her. CJ turned before opening the door any farther.

"Josh," she said looking down at the floor.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

CJ leaned forward and pressed her forehead lightly to his. "I'm sorry it's like this now," she said.

"Me too," he replied.

CJ wasn't sure if she apologizing for what happened or if she was apologizing for her promotion, but either way, she was sorry. Josh wasn't sure either, but he knew he felt comfort when his forehead lightly touching hers.

"I'll see you tomorrow," CJ said quietly.

"Yeah," Josh replied.

CJ pulled back and looked at him, gently touching his cheek with her hand. She gave him a sad smile and turned to walk out the door. Josh watched her as she walked down the hallway and thought, "Checkmate indeed."

TBC