Night five

CJ calls danny

"Danny?"

"Hey, haven't spoken to you in a while." Danny said. He waited for a response but when one didn't come he kept talking. "It's pretty late there isn't or really early?" He paused. "Anyway it's early here, I'm just about to head out to a cafe– maybe get a muffin. I'm getting kinda tired of bagels." He paused again; still no answer. "CJ? Are you alright?" He asked, concerned.

"Uh um yeah, I'm, I'm here." She said her voice was soft and Danny could tell something was definitely wrong. He had suspected since he heard the way that she said his name. That had been a stress which wasn't abnormal but a pain or fear? Behind it too. "I uh I'm calling to tell you that..Billy Price died."

"What?" He breathed, sinking into his chair further.

"Yeah–" her voice breaking a little. "He uh in the Congo. He was captured then killed in a fire fight two days later in the Eastern Congo by Rebels." her voice had shifted, harding and turning neutral morphing into her Press Secretary voice.

"Oh my god. Is Janet alright?" He hadn't worked especially closely with Billy but they had talked over various international assignments they had had over the years he was one of the people who had told him he would enjoy the getting back out there again.

"No, not at all." CJ's voice returning back to CJ the person instead of CJ the press secretary. "She was so distraught when I told her."

"Yeah–" he had to clear his throat. "I can't imagine…" he trailed off.

"Yeah… I just…" He could practically see her shaking her head back in her office trying to swallow the emotions.

"Just what, CJ?" He asked almost timidly.

"I just– no its–"

"Ceej please talk to me." He imported her gently.

"It's stupid but I wanted to hear your voice cause you know you're over there. And I know we don't email regularly, nevermind talk but– you know with all of the– you know in the news. And I know Dubia isn't Afghanistan but–"

"CJ" Danny said gently. "I'm here. I'm alright. And it's Not stupid. I'm glad you called."

"Okay. yeah okay." CJ mumbled into the phone.

"Are you still in your office?" he asked.

"Uh yeah, yeah I am."

"Do you want me to talk to you while you head home? I could use the company while I go get my muffin." He offered.

"I don't want to take up all your minutes. Your phone bill–"

"Is covered by The Post. It's no trouble you'd be doing me a favor."

"Okay, okay I'd like that." She said softly.

"Great, how about I regal you in my adventure in middle eastern cuisine." He told her of all the different kinds of kabab and how much better hummus was and that Shawarma might be up there with a philly cheese steak as she drove home. He had finished his muffin at the cafe near his hotel and was working on the last of his chia as was the tradition in this part of the world.

"Danny?" She asked softly.

"Yeah." He replied equally as softly.

"I'm home." She said the wearness coming through the line.

"Yeah actually in the door." He teased lightly.

"Yes, sitting on the couch in fact. I know it's the day there and you need to go But Danny, Thank you." She said sincerely.

"Anytime Ceej. You should call more, it's… important not to lose touch with friends." Friends was a loaded word for them but all he could say especially given the reason she called.

"Yeah I'll try but don't be a stranger either." CJ agreed.

"Give Gail a kiss for me and sleep more than 5 hours please." Danny told her.

"5 hours? That's about as common as an act of congress." CJ quipped.

"Well I better let you get all the sleep you can get." Danny told her. "Bye."

"Bye, Danny. And take care of yourself."