Title: Dulles to LAX, Indirect.

Chapter 3: Mutual Co-operation

Pairing: CJ/Danny
Author: Array
Email: array_

Rating: PG-13 (adult themes)
Disclaimer: They're all Aaron's
Author's Notes: Post Ep: Requiem

She opens the door and he is once again on her doorstep.

Danny, what are you doing here?

"How about, 'Nice to see you Danny. Why don't you come in?' " He pushes past her into the apartment. "I brought drinks and snacks." He shows her a bottle and a bag of goldfish crackers.

She closes the door. "I told you, we can't do this…..Donna's staying here. Josh is dropping her off"

"Nope. Not tonight." He looks at his watch and right on cue the phone rings, and she answers it. Before she can say anything Josh is talking.

"Hey C.J. Donna's going to stay here tonight. No worries see you later 'kay. Bye"

"Josh?" she says into the silent phone.

***********

"Hope that was the right number" he mutters under his breath.

"Josh?" Donna says, coming into the room with a cup of tea, "Who was that on the phone?"

"Uh C.J." he gulps, "She says she has someone staying over and she asked if you could stay here tonight."

"Josh?"

"I……I said it was no problem." He smiles.

*************

"Danny, what's going on here?"

"Just a little mutual co-operation."

"Did you stage manage this?"

"You'd think, but no. I'm actually just a side beneficiary of this particular strategic plan"

"Who then?"

"I don't reveal sources."

She shoots him a look, but he just smiles.

"Wait. This has Josh written all over it."

"And the light goes on."

"How did Josh know anything about us?"

"Or not…" he shakes his head, "I told you we were just incidental to the plan…."

"Josh and Donna?"

"There ya go!"

"Really? …..Finally? …….How?" She actually giggles, holding her hand up to her mouth.

"Whoa. I just flashed on what you were like in high school."

"I don't think so. I wasn't one of those girls."

"One of what girls?"

"The gossipy ones who giggled together at their lockers."

"What kind of girl were you?"

"The one they giggled about. Kind of quiet. A little bitter. Half a head taller than any boy in my class. Good at academics in a school that championed athletics. I played basketball 'cause, well ,look at me…..Who were you in high school?"

"One of those guys in the back row who threw spitballs at you."

"No, really."

"A.V. geek. Hair down to here," he holds his hand below his shoulder, "Hung out with the drama kids. Thought the only teacher comment possible was 'Not performing up to potential'"

"You were one of those boys suspended in your junior year for smoking cigarettes out behind the gym, weren't you?"

"Well it wasn't cigarettes, and it was my sophomore year." He grins, "Junior year I was suspended for telling the Vice Principal exactly where to go, and what to do when he got there."

She shakes her head, smiling. "How did you even get in to Notre Dame?"

"Aced the SAT's and wrote the best entrance essay they'd seen in twenty years." He drinks some wine, and looks at her over the rim. "Turned out the "potential" comments were accurate. When I really want something I know how to go out and get it."

"Really?"

"Uh huh." He puts his wine down, and reaches out for her, pulling her into a long embrace.