Title: Dulles to LAX, Indirect.

Chapter 5: What Else?

Pairing: CJ/Danny
Author: Array
Email: array_

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

"What else?"

"They're starting to pack the office."

"And it's upsetting you."

"It's driving me crazy. There're things I still need. We're not done yet."

"Why don't you take off your coat? I'll get you a drink" He heads into the kitchen and pours her a glass of wine. "Where's Hollis Headquarters?"

"Culver City, but I don't think it really matters. The foundation isn't really formed… I don't think he'd care if I wanted to set it up in DC, but…"

"You'd rather not?"

"Well I kind of like the idea of going home."

"You want to move to Dayton?"

She smiles at his dismay. "No… California."

"Hmm. California's interesting. I like the idea of California. Sun… sand…pretty women in bikinis." He hands her the wine glass and sits down on the couch.

"Are you sure? What would you do in California?"

"Lie on the beach. Watch the women in bikinis play some volleyball. I like sports."

"No… really…"

"I'm a writer C.J. I can be anywhere. Just now, California sounds good."

"They'd give you an assignment in L.A.? You hate all that stuff!" She sits down beside him.

"No. I'm a writer. I was serious when I said I didn't want to be a reporter anymore. It wasn't just about us, or you. It's about me. I've got a couple of interesting book deals…."

"Really? That's great."

"Mmm hmmm. Random House even wants a novel, but I don't know … fiction? It's kind of scary…. I've always been a 'just the facts ma'am' kind of guy."

"Oh I don't know…. I think you've got that starry eyed dreamer of fiction quality."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

She snuggles closer to him, and he wraps an arm around her. "You're pretty good at telling me stories."

"You're better at making things up."

"Hey!" she mock swats him on his chest.

"Oww" Then he grabs her hand and imprisons it there. "Let me tell you a story. About the smartest funniest girl in Dayton, Ohio who grew up to be a beautiful princess"

"See! You are good at fiction..."

"and walked with Kings and Queens and presidents"

"don't forget jesters..."

"Don't get ahead of me… and then she met the most amazing, witty, intelligent, handsome man…"

"mmhmmm?"

"And somehow they seemed to be connected by bungee cords… or elastics… because every time they pushed away from each other they always came back together."

"And how does this epic end?"

"Oh that's easy. They fall in love and move to California."

She looks up at him. "And live happily ever after?"

"Absolutely," he bends his head and kisses her.

"I should really go"

"No, you should stay here with me."

"Hey! Weren't you the guy who said 'I want you to do what you want to do' just a few minutes ago?"

"You're going to tell me you want to go?"

She shakes her head slowly, no.

"See you're getting better at this already."

He gets up and pulls her to her feet. "Come on… We'll set an early alarm. You can go by your apartment in the morning….. You want me to talk to the guys?"

"Okay"

She heads toward the bedroom, while he leans out the door of the apartment into the hall. "Hey Rob… Greg… We're in for the night…. Looking at 5:00 am."

"Thank-you sir."

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

The alarm rings. The clock says 4:30. He moans.

"You don't have to get up."

"It's okay. You have a shower. I'll make coffee. You need caffeine, and I can sleep later." He kisses her briefly, then pulls on a t-shirt and jeans, runs his hand through his hair, and heads out to the kitchen. He leans against the counter as the coffee drips, listening to the shower.

He wanders over to the stereo and flips it on.

The Beatles, "All you need is love", starts playing.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

It's easy.

She laughs and calls from the bathroom, "Danny, don't you own anything but the Beatles?"

"Sure I do." He pauses. "I just don't really play anything else." He grins. "What can I say, I'm a child of my time"

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time

It's easy.

She comes out of the bathroom, dressed in his robe, toweling her hair, and it's almost too much for him. He hands her the red mug full of coffee and looks down at the floor.

"So I have this idea" he starts.

"Mmmhmm?"

"I'm thinking that after the inauguration we should take some time. Two weeks maybe. You know. You. Me. Sunshine. California. No politics. Just some time….."

She's getting dressed. "I can probably take more than two weeks." It's punishment to watch her, but he does it anyways.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

"Well, we can play it by ear. I thought two weeks was a good start. I mean, after two weeks of not working you'd probably be ready to eat your own young…."

She looks at him.

"Not that you have any young…."

Still no help is coming his way.

"Or that we're even interested in that discussion…"

There is steel in her gaze.

"Look, this hole I'm in just keeps getting deeper and deeper…Do you think you could help me out here?"

She wraps her arms around him and kisses him deeply.

He takes a breath. "You know when you do that my mind goes completely blank, don't you?"

She smiles. "Yeah, and it's kind of fun to watch."

There's nothing you can know that isn't known.

Nothing you can see that isn't shown.

Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.

It's easy.

"You're leaving now aren't you?"

She nods. He sighs.

She starts collecting her stuff.

"Are you going to talk to Hollis today?'

"Mmmhmm. And Santos."

"Coming back here tonight?" he says hopefully.

"I'll be late."

"I'll be up."

He reaches out for her and kisses her, and then she's gone.

Later, when he's washing his face he sees her toothbrush and makeup still sitting on the sink. It makes him smile for most of the morning.