It was Monday afternoon when Hogan finally stepped off the plane with Lyndsey joking next to her. They hailed a cab and gave CJ's address. Within 10 minutes they were knocking on the front door bags in hand. CJ answered the door holding Kat on her right hip.
"Hi Hogan." CJ said smiling and pulling Hogan in for a hug. "And you must be Lyndsey?" CJ asked smiling all the while and extended her hand for Lyndsey to shake.
"Your CJ Gregg! Former Press Secretary and Chief of Staff!" Lyndsey said awed and surprising CJ with her British accent.
"In the flesh." CJ laughed at the shock on Lyndsey's face.
"It's just I followed the Bartlet Administration so closely. I watch every briefing I could. It's just unbelievable." Lyndsey rambled. As she spoke CJ looked the new girl up and down. Lyndsey was around 5"10 with her light brown hair cut into a bob the same length as CJ's and piercing green eyes that could rival CJ's in depth.
"Well let's not stand here in the doorway. Come in." CJ said ushering them in. "I'll show you to your rooms. It's a five-bedroom house but you may have to share from time to time if the girls come over." CJ said climbing the stairs.
"Who are the girls?" Lyndsey asked looking round at the house.
"Abigail Bartlet (Abbey), Carolyn Fitzpatrick (Carol), and Katie Harper (Kate)." CJ said listing them.
"As in the Former First Lady, your White House assistant - now your deputy and the Former National Security Adviser?" Sophie said gasping.
"The very same." CJ smiled at Lyndsey's curiosity. There was clearly a lot to discover about this new girl. Just then Danny appeared outside his and CJ's room.
"Cee I was just thinking…" Danny started before looking up and seeing Hogan and Lyndsey. "Oh, hi Hogan."
"Hi Uncle Danny." Hogan said hugging Danny. "Uncle Danny this is Lyndsey Kendall."
"It's nice to meet you." Danny said extending his had to Lyndsey.
"Your Danial Concannon. Ex-white house reporter. You worked for the Washington Post while Ms Gregg was press secretary." Lyndsey rambled.
"All correct." Danny said as CJ showed the girls their rooms.
"You know when Hogan spoke of you, she didn't really say much about you. So tell us about youself?" CJ asked half an hour later. They were all in the living room. CJ and Hogan, who was holding Kat, were on the couch and Danny and Lyndsey sat in the vacant armchairs.
"Well, what do you want to know?" Lyndsey asked.
"Let's start with where you're from? Your parents? That kind of thing." CJ said.
"I am British and American. I switch in between accents depending. My mom is Jordan Kendall." Lyndsey started.
"Jordan!" CJ said amazed "so you must have known…"
"Leo McGarry, yes." Lyndsey said this time in an American accent.
"Why do you switch accents?" CJ asked.
"Habit, I suppose. My dad was British. He left when I was 18 months old. After Leo and my Dad, Mom just looked after us kids. I lived in Britain for a few years and visit frequently" Lyndsey finished.
"So, Jordan had more kids?" CJ asked.
"Yes, one more my baby sister. She died at 2 years old." Lyndsey said on the verge of tears. Hogan gave CJ a look warning her not to press on. CJ gestured her head to the door of the living room.
"I'm just going to go feed Kat. Hogan bring her for me." CJ said leaving the room with Hogan right behind her. CJ walked upstairs to Kat's room. Shut the door behind her before sitting in one of the chairs. "Do you mind?" CJ asked indicating she meant feeding the baby. Hogan sat in the other chair.
"Of course not." Hogan said as CJ prepped to feed Kat.
"So, what is it with Lyndsey?" CJ asked
"That baby sister was Leo's child. She was born 7 months after Leo died." Hogan said glancing at the door to check it was closed.
"Do you think that Leo knew?" CJ asked the baby latching on to her newly exposed breast.
"He didn't know. Jordan didn't even know at 2 months." Hogan said. "Does that hurt?" Hogan asked gesturing to the baby.
"It used to at the start but I'm used to it now. Anyway, does Mallory know?" CJ asked.
"No and it's too late now. After all Bella's dead now and then Lyndsey ran away from home. Her mother was permanently screaming at her. She was basically used as free labour so she ran." Hogan added.
"Thank you for telling me you know that friend on yours is very intriguing." CJ said just as Carol came hurtling into the room calling for CJ. Hogan stood protectively in front of CJ facing the intruder. "Hogan relax it's just Carol." CJ said Hogan turned to sit back down.
"How come Carol is allowed to see you like this?" Hogan asked.
"Honey, Carol has seen me a lot worse. You remember that story we were talking about earlier? That is just the tip of the iceberg for us." CJ said as Carol perched on the windowsill laughing.
"Why? What's the worst one? I'll tell mine if you tell yours." Hogan asked looking at the other women laughing.
"We normally share a room; we've shared a bed a fair few times but I have had to help out on a few occasions." Carol said glancing at CJ who was still failing at suppressing her laughter.
"Do you remember Bartlet for America with that dress?" CJ asked. Carol gasped and shouted. "Oh god!"
"Why? What happened?" Hogan asked growing more curious by the second.
"Well, it was just after Dad had remarried, I had just had a miscarriage from Richard and Dad made a joke about what I was eating. Molly took it a bit too far, so far that I only ate just enough to survive. Carol and Abbey were the only people to mention it directly to me though the press were noticing they didn't say anything. I had a ball for some donations and since I brought it, I must have dropped almost 3 dress sizes in about 2 weeks and I had to wear that ball gown that night…" CJ paused and looked at Carol for a split second before continuing. "Carol and Abbey got a corset…"
"But I though corsets made you skinnier?" Hogan interrupted.
"Hold on their truly genius plan was to stuff the corset and perfect my hair and makeup. I was truly at their mercy and forever indebted to them. Anyway, they thought of the idea when we were all in Abbey's room when I tried on the dress at lunch it was so loose and that's when they thought of it. I started eating again the day before so after lunch Abbey and Carol got to work."
"We basically just used her as a doll. She showered herself but the second she was out she was at our mercy completely." Carol added through laughs.
"They strapped the corset on and stuffed it with I don't even know what. They then pulled the dress on over the top and just tried to figure out how to make it look like the normal me. For the next 3 weeks while I tried to put the weight back on Abbey and Carol every morning after I had showered came and did a stuffed corset, hair and makeup. I lived in the residence for a month. Honestly, they were life savers at the time it wasn't funny but now it is." CJ finished over all the laughter.
"Hogan what's yours?" Carol asked. Hogan looked at CJ as if to confirm the story could be told, CJ nodded in response.
"The first time Aunt CJ lived in California I came to stay that night it was a PA thing for a new film and Aunt CJ was going in a ballgown. That afternoon Aunt CJ slipped when getting out the shower. I heard her fall in the shower and scream so I came running. Aunt CJ had sprained her ankle and did something funny to her wrist that made really painful to move. I got her off the floor of the shower, to be clear you said there was no way you were going to the doctor and that you were going to that PA thing. So, I completely dressed her, did all her makeup and helped her into heals that definitely didn't help her ankle. Luckily Aunt CJ had a plus one so she called her date to cancel and I found one of her ballgowns for me to wear and the highest heals that were in the house and made myself look presentable. I had to help Aunt CJ all evening there. It was so funny." When Hogan finished the whole room was laughing.
"Anyway, now that those stories are over. What did you come here for Carol?" CJ asked.
"To check out the new girl and to ask just how many people are coming with you?" Carol asked.
"Well, me, Danny, Hogan probably and maybe Lyndsey not Kat though." CJ finished listing them off.
"Coming to what?" Hogan asked.
"A charity ball." CJ responded as the baby let go and she made herself presentable again.
"Me and Lyndie would love to come but we'll have to go shopping first." Hogan said Looking more excited by the second.
"We can take you shopping help you find the right dress." CJ and Carol said collectively. Hogan was beaming.
"Should we go tell Lyndsey?" Hogan said standing an action mirrored by the rest of the room. They all returned to the living room and CJ introduced Carol to Lyndsey (who was absolutely thrilled to meet her). They told about the plans for the ball and Lyndsey had the same excitement level as Hogan. That minute CJ's phone rang.
"Hey CJ." Two voices said.
"Spanky, Mi Amor." CJ practically purred. Danny and Carol locked eyes and smiled whereas Lyndsey and Hogan simply looked confused. CJ stood and gave Kat to Carol before disappearing to the pool edge. After CJ left the room Hogan asked the question both Lyndsey and herself had been communicating through their eyes. The words "Who's on the phone?" finally spread across Hogans lips.
"Well Spanky would be one Sam Seaborne and Mi Amor is no other than Joshua Lyman." Carol explained.
"And two follow ups if you please. Firstly, why do they have nicknames at all? Secondly why those names?" Hogan asked seeing Carol and Danny smile at her little reporter/press secretary style joke proving who her relatives were.
"I honestly don't know I'll ask CJ when she gets…oh speak of the devil. CJ we were just talking about you." Carol said.
"All good things I hope?" CJ joked.
"What else." Carol joked back. "We were just wondering where Josh and Sam got their nicknames from?" Carol asked.
"Well, it was all decided back in the campaign. Sam's was given when some passing girls said he had a spankable ass, I merely took the idea and ran with it. Josh on the other hand was making fun of a song and saying no American could pull of Mi Amor I felt dedicated to prove him wrong." CJ explained using her briefing voice as everyone dissolved into laughter.
"Anyway, Carol you staying here tonight?" CJ asked as she saw darkness creeping through the windows.
"I can go home." Carol said going to grab her purse.
"No, it's no problem you know where your room is. You know which of your clothes you have here too. So, stay?" CJ said smiling. Carol set her purse back down deciding to stay the night.
Later that night CJ sat in her's and Danny's room on the end of the bed in her pyjamas while Danny sat with his head against the headboard in just his pyjama bottoms. Danny was engrossed in his book and CJ sat unclasping her necklace and removing her earrings. A light tap at the door made them both jump.
"CJ!" Carol stage whispered. "Is Danny descent? I'm coming in." CJ glanced at Danny to check he was clothed and she saw he was pulling on a Notre Dame jersey. CJ grabbed her robe to pull on as Carol pushed the door open after a giving them a beat.
"Hey Carol." Danny and CJ simultaneously said.
"Hey," Carol said shutting the door behind her "so what's going on with this Lyndsey girl?"
"There's nothing going on is there CJ?" Danny asked. CJ took a deep breath before explaining everything Hogan had told her about the new girl Lyndsey. Danny and Carol sat open mouthed after listening to what CJ had to say.
"Wow!" Carol exclaimed.
"I see your wow and I raise you a whoa!" Danny exclaimed.
"I know!" CJ whispered shouted.
"Wow! Well, I'll let you too get some sleep. Night Danny, night CJ and thanks for letting me stay." Carol said rising to the door and leaving.
"Night Carol." CJ called simultaneously with Danny's.
"Bye Carol." Danny drew in a deep breath. "Oh my god."
"Yeah." CJ replied. "It's pretty interesting?"
"Yeah." Danny replied before leaning forwards and kissing CJ long and slow on the mouth. CJ returned the kiss pressing harder into him before grabbing the front of Danny's Notre Dame jersey and pulling him towards the bed never letting their lips break contact.
"It's been so long." CJ said through the kiss. "But we have a full house. We can't." CJ said maintaining the kiss.
"We can just be quieter." Danny offered.
"I may be great in bed but I'm not exactly quiet, as you well know. What do you think stopped me from jumping you in my office for all those years?" CJ replied with a flirty smile.
"Ok." Danny said with a sweet laughing smile. Danny lifted CJ's hand to his mouth and kissed it quickly and softly. CJ leaned her head against Danny's chest as he absentmindedly played with her hair.
"I love you, Claudia Jean." Danny said leaning forward to kiss CJ's cheek.
"I love you too Daniel." CJ replied kissing him on the mouth.