A sharp scream pierced Danny's dream drawing him back conscious. Danny tried to force his mind awake quicker to get up and deal with Kat. That's when he realised the screaming was next to him. His eyes snapped open. CJ still asleep was screaming at the top of her lungs. Danny sat bolt upright looking panicked trying to find a way to help her but coming up blank. As if the gods answered his prayers Carol, from her neighbouring room, came crashing through the door pulling on a grey robe to hide her pyjamas. Carol sprinted to the bed where CJ lay screaming in her sleep. Carol knelt down so that she as within eye level of CJ before starting to speak.
"CJ, honey, it's ok. Hush it's alright. He's not here it's only me Claudia-Jean." Carol said in a soothing voice gently stroking CJ's cheek. A sharp intake of breath and the end of the screaming. It was over. CJ was awake and holding onto Carol for dear life as Carol held her too. Danny looked at the two women hugging and mulled over why it was so rehearsed, practiced. As if it had happened before, many times.
"Carol." CJ sobbed into Carol's shoulders "it happened again it wouldn't stop. He was coming for me. No one would stop him. He was there." Carol stroked the back of CJ's head calming her.
"Honey it's okay it's over now. It's stopped he's not coming." Carol soothed. Danny looked confused at the repeated use of he. Who were they talking about? What had happened? So many questions flooded Danny's mind but he knew now wasn't the right time. CJ began to calm slowly but surely in Carol's comforting embrace. CJ got up from the bed and pulled on her robe. She and Carol left the room just before closing the door, Carol gave Danny a look telling him not to follow, leaving Danny alone with his thoughts and questions. Danny slowly settled into an uneasy and restless sleep.
Danny awoke the next morning to find CJ had not returned. Danny walked out into the corridor and knocked on Carol's door and waited. When no Carol emerged after the third round of knocking Danny pushed the door open to find Carol's bed lay empty. Danny looked at the clock next to the bed and saw it was 7:08, CJ and Carol shouldn't be at work this early. Danny went down the stairs to make himself a cup of coffee before walking into the living room. That's when he saw them. CJ was lay out full, asleep on the couch. Carol was sat on the end of the couch with CJ's head on her lap stroking her hair. Carol noticed Danny standing at the door and looked up from the sitcom playing on tv.
"Hey Danny." Carol whispered trying not to wake CJ who had started to stir.
"Carol what's going on?" Danny asked too loudly hearing a sharp intake of breath which drew Carol's gaze back down to stroking CJ hair and making calming hushing noise like you would to a small child. CJ's eyes fluttered open and she began to sit up looking at the living room cautiously.
"It's okay honey. It's only me. It's Carol. It's just us. It was only a dream. He's not coming for you. Your safe." Carol soothingly rambled while helping CJ sit up. CJ prepared to stand keeping her eyes fixed with Carol's before looking at the door and seeing Danny.
"Danny?" CJ called quietly.
"Yes CJ." Danny answered a little standoffishly. Carol put a hand gently on CJ's arm.
"Danny, I need to speak with you?" Carol commanded starting to stand before turning her attentions back to CJ. "I'll be back in a minute honey. If you need anything just call or come find me. I'll be back in a minute." Carol walked towards the door and towards Danny. "Come!" Carol said pulling him into the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Danny asked.
"It's not my secret to tell." Carol said on the verge of tears. "I want to tell you but I can't. It's not my secret. You'll have to ask CJ but give her half a day, but ask her. Half a day Danny, I beg." Carol finished.
"Ok. I'll ask her out to lunch and ask then." Danny said.
"Don't go out. Eat in her office or back here. I'll make sure you're not disturbed and I can get her the time off." Carol gave her instructions quickly and quietly before returning to living room to tell CJ it was time for work, a welcome distraction for CJ.
Danny had arranged to eat lunch with CJ in her office and had checked with Carol that, if necessary, all of CJ's later work could be rescheduled. So, Danny diligently walked up to CJ's office in the Hollis Foundation and was about to knock when he heard raised voices.
"I can't tell him Carol I just can't. You weren't even supposed to find out!" CJ whisper-shouted.
"He's your husband and he loves you, you haven't done anything wrong you need to tell him. In fact, he will be here any minute now." Carol replied in the same tone. Danny waited half a beat and hearing the silence within he knocked.
"Now see what you've done." CJ whispered before shouting at the door, "come in!" Danny pushed the door open and entered.
"Hey Cee. Hi Carol." Danny said awkwardly before shutting the door behind him.
"I'll go." Carol said starting to stand before CJ rested her hand on Carol's arm and throwing a glare towards her. "Or I'll stay." Carol said.
"So, what is it?" Danny asked.
"What's what?" CJ asked in mock confusion.
"Claudia-Jean don't you dare pretend you don't know!" Danny yelled.
"Fine, but this story goes no further only you and Carol can know from me." CJ forcefully whispered.
"CJ, you're scaring me now. What is it?" Danny asked.
"You have to promise. No further!" CJ said threateningly.
"Ok." Danny said sitting down in one of the armchairs facing the couch which had Carol and CJ sat on. "What is it?"
"You know everything that happened with Hoynes, about 15 years ago maybe, well when we were on the campaign trail one of Hoynes' friends tracked me down." CJ paused and took a deep breath fighting the tears that were threatening to spill over. "Hoynes had told them it was my fault, they attacked me. I won't tell anyone exactly what happened so I am sticking to that no matter what you say. When I got back to the hotel room I was sharing with Carol at the time, she noticed the cuts and bruises." CJ paused longer this time. Silent tears rolling down her cheeks. Carol reached out and held CJ's hand in her own, CJ continued speaking. "I had a cut lip, a cut down my arm that needed stiches, Abbey did them- told her I fell down the stairs. My blouse was torn and one of my shoe heels were broken. That scar across my thigh I got that night. I told Carol everything and she helped me hide. That screaming has happened before, I was asleep in my office a few times and that happened and Carol helped me." CJ stopped and looked into Danny's eyes.
"Is that why all those years ago you came down so hard on Qumar? Why you always fought so hard for those women." Danny asked taking it all in.
"Yes, I couldn't stand it because I was one of those women. I couldn't tell anyone why but Carol understood and I thought I could help. I failed but I went down fighting." CJ said beginning to regain her composure.
"Is that where those scares came from?" Danny asked and CJ nodded.
"Does this happen a lot?" Danny asked still processing.
"Not often but occasionally." CJ responded. "Look I don't really want to talk about it but Carol insisted you needed to know." CJ said clearly drawing an end to the conversation.
"Ok. If you need to talk or if there's anything else then tell me, but first I just have one question." Danny said preparing to let it drop if his question was answered. CJ nodded encouraging him to ask. "How did you cover it?"
"Carol helped. I said I had slipped and injured myself. Carol and I did our best to cover it all with makeup and carefully chosen clothing, long sleeves some turtlenecks and skirts with high weave tights if not then pantsuits. We made it work." CJ finished picking up her salad of the coffee table next to the sofa and digging in showing that the conversation would go no further, and Danny knew not to push it would only make her push him away.