Ginger slipped away from Toby's office long enough to call the Briefing hot.
C.J. was grateful that she'd realized she was the only other one left to do
it. They traded smiles as C.J. walked in.
The first thing C.J. saw was a flash of familiar red hair. Danny was back in
his usual place. C.J. grinned and then bit her lip. She couldn't let on to
anyone including Danny that this was the high point of a tough week. Plus
she wondered, "Where had he been?"
She was determined to keep the pace quick. Not much to cover, not too many
to do the covering and this way, Danny might be able to stop by her office.
Not that C.J. cared one way or another.
C.J. started the Briefing with the announcement of the shut down. She
promised the White House would do its best to abide by the plan and get an
early lid on news tomorrow. She was careful to praise the D.C. Mayor for his
role in getting the city on the same page as the White House.
Danny's hand went up and C.J. called on him. He asked, "C.J. you haven't
mentioned the President's exact schedule. Is he still ill and when will he
make a public appearance?"
C.J. expected this, "I was getting to that Danny. He's on the mend, working
on essential matters and up to date on everything. His doctors cleared him
for photos and video tomorrow. That way, we won't have any non-essential
gatherings with people just standing around."
A hand went up and C.J. said, "Yes?" and then stopped. She didn't recognize
the young woman sitting in front of Danny.
"Ma'am.", C.J. winced inwardly at that show of respect to an elder. "I'm
Kendra Beach, with the wire service. Will we meet with the President one at
a time or in a group?" It was all asked in a timid voice.
"Kendra, welcome. It won't be a news conference or one on one session. I
expect it will just be a photo call in the Oval Office depending on
President Bartlet's schedule."
Billy put a hand up. "Why not today? Isn't he up to working?"
"Billy," C.J. intoned, "Look around this room, lots of people are out sick.
The President was ill, he's much better now but keeping group gatherings to
a minimum to spare anyone else from getting sick."
Danny put in, "So it's a humanitarian gesture?"
"If you can refer to the Press Corps and remaining West Wing Staff as
humans, yes. And Mrs. Bartlet wanted to do some blood letting. We didn't
find any fresh leeches until late today."
Everyone laughed except for Kendra Beach. To C.J.'s amazement, the
substitute was frantically scribbling in her notebook. The other media
members noticed it too. Danny reached over and tapped her on the shoulder.
"You don't need to write that down, C.J. was kidding."
"Oh." Kendra stopped, "I'm sorry Miss Cregg."
Lots of suppressed smiles, C.J. rarely got that much respect, at least
verbally. More questions on other matters and then one more on the shut
down. "C.J., it is really going to help?"
"The CDC believes it will, we'll keep tracking the numbers. But yes, I have
to say it will. If not, we'll call in the Air Force to fumigate the city."
Once again laughter for C.J. from everyone but Kendra. Once again, Danny
played white knight. "Don't write that down either as a serious solution."
She mumbled her thanks.
C.J. was ready to put the lid down when Kendra's hand shot up. "Miss Cregg,
I have more questions and I need some clarifications." That was met with a
couple groans, C.J.'s was inward. But she thought fast.
"Kendra, if it's not urgent come to my office. That way people with more
immediate deadlines can make them." The other reporters nodded eagerly.
There was a pantomime of applause and kisses blown at C.J. from behind
Kendra.
The Press Corps scattered and C.J. headed out with Kendra in tow. Half an
hour later, an exhausted C.J. ushered the rookie out the door. C.J.
understood her enthusiasm and wish to do well in her first assignment out of
an internship. But C.J. mentally wished a very speedy recovery to the
regular beat reporter.
Ginger tapped at the door, files in hand. "Sorry, C.J. Toby told me to share
the wealth."
"Not a problem. Thanks for the help with the Briefing. Tell the man behind
Door #1, I'm taking them home to read. And don't let him keep you here too
late."
"Thanks, C.J. See you in the morning."
C.J. turned to grab her briefcase to begin filling it. A rustle of sound
caught her attention, Danny came in carrying a small bag. "Hey.", his
chipper greeting.
"Hey.", hers more subdued.
Danny grinned at her, "I sort of expected a red carpet, drum and bugle
corps, a big sign and you flinging yourself into my arms."
"Saying what?", C.J. asked.
"Saying nothing, just passionately kissing me. Oh, you mean the sign. I
don't know. Welcome Back. You were missed. The most powerful Nation in the
Free World barely functioned without you."
C.J. just stared at him and he finished weakly, "Welcome Back would be
fine."
She retorted, "You missed it, it was here this morning."
"Really. You were worried, you were looking for me.", a delighted Danny
said.
"Don't flatter yourself. How would I know when you would be back? I don't
keep track, I didn't hear from you. I just feed the fish."
He laughed, "I said I'd send a postcard."
"So you said." She paused and Danny kept looking at her. "Okay, you sent 3
but there was nothing on them."
"They weren't for you."
"Who then?"
"They were for the Goldfish and though they travel in schools." Danny
continued even as C.J. groaned, "I didn't think Gail could read."
"Uh-huh. What did you want?"
"I come bearing gifts plus an explanation and invitation."
"Start with the explanation." C.J. dropped into her chair and put her feet
up on the desk.
Danny closed the door and then perched on the corner of her desk. "I had
some travel delays, slept in and headed to the Paper to get through
everything piled up there. A couple of meetings later, the day was half
gone."
"Fine, whatever. I didn't even notice."
He suppressed a smile as she tried to look nonchalant. "Okay, fine. Maybe I
can do better with gifts." He reached into the bag and pulled out a small
china replica of Big Ben. He placed it next to Gail's bowl and looked at
C.J. They both laughed.
"Saw it at a London Aquarium store, had to have it."
"That's adorable, a lovely touch especially with the upcoming summit. How'd
the trip go? I figure it must have been fine because I didn't get any irate
phone calls from foreign Press Secretaries."
"I was my usual charming self. Pieces start running a week from Sunday, so
I'm racing the clock. The shut down helps me a lot."
She nodded, they both understood the pressures of deadlines. "That's the
real reason the President ordered it Danny, I just couldn't announce that."
He reached into the bag again. "This is for you."
A surprised C.J. pulled apart tissue to find a basket filled with lovely,
hand milled soaps. "Danny, thank you. They smell wonderful and the basket is
lovely."
"Well, I was in Brussels and I was just walking around when I saw this shop
selling this kind of stuff. Seemed like something you'd appreciate." She
nodded and Danny continued. "Besides, I'll appreciate getting close to you
even more to see how the soap smells on you."
This was dangerously personal so C.J. moved to another avenue of
conversation. "Danny, you said you had something else to talk to me about?"
"Dinner, an invitation to dinner."
"I can't Danny." There was regret in C.J.'s voice. "It's just not a good
night. I've inherited all this work and now the shut down. This is the
busiest I've been all week."
"Okay, I understand. Well, I actually don't but I don't have a choice. Guess
I'll get some work done too." They were both disappointed over the turn of
events. Danny got up and moved to the door.
"Wait." C.J gracefully moved to her feet. She put a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, I love the soaps and that you thought of me while you were
away." They were close to a much desired kiss when there was a knock on the
door.
"C.J., Leo needs..." Margaret opened the door and stopped. She'd given them
enough time to move apart. "I'm so sorry."
"No problem.", C.J. was back in professional mode. "Danny was on his way."
He nodded and headed out. C.J. watched him leave and then focused on
Margaret. "What did Leo need?"
"He had a breakfast meeting tomorrow with the Congressional liaisons from
Congressman Willis' and Sabo's offices. Can you take it?"
"No problem Margaret." Both women scribbled notes and then Margaret handed
her the agenda sheet. "Leo's still recuperating?" C.J. asked.
"Yeah and he's getting grumpier by the phone call. The grumpier he is the
more he calls. That's one of the reasons I walked this over here,this way I
can be away from the phones. I had better get back though or he'll have the
Secret Service tracking me."
"Right, give him my best." C.J. moved back to her desk and glanced ruefully
at the gifts. She hoped Margaret hadn't noticed the soaps. Everyone brought
items for the fish bowl so that wasn't an issue.
"Hi." Danny's voice came from the doorway.
"What now? Are you coming in?"
"No, I'm staying here to avoid temptation." Danny said it with a huge grin.
"Oh, okay." She sounded disappointed, "So what do you want?"
"You did a great job with that kid, Kendra. She was scared to death and you
treated her with respect. And you kept the rest of us from killing her. It
was a kind thing to do."
C.J. was touched, not just by the words but by the warmth in his voice.
"Thank you Danny."
"So breakfast tomorrow? I'd like to see what you look like over that first
cup of coffee." The warmth in his voice was replaced by a touch of
wickedness.
"I can't, I just got Leo's Congressional Liaison Breakfast meeting handed to
me."
They both sighed. Then Danny waved and headed out. C.J. grabbed her stuff
and prepared to head for home feeling wistful.