Danny leaned over and took C.J.'s hand. "I thought they'd drag you out of
there kicking and screaming as if you were off to the guillotine."
"Mrs. Landingham is very persuasive." C.J. told him as she glanced back at
the older woman heading back into the White House. "She reminded me in no
uncertain terms that I serve at the pleasure of the President and it would
give him no pleasure for me to stay on duty when sick. But Danny, I don't
feel that bad. I think I just need to get my second wind." She looked
around, "Danny, why aren't we moving?"
"You need to give me your address so I can drive you home."
"Danny, Ace Reporter that you are, you haven't gotten it already? Haven't
looked it up or wheedled it out of someone?" C.J. looked at him and he
smiled. She continued, "You're busted Concannon."
"Okay, I know. So sue me." He made the turn out of the White House driveway.
"It's a nice neighborhood, but way too close to work."
"I know, but with these hours, that's a necessity." As she spoke, C.J.
reached over and snapped off the car heater. "Your heater works well."
Danny thought the car was chilly. He'd thought about warming it up but
didn't take the time. While he was busy with that thought and driving, C.J.
opened her window. He felt the wind on a wintry Washington night whistle
into the car. C.J. was shrugging out of her coat while offering him a
shorter route than the obvious one. Danny had to do it, ask the obvious
question. "C.J. aren't you a little cold?"
"No, I'm fine. Please stop fussing. Everyone is being considerate,
especially you. But I'm okay. I'll have to figure out a way into work
tomorrow...", her voice trailed off. Danny looked over in concern.
C.J. said, "Danny, what did you mean, I'll leave you a message about where
to meet?"
"What?", Danny was confused. "When did I say I'd leave you a message?"
"Not me, Tommy. Mrs. Landingham's Agent. You can't interview him, you're not
allowed to talk to him."
"Fine, then when we go to the Wizards' game next week, we'll act like monks
who took a vow of silence. It's just a basketball game. God, C.J. calm down.
I appreciated his help in getting you out with a minimum of effort. Though
at the moment I can't remember why I was concerned."
C.J. mumbled, "Sorry, I have a hard time going off duty."
"I've noticed." Danny also noticed she was sweating despite the air rushing
through the car.
"Turn here." She pointed towards the garage of her building. He pulled in
and was confronted by a "card required" entry. He put his hand toward C.J.
figuring the paragon of efficiency would have the card ready. She was just
looking out the window, not really focusing.
"C.J., hey--how about some help here?" Danny put a hand on her shoulder.
She looked at him. "I'm sorry, I just, I couldn't concentrate. Oh, you need
the card key." C.J. pulled it out of her coat pocket.
He used it and as the gate opened, she directed him to her parking spot.
Danny was relieved to see it was near the elevator and well lit. He knew it
was silly but he worried about C.J. being safe when she left for work early,
when she returned home late. He shook it off, he didn't have the right to
feel that way, not yet.
Danny parked the car and hopped out. He grabbed his bag, C.J.'s briefcase
and the bag with the chicken soup. Even loaded down that much, he was faster
than C.J. Danny was around the passenger side before she had the door open.
He didn't know if C.J. would slap it away, but he offered a hand to help
this most independent woman out. She took it and then grabbed her coat.
C.J. seemed a little more with it and had her keys out as they stepped off
the elevator. Again, Danny felt pleased, her apartment was fairly close to
the elevator, the hallway bright with light. But he wisely kept these
thoughts to himself.
She unlocked the door and they moved into the apartment. He put down the
bags in the foyer and walked with her into the living room. Danny felt
immediately at home when C.J. hit the light switch.
The apartment was warm and welcoming, elegant and tasteful, soothing and
sweet smelling. It was just like C.J. He was conscious of subtle colors,
warm woods, pictures, pillows and homey touches. Danny realized now her
office was an off shoot of this place.
C.J. was the perfect hostess even when feeling lousy and said, "Welcome."
Danny murmured a thank you and wondered how to approach her. He decided to
be direct. "C.J. you need to..."
"Danny are you cold?" She interrupted him. "I wonder if the furnace is
working. It feels cold in here. You look cold." She walked over to the
thermostat and turned it up.
"I am cold C.J. I'm freezing because you were too warm in my car. You turned
off the heat, opened the window and took off your coat. There's frost on my
windshield, on the INSIDE! Admit it, you'r sick."
He immediately regretted the flash of anger when he saw her shivering. She'd
put her coat back on and went to the couch. C.J. curled up on it and turned
to Danny. In a stubborn tone she said, "Danny, I'll be alright, truly."
Danny took off his coat and put it over her lap. He grabbed the throw from
the back of the couch and draped it around her shoulders. He moved into the
open kitchen area. He could see her huddle into the couch and covers as he
put the soup in the refrigerator. Danny offered, "I'll make you some tea, if
you tell me where everything is."
"No, don't bother. Come back here and sit with me. Please."
"Okay." He went to sit on the chair next to the couch.
"Not there, here." C.J. indicated the couch. When he was settled next to
her, she took his hand. "I haven't been very nice and you have. You're
right, I'm not fine. I'm exhausted and I guess that's why I'm so scattered."
"It's more than that C.J., you're sick. The flu got you, now give in. Get in
your rattiest pajamas or nightgown and crawl into bed."
"My rattiest what?" C.J. asked.
"When I was a kid and sick, my Mom said put on your oldest pajamas. They
were usually flannel. You did it because they felt so good, they'd help you
get better." Danny smiled at the memory.
C.J. smiled back at him. "Josh wanted me to kiss his forehead."
Danny dropped her hand. "Excuse me, I guess I'll have to kill him."
"Why? No, his Mom used to kiss his forehead, if it was warm and salty--he
had a fever."
"Did you?"
"No, but he did have a fever. I put my hand on his forehead. Was that okay?"
"Well, you have a fever too. You're shivering but you're in a sweat."
Danny leaned over and kissed her forehead. "This just makes it official."
She sighed, "My Mom would always get us new coloring books. I always wanted
one of the dot to dot ones. I liked to figure things out."
Danny took possession of C.J.'s hand again. "Sorry, fresh out of coloring
books. How about a cup of tea?" He noticed she'd stopped shivering. "You'll
have to tell me where stuff is."
"No, I'll do it. You're my guest and I've warmed up." She tossed off the
throw. "Are you hungry? And coffee would be better. Tea is for sick people."
Danny started to protest even as C.J. moved Danny's coat off her lap and
took off her own coat. She headed into the kitchen to tend to her guest.
"Are you hungry, Danny? I can throw something together." As she talked, she
pulled a bag of coffee beans out along with a grinder and moved to the
coffee maker.
"C.J., this isn't necessary. To quote you earlier, 'Stop fussing.' Are you
sure you're hungry? I keep hearing this bug is an appetite killer."
She told him, "I'm not hungry but then I had meetings at breakfast and
lunch. You know that means tables loaded with food."
C.J. opened the bag of coffee beans and put them in the grinder. The rich
smell wafted through the room and Danny took a deep appreciative whiff, the
smell had the opposite effect on C.J.
She stopped the grinder, put a hand over her mouth and said, "Excuse me."
Danny watched her rush down the hall. He shook his head knowing that queasy
look meant she couldn't deny being sick any more.