Spoilers: Noel, and just in case anything before it

Rating: PG

Summary: a sequel to "Renewal" and sort of a prequel to "Storm in My Heart,"
but that's not really critical.

Archive: anywhere

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

As the cathedral of the Washington archdiocese, the basilica had grown used
to accomodating the President and his entourage of Secret Service. Upon
their arrival at the church on Christmas Eve for midnight Mass the motorcade
from the White House stopped one car at a time in front of the marble steps
to be greeted by black-suited agents. The First Family, including the
seldom-seen elder daughters, along with their various significant others
including a nervous-looking Charlie Young (who was not Catholic, but scoring
major family bonding points with Zoe Bartlet), filed up to the row usually
reserved for them. The President and Dr. Bartlet smiled and greeted the
people watching them, while their daughters followed behind as unobtrusively
as possible.

The row behind the Bartlets had been kept for any White House staff members
who wanted to accompany the First Family to Mass. Leo McGarry stood,
naturally, directly behind his boss and best friend, with his assistant,
Margaret, at his side. As they filed into the pew Margaret whispered
something to her boss. He scowled at her, but turned to Sam Seaborn and
gestured for him to sit on his other side, adding, "Leave a space." Sam was
about to ask why (and to point out yet again that he wasn't Catholic and
wasn't sure why Margaret had insisted he come) when he heard a rustling
behind him and looked up just in time to see Mallory O'Brien sliding over her
father to sit between them. Oh. Sam beamed at Mallory, who gave him a
sedate but sweet smile in return.

As CJ Cregg entered from the back of the church she eyed the pew where the
rest of the staff was sitting. Sam was on one end with Mallory between him
and Leo - she didn't want to go anywhere near that. Instead she walked up
the middle aisle, studiously ignoring the stares and whispers as people
recognized her and saw her going to sit with the President, and slid into the
pew beside Margaret. Margaret gave her a friendly smile, and Leo leaned over
to pat her arm. "Glad you came, CJ."

CJ hesitated for just a second, wondering how much Margaret had heard, and
then figured that knowing both Leo and Donna Margaret probably knew exactly
what was going on. "How'd it go?" she whispered to Leo.

He knew right away exactly what she meant. "It went well."

"Did he -"

"I saw him afterwards. He looked okay. He sounded more like himself than he
has in weeks." Leo shifted so that he could talk past Margaret without
uncomfortable twisting. "He left with Donna, she was going to take him to
get his hand looked at."

CJ gave an unconscious sigh of relief. Leo caught it and smiled.

"Yeah," he said. "At least we know he'll be well taken care of."

She smiled back, but her eyes were worried. "I'll call him later."

Leo nodded. "Good idea." Then he turned back to face front. Margaret
leaned in and whispered, "Josh is okay, right? You're not just telling her
that?"

He gave her knee a friendly pat. "He's fine. And you know Donna."

"Right."

In front of them Abbey Bartlet turned around to peek at the crowd assembling
for Mass. A familiar face all the way in the back caught her eye and she
leaned over her husband to whisper to his aide. The President heard part of
what she was saying and frowned at her, but she kissed his cheek and
whispered, "It's Christmas, Jed."

Charlie eased past Zoe out of the pew and walked quickly to the back of the
church, looking for the person the First Lady had spotted.

CJ was just settling back in her seat and reaching for the hymnal when a soft
voice over her shoulder whispered, "We have got to stop meeting like this."

She looked up, the expression on her face managing to be both pleased and
horrified at the same time. After all, she was sitting one person away from
the Chief of Staff and directly behind the President. In front of about a
thousand other people. Now was not the time. "What are you doing here?" she
moaned.

He put his finger to his lips and sat down beside her, ignoring her almost
panicked gestures of protest. "I'm attending Mass, CJ. We have had this
conversation before."

"I mean, here." She gestured at the White House staff.

"Oh." He grinned. "I think I have a friend."

"Danny. . ."

"The First Lady sent Charlie back to get me and tell me to come sit with you."

"She did not."

"Did you see him get up?"

CJ's glare turned on the back of the First Lady's head. "Yes." She sighed.

"Do you really mind?"

She sighed again. "No."

He covered her hand with his for a brief moment. "Good."

There was a minor disturbance down the row to their left. They heard Leo
hiss, "Could you two please not fight in church?" Margaret leaned over
toward CJ and whispered, "She broke up with Richard whatever his name is."

"The hockey player?" Danny asked, leaning over CJ's lap to be closer to
Margaret. Before CJ could stop her, Leo's assistant nodded. "They weren't
really all that serious, she just told Sam that, and -" Margaret broke off
abruptly as Leo's arm descended on her shoulders. She turned slowly to look
at her boss. "Hi there, Leo."

"Hi," he replied, not cracking a smile or moving his arm from around her
shoulders.

"How are you?" she said lamely.

"Margaret, you've met Danny Concannon, right?"

She looked confused, glancing quickly at the man sitting down the pew.
"Yeah."

"You do know that he's a reporter, right?"

As Margaret turned three shades of red, CJ stole a look at Danny. He was
fighting to keep from laughing. "Stop it," she commanded quietly.

"Okay." His eyes were still twinkling and his lips quivering.

"I mean it."

"Okay."

She sighed and went to bury her face in her hands, but for some reason she
leaned over and rested her head on Danny's shoulder instead. "What am I
going to do with you people?" she muttered.

Danny, still pleasantly surprised, whispered close to her ear, "I could give
you a few ideas."

She suddenly realized what she was doing and sat up straight as if she'd been
poked. "Watch it. You're in church, Daniel."

"Yes, ma'am."

In front of them the First Lady's shoulders shook suspiciously, as if she
were laughing. Before CJ could commit what would probably be a federal
crime, the organist struck up the opening chords of the processional and they
all got to their feet.


TBC