Danny led her inside his apartment for a moment. They both took in the
other's clothing, for what they wore was new to their eyes. CJ glanced over
every inch of Danny. He was wearing khakis, a light blue button down shirt
with a white one underneath. His shoes were by J. Crew and he looked like
the down to earth man that he was. Danny looked wonderful to CJ; he was
authentic and true...and had some muscle on him. That went over very well
with CJ. Danny glanced over CJ, as well. Breathtaking, she was, looking like
a Springly goddess.

Danny was first to squirm under the scrutiny. "What?"

"This is the first time I've seen you wear...non-work clothes."

"Oh...well, I've seen you in the formalwear, but this, definitely not."

"Do I pass the test?"

"You could say so." Danny managed. CJ looked at him expectantly, he paused,
wondering if she wanted more of an explanation, but soon realized what she
meant. "Oh yes, well, we will be late for lunch if you take a scenic tour in
here, so we'll take one after lunch, hmm?"

Danny opened the door and led her out again. They made their way to the
parking garage and Danny opened the door to the car so that CJ could get in.
Danny made his way around the car and soon was strapped in. He maneuvered
out of the garage, and they were off.

"So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"Why must it be a surprise?"

"Because I said so."

"And if you said so, it should be taken like the words of God."

"Exactly." CJ sighed in mock frustration.

Danny chose a quaint, little bistro in Georgetown to visit for lunch. CJ had
never been able to take the time to actually eat there, but had seen it in
passing with great interest. As they delved into their house salads, Danny
looked as if in he was in great, profound thought. CJ frowned a little,
wondering what it was that would cause Danny to go off into lah lah land.

"Earth to Danny."

"Huh?" Danny quizzically shot up out of his stupor.

"Are you weighing the pros and cons of nuclear warfare or something, over
there?"

"Oh no, sorry." They continued on with their salads, Danny still swaying in
and out of his deep thought.

"So what were you thinking about?" CJ asked after their lunches were
delivered.

"You'll hear about it later."

"Then let's hear about things now, Danny, like yourself, for instance."

"Oh yes, I guess I must gush about myself since I promised I would."

"You did."

"Well, what would you like to hear?"

"Your autobiography."

"OK." Danny paused to muster all early memories in his mind to be
categorized for some storytelling with ease.

"No matter how long it takes, tell me everything."

"Well, I guess I must begin at the top of things. I was born the second of
three children to a Wisconsin-born college professor and an Irish-Catholic
mother in Madison, Wisconsin. Hence the red hair," he said as he pointed in
the direction of his head. Danny continued, "But I did not, however, receive
the Irish temper, stubbornness yes, but definitely not a hot head temper. In
that sense, I'm as laid back as my father. Dad was a professor at the
University of Wisconsin in the English department with a great weakness for
well-written literature. Mom was and still is the heartbeat of Madison. She
is the caretaker, the elite gossiping voice, the conscious, wrath, and
political advocate of my hometown. Needless to say, there was no question of
who was going to be the Homeroom mother for my elementary classes."

They both chuckled. "An Irish drive with a knack of delving into the
activities of their offspring."

"More than anyone will ever know." "Mom is an incredibly busy person who
doesn't like to sit down. It's almost like she doesn't know how. That's her
problem, though, she doesn't know when to just stop and smell the roses.
Much like you."

"Like me?"

"Yes. You are a workaholic who hardly ever leaves the White House. And I
shouldn't be pointing fingers because I'm one, too. But I know when to stop.
Don't you ever get cabin fever?"

"No, there's not time to even consider the possibility. Continue on with
your descriptions."

"Hmm...So, Dad just sits there, promoting everything she does, hardly ever
puts his say in on Mom doing way too much. But when he does, she listens. He
likes to see her happy in her activities so Dad let's Mom be. That's how
it's always been. But anyway,"

"School."

"Ah yes, the scholastic era. I liked school well enough when I was little.
Back then, as always, it didn't matter how hard you tried. But I had a
conscious and so I did try my half-best, which seem to impress my teachers.
Mid-High for the first two years sucked. Eighth grade was a blast because,
not only was it easy for me, the classes that I had taught you much more
than facts and figures. It was the first time we focused on any writing, and
I had my stage to voice what I was always thinking in my head. That year I
became notorious and it was all a wonderful experience. My first real mentor
took me under her wing that year. Mrs. Janelle Hendly, gave me her insight,
and I continued to write, now fully knowing that I had some talent in me."

"What things were you writing?"

"Short stories, synopsis' of current events of the times, poetry,
editorials, and paragraphs questioning these quotes were given to discuss in
English class."

Their waiter had long since delivered them coffee and desert was to be
sought after later. The ticket was delivered to the table, and Danny
promptly paid.

"Do you think we could continue this elsewhere?"

"Where?"

"Well have you ever tried walking through D.C. without the Secret Service or
in a big tourist crowd?"

"No."

"Well then let's try that."

"Alright."

It was a bright and beautiful day. It was in the seventies, but the sun had
its' warming affect on everything. Life seem endlessly optimistic from the
eyes of White House Reporter Danny Concannon and Press Secretary CJ Cregg.
What a clash of titles, and yet how delicious it was to try to work around
the barriers they had. The tone was light and airy, as recollections were
soon to begin again. Danny and CJ walked slowly, far from the brisk pace
that was kept in the West Wing.

"Now where were we?"

"Wrapping up middle school, I believe."

"Yes."

"How do you remember all of this stuff?"

"It was a very important part of my life, a jelling stage, and I'll never
forget it. So I went to high school, and it was ok, I guess, for the first
two years. I spent most of my time working with the A/V Club, writing,
running, practicing for piano competitions and then the newspaper.
Relationships were flaky, hardly worth calling relationships."

"So no high school sweetheart?"

"Not really."

"What's not really?"

"On again off again most of the time friendship...and then there wasn't even
that."

"Ah."

"Aren't you tired of me talking non stop?"

"No. You're supposed to be doing all the talking."

"Well yes, but I just feel that I'm talking too much."

"Ok." "Do you think we could end this part of storytelling?"

"Alright." CJ and Danny had been walking for a little while near the
Jefferson Memorial now, and they spotted a shady tree with a big trunk. They
parked themselves underneath it and rested against the birch's trunk.

"So what would you like to talk about?" CJ asked.

"You. I'd like to know what you like, and dislike, how you feel about being
you."

"I second that, as long as you share the same. Deal?" "Deal."

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