It was four o'clock, the sun was waning on the periwinkle sky, and CJ was
staring intently at Danny. They had talked each other's ears off, and a nap
was soon agreed upon. Danny, for one, was very apt to catching up on his
lost sleep. CJ, on the other hand, was still energized with her refreshing
night of rest from the former day. Danny had lain down on the grass under
the shady tree as CJ propped herself up on her elbow to watch him rest. She
considered all the possibilities of what might happen tonight, if this was
to last any longer. CJ loved spending the day with Danny. It was like a
rebirth for her, a realization that CJ needed time away from the office, and
someone to bring her that...even if he was from around the White House.

Danny was at peace, and CJ soon wondered of what his dreams consisted. 'Look
at him, sleeping like a little boy. Danny looks so content, and so inviting.
I belong there with him.' The compelling idea of being nestled in his arms,
with CJ's head on Danny's chest, soon overcame her, and CJ made haste. She
rose and fell with each breath he took, and heard his steady heartbeat. CJ
found that Danny was so many things to CJ: someone who could aggravate her
and her job beyond belief, the one who could fluster her better than anyone
else, and one who could calm her into a state of great relaxation and
happiness. Their relationship, even in this early stage, was already
dynamic, in that affect.

What felt like hours, Danny napped for thirty minutes. His eyelids flew
open, and found a resting CJ in his arms. She didn't notice Danny waking
from his slumber. While he slept, Danny dreamt of walking through the White
House, looking for the inside track on a new story, and opening locked
doors. He somehow went past all Secret Service agents into a wing he had
never seen. Danny had found a door with "CJ Cregg" on it, but it wasn't CJ's
office. He opened it, and found himself in a humongous hall painted white.
Doors lined the sides, titled with parts of CJ's life. Some of the doors
were unlocked, while others were barred shut. After attempting to open
"Future Dreams" and seeing question marks floating in the air, the last door
he tried was "Heart and Soul". It wasn't locked, but something behind it was
blocking him from fully opening the door. Danny woke up as he tried to open
the last door. He knew he could have done it, but something in CJ was
holding him back.

In his waking self, Danny contemplated if this translated to real life.
'There are things that are holding me back. But right now, the tide seems to
be turning. Why else would this beautiful woman be in my arms, lying in this
grass on a Saturday afternoon?'

CJ began to stir, growing a little weary of the darkness that was soon to
ensue. 'How should I wake him?' His hand stroked CJ's hair, and Danny played
as if he was still asleep, for he felt her begin to move. CJ rose to move to
her knees, and lightly kissed Danny. He certainly didn't know that was
coming, and Danny flinched a bit, but still finished the kiss.

"Hello." CJ whispered.

"Not too bad of an alarm clock, if I may say so." Danny grinned and CJ
looked on him, smiling all the way.

"The sun is going to set soon, and I thought we should starting moving
again."

"OK. Sorry for falling asleep on you, but I had an early start, today."

"It's alright."

"Do you have any plans tonight?"

"No, I cleared the day for this. Do you?"

"Nope. I was hoping to be tour guide to my apartment, with a complimentary
meal." Danny mentioned sheepishly.

"Do you cook?"

"Compared to you, what I do shouldn't be called cooking."

"Oh please." CJ moaned; she had never been good at taking compliments.

"How about Chinese take-out to spare the laughter?"

"Sure."

They both rose, and began their walk back to Danny's car. The sun was soon
setting, and it was gorgeous on the DC skyline. Danny took in CJ's hand as
they walked. Soon they made it to his sedan, and before he opened the door
to let her inside, Danny stopped and looked at CJ as if he had so much to
say, but held it back. CJ looked quizzically back, and he smiled to make her
forget it.

The ride back was silent, for CJ and Danny were occupied with the thoughts
that plagued their minds. Lauryn Hill's "Nothing Even Matters" was all that
was needed, a small, soft, contemplative song to ease the tension in their
heads. There was so many things that needed to be stated and defined, but
the short car ride would not be starting place of such a weighted
conversation.

Dusk was underway as Danny pulled into his apartment complex. Once again, CJ
was lead into his apartment, and now she could finally take a long look at
everything. Indeed it was a man's apartment, simplistic and a bit rugged,
but it was far from untidy. In Danny's living room, brown leather sofas and
a humble abode of electronics pinned the matte black piano. They walked into
what she believed to be his office. Pictures and Newspaper clippings lined
the walls, along with a few encased medals by what was Danny's desk.

"I see your analysis is already underway."

"So far so good." Danny picked up the phone from its' cradle to call a
Chinese take-out.

"What would you like to have?"

"Umm...sweet and sour, and some white rice, with some egg rolls."

"Even with Chinese food, you still are a health nut."

"You would expect less?"

"Why no, but of course a reprieve is always a nice thing."

"Ok...then I'll be daring...with some fried rice instead."

Chuckling, Danny nodded. The other end of the line was answered and Danny
rattled off instructions.

CJ glanced over the walls a bit more thoroughly and saw Danny's first
article he wrote for his newspaper. A few feet away were pictures from an
award's dinner from which he received top honors. No doubt, Danny was an ace
reporter who had a great knack for writing compelling columns. He painted
vivid pictures of only facts, hardly was there anything that stated Danny's
own views. And that's what people needed, not someone's opinion in a
headlining column that would mislead the millions in the paper's
circulation. Danny was one of the best reporters the modern White House had
ever been in contact with, which was a double-edged sword. CJ could easily
recollect on the times where Danny's probity had given the Staffers of the
White House uneasiness on how to handle his inside scoops.

Danny hung up the phone and neared where CJ was standing.

"Thirty minutes."

"That quick?"

"I'm friends with some of the guys at the restaurant."

"You seem to be friends with a lot of people in many places."

"I'm just a likable guy."

"TouchÈ." CJ agreed. "You owe me a tour, do you not?"

"I do." Danny led her with his hand at the small of CJ's back. She tingled
at his touch, and they began to make their rounds. "This is the kitchen,
obviously, and dining room..."

"Oh you have a veranda, how beautiful!" CJ exclaimed as she looked through
the windows past the cherry wood table.

"It really is, but there's still more before that."

They continued on to Danny's bedroom. Danny ushered her in, with a skeptic
CJ watching him. He began to chuckle when he saw her state of cynicism.
Danny continued on to another entrance to the Veranda.

"I'm not much of a gardener, but another good friend of mind mends it during
the day."

"Whoever it is does a great job."

"Mike, that would be, does."

'I'm glad it wasn't a woman', CJ thought territorially to herself. "That's
one
of the perks of living on the top floor, having a garden."

"Yeah." Vivid purples came from the lilacs pansies. The daffodils were
beginning to say goodbye. The magenta from the Mexican heather was not yet
at full tilt, and the yellow and red roses were already in full bloom. The
garden was filled with many other plants that were somewhat unfamiliar to
CJ. Nevertheless, she still had a very welcoming eye as she surveyed them.
CJ took inhaled the pleasant scents and was encased in a sense of
relaxation.

"I try to visit this place as much as I can each day, even if it is for just
a few brief moments."

"So would I," CJ blushed, realizing what could be interpreted, "I mean..."

"I know what you mean." CJ smiled a thank you for his understanding.

"Would you care playing a few bars for me?" CJ asked as she motioned towards
the piano.

"I was waiting for you to ask." Danny answered, and indeed, he couldn't wait
to play for her. Danny had daydreamed of this for a long while, to lead her
into a journey of rhythm and words, to assault her senses, in a musical
aspect...as well as others...

CJ sat down on one of the leather sofas and awaited the performance that was
to be made. Danny set himself on the bench, staring at the keys and rubbing
his hands on his pants. He had labored over what to play for CJ for a while
now, and it came down to two songs: from the soundtrack of "Sabrina", Sting
had done "In The Moonlight", a romantic and subtly meaningful song, or
Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", a deep and expressive song
for the soul. Both were equally beautiful, but "In the Moonlight" seemed
overly presumptuous in content. Danny wanted to CJ to know that he was not
just here for just physical intimacy, if any, but a sharing of information
from one another's innermost thought processes. He wanted to know more to
the enigma that was CJ. Danny poised his hands, took in a deep breath,
waiting for a silent aura to create itself, so that he could thrive on that
atmosphere.

And Danny began. He played lightly over the keys with great confidence and
concentration. The voice he claimed as his soon joined the notes played by
his hands. A soft pulsing came from his mouth, and the words soon seeped
out, and CJ sat in wonderment of the quality of Danny's voice.

::"My world's so fast today, the past seems so far away. And life squeezes
so tight that I cant breathe.
And every time I've tried what someone else thought of me,
So caught up I was unable to achieve.
But deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me.
And I made up my mind, to define my own destiny."::

He played an interlude with a piano break of exquisite composition, and then
continued on:

::"I look at my environment, and where the fire went.
What happened to everything we used to be?
I hear so many cry for help, searching outside of themselves.
Now I know that His strength is within me.
And deep in my heart, the answer it was in me.
And I made up my mind, to define my own destiny.
And deep my heart...
And deep in my heart, the answer it was in me
And I made up my mind, to define my own destiny." ::

Even as he sat there silent, finishing the song, CJ fixated on Danny, still
not believing that such beauty for the past few minutes came from Danny
Concannon, White House reporter. His hands soon reached their stopping
point, rising elegantly from the keyboard to announce the end. Danny stared
at her, smiling and awaiting a response.

"Well?"

"That...my gosh, that had to be the most moving performance I have ever
witnessed." CJ sat awe-struck. Danny smiled, and bowed his head in
humbleness.

"Well, thank you. I was just doing what I like to do."

"Seriously, that was just, wow."

"CJ Cregg: essentially speechless. This definitely is a moment to remember."
They both grinned, and the doorbell soon rang, and dinner was soon served.
CJ and Danny piled their Chinese food on the coffee table to take what the
please from the other's carton. Danny put on Harry Connick Jr. for
background music. Their food was eaten in relative silence for Danny to
organize his approach for the following.

"CJ,"

"Yes Danny?"

"What are your dreams?"

"My dreams?"

"For the future, I mean, where you want to be in life, down the line."

"How far along down the line?"

"When President Bartlet ends his tenure as President, and on from that."

"I really haven't thought that far. I've been so focused on the NOW part of
things that after the administration is really not an issue. But I suppose
it should be, eventually." CJ contemplated for a minute, and voiced what
thoughts that she had been toying with. "I'd like to take a break for a few
months, that's for sure. Some how, I'd like to remain in the game of
politics, whether it's campaigning or something to do with media. I can't
think of myself doing anything else, really. I used to, but not now, not
after the impact of working with the Bartlet Administration. Or maybe I'll
stop all together, and work at a University or something, and be with my
family in California." She paused. "What about you?"

"I don't know, probably, I'll still be at the paper, writing away on the
news of the White House. I'd like to do more, though. Maybe start teaching
journalism, something, that will allow me to stop moving long enough to
write a book on everything that I have observed working in the Press Corps.
To settle, and relax is my main thing."

'I wonder what he's thinking if he asks of my plans?' CJ wondered. Some guys
were very perplexing.

"Danny, where do you see us?"

"What do you mean?"

"What kind of relationship do you see us having."

"Eventually? A Mutual, close relationship, it that's alright with you." 'The
big "R" word.' CJ was definitely not one for commitment. But neither was
Danny. He could hardly believe his ears when he said that.

"Let's see what fate says to that." CJ said as she looked into his eyes to
find compromise. Her hand moved to his forearm to emphasize her views. She
wanted to leave it open ended, nothing clingy, but not to transparent for
Danny to see she didn't like the big "R". But who knows? This could be the
beginning.

Danny moved his hand to rest on CJ's. "OK." He started to rise and discard
of the Chinese food when CJ pulled him back to her. They shared a heated
kiss that tested each other's reserve...

-------

Monday Morning.

Routines were back in full swing for the White House staff. Josh arrived
with Donna on his heels reprimanding him for getting drunk again and ending
up at her apartment yelling at the cats again. Yes indeed, things were back
to normal. Toby and Sam were meeting to prepare any comments for any
inflammation by the Civil Rights group, and Leo was hearing Margaret rattle
on about another boring story of hers.

The President and First Lady were due back this morning at 10am to resume a
regular schedule, and CJ Cregg tried desperately to hide a perpetual smirk
from appearing on her face. It didn't work, and Sam was first to go in for
the kill before the Staff Meeting.

"Morning CJ."

"Hi Sam."

"Have a good weekend?"

"Yeah, pretty good: me and my paperwork all weekend." CJ tried to play the
'no social life' card. She was horrible at lying to Sam.

"And dinner with Danny?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I saw him on Saturday and I asked if he'd seen you since Friday
afternoon. Danny said he had dinner at your place the night before."

"Yeah, he did." Sam started to smile. "WHAT?"

"Nothing."

"That's right." Luckily the staff was fully assembled and the meeting was
underway immediately, much to CJ's delight to back down from the probing of
her relationships.

CJ walked back to her office alone after Staff. She was again left to relive
the weekend's events, as if she hadn't done that already. Carol wasn't in
her desk when CJ returned. CJ walked into her office, and the door soon
closed behind, as if by magic. Danny walked out from the shadows to catch CJ
off balance. The result was favorable for both.

"I thought I said there would be no more of that." She quoted herself.

"I know, but I didn't hear you complaining."

"Didn't give me the chance." They released each other from their grips and
fixed their clothing back in a suitable state.

"So what brings you here?" CJ asked, as if nothing happened.

"I honestly have no idea."

"Then go away, I have work to do."

Danny smiled. "I know."

"And Danny, word to the wise, suppose I had someone like Leo walking into my
office with me next time you pull that?"

"Leo would be grossed out."

"Danny."

"I know."

"Just...check next time, hmm?"

"Ok." The green light. He grinned, the future was going to be good.

"Bye Danny, I can't wait 'till tomorrow."

"Neither can I. Bye."

Fate was being kind to them, for the while. The Spring Air in DC was drawing
together those who deserved rightly to be together. And the Summer,
hopefully, will continue the flame.


THE END.