Let Me Let Go Part 2


*****************Present Day*********************

It had been three weeks since the credential request
had come across her desk. It was fairly routine for
her to receive requests, but the name on this request
had really thrown her. When he had left two years
before, Danny had said that he would never be back at
the White House during her tenure as Press Secretary.
Well, it looked as if he had been wrong. She wondered
if it was his choice, or if his editor thought had
ordered him to return. When he left, everything
between them had been so raw. She hoped that he had
been able to go on with his life, as she had. She
guessed that she would find out today. C.J looked at
her watch, and realized that she was late for the
senior staff meeting.


Leo was talking about the trip to Texas which was
scheduled in three days when she came into his office.

“Well, C.J since this is the first staff meeting that
you have been TEN minutes late for, I guess I’ll
overlook it this time."

“Yes, Sir.” She said as she sat down on the sofa
beside Toby.

“Okay, back to the Texas trip. Toby you can fill C.J
in on the earlier part of the meeting later. C.J you
can tell the press that Hoynes will be making the
trip. Also tell them that we leave at Andrews at
approximately 4 a.m. A time which I know all in this
room are very delighted about. If no one has anything
else to add, that’s it.”

C.J and Toby went to his office to discuss the parts
of the meeting she had missed.

“Ten minutes late, that’s not like you. Josh or Sam
I would believe it of, but not you. What’s going on?”

“I think that you of all people know exactly what is
troubling me.”

“That is today isn’t.”

“Yes, I really hope that he has gone on with his
life.”

“The way you have.”

“Yeah.”

**********One and a half years earlier**************

C.J looked at her calendar, and realized that it had
been six months since Danny Concannon had left her
life. It had taken a while but she had won back Leo’s
trust again, and she had the respect of the press
corps back. But, she didn’t feel as if she had a
life. It was not like her life was all that different
now, it was just that there was no one to really share
it with. She had her friends among the White House
staff, Josh, Sam, Donna, Toby, and even Leo. But it
wasn’t the same. The was no one in the pressroom who
was asking questions so everyone else would understand
what the hell came out of her mouth. There was no one
to come by to see Gail. Every sad song she heard on
the radio made her cry. That night she wasn’t alone,
though. The entire staff was on Air Force One
returning from a state visit to Germany. It was late
at night and everyone aboard the plane was asleep
except for Josh, Toby, Sam, and C.J. They were
playing the card game rook. It was Josh and Sam
against C.J and Toby. Josh was dealing.

“I bid 100” said Sam.

“I pass” said Toby.

“Me too” said Josh.

“110” said C.J.

“115” said Sam.

“120” said C.J.

“Take it” said Sam. C.J picked up the cards in the
middle of the table. She organized the cards and
named red as the trump color.

“You know this is really better than playing poker
with the President, but don’t dare tell him I said
that.” Sam said

“You realize that we all have something to hold over
Sam’s head now. What are you going to give us not to
tell the President about that very incriminating
statement, Princeton.” Toby replied with an evil
grin.

“Okay, I quit, but at least we are not being quizzed
about inane and useless trivia right now.” Sam said.

“C.J., weren’t you going to drop kick him into a
fjord the next time we were in this part of the
world.” Josh said.

“Yeah, but since we are not really flying over
Scandinavia I don’t have the chance this time.”

It was two hours later when Sam and Josh finally gave
up on playing cards and decided to get some sleep.

“You’ve become just as much as an insomniac as I am.”
Toby remarked to C.J. They were walking over to the
other side of the plane, so they wouldn’t disturb the
other as they talked.

“I am.”

“Yeah. How are you doing?”

“Well, the tabloids have finally decided that I have
a boring life. They are leaving me alone now. I feel
like I am starting to get my life back. Listen, I
want to thank you. You have been such a good friend
throughout this entire ordeal.”

“That’s what friends are for. You would have done
the same for any of us. Just don’t let the part about
me out. I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Very funny. I promise that I won’t tell anyone that
you wear your heart on your sleeve.”

**********************Present Day***********************

“C.J,” Carol said as C.J walked back into her office
after the staff meeting.

“Yeah, Carol.”

Carol glanced towards C.J.’s office without saying a
word.

“Is he in there?”

Carol nodded.

“Thanks” C.J said, while thinking ‘I might as well
get this over with.’ She walked into her office.

“Hello, C.J.” Danny said as she walked in.

“Hello, Danny.”