Midnight

by: Allison

Character(s): CJ, Danny
Pairing(s): CJ/Danny
Category(s): Romance
Rating: YTEEN
Summary: Sequel to Renewal

When they filed out of the pews into the communion line Danny stood back politely to guide CJ in front of him with a hand at the small of her back, just as she remembered he had done before. He stepped back again to motion Margaret in front of him, but she discouraged this gesture (actually she jerked her head toward CJ and kicked him, but CJ didn't see that). So he filed up to the front behind her, with Margaret, Leo, and Mallory following. On the way back, rather than walk around the entire perimeter of the church, they wound up climbing over a half a row of Secret Service agents and Sam. CJ was caught between ignoring Danny's guiding hand on her arm and grabbing it to keep from tripping. She sent the back of Abbey Bartlet's head a glare that could have frozen hell, but her heart wasn't in it.

When Mass ended they all stayed in the pews for a few moments, hugging and saying goodnight and Merry Christmas. CJ left first after saying a quick perfunctory goodbye to the man at her side. As she left she heard one of the younger priests, very honored to be speaking with the Bartlets, say, "And was that CJ Cregg that just left? We watch her on CNN in the rectory sometimes. I didn't know she was married."

CJ whirled around to see if anyone was looking at her, and came face-to-face (almost literally) with Danny, who had been following very close behind her. And had, of course, heard the young priest as well. The smirk was back.

"What am I doing here?" she asked the air. "God does not love me."

"Of course He does," Danny replied smoothly, taking her arm while she was still too distressed to resist. "He sent you me."

"See now, that's what I was talking about," she replied.

"I choose to take that as a compliment," he said easily.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm walking you out of the church."

"You know what I mean."

He guided her around a cluster of people. "What are your plans?"

"Bed?" she replied. "It's after midnight."

"See, that's what I mean. That is not a Christmas Eve, CJ."

"For me it is. And what are you doing letting Leo see you walk out with me?"

"You're paranoid."

"Am not."

"Are so. Let's go for coffee."

"At midnight on Christmas Eve? Yeah, 'cause so many places are open."

Danny grinned. "Then I'll have to come keep you company for a while."

She glared. "Are you crazy?"

"CJ -"

"Danny." Her tone did not admit interruptions. "You and I both know this is not going to work." She softened just a little, so that only he or maybe Josh would have noticed it. "Why start something we can't finish?"

He stepped closer to her on the sidewalk - they had stopped completely, now. "Are you afraid of getting hurt?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Aren't you?"

"Well, I don't know," he said. "I ask you out approximately once a month and you turn me down every time - I must be keeping that fear pretty well under wraps." Something about his tone belied his casual words and her heart melted further.

"We've been over and over this," she said quietly. Her eyes were dark and she was having a hard time looking at him.

"CJ," he said gently. "Standing here, right now, Christmas Eve, family holiday and all that -" She gave him a questioning look and he finished, "Would you like me to hold you right now?"

A denial jumped instinctively to her lips, but for some reason - maybe the look in his eyes that suggested she could really hurt him this time - she said, "If things were different..."

"If they were?"

She sighed. "Then yes."

"Yes?"

"A lot yes."

He nodded. "And if I did - would it really feel any worse to be alone again after?"

She was silent for a long moment. "Honestly?" He nodded. She exhaled sharply. "Where I am right now - no, it probably wouldn't." She looked up at him with eyes that made his heart ache. "I don't think it could."

Conscious of her discomfort at being seen in public, he reached for her waist with only one hand and kept a respectable distance. "Then let me come sit with you for a little bit." She opened her mouth to object and he gestured for her to be quiet. "I'm not asking you to sleep with me, I'm not asking you to go out in public with me, I'm not asking for it to happen again. I'm asking you to let me spend Christmas Eve with you." He saw her wavering and leaned just a little closer. "We both need this, CJ, and you know that."

She looked away, thinking. He took advantage of her silence to add, "And I know you're worried about Josh, and I don't want you to be panicking alone."

She turned sharply on him. "What do you know about that?"

He held out his hands. "No notebook, remember? One night, entirely off the record. I'll come home with you, I'll even hold your hand if you want while you call Josh, and we'll talk, and I'll go home. And tomorrow I'll write a column about the oil reserve. What do you say?"

She only closed her eyes and nodded.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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