Disclaimer: Borrowing them, I'll put them back much happier than they were before I had my fun.
Summary: An important holiday in the West Wing. Takes place, ummm, anytime I guess... well, on Valentines Day of course, but any year! After Take Out the Trash Day, that's the only stipulation (oh yeah, spoiler sorta for Take Out the Trash Day)
Note: Inspired by recent stories on this newsgroup; thanks for the push soft lite!
***
"Go home."
"But, isn't there anything-"
"CJ! Go home, there is nothing to do here." Leo stood up and began to put his papers in order. "We were all ordered to get out. The President is in for the night, there is nothing for us to do unless an emergency occurs. Keep your phone on of course, but get out."
CJ sighed. "Alright, I'm going." She turned to leave, then turned back suspiciously. "You better be leaving too."
"I have opera tickets, of course I'm leaving."
"Okay, then I'll go." She headed out, trying to figure out what to do with unexpected free time. She veered off before getting to her office and headed in a different direction.
"Toby?" she looked around the empty office. "That's odd. Where could he be?"
"Hey, Toby left already."
CJ spun around. "He... really? Where'd he go?"
Josh grinned. "Dinner with a certain Congresswoman, you didn't notice the floating thing he had going on today?"
Shaking her head, CJ laughed. "Guess I was preoccupied. Well, good for him. What're you doing tonight?"
"I have a date."
"Liar."
Josh's eyes widened. "Alright, it's not quite a date. I promised Donna I'd make it up to her."
"What did you do this time?"
"Umm, nothing. Really, it's nothing. But I owe her a night of dancing."
"Oh, that should be fun, can I come watch?" CJ's eyes sparkled as she bit the urge to laugh.
"Go home, Claudia. Happy Valentine's Day." Josh turned and walked away, muttering about Fred Astaire.
CJ shook her head. The only thing left to do was go home, since all her cohorts seemed to have deserted her. She sent Carol home, then gathered some papers to read. Her mind already on a robe and some ice cream, she left the building.
***
Kicking her shoes off, CJ took a deep breath to relax. Then she stopped at the smell of garlic in the air. As a figure came around the corner from the kitchen, she screamed.
"What the heck are you doing in my apartment? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
Danny kept walking toward her until she was backed up against her front door. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and whispered, "I'm making you dinner."
"Danny, you can't-" she was interrupted by his lips on hers. She tangled her hand in the hair at the back of his neck, keeping him in place.
"Can't what?" he asked when they finally broke away.
"Huh?" CJ struggled to regain her thoughts.
"You were saying something before I so rudely interrupted." he grinned at her.
"We can't do this, you can't be here." CJ pushed him away, realizing he only backed up a few inches.
"Ah, yes, we have some rules for tonight."
"Rules?" CJ looked at him warily. "What kind of rules?"
Danny took her hand and led her to the kitchen. "Sit. Here's some wine. Oh, and here's your spare key. Tell Josh thanks."
"Josh? That little-"
"Isn't he great? Anyway, the rules. We are off the record tonight. I am not a reporter and you don't know anything about the White House or President Bartlet. We are going to have a nice Valentines dinner, which I cooked by the way, and talk."
CJ considered a moment, then stood up and walked to his side of the table. "Just talk?" she breathed as she settled herself on his lap and nuzzled his neck.
"CJ!" Danny recovered quickly and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Well, Happy Valentines Day to me." He pulled her closer and captured her lips. She moaned as his hands roamed her body. The timer on the oven went off and they sprang apart. "Wow, CJ, guilty conscience?"
She smiled shyly at him. "Does that mean dinner is ready?"
"I guess I should go check."
"Good idea." CJ made no move to leave his lap and played with the curls around his ear.
Danny closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You should stop that."
"Why?"
"I don't remember." Danny moved to kiss her when the timer went off again. "Oh yeah, because we don't want to have to call the fire department."
"Oh, alright." CJ heaved a huge sigh and stood up. She grabbed her wine glass and took a sip. "Where are we eating?"
"Dining room sound good?" Danny went to the oven and pulled out the garlic bread.
"Okay. What are we eating?"
"Pasta. You do like pasta, right?"
"Everyone likes pasta, Danny."
"I brought a movie, maybe after dinner we can sit and watch it?"
CJ grabbed the basket of garlic bread from the counter and started towards her small dining room. "Or just make out. Whatever."
Danny spun around, his mouth dropping open, just in time to see her disappear around the corner. He swallowed roughly and grabbed the rest of the food, following her into the dining room.
***
"Leave the dishes until later." CJ called to him as she settled herself on the couch and grabbed the remote to start the movie. She began to read the back of the box. "This movie better not be about politics."
"Romantic comedy." Danny told her as he settled on the other side of the couch.
She looked up at his. "Of course it is. Why are you all the way over there?"
Danny laughed. "You're really flirty today, you know that?"
"It's Valentines Day, Danny, I'm allowed to be."
"What about tomorrow?"
CJ sighed. "Tomorrow I go back to being the Press Secretary. Danny, you knew coming in here tonight- breaking in here tonight, actually- that we can't have a conventional relationship. We are stealing the hours we have, you know that as well as I do."
Danny looked down. "I guess you're right. So, I sit here and watch the movie. Then in two hours I forget I was even here and go home?"
"Well, in general that's what'll happen."
"In general?" Danny looked up hopefully.
"You know how I said no more kissing?" At Danny's nod, she pushed 'play' and stretched out until they were face to face. "In case you haven't noticed, it doesn't apply tonight."
Danny stretched out on the couch under her. "You know, I did notice that."
"What are you going to do about it?"
Danny stared up into her eyes, then looked at the TV. "I heard this is a good movie, maybe we should watch."
CJ stared at him for a moment, then smirked. "Alright, if that's what you want." She turned to watch the TV, settling her head down on his chest. He stroked her hair and she smiled.
"You're supposed to fight me on that one, you know." Danny told her.
"I thought I was supposed to stop fighting with you. I know how you like to be right." CJ closed her eyes and he took the opportunity to flip her over, switching places with her. Her eyes flew open as she found herself under him on her couch. "Taking charge, Daniel?" she asked him with a sly grin.
Danny fairly growled at her before bringing his lips to hers. They tangled together on the couch as the movie played in the background. CJ lost herself in the sensation of his kisses. She stroked his cheek, marvelling at the softness of his beard. Her lips parted and she moaned as he began to fumble with the buttons on the bottom of her blouse.
As Danny's hand slipped inside her shirt and touched her bare stomach, CJ jolted and pulled away. Breathlessly, she murmured, "Danny."
"What's the matter?" Danny tried to sit up but CJ held him in place with her grip on his shirt.
"Nothing, just..." CJ sighed, hoping he wouldn't be upset. "This is all a bit fast, I wanted to..."
"It's okay, CJ, we can stop if you want. I'd rather you tell me now than regret anything."
"No. This sounds so stupid, I don't even know... Danny, I want you to stay here tonight. I want you to sleep with me, but I don't want you to think..."
Danny silenced her with another kiss. "I didn't come here presuming anything. Do you mean sleep as in sleep or as in..." he wiggled his eyebrows at her, "sleep."
She laughed and relaxed, grateful he wasn't taking this the wrong way. "I mean sleep in the conventional sense. Right now sex will complicate our situation too much. I'm sorry, if you want more-"
"You thought I wanted to have sex with you?" Danny looked shocked with his wide, innocent eyes. "Naughty girl! And here I was, all nice and innocent, making you dinner and bringing over a movie which, by the way, isn't even rated R! I never even thought about sex."
"Liar." she laughed at him.
He brushed the hair from her eyes and trailed his finger down her cheek. He murmured, "Do you even know how much I want you?" as he kissed her neck lightly.
"Danny." CJ whispered as feelings threatened to overwhelm her again. "I'm sorry."
He kissed her again. "Don't be. I am perfectly and utterly content right now."
She sighed and stood up. He shifted to let her go, then took the hand that she held out to him. "It's getting late, we both have an early day tomorrow. Did you bring other clothes?"
"In my briefcase, by your front door." At her raised eyebrow, he elaborated. "I always have a change of clothes with me, and I never go anywhere without my laptop."
She smiled. "You can use the guest room bathroom. I'm sure you know where it is, since you gave yourself a tour before I got here, didn't you?" At his sheepish grin, she rolled her eyes, then turned so he wouldn't see her smile. "Go, then come to bed."
Leaving him, she went to change and brush her teeth. She glanced at herself in the mirror with no make-up on and her hair pulled up. "Well," she muttered to herself, "I guess it's better if I scare him off now before this goes any further."
In her room, Danny had his own problems. "Sit on the bed? Lay on the bed? Stand up?" he wondered to himself. As the bathroom door opened, the thoughts flew away. Only in his dreams had he imagined he'd ever see CJ like this, relaxed and ready for bed.
"What's the matter?" she asked when she realized he was staring at her. She reached for her face. "Danny?"
"Your hair."
Her eyes widened as he stepped closer. "What's wrong with my hair?"
"You look like a college girl with your hair up like that. I feel old." He gently pulled her ponytail holder out. "Also, I've decided I like to do this." He tangled his fingers in her hair, watching the strands as they drifted over his hand.
CJ relaxed and smiled at him. "Bed, Concannon, now."
Danny gripped his heart. "Finally." Laughing, she led him to the bed and laid down. "Are you sure?"
She pulled him down to lay next to her. "Shut up and go to sleep." She curled up next to him as he tangled his fingers in her hair again. "You have a fascination with my hair?"
"Shhh," he told her softly as he continued to stroke her hair. "Go to sleep." She smiled and drifted off.
***
"Is that it?" CJ glanced at the men in her office. "Great, then get out."
She began to get her papers in order before realizing there was still a body in her office. "Joshua? What's going on?"
"Did you have a good Valentine's Day?" He grinned at her.
Refusing to rise to the bait, she considered a moment, then nodded. "I had a nice quiet dinner at home, watched a movie and went to bed. Very relaxing."
Josh looked confused for a moment, but recovered quickly. "Oh, sounds good. I'm glad you got to relax. I guess I'll go then."
CJ nodded, then looked back down at her papers.
"What movie?"
She looked back up at the doorway. "What?"
"What movie did you watch?" As her blank look turned to one of slight panic, he grinned. "Yeah, I thought so." He closed her door as she smacked herself in the forehead.
***
