Disclaimer: None of this is mine, see following for further details.
challenge posted 2-21-04 on http://www.conflictofinterest.biz/writingchallenge.php
include:
CJ wearing a football jersey (any NFL team can be used -
Cinnamon and vanilla scented candles
Josh Lyman (but no one else from the White House; except CJ and Danny)
Goldfish Crackers
Ribs (the kind you eat - or the kind inside the body)
Also, the White House can be mentioned, but it should not take place at the White House
***
"Man, you've got it bad."
"Whad'ya mean?" he slurred.
Danny took the beer from in front of Josh and put a plate of ribs there instead, hoping he would eat something to soak up the alcohol. "No more beer for you, my friend. You might tell a reporter who's on the record what you just told me."
"But she's so beautiful." Josh stared off into space. "An' sweet. I don't know what I'd do without her."
"So ask her out already."
Josh stared at him, blinking slowly. "You're right."
"Frequently," Danny muttered to himself. "Let's get you home." He stood up and Josh followed his lead. They threw down money to cover their tabs and walked outside.
Josh hailed a cab. "Get in."
Danny shrugged and obeyed.
Josh gave the cabby an address and they began to move.
"That's not your address," Danny protested.
"You did me a favor, I'm going to do one for you." Josh declared.
"No, really, that's okay." Danny sighed when he realized Josh wasn't going to budge. "Okay, okay. Whatever."
They settled back for the ride. Soon, they pulled up outside an apartment building.
"Get out." Josh told him and Danny obeyed. "Wait for a few minutes?" he asked the cabby, who nodded his agreement.
They walked up the stairs to the intercom. Josh buzzed it.
"Yeah?" A female voice came over the speaker and Danny's heart sunk as his fears were confirmed. He knew exactly where he was.
"It's Josh, let me up."
"You're drunk."
"So?"
The door buzzed and Josh pulled it open. Danny followed him up the stairs, each step bringing him closer to certain death.
"CJ's going to kill me," he told Josh.
"Nah, CJ likes you."
"Really?"
Josh laughed. "You're pretty blind, Danny."
Danny smiled and walked a bit lighter. They approached her door and Josh knocked. CJ opened it with an amused scowl on her face, which quickly gave way to shock when she saw Danny. She pulled them both inside.
"Did anyone see you come in?" she hissed.
"Just the cabby," Danny told her.
"The cab." Josh nodded. "Forgot about him. I gotta go."
CJ stopped him from walking out the door. "That's it? You two just stopped in to say hello?"
"And admire your outfit." Danny smiled at her.
She looked down at her clothes. "Shut up."
"Our very own Red Skins? Didn't know you were a fan."
She glared at him. "Belonged to an old boyfriend."
"Liar." He perused the huge jersey. "You're a fan."
She sighed. "I told Hogan I was as a joke and got a bunch of Red Skins stuff for Christmas that year."
"Really?" he asked doubtfully.
CJ relented. "I told her I thought one of the players was cute, okay?"
He grinned. "If it means I get to see your legs, I'm okay with that."
"Where are you going?" CJ turned her attention to Josh, who was trying to slip unnoticed out the door.
"I'm leaving," he declared. "I'm just doing a favor for two friends. Danny, you stay here." He kissed CJ on the cheek. "See you tomorrow."
"A favor?" She turned to Danny and Josh took the opportunity to dart out the door.
"I gave him some dating advice and he decided..." Danny looked away, suddenly uncomfortable. "Well, he thought he'd bring me to your place in exchange."
"Why?"
"He said you like me."
She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Do I get a tour?" He changed the subject and looked around her entryway.
She sighed. "Sure, why not?"
He wandered past her kitchen into the living room. "TV?"
"I was watching a movie," she told him.
"Hence the popcorn." He nodded, then looked closer at the bowls on the table. "And the crackers. You really do like goldfish crackers, don't you? I never would have thought of them as movie food."
"Can we take the rest of the tour so you can go home?"
"My apartment is being fumigated, can I stay here?"
"No it's not."
"Okay, I got kicked out for not paying my rent. Can I sleep... on your couch?"
She struggled to clamp down her smile. "You can't sleep anywhere in my apartment."
He wandered to her bookshelf. "I have a lot of these same books."
"Imagine that," she said dryly. "Classics and political books. What were the odds?"
He picked up a candle from the top of the shelf and smelled it.
"Cinnamon," she told him. "And the white ones are vanilla. Can we hurry this tour along so I can finish my movie?"
"Can I watch with you?"
"I'm in the middle, I'm not rewinding it." She attempted to dissuade him.
"What movie?"
"Casablanca."
He grinned. "I've seen it, no need to rewind."
"Danny-"
He cut off her protests with two fingers over her lips. "Josh is going to ask me tomorrow what happened. He's not going to believe I left."
"But he'll believe we just watched a movie?"
"Yes."
She sighed. "So go home and tell him we watched a movie."
"I couldn't lie to Josh!" Danny told her, shocked.
She laughed. "Fine, whatever. I don't care anymore. But you better not be a talker."
"During movies or during... other activities?"
She caught his eyes. "Both," she told him with a straight face.
He swallowed and his smile faded. She moved away to settle back on the couch.
"Come sit over here, you can see the movie better."
He settled next to her and she stretched out to rest her head on his leg. He began to stroke her hair and she closed her eyes with a sigh. He found the remote and pushed the play button before settling his hand lightly on her side. She flinched.
"You okay?" he whispered.
"That tickles."
He tightened his grip on her side and she settled back, her breathing slightly faster than before. He took a chance and moved his hand up and down her side.
"Copping a feel?" she whispered.
"Just... counting your ribs?"
She laughed lightly and reached a hand up to tangle with his. "Stop talking. Just let me enjoy this."
He smiled down at her as she closed her eyes again. He watched her as her breathing slowed and they fell asleep together.
***
