Disclaimer: *yawn*

Summary: Inspired by the recent article Kathy posted on this newsgroup: http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7c91664%7c1%7c,00.html

Spoilers through... I guess the 4th season.

***

Thoughts ran through her head as she walked silently into his office area. 'I think you know how I feel about you...' The look on his face when she had pretended to seduce him in the copy room. From a long time ago, his declaration 'I have a crush on you.' How long ago was that? It seemed like decades.

She stopped inside the door and stood in the darkness watching him. He seemed intent on his story, not noticing her presence as he typed away with a small smile on his face.

"Danny," she whispered.

He glanced up. "Hey, CJ. What's up?"

She took a deep breath. "Got a minute?"

"Sure." He stopped typing to focus on her.

"I have an idea for you."

"Oh?"

She glanced around nervously, even though she knew they were alone. "Drop the Shareef story."

"CJ," he warned her.

She held up her hand to stop his protests. "Drop the story," her voice became so low he had to strain to hear her. "And I'll sleep with you."

He stared at her, not saying anything.

She crept out of the shadows and touched his cheek. Her voice stayed at a whisper. "This is very important to me. I know you want me, just drop the story."

"CJ..." He took a deep breath, trying to focus on anything but her fingers running gently over his face.

"Think about it." She dropped her hand and stepped back. "I'll be in my office."

He sat glued in his place as she walked out.

***

She was curled up on her couch when he came into her office, her work open in front of her. He walked in a bit hesitantly until she looked up and smiled. He closed the door behind him.

"Well?" CJ raised an eyebrow at him.

"One thing first."

"I have some conditions too." She told him.

He smiled and sat down next to her on the couch. "I'm sure you do. But first..." His hand gently covered the back of her neck as he touched her lips with his. She pressed herself closer to his body and deepened the kiss. Their tongues teased as his hands roamed her body. He pushed her down on the couch and she offered no resistance. Then he pulled away.

"We're not going to do this here," CJ spoke breathlessly.

"What are your conditions?"

"This is a one-time thing." CJ sat up quickly.

"One time or one night?"

She took a deep breath to calm the thoughts suddenly in her mind at that question. "One night."

He nodded, his fingers tracing patterns on her neck.

"My place or yours, you decide. I would rather yours." She closed her eyes so she wasn't looking into his eyes. She didn't want him to guess why she wanted it to happen at his place- so she wouldn't be reminded of him when she looked around her apartment. "Of course, tell nobody. You'll get the condoms."

"Really?"

"I'm not getting photographed buying condoms." She opened her eyes to warn him. "And no pink."

He smiled at that, despite the absurd situation. "CJ?"

"Yeah?"

His smiled faded. "No."

"What?" She pulled away from him and wrapped her arms around herself.

"My answer. No."

"Why?"

"So you can be a prostitute for the Bartlet Administration? I don't think so."

She stood up quickly, a shocked expression on her face. She couldn't have been more hurt if he had slapped her.

He jumped up and followed her as she walked to the other side of her desk. "CJ-"

"Get out." He could barely hear the whispered command.

"CJ, talk to me."

"Screw you."

"Okay. I guess that's a start." He took her shoulders and turned her to face him.

She pushed him away and retreated to the corner of her office. "So what was that before?"

"What? The kiss?"

"Yeah."

"I had to see something." Danny inched closer.

"What?"

"You have feelings for me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." CJ told him haughtily and moved away from him. "You're projecting your feelings onto me."

He sighed. "This is coming out all wrong."

"No kidding." She glared at him.

"It's not worth having sex with you to give up the story."

"Well, thanks." Her gaze turned even icier, which he hadn't thought possible. "You're wrong, but thanks for the compliment."

"It's not worth giving up a Pulitzer either, which is a possibility with this story."

"Bastard," she hissed at him.

"But it's really not worth it for one reason. One night is not enough."

A confused expression settled on her face and he took the opportunity to inch closer again. "You want more than one night?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

He smiled and eased her back against her desk. His arms trapped her in place. "I'm holding out for something more permanent. And although it would be an amazing night..." He looked into her eyes and wished with all his being that things were different. "If you sleep with me now, for this... If you do that, you'll never forgive yourself... or me. Which means we'll never be together. After this is all over, your job and the conflict, we're going to try something a bit more than one night."

"But-"

He cut her off with his lips on hers.

She pulled away but found herself still in his arms. "Did you mean the prostitute thing?"

"What?"

"You called me a prostitute for the Bartlet Administration."

He sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You think I'm a prostitute?"

"No, I mean... I'm sorry I said that. I might have meant it right then, but I don't now." He hesitated, then continued. "Unless you've offered this proposition to other reporters over their stories."

She shook her head.

"Not Mark? I know that story about the Attorney General had you pretty pissed."

She smiled slightly. "No."

"Katie? That story about the contaminated fish..."

"Katie... I'm going to plead the Fifth."

He stared at her. "What?"

"Grow up, Danny." She pushed him away. "Now, what do you want in exchange for the Shareef story?"

"Nothing." He sighed. "CJ, it's going to run. As soon as I can get everything in order, everything confirmed, it's running. And maybe I'll get an award for it. Maybe I won't. It doesn't matter, I have to do this."

She stared at him for a moment, then nodded nearly imperceptibly. "You're wrong, you know."

"About what?"

"We might not get together after I'm done here."

His expression grew serious and he caught her eye. She barely breathed as his fingers skimmed lightly over her cheek and through her hair. He stepped closer to whisper in her ear. "I am so sure we're going to be together, I just turned down an offer of sex from a beautiful woman to prove it."

She turned her head and kissed him softly before backing away. "I'll see you tomorrow, Danny."

"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "Tomorrow."

***