Disclaimer: The people united will never be defeated!! (I've just discovered Rzewski, and wow!)

Summary: Spoilers for Santa... takes place around that time. And a better time it was, there were flowers in the trees and birds covering the fields. *sigh* *wink*

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"Hey, Carol."

Carol looked up, smiling as she noticed who it was. "Hey, Danny. How was your trip?"

He made a face. "The lead was a dead end."

"Great." Carol gave him a bright smile. "That'll put CJ in a good mood."

He laughed, his previous annoyance at wasting time rapidly evaporating as he chatted with Carol. "Glad to be of service."

"I'm sure you'll find a new story soon enough." Carol glanced at her desk. "But I'm swamped right now, so I'll have to catch you later."

Danny nodded.

"Why don't you wait in her office?"

His smile widened. Carol would only offer that if she knew CJ was in a good mood and would be happy to see him. "Great, sure! I mean, yeah. Okay."

Carol bit back a grin at his eagerness. "She should be back any second." As he walked into the room, she called after him. "Don't break anything!"

"Like I would break anything," Danny muttered. His eyes fell on a collection of small bowls and he reached for the lid of one. His hand tapped another bowl and it fell to the floor, spilling Hershey's kisses on the carpet.

"Danny!"

"It didn't break!" He called to Carol as he gathered the chocolates from the floor.

He heard her long-suffering sigh but had to smile when she didn't speak again. He quickly replaced the bowl just as CJ strolled into the room.

"Daniel."

"Hey CJ." He held out his hand. "Want a kiss?"

She smiled faintly at him and shut her door to Carol's giggling. She walked closer as his smile faded and he swallowed. Her face only inches from his, she stopped and reached behind him.

He watched, mesmerized, as she unwrapped a chocolate and placed it in her mouth.

"Thanks," she whispered. "I almost forgot they were here."

"Sure," he managed. "Glad to help.

"Did you eat any of my candy?" She fiddled with his tie, struggling to get it straight. It seemed to be a losing battle.

"You know it's after Christmas."

"Yes."

"This is Christmas candy." He held up a red-wrapped kiss.

"It's on sale after Christmas," she told him. "I stock up."

"You went shopping?"

"I sent Carol."

"Ah." Placing his hand over hers, he finally stilled her fingers as they adjusted his collar.

She looked up and became caught in his eyes. Her body unconsciously moved closer.

"You eat all this candy yourself?"

"Josh helps."

"You let Josh eat your candy?"

"I yell at him."

"But it doesn't stop him."

She shook her head.

"Brave man." Danny's eyes dropped to CJ's mouth.

"Shut up. You didn't come in here to talk about Josh." She gently laid her lips on his, barely touching, for just an instant.

"I came to give you a Christmas present." Danny whispered.

"Oh?"

His arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer. Their lips met again, their mouths devouring each other. He deepened the kiss as his hands roamed under her shirt. She smiled as his fingers touched her skin, skimming up and down her back. She shivered and traced her fingers lightly through his hair. He broke contact on their lips to kiss her neck.

"This is my Christmas present?" CJ whispered. She felt his smile against her neck, then against her shoulder as he moved her shirt over to kiss her there.

He straightened up and kissed her again before answering, "No, this is mine. Yours is in my pocket."

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't fall for that when I was in high school, I'm not going to fall for it now."

He laughed. "You don't want your present?"

Her eyes lit up. "No, I want it! Well, I mean, unless you're really thinking about sex."

"I'm a guy, CJ. We never think about sex."

She rolled her eyes. "I have a present for you. But..."

"CJ?"

"It's in my desk drawer."

"And?"

She smiled shyly and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm comfortable right here."

He smiled back in amazement. No response to her admission came to mind except the three words he wasn't allowed to say to her yet. Instead, he reached into his pocket while keeping one arm around her waist. He opened the box quickly so she wouldn't have an excuse to take her arms from his neck yet.

"A charm bracelet." CJ smiled. "And a charm."

"Of a goldfish. It matches an item I believe you received from Santa."

She smiled and kissed him again. As she was about to pull away, he held her head gently in place. His tongue teased her lips open and he felt her smile.

They finally parted, out of breath.

"CJ."

"Yeah?" She smiled dreamily at him.

"I..." He grimaced. "I should go."

She nodded. "Okay."

"I would love to stay here with you all day."

She smiled faintly. "I know, Danny. It's okay."

He handed her the box with her bracelet, then turned towards the door. He stopped and turned back when she quietly called to him. She held out a package. He hurriedly opened it to find a clock. He glanced up at her, puzzled.

"Move past the obvious, Danny."

He looked at it again and noticed it was moving backwards. And that there were too many numbers for it to just be hours, minutes and seconds. Quickly, he ran though the math. "A countdown to the Inauguration."

She smiled shyly. "I have one too."

"I..." He stared at it. "I don't know what to say. Is there any way to make it go faster?"

She laughed. "I tried. No."

He crossed the room for another kiss. This one tasted of desperation as CJ clung to him.

"Don't stay away so long," she whispered as she released him.

He smiled sadly but didn't answer, knowing he couldn't keep that promise.

"Merry Christmas again, CJ."

"Merry Christmas, Danny." CJ watched him leave before taking a deep, shaky breath. "I love you," she whispered to the empty room.

***

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