CJ accepted a goblet of wine from one of the roving waiters and sipped it delicately, blissfully unaware of being watched from across the room.

John Hoynes was sneaking glances in her direction whenever he could without tipping off John, Lord Marbury, to the fact that he wasn't paying a rat's asses worth of attention.

There was something in the way that the green satin shimmed when she moved that drew his attention. And of course there was also the glimpse of the curve of her breast whenever she leaned forward.

John cleared his throat and turned his attention back to his Lordship.

Marbury raised an eyebrow, then turned his head to see what the Vice President had been looking at. He turned back to Hoynes with a smug smile. "Quite a dish," Marbury said with a wry smile. "But we were talking about..."

"Your Lordship," Hoynes began, "I have to say that honestly I wasn't paying attention, and that a dinner like this isn't the time or place for delicate concerns such as the Duchess of Shropshire's jewellery."

"There is no Duchess of Shropshire," Marbury said ascerbically. "And if you would get Claudia Jean's bosoms out of your head, the country would be a lot better off."

“I can assure you that Miss. Cregg’s anatomy couldn’t be further from my mind,” John grumbled.

His Lordship smiled and nodded. “Of course. Now as I was saying. . .” he began. Yeah, right, he thought, you’re practically salivating on the floor.

CJ smiled for the benefit of the camera that snapped her picture as she spoke in hushed tones to Toby, then returned her attention to her wine. "I think we may lose some points tonight," she continued, her voice lowering another decibel.

"Why?" Toby grumbled.

"Because Hoynes got the wording on the President's speech changed at the last minute," she sighed, nodding at Leo McGarry across the room.

"What?"

"His people got into the mix and there wasn't time to tell you and Sam before..."

"You've seen it?"

She nodded. "It could be worse, but having him standing there during the giving of the speech will lose points with the press that we're going to need post-election."

Toby growled and drummed his fingers against his forehead. After a second or two he looked at her thoughtfully. “In that case, maybe Hoynes shouldn’t be standing there.”

“What ya want me to do? Kidnap him and lock him in a cupboard?” CJ asked, smiling around the room.

"If you can find a key to a cupboard, yeah, and lock his agents in there too, so he won't get lonely."

CJ forced another smile and growled, "I can move him to my office for a while."

"Please do," Toby replied quietly, heading off to talk to The First Lady.

CJ sighed, keeping a smile on her face as she straightened her gown and decided that the March on Hoynes should rival the March on Washington.

Her eyes scanned the room until she settled on him, standing in a corner, talking to Lord Marbury. CJ took a deep breath and headed towards him purposively.

Lord Marbury glanced round from his companion and grinned as his eyes fell on the heavenly creature walking towards him. “Principessa.”

“Your Lordship,” CJ said, bobbing her head.

“Your breasts are positively heaving.”

CJ forced another smile. "Why, thank you, Your Lordship. Victoria's Secret will be pleased to know that you said that. Mr. Vice President, may I speak to you in private for a few minutes, please?" she asked, turning her attention on Hoynes.

Hoynes cleared his throat and took a sip of his water. "Of course, CJ."

“My office?” CJ nodded in the vague direction of the Lord and motioned with her head for the Vice President to follow her.

“Is there a problem, CJ?” John asked, handing his water glass to the nearest waiter. “Am I about to get trounced for something?”

"No, sir, we're just going to my office to discuss the bill you want us to put on the table," CJ lied smoothly, hooking her arm in his and leading him from the room and down to her office. Once there, with the door closed, she dropped his arm and rounded on him. "You aren't to go back in that room until after the speech has been given," she said firmly. "And you will give the excuse that you had an urgent situation come up involving a possible press leak. Understood?"

“Excuse me?” he asked incredulous. “I am the Vice President and as such I would like to be shown the respect I deserve.” He stepped away from her and prepared to open the door. “And what gives you the right to order me away from a speech?”

She put her palm flat on the door and held it shut. "What gives you the right to have your people change the wording of a Presidential speech at the last minute?" she challenged. "You WILL stay here, even if I have to stay here and baby-sit you while you're tied to my chair, so help me."

Hoynes smirked back at her. “You know, you’re really hot, when you’re like this.”

“How dare you?” she growled.

“Then don’t treat me like the White House Whipping Boy,” he snapped back. “Try another tactic because this one’s getting old.”

"If you'd stop giving me things to whip you over, Mr. Hoynes, I'd stop doing it!" she shouted in exasperation, throwing her free hand in the air. "Are you always such a stubborn jackass?"

“Are you always this abrasive?” he countered. “Or is it just when you’re around me?”

"Abrasive?" she squeaked, her eyes widening. "I'm abrasive? What the hell do you think you are, you arrogant son of a bitch? A walk in the park?"

John sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “This isn’t getting us anywhere, I apologize.”

“Stick your apology,” CJ snapped. “I wanna hear what you really think of me.” This was good, she thought, keep him arguing and he’d miss the speech anyhow.

He stared at her, his jaw slackening some. Just when he thought he had begun to figure her out, she threw a curveball.

"Go ahead," she prompted sharply, gesturing at the couch with her free hand. "Tell me what you think of me. Tell me what a bitch I am. What a thorn in your side I am. Go ahead, do it!"

His first thought was she was pre-menstrual, but he bit back that comment as he watched her pacing and gesturing wildly.

The gown was flying in her wake and he sidestepped to avoid it chaffing his calves.

“You really don’t want to know what I think about you,” he said softly.

"It certainly can't be worse than anything else I've heard in my life," she said, her irritation finally reaching the boiling point. "Claudia, you'll never be pretty like your mother. Claudia, you're not smart enough to tackle two degrees at once. Claudia, you can't work in politics, it's a man's job. Claudia, you're moving to Los Angeles by yourself -- didn't we bring you up better than that? Claudia, you're pregnant and considering an abortion -- what the hell is the matter with you? CJ, you just annoy me," she finished with a huff. "You know who that last one was? That was my esteemed boss, President Bartlet, just this afternoon, when I told him about something you need not be privy to. So what the hell am I supposed to think you think of me? It can't be worse than any of that."

John fell into the couch and stared up at her wide eyed. “Jesus, CJ.”

CJ leaned against her desk and stared back at him, her arms folded across her chest.

“You really think I have that low an opinion of you?” He shook his head. “Apart from the fact you’re a fantastic Press Secretary, who by the way should be working for me, I can’t describe how great you are. Bartlet actually told you, that you annoy him. That man really needs to wake up.”

She shrugged and sighed. "I talked when he was trying to remember some obscure pit of poetry," she said. "Yeah, I annoyed him. It's not a big deal, I just said it to make a point. And this, what's going on right now between you and me, is why I don't work for you," she finished quietly.

“Nah, it’s not,” he grinned. “This is so I don’t go upstairs and get asked about the speech. You’re frightened the press will ask for comments and I’ll overstep the line.”

“I don’t work for you because I don’t like you,” CJ offered, hoping to bide more time.

“You don’t know me. I’m actually charming, devilishly handsome and an all round fun guy,” he said, giving her a smug grin. “And then there are my attributes.”

She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so you look good in a tux and you're the pretentious playboy Vice President," she said dismissively. "What other attributes do you need?"

He made a frustrated snorting noise in the back of his throat.

“My unusual grey eyes, the fact I can speak three languages and. . .,” he paused, “I’m kind to animals.”

“That’s it, that’s why I should like you?” CJ laughed. “Where did you study? The Josh Lyman school of chat up and dating?”

Hoynes stared at her, a little wounded by her biting comment. "No, CJ, I actually founded the school of smooth operation," he shot back.

"That wasn't smooth operation," she pointed out. "If it was, I'd be falling into your arms right now."

"What would make you fall into my arms?" he prompted.

She snorted. "Flowers, chocolates, the ballet, dinner and a movie..."

“A weekend in Paris?” he offered. “City of romance.”

CJ looked at him and shook her head. “We’re getting off topic here a little.” She glanced at her watch.

“We have another five minutes before he gives the speech,” John said quietly.

She sighed. "Okay, I've got a pack of Twinkies in my desk -- I'm not keeping you in here without food, just so you can tell your people I'm nice," she said, opening the top drawer of her desk and pulling out a cellophane-wrapped package. She tossed it over to him, and got two bottles of water out of the mini-fridge. "So... what do you want to argue about now?"

John shrugged and dropped the Twinkies onto her coffee table. “There are other things we could be doing?” he smirked with confidence.

“Like what?” CJ challenged and then groaned as he raised his eyebrow at her.

"Absolutely not," she said firmly, holding one hand up in the air.

"And why not?"

"Because I'm the White House Press Secretary, and you're the Vice President," she said.

"That's a flimsy excuse."

"Well, it's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it," she said. "How's Janine?"

“Very good in bed,” he deadpanned.

CJ’s eyes went wide in her head as she stared at him. “Please god, tell me that was a joke. Sir?”

“Someone told me it was a pre-requisite in the West Wing to sleep with your assistant.” He looked at her in challenge to deny it.

“Sir?”

“It’s John, CJ.”

“Mr. Vice President?”

"Hmm?"

"What makes you think I'd sleep with Carol?"

"I didn't say that."

"Yes, you did..." She stared at him. "This conversation is positively surreal."

He shrugged.

“For your information I have not slept with Carol,” CJ snapped.

“Hey, does that mean I can watch when you do?” he asked, licking his lips.

"I am not going to sleep with Carol," she shouted, more than a little exasperated. "What the hell, I mean, jeez! Can we just sit quietly for 15 minutes?"

"We'll play the quiet game," John said with a grin.

CJ groaned.

He lasted two minutes before he started to walk towards her desk. “I was watching you earlier,” he commented. “And so was the lechy luss.”

"Lechy luss... Marbury?" she asked.

"The one and only."

"Yeah, hence the heaving breasts comment," she snorted. "Don't worry, I'm used to it. He'll find any excuse to touch me."

“Do you let him?” John asked, with a twinge of jealousy.

“I may serve at the pleasure of the President but I do draw the line somewhere.”

John raised an eyebrow.

“I do,” she repeated, exasperated. “And letting him fondle me is way over that line.”

"So it's look, but don't touch?"

"I'm okay with him looking at me -- hell, I'm okay with the little trails of drool down his chin when he's done looking at me. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let that drunk... thing... touch me more than the handshake."

“I’d put my money on you any day.”

CJ let out a deep sigh. “Why did you interfere with the speech?”

“Because I’m part of this administration and there are times I’d like to treated as such.”

"Yeah, okay, fine. Point taken. But you can't mess with a speech that's been set in stone and okayed by the State Department three weeks in advance without expecting some kind of retribution," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose, wishing she could hold off her headache just a little while longer. When she realized that was a futile dream, she went back to her desk to root around in one of the drawers for her migraine pills.

“Headache?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

CJ nodded.

“Sit down,” he instructed, sliding out a visitor’s chair. “I have a technique that might work.”

"So do I," CJ muttered. "It involves a really big bottle of wine and soft music..."

Hoynes chuckled. "This one is less intoxicating, I admit, but... Close you eyes," he instructed. "Where does it hurt the worst?"

"The front quarter behind my left eye," she mumbled, closing her eyes.

"Okay," he said, gently laying his hands on her shoulders. She jumped.

“Take deep breaths and try and relax.”

CJ tried but it wasn’t working. His fingers digging into her shoulders were hitting every knot she had. That, and the fact he would occasionally brush against her neck sent shivers down her spine.

"You're extremely tense," he said, voice laden with disapproval, as the minutes passed and she hadn't relaxed.

"It's the job," she said, biting back a shriek of pain when his fingers hit one of the biggest knots. "Would you warn me when you're about to do that?" she moaned.

He rolled his eyes and continued. Her cell phone rang, and she grabbed it, motioning for him to stop. "CJ Cregg... Okay, thanks, Toby." She hung up and turned in her chair to look at him. "You're free to return to the party," she said. "I hope you enjoyed this little time of bonding."

He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips before she could protest. "I couldn't have asked for a more entertaining hostess." John smiled. "I'll see you around."

With that he walked out of her office, leaving her sitting there with her mouth wide open.

CJ sat there for a few minutes before she shook her head in disbelief. She’d just let a man get the better of her, but she certainly wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

She chugged her pills down and fixed her makeup, determined to go back to the dinner and rebuff the new advances Lord Marbury surely had planned in her honor.

She straightened her dress and checked her lift and cleavage before leaving her office.

The State Room was even more full than before. She scanned the room for Toby or one of the others but the crowd was too deep. Sighing CJ headed for the bar.

“How do you manage to keep such wonderful buns?” asked an all too familiar voice.

CJ fixed a smile on her face. “Your Lordship. It’s all down to pelvic floor muscle exercises.”

"Well, whatever it is, I want to thank it..." Marbury said. "Scotch on the rocks, double," he ordered. "And a white wine for Ms. Cregg."

"No, Ms. Cregg will have a gin and tonic," CJ said. "With a lemon twist."

"Adventurous tonight, are we?" Marbury said with a raised eyebrow as the waiter gave him his drink.

"Not really -- I once drank an entire bottle of tequila," CJ said, taking her drink. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find Toby Ziegler."

"He's busy fawning over the Poet Laureate," Marbury commented. "I doubt he would be able to see you for her."

“Oh, I don’t know, have you ever heard of a daisy chain, your Lordship?” CJ asked with a smile.

The Lord coughed and sent his drink flying.

"Excuse me, please," she said, leaving the scene quickly. She didn't find Toby, but she found Josh and Amy. "Hide me, for the love of God," CJ begged.

"Why?" Amy replied, sipping her wine.

"Yeah, why?" Josh echoed.

"Because John, Lord Marbury has the hots for me."

"He always has the hots for you," Josh pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I can't deal with it tonight, after being cooped up with the Vice President for almost half an hour."

"Toby made you go in with Hoynes?" Josh asked, jaw dropping.

"Not so much MADE as SUGGESTED," CJ said quietly. "My throat hurts from yelling at him now, and I have a headache."

"Well, that's not going to help," Amy said, gesturing at CJ's drink.

“No, but the fourth and fifth ones will.”

“Ah, yeah. J, go and get us both another drink,” Amy ordered, giving him a sweet smile.

“Why me?” he whined.

Amy glared at him.

“’k.”

Amy watched him leave, then turned to CJ. "So, which is the one you wanna have fun with?"

"What?"

"You've got that whole anti-feminist 'I wanna be fucked' look. So I'm wondering if it was Hoynes or Marbury that gave it to you," Amy said casually.

"Actually, it was Ed. Or Larry. Whichever."

“Which ones are they again?” Amy asked, smirking.

“Short oriental and talk lanky,” CJ offered, casting a glance around the room and catching sight of Hoynes, chatting to her assistant.

“Right. Did you know Josh asked Donna to join us in a threesome?”

"No, but I just told Marbury that Toby, Tabatha and I could be a daisy chain," CJ commented dryly. "And someone asked me tonight if I'd slept with Carol, as it's supposedly a requisite in the West Wing to sleep with your assistants. I certainly hope not, because pictures of the President and Charlie and/or Mrs. Landingham will give me nightmares the rest of my life."

“Well the person who should remain nameless,” Amy started, following CJ’s gaze. “Is about to go one on one with your assistant.”

“Carol’s got more sense than that,” CJ deadpanned.

“Maybe, but that’s the third time she’s pulled her bodice down and adjusted her cleavage.”

CJ closed her eyes. "Is there any way I can get sick and leave?"

"Did he who remains nameless come onto you?"

"AMY!"

"I'm serious, CJ. Did he?"

"No."

"Not at all?"

CJ inwardly flinched as she lied again. "Not at all."

“Ah, in that case, do you want to join the three of us later?” Amy asked with a grin.

CJ groaned. “I didn’t hear that, I don’t want to know, if it comes out. . .”

“CJ, Hoynes has just taken Carol outside.”

"She's an adult," CJ muttered in disgust. "She can take care of herself. Excuse me please while I go find Josh and my drink." She headed away, wondering when the White House had gone to hell.

She was stopped by Leo. "Toby told me you kept Hoynes out of the way during the speech," he said.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"I don't know whether to turn you over my knee and spank you or thank you," Leo said.

CJ's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"It was a bad idea to keep him out of the room, but it got the job done," Leo explained.

"Okay," she said quietly. "Look, I'm chasing down my next gin and tonic -- we'll talk later, okay?"

“CJ, is there something I should know?” Leo asked, his eyes boring into her.

CJ shook her head firmly. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“CJ?”

“Gerald!”

Leo groaned at the sound his Lordship calling him from the other side of the room.

CJ's eyes widened and she hurried away. Leo's eyes were on her back as she not-so-strategically retreated toward the bar, wondering how she could run in high heels.

CJ ordered her next drink and waited patiently for it to be fixed, wondering why she was so flustered tonight.

“Miss Cregg?”

CJ turned at the sound of her name and into the eyes of a tall dark stranger.

“Yes.”

“The Vice President has an old friend he would like you to meet.”

She took her drink from the bartender's hands and followed the man, who she assumed was a Secret Service agent. "So, what does this old friend look like?" she commented dryly.

The man didn't answer. She made a little noise in the back of her throat and sipped her martini as they hurried along.

The agent led her through the building and down into the gardens. He came to a sudden halt where the old swimming pool used to be.

CJ looked around and shivered. The area looked to be deserted, apart from the six men trying to blend into the background, and she briefly wondered if she should just turn around and walk away.

"You dragged me away from the party," she accused when he came into view from the shadows.

"You didn't look like you were having very much fun," John said, his eyes twinkling.

"Ah, maybe I wasn't, but you and Carol seemed quite cozy."

“Your assistant is very sweet, positively charming. You could learn a thing or two,” he added, grinning.

“What do you want?” CJ couldn’t explain the way she was feeling.

“I wanted to see you.”

“Well you’ve seen me,” she offered, waving her hands over her body.

“I’d like to see more of you.” John licked his lips.

CJ took a step towards him fully prepared to hit him. He grabbed her wrist as she lifted her arm in the air.

"Let go of me," she said, voice quiet and calm. She didn't fight his grip because she knew if she did, he would do something more than hold her wrist.

"Don't hit me, then," he said mildly, releasing his hold on her. "You like flowers and chocolates," he reminded her. "So if I wanted to seduce you, that would be what I would use to do it."

"Yeah," she said, voice cold as she stepped away from him. "Don't try, sir, because I'm not ready to commit myself to anything other than this job." She turned and began to walk away.

“Who said anything about commitment?” he called after her. “And if you walk back inside I’ll have an agent come get you.”

"Who said I want anything to do with you that way?" she challenged, spinning on her heel to face him. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, and her whole body trembled with tension. "Who said I want anything to do with you at all?"

“You did.”

CJ opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

“When I kissed you earlier.” His voice had dropped so that the agents couldn’t hear.

"Why did you kiss me?" she asked, still keeping at least two steps away from him.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure..." he said, studying her.

"You're staring at me," she accused.

"I've been doing that all night, if you'll recall."

“Yeah, the look but don’t touch rule,” she reminded.

“But that’s no fun and I’m a fun guy, you know fungi, kept in the dark and fed on shit,” he joked.

She stifled a groan and glanced down so he wouldn't see her smile. "Mr. Vice President, I'm flattered, I really am... But tonight isn't the night to try to break me with your charms. And with that, I will bid you adieu, and go back to the party which I'm being paid to attend." She dipped into an awkward curtsey, then turned and headed off.

“Meet me later for a drink,” he suddenly shouted. “I know a great coffee shop with chocolate fudge cake and banoffee ice cream.”

She turned and stared at him. Every bone in her body was telling her to tell him to stick it. Except there was something else, a part of her that wanted to say yes. "Tomorrow, after work," she promised. "I'll call Janine and leave a message." She couldn’t believe she said yes, or the anticipation that was flowing through her body at the idea of being alone with him again.

“Tonight, please. I’ll have them stay open.” He couldn’t believe he was practically begging her to meet him.

“That sort of thing doesn’t work on me,” CJ said slowly.

“I didn’t expect it to. Look I’ll be there. It’s on M and Winconsin.” He gave her a smile.

"I don't know when I'll get out," she said. "Like I said, I'll leave a message with Janine."

*~*~*~*

She dialled the phone with shaking fingers. "Hey, Janine, it's CJ Cregg. Can you tell the Vice President that I'm not going to be able to meet him after all? My niece is going through a major crisis and I have to be there to help fix it. Yeah, thank you."

“Miss. Cregg,” Janine said, stopping her. “The Vice President would like to speak to you.” She handed the phone to her boss.

“CJ, what’s wrong with your niece? Anything I can do to help?” John asked, his voice touched with concern.

"I don't know what's wrong with her," CJ admitted, "just that there's a crisis and I need to get over there as soon as I can. Look, I would really like to take a raincheck on the coffee -- tomorrow at lunch?"

“I’ll be Chicago all day.” He glanced over Janine’s shoulder at his schedule. “Tomorrow night?”

“It would have to be late,” CJ accepted.

John smiled. “Better make it dinner then.”

"Okay," she said, glancing down at her schedule. "I'm free after 8:30, just let me know when and where -- and what to wear."

"Or not wear," he quipped.

“Sir,” CJ sighed. “If we’re going to be friends, you have to stop with the flirting.”

“But that takes away all the fun,” he admitted, grinning at Janine, who rolled her eyes at him.

"Just... call me tomorrow," she said. "I really need to go now -- I'll talk to you later, then."<

"Okay," he said, waiting for her to hang up.

"Bye."

*~*~*~*

"Mr. Vice President?" one of his agents said, shaking him by the shoulder to wake him up.

"WHAT?" Hoynes exploded.

"CJ Cregg is here to see you."

"At this hour?"

"Yes, sir."

John sat up and swung his feet onto the floor. “Where is she?”

“I put her in your personal study, Sir.”

Shuffling across the room he grabbed his robe and slipped his arms into it, tying the cord at his waist. “Can you organise some coffee?”

"Yes, sir."

Hoynes padded down to his study, where he was greeted by the sight of an obviously exhausted CJ sitting on the couch, still in the clothes she had been wearing that day at work. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"She's pregnant. My niece Hogan is pregnant." CJ rubbed her eyes tiredly. "I just spent two hours screaming at my brother and his wife for not being the least bit understanding, and now my niece is living with me."

John ran his fingers through his hair and scratched the back of his head. “There’s coffee on it’s way,” he mumbled, not sure what she wanted. “How’s your niece holding up?”

“Better than me, actually,” CJ commented. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to go.”

"I'd think Toby or... Leo would be a better choice."

"Toby would admonish me for setting a bad example for Hogan," CJ said. "And Leo would smack me around a couple of times before admonishing me for being a bad example." She laughed quietly and shook her head. "And, y'know, I told you why I couldn't make it for coffee, so... I thought it logical in a twisted way."

“I don’t mind, I was just a little surprised. I’m guessing your brother thought you’d talk her into a termination,” John stated. “Because it was the right decision for you, it must be for Hogan, and all that.”

CJ snorted. "That's what the screaming was about." She leaned back and sighed. "She's decided to keep the baby and try to raise it. But I've decided that she's not going to do it alone, and since my brother's basically shut her out, I'm going to help her." She laughed. "I know, me, helping raise a baby. It's a big thing." She shrugged. "Hogan's still going to go to school, and she's supposed to go to Georgetown when she graduates high school next spring, so... I mean, it's... it's her choice."

“There’s no reason why she can’t go to school and raise a baby. It won’t be easy but she’s half as determined as her aunt she should make it.” He paused as a steward entered with the coffee and left again.

“Where’s Hogan now?” he asked, handing her a mug of coffee.

"At my place. In my bed." CJ laughed, and this time, it sounded true from the heart. "I need to find a bigger apartment."

He nodded. "You think she'll be okay in there?"

CJ nodded. "Yeah... I'm not going to be able to sleep much tonight anyway," she said quietly. "Too busy remembering the fight I had with my parents over the same thing."

“My father would always argue with me about my drinking. He was probably the biggest hypocrite out. Yelling at me and sipping his beer at the same time.” John let out a ragged breath. “If you want to stay and talk, I’ll get dressed,” he offered.

"What you said earlier about an abortion being the right decision for me..." She glanced over at him. "I didn't have an abortion. Now, I wish to god I had, but... I didn't even get to make that choice for myself. My parents made it for me." She shrugged. "So I've got a son out there somewhere, wandering around thinking the woman who gave birth to him was cruel and heartless." She looked down into her coffee cup. "You don't have to get dressed just to make me comfortable."

“It was to make me more comfortable,” he joked. “These are my tattiest pair.”

“I sleep in tank top and sweats most of the time,” she said, not the slightest bit aware of how that image was running through his brain.

“So, you had the baby adopted?”

"Yeah," she said. "It shouldn't be a big deal, but tonight... tonight it is." She slumped forward, her sagging shoulders conveying the defeat she felt. "I'm sure you've got better things to be doing than listening to me. Like sleeping."

John moved around the table and settled himself beside her. “I’d rather listen to you.” This whole being friends thing was somewhat of a novelty for him.

"You'll probably use this against me later," she sighed.

"No," he said honestly. He wouldn't -- he didn't dare breach her trust. He knew what she could do with a salad fork.

Her face continued to fall into the mires of emotion until she felt a tear slide down her cheek, the precursor of many more to come. Silent sobs began to choke her, and she leaned forward, elbows on her knees, head in her hands as she began to weep.

He sat watching her cry, not really sure where the boundaries lie. Then when he couldn’t witness it any longer he draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his chest.

She didn’t resist.

When she finally stopped crying, her face was buried in his shoulder. His arms were holding her gently, yet tightly, to him.

She pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "That wasn't appropriate. I really shouldn't be here, should I?" She rose to her feet and backed away from him like a leery animal sensing something predatory nearby. "Dinner tomorrow, right?" she said hesitantly. "Do you mind if I bring Hogan?"

He just watched her, wondering when he'd get a word in edgewise.

“CJ?” he said softly.

“Yeah?”

“Come here,” he whispered, debating the sanity of what he was about to do.

CJ shuffled over and looked at him, her face displaying her concern at what he was going to do.

Using the pads of his fingers he brushed the streams of her tears from her cheeks. Lightly he leaned in and brushed his lips across her cheek. “Goodnight.”

She bit her lower lip. "Goodnight." CJ backed away and left the room, shooting one glance over her shoulder before she left. She caught his eyes and shivered before stepping through the door.

John waited until he was sure she was gone before exhaling sharply. He needed to know when he'd gone from lusting after her to wanting to be a part of her life.

*~*~*~*

"Hey, Janine, it's CJ -- can I talk to him, please?" CJ asked. She waited, then Hoynes' voice came down the line.

"CJ?"

"Hey... you really don't mind if Hogan comes, do you? To dinner, I mean. She's had a really rough day and I want to cheer her up a little."

“Yes, CJ. I can fit that in. And this week’s initiative is education. Fine, arrange the details with Janine.” He paused and smiled at his companion.

“You’re not alone?” CJ asked, grasping his professional tone.

“No.”

She flinched. "Uh, sorry..."

"Not a problem," he said. "Whenever you're ready, call Janine and let her know."

"Okay," CJ said. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," he said, hanging up.

CJ stared at the phone, wondering why she had thought he would be free, when she knew otherwise. She hit redial and got Janine. "Hey, it's CJ. When he gets out, tell him I get out of here at 8 tonight, and I'll meet him at the Observatory to discuss the education initiative."

“I should have warned you, I’m sorry,” Janine apologized. “The minority leader’s been chewing his ear off for the last two hours.”

“About what?” CJ asked, curious as to why the man hadn’t gone to Leo.

“You need to ask the Vice President.”

“Okay, no problem.”

"CJ?"

"Yeah?"

"Be gentle with him, okay?"

"Janine, believe me, I have no intention of..."

"I know, I'm just saying that he's really got it bad for you. He has for a while now. Oh, look at the time -- I've got to go. I'll pencil you in at 8:30, okay?"

CJ was left staring at the phone in her hand as the line went dead. She hadn’t really considered the possibility he might like her, more that he lusted, like everyone else.

She lowered the phone into its cradle and picked up her briefing book.

*~*~*~*

"You feeling okay, kiddo?" CJ asked, shooting Hogan a sideways glance as she drove to the Observatory gates.

"A little icky," Hogan replied. "But I think I can eat something."

They cleared the car and CJ pulled up to the front entrance. "Remember your security stuff," she reminded Hogan.

Hogan muttered and put the badge on her jacket as she climbed out of the car. "Aunt CJ?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are we having dinner with the Vice President? Don't you guys hate him?"

CJ cocked her head on one side. “We don’t hate him, we just haven’t been able to work with him.”

“But we’re having dinner with him?”

“Yeah.” Hogan didn’t looked convinced. “Do you fancy him?”

CJ rolled her eyes and put her arm around Hogan's shoulders. "I don't have to have a crush on someone to want to spend time with them," she said, leading her niece up the steps to the front door.

The agents did their routine sweeps, and Hogan turned many shades of green as they patted her down. "Aunt CJ, I need to..." she moaned.

"Bathroom's down to the right, third door on the left," Hoynes said, coming toward them.

Hogan set off in the direction he had just indicated, leaving the two of them alone.

“She’s not having an easy time of it,” CJ commented. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

“Nonsence, Hogan can take a nap and I’ll have the cook make her something light.” He lightly squeezed her arm.

"And meanwhile," CJ said with a hint of sarcasm, "you and I will go into your private study and make out on the couch."

"Your wish is my command," he replied.

"I wasn't serious," she said softly. "I do want to apologize about last night, though."

“There’s no need,” he said, opening a door and leading her into the formal sitting room. “Just let me offload my problems on you someday and we’ll call it even.”

“That sounds fair. But I am sorry for turning up in the middle of the night.”

“Well if you stayed over you wouldn’t have to turn up,” he offered with a sly grin.

She smiled in spite of herself and looked down at her feet. "So, what's for dinner?" she asked.

"Actually, chilli."

"Chilli?" she asked weakly.

"Real chilli, not Bartlet chilli," John chuckled, gesturing for her to sit down. "How do you take it?"

"Well, I've lived in California most of my life... Pretty hot," she said, sitting down.

"Yeah, you are," Hoynes said before he could catch himself.

“Sir!”

“You were asking for that. It was too good an opportunity to miss.” He shrugged as he settled beside her.

“Well, do you think you could try? This is a strictly platonic thing,” she stated, gesturing her hands between them.

“You mean no sex.”

"Yes, I mean no sex," she echoed, moving away slightly when he put his arm on the back of the couch.

"Okay," he said, trying to hide his wounded ego. "So how was work?"

"Long. Boring." She sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."

She ignored the sudden warmth between them as his arm came around her shoulders gently. Hogan came in, still looking a little green around the gills, but she smirked as she said, "If I'm interrupting something, Aunt CJ, I'll go back and get sick again..."

“Hogan!” She jumped up quickly and crossed the room. “How you feeling?”

“Better. If only I could keep something down.”

John smiled in her direction. “I’ll speak to the cook, she’s had five kids, I’m sure she can recommend something. While I’m doing that, persuade your aunt I’m not such a bad guy.”

CJ rolled her eyes and put her arm around Hogan's shoulders, leading her to one of the chairs. Hogan waited until after John had left before saying, "He's cute."

"Yes, he is," CJ acknowledged softly. "But that doesn't change that a relationship beyond friendship would never work between him and me. How do you feel, really?"

"Okay, when I'm not sick."

“That’ll pass.”

“He’s got a great smile and those buns are. . .”

“Enough already,” CJ groaned. “I get how damned sexy he was.”

"I mean, I hear that pregnant women get horny... I wouldn't mind..."

"HOGAN!" CJ choked, turning an alarming shade of red.

"I'm just sayin'..."

"What were you just saying?" John asked, coming back into the room.

“Nothing,” CJ snapped.

“Okay.” He glanced between them and winked at the young woman. “So Hogan, your aunt tells me you’re planning on going to Georgetown.”

“Yes Sir.”

“And CJ is going to help with the baby.”

“Yes Sir.”

John shook his head. “Maybe we can drop the Sir. Call me John.”

*CJ* suddenly felt sick to her stomach. "Excuse me a minute," she said, leaving the room.

"She likes you," Hogan said as soon as CJ had left. "I mean really likes you, sir -- uh, John."

"You want to help me capture her, then?"

"She's really bad about things like that -- like she just left to puke because you're getting overly familiar with me. It's the whole commitment phobia she's got." Hogan shrugged. "You want me to make myself scarce later?"

He grinned at her and nodded. “Maybe you could take a nap upstairs.”

“Do you have cable?” she asked, sinking into a chair.

“Yes, I presume so, why?”

“It’s Wednesday night. There’s this great show with sexy looking guys, plenty of sexual innuendo and they discuss politics.”

Hoynes chuckled and shook his head. "I'm sure your aunt and I would kill each other watching it and arguing over the politics, so I'm going to bless you using one of the guest rooms," he said with a grin.

"What are you two conspiring about?" CJ asked.

"Where did you go?" John asked.

"I felt a little sick -- Hogan's rubbing off on me already."

"Yeah, well, I need a Vera Wang for my graduation..." Hogan teased.

“I think you’re going to have your hands full with her,” John laughed.

Hogan mumbled under her breath, “And you’re going to have yours pretty full too if you play your cards right.” She smiled at her aunt. “I’m going to take a nap. That show’s on.”

“The one with Rob Lowe?” CJ asked, trying to sound knowledgeable.

“Yuck, in your day maybe. Dule rocks.”

CJ chuckled and shook her head. "Go lie down and feel better... we'll send someone to get you when dinner's ready."

"Oh, no, don't worry about me," Hogan said. "I'm not really hungry." She waved and left.

"So it's just the two of us," John said, watching CJ tense slightly at his words.

"I need to eat and leave," she said apologetically. "I have to be at work early tomorrow."

“Fine,” he groaned, standing and heading towards the dining room.

CJ watched him go. She wasn’t sure why she kept acting so cold towards him, or why he seemed to get so upset.

He turned to look at her. "Well, are you coming, or are you just going to sit there?"

"I'm coming," she said quietly.

"Not yet," he replied, the innuendo falling flat.

The private dining room was small and intimate and someone had gone to the trouble of lighting candles.

John pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit.

“This is very romantic,” CJ commented.

“Actually it’s to save electricity,” John snorted. “This isn’t one of my seduction moves if that’s what you’re worried about.”

"I wasn't worried," CJ commented, sitting down. She waited for him to sit down, then cleared her throat. "Thank you for dinner," she said quietly, reaching for her spoon.

John watched her for a moment, lyrics from one of the songs he'd used to love flowing through his head: You make my pants wanna get up and dance / You make my face wanna grin / You make my knees kneel down say please / Honey won't you kiss me again?

He shook his head. They weren't even appropriate since she hadn't ever kissed him but in his dreams.

“You’re staring,” she dead panned.

“Can’t help it.”

“You could try.”

John nodded and gazed down at his plate. He had to learn to control himself if they were ever going to be friends, let alone anything more.

"It's good," she said, taking another bite.

"Yeah," he agreed, pushing the beans and meat around in his bowl.

After watching him do this for a few minutes, CJ said, "Are you not hungry?"

"You can have mine," he said, pushing his bowl away.

"Look," CJ sighed. "Is it so much for me to ask that we just be friends, sir?"

The use of his title jolted him back into reality.

He sighed deeply before he focused his attention on her. “I think maybe it is. Don’t get me wrong, I want to try, it’s just I’ve never been very good at being friends with a woman.” He paused. “Not one who I like as much as I like you, CJ.”

"Then I should go now," CJ said quietly. "Because I'm not ready to enter into any kind of a relationship right now." Inwardly, she was kicking herself -- she wanted to stay so much it hurt, and she didn't know why.

"You're not going anywhere until I say you are," he said. "And by the time I'm done with you, you won't want to go."

"Don't try that cheap macho shit on me, John," she said, rising to her feet and pushing her chair back under the table. "Maybe you should have stuck with seduction."

He was on his feet quickly and moving towards her. “Don’t go.” His eyes bore into her with a look of desperation. “Stay, at least until Hogan wakes up.” His hand reached for her and when she didn’t pull away he entwined his fingers with hers.

“John?”

"Just stay, please," he said quietly.

"I don't want to wake her up," she admitted, glancing away from their hands.

"So come sit and talk with me," he said. Maybe he could try the friend thing again.

“Just talk,” CJ said softly.

“Yeah, you know, you tell me about your day. I tell you about the Senators that piss me off, and if you’re really good I’ll tell you all the OEOB gossip,” he added, grinning.

"I can barely keep up with the White House gossip," CJ confessed looking away from him.

"Okay, so... let's just talk," he urged, propelling her toward the couch.

"Well... Danny Concannon came to my office and was flirting with me again," CJ said. "I wanted to punch his face in," she admitted with a light laugh.

He smiled and tightened his hold on her hand.

“Janine is in love. . .again. She has that dewey eyed thing going on whenever a certain NSA comes to visit.”

CJ looked at him blankly. “Janine’s gay?”

“Well yeah, I thought everyone knew.” He swallowed. “Look, keep that a secret will ya?”

"My lips are sealed," CJ said, her mouth still open. "Wow. I mean..."

"Yeah, well, it doesn't bother me unless it interferes with her job performance, and it can stay that way, right?"

CJ nodded.

He exhaled. "Great." His stern face cracked under the weight of his smile. "Anything else go on today?"

“Josh and Amy had a fight.” CJ frowned. “He said something about her being impotent, politically I think but somehow it became about their relationship and somewhere along the line she tipped ice down his trousers.”

John laughed. He could do this, he could be her friend and not think about her as anything more. Except now he was imagining her and him fighting.

"And Toby and Tabatha had a makeout session in my office during first briefing." She laughed without any mirth. "I walked into MY office to see Toby's bare ass."

John flinched and studied her mouth as she talked, his attention focusing on a little chilli stain she had somehow managed to miss wiping away.

Finally, he couldn't take it any longer, and reached over to rub at the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

"Joh... what..." CJ began, but he cut her off.

"You have some chilli right... there, I got it." He smiled. "Much better."

“Thanks,” she mumbled, covering her mouth with her free hand. “So, how was your day. . .?” She wanted to add “dear” but she was frightened he’d read it the wrong way.

“Same old. Senator Stackhouse yelling about this Administrations weaknesses and Bartlet the inert, which he thinks is funny. Then I had to sit with the Salad Growers of America.” He shuddered. “I’ll never look at a lettuce in the same light again.”

"I think that meeting was my fault," CJ mumbled, blushing. "I complained when I found a ladybug in my salad at the state dinner the other night."

He scowled at her. "Now why on earth would you complain about a little extra bit of protein?"

"I like the protein, but not the crunch," CJ explained, her flush deepening.

John couldn't hold it back any longer -- yeah, he was her friend, but dammit, the time for friendship was over. He leaned over and kissed her very gently on the lips, then pulled away.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she mumbled, staring at their hands.

“Probably not,” he whispered as he brought his free hand up to cup her cheek. He leaned in to kiss her again, but paused inches from her face. “Just so I know, are you going to hit me?”

"Only if you don't stop when I say to stop," she said, her eyes meeting his again, the crimson of her cheeks dulling to a gentle pink.

"I can agree to that," John said, stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

“Then, yes it’s quite likely I’m going to hit you. Any areas I should avoid?”

He closed the distance between them and closed his mouth over hers.

The spice of the chilli from her lips played off the softness of their kiss. He was gentle and not the least pushy, turning her mind and insides slowly to jelly as he deepened the kiss.

Her free hand seemed to move of it’s own accord to the nape of his neck and stroke the skin she found there gently.

John wanted to hold her, to wrap his arms around her back but he was fearful of how she would react if he dropped her hand.

She pulled away for breath and just stared at him, searching his face for any sign that this was insincere in any way.

"Aunt CJ," Hogan moaned from the doorway. "I want to go home."

CJ jerked and stared at her niece. "Okay, honey," she finally said, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to John's lips. "Lunch tomorrow," she promised softly, squeezing his hand.

He closed the distance between them again and kissed her once more. "Sleep well," he murmured, disentangling their hands.

"You, too," CJ said, going to join Hogan. "See you," she said, waving.

"Nice to meet you, Hogan," he called as they left.

"Nice to meet you, too, John!" Hogan yelled back over her shoulder.

*~*~*~*

"I've got a lunch meeting," CJ told Carol.

"Okay," Carol said doubtfully. "It's not on the schedule..."

"I have a lunch meeting," CJ repeated. "Get me the wires, will ya?"

Carol headed off and CJ went back to work. She had called John's office and gotten things set up earlier in the day, and had found out he was supposed to visit a high school to guest lecture the government class. She thought it was nice that he had such an interest in the next generation.

Carol appeared in the doorway a moment later, looking panicked. "CJ, pick up the inter-office."

"Why?"

"The Vice President's been shot."

The cold hand of fear choked CJ, and she grabbed the phone. "Leo?"

"He was leaving the school and someone in the crowd... dammit, it's Rosslyn again," Leo said. "We don't have much, but you'll have to brief with it immediately."

"Is he all right?" CJ asked, near panic. Why she should be panicking, she didn't know, but she was.

"I don't know."

“Are you going down there?” CJ gulped, already grabbing her briefing book and heading for the door.

“I think so, yes. I’ll call you from a secure line as soon as I can find one.” He paused, before asking, “Are you okay?”

“Me? Why should I. . . ?”

Leo sighed. “Rosslyn. I thought maybe it would bring back memories.”

CJ shook her head. “I’m good. Call me when you get news.”

"Okay," Leo said quietly. "It's possible the White House will go down into lockdown after I leave, so try to keep everyone calm."

"What school was he at?"

"St. Mary High School." After a long silence, he said, "CJ?"

"That's where Hogan goes to school. My niece," she explained.

"There were civilians in the crossfire," Leo sighed. "Before you brief..."

"Simon's going to brief if I can't get a hold of Hogan," CJ said.

Leo sighed. “Look CJ, I need you up there. I know it’s gonna be hard but please. The school’s in chaos, there’s no way you’ll find anything out. Leave it to me.” He knew it sounded harsh but if anything work was going to be the perfect distraction.

CJ sighed. "Okay. I'm going to try to call her, but... when you get there, I want you to ask around and see if she's there. Hogan Cregg..."

"Yeah," Leo agreed. "I'll call if I hear anything, okay?"

"Okay," CJ said, suddenly realizing her worry was placed more on John Hoynes than on the possibility that Hogan might be hurt. "I'll brief in ten."

“Brief now,” Leo ordered. “I want the Press in the room with you. No one is to get wind of a lockdown.”

CJ was about to argue when Toby appeared in her doorway. He rocked back and forth on his heels and rubbed his beard.

“Fine.” She slammed the phone down on the desk and walked towards Toby. “You heard?”

“Yeah. I’m coming in with you.”

"Okay," CJ said, grabbing her folder. "Carol, I want you in the room with me," she shouted as she passed her assistant.

"Well, duh," Carol muttered.

"All we know at this point is that it happened at St. Mary, and that the Vice President and civilians were injured?" CJ asked Toby as they raced for the pressroom.

“CJ,” Toby said softly, effectively halting her movement. “His lead agent blue coded it.”

CJ stared back at him. “How did. . .?”

“Leo told me.”

She shook her head, they were keeping her out again, but she couldn’t understand why. “I need to focus.” CJ opened the door and stepped up onto the podium.

"Ladies and gentlemen, approximately..." She looked blankly at Toby, who flashed her 10 fingers 3 times. "Approximately thirty minutes ago, there was an incident involving gunfire at St. Mary High School in Arlington. The Vice President was there guest-lecturing the government class, and it can be assumed that he was the target. The Vice President sustained injuries, as did an unidentified number of students and faculty. My information is coming in slowly."

"CJ," Chris piped up. "The AP is reporting that they were doing a photo op on the front steps of the school with the political debate club. Can you confirm if this is true, and if so, who the members of the debate club are?"

CJ felt all the blood drain out of her face. "I can not at this point confirm or give information about anything, considering I have no information," she said. "Danny?"

“Can you then confirm that you spent last evening with the Vice President at his home?”

CJ glanced quickly at Toby. His face was inscrutable but she could just make out his eyes, bearing into Danny’s back.

“The private life of the staff is just that private, Danny. And quite irrelevant under the circumstances. Katie?”

“Was this another failure of the part of the treasury to provide adequate training and protection?”

CJ saw the agents gathering in the back of the room, signalling the beginning of the lockdown. "The Secret Service is well-armed, well-trained, and they protect you every day, Katie, whether you realize it or not. I would ask that you give them the respect they deserve. They aren't psychic. They don't know when someone is going to pull a gun and kill someone else -- cut them a little slack. Ben?"

"CJ, my son goes to St. Mary -- is there any way the families can get in contact with their children at the moment to establish if they have been injured or not?"

CJ shook her head. "My niece goes to St. Mary, Ben, and right now, I'm out of my mind with worry -- as far as I know, nothing is being released yet, but I would assume if your son is among those injured, the hospital will contact you."

Toby pushed his way to the front and whispered in her ear before stepping back to the side.

“Folks, with immediate effect the White House is under lockdown. That means no one goes in or out. If there’s anymore information I’ll be back to brief.” She stepped down from the podium and headed towards the door. “Carol.”

Carol appeared at her side.

“Get the name of Ben’s kid and check no one else has kids there.” She turned her attention back to Toby. “Before you ask, yes I was with him last night.”

"I wasn't going to ask -- it seems a little ridiculous to be..." Toby sighed. "You need to call your brother."

CJ whirled to look at him. "Get in my office now," she ordered, grabbing him by the arm and yanking him along. "What the hell are you not telling me, Toby?" she said, slamming the door shut.

“CJ.”

“Toby, please,” she pleaded, concentrating on his eyes, which were at present unreadable.

“It had to be Arlington,” he muttered, lowering his gaze to his shoes. He took a deep breath. “Look, it isn’t confirmed yet, and it’s only what Ron received from an agent.” He looked back at her. “I need to know if you’re involved with him.”

She had to pause a moment and think about that. "We're friends," she finally said. "But yeah, I think we're involved -- Toby, is he all right?"

"Call your brother," Toby instructed gruffly. "Make sure Hogan is okay, then come see me in my office."

After calling her brother and hearing the relief in his voice that Hogan was okay, CJ relaxed for a second. Hogan had been pushed to the ground as the first shots rained, and although bruised and at the hospital, she was going to be fine. Her brother didn’t mention the baby and CJ didn’t want to push it. As she ended the call, a sudden dread flowed through her.

She left her office, pushing through the throng of reporters that suddenly littered the hallway, shouting that she had no new information. She went into Toby's office and pulled the door shut. "It's a nightmare out there," she sighed, collapsing onto his couch.

"Is Hogan okay?"

"Yeah, she's okay," CJ exhaled. "Talk to me, Toby."

“He took a direct hit,” he said, his voice calm. “He has a collapsed lung and he was unconscious before they got him in the car.”

CJ sat before stony faced. There was more she knew.

When he didn't say anything more, she said, "He's not dead, is he?"

"Not right now, no," Toby said.

"Okay." There was a long silence. "What else aren't you telling me?"

“He probably saved two lives and ignored Secret Service advice,” Toby growled. “Eyewitnesses have him as pushing his agent to oneside and throwing his body in front of one of the kids.”

CJ nodded slowly. "Can I use your phone?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah -- you want me to leave?"

She nodded and he patted her on the shoulder before leaving. She picked up the phone and dialled Phil's cell phone. Her brother picked up. "Phillip Cregg..."

"It's me," she said. "I need to talk to Hogan."

"She's resting..."

"Get her the fuck on the phone," CJ growled.

"Aunt CJ?" Hogan said.

"Yeah, hon... I need you to tell me what happened. Right now -- where were you? What do you remember happening?"

Hogan swallowed the nausea in her throat. “We were having a photo taken. The Vice President was in the middle and I was at the back. There was this noise then screaming and I hit the ground hard. He stayed on top of me and there were more noises.”

"He... John?" CJ asked, her heart leaping into her throat. "He pushed you down?"

There was silence, then a whimper and the beginning of a sob. "Yes..." Hogan whispered, sniffling.

"Are you okay?" CJ asked, trying not to cry herself. "Your dad said you're okay, but he didn't say anything about the baby..."

“The baby’s fine. Because of him. Is he dead CJ? Is John dead?” Her voice became so quiet, CJ had to strain to hear her.

“What makes you think that?”

“The blood, and he wasn’t breathing when they pulled him off me,” her voice quivered as the tears once more racked her body.

CJ exhaled raggedly. "He's alive, unless Toby's lying to me. He's in surgery. Honey, I wish I could be with you, but we've been locked down until they catch the second guy."

There was anguished breathing across the line as Hogan tried to control herself. "I'm supposed to go home tonight," she said quietly. "But I'm not leaving until he wakes up. It's not like there's gonna be school tomorrow, anyway."

"I'll meet you there as soon as I can," CJ promised. "You hang in there, kiddo... I love you."

"Love you, too," Hogan murmured.

CJ hung up the line, then opened a new one and dialled Hoynes' office. "Janine, it's CJ," she said to the frantic secretary when she picked up the line.

"CJ, I..."

"I just want to know if someone's called his mother and sister," CJ said. "I'm not going to report it until later, but I want to know."

"Yeah -- I'll give you his mom's cell number if you want," Janine said, then covered the phone. "No, we're not ready to make a statement," she said through the muffled receiver. "Sorry, CJ... I need to go."

"I know. Me, too." CJ took a deep breath. "Janine, just relax a little."

"Look who's talking," Janine retorted. "We've both got jobs and we should be doing them, eh?"

"Yeah -- talk to you later."

“Leo’s on line two,” Toby mumbled, entering the room and dropping onto the couch.

CJ pressed the flashing light and hit speaker phone. “Leo?”

“Hey kiddo. I’ve been to the school. I’m heading to the hospital now.” He paused and she heard him mumbling to someone else. “Sorry, about that. The Vice President. . .CJ, I need you to quote this as it I say it, okay?”

CJ nodded, before she realized he couldn’t see her. “Yeah.”

“The Vice President took two bullets to his upper body. He was unconscious when he arrived at GW, and was immediately taken into surgery. They expect the operation to last five to six hours, after which time the medical team will be able to comment.” Leo shuffled some papers. “Okay, there were six children injured, one critically, but he is now stable. We are not releasing names.”

Toby watched as CJ scribbled on his notepad. He groaned and walked up behind her. “Leo, can she say anything about the lockdown, the other shooter or what we think the motive is?”

“Not at this time.”

“Is the Vice President going to make it?” Toby asked, his hand resting lightly on CJ’s back.

"On the record," Leo said, "they aren't sure. Off the record... he's a fighter. He'll want to see the kid he saved and make sure she's okay. He's gonna make it. You wanna call Janine and tell her that before you brief again?"

"I just got off with her," CJ said. "But yeah, I'll let her know."

"Good. CJ, do a job."

With that, he hung up.

“Are you gonna start crying?” Toby asked, turning her to face him. “because if you are, I’m gonna have to find Donna or something.”

“Toby, he saved Hogan’s life,” CJ whispered, grabbing his jacket between her fingers.

“I don’t do well. . .” Toby began, then groaned as she started to sob gently.

He sighed and put his arms around her, wondering why him.

There was a knock on the door and Ginger stuck her head in. "Toby?"

"Yeah..."

"We found Ben's kid. I thought I'd let you know -- he was one of the injured, so..."

"Ben can't leave the building any more than CJ can," Toby growled.

"I know, he's just glad to know his son's okay." Ginger watched him holding CJ, and rolled her eyes. "Okay, Toby, you need to go, because you don't understand this -- it's a woman thing. Mush. Mush, doggie." She waved her hands in a gesture for him to leave the room so she could talk to CJ.

Toby rolled his eyes and released CJ, squeezing her hand as he left.

“I swear that man doesn’t know how sweet he is, “ Ginger said, stroking CJ’s back. “is your niece okay?”

CJ nodded and hiccupped. “I need to brief.”

Ginger grinned. “I’d make it fast. The press were asking questions and Josh was heading in that direction.” Her grin widened as she saw CJ’s eyes flash fire.

"Come see me when you're done, okay? Or send Carol over to get me," Ginger said. "You and I need to have a little talk."

"How little?" CJ asked, wiping her eyes.

"Well, I know about you and the Vice President. I mean, not all the details, but..." Ginger cleared her throat.

"How?" CJ asked.

"My boyfriend's on his detail and he told me. But he made me swear on my job that I wouldn't tell anyone. And I haven't. I won't."

"I'll send Carol to get you," CJ said, getting up. "I have a feeling it's going to be a long time in captivity."

“In that case I’ll raid the mess now. The women in this place don’t react well when there’s chocolate deprivation,” Ginger laughed and tapped her back.

CJ took a deep breath and set off to cut Josh off, preferably at the knees.

Josh was standing behind the podium when she arrived in the room, and he was saying, "I saw Danny's question go out over CNN, and I don't want any more of it. On-topic questions only, at the risk of revocation of your credentials. Got it?"

There were nods around the room.

"Okay, Bill, you can turn your camera back on," Josh said, making a gesture with one hand. "That goes for the rest of you, too." He glanced up. "Hey, CJ -- I'll just be going now."

CJ smiled and pulled him over for a hug. "You really are sweet some times," she whispered, shoving him away. "Now get outta here and do something useful."

She turned back to the waiting gaggle and dropped Toby’s notepad on the desk. “I have a short statement, then I’m going to suggest you all go eat, because it’s going to be a long day, and night.“ She took a deep breath. “The Vice President took two bullets to his upper body. He was unconscious when he arrived at GW, and was immediately taken into surgery. They expect the operation to last five to six hours, after which time the medical team will be able to comment. There were six children injured, one critically, but he is now stable. We are not releasing names. There is nothing at this time on the lockdown, the other shooter or the lockdown.”

Danny raised his hand.

"Yes, Danny?"

"Do you know if any questioning has been made into why the Vice President was not adequately protected by his Secret Service detail?"

CJ sighed. "Danny, I don't know anything about that right now. That's it for now, guys."

She stepped off the podium and out into the corridor. CJ jumped when she found Toby standing there, rocking on the balls of his feet.

“Shit, you scared the life out of me.”

“The President wants us in the Oval,” he muttered, looking up at her under hooded lids. “He’s yelling and screaming at Josh as we speak.”

"Why now?" CJ groaned.

"For letting Leo leave before the lockdown," Toby muttered.

"Ah, yes, well... that would be a little annoying, wouldn't it?" CJ replied quietly. "So I have to go in there to calm him down?"

"No, you have to go in there and tell him that you are involved with Hoynes. Ron told him you might be, but..." Toby sighed. "That's kind of why he started off in the first place. Leo leaving has just made it worse."

“Toby,” she groaned.

He shrugged. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“What?”

“Get in his face.”

CJ rolled her eyes. “You guys are just great with the advice.”

“We’re not sleeping together, we are in a relationship. With all due respect mind your own business,” Toby mumbled.

"I can't tell him that!" CJ groaned. "It's like painting a big red target on my ass!"

"So paint it already. You're going to have to do it eventually, anyway. Especially if you're serious about him."

"Dammit, Toby, we've kissed and talked, and that's it! That's IT!"

"So tell the President that."

CJ sighed. There was no getting out of it. A few days ago he was a pain in the ass and now she was thinking of them as more than friends. It was amazing what a family crisis, a shoulder to cry on and a kiss could do. “I’m not saying you’re right, but let’s go.”

The door to the Oval Office was open when they arrived and the President was lecturing Josh on the finer points of his role, which apparently from the way the conversation was going, was to sit on Leo.

Toby gave CJ a shove and pushed her through the door.

"Sir, you shouldn't yell at Josh about letting Leo leave," CJ interjected loudly, bringing the President's stoney glare full-force onto her.

"Oh really?" Bartlet said, straightening up and trying to look intimidating.

"Yes, sir. I should have alerted you to Leo's intentions to leave before I briefed, but I didn't." She clasped her hands behind her back.

“And why did the Chief of Staff feel the need to inform you, but not me?”

Toby muttered something behind her and she turned to shoot him a look.

CJ stood to her full height and looked down on the President. “Because he wanted to make sure I had the information to brief.” She took a breath. “And with all due respect, Leo is pretty stubborn, he doesn’t take too kindly to us telling him what to do.”

Jed stared at her. “Josh, and Toby, you may leave.”

Josh edged towards the door before CJ’s voice stopped him. “I’d prefer they stay. With all due respect, if this is about what Ron told you, they need to hear what I have to say too.”

“I get the impression respect is about to go out the window,” Jed commented dryly, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Tit for tat," CJ replied snappishly.

"Excuse me?" Bartlet said, his eyes widening. He had never expected her to say something like that.

"You heard me, sir," CJ said. She jabbed her finger in Josh, Sam and Toby's direction. "They stay."

Sam and Josh took a step back and huddled together, leaving Toby standing in the middle of the room alone.

CJ looked at the President with a look that said, “Challenge me.” She waited for him to speak and when nothing came she took a deep breath. “It all started at the State Dinner. I had to keep the Vice President out of the room. We got to talking. He asked me to have coffee but I couldn’t make it.” She stole a glance at Toby and he nodded.

"I had a family crisis, and when it was over, I thought I was going to die if I didn't talk to someone, and no one in this room would have listened to me. So I went to the Observatory and talked to the Vice President." She inhaled and exhaled heavily. "He invited me for dinner and my niece and I went over last night. Sir, we haven't done anything beyond talk."

"Nothing?" Toby prompted, scowling at her.

"Oh, all right," she sighed. "We've kissed. And talked. But that's all." She stood there, hands shaking, breathing heavily. "Say something, sir," she finally said.

“What sort of kissing?” the President asked.

“Sir?”

“My daughter tells me there are various kinds of kissing, I didn’t ask her to elaborate.”

“Oh for the love. . . “ CJ began and then sighed. “We kissed on the mouth, and then I left.”

"So you're..." Sam said, turning a shade of green. "You're... involved with Hoynes."

"We're not involved!" CJ protested, throwing her hands in the air. "I don't know what we're doing, but right now, sex isn't involved!"

“That’s not what it looks like,” Sam began and stopped at the pointed glare Toby shot his way.

“CJ?” The President began circling his desk and moving towards her.

CJ watched him carefully as her stomach churned. “Mr. President?”

“What you do in your private life, is your business. You know that. And you I know I don’t give a damn about your sex life.” He blushed slightly, before he took her hand. “But when John ignores Secret Service protocol to save your niece and when he calls your name, I worry.”

CJ swallowed hard. "You know I can't control what other people are thinking and how it affects their actions, Sir. God knows I would if I could."

"I know," Jed said. "But..."

"Sir, if I could have, I would have changed things so this didn't happen," she said quietly. "But there's nothing I can do now but worry."

“I realize that,” he acknowledged, patting her hand. “I wanted to know how the land lay. He was asking for you when he collapsed and as soon as this retched lockdown is lifted, I’m sending you over there.”

“Thank you, Sir,” she mumbled, a little taken back.

"Speaking of the lockdown, has anyone heard anything from our errant knight in the field?" Jed asked caustically.

"Not for a while," Toby said. "Sir, Sam and I need to..."

"Yeah, go work," Jed said, gesturing them away. "Josh, go away. CJ, we do need to talk about this."

"Yes, sir," she said quietly, sitting down on one of the couches as the others left.

“Okay, I’m not going to tell you how to do your job. But, you being at the hospital is going to raise questions, your visiting him late at night and more importantly anything that happens from now on is going to be watched.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“You become a target, and you’ve been there before.”

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

"I'll give you two weeks' probation, and if it doesn't end before then, you'll have to fill out the paperwork again."

"Sir..."

"You are too valuable to this administration, CJ. What just happened today is just one of the reasons. You being involved with him is another."

"He has a name," CJ growled, her voice dangerously low.

“Hell, CJ, don’t get mad at me. It’s not my fault it happened and I’m not the one keeping you here,” Jed snapped back. “We don’t know why John got shot, we don’t know where the other shooter is. My wife is on her way to New Hampshire and Leo is out there, somewhere.”

CJ sighed. "Fine. Either I end this... whatever he and I have or I go under protection again. And I know I'm not the only person affected by this, Sir." She rubbed her eyes.

Charlie came into the room with a piece of paper and handed it to Jed.

Jed exhaled in relief. "They’ve caught the second shooter. The lockdown is over as soon as Ron makes his security check-through."

“I should inform the press,” CJ acknowledge, jumping to her feet.

Jed waved her off. “Let Simon or Sam, and make them wait a while.”

“Sir?”

“You need to head over to the hospital and find Leo. Anyone asks, you’re going to do a live feed,” he grinned at his technical knowledge. “Go, before I change my mind.”

"Yes, sir," she said, moving to hug him. "I know, I know -- I owe you one."

"Several, actually, but you'd better get going," Jed said with a grin.

CJ nodded and raced out the door. Carol stopped her. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To the hospital -- the President..."

"Ah," Carol said. "Okay. Gimme a call when you get there, okay?"

CJ took few steps then spun on her heels. “Carol, I’m going to the hospital.”

“Yeah, you said,” she replied grinning. “I’d imagine he’ll want to see your face when he wakes up.”

CJ’s eyes widened. “How?”

“Josh told Donna.”

"Remind me not to start a rumor around here," CJ muttered, heading out the door.

******

Continue to Part Four