Title: When Is A Secret Not A Secret?

Pairing: CJ/Leo

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Nothing specific but anything up to Faith Based Initiative is fair game

~~~~~~

CJ knocked lightly on the door and leaned against the frame. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking it easy?”

Leo glanced up from the mountain of paperwork that seemed to have appeared over night, and couldn’t help but smile. “It’s the only way I can avoid the crowds.”

“I brought breakfast,” she offered, holding up the bag in her hand and the tray containing two cups. “I can’t promise it’ll beat breakfast at the Watergate but. . .”

Getting up, he walked around the desk and motioned for her to sit on the couch.

“Decaffeinated coffee with half cream and a toasted bagel with lite cream cheese.”

He scrunched up his face.

“I checked with your nurse, sorry.”

“Margaret will be extremely grateful. I, on the other hand, would have preferred bacon, sausages, a few rounds of toast. . . .”

CJ handed him his paper wrapped bagel. “Well you can’t always have what you want.”

He was all too aware of that. Years of watching CJ from a far has taught him that much, although after the previous evening he was beginning to rethink that. The image of CJ kissing him, the feel of her hair running through his fingers was nothing compared to laying on the couch with her curled up beside him or dropping her off at her door and seeing her smile as she said goodnight.

“Leo?”

“What do you want?” he asked, trying to focus on the woman before him and not the image that was now bore into his brain.

Unwrapping her bagel, she allowed herself to ponder his question. “When I was young, marriage, kids, then it became a career and a cat.”

“And now?” He knew it was too soon to expect anything but he couldn’t help himself.

“Sleep.” It slipped out effortlessly before she could stop herself. Long after he left last night she had been sitting on the sofa thinking about the evening and what she hoped would come next. It had taken more than a little concealer to cover up the dark circles beneath her eyes.

“It’s good job I went home last night,” he grinned, enjoying the way her cheeks tinged crimson and she ducked her head.

“Leo!” CJ took a lengthy sip of her coffee, as she tried to compose herself. “This is great coffee.”

“Now you’re being mean.”

She licked her lips and scrunched up her wrapper. “Of course now I’m going to have to send Margaret out for more.”

Leo rose to his feet and moved back behind the desk. The problem was his heart attack hadn’t totally affected him, and her teasing was turning him on, not that he was in any condition to act on it.

CJ took another sip of her coffee and followed him, perching on the edge of the desk.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m about to kiss you.”

It was probably a dangerous thing to do because one kiss was bound to lead to another. At least the building was practically empty and the blinds were drawn. His hand found it’s way to cup her cheek as she moved in closer.

As her lips brushed his, Leo knew it was the way he wanted to start every day.

“Oh, sorry,” Zoey mumbled, suddenly backtracking in the doorway.

Breaking away, CJ practically fell off the desk. “Hey Zoey.”

“You know, if you two are going to. . .” she waved her hands in search of the appropriate word. “Date, I guess, you might wanna be a little more discreet.”

Leo straightened his tie. “We’re not dating.” He swallowed hard as CJ shot him a look that told him he was going to have to pay for that comment. “We’re having breakfast.”

“Yeah, looked more like she was eating you,” Zoey scoffed, an impish grin forming as she watched the blood run to their faces.

“Zoey!”

The First Daughter shrugged. “Mom is gonna love this.” She wouldn’t of course tell her mother, at least not yet. Instead she‘d enjoy torturing her favourite godfather for a while.

“You wouldn’t!”

“So did you two have dinner last night?” Zoey asked casually, her mind racing through the possibilities.

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

Leo covered his eyes with his hand. “It’s not what you think.”

“Really? Dinner? Breakfast? CJ’s hand on your thigh? What am I thinking?”

CJ removed her hand from where it had fallen and walked towards the young woman. “Hopefully you’re thinking - two friends enjoying some quality time together. “

“Yeah, that’s so what I’m thinking.” Zoey gave them a wide smile and turned on her heel. “Have a good day.” There was a renewed spring in her step as she headed down the corridor.

“So much for being discreet,” CJ mused, rising to her feet and putting distance between her and Leo.

“It’s just Zoey.”

“You know we might as well take out a full page ad in the Washington Post,” CJ groaned, dropping back on the couch. “Annabeth knows, Toby, now Zoey.”

“How exactly would you like to word it? This is to announce two old friends are spending quality time together?” Leo settled himself on the edge of the desk and stared down at her.

“You don’t think this is going to become a thing?” She could hardly believe he was belittling her concerns, but then maybe she was reading more into their relationship than was there.

“I was kinda hoping it would,” he grinned, knowing that he was skating on thin ice. “It’s been seven years.”

“Leo.” She stopped herself. “What’s been seven years?”

It was closer to eight in fact since he had first met Miss Cregg, and in only a matter of days Jed had been teasing him about his crush. Of course when Jed started Abbey had too. They were going to be almost as giddy as he was that they were now. . . Whatever they were. “Would you like to have dinner tonight?”

“You’re avoiding my question?” she chided.

“Let’s just say there are times a secret isn’t always a secret. There are many types of secret. . .” he trailed off as she continued to stare at him bemused.

“Ok, coffee deprivation is setting in.” She crossed her legs giving him an incredible view of her bare thigh.

“Dinner?” Mentally he began to calculate how long it would be before he could share his talents with her, if he could ever get her to go out with him again.

“Would love too. Except we have a prior engagement. Chilli night.” As much as CJ enjoyed the staff get togethers, tonight she would rather be somewhere else.

“Chilli night!” He had actually forgotten about the President’s invitation or, considering there was no way out of it, order.

“Just think lots of old friends spending quality time together.” She ran her tongue along her lip and ducked her head coyly. If the way he was looking at her was anything to go by it was going to be an evening of torture for him. Of course if he stared at her like that they weren’t going to be a secret for very long.

Leo allowed himself a satisfied grin. If she was going to flirt with him he wasn’t going to be responsible for his actions. Silently he made his way to the door and locked it.

“Leo?”

“That’s tonight. We haven’t finished breakfast yet.” Taking her hand he pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the mouth. “I, for one, am still hungry.” There was something about being with her that gave him an insatiable appetite and that had to be good for his health.

The End