Title: You’ll Never Walk Alone
Pairing: Jed/CJ
Rating: PG for now
Spoilers: Sequel to Inevitable Conflict Of Interest
Author’s Notes: I was trying to help Mel with a story when we came up with this idea. It didn’t work for her but it seemed to inspire me. The beginning may seem a little familiar but it seemed appropriate in the circumstances.
~~~~~
CJ entered the Oval office through the connecting door and came to a halt. “You wanted to see me, Mr President.”
“We should have done this sooner but in light of recent events it can’t be delayed any longer,” he said, indicating the other occupant of the room.
“Miss Cregg,” the young man said, holding out his hand for her to take.
There was something about the way young men said her name that made her feel guilty for being over forty and still single. “Hey.”
“I’m with the NSC. I’m here to discuss what you need to do in the event of a nuclear attack.” He gave her what he thought was a reassuring smile.
“Sorry?” It was truly something out of the movies. The men in black plotting in secret rooms to evacuate the politicians.
“I’m from the NSC. As the President’s Chief of Staff special arrangements have been made for your evacuation in light of an attack on the President or this country.“
“I get airlifted from a field.“
“It’s a little more complex than that. You need to take this card and follow the instructions on it.”
CJ continued to stare at him blankly.
“It’s ok. I can take it from here,” the President announced from his desk. He waited for the young man to leave. “Are you ok?”
“I guess I know how Josh felt,” CJ offered quietly, a little overwhelmed by the sudden change in her life.
“You just need to put it away and not worry about it.” It was easy for him to say. He had little say in the matter and if push came to shove he’d make sure the people he cared about most were protected before himself.
“I’m not taking it.” She was firm in her stance.” Why? What is the point? There are others who have a greater need for it than me. Toby has the kids.”
“You don’t need to worry about Toby….. Or Leo.” He wasn’t sure how he was going to pull it off, and adopting Toby really wasn’t an option, but he would make sure they were both somehow on a plane with him or in the cellar at the farm. He moved around the desk.
“That’s not good enough.”
“You’re my Chief of Staff, you’re one of my best friends, and you’re family.” Sometimes she could be one of the most stubborn people he knew and sometimes he refused to let her win an argument. “I’m not leaving you behind and that’s final.”
“There are some things that aren’t your decision.” It wasn’t the time but when he took control she could practically jump him then and there.
“This is one of those things that is, even if I have to carry you kicking and screaming.” Although he hoped he could achieve the same result by kissing her.
“I’d like to see you try.”
It took a second for him to realize that he hadn‘t mentioned the kissing out loud because they had agreed not to do that again. “Really, because I’m not adverse to throwing you over my shoulder and slapping you.”
CJ stared back at him in challenge and he advanced on her.
Shrieking, she backed away and they toppled onto the couch, both laughing.
“It’s been a while since I’ve laughed like that.”
“You should stick around me more often, baby,” CJ teased.
“Did you just call me baby?”
“Why? Would you prefer babes, hon, sweetness?” It wasn’t the most appropriate tone to use or for that matter to give the President a nick name but the mood had suddenly shifted and for once he actually looked relaxed. It was so rare that when it did happen she was happy to prolong it for as long as possible.
Jed sat up straighter on the couch. “See I remember now why I hired you as Chief of Staff.”
“Because Leo told you too.”
“My, we are quite bold this evening.” This was the side of his staff he truly liked, their ability to respect him but also to wind down with him.
“You were the one with his head in my cleavage.” She couldn’t quite believe she said that without blushing.
“And very nice it was too.”
For everything they had said CJ was suddenly transported back to the hotel room when he had held her on the bed and made her feel wanted.
“I’m sorry.” He wasn’t, but the look on her face told him he was overstepping the mark of friendship.
She shrugged him off. “I should get back to work.”
“You’re grown bored of me already?” he asked, half in teasing, as he rose to his feet and began to reinstate the professional distance between them.
“Yeah, that’s the reason. Not the mountain of paperwork that’s on my desk.” Smoothing down her skirt she moved towards the door.
“Don’t forget to put the card somewhere safe.”
“This conversation isn’t over,” she retorted, staring down at the green card in her hand.
Jed picked up his glasses from the desktop and placed them on his nose. He knew only too well that the conversation wasn’t over, and he suspected neither were they.
~~~~~~
Zoey pulled on a sweatshirt and stood in front of the mirror. She knew she wasn’t showing yet but she also knew her life was about to change. No less so because she had to deal with her parents. There was also Josh to contend with. As yet she hadn’t told him, not because he wouldn’t do the right thing, more so because both he and her father would want to do the right thing. Once she’d told her parents she was planning to find Josh and tell him.
“Have you got a minute?” she asked, entering the sitting room and preparing for the worst.
Abbey looked up from her book and smiled. “Everything ok?”
“I need to talk to both of you.” Suddenly she wished Josh was there or Leo or CJ or anyone that wouldn‘t condemn her on the spot. ”There’s no easy way of saying this but I’m pregnant.” She took a deep breath and waited.
“You’re pregnant?” Abbey asked, the book suddenly forgotten.
Jed said nothing, staring at the open file before him. He wasn’t sure if he was angry, upset or confused and his wife seemed to be showing enough emotion for both of them.
“How could you be so stupid?” Abbey yelled, memories of the life she lost when she had fallen pregnant with Liz. “Who’s the father?”
“It doesn’t really matter. I’m doing this on my own.” It came out easily but she wasn’t willing to commit Josh without at least telling him first.
His daughter’s voice was so quiet that Jed had to strain to hear her. “You’re not on your own.” Zoey would never be on her own, she had him, her sisters, Leo and CJ. It was a family large enough and flexible enough to give her everything she needed, that much Jed was sure of.
She smiled at him faintly and moved closer to him. “It wasn’t as if we weren’t taking precautions.”
There so many things about his daughters’ lives that he wanted to control, but there were also more than a few he wanted to know nothing about. His daughter’s sex life was one of the latter.
“The only precaution you should have been taking was abstinence.” Abbey was angry. Her daughter had almost been taken from them and now she’d made a stupid mistake, ruining her life.
“Like the good catholic girl you were? Or Liz?” Zoey couldn’t believe her mother’s hypocrisy. She was also surprised by the lack of anger on her fathers part, although she suspected she would experience his wisdom sometime soon.
“Does Josh know?” The urge to hunt him down was strangely missing. Jed wanted to see his son and find out exactly what he intended to do, but he also suspected Josh would need time to get used to the idea.
“I’m going to see him later.”
“You may want to plan what you’re gonna say,” Jed suggested helpfully.
“You mean getting Josh drunk and waiting until he passes out on the floor before dropping the bombshell isn’t the way to go?”
“Zoey. How can you be so flippant?” Abbey said, her voice rising as disbelief set in.
“Because getting stressed isn’t good for the baby. Because I love Josh and I know he isn’t going to react well initially. Because I’m pregnant and happy,” Zoey retorted, looking to her father. “Maybe I should go. We can talk later.”
“Where are you going?” Abbey asked, watching her daughter leave the room and her husband rise to his feet.
“To get some air.”
“Don’t you think we should talk about what we’re going to do?”
Jed had every intention of talking about it but right then it wasn’t Abbey he wanted to talk too. “Once Zoey has spoken to Josh we can start to make decisions, until then there’s nothing I can do.”
“Shouldn’t you have CJ draft something?” Abbey snapped. “I mean everything else in this family goes through your Chief of Staff first.”
“I can’t do this right now.”
“No, it’s only your daughter.” Abbey was on the verge of throwing something at him when he disappeared out the door. She hoped her husband was in shock because she hated the idea that he just didn’t care. She threw the book across the room and covered her face with her hands.
~~~~~
After pacing his office for what seemed like an hour, Jed knocked on the connecting door and waited. “CJ, have you got a minute?”
CJ stumbled to her feet, grabbing her jacket and working her arms into it as she rose. “Good evening, Mr President.”
Seeing her brought things into perspective, and a rush of emotions, and he hovered momentarily before closing the door behind him.
CJ took his lead, making her way from one door to the next until they were completely sealed off from the rest of the White House. “What do you need?”
Jed clasped his hands in his lap as he lowered himself onto her couch.
“Sir?” she asked, her voice laced with concern, her fear barely hidden beneath the surface as his demeanour began to set off alarm bells. “What’s wrong?” He was avoiding her eyes which meant that he was about to be very open with her, vulnerable even, and she was finding it hard to keep a professional distance under those circumstances.
“My baby has just announced she’s having a baby.” His voice was barely audible.
It took only seconds for her to decode the sentence. “Zoey’s pregnant?”
He nodded, finally looking her in the face, if only briefly.
“How is she?” CJ asked, her voice filled with genuine love and concern for the young girl she had watched blossom into a woman.
“Scared, excited, independent, defensive. . .” he trailed off.
“How are you doing?” Silently she crossed the room and settled herself in the chair nearest him.
“I don’t know.”
It became apparent in that second that what she had been suppressing for weeks was very much still true. She loved him and now he was in her office, confused and vulnerable and asking for nothing more than to be there. “Would you be better outside?” On the portico she could say all the right things without being distracted by what he so obviously needed.
“I’m going to be a grandfather again. And Zoey is doing this on her own. The media is going to make my little girl feel bad because she had an accident. And people are going to make this about religion and morals and none of it matters because she’s my little girl.” Ten minutes earlier when he heard the news he couldn’t find the words now he was gazing into CJ’s eyes and he couldn’t stop. The single tear spilt onto his cheek.
She didn’t think about it, instead dropping to her knees and pulling him against her shoulder. “She has friends, Sir.”
Jed held her tightly, his head tucked in the crook of her neck as she stroked his hair. “And she has Josh.”
CJ had been reluctant to raise her friend’s name after the explosion when Jed found out about his daughters new boyfriend, now she had her opening. “And he’ll marry her if it’s what she wants, and he’ll support her and take care of both of them. Josh is one of the good guys.”
“You realise that’ll make him family.” In other circumstances he would have laughed, instead he gave her the weakest of smiles.
She wanted to laugh and joke with him but she knew how confused he was. “Where’s Zoey now?”
“Gone to find him.”
“And Abbey?” CJ didn’t want to seemed noisy but it was an obvious question.
He shrugged and tilted his head to look at her. “In the residence I’d imagine.”
And yet here he was, in her office letting her comfort him. She couldn’t imagine in that instance what that meant. “Have you two talked. . . ?”
Jed ignored the question, pulling out of her embrace and sitting back on the couch.
“Why don’t you drive over and see Leo,” CJ suggested, settling into the chair and subtly putting professional distance between them. “He might be able to give you some perspective.”
“Because he’ll know that I’ve somehow managed to screw this up.” He rubbed his eyes.
“You really haven’t. In fact I don’t think there is a right way to handle it, but you didn’t shout, you didn’t disown her and you treated her like an adult.”
Jed rose to his feet and began to move around the office. “Abbey wouldn’t agree with you.”
That was an area CJ wasn’t going to get into. Being his Chief of Staff was proving much easier than being Press Secretary, if only that she could delegate someone else to deal with Abbey. This time she was going to leave the handling to the President.
“Is there anything you want me to do? Speak to Josh? Prepare for when the story breaks?” CJ asked, hoping she sounded professional because all she really wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and hold him.
“Take the green card out of your top drawer and put it in your purse.” They’d managed not to discuss the subject for a week, but he hadn’t given up.
“Low blow.”
“Can’t blame me for trying,” he smiled faintly. “I can’t control the rest of the women in my life the least I can do is try and ensure your safety.”
She wanted to slap him for picking that moment to argue with her, but in truth she would do just about anything he asked, if it helped. “Ok, but I don’t like it.”
“Duly noted.” Jed felt the urge to kiss her cheek in thanks but he knew that would only lead to more confusion in his life so instead he nodded and walked back towards the connecting door. “Thank you, Claudia Jean.”
“You’re welcome anytime, Sir.” She watched the door close and sank back onto the chair. Experience told her the next few months were going to be rocky for all of them, but as always she’d be the one to keep them above water.
~~~~~~
In the week since Zoey had dropped her bombshell, Jed had barely seen or spoken to his wife. In truth he was angry for reasons he wasn’t ready to voice and he knew she was mad at him for supporting Zoey’s decision to stay with her sister for a while. Instead he threw himself into work.
His staff weren’t so impressed with his decision, especially as he insisted on reading every piece of paper that went through his office, and coming up with inspirational legislation at a drop of a hat. All of which went nowhere and kept them there to all hours.
Jed glanced around the table at his staff and grinned.
The poker game had been Leo’s idea and by the spread of food on CJ’s desk, his main intention was to make sure they all ate.
Debbie was winning yet again, watching him carefully yet surreptitiously. She had been doing that all week, forfeiting her social life he knew to stay in the West Wing in case he needed her.
Neither of them knew what was bothering Jed and he knew it didn’t matter, just sitting with them enjoying their company, gave him the comfort he needed.
Toby was drinking beer and puffing on a cigar. As yet he didn’t know about Zoey, but Jed knew that he would yell and scream at the staff but find a way of getting his daughter through it.
Then there was CJ, the only other person aware of the situation. As he watched her shuffle cards he couldn‘t help but remember the way she had held him, and try as he might, he couldn‘t ignore the fact she was affecting his decisions of late.
Everyone had always assumed that power would go to a man’s head. These were the people who kept him grounded, the people that had helped him make decisions for the last few years, and the friends that would help him through the next few months.
~~~~~~
Abbey had been a little surprised when her husband had phoned and invited her to dinner. Now as she waited for him to finish his call to CJ she felt a little apprehensive. Since Zoey’s announcement they had barely seen each other except in bed last thing at night.
“I’ll speak to you tomorrow, CJ. Go home.” He turned from the phone and made his way back to the dining table. “Sorry about that.”
She shrugged. It wasn’t unusual for work to invade their time together. At least tonight he was making a concerted effort.
“Do you love me, Abbey?”
“What sort of question is that?” she asked, her face barely concealing her surprise.
“One that needs an answer,” he replied, picking up a tumbler and pouring himself a scotch.
“Jed, what’s going on?” Concern drifted into her voice.
“I’ve been thinking. In fact it’s all I’ve done for the last few days.” Every hour of every day, he had to admit. Taking a deep breath, he dived straight in. “There are some things I need to tell you. I spent the night in CJ’s hotel room.” He waited for her to yell at him but she stared back at him. “I wanted to talk to her so I knocked on her door. We ended up sitting on the bed talking till the early hours, or I talked and she fell asleep.”
“Are you in love with her?” She couldn’t believe what he was telling her.
“I didn’t sleep with her.” The question wasn’t one he felt truly able to answer, or maybe because the truth was just beyond his reach.
“So what are you trying to tell me?” She watched as he paced the room, the appertisers going cold on the table.
“I’ve been visiting Leo’s apartment most nights.”
“Well I know you love him.” Abbey couldn’t muster any humour in her voice.
“What does it say that I go to them and talk before I come to you?”
“That you’ve become quite adept at shutting me out over the years.”
“I love you, Abbey. I always will. But I don’t feel like I know you anymore. It’s like you’re angry at me all the time and you blame me for whatever goes wrong.”
“Are you having an affair?” It didn’t even sound accusery, merely defeatest.
“This isn’t about anyone else. It’s about the state of our marriage.”
“What do you want?”
“I think we should try a separation.” Although he’d thought about it constantly for the last few days, it wasn’t until Jed said it out loud that he realized it really was what he wanted.
“You want me to move out.”
He hadn’t really thought through the details but the Residence was big enough for both of them and she loved the farm. It wasn’t as if they had been spending much time together in recent months anyway.
“I’m sorry, Abbey,” he said softly, leaning down and pressing the lightest of kisses to her temple.
“Then don’t give up.”
“I’m not giving up and I’m not trying to hurt you.” If anything he was trying to prevent hurting her any further, and forcing there to be a relationship where there wasn‘t couldn‘t bring either of them happiness. He still hoped, given time, maybe they could find a way to get what they had back.
“Yet you’re going back to work rather than talk to me.”
“Aren’t you going to the clinic tonight?” he asked sadly, turning from the door to look at her.
“Yes.”
Jed held his hand out in surrender before turning and heading back to the West Wing.
~~~~~~
Leo fixed himself a sandwich and carried it into the living room. He had barely switched the television to his favourite cooking show when there was a knock at the door. Groaning, he rose to his feet and crossed the room. He wasn’t totally surprised to find two agents flanking the door and his oldest friend hovering in the hallway.
“Hey Leo.”
“Mr President, come in.”
Jed crossed the threshold and made his way over to the fireplace. He’d come fully intending to tell his best friend everything. Now that he was actually faced with the prospect, it wasn’t so easy. Especially after he had been so hard on Leo when Jenny had left. He made his way over to the window.
“Are you going to pace my apartment all night or tell me what’s wrong?” Leo finally asked after a full five minutes of silence and Jed had began to wear a trail through his carpet. “I have beer in the fridge, I can fix you a sandwich. . .”
A knock at the door broke into the silence of the room and Leo could barely conceal his grin. “I’m guessing that’s CJ.”
“Hey, Leo,” CJ grinned, hugging him with her free hand and clinging to the sack in her other. “Mr. President?”
“Did you bring snacks?” Although it was never actually planned the three of them had in recent months done this a dozen times, so much so that Leo now kept a fridge full of drinks.
“Of course.”
Once everyone had a beer in hand, they settled themselves on the couch as Jed continued to pace the room.
CJ shot Leo a worried look.
Leo shrugged back. “Mr President? Jed?” There had been an underlying tension clearly visible in the president’s face for days, and until that moment Leo had put it down to work or his usual need to have everything his way. Tonight for the first time, Leo knew it was something personal.
“Abbey and I are trying a separation,” Jed announced. “Although I’m sure Abbey would probably say we’ve been living one for years.”
No-one said anything, not really sure what could be said.
“Nothing will change in terms of outside of the White House. Abbey will live at the farm, stay in the Residence when she needs to be in DC, She’ll attend functions when she can and it won’t be public knowledge. In fact beyond yourselves and the girls I don’t think anyone will know.” He paused for a drink, avoiding their eyes.
“Are you sure you can’t work this out?” Leo asked quietly, a million questions racing through his mind. Political implications duelling with friendly concerns.
“I’m not giving in. We’ve just got so many issues to deal with and we’re drifting further apart by forcing ourselves to be in a relationship. This way we can actually work on quality time and trying to talk things through. I’ll try and work it out but right now we need to take a step back.” When he’d had proper time to figure everything out he would tell them the full story, and maybe for once let the self imposed boundaries down completely. For now he just wanted them to be aware that he didn‘t have all the answers.
“Is there anything we can do?” CJ asked, wrapping her arms around her body, not really sure how she felt.
“Do what you’re doing. Be my friends.” He stopped pacing and dropped into the chair.
Leo nodded and moved up the couch. “In that case, we have snacks and I‘m sure Sports Night is on.”
“There’s something else you should know, Leo, Zoey’s pregnant,” Jed offered, rising to his feet and dropping onto the couch between them.
“I’ll get some more beer.” It was going to be a long couple of months, Leo decided as he headed to the kitchen. Of course the situation could have been a lot worse, and he hoped that what he witnessed as he glanced back wasn’t a prelude to that.
~~~~~~
The one thing about travelling on Air Force One was that you could run your office from the air. For the last two hours CJ had been emailing, phoning and faxing, anything that meant she could hide in the conference room and not have to listen to the President’s trivia on European mountain ranges and oranges, the latter she’d endured over dinner the previous evening.
Carol was briefing her on the latest water cooler gossip when the line went dead and CJ was left staring at a silent phone. Frustrated she looked up in search of a steward and was rewarded with one hovering over her.
“The president would like to see you.”
CJ followed him into the office and stopped suddenly when she saw the Lieutenant Colonel seated in the corner. Her eyes drifted to the case he was handcuffed to, the one she knew contained the gold codes, a secure satellite radio and the decision book. She didn‘t need to see the grave look on the President’s face to know that it was bad. “Sir?”
Jed didn’t want to drop it on her, at least not until someone could tell him exactly what was wrong, but he needed her to get up to speed immediately. “We’ve initiated a flight pattern that will take us away from the Capital. With immediately effect we are on red alert. It’s one of those green card moments,” he added, his eyes locking with hers.
She wanted to collapse onto the nearest chair but something was propelling her to remain standing. “What do you need me to do?”
It wasn’t the first time they had been on red alert or there was a suspected attack imminent but it was the first time he had been on Air Force One when it happened. His friends and family were scattered across the East Coast and it looked highly probable that they were going to have to fly around endlessly or land in some god forsaken location, neither of which appealed.
The man in him wanted her to hold him, to hold her and reassure her, which seemed to have become a new element to their relationship. The President could ask for nothing less than her service. “Find Toby.” That was the part he hadn’t gotten around to voicing to her. The White House was in the process of being evacuated and he had no idea where his two closest friends were.
“Yes Sir.” With a backwards glance she disappeared through the door and opened her cell, her breath practically holding until she heard Toby’s growl.
~~~~~~
“How you doing?” Jed asked, watching with amusement as she hovered in the doorway to his bedroom.
It had been three hours and despite the most sophisticated technology in the world he still didn’t really know anything other than satellite had picked up an anomaly, the CIA had picked up a credible threat and Korea were declaring nuclear weapons. So far his advisors still didn’t have a connection, but thought it better if he was elsewhere. He was bored.
“I’m developing a phobia of small spaces.”
“I guess you don’t want to hang out in here with me,” he asked cheekily. “A movie, pop corn and real beer.”
If she stayed the only place to sit would be on the bed, and falling asleep next to him again didn’t seem such a wise course of action. Still it was better than going stir crazy and listening to the Press Corp interrogate Annabeth. “Real beer?”
“It has alcohol in It.” He held out a bottle for her.
CJ sat on the edge of the bed and he stared at her. Slowly she edged over. “I spoke to Toby, briefly.”
“Is he ok?”
“They were herding him and Leo into a room with the assistants and Will.”
“You’ll be sending Margaret flowers then.”
“After we’ve organised the spray for Toby’s funeral.”
Jed pressed play on the remote and settled down on the bed, his mind drifting from the movie on the screen to the woman next to him. As much as he had tried to deny it to himself, he knew he was drifting closer and closer to her as Abbey slipped further away. He had always had a crush on her and in recent months he had begun to wonder if it was reciprocated. Of course she was one of his best friends, and the light squeezing of his hand and butterfly kissing of his forehead could be explained away as concern. Except she always made sure they were alone, in her office or in Leo’s apartment. Mentally he kicked himself. Wishful thinking in the middle of a national emergency was beyond stupid and the President should be beyond reproach. He glanced across at CJ and smiled when he saw her sound asleep.
Jed climbed off the bed and made his way quietly out into the corridor. After a seconds consultation with his body man he returned to the bed and lay down beside CJ, his arm instinctively wrapping itself around her waist. They wouldn’t be disturbed, at least not without fair warning from Curtis and despite everything sense, and the small voice in his head that sounded like Leo, told him, for a brief uninterrupted moment he wasn’t going to ignore his need. And if she woke up he hoped she wouldn’t object. This time he had no intention of slipping away in the dark, at least not for an hour or if the situation escalated.
As he watched her breathe, realization began to set in, he was falling in love with her. It wasn’t the passionate lustful love of his youth but something more, the sort of love where friendship would never be enough but would be an acceptable alternative than not having her in his life.
~~~~~~
“Are you hungry?” Jed asked, appearing in the open doorway.
CJ glanced up from her reading and scrambled to her feet, knocking files flying. “I thought you had gone up, Mr. President.”
“I had some work to finish up.” That and the fact he was happier in the Oval Office with CJ next door than in the Residence with Abbey. “So are you hungry?”
“I’ll pick up some take out on the way home.” That was if she ever went home. Recently she had been sleeping on the couch in her office rather than head home to an empty bed. It had been over a month but she still woke in the night expecting to find him sleeping beside her.
“We could order in pizza.”
“Pizza? You have a whole kitchen at your disposal upstairs.” When she had darted from the private bedroom on Air Force One she had expected awkwardness, instead she had found their relationship closer than ever, an ease with which she could say what she felt without having to be guarded.
“But I fancy pizza.” Jed leaned casually against the door jamb. He also wanted to spend whatever time he could with her without being observed, and in the closing months of the administration late at night seemed to be the only time.
“And where are you planning to get a pizza from? Pop out to Pizza Hut?”
“Nah, we order in. They drop it off at the service entrance.”
“Don’t you need a food taster?”
“We just give them Toby’s name.”
“In which case we should get someone to taste the food.” She laughed lightly. “No anchovies!”
“Of course,” he grinned. Disappearing he went to place his order, returning a few minutes later. Jed settled himself in the armchair, placing his drink on the table and opening a briefing book.
CJ made herself comfortable on the couch, her files stacked haphazardly on the table while she sipped water.
“Zoey mentioned you two talked today,” Jed said, not really concentrating on anything.
“Yeah, she dropped by,” CJ replied, her eyes still on the red marked pages. “Showed me the bump, told me their plans.” Zoey had stayed an hour, going into great depth as to her choices for labour. It had been enough to convince CJ that childbirth was not for her. What had surprised her most was the younger woman’s thanks for being there for her father and making the intervening months easier. What CJ hadn’t told her was that even if it wasn’t her job she still would have been there, twenty four seven if he wanted her.
“She’s always liked you.”
“Zoey’s like a sister,” CJ agreed, glancing up and finding herself lost in his eyes. “It’s been a privilege watching her grow from girl to woman.”
Jed laughed and dropped his book. “I’m glad one of us has enjoyed the experience.”
“And your discomfort of course. . .” A knock at the door prevented her finishing her sentence.
“Mr. President, pizza,” the young agent announced, walking across the room and placing it on the table.
“Thank you, Jack.” Jed opened the box and let out a contented sigh as the aroma of pizza filled the room.
“You’ll have people talking if you keep making noises like that,” CJ teased, reaching for a slice as she realized what she had implied.
“I’m a man first, President second,” Jed acknowledged. “Even I have needs.”
“Pepperoni?”
“And greater needs that I’m not going to talk to you about.” As tension filled the room, they both knew he was no longer talking about pizza.
“Spoilsport.” Her grin widened as she picked up a briefing book in one hand and hid behind it.
For the next ten minutes they ate in silence, each believing the other to be concentrating on work when in truth they were lost in thoughts of each other.
Finally Jed realized how late it was getting and that he had to let her go. “Do you want the last slice?“ he asked, indicating the almost empty box.
CJ shook her head, leaning back on the couch and closing her eyes.
“You should head home,” he suggested. “Of course I can always order you to.”
He was answered in silence. Smiling to himself, he rose to his feet and moved around the table. Carefully he removed the papers and the dinner remains, before gently shifting CJ’s body until she was laying, curled up on the couch.
It was getting to be a ritual, watching her fall asleep and then leaving her. This time he couldn’t hold back, lightly kissing her cheek before arranging her throw over her.
As he slipped back to his office he failed to see the person lurking in her ante-room but that person didn’t miss the kiss, and he couldn’t ignore the flutterings in his stomach as for the second time he witnessed an intimacy that could only mean one thing.
~~~~~~
The one thing Leo really enjoyed about working in the White House was the peace and quiet on the weekends. Although almost every Saturday during the day staff would be milling around the bullpen, by late afternoon, the halls were empty and he could just soak up the atmosphere.
This Saturday he had purposely come in later and hidden out in his office until Toby had come to invite him to dinner. After claiming a previous engagement and watching his friend leave somewhat unconvinced, he headed towards the Oval Office.
“You really should get a life, Leo,” Jed called from the couch, his ankles crossed over the arm of the chair, his head hidden by the book he was reading.
“I did too much living in my youth.” In fact he had been living right up until they took office, then he had put his life on hold.
“What’s up?” They’d been friends for long enough to know when Leo had something on his mind, and the fact that Leo was pacing his office now told him it was something that wouldn’t wait.
Leo shook his head, failing miserably to stifle a grin. “Been spending quality time with Josh again?”
“What?” he scrunched his face in consternation and then a smile surfaced. “Oh, yeah, way too much time. He and Zoey stayed over last night. She looks great. And it’s gonna cost me, but then they’ve decided to hold off on marriage for now, which is saving me a fortune.”
Leo raised an eyebrow.
“Josh has assured me that when Zoey is more receptive he’s going to ask her again.”
“Do you think he realises it’s going to get worse before it gets better?”
They shared a knowing smile. Josh really had no clue as to what he was facing and they were going to have way too much fun watching him discover the joys of parenthood.
“So is there a problem?”
“Nah, just wanted to drop in.”
It was Jed’s turn to raise an eyebrow, his hand reaching for his beer glass.
“So I was wondering, what do you think about me asking CJ out?” It was meant to be casual. It came across as strangulated.
Jed almost choked on his beer. “Our CJ?”
“How many CJ’s do you know?” Leo asked, his eyes never leaving Jed’s face. “You wouldn’t feel the urge to kill me?”
“No more than usual.”
“I just didn’t want it to cause a problem.”
“Is there something you really want to know?” Jed asked, the vein in his temple pulsating in the knowledge that he was about to face probably the toughest moment of his friendship.
Leo debated whether to talk around the subject but he had been given the opening he was searching for. “Is she the reason you left Abbey?”
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“She isn’t. But she’s helped me through the last few months.” In truth without Leo and CJ he didn’t think he would have been able to get through his break up with Abbey and survive the public lie he had been living.
“That’s what friends do.”
“I really don’t like what you’re implying. You’re doing CJ an injustice.”
“I saw you in my apartment. Her kissing your cheek, then the other day...” Leo trailed off not really wanting to put words to what he thought he saw.
“Leo! Do you have me under surveillance?” Jed yelled, sitting upright on the couch, his feet swinging around onto the floor.
“No, you’re just not being very discreet.” His voice matched Jed’s in volume. “Or fair.”
There was a faint knock at the door.
“Come,” Jed called, his eyes fixed on Leo.
CJ appeared around the door frame, her face full of concern. “I’m sorry, Sir. I heard raised voices and just wanted to make sure Toby wasn’t assisting with sending your blood pressure through the roof.”
“No, Leo is doing that all by himself.”
She gave Leo a warning glare. “Neither of you should be getting worked up, at least not unless there‘s a sexy young lady involved.”
Leo had the good graces to look contrite.
“I don’t want to know what it’s about.” Although secretly she was itching to hear exactly what it was that had them both red faced and unable to look her in the eyes.
“You really don’t. Would you like to join us for dinner?” Jed asked, his face a picture of innocence.
Leo inwardly sighed. The conversation was over for now and although with no real resolution, he was relieved, although it was going to be a long and awkward evening.
“As long as you both behave.”
As she turned to return to her office she missed the sheepish look that passed between the two men.
Once the office door was firmly closed behind her, Jed rose to his feet. “You know if the two of you genuinely want to give it a go, I would never stand in your way.” He’d be jealous and probably less than amenable but he would in time learn to live with it.
“And you know I wouldn’t pursue her if you feel that strongly.” For the first time he knew for sure that Jed had fallen in love with their best friend. It was written all over his face even if Jed wasn’t yet fully aware, and as his friend Leo wasn’t about to get hurt as the inevitable unfolded.
“Leo.”
“I’m not saying I approve, or disapprove. Just that if you and Abbey can’t work things out, if it really is over, there’s no reason you should be alone for the rest of your life. It’s no fun. And obviously there’s something there, or could be.”
“I’m still working on my marriage,” Jed said wearily, his voice making it clear that he didn’t want to discuss it further.
Leo knew better than to push it further, at least not for now. When Jed was ready to acknowledge his feelings, and the time was right, they would talk again, hopefully after Jed had told CJ. “So what’s for dinner?”
~~~~~~
"You offered her a bed in the Residence,” Abbey said, watching through the doorway as CJ replaced the phone back in it’s cradle.
“Yeah. It took a little convincing but she’ll stay.” Jed had tried giving her an executive order and she’d shaken her head and defied him. The sight of tears glistening in her eyes had broken his resolve and within seconds she was in his arms, and he was struggling with more than professional decorum. “But just for tonight.”
“I’ll go make sure the room’s ready.” Abbey disappeared into the corridor and he returned to staring at CJ.
Seeing CJ in pain, feeling her defences fall, had convinced him that he was falling in love or had somewhere during the last few months fallen in love. The timing as with everything was appalling and as usual the real world had to take precedence.
Jed waited for Margaret and Carol to finish fussing over CJ before he led her out to the portico and up to the Residence, his hand never moving from her back, the contact as much for his benefit as for hers.
“We’ve put you in the Lincoln bedroom.”
“Thank you,” CJ whispered, her eyes watering as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She failed miserably.
“Come here.” Gently he pulled her into his arms and held her firmly in the middle of the corridor, not caring who witnessed the scene, while she allowed the tears to flow.
“I’m sorry.” Since her brother had phoned, she seemed unable to keep it together for more than a few seconds at a time. Toby had dropped by, his hug as awkward as his timely exit. Then she had found herself blubbering to Leo about the unfairness of the situation until she realised how pathetic that was.
He waved her off. “Let’s just get you into bed.” Turning his back he waited while CJ slipped into his T-Shirt. As she climbed into bed he settled himself into the chair.
“What are you doing?” she asked, the comforter pooling around her waist.
“I’m staying here.”
“Until I fall asleep?”
“All night.”
“You really don’t need to do that,” CJ protested, half-heartedly. She really didn’t want him to leave. Moreover she wanted him to climb in beside her and hold her as he had done on Air Force One and for the brief interlude they shared in a hotel room.
Jed reached for her hand and held it firmly in his own. “Your father died, Claudia Jean. I’m not going to let you lay there all night crying on your own.”
“Thank you.”
Abbey knocked on the door and stepped into the room. “I’m heading to the clinic. Is there anything you need? If you want anything, call me.” She nodded in Jed’s direction, her eyes briefly catching their entwined hands. “I’ll be back for breakfast.”
CJ allowed his hand to slip from her grasp and curled up under the covers. “I’m sorry if this is causing you problems.”
“Abbey insisted you stay. You’re family.” He didn’t add that he wanted her there.
CJ rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “You should go to bed. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping anytime soon.”
“In that case come with me.” Jed held out his hand and waited for her to take it.
CJ gave him a puzzled look. “Where are we going?”
Jed gave her an inpatient look and motioned with his fingers for her to get up. Once she was steady on her feet he slipped his jacket over her shirt.
“Where are we going?”
“I want to show you something.” In the hallway he opened a small door that revealed a staircase. Still clutching her hand, he led her up the stairs and into the solarium. “You can see everything from up here.”
She had to admit that the view was something special. The monuments were all lit up and the moon was reflecting off the Basin. Without hesitation she leaned into him, sighing as he wrapped his arms around her. “Do you come here often?”
Jed smiled against her hair. “When I want to escape. The snipers ignore me and the agents stay out of sight.”
“But you’re never alone.”
“Sometimes I don’t want to be.” Like that moment in time, with her in his arms, he thought.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, his arms firmly holding her against him, his chin resting on her hair until he felt her shiver.
“We should get you into bed,” Jed whispered, torn between holding her and needing to take care of her.
“You seem to be constantly trying to get me into bed,” she teased, a lightness finally returning to her voice.
Jed opened his mouth to speak, a series of sounds coming out as he prepared to protest.
CJ rose to her feet, holding her hand out to him. With slight hesitation she asked, “Will you still stay?”
His eyes met hers and had it not been for the circumstances he would have kissed her there and then, his feelings mirroring those he could clearly read in her eyes.
Fully clothed, he slipped into bed beside her minutes later, his arms wrapping themselves around her, her body moulding to his, a much needed contact that both knew would still be there come morning.
~~~~~~
CJ stared at her cup of coffee rather than at her two breakfast companions. Waking up and finding Jed asleep beside haven’t felt in the least bit awkward. It was only as he opened his eyes and gave her a wide grin that reality began to set in. Not only had she spent the night in bed with another woman’s husband, but their bodies had somehow become entwined in the middle of the night, and they were in his home.
For the first time in many months Jed had woken up feeling refreshed and happy. Any guilt he knew he should have felt was surprisingly absent, instead he felt an overwhelming urge to wrap his arms more tightly around the woman beside him and stay where he was for the rest of the day.
The agent’s urgent knocking at the door had finally brought them both to their senses and Jed had extracted himself and padded to the door. Abbey’s imminent return had them both scrambling to get dressed and now they found themselves sitting around the breakfast table.
“You need to eat, CJ,” Abbey chided. “Even if it’s only some toast.”
“She’s right,” Jed said, pouring her a second cup of coffee. “You’ve got a long day ahead of you.”
“I guess I need to fly home and make arrangements,” she said, watching as Jed placed two slices of toast on her plate and added scrambled eggs.
Abbey sipped her coffee, her eyes never leaving her husband. “Your brothers will help with that?”
CJ nodded, her lips quirking up into a faint smile as Jed pushed the plate in front of her and took the seat beside her.
“Do you need Toby or Leo to come with you?” Jed asked, the museli his wife insisted he eat every day untouched. He had in the last few hours wondered how difficult it would be to organise a visit to Ohio but other than the Service going crazy he thought CJ wouldn’t be too impressed either. And the way things were progressing he didn’t want to ruin a good thing.
“I’ll be fine.” Once of course the guilt for not being there subsided, the long mourning period was over and she accepted the fact she was alone. Her eyes watered again and she ducked her head.
On impulse Jed’s hands covered hers and he allowed his fingers to stroke her skin lightly.
It didn’t escape Abbey’s notice that her husband was over attentive to her friend. Not that she herself didn’t feel the urge to comfort CJ.
Jed’s fingers made their way up her arm, and instinctively CJ leaned into him as tears streaked her pale skin.
Abbey cleared her throat, and lifted her cup to her lips.
As if caught out CJ pulled away from Jed and rose to her feet. “I should get going.” Her eyes fell on both of them. “Thank you for everything.”
“You should go after her,” Abbey offered dryly.
“It’s not what you think.”
“And now isn’t the time. But when it is at least be honest with me.” She turned her head to hide the emotions that were evident in her eyes. Her husband had fallen for someone else, her friend, and although she should be angry she couldn’t muster the energy. Of course in time it would come and there would be yet another scene, but deep down it was evident she would lose.
“If there is anything you need call me,” Jed said softly appearing beside CJ, his hand hovering inches from her arm. “Day or night.”
“I’ll be gone a few days. Carol and Margaret can get hold of me if you need me.”
An awkwardness filled the corridor as they waited for the lift to arrive.
“About last night. . . “
CJ sighed deeply. “I can’t do this now.”
“Ok. Can I call you tonight. . . To check you’re alright?” Jed asked hesitantly, hoping she wouldn’t say no. He didn’t think he could go a night without saying good night.
“Only if I don’t call you first.”
The door opened and she stepped in, refusing to turn until the door closed again, In the fear she would ask for something more than he could give her.
~~~~~
It wasn’t unusual for the phone to ring in the middle of the night, it was just this time CJ was enjoying her dream. She reached for the receiver and brought it to her ear without lifting her head. “Hello?”
“CJ, it’s me.”
She didn’t need clarification, instead struggling to sit up and pulling the sheets with her. “Is everything ok?”
He had to admit there was something sexy about a woman‘s voice when they were awoken, and CJ was no exception. His brain tore off on a tangent as he imagined what she was wearing. Finally he returned to why he was calling. “Zoey had a little boy.”
“Oh Jed.” It was a slip, one she struggled not to make every day but she knew how much the birth of his grandchild meant to him. “Tell me more.” Adjusting the covers she wriggled until she was comfortable.
“They’re both fine. Zoey is tired and the baby is a little jaundiced but they look wonderful,” he continued to talk. “He weighed in at a healthy seven two. Lots of hair after his father. Perfect.”
“So speaks the proud grandfather.”
“Wait till you see him.” Jed paused to glance over his shoulder and check if anyone was coming. “So should I let you get back to sleep?”
“Do you want to gush some more?” she teased, wishing she had some excuse to head down to the hospital.
“He really is perfect. Our kid did good.”
“I’m sure Josh is telling everyone he knows the same thing,” She laughed.
Jed played with the cord. “Go back to sleep and I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow. I’ll even bring pictures.” Of course they wouldn’t be alone for their daily breakfast meeting, Debbie and Margaret’s instigation after Leo’s heart attack, but at least he would get to see her.
“Good night, Mr. President.”
“Good night, Claudia Jean.”
CJ returned the phone to her bedside table and shuffled down below the covers, knowing that there was little chance of her going straight back to sleep.
On her first night in Ohio, while her brothers tried and failed to comfort her, the President had phoned her, and the sound of his voice had been the only thing to soothe her. She had stayed a week, his nightly calls becoming a habit neither seemed able or willing to break. Back in DC, calls had been replaced with night caps and long conversations.
“Was that him?” Hogan asked, padding into the bedroom and dropping onto the bed.
“Uh-huh.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
CJ pulled back the covers and motioned for her niece to climb in. “No.”
“Do you love him?”
“Which part of. . .” CJ started with a sigh.
“I just think you deserve to be happy. And if it can’t be with Toby. . .”
“Toby?”
“I like Toby. And a relationship should be full of spark and passion. And he would definitely give you that.” Hogan adjusted her position until she was staring at her Aunt in the darkness propped up on one elbow.
“There’s more to a relationship than passion. Honesty. Respect. An inexplicable connection even when you’re not together.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“It’s not that easy,” CJ sighed.
“Sometimes you have to make it simple. Tonight he’s not that far away, and he called you. That suggests he’s thinking about you.” If her father found out, Hogan knew, he would kill her for encouraging CJ to pursue an illicit relationship, but she had always put everyone else, her job and her family before her own happiness, now Hogan intended to make sure CJ got what she deserved.
“He wanted to share his news.”
“Ok, so why are you here when you could be with him? In two months time you’ll be a free woman, and it won’t matter how you met, or how long it’s taken to be together.”
“I can’t just turn up at the hospital.”
Hogan shook her head in disbelief. “Josh got shot, you all spent best part of two weeks by his bed side, Leo has a heart attack, and you practically lived in the chair by his bed, the President gets ill and you camp out in the West Wing. You seriously think anyone is going to pass comment on you visiting Zoey?”
CJ had to admit when Hogan rationalised it like that it seemed quite plausible for her to head straight over. “Will you be alright?”
“I’m not a kid anyone,” Hogan groaned.
~~~~~~
The corridors were empty at such an early hour except for the nurses and the Secret Service Agents that hovered outside Zoey’s room and the nursery. CJ stood at the nursery window watching the scene play out before her for a few minutes before opening the door.
“Good morning,” Jed grinned as she entered the room.
“Good morning, Sir,” she greeted, peering at the sleeping infant in his arms. “He’s adorable.” Baby Lyman had been blessed or cursed she wasn’t sure with Josh’s unruly curly dark hair and the Bartlet nose. She allowed herself a moment of wishful thinking, but no more than a moment. It was pointless to think about what she didn’t have when she had so much.
“Do you want to hold him?”
“You trust me?” Tentatively she lifted the baby and cradled him closely to her chest.
“Always.“ There was something extraordinary about watching the woman you love cradling your flesh and blood and Jed couldn’t stop looking at her.
“You’re staring at me.”
“When it did happen?” he asked cryptically. Although he didn’t really need to ask. He was old enough to realize you didn’t just fall in love overnight, it developed, and it didn’t matter anymore. She was the first person he thought of each morning, the last one at night and the person he had to share every high and low with. It was only the fact it was so new and forbidden that saddened him.
“Should I have come?” she replied, staring back at him, her evasiveness a time learnt tradition.
“Is this how it’s going to be? Questions without answers?” Jed asked, wondering how articulation had suddenly become so elusive. The time was finally right, or so it seemed, to tell her how he felt, and he couldn’t find the words, or maybe they both too scared of the answers.
“In the real world….”
Jed reached up and brushed his fingers against the boy’s face. “The real world can be a lonely place, Claudia Jean. A fluctuating, miserable and lonely place.”
“A place where other people can get hurt.” Gently she handed him the infant, her hand brushing his and an electricity she had only read about shooting between them.
“How much longer are you going to run away?” he asked as she headed towards the door, her cheeks flushed, her eyes avoiding his.
“Are you trying to catch me?” CJ hoped it sounded off hand and teasing because she felt anything but.
“I’m obviously not doing a very good job if you need to ask.”
CJ took a deep breath, her hand on the door handle. “When I’m ready to be caught, you’ll know.” She counted to ten and left without a backwards glance, the point of no return disappearing into the early morning light.
~~~~~~
Jed climbed the staircase and opened the door to the solarium. His step faltered when he realized he wasn’t alone. “CJ?”
“I hope you don’t mind. I needed somewhere quiet.”
“The view’s better outside,” Jed said, extending his hand and tugging her gently to her feet.
CJ shivered as they stepped out onto the rooftop, snow crunching beneath their feet.
“Sorry, I should have thought.” Jed wrapped an arm around her, holding her against his chest.
Her heart beat faster in her chest as he held her tight, his breath warm against her ear. It had become harder over the intervening months to ignore her feelings for him but they had not acted on it, to the point where except for moments like these she thought she was imagining it.
“Once upon a time, I thought I couldn’t leave here, not until I’d achieved everything. Then I realized that each administration is the catalyst for the next. Our legacy may have to wait while Vinick inhabits this building, but then as in every country the people will realize change for change‘s sake is futile, that the grass isn‘t always greener. The Democrats will come back stronger, more vitalized and everything we‘ve tried to do will be tried again but next time the world will be a step closer to being ready.”
CJ loved hearing him talk, even when he rambled on and lectured her about mundane things. Tonight she just wanted to hear his voice for one final time.
“The last eight years have also taught me what is really important in this world. Family. Friends. The things I’ll really miss are the people, the view, the experience of being here.”
“What’s next?” CJ asked quietly, not really sure about what lay ahead other than Spring Break with Hogan.
“I guess I open the library, attend a few ball games, give a few lectures.” It wasn’t what she meant and they both knew it. “And house hunting.”
“One house is not enough?” she asked, confused.
There was so much he hadn’t told her, he surmised, even though he had told her everything, but this was something he hadn’t really had chance to prepare himself for. Over the previous two days Abbey and he had finally talked, a conversation they had each put off for their own reasons. It had been Abbey who insisted they find separate homes, to compliment their separate lives and despite their financial security Jed had decided selling the farm was the easiest way.
“I have my heart set on somewhere with a large garden and character.”
“Jed?”
“I’d imagine we’ll both be at the farm for a few months, settling things up, then we’ll announce our separation. I don’t think Abbey will ever agree to a divorce. . .” he rambled on, not able to ask her the questions he needed answers to. “But she wants to be able to move on, continue her work.”
“Have you spoken to the Bishop?” The President was talking about ending his marriage and she knew a man with as much faith as he had couldn’t make such a decision lightly.
Jed swallowed and turned her to face him. “I thought I should talk to you first. I know I have no right to ask, no place to expect, but does this mean for us?”
“Things might improve…”
“Abbey and I have talked things through. She knows how I feel, she knows what lies ahead, that time and happiness are in short supply. Her anger is pretty fierce and she’s hurt. More of which I’m sure is going to be directed my way.” He paused, the need to explain how things stood superfluous by the look in her eyes. “Obviously what I can’t offer you is marriage, the children, the public romance.”
“And you think that’s what I want?”
He shrugged, his arms dropping until they were holding her firmly by the waist. “All I know is the world changes at midday tomorrow and I don’t want you to disappear from my life.”
“That was never going to happen.”
“But we’ve never discussed it.”
“And you pick eleven pm on January 19th when DC is like an ice sheet.”
“I’m not really a Hawaiian shorts on a beach kinda guy,” he grinned, resisting the urge to kiss her before they reached any conclusions. “And if I’d delayed it any further, I think Leo would have killed me.”
“Yeah, Leo likes to offer helpful advice. At least he thinks it’s helpful. What did he mean when he said he heard a lot from his hospital bed?”
“I honestly thought he was still out from the operation. I didn’t realize he was just dozing, or I never would have said anything,” Jed explained, pre-empting his admission. “But I was scared, I’d almost lost him, and I found myself holding his hand and admitting I loved him and that I didn’t know what I would do without him or you.”
“There’s nothing inherently suggestive in that,” she managed through chattering teeth. ”Unless you’re paraphrasing.”
Silently, Jed led her back into the solarium, where someone had left a pot of steaming hot coffee and two cups. Handing her a cup, he settled himself in a chair, her sudden distance unfamiliar.
“I know I didn’t use the words ‘I love her’ that night or if I did they weren’t in the context I use now when I say them in my head.”
CJ nibbled on her bottom lip. “When I said it couldn’t happen again. . .”
“You were thinking of the Presidency, of protecting yourself from getting hurt.”
“I still don’t want to get hurt,” she admitted candidly.
“And I will try never to hurt you. Even if I can’t be there you’re not alone. It’ll take time but I love you and I don’t ever want to not have you in my life.” He didn’t wait for her to response, instead rising to his feet and crossing to her. “Of course actions speak louder than words.” Jed pulled her to her feet and kissed her firmly on the mouth.
After a few brief seconds of incomprehension, she was kissing him back, her hands slipping under his tuxedo jacket as he plunged her mouth with his tongue. It had been too long for both of them, too many months of holding back, and now they struggled to remain in control, the recklessness of it all slipping into oblivion.
“We should get back downstairs,” Jed said reluctantly, his fingers still tangled in her hair moments later. “I have to make a speech.” As much as he wanted to make love to her, to take their relationship to another level, he knew it was the wrong place.
“And I promised Leo a final dance,” CJ whispered against his cheek, before gently easing herself from his touch.
“It feels like I‘m always leaving you. But it won’t always be like that. In April we’ll be together, two weeks somewhere quiet, just you, me and a dozen agents.” He liked the idea of them on vacation, relaxing and trying to forge a future.
“There’s just one thing,“ CJ said softly, not at all sure if she could last until April with mere phone calls.
“Only one?” he asked in teasing.
“The rest we can talk about later. But what makes you think you’re the one who’s not going to make it easy?”
Jed chuckled, he hand hovering inches from her arm. “You let me catch you. Not to mention I’m cocky, self assured and when I‘m determined. . .”
CJ kissed him softly on the mouth. “But easy wouldn’t be worthy of us.” She headed down the stairs, disappearing into the corridor before he had chance to move.
It wouldn’t be easy he knew, but the wait, and the result would make the journey worthwhile and come April he knew he’d never feel alone again.
The End