Title: Swimming with Sharks

Pairing: CJ/Danny

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Up to and including Season Three

Thanks to Rhonda for the ending

******

CJ juggled her Starbucks cup and briefcase as she entered her outer office. “Morning Carol. Give me a couple of minutes and then we’ll do messages.”

Carol rose to her feet and followed.

“Carol, what’s this?” CJ cried, dropping her case onto the sofa and staring at the object that was now taking over her desk.

“A fish tank,” Carol offered dryly, folding her arms across her chest.

“I can see that. What’s it doing on my desk?”

Stifling a small grin, Carol shrugged, “It was there when I arrived.”

CJ lowered her head and gazed into the tank.

The goldfish swam towards the glass ignoring the tiny Empire State Building.

“Good morning Gail.”

“Um, CJ,” Carol mumbled. “Gail’s over there.” She pointed out the small round bowl on the bookcase, complete with its own American flag.

CJ turned around to find her own goldfish swimming happily in its bowl. “Okay, so what the hell?” She looked between the two fish and shook her head.

Carol moved closer to the desk and picked up the green note stuck to the tank. “Maybe this will explain things.”

CJ snatched it out of her hands. She ran her fingers threw her hair as she read. “Every girl should have a friend. This is Patrick.”

“Patrick’s an Irish name.”

“Yeah. I worked that out for myself.” She smiled and sat behind her desk. She was going to have to track down her own little Irish friend later.

*~*~*~*~*

“Nimrod!”

Danny continued to type frantically on his laptop, ignoring the sound of CJ’s voice completely.

She stepped closer and stood over him. “Fishboy.”

He grinned and glanced up. “I have work to finish.”

CJ gestured with her hands for him to hurry up. Her fingers tapped on the desk as she waited.

Finally he pressed save and turned to face her. “Okay.”

“Patrick wanted to know when you’re going to come visit,” she said simply.

“Was it love at first sight?”

CJ gave him her “Are you an idiot?” look.

“I thought it was time we extended our little family,” Danny explained.

“And what about fish maintenance?”

“You earn more than I do.”

“I feed Gail, I clean her, I spend quality time with her, what do you do?” CJ grumbled, fully aware of the condescending look he was giving her.

Danny smirked and waved his hand through the air. “Keep her in fish food, and flirt with you.”

CJ sighed and crossed her arms protectively over her chest. “That was the past.”

“It doesn’t have to be. I still have visitation rights.”

He could walk into her office anytime he wanted, in fact her staff pretty much gave him free reign to go wherever he wanted. It had all stopped with the stalker and Simon but now. . .

“Come by at three,” she said. “The tank needs moving.” CJ slapped him upside the head for good measure and walked back to her office, grinning.

*~*~*~*~*

Danny straightened his tie and sidled up to Carol’s desk. “Hey Carol.”

“Go on in, she’s expecting you,” carol said, gesturing with her hand.

“Can I expect a cold front or a warm front?” he asked, peeking around the door frame.

“I only work for her, how the hell should I know,” Carol grumbled, returning to her spell checker.

Danny rapped gently on the door and waited.

CJ’s head appeared over the top of the tank. “Danny!”

“How are the kids?”

“Danny junior is none too keen on the sun,” she said, indicating the closed blinds.

“So you want the tank moved?” He padded closer and lowered his head to watch the fish swim around it’s almost empty tank.

“Yeah, it needed someone with a well toned physique,” she smirked, “but I could only find you.”

“Less of the aspersions on my attributes. I’ll have you know my Jaws speedo sits very well indeed.”

She rose an eyebrow and smirked. “Your voice got a little high, there.”

“Don’t dish the Danman.”

She couldn’t hold back any longer and tears streamed down her face in laughter.

Josh stuck his head out of his office door and shared a sigh of relief with his assistant. CJ was back to being, well, CJ.

“What?” Danny pleaded

“Danman,” CJ choked through the tears.

“I’m not the one with Flamingo as my service name,” he grumbled. “So, you want this tank moved or what?”

She wiped her eyes and motioned to the bookcase and Gail. “I thought we could put it up there.”

Danny moved to pick up the round bowl and scanned the room for somewhere safe to set her down. He finally settled on the coffee table, carefully positioning her on a stack of files. No sooner had he released the bowl then the files gave way and Gail tumbled onto the floor.

“DANNY!” CJ screeched, running around her desk and dropping to her knees.

Carol appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide, her face etched with concern.

CJ lifted the limp fish off the ground and lowered it into the tank. After a few seconds of floating, it moved its flipper and started to swim.

Carol was staring down at the puddle of water on the floor and the wet stain on Danny’s trousers. Her eyes lifted up to meet CJ’s.

“Danny had an accident,” CJ said simply, turning back to the two fish swimming in circles.

“Oh,” she said smugly. “That’s his problem?”

She turned and disappeared back to her office.

“What did she mean by that?” he asked, moving behind CJ and running his fingers through his hair. “My problem?”

“Couldn’t possibly comment.” She grinned as she sprinkled a few flakes into the tank.

“Okay, I’ll move our fish then.”

“You leave MY fish alone.” She held him back with both hands.

“What happened to visitation rights?” he groaned.

“Forget it. You almost killed Gail.”

“You shouldn’t have left your files hanging over the edge,” he retorted.

“So now you’re blaming me.”

“CJ!”

Their voices carried out the open door to Carol’s desk area.

“What’s going on in there?” Leo asked as he walked past.

“Someone forgot to tell Danny that dating CJ was like swimming with sharks; one false move and you‘re a ‘happy meal,’” Carol grinned, rising to her feet. “Speaking of food, wanna get a hamburger with me in the Mess?”

“Uh. . .” Leo took another look in the office and grinned at the scene. CJ was gesturing wildly with her hands, her voice getting higher with each word while a dripping Danny stood in front of her grinning inanely.

Leo wondered briefly whether he should save the poor man. Nah, if Danny was going to insist on jumping in the deep end, he could deal with consequences.