Fandom:

The West Wing AU

Pairing:

C.J./Danny

Rating:

PG-13 for topic

Distribution:

How much do I owe you for hauling it off?

Spoilers:

Up to and including Full Disclosure, from which the series follows on

Email:

exfilia at livejournal dot com

Disclaimer:

if I owned them, they'd have a lot more fun

Warning:

mentions nonconsensual sex

Note:

Hoynes lovers should probably be hitting delete right about now.

"Did you decide yet about the priest?"

"The more I think about it, sir, the more I think a quick trip to Vegas is in order."

The president dropped his paper in his lap and removed his glasses.

"C.J.?"

"It looks like we're exploiting my private life for political gain."

"Get used to it."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You work in the White House, C.J., and that means your private life is pretty public."

"But only until the end of your term, right?"

"Have you thought about what you're going to do when it's over?"

"I'd like to go back to Hollywood. I never knew how good I had it."

"Taking Danny with you?"

"Right. It might have to be New York."

"Are you sure that's what you want? 'Cause the next guy's going to need...."

"The next guy is going to be either a radical Republican or John Hoynes. Whomever he needs, it won't be me."

"That's a pretty bleak outlook."

"Depressing, yes, sir."

"What do you think we should do about that?"

"Mr. President, unless you know of something positive that we can do, I think we should just talk about something else. So, if we were to do the wedding at the White House, Josh says we can ask any judge or justice of a Court of Record. He suggests that Mr. Justice Mendoza owes us a favor."

"You should do the wedding here, and you should make it a public spectacle, including a Supreme Court Justice, if that's what you want. What happened to you and Katie and all the others has been in the public eye for way too long. We need something like this, something full of joy and beauty, to bring us some closure. If you don't want to do it, it's okay, but we're going to have to find someone to do something to let the country heal. And I wish you'd let me do this for you, this one wonderful thing to make up for everything that's ahead of you."

"Ahead of me?"

"C.J., I'm tired enough without...."

"Yeah. Okay, we'll have the wedding here. Do you want me to let you lie down for a while?"

"Doesn't help. I just stay tired, now. This job can be a terrible thing."

"Yes, sir. Is there anything I can do?"

"Get married here. If I have to deal with all the bad, the least you can do is let me have the fun, too. You get married in the White House, okay?"

"Okay."

Danny fluffed the yellow bow on the stuffed duck.

"What's wrong?" asked the First Lady.

"Can I ask you something about what we were talking about the other day? You and me and Leo, when we were talking about him encouraging the president to run, and one of you said I'd never have that problem...."

"Do you think you will?"

"President Walken asked C.J. about it, on Air Force One on the way to the funeral. He asked her if she was running."

"Shit."

"Ma'am?"

"What did she say?"

"I... I wasn't there, but she said they laughed... Abbey?"

"How would you feel about it if C.J. did want to do this?"

He found himself clutching the toy to his chest with both arms with no memory of picking it up.

"I'd feel like dragging her under a rock with me and hiding us both until the madness passed."

"I tried that. Didn't work."

"So this is for real?"

"I don't know, Danny, but I'm betting Glenn Walken didn't come up with that question out of the blue. Let me talk to Leo, okay? And you get with Josh about the Deburran clinics."

"On it."

"And Danny? Leave the duck."

"We have another martyr. Rei Sugiyama hanged herself."

"Did I know a Rei Sugiyama?"

"White House correspondent for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The other press room victim."

"I can't place the face."

"How many names could you put faces to?"

"Reporters, or victims?"

"Good point. I think I can visualize every woman he ever touched."

"This is what you do all day? And why just the women?"

"Don't talk to me about mental health. I've seen the picture on your dartboard."

"You have your motivation, and I have mine. I want his scruffy ass roasting on a spit."

"Do you? Well, maybe that could be arranged."