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.

"That," said the president, "was one of the stupidest...!"

"It was insulin, Jed. It would have killed her."

"So you stick your hand in there where he can inject it into you?"

"I already got this lecture from the Secret Service!"

"You aren't married to the Secret Service!"

"You could have fooled me! At least they asked if I was all right!"

"Abbey! I don't know what I'd do if...."

He reached for her, and her heart melted, and she didn't step away.

He missed anyway. His hand clasped air inches from her shoulder, then swung until it lay against her arm.

"Abbey?"

"It's all right," she said. He was alarmed enough. She's schedule a physical, but for now what he needed was reassurance. She slid her arms around his waist and held him close. "It's okay. I'm okay, and Amy's okay, and you're okay. Everybody's okay, right?"

"You are magnificent," said Toby when he found her among the crowd in the East Room.

"I'm not supposed to be," said Ellie, tightening her arms around the waist of the iridescent green gown.

"Yes, you are," he said, pulling her hands away from her body. "You are supposed to be the linchpin of the universe. You are supposed to be spectacular."

"You're a crazy man, Toby Ziegler," she said as he twirled her until the skirt flared.

"What can I say? I'm a fool for love."

The president appeared at Leo's shoulder, and they stood against a wall for a moment, watching the dancers spin beneath the Christmas decorations.

"Quentin Cregg is dancing with my wife," the president whispered. "Do I have anything to worry about?"

"Getting rid of his body after Abbey takes care of business?"

"I think that's a Secret Service function."

"You okay?"

"Me? Fine, just tired. You look a little under the weather, though."

"I was here last Christmas, too."

"So was I."

"No, I was standing right here, at last year's Christmas party. I was talking to Katie Witt."

"Leo...."

"C.J. was crying about her today, her brother said."

"Leo...."

"We haven't made any progress at all in finding out...."

"We know who killed her, Leo. Hoynes may not have pulled the trigger, but he caused her death and he's going to pay."

"Like he paid for what he did to C.J.?"

"Or what he did to you?"

"Let's not talk about that here."

"Has a public function in the East Room suddenly become a less appropriate place to talk about private matters?"

"Mr. President...."

"I can't bring her back, Leo. I would if I could, even if she was a pain in the ass at times. Go sit someplace quiet and say a prayer for her, and then get up and enjoy the party. It's what she would have done."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President."

"See you later... oogh!"

"Are you all right, sir?"

"Tired. I'm going to go sit with C.J. for a few minutes and talk about the dental insurance thing, and then we're going to tackle the sponsors. You perk up, though, okay?"

"Yes, sir. Are you sure...?"

"Leo? Go away now."

"Yes, sir."