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.

Russell held out a towel and a can of Sprite.

"You feel better?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," said Sam. "I guess I just caught whatever was going around."

"That's one way to put it."

"Sir?"

"Look, they didn't give me the names, Sam; they just said three on senior staff and a lot of others. It didn't occurred to me that when Hoynes was with you there was only one woman. I was just going to ask you to work with my people on the ad."

"Oh."

"Do you know who the third victim is?"

"No."

"I'm only asking because I don't want to go through this again."

"Can't you just drop it?"

"I'm in a presidential race, here, and my most threatening challenger is a pervert. How can I not use that?"

"Katie Witt."

"Who?"

"White House correspondent for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. The administration interviewed the press corps about sexual harrassment along with everyone else who works at the White House. You should talk to Katie Witt."

"Is she a yes or a no?"

"I couldn't violate the privacy of the victims, sir. I'm sure you understand."

"Mr. President."

"Tom, Allen, how are you?"

Tom ducked his bald head.

"I've got to tell you, sir, we've been better."

"Midterms look that bad?"

"After last time, sir, we've learned never to write off anything, but...."

"But?"

"This thing with the girls," said Allen, "does it really have to come out now?"

"Do you plan on allowing John Hoynes to run for any office ever again?"

"We can't stop the man from running!"

"I think you can. The party arranges qualification for candidates in the state races, particularly the early ones. All you have to do is not collect signatures or whatever, and he's stopped."

The two men exchanged glances.

"It's not that easy," said Tom, "and you know it."

"The party traditionally allows marginal candidates...," said Allen.

"This is not a marginal candidate. This guy almost beat me!"

"Yes, sir, and this time he might win. Really, he might, and he's about the only one we have who can."

"Bob Russell seems to think he has a chance."

"Bingo Bob?"

"There are constituencies where that reputation might work in his favor."

"He can't win," said Tom. "Environmentalists hate him, labor hates him, he comes from goddamned Colorado and nobody on the planet knows his face or his name!"

"It's Hoynes," said Allen, "or it's a Republican. Now what we need from you is to quiet this thing down. Pay these bimbos off or do whatever you need to do, but make it go away."

"Excuse me," said the president. He opened the connecting door to the Chief of Staff's office. "Could you guys come in here for a minute?" His senior staff filed into the room and arrayed themselves in front of the desk. He closed the door, joined his people, took C.J.'s hand in his and turned back to the party elite. "Now," he asked, "could you please say that one more time for me?"

"I think we understand each other, Mr. President."

"Yeah, I think we do."