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.

"I got into this to save you," said Bernard.

"You got into this because it's what you do."

"I'm retired."

"I didn't think they let people like you retire."

"You believe that somewhere a detachment of octogenarian SEALs stands ready for deployment at a moment's notice?"

"I didn't think you lived that long."

"If we stop to think about it, we don't."

"Why did you? There was never any hint that you'd do anything but gap plugs at your father's garage. Why did you join the Navy? Why did you ask for that particular duty?"

"You had no use for a greasemonkey."

"What did that have to do with anything?"

"I loved you. I still do. That," he said, touching the tip of her nose with the end of his finger, "is what it's all about. And I didn't agree to this to make you a murderer."

"I already am."

"No, I am, and I was long before that poor reporter stuck her nose where it didn't belong."

"You sympathize with her?"

"With all of them, every one. That doesn't mean they didn't have to die, and it doesn't mean I wouldn't wipe out every vestige of human life on this continent for you, but you must not get your hands dirty. You're a victim, not a killer. Do you understand?"

"Why, Bernard, I believe you're a romantic!"

"Looking for shower venues?" said Josh, looking over Donna's shoulder. "That's a nice place."

"It's too expensive."

"I thought you had a guardian angel."

"Shut up, Josh."

"Are you ashamed of it?"

"That I'm letting a man to whom I have no connection at all put me through one of the most expensive colleges in the country? I look like a bimbo."

"Yeah, but you're really going to school. Real bimbos just pretend. Ask Leo about the shower. He'll spring for it."

"I know, but I don't want him to. He's doing way too much already, and there's no way I can ever pay him back, and...."

"And he's having fun. I mean, it's great that the rest of his family are teachers, and he's proud of them, but most people don't get why."

"So he's adopting me so he can brag about his surrogate daughter who is an assistant to his assistant?"

"You're going to be a lot more than that one day, and Danny...."

Donna arched an eyebrow when he came to an abrupt stop.

"What?" she prompted.

"What do you mean, what?"

"What about Danny? He basically gave up his job to marry C.J., and that... it reminds me of Janet Ritchie and the rolling pin brigade. Is that supposed to make his foster family proud? We're a couple in a painting: 'Gigolo and Bimbo in the White House.' Probably 'With fruit.'"

"Danny's going to redefine... a lot of things."

"Yeah, he brings a whole new element to bimbohood: a beard."

"Tell me that in a year."

"In a year... Josh, in a year I won't be here. I'll have graduated, and, well, I'll be looking for another job."

"That sucks."

"That I'm moving on?"

"That you're moving away. Donna, you know...."

"Is there any news about Amy?"

"Donna, when you do leave this job, would you consider...?"

"Answer the question."

"Nothing new, and quit wiggling, 'cause this is hard enough."

"What?"

"I mean, it's not like I get to work up to it. I can't wine and dine you, because you're my assistant, and when you're not my assistant any more, you'll just be gone and I won't be able to."

"Wine and dine me?"

"Marry you. Donna, will you...?"

"Oh, my God."

"Donna?"

"You are utterly out of your mind!" She spun away from him and stalked out of his office, slamming his door.

"Well," he said to himself, "that went spectacularly badly."