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.

"How're you doing?"

C.J. banged her knee on the underside of her desk jumping up when she saw who was standing at her door.

"Ma'am."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Abbey, sorry."

"I heard you were upstairs this morning. Were you looking for me?"

"Not really. I mean... is there something I can do for you?"

"You dodged the briefings. Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

"Could you explain to Josh that brouillage is not a cruel and unusual thing to do to unborn poultry?"

Abbey frowned, working to make the translation more than it was.

"Somebody's writing about scrambled eggs?"

"They asked him if the administration had a position on procedures involving brouillage practiced on...."

"What did he say?"

"That it was a concern of the professionals involved and those seeking their services, and...."

"Well, isn't that right? It's between the cook and whoever's going to eat the eggs, right? Who asked him about... I mean, aren't there serious issues these people could be addressing?"

"What does Josh know about serious issues?"

"Josh is brilliant. Don't ever let him know I said that, but he is."

"He's brilliant one-on-one, or in small groups. He's not a podium person. And since Josh is brilliant, why is screwing him on your Chief of Staff's job description?"

"It keeps them both in their places. Men are supposed to indulge in a little healthy competition from time to time. It reminds them that we're in charge."

"So why was screwing Josh on Amy's agenda?"

"It wasn't. She just enjoyed doing it."

"Have you heard from her?"

"They found her shoe in the basement."

"Seriously? I thought...."

"I'm joking, C.J.! Don't make a big deal of it. Her apartment's empty. She's just moved on. Did you know she was pregnant?"

"Was it Josh?"

"I wasn't actually in the room at the time."

"People are looking for her, though, right?"

"She's a big girl, and if she wants to leave her resignation on my desk and disappear, that's her privilige."

"Why does nobody know this?"

"Because she has a right to her privacy."

"It's nice that someone does."

"When you work in the White House, you have to deal with public scrutiny. Amy chose not to. I...."

"What?"

"I heard you had that choice, too."

"Do you know how deep the snow gets in North Dakota?"

"Do you know how romantic it is, waiting to be dug out?"

"...until you go into labor in the middle of a blizzard!"

"Been there, done that. Really, with Ellie. I was not leaving the house until my husband was there to be with me, and he was in Boston waiting for the airport to reopen. By the time I gave up, the snow was halfway up the radiator grill, and, well, you know how far out we are."

"So what happened?"

"I had a baby."

"You were by yourself?"

"Oh, no, Leo was there. Don't tease him about it, C.J., all right? Jenny fainted ten minutes in, and I don't think I've ever seen a man more frightened of anything."

"Leo delivered Ellie?"

"Don't you laugh!" she said, although she was laughing herself. "People manage. Amy will manage."

"I'm sure she will, but don't you think it's strange that a pregnant staffer disappeared just before the former vice president published a tell-all book that may deal with his own sexual misconduct?"

"She left before we knew."

"That doesn't mean Amy didn't know. Wouldn't you feel better if one of us spoke to her? I mean, we should at least ask her if Hoynes hit on her."

"Of course. I'd like to send the baby a gift, anyway."

"Good."

"You did that quite well, you know."

"What?"

"Changed the subject. Are you going to be okay?"

"I'm fine."

"The agenda for my Baltic tour comes out tomorrow, and it's complicated enough that it's going to have to be explained to the press."

"I'll take care of it."

"That's good, because Danny absolutely refuses to get on that platform with Toby, much less Josh. I'll help you any way you need me to, C.J., but at some point we've got to have our podium person back."

"That's me, isn't it?"

"I certainly hope so."