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.

"Are they going to bury her in Atlanta?" the First Lady asked Danny.

"Unlikely. She came from Scranton, and she'd lived in Washington since college."

"You know the president plans to go? And there'll probably be a large congressional contingent, too."

"I'd like to go, if it's all right."

"Of course. Talk to Donna Moss and piggyback our arrangements on theirs. You know how...."

"Been working in this building more than a decade, now. Getting with Donna."

"You and I and Beth and Zillie, then."

"You're taking both of them?"

"Danny, you are infinitely valuable to me, but you're not going to be in any shape to staff anyone that day, and no one expects you to be. You just stand there and hold C.J.'s hand, okay?"

"Come in, C.J.," said the president. "We may have a problem."

"With the Deburri prime minister?"

"With your wedding."

"Sir?"

"You want a Catholic wedding, right?"

"We're both Catholic. Why?"

"They don't like to do those outside of churches."

"Oh."

"Do you have a church, anywhere?"

"The only time I've been in a church since high school is when somebody dragged me, usually you."

"Mmm."

"Due respect, sir, but that has got to be one of the most judgemental noises...."

"Mmmm."

"Yeah, that one."

"What about Danny?"

"Danny doesn't make judgemental noises, unless they're work-related, and then it's usually at the top of his lungs."

"Church, C.J., does he...?"

"I don't know. I'll ask him."

"I'll lean on the bishop a little more."

"We're going to have to do pre-Cana and everything, aren't we?"

"Is that going to be a problem for you?"

"Finding the time will be."

"There actually are marriage preparation programs for busy people, a single day or a weekend."

"Mmm."

"Try to get a little more disapproval in there. Mmmmmm."

She tried, but trailed off into giggles.

"All right," he said, "now tell me about Deburras."

"Charlie?" Today the girl was wearing a fluffy sweater and a plaid skirt. He almost expected saddle oxfords.

"Danny not keeping you busy?" he asked.

"Now when anything happens they send me out of the room."

"I hope you weren't thinking of transferring over here."

She shook her head in a way that was almost a shudder.

"I'd don't think I'd be allowed," she said, her voice quavering.

"You've got that right."

"Oh, I... yeah."

"That's not what you meant, is it?" he prompted.

"I...."

"If you tell me about it, maybe I can help."

She shook her head again.

"I don't think so. But thanks."

"Mr. President."

"Boys, if you two spend any more time in the White House, the DNC is going to have to rent you an office. No, no, don't apologize. What is it?"

"The numbers on John Hoynes are through the floor."

"Is there some reason I should care about this?"

"Mr. President, what I've got here is a list of seats we're likely to lose in the midterms...."

"Yeah, yeah, I've seen it. I take it you haven't asked John for help?"

"Any more help from him and we're going to become one of the minor parties struggling to get on the ballot in every election."

"I think you and I had a conversation...."

"We can't just shut him out of the election!"

"Then do the next best thing: get on a podium somewhere and start saying elect your guy so he can help cleanse the party of snakes like Hoynes."

"Mr. President, I haven't noticed you telling anybody not to vote for him."

"You know what? You're right. CHARLIE! This'll just take a minute. Charlie, when I'm through here, ask Toby to bring in those remarks I asked him for. There's going to be a slight change of emphasis. Now, what else can I do for you boys?"

"You could suggest a viable candidate," said Allen.

"Define viable."

"Someone who can get the GOP shaking in their boots. Mr. President? Are you all right, sir?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I'll have my staff draw up a short list, and I'm sure you have one of your own. Get with Leo and set up something at the end of the week, and we'll compare notes. And guys? Be careful what you wish for."

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

"Do you know this woman, Mr. Hoynes?"

"Her name is Amy Gardner, detective. She is... she was Chief of Staff to the First Lady."

"I've got to ask you this, sir." The detective held out the picture. "I mean, she's obviously pregnant, and you...."

"And I am in the middle of the ultimate White House sex scandal? Yes, I am. The advantage of that is that I have no motive to deny any relationship with anyone, except that I didn't do it. I never slept with Amy Gardner. I don't know where she is, and I have no reason to believe she's met with foul play."

"You got an envelope with pictures of the woman tied naked in a bathtub with yesterday's newpaper leaning against her. You think she posed voluntarily?"

"What I meant is, I knew nothing about her until the picture came. Except professionally."

"Somebody thinks you did. Somebody's threatening...."

"I read it, detective. And my wife reads the papers. Nothing these people can tell her is going to surprise her."

"They're threatening to send her your baby in a box."

"One, not my baby. Two, I've spoken with my wife. Any unexpected packages will sit on the stoop and wait for your lab people."

"Yes, sir. Might want to check that there's not a live child in it, first."

"Of course."