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.

The President came on the line almost immediately.

"Glenn," he said, "what can I do for you?"

"You need me to come over there and kick ass and take names again?"

"We have the names, and we are preparing to kick the ass."

"Well, you better hurry, 'cause I've got a nest of RNC rattlesnakes in my front room fixing to try to turn me on you, on all of you."

He heard a quiet chuckle from the other end of the line.

"I didn't know the GOP was run by reptiles, Glenn."

"You don't know what you're missing. These are the guys who thought you invoking the twenty-fifth was a good idea so I could make a fool of myself and get out of the way where they could run this time."

"I think I spoke with their Democratic clones yesterday."

"Didn't none of this happen on my watch, did it? 'Cause if it did...."

"From the White House's perspective, it was mostly over by the time you got here. As a matter of fact... no, never mind."

"You needed me because it was over, because he was gone."

"Would it do me any good to deny that?"

"You think it would be a good thing if you did?"

"I think it would be a good thing if he were shot at dawn."

"Noon. Sun's done up. We don't him around another whole day."

"I do like your attitude."

"You sure I can't come clobber somebody?"

"Believe me, there's a long list of prospective clobberers already."

"Yeah, but Republicans clobber better."

"Your attitude certainly makes things simpler."

"You just won't let a boy have no fun at all, will you?"

"Go wrangle your rattlesnakes. And Glenn? Thanks for calling."

Josh and Toby were standing in the bullpen waiting for her.

"Thank God," said Toby.

"You've got to get in there and brief, right now," said Josh.

"I need to see the president first."

"Have you seen the papers?"

"I read it online on the way in."

"Guys," said Danny, "she needs to see the president, now, about something else. Seriously."

"You're Charlie Young, aren't you?"

"No, I'm that other black kid that works in the president's office. Can I help you with something?"

"Do you know him pretty well?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I was just... well, some of the other temps were wondering what the fuss was about. I mean, he knew, right? He knew what Hoynes was doing?"

"How long have you been working in this building?"

"Three days."

"Well, congratulations, 'cause I think that's the shortest term of service I've ever heard of. Could you excuse me, now? I've got work to do."

"You don't have to put up with that," Toby said. "You can get a restraining order."

"Slow down," said Leo. "A restraining order based on what?"

"We've got the paperwork from ten years ago, and if we subpoena the phone records, his call from last night. This makes it a whole new ball game."

Leo frowned.

"I'm not up on California law...," he said.

"The last part didn't happen in California," said the president.

"It's part of the same crime, sir," said Toby. "He's stalking her."

"She went to see him," said Josh. "That's going to make it hard to believe he's terrorizing her."

"Besides which this makes me look like the queen of helpless victims!" C.J. said.

"Yeah," said the president. "I heard how steadfast and effective you looked when the Secret Service got there this morning. Honestly, C.J., why didn't you just call in? We'd have taken care of it."

"We are going to take care of it," said Leo, "but maybe there's a better way than going to court."

"It looks to me," said the President, tossing his copy of the Constitution on the desk, "as if Katie Witt pretty well took care of it with no help from us."

"Will called," said Toby. "He says she's Russell's choice for Press Secretary, once he declares."

"Well, she's made a smashing start! '...unable to keep a secret that could again expose members of White Houses staff....'"

"They ran a lot of pictures," said C.J., "including the one of me dancing with him. She can put him with almost all the victims."

"How did she know who was a victim? Are we sharing confidential information with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution?"

"How could he be this stupid?" asked Toby. "How could he be this stupid, and still get as far as he has?"

"It's not stupidity," C.J. told him. "It's raw nerve. He... he called me... he talked like...."

"All right," said Josh. "I know a judge. I mean, I know a lot of judges, but this one owes me a favor. He'll take care of this quietly."

"Keep him in mind," the president said, "but now, I think it's time for me to talk to John Hoynes. C.J., you can mention that at the briefing. With a little luck, the press corps will mob him when he arrives and trample the son of a bitch."

"Hey, Danny."

"Claude. Does this mean you've forgiven me for quitting without notice?"

"Are you kidding? The kid in your chair was writing obituaries yesterday, and not all that well, but let me tell you what: I'll think about forgiveness if you'll confirm or deny something for me."

"A substance abuse clinic in Copenhagen, the shipyard in Gdansk, St. Petersburg... C.J.'s going to have all this at the briefing."

"C.J.'s going to brief? That's definite?" Danny could almost hear the editor's pencil scratching across the yellow pad he kept on his desk.

"That's what she told me."

"Great! Thanks, but that's not what I need. We heard an East Wing temp was fired for suggesting that the president knew John Hoynes was a sexual predator."

"Not that I know of."

"Nobody who works for you is getting fired today?"

"The day just started, Claude. I may fire the whole crowd before lunch."

"Damn, you must be hell to work for."

"I had a good teacher, didn't I? Let me see if anything's going on, and I'll call you back."