Title: "After All is Said and Done"

Author: CretKid aka Cal

Category: CJ/Danny

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Manchester I, II - What of CJ really left the administration after Manchester II?

Disclaimer: Not mine. Like this? Want to read more? The entire series can be found at www.oocities.org/rdcottrell/fiction.html. This is the After Series.

After Series

After Today

After Much Reflection

After All is Said and Done

"After All is Said and Done"

====================

One of the Secret Service agents had a message for her when she finally left the President. CJ clutched the simple piece of paper in her hand as she passed through the Residence entrance, uncharacteristically anxious as she scanned the grounds.

"Hey," she heard a voice from behind call. "You got my note."

She turned and watched as Josh bound down the stairs. He caught up with her easily and took her elbow as they walked slowly to the parking lot on West Executive Avenue.

"How are you doing today?" Josh asked, digging his sunglasses out of his suit coat pocket.

"Why don’t you ask me what's really on your mind, Joshua."

"Okay. Am I going to have to teach someone else the intricacies of hallway bowling? Though I really don’t think I can convince anyone else to let me roll bocce balls towards your office from my door."

CJ smiled and Josh thought it was one of the most beautiful things he had seen in a long time.

"No," she replied, elbowing him in the ribs. "You're stuck with me. You, by the way, still owe me a garbage can."

"Good." Josh shoved his hands in his pockets, nudged her with his shoulder. "I knew you wouldn’t leave me."

She stopped, turned towards him and jabbed him in the chest with her index finger. "You will take no credit for this, bucko," CJ growled. "And why are you walking me out? Don’t you have work to do?"

"I can’t walk you to the ride I so lovingly provided for you?"

"Your note said you called Danny and asked him to come pick me up. Where is the providing?"

Josh threw his arms out comically. "I do you a favor and I get my head bitten off?"

"While I appreciate your foresight, I could have very easily called him myself," CJ replied.

"I know. I just wanted a chance to talk to you before you left," he said softly, taking her aside as more people joined the lunch time crowd on the sidewalks. He kept his hand near her elbow while he talked. "Is everything okay? We're fine, right?"

Touched by his concern, CJ patted his shoulder and pulled him into a sidewise hug. "Yeah. We're fine. I'm going to take a couple of days, relax, maybe go out to California and visit my folks. Their fiftieth wedding anniversary is coming up; I was only supposed to go out for the weekend. Maybe now I will go out for a week."

"Gonna bring Danny with you?" Josh asked with a smirk.

CJ playfully shoved him away. "That is none of your business."

Josh quickly regained his footing and started walking backwards towards the White House. "Seriously, don’t run away from this."

He was out of earshot before she could ask to which 'this' he was referring.

Danny was sitting on the hood of the rental car as she approached the media parking lot. He slipped off it and brushed road dust and pollen from the seat of his pants when he noticed her. No suspenders, no tie. She could get used to the casually dressed Danny.

They didn’t say a word to each other until they were practically standing on each other's toes.

"They still let you park here?" CJ asked. "Don’t they revoke your pass when you've been AWOL for the last several months?"

"Gate guard loves me. I'm a loveable kind of guy, if you haven't noticed by now. I point that out because if you don't snap me up, she's gonna make a play for me."

CJ smiled, "Ethyl's 70 years old and been married to the same man for all of her adult life. I'm not too worried, especially since you don't ride a motorcycle. Ethyl's crazy about Harleys."

"I think you underestimate my universal appeal," he joked. "Okay, enough about Ethyl and me. How did your meeting go?"

She took his hand briefly and squeezed it. "It went well."

"Did you give the President a piece of your mind?" Danny joked mischievously.

"Several pieces in fact," she proudly stated.

"Wow, and you've lived to tell the tale," Danny exclaimed.

Leaning down, CJ rubbed the side of her knee, adjusting the bandage under her slacks. "I even got a rain check to do a little butt kicking."

"That I'd pay good money to see! Putting his hands around her waist, Danny pulled her up against him, "So, after all is said and done, what's the verdict?"

"Well, the President doesn't have to start looking for a new Press Secretary," CJ sighed. "It may be a mistake, but I'm going to stick with them for a run at another term."

"Good, because I'd hate to have to train another Press Secretary, if and when, I ever start reporting on the White House again."

At her look of mock outrage, Danny continued, " I've just now got you where you know not to use the word subpoena first."

"Maybe I should let Ethyl have you," CJ quipped, leaning forward and giving him a quick kiss.

Shifting out of his arms she leaned against the hood of the car, not especially caring if she dirtied her clothes. "We had a long talk. Some things are going to change."

"Good," Danny responded. "But, you know that talking about change and making it happen are two different things? You'll have to stay on Leo and Toby, or they'll treat you the same way they always have."

Grimly, CJ nodded her head. "Toby I can handle. Leo, I'm not so sure about."

Deciding it was time to change the subject, Danny said, "Hey, Josh called me to pick you up."

CJ held out the note still in her hand. "I gathered."

"He ordered me to take you away from this place."

Cocking an eyebrow, CJ replied, "Really?"

"Since a beach vacation is out of the question for today," he explained, pulling her off the hood of the car and leading her to the passenger door, "we are going to a place near where I have to drop this rental off."

Shutting her door, he enthused, "This place serves the best margaritas in D.C." At her skeptical look, he leaned in the window, and whispered, "If you don't agree that these are the best margaritas you've ever had,

I'll let you have your way with me tonight."

Smiling broadly now, CJ asked, "And what if I agree with you? What happens then?"

Danny smiled radiantly, closed the car door and jogged to the driver's side. Getting in the car, he buckled up and then turned to her. Grinning, he declared, "Well, after all is said and done you still get the pleasure of my company and a great margarita."

End