Ben groaned softly when his cellphone vibrated. He touched CJ's arm and leaned in close to whispered: "I've gotta take this call."
She turned and smiled, before whispering back: "Don't fall into the Potomac."
He chuckled and squeezed her arm before getting up out of his seat and slipping out of the dark theatre. Once outside of the Kennedy Centre and walking towards the fountains, he answered his phone. "Yeah?"
A distinctly female voice said: "Am I interrupting?"
"No, ma'am, I---"
"Cut the ma'am crap," she interjected. Ben cringed and waited for her next words. "Do you think you'll start tonight?"
"She said she wants to go slowly."
"It's been 3 weeks! Convince her!"
"I'm supposed to be getting over a divorce, remember?"
"That was a lousy cover. Remind me to tan someone's hide over that."
Ben nodded. "Yes. Okay, but that's not the conversation we're having right now."
"Right. Oh shoot. I've got to go. I'll contact you tomorrow."
The line went dead. Ben rubbed his hand over his face and turned back to head into the building.
~*~
CJ woke up and tried to find the source of the annoying sound that had disturbed her sleep. When she realised it was her doorbell, she groaned and stumbled out of bed to find her robe.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," she called out groggily. She opened the door and saw a delivery boy holding a long box. "Yeah?"
"Delivery, ma'am," he said, without flinching.
"Don't call me ma'am!" She snapped.
He flinched that time, and shuffled the box to pass her a clipboard. "Uh... sign please?"
CJ sighed and scribbled her signature down. She took the box and said a brief thank you before slamming the door shut. She brought the box in and found herself smiling as she realised that the box contained flowers and they were most likely from Ben.
She flopped down on the sofa and untied the ribbon. After pulling the lid up, she saw two dozen champagne roses and an envelope. She fingered the blooms before picking the envelope up and opening it. The letter wasn't written in Ben's handwriting so she knew it wasn't a bouquet to commemorate a nice evening together; however, she didn't know who else would be sending her flowers.
"Dear CJ, I know this is an untimely gesture, but I felt bad about the way things were left between us. I'm sorry I hurt you, now and ten years ago. If you'd let me... I'd like to speak with you in a less hostile environment, about my mistakes; perhaps someday you'll even forgive me enough to consider me a friend. Please call me. Sincerely, John Hoynes."
CJ stopped reading and stared at the paper with an open-mouth expression. "Holy shit."
~*~
John sighed and said into the phone: "Jack, what makes you think I'm going to work with Agent Donovan or Parsons? Parsons, in case you forgot, was the one Kendall sent after me to make sure I wasn't a double. Trust isn't exactly an issue here, it's nonexistent!"
"Donovan was a member of your detail at one point---"
"I'm working with a ghost, am I?"
"We had to extract him," the other man said plainly. "He's not a ghost, he's one of our best Washington agents, and you're not in charge of this operation---in case you forgot."
John sighed again. "Whatever. Listen. I have to---"
"Did you contact your asset yet?"
"I'm waiting to hear back," John replied. "I'll brief you when I do."
"I'll be looking forward to it," he said wryly.
John chuckled. "Sounds like it," he said, before hanging the phone up.
He returned to his work, a legal brief for a large liability case. About twenty minutes into corrections on the rough draft, his secretary paged him on the intercom. "Mr. Vice President, Ms. Cregg is here to see you. She doesn't have an appointment."
John smiled and set his pen down. "Send her in, Anita. Thank you."
CJ came in minutes later. Before he could say anything, she put her hand up. "No. No talking out of you. What were you thinking? Flowers?! What made you think that would be a good idea? I'm seeing someone! You figured you'd see if I still wanted you? I---"
"Claudia Jean," he said firmly. "Please stop and listen to me."
"I---"
"Please," he stopped her again. "Just listen to m--- wait. Do you still want me?"
"John!" She shrieked, waving her hands around.
"Sorry."
She sighed. "Yeah, I do. But, that's not the point."
"It could be," he said, his expression brightening. "Are things serious with your beau?"
She snorted. "My beau?"
"You know what I mean. Tell me. Please."
"You're still married---"
"And my wife's sleeping with our gardener," he finished. "It's more convenient to stay married."
"I'm sorry," she said, softening.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for." He stood up and took a couple of steps towards her. "I really want to repair things between us." She nodded and looked down at her feet. "CJ... how can I?"
She took another step, effectively closing the gap between them. "I don't know. Really."
He sighed. "I know I don't have a right to say this, but I miss you."
"We weren't... long term."
He raised an eyebrow. "I can't miss you? Do you miss me?"
She shrugged. Then, she smirked. "You were pretty good in bed."
He chuckled. "You were incredible."
She grinned and for a moment, John saw the weights being lifted off of her shoulders. "I know," she said quietly.
"Did you throw the roses out?" He asked. She shook her head. "Well, that's a start."
"Why are you doing this?"
He frowned. "I didn't like you being angry with me."
"I can be angry with you and still fuck your brains out."
His eyes widened at her choice of words. "Well, okay, but maybe we should test that theory."
CJ growled. "No."
John smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "No?"
In response, she shook her head. John chuckled and studied her before kissing her lips soundly. While he realised that he probably shouldn't have done what he had done, she kissed him back.
~*~
Warnings were flashing through CJ's mind: Stop. Don't. Ben. Married. But, for every word intending to protect her, there was another to encourage her: Kiss. Delicious. Hot. More. She pushed him to deepen the kiss and groaned when she felt his tongue sweep hers. She couldn't deny that she was horny---she didn't even get a goodnight kiss at the end of her date, because she had to rush off to work to save the day despite wanting to drag him back to her apartment for a ride he would never forget.
John was there; he was warm-blooded, attractive, and familiar.
"CJ," he whispered after nibbling on her lower lip.
"Mmhmm?"
"We're in my office."
She smirked. "Such a smart guy."
"How about tonight?" He suggested.
She frowned, suddenly disappointed. "Tonight?"
"Don't you have to work?"
She shook her head. "No. I... Toby told me to go home after last night."
John nodded. "For the best. Last night would have been difficult. From what I saw you handled it well."
"I do what I can, "She said with a shrug.
"How about I cook you dinner tonight?"
She shrugged and said: "I don't know how I feel about that... being your mistress."
He snorted. "A second ago you wanted me."
"Still do," she admitted. "But, I don't always get what I want."
"You can have me," he promised. Her stomach flopped. John took her hands and said: "We're good together. No you want to ignore that pleasure?"
"No."
"So, tonight?"
"Against her better judgment, she swallowed and nodded. "Ten o'clock," she told him. "Bring supper, okay?"
"Don't want me to cook?" He asked, eyebrow arched.
"Don't want to waste time cleaning dishes," she explained smiling a little.
He smiled back with that arrogant grin that made her want to punch him or kiss him. She shook her head a little and said: "I'm going to go."
He pulled her in against his body, for a forceful kiss that left no question in her mind about how he felt. She stepped away, exhaling shakily.
"Bye, CJ," he said softly.
She turned and waved at him before leaving his office.
~*~
"Jack Bristow, please," Kendall said into the phone once he confirmed the security of the line and of his clearance.
Click, click. "Bristow."
"Jack, it's me," he said, his voice lilting with his accent.
"How is it going?" Jack asked.
Kendall sighed. "I'll have a report ready for you with my findings as of today. I don't want to make any assumptions right now. Too early."
"Not going to rush?"
"Doesn't feel right, Jack. Doesn't feel right."
Jack asked: "Have you noticed anything new going on?"
"No. Nothing new."
"Hmm."
Kendall asked: "Has Sydney come back yet?"
Jack sighed. Kendall knew he wouldn't let on how he felt, but he sounded like any freaked out father. "No. Dixon sent Vaughn and Weiss to bring her back."
"She's not happy."
"No, not at the moment, General Alexander," Jack said, before hanging up abruptly.
~*~
Eric wiped the sweat off of his forehead. "Vaughn, man, I can't do this. Why don't you go on up without me."
Michael snorted. "I don't think so. I want protection when I go in there."
"Well, when she finds out her father sent her boyfriend---"
"I'm not her boyfriend."
"Ouch," Weiss commented as he hoisted himself up another couple of feet.
Vaughn climbed up a bit more, grunting as he pushed himself up. Don't I know it," he agreed.
~*~
Sydney heard a noise outside of the cabin, so she stood up and checked the rooms and their windows. Satisfied that no one was around, she turned around and settled back down on the sofa to study the fire that was burning slowly in the fireplace.
Something in the air changed.
She sighed. "Go away." She paused and tilted her head. "Both of you."
Weiss spoke first, still behind her. "Syd, come on."
She didn't move. "If you're going to shoot me and drag me back, I suggest you do it now."
Vaughn sighed. "Sydney---"
She whirled around. "Don't! Don't you dare tell me my dad cares or worries. He's proven himself already and he certainly doesn't know me at all if he thinks you two can bring me back. Did he think---" she stopped and took a breath. "I'm done. Sark's in custody, Lauren's dead, and I'm done. I'm not going to be used like that again."
Eric took a step towards her. "We have a situation, Syd. Kendall went back into deep cover and the natives are getting restless."
Sydney rolled her eyes. "Go to hell with my father."
"Look. Kendal, Agents Donovan, Hoynes, and Parsons are tied up in this," Vaughn dared to speak. "We are up to our eyeballs here, and we can't afford to wreck the op."
Her face fell. "Hoynes? So you mean the---"
"Yeah," Weiss said when she stopped abruptly. "There's been Covenant activity. In Washington."
"Donovan's back on active duty?"
"Surveillance," Vaughn answered.
"Right," she nodded.
"Look, we need you to go in."
"I'm not helping my father," she ground out. "Not after what he did to me, Eric."
He shrugged. "Well, how about your country? What did it do to you?"
~*~
Leo shuffled his papers around, trying to find the briefing memo that Josh swore he left for him. After five minutes, he gave up and yelled: "Margaret!"
"She's not in," Abbey said cooly at his door.
Leo blinked. "Abbey. Hi. How are you?"
"Oh, just fine," she replied, coming into the room. "You?"
"I hate this small talk routine, Abbey."
"Well, things aren't quite the same anymore," she reminded him. "We're working on it, though."
"How's your health?" He asked, trying to remember some of the things they talked about recently.
"How's yours?" She challenged while sitting down in one of the chairs his appointments used. Leo followed suit and sat in the one opposite her. She raised an eyebrow. "Did you get your heart checked?"
Leo shook his head.
"Leo..."
"I'm fine," he said gruffly. "I don't want to be some sort of pink pin cushion in a johnny shirt."
She smiled. "I'm sure some nurse would love to get you in one of those."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Abbey..."
"Are you still with Jordan?"
"What? You gonna set me up?"
Abbey smirked. "CJ's beautiful, don't you think?"
"ABBEY!" Leo exclaimed, almost shrieking. "I'm her boss!"
"Sexy office role-playing..." she teased, baiting him.
"It's not, ah, exactly my thing, ya know?"
"Well, think about it."
Leo, desperate for a change in conversation, brought a hand up to point out her coat and scarf. "Are you going someplace?"
She nodded. "Clinic. Thought I'd pick up a shift," she stood up as she answered his question. "Take care of yourself, Leo." She smiled and brushed her hand over his desk, pausing to finger his pen holder. "I'll see you later, I'm sure."
Leo smiled hesitantly. "Yah. Have a good time." She left and Leo tried to look for the memo again. He heard voices out in the hall, one of them Margaret.
She popped her head in. "Need anything?"
"Josh's memo," he barked.
"You gave it to me yesterday," she said.
Leo sighed and thought about it. He blushed a little around his ears and shrugged. "Yah. Sorry."
"I'll get it. You have a meeting with General Alexander in five minutes."
He nodded. "Thanks."
Leo sat down on his sofa and let out a long breath. Margaret came in with the memo and left again to finish some typing. Leo stared at the memo and tried to summon enough focus to read it.
~*~
Jack entered Dixon's office. "Dixon, I haven't heard from Vaughn and Weiss."
The dark man smiled. "They're on their way."
"With..."
"Yes," Marcus said, nodding. "With Sydney."
Jack sighed, slumping a little. "Good. That's a relief."
"How do you suppose she found out about the truth?"
Jack shrugged. "I don't know. I tried to ask her, but she refuses to speak to me."
Dixon nodded. After a beat, he asked: "Have you heard from Katya?"
Jack lied, since it was second nature. "No, I haven't. I don't expect to. If she knows Vaughn recognised her, she won't appear for quite some time, I suspect."
"I guess you're right," Dixon said with a little nod. "Did you want to run the second Washington op?"
"Sydney won't like it if I do."
An angry voice came in from the back. "He's right. I won't. Eric and Vaughn can run it."
"Sydney," Jack started. "I---"
She shook her head. "No. I don't want to hear it. Dixon," she shifted her focus. "Can you brief me?"
Dixon replied: "I think it would be best if your father does. Get brought up to speed, and then we'll put together some options."
Sydney's jaw dropped. "Dixon---"
"We don't have much time," he reminded her.
~*~
Kendall pushed himself out of his chair and felt something sticky under the arm of the chair. "Leo, let me get back to you. Give me twenty minutes."
Leo smiled and nodded. "Thanks, General. The President would like to wrap this up by the end of the day."
Kendall nodded and smiled back, before shaking Leo's hand and leaving. He saluted Margaret, making her smile in her stiff awkward way, and headed out towards the lobby.
Once there, he put his hand up to his stomach and pushed in on one of his uniform's jacket's buttons to activate a bug killer. Then, he pulled his cellphone out and dialed a number.
"Bristow."
"I was in a meeting. Someone took my prints."
"Your alias is in the system."
"I know, but maybe one of our guys should be on the lookout," Kendall warned him. "I didn't get to see the device... I can't tell if it was placed by McGarry or not."
Jack replied: "Alright. Sydney's been briefed, so, we're putting together an op."
Kendall nodded even though Jack couldn't see the gesture. "Alright. Give me a call when it's ready."
He pretended to keep talking to Jack even though he had hung up. As he did this, he pushed the button on his uniform again. So he didn't look conspicuous, he moved across the lobby to greet some of his colleagues. They talked about days that Kendall had forgotten about, since his days of Special Research and covert operations.
And, then, finally, he left, to return to his own office where he was supposed to finish a report. He called his aide on the way and briefed him, hoping to avoid any work for himself by the time he got back to the office.
~*~
CJ checked her watch and got up to check the bedroom once more. Knowing that John was coming over had made her a nervous wreck. She couldn't believe that she had given in so easily. Her first visit with him had been much more successful; she had been firm and had done the job she had been sent to do.
To combat the hurt feelings and desire she had felt, she called Ben and jumped into a relationship with him as best as she could. Things were still quite elementary between them, and he had been a perfect gentleman on every date. She wanted more though. She missed late night cuddles on the sofa, early morning sex, and feeling that intimate skin on skin connection one would feel with a sexual partner.
The doorbell rang, shocking her from her thoughts.
On the other side of the door, there was a delivery man. CJ's heart fell as she accepted the bouquet of flowers. When she opened the box, there was another envelope. She opened it and a keycard stared up at her with a note attached.
"CJ. Suite 441. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your apartment. John."
She put the card in her pocket and packed a small overnight bag for herself, just in case.
~*~
Cole shifted his weight and watched the back room. He looked down at the white coat that covered a very inexpensive pair of pants and a dress shirt in disgust. The man in front of the man should not have to wear garbage, but he couldn't do anything about it.
He heard some commotion and watched as the back door opened and a few people came in. His expression brightened. "Hello, there," he greeted one person in particular.
"Doctor," she replied. "It's nice to see you. I didn't think you were working today."
"Well," he grinned. "I knew you were coming in. You know how much I adore you."
"Jackass," she teased, making Cole laugh.
They made small talk for a few minutes while Cole looked up charts he needed that day. And then, he excused himself to go examine his patients.
~*~
"Dad," Sydney said, chasing after Jack. "Can we talk?"
Jack stopped and turned to look at her, before glancing at the clock on the wall. "Not now. I have a meeting."
She frowned. He could see the windows of opportunity in her eyes close. With a tight nod, she walked away. Hack let out a deep breath and rushed down the hall, so he could make it to his destination on time.
An hour later, he was waiting in the backseat of a rental car at the airport. When the brunette got into the driver's seat, he moved quickly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
She laughed. "Jack. If you wanted to make a date... all you had to do is call."
"I am."
She hummed softly and then brought her hand up to caress his hand. "Well, then, I guess I had better respond. Shall we go to my suite?"
He released her and brushed his fingers through her short hair. "Yes, that sounds nice."
"I am not nice, Jack," she reminded him.
He smirked and leaned forward to nip at her earlobe. As she moaned, he whispered: "I know, Katya."
~*~
The door shut behind her and she gasped softly at the loud clicking of the lock. "John?" She called out. "Are you here?"
There was no response. As she moved in deeper, she could hear the water in the shower running. With a smile, she walked into the bathroom and said: "John?"
She could make out his figure, jumping at the sound of her voice. "Geez!"
She chuckled. "Sorry. You didn't hear me."
He poked his head out and smiled. "I'm glad you came. Sorry about the cloak and dagger, but I didn't think it would do either of us any good to get caught."
"I wondered..." she said softly, watching the water droplets run over his muscular shoulders and chest.
"Want to join me?" He asked, baiting her with a charming grin.
Her pleasant expression faltered when she took in his words and the meaning behind them. She had always sworn that she would never sleep with a married man again. She cleared her throat and shook her head. "Oh. Ah. No, I'm okay. You finish up, and I'll go wait in the living room."
He sighed. "Okay. If you're sure."
"I'm not, but..."
"I'll be quick," he assured her. "There's a bottle of wine in the fridge if you want it."
"You bought wine?"
"If you don't have it, I'll have it removed. I wanted you to be comfortable," he told her with a smile.
"Oh. Thanks. Well, maybe I'll have some, then."
She fled the bathroom before he could tempt her to stay. She paced the living room area several times before reaching for the white wine that was chilling nearby. She drank one glass quickly without much thought, and then poured another glass to sip while she paced. She had always found him attractive; she wouldn't have let him seduce her the first time against her better judgment. The new situation between them, though, was a little different. She worried that she had somehow transformed into the wrong type of person.
By the time John came in, wearing a fluffy white bathroom, she had worked herself up so she was near tears. "CJ?" he asked. "What's wrong?"
She sighed. "I feel... like I don't know who I am."
He came over and sat down. She sniffled and noticed how good he smelled. With a hand on her lower back, he said: "I don't want to hurt you."
"What if I've always been a bad person, and I'm just figuring that out now."
"Nice try," he commented. "When we met, I knew how special you are," he told her. "You always want to help, to fix, to do good. Everyone knows how pure your heart is."
She shrugged and sipped her wine. "I guess so," she said eventually.
"Why don't we just take our time tonight?" He suggested. ""Let's put a movie on."
"I really want sex. It's been so long."
John smiled. "We can still get to that. When you're comfortable."
She nodded. "Okay."
~*~
Kendall paced his new office. Agent Hoynes had briefed him, and he was waiting to hear the results of his endeavor. Meanwhile, he was waiting for his aide to finish a report for President Bartlet, to maintain his alias. His assistant came to the door. "General Alexander? Leo McGarry is on the phone."
"Great. Thank you." He smiled at her, and then picked the phone up. "Leo?"
"Is it ready, General?"
"I'm going to fire my aide," he joked.
"We can afford to wait on this?" Leo asked.
"Well, yes, the preliminary analysis indicates that while there is tension over there, they probably won't act."
"Hang on," Leo said.
Soon, there was another extension being picked up. "Nicholas?"
"President Bartlet, hello."
"I hear we're running behind schedule."
Kendall sighed. At Special Research, he never would have had to wait for a memo. His staff seemed much more efficient than this assistant was. "Yes, sir," he said.
"Remind that aide who he works for," Bartlet said with a little chuckle.
"You bet I will, sir."
~*~
John saw the little light on the top of the television blink a little green light, and he knew that Marshall's device had worked. He tipped CJ back into an upright position. "CJ?"
"Yes," she said in a relatively flat voice.
John sighed and said: "I have to ask you a few questions. You will stay in this relaxed state, feeling no fear or pain, and afterwards, I will wake you up and you will feel refreshed and content..."
~*~
Katya sauntered into her bedroom and started undressing. Jack leaned against the door frame and watched her. There were no pretenses. He was CIA, she was the enemy. He was once married, she had been his sister-in-law. He was a man, she was a woman.
She turned and smiled at him. He nodded slightly and came in more as she took her pants off. When she started unbuttoning her shirt, he started getting out of his suit.
Soon, they were strategically moving to the bed, closer to their combined goal. She kissed him aggressively, sucking his lips with force, nibbling on them with her teeth. He groaned into her mouth and gripped her arm with one hand while his other squeezed her breast. She purred and smiled, pushing him down on his back.
He almost laughed as she straddled him, rubbing herself against his growing erection, but it was a sound too far out of his reach. Instead, he struggled to sit up, and when he did, Katya granted him unfettered access to her chest. He devoured her, passionately kissing, sucking, and biting her soft, pale skin.
It didn't take long for them to be ready; Katya moved up, positioned over him, before sinking down onto him without warning. He arched up against her groaning loudly; she smirked and rocked against him.
Together, they moved, grunting and thrusting until they booth pushed each other to their respective climactic edges. Jack exploded inside of her, triggering her muscle contractions.
Katya stilled, enjoying the feeling of him inside of her. Jack caressed her hip idly. She smiled and slowly got up off of him. He instantly missed the bodily contact, but he didn't say anything. She tossed him a box of tissues and he mechanically cleaned himself up. She started to dress.
By the time he was dressed, she was out in the kitchenette making coffee.
"Sometime next week?" She asked with an amused look on her face.
He smirked. "You want me, you can find me."
She chuckled softly as he picked up his keys and left her suite.
~*~
John, visibly upset, touched CJ's arm. He had given her the command to wake up and was now pretending to rouse her from a nap he had watched her fall into.
"CJ?"
"Mmm... I fell asleep, didn't I?"
He took a chance and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "It was a boring movie," he said quietly. "Want me to take you home?"
"You don't want me to stay?"
"I'd love it if you did."
She smiled and looked up at him. "Why the long face?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you upset with me?"
He blinked. "God, no. I'm thrilled that you're here."
"Gonna give me the grand tour, then, cowboy?"
He chuckled despite his dark mood.
~*~
"And this," John said with a flourishing hand movement. "This is the bedroom."
CJ grinned and he felt his mood brighten again. She wrapped an arm around the back of his torso and rested her chin on his shoulder. "It's a very nice bedroom."
"Nicer than yours?" He asked.
"Well... I don't know. My bed is really comfy," she murmured. He chuckled and turned so he could hold her, too. He didn't know how she came to this comfortable spot with him, but he wasn't about to ask questions. "Mmm," she whispered as she snuggled into his arms. "That nap did me a lot of good."
"Relaxed and refreshed?" He asked, using his words from earlier, as the guilt seeped in a little bit more.
She nodded. "For the first time in a long while. It was either your sofa or you, but something did the trick. If your bed is as nice at that sofa, you've got me all night."
"I'll be in the bed, too," he added, hoping that their banter would cheer him up.
"Well, excellent," she grinned. "Let's try this bed out."
He tugged her further into the room, laughing a little. She sat down on the bed and felt the mattress with her hands as she bounced. He raised an eyebrow, watching her. "How is it? Better or worse?"
"Much better," she told him. "And bigger. No squishing or unnatural bending. We can stretch out and get aaaaall cozy." Her bright, playful expression faltered. "Of course, that's if you want to."
"I do," he assured her, sitting down with her and taking her hand. He turned towards her and offered her an earnest smile. She squeezed his hand and closed her eyes when he dared to caress her cheek with his other hand. "I really do. Of course, I'm hoping we get pretty sweaty before the cozy part."
"Sweaty?" She asked, smirking. "That sounds like we're going to have to work pretty hard."
"Very hard," he told her, nodding.
She offered him a bright smile and glanced down at his lips, as if asking for permission. He nodded again and then leaned in towards her, seeking a kiss. Their lips met hesitantly at first, but as they relaxed, the kiss deepened and the hesitation faded away.
When John lifted away, her eyelids fluttered open. She licked her lips. "I... you were always a really good kisser."
"You taste the same," he commented softly.
"Good taste?"
"Very good taste," he replied quietly, as he decided where he was going to taste next.
He had started for her neck, but she caught his chin and tipped him back up to kiss her lips again. "One more," she whispered before pushing into him. Their lips dueled, more familiar with each other the second time, making John's blood rush through his system, burning him from the inside out.
When John heard the cellphone ringing, he groaned and lifted his head. She pouted and looked around the room for that offending little machine. "Living room," he whispered.
She sighed and got up, giving his hand a squeeze before getting up to find her phone.
He took his shoes off and leaned back against some of the pillows, listening to her half of the conversation.
"Josh? Why are you calling me? ... No, now is not a good time. ... Ranger Rick? Get a life. ... You are? Really? Donna, too? ... That's great! ... When will you land? ... Okay. ... Oh, great. ... So, any chance for you two, finally? ... You think? ... I don't know anything about him. ... My fingers are crossed for you. See you in a couple days--- ... Yeah, I've got to go. ... You don't want to know. ... ha, ha, very funny, Josh. Bye."
She came back to the bedroom. John smiled. "Josh?"
"The one and only," she said with a smile. "He and Donna are coming home."
John's expression brightened even more. "Yeah? That's great. How is she?"
"Sore, stitched up, recovering. She'll do better when she's home."
"Just being home will probably make her feel better," John said, agreeing with her. "What else were you two talking about?"
"Josh, telling Donna how he feels about her," she said softly.
John burst out laughing. He couldn't help it. The first time he had seen that beautiful blonde, she had been with a woman, her girlfriend of two years. The last time he had see her, she had been with another woman, another girlfriend that she had been with for about a year. She didn't date many men on a serious level.
"What's so funny?" CJ asked.
"Nothing," he said, trying to get a grip.
"John!" She said, punching his arm. "What?!"
"Donna likes women," he told her.
"What?!"
"I tried to ask her out, the first time we met," he said honestly, knowing it would upset her that he had been interested in Donna as well at one point. "It was a long time ago. I was just a lawyer then. She was in university. She told me where to go. And, then, her girlfriend did."
CJ's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"
"I swear."
"I never knew... I always thought she was obsessed with Josh. The last time we were spending time together, we had a fight over him and why she wouldn't find a better job."
John nodded, since he understood why Donna wasn't about to quit her job as Josh's assistant to find another one that paid better. He would have told CJ, but he couldn't afford to. "Well, she probably didn't tell you because a lot of people are still afraid of discrimination."
CJ frowned. "I wouldn't have."
"I'm sure she knows that," he whispered, tucking her hair back behind her ear.
"I really wouldn't have."
"When she's ready, she'll tell you," he assured her. "It's a complicated thing, one's sexuality."
"Is yours complicated?"
"It's tied up in you," he murmured against her temple after placing a kiss there. "So, of course it's complicated."
She chuckled and pulled him close. "Good."
~*~
Sydney came into Marshall's office, coffee in hand. She wished she felt more awake, but after the past couple of days, that was an impossible goal to achieve. Vaughn and Eric were looking at a folder and Marshall was sipping his coffee and flashing through the latest images of his baby boy.
"Sydney!" He said brightly. "What's up? You look how I feel. Not that I feel incredibly beautiful or anything, but the tired with the--- the--- nevermind. What's up?"
She smiled. "Dixon told me you guys were here." Vaughn reached out and touched her lower back. She smiled at him, from under her bangs before looking at the computer screen. "How is he?" She asked.
"He's doing great," Marshall replied, smiling at the screen and his son. "Of course, we all want to sleep more, but hey, there's nothing we can do there."
"No," Sydney agreed.
"Can we start talking about the optech, now that everyone's here?" Eric asked. Sydney smiled at him, knowing how he got when Marshall took too long talking about his baby boy.
Vaughn looked over Sydney. "You didn't sleep?"
"My place isn't as restful as the cabin I was stolen from," she whispered back. He sighed and apologised softly in her ear. She shifted her weight and rested against him as he held her. She turned, and as Marshall told Weiss about something he would be using, she whispered: "I'm sorry for being a pain."
"I'm sorry for not understanding," he whispered back.
"Want to hang out later?" She asked.
"Okay, yeah," Michael told her. "Sounds nice."
"Guys? Are you two done making out with your eyes?" Eric asked, getting increasingly frustrated with his morning.
"We weren't," Vaughn said defensively.
Sydney nodded. "Right. I was just asking him if he wanted to hang out after this."
Eric grunted. "Like I said."
~*~
Irina stretched her arms over her head. Slowly, she stood up off the floor and pushed the button on her speaker phone. "Yes?" She asked cooly. Three voices greeted her; one male, two female. She smiled when she heard her sisters' voices. "Katya, Elena," she said, sitting down in her chair. "Cole. It's good to hear your voices."
"How are you?" Katya asked.
"How's my ex-husband?" Irina teased.
"Very well," she said calmly. Irina pictured her sister smiling.
"She's taking good care of him," Elena assured Irina. "She wasn't answering her phone last night."
"You were let near a phone?" Irina asked, intrigued.
"She took really good care of her man," Katya commented. "Tired him out completely. She can get near anything when he's sleeping soundly."
"Anything?" Irina asked. "What about those pesky---"
"Well, almost anything," Elena quipped, cutting her sister off. "He was such a jackass last night! You wouldn't believe what he said and---"
"We do have more important things to discuss," Cole cut Elena off.
"You knew what you signed up for, Cole," Irina reminded him. "When you asked for the job."
"Three sisters going on about their man troubles is not what I signed up for. I signed up for fighting the fight and winning. About getting what I want, and screwing the world. And looking good doing it. That sort of thing."
"He doesn't like his doctor's scrubs," Elena teased him.
"No, I don't," Cole agreed.
Irina sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Let's focus. Just a second here. Has Ben had any luck with his asset yet?"
"No," Elena told her. "They're taking their time, apparently."
"Okay. I'd like to hurry this up, just for the record," Cole grumbled.
"Me, too," Irina agreed. "But, we can't force our hand. Not yet. Elena, did you get what we need?"
"Yes," she replied. "The device transmitted two, I scanned them both, got the one we need."
"Great," Irina smiled. "Send it to my FTP site."
"Consider it done. Anything else?"
"How's Mr. McGarry doing?" Irina asked.
"Fine," Elena chuckled.
Cole sighed. "How come they get sex in their assignments?"
"No one finds doctors sexy?" Irina asked, a grin tugging at her lips. Elena laughed.
~*~
Donna looked up from her bed. "Josh. Go home."
"What if you need something?" He asked, face still pale.
"Then, I'll get up and get it," she told him, waving an unsteady hand around.
"Or, I'll get it for her," a voice came from the door.
Josh paused. "Amy?" He asked, turning around.
"You left the door unlocked," Amy said, grinning at both of them. Donna smiled a little and patted the spot on the bed next to her. "Guess I'm invited."
"Yeah," Donna said, nodding. "Josh. Go home. Amy'll watch me."
"You two are friends?" Josh asked, blinking. The women nodded. "Wow... didn't see that coming."
"Josh. Go sleep. Leo needs you back."
"Yeah, Josh," Amy said teasingly.
Josh put his hands up and walked out of the bedroom. Donna laughed softly when she heard the door to her home click shut. Amy smiled and scooted closer. Then, Donna frowned. Amy looked over at her. "What's wrong?"
"You didn't call," Donna said softly. "I was in Germany for weeks and you didn't call."
"I didn't know how to get a hold of you."
"No," Donna said quietly. "You could have."
"I didn't want to tip Josh off?"
"Josh doesn't have a clue and you know it," Donna said, closing her eyes.
"Are you okay? In pain?" Amy asked, voice tight.
"I'm fine," Donna sighed, crossing her arms.
Amy took Donna's hand. "I'm really sorry."
Donna's eyes popped open. She knew Amy rarely said those words. They meant something when she used them. She squeezed her hand. "It hurt," Donna whispered. "Not just the physical stuff. When you left... and... I thought..."
"I was wrong," Amy whispered the other three words Donna never heard her say. "I shouldn't have freaked out. You told me the truth and I freaked out. I don't know what to call you."
"Donna," Donna said, smiling. Then, her expression faltered. "I... I slept with someone while I was in Gaza. His name's---"
"But Moss isn't your last name, is it?" Amy asked.
Donna, surprised at Amy's words, shook her head. "No."
"Ever gonna tell me?"
"Maybe," Donna smiled. She knew, as far as the CIA knew, that Amy wasn't an agent for anyone.
Amy kissed Donna's fingertips. "Please?"
"You're going to have to do better than that," she whispered.
"When you're all healed up," Amy promised. She sighed. "I'm sorry. It was stupid of me to freak out. I just... I thought you were Josh's assistant. Not some supersexy, secret agentwoman."
Donna laughed as much as her body could afford to let her. "I'm not. I just do stupid grunt assignments."
"It's important, though," Amy said, reclining on the bed next to the blonde woman. "I can support that."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Just don't get me involved in anything illegal," Amy teased.
"I don't do anything illegal," Donna reminded her. "I was sent to watch a bunch of people. That's all I can tell you... but, I'm not doing anything wrong."
"I trust you," Amy said softly.
Donna smiled. "Every assistant should be field trained... but, I haven't drafted that memo yet."
Amy laughed. "I'd like to see Margaret sneaking around with her little spycam. Like Leo doesn't have enough on his hands."
"I love you," Donna whispered after a burst of giggles. "Thank you."
The brunette smiled and hugged her girlfriend gently. "I love you, too."
"So... make up sex would kill you?" Donna ventured out into the peaceful quiet.
Amy laughed. "It might kill you, though."
~*~
Jack scanned the steady stream of information, looking for certain numbers, certain handles. He could hear Sydney and Vaughn somewhere in the same area, and he wanted to turn around and see what they were doing, but he couldn't afford to tear his eyes away.
When a certain server address came up, he blinked and leaned in to make sure it was correct. Then, he called Dixon.
The darker man came to the desk. "Jack?"
"Someone from this address," he said, pointing at the server. "Checked Kendall's information. And then, they checked McGarry's."
"So, you think someone's switching their prints?" Dixon asked.
"I don't know yet. But, now, we know from where they're working," he said.
"Washington?"
"Inside the White House," Jack said.
"We need to get Sydney inside," Dixon said firmly. Jack knew he was right, but until they knew who was the enemy in there, they couldn't send her in there. She had to be strategically placed.
Jack nodded. "We'll wait to hear anything new from the first op team."
"Agent Parsons is back," Dixon added. "She flew in a couple of days ago and is on the way to a speedy recovery."
"Well," Jack responded flatly, uncomfortable with healing and the best wishes associated with it. "That's good. We can use the help."
~*~
Leo watched the First Lady leave his office. She had come by for another visit on her way to her shift at the free clinic. He shook his head and sighed softly. He wondered why she was making such an effort with him; he had thought that after everything with Shareef and Zoey, their friendship was over, but little by little it seemed to be improving, until that night they were in the Residence together.
That evening seemed to tell him that there would have to be more happen between them before they would repair their relationship. He had always been Jed's friend first, but she had been an important part of his life. He missed her. He never thought she'd be working towards getting back to that.
But, when he had come in from the Roosevelt Room and seen her at his desk, smiling at him, he realised that he might be wrong.
Jed knocked on the open door that connected their offices. "Leo?"
"Sir?"
"Was that my wife I heard?"
"It was," Leo answered. "She stopped by to say hello."
"I think she likes you," Jed teased.
Leo smiled and shrugged. "Yeah, well, I can't see why she wouldn't. I'm pretty likable."
"Keep telling yourself that, old man," Jed commented, a sparkle in his eye.
He smirked. "So, you think she's after my money?"
"That must be it."
~*~
CJ sighed, hanging up the phone. John had canceled on her. This was the first time, and she didn't like it much. She liked being with him, even if he was married. He made her feel important and loved. He cherished her---or at least he seemed to.
When the phone rang again, she hoped it was him, telling her he could make it to the suite afterall. "Hello?"
"CJ, hi," Ben said softly. "What are you up to?"
CJ bit back a frustrated sigh. "Ben. Hi. Nothing much. You?"
"Missing you," he said. "I haven't heard much from you in the past few days. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," she replied. "Why don't you come over?"
"Is this breaking the rules?"
She shrugged, feeling lonely and wanting to fix it. "I made the rules, I can break them."
~*~
"CJ, when you wake up, you're going to feel calm and relaxed, yet very determined. You're going to get up and go to the West Wing, and find Leo McGarry. Seduce him... tire him out. When he falls asleep, you're going to find a file. He keeps it in his bottom desk drawer. On the tab, he's written the words 'Sam's Speeches.' You need to take it and bring it back here, without him knowing what's going on. Do you understand?"
"Yes..."
~*~
CJ stretched and woke up. "Mmmm..."
Ben wrapped an arm around her and kissed her bare shoulder. "Go back to sleep."
"What are you doing up?" She asked, voice whisper-soft.
"Watching you sleep," he replied.
She blushed. "Sweet. I'm sorry... I have to go back to the office. I left something there."
"You're coming back, though, right?" He asked.
"Well, duh," she said, giggling a little. She pulled him in for a kiss, and felt a pang of disappointment when she realised that she was comparing his kisses to John's kisses. "Stay here, okay?"
"Okay," Ben whispered, grinning at her.
~*~
Leo looked up when he heard the knock at his door. "Claudia Jean, do you know what time it is?"
"I do," she replied with a nod. "I forgot something here... needed it."
"At three in the morning?" He asked. "What couldn't wait---" the phone rang. "Hang on." CJ shifted her weight and came into his office, sitting down on his sofa and stretching out, not really listening to Leo's phonecall. "Is the whole world up tonight? ... Yeah. ... Okay. ... Really? Right. ... Yah, I've got it. ... Thanks, General."
"Trouble on the other side of the world?"
"Maybe," Leo replied cryptically. "What can I do for you, Ceej?"
She looked over at him and smiled. "What would you like to do for me?"
He blinked. "CJ?"
"Answer the question, Leopold," she murmured, toeing her shoes off.
"Well... I'd like to give you a vacation, but you're the face of the administration."
"Keep trying," she said on a soft sigh.
He blinked again and watched as she took her jacket off, and then started unbuttoning her blouse. "Ceej!" He gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Giving you a clue or two. So... answer the question."
"Is this sexual harassment?"
"No," she replied, shaking her head. "But, I've finally got you where I want you. So... answer---"
"I'm going to get up and close the door before the cleaning staff gets an eyeful."
She grinned. "Smart man."
~*~
Leo kissed CJ as she pulled him in closer. He groaned as his hips thrust against hers, his erection begging for entrance. He had no idea she'd be so warm, so soft, so supple under her suits... he was so used to the relatively hard front she showed the staff.
"Please," she whimpered, hot and ready under him.
"Please what," he whispered, kissing her shoulder.
"Fuck me," she pleaded.
He crushed his lips to hers and swallowed her moan as he pushed himself inside of her. She smothered his own groan when he discovered how hot and tight she was. Her legs wrapped around him, holding him to her. He groaned again and struggled to move. She made it difficult, but he wasn't complaining.
Their bodies worked out an agreement. CJ gave a little, and Leo pushed her harder for more. She arched against him, scratching his back with her nails. He gasped when he felt his skin scream in protest; he never knew so much passion was beneath her surface.
When she bit his shoulder, he came loudly. He prayed no one heard him. She shuddered and shivered underneath him; her muscles rippled around him as he throbbed. It was too much. He collapsed on top of her.
"Good god," he breathed. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"You wear suits. No one will know."
"You really are great in bed," he murmured, lifting his head and looking up at her.
She grinned and kissed his swollen lips. He moved onto his side, with his back against the sofa. She pressed her back against his chest and squeezed his hand. "Sleep a bit before going back to work."
"Twenty minutes."
"An hour," she bargained.
"Thirty minutes."
"Fifty."
"Forty?"
"Forty-five," she said, stifling a giggle.
"Forty-three, but that's my final offer," he said with a grin.
~*~
Simon Donovan watched through his night-vision binoculars as the older man moved through the late night traffic on the sidewalk towards the clinic. He sighed and took a few pictures. He hated being dead. It made his assignment that much more boring.
But, by staging his death, they had managed to capture CJ's stalker, who had been hired by someone within the Covenant. That had been the goal, to capture him to gain new information about the organization. And, it had worked, so he knew his death wasn't in vain. Of course, that meant he couldn't be seen by anyone until this operation was over, at least, but there was a chance it could be for longer.
He thought about CJ as he watched the man. He wondered what CJ saw in him. He also wondered what CJ saw in John Hoynes, but then, again, he wondered what she had seen in him, too.
The man went inside the clinic and came out with Cole. Simon smirked and pressed the button on his headset. "Baseops, I have a visual of both of them."
"Stay on them. We have reason to believe they're meeting someone higher up, Sunshine."
Simon grimaced. That codename was a reminder of CJ, and he hated it. Kendall and Jack, with their twisted sense of humour had decided to rub it in a little.
"Copy that."
He watched a woman come out of the shadows. He blinked and took pictures to document the meeting. He saw the exchange of the file, for a piece of paper. Most likely, it was another assignment. Simon sighed and shifted his weight.
~*~
"Sydney?" Dixon said, coming over to her desk.
"Dixon? What's up?"
"We have your op. Optech in half an hour, okay?"
"I'll get Vaughn and meet you."
She got up with a smile and strode down the hall. She pulled her cellphone out and dialed his number. "Vaughn," he answered.
"Hey," she said softly. "Where are you?"
"Parking lot. Why?"
She kept him talking as she rushed to meet him in the elevator. He smiled when the door opened to let her get on and he closed his phone. She did the same. "Hi," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "We have an op."
"We do?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "Optech in thirty minutes."
"A whole thirty minutes... what will we do to kill the time?"
"I can think of a few things," she purred.
He laughed, but stopped when he realised she was serious so he could kiss her. She grinned against his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Syd, Syd," he murmured, pulling back a little. "We're being watched."
She pulled out a tube of lipstick, took the cap off and twisted the base. "Now we're not. Shut up and kiss me."
"Set that down. Don't want any peepshows."
"Peepshows?" She asked, bursting out into giggles as she put it down on the far side of the elevator. He flashed her his trademark sideways grin and then pulled her close again. They kissed hungrily, even though they had spent most of the night making love. She could never get enough of him---mostly because she was afraid he'd leave her again.
"You're wearing a skirt," he whispered. "You never wear skirts."
"Wanted to tease you," she admitted against his lips.
"Don't tease me now," he warned, pushing against her.
She winked and stepped back. Soon, she was stepping out of her underwear and tucking them in her purse. "No teasing," she promised. "I want you."
She teased him through his pants while they resumed kissing, rubbing him until his erection was straining against his perfectly pressed pants. "God, Syd," he groaned, desperation in his voice. "You're going to be the death of me."
With a few deft finger motions, Vaughn was free of his pants. As they fell around his ankles, he turned them around and used the wall for leverage. He lifted her up a bit and thrust himself into her. She whimpered and held onto him as she bounced on him. When his thumb pushed down on her clit, the whimpers turned into a loud moan.
"God, Vaughn, so close... please... Oh!"
He grinned and changed the angle of his thumb again, pushing down hard to stimulate her the way she liked best. He watched her come unglued, and then felt himself slip away as she her climax crashed into her and carried them both away.
~*~
Jed looked at Ron. "That agent... the woman."
"Joanne?"
"Yes," Jed said. "That's the one. I like her, but I think she'd be better with Abbey."
"You sure about that?" Ron asked. He had mentioned switching her yesterday, as per his instructions, but Jed hadn't warmed up to the idea. He liked Joanne, because she was smart and funny.
"I think you're right. Abbey needs better agents, and this Joanne girl is quick on her feet."
Ron nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll make the switch today."
~*~
Abbey looked across the room as she moved through the crowd to see her husband. A face caught her eye and she gasped. She had seen the woman before; she had been working all day in close proximity to her. But, it wasn't until she saw the brunette from across the room that she realised that she looked so familiar.
"Smith?" She asked.
"Yes, ma'am?"
She sighed and pointed to the woman. "Who is that?"
"Her name's Joanne. Remember? Agent Butterfield added her today."
"Oh, right," she said with a nod, pretending to be forgetful since the agent wasn't giving her any extra information. "I forgot. Thank you."
~*~
"Vaughn," Sydney said into the phone at the end of her shift. "I've been made. I know it."
"How do you know?" He asked, voice lined with worry.
"Put Dad on. Okay? Connect me with my father."
He paused. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed. "Get him."
Soon, Jack was on the phone. "Sydney? What's going on?"
"Dad," she said softly. "I've been made."
"By who?"
"That's the thing..." she said, trailing off before launching into her story.
~*~
Donna kissed Amy softly as the brunette's hands skimmed over her body, being very careful of her healing scars. "Amy... please... I'm ready."
"Am I going to hurt you?" Amy asked.
She shook her head. "No. Please. I need you. I've missed you so much."
"Not as good as the guy from Gaza?" Amy teased, pushing the covers back off of their bodies.
"No..." Donna whimpered as Amy untied her pajama pants.
Amy slipped her hand between Donna's legs and found the blonde to be very aroused after their gentle kisses. "Can your photographer do this?" Amy asked, nibbling on her shoulder while pushing her finger inside of her heat and curling it.
Donna moaned and arched up into Amy's hand. "No... no..."
"Does he love you?"
"Not like you do," Donna promised, pulling her closer for a kiss. "I need you," she whispered, voice heavy and serious.
Amy looked up and blinked. Donna smiled and nodded. Amy smiled and wriggled down to the bottom of the bed. First, she took her shorts off. Then, she started kissing Donna's legs, minding the cast on one of them. "Is this okay?"
"Very okay," Donna whispered, trying to reach for Amy's head with her slender hands.
Amy grinned against Donna's skin and continued kissing her skin. She worked Donna into a lather, being unforgiving and passionate. She brought her into her first orgasm without so much as a warning, and then eased her slowly into her second.
"Mercy!" Donna giggled, gasping for breath as Amy's fingers slowed down.
Amy smiled and propped herself up on her elbows. "Mercy? So soon?"
"Amy!" She squealed. "I'm gonna get you back!"
The brunette grinned and crawled up the bed. "And how do you think you're going to do that?"
"Well, for starters, you're going to have to cooperate and move over so I can reach you," Donna replied. "And let me do whatever I want, no complaints."
Amy rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. "Well... okay. But, you know that doesn't seem entirely fair."
"Ameeeeeeelia..." She complained in the deep, husky tone that made Amy's stomach flop and tighten.
Amy grinned. "Yes?"
"Come closer," Donna instructed. Amy obliged, sliding her hand over Donna's stomach and letting her leg slide over one of her blonde lover's.
"How's that?"
"Much better," she purred, bringing her hand up to Amy's chest to brush it over her breasts. The brunette bit her lip, not wanting to give too much away too quickly. Donna smirked and pursued the touch, squeezing and tracing circles over her camisole. After a bit, she fluttered her eyelashes, and asked: "Can you take your top off?"
"I can," Amy replied, smiling and not moving.
Donna snorted and rolled her eyes. "Do it now, would you?"
"Yeah, okay," Amy said, nodding as she sat up and pulled it up and over her head. Donna smiled and ran her hand over Amy's stomach, before hooking her finger in Amy's thong, tugging on the elastic that held the swatch of fabric to her body. "Don't tease," Amy warned. "Nobody likes a tease."
"You get cranky, if I'm remembering correctly."
"I do," Amy said, nodding.
Donna smiled up at her. "Kiss me?"
Soon, Donna felt Amy's lips on hers. Amy silently hoped that her kisses were enough for Donna; she didn't like that she slept with a man while they had been apart and the very thought made the self-confident brunette feel pangs of insecurity.
The pangs slipped away when Amy felt fingertips sliding under the patch of red fabric, teasing over her warm sex. She groaned into Donna's mouth and closed her eyes.
"Nuh uh," Donna whispered. "Eyes open."
Amy whimpered softly, knowing that when she looked into Donna's eyes as she was being made love to she would be completely exposed and there what nothing she could do about it. Donna would have Amy in the palm of her hand.
"You sure?"
"Yes," Donna purred. "I want to see you."
Amy obliged her, fluttering her eyes open as she moved a little closer. Donna's hand grew bolder, teasing less and pushing more. Amy tried not to make too much noise, but she couldn't help it; she was vulnerable and Donna was kissing and caressing her, provoking sides of Amy she rarely showed anyone else.
"Donna, Donna," Amy pleased.
"Mmhmm?"
"I---" she stopped to gasp as Donna's fingers shifted against her clit. "Ohhhhh-hh."
Donna grinned against her lips and plied them into another sweet, languid kiss that contrasted her hand's quick and decisive movements. When Amy reached up to hold onto Donna's torso, the blonde knew she was close. She obliged her lover, by scooting a little closer, and then continued her antics.
Soon, Amy was moaning and bucking against Donna's hand. Donna smiled and eased back to watch the fire dance in Amy's eyes.
~*~
Leo stretched as he woke up in his bed. CJ looked over at him from across the bedroom and came over, even though she wasn't fully dressed yet. "Hey, you're up," she whispered, leaning over him to steal a quick kiss.
"Got cold," he whispered back.
"I can't get caught staying here," she reminded him.
He sighed. "I know... I know."
"President Bartlet might not want to read about us on the front page of the paper," CJ teased, before stealing another kiss. "Abbey will think she's struck gold in gossip, and---"
"Abbey suggested I ask you out, actually," Leo interrupted, tugging CJ back onto the bed and making her squeal. "She seemed to think we'd be good together."
CJ smiled and planted a line of kisses down Leo's chest in response. He groaned and found his body arching up into her touch. She was too inviting, too tempting. He knew he was going to be in trouble if he let this continue.
But, her lips were warm and soft, and her teeth were demanding that he yield to her. He groaned and cursed under his breath, realising that he was going to lose another full night's sleep to this woman.
~*~
Simon watched Cole pick up his cell phone. He tipped the laser mic towards him and pushed the record button on his headset.
"Yeah?"
"I have the second document," the caller said. "When can I drop it?"
"What are you doing tomorrow night? I have someone in town that can pick it up."
The caller groaned. "Tomorrow night, I'm being taken out to dinner. CJ's friends are having some sort of thing at a fancy restaurant. Wanna pay for my tuxedo rental?"
Cole smirked. "Man, I'm jealous. What I wouldn't give for an expensive suit right about now."
"Yeah, well, you enjoy them. I don't."
"Nature boy, lighten up. Give me the party details and we'll set it up so someone can crash and get the file from you."
"Who will it be?"
"I'll pick someone you'll recognise. An old friend. Don't worry about it. You'll know."
Simon waited until the call was over and Cole continued walking on the street. Then, he called his operation's supervisor to inform him of what was going on.
~*~
Amy smoothed her hands over her dress. "Donna?"
Donna, on her cane at this point, slowly came into the bedroom. "Yeah?"
"I'm nervous."
"Why?" She asked. "It's a discrete restaurant, and we've booked a private room," she reminded her girlfriend. "Are you nervous someone's going to see us, together?"
"No... I mean... I... CJ'll be okay with it, right?"
"I'm pretty sure," she said, nodding. "But... if you don't want to out ourselves---"
Amy frowned. "Well..."
"She's not going to see us do the thing," Donna assured her. "Your political reputation's safe."
Amy laughed nervously. "Well, that's good. Who's the other woman?"
"I worked with her once," Donna said, as she looked around for a pair of earrings. "She'll be okay. You'll probably find her attractive," she said quietly. "And her date is---"
"I find you attractive," the brunette declared, before kissing Donna's shoulder and walking over to the closet to find a pair of shoes that she had seen Donna wear once.
Donna turned and let her eyes roam over Amy's backside. "I find you attractive, too."
Amy peeked at her. "Yeah? That works out well for me."
"For us."
Amy grinned. "For us." Her expression darkened briefly. "Do I have to... you know?"
"No," Donna said, shaking her head. "I will, though... but it doesn't mean anything. You know that. Right?"
Amy straightened and slipped into the shoes she found. "I... I don't..." she trailed off and shrugged, pasting an awkward smile on her face.
Donna came over immediately. "Amy..."
"It's okay," she said, trying to keep the light expression on her face.
"No, it's not," Donna said firmly, taking Amy's hands in hers. "The fact that you're participating in this charade is incredible. You don't have to, and you are, and that's not why I love you, but it doesn't hurt. But, if I kiss this agent... it's only for the job. It has nothing to do with us falling apart."
"You can just kiss me. She can find some place else to kiss."
Donna grinned. "My lips belong to you. Okay?"
Amy grinned back, feeling better already. "They do," she murmured, letting her eyes settle on Donna's lips, glossy with a lip product that Amy was becoming crazy about. "All mine."
"So, you're going to actively participate in the show," Donna said, pulling Amy closer and wrapping her arms around her waist. Amy blushed and nodded. The blonde grinned. "I always wanted to kiss you in public."
"Technically, it's not public."
"Right. A private room," Donna amended. "But, with a small audience."
"The other agent. And the guy."
Donna nodded again. "Yeah. CJ'll be gone. We have someone to get her out of harm's way."
"Good... what about me and harm?" Amy asked in an uncharacteristically small voice.
"I'll protect you," Donna promised, before hugging her lover close.
~*~
John looked over at the brunette and smiled reassuringly. "You look fantastic."
"Almost sorry you're going to miss the show?" She shot back, grinning.
"Well, I feel worse for your friend," he said, gesturing to his earpiece. "Since he's got to listen and see the whole thing."
She chuckled. "He'll survive." She took a step closer and reached out for him. "Here, let me fix your tie."
"Thanks," he said, looking away as she adjusted it.
She peeked up at him. "You know... I never said how sorry I was for your---"
John sighed. "I really, really don't want to get into that---"
"Yeah, but no one offered any apology or excuse, and---"
He smiled awkwardly. "It was for the good of the country. Helen's in custody now, and we know everything she knows."
"You were the Vice President."
"And, now I'm pretending to be a lawyer," he said, sighing. "It's okay. I'm still alive. I'm still enjoying life---"
"Do you like Ms. Cregg?"
"I do."
"You should tell her the truth," she said, stepping back and checking herself over in the mirror. "About how you feel, I mean." She pushed her hair off of her face, tucking some of it behind her ear in that way she always did. "Before she finds out about Agent Donovan, and---"
"I was with CJ before he---"
"Still," she said softly, looking up at him. "You're married and---"
"I'm married to another agent. I'm married to someone as a hoax, and... once we sort this out, I'm going to explain---"
She smiled. "Okay. Good luck with that. For now, though, how am I for a date?"
He took in her appearance and grinned. "Your poor friend. I have you to myself tonight, and he's crammed in the back of a van watching the op."
She giggled softly. "Yeah. You look good, too."
He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
~*~
CJ smoothed her dress out as she stood to greet Donna's other guests. Ben grinned when he saw the couple, looking forward to meeting them. CJ nearly choked on what she wasn't eating and then pasted a smile on her face.
"Mr. Vice President---"
He raised an eyebrow. "Are we back to that?"
"Well---"
"John. Call me John, CJ." She nodded and then glanced at his date. John cleared his throat. "CJ, I'm sorry. This is Julia Thorne. We work at the same firm. She's a friend of Amy's."
CJ smiled a little bit more and extended her hand. "Hi, Julia," she said. "It's nice to meet you."
"You, too," she replied in her accent that the specific alias used. "I've heard great things about you from Amy and John---"
CJ blushed. Not only was she on John's arm, but she was saying she admired the taller woman. "Oh, let's not gush," CJ said quickly. "It's probably not all true."
Amy chuckled. "It's very true. The sisterhood has to stick together."
John rolled his eyes and looked at Ben. "We're in the wrong room."
Ben chuckled. "There are beautiful women in here, Mr. Vice President... I think we're awfully lucky to be in this room."
CJ blushed a little more. "Well, you definitely don't mean me."
John smiled warmly, making her insides melt with his blue eyes. "I think he does."
She gasped softly. "Yes... sir."
Donna came into the room slowly, leaning on her cane while trying to look graceful and elegant. "Oh, good! You're all here!"
CJ grinned and stepped forward to hug Donna. "You look great."
"Thanks, Ceej," Donna murmured, after kissing her cheek. "Someone's coming by to get our drink orders soon. Sound good?"
"Oh, you have no idea," CJ said with a little laugh, before walking with the blonde to the rest of the group.
~*~
When John was certain that Ben had taken the bait that Sydney's alias provided, he stood up and came up behind CJ on the other side of the table. "CJ? May I speak with you a moment?"
"Well, I'm still having my coffee---"
"Please. This is about my book and---"
She groaned and pushed away from the table. "Fine. You get five minutes. Excuse me everyone."
John tugged on her hand when they were outside and pulled her into a large walk in closet. "Come here," he ordered gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't know---"
"You didn't know I was coming."
"No. I didn't know you were bringing Ben. I wasn't prepared. Julia didn't know, so she wouldn't have told me," he lied. "Clearly."
She nodded, eyeing him carefully. "Clearly," she muttered.
"You look fantastic," he added, smiling hopefully.
"We're in a coat closet," she hissed.
"And we're alone," he added.
"We can't stay out here and make out," she reminded him. "Someone's bound to see and Julia you can pass off as an acquaintance from work, but I don't know what you'd pass me off as, other than a colossal mistake---"
"A delicious woman that I love spending time with," he interrupted, taking her hands as she blushed and looked away. "Life's tough right now. But, it's going to get easier."
"Oh... John... I---"
He sighed. She stopped talking and shrugged. She didn't know that he knew about her private encounters with Leo, but he did know about them, and they troubled him more than he'd care to admit. Of course, he knew he couldn't push her. It would only divide them more, and the rift created might be irreparable.
"It's complicated."
He nodded. "I know it is."
"I really..."
"You really what?" He asked when she trailed off.
She blushed. "I really want to kiss you, though," she said softly.
He grinned and put his arm around her waist to pull her against her body. "I really want to kiss you, too," he whispered, letting his other hand come up and brush over her cheek. "You look fantastic. And, I mean that."
"You're not with Julia?"
"No," he replied honestly as he let the scent of her perfume drag him in again.
"Good," she whispered, before leaning up into him for a soft kiss.
~*~
Donna winked at Amy as she sipped her wine. "This wine is good."
Amy grinned and reached across the space between them to squeeze her hand. "I picked it because I know you love it."
"You're so good to me," Donna murmured, before leaning in to kiss Amy's temple tenderly. She then looked over at Sydney. "Julia? What did you get me?"
The brunette grinned at the couple. "Well, we have an audience. So, I can't show you yet."
Ben chuckled. "Pretend I'm not here."
"Won't CJ mind?" Sydney asked, winking at him before leaning in close to him and putting a hand on his chest.
"No... not at all. I can look, Julia---as long as I don't touch."
Donna chuckled, wondering why this charade was working. She had always given men more credit. "I suppose... I do really want my present."
Sydney stood up and slinked around the table. Donna remembered why she had once had a crush on the other woman, but as her eyes sought Amy's, she remembered why she loved Amy, and her former crush for Agent Bristow didn't seem to mean as much.
Her hands rested on Donna's bare shoulders as her lips descended on the back of her neck. "Mmm," Sydney purred. "Delicious."
Amy grinned and leaned forward, capturing Donna's glossy lips with hers. "I know," she murmured back to the woman behind her girlfriend. "She is."
They continued the scene for a few minutes. Sydney and Donna knew that CJ wasn't coming back into the room, so they weren't worried about getting interupted. They knew that Ben believed Julia was the agent Cole sent to retrieve the files, because he had been introduced to her once when he was hired by the Covenant. He hadn't been informed about Julia's "death," because he had been out of the loop, gathering information about other situations, and then preparing his re-entry into CJ's life.
Sydney looked up from Donna's shoulder and winked at Ben. "Would you like to join in?"
He shifted, looking very uncomfortable. "Oh... I don't think so."
"They'll be gone for a while," she promised. "And... I think you're cute."
Donna almost giggled. Sydney was laying it on very thick. Ben kept buying it, much to her disbelief. Amy pushed her lips against Donna's harder, sucking on her tongue and making her forget about the dialogue around them.
They continued to kiss, enjoying the moment.
And then, they heard the click of handcuffs and Ben's startled cry. "It's okay," Sydney murmured, before kissing the top of his balding head. "You're in good hands."
Ben growled as she secured the gag.
Donna picked up her cellphone and called Simon's number.
~*~
"John!" CJ panted as he slipped his fingers under her lace underwear, skirt already pushed up around her hips. He grinned and kissed her throat again. "Oh... John!"
He chuckled and pushed his finger inside of her while his thumb pressed down on her clit. She whimpered. He kissed her lips again and whispered: "Shhh. We're supposed to be quiet when getting it on in the closet."
"Don' care," she mumbled, arching up into his hand. "Keep going. Stop an' I'll kill you."
He grinned more and continued to kiss her, knowing that soon he would be buried inside of her, pinning her to the wall and making them both weak from desperate need. She arched up again when his hand became more aggressive, and then he released her, using his newly freed hand to pull her underwear aside.
"Lift up," he instructed. "Wrap around my---"
"I've had sex against a wall," she reminded him with a grin of her own. "Fuck me... please."
They moved together quickly, thrusting to achieve the quickest climax either of them had ever hoped for. John did not want to get caught by Agents Donovan or Parsons with his pants down---something like that would never die at the CIA.
She kissed him hard, begging silently for more. He gave her more until they both groaned into a shared explosion that left John panting for breath and CJ trembling in the aftershock. He let his lips brush over her forehead, tasting a little sweat with her makeup and natural flavour that he had always adored.
"That was incredible," she whispered.
"It was," he replied as they heard a loud scuffle in the room across the hall.
She gasped and turned her head. "What's going on?"
He moved away from her and started fixing his appearance. "I don't know---"
CJ moved her underwear back and pulled her skirt down. Before he knew it, she was out in the hall. He fixed his tie and stepped out, to hear her say: "Simon?!"
And then, CJ colapsed onto the floor.
~*~
Elena paced in her office. Finally, her assistant comes in and says: "Ma'am, the doctor's on the phone."
"Excellent. Thank you, Cindy."
Soon, she was picking up the phone. "Hi."
"Hi. What's up, Boss?"
"I need an extraction. An immediate extraction."
"What about your husband---"
"Screw that jackass!" She exclaimed. "I've been tagged. Ben's disappeared. It won't be long---"
"Okay, okay," Cole said softly. "Calm down, Ms. Derevko. I'll come personally and---"
"No. You can't. You'll be spotted, too," she hissed, pacing more. "Irina's daughter's here. She saw me. She knows who you are."
"Hey... I didn't know---" he paused and then switched subjects. "Okay. We'll get to it. I'll have an agent bring you the stuff you'll need to fake it out of there."
"Thank you," Elena said, before hanging up the phone.
~*~
CJ looked up when General Alexander and a stranger came into the conference room. "Ms. Cregg," the General said. "I know this has been a confusing couple of days---"
"General, what's going on?"
"Call me Kendall," he told her. "General Nicholas Alexander's an alias of mine."
Her face paled. "So... so the story Donna, John and Simon told me---it's really true."
Kendall nodded. "This is Jack Bristow, another operative of the CIA. You met his daughter, Sydney. She's also known as Julia---"
"John's date," CJ breathed. "Was this--- am I---" she stopped and sighed. "I don't know what to ask."
"You were used by an intelligence organisation that calls itself the---"
"Used?" She asked, eyes narrowed. "Used?! What do you mean?"
Kendall sighed and shifted his weight. "Please, let's sit. Soon, Agents Hoynes and Parsons will be joining us, and---"
"What about Simon?" She asked, voice small. "Was that really him?"
Jack nodded. "It was. Agent Donovan's death was staged because the man after you was a member of this organisation that has been plotting against the government for some time. He was going to use you in a much less comfortable way, but we were pushing too hard, and by the time they found other ways to position you, they knew who Donovan was, and---"
"Position me? Use me? Comfort?" CJ repeated, sounding awfully hollow. "What the hell happened to me?!"
~*~
For the first time since they had flown to Los Angeles, CJ felt a wave of calm as John entered the room. She got up and approached him, desperate to feel comforted and protected. He obliged wordlessly, hugging her to him. "I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, before kissing her cheek.
"They told me... a lot of things. Helen---"
"I know."
"But, you told me---"
"I had to keep up appearances," he murmured, hugging her as they moved to the table, Donna behind him.
CJ peeked at the blonde. "Donna, I---"
"Don't worry, CJ," Donna smiled at her. "I'm the one that's sorry. You yelling at me in the airport was understandable and---"
"I shouldn't have... you were doing your job."
"You didn't know what that job was, and with everything that's been going on..." she trailed off and put a hand on CJ's arm. "How are you holding up?"
"Not good," she admitted. "I... I feel violated."
Donna squeezed her arm and took a seat as Sydney and Agent Vaughn came in. CJ looked up into John's eyes, feeling her own well up with tears. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"You didn't hypnotise me to sleep with me, did you?" She asked, even though she knew the answer.
"Never. I want you to want me on your own," he promised. She nodded silently. He kissed her forehead, ignoring the disgusted look on Jack's face behind them. "Let's sit, okay?"
"Okay," she said quietly.
The meeting took a while, but when it was over, they were given time to relax. CJ looked up at John and asked him if she could go back with him, but he shook his head and said that she had one more meeting. Deep down, she knew exactly who the meeting was with.
When Simon Donovan came into the room, the others left. John squeezed her hand and kissed its palm, before getting up and leaving the room. She looked at the ghost and whimpered. "I can't believe you're alive. I thought--- I thought---"
He sighed and gave her a little lopsided smile to reassure her. "I know. I didn't want to put you through that."
She nodded slightly and looked down at her feet. "Yeah."
"I'm sorry. For what it's worth."
"We wasted a lot of time," she said quietly. "I'm really glad you're alive and well... but this is weird for me, and I want to go and---"
He nodded. "Yeah. Let's keep in touch though---when you're ready, okay?"
She let out a breath she hadn't been aware of holding. "Okay. Secret messages and all that spy stuff?"
He chuckled a little. "Yeah. Sure. Why not. Do you know how to use invisible ink?"
"Ah... no," she replied. "I suppose they taught you that---"
"I was a boyscout before I was Special Agent Sunshine," he joked lightly. "I know all about secret inks."
She raised an eyebrow. "A badge in covert operations?"
"The CIA really liked that one."
She nodded. "I'll bet they did."
He touched her arm. She flinched. He sighed. "Yeah. We're not up to that yet."
"I... you... you were dead," she tried to explain.
He nodded, frowning a little. "I know. I missed you."
"I missed you, too," she said, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "I didn't expect to see you again---"
"Shhh," he whispered, pulling her into a hug. She whimpered and sobbed softly. "I know this whole thing has been too much for you, but you're going to get through it. Agents Parsons and Hoynes will be there for you, and Ms. Gardner---"
"I know," she whispered, before hiccuping.
"You're in good hands."
She nodded and hugged him more tightly, too afraid to let go. If she did, she feared he would become an apparition and fade away.
~*~
Leo looked at the phone in disbelief before putting it to his ear again. "Excuse me? What the hell happened?"
Jed looked up at him, eyebrows raised. Leo sighed and then said: "Okay. He's here. It might be better if I tell him. Yes. Yes, I know. Yah. Right. He'll want to make the arrangements himself. Okay. Bye."
"What's going on, Leo?"
"Where was Abbey today?" Leo asked, trying to get the information out, but not knowing how to do it.
"Um... something to do with women. I know this. I do. Oh. Wait. She went to Texas. Something about cowgirls in the rodeo---"
"Jed. Something happened."
The President's eyes widened. "What do you mean? You never--- you called me Jed, so--- what? Is it Abbey?"
Leo sighed. "She had a heart attack, sir."
"Is she---" Jed stopped talking and studied Leo's face. "My wife is dead?"
Leo nodded slowly, feeling his own eyes tear up as his friend's did. They sat in silence, holding onto each other's hands, for some time, until Jed stirred and rose to call their children to the White House.
When he was alone, he cried private tears for the First Lady he had grown to love despite their differences, and then he picked up his phone to call his staff back in.
~*~
"John," CJ said into the phone as she moved around her office, gathering the statements everyone had dropped off on her desk. "I'm going crazy. I mean, first, I have a lot of things to deal with. Like me getting used as a pawn for a huge act of espionage, but then the First Lady's death---"
"I know it's a lot," he said sincerely. "But, I know you're strong enough to handle it."
"I wish you were here to hold me."
"I have to stay here. Paperwork to file. Evidence to go over."
She frowned. "I know. When you do get back though---"
"When I get back, you're going to take some time away from me and figure out exactly what you want. I want you for my own, but if you don't want me in the same capacity, then it won't work between us and you know that, too."
She sighed. "Yeah. I do."
"So, take some time. Do whatever you have to do. And then come and find me if you want to."
"Yeah."
"If it'll tip the scales in my favour, some day I'll be president."
She found herself smiling. "Oh, does it ever," she murmured. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Carol flagging her down outside in the bullpen. She sighed. "I've got to go. It's time to read the obituary."
"Hey, CJ?"
"Yes, John?"
He said: "I'm sorry. I know you were pretty close with Abbey. Her death must be hard on you."
She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks. Listen, I've got to---"
"Go do a job. I'll be watching."
Those last three words were more of a comfort than she cared to admit to herself. She got through the briefing and then found herself being ushered into Leo's office. He looked nervous.
"CJ," he said gently. "Listen. I know this is a bad time, but I can't hold onto this for much longer, and---"
She sighed and sat down. "You sound like someone else I know. Yeah," she agreed, nodding. "So, let's talk."
"I know about---"
She swallowed and cut him off with a raised hand. "Leo. I had an affair with Hoynes when he was a senator, and... and... we recently rekindled that flame, or disaster, or whatever. And, it wasn't fair of me to initiate something with you, but---"
"CJ," he cut her off this time. "I know. I was briefed by Agent Vaughn."
"Vaughn. The guy who works for... Kendall. You. He. I---"
"I'm CIA, too, although not a very active field agent," he confessed quietly. "I was aware of everything---"
"But---"
He smiled a little. "Let me finish."
"Okay," she breathed, wind knocked out of her sails.
"I let you complete the task you were programmed to do, because we needed to get information on that guy's boss."
She bit her lip and looked down at her folded hands. "So, you didn't want to sleep with me."
"No, I really did want to sleep with you. I still do. You're incredible, Claudia Jean."
"I... I'm so embarrassed."
"Did you want to sleep with me?"
"You're a catch," she assured him awkwardly. "But... I don't know if you're my catch. I... I know I wanted you. I think I still do. But, Simon and John and you... and everything---"
"I know," he said softly, nodding as he took her hands in his. "I do. I want you to take time. Go on a vacation if you want to... take Josh or Toby. Go see Sam, even... or your family. Sort your things out, and let me know."
"No matter what, though," she said unsteadily. "We'll still be able to work together, right?"
He nodded. "I wouldn't want to lose you."
She stood up and started towards the door. But, she turned around and stooped down to kiss the top of his head. "You're a good guy, Leo. I... I don't want to lose you, either."
"You won't," he promised.
~*~
Sydney held her gun as Vaughn opened the door to the warehouse that had been marked through global positioning, the building that was said to contain the files CJ had unknowingly stolen from Leo.
"Careful," she hissed. "If they're still here---"
"Syd, it's okay," he whispered.
She kept her eyes trained on the darkness, knowing that if it was involving the Derevko sisters, anything could happen.
Suddenly, the lights flicked on. Vaughn startled, aiming his gun at various points in the room. No shots were fired though. "Vaughn," Sydney called out as she spotted a stool in the corner of the room. "Vaughn. What's this?"
"I..." he trailed off as he jogged after her to catch up. Sydney already had the item in her hands. As she opened the envelope, he warned her to be careful, but she didn't pay him any mind, knowing deep down that they had lost, that there would be no harm inflicted on them in this building---because it was being used as a clue. A clue to tell the CIA that the three women had slipped out of their clutches again.
She pulled the photograph out and smiled despite the situation. She had never noticed how alike the three looked until they were staring back at her in a picture. "Irina, Katya, and Elena," she told him, her finger lingering on the last woman.
"Elena?" Vaughn said in disbelief.
"Yeah."
"Syd. That's the First Lady. She's dead. She died of a heart attack. We saw her funeral procession on television---"
"She's not dead. Just like my mother wasn't dead when we thought she was---both times."
"That's Abbey Bartlet---"
"Elena Derevko," she whispered, before picking her cellphone up and calling her father to tell him the news.
