See part 1 for disclaimer




*********************One Year Earlier*************

	 As winter turned to spring, C.J.’s mood began to
improve.  It had been nearly a year since Danny had
left.  It was time for her to move on with her life.
It had certainly surprised her when Toby had asked her
out to dinner.  She was afraid to ask if it was just
as friends.  In fact, she was not really sure if she
wanted to know the answer right now.  They had decided
to go to an Italian restaurant in Georgetown.  She
looked at the clock and realized that he was coming to
pick her up in ten minutes.  As she walked into the
living room, she heard the doorbell ring.  Well, he
was early just, as she had expected.

	 “You were early, just as I thought you would be.”
She said to Toby as she opened the door.

	 “You did.”  He said with a small smile.

	 “Yeah, you’re always early to work, so I was certain
you would be early for...”

	 “A date.”  He said quietly.

	 “Yeah”  She said with a smile.

	 “Are you ready to go?”

	 “Yes”

	 “Okay”  He said as he held the door for her.

********************Present
Day***************************


	 “Do you have a minute?”  C.J asked as she walked into
Toby’s office.

	 “Yeah, what’s going on?”

	 “I just needed to talk.”

	 “The briefing wasn’t bad this morning.”

	 “He was in my office when I came back from the staff
meeting this morning.”

	 “How did it go.”

	 “Not as bad as I thought it would.  He seemed the
same as before.  I guess he’s no longer angry at me.”

	 “Did you tell him...”

	 “That I have gone on with my life.”

	 “Among other things.”

	 “What other things would you be talking about?”  C.J
asked with a smile.

	 “Oh, maybe that you and I are dating.”

	 “The way things ended between Danny and I,  there is
in my opinion no chance of him wanting me back.  I
didn’t handle it well, and you know it.  Hell, you
were there.  Anyway, you have nothing to worry about.”

	 “I’m not worried.”

	 “Yes, you are.  I saw it in your eyes when I told you
that he was coming back.”

	 “How many times have I told you that I am not
worried?”

	 “You are denying it too much.  It obvious to me at
least that you are worried because of Danny coming
back.  And, I believe that I have told you everytime
we have this conversation, that you have nothing to
worry about.  I’m happy and I don’t want any part of
my life to change.  I’ll talk to you later, okay.”

	 “Okay”  Toby said as he walked over to where she
stood.  He placed a hand on her shoulder, and kissed
her cheek.

	 “I love you.”  C.J whispered before she went out the
door.

	 After C.J left the office, Toby walked back to his
chair and sat down.  He sat staring out the window
thinking.  He knew that C.J was right when she said he
was worried.  He didn’t know what Danny’s return would
do to his relationship with C.J.  It wasn’t that he
was unsure of how she felt.  He knew that she loved
him.  It was the way her relationship with Danny had
ended.  He wondered if the circumstances had been
different, if C.J and Danny would have still have been
together.  Well, there was only one way he could find
out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	 It was nearly seven o’clock when C.J was finally able
to call a full lid and go home.  It had been a very
long day, and she was looking forward to going home
and relaxing.  As she walked through her door she
wondered why she even bothered to keep her apartment.
She spent most of her time away from the White House
at Toby’s apartment.  She changed and then left to go
to Toby’s.  It was a little after eight when she got
there.

	 “Toby” she called as she came through the door.

	 “In the office.”

	 “Okay, what are you working on.”

	 “One of the speeches the President will give in
Texas.”  Toby said as he saved the speech, and turned
off his computer. “But I’ll work on it at the office.”

	 “Why don’t we order some Chinese.”

	 “Okay , I guess you want the usual.”

	 “Yeah.” C.J says as she walks out of the room.  After
ordering the food, Toby joined her in the living room.

	 “You were right earlier, you know.”

	 “When?”

	 “In my office when you said that I was worried.”  He
was standing near the bar that separated the living
room from the dining room.  C.J walked over to where
he was.

	 “What exactly are you worried about?”

	 “The way your relationship with Danny ended.”

	 “The tape on Hard Copy.  That’s what you think ended
it, right?”

	 “Yeah.”

	 “It was the catalyst.  It ended because we could not
stick together through the hard times.  That’s the
reason it ended.  I do not want him back.  And if he
wants me back, then I’m afraid that he is too late.
I’m in love with someone else.  It’s not like it is a
secret that we are together.  He’ll find out soon.
And hopefully, he’ll be happy because I am happy.”

	 Toby reached out and embraced her.  “I love you.” He
whispered in her ear.

	 “I love you, too” She whispered as she put her arms
around him.









































__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

See Part 1 for disclaimer
*********************One Year Earlier*************

	 As winter turned to spring, C.J.’s mood began to
improve.  It had been nearly a year since Danny had
left.  It was time for her to move on with her life.
It had certainly surprised her when Toby had asked her
out to dinner.  She was afraid to ask if it was just
as friends.  In fact, she was not really sure if she
wanted to know the answer right now.  They had decided
to go to an Italian restaurant in Georgetown.  She
looked at the clock and realized that he was coming to
pick her up in ten minutes.  As she walked into the
living room, she heard the doorbell ring.  Well, he
was early just, as she had expected.

	 “You were early, just as I thought you would be.”
She said to Toby as she opened the door.

	 “You did.”  He said with a small smile.

	 “Yeah, you’re always early to work, so I was certain
you would be early for...”

	 “A date.”  He said quietly.

	 “Yeah”  She said with a smile.

	 “Are you ready to go?”

	 “Yes”

	 “Okay”  He said as he held the door for her.

********************Present
Day***************************


	 “Do you have a minute?”  C.J asked as she walked into
Toby’s office.

	 “Yeah, what’s going on?”

	 “I just needed to talk.”

	 “The briefing wasn’t bad this morning.”

	 “He was in my office when I came back from the staff
meeting this morning.”

	 “How did it go.”

	 “Not as bad as I thought it would.  He seemed the
same as before.  I guess he’s no longer angry at me.”

	 “Did you tell him...”

	 “That I have gone on with my life.”

	 “Among other things.”

	 “What other things would you be talking about?”  C.J
asked with a smile.

	 “Oh, maybe that you and I are dating.”

	 “The way things ended between Danny and I,  there is
in my opinion no chance of him wanting me back.  I
didn’t handle it well, and you know it.  Hell, you
were there.  Anyway, you have nothing to worry about.”

	 “I’m not worried.”

	 “Yes, you are.  I saw it in your eyes when I told you
that he was coming back.”

	 “How many times have I told you that I am not
worried?”

	 “You are denying it too much.  It obvious to me at
least that you are worried because of Danny coming
back.  And, I believe that I have told you everytime
we have this conversation, that you have nothing to
worry about.  I’m happy and I don’t want any part of
my life to change.  I’ll talk to you later, okay.”

	 “Okay”  Toby said as he walked over to where she
stood.  He placed a hand on her shoulder, and kissed
her cheek.

	 “I love you.”  C.J whispered before she went out the
door.

	 After C.J left the office, Toby walked back to his
chair and sat down.  He sat staring out the window
thinking.  He knew that C.J was right when she said he
was worried.  He didn’t know what Danny’s return would
do to his relationship with C.J.  It wasn’t that he
was unsure of how she felt.  He knew that she loved
him.  It was the way her relationship with Danny had
ended.  He wondered if the circumstances had been
different, if C.J and Danny would have still have been
together.  Well, there was only one way he could find
out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	 It was nearly seven o’clock when C.J was finally able
to call a full lid and go home.  It had been a very
long day, and she was looking forward to going home
and relaxing.  As she walked through her door she
wondered why she even bothered to keep her apartment.
She spent most of her time away from the White House
at Toby’s apartment.  She changed and then left to go
to Toby’s.  It was a little after eight when she got
there.

	 “Toby” she called as she came through the door.

	 “In the office.”

	 “Okay, what are you working on.”

	 “One of the speeches the President will give in
Texas.”  Toby said as he saved the speech, and turned
off his computer. “But I’ll work on it at the office.”

	 “Why don’t we order some Chinese.”

	 “Okay , I guess you want the usual.”

	 “Yeah.” C.J says as she walks out of the room.  After
ordering the food, Toby joined her in the living room.

	 “You were right earlier, you know.”

	 “When?”

	 “In my office when you said that I was worried.”  He
was standing near the bar that separated the living
room from the dining room.  C.J walked over to where
he was.

	 “What exactly are you worried about?”

	 “The way your relationship with Danny ended.”

	 “The tape on Hard Copy.  That’s what you think ended
it, right?”

	 “Yeah.”

	 “It was the catalyst.  It ended because we could not
stick together through the hard times.  That’s the
reason it ended.  I do not want him back.  And if he
wants me back, then I’m afraid that he is too late.
I’m in love with someone else.  It’s not like it is a
secret that we are together.  He’ll find out soon.
And hopefully, he’ll be happy because I am happy.”

	 Toby reached out and embraced her.  “I love you.” He
whispered in her ear.

	 “I love you, too” She whispered as she put her arms
around him.




to be continued....


































__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

See part 1 for disclaimer





*************************Present Day*****************

	 “I was surprised when the request for your
credentials came.”

	 “My editor decided I was worth more as a White House
correspondent.  It was either come back or lose my
job.  Since I like the job, I decided to take my
chances with coming back.  Hey, what happened to
Gail?”

	 “I took Gail to my apartment shortly after you left.
She’s still there.  I’ll tell her you’re back.”

	 “Maybe I’ll stop by sometime to see my fish.”

	 “Danny...”

	 “Okay, I guess that wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever
had, was it?”

	 “No.”  C.J said with a slight smile.

	 “I guess that I’ll go now.  I thought it would be
better if I came to see you before the briefing.  It
was nice seeing you again.”

	 “You too.”


***********************One and a half years
earlier*************


	 Christmas was turning out much better than she had
expected it to, C.J thought as she surveyed the scene
in her apartment.
It was Christmas Eve, and she had invited a few
friends over for a dinner party.  Everyone seemed to
be having a good time, including the hostess.

	 “Need any help with the food, Claudia Jean.”  Josh
asked as her walked into her kitchen.

	 “No I think I have it under control.  Well I guess
that you could take the salad out.  There’s different
types of salad dressing in the refrigerator.  You can
take those out too.”

	 “Okay”

	 Josh took the salad out, and came back into the
kitchen.

	 “I haven’t really had much of a chance to talk to you
lately.  How are you doing?”

	 “Some days are easier than others.  But I guess I’m
okay.”

	 “You sure?”

	 “Yeah, I guess.”

	 “Okay, what do you mean by ‘I guess’?”

	 “Josh, I gave up someone who made me happy.  Why, to
keep my job.  I sometimes wonder if I did the right
thing.”

	 “What have you decided.”

	 “I love my job.  So I guess I did the right thing.
That doesn’t help me when I wake up in the middle of
the night.  Or when I hear a sad song on the radio and
cry.  I’m doing better than I was.  Of course it helps
that the tabloids have finally decided to leave me
alone.  I guess they have decided I didn’t create
enough of a scandal.”

	 “Have you talked to Danny.”

	 “I don’t know where he went to.  Even if I did, I
don’t think that he would talk to me.  He was so angry
at me when he left.  He said that he would never
return to the White House as long as I was Press
Secretary.  So, I guess he never wants to see me
again.  And I really don’t blame him.  I could have
fought, but I didn’t.”

	 “Hold on, you couldn’t have fought Leo.  He thought
it was a conflict of interest.”

	 “I know he was worried I was feeding stories to
Danny.  But I wasn’t.  He wouldn’t have taken a lead
from me.  Josh, it is over now, and I HAVE to put it
behind me.”

	 “You could always make that your New Year’s
resolution.”

	 “Yeah, I could.”

***********************Present Day*****************


	 Danny walked into the office area outside of the
pressroom, after speaking with C.J.  He sat down at
the cubicle where he had placed his laptop.  Seeing
C.J., again had not been as awkward as he had thought
it would be.  In the two years he had been away, much
of his anger at her had faded.  He wondered if there
was anything there to salvage.  Or, if she would even
want to try again.

	 “Hey, stranger, it’s been a long time.”  He heard
someone say.  He looked up, and saw it was Katie.

	 “Yeah, Katie I guess it has been.  How are you?”

	 “Fine, you?”

	 “Fine”

	 “You know, I never thought I’d see you her again.”

	 “Neither did I.  I had no choice.  It was come back
or lose the job.”

	 “So, have you talked to her, yet?”

	 “Yeah.”

	 “If you don’t mind me asking, how did it go?”

	 “Not as bad as I expected.  That’s all I really want
to say.

	 “Okay”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	 C.J went back to her office after the briefing.  The
day had not been as bad as she had expected it to be.
When she went in Josh was waiting for her.

	 “You’re the second person to be waiting for me
today.”

	 “Really, so who was the first?”

	 “Who do you think?”

	 “Danny”

	 “Yeah”

	 “How did it go?” Josh asked as C.J sat down on the
couch beside him.

	 “Well, we didn’t get into a shouting match.  It
wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.”

	 “That’s good.  I’ll talk to you later.”

	 "Okay"




to be continued...



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

See part 1 for disclaimer

*****************Present Day*********************

	 It had been three weeks since the credential request
had come across her desk.  It was fairly routine for
her to receive requests, but the name on this request
had really thrown her.  When he had left two years
before, Danny had said that he would never be back at
the White House during her tenure as Press Secretary.
Well, it looked as if he had been wrong.  She wondered
if it was his choice, or if his editor thought had
ordered him to return.  When he left, everything
between them had been so raw.  She hoped that he had
been able to go on with his life, as she had.  She
guessed that she would find out today.  C.J looked at
her watch, and realized that she was late for the
senior staff meeting.


	 Leo was talking about the trip to Texas which was
scheduled in three days when she came into his office.

	 “Well, C.J since this is the first staff meeting that
you have been TEN minutes late for, I guess I’ll
overlook it this time.

	 “Yes, Sir.” She said as she sat down on the sofa
beside Toby.

	 “Okay, back to the Texas trip.  Toby you can fill C.J
in on the earlier part of the meeting later.  C.J you
can tell the press that Hoynes will be making the
trip.  Also tell them that we leave at Andrews at
approximately 4 a.m.  A time which I know all in this
room are very delighted about.  If no one has anything
else to add, that’s it.”

	 C.J and Toby went to his office to discuss the parts
of the meeting she had missed.

	 “Ten minutes late, that’s not like you.  Josh or Sam
I would believe it of, but not you.  What’s going on?”

	 “I think that you of all people know exactly what is
troubling me.”

	 “That is today isn’t.”

	 “Yes, I really hope that he has gone on with his
life.”

	 “The way you have.”

	 “Yeah.”

**********One and a half years earlier**************

	 C.J looked at her calendar, and realized that it had
been six months since Danny Concannon had left her
life.  It had taken a while but she had won back Leo’s
trust again, and she had the respect of the press
corps back.  But, she didn’t feel as if she had a
life.  It was not like her life was all that different
now, it was just that there was no one to really share
it with. She had her friends among the White House
staff, Josh, Sam, Donna, Toby, and even Leo.  But it
wasn’t the same.  The was no one in the pressroom who
was asking questions so everyone else would understand
what the hell came out of her mouth.  There was no one
to come by to see Gail.  Every sad song she heard on
the radio made her cry.  That night she wasn’t alone,
though.  The entire staff was on Air Force One
returning from a state visit to Germany.  It was late
at night and everyone aboard the plane was asleep
except for Josh, Toby, Sam, and C.J.  They were
playing the card game rook.  It was Josh and Sam
against C.J and Toby.  Josh was dealing.

	 “I bid 100” said Sam.

	 “I pass”  said Toby.

	 “Me too” said Josh.

	 “110” said C.J.

	 “115” said Sam.

	 “120” said C.J.

	 “Take it” said Sam.  C.J picked up the cards in the
middle of the table.  She organized the cards and
named red as the trump color.

	 “You know this is really better than playing poker
with the President, but don’t dare tell him I said
that.”  Sam said

	 “You realize that we all have something to hold over
Sam’s head now.  What are you going to give us not to
tell the President about that very incriminating
statement, Princeton.”  Toby replied with an evil
grin.

	 “Okay, I quit, but at least we are not being quizzed
about inane and useless trivia right now.”  Sam said.

	 “C.J., weren’t you going to drop kick him into a
fjord the next time we were in this part of the
world.” Josh said.

	 “Yeah, but since we are not really flying over
Scandinavia I don’t have the chance this time.”

	 It was two hours later when Sam and Josh finally gave
up on playing cards and decided to get some sleep.

	 “You’ve become just as much as an insomniac as I am.”
Toby remarked to C.J.  They were walking over to the
other side of the plane, so they wouldn’t disturb the
other as they talked.

	 “I am.”

	 “Yeah.  How are you doing?”

	 “Well, the tabloids have finally decided that I have
a boring life.  They are leaving me alone now. I feel
like I am starting to get my life back.  Listen, I
want to thank you.  You have been such a good friend
throughout this entire ordeal.”

	 “That’s what friends are for.  You would have done
the same for any of us.  Just don’t let the part about
me out.  I have a reputation to maintain.”

	 “Very funny.  I promise that I won’t tell anyone that
you wear your heart on your sleeve.”

**********************Present
Day***********************

	 “C.J,”  Carol said as C.J walked back into her office
after the staff meeting.

	 “Yeah, Carol.”

	 Carol glanced towards C.J.’s office without saying a
word.

	 “Is he in there?”

	 Carol nodded.

	 “Thanks”  C.J said, while thinking ‘I might as well
get this over with.’  She walked into her office.

	 “Hello, C.J.”  Danny said as she walked in.

	 “Hello, Danny.”






to be continued...






















__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

Disclaimer:  The West Wing and the characters are the
property of Aaron Sorkin, Warner Brothers and NBC. No
copyright infringement is intended.  No profit is
being made from this.

Author's Note:  The main part of this story takes
place in June 2002.  The flashbacks begin in June
2000.

Summary:  Danny returns 2 years after ending things
with CJ, but she is seeing someone else.

Let Go Let Me



	 It had been nearly two years since he was last in
Washington, D.C.  Two years, trying to get over her.
He wasn’t really certain if he had even begun to
start.  He had to figure out how to face her again,
and he had less than twenty-four to do it in.  In
twenty-four hours, Danny Concannon would be back on
his old beat, the White House, and facing the woman
who had broken his heart two years earlier, C.J.
Cregg.

**********Two Years Earlier******************

	 It was a beautiful, bright June morning as Danny
Concannon walked into the White House.  For the last
month he had walking on air.  He had finally gotten
C.J to go out on a real date with him.  Although, it
was a beautiful day, he was not in the best of moods.
He had received a call that morning warning him that
the tabloid television show Hard Copy  had video of he
and C.J having a picnic lunch on the mall over
Memorial Day weekend.  He had to tell her the bad news
before anyone else could.

	 “Morning, Carol, where’s C.J.”

	 “She’s in a senior staff meeting.  What’s going on,
Leo, didn’t look too happy this morning.  And I think
that most of his anger is directed at C.J.”

	 “Oh, hell!!  I guess that you should know that Hard
Copy has a video of she and I having picnic on the
mall over Memorial Day.”

	 “That’s going to open up a whole new can of worms.”

	 “Yeah”

	 C.J walked into her office and found Danny standing
there with Carol.  “In my office, we NEED to talk.”

	 “Okay” Danny said as he followed her into his office.

	 “I don’t know if you know about this...”

	 “Hard Copy?”

	 “Yeah”

	 “I was coming to tell you.  A ‘friend’ of mine called
and told me about it about four this morning.”

	 “We can’t do this anymore.”

	 “Do what?”

	 “See each other socially.”

	 “You’re kidding me right.”  Danny said.  He couldn’t
believe that she was doing this.

	 “You don’t know how much I wish I was.”

	 “Why?  Did Leo order this.”

	 “No, Leo did not ‘order’ this.  But he is right about
it being a conflict of interest.”

	 “You have never feed me a story.  In fact, when you
tried I stopped you.  It’s is no one’s damn business
what you or I do when we are not working.”

	 “It’s not what it is that matters, it’s what it looks
like.  I told Sam the same thing over Laurie, and he
said the same thing that you just said about it being
no one’s damn business.  But as long as one of us is
White House Press Secretary and the other is a White
House reporter, then it is news.  And unfortunately,
it IS news.  I’m sorry, but we have to end it here and
now.  If you think that this isn’t breaking my heart
then you are WRONG.”  As the last word came from C.J’s
mouth she heard her office door slam shut.  Danny had
left.

	 Danny left D.C., two weeks later.  He thought that he
would not be back, at least as long as C.J was Press
Secretary.  It would be too painful.  But fate had
something else in mind for him.


to be continued...



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

That was great, I can't believe that this is your
first TWW fanfic.
Jodie
--- Katie McNamara <WENNfreak@...> wrote:
> These arent my characters, blah blah blah.....this
> is my first TWW
> fanfic, BE NICE!!!
>
>  SECOND THOUGHTS
>                by Katie McNamara
>
>
>  At the sound of gunfire, Danny Concannon ran out of
> the
> building and through the maze of policemen and cop
> cars.  He knew he
> should be taking notes and reporting on the
> shooting, but right then,
> he didn't care.  The only thing that mattered was
> finding CJ.
>  "CJ!" Danny called as he ran across the dimly lit
> pavement,
> hardly noticing when he bumped straight into a
> slightly disoriented
> Josh Lyman.
>  "Josh, have you seen CJ?"
>  Josh wiped the sweat from his forehead before he
> answered.
>  "Danny. Yeah. They took her to the hospital.  She's
> got a hit
> in the shoulder and a broken wrist but it didn't
> sound too
> serious."
>  Danny nodded slightly and thanked Josh as he turned
> and headed
> for his car.
>  As he drove to the hospital, Danny tried his best
> not to think
> about CJ lying helplessly in a hospital bed, and
> finally resorted to
> turning on the radio.
>  The song that was playing was one that was familiar
> to Danny,
> but he couldn't remember where he'd heard it before.
>  Then it
> hit him,
> as his mind wandered back to a night a couple years
> ago after
> President Bartlett had just won the election.  The
> staff was
> celebrating and as the music started, he spotted CJ
> in the center of
> the room, the top buttons of her blouse open, her
> hair seductively
> framing her face.  But the one thing that really
> caught Danny's
> attention was her smile.  He remembered watching in
> amazement as CJ
> entertained her friends with `The Jackal'.  Later
> that night,
> Danny
> finally got up the courage to introduce himself to
> CJ.  He remembered
> being impressed by her height and not being able to
> take his eyes off
> her smile.  He knew from then on, he was going to
> enjoy going to work
> every morning much more.
>  Not long after, Danny arrived at the hospital where
> he found
> Sam, Mandy, Leo, Toby, Gina and Josh waiting in the
> Lobby.
>  Danny's heart skipped a beat.  Everyone looked so
> sad.  Could
> CJ have taken a turn for the worst?  Finally Sam
> made eye contact
> with
> Danny and walked over.
>  "Hey Sam. How's CJ?"
>  "The doctor says she's going to be fine.  It's
> Charlie
> we're
> worried about.  He took a bullet in the chest and
> the doctors say
> he's
> in critical condition.
>  Danny looked around at the people he had watched
> run the White
> House for the better part of the last two years
> before returning his
> attention to Sam.
>  "Where's the President?"
>  "He's in Charlie's room with Zoe.  The First Lady
> is on her
> way."
>  "Okay.  Look, I'm going in to see CJ.  Tell the
> President and
> Zoe that I hope Charlie gets better."
>  As Sam headed back to his chair, Danny started down
> the long,
> white hallway to CJ's room.
>  Danny opened the door quietly and silently moved to
> the
> bedside where he could get a good look at her.  The
> reporter softly
> ran his fingers over a bruise across her cheek and
> brushed a hand
> through her soft hair.
>  He thought about their talk in her office that
> afternoon.  He
> knew she was right. He had no right to tell her how
> to do her job.
> Then again, she had no right to tell him how to do
> his job either.
> But he had to admit that most times, she was right.
> CJ knew that her
> job was to protect the image of the President and
> his staff and Danny
> knew that CJ would never do anything that would hurt
> her friends.
>  Danny looked at his watch, and noticing it was two
> AM, decided
> it was time to get some sleep.  Danny leaned over
> once more to make
> sure CJ was comfortable and pressed a light kiss to
> her forehead
> before resting his head on the back of the chair and
> closing his
> eyes.
>  The next morning, the redheaded reporter was
> awakened by the
> sun shinning in through the window.  Danny sat up
> and stretched
> broadly.  He stood and looked at his watch 7:30.
> Danny couldn't
> remember the last time he'd had such a long and
> trying day.  Just
> then
> Danny heard a stirring and looked up to see CJ open
> her eyes.
>  "Danny, what are you doing here?" CJ asked in a
> somewhat
> groggy voice.
>  "Making sure that you were going to pull through,"
> Danny said
> with a gentle smile in his voice.  CJ groaned
> painfully as she
> attempted to sit.  Danny was at her side in an
> instant and helped CJ
> move to a sitting position with a couple pillows
> propped behind her
> back.
>  CJ straightened the blankets across her lap and
> pushed a piece
> of hair behind her ear before she spoke.
>  "Danny, what happened out there last night?"
>  Danny walked back to the bed and sat in the chair
> he had
> pulled up hours before.
>  "Gina said something about a couple of kids.  The
> shooter was
> in a third story window.  They got you and Charlie."
> Danny took a
> deep
> breath before he continued.   "Last I heard, he was
> in critical
> condition."
>  CJ leaned back against the pillows.
>  "Oh my god," she whispered.  "Danny, how could we
> have let
> this happen?" CJ asked as she looked into Danny's
> eyes.
>  "CJ, Gina said she never saw anything until it was
> too late,
> no one could have stopped it."
>  CJ leaned forward and stretched out an arm,
> forgetting about
> her wounded shoulder.
>  "Danny!...Ow!"
>  CJ reeled back and grabbed her shoulder in pain.
>  Danny looked at CJ and suddenly noticed tears in
> her eyes.  He
> moved to the edge of the bed and folded CJ into his
> embrace.
> Finally,
> the dam burst.  Danny gently ran his fingers over
> her hair and let
> her
> cry against him.
>  "I don't understand how this could have happened.
> I mean,
> there are men who make their living securing
> buildings for the
> President.  I don't understand how they could have
> missed him.  I
> feel
> like we let him down."
>  "CJ, its not your fault. Maybe it is their fault.
> But its not
> yours and right now there's nothing we can do."
>  CJ lay her head on Danny's shoulder and let his
> calm voice
> relax her.
>  "Oh, Danny. I was so scared," she confessed with
> tears
>
=== message truncated ===


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com/

These arent my characters, blah blah blah.....this is my first TWW
fanfic, BE NICE!!!

	 SECOND THOUGHTS
                by Katie McNamara


	 At the sound of gunfire, Danny Concannon ran out of the
building and through the maze of policemen and cop cars.  He knew he
should be taking notes and reporting on the shooting, but right then,
he didn't care.  The only thing that mattered was finding CJ.
	 "CJ!" Danny called as he ran across the dimly lit pavement,
hardly noticing when he bumped straight into a slightly disoriented
Josh Lyman.
	 "Josh, have you seen CJ?"
	 Josh wiped the sweat from his forehead before he answered.
	 "Danny. Yeah. They took her to the hospital.  She's got a hit
in the shoulder and a broken wrist but it didn't sound too
serious."
	 Danny nodded slightly and thanked Josh as he turned and headed
for his car.
	 As he drove to the hospital, Danny tried his best not to think
about CJ lying helplessly in a hospital bed, and finally resorted to
turning on the radio.
	 The song that was playing was one that was familiar to Danny,
but he couldn't remember where he'd heard it before.  Then it
hit him,
as his mind wandered back to a night a couple years ago after
President Bartlett had just won the election.  The staff was
celebrating and as the music started, he spotted CJ in the center of
the room, the top buttons of her blouse open, her hair seductively
framing her face.  But the one thing that really caught Danny's
attention was her smile.  He remembered watching in amazement as CJ
entertained her friends with `The Jackal'.  Later that night,
Danny
finally got up the courage to introduce himself to CJ.  He remembered
being impressed by her height and not being able to take his eyes off
her smile.  He knew from then on, he was going to enjoy going to work
every morning much more.
	 Not long after, Danny arrived at the hospital where he found
Sam, Mandy, Leo, Toby, Gina and Josh waiting in the Lobby.
	 Danny's heart skipped a beat.  Everyone looked so sad.  Could
CJ have taken a turn for the worst?  Finally Sam made eye contact
with
Danny and walked over.
	 "Hey Sam. How's CJ?"
	 "The doctor says she's going to be fine.  It's Charlie
we're
worried about.  He took a bullet in the chest and the doctors say
he's
in critical condition.
	 Danny looked around at the people he had watched run the White
House for the better part of the last two years before returning his
attention to Sam.
	 "Where's the President?"
	 "He's in Charlie's room with Zoe.  The First Lady is on her
way."
	 "Okay.  Look, I'm going in to see CJ.  Tell the President and
Zoe that I hope Charlie gets better."
	 As Sam headed back to his chair, Danny started down the long,
white hallway to CJ's room.
	 Danny opened the door quietly and silently moved to the
bedside where he could get a good look at her.  The reporter softly
ran his fingers over a bruise across her cheek and brushed a hand
through her soft hair.
	 He thought about their talk in her office that afternoon.  He
knew she was right. He had no right to tell her how to do her job.
Then again, she had no right to tell him how to do his job either.
But he had to admit that most times, she was right.  CJ knew that her
job was to protect the image of the President and his staff and Danny
knew that CJ would never do anything that would hurt her friends.
	 Danny looked at his watch, and noticing it was two AM, decided
it was time to get some sleep.  Danny leaned over once more to make
sure CJ was comfortable and pressed a light kiss to her forehead
before resting his head on the back of the chair and closing his
eyes.
	 The next morning, the redheaded reporter was awakened by the
sun shinning in through the window.  Danny sat up and stretched
broadly.  He stood and looked at his watch 7:30.  Danny couldn't
remember the last time he'd had such a long and trying day.  Just
then
Danny heard a stirring and looked up to see CJ open her eyes.
	 "Danny, what are you doing here?" CJ asked in a somewhat
groggy voice.
	 "Making sure that you were going to pull through," Danny said
with a gentle smile in his voice.  CJ groaned painfully as she
attempted to sit.  Danny was at her side in an instant and helped CJ
move to a sitting position with a couple pillows propped behind her
back.
	 CJ straightened the blankets across her lap and pushed a piece
of hair behind her ear before she spoke.
	 "Danny, what happened out there last night?"
	 Danny walked back to the bed and sat in the chair he had
pulled up hours before.
	 "Gina said something about a couple of kids.  The shooter was
in a third story window.  They got you and Charlie." Danny took a
deep
breath before he continued.   "Last I heard, he was in critical
condition."
	 CJ leaned back against the pillows.
	 "Oh my god," she whispered.  "Danny, how could we have let
this happen?" CJ asked as she looked into Danny's eyes.
	 "CJ, Gina said she never saw anything until it was too late,
no one could have stopped it."
	 CJ leaned forward and stretched out an arm, forgetting about
her wounded shoulder.
	 "Danny!...Ow!"
	 CJ reeled back and grabbed her shoulder in pain.
	 Danny looked at CJ and suddenly noticed tears in her eyes.  He
moved to the edge of the bed and folded CJ into his embrace.
Finally,
the dam burst.  Danny gently ran his fingers over her hair and let
her
cry against him.
	 "I don't understand how this could have happened.  I mean,
there are men who make their living securing buildings for the
President.  I don't understand how they could have missed him.  I
feel
like we let him down."
	 "CJ, its not your fault. Maybe it is their fault.  But its not
yours and right now there's nothing we can do."
	 CJ lay her head on Danny's shoulder and let his calm voice
relax her.
	 "Oh, Danny. I was so scared," she confessed with tears
brimming in her eyes. "All I remember is hearing gun shots, then
being
knocked to the ground.  I never even felt the fun shot in my arm
until
it was over.  I looked down and everything was covered with blood.
Danny, what if I can't do my job anymore?  What if...."
	 "Hey," he interrupted.  "I've been covering the White House
for eight years now and you're the best damn press secretary
I've seen
yet."
	 CJ pulled away and wiped her eyes.  "Danny, you're just saying
that."
	 "No, CJ. I really mean it."
	 CJ leaned back against the pillows and smiled at Danny.
	 "You can be really sweet sometimes, you know that?"
	 "So does this mean you'll go out with me now?"
	 "Danny, if you think that I'm going to go out with you just
because...."
	 Before she could say another word, Danny reached over and
kissed her.
	 Suddenly, CJ couldn't feel the pain in her shoulder and wrist
and let herself give into the passionate energy she could feel
radiating between them.  As they parted, Danny could feel his heart
pounding as he noticed a smile across CJ's lips and that her
cheeks
were slightly flushed.
	 "Danny, " she sighed softly.
	 "CJ, what about us?  Can we start over?  I think that if
we...."
	 CJ closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  "Danny, maybe if
we weren't working in the White House, this could work. But we both
know it can't and if we were to start a relationship I could
never
give my job the attention in deserves."
	 Danny stood and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
  "What about what I deserve CJ?  I have been waiting for two years,
and you've barely given me a chance."  Danny took a deep breath
and
sat in the chair before he spoke again, this time more calmly.
	 "CJ, please lets give it one more try.  Its up to you.  If you
say no, then I'll leave.  The Dallas Morning News has offered me
a
job.  Please, let's give it one more try," Danny asked, nearly
pleading.
	 CJ was silent for a moment before she turned to Danny, tears
brimming in her eyes.
	 "Danny, I'm sorry."
	 Danny looked at CJ and nodded.  "Well, I guess I've got my
answer.  Goodbye CJ."
	 After picking up his coat, Danny walked out the door without
looking back.
	 CJ lay back against her pillows and as she wiped away her
tears, for the first time, realized the empty feeling in her heart.
She gave up fighting her tears and lay back to ponder whether
she'd
made the right decision.
	 A few weeks later, CJ was back at work and preparing for her
first press conference since the shooting.   As she walked into the
pressroom CJ was faced with something she wasn't quite prepared
for.
"Good morning everyone...."  CJ looked out into the crowd and quickly
noticed that Danny's seat was empty.  The rest of the meeting was
a
blur for CJ. As soon as it was over, CJ rushed back to her office and
closed the door so she could think.
	 Later that night, CJ was in her office after a long day when
Abigail Bartlett knocked lightly on the door.
	 "CJ? Are you okay?"
	 CJ turned in her chair and smiled weakly.
	 "Yeah, I've just had a lot on my mind.  With the shooting and
the dinner coming up and --"
	 "Danny."
	 "What?"
	 Abbey smiled as she crossed the room and sat on the edge of
CJ's desk.
	 "CJ, you know you've been thinking about him.  I can tell.
And its not going to get any better unless you let him know how you
feel."
	 CJ reached over and lifted the fishbowl that sat on her desk
and watched the fish swim.
	 "Abbey, I don't know.  He was pretty mad when he left.  I'm
not sure he wants to talk to me.  Besides, I'm still not sure a
relationship is the best thing as long as we're working in the
White
House."
	 "CJ, he's crazy about you.  Why else would the man go as far
to buy you a goldfish?"
	 The two women glanced at the glass bowl on CJ's desk and
started to laugh.
	 The first lady stood and walked around the desk.
	 "CJ, I still think you should call him and tell him how you
feel.  I think you owe it to him."
	 CJ stood and hugged Mrs. Bartlett.  "Thanks Abbey."
	 Just then, there was a knock at the door and both women turned
as Zoe, Charlie, and President Bartlett appeared in the doorway.
	 "Abbey," the President said as he extended his arm to his
wife.
	 "CJ, aren't you going to join us?  Toby and Leo are asking for
`The Jackal'.
	 The Press Secretary turned away from the window and smiled
weakly.
	 "Not tonight, Mr. President. I think I'll just finish up here
and head home."
	 The President nodded.  "Sure, you deserve it.  Goodnight, CJ."
	 "Goodnight Mr. President."  CJ moved her glance to Charlie and
smiled.  "Charlie you are looking much better."
	 The young man smiled politely as Zoe noticeably hugged his arm
protectively.
	 Abigail turned to CJ and smiled.  "Just think about what I
said,"  she advised with a casual wink before joining her husband at
his side and leaving CJ alone in the office.
	 That night, CJ sat in her living room, the phone sitting on
the table in front of her.  She picked up the receiver and dialed the
number Danny had given her a month before.  After letting it ring
several times, CJ replaced the phone back in its cradle and set it
back on the desk.  CJ turned to sit back on the couch but stopped and
dialed Danny's number again.  But this time she waited for the
answering machine.  CJ felt her heart pounding as she heard
Danny's
voice.  As the beep sounded, CJ took a deep breath before she spoke.
	 "Danny.  Its CJ.  I think we need to talk.  Give me a call.  I
miss you."
	 CJ hung up the phone slowly and laid down on the couch,
letting herself fall asleep.
	 A week later, CJ returned to her office after a briefing.
	 "Carol, can you bring me those files that Josh left this
morning?"
	 After a few moments, CJ looked up, attempting to scold her
secretary for taking so long but was surprised to see that the person
standing in her doorway was not Carol.
	 CJ stood and removed her glasses.
	 "What are you doing here?" CJ asked as she walked around the
desk.
	 Danny smiled boyishly and shrugged his shoulders.  "I got your
message, so I'm here."
	 CJ walked closer to Danny, nearly closing the gap between
them, close enough that she could smell his cologne.
	 CJ swallowed hard.  She didn't want Danny to see her true
feelings, at least not until she was sure how he felt.
	 "Um, Danny, can we talk about this later.  I've got a lot of
work to do."
	 "Defeated, Danny turned his gaze to the floor.  He didn't want
CJ to see the tears burning in his eyes.
	 But it was too late, she did see the sadness in his expression
and realized that if she let him walk out of her office she was going
to lose him for good.
	 Danny turned for the door and opened it but stopped before
walking out.
	 "CJ? You said you missed me.  Did you really mean it?"
	 CJ looked into Danny's yes for the answer.  She smiled at him
and nodded.
	 Danny smiled and turned to leave again.  "Good. Well I guess
I'll talk to you later."
	 But before he could leave, much to Danny's surprise, CJ
grabbed the sandy haired reporter and pulled him into a deep kiss.
	 Danny could feel his breathing quicken and his heart racing as
he pulled her close.
	 CJ sighed quietly as she felt Danny bury his fingers in her
hair.  As Danny pulled her closer, CJ reached behind him and shut the
door, allowing Danny to lean slightly against the wall.  Finally,
after what seemed like an eternity, the two parted, but still stood
close.
	 "So how about dinner tonight?" Danny asked quietly.
	 "Oh, Danny.  I can't.  I've got all these briefing notes to
go
over."  CJ stopped when she was the disheartened expression on
Danny's
face.
	 "But maybe you could come over and we could order in or
something," she proposed as she reached over and straightened his tie.
	 Danny smiled.  "Good, I'll see you later then."
	 CJ reached over to give Danny one last kiss before she watched
him open the door and practically stumble out of the office.
	 That night, CJ arrived home around 11 PM.  After checking her
mail and feeding the cat, CJ settled on the couch for a long night
with briefing notes and files.
	 After a while, CJ heard a knock at the door.  She stood and
stretched.  CJ smiled as she opened the door to find Danny with two
paper bags and his laptop.
	 "I hope you're hungry," Danny said as he walked into the
apartment and sat the warm bags on the counter and proceeded to toss
his coat over a nearby chair as he continued.
	 "I hope you still like Chinese food.  Do you want the beef or
the chicken?"  Danny asked as he loosened his collar and removed his
tie.  "How about grabbing us some drinks?  CJ?"
	 Danny looked up to see CJ leaning against the table, smiling
at him.
	 Smiling back, Danny leaned up and planted a light kiss on her
lips.
	 "CJ?", he whispered against her lips.
	 "Hmmm?"
	 "How `bout getting us some drinks?"
	 CJ smiled at him and turned toward the kitchen as Danny
whistled happily as he opened the steaming boxes.
	 Later on, Danny sat on the couch, working on his computer and
glanced at CJ who sat curled up against his shoulder going over her
briefing notes for the next day.
	 "CJ? What made you change your mind?"
	 CJ removed her glasses and glanced over her shoulder.
"Danny," she warned.
	 "I'm just curious.  Was it my boyish good looks?  Or my
enduring ambition to win you over?"
	 CJ tossed the folder she was holding onto the table and stared
thoughtfully into the distance.  "You know Danny, I really don't
know."
	 Danny gathered CJ into his arms and smiled.  "I know."  The
handsome reporter laid CJ back against the soft cushions of the couch
and pulled her into a deep kiss.
				 THE END

My demented little brain just saw this vignette, but I've gotten a
ton of mail on this one, so we'll see.  :-)

Kath

Excellent beginning!  Please finish it soon!


This is what I was working on when the muse from heck decided to
write about Toby's brother.  :-)  I've actually got a few more pages,
they just don't connect ...yet.

Kath

In case anyone hasn't noticed, I'm your basic happy little shipper.
:-)  And I seem to have this empathy with Danny.  (Hmm...me
sympathize with a writer?  Now I wonder where that came from?)

Kath

Yes!  CJ fans of the world unite!
Anyway, I'm Jesse.  I'm a bit odd occasionally but hey, aren't we all?
So, I caught myself up on the fics so far at egroups...great!  I can't
wait for more...I'll try and write some this summer, I'll have to
juggle this with my Ally McBeal list...but this obsession is currently
more consuming, so maybe I'll get something...there's so many
characters, it's harder here cuz of all the different storylines...
Exciting!
Once again, great job w/all the fics so far!
Jesse
--- Rachel Bender <butterflyangel@...> wrote:
> Another awesome story. CJ is my favorite and the story was very
> touching. You actually capture the essence of the characters,
> especially Mrs. Bartlet. Keep 'em comming! :?)
>                                ~Rachel~
>
> >To: <TWWfanfiction@egroups.com>
> >From: kat@...
> >Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 18:38:01 -0400
> >Reply-To: TWWfanfiction@egroups.com
> >Subject: [TWWfanfiction] FIC   "Reflections"
> >
> >Kathleen A. Klatte
> >kat@...
> >Kath725@...
> >
> >"Reflections"
> >
> >Feedback and commentary are most welcome.
> >
> >Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
> >recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
> >infringement is intended.
> >Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
> >**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."
> >
> >******************************************
> >
> >"I'm sleeping fine tonight."
> >C.J. to Danny
> >
> >******************************************
> >
> >Danny Concannon studied C.J. Cregg's calm, still countenance.  Her
> >hair was spread out over her pillow and her lashes curled against
> >pale cheeks.  If he ignored the tubes inserted in her nose and
> mouth,
> >he could almost convince himself that she was sleeping...but she
> >wasn't.  She was in a drug-induced coma following surgery to remove
> >two bullets from her chest.  The room was cluttered with electronic
> >equipment that whirred and beeped its soft assurances that she still
> >lived.  Machinery pumped blood through her veins and oxygen through
> >her lungs.
> >
> >He'd been here for two days.  Danny figured someone must have done
> >some pretty fast talking to keep him from being thrown out, but he
> >didn't know who and he didn't much care.  In the interminable hours
> >since the sniper shad opened fire on the President's entourage,
> Danny
> >had come to realize that the one thing he really did care bout lay
> in
> >this hospital bed.  He just wished she'd wake up, so he could tell
> >her.  Hell, he wished she'd wake up, even if it was to tell him to
> >get lost.  He wished she'd wake up...
> >
> >Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he reread what he'd written on his
> >pad...they wouldn't allow a laptop in the room, for fear that it
> >would cause interference with the equipment.
> >
> >
> >I have covered the White House for eight years.  In that time, I
> have
> >seen and experienced many things, but I have never been shot at
> >before – never seen friends and colleagues fall in the street to lie
> >in their own blood.  I wish I had never had to see that...wish I
> >wasn't sitting here in a hospital room, hoping against hope to see
> >someone open their eyes, but I have, and I am.
> >
> >I think the thing that saddens me the most is that this happened
> here
> >– in the country that offers its citizens more personal freedom than
> >any other.  There are so many ways to express your opinion – you can
> >write letters, post a webpage, stage a peaceful demonstration, rent
> a
> >billboard or advertising time on television or radio, and most
> >importantly, you can vote.  But two nights ago, someone decided that
> >all that wasn't good enough and they chose to express their opinion
> >with a gun.
> >
> >I wonder if they even realize how badly their plan backfired?  That
> >their message has been lost in the screams and the blood?  That they
> >have made martyrs of people guilty of no other crime then being in
> >the wrong place at the wrong time?
> >
> >I wonder...and I watch...and I wait.
> >
> >
> >"That's very good, Danny.  I can have it typed up and sent in to
> your
> >editor if you'd like."
> >
> >Danny jumped at the sound of the First Lady's voice.  "Mrs. Bartlet
> –
> >I -"
> >
> >"Sit down, Danny," she told him kindly.  "I know I shouldn't have
> >been reading over your shoulder."
> >
> >"It's all right," he said.  "I just didn't hear you come in."
> >
> >"How is she?"
> >
> >"The same...I guess," Danny replied tiredly.  "She hasn't moved or
> >anything..."
> >
> >"Not quite," the First Lady informed him.  "Did you know that those
> >few times you've had to leave the room her readings have dropped
> >slightly?  And that they leveled out again as soon as you came back?
>
> >She knows that you're here.  C.J. knows that someone who loves her
> is
> >nearby."
> >
> >Looking at up Mrs. Bartlet, Danny suddenly realized whose orders
> were
> >preventing the hospital staff from tossing him out, and he was
> >grateful.
> >
> >"Danny?"
> >
> >"Yes, ma'am?"
> >
> >"You take good care of her."
> >
> >"I will.  How...how is Zoey?" he finally roused himself enough to
> >ask.
> >
> >"She's very frightened.  I think it terrifies her to realize that in
> >this century, in this country, people would try to kill her because
> >they don't like the person she's dating."
> >
> >"God knows, it terrifies me," Danny replied.
> >
> >"Me, too," Abbey agreed.  "And...we lost Gina this morning.  She
> >arrested...they brought her back twice...the third time...they let
> >her go."
> >
> >"Damn," Danny swore, burying his head in his hands.  "Where does it
> >end?"
> >
> >"For the people who did this, it ended this morning," she told him
> >quietly.  "Federal Marshals got a tip about where the shooters were
> >hiding out...they resisted arrest and..."
> >
> >"They're dead?" Danny guessed.
> >
> >"Yes."
> >
> >"But it's too late for Gina...maybe for C.J. and Leo."
> >
> >"Jenny and Mallory are in with Leo, praying for him and giving him
> >something to hold on to.  That's what you have to do for C.J."
> >
> >"How?" he whispered.
> >
> >"Just be here for her."
> >
> >"That's all?"
> >
> >"That's all...and everything," Abbey told him with a wise little
> >smile.  "And when she wakes up, you read her your article."
> >
> >"I'm not sure it's –"
> >
> >"I am," Abbey said firmly, taking the pad away from him.
> >
> >******
> >
> >Danny was dozing in the hard plastic chair when he felt someone
> >squeeze his fingers feebly.  Bolting upright in the chair, he saw
> >C.J.'s head turned towards him on the pillow.  Her eyes were open
> and
> >filled with recognition, despite the haze of drugs.  The hand he
> held
> >cradled in a gentle grasp moved again and he smiled.
> >
> >"Welcome back," he greeted her.
> >
> >Too weak to do much else, C.J. curled her fingers around his again
> >and then her eyes fluttered shut.
> >
> >Leaning over, Danny softly kissed her forehead, then settled back
> >into his chair.
> >
> >
> >Fin.
> >
> >Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
> >All Rights Reserved
> >
> >****************************
> >Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
> >kat@...
> >kawklatte@...
> >http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/
> >
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >Never lose a file again. Protect yourself from accidental deletes,
> >overwrites, and viruses with @Backup.
> >Try @Backup it's easy, it's safe, and it's FREE!
> >Click here to receive 300 MyPoints just for trying @Backup.
> >http://click.egroups.com/1/4936/4/_/_/_/960676948/
>
=== message truncated ===


=====
Bygones

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints!
http://photos.yahoo.com

Sheila
     I can't wait to read it.  I love reading the fanfics.  I gives me hope
that the NBA finals will come to and end soon and TWW will be in reruns.

Brandi

Well, I love Toby/CJ stories.  In fact, I wrote one as well.  Lauren should
be putting it up soon.  It's called Somthing to talk about.  I hope you
enjoy it.

Sheila
----- Original Message -----
From: <bnc1077@...>
To: <TWWfanfiction@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2000 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: [TWWfanfiction] FIC "Reflections"


> Sheila,
>     Thanks for the encouragement.  It really means a lot.  And I am
presently
> writing another Toby and CJ story.  It should be done in about a month.
> Thanks again
>
> Brandi
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> FREE shipping, 30-Day No Question Returns, daily giveaways
> and much, much more at zZounds.com. Your music gear superstore!
> http://click.egroups.com/1/3736/4/_/_/_/960758801/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> TWWfanfiction-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

This is really good.  Can't wait to read the ending!!

Brandi

Sheila,
     Thanks for the encouragement.  It really means a lot.  And I am presently
writing another Toby and CJ story.  It should be done in about a month.
Thanks again

Brandi

Another awesome story. CJ is my favorite and the story was very touching. You
actually capture the essence of the characters, especially Mrs. Bartlet. Keep
'em comming! :?)
                                ~Rachel~

>To: <TWWfanfiction@egroups.com>
>From: kat@...
>Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 18:38:01 -0400
>Reply-To: TWWfanfiction@egroups.com
>Subject: [TWWfanfiction] FIC   "Reflections"
>
>Kathleen A. Klatte
>kat@...
>Kath725@...
>
>"Reflections"
>
>Feedback and commentary are most welcome.
>
>Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
>recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
>infringement is intended.
>Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
>**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."
>
>******************************************
>
>"I'm sleeping fine tonight."
>C.J. to Danny
>
>******************************************
>
>Danny Concannon studied C.J. Cregg's calm, still countenance.  Her
>hair was spread out over her pillow and her lashes curled against
>pale cheeks.  If he ignored the tubes inserted in her nose and mouth,
>he could almost convince himself that she was sleeping...but she
>wasn't.  She was in a drug-induced coma following surgery to remove
>two bullets from her chest.  The room was cluttered with electronic
>equipment that whirred and beeped its soft assurances that she still
>lived.  Machinery pumped blood through her veins and oxygen through
>her lungs.
>
>He'd been here for two days.  Danny figured someone must have done
>some pretty fast talking to keep him from being thrown out, but he
>didn't know who and he didn't much care.  In the interminable hours
>since the sniper shad opened fire on the President's entourage, Danny
>had come to realize that the one thing he really did care bout lay in
>this hospital bed.  He just wished she'd wake up, so he could tell
>her.  Hell, he wished she'd wake up, even if it was to tell him to
>get lost.  He wished she'd wake up...
>
>Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he reread what he'd written on his
>pad...they wouldn't allow a laptop in the room, for fear that it
>would cause interference with the equipment.
>
>
>I have covered the White House for eight years.  In that time, I have
>seen and experienced many things, but I have never been shot at
>before – never seen friends and colleagues fall in the street to lie
>in their own blood.  I wish I had never had to see that...wish I
>wasn't sitting here in a hospital room, hoping against hope to see
>someone open their eyes, but I have, and I am.
>
>I think the thing that saddens me the most is that this happened here
>– in the country that offers its citizens more personal freedom than
>any other.  There are so many ways to express your opinion – you can
>write letters, post a webpage, stage a peaceful demonstration, rent a
>billboard or advertising time on television or radio, and most
>importantly, you can vote.  But two nights ago, someone decided that
>all that wasn't good enough and they chose to express their opinion
>with a gun.
>
>I wonder if they even realize how badly their plan backfired?  That
>their message has been lost in the screams and the blood?  That they
>have made martyrs of people guilty of no other crime then being in
>the wrong place at the wrong time?
>
>I wonder...and I watch...and I wait.
>
>
>"That's very good, Danny.  I can have it typed up and sent in to your
>editor if you'd like."
>
>Danny jumped at the sound of the First Lady's voice.  "Mrs. Bartlet –
>I -"
>
>"Sit down, Danny," she told him kindly.  "I know I shouldn't have
>been reading over your shoulder."
>
>"It's all right," he said.  "I just didn't hear you come in."
>
>"How is she?"
>
>"The same...I guess," Danny replied tiredly.  "She hasn't moved or
>anything..."
>
>"Not quite," the First Lady informed him.  "Did you know that those
>few times you've had to leave the room her readings have dropped
>slightly?  And that they leveled out again as soon as you came back?
>She knows that you're here.  C.J. knows that someone who loves her is
>nearby."
>
>Looking at up Mrs. Bartlet, Danny suddenly realized whose orders were
>preventing the hospital staff from tossing him out, and he was
>grateful.
>
>"Danny?"
>
>"Yes, ma'am?"
>
>"You take good care of her."
>
>"I will.  How...how is Zoey?" he finally roused himself enough to
>ask.
>
>"She's very frightened.  I think it terrifies her to realize that in
>this century, in this country, people would try to kill her because
>they don't like the person she's dating."
>
>"God knows, it terrifies me," Danny replied.
>
>"Me, too," Abbey agreed.  "And...we lost Gina this morning.  She
>arrested...they brought her back twice...the third time...they let
>her go."
>
>"Damn," Danny swore, burying his head in his hands.  "Where does it
>end?"
>
>"For the people who did this, it ended this morning," she told him
>quietly.  "Federal Marshals got a tip about where the shooters were
>hiding out...they resisted arrest and..."
>
>"They're dead?" Danny guessed.
>
>"Yes."
>
>"But it's too late for Gina...maybe for C.J. and Leo."
>
>"Jenny and Mallory are in with Leo, praying for him and giving him
>something to hold on to.  That's what you have to do for C.J."
>
>"How?" he whispered.
>
>"Just be here for her."
>
>"That's all?"
>
>"That's all...and everything," Abbey told him with a wise little
>smile.  "And when she wakes up, you read her your article."
>
>"I'm not sure it's –"
>
>"I am," Abbey said firmly, taking the pad away from him.
>
>******
>
>Danny was dozing in the hard plastic chair when he felt someone
>squeeze his fingers feebly.  Bolting upright in the chair, he saw
>C.J.'s head turned towards him on the pillow.  Her eyes were open and
>filled with recognition, despite the haze of drugs.  The hand he held
>cradled in a gentle grasp moved again and he smiled.
>
>"Welcome back," he greeted her.
>
>Too weak to do much else, C.J. curled her fingers around his again
>and then her eyes fluttered shut.
>
>Leaning over, Danny softly kissed her forehead, then settled back
>into his chair.
>
>
>Fin.
>
>Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
>All Rights Reserved
>
>****************************
>Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
>kat@...
>kawklatte@...
>http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Never lose a file again. Protect yourself from accidental deletes,
>overwrites, and viruses with @Backup.
>Try @Backup it's easy, it's safe, and it's FREE!
>Click here to receive 300 MyPoints just for trying @Backup.
>http://click.egroups.com/1/4936/4/_/_/_/960676948/
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>TWWfanfiction-unsubscribe@egroups.com




------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.yesibelieve.com     -     Make A Statement of Faith with YIB!


************************************************************************
You're just seconds away from playing the web's FREE Million Dollar slot
machine.  Win MILLIONS in prizes INSTANTLY! Click Here Now!
http://adserv.internetfuel.com/cgi-bin/newredirect.cgi?AD=EMAIL-jackpot
************************************************************************

I loved the story. It is really awesome to hear it from that point of view. It
was a novel idea that worked wonderfully. Your writing style is great. Keep the
good stories coming. ~8?}
                             ~Rachel~

>To: <TWWfanfiction@egroups.com>
>From: kat@...
>Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 18:39:02 -0400
>Reply-To: TWWfanfiction@egroups.com
>Subject: [TWWfanfiction] FIC   "First Person"
>
>Kathleen A. Klatte
>kat@...
>Kath725@...
>
>"First Person"
>
>Feedback and commentary are most welcome.
>
>Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
>recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
>infringement is intended.
>Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
>**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."
>
>******************************************
>
>The pavement is rough beneath my cheek and I wonder what I'm doing
>down here.  I remember shoving Zoey into the car, and then...I don't
>know.  Was I shot?  Maybe.  I've taken plenty of physical abuse – in
>the Army and in the Secret Service training program - but I've never
>been shot before, so I don't know what that feels like.  I'd always
>expected that it would be painful, and I don't feel any pain.  So why
>I am I on the ground?
>
>I hear shouts and sirens all around me, and I know that I should get
>up and help, but I can't seem to move.  Not anything...not even the
>hand that's splayed inches in front of my face.  And I'm cold.  I
>shouldn't be cold...it's a warm May evening.  Why am I cold?
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>'Gun?'  What the hell does she mean, 'gun'?  In a city that's
>wall-to-wall metal detectors with hot-and-cold running cops, someone
>is shooting at the President?  This can't be happening...except...it
>is.
>
>Damn!  I think something broke when that barricade fell on me...of
>course, it was probably the ten or fifteen people who were on top of
>it that really did the job, but either way, it hurts like hell.
>
>Where is everyone?  Did they get the President out?  I wish I could
>see what's going on...I wish I could do something...anything.
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>I'm supposed to report the news...not be the news.  What the hell is
>going on?
>
>I wish I could see C.J.  God, I hope she's all right...what the hell
>were we fighting about today?  Please, don't let that be the last
>thing I get to say to her...please...
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>God, that hurt!  I don't remember it hurting so much thirty years
>ago.  I'm getting too old for this shit.
>
>Damn...this...really hurts.  Why is it getting dark?
>
>No...no, I don't want to go yet...please, no...
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>What's going on?  I can't see anything...my face is being ground into
>the roadbed from the weight of Sam and someone else on top of me.
>Why don't they move?  The shots have stopped, and they're awfully
>heavy.  Are they hit?  Is that why they don't move?
>
>Is the President all right?
>
>And where is Danny?  I lost track of him when we came out of the
>building.  Is he OK?  I said some pretty harsh things to him lately.
>Please, please let me have the chance to make it up...
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>The car is moving now, but they still won't let me up.  I suppose
>they have their reasons, but I have never wanted to see so badly in
>my life.  Zoey looks life she's in shock.  No wonder...there's blood
>on her clothes, but it doesn't seem to be hers.  Charlie, maybe?
>God, I hope not.  Of course, I hope it's not Gina, either, but...it's
>strange.  The agents who put me in the car literally piled in on top
>of me.  I didn't see exactly how Zoey got in, but she's alone.  Gina
>would never leave her...not unless...
>
>God, if you're listening right now...I could really use some help.
>We all could.
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>OhmyGod...this is all my fault.  Everyone...Charlie...Gina...and
>everyone...this is all my fault.  They had guns, and...it's all my
>fault...
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>I wonder if this is what Mom felt like?  It doesn't hurt as much as
>I'd imagined.  I just feel real bad that this happened because of me.
> Because someone doesn't like who I date.  Land of the free...yeah,
>right.
>
>If it was just me, that wouldn't be so bad, but...this...  Damn, I
>don't want to die.  I don't want my friends to die.  I can't die –
>somebody's got to take care of Deena.  Please, can I wake up now?
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
>*~*~*~*~*~*
>
>This cannot be happening.  There musta been salmonella in that
>chicken Donna got me for lunch and I've got food poisoning.  That
>must be it, because this cannot be happening.
>
>There's blood all over Leo...and Toby isn't moving.  I can't even see
>Sam or C.J....there's a Secret Service guy on top of them.  My
>God...is that Gina...and Charlie...lying in the road?
>
>This can't be happening...
>
>
>Fin.
>
>Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
>All Rights Reserved
>
>****************************
>Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
>kat@...
>kawklatte@...
>http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Win a trip to Vegas for you and 20 friends, $15,000 and a suite at
>Bellagio for New Year's, courtesy of Expedia.com. Or win 2 roundtrip
>tickets anywhere in the U.S. given away daily. Click for a chance to win.
>http://click.egroups.com/1/5293/4/_/_/_/960677003/
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>TWWfanfiction-unsubscribe@egroups.com




------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.yesibelieve.com     -     Make A Statement of Faith with YIB!


************************************************************************
You're just seconds away from playing the web's FREE Million Dollar slot
machine.  Win MILLIONS in prizes INSTANTLY! Click Here Now!
http://adserv.internetfuel.com/cgi-bin/newredirect.cgi?AD=EMAIL-jackpot
************************************************************************

Toby is my favorite character so this one has an edge over the others...will
you be adding to it?  I'd love to see how the two brothers interact in the
hospital and (hopefully) out when Toby recovers...which he must do!

Excellent beginning!  Please finish it soon!

This one made me tear up.  Great lines from Mrs. Bartlett in particular.

Very interesting format...who was shot thirty years ago?  I think you did a
great job pinpointing how these characters would react.

Good job.  Keep writing.  You have a nice style.

sheila
----- Original Message -----
From: <kat@...>
To: <TWWfanfiction@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2000 3:38 PM
Subject: [TWWfanfiction] FIC "Reflections"


Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
Kath725@...

"Reflections"

Feedback and commentary are most welcome.

Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
infringement is intended.
Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."

******************************************

"I'm sleeping fine tonight."
C.J. to Danny

******************************************

Danny Concannon studied C.J. Cregg's calm, still countenance.  Her
hair was spread out over her pillow and her lashes curled against
pale cheeks.  If he ignored the tubes inserted in her nose and mouth,
he could almost convince himself that she was sleeping...but she
wasn't.  She was in a drug-induced coma following surgery to remove
two bullets from her chest.  The room was cluttered with electronic
equipment that whirred and beeped its soft assurances that she still
lived.  Machinery pumped blood through her veins and oxygen through
her lungs.

He'd been here for two days.  Danny figured someone must have done
some pretty fast talking to keep him from being thrown out, but he
didn't know who and he didn't much care.  In the interminable hours
since the sniper shad opened fire on the President's entourage, Danny
had come to realize that the one thing he really did care bout lay in
this hospital bed.  He just wished she'd wake up, so he could tell
her.  Hell, he wished she'd wake up, even if it was to tell him to
get lost.  He wished she'd wake up...

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he reread what he'd written on his
pad...they wouldn't allow a laptop in the room, for fear that it
would cause interference with the equipment.


I have covered the White House for eight years.  In that time, I have
seen and experienced many things, but I have never been shot at
before - never seen friends and colleagues fall in the street to lie
in their own blood.  I wish I had never had to see that...wish I
wasn't sitting here in a hospital room, hoping against hope to see
someone open their eyes, but I have, and I am.

I think the thing that saddens me the most is that this happened here
- in the country that offers its citizens more personal freedom than
any other.  There are so many ways to express your opinion - you can
write letters, post a webpage, stage a peaceful demonstration, rent a
billboard or advertising time on television or radio, and most
importantly, you can vote.  But two nights ago, someone decided that
all that wasn't good enough and they chose to express their opinion
with a gun.

I wonder if they even realize how badly their plan backfired?  That
their message has been lost in the screams and the blood?  That they
have made martyrs of people guilty of no other crime then being in
the wrong place at the wrong time?

I wonder...and I watch...and I wait.


"That's very good, Danny.  I can have it typed up and sent in to your
editor if you'd like."

Danny jumped at the sound of the First Lady's voice.  "Mrs. Bartlet -
I -"

"Sit down, Danny," she told him kindly.  "I know I shouldn't have
been reading over your shoulder."

"It's all right," he said.  "I just didn't hear you come in."

"How is she?"

"The same...I guess," Danny replied tiredly.  "She hasn't moved or
anything..."

"Not quite," the First Lady informed him.  "Did you know that those
few times you've had to leave the room her readings have dropped
slightly?  And that they leveled out again as soon as you came back?
She knows that you're here.  C.J. knows that someone who loves her is
nearby."

Looking at up Mrs. Bartlet, Danny suddenly realized whose orders were
preventing the hospital staff from tossing him out, and he was
grateful.

"Danny?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You take good care of her."

"I will.  How...how is Zoey?" he finally roused himself enough to
ask.

"She's very frightened.  I think it terrifies her to realize that in
this century, in this country, people would try to kill her because
they don't like the person she's dating."

"God knows, it terrifies me," Danny replied.

"Me, too," Abbey agreed.  "And...we lost Gina this morning.  She
arrested...they brought her back twice...the third time...they let
her go."

"Damn," Danny swore, burying his head in his hands.  "Where does it
end?"

"For the people who did this, it ended this morning," she told him
quietly.  "Federal Marshals got a tip about where the shooters were
hiding out...they resisted arrest and..."

"They're dead?" Danny guessed.

"Yes."

"But it's too late for Gina...maybe for C.J. and Leo."

"Jenny and Mallory are in with Leo, praying for him and giving him
something to hold on to.  That's what you have to do for C.J."

"How?" he whispered.

"Just be here for her."

"That's all?"

"That's all...and everything," Abbey told him with a wise little
smile.  "And when she wakes up, you read her your article."

"I'm not sure it's -"

"I am," Abbey said firmly, taking the pad away from him.

******

Danny was dozing in the hard plastic chair when he felt someone
squeeze his fingers feebly.  Bolting upright in the chair, he saw
C.J.'s head turned towards him on the pillow.  Her eyes were open and
filled with recognition, despite the haze of drugs.  The hand he held
cradled in a gentle grasp moved again and he smiled.

"Welcome back," he greeted her.

Too weak to do much else, C.J. curled her fingers around his again
and then her eyes fluttered shut.

Leaning over, Danny softly kissed her forehead, then settled back
into his chair.


Fin.

Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
All Rights Reserved

****************************
Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
kawklatte@...
http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Never lose a file again. Protect yourself from accidental deletes,
overwrites, and viruses with @Backup.
Try @Backup it's easy, it's safe, and it's FREE!
Click here to receive 300 MyPoints just for trying @Backup.
http://click.egroups.com/1/4936/4/_/_/_/960676948/
------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
TWWfanfiction-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
Kath725@...

"The Call"

Feedback and commentary are most welcome.

Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
infringement is intended.
Yet another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."
Thank you to Susannah and Ellen for details.

******************************************
EDWARDS AIRFORCE BASE

A large crowd of NASA and Airforce personnel crowded around to help
the debarking shuttle crew.  In vivid contrast to the cluster of
uniforms and lab coats were two college age people dressed in jeans
and tee shirts.  They hurried forward to meet Payload Specialist
Doctor David Ziegler.

"Welcome home guys!" the first, a young man called cheerfully.

"Come to mama," his companion, a young woman crooned, grabbing a
plastic carry case the size of a ten gallon fish tank from the good
doctor.

"How are they?  Do they look OK?" the young man asked, leaning over
her shoulder to see the small amphibians in the container.

It was left to a young airman to offer his arm to the scientist who
stumbled slightly as he felt the weight of Earth's gravity for the
first time in days.

"Nice to see that my research assistants are so concerned for my well
being," Doctor Ziegler remarked acidly.

"Huh?  Oh, yeah, nice to see ya, Dave," the young man answered, still
preoccupied with the 'astro-newts.'

"Thank you so much, Mike."

"Call your brother," the woman told him without looking up from the
small creatures in the case.

"Excuse me, Julia?"

"Your brother...you know, the one at the White House?  He's been
calling Peter Jobson like ten times a day.  You're supposed to call
him as soon as you land."

"I'll call him as soon as I have a shower."

"He said as soon as you land."

"Julia, I haven't had a shower since lift-off.  I'm dirty and I'm
smelly and I'm not doing anything until I've had a nice, long, hot
shower.  You two can start the standard battery of tests on those
guys while I'm getting cleaned up."

******

David Ziegler stepped out of the shower and wrapped towel around his
waist.  He was safely back on Earth, his experiment showed every
promise of success, and most importantly, he was clean for the first
time in days.  He paused for a moment to consider his reflection,
wondering if he'd look more scholarly with a beard like his brother.
Then he thought of trying to eat around a beard in zero-gee and
decided that clean-shaven suited him.  He almost jumped out of his
skin at a loud pounding on the bathroom door.

"Dave!  Dave, are you in there?"

"Yes, Julia, I'm right here," he yelled through the door.

"I've been pounding for like ten minutes."

"I've been in the shower for like twenty.  What's so damn important
that it couldn't wait for me to get dressed?"

"Dave, you had a call from Washington."

"Are you kidding me?  It's gotta be going on eleven o'clock on the
East coast."

"Dave, it's your brother...he's been shot."

"What?"  Dave yanked open the door, forgetting his attire, or rather,
lack thereof.

"The President was doing this town meeting thing at the Newseum
tonight...when they left the building, someone started shooting."

"The President?" David gasped.

"President Bartlet is OK, but a bunch of his staff got
hurt...including your brother."

"How bad?" Dave asked weakly.

"They want you to come right away."

There was more pounding on the hall door, and then Mike poked his
head inside the room.  "Dave, there's a flight for Andrews Airforce
Base in half an hour.  Oh, and here...I got this from your gear
bag...thought you might want it."

Dave looked down at his Hebrew prayer book that Mike had pressed into
his hand.  "Thanks," he said hollowly.  "Would you guys...would you
give me a minute?"

"Sure," Julia answered.  "We'll be right outside...just yell."

Dave nodded as he slowly sank into a chair, trying to gather his
thoughts.  The phone rang and he picked it up automatically.

"Doctor Ziegler?"

"Yeah?"

"This is Lilly Mays...acting White House Communications Director."

Dave winced at the title.  "Yeah."

"I, uh...I wanted to speak to you myself."

"That's...very kind of you."

"I wish I had something better to tell you, but Toby is still in
surgery.  We won't know anything for sure until the doctors are
finished operating."

"I understand."

"I understand that you're on the next flight out of Edwards.
There'll be a chopper standing by at Andrews to bring you directly to
the hospital.  If we get any new information while you're in the air,
we'll relay it.  I've also notified Congresswoman Wyatt.  Is there
anything else I can do for you?"

"No, thank you."  He laughed bitterly.  "It's ironic, isn't it?  I'm
the one with the dangerous job, not Toby.  I guess...I always thought
he'd be the one getting this call."


Fin.

Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
All Rights Reserved

****************************
Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
kawklatte@...
http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/

Thought I'd send you this while the other piece is being beta'd.  :-)


Kath



Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
Kath725@...

"The Morning After"

Feedback and commentary are most welcome.

Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
infringement is intended.
Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."

******************************************

Golden sunlight streamed through a gap in the drapes directly onto
C.J. Cregg's face.  The light and warmth gradually dragged her to
full wakefulness.  She opened her eyes and panicked for a moment –
her room didn't have gray drapes or a dark blue bedspread.  Then
again, her room also didn't have an armchair complete with a
sandy-haired reporter.

Danny.  C.J. relaxed as she recalled how he'd found her, dazed and
hurt in the aftermath of the shooting.  He'd ridden with her to the
ER and stayed by her side through the x-rays and the stitches, then
insisted on bringing her home with him so he could keep an eye on her
and wake her up during the night as the doctor (and the First Lady)
instructed.  She started to prop herself up on one elbow, then winced
as her body began to remind her of the events of the previous night.
Tentatively, she raised a hand to her forehead...yup, the bulky
bandage was still there.  So much for hoping that it had all been a
bad dream.

"Don't mess with the bandage," Danny muttered from the depths of his
chair.  He got to his feet stiffly and moved over to sit on the side
of the bed.  "How's your head?" he asked gently.

"Hurts," C.J. mumbled.

"Concussions have a habit of doing that," Danny agreed amiably.  He
checked the clock.  "It's been more then twelve hours...I think
you're about due for a painkiller."

"Twelve hours?" C.J. exclaimed, then cringed at the sound of her own
voice.  She started to push herself up from the bed.  "What time is
it?  I have to -"

Danny grasped her shoulders and gently pushed her back against the
pillows.  "You have to stay put," he told her firmly.

"Danny."

"You have a concussion, remember?"

"I have a job.  I am the Press Secretary and there is a crisis-"

"And Abbey Bartlet has a fully qualified staff that wasn't out
getting shot at last night!"  Realizing that he was coming perilously
close to shouting at her, Danny drew in a deep breath and cracked a
smile of sorts.  "Besides, I have a job, too.  It was conferred upon
me by the First Lady."  He held up a long list of instructions with a
flourish.  "Let's see...I'm supposed to take you home and put you to
bed.  Did that."  He didn't have to look up from his list to know
that C.J. was blushing furiously.  "Wake you every hour for twelve
hours.  Did that.  After twelve hours, let you rest as long as you
wanted.  Did that.  OK, here we go...now I'm supposed to feed you and
get you to take a couple of pain pills.  Then, if your breakfast
seems to be staying where it belongs, you can get up and freshen up
if you want.  Carol brought you a bag," he added.

"Hold it.  Carol brought me a bag?  Here?  Carol knows I'm here?"

"Yeah, Carol swung by your place this morning and grabbed you some
clothes and stuff."

C.J. closed her eyes and groaned.

"Hey, what is it?" Danny asked, greatly concerned, "Is the pain
worse?"

"If Carol knows I'm here, then it's going to be all over the West
Wing...hell, all over the White House."

Danny chuckled at that.  "C.J., it's already 'all over the White
House.'  Everyone who was in that ER last night knows that you're
here with me, Josh is staying at Donna's and Toby is camped out at
his ex-wife's place.  The First Lady was handing out orders left and
right.  And by the way, you're supposed to get checked out again by a
doc before you even look at the White House."

"That's absurd," she protested, trying again to rise, "I've got a -"

"-concussion," Danny finished, helping her lean back against the
headboard in a more or less upright position.

"Tell me again why I'm here?"

"'Cuz your choices were come home with me or spend the night in the
hospital.  And also 'cuz you're madly in love with me," he added,
hoping to make her smile.

It almost worked.  "Which one of us hit their head last night?"

"That would be you."

"Uh-huh.  And why am I wearing a Dallas Morning News tee shirt?" C.J.
asked.

"'Cuz it was clean," Danny replied innocently.  "I'm gonna go get
your meds, OK?"  He almost made it out the door when her voice called
him back.

"Danny?  You said Josh and Toby...what about the President?  And Leo
and Sam?"

He turned and slowly walked back to the bed.  Sitting down beside
C.J., he took both her hands in his own.  "The President is OK.  Sam
caught a bullet in the arm, but I think they'll let him out of the
hospital today...the Secret Service agent who pushed you both down is
dead."

C.J. squeezed Danny's hands convulsively.  "Leo?" she whispered.

"Leo...he had a stroke.  He...there was no blood, you know?  So
everyone thought he was all right.  But then...when he didn't get
up..."

"Is he...?"

"He's stabilized, but they don't know the extent of the damage yet."


C.J.'s eyes widened in horror.  Leo could still die...or live and be
permanently disabled...or worse yet, live and not really be Leo
anymore.  Her eyes stung with sudden tears.

Danny saw and pulled her into his arms.  He rested his chin on top of
her head and rubbed her back soothingly.  "Shh...it's OK...we'll get
through this..."

After a long time, C.J.'s tears quieted.  She pulled back slightly,
wiping at her eyes with the back of her hands.

Danny leaned over and grabbed a box of Kleenex from the nightstand
and gave it to her.  "Now I really think you need those meds.  Sit
tight for a minute, OK?"

Still sniffling a bit, C.J. nodded.

Danny brushed a light kiss on her forehead, next to the bandage, then
disappeared into the hallway.  A moment later he was back with a
large tumbler full of juice and a small pill bottle.  He sat down on
the bed, sliding an arm around C.J. so that she leaned against his
side.  He handed her the juice.  "Sip that slowly," he warned.  "God
only knows the last time you remembered to eat anything."

"I think I had lunch yesterday."

"That's what I figured.  Here," he added, pressing two pills into the
palm of her hand.

C.J. swallowed obediently, then asked, "How is everyone holding up?"


"Better then you might expect.  I think it has alot to do with the
outpouring of good will from the public.  Those bozos with the guns
failed in more ways then one.  What they have succeeded in doing is
making everyone who was there last night a martyr.  As soon as the
story hit the news, people started gathering outside the White House,
keeping vigil and praying.  You can't even walk on some of those
sidewalks now...they're leaving candles and flowers and
wreaths...there's posters and flags tied to the fences...it's
incredible.  People are putting up stuff on their websites, too, and
sending emails.  The tech guys had to set up some kind of special
email thing to handle all the messages.  Then there's the stuff
people are sending directly to the White House – the hospitals, too -
flowers, a few thousand cards so far today, teddy bears...  I've
never seen anything like it."

"In eight years of covering the White House?" C.J. teased.  "Speaking
of which, why aren't you at work"

"Well, see, there's this new invention, called a modem."

C.J. smacked him lightly in the arm.

"No, seriously, I called my editor from the hospital last night...he
got someone on it and we ran the same basic facts as everyone else on
the front page this morning.  My piece will run tomorrow."  He
sighed.  "An attempted presidential assassination, up close and
personal."

He suddenly sounded terribly vulnerable and C.J. nestled a little
closer.  "Can I read it?" she asked.

"Sure," Danny replied, brightening.  "After you eat something, OK?"

"OK."


TBC...


****************************
Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
kawklatte@...
http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/

Thanks for the kind words, folks!  I'll send along my latest after it
gets checked out for gross stupidity on my part.  :-)

Kath

Kathy,
     Both stories are very good.  I really like the way the first person is
written.  Makes it very interesting.  And yes I did get a little teary eyed.

Brandi

Oh my god, Kath, I am sitting here crying my eyes out. Wow. I don't even
know what to say, that's so good... (not to mention painful.) Wow.
~Lauren

-----------------------------------------------
FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com
Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com

Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
Kath725@...

"First Person"

Feedback and commentary are most welcome.

Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
infringement is intended.
Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."

******************************************

The pavement is rough beneath my cheek and I wonder what I'm doing
down here.  I remember shoving Zoey into the car, and then...I don't
know.  Was I shot?  Maybe.  I've taken plenty of physical abuse – in
the Army and in the Secret Service training program - but I've never
been shot before, so I don't know what that feels like.  I'd always
expected that it would be painful, and I don't feel any pain.  So why
I am I on the ground?

I hear shouts and sirens all around me, and I know that I should get
up and help, but I can't seem to move.  Not anything...not even the
hand that's splayed inches in front of my face.  And I'm cold.  I
shouldn't be cold...it's a warm May evening.  Why am I cold?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

'Gun?'  What the hell does she mean, 'gun'?  In a city that's
wall-to-wall metal detectors with hot-and-cold running cops, someone
is shooting at the President?  This can't be happening...except...it
is.

Damn!  I think something broke when that barricade fell on me...of
course, it was probably the ten or fifteen people who were on top of
it that really did the job, but either way, it hurts like hell.

Where is everyone?  Did they get the President out?  I wish I could
see what's going on...I wish I could do something...anything.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

I'm supposed to report the news...not be the news.  What the hell is
going on?

I wish I could see C.J.  God, I hope she's all right...what the hell
were we fighting about today?  Please, don't let that be the last
thing I get to say to her...please...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

God, that hurt!  I don't remember it hurting so much thirty years
ago.  I'm getting too old for this shit.

Damn...this...really hurts.  Why is it getting dark?

No...no, I don't want to go yet...please, no...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

What's going on?  I can't see anything...my face is being ground into
the roadbed from the weight of Sam and someone else on top of me.
Why don't they move?  The shots have stopped, and they're awfully
heavy.  Are they hit?  Is that why they don't move?

Is the President all right?

And where is Danny?  I lost track of him when we came out of the
building.  Is he OK?  I said some pretty harsh things to him lately.
Please, please let me have the chance to make it up...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

The car is moving now, but they still won't let me up.  I suppose
they have their reasons, but I have never wanted to see so badly in
my life.  Zoey looks life she's in shock.  No wonder...there's blood
on her clothes, but it doesn't seem to be hers.  Charlie, maybe?
God, I hope not.  Of course, I hope it's not Gina, either, but...it's
strange.  The agents who put me in the car literally piled in on top
of me.  I didn't see exactly how Zoey got in, but she's alone.  Gina
would never leave her...not unless...

God, if you're listening right now...I could really use some help.
We all could.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

OhmyGod...this is all my fault.  Everyone...Charlie...Gina...and
everyone...this is all my fault.  They had guns, and...it's all my
fault...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

I wonder if this is what Mom felt like?  It doesn't hurt as much as
I'd imagined.  I just feel real bad that this happened because of me.
  Because someone doesn't like who I date.  Land of the free...yeah,
right.

If it was just me, that wouldn't be so bad, but...this...  Damn, I
don't want to die.  I don't want my friends to die.  I can't die –
somebody's got to take care of Deena.  Please, can I wake up now?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*

This cannot be happening.  There musta been salmonella in that
chicken Donna got me for lunch and I've got food poisoning.  That
must be it, because this cannot be happening.

There's blood all over Leo...and Toby isn't moving.  I can't even see
Sam or C.J....there's a Secret Service guy on top of them.  My
God...is that Gina...and Charlie...lying in the road?

This can't be happening...


Fin.

Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
All Rights Reserved

****************************
Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
kawklatte@...
http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/

Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
Kath725@...

"Reflections"

Feedback and commentary are most welcome.

Disclaimer:  The West Wing is the property of NBC, et al;  this is a
recreational endeavor, no profit is being made and no copyright
infringement is intended.
Another take on a cliffhanger resolution.
**Spoilers for "What Kind of Day Has It Been."

******************************************

"I'm sleeping fine tonight."
C.J. to Danny

******************************************

Danny Concannon studied C.J. Cregg's calm, still countenance.  Her
hair was spread out over her pillow and her lashes curled against
pale cheeks.  If he ignored the tubes inserted in her nose and mouth,
he could almost convince himself that she was sleeping...but she
wasn't.  She was in a drug-induced coma following surgery to remove
two bullets from her chest.  The room was cluttered with electronic
equipment that whirred and beeped its soft assurances that she still
lived.  Machinery pumped blood through her veins and oxygen through
her lungs.

He'd been here for two days.  Danny figured someone must have done
some pretty fast talking to keep him from being thrown out, but he
didn't know who and he didn't much care.  In the interminable hours
since the sniper shad opened fire on the President's entourage, Danny
had come to realize that the one thing he really did care bout lay in
this hospital bed.  He just wished she'd wake up, so he could tell
her.  Hell, he wished she'd wake up, even if it was to tell him to
get lost.  He wished she'd wake up...

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he reread what he'd written on his
pad...they wouldn't allow a laptop in the room, for fear that it
would cause interference with the equipment.


I have covered the White House for eight years.  In that time, I have
seen and experienced many things, but I have never been shot at
before – never seen friends and colleagues fall in the street to lie
in their own blood.  I wish I had never had to see that...wish I
wasn't sitting here in a hospital room, hoping against hope to see
someone open their eyes, but I have, and I am.

I think the thing that saddens me the most is that this happened here
– in the country that offers its citizens more personal freedom than
any other.  There are so many ways to express your opinion – you can
write letters, post a webpage, stage a peaceful demonstration, rent a
billboard or advertising time on television or radio, and most
importantly, you can vote.  But two nights ago, someone decided that
all that wasn't good enough and they chose to express their opinion
with a gun.

I wonder if they even realize how badly their plan backfired?  That
their message has been lost in the screams and the blood?  That they
have made martyrs of people guilty of no other crime then being in
the wrong place at the wrong time?

I wonder...and I watch...and I wait.


"That's very good, Danny.  I can have it typed up and sent in to your
editor if you'd like."

Danny jumped at the sound of the First Lady's voice.  "Mrs. Bartlet –
I -"

"Sit down, Danny," she told him kindly.  "I know I shouldn't have
been reading over your shoulder."

"It's all right," he said.  "I just didn't hear you come in."

"How is she?"

"The same...I guess," Danny replied tiredly.  "She hasn't moved or
anything..."

"Not quite," the First Lady informed him.  "Did you know that those
few times you've had to leave the room her readings have dropped
slightly?  And that they leveled out again as soon as you came back?
She knows that you're here.  C.J. knows that someone who loves her is
nearby."

Looking at up Mrs. Bartlet, Danny suddenly realized whose orders were
preventing the hospital staff from tossing him out, and he was
grateful.

"Danny?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You take good care of her."

"I will.  How...how is Zoey?" he finally roused himself enough to
ask.

"She's very frightened.  I think it terrifies her to realize that in
this century, in this country, people would try to kill her because
they don't like the person she's dating."

"God knows, it terrifies me," Danny replied.

"Me, too," Abbey agreed.  "And...we lost Gina this morning.  She
arrested...they brought her back twice...the third time...they let
her go."

"Damn," Danny swore, burying his head in his hands.  "Where does it
end?"

"For the people who did this, it ended this morning," she told him
quietly.  "Federal Marshals got a tip about where the shooters were
hiding out...they resisted arrest and..."

"They're dead?" Danny guessed.

"Yes."

"But it's too late for Gina...maybe for C.J. and Leo."

"Jenny and Mallory are in with Leo, praying for him and giving him
something to hold on to.  That's what you have to do for C.J."

"How?" he whispered.

"Just be here for her."

"That's all?"

"That's all...and everything," Abbey told him with a wise little
smile.  "And when she wakes up, you read her your article."

"I'm not sure it's –"

"I am," Abbey said firmly, taking the pad away from him.

******

Danny was dozing in the hard plastic chair when he felt someone
squeeze his fingers feebly.  Bolting upright in the chair, he saw
C.J.'s head turned towards him on the pillow.  Her eyes were open and
filled with recognition, despite the haze of drugs.  The hand he held
cradled in a gentle grasp moved again and he smiled.

"Welcome back," he greeted her.

Too weak to do much else, C.J. curled her fingers around his again
and then her eyes fluttered shut.

Leaning over, Danny softly kissed her forehead, then settled back
into his chair.


Fin.

Copyright © 2000 Kathleen Klatte
All Rights Reserved

****************************
Miss Kathleen A. Klatte
kat@...
kawklatte@...
http://www.homestead.com/Kath725/

Hey all! Welcome to my new TWW fan fic mailing list! I hope you'll
all start posting stories soon so we can all read and enjoy. In the
meantime, there are three new stories on my site, as well as new
parts to old stories. Also don't forget to check out the first Fan
Fiction Challenge, which I would like to become a monthly feature. I
hope you'll all participate as either a writer or a judge. Have fun,
and start writing!!
~Lauren

http://homepages.go.com/~thewestwing/fanfiction.html
http://homepages.go.com/~thewestwing/ffichallenge.html