Author: Peggy Kemp

Summary CJ/Danny history. Event during Primaries.

Feedback is appreciated

Danny Concannon was caught up in the moment of the thing. This race had been
everything he expected, full of excitement and more twists and turns than
any other campaign he had covered. To think that last night he and Jed
Bartlett had had one of their midnight conversations, talking about the next
steps in the campaign, and life in general. Bartlet had been externally
optimistic last night, but Danny had caught a vulnerability and uneasiness
in his voice. Bartlet knew that Hoynes had a lot of support. These last
days of the primaries were nerve-wracking days. It had been an extremely
close race until today. Really, it had been a two-man race between Josiah
Bartlet and John Hoynes. The primaries today had been overwhelmingly in
favour of Bartlet, and now Hoynes had chosen to withdraw from the race.
Bartlet, though the dark horse when the race began, seemed to be a shoo-in
on the democratic ballot.

Danny had caught up with CJ Cregg before Bartlett came in. That had been
earlier in the evening, and they had talked for almost an hour before she
headed off with a sheaf of statistics in her hand. Danny had enjoyed both
conversations, but somehow the conversation with CJ had been coming back to
his mind over and over today. Every time Danny spent time with CJ he was
amazed by her strength and beauty. They had laughed and joked, and Danny
loved her off-beat sense of humour. They had even talked politics for a
while, but only after Danny had assured CJ that everything said was totally
“off-the-record”. Danny wondered how long it would take until Bartlet
realized just how much of a gold-mine he had in CJ Cregg.

After the results of today’s primary Hoynes had resigned from the race. He
had been soundly beaten in today’s primaries, and that left one real
candidate in the running for the democratic ticket. It must have grated on
John Hoynes’ ego to be so thoroughly trounced by this newcomer to national
politics. Even with his Nobel Prize and two terms as Governor of New
Hampshire many on The Hill still considered Josiah Bartlet a babe in the
woods. His term in Congress had cast him in the role of a “naïve idealist”
that many politicians did not take seriously, but no one doubted his
integrity. Danny grinned to himself. Integrity, it seemed, was not as
highly thought of in Washington as in other areas of the country. However,
it was the other areas of the country that would vote this man in

Danny knew enough of the inner workings of Washington to know what the
next advisory step should be for Bartlet. Hoynes was a valuable asset on
any ticket because of his ability to deliver the South. Bartlet would have
to name a running mate before the convention, and Hoynes was the logical
choice. He was not the only man that Bartlet could choose as a vice
presidential candidate, but he would be a definite asset. Bartlet needed
someone with him that the Southern States would trust. Danny wondered just
how well the two of them would get along. He had done a few stories on John
Hoynes during his time with the Dallas Morning News. Bartlet was
charismatic and self-assured, but so was Hoynes. Danny suspected that
Bartlet’s strong-willed personality might not be a good mix for the
easy-going, but equally strong-willed, Senator from Texas. Danny also
suspected that Hoynes’ definite defeat might make him a little reluctant to
help out the “Yankee Gentleman”. It would not help that both of them had a
proud heritage that could be traced back for generations, and that both took
pride in that heritage. One of Hoynes’ relatives had been a major player in
the “Southern Congress” after Secession from the North, and Bartlet made no
secret of his famous ancestors.

The Bartlet group was celebrating their victory in today’s primary in a
suite at the hotel where Danny was staying. As Danny walked through the
halls he saw Bartlet at the door of the suite talking to Leo and Josh. The
new guy was there too. What was his name? Yes, Sam Seaborn. He was pretty
new to politics, and Danny didn’t know that much about him yet. He knew he
had graduated from Princeton, and had a law degree. Danny searched his
memory. Yeah, and he had worked for Dewey and Ballentyne before taking time
off to help with the Bartlet campaign. He seemed to be very sure of
himself, intense in a pleasant way, although nowhere near as intense as
Ziegler. Danny waved at the group, and went over to congratulate Bartlet.

“Oh Danny” Bartlet grinned, shaking his hand firmly. “Great to see you.
This is a night to remember!” “Yes, Governor Bartlet, it is!” Danny
replied. “Congratulations! This is a historic night. The dark horse from
New Hampshire has beaten the Texas Mustang.” Bartlet laughed, and clapped
Danny in the back. He grinned, and said “Hey Danny”, placing his hand on
the other man’s shoulder. “Enter in to the party. Just leave your
press-card behind.” Toby said, "Governor Bartlet, I think that might not be
a good idea.” “Oh come-on, Toby,” Bartlet said with a raised eyebrow, “I’m
sure Danny knows what ‘off the record’ means.” Danny hesitated for only a
second. He knew that it probably wasn’t a great idea for a reporter to
socialize “off-the-record” with politicians, but he wanted to see CJ again.
Danny grinned widely, and took his tape recorder out of his pocket. He
extracted the tape, and handed the tape-recorder to Toby. “Governor
Bartlet” he smiled, “I would be delighted. I have the feeling it won’t be
long until a member of the press would have a snowball’s chance in hell of
getting into one of these things

They all entered the room together. The party was in full swing, with a
little more alcohol than usual being consumed by the people involved. They
were celebrating a major win, and they all knew they were miles ahead on
their race to the White House. Danny grabbed a drink from the bar, and
noticed that Leo asked for only Soda Water. Danny smiled grimly. He knew
what the rumours around the Beltway had been about Leo McGarry six years
before. He had also seen Leo’s life turn around. To him journalism was not
about digging up a load of crap from someone’s past, especially when that
information had no bearing on who that person was today. Leo McGarry was a
good man. Danny nodded to Leo, and moved on. He greeted a few familiar
faces, but kept his eye out for CJ.

Danny’s attention was drawn towards the far end of the room. The music had
begun to play a bluesy tune, one that Danny particularly liked. Very few
people would suspect that Danny had a secret passion for Jazz and the Blues.
He moved in closer to the group so he could hear the words better. Yes, it
was a Ronnie Jordan tune, “the Jackal”, and one of his favourites.
Suddenly, Danny’s mouth dropped open. As he moved nearer he saw CJ begin to
lip sync and dance to the music. The crowd began to cheer and formed a ring
around CJ. Danny moved in quickly to get a good place to watch her. He
could not remember seeing anything quite so sexy as CJ doing that dance.
Danny was beginning to realize that his appreciation for this woman had
grown during the campaign. It had gone beyond normal attraction. This
beautiful woman had captured Danny’s heart, and he couldn’t see an end to it
anytime soon. Danny realized that for the first time since high school had
“a crush”. “That’s what it’s called when you seriously like someone who had
no idea how you feel, isn't it?” Danny mused. He watched as the dance
continued. CJ was everything he wanted in a woman. She was beautiful.
Well, maybe a little tall, but that was ok. She was bright, intelligent,
humorous, and caring. Somehow he was going to take this chance and grab it
for dear life. The song ended and CJ walked off to a chorus of catcalls and
sporadic applause. CJ bowed, and grabbed her drink from Toby.

Danny walked up. “CJ, that was incredible!” “Danny, what are you doing
here”? CJ blushed. Toby shrugged. “The Governor invited him”, he said. “I’
m off duty tonight” Danny smiled. I left my press-card at the door”. Danny
mustered up his courage. “I didn’t know you liked Jazz. I know this great
little club not far from here, and they have Kendra McPherson singing
tonight. Maybe we could go after we finish up here.” Danny saw the refusal
in her eyes before she even had a chance to speak, and quickly expanded the
invitation. “You too Toby." He noticed Josh off to the side. “And Josh.
Hey why don’t we ask the new guy? Um, Sam, isn’t it”? Josh had been
drinking just enough to feel a bit impulsive, and said, “Why Not, Danny. I
like Kendra. Hey Sam, Come-on over here.” Toby raised his eyebrows, and
said, “I think I’ll come just so there is a guard on you lot. I understand
the press would love to get a story out of you.” He looked squarely at
Danny.

Danny grinned easily at Toby, although he bristled internally at the
intimation.” “Hey, I’m off duty all night. Everything is strictly off the
record.” CJ smiled. “I Love Kendra McPherson.” She said. “I’ll go if
everyone else is.” Danny smiled. He knew that eventually she would realize
that he was just who he seemed to be; A hard-nosed reporter with a heart of
gold. And right now that heart was set on one thing. Getting to know CJ
Cregg a whole lot better. They corralled Donna and Carol and set out for
the club. Danny was driving one car, and CJ was seated beside him as he
drove. Every so often he caught her looking over at him with a curious look
upon her face. He realized that she was feeling the same attraction as he
was, but that she was too disciplined to allow herself to act on it. The
only question was where would it go from here?

The group entered the club, and found a table as close to the stage as
they could get for such a popular headliner. Danny was seated beside CJ, and
across from Josh. Everyone in the group was enjoying themselves. Even Toby
got caught up in the music of the incomparable Kendra McPherson and began to
relax. The house band was great, too, playing some jazz from long ago days.
CJ noted that Danny knew most of the words to the songs. He got lost in
the music, and unknowingly began to mouth the words to some of his
favorites. CJ leaned over and whispered “and I thought I was the only one
who lip-synced jazz”. Danny had been caught up in the moment and looked up
with a blush. “Hey, what can I say? I know what I like.”

They all hung around for a couple of sets, and Danny realized that the whole
Bartlet inner sanctum was made up of some pretty incredible people. He knew
he was supposed to be objective, but he really hoped they won the election.
When they returned to the hotel, CJ invited Danny back to the party. He
shook his head and said. “It’s been a nice break, but I have a story to
finish.” He turned to Toby, and asked for his tape-recorder back. Then he
grinned, “The column tomorrow is going to be on Hoynes reaction to today’s
primary results. I have to find someone on Hoynes’ campaign staff to get a
quote from.” He waved cheerily, and drove off, leaving them beside the
hotel door.

“I wonder why he took the time off come to our party.” Sam wondered. "It
sure won’t be easy to get a quote this late at night.” Toby shrugged, and
entered the hotel. Josh looked at CJ. He had seen the looks Danny had been
giving her all night. CJ just stood there looking after they car, and
smiled. She wasn’t sure why he had taken the time out, but she was glad he
did.