Criss-Crossed
Lin
"Funny how I feel more myself with you
Than anybody else that I ever knew
I hear it in your voice, see it in your face
You've become the memory I can't erase
You could have been anyone at all
An old friend calling out of the blue
I'm so glad it was you."
Anyone At All by Carole King
*~*
She turned over, expecting to find cool, dry sheets before her. Instead, there was another body in her bed. She recoiled momentarily until she remembered what happened last night.
::grin::
Last night. In one word, it could only be described as amazing.
"Hmm," Sam turned over to face her.
CJ took a moment to stare at his smooth, innocent face, unlined from the worry of age and working in the White House. Every morning, it startled her that they were even together. In *any* sense of the word. To have his friendship was divine, but to be in his arms was pure Heaven. Never had she felt quite so safe anywhere. The irritation she felt with working in government melted away the moment she and Sam came anywhere near each other.
"Good morning," Sam said sleepily.
"Hey, yourself."
His eyes fluttered open. He smiled lazily at the woman lying beside him. Sam brought his arm around her body and pulled her closer. "Whatcha doing?"
The warmth of his body flooded through CJ. "Nothing."
Sam drew himself up on his arms, pulling CJ under him. "Oh really?"
She found herself giggling uncharacteristically, "Really."
He buried his face in her neck, "Want to share with the class?"
"What do you want to know?" she said breathlessly.
He stared at her, drinking in her face, "You were staring at me."
CJ smiled, "Is that a crime?"
"No, but it's not fair. I didn't get a chance to look at you."
"What do you think you're doing now?"
Sam dipped lower until his lips brushed with CJ's. "You're going to see me tonight?"
CJ licked her lips, trying to ingest the taste of her lover. "Believe it." She drew her fingers against his chest, "But now, we have to get ready for work."
Sam groaned. "You would have to break the mood."
CJ kissed him lightly on the lips, "You would rather me do it than Leo."
"Leo," Sam repeated mournfully.
"Leo," CJ nodded her head.
"Fine then," Sam arched his head so he could find the alarm clock. "It's 5:00."
"Enough time for me to get ready."
"What about me?"
CJ stood up, grinning at Sam. "What about you?" She eyed his state of undress, "You've got to get some clothes over here."
Sam smirked. "Why here?"
"Because you're *here* now." Her eyes drifted to his clothes strewn about the room, "You can wear those again to work today."
"Thank you, Mistress."
"You're welcome. If I came in with the same clothes on, everyone would notice. *You* and Josh on the other hand..." She waved her hands in the air.
"Don't bring Josh up."
"Just stating facts."
"Right." He gave her a puppy dog look. "No goodbye kiss?"
CJ draped her arm over his shoulder, "Where are you going?"
"Home. I wore that suit the day before."
CJ brushed her hand through his hair gently, "We really have to get someone to take care of you, Spanky."
Sam smiled and captured her hand, "I already do."
*~*
"How has life been treating you?"
CJ didn't acknowledge the red-headed man leaning in her doorway. "You're not going to answer me?" Danny's teasing voice reached her hears. "Cause I have it on pretty good authority that you have been flying high here all morning."
CJ leaned back in her chair, "On whose authority?"
Danny tilted his head back, pretending to think, "Hmm, Carol, Josh, Toby---"
CJ almost fell out of her chair, "Toby spoke to you?"
"Nah, I just wanted to see your face turn that shade of red. See, there it goes right now."
"Don't you have some work to do or is annoying the hell out of me one of your new hobbies?"
"CJ, you wound me. I come here hoping to speak to a friend of mine and all she can do is snap at me." CJ pointedly looked at Danny. "Okay, okay, I'm leaving." He was almost gone when she heard him say, "Promise to dish me all the dirt later?"
"Danny..."
He chuckled and left.
She put her glasses on again and began to study the report in her hands when she heard a light tapping at the door. She whipped off her glasses in annoyance, "Danny, I thought I made it---"
"If you think I'm Danny, you really do need glasses," a familiar voice teased.
"Sam." CJ's mouth formed the shape of an 'o.' She cleared her throat. "What are you doing here?"
"Taking a break." Ungracefully, he plopped onto her couch.
"And Toby must not know about this because I haven't heard any bellowing yet," CJ mused.
Sam held up his hands. "You got me. I snuck out."
"Aren't you working on the State Dinner remarks?"
"Partly. Toby's taking most of it."
"Control freak," he heard CJ whisper. "As usual."
"CJ, there is a reason I came in here."
She set her pen down on the desk. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah, I thought we could grab something to eat later."
Her eyes widened. "Sam, are you crazy? There is a State Dinner this Friday. While I'm out fielding questions about the First Lady's dress and doing the seating arrangements, you're going to be writing. There is *no* time to eat."
"You arrange the seating?"
"Oh shut up. I feel like a grand hostess. And this isn't even my house," she cried. Pause. "Well, I don't know what made me think of that."
"It will be fun."
CJ pouted, "No, it won't."
"Fine, it won't. My point is, we can get something to eat later."
"Wait, you're telling me Friday night won't be fun?"
"It will be fun, it won't, I just want to live to see Friday," Sam nervously licked his lips. He shot CJ a pleading look.
She had to forcibly stop herself from laughing at his terrified face. "OK."
"Sam!!" A voice outside ripped through the Bullpen.
"I think your Master calls."
Sam stood up. "See you later."
*~*
"Wow! I didn't think we would find an all-night diner." CJ settled into the booth. She folded her coat neatly beside her and laid her purse on top of it.
"I guess someone figured there would be people working at," Sam glanced at his watch, "1:30 A.M."
CJ tried to stifle her graon. "Don't remind me." She leaned closer. "Tell me again, why do we have these things?"
"Because we're nice."
CJ sighed and settled back in place. "I don't want to play nice. I want to be selfish and go home where I can take a bubble bath."
"Bubble bath," Sam smirked.
"Yes, Spanky. Bubble bath." They continued to stare at each other, their thoughts growing more heated by the moment when a waitress arrived.
"Hi, folks. What can I get you?"
"Turkey sandwich with fries. Coffee."
"I'll have the same except I'll have a Coke."
"Okay," the waitress walked off.
"You're going to rot your teeth out," Sam whispered.
"Sam, if I don't get that caffeine and sugar into my bloodstream, there's a good chance I won't make it through this dinner. Relax and let me enjoy Coca-Cola."
Silence.
"Doesn't this seem like yesterday?"
"Yesterday?" CJ blanched. "What about it?" She fiddled with the napkin wrapped around the silverware.
"Not yesterday yesterday. We're getting ready for the State Dinner and everything has changed."
"But we're still the same. Besides, no one knows."
"Danny knows," Sam corrected.
"Danny is Danny. He won't say anything."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I am. It's not Danny's style. He's not an under-handed type of person."
"Still, I think we should tell Josh and Toby before anyone else finds out and isn't blessed with Danny's scruples."
"Why?"
"Because it won't look like we were sneaking around behind their backs. As it is, I don't like the little sneaking around we do. Look, this is not going to stay a secret forever. I'd rather them hear it from us."
"So far, only three people know." She paused as the waitress set their order down in front of them. "Danny, Leo, and the President. I trust them all."
Sam nodded, munching on a fry. "I just don't trust the guy sitting outside our apartments, ready to catch us in the middle of something. Then we both get a shock the next morning or week when the picture is published. If everything is out in the open, there will be no story."
"You obviously don't work around many reporters. There is always a story. Even if it's just for the sake of having one." She continued thoughtfully, "Fine. I give in. But I get first crack at Josh."
"Agreed. But we can tell Toby together, can't we?"
"Sure. Eat up. You probably won't eat again for another 12 hours."
"Have you gotten a dress?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You're not going to tell me?"
"You're almost as bad as Danny."
"But I'm cuter."
CJ leaned her head back and brought her fingers into a square as if looking at Sam through a camera lens. "Mmm, I'll give it to you. Your kisses are sweeter." She snorted at his blushing face.
"Not even the color?"
"Will it make any difference?"
"It might clash with my velvet purple tuxedo with matching lavender bowtie."
CJ almost spit out her Coke. "Umm..."
"Relax, I'm kidding."
"I know. I hope." They sat quietly, enjoying each other's company until each finished their meal. Sam threw a few bills onto the table. They paid their check and walked into the night air.
CJ breathed deeply. She admired the crisp, twinkling stars. "Where do we go from here?"
"From here?"
CJ nodded.
Sam took her hand and led her to his car. "We go home."
"Wasn't in the plan not that I could see
Suddenly a miracle came to me
Safe within your arms I can say what's true
Nothing in the world I would keep from you
You could have been anyone at all
A stranger falling out of the blue
I'm so glad it was you."
by Carole King
I Hope You Dance: Sit It Out or Dance
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