advent calendar fic: day 04
it seemed like a dream
The West Wing | CJ/Simon | 518 words
Happy Holidays, catkirk7
In her dreams, Simon never goes into the convenience store. He is there waiting for her when she exits the theater, standing just under a lamppost and safely across the street, away from the departing crowds.
The President and Leo remain behind and Toby and Sam have the reporters under control, so CJ doesn’t think twice before dodging cabs and hustling across the street to meet him. She grins at him as she steps up on the sidewalk.
“How was the show?” Simon asks. Everything about him from his voice to his posture is relaxed; at least, what she assumes is as relaxed as he ever allows.
Her answer is automatic, pure Press Secretary instinct.
“The President enjoyed it.”
“CJ,” he smirks in amusement. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t particularly care what the President thought. What did you think?”
“I think,” she says slowly, drawing out her words as she scans the crowds at the back entrance of the theater. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots Sam and Toby walking away from the reporters; they still have over two hours before Air Force One is schedule to depart. “I think that you wasted enough time getting here.”
“I’ve been waiting here for almost forty minutes,” he counters. The slightly superior, argumentative tone his voice takes is familiar to her. It’s one of the reasons she finds herself drawn to him, even when he irritates her most; she never backs down from a challenge.
“You could have come inside.”
“Didn’t want to.” He shrugs. “Do you want to get something to eat? I’ve been dying for a Milky Way bar.”
At this, CJ laughs. “We’re in Midtown Manhattan. I think we can do better than that.”
“Oh?” He raises an inquisitive eyebrow and follows her lead as she starts to walk towards the next block.
CJ thinks about hailing a cab, but the night air is refreshing after so many hours indoors. “I’ll buy you that drink,” she offers, glancing up at the street signs and turning the corner. There’s a bar not far from here that she remembers from the campaign; she’d like to show him.
Simon keeps pace with her easily. “You’ve presented me with an offer I don’t think I can refuse.”
“That’s the point.”
“Then I guess I have no choice.”
CJ is about to agree with him when he stops suddenly in front of a street vendor at the end of the block. She turns around just in time to see him exchange $20 for three roses, instructing the vendor to ‘keep the change.’
She can feel a flush rising in her cheeks and is grateful that the darkness conceals it from his well-trained eyes.
“Are you allowed to buy flowers for protectees?” she teases before accepting the gift.
“No, I’m not,” he answers coyly. “That would be strictly against the rules. But you’re not a protectee anymore.”
They laugh together as he leans in closer.
---
Her dream always ends right before he kisses her.
She wakes up with tears in her eyes.
The West Wing | CJ/Simon | 518 words
Happy Holidays, catkirk7
In her dreams, Simon never goes into the convenience store. He is there waiting for her when she exits the theater, standing just under a lamppost and safely across the street, away from the departing crowds.
The President and Leo remain behind and Toby and Sam have the reporters under control, so CJ doesn’t think twice before dodging cabs and hustling across the street to meet him. She grins at him as she steps up on the sidewalk.
“How was the show?” Simon asks. Everything about him from his voice to his posture is relaxed; at least, what she assumes is as relaxed as he ever allows.
Her answer is automatic, pure Press Secretary instinct.
“The President enjoyed it.”
“CJ,” he smirks in amusement. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t particularly care what the President thought. What did you think?”
“I think,” she says slowly, drawing out her words as she scans the crowds at the back entrance of the theater. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots Sam and Toby walking away from the reporters; they still have over two hours before Air Force One is schedule to depart. “I think that you wasted enough time getting here.”
“I’ve been waiting here for almost forty minutes,” he counters. The slightly superior, argumentative tone his voice takes is familiar to her. It’s one of the reasons she finds herself drawn to him, even when he irritates her most; she never backs down from a challenge.
“You could have come inside.”
“Didn’t want to.” He shrugs. “Do you want to get something to eat? I’ve been dying for a Milky Way bar.”
At this, CJ laughs. “We’re in Midtown Manhattan. I think we can do better than that.”
“Oh?” He raises an inquisitive eyebrow and follows her lead as she starts to walk towards the next block.
CJ thinks about hailing a cab, but the night air is refreshing after so many hours indoors. “I’ll buy you that drink,” she offers, glancing up at the street signs and turning the corner. There’s a bar not far from here that she remembers from the campaign; she’d like to show him.
Simon keeps pace with her easily. “You’ve presented me with an offer I don’t think I can refuse.”
“That’s the point.”
“Then I guess I have no choice.”
CJ is about to agree with him when he stops suddenly in front of a street vendor at the end of the block. She turns around just in time to see him exchange $20 for three roses, instructing the vendor to ‘keep the change.’
She can feel a flush rising in her cheeks and is grateful that the darkness conceals it from his well-trained eyes.
“Are you allowed to buy flowers for protectees?” she teases before accepting the gift.
“No, I’m not,” he answers coyly. “That would be strictly against the rules. But you’re not a protectee anymore.”
They laugh together as he leans in closer.
---
Her dream always ends right before he kisses her.
She wakes up with tears in her eyes.