NOTE: I have to say to all the people who've written Wing Swing
stories--they were all so well done! I loved the Carol/Ainsley fic
that was last posted, as you know I'm a bit of a Carol fan. Speaking
of Carol, my CJ/Carol series--I'm writing it so badly that I'm taking
a break from it for a while. Maybe I'll put in for another wing swing
pairing. Thanks for reading!
Kansas

***

Katie sat outside of CJ Cregg's office, stiffly in the chair,
waiting for the Press Secretary to return. Fiddling with her thumbs,
the young reporter glanced again down the hallway, eager to ask the
questions.

As soon as the distinctive clicking of heels on the hardwood
floor found Katie's ears, she popped out of her seat, pen in hand.

"CJ," Katie stated, watching as the Press Secretary brushed
quickly by. CJ turned around briefly in acknowledgement of the
reporter, her raised eyebrows serving as a greeting. "I was wondering
if you could clear some things up for me?"

CJ had settled down behind her desk, and with her mouth set
in a straight line, was leaning back in her chair. The expression on
CJ's face was enough to unnerve the usually edgy reporter. "Or is
this a bad time?" Katie asked, biting her lip.

CJ sighed audibly, and folded her well-sculpted arms over her
chest. "No," she dismissed the comment in a low tone. Raising her
chin up, CJ casually indicated to the chair across the desk. "Sit,
ask."

Katie nodded shortly, and took the seat with some relief.
Checking behind her, then leaning in towards CJ, Katie lowered her
voice. "This is kind of sensitive, so I didn't want to ask you in the
room. But it's going around that you've received some death threats."

Katie stopped, trying to gauge CJ for reaction. CJ sat
expressionless save for her high brow. Clearing her throat
uncomfortably, the reporter continued. "I guess what I wanted to know
is if they're related to your Monday morning comments about Saudi
Arabia, and if so, what are the President's feelings on the matter?"

CJ continued to stare at Katie for another moment, before
letting loose a wry snort. "You don't really expect an answer, do
you?"

Katie rolled her eyes and loosened her tense reporter
attitude. "CJ, no one's getting gossipy. Despite what you may think,
the people in that room respect you and are understandably concerned
that you could be in danger."

"So they elected you to come bother me about it? That's
sweet," CJ replied, sarcasm dripping in her tone. She focused
pointedly on Katie, who did not back down from the icy stare. "You're
not writing about this," CJ ordered rather than requested, sensing
that Katie wasn't going to give up.

"Of course not," Katie quickly agreed, holding up her empty
hands to indicate the absence of a notebook or recorder.

CJ nodded, but did not drop her professionalism. "The threats
had nothing to do with the Monday briefing, that much I can tell you
for sure. The evidence is credible, and it would have presented
itself in time. As for the President, he felt strongly that I be
protected as one of his family members would be."

Katie's eyes widened with interest. "You mean he's assigned
you-"
"A Secret Service detail, yes," CJ finished quickly, rolling
her eyes at the unpleasantness she felt with the situation. "You
would've found that out eventually anyway. He says he has to come in
the briefing room."

Katie sat back, slightly stunned by the news. "Wow."

The two women sat in silence for a few seconds, CJ studying her nails
and Katie studying CJ. As Katie processed the news, a smile broke out
over her expression.

"What are you grinning about?" CJ asked, the corner of her
own lips turning up slightly.
Katie cocked her head. "Well, if you're lucky, they'll assign
you a real hunk of a man to `guard' you," the reporter teased, her
smiling widening.

CJ snorted again. "I assure you, I don't look at him-or any
other man-that way."
Katie's expression softened. "Well, why not? If you've gotta
deal with him, at least get some viewing pleasure."

CJ squared her shoulders and picked her head up. "Katie, I'm
getting more viewing pleasure from you than from Agent Simon Donovan."
At CJ's mocking of the Secret Service agent, Katie let out a
nervous chuckle. "Is he ugly, or something?"
CJ rolled her eyes, a mischievous smile playing over her
lips. "Are you dense, or something?" she countered with a croon,
flitting her eyes over Katie's pretty face.

Katie's mouth dropped in a pleased smile. " I always thought
you were straight, that's all."
"That's what they want you think," CJ grinned, leaning
forward in flirtation.

"Welcome to the club," Katie admitted, lowering her eyes a
bit. When she brought her gaze back to meet CJ's, the Press Secretary
was studying her with amusement. "But you already knew that about me,
didn't you?"

CJ chuckled self-assuredly. "I know a lot of things."

Katie sat smiling at CJ, at a comfortable level of disbelief. CJ was
sharp as a tack-that much Katie had always known. But this
conversation had taken an almost eerie turn. As a reporter, she knew
her boundaries with the Press Secretary and other members of the
Administration-and they likewise knew how to handle the press. CJ's
telling Katie such a personal, potentially damaging piece of
information took Katie's breath out of her chest.

As well, the long-repressed thoughts of CJ as a gorgeous,
sexual creature began to creep back into Katie's head. The reporter
had always found the taller woman highly attractive. Finding out that
CJ was into women was doing crazy things to Katie's imagination. That
red dress she was wearing-and the way it clung to CJ's every curve-
her arms, her incredible lips, eyes and skin.it was all making
perception dizzy.

The crack of the opening door brought Katie out of her daze
and snapped CJ's attention away from Katie's collarbone. It was
Carol. "CJ, Leo needs you in five."

At CJ's nod, Carol closed the door. Katie stood up, unhappy
that this highly interesting conversation was ending. As CJ moved
around her desk, Katie collected herself. "I'm glad you, ah, filled
me in on the situation with the threats. And thanks a lot." Katie
felt herself blushing as she foundered a bit. "For the other thing."

CJ found herself inches away from Katie, close enough that
she could feel the heat from the young reporter's body. Katie looked
up at the taller woman and watched in nervous anticipation as CJ
leaned in a little closer. Almost sure that CJ was about to kiss her,
Katie was left in breathless disappointment as the Press Secretary
suddenly moved her face away in an evil tease.

"Anytime, Katie. Anytime," CJ said airily, breezing briskly
out of the office. Katie could hear the flirt in CJ's tone, apparent
in the way her hips swung. Before she turned down the hallway, CJ
looked back and flashed Katie a leading grin. "You know, that entire
conversation was-"

"Off the record. I know," Katie grinned, waving away concern.
CJ wetted her lips in approval and disappeared. Before CJ walked out
of earshot, she heard Katie smooth voice. "Off the record, not off my
mind.." *