These characters and their environs on Sports Night belong to ABC and Aaron Sorkin. No infringement is intended. This is just for fun, no money is being made from this. This story involves a relationship between two men, aka: slash. If that is *not* your cup of tea, sweet as it is, then don't read it! (simple, ain't it??) Feedback is *very* much appreciated, and always answered. Flames will be passed around to friends and chuckled over. :) Sequel to 'Cleveland', 'Treasure', 'Creaming', 'Things', 'Consideration', 'Elevated' and 'Frustration'. More to come... Non-problems by Amirin #129 *********************** Danny hopped down from his desk when Casey came into their office. "Well?" "I hate it when Natalie rolls her eyes at me." "So ask Jeremy." "I did." "And?" "There's a closet..." "A closet." "Yes." "A closet." "*Yes*. Danny, do you have some inexplicable fear of closets I need to know about?" "The irony is *completely* lost on you, isn't it, Case?" "Possibly. What irony?" "We go into the closet to make out, then we..." "Come out of the closet?" Casey frowned. "You see the problem." "You don't want to come out of the closet, do you, Danny?" "No, not really," Danny shook his head. "You'd just as soon stay in the closet." "Are you in the closet with me?" "I believe that I am, yes." "Then, I'm staying in the closet, Case. Especially if you're in the closet with me." "Which I am." "Which we've established." "Closets are good places to be," Casey grinned slowly. "Yes, they are." "And there's one down the hall just waiting for us to go on in." "And not come out again." "Exactly." "Case?" "Yeah." "We're staying in the closet." "Yes, we are." "Do you have any problem with this?" "None whatsoever." "Good. Then it's a non-problem." "I think so, too." "I think we should go check out the closet." "I think we should, yes." "Might be a nice place to stay." "I certainly hope so," Casey said wryly. "We're going to be there for a while." "After you." "You want me to go first just so you can check me out, don't you?" "Yes." "Fine." "It's my turn." "I said, fine." "Casey?" "Yeah?" "*Very* fine." "Thank you." "You're *very* welcome." ~~~ "Hi, Dana." "Natalie, hey. Isaac's looking for Danny, have you seen him?" "Not recently." "How long ago is not recently?" "Not long." "How long?" "A few minutes ago." "Where was he?" "In his office." "Did you see which way he went?" "Nope. Sorry." "Do you know where he might have gone?" "Nope. Sorry." "You're no help at all, are you?" "Nope. Sorry." ~~~ "Nice closet," Casey whispered into Danny's ear. "As closets go, it's very nice." "I think I'm okay with being in the closet." "Yup, me too." "God, you feel good." "I'm not the only one." "Door locked?" "Hell, yes." "Good." "Very good," Dan murmured just before Casey's mouth found his in the near-total darkness. "You are the perfect height for this." "For what? Making out in closets?" "Um, hmm." "Flatterer," Casey chuckled into a groan as Danny's hand skimmed over his backside. "We don't have much time." "I know." "No where near enough time." "I know." Casey pulled back with a puzzled frown. "Wait a minute. Not enough time for what, exactly?" He got his answer as a warm hand caressed the front of his jeans and Danny's fingertips followed the fly. He moaned into yet another well-timed kiss and wrapped his arms around Danny. "Liked that?" "Loved that." "Thought so," Danny said with a grin Casey could probably hear. He was just about to undo Casey's zipper when the doorknob rattled. ~~~ Dana stalked to the end of the corridor and flagged down her second-in-command. "Natalie, why is that closet locked?" she pointed over her shoulder at the closet in question and missed Dan and Casey exiting quickly and making their escape down the hall. "It's not locked," Natalie answered honestly. "Yes, it is." "No, it isn't." "It won't open." "That's not the same thing as being locked." "Natalie..." "Did you do the thing with the doorknob?" "What thing with the doorknob?" "You have to lift the doorknob while you're turning it, to open the door." "Why hasn't it been fixed?" "We're all used to it." "Show me how to open the door." "What do you need in the closet?" "I'm...looking for...something." "What?" "Dan and Casey." "I don't think Dan and Casey are in the closet," Natalie frowned. "The hell they aren't." ~~~ Back in Dan and Casey's office: "I can't believe I ever thought sneaking around was fun," Casey's voice was muffled by his hands as Dan wheeled his chair a little closer to the table and started rubbing his back. "When you're trying to get away with something, it *is* fun. It's only when you're trying to keep from being caught so you don't hurt someone else, that it ceases to be fun." "We have to quit this." "I know." "I mean, really." "I know. Really." "We've got the show, then we're done for the day." "Yes." "Come back to my place?" "Or you could come to mine." "What's wrong with mine?" "Nothing's wrong with yours, I'm just offering mine." "And I offered mine." "Fine. We can go to your place after the show." "You don't want to come to my place." "I didn't say that. Casey, it's fine. We can go to your place." "Is there something wrong with my place?" "*No*. There's not a damned thing wrong with your place." "Except that you don't want to go there." "I didn't *say* that. I just didn't want you to offer because you felt you *had* to." "I didn't." "Okay." "So, whose place are we going to?" "I don't *care*." "You don't." "I really don't." "Okay. Are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure," Danny sighed. "We can go to your place." "There's a whole 'if you're sure you really want to' being unspoken, here." "There's nothing being unspoken." "No?" "No." "Okay." "We'll go to your place." "I'm beginning to think that isn't a good idea. I think you have a problem with my place." "Casey, I don't have a problem with your place." "No problem?" "No problem." "Not a one." "Not at all." "It's a non-problem." "Yes." "I think we should go to your place." Danny sighed again. "Why?" "I don't know why. I'm thinking there's a problem." "I'm not aware of a problem." "I think there is." "What's the problem?" "I'm thinking it might be a territory thing." "A *what*?" "You know..." "Hey, guys." Their heads turned when Dana came into the office. "Is there a problem?" she asked, seeing that both of them were frowning. "No." "Yes." Dana waited patiently for them to agree on one or the other. For about five seconds. "Danny, Isaac needs to see you for a moment." Dan nodded. "Fine." "We'll talk about the problem later," Casey offered. "There's no problem," Dan muttered on his way out the door. Casey waited until he thought Dan was out of earshot. "There's a slight problem." "THERE'S NO PROBLEM!" Dan yelled from across the room with a glare then headed to Isaac's office. "Just a slight problem," Casey grinned. "I'm sorry," Dana grinned back. "Is there anything I can do?" "No. No, I think it's just a territory thing." Dana blinked and nodded thoughtfully. "I hope you work it out." "We will." "Good. That's good." "Yeah," Casey took a swallow of his coffee. "So, about the closet..." Only a supreme effort of will kept Casey from spewing the coffee across the table. "What about the closet?" he managed to choke out. "I'm thinking we need to get it fixed." "I'm thinking people are used to the closet." "That's what Natalie said," Dana murmured. "I'm thinking the best course of action would be to leave the closet alone." "Really?" "Yes. Really." "I'm thinking it needs a slight fix." "How slight?" Casey gamely went for another swallow of coffee. "I'm thinking we need to get the hinges oiled so they don't squeak." Casey froze. "That could be an acceptable 'slight fix'," he agreed quietly. "I'm glad you approve," Dana said, a smile barely curling the corners of her mouth. "I'm..." "Don't say it, Casey." "But, I'm really..." "Shush." "Dana." "No, listen to me. Please." Casey sighed. "Shoot." "I didn't give the same warning to Natalie and Jeremy when they started seeing each other that I gave to you and Danny. And that wasn't fair." "It wasn't." "No. No, it wasn't. I've been...indulgent with them, because they're cute together and I like seeing the furtive glances and the shy smiles when they don't think anyone is looking and I really envy them, that they have someone they can be cute and furtive and shy with...What I'm saying is that I shouldn't treat you and Danny any differently." "But it is different." "And I'm saying it shouldn't be. I don't want you to feel that you have to sneak around or walk on eggshells because that's not fair." "We should be careful, though." "Well, yes, Casey. Obviously, you should. You and Dan are public figures with a private relationship that needs to stay private and isn't anyone's damned business, anyway." "True." "I've been overhearing the general opinion about you both." "There's a general opinion?" "There is. And it's very positive." "It is?" "It is. And people are supportive. They think the two of you are about as close to perfect as they've ever seen. And they want it to work. They're your friends. And I haven't been much of a friend." "Yes, you have." "No, I haven't. I've been expecting you and Danny to act like you have something to be ashamed of and that's wrong, Casey, that's so damned wrong. And I'm sorry." Casey stood slowly, walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Don't be sorry." "I am." "Don't be." "I'm telling you I am." "And I'm telling you, don't be. You have nothing to be sorry for." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "I just don't want this to look like I think there's anything wrong with it, because some people take their cues from me..." "You're the producer, we all take our cues from you." "Funny. Shut up." Casey laughed. "I don't want this to become a problem just because it's *my* problem." "Is it a big problem?" Dana shook her head. "No, it's really not a problem at all. I thought it would be a problem, but it's just..." "It's a non-problem." "Yeah," she grinned. "A definite non-problem." "Good." "So..." "Yeah." "We okay?" "Always. I can't think of a single reason why we wouldn't be." "Thanks, Casey." "It's no problem," he grinned as he kissed Dana's cheek and let her go. "Funny. Shut up," she shot back on her way out the door. ~~~end