Timeline: Pre-Admin fic, First in what will likely be a small series.
Spoilers: Not at this point.. but seriously, we've all seen every episode anyway. So it will be free game as we progress.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Seriously. Not even my car.)
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The rain was falling in sheets, beating against the cheap metal on the roof of the car as the wind whistled through the now empty parking lot. The street light flickered from above, but it went unnoticed.
She sniffed a few times, taking a deep breath in a vain attempt to steady her sobs. It didn't work. She wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks with her gloved hands. She was still bundled up to fight off the cold winter air. Had she looked in the mirror, she would have been shocked at her appearance. She'd lost weight over the last month or so, leaving her already small frame looking particularly frail. She had dark circles under her eyes, which were now puffy and bloodshot from the tears she'd shed. She forced herself to take deep breaths, exhaling a slow, shaky breath. Eventually she checked her watch, realizing she'd been sitting there sobbing for over an hour. Glancing around inside her old Corolla, she took stock of everything she had to her name, packed in the boxes filling her car. It truly felt like she had hit rock bottom.
She dug around in her purse and pulled out her cell phone, calling the only person she knew could get her through this without judgment.
"Donna?" The familiar voice picked up on the first ring.
"Hey," Donna responded meekly, immediately feeling better at the sound of her big sister's voice.
"What's wrong?"
"Who said anything was wrong," Donna hedged.
"Donnatella Katherine, I know you better than that. Spill it."
Donna sighed. There was no use in fighting with her. Leaning back into her seat, Donna sighed, retelling the whole story about how things had fallen apart with her medical student boyfriend Paul. She, at that point, was relieved she'd cried herself out. Her older sister was always her idol, and she didn't want to be the pushover baby of the family any more.
"OK, let's look at this… logically," Donna heard through the other end of the phone. Her sister had never liked Paul, and had vehemently opposed Donna's dropping out of school to take care of his bills, but they'd still been able to stay close. right now, however, Donna was absolutely positive that the indirect response she was receiving was the only way this conversation would end without her sister on the next red eye to Madison to have a word with Paul.
"Weren't you two supposed to leave for some big vacation tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Donna bit her lip against the tears forming once again. "We were supposed to go to St. Thomas in the morning." She let out a self deprecating laugh. "I've been working overtime for months and I can't even get my money back. Sounds about right."
"Why aren't you going?"
"What am I going to do? Just head to an all inclusive romantic resort on my own and sit around for a week feeling sorry for myself?"
"Look, you can't get the money back, right? SO what do you have to lose? Donna, you never take time for yourself. You're young and beautiful and you've spent the last years catering to a man who, for reasons passing my understanding, lets you. Go on the vacation. Relax. Have a one night stand. Act your age for once."
She sighed, knowing that her sister had a valid point. "Do you want to come with me?"
She heard a sigh from the other end of the line. "I wish I could, Donna. I really do- I just, I can't get away right now." There was a slight pause. "Donna, go on the trip. Just enjoy yourself for a week and don't stress out about what a jerk Paul is… and when you get back, what would you think about moving in with me? I mean, it would be a change of scenery and free place to stay. You could go back to school, I could find you a job at my firm. It'd be great."
"I- I don't know…"
"Oh, come on. I miss you, little sister."
A smile crawled across Donna's face for the first time in weeks. "Okay. Yes. I'd like that. I'll see you in ten days."
"Have fun, okay? Live it up and call me if you need anything- even just to talk."
"Thanks," Donna smiled genuinely, feeling much better. "Night."
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Donna slept on her friend Stacy's couch that evening, heading to the airport early in the morning to catch her flight to St. Thomas. She was able to get the money back for Paul's airline ticket but everything else was non-refundable. "Here goes," Donna muttered at take off, wondering what the week had in store for her.
Chapter Two
Josh Lyman threw his backpack down in the midst of a pile of old issues of The Post. It had been the day from hell. He was at the end of his patience with Hoynes and everyone else on the staff. Nobody was listening to him. And to top it all off he had to listen to everyone telling him to get a life lately. Why were they all on this kick? So he didn't take vacations- so what?
His parents had been nagging him for grandchildren for a few years but that he could deal with (by way of avoidance, like most other things in his life). But now, he'd been forced to use his vacation days. Senator Hoynes was making sure everyone took time off. Josh was annoyed with the entire process, and planned to hole up in his apartment and just work remotely for a few days. Maybe, and just maybe, he'd even head up to Connecticut for the weekend and visit his parents.
"Yeah," he answered the ringing cell phone without checking the caller ID.
"Charming, Joshua." The familiar voice coming through the end of the line caused Josh to roll his eyes, but ultimately a smirk crossed his face.
"How can I help you, Madeline?" He knew what she wanted. There was really only one thing- she needed to be seen with him for some political pull. Okay, there was another thing she could be calling for. So, two things. He mentally shook his head at their dysfunctional relationship. Not that he'd even classify it as a relationship, really.
"I heard Hoynes gave you the week off. I'm not doing anything… what do you say we get out of town?"
He was taken aback. She wanted to go on vacation with him? That was… so far out of left field. "I… uh…" he stumbled over his words, not really finding himself to be enticed by her offer. He, for the good of society at large, didn't think they should be confined to one hotel room together for the week. "Why?"
She sighed, obviously irritated on the other end of the line. "It's what people do, Josh. God forbid anyone think you have a social life. "Besides, there's a group of people headed to a private estate on Isla de Culebra tomorrow for 4 nights and I think it would be good for both of us if we showed up."
Ah. The root of the issue. Frankly, Josh couldn't care less about his social standing. He had the brain capacity to out think almost anyone in Washington and most everyone knew it, but playing nice with people he wasn't interested in was never his forte. It sounded like hell, honestly. But Mandy went on and on, finally peaking his interest when she mentioned the anticipated company of a Senator who stood in line with Josh's ideals on Medicare reform.
Whatever. If he could get away with working this week and simultaneously get this whole damn town off his back about a vacation, he might as well do it. It was only a few days, how bad could it be?
The next morning Josh hailed a cab and threw his luggage in the trunk, heading to the airport to meet Mandy and crossing his fingers he could get through the week.
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You guys. What am I thinking starting another story!? I've been writing Ballots and Bows and it took a… strange turn. So here I go again with the double story. But I PROMISE to be better about updating this time.
