Josh Lyman had, in the past decade or so, invested a lot of both time and money into therapy. Things were generally better because of it; his life, his relationships, his work. But all that money and time didn't mean that he wouldn't occasionally have anxious days. He knew that, and accepted it as much as he could. He tried to tell himself over and over that the presence of anxiety is not always the presence of a problem. For the most part, he was functional through those anxious days, and he suspected that most of his coworkers were none the wiser, but Donna somehow always knew. Right from the moment she rolled over in bed that morning, she could tell.

"What's wrong?" She asked tiredly, her voice still gravelly from sleep.

"Nothing," he lied, knowing it was easier than admitting that he didn't know.

"Don't lie to your wife." She whispered demurely, running a hand over his bicep. "You're tense. Did you sleep?"

"Yeah," he tells her. It was in twenty minute increments, sure, but still technically not a lie.

"Do you need to go stand against the wall?" She asks him gently.

"Nah," he shakes his head. "Hey, what if we just stayed in bed today?" Josh suggests.

"Josh Lyman, are you suggesting we play hookey?" Donna chuckles a little.

"Maybe I am." He smiles back.

"Well, we're both chiefs of staff, you to the most powerful man in the world, so I imagine that less than one hour into the day our absence would be highly noted, we'd be rushed into work, and all of our coworkers would assume that we were running late because we just got so swept up in our sexual escapades."

"Well, nobody ever dared to suggest that the people we work with are stupid." Josh smirked as he rolls over to kiss Donna's neck.

"Later, Josh." She promised as she rolled away from him. "I've got to shower before we go in," She smiled before kissing him back quickly and hopping out of bed.

Their morning passed as uneventfully as any other morning, lots of rushing around the coffee pot and misplacing briefing memos, and accidentally swapping briefcases. Josh grabbed ahold of Donna's hand in the back of the secret service town car, and was reluctant to let go when it was time for Donna to head to her office.

"Josh, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good." He smiled unconvincingly, before dropping a kiss on her temple and pacing off into his office.

Josh was in his office a few hours later when he felt his blackberry buzzing from it's holster on his hip. Weird, who would be calling him on his cell at this hour? He pulled the phone off his hip and looked at the caller ID. Evelyn Moss. Josh's stomach immediately filled with dread. He chastised himself for assuming the worst and took a deep breath before picking up.

"Josh Lyman," He said into the phone out of habit.

"Joshua," Evelyn, Donna's mother, wept into the phone.

"What's wrong?" Josh asked, his voice filled with concern as he used his free hand to grip the edge of his desk.

"David's gone. He, he had a heart attack in his sleep last night. I woke up and he was gone." Evelyn sputtered out.

"Evelyn, I'm so sorry. We'll be there as soon as we can." Josh said immediately, already crushed for Donna. He knew the pain of losing a father and hated that she was about to go through it.

"I'm sorry to put this on you, Josh. I just… I don't want Donnatella to hear me like this."

"I understand, Evelyn. Is Andrew there with you?" Josh asked, hoping Donna's older brother could keep Evelyn company until he and Donna could get there.

"He's on his way. We'll see you soon, Josh."

"I'll call you when I have flight information," He tells her before hanging up the phone.

He runs a hand through his hair, remembering clear as day the moment Donna had told him that his father had passed. He knew now that being in her shoes was almost just as bad. He wanted in equal measures to go to her and comfort her, and to protect her from this news for as long as possible. But before any of that, he needed to talk to President Santos. He knocked on his adjoining office door, praying that the President had a free moment. His prayers were answered when he heard Matt invite him in.

"Mr. President," Josh said as he entered.

"Josh, you look like you've seen a ghost."

"Donna's mom just called me." Josh explained, supplying more information when the President gave him an inquisitive glance. "Her father passed away last night. She-"

"Josh, go. And don't come back until you're ready. That's an order from the leader of the free world."

"Thank you, Mr. President." Josh says, turning to leave.

"Josh?"

"Yes?" Josh turns around.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thanks," Josh says before he turns and heads towards Donna's office.

"Margaret, I need two plane tickets to Madison. And clear my schedule for the foreseeable future."

Josh is pretty sure he hears Margaret yell something after him, but he's already taken off at a brisk pace towards Donna's office. He gets there to see her door shut, and looks over at her assistant, Danielle.

"Is she-"

"She's not with anyone, you can go right in," Danielle cuts him off.

Josh swings the door open to see Donna sitting at her desk crying. Heartbroken, he closes the door behind him and turns back to her.

"Donna," He starts.

"Andrew called me." She chokes out as she crosses the room and throws her arms around her husband's neck. He wraps his arms around her waist and draws her closer. "We should have stayed in bed,' She whispers into his shoulder.

"I know, Donna. I'm so, so, sorry. We're on the next plane to Madison, okay?"

"Okay," Donna sniffled out, moving her face out of Josh's chest to dab at her eyes.

"Donna?"

"Yeah?"

"I know it doesn't help anything, but I love you."

"It helps, Josh. I love you too."