Hi y'all.
Title: I'll be There.
Rating: U mostly, but I'll warn you when the p0rn creeps in.
Pairing: Josh/Donna, naturally.
Summary: Donna comes back to Washington DC after never getting a job on the Santos campaign. Thing is she's not alone now. And there's a reason why she's returned.
Disclaimer: I don't own any character, save Georgie, she's mine. Steal her and I'll hurt you, got it?
A/N: I love all feedback good or bad.
Part 1: I'll be there
Flicking the switch to a quiet hospital room Donna softly closed the door and made a hasty run down the hall. Settling Georgie had been tough, especially today. Her first night in a strange bed, in a strange building, was always strained – in the two years since she'd been sick she never got used to the feeling of new bed-sheets.
"I'm going to the white house to visit someone, here is my pager number. I won't be long" she handed the nurse a crumpled piece of paper and made her way to the elevator. Stretching her back as the outside cold hit her. She was only six blocks away from her destination, with money so tight on medical bills she bypassed the cab rank and chose to walk. It was a clear crisp airy night unlike the afternoon they'd had. A downpour of rain had greeted them off the am-track.
She stood hopeful at the welcome desk, the security guard recognised her immediately. He apologised because he couldn't let her in, not without a pass. She would have to wait for someone to recognise her.
"Donna?" the voice came from Sam, her old colleague and friend. He was straining across a bustling lobby.
"Sam" she walked over to greet him. He was bulkier than he had been the last time they met; his face weathered by family. "It's been a long time. How's the vice presidency treating you?"
"Fine, great in fact" he chuckled nervously. She'd spontaneously cut and run nearly four years ago, not even a leaving note or explanation. "It's been a long time Donna, where did you go?"
She shuffled nervously. "Can we go to your office or the mess?" her voice had dropped to a whisper. Following Sam to the coffee stand in the mess she gladly accepted his offering. It had been almost a day since she'd last eaten, her appetite lost on Georgie.
"Why now?" Sam's tack had always been a fault. No small talk to let her warm up to the idea of telling one of the biggest secrets she'd kept hidden.
"I've got to tell Josh something, I can't – I won't tell anyone else here till I do. It's just the right time" her eyes were near watering as she stirred her coffee.
"I'm Josh's best friends Donna, you're a good friend. Why can't you tell me?" Sam took her shaking hand; something emotionally draining was going on in her life. She was evidently ragged from its weight. Her hand was skin and bone, hell the rest of her was skin and bone.
"I have a daughter Sam, and I haven't been with anyone since Josh and I" he gasped, it wasn't his right to pry, not at the moment. "But I want to tell Josh before I speak to anyone else"
"Yeah of course, I'll take you up to his office." She quickly gulped the rest of her coffee down.
It felt like walking back through a lifetime to Josh's office. The memory of her leaving the office never to return, going back home to her family to raise the child she knew would ask so many questions. The pain her soul had felt as doctors explained how sick her little angel was. Worrying about every scratch and bruise since. She'd learnt all the lyrics to Disney songs whilst keeping vigil at Georgie's bedside; leaning on friends for support.
"Josh, I've got someone here to see you." Sam peered round the corner of the office; he took in the moment before Josh's life was set to change. He was amidst a pile of paperwork reaching the height of his desk. Several used thermal cups sat in disarray; if it weren't in such grand settings Josh could be mistaken for being the college grad bum. But this was all set to change.
"I'm busy right now Sam, can't it -" his breath hitched, he'd not felt the same since she'd walked out of his life. She looked different, much older and worn down.
"Josh" she smiled weakly, shifting her bag nervously as her coat drowned her figure.
"Donna" he cleared a space on his sofa, if he didn't offer her a seat she looked like she might pass out. He excused Sam and held all incoming information before closing both doors.
"What – why are you here?" his voice was sheepish. His heart was falling in love with her over again but his mind was angered. She'd left him.
"I've got big news for you Josh" he winced; numerous scenario's were running through his head.
"You've got a daughter" he felt his jaw drop in shock, why now? Four years on and she was only getting round to tell him now?
"You…are….sure, right?" he felt bile rise in his throat. She was on her own, where was his daughter.
"Yes, Josh it can only be yours. There's something else though" he felt like he was in the middle of a boxing match – which he was loosing.
"She's sick. I mean really sick – she's got leukaemia Josh" his eyes watered simultaneously with his. His dad had fought cancer and lost, leukaemia was worse. His luck was cursed.
"Donna" he did what felt instinctive in that moment. He sat next to her and warmly embraced her, holding her tightly as the scent of her shampoo rose into his nostrils. It felt like the unsteady wall holding him up had shattered. It felt right for Donna to be back in his arms again. He stroked her hair lovingly as uncontrollable tears wished their way down her rough cheeks.
"I want to see her. If it is ok with you, I'd like to meet my daughter" he felt her nod into the dampness of his shirt. He grabbed her hand as she tried to get up. "Don't ever keep me out again, I'm in this for the long run" she squeezed his hand tighter too choked up for words.