The Photograph – sequel to Who Da Man!

Spoilers: None

AU fic featuring Josh & Donna

Characters are not mine I'm just borrowing them.

As expected when Josh got out of hospital he couldn't wait to get back to work. The election was in ten days and there was plenty to do. Leo cautiously approved his return with the proviso that he work only in The Whitehouse with Donna. He was banned from the campaign trail and Donna kept an eagle eye on him. He still had some headaches and his ribs were sore.

Nine days before the election:

Josh rolled over in bed, his hand searching eyes closed. When he realised he was alone he opened them and looked around the bedroom.

"Donna?" He called softly as she stood looking out the window. She turned at the sound of his voice, smiling as she came to sit on the bed.

"Are you okay babe?" He reached out to take her hand in his.

"I'm fine hon. I was just wondering how Leo is going to react when you tell him we've been seeing each other for six months and I practically live in your apartment." She sighed and leaned in to kiss his waiting lips.

"Come here." He pulled her to him. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll be fine. Anyway if he's gonna be pissed at someone it will be me not you." He kissed her head.

"That's what I'm worried about. What if he's so pissed he fires you?" Donna turned to look Josh straight in the eyes.

"He won't do that. He might reassign you though." He smiled sadly.

"If it's a choice between working with you and living with you; I'd rather live with you, in fact I'd rather play with you." Donna pushed Josh down on the bed holding him down, kissing him senseless and wriggling on his groin.

It was another hour before they made it out of bed into the shower. Donna left for work ten minutes before Josh, as usual.

"Hey Margaret does he have a minute? Josh stood uncertainly near Margaret's desk. Part of him wanted Leo to be busy the other part wanted to get it over and done with. He knew it was serious as Donna had left a mug of coffee on his desk that morning.

"Sure go on in Josh."

"Thanks." Taking a deep breath Josh went in to Leo's office. He knocked on the door frame as he did so.

Leo looked up, "Just give me a minute Josh."

Josh paced the room as Leo finished making notes in the margin of the document he was reading. "Will you sit down Josh? You're making me dizzy!"

"Sorry." Josh sat.

"What's on you mind Josh?" Leo took off his reading glasses and looked directly at Josh.

"Uhm….I…Can I close the door?" Josh shot up and went to the door without waiting for an answer.

"I guess so. Josh what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" Leo tried to be patient he could see Josh was struggling to articulate but clearly had a problem.

"Yeah honestly I'm okay. Not one hundred percent, but okay." Josh cleared his throat. "Leo I need to….uhm….to tell you that….that I'm seeing Donna." He breathed a sigh of relief at finally having got the words out.

Leo remained silent for a while processing the information. "Seeing as in going to the movies, dinner sometimes or more than that?"

"More than that; we've been practically living together for the last six months." Josh crossed and uncrossed his legs, pulled at his tie and ran his hand though his hair.

"You didn't think I should know before now?"

"We...we. Leo we didn't know if it would work. We didn't want to be something to be 'managed' when it was so new. We love each other but neither of us have a good track record and we needed to see how it was." Josh's gaze never faltered from Leo. His eyes showed how vulnerable he was at that moment baring his soul to his mentor.

"So how is it?" Leo smiled as he asked.

"Amazing, Leo, it's the most amazing feeling to be so in love with someone. It's also the scariest feeling." Josh laughed.

"Josh I'm truly happy for you both, I am but we need to keep this thing quiet. It's too close to the election. The right will have a field day with you sleeping with your assistant." Leo held up his hand as Josh began to protest. "I know that you are both single consenting adults and it's not a sordid affair or sexual harassment. I'm asking you and Donna to cool it for the next nine days. No public displays of affection and no sleeping at each other's apartments. Ritchie's people are nervous they will use anything to make this administration look bad. If your relationship is made public before the election I will have no choice but to cut you loose for the sake of the administration and the party. Do you understand Josh?"

Taking a deep breath, "Yes I understand Leo. I promise we will be all business until the election. Once that's over can we be open?"

"Yes, with our blessing. We'll have to speak to CJ and work out the best approach. I'll speak to her later just to warn her."

"Thanks Leo." Josh stood to leave, as he approached the door. "Don't let me down Josh. I will cut you loose. This is too important." Leo's voice was stern and Josh knew he was deadly serious.

"I won't let you down Leo. I'll go and talk to Donna." Josh left the office and went straight to the men's room where he threw up. Once he got himself together he went to tell Donna what happened.

"Donna can you come into my office?" Josh went in knowing Donna would be behind him. She shut the door and sat in a visitor's chair.

"Are you okay Josh? You look awful." Donna reached across the desk to hold his hand. When he pulled away she looked questioningly at him.

"I'm sorry. I promised Leo that we would be just business until the election. He says he's happy for us but if our relationship gets to be public before the election he'll cut me loose."

Donna gasped when he said the last part. "Leo wouldn't do that to you Josh, surely not!"

"He would for the good of the administration and the party. I would too. Just now we would be a gift to Ritchie. I understand Donna, but I need you to as well."

"I do understand I just don't like it. It seems so cold. So what no contact outside work for the next nine days and just business when we are here?" Donna clarified.

"That's about the size of it. Are you okay with this?" Josh looked so unsure of himself it nearly broke Donna's heart. He was so vulnerable when it came to relationships. He always thought people would leave him. She so wanted to hold him, but knew they couldn't.

"No I'm not okay with it. I love you and want to show you that love, however we will still see each other every day. Just think how desperate you are going to be for me in nine days." Donna waggled her eyebrows at him.

"Me desperate Donna?" Josh smirked knowingly.

"Alright but do you think in ten days you'll be fit enough to do a repeat performance against your apartment door?" Donna smiled at the memory of clothes still on, legs around Josh's waist and only his zipper undone. She was glad she had worn a skirt that day as they only just made it inside his apartment. They were desperate for each other having been parted for just a week, not long before their accident.

"Donna!" Josh hissed. "Not here!"

"I have work to do and you have a meeting in ten minutes." She grinned and went out to her desk in the bullpen.

The next two days went quickly. Josh and Donna were both busy with the campaign and the business of running the country. They missed each other at night and the sexual tension between them was palpable. They were very careful and did as Leo had said and it was all business.

Six days before the election:

Josh grunted as he reached for the ringing phone, it was early. "Yeah?"

"I can't believe you would do that. You couldn't keep it in your pants for nine days. That's all I asked Josh, nine days. I am so disappointed in you. Not only do you break your promise to me but you do it so brazenly in the Whitehouse. I warned you I would cut you loose. Don't bother coming in you're fired. Don't contact anyone. You are officially persona non grata around here." Leo slammed the phone down.

"Leo?" Josh said just as he realised Leo was no longer there. Josh was now wide awake but extremely confused. He dialled Leo's number.

"Leo McGarry's office."

"Margaret please can I speak to him?"

"Sorry Josh he's not taking your calls. In fact we are all under instructions not to speak to you."

"I don't understand. What have I done?"

"I can't speak to you but I suggest you look at a newspaper or turn on a TV." Margaret hung up.

Josh got out of bed and switched on the TV.

"Breaking news Josh Lyman Whitehouse Deputy Chief of Staff is in disgrace and possibly facing a suit for sexual harassment. It appears Lyman has been having an affair with his secretary who is 12 years his junior. Not only has he been sleeping with her but a photograph in today's Post shows them apparently having sex in the Whitehouse.

"Oh my god!" Josh groaned as he collapsed in disbelief on his couch. Grabbing his cell phone he hit speed dial one. "You are through to the voicemail of Donna Moss please leave a message after the tone."

"Donna please I need to speak to you. I don't understand. We never, well you know, we never. Please call me." Josh flipped through different news channels with shaking hands. How could his life have fallen apart so quickly? He had been so happy, they had been so happy.

"Donna I have asked you here to speak with Whitehouse counsel."

"I don't understand. Where's Josh?"

"He's been fired, Donna. Leo warned him he'd cut him loose and he did. No one here can have any contact with him."

"I need to see him. We didn't do anything. We did what Leo asked."

"Donna even if it was before Josh spoke to Leo you have to see how damaging this is. You had sex in the Whitehouse!"

"No CJ we didn't. We never have. That's what I don't understand."

"Donna someone took a photo. It's here in the Post. Are you saying that's not you and Josh?"

"No it is us, of course but it can't be because we never have here. Never!"

"Speak to the counsel Donna."

"Okay."

CJ used the intercom to ask Carol to send counsel in.

"Hi Donna I'm Paul Harris from the counsel's office. I'm here to offer you advice."

"Are you seeing Josh as well?" Paul looked at CJ his confusion evident.

"Donna, Josh isn't being advised by the Whitehouse. He's on his own."

"He needs someone CJ." Donna was close to tears.

CJ put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "He'll be fine, Donna, Josh will be fine. He'll bounce back you know Josh."

"Donna I need to ask you some questions. Okay?" Donna nodded to Paul.

"How long have you been sleeping with your boss?" Donna thought it sounded so sordid and shivered in disgust at the insinuation.

"Josh and I love each other. We have been together for six months."

"Okay I'm sure he told you that he loves you. Men will do that to get what they want. Especially an older man, a boss, a powerful man, will say what ever you want to hear to have sex."

"No that's not how it was! We love each other! You make it sound so dirty! We're single consenting adults; there is nothing wrong with our relationship. CJ tell him." Donna felt the tears falling down her face as CJ passed her a Kleenex.

"I know Donna but just hear him out. Josh would want you to be protected." CJ tried to soothe.

"Donna I have to tell you that in order to save your own career and reputation you should sue Josh Lyman for sexual harassment."

Donna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sue Josh? I love Josh. We love each other. "I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"It would be a lie. I have to go. I need to think." Donna got up and left CJ's office, got her things from the bullpen and left the Whitehouse. She intended to go to Josh's place but as she drove past she could see the reporters gathered hoping for Josh to leave the building. She went round the block, pulled over and checked her cell. There were 15 missed calls all from Josh. She hit speed dial one.

"Donna? Are you okay? Where are you?"

"I'm okay Josh. I'm round the corner from your place. I was going to go in but there are reporters outside. How are you doing?"

"I don't know. I don't understand what's happening. Leo called this morning and fired me. I'm all over the news as some lecherous pervert boss who preys on young women. I've seen the picture but I don't understand it. It looks like us, it looks like the Whitehouse, but I know that we have never done that there. We've never had sex at work. The odd kiss maybe before Leo said only business. I'm so confused; I don't know what to do. No one is speaking to me." Josh's voice began to break and Donna knew he was trying not to cry. "Are you okay speaking to me? Should you be?"

"Baby I'm not going to stop speaking to you. I love you. I want to be there with you now. What can I do?" Donna needed to do something.

"I was thinking about Danny. We both know we didn't have sex at work. So the picture has to be fake. Right?"

"Right but what has Danny got to do with this?"

"If you can get to Danny and ask him if he can get the original photo. Then maybe we can get it checked out."

"I'll see if I can get to him. Josh they want me to sue you for sexual harassment." Donna wanted to honest with him.

"Are you going to?" He whispered.

"NO! No of course not. Why would you think I would? To save myself? I don't want to be around here if you can't be." Donna heard him expel a long breath.

"Donna they're going to be all over you too, there are probably reporters at your apartment. Where are you gonna go?"

"I'll go to a hotel or stay with CJ. I'll let you know where I am. Don't worry."

"Did you see Leo?" Josh asked hesitantly.

"No I was bundled into CJ's office the minute I got to work. She had someone from the counsel's office waiting to see me. I got upset and just left. I wanted to see you. I still want to see you. You must be going through hell cut off from everybody and essentially trapped up there." Donna couldn't stop the tears falling.

"Hey babe don't cry it'll be okay. I promise. Even if we don't work together anymore we will still be together. Josh paused. "Donna will you marry me?"

"That is just so you, asking me at a time like this, over the phone when I'm already crying!" Donna laughed quietly.

"Is that a yes?" Josh pushed.

"Yes it's a yes you idiot!" Josh could hear the smile in her voice.

"That's really good because I have this ring and it's too small and definitely too girly for me to wear." Josh was laughing openly now.

"Oh you were very sure of yourself there Lyman."

"When it comes to you I have never been more sure in my life. You complete me Donnatella."

"And you me Joshua."

No one spoke for a little while trying to stay in the moment but knowing that they had a difficult time ahead. One that may not end well for Josh.

"Donna you know I hate to bring us back down to earth but I really need you to try and meet with Danny."

"I know. I will. I'll call him now. I love you."

"Love you Donnatella." Josh hung up the phone.

Donna drove by her apartment and as predicted a gaggle of reporters were outside. Her cell rang; she pulled over to answer it.

"Donna it's CJ. Where are you?"

"CJ I'm in my car near my place, but the press is camped outside."

"Donna look come back here and then you can go to my place."

"CJ I don't really feel like being at the Whitehouse. Josh and I did not have sex in the bullpen. No one believes us CJ. The photo is a fake, it has to be. Why won't anyone believe us?" Donna was getting upset and angry.

"Honestly I don't know what to think. Leo had no choice Donna. I don't think you would lie; also even Josh isn't stupid enough to have sex in this building. After you left I tried to talk to Leo but he won't discuss it. If you don't sue Josh you'll be fired too."

"CJ can we meet somewhere, maybe with Danny?" CJ had given Donna some hope they weren't facing this alone.

"I'll meet you and we can talk. Then maybe we can get Danny involved. Meet me at Swing in 30?"

"Okay see you there." Donna ended the call and debated whether she should call Danny as Josh had asked her to or to see how it panned out with CJ. She decided that it would be better to have CJ on their side so set off to meet her.

Sam and Toby were out of DC when they heard the news. Neither could believe their eyes when they saw the picture. Leo called them as they were watching the news and told them Josh had been fired and they were not to have any contact with him.

"Toby he's my best friend I have to call him. He must be going through hell."

"He was stupid and selfish. He deserves to be cut off." Toby was pacing as he ranted.

"I'm calling him."

"Sam don't be as stupid as he is. You need to leave it."

"No Toby." Sam left the room already opening his phone.

"Josh? Are you okay?"

"Sam you can't speak to me. You'll get into trouble buddy." Josh was so pleased Sam had called despite his warning.

"Screw that. What's going on?"

"Sam you have to believe me we didn't have sex at work. We've been seeing each other but we wouldn't do that. Sam I swear on Joanie's grave that photo is a fake." Josh's voice was close to breaking with the emotion he felt.

"Buddy you don't have to do that I believe you. What can I do to help?"

"I don't know. Donna is trying to get the original."

"Danny?"

"Yeah, but we don't know if he can get it. If he can then we can have it checked out."

"Okay I'll get hold of Donna and see what I can do. Once I get Toby off the ceiling I am sure I can get him to help. Did you tell Leo?"

"He's not taking my calls." Josh sighed.

"Don't worry we'll get this sorted. So, you and Donna finally, how long?"

"Six months."

"About time I'm really happy for you both." Sam was grinning like an idiot.

"Sam I asked her to marry me." Josh whispered. "She said yes."

"You're engaged! Wow, congratulations. I better go. I'll call you later.

"Thanks, later."

When Josh ended the call he sighed deeply and looked at the reporters outside. The TV was now showing an item about him and Mary Marsh was condemning his behaviour. It was then that Josh realised he hadn't called his mother. He picked up the phone again and dialled her number taking a deep breath. Luckily she knew about him and Donna and she would be over the moon about the engagement. He also knew she would be worried about them and would be really pissed at Leo.

When Donna got to the coffee shop CJ was already there in a corner booth and had a drink waiting for her. "I thought you could do with a full fat mocha today." CJ smiled as she passed the cup to Donna.

"Thanks."

"Okay so start from the top." CJ leaned forward as Donna began to speak.

"CJ you have to believe that we have never and I mean never had sex in the Whitehouse. We have kissed and held each other but only in Josh's office and not since Leo told us to be all business." Donna's eyes never left CJ's.

"I do believe you, but we can't get away from the fact that there is a picture of the two of you apparently having sex up against the outside of Josh's office door in the operations bullpen. This picture has been in the newspapers and all the news agencies have it. If we deny it no one will believe us. Ritchie's people are already having a field day; the administration has no choice but to distance itself from Josh. Have you heard what they are saying about him? I know I said he'd bounce back but even I didn't realise how low they were going to go. They're making Josh out to be some sort of womanising pervert." The thought of Josh being like that made both woman smile briefly knowing it was so far from the truth.

Donna's tone conveyed her sense of urgency. "We need to get the original of that photo. It's the only way we can prove it's a fake and help Josh. Donna paused and continued hesitantly. "There's something else CJ. It's a bit personal but I'm concerned because the only way they could have got that picture was by taking it through Josh's window when we did do …uhm…it…that way. CJ they must have been watching us, or him. What if it's not about the campaign but about Josh himself? He could be in danger." Donna's voice was shaky as were the hands that held the cup before her.

"You think? Donna it's probably just an unscrupulous freelance reporter who took the photo through Josh's window and then hashed it up to make it look like it was in the bullpen. How he got that picture I'm not sure. He did it for money Donna, nothing else, it will be for money. They have this sort of thing in England paparazzi following people and using zoom lenses: that's how Princess Diana died you know. Donna don't worry about it, we'll get Danny to help us. Josh is his friend he won't be happy about what is happening he hates trashy journalism. I'll call him." CJ put her hand on Donna's to reassure the younger woman.

"Okay, I guess. So you'll call him?"

CJ took out her cell phone, checking around her to ensure no one was near.

"Hey CJ, what can I do for you?" Danny was smiling as he always did when CJ called.

"Hey Danny I need a favour, a big favour."

"Would this be in connection with a mutual friend who is currently in Casanova's dog house?"

"Yes it would."

"So this is totally unofficial?"

"Yes."

"Intriguing. Have you spoken to him or her?"

"The latter is here now. Swears it's a fake."

"Ah the plot thickens. You believe them?"

"Yes totally, but we would need the original to get proof and restore his good name."

"Good name!"

"Okay questionable name but he's our friend and he doesn't deserve this."

"No he doesn't but what makes you think I can do this?"

"You can do anything. You are my hero and your Gail's dad."

"Bullshit!" Danny laughed.

"Seriously you are his only hope. He really needs you, they really need you."

Danny sighed. "Okay I'll see what I can do. I can't promise CJ I might not be able to get it."

"Get back to me later?"

"Yeah okay later and tell them to be positive. Bye."

"Okay, thanks Danny, bye."

Donna looked at CJ questioningly. "Well?"

"He said he wasn't sure if he could get it but he wants to help and he will try."

"Okay that's all we can ask for really. Thanks I know you're putting yourself on the line here."

"Not just me, Sam called me earlier he wants to help and so does Toby, Leo won't listen to anyone. He won't discuss it; he seems terribly disappointed in Josh. He really thinks Josh let him down. Leo's hurt Donna so he has cut himself off."

"I understand. CJ earlier with the counsel, did you mean it about suing Josh? Donna needed to know.

"Donna it would be best for the administration and for you, but now we are looking at a different scenario. We're so pissed that someone has done this to you guys. If we don't get this sorted Josh's career may never recover. We can't let that happen and seriously this needs to be resolved before the election or the President may lose all his public support. CJ's words reassured Donna a little.

"I need to get back to work. Donna you still have a job but I think you should take a leave of absence for now. Here take the key to my place and I'll see you there later." Donna took the key.

"Thanks CJ. See you later."

TBC

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