A/N: I have a pile of old West Wing stories on my hard drive but could never seem to find the time to dust them off. Now time is more plentiful than usual, so I thought I'd dig a few of them out. Fun fact, I think this is the first fanfic I ever wrote.
Category: Fluff
Rating: T
Spoilers: Through Season 4, I guess?
xxx
"What are you doing tonight?" Josh yelled from his office.
"Going on a date for the first night in a criminally long time!" Donna yelled back without turning from her computer.
Josh came out of his office and stood behind her. "I'm not sure you not having a date is something that can be prosecuted by law."
"Yes, but you abusing your power as my boss to prevent me from having any social life whatsoever for your own nefarious purposes is," Donna replied.
"I'm sorry, did I miss something? While I was running the country, did the University of Wisconsin start handing out law degrees to undergrads who leave school for the questionable purpose of paying the bills for freeloading medical students?"
"You miss a lot of things, Josh. Not the least of which is the fact that you don't run the country, the President does."
"Look, you can sue me tomorrow. Tonight I need you to prep me on health insurance. I have a meeting with Congresswoman Elizabeth Rogers first thing tomorrow morning."
"I'm perfectly aware of that, Joshua. In fact, I've been aware of that since I made the appointment for you last week and reminded you of it multiple times. What I am not aware of is the reason you have failed to prepare yourself for this meeting in the interim."
Pause. "I forgot about it."
"That sucks for you, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but it sucks for you too, cause I really need your help."
Donna handed him a stack of index cards.
"What's this?"
"Notes on health insurance."
"I can't read this! Look, on the first one, I already can't tell if this is a q or a p," Josh said, pointing.
"Well, since very few people would include a q in the phrase 'health care providers,' I guess you might go out on a limb and guess it is a p."
"Donna, please? It would really help me out if you would stay and go through this with me."
"No."
"I'll let you come to the party tomorrow."
"I'm already going to the party tomorrow."
"I'll put in a good word for you with the President."
"The President adores me, Josh. If you're nice to me, maybe I'll put in a good word for you."
Josh sighed. "Okay, if you do this for me, I promise to make no demands on your time at the party and introduce you to the richest, most handsome men in the country."
"Will you buy me jewelry?"
"No."
"Good night, Josh, see you tomorrow."
"Oh, all right. I'll buy you something."
"My dress is pink, Josh. Diamonds would be appropriate. Pearls wouldn't be bad either, but I really prefer diamonds."
"I'll see if I can find something to match. Now call your date and cancel."
"I hate you."
"You can't get enough of me."
Donna stuck her tongue out at him.
The next day the meeting with Congresswoman Rogers went very well, and Josh emerged from his office with the thrill of victory coursing through his veins. "Who's the master?" he asked Donna.
"I am. I saved your ass," she retorted.
Josh opened his mouth to argue, but could not think of any way to contradict this. "Okay, I'm willing to concede that point," he agreed.
"Good. What time are you picking me up for this thing tonight?"
"I'm picking you up?"
"Yes, I have to drop my car off at the shop on the way home from work, and I need a ride to the thing. You are the ideal person to provide said ride, because you have to bring me my jewelry anyway."
"Are you sure you never went to law school?"
"Joshua." Donna glared at him.
He sighed. "Okay. How about 7:30?"
"That's acceptable."
That evening, when Josh knocked on Donna's door her voice called, "Come in!" from inside.
He opened the door. "You really shouldn't leave the door unlocked, you know. It's not very safe."
"Well, Josh, after I talked to you on the intercom thirty seconds ago, I decided to take a walk on the wild side," came Donna's voice from the bathroom. She came out wearing a lovely strapless gown in pale pink. He could see her collarbone. Say of Donna what you will, but no one could deny that she had a very attractive collarbone.
Josh swallowed. "Donnatella," he said softly. "You look wonderful."
Donna smiled. "Thank you." She turned around. "Would you zip me up?"
Josh looked down at his hands, which had suddenly become rather sweaty. Why was his mouth so dry? "O-Okay," he managed.
He crossed the room, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. When he was standing right behind her, he caught a whiff of her perfume and inhaled deeply. God, she smelled good. No, no smelling the assistant. Time to focus here. He slowly guided the zipper upwards, his fingers trailing along the silky material of the dress and his knuckles brushing against the soft skin between her shoulder blades when he was finished. Well, at least now he was no longer thinking only about how good she smelled.
She turned, grinning. "Thanks."
"No problem," Josh replied weakly. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small package. "I brought you something."
"Ooh, let me see!" Donna exclaimed, taking the package from him and opening it. She held it up in front of her with a bemused expression. "Josh, what is this?"
Josh grinned. "You asked for jewelry, and so I am fulfilling my promise to get you jewelry."
"I believe I mentioned diamonds. Pearls. Joshua, this is a candy necklace," Donna said.
"Hey, only the real Chief of Staff can afford Harry Winston or whatever his name is."
She glared. "You are a cheat."
"No, I'm not. You asked for jewelry, that is a piece of jewelry."
"I wanted something that would last. An heirloom, if you will."
"That will last indefinitely unless you let someone nibble it off your neck, Donnatella."
"Have I mentioned that I hate you?"
"It matches. Did you notice that it matches? I had to interrogate both Bonnie and Ginger to determine whether this was the exact shade of your dress. It was a challenge, but your man Josh Lyman was up to the job," Josh said, puffing his chest out.
Donna looked as though she couldn't decide whether to be touched or angry. Finally she said, "That's almost sweet in a really miserly sort of way."
"It was a good thing that your dress happened to be this exact shade, though, because they really only make these things in the one color. If you had worn anything else I would have had to use a ring pop."
"Okay." Donna put the necklace on the table. "Well, let's go then."
"You're not going to wear it? After all that trouble I went to to make sure your accessories would match your dress?" Josh said, making his best puppy dog face.
"Josh, I am not going to wear a candy necklace to a formal White House function."
Puppy dog face, puppy dog face. Donna sighed. "Oh, all right, I'll wear it." She pulled it over her head. "Satisfied?" she demanded.
"It looks really good with your collarbone," Josh said happily.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
Uh oh. Time to backpedal a little bit. "Nothing... uh... you just have a really nice collarbone."
Donna smiled. "Really? I have a nice collarbone?"
Josh reached over and gently fingered the necklace, letting his fingers graze her collarbone in the process. "The best."
He looked up into her eyes and suddenly the air was filled with that sort of strange and wonderful tension that arises just before you are supposed to kiss someone. She looked so good. She looked full of trust and wanting and challenge and Donnaness.
He panicked. He pulled his hand away like he had been burned. "We'd better go," he announced.
Donna looked deflated. "Okay."
They were silent on the way to the party. Josh felt awkward. When they went into the ballroom he tried to lighten the mood a bit. "Well, Donnatella, are you ready to meet all those rich and handsome men?"
Donna brightened. "Hell, yeah."
"How do you feel about oranges?"
"I like oranges."
"How do you feel about men who own millions of dollars' worth of citrus trees in Florida?"
"I love oranges!"
"Great. Mr. Sheradon! It's so great to see you! Have you met Donna Moss, my assistant? She's batty about oranges."
"Is she really?" Mr. Sheradon looked Donna up and down appreciatively.
Donna tried to signal 'no' frantically, but Josh ignored her. "Donna, this is Richard Sheradon. I'm sure he'd be very happy to talk to you about oranges during this dance."
Richard Sheradon offered Donna his arm. "Delighted, my dear," he said with a gleam in his eye.
Donna resignedly took his arm but glared murderously over her shoulder at Josh. He just smiled and waved as the pair made their way to the dance floor. As for himself, Josh headed over to the bar.
He was nursing a beer and scanning the crowd for CJ and Sam when he heard an incredulous voice behind him.
"Josh Lyman?"
Josh turned and grinned. "Dan Breed? How the hell are ya, man?" he asked, reaching over to shake his hand.
Dan grinned back confidently. "Well, I can't complain. My company just sealed a deal worth fifteen million dollars, so I'm feeling pretty good."
"That's great. Jesus, how long has it been?" Josh asked.
"Hmm. I'm thinking probably since that bachelor party where there were no strippers. I can't remember the last time I was that hungover."
"I think I've got you beat. I woke up on the floor in my office. My assistant stole my pants and a beautiful Californian pollster bawled me out while I was wearing nothing but an undershirt and bright yellow foul weather gear."
Dan whistled. "Damn. I knew I should have gone into politics. So much more exciting stuff happens than in the computer business. All I was doing the next day was soaking in a hot tub with one of those eye masks over my face and avoiding calls from Tokyo."
"So what are you doing here?" Josh asked.
"You know, it's amazing. The White House was giving out free tickets to anyone who donated a million dollars to the Democratic Party. I feel like I've won the lotto, no kidding."
"Nice."
"Seriously, buddy, how are you doing? I heard about the shooting on the news and I was really worried about you."
Josh nodded. "Yeah, thanks for the card. My assistant was crying her eyes out over it. I'm doing good, though." At the thought of Donna, Josh's eyes unconsciously sought hers. He saw her dancing with Sheradon and smiled to himself.
Dan's eyes followed Josh's gaze. "Wow. Who is that?" he asked keenly.
Josh glanced at Dan, who was staring at Donna with his mouth half open. "I have no idea," Josh lied.
"She is gorgeous." Dan continued to stare at Donna.
Josh's grip tightened on his glass, but he was saved from having to respond by Leo, who interrupted just at that moment. "Dan! It's so good to see you. How are you? Josh, do you mind if I steal him away for a moment? I want him to meet some of our guys at the DOD. They want to hear all about this new software you've got," he told Dan.
"Sure, no problem," Dan said, allowing himself to be escorted away but managing not to take his eyes off of Donna.
Keep walking, buddy, Josh thought as he turned back to the dance floor. The dance ended and Donna marched over, eyes flashing.
"Joshua," she said. "You are violating our agreement."
"What do you mean?" Josh asked, feigning innocence. "Mr. Sheradon is indisputably rich and personally I think he's very handsome. Not to mention charming."
"Good. You go dance with him."
"Donna, I think that might really disappoint Mr. Sheradon. I think he was really into you."
Donna shuddered. "I'm shocked and appalled at how into me he was. Is his middle name Octopus, or something? His hands were everywhere!"
"Nonetheless, I think you'll find I am well within the parameters of our bargain," Josh said smugly.
"Somehow I think you knew octogenarians weren't exactly what I had in mind."
"Donna, I very rarely know what is going on in your mind."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were sabotaging me," Donna grumbled.
Josh gave her an alarmed look. "Have you been talking to Sam?" he asked nervously.
"Yes. Sam is representing me when I sue your ass for violating our agreement."
"What? He's supposed to be my best friend! Why is he representing you? And he calls himself loyal," Josh muttered.
"Sam is very loyal. To me. He also has principles. After going over the details of the case, Sam decided he would rather defend the righteous party rather than argue on the behalf of a cheating scumbag like yourself. Besides," she said sweetly. "You went to law school. You should have no problem defending yourself against Sam."
Josh gave her a sour look.
"Anyway, back to the matter at hand," she continued. "Can't you find me someone a little more my type?"
Josh smiled sweetly back at her. "I'm sorry, Donna. I just don't know that many worthless Republican losers."
"Hey, I'm flexible. What about that guy you were talking to earlier? He's very handsome."
"He's married," Josh lied. "He's not rich, either," he added for good measure.
"Liar. He can't be that poor if he can afford to own a tux like that."
"How do you know it's not rented?" Josh asked curiously.
"Oh, trust me. I know."
CJ came up to them, looking flushed. "Donna, can I borrow Josh for a dance? I'm trying to avoid Danny, and he might be more easily dissuaded if I look like I'm doing something important like conversing with the Deputy Chief of Staff."
Donna smiled. "Of course! That dress is fabulous by the way. You look great."
"Thanks! So do you. Come on, Joshua." CJ pulled Josh out onto the dance floor but halfway through their second dance, Danny cut in and Josh figured he might as well make his way back to the bar.
As he approached, he saw Donna and Dan Breed talking to each other and walked up to them.
"Hey, Josh," Donna said unenthusiastically. She desperately signaled for him to get lost, but he ignored her gestures.
"Lyman, are you telling me you know this enchanting creature?" Dan demanded, pointing to Donna.
"Donna, have you been stalking guests again?" Josh asked.
Donna rolled her eyes and Dan chuckled heartily. "No, no, it's me that's stalking her. I've been discreetly bribing Secret Service agents to give me information on her whereabouts ever since I first saw her."
"That's so sweet," Donna said with a smile.
"In a criminal sort of way," Josh commented.
"So how do you two know each other?" Dan wanted to know.
"Donna works in my office," Josh told him.
"Josh, I've always envied you, but never so much as right now. Donna, you are a vision in that dress. And is that– a candy necklace you're wearing?" Dan asked, reaching over to finger the necklace. Josh started to see red creeping into the edges of his vision. No one should be touching Donnatella's collarbone but him! Dan chuckled and met Donna's eyes. "That is possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. It's so refreshing to meet a woman who would wear a candy necklace to a formal ball with the nation's leaders."
Josh opened his mouth to tell Dan that the necklace had been his idea, but Donna ground her heel into his foot and cut him off by saying demurely, "You think so?" Josh snorted. As if Donna had a demure bone in her body. It was a lovely body, but it was in no way demure.
Dan turned back to Josh. "So, is she any good?"
What? "I wouldn't know," Josh said stiffly. Donna groaned.
Dan frowned. "Why not?"
Well, that was a bit nosy, wasn't it? Donna elbowed Josh in the ribs and hissed, "He's asking if I'm a good assistant, you pervert!"
Oh. Right. Damage control, damage control... "Donna's the best. I'd be lost without her." Okay, that was a bit more honest than he had intended to be.
Donna looked at him with an expression he could not read, and Dan whistled. "Wow. That's high praise from this gorilla, Donna. You must be pretty smart to be able to keep Josh on his toes."
Josh bristled. "Of course she's smart! You think I keep her around cause she's blond and beautiful?"
Dan gave him a funny look and Donna patted his shoulder. "Josh, you're shouting," she murmured.
Josh cleared his throat. The people standing next to them were looking at him strangely.
Dan tried to lighten the moment. "So, Donna, you're smart, pretty, sweet... is there anything wrong with you?"
"Well, as a matter of fact," Josh began, but Donna hastily cut in. "Dan, would you like to dance?" she asked.
Dan looked delighted. "Sure!" He offered Donna his arm. Josh watched them head out onto the dance floor, his heart sinking. Why was this bothering him so much? Donna had the right to flirt with anyone she wanted.
No she doesn't, said a mutinous voice in his head. She could flirt with eighty-five year old men, or married men, or any man who had absolutely no interest in her. He had no problem with that. What she could not do was flirt or be in any way charming to any man who had the potential to make her come to her senses and no longer allow him to monopolize every moment of her time. Any man who had the potential to take her away from him, in other words.
What was the matter with him? She was his assistant. You're not allowed to think thoughts like this about your assistant, he told himself firmly. What if your assistant has long hair and alabaster skin and a sexy collarbone? countered the little voice in his head. What if your assistant knows bizarre trivia and gets her arm stuck in a mailbox and drops her underwear in front of Karen Cahill? What if your assistant watches for you out your window and takes you to the emergency room on Christmas Eve and spends three months nursing you back to health?
What if your assistant holds you accountable for your actions when you're being an asshole and makes you want to be a better person and understands you better than anyone else?
Then you're screwed, he told the voice, because your assistant is dancing in the arms of an incredibly rich, handsome man who you happen to know firsthand is actually a good and kind person. He is also, incidentally, a lot smarter than you, because it only took him about five seconds to realize that Donna is something special, while it's taken you years.
Josh watched them out on the dance floor and his heart ached when he saw Donna throw her head back to laugh at something Dan had said. As though she could tell he was watching, Donna suddenly caught his eye.
To his surprise, she immediately disentangled herself from Dan's embrace and made a beeline for him.
"Josh, are you okay?" she asked when she reached him, wringing her hands. Aw, she's making her concerned face, thought Josh. He loved her concerned face.
"You look terrible," she told him, her brow furrowed and her mouth doing that really cute thing it did when she frowned. She was the only person he had ever met who made frowning endearing.
"Don't try to spare my feelings. Tell me how you really feel," he replied.
"I'm serious, Josh. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Josh insisted.
"Is it the music?" she asked.
He frowned. "The music?"
"Is the music bothering you?" she asked, putting her hand on his cheek.
Oh, no. She was really worried about him. "Oh, no, Donna. I'm fine. Really."
"I don't believe you. Come on, we'll go get some fresh air," she said, taking his hand and tugging him towards the doors leading out to the balcony.
He followed her out the doors. "Donna, I'm really okay," he protested. He squeezed her hand. "You should go flirt with Dan some more."
"Well, I was worried about you," she said.
"I promise, I'm fine. I feel bad about taking you away from the chance to show what a wonderful wife you would be to a California computer millionaire."
"You want me to go back?" Donna asked.
"I didn't say that. I just don't want you to stay because you feel like you have to take care of me."
"Well, if I don't take care of you, who will?"
"No one needs to take care of me. I feel perfectly fine. But if I did need someone to help me out, I could get Leo or Sam. You don't have to do it."
"But they wouldn't do as good of a job as I would," she said.
"That's true. How about if I sent someone to get you if I needed you?"
"I could just stay here in case you need me," Donna pointed out. "Save myself the walk."
"Donna, am I really that pathetic?" Josh asked.
She blushed. "You're not pathetic. Well, sometimes you are," she amended. "But usually in a good way. Do you want me to stay?"
"I only want you to stay if you want to stay," Josh pressed.
"I'll stay," Donna said decisively.
"Good. It's probably just as well. A marriage between you two would never work out," Josh said.
"Why not?" Donna demanded.
"Well, if we overlooked the fact that you would be Donna and Dan, which is frankly just annoying, you would be Mrs. Donna Breed. Would you really want to have a name that rhymes with Donna Reed?"
Donna made a face. "I suppose not." She brightened. "Hey, he could start going by Daniel and take my name when we got married."
"Donna, as charming as you are, I'm not sure Dan is going to be willing to change his whole identity after one dance and five minutes of conversation with you. Besides," he said dismissively. "He's too nice for you."
Donna bristled. "Excuse me? Are you telling me you think I'm not good enough for your friend?"
"No, no!" Josh said hastily. "I'm telling you I think you're too good for him."
"Oh really, because what I heard was that he was too nice for me."
"He is."
"Well, which is it? Is he too nice for me or am I too good for him?" she demanded.
Josh hesitated. "Both."
Donna looked exasperated. "Josh, you're not making any sense."
"Dan is too nice for you. He hates arguing with people. You'd be bored out of your mind. He's a goody-two-shoes. He wouldn't appreciate the finer aspects of your criminal mind and devious nature. He designs computer software for a living. He wouldn't realize how charming some of your occasionally delusional behavior can be."
"Okay, I'll ignore the delusional behavior thing for now. What if I only showed him my good side?"
"Then he'd be missing out," Josh said confidently.
"But if he won't appreciate my criminal mind and devious nature, he wouldn't really miss them," she pointed out.
Josh nodded. "Thus, you are too good for him. You deserve someone who will appreciate those things about you."
"I really don't want to start dating convicted felons, Josh."
"That's why you should find someone who will appreciate your sweet and adorable side as well as your criminal mind and devious nature."
She looked at him skeptically. "And where would I find someone like that?"
Josh smiled nervously. "How about right here?" he asked tentatively.
Donna's hand flew to cover her mouth and her eyes widened in shock. Josh realized that he was still holding her other hand and that he was gripping it hard enough that he should have heard bones cracking. He forced himself to relax his hold and looked steadily into her eyes.
"Are you saying you appreciate my sweet and adorable side?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes."
"And you appreciate my criminal mind and devious nature?"
"Yes."
"And you think I'm delusional?"
"Only in the best possible way."
"What exactly does that mean, Josh?"
"It means that no one could appreciate you more than I do. It means that anytime I think anyone even thinks about appreciating you, I want to break his legs."
"You're insane," she laughed, but then she squeezed his hand and reached out with her other hand to touch his cheek again and his breath caught in his throat. The air between them became slow and heavy. Her eyes were lowered and he suddenly became acutely aware that the reason her eyes were lowered was because she was looking at his mouth.
"Donnatella," Josh said softly. He touched her cheek this time, and she gasped slightly. He felt her eyes fly up to meet his own, but now he was staring at her mouth and thinking that she had a wonderful mouth and he could not go another day without knowing just how wonderful it really was.
He put his hand at the small of her back and stepped into her so he could feel the length of her body pressed against his. He buried the fingers of his other hand into her hair and then he kissed her, long and sweet and slow. She tangled her own fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and kissed him back. Josh ran his hand up and down her back and Donna tilted her head back with a gasp that made Josh nearly come unhinged. He made a growling noise in the back of his throat and began to kiss her neck.
He slowed down a little bit when he reached her collarbone. He dropped a light kiss on it at first. Then he nuzzled it a little bit. Then he nibbled it gently. Then he put his mouth over one of the pink candies on the candy necklace and sucked on it gently.
"Josh," Donna said breathlessly, her eyes closed. "What are you doing?"
Josh bit down on the candy and felt it crack between his teeth. He put his lips around it and pressed them against Donna's collarbone so that it could not escape. She gripped his arms. "Nothing," he murmured, as he bit down on the next bit of candy.
"Stop it," she said, in the same breathless tone.
The candy dissolved on his tongue and he bent to claim the next one on the string. "Why?"
"Because," she said, arching into him as he moved his mouth over her skin.
"That's not a good enough reason, Donnatella," he said, biting another candy off to emphasize his point.
"You're ruining my heirloom, Josh," she said, her eyes still closed.
"I'll get you another heirloom," he promised.
"But I want this one," she insisted, her hands tightening over his biceps as he used his tongue to swipe at a small bit of candy that he had missed.
He lifted his head and kissed her again. "Not even if I share?" he asked.
"No," she said, and kissed him back.
"Well, at least I know you appreciated it," he said.
"Hmm," Donna murmured into his mouth. Now she had hold of the lapels of his jacket.
"Josh?" she asked, trailing kisses along his jaw.
"Yeah?" he asked, his voice rising at the end of the word when she nibbled his earlobe.
She leaned back and met his eyes. "I appreciate you, too."