Title

Title: The Ball, (2/?)

Author: Eve Karma

Spoilers: None, if I recall correctly.

Rating: PG-13 because I say so.

Disclaimer: If they were mine, you all would know.

Other: This is my first actual JD fic, so don't expect too much. Except for the few pictures I've seen, I don't know too much about the Smithsonian Ball, so bear with me. FB makes me dance. Enjoy! :)

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She tried not to jerk back in surprise, but he could feel her tense up.

"Josh...I think it's time to go home," she said, leading him off the dance floor as the band played the last few chords of "At Last."

"But it's only 12:15," he protested, checking his watch.

"It's 12:45, your watch sucks. You should know that by now. Go say goodbye to your friends, Josh," she instructed as if she were speaking to a child. Donna began to rummage under tables for her purse and shoes.

He did what she said, wondering if she always acted so stern after someone told her how they felt about her.

They reunited several minutes later, and she led him to her car.

"Why do you have to drive?" he asked, not realizing how his words were slurring together.

"Gee, maybe it's because I drove you to the Smithsonian in the first place," she replied.

"Oh. That makes sense."

"Plus, I don't trust you to be able to find your way home, anyway."

He didn't know what to tell her.

"Thanks," she said during the drive as she cranked up the heat.

"For what?" he held his hands in front of a vent and rubbed them together.

"For dancing with me. I thought you were hiding from me all night."

"How could I not dance with you?" he asked incredulously.

She didn't have time to answer, because he said, "Hey, I don't live here," as they pulled up to Donna's apartment.

"No, you don't," she reminded him. "But I would feel responsible if you went home alone tonight and ended up dying because you choked on your own vomit."

"Oh. That makes sense too." he mused.

She unlocked the apartment door and led him inside. He stood in the middle of the living room for a minute, looking around him. "What happened?" he asked. "No roommate? No cats? You live by yourself now?"

"Yes," she told him through the large blanket she was carrying out of her bedroom, "Which is surprising, considering--"

"I know, I know, conshidrun whai pay you, whare'vi 'eard that one b'fore?"

Don't worry, she didn't understand a word of that either.

Translation: "I know, I know, where have I heard that one before?"

He slumped onto the couch, and she felt obliged to get his shoes, jacket, and tie off before he started snoring. She covered him with the blanket and made sure he was laying on his side. Just in case.

"Goodnight, Joshua," she whispered softly. Then she crept into her bedroom, changed into her pajamas, and fell into bed.

To Be Continued...