Title: Dark Depths

Author: Lucy Mars

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.

**Enjoy. That's all I ask.** ;]

Chapter #16

"Jesus." Josh hissed pushing past CJ and running out after Donna. For someone who was just released from the hospital, she sure was sprinting fast.

Watching Josh disappear, CJ turned back to glower at Amy. "What the hell…"

Gathering up her coat and bag, Amy walked past CJ. "I'm gonna go."

"That's a good idea."

Frowning at CJ, Amy made her way out of Josh's office. "He has a thing for her." she said over her shoulder.

"What?" CJ asked following Amy into the empty bullpen.

"The Deputy Chief of Staff," Amy said turning around to face CJ, "has a thing for his secretary."

"Assistant." CJ corrected.

"What?" Amy asked obviously annoyed.

"Donna is his assistant, but most importantly, his friend." CJ said standing her full height and staring down at Amy.

"She's his subordinate." Amy said slowly and purposely, "Do you know what it would look like for Josh to be screwing his secretary? Questions about impropriety are going to rise and people are going to wonder how Donna got her job…hell, I wonder how she got her job! And another thing…"

"For someone who makes a living talking about women's rights," CJ said cutting Amy off, "you sure are making some huge sexist comments."

Narrowing her eyes at CJ, Amy crossed her arms. "I don't need to prove anything to you. I didn't get where I am today by sleeping with anyone."

"If you are insinuating what I think you're insinuating," CJ said her voice calm and low, "then I suggest you leave before I sic an agent on your ass."

"Making threats, CJ?"

"No," CJ growled, "promises."

"I'd leave if I were you."

Spinning around surprised, Amy put on a false smile for Toby and Sam. "Hey guys…"

"Don't even try it." Sam said shaking his head with annoyance.

"Try what?" Amy asked innocently.

"I repeat," Toby said giving Amy a bored look, "I'd leave if I were you."

"I can handle this." CJ said her face terrifyingly neutral.

"I don't believe you," Toby said simply, "and I don't think Leo would appreciate a fight in the middle of Josh's bullpen."

"CJ could take her." Sam said putting in his two cents.

Giving Sam an annoyed look, Amy scoffed at him.

"You're still standing there." Toby sighed in that strangled way of his.

"Yes, I am." Amy pointed out needlessly.

"Why?" Toby asked.

"Because I can." Amy replied stubbornly.

"You really can't." Toby said launching his rubber pink ball dangerously close to Amy's feet and catching it easily when it came sailing back at him.

Flinching as the pink ball came sailing at her again, Amy scowled at Toby. "I'm waiting for J."

"I really don't think he'll want to talk to you when he gets back." CJ said crossing her arms.

"Well too bad for him."

"You were just leaving before you made disparaging remarks about CJ and Donna." Sam pointed out, watching Amy redden with sick fascination, "Why aren't you gone yet?"

Her face reddening with anger, Amy glared at Sam. "I thought that you were his friend."

"What?" Sam asked confused.

"I though that you were Josh's friend."

"I am."

"If you were his friend," Amy spit out, "then you wouldn't let him fool around with his secretary…"

"Assistant." CJ, Toby and Sam corrected in unison.

"Assistant," Amy mumbled, "whatever. All I'm saying, is that if you were his friend, you wouldn't let Josh throw away his entire career for some leggy blonde, who happens to be a dollar a dozen."

"Okay," Sam said his voice sharp, "now you leave."

"All I'm…"

"No." Sam said cutting Amy off. He was seeing red and he'd never hit a woman before, but god, he was close to hitting Amy. "Just take your contradictory ass and get out of here."

"I'm just trying to…" Amy said trying to make her point.

"Oh for christ sake," Toby growled, "shut up and leave already. Before Sam brings a defamation of character suit and CJ kicks your ass from here to the RNC. You've somehow managed to talk yourself so far down a hole, I don't know when, or how, you're going to get out."

"I…" Amy stuttered surprised at Toby's tone.

"You've insulted CJ and questioned her credibility, which meant that at the same time you were insulting the administration and our credibility." Toby said his tone serious and cold, "You've also insulted Josh and Donna. Do you really think that Leo would have let Josh hire Donna if she wasn't competent and capable? Are you questioning Leo's decision? Are you question this White House and our merit?"

"N…no…" Amy stuttered trying to back track, "All I meant was…"

"No." Toby said waving a dismissive hand at Amy, "Just go."

Realizing that she'd walked herself into a dismal corner, Amy held her head up high and spun around. Walking out of the White House for good.

Watching Amy disappear for good, CJ turned at smiled at Toby. "Nicely done."

"I'm amazing this way." Toby deadpanned.

Grinning, Sam nodded. "Sometimes Toby…"

"Shut up and find some work to do." Toby growled heading back to his office.

"Okay," Sam laughed sharing a smile with CJ as they watched Toby head back towards his office.

"Tell me when they get back." Toby said over his shoulder.

"You want to know because you care?" CJ asked sharing a grin with Sam.

"Oh shut up." Toby growled turning around and smiling at the laughing duo, "Go find some real work, or something."

---------

"Donna!" Josh yelled running out of the White House after her. "Donna!"

Getting past the last gate, Donna pulled her sweater tightly around herself and fell into the sea of people looking up at the White House in awe. Ignoring Josh, Donna moved as fast as her legs would carry her. Her lungs burning, Donna pushed herself to go faster. Just get away and maybe it wouldn't hurt as much.

"Donna!" Josh yelled pushing past the people and trying to keep his eye on her blonde head. "Donna, stop!"

Donna could see people look up curiously, but she didn't care. Panting, she felt her ears burn every time Josh yelled her name.

Running faster, Josh finally caught Donna's arm. He held on tight, as much as she struggled, because he was never letting go. "Donna, please…"

"Shut up. Just shut up." Donna said trying to pry his fingers off of her arm.

"Donna," Josh said grabbing hold of her shoulders and making her look at him, "let me explain."

"What is there to explain?" Donna demanded turning her face away from Josh.

"Donna," Josh begged holding on tight, "please."

"I don't want to hear it." Donna said shaking her head, "I don't care."

"Donna, please. Just listen to me."

"No." Donna said ripping herself out of Josh's grasp, "You left, not me. You left me this morning…"

"I didn't." Josh said trying to make Donna understand. "I didn't."

"You did!" Donna said looking up at Josh, her vision blurred with hot tears.

"I just…I was…" Josh said stumbling over his words, "I didn't think this morning…I should have woken you before I left…"

"I don't care." Donna said walking away.

"You don't mean that." Josh yelled.

"I do."

"Donna!" Josh said trying to keep up with her, and trying not to run a poor pedestrian over in his rush to keep up with her.

"Just go back to Amy." Donna spit out.

"We're over."

Scoffing, Donna hastily wiped away her tears. "It didn't look like that before."

"Donna," Josh said catching her arm, "I broke up with Amy two days ago."

"What?" Donna asked looking up at Josh surprised.

"I broke up with Amy two days ago." Josh repeated.

Studying Josh's expression, Donna shook her head in anger. "Do you think that I am an idiot?"

"What?" Josh asked confused.

"Do you think that I would believe you? If you broke up with her, then why didn't you tell me two days ago?" Donna demanded.

"I don't know…" Josh said trying to think of a valid reason.

"You don't know?" Donna asked incredulously.

"I don't!" Josh yelled frustrated.

Stopping, Donna turned to glare at Josh. "You could have told me when I asked you about Amy in the car. You could have told me when I asked about Amy in your apartment. You could have told me while we were having dinner, Josh!"

"I don't know why I didn't tell you." Josh said truthfully.

"Then what was she doing in your office?" Donna asked turning her face away. "Why were you two…" she said trailing off.

"She kissed me." Josh said needing to point that out. "I didn't even participate. Amy came to try, in some demented way of hers, take control of a relationship that was over."

"I just…" Donna said shaking her head.

"Ask Leo." Josh said following Donna as she tried to figure out where she wanted to go.

"Ask Leo?" Donna echoed, confused where Josh was going with this.

"Ask him. I was in his office just before I found Amy, unexpectedly, in my office. I told him that I broke up with Amy two days ago, I told him about us…"

"Us?" Donna asked cutting Josh off.

"I told Leo," Josh said gently taking Donna's face in his hands, "about us. I told him that there was an us."

Swallowing, Donna shook her head. "Josh, this isn't…I don't know…we…is there a…"

"Donna," Josh said wiping away her tears with his thumb, "we're the real thing."

"We are?"

"Yeah," Josh whispered, "we are. Me and you. This is it."

"Josh…"

"I don't want you to worry." Josh said seriously, "I don't want you to question. I don't want you to wonder about how I feel. I don't want you to have any fears."

"Josh," Donna said looking up at him, "what about…"

"We'll worry about that when we get there."

"Are you sure Leo's okay with…"

"Yeah," Josh grinned, "Leo's okay with it. It seems that there's a pool going around."

"A pool?" Donna asked surprised.

"Yeah. Donna?" Josh asked leaning his forehead against hers.

"Yeah?" Donna replied finding herself mesmerized by Josh's big brown eyes.

"Can I tell you something?" Josh asked seriously.

"Yeah." Donna nodded holding her breath.

"I love you, Donnatella Moss." Josh whispered leaning in to kiss Donna softly. Moving onto her cheek and her eyes, Josh repeated it over and over with every kiss. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

Standing under the blooming cherry blossoms and in a sea of noisy tourists, Donna would always remember this particular street with a soft spot in her heart. This was where everything feel in line. This was were forever was carved in stone. This would be where Josh would propose and she would accept. This would be where they would come to share a quiet moment together, when they helped the President win second term. This would be where Donna would bring Josh to tell him that he was going to be a father…twice. This would be where they come to celebrate when CJ and Toby finally got it together. This would be where they would bring their children every spring when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. This would be where they would stop when the days ran too long and the nights too short. This would be where Josh would bring Donna whenever he wanted to give her good news. This would be where they would come, with secret service agents in tow, extraordinary friends and loving family, to toast their 20th anniversary. This would be where memories were made and cherished.

"Donna?"

"Yeah?" Donna asked looking up at Josh with shinning eyes.

"You okay?" Josh asked brushing a gentle kiss over her eyebrow.

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

Smiling an ageless smile, Donna wrapped her arms tightly around Josh and brushed her soft lips over his perfect ones. "I love you." Donna whispered.

"I know." Josh smirked, before he leaned in to kiss her. "I love you too."

"I know." Donna echoed, listening as Josh's laughter spread through the bright sky.

The End.

`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

*Ta Da!* C'est fini, mes amis. (Sorry, my French kinda sucks.) ;] Well, well and well again. What can I say. It's done, and man oh man, has it been an amazing ride….or what? I've had great fun writing this…and I don't know who else I would have shared this with, than you guys. ;]

The feedback that I've gotten has been astronomical and mind blowing. I don't know a greater bunch of people. I hope that you've enjoyed this experience as much as I have! *sniff*

Now, on with the next experience!! ;] Fighter, here I come! ;] …….and the random stand-alone…or hell, who knows, I just may start my next series out of the blue. ;]

-Lucy

April 4th, 2002.