Title: A Friend In Need
Disclaimer, Summary, etc. - As in Part 1
Part 4 of 9
**
Saturday
Sometime during the night Donna must have lifted her head from Josh's chest and placed it on her own pillow. Josh awoke the next morning to find himself on his left side, facing Donna's back, with his right arm draped over her waist. He slowly got up from the bed and left the room, leaving Donna sleeping.
*
"Donna," a soft voice called. Donna rolled over onto her back but did not waken.
"Donna!" Josh tried again and this time she opened her eyes. She found Josh standing beside her with a tray in his hands.
"I made breakfast." He indicated the tray with his head and Donna noticed it had a huge plate of scrambled eggs and 4 slices of toast on it. "Here, take this and I'll get the coffee." He placed the tray on Donna's legs, which were still under the covers, and left the room, returning with two steaming mugs of coffee.
Placing the mugs on his nightstand, Josh lay down on the bed again, climbing under the covers and pulling the tray over so that it was perched on both their legs. He placed one of the coffee mugs on the tray and lifted a fork, handing another one to Donna.
"Breakfast in bed?" she asked quizzically.
"Yeah, it's Saturday, we don't have to be in until 11," he said, as if that explained everything. Donna still looked surprised. "What, you didn't think I could cook?"
"Not really, no! Are you sure you didn't run out to a store and buy the eggs already scrambled?"
"Hey! And there was me being nice bringing you breakfast in bed, but if you don't want it…" He started to pull the tray away from her, but her hand flew out to stop him.
"Since it's here!" she laughed. "We really don't need to be in until 11?" She glanced at her watch and noticed it was only 9am.
"Nope, and I reckon we'll be able to leave by 5pm as well."
"Don't you just love it when the President is out of town!" They both laughed and tucked into their breakfast.
"You know, if you didn't want to hear my story last night, you could have just said, you didn't need to fall asleep in the middle of it," Josh said as he grinned at Donna.
"Sorry. You can finish it if you want, but it doesn't mean I am going to tell you the story of my first date."
"We made a deal, Donna!"
"No, you made a deal, I never agreed to anything." Josh tried to give her an angry look but it only made her laugh.
"So, he was a real gomer, huh, and you don't want to relive it? I can understand that."
"No, he wasn't a gomer Joshua, he was nice…" Donna stopped, realizing she was about to fall into Josh's trap. She swatted him on the arm. "Nice try, buster, but it's not gonna work."
"Damn!" Josh hit his fist off the bed. "Listen, I was thinking, do you wanna watch a movie after work tonight?" Josh looked at her tentatively, waiting for her answer.
"I don't think I can, Josh," she replied, taking another bite of toast and not looking at Josh.
"Oh, okay. You have other plans?" he asked, sounding dejected.
"No. It's just that I don't think I could sit in a movie theatre, they're not comfortable at the best of times but with my ankle…" Josh smiled.
"I didn't mean go to a movie, I meant watch one, here."
"Oh. Well in that case, sure." Donna smiled warmly. "Do I get to pick the movie?" she asked.
"Noooo!" he replied, pointing at her for emphasis. "My apartment, I pick the movie!" Donna frowned at him.
"Need I remind you that the only reason I'm in your apartment is because I am injured; how did that happen again?" A look of hurt passed over Josh's face, quickly replaced by one that said 'fine, I give up'.
"Okay, you can pick the movie, but it's out of my collection."
"What, you mean we can't go rent one?" Donna pouted. "I don't want to watch any of your movies, Josh." She tried her sweet look on him, hoping he'd relent. He rolled his eyes.
"Fine, we'll compromise. I need to go to the grocery store on the way home anyway. We'll rent a movie from the video store next door to it – but it's got to be one I'll like, not some chick flick!"
"How about a better compromise?" asked Donna. Josh raised his eyebrows. "If we're finishing at 5, we'll have time to watch two movies; you pick one and I'll pick one."
"Okay, but we're watching mine first!" he stated.
"Why?"
"So that I can fall asleep during whatever one you choose." Donna hit him on the arm again, causing him to drop the piece of toast he was trying to eat.
"You will not fall asleep Joshua!" Josh just laughed at her.
*
They reached the West Wing just after 11am, both casually dressed. Donna immediately noticed that there weren't many people around but figured it might still be early for a Saturday and put it to the back of her mind. By noon, she was beginning to wonder what was going on. She pulled herself up from her chair, grabbed her crutches and hobbled into Josh's office, stopping in the doorway. It took a few seconds before Josh noticed her and looked up.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked softly.
"Nothing, I was just wondering where everyone is."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's after 12 O'clock and hardly anyone is in our bullpen. Also, I called Carol and got no reply and Bonnie and Ginger aren't around either. It just seems strange."
"It's not really, they all have the weekend off since their bosses aren't coming in," he stated, returning his gaze to his desk to hide the guilty look on his face.
"They WHAT?" Josh looked up gingerly as Donna hobbled further into his office and towards his desk. He glanced at his desk making sure there was nothing she could throw at him before he replied.
"Well, with the President out of town, CJ doesn't have much to report so she said she was going to spend the weekend shopping." Donna looked a little downcast and he continued. "I think she would have invited you but she didn't think you'd be up to it when you're on crutches." Donna just nodded for him to continue. "Sam and Toby have finished the speech for the State Dinner next week, so they decided to also have the weekend off, although I expect Toby to be in here tomorrow rewriting Sam's part of the speech. They said something about going to Baltimore today to watch some great writer give a speech – Toby said Sam might learn something." Josh grinned and then quickly stopped when he noticed Donna's face.
"So, you're telling me that I don't need to be here?!" she exclaimed, or rather yelled.
"No! You need to be here 'cos I'm here. We still have work to do, we can't slack off like the rest of them."
"So, Leo's around too then? Only, I thought Margaret would have been along to see me by now." Josh looked guilty again.
"Ah, no. He and Mallory went away for the weekend – some quality father-daughter time apparently. I think the President guilted him into it."
"So, you're the only senior staffer working this weekend? Do you even have to be here? All you're doing is reading, couldn't you have done that at home?" Donna was pouting again.
"I wish I could have, but there's too much stuff to refer to, I'd have needed a truck to get all the files home." He motioned to the chaos on his desk. Donna still looked upset. "Look, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
"How?" She brightened a little.
"I'll let you choose the movie tonight?" he asked rather than stated.
"I'm already doing that, unless you're going to let me choose them both?" There was humor back in her voice again.
"No way! Ok, how's this, we won't come into the office tomorrow." He looked at Donna hopefully.
"Does that mean we just won't be coming into the office, but will be working at home, or do I get an actual day off?"
"Well, I have some reading to do, but you don't need to do anything, I promise."
"Why can't you make me offers like this when I'm able to get around more easily? Now all I get is to spend the day in your apartment," she said huffily.
"Hey, at least it's a day off!" There was no anger in his tone.
"Yeah, but I don't want to spend the day cooped up inside, Josh, but I don't have a lot of choice."
"If it's a problem, we can come into the office and I can give you a day off later." Donna snorted.
"Yeah, like that'll ever happen. You will deny all knowledge of this conversation."
"Probably," he admitted. "Well, let's just see what tomorrow brings, okay?" Donna nodded and retreated back to her own office, leaving Josh breathing a sigh of relief that she had let him off, for now. However, she returned a few minutes later.
"What now?" he asked as he looked up.
"If Carol's off, how am I supposed to get my laundry done?" she asked worriedly.
"Is that what was in the bag you made me carry?" Donna nodded. "Well, we can drop it off at her place on the way home if you want?" he offered.
"No! I can't do that Josh. She has a weekend off, I'm not going to ruin it for her by asking her to do my laundry."
"Well, in that case, I guess you'll just have to let me do it for you."
"Yeah, I guess I will," Donna replied very quietly, leaving his office again.
*
They entered Josh's apartment about 6:30pm, having left the office at 5pm as promised and then stopping off at the grocery store and video store on the way home.
"I am so not watching that, Donna," Josh stated for about the hundredth time while taking the groceries into the kitchen.
"Josh, you'll like it," she replied, following him into the kitchen.
"I will not like it Donna, it's a kids movie."
"It is not! Many adults have raved about it, Josh. You said I could pick and I got this, I've wanted to see it for ages."
"Couldn't you have waited until you were in your own apartment to watch it though?"
"No! One, when do I usually get time to watch movies and two, I don't have a dvd player and big screen TV. Apparently, both of those are required to make this a really worthwhile experience."
"Donna, it's Harry Potter! It's a kids movie, it will never be a worthwhile experience." Donna glared at him as he unpacked the groceries.
"You're watching it, Joshua!"
"I'm not, Donnatella!" He turned to face her and saw that she looked hurt. He put his hands up. "Alright, you can put it on and I will be in the room but, we're watching it after my movie, and if I happen to fall asleep during the adventures of young Mr Potter you can just let me sleep."
"You won't fall asleep, Josh. It's supposed to be a really exciting movie."
"I seriously doubt that."
"Well, if the book is anything to go by…" Josh whirled around again.
"You've read the book?" He was smirking at her.
"Yes!" She was beginning to wish she'd never admitted to it.
"So, you know what happens in the movie yet you're still making me watch it?"
"Josh!" she warned.
"I can't believe you read a kids book!" His smirk was even bigger.
"I'm not going to have this conversation, Josh." Donna turned and left the kitchen. Josh laughed at her as he put the rest of the groceries away.
When he finally finished, he grabbed a couple of sodas from the fridge and went into the living room. Donna wasn't there and he suddenly became worried that maybe he'd offended her.
"Donna?" he shouted tentatively.
"What?" The reply came from Donna's bedroom and Josh walked over to the closed door.
"I didn't mean anything, you know. I was only trying to tease you." The door opened and Donna stood in front of him, having changed into his borrowed sweatpants and an old T-shirt. Leaning on her crutches, she pointed her finger into his chest.
"I know. Don't worry, I'll get you back." She moved past Josh into the living room and sat down on the couch, picking up one of the sodas Josh had left on the coffee table.
"Sure you will! You ready to watch my movie now?" Josh asked and Donna shrugged.
"What are we watching?"
Josh grinned at her. "I don't know yet. Let me choose from my extensive movie collection."
He walked to his bookcase where he kept his extensive collection of six videos and three dvd's, all of which had been gifts from other people. He pondered his decision for a while until Donna got fed up and threw a cushion at him. Grinning, he removed a dvd from the shelf, opened the box and placed the dvd in the dvd player. He kept his back to Donna the whole time, so she couldn't see what he'd chosen. He placed the box on top of the TV and sat on the armchair closest to Donna, grabbing the remotes from the table and switching the TV and dvd player on.
"So, what great masterpiece are we watching?"
"The Firm!" Josh grinned, thinking she wouldn't like his choice.
"Really?" She sounded excited. Josh turned to her, his grin fading.
"You like it?" he asked disbelievingly.
"What girl wouldn't?" she smirked.
He rolled his eyes at her. "Let me guess, Tom Cruise, right?"
"Nope!" Josh raised his eyebrows. "Gene Hackman's the man, Josh. Not so much in this film, but when he was younger, wow! I mean, the hair, the hardman exterior…" She stopped talking as she realized the similarities between the man she was describing and the man now looking at her.
"You don't like Tom Cruise?" he sounded surprised.
"No, he's too short and too…pretty."
"Too pretty?" He scrunched up his face in confusion.
"Yeah, he's kinda like Sam." Josh looked amused. "You know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, Sam's a great guy, but his looks aren't my type."
"So, if Tom Cruise was to offer himself to you on a plate, you'd refuse?" Josh asked skeptically.
"Hell no! Do you think I'm crazy? He's the type of guy you probably wouldn't turn down, the pretty boys can do a lot for your self-esteem…and your street cred."
"All pretty boys, or just the movie star ones?" Josh asked quietly.
"Most of them."
"Including Sam?" he asked, again very quietly.
"Josh, are you trying to ask me if I would sleep with Sam?" Josh dipped his head and didn't reply. "Well, if you are, the answer is no." Josh's head snapped up and he looked directly into her eyes. "He's a really nice guy, but he's definitely not my type." Josh felt his mouth starting to smile and desperately tried to stop it. "If he was a movie star though…" Donna trailed off and laughed; Josh just shook his head, laughing along.
"Okay, can we watch the movie now?" He pressed play to start the movie and they both quietened down. A few minutes passed before Donna spoke.
"Josh, would it not be easier if you sat on the couch?" He turned to look at her. "You're having to turn your head to see the TV, it would be easier if you were over here so you're looking directly at it." She pointed to the seat that her legs were currently draped across – the same seat he had sat in next to CJ the previous evening. He nodded and stood up, moving to the couch. Donna lifted her legs for him to sit down and he did, but took the very end seat next to the arm. Donna sat up a bit so that her feet now rested on the middle seat, not on Josh.
*
Halfway through the movie, Josh reached for the remote control and stopped the dvd.
"What are you doing?" Donna asked.
"I figured we should probably eat something so I'm going to make dinner," Josh replied as he got up from the couch.
"You're going to cook?" Donna's voice held surprise and amusement.
"Hey, I made breakfast, didn't I?" Josh was mock-offended.
"Yeah, but scrambled eggs and toast aren't that difficult." At Josh's glare she continued, "Okay, so what are you cooking?"
"Well, I'm going to make myself some pasta! I was going to make enough for both of us but, since you doubt my abilities, you can fend for yourself."
"And just how am I supposed to do that Monster Truck Boy?" Donna lifted a crutch from the floor and Josh moved quickly to avoid it as she thrust it towards him. He grinned at her.
"Okay, I'll make some for you as well, but no complaining." Donna just gave him an innocent smile and watched his retreating back make its way towards the kitchen.
*
After a few minutes of pots being banged around, Donna decided she'd maybe better check on Josh. She rose from the couch and went to the kitchen. He was so busy watching the pot of water, waiting for it to boil, that he didn't hear her arrive.
"They say a watched pot never boils you know," she said very quietly into his ear. Josh whirled around and accidentally collided into her, sending her into a backwards fall. He quickly reached out and put his arms around her waist to stop her falling, pulling her back towards him.
"Funny, Donnatella. Which pasta sauce would you like?" He let go of her and pointed towards the counter where he had placed four different kinds of sauce. Donna moved closer so she could read the labels more carefully.
"The roasted pepper one please." Josh nodded and opened the jar of sauce, pouring it into a pot on the stove. The pot of water began to boil and he added the mound of pasta to it, grinning to himself as he realized that Donna was watching his every move. He suddenly remembered their conversation from earlier in the day.
"Hey, you need me to put your laundry on for you, don't you?" Donna nodded and Josh retrieved the bag he'd dumped in the living room when they'd returned home. He emptied the bag into the washing machine and realized that there was enough room left to add some stuff of his own. Just as he started to head for his own bedroom, the phone rang and he grabbed it from its place on the end table.
"Josh Lyman."
"Joshua? Oh, I expected to get your answering machine again."
"Funny, mom. It's Saturday night, I'm home!"
"I know it's Saturday night, Josh, but you are usually still working at this time…or are you just usually call screening?" his mother asked, humor evident in her voice.
"I would never avoid your calls mom, you know that!" Josh tried his innocent voice but his mom didn't buy it for a second.
"Yeah, right! Remember, Joshua, I raised you and know exactly what you're like. So, how come you're home?"
"If you didn't think I'd be home, why did you call me here?" Josh asked what he thought was a reasonable question.
"Because I called you at the office and got no reply. I figured you were probably just ignoring it so, I thought I'd leave a message on your home phone, you know, so that you'd maybe remember to return it sometime this year," his mother replied pointedly.
"I'm not that bad!" Josh replied huffily.
"Yes you are, Josh. Now, are you going to answer my question? Did Leo ban you from the office again or something?"
"No! I didn't want to work Donna too late." Josh explained Donna's accident, although he tried to lay the blame on Sam, which once again his mother did not buy. Josh remembered about the laundry and entered his bedroom to collect it. While bending down to sort through his dirty washing, he dropped the phone. He quickly retrieved it and put it to his ear, glad it hadn't disconnected or his mom would never have forgiven him.
"Josh, what just happened?" his mother asked.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I dropped the phone. I'm trying to do our laundry," he explained. He felt a strange sensation in his chest when he said the word 'our' and then realized that it didn't actually feel all that strange talking about Donna and himself in that way. "You'd be proud of me, mom; I've left the office at a reasonable time all this week, I haven't worked Donna too hard, I've made her breakfast every day and we're taking tomorrow off," Josh boasted.
"You're taking the whole day off?" his mother queried, disbelievingly. "What are you going to do?"
"Actually, I don't know yet."
"Well, think of something, Josh. Otherwise you'll end up working, I know you." Josh remained silent, not wanting to try and lie again. "Josh, why don't you take Donna out for the day? I'm sure she hasn't enjoyed being cooped up inside all week." Josh pondered this for a few seconds.
"You know, mom, that's not such a bad idea. In fact, I might even know where we can go. Anyway, enough about us…" Josh smiled to himself as he said the word 'us', "how are you doing, mom?"
"No, Joshua, it doesn't work that way!" his mother replied.
"Huh?" Josh was totally confused.
"If you want to know how I am, you pick up the phone and call me to ask. When I call you, it is to find out how you are and what's happening in your life."
"Mommm!" Josh replied in a whiny voice.
"So, Josh," his mother continued, amused at her son's reaction, "how are you enjoying living with Donna?"
Josh immediately replied, "I'm not living with Donna, mom. Why do people keep saying that?"
"What people, Josh?" His mother could barely control her laughter.
"Sam, for one."
"Josh, grow up. And don't try to nit-pick either; I know you're going to say Donna's just staying with you, but you and I both know that's not entirely true."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Josh's voice was low.
"Donna runs your life in the office, Josh, so I'm pretty sure she'll do the same at home. What's more, I know you like it!" Josh remained silent, knowing he couldn't argue with her statement. Their conversation ended soon after, prompted by Donna yelling to Josh that the food was ready. He hung up the phone and wandered back into the kitchen, putting his laundry into the washing machine, adding the detergent and switching it on.
"You know, for someone who said he'd cook dinner you didn't do much of the actual cooking!" Donna complained.
Josh turned to her, trying to hide his grin, and shrugged his shoulders. "Is it my fault if my mom knows the right, sorry, wrong moment to call?" Donna threw a dishcloth at him, which he caught easily. He quickly drained the pasta and loaded the food onto plates. Donna hobbled to the living room and sat down on the sofa while Josh poured them some sodas and then followed her through. He placed a soda on each table at either end of the sofa and then took a cushion from a chair and placed it on the coffee table.
Donna gave him a questioning look and he explained, "It's for your ankle; if you put your feet up on the table while you eat it'll be easier for you." Donna smiled and did as he suggested. Josh brought their plates through and they sat side-by-side, plates on their laps, eating dinner and watching the rest of the movie. When the movie ended, Josh used the remote to eject the dvd and then stretched his arms out. He exaggerated a yawn and Donna threw a cushion at him.
"Don't even think about it, Josh!"
"What?" He gave her an innocent look.
"We are still watching Harry Potter." She glared at him and he decided it was easier not to argue. He switched the dvds and handed the remote to Donna while he took their dinner plates to the kitchen. When he returned, she had stretched her legs out along the couch. Josh sat on the couch again, but instead of retaking his seat at the end, he moved to the middle seat, lifting Donna's legs and placing them on his lap. They were now sitting in the same position they'd been in the night before, when CJ was there. This time, there was no reason for them to be sitting so close.
*
Donna repeatedly glanced over at Josh during the movie and her grin grew bigger every time. Josh had leaned forward in his seat and was staring intently at the TV, watching every scene unfold with delight in his eyes. When Donna asked him to pause the movie while she went to the bathroom, Josh actually complained that it was an exciting part and asked her if she could hold it in for a while – he once again got a cushion thrown at him.
The movie ended and Josh ejected the dvd and switched off the TV. He didn't get up from his seat, waiting for Donna to move her legs first. She didn't move, just fixed a smirking look upon him.
"So, did you enjoy the movie then, Josh?" she asked, trying to hold back her laughter. He visibly squirmed in his seat.
"Uh, yeah, it was okay." He looked down at Donna's legs on his lap while he answered.
"Sure. Josh, I saw you, you loved it!" Donna accused. Josh's head snapped up and he looked directly into her eyes.
"Okay, I enjoyed it."
"Josh." she said, warningly. He raised his hands in the air.
"Alright, it was great. I loved Ron, he got all the really cool lines." They both grinned.
"So, what you should be saying now is 'thank you, Donna for choosing such a great movie', isn't it Josh?"
"No."
"Hey, come on, you just admitted I made a good choice."
"Well, if you already think I admitted it, I don't actually have to say anything more, do I?" he smirked. At Donna's glare, he fought to wipe the smirk from his face. "Okay, look I'm not actually going to say thank you, that's not in my nature." Donna muttered something, but he ignored her and continued, "However, I will show my appreciation in another way." Donna's head whipped up to look at him. "I'm giving you tomorrow off."
"I already had tomorrow off, Josh," she pointed out.
"Yes, but there was a big likelihood of us actually going into the office." Donna glared at him and he put up his hand to silence her. "But, now there is no chance of that, well, unless an emergency happens or something…"
"Get to the point, Josh!"
"Right. Yeah, so, how do you feel about getting out of D.C. tomorrow?"
"What do you mean?" Donna was intrigued; Josh never wanted to leave D.C. as he felt out of place anywhere else.
"Well, I thought we could go for a drive." He looked at her intently to show he was being serious.
"Do you have anywhere in mind?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I thought we could go to Shenandoah."
"Shenandoah?"
"Yeah, you know, big National Park, not that far from here." He was smirking again.
"I know what, and where it is, Josh, I'm just surprised that you do!"
"Hey, I'm an outdoorsman!"
"You're really not, and I thought we agreed that you'd never make that claim again."
"You mean you agreed," he said huffily.
"Whatever. We can't go to Shenandoah though, or at least I can't."
"Why not?" Josh looked hurt.
"Because, Joshua, I'm on crutches." She pointed to her ankle.
"I know that, Donnatella, but what does that have to do with this?"
"Well, it's a park, Josh, where you're supposed to walk around. I can't exactly do that at the moment. I do applaud, and appreciate the thought though." She added the last part softly.
"I didn't say we were going to go for a walk, I said we were going to go for a drive." Donna started to say something but he continued, "They have a road called the Skyline Drive. I thought we could drive down it a little bit, find a nice overlook or something and have a picnic."
"You seem to have put a lot of thought into this." Josh remained silent. "Josh, your mom didn't have anything to do with this, did she?"
"I'm hurt you would even think that, Donna." She gave him a skeptical look. "Okay, she suggested we went out for the day but I thought of the rest, I promise." Donna smiled and nodded her head.
"It sounds great, Josh. We should get an early start, make the most of it." Josh nodded. "I guess we could leave here around 10am – that'll give us time to stop at a grocery store and pick up sandwiches and stuff."
"No need, I'll make them up in the morning."
"Josh, you can't be serious."
"What? We bought all that stuff at the grocery store tonight, might as well use it. Don't worry, I'll make some healthy stuff for you." Donna smiled, until she heard Josh's muttered comment, "and some manly stuff for me."
"Okay, well I'll get up around nine then and will be ready to go by 10." Donna lifted her legs from Josh's lap and swung them round to the front of the sofa. Josh immediately jumped up and offered her his hands to pull herself up on. He then passed her the crutches and headed to the kitchen for her water, following their usual routine.
**
TBC
By the way, I know that I said this was set in October 2001, and the Harry Potter movie hadn't been released then, but…call it artistic license. g