Part 19
I do feel different. I don't know if it is closure or letting go of the whole horror I've been through. I know I told Josh I wouldn't think about the possibility of a trial and all that, but it's just so hard. I might jinx it if I'm too happy before it's completely over. And that's what I did the whole of Sunday. Racking my mind about the possibilities that could occur. Well, that's not just all. I also worked for about five hours and followed CJ and Jane to the police department to give in their statements. The police seemed confident things would go our way. I hope their right.
Where's Josh? Senior staff should have been over by now. I hope he's not getting yelled at for being late. Scrap that. I hope he is getting yelled at. It would teach him a thing or two. Ah, speaking of the devil.
"Did the meeting run long?" I follow Josh to the office as he apparently didn't notice me standing at the doorway. It looks like the meeting didn't go too well. Josh got his pissed look on. You know, the one where his dimples show and his month is shut tight.
Josh is looking at me. Well, more like starring. Not the good kind.
"Josh? Something the matter?" I sure hope I didn't do something wrong. I can't think of anything I may have screwed up recently.
"Hey."
"Hi Donna."
It was CJ and Sam entering Josh's office and shutting the door behind them. Okay, this doesn't look good. I'm seriously freaking out now. They all have the look like they are about to break some bad news to me. And why do I have a feeling it's about McCain?
"Sit down guys." Josh looks at me as well when saying that. I took a seat at Josh's desk as CJ and Sam sat on the couch.
"Donna, we have a problem. Something came up." CJ starts.
"I think I got that. What is it? Just spill it." I look at all of them alternately.
"Leo got a call from a reporter. Apparently the senior staff of The White House asking investigative questions in nightclubs is something to report about." Oh my god. This can't be happening.
"CJ…..I…..what do they know?"
"Nothing much apparently. They know we were asking about someone who drugged drinks in the clubs. I don't think they know which one of us was there. Well, I think they assumed it was all of us." I can't believe CJ is telling me this. I knew I shouldn't have been too happy. Even if it was for a short period. Jinx!
"When did Leo tell you this?"
"He told us about a week back. But we said we would handle it and he let it go." Josh tells me this. A week ago?
"A week? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"We didn't want to upset you or burden you more than you had to be. Anyway, I tried to make a deal with that reporter. He was keen on taking it and I was sure he would. But anyway, he wasn't keen on it and bugged Leo about it again. That was what the meeting was about this morning in his office. He wants the whole story. He was kinda….."
"He wanted to bite our heads off. But Josh told him there was someone else involved and we wanted to protect this person's privacy. Leo wasn't too happy with that and he wants this person to tell him everything by the end of the day."
"But Sam doesn't mean you absolutely have to. If you can't handle it, we'll think of some other way. I know how much you wanted this to be all over. And after Saturday it seemed that way." My Josh…always trying to protect me even if his head is on the line.
"Look, it's nice of all of you to try to protect me and all. I know I've been through a lot. I'd like to believe I'm come out stronger at the end of it. I would hope you guys would believe the same. I'll talk to Leo. Don't worry bout me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, CJ." Well, I think I am.
I can do this. "Hey, Margaret. Is Leo free now?"
"Yes. I'll go tell him you're here….is everything alright?" I look at her. She has the ability to read anyone from a mile away.
"Not really. I need to tell me something he wanted to know." She doesn't believe me but she'll accept it. That's just how Margaret is.
"Hey, Leo." I walk into his office nervously.
"Hi Donna. What can I do for you? Do I need to kill Josh?" Sometimes I don't know if he's kidding or not.
"No. it's…..this might take some time. Are you busy?"
"I'm always busy but that doesn't mean I can't hear you out. Have a seat Donna."
I do as he told. "Leo, this is about your meeting this morning. About the reporter and the senior staff asking odd questions at clubs…."
"What have you got to do with it?" I look at Leo. I think I'm trying to communicate to him telepathically.
"Oh. You're the person…." Yup, he got it.
"Yes. Leo, I'm so sorry it had to come to this. I….I actually didn't know about the reporter until today. Apparently everyone seems to think I wouldn't be able to handle it and they wanted to protect me."
"Yeah, I think got that vibe from them." Leo sounds like he was kidding. I bet that would all go away once I tell him the story.
"Leo, where the hell….ah Donna, what brings you here on this side of the building?" Oh god, tell me this is not happening. This is not President Bartlet. It's just a figment of my imagination. Oh, who am I kidding?
"Good evening sir." I stand up then look at Leo. Please, please, please get what I'm trying to tell you, Leo.
"Now, now, don't be shy." The President is not leaving is he?
"Donna was just telling me she is involved in what that reporter was investigating." What? The President knows about the reporter? Isn't that way out of his league?
"I know what you're thinking Donna. I was curious about the senior staff meeting that didn't include me. I heard some loud noises from the meeting as I do share a door with Leo. So I asked him about it."
"You mean wouldn't stop yacking about Mount Kinabalu unless I told you about it." Well, that explains it.
"You can tell both of us Donna. I'm going to know either way. I'm a very resourceful man." Great, the leader of the free world wants to hear my crisis.
Well, doesn't look like I've got any other choice. I'm just going to tell them and not think about it.
"Mr. President, Leo, what I'm about to tell you isn't easy. It isn't easy for me to tell as it won't be for you to hear. But, it has to be said." I continued telling him about everything from A to Z, well, except the details about my relationship with Josh.
I think I just stunned the two most powerful men in the country. I'm quite stunned myself as they haven't said a word since I began. Impressive.
"God, Donna. I…….damn it! I'm supposed to be the most powerful man in the world and I can't even keep my staff safe from a serial rapist!!" Now I've made the President feel responsible.
"Sir, these things happen. I'm sorry to say but even you can't control it."
"Donna, are you okay about everything? I'm sorry I forced Josh and all to have you tell me what was going on. I had no idea….." Ah, now Leo is feeling guilty. I'm on a streak.
"Leo, you have every right to ask them. I'm sorry we were not discrete enough and you got a call from the reporter. You don't need this headache. CJ will try her best to get this reporter off the story. And the rest of us will help her. We'll do everything we possibly can to prevent a story."
"Don't worry about that Donna. Now that I know what's going on, I'll make sure none of this gets out if CJ doesn't manage it." Somehow, I feel like I believe Leo.
"Donna, is there anything I could do for you? I mean, I wish you had come to us sooner but it seems like you all had a good handle over things. I'm usually not too fond of the death penalty, but I may be partial to it in this case." I giggle at that but it looks like the President was rather serious.
"No worries Mr. President. I appreciate your concerns. I really do…" I look at both of them and continue, "but I think I will be okay. I just told Josh, CJ and Sam that I'd like to think I've come out stronger from all this."
"You are an amazingly strong woman, Donna. I'm very proud to have you in my staff. Please let me know if the police calls to tell you what that bastard pleads. I will make sure he pays for what he did, even if I have to get the secret service to slaughter him up."
"That won't be necessary Mr. President. I believe justice will be served." Well, I hope justice will be served.
"Donna, you let us know if you need anything. Anything at all."
"I will Leo. Really, don't worry about it. I've got enough people worrying."
They, finally let go of me. I'm heading to Josh's office to report. I'm assuming he's been waiting for me while reading the same page over and over again and not having a clue what it's about. Well, I guess I was wrong. It isn't just Josh. CJ and Sam are also at the edge of their seats in Josh's office.
"Well, you'll never guess. I wasn't just telling Leo the whole damn story, but the President was there too." Haha. That made three jaws drop.
"No way." Looks like Sam doesn't believe me.
"Oh my god. Are you okay? What did they say?" Josh leans in and gives me a hug. Wow, I can't believe how good this makes me feel. Great, now I feel like I never want to leave his arms.
I manage to pull myself away. "They were mad. At the guy, at themselves. But Leo's not mad with you guys anymore. He said he'll handle the reporter if CJ can't. The President offered to get the bastard killed by the secret service but I declined."
I'm rather surprised how well I'm taking all this. I thought it would feel like I have to go through everything again but I feel nothing. In a way, I feel free. I just told something I kept a secret for way too long to the President of the United States. Who else is left to tell?
"Josh, Congressman Tandy just called….Oh." Toby. He's still out of the loop. I think he should know about this too.
"I'll come back later." Hmm…Toby not asking what he wants no matter who is in the room? Something's fishy here.
"What's going on? Why did Toby look at us that way?"
"He overheard us talking that the person we're protecting is you. Actually he's the one who convinced me that you're strong enough to make up your mind on whether you could talk to Leo or not." Josh tells me.
"Oh. You know, I think he should know. I mean with the President and Leo knowing I'm sure Toby would realize he's the only one out of the loop. Josh, could you tell him. I would do it myself but telling the President kinda took a bit out of me." Josh just nods at me.
It's almost 10pm now and I'm yawning away. I wonder how long more Josh is going to be. He and Toby had a meeting with Congressman Tandy. I'm wondering if I should just go home. I'm more than done here. I've even planned everything for tomorrow. I'm rather efficient, if I should say so myself. I think I might leave Josh a note, I was planning to go back to my place and doing my usual cleaning up routine. This is getting annoying but else can I do? I haven't told Josh yet as I wanted to leave it to the last minute to minimize listening to his whining. The man can be such a baby sometimes.
"Hey, Donna."
"Oh Toby. You're back! Where's Josh?"
"He got a page from Simon Williams. He wanted me to tell you to go home first, he'll be there soon." Well I guess I will just have to leave him a note now, wouldn't I?
"Alright. I should get going. You going home now too?" Toby doesn't say anything. Did he not hear me or something?
"Donna, Josh told me about what happened. He told me everything." Oh.
"Oh. I'm sorry you didn't know it sooner. I wasn't keeping from you specifically or anything." What a lame excuse.
"Don't worry Donna. I know why the others knew. I just wanted to see if I could do anything for you." I've got so many amazing people around me.
"No Toby. There's nothing left to do. We just have to wait and see how everything turns out."
"Well, vengeance is not Jewish but I would kill this guy with my own bare hands if I could. You don't deserve this Donna."
"No one does, Toby. It just happened."
"I know….it's….well…you take care of all of us Donna. Not just Josh and not just after Rosslyn. You keep us on track of what is truly important on a daily basis. We couldn't even keep you safe from…"
"Toby, it's not your fault or anybody else's except for Aaron McCain. I'm not going accept any of you feeling guilty or blaming yourself over something you had no control on. You got that?"
"Yeah…yeah…will you be alright going home by yourself tonight?" Toby can be such a teddy bear sometimes.
"Of course Toby. I'll be just fine. Thank you for your concern."
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I walk passed Donna's desk to see it empty. I knew she was going back but I just hate leaving the office without her. I'll just grab my jacket and go home to great my Donnatella. What's this? A note from Donna. Aww…she probably wanted to tell me that she'll miss me….or not. Oh man! She's not coming home tonight. I can't take this. I need to be with her. I want to be with her. Doesn't she need to be with me as well? She did have rough day. I assumed she'd want to talk to me about it. Well, I guess laundry is something that can't wait for Donna.
"Josh? Aren't you going home?" Huh? Oh, it's Sam. I think I've been sitting on my chair for a while now.
"Yeah, in a minute."
"Are you okay? You look like your cat just died."
"I do not have a cat nor will I ever have one. Donna's not coming over tonight. Laundry and cleaning and crap!"
"She can't be in your place all the time Josh. Working here takes up almost all her time. She needs to get to her chores sometime or other. Even if means leaving you alone for one night, things need to be done."
"I know but…(sigh) I just can't stand not being with her. I know it sounds crazy but I hate going home without her or knowing she's not coming. I can't even fall asleep without her beside me anymore. I've been doing that for all my life and all of a sudden it is not even remotely possible anymore."
"Well, there's only one way to go about this."
"What are you talking about?"
"Ask her to move in with you?" What? He's nuts!
"You're crazy. Donna's gone through enough Sam. This would be so overwhelming. Plus, we haven't even….it would make her feel like I'm pushing it. She's only starting to truly get over this whole ordeal. She probably needs her space as well." I'm right about this you know. I am.
"I get what you're saying Josh. But I think we all learnt a lesson today, that Donna is an incredibly strong woman. She can handle a whole lot more than you think. Heck, I'm pretty sure she's stronger than you and me. You've got to give her some credit, Josh."
"I know. But what if she says no? I'll just screw things up for us."
"Well, how would you like going home and not having Donna there? There's going to be more days like this. It's kinda silly as well you know. Donna's paying rent just to do her laundry and clean the kitchen which she probably doesn't use anyway. Your place is big enough for the both of you." Sam is right.
"You're right. I'll…I'll ask her." Wow, I'm going to ask Donna to move in with me. We're going to live together and my place will be our place. That is, if she says yes. So, how am I going to convince her to move in with me?
It's Wednesday today and I've finally figured out how to ask Donna to move in with me. I better have, considering I've been trying to figure it out since Monday night. Well, it's nothing overly grand but I think she may like it. I'm planning to make my bathroom all girly. Yeah, you heard me. I'm getting someone to clean up and decorate the bathroom. I've bought those bath gels, bath salts, massage oils, bath sponges and a bunch of other weird ass stuff which of course all came in a gift set that said 'soothing blends of Ylang Ylang, Lavender and Tangerine that promise to makes you feel peaceful and relaxed. Perfect for unwinding after a stressful day'. I have no idea what the heck half of the ingredients were but I'm guessing Donna would enjoy those. I even got those fancy soaps, bathroom fitting accessories and also some decorative flowers. Being feminine is so damn tiring. How the hell do women do it all the time?
Ah, the damn phone is ringing. "Donna, aren't you supposed to get that?" Maybe I shouldn't yell while I'm sitting in my office. My phone is still ringing. I think I should yell again. "Donna!!"
Argh…I guess I'll just have to pick it up myself. "Josh Lyman"
"Mr. Lyman, this is Detective Riedel speaking." Oh….I hope nothing's wrong. I really, really don't need this right now.
"Oh yes detective. What can I do for you?"
"I've got some good news for you." Oh, thank you god.
"Really?"
"Yes. McCain pleaded guilty." Yes! Oh yeah baby!!
"That's..that's so incredible!! I don't know what to say." My heart is racing so fast with excitement. I can't wait to run and tell Donna.
"There's more." Shoot. I knew it was too good to be true.
"He confessed to all his crimes. The four cases this time, the five cases five years ago in the Green Lane area and even the ones in Cincinnati where the cases were dropped."
"How in the world did that happen?" This is unbelievable.
"Well, we have some convincing people working in our team. And not to mention the added pressure from certain high ranking people in the US government that shall remain nameless." Oh shit, I can't even say which 'high ranking' person he's talking about. All of us wanted this guy to pay.
"Oh. I'm..I'm sorry."
"No, no. Don't worry about it. He deserves what he got. I wanted him to pay just as much as any of you. It's over. You can go back to your already busy lives without having this over your heads."
"Thank you very much. I'll pass the word around, don't worry about it."
"That would be very much appreciated, Mr. Lyman."
"Josh. Call me Josh."
"Will do Josh. Good bye."
Ah, I can't wait to tell Donna and the others. "Donna?!" Where the heck is she?? I'm going out to the bullpen to look for her.
I step out of my door and call out, "Donnatella Moss!!" Ok, why is everyone starring at me.
"Hold your horses, Joshua Lyman. I was in the copy room and the machine got stuck. Couldn't you wait a few minutes before deafening everyone in the bullpen?"
There she is. I just pull her into my office and shut the door. I hope I didn't grab her arm to hard.
"This better be good Joshua. First you shout out my name to the entire bullpen, now you practically yank my arm from my body!" Oh, I guess I did grab it pretty hard. Oh well, she's not going to care after what I tell her.
"This is good. Detective Riedel just called me. McCain pleaded guilty." The look I get from her is priceless. Her jaw dropped a little and her eyes open up wide and they start to sparkle. She's speechless I can say. She's moving towards me I'm guessing to hug. The hug has to wait.
"Wait, there's more. He confessed to every crime we suspected. The four cases this time, the ones in Greenland and also the ones in Cincinnati."
"How did that…"
"Doesn't matter. It's over Donna, he's going away for a long, long time. You did it!"
"We did it Josh."
Wow, Donna just pounced on me and is kissing me rather soundly. Mmmmm…Oh wow. I'm holding her waist and lift her slightly off the ground. We haven't kissed this way in a long time. Wow. Yes, vocab is limited as blood circulation not passing through brain right now. No!!! Donna pulls herself away from me. I try to hold on to her but she's pushing me away.
"I'm going to tell the others!! They're going to be so psyched! Tell Toby and Sam to meet at CJ's office now." She gives me a hard and quick kiss once more.
"I love you, Joshua Lyman." Damn, I didn't manage to recover from the kisses to tell her I love her back.
TBC………
