Waffles & Coffee Chapter 8 - Forever Delayed
Author: Willow
Summary: Josh and CJ are stuck on the campaign trail.
Spoilers/Episode: Anything up to season 3
Characters: Josh and CJ
Rating: PG-13
Thursday Afternoon, An Airport Departure Lounge.
As Josh hung up the phone, CJ was watching him. "You look happier now we're heading home."
"Have I been that bad?" Josh asked.
CJ laughed, "You have been moping a little."
"It's been over two weeks, CJ," Josh pointed out.
"She was with us last weekend."
"For eight hours, most of which we spent working."
"True," CJ agreed. "Who'd have ever imagined you complaining because you have to work," she teased.
"I know," he smiled. "I don't know what's happened to me, but I just want to get home to her. She's staying at my apartment, apparently my bed's comfier than hers and I have a DVD player."
CJ watched Josh and smiled to herself. Josh Lyman in love, who'd have thought it. There was one thing she felt she should remind him of though. "You know once you get home she can't carry on living there don't you?"
"Why?" Josh asked.
"Josh!"
"I know, it'd look wrong," he sighed. "I might talk to Leo, see what he says."
CJ had a very good idea what Leo would say, but instead of reminding Josh, she said, "She can still stay over you know."
"What's the difference?"
"See, that's not an argument you should use," CJ told him, "because then they'll say, 'yeah, you're right, she can't stay over either.' It's called compromise, Josh."
"I know. But this is the 21st century and it's ridiculous."
"It is, you're right," CJ agreed. "Come on, they're calling our flight."
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"This is typical you know," Josh muttered.
"It's only a short delay," CJ reasoned.
"At least 3 hours they said, at least."
"Do you think you'll survive the heart ache of being apart for another three hours?" CJ grinned.
"CJ, are you mocking my pain?" Josh asked.
"I am indeed."
"Well that's just great. We've spent 16 days together in some of the most inhospitable places in the country..... "
"Inhospitable?"
"To Democrats," Josh clarified.
"Ah," CJ smiled.
"And you still feel the need to mock me," he finished.
CJ laughed, "After 16 days campaigning, mocking you is the only thing that's kept me sane."
"So I have my uses?" Josh smiled.
"Occasionally," CJ agreed.
Josh smiled. "I'm going to get a coffee, you want anything?"
"Tea please."
When Josh returned with the drinks he asked, "So she'll definitely have to move out then?"
"Yes."
"I guess."
"You really want to live with her?" CJ asked.
"Yeah."
"It's just, I thought that was one of the reasons you and Amy broke up?"
"It was one of many," Josh agreed. "The thought of living with Amy scared me."
"But the thought of living with Donna doesn't?"
"No," Josh smiled. "No, it really doesn't."
"But you really do realize you can't just live together don't you?" CJ insisted.
"Yeah, not for another four years anyway."
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Five Hours Later
As Josh and CJ entered the hotel lobby they both stopped and stared at the queue of people waiting at the reception desk. "Great," Josh muttered. "You see if you can get us a couple of rooms and I'll call Leo." As CJ walked away, Josh dialed Leo's number and Margaret put him through.
"Hey, where are you?"
"We're still here."
"You're still delayed?" Leo asked.
"We were delayed for so long that the crew has gone over their allotted hours and now they can't fly 'til tomorrow. And there are no other flights to Washington."
"Do you have anything that needs doing?" Leo asked.
"I dunno, I'll check with Donna. We should be back tomorrow afternoon, the flight's due to take off at 9.45."
"Okay. Have fun," Leo smiled knowing that Josh was going to be tearing his hair out at yet another delay in getting back to Donna.
"Thanks." Josh hung up and called his own office.
Donna answered, "Josh Lyman."
"Hey, how you doing?"
"I'm fine. Aren't you suppose to be 30,000 feet by now?"
"Yes, but instead we're in a hotel lobby."
"Your flight's been cancelled?"
"Yeah," Josh sighed. "This really sucks you know?"
"Tell me about it. Although on the plus side I get to carry on using your apartment."
"Ah, I get it now. You only want me for my apartment."
"Damn, you guessed," she smiled. "When you going to be back then?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, provided the flight actually leaves this time."
"Will you be back in time for your appointment at GW or shall I reschedule it?"
"What time is it?"
"3.30."
"I should be back in time."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Love you."
"Love you too." Josh hung up and walked over to CJ, who had just left the reception desk.
"How's Donna?" CJ asked with a smile.
"Enjoying living in my apartment. Did they have room?"
"They did. Come on, fourth floor."
"'Kay." Josh followed CJ into an elevator and they headed up to the fourth floor. "Have you got my key?"
"Yes. Did you see how busy the reception was?"
"Yeah," Josh asked suspiciously.
"Apparently, not only is there our cancelled flight but there's also a convention in town and this is only a small town you know, they only have two hotels and some bed and breakfasts."
"Oh please tell me....."
"They only had one room left."
"Is it a twin?"
"Better than that."
"Better?"
"It's a family room. So there's a double bed, a single and a sofa bed."
"Are we going to sublet the sofa?" Josh asked as they left the elevator.
"No, I think that would maybe look bad in the press."
"But the White House's female press secretary and male deputy chief of staff sharing a room won't?"
"It potentially could do, yes," CJ agreed and opened the door to their room.
Josh followed her in and sighed. "I'll call Leo."
"Okay," CJ smiled. "I'll call room service."
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3.38am
"What the hell?" CJ asked
"Will you keep still," Josh complained.
"Am I keeping you awake?"
"Yes."
"You threw a shoe at me!"
"Yes," Josh agreed. "What's wrong anyway?"
"I can't get the pillows comfortable," CJ told him.
"So you thought you'd pummel them to death?"
"I can't sleep."
Josh sighed, "Me either."
"But it's not an uncomfortable hotel bed that's keeping you awake is it?" CJ smiled. "You'll see her tomorrow."
"Yeah," Josh sighed.
"I tell you something I've learnt from this trip," CJ told Josh. "You and Donna shouldn't be separated for more than six hours at one stretch."
"Six hours!" Josh groaned. "Why would you punish me by keeping us apart that long."
"You really have it bad don't you?"
"No, I just like seeing her and talking to her and...... "
"Please don't finish that thought," CJ pleaded. "I envy you, you know."
"Why?"
"Because you and Donna are meant to be together. There aren't many couples you can say that about. There aren't many people who are lucky enough to find their perfect match."
"You think she's my perfect match?"
"I've thought it for years, definitely since the shooting. You should have asked her out years ago," CJ told him. "Do you love her?"
"Yes," Josh admitted with a smile. "Oh course I love her, that's why I want to spend the rest of my life her."
"Have you told her that?"
"Wouldn't that be kind of like proposing?" Josh asked.
"I suppose it would."
"That's a very big step, CJ, we've only been dating a few months"
"Yet you haven't fainted at the thought" CJ smiled. "You may only have been dating for a few months, but you and Donna have been friends, and I mean close friends, for four years. You said yourself that no one knows you better than she does."
"She might say no, then where would we be?"
"You think she'd say no?" CJ asked incredulously
"I would."
"To Donna?" she asked, slightly confused.
"To me," Josh replied.
"Why?"
"I come with a lot of baggage."
"We all have baggage, Josh."
"Yeah, but most people don't need a truck to haul it," he smiled.
"If Donna knows you better than anyone, then I assume she knows about all your baggage and it obviously doesn't bother her."
"So you think we're a good couple?"
"I can only think of one couple who are more in tune than you two, and that's only because they've been together longer."
"Dare I ask?"
"Abbey and the President."
Josh laughed, "Well, that'll be the first and last time I'll be described as presidential."
"You don't see yourself as presidential material then. You've no ambitions in that direction?"
"No," Josh firmly stated. "I love politics, but behind the scenes. I've no intention of running for office."
"So what's your ambition then. Where do you see yourself in fifteen years?"
"Am I being appraised?" Josh laughed.
"I'm curious."
"What's my ambition?" Josh repeated. "To be in Leo's office, once he no longer wants it."
CJ smiled, "You'd make a good chief of staff," she told him. "Who'd be president?" she needlessly asked.
"Sam," Josh grinned.
CJ laughed, "Well that's a scary thought, President Seaborn and Chief Of Staff Lyman."
"Got a good ring to it though, don't you think?"
"It has," CJ agreed.
As CJ drifted off to sleep and the room went quiet, Josh lay and thought about the conversation they'd just had. He knew he was ready to take the next step and propose, but was Donna ready to accept?
Chapter 9, Be Mine....
