Author: Jo-Anne Storm
Title: To Court a Lady
Rating: PG-13 for a few choice words
Disclaimer: The West Wing and all its characters are a property of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells Production, Warner Brothers Television and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Up through Season 4.
Summery: After a blow-up, Josh gets permission to date Donna.
Notes: OK, I'll admit it, I'm tired of stories that have Josh and Donna just hopping into the relationship head first. I don't think they would. Even if they did start a romantic relationship, I think they'd take it slow. So, this is kinda my answer to how the relationship could start. I may continue it someday, I may not. It kinda depends on what happens in the new season.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It happened one week after Zoey Bartlett was returned to the arms of her family. Only ten days after her nightmarish kidnapping. As with most blowups, it started innocently enough: two staffers, each having been awake for over 36 hours working on the situations in Qumar and Kundu had collapsed together on a couch in the Mural Room. Josh Lyman was slumped in the corner of the couch, his arms around the body of his assistant, Donna Moss, as she used his chest as a pillow.
President pro tempore Walken found them found them like that as he toured his temporary, and hopefully future, domain. His deep voice carried his bellows of outrage throughout the West Wing, bringing Secret Service Agents and staffers running and waking the sleeping couple from their much-needed rest.
The agents, for their part, immediately took in the situation and relaxed. The Lyman-Moss relationship was one they were used to observing from their posts around the Wing. Their friendship in no way threatened the President pro tempore.
The staffers, from as low as the Communications interns that had been Will Bailey's only staff for a couple of weeks to as high as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, were not as blasé as the agents. Especially once they got close enough to distinguish the content of the bellows.
"Go back to the room," Will commanded his sister and interns as he entered the Mural room behind his immediate supervisor Toby Zeigler. Charlie Young and Debbie Fiderer, the President's personal staff, trailed in after him as CJ Cregg, Press Secretary, rounded the corner and skidded into the room.
"Good God in Heaven!" Walken was yelling as they arranged themselves around the room. CJ felt a brief flash of relief when she saw an agent close the door to muffle the noise that might travel to the press.
"No wonder this administration has gone to Hell in a handbasket. This entire staff has thrown decent Christian values out the window."
"Sir-" Josh tried to interrupt, only to be plowed over by Walken.
"A Chief of Staff who's admitted to being an addict! A Deputy Chief that not only is in therapy but can't get anything done because he's too busy piddling with his secretary!"
By this point both Charlie and Donna had restraining hands on the visibly enraged Josh, who was not known for holding his temper. Donna was talking quietly, trying to calm him down, only to come to the further attention of the President pro tempore for her troubles.
"I will not have the Whore of Babylon in this office," he snarled. "I don't know why this administration has allowed this amorality to continue. McGarry, are you trying to balance the scales by allowing more Jewish bastards into the White House?"
Will could feel the trembles of rage coming from Toby and wondered if he would be strong enough to keep the larger man from physically attacking the man that was verbally attacking his family and friends. He, along with the other staffers, opened his mouth to retort when a low and serious voice spoke from the doorway.
President Bartlett had been coming to see his best friend and Chief of Staff to inform him of his decision to hold off of reclaiming his position for another week, just to make certain that he was both emotionally and physically recovered from the horror that had occurred. The bellows from his replacement had drawn him to the Mural Room and he had been shocked to hear what Walken had to say.
"That is enough," he intoned, stepping further into the room and allowing the agent to close the door once again. "You are out of line, Mr. Walken."
Walken rounded on the president and snarled. "I can talk to my staff in any way I please, Mr. President. As of this moment, they are all fired."
None of those present were particularly surprised by the pronouncement. Walken had repeatedly tried to bring in his own staff during his short residency. They all knew it was a ploy to gain power. A dangerous move given the state of the world at that very moment.
"No, Sir," the President told him coldly. "President pro tempore Glen Allen Walken, I hereby inform you that you are relieved of your duties. Get out of my building."
Walken straightened his immense girth and coldly eyed the President and Senior Staff. Without a word he strode to the door and exited the room, the sound of his shoes echoing through the still corridors.
"Leo, where's that damn letter? I need to sign it to make sure that idiot doesn't try to take over."
Leo produced a copy of the letter from his jacket pocket, where he had taken to carrying one just in case. He wanted his old friend to be able to retake his position the instant he was ready and willing.
"CJ," the President continued as he signed the letter with a flourish. "Go tell the press." He exited the Mural Room, Charlie and Debbie trailing behind him, both wearing looks of triumph and relief.
"OK, people, let's get to work," Leo told the assembled staff. "Toby, Will, hash out comments for CJ to give to the press. You have ten minutes. CJ, go inform everyone that there's a briefing in half an hour. That will give the networks time to pick it up, right?"
"The networks have been on standby since. The whole time. I can do the briefing just as soon as I have the comments in my hand."
Leo nodded and the three named staffers hurried from the room, talking over one another in their rush to get their ideas across.
"Leo," Josh started, only to take a deep breath in an effort to unclench his jaw and rein in his emotions. Donna rubbed his arm gently as he took several more deep breaths and was finally awarded with the slight loosening of the muscles.
"What the Hell happened in here?"
"Nothing! Donna and I fell asleep on the couch and that-that- Did you hear what he said to us?"
"Everybody heard what he said to you. Donna, I need to talk to Josh alone for a moment. Could you wait in his office please?" Off her concerned look he gentled his voice and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Neither one of you are in trouble. I know you both too well to know that you wouldn't do anything unprofessional. Have Margaret bring you some coffee or something, OK?"
"Yes, sir," she said and hurried out the door, only glancing back to give Josh a worried look.
"Sit down, son," Leo said quietly and gestured towards the couch that had started the entire ruckus. He settled himself into a chair and regarded his deputy and friend seriously.
"Walken's going to make problems," the younger man said seriously as he ran his hands through his already wild hair. "He's going to have every Right Wing fanatic thinking that the White House is staffed by amoral sex fiends."
"CJ, Toby, and Will are working on it. We'll deal with it. What I want to know is how you're doing."
Josh sighed and shrugged. "I've had about two hours of sleep and that was only because I couldn't keep my eyes open a second longer. I've just been verbally attacked by a bigoted imbecile and almost lost my job. Even worse, Donna was attacked by self-same imbecile and her job was threatened. I'm peachy."
"Good to know," Leo chuckled. "Seriously, though, how are you?"
"Honestly, I'm good. I've talked to Keyworth a couple of times since Zoey was taken. And Donna made me call him after the Press Room was shot at. I haven't had an attack, or even a bad nightmare, in over a month. I'm due one."
"After today, you definitely are." Leo considered the man he had watched grow into adulthood for a moment. Just looking at him reminded him of the child who had hid behind his father's legs when they were first introduced. At times Josh still showed a hint of that shy little boy, though he covered it well with his brashness.
"Josh. About Donna."
"I'm not having an affair with my assistant."
"Hell, don't you think I know that? You have the worst poker face in politics; if you were having an affair with her there's no way you'd be able to keep it to yourself. No, I know your relationship is strictly platonic.
"Josh, I want to ask you something. Not as your boss, not as the Chief of Staff, but as an old friend of your father's and as your friend. You don't want your relationship with Donna to be platonic, do you?"
The look on Josh's face before he turned his attention to the floor was enough to answer his question and many more.
"You know, since my alcoholism was outed, it's not the worst kept secret on the Hill anymore, obviously. Your feelings for Donna are."
Josh looked up, his face frozen in a "deer in the headlights" look. "I won't let you fire her," he stated vehemently. "And you can't assign her somewhere else."
"Do I look that stupid? I know that without Donna to run your office you'd be useless. How in the Hell did you ever make it without her?"
"I averaged an assistant every six months," Josh confessed sheepishly. "After that they burned out from the long hours and impossible demands."
"And Donna's lasted five years? We're not paying that woman enough."
Josh smiled ruefully. "So, what now?"
"Now, as your employer I'm supposed to tell you to keep it together for another four years because the administration doesn't need any more flak. Especially not a sex scandal, not after the thing with Toby and Andi. We're going to have enough trouble recovering from this as it is."
Josh nodded, resigned to the fact that he could possibly never have the relationship he wanted with Donna.
"I do think that we're due a good love story, though," he continued, surprising his deputy. "Which is why you're not going to. What's Donna call it?"
"Bump into a woman sideways and wait for her to break up with me."
"Exactly. You're going to do this right. You're going to start by taking her out to dinner at a nice restaurant. You will do things like hold her hand in public and escort her to political functions. You will treat her with the respect and courtesy that she deserves. She's your best friend, Josh, and I'm not going to allow you to screw that up."
"There will be talk," the younger man pointed out.
"Not from anyone who knows you. Like I said, your feelings for her are the worst kept secret on the Hill. Sure, small-minded people like Mary Marsh will comment on it and probably scream sexual harassment and impropriety, but really, do we care what she thinks?"
"I wasn't just talking about here. Donna's already gotten threats just for working for me. When this goes public, the threats will escalate."
Leo nodded in understanding. "I'll tell Ron to keep an extra eye on Donna's mail. She knows-"
"Yeah. She's the one who forced the issue with CJ. Sir. Are you sure about this?"
Leo smiled at him. "Josh, do you think this thing with Donna could be the real thing?"
"Yes, I do," he answered unhesitatingly.
"Then, yes, I'm sure. Now, go back to work and start planning on how you're going to court that lovely lady."
"'Court,' Leo? Do people still use that word in association with relationships?"
"Get outta here," the elder man smiled as Josh shook his hand and rushed from the room, no doubt to reassure Donna that they were not in trouble.
With a lighter heart, Leo left the room and made his way to the Oval Office. Today was shaping up to be a good day."
Title: To Court a Lady
Rating: PG-13 for a few choice words
Disclaimer: The West Wing and all its characters are a property of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells Production, Warner Brothers Television and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Up through Season 4.
Summery: After a blow-up, Josh gets permission to date Donna.
Notes: OK, I'll admit it, I'm tired of stories that have Josh and Donna just hopping into the relationship head first. I don't think they would. Even if they did start a romantic relationship, I think they'd take it slow. So, this is kinda my answer to how the relationship could start. I may continue it someday, I may not. It kinda depends on what happens in the new season.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It happened one week after Zoey Bartlett was returned to the arms of her family. Only ten days after her nightmarish kidnapping. As with most blowups, it started innocently enough: two staffers, each having been awake for over 36 hours working on the situations in Qumar and Kundu had collapsed together on a couch in the Mural Room. Josh Lyman was slumped in the corner of the couch, his arms around the body of his assistant, Donna Moss, as she used his chest as a pillow.
President pro tempore Walken found them found them like that as he toured his temporary, and hopefully future, domain. His deep voice carried his bellows of outrage throughout the West Wing, bringing Secret Service Agents and staffers running and waking the sleeping couple from their much-needed rest.
The agents, for their part, immediately took in the situation and relaxed. The Lyman-Moss relationship was one they were used to observing from their posts around the Wing. Their friendship in no way threatened the President pro tempore.
The staffers, from as low as the Communications interns that had been Will Bailey's only staff for a couple of weeks to as high as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, were not as blasé as the agents. Especially once they got close enough to distinguish the content of the bellows.
"Go back to the room," Will commanded his sister and interns as he entered the Mural room behind his immediate supervisor Toby Zeigler. Charlie Young and Debbie Fiderer, the President's personal staff, trailed in after him as CJ Cregg, Press Secretary, rounded the corner and skidded into the room.
"Good God in Heaven!" Walken was yelling as they arranged themselves around the room. CJ felt a brief flash of relief when she saw an agent close the door to muffle the noise that might travel to the press.
"No wonder this administration has gone to Hell in a handbasket. This entire staff has thrown decent Christian values out the window."
"Sir-" Josh tried to interrupt, only to be plowed over by Walken.
"A Chief of Staff who's admitted to being an addict! A Deputy Chief that not only is in therapy but can't get anything done because he's too busy piddling with his secretary!"
By this point both Charlie and Donna had restraining hands on the visibly enraged Josh, who was not known for holding his temper. Donna was talking quietly, trying to calm him down, only to come to the further attention of the President pro tempore for her troubles.
"I will not have the Whore of Babylon in this office," he snarled. "I don't know why this administration has allowed this amorality to continue. McGarry, are you trying to balance the scales by allowing more Jewish bastards into the White House?"
Will could feel the trembles of rage coming from Toby and wondered if he would be strong enough to keep the larger man from physically attacking the man that was verbally attacking his family and friends. He, along with the other staffers, opened his mouth to retort when a low and serious voice spoke from the doorway.
President Bartlett had been coming to see his best friend and Chief of Staff to inform him of his decision to hold off of reclaiming his position for another week, just to make certain that he was both emotionally and physically recovered from the horror that had occurred. The bellows from his replacement had drawn him to the Mural Room and he had been shocked to hear what Walken had to say.
"That is enough," he intoned, stepping further into the room and allowing the agent to close the door once again. "You are out of line, Mr. Walken."
Walken rounded on the president and snarled. "I can talk to my staff in any way I please, Mr. President. As of this moment, they are all fired."
None of those present were particularly surprised by the pronouncement. Walken had repeatedly tried to bring in his own staff during his short residency. They all knew it was a ploy to gain power. A dangerous move given the state of the world at that very moment.
"No, Sir," the President told him coldly. "President pro tempore Glen Allen Walken, I hereby inform you that you are relieved of your duties. Get out of my building."
Walken straightened his immense girth and coldly eyed the President and Senior Staff. Without a word he strode to the door and exited the room, the sound of his shoes echoing through the still corridors.
"Leo, where's that damn letter? I need to sign it to make sure that idiot doesn't try to take over."
Leo produced a copy of the letter from his jacket pocket, where he had taken to carrying one just in case. He wanted his old friend to be able to retake his position the instant he was ready and willing.
"CJ," the President continued as he signed the letter with a flourish. "Go tell the press." He exited the Mural Room, Charlie and Debbie trailing behind him, both wearing looks of triumph and relief.
"OK, people, let's get to work," Leo told the assembled staff. "Toby, Will, hash out comments for CJ to give to the press. You have ten minutes. CJ, go inform everyone that there's a briefing in half an hour. That will give the networks time to pick it up, right?"
"The networks have been on standby since. The whole time. I can do the briefing just as soon as I have the comments in my hand."
Leo nodded and the three named staffers hurried from the room, talking over one another in their rush to get their ideas across.
"Leo," Josh started, only to take a deep breath in an effort to unclench his jaw and rein in his emotions. Donna rubbed his arm gently as he took several more deep breaths and was finally awarded with the slight loosening of the muscles.
"What the Hell happened in here?"
"Nothing! Donna and I fell asleep on the couch and that-that- Did you hear what he said to us?"
"Everybody heard what he said to you. Donna, I need to talk to Josh alone for a moment. Could you wait in his office please?" Off her concerned look he gentled his voice and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Neither one of you are in trouble. I know you both too well to know that you wouldn't do anything unprofessional. Have Margaret bring you some coffee or something, OK?"
"Yes, sir," she said and hurried out the door, only glancing back to give Josh a worried look.
"Sit down, son," Leo said quietly and gestured towards the couch that had started the entire ruckus. He settled himself into a chair and regarded his deputy and friend seriously.
"Walken's going to make problems," the younger man said seriously as he ran his hands through his already wild hair. "He's going to have every Right Wing fanatic thinking that the White House is staffed by amoral sex fiends."
"CJ, Toby, and Will are working on it. We'll deal with it. What I want to know is how you're doing."
Josh sighed and shrugged. "I've had about two hours of sleep and that was only because I couldn't keep my eyes open a second longer. I've just been verbally attacked by a bigoted imbecile and almost lost my job. Even worse, Donna was attacked by self-same imbecile and her job was threatened. I'm peachy."
"Good to know," Leo chuckled. "Seriously, though, how are you?"
"Honestly, I'm good. I've talked to Keyworth a couple of times since Zoey was taken. And Donna made me call him after the Press Room was shot at. I haven't had an attack, or even a bad nightmare, in over a month. I'm due one."
"After today, you definitely are." Leo considered the man he had watched grow into adulthood for a moment. Just looking at him reminded him of the child who had hid behind his father's legs when they were first introduced. At times Josh still showed a hint of that shy little boy, though he covered it well with his brashness.
"Josh. About Donna."
"I'm not having an affair with my assistant."
"Hell, don't you think I know that? You have the worst poker face in politics; if you were having an affair with her there's no way you'd be able to keep it to yourself. No, I know your relationship is strictly platonic.
"Josh, I want to ask you something. Not as your boss, not as the Chief of Staff, but as an old friend of your father's and as your friend. You don't want your relationship with Donna to be platonic, do you?"
The look on Josh's face before he turned his attention to the floor was enough to answer his question and many more.
"You know, since my alcoholism was outed, it's not the worst kept secret on the Hill anymore, obviously. Your feelings for Donna are."
Josh looked up, his face frozen in a "deer in the headlights" look. "I won't let you fire her," he stated vehemently. "And you can't assign her somewhere else."
"Do I look that stupid? I know that without Donna to run your office you'd be useless. How in the Hell did you ever make it without her?"
"I averaged an assistant every six months," Josh confessed sheepishly. "After that they burned out from the long hours and impossible demands."
"And Donna's lasted five years? We're not paying that woman enough."
Josh smiled ruefully. "So, what now?"
"Now, as your employer I'm supposed to tell you to keep it together for another four years because the administration doesn't need any more flak. Especially not a sex scandal, not after the thing with Toby and Andi. We're going to have enough trouble recovering from this as it is."
Josh nodded, resigned to the fact that he could possibly never have the relationship he wanted with Donna.
"I do think that we're due a good love story, though," he continued, surprising his deputy. "Which is why you're not going to. What's Donna call it?"
"Bump into a woman sideways and wait for her to break up with me."
"Exactly. You're going to do this right. You're going to start by taking her out to dinner at a nice restaurant. You will do things like hold her hand in public and escort her to political functions. You will treat her with the respect and courtesy that she deserves. She's your best friend, Josh, and I'm not going to allow you to screw that up."
"There will be talk," the younger man pointed out.
"Not from anyone who knows you. Like I said, your feelings for her are the worst kept secret on the Hill. Sure, small-minded people like Mary Marsh will comment on it and probably scream sexual harassment and impropriety, but really, do we care what she thinks?"
"I wasn't just talking about here. Donna's already gotten threats just for working for me. When this goes public, the threats will escalate."
Leo nodded in understanding. "I'll tell Ron to keep an extra eye on Donna's mail. She knows-"
"Yeah. She's the one who forced the issue with CJ. Sir. Are you sure about this?"
Leo smiled at him. "Josh, do you think this thing with Donna could be the real thing?"
"Yes, I do," he answered unhesitatingly.
"Then, yes, I'm sure. Now, go back to work and start planning on how you're going to court that lovely lady."
"'Court,' Leo? Do people still use that word in association with relationships?"
"Get outta here," the elder man smiled as Josh shook his hand and rushed from the room, no doubt to reassure Donna that they were not in trouble.
With a lighter heart, Leo left the room and made his way to the Oval Office. Today was shaping up to be a good day."