Title: Defending Virtue 3/3
Author: natlski
Spoilers: Lots of little things here and there. This could take place at any point mid series.
Characters: Josh, Sam, Donna, and a couple of original characters. Some C.J. Toby, Leo, Jed, and Charlie make a brief appearance.
Pairings: A smidge of J/D; depends on how badly you want it, but really just friendship
Disclaimer: Not mine, no matter how hard I wish. I do, however, get to claim ownership of Calvin Randall, Captain Morris, and Detectives Ross Slater and Chris Noland.
Summary: Josh Lyman's last thought as the room faded to black, was that there were worse things than dying for Donnatella Moss.
Author's note: Feedback is the nectar of the gods. As always, Boku thanks to Classic She for her time and amazing beta skills. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
C.J. Cregg strode into the emergency room and immediately began searching for the familiar shock of dark hair. She quickly spotted Sam Seaborn pacing the floor by the nurse's station. "Sam!"
The young man's head snapped up and relief washed over his features as he recognized the tall Press Secretary.
C.J. enveloped Sam in a comforting hug. "How's Josh?"
Sam pulled out of the hug. "He just came back from x-ray." He gently grasped C.J.'s arm and guided her into a small curtained off area.
Josh lay on the hospital bed, propped up at an angle. The cervical collar had been removed and the oxygen mask replaced by a nasal canular. His skin was pale; making the bruises already forming on his neck stand out. His left arm remained strapped to his chest and an ice pack was draped over his left shoulder. Josh's still ragged breathing was audible.
Donna sat on his right, her hands on his uninjured arm. She looked up when Sam and C.J. entered and flashed them a sad smile. "He's sleeping." She spoke softly, finding comfort in stating the obvious.
"Has the doctor said anything yet?" Sam asked, watching his resting friend.
"He's got a lot of bruising and is going to be really sore for a while. We're waiting for the results of the x-ray, but they think his collar bone is broken." Donna sighed and turned her gaze back to Josh's face. "His windpipe is bruised. They want to keep him over night in case he has trouble breathing."
"What happened?" C.J. asked.
"Excuse me." They were interrupted by the emergency room doctor. "I'm sorry." He addressed Sam and C.J. "You all can't be back here."
Sam was about to protest when C.J. placed a restraining hand on his arm. "Josh has created enough headlines for today. I don't need to try to spin you beating up an ER doctor." C.J. pulled Sam into the hallway with a promise from Donna that the Doctor's news would be relayed.
WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE
"Someone has to move."
"It's a classic stalemate, Leo." Jed Bartlet commented, looking over his glasses at his Chief of Staff.
"Not really, Sir." Leo McGarry crossed his arms over his chest and leveled his gaze at his boss and best friend.
"It is, Leo. Two great minds are at an impasse; confidence, wit and ability, adding spice to conflict."
Leo shook his head. "Pig-headed egotism is more like it, Sir."
"Are you referring to me, or to the French Prime Minister?
"If the shoe fits." Leo trailed off, giving an exasperated sigh. "Would you move, Mr. President?"
The President looked from his best friend to the chess board between them. "So impatient, my friend. You need to relax more."
Before Leo could retort, they were interrupted by Charlie Young, "Excuse me, Mr. President; there is a phone call for Leo."
"Pardon me, Mr. President" Leo stood and moved to the outer office to take his phone call.
Jed looked up at his young body man. "Care to sit in for Leo, Charlie?"
"Not if wild horses were to drag me naked through the streets, Sir."
The President chuckled and dismissed the young man.
"Thank you, Mr. President." Charlie left the room with a sigh of relief.
"Everything alright?" Bartlet asked as Leo returned, his face set with a grim expression.
"That was C.J." Leo settled into his seat on the couch and leaned forward, arms on his knees. "There's been a thing."
Jed evaluated his advisor's countenance and posture. He briefly wondered when they'd become these old men. Seemed like these years in office were taking too much out of them, and he wondered for a split second if they were going to survive. "How bad is it?" He asked, his voice soft, trying to comfort Leo, who was clearly up set by what ever he had been told by their Press Secretary.
Leo leaned back on the couch, feeling more than his age. "Josh is in the hospital."
Jed sat up in surprise. "What happened?"
"He, Sam, and Donna went out for a drink after work. He was, as C.J. put it, defending Donna's virtue. Some muscle head put him into a wall." Leo paused, sucking in a fortifying breath, then releasing it before continuing. "He's got a broken collar bone and a bruised wind pipe. He's being kept in the hospital overnight as a precaution."
Bartlet let out a low whistle. "But he's going to be okay?" Leo nodded in response. "Does anyone have the story yet?"
"C.J. didn't think so, but she's handling it. She doesn't think this is going to be too bad. Josh wants to press charges, but both Sam and C.J. seem to think that this won't be a big thing. There were a lot of witnesses, including two off-duty police detectives, who were the ones that rescued Josh."
The President shook his head again. "The things those kids get into." He was quiet for a moment. "And Donna's okay?"
"Yes, Sir." Leo answered. He held Jed's gaze, an unspoken question in his eyes.
"Go ahead, Leo." The President motioned toward the door. "Keep me updated."
"Thank you, Mr. President." Leo stood relief evident in his voice and movements. He exited the Oval Office through the connecting door to his office and grabbed his coat. He switched off his light, and headed out of the building.
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Josh slowly woke. The first sensation he became aware of was pain and he groaned. There was a stirring at his right side and he gingerly turned his head and forced his eyes open. He focused blurrily on the young women sitting beside his bed.
"Hey." His voice was soft and gravely. It hurt to speak and he carefully swallowed, grimacing at the pain the simple action created.
"Hey." Donna placed a gentle hand on his chest.
Josh flinched at the light touch.
"Sorry." Donna started to remove her hand.
"No," he croaked. "It's okay." His voice gave out and he took another painful swallow. "I'm just really sore." He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then refocused on Donna. He reached up and wiped a stray tear from her face with his thumb. His hand lingered for a moment and Donna allowed herself the rare luxury of leaning into his touch. "You okay?" He asked hesitantly.
She smiled and took his hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze before placing it on his stomach. "Yeah. My hero."
Josh's chuckle turned into a groan as the movement jarred his collar bone and irritated his battered wind pipe.
Donna patted his hand. "Leo is here, along with C.J. and Sam. They're anxious to see you one more time." She stood, reaching to brush back his hair. "I'll be back in the morning. Dr. Kaysen said he saw little reason for you to be kept longer than tonight. Get some rest. I think you've earned a day off."
Josh grasped her hand again. "Donna."
She returned his grip.
"I'm sorry." He croaked out.
Donna smiled and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on his lips. "No, Josh. I should be apologizing to you. Thank you for defending me." She gave his hand another squeeze before leaving the room.
Josh sighed as he savored the lingering feeling of the kiss on his lips; his reward for defending the virtue of Donnatella Moss. His lips curled into a sleepy smile and he allowed himself to relax into the bed. There was no question in his mind that she was worth the pain.
Finis
Author: natlski
Spoilers: Lots of little things here and there. This could take place at any point mid series.
Characters: Josh, Sam, Donna, and a couple of original characters. Some C.J. Toby, Leo, Jed, and Charlie make a brief appearance.
Pairings: A smidge of J/D; depends on how badly you want it, but really just friendship
Disclaimer: Not mine, no matter how hard I wish. I do, however, get to claim ownership of Calvin Randall, Captain Morris, and Detectives Ross Slater and Chris Noland.
Summary: Josh Lyman's last thought as the room faded to black, was that there were worse things than dying for Donnatella Moss.
Author's note: Feedback is the nectar of the gods. As always, Boku thanks to Classic She for her time and amazing beta skills. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
C.J. Cregg strode into the emergency room and immediately began searching for the familiar shock of dark hair. She quickly spotted Sam Seaborn pacing the floor by the nurse's station. "Sam!"
The young man's head snapped up and relief washed over his features as he recognized the tall Press Secretary.
C.J. enveloped Sam in a comforting hug. "How's Josh?"
Sam pulled out of the hug. "He just came back from x-ray." He gently grasped C.J.'s arm and guided her into a small curtained off area.
Josh lay on the hospital bed, propped up at an angle. The cervical collar had been removed and the oxygen mask replaced by a nasal canular. His skin was pale; making the bruises already forming on his neck stand out. His left arm remained strapped to his chest and an ice pack was draped over his left shoulder. Josh's still ragged breathing was audible.
Donna sat on his right, her hands on his uninjured arm. She looked up when Sam and C.J. entered and flashed them a sad smile. "He's sleeping." She spoke softly, finding comfort in stating the obvious.
"Has the doctor said anything yet?" Sam asked, watching his resting friend.
"He's got a lot of bruising and is going to be really sore for a while. We're waiting for the results of the x-ray, but they think his collar bone is broken." Donna sighed and turned her gaze back to Josh's face. "His windpipe is bruised. They want to keep him over night in case he has trouble breathing."
"What happened?" C.J. asked.
"Excuse me." They were interrupted by the emergency room doctor. "I'm sorry." He addressed Sam and C.J. "You all can't be back here."
Sam was about to protest when C.J. placed a restraining hand on his arm. "Josh has created enough headlines for today. I don't need to try to spin you beating up an ER doctor." C.J. pulled Sam into the hallway with a promise from Donna that the Doctor's news would be relayed.
WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE
"Someone has to move."
"It's a classic stalemate, Leo." Jed Bartlet commented, looking over his glasses at his Chief of Staff.
"Not really, Sir." Leo McGarry crossed his arms over his chest and leveled his gaze at his boss and best friend.
"It is, Leo. Two great minds are at an impasse; confidence, wit and ability, adding spice to conflict."
Leo shook his head. "Pig-headed egotism is more like it, Sir."
"Are you referring to me, or to the French Prime Minister?
"If the shoe fits." Leo trailed off, giving an exasperated sigh. "Would you move, Mr. President?"
The President looked from his best friend to the chess board between them. "So impatient, my friend. You need to relax more."
Before Leo could retort, they were interrupted by Charlie Young, "Excuse me, Mr. President; there is a phone call for Leo."
"Pardon me, Mr. President" Leo stood and moved to the outer office to take his phone call.
Jed looked up at his young body man. "Care to sit in for Leo, Charlie?"
"Not if wild horses were to drag me naked through the streets, Sir."
The President chuckled and dismissed the young man.
"Thank you, Mr. President." Charlie left the room with a sigh of relief.
"Everything alright?" Bartlet asked as Leo returned, his face set with a grim expression.
"That was C.J." Leo settled into his seat on the couch and leaned forward, arms on his knees. "There's been a thing."
Jed evaluated his advisor's countenance and posture. He briefly wondered when they'd become these old men. Seemed like these years in office were taking too much out of them, and he wondered for a split second if they were going to survive. "How bad is it?" He asked, his voice soft, trying to comfort Leo, who was clearly up set by what ever he had been told by their Press Secretary.
Leo leaned back on the couch, feeling more than his age. "Josh is in the hospital."
Jed sat up in surprise. "What happened?"
"He, Sam, and Donna went out for a drink after work. He was, as C.J. put it, defending Donna's virtue. Some muscle head put him into a wall." Leo paused, sucking in a fortifying breath, then releasing it before continuing. "He's got a broken collar bone and a bruised wind pipe. He's being kept in the hospital overnight as a precaution."
Bartlet let out a low whistle. "But he's going to be okay?" Leo nodded in response. "Does anyone have the story yet?"
"C.J. didn't think so, but she's handling it. She doesn't think this is going to be too bad. Josh wants to press charges, but both Sam and C.J. seem to think that this won't be a big thing. There were a lot of witnesses, including two off-duty police detectives, who were the ones that rescued Josh."
The President shook his head again. "The things those kids get into." He was quiet for a moment. "And Donna's okay?"
"Yes, Sir." Leo answered. He held Jed's gaze, an unspoken question in his eyes.
"Go ahead, Leo." The President motioned toward the door. "Keep me updated."
"Thank you, Mr. President." Leo stood relief evident in his voice and movements. He exited the Oval Office through the connecting door to his office and grabbed his coat. He switched off his light, and headed out of the building.
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Josh slowly woke. The first sensation he became aware of was pain and he groaned. There was a stirring at his right side and he gingerly turned his head and forced his eyes open. He focused blurrily on the young women sitting beside his bed.
"Hey." His voice was soft and gravely. It hurt to speak and he carefully swallowed, grimacing at the pain the simple action created.
"Hey." Donna placed a gentle hand on his chest.
Josh flinched at the light touch.
"Sorry." Donna started to remove her hand.
"No," he croaked. "It's okay." His voice gave out and he took another painful swallow. "I'm just really sore." He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then refocused on Donna. He reached up and wiped a stray tear from her face with his thumb. His hand lingered for a moment and Donna allowed herself the rare luxury of leaning into his touch. "You okay?" He asked hesitantly.
She smiled and took his hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze before placing it on his stomach. "Yeah. My hero."
Josh's chuckle turned into a groan as the movement jarred his collar bone and irritated his battered wind pipe.
Donna patted his hand. "Leo is here, along with C.J. and Sam. They're anxious to see you one more time." She stood, reaching to brush back his hair. "I'll be back in the morning. Dr. Kaysen said he saw little reason for you to be kept longer than tonight. Get some rest. I think you've earned a day off."
Josh grasped her hand again. "Donna."
She returned his grip.
"I'm sorry." He croaked out.
Donna smiled and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on his lips. "No, Josh. I should be apologizing to you. Thank you for defending me." She gave his hand another squeeze before leaving the room.
Josh sighed as he savored the lingering feeling of the kiss on his lips; his reward for defending the virtue of Donnatella Moss. His lips curled into a sleepy smile and he allowed himself to relax into the bed. There was no question in his mind that she was worth the pain.
Finis
