Disclaimer: The characters on "The West Wing" are not mine, and I do not have the rights to the song "You're the Inspiration" (which is on a few different CDs, one being "Chicago 17").
Spoilers: None
Category: Song-fic, Josh/Donna, Part 3/3 (This is in Josh's POV again…the first part was in his POV, too and the second part was Donna's POV.)
This takes place sometime in the fifth season, but before the last five episodes of the season, so sometime before "Access".
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I am very sorry I didn't upload this chapter sooner…I could not figure out how I wanted the story to end. As it is, it's pretty unrealistic and very impractical for the show, and basically it's just the result of the end of the school year…Anyway, thanks for reading!
You're the Inspiration
I know Donna didn't mean to hurt me by not telling me the truth about her date, and I know I was pretty cruel when I told her she doesn't know how to choose good men, but the more I think about it, the more hurt I get by the fact that she did, in fact, purposely lie to me. And the more I think about this, the more irritated I'm becoming with myself for contemplating her (or our…) problems when I should actually be focusing on national problems. Now, as I sit at my desk, I can her profile from a few feet away as she is talking with some of the other assistants, and my mind just starts to wander…
I wonder why she can't talk to me the way I'd like her to…of course I know that's just ridiculous…I mean, how would I like her to talk to me anyway? She is my assistant…although even I would acknowledge she's more than just an assistant. So what does she mean to me? I honestly can't answer that question, either for fear of the answer or because I'm not totally certain myself. Either way, I can feel things are going to be changing between us, which is a thought that frightens me a little. I'm so comfortable with Donna; our banter, our strictly professional working relationship…everything is just normal.
"Uh, Josh?" I quickly look up at my assistant's puzzled expression.
"Yes?" I hope she didn't know I was thinking about her. She's pretty good at reading my mind.
"I think you're supposed to have a senior staff meeting right now." I glance at the clock. Oops. She's right. She's always right…
"Uh, okay. I'm on my way." I jump up from the desk and nervously walk around her and head to the Oval Office. I'm sure jittery today for some reason.
You should know, everywhere I goAlways on my mind, in my heartIn my soul
"Josh? What do you think?" Leo's voice somehow jolts me back to reality, from, of course, Donnaland.
"Um, definitely, it's a good idea," I say, lacking any conviction. Leo gives me a sharp look. CJ and Toby are also staring at me with bewildered expressions.
"What?" I ask.
"Well, it's just I thought you were…you know, smart," Toby said, annoyed.
"Is there something on your mind today, Josh?" Leo looks like he's trying to figure me out. Ha…like he'll ever do that…Donna can't even do that sometimes…well, most of the time she can, though. Donna can actually do that practically all the time.
"Josh!" Yikes, Leo snapped at me, not a good thing.
"Uh, yeah, I just…it's nothing. Nothing's up."
"Okay, well, I guess we'll take into consideration your point of view, although you must know it's bizarrely ridiculous, especially now. Anyway, get back to work." Leo dismisses us, and I leave quickly, before CJ and Toby can question me.
I'm back at my desk, thinking about Donna, naturally. I think I'm through being hurt by her lie. It's very hard, though. And I'm pretty sure she knows I'm a little upset by it. I sigh, grab some Tylenol for a headache that's threatening to attack, and look through some papers on my desk.
"Josh?" Donna interrupts what could quite possibly be the first time all day that I've actually begun to concentrate on something.
"What?" I snap, my exasperation evident. By the look on her face, I know I've offended her. This day is not going well.
"I'm sorry." Her voice sounds so small now. "I just wanted to ask you if you'd let me go a couple hours early tonight. I couldn't volunteer last weekend, and I was really hoping to volunteer tonight. I already set up everything you need for the night."
"I didn't know you volunteer. Where at?" I ask curiously. I learn new things about Donnatella Moss everyday.
"At the nursing home," she explains. "I love visiting with the elderly. They're so sweet. And they've got great stories to tell."
"Oh, sure, that's fine, I guess," I tell her. "Is that at the nursing home a couple blocks from your apartment?"
"Yeah, it's a pretty nice place. Hey, you should come by sometime and visit the residents with me! They'd love that!"
"Okay, well, maybe sometime. Have fun," I say. "Good night."
"Good night, Josh."
It's a pretty slow night here. Any time Donna's not here, it seems to be a pretty slow day. Her invitation to visit the nursing home sure sounds fun. I, too, have always adored the elderly. I look through my daily schedule. I had wrapped up everything early in the afternoon and now I was pretty much just looking for some work to do. I decide to do something I've rarely, if ever, done. I am going to leave early. I go to Leo's office to make sure nothing important came up, and he gives me the okay, so I head out to my car and drive to the nursing home.
As soon as I walked in, I hear Donna's laugh coming from one of the rooms. I check in at the desk and pin on my visitor's badge. I walk down the hallway and pause in front of the room Donna's in. She doesn't know I'm here, so I watch her talk and laugh for a few minutes with a resident, whom I suppose is Rose (which is the name on the door). The resident is talking and laughing also, and I'm pretty sure that the time Donna visits is one of the few times Rose laughs like that. Donna does have a special gift for making people happy.
You're the meaning in my lifeYou're the inspirationYou bring feeling to my lifeYou're the inspiration
I ponder Donna's special gifts as I watch her and Rose some more. Looking at the two of them, I begin to realize that my relationship with Donna is so special because I admire her as much as she admires me. Not only do I admire her and her me, but we also inspire each other to be the best we can be. What an amazing team.
"Excuse me, sir, but if you're here to visit, you may actually have to go into the room," a nurse says with a smile. "Would you like to visit with Rose and Donna? I can let them know you're here."
"Uh, sure," I say a little hesitantly. I'd much rather stand in the hall observing Donna, but I know that's not a very sensible option.
The nurse opens the door wider and motions for me to enter. I come in and Donna looks surprised. After saying thank you to the nurse, I introduce myself to Rose.
"I'm Josh, Donna's friend," I say.
"A pleasure to meet you Joshua," she says. Joshua? Well, okay, then. "I've heard many good things about you," she continues. "Donna seems to enjoy talking about you. Although sometimes we just plain laugh at you. Not in a bad way, of course, since I've only heard good things." She winks at Donna, who looks a little uncomfortable.
I don't know how to respond to that comment without making Donna more uncomfortable, so I shrug and offer a little smile. Rose leans over and pats my shoulder.
"You're her boss. I imagine you work her hard?"
What kind of question is that, I wonder. "Well, yes, but she's very competent," I say, confused.
Donna agrees. "Yeah, he works me, but I know how to handle it." She's smiling at me. I grin at her.
Rose looks interested. "So, what you're saying is she's the person who really runs your office?"
Well, I certainly know how to get trapped. "I suppose," I say. Both Donna and Rose are smirking at me now. Great.
"Rose, would you like to eat dinner now?" Donna asks. "I can go get your tray."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Rose says.
Donna leaves, and Rose turns her attention to me.
I know that it's plain to seeWe're so in love when we're together"So, what is going on?" she asks.
I have no idea what she's talking about. "I don't know…what do you mean?" I ask.
"You know exactly," she says knowingly. "You and her. You and Donna. She's more than just your assistant. You love her," she adds rather perceptively.
There are a million places I'd rather be than here right at this moment. "Uh, um, no, yes, I…" I'm sputtering now.
"Joshua? The woman loves you back. It doesn't take a genius to figure this one out," Rose says firmly.
I'm suddenly finding the floor the most interesting thing in the world.
"Rose, your dinner's here," Donna says, placing the tray on the table.
"Sweetheart, would you mind running back and getting me a glass of water? And can you find a nurse? I need to take my medicine," Rose says sweetly.
"Sure, I forgot. I'll be back in a few minutes. Josh, is everything all right?" Donna's looking at me a little strangely.
"Yeah, I'm great," I say. I can hardly look at her, with Rose staring at me and her intensely.
"Okay…" her voice trails off as she looks at Rose and back to me. "If you need anything, just let me know," she adds, leaving the room.
When you love somebody'Til the end of timeWhen you love somebodyAlways on my mindNo one needs you more than I
Rose and I are the only two in the room again. This naturally signals the continuation of the interrogation.
"You don't recognize the fact that you love her, do you?" Rose asks curiously.
"No, I mean, yes, I know I love Donna," I say quietly. "But I think it's a different kind of love than what you mean."
"I think you want it to be different than what I'm describing because she works for you and it'd be considered inappropriate. But that's not what it really is. You have an opportunity for a great life with a wonderful woman, but you think you can't do anything about it. I'm here to tell you, you most definitely can. My husband and I were married for 50 glorious years. Of course, now he's passed on, but those 50 years we were together were the happiest of my life. In the beginning, everyone told us, 'Your marriage will never last.' No one wanted us to be together, but I say, if you love someone, you need to do something about it, because otherwise I know you'd end up regretting what could have been."
I'm silent for a few moments. What she said certainly made sense. Donna and I…we could have something everlasting. We were more focused on the eight years of the administration than the rest of our lives. Suddenly, just as Donna arrives with the nurse and a glass of water, I bolt from the room. Rose smiles and Donna looks completely confused.
Nothing can stop me now. I've already made a stop at a certain store and now I need to buy some roses. At the floral shop, I choose some pretty pink roses and carefully wrap them in paper until I can get a vase. I drive to the White House and rush to my office. There, I place the roses in the vase and put them on my desk. Then I call Donna's apartment. She should be home from the nursing home by now…it's getting pretty late. Actually, the later it gets, the more nervous I become. Earlier, when I was busy, I wasn't quite as nervous. The phone rings twice before she picks up.
"Hello," she says, sounding sleepy.
"Hi, it's me, I need you to come in right now," I say in a rush.
"What? Josh, why now? Can't it wait until morning?" she asks. "I'm pretty tired. By the way, why did you just run off in the nursing home this evening?"
"You'll find out soon. Come in now. Come to my office," I say.
She sighs. "Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes."
About a half hour later, I hear her arrive. My heart is pounding so hard I can practically hear it. She's knocking on my door.
"Come in," I say nervously.
"Josh, what in the world could be so important…" she trails off at the sight of me, on bended knee with a ring in my hand. A million thoughts are running through my head. I say the first thing I can manage:
"You know our love was meant to beThe kind of love that lasts foreverAnd I need you here with meFrom tonight until the end of time"
"Donna," I pause and look up at her. She's crying and smiling at the same time. I take a deep breath and say very softly, "will you marry me?"
She's nodding, crying, and laughing. "Yes," she says, and I know this is the one moment of my entire life I will never forget.
End