Take a Chance on Me

Part III

"Josh..." she literally sighs his name and he holds onto the look in her eyes a moment too long, "...what are you doing here?"

"I...ah..." If there was a cab going by he would've hailed it and run away, "...I wanted to talk to you."

"Now?" She folds her arms across her chest and it's the first time that he really takes a look at her. She can't be warm standing there in flannel pj bottoms and an oversized button-down top. She looks too warm and cozy to be this angry.

"Donna, I-"

"I ask again, Josh... now?"

Josh starting rubbing his hands together, his eyes dipping down about her knees. "Why not now... is it just me or is it cold out here?"

"It's the middle of winter and you're thinking it's just you that feels the cold?"

He gave a little half smile and darn it if his dimples didn't peak out at just that moment. She threw up her hands and turned on her heel. "Get in here, already."

Stepping through the doorway he closed it behind them, lingering with his fingers curled around the knob while he regained some sensation... and perhaps a little sanity. "Is it too late to talk?"

"Josh..." he turned around to face the music, "it was too late yesterday."

"I know...and I'm sorry, Donna."

She waited.

"I was busy..." her eyes seemed to peel back his armor, "... and you're right, it's no excuse."

Donna shook her head. "At least it's not the real one."

He stopped before he could start what he had been about to say and gave her a winsome smile. "You see right through me."

"Not really, Josh... but I-" she drew in a slow breath, "but I've seen enough through all these years to know when you're just giving someone a line to get them off your back."

He looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an eighteen-wheeler. "You deserved better."

She stared back at him, tears clinging to her lashes. "I wanted your blessing."

"Me?" Josh gave a laugh that came out more like a bitter cough. "Why?"

She closed her eyes and hung her head from her shoulders. "Do you really need to ask me that?"

"Look," he was desperately trying to dodge the real conversation, "do mind if I take off my coat?"

Donna's head barely moved. "Look, Josh, I'm tired."

"And I'm lost."

She couldn't argue with the thought, she wasn't half-sure she wasn't in the same predicament.

"Donna... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that."

"What did you mean?"

"Nevermind..." he turned and headed for the door.

"Josh," she paced a few steps after him, "What did you mean just now?"

He stopped less than a foot from the door. "Nothing I want to get into right now."

"I don't believe you!" Josh looked over his shoulder into the face of disappointment and anger and his resolve waned. "You come over to my apartment in the middle of the night, drop this 'thing' and then leave?"

There was no dancing out of this, but Josh would be damned if he wasn't going to at least 'do his best'. It was the cub-scout motto. "It's wasn't even midnight, Donna... really." Okay, so he hadn't been a cub scout. It should count for something that he even knew the motto. "That doesn't make you feel any better, does it?"

"You think?" She sat down on the sofa and folded her hands in her lap.

He moved closer and tried to come up with something to say.. something that would make this any easier. Instead his mouth got to work before his brain really got out of the gate. "What's your new job?"

She stared up at him incredulous. "Fine."

"Fine?" He looked up, confused and still hopeful. "That's not really an answer."

Donna picked up a throw pillow and started to ball it up in her hands. "What do you expect, Josh?"

"What?"

She held up the pillow for a moment aiming at him and then tossed it to the ground and stood up from the couch headed straight for the kitchen. For some reason, Josh thought it was a good idea to follow.

She set the pot on the top of the stove with a bang and a resonant clatter.

"What are you cooking?"

"Oh," she didn't even glance at him, "you're still here."

"You. ah..." he pulled at his collar, "really wanted me to go?"

"Dammit, Josh." Donna spun toward him, "I want to have a real conversation for once. I don't want you to blow me off because it's not a good time for you. I don't want you to take this lightly Josh... I want you to-"

"Where are you working, Donna?"

She opened a packet of soup and nearly dropped the entire thing into the pot, mix and envelope. "That's what you're worried about?" She didn't give him a chance to dig himself any deeper. She crossed to the refrigerator and flung open the door. "Will you leave if I tell you?"

"Yeah.." he didn't sound too sure of the answer.

"I'm working for-" Josh's cell phone rang. He made no move to get it. "Josh?"

He shook his head. "Go on."

It rang again and again. "Josh!" She gave a huff and stared at him.

He fished it out of his pocket. "Josh Lyman. Uh huh... yeah... sure... now? Fine... yeah.. see you in-" he looked at his watch, "a half hour." Flipping the phone closed he gave Donna an apologetic look.

She waved it off, her face and wavering gaze turning to the wall. "Go...they... they need you. Go."

Leaning forward he hesitated for a moment, his face just inches from her. Close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek. She waited, breath trapped within her chest as his hand rose up and cupped her cheek. "Until later, Donnatella."

And then he was gone.