Disclaimers: I do not own any of these characters they belong to John Wells, Aaron Sorkin and NBC, with the exception of Scott, Sara, Debra, Isabella, James, Mary and Grandma Moss...

Author Notes..Thank you so much to Jenn the best beta a writer could ask for...I am sorry for the delay...I have had a bad case of writers block...Hopefully I will have another chapter to you soon! Please keep up the reviews you have been my encouragement...I hope you enjoy this chapter:

"I'm sorry," she found herself whispering over and over again. "I'm so sorry…"

She hoped he would accept her apology, she knew she owed that much to him. She also knew that he would want an explanation, but didn't know where to start. Josh didn't ask for an apology, he just held onto her, rubbing her back, stroking her hair, murmuring that everything would be okay. For the first time in a long time, Donna let herself believe it.

After standing for what seemed like lifetime, she finally got the courage to lift her head to look at him again.

"You're here," she whispered, looking into his eyes as he smiled down at her.

"Like I'd be anywhere else," he responded. She relaxed in his arms, his words and action combed told her that even if he was angry, he wasn't going to call her on it now.

"Thank you," she whispered, loosening the embrace, but holding on to his hand - she needed that connection. As they rode the elevator, a comfortable silence overcame them. .

Entering the room Donna sighed deeply, but remained quiet. Walking over to the window, she watched the Madison sunset. So many things were going through her head, but deep in her heart, she was glad Josh was there.

Josh wondered if she saw her family and if she had seen the obituary. She would be devastated, why would her family do this to her?

"They don't want me here." He was pulled out from his thoughts. "My family doesn't want me at my own father's funeral." She refused to let the tears fall.

"C'mere," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. She went willingly, wrapping her arms around his waist. His hands settled on her hips, holding her gently as he kissed the top of her head. He didn't know how long they were standing there before he shifted slightly, nodding towards the bed. "C'mon, you need to lie down."

"I don't need to lie down," she protested. "Didn't you hear me Josh?" the anger steadily growing in her voice, "My family doesn't want me here – I've been disowned!"

"You don't have to sleep?" He tried to coax her into laying down. He knew that after last night's nightmare, she was probably afraid of sleeping.

"OK, but will you hold me?" He led her to the bed, where she kicked off her shoes.

He did the same, before lying down side by side, his arms around her, her head on his chest, right over his heart. She traced the scar on his chest through under his shirt. He could feel her relax as he ran his fingers through her hair, and she murmured softly, "I can't believe you followed me here."

A comfortable silence fell over them as they snuggled on the bed.

Josh wondered what had happened between Donna and her family. As desperate as he was for answers, he didn't pry - now wasn't the time, and if he pushed she would shut down. It was something she had learned from him.

Donna finally spoke. "I saw my brother Scott today. I think he's the only one happy to see me." She told him about her visit with Scott and the fight with her mom and sister.

"Are you going over there for dinner?" Josh didn't want push, but offered encouragement to go. "You should. I'll go with for support." he offered.

"I don't know." She was starting to with drawl again. "Let me think about it."

"Okay," was Josh's quiet reply.

Once again silence overtook them. A short time later he could tell that her breathing had evened out which indicated she was asleep. He pulled the covers over her, "Sweet dreams Donnatella." and leaned over, kissing her softly.

"NO! DADDY…NO!" Donna was in the midst of a nightmare. "Stop…Please don't. Daddy please!"

Josh awoke with Donna's screaming. He rubbed her back like he did the night before, gently, but easing her awake without startling her.

"Donna, come on sweetheart it's only a dream. You're safe, I promise." Josh kept his voice low and calm. After a few minutes, Donna finally opened her eyes.

"Josh?" her eyes were open but she was not fully awake.

"Yeah, I'm right here." Josh took her into his arms and held her tight against his body. "Want to talk about it?"

Shaking her head no, she buried her face in his chest and let the tears fall. After crying for a few minutes, she wiped away the tears. "I'm okay," she said, though she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince, herself or Josh.

"I'm a good listener," he tried to get her to open up. "It might help the nightmares go away."

"I can't!" she pleaded.

"Whatever you want, I'm here for you." he said, trying not to sound too pushy. "Let's try to get some more sleep."

"Hold me." was her quiet response.

He pulled her close and waited for her breathing to even out before finally falling into a deep sleep.

The ringing of the phone woke Josh from a deep sleep.

"'Ello!" Josh answered sleepily.

"Morning!" CJ's voice scared the hell out of Josh.

"CJ, what's wrong?" Josh was fully awake now.

"Josh, calm down, I was just calling to check on Donna."

"Oh," he said after finally calming his rapid heartbeat.

He told CJ about Donna's visit with her family, including the visit with her mother and sister. He also mentioned the newspaper article and the obituary. CJ knew that things between Donna and her family were strained, but never this much.

"Why are they doing this to her?" anger growing in CJ's voice. "Donna's a wonderful person, and to treat her like this pisses me off."

"I know, I wish I she would talk to me. She's hiding something and has nightmares." I'm really worried CJ.

"Josh, I have a briefing to get to." CJ was worried not only about Donna, but also about Josh. "Give her our love and tell her to call if she wants to talk. We're here if she needs anything. We care about her, so you better take care of her Josh."

"Thanks CJ."

"Bye Josh."

"Who was on the phone?" a sleepy Donna asked.

"It was CJ," Josh wondered how much of their conversation she heard. "Everyone sends their love and call if you want to talk."

"That was sweet of her," Donna obviously taken back by CJ's kindness.

"I'm going to jump in the shower," Josh told her grabbing his clothes he headed to the bathroom. "Call room service and order some breakfast."

Donna grabbed the phone and called down and placed her order. Sitting on the bed she spotted the newspaper on the desk. Picking it up she read the article about her father's death. She couldn't believe what she was reading; he had killed four innocent people along with himself. "He must have started drinking again…" she thought. Since she never talked to her family, she wouldn't have known. She was sure her mother and siblings blamed her, well not Scott. Of course, she was blamed for everything that happened in the family. She finished the article and thumbed through the rest of the paper. Coming across the obituary her hands began to shake as she read it.

Paul Moss, age 56, died due to injuries sustained in an auto accident. Mr. Moss was an insurance agent with Moss and Moss Insurance Agency in Madison. He is survived by his wife of 20 years. Debra. He is also survived by one daughter and son-in-law: Isabella and John Scott of Madison; two son's and daughter in-laws - Scott and Sarah Moss and James and Mary Moss of Madison; along with five grandchildren, two brothers, one sister, his parents, and six nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4-8 pm at Gunderson Funeral Homes. The funeral and burial service will be Thursday at 10am at the First Methodist Church.

There was no mention of Donna at all. Why would her family do that to her?. She knew the answer, but didn't want to accept it. She wondered if Josh had seen this, and if so, why he didn't say anything.

"Shower's free," Josh called from the bathroom.

The sinking feeling in the pit of Josh's stomach told him something was wrong when Donna didn't acknowledge him. Rushing to her side, he saw the paper in her hands. Grabbing the paper away, he pulled her into a hug. Her whole body shook from the shock, and seeing that her legs were about to give way, Josh guided her to the bed.

"It's okay, I'm right here sweetheart." It broke his heart to see her upset.

She finally gave into the tears that were threatening to fall, her sobs coming in large gasps for air. She calmed down after a few minutes. Pushing her away slightly, Josh looked into her blue eyes. What he saw made him sad, her anger given way to hurt and sadness.

"What's today?" she asked out of nowhere.

"Tuesday." he answered. "Why?"

"The visitation is tonight and the funeral is tomorrow." she continued. "If you can't stay that long I understand. I don't want to keep you from work. I know it's important."

For a minute he wondered if she was making an excuse to go back to Washington, maybe she didn't think she should stay.

"I'm here as long as you need me." he reassured her. "But if you don't want to go I understand, we can head back to DC." He wanted it to be her decision. "I think you should stay and say good-bye, but it's up to you. I don't want you to regret it later."

Unsure of what she wanted to do, Donna buried her head farther in Josh's chest and held on.

"My family doesn't want me around, they don't love me. Maybe I shouldn't be here."

"Donna, look at me, you have every right to be here. He was your father too; I don't know what happened between you two, but you have every right to say good bye to him just as they do." Josh hated what her family was doing to her.

"I'm going to grab a shower" Donna said and stood quickly, heading toward the bathroom and leaving Josh dumbfounded. He was worried about her more now than before.

Once he heard the bathroom door close and shower start, Josh picked up his cell phone.

"Hey, it's me," Josh quietly spoke.

"Josh what's wrong?" The person on the other end was surprised by the call.

"I need a huge favor," Josh explained to the mystery caller what he need done. After making sure everything was taken care of, he thanked the other person and disconnected the phone.

Donna emerged from bathroom wrapped in only a towel; Josh couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Hey sexy," he teased.

"Hi," her voice filled with sadness.

"What time do we have to be at the funeral home?"

Donna was unsure of how to answer that question; she knew her family would not want her there. But she had to go; she had to know he was really gone.

"It starts at four," Josh told her. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"I have to. I have to know he's gone for good." Donna's tears began to fall again.

"Well first you are going to eat something." Picking up the phone Josh ordered room service.

The rest of the afternoon went by in a blur for the two. After eating lunch, they set out to the mall to find Josh a suit for the funeral. Before Donna knew it, the time had come for her to go say her good bye to her father.

Taking a hold of Josh's hand, the two made their way to the elevator, and down to the car.

"You okay?" he asked with concern

She nodded, but didn't give him a real answer.

The drive to the funeral home was short. Taking a deep breath Donna didn't know what to expect, but hoped her mother and sister wouldn't make a scene.

Grabbing a hold of Josh's hand they made their way up the steps and to the door of the funeral home.