Disclaimers: Same as before;

Author's note: This chapter contains mature contain. Please be warned. Donna and Josh's point of view.

Feedback is always welcomed

Chapter 8

My head is still reeling from this morning. Boundaries. That's what we need. All these years I assumed he would not reciprocate my feelings, but this morning proved otherwise. I don't think it's fair to make him wait, not when I have no idea when I'll be ready.

After a wretched flight, I finally get to Chicago where Leo's campaign has set up it's base of the week. He's coming back with me to California and the rest of his staff is following soon after.

"Donna, how was your flight?" He's overly excited to see me; familiarity tends to do that to someone on the road.

"Awful, people tried to talk to me and they served this weird breakfast omelet. How's it going here?"

"I hate my staff. Do you think CJ will quit her job and start working for me here?"

"Nope, I don't think she will do that."

"Some sense of loyalty these people have!"

"I'm sort if the wrong person you should be saying that to."

"Nonsense Donna, you are the most loyal of them all."

"It doesn't really feel that way sometimes." I look out the window, anything not to continue with this conversation.

"How is Will working out?" Sort of a change in conversation.

"Fine, I've got him on an incentive program. I thought of it back on the Russell campaign but decided to hold off for the right time. Why did you want Will on the team? Why even ask us back?"

"To win. Matt Santos is a good man who deserves to be president more the Russell ever did. He jumped over every roadblock, laughed at every annoyance. He's the guy. I wanted to see what Will would do when he was backing the right guy. However, you are the key to the whole thing. I really want to win, and the only way I foresee this happening is with you on the campaign."

"Why didn't you ever tell Josh why I left? The real reason."

"It was Toby's concern that brought the situation to the president's attention. I thought Toby was going to do it. But his advice was to call you and that didn't pan out the way anyone expected."

"Sam brought it up over a year ago." I pause, not really wanting to say the next phrase. "Josh thinks it's his fault I left the White House."

"Good, he should! He held you back for years, you have the potential for greatness Donna, and it's time to reach it."

"I don't think that's why he thinks I left. He seems too guilty. I think it's more."

"He wants to fix everything, but I don't think he's that stupid. If you want to tell him, let him; don't let me hold you back. But think about it, your life is infinitely better now that he isn't your boss."

I can see what he's getting at. We all needed pushes, one way or another, no one stopped to think how these pushes would affect other people. And I do see certain benefits with him not being my boss. I guess Leo's right.

We change the topic a few more times before discussing the ramification of Prop 675 on urban development and how to spin the Republican response.

As we head out the door for a press conference an intern hands me a letter. My blood turns to ice. My first and only thought for a while is, "that's not a very nice way to start a letter."

The rest of the day I focus on work, and rarely speak. Needless to say, the nightmares came back.

Three hours until she comes back.

Two hours until she comes back.

One hour until she comes back.

Thirty minutes and she will be walking in the door.

Look, for the record I am concentrating on other things, I have a lot on my mind: the national budget, seven congressmen, the DOA report on west Asia, fifteen minutes until she comes back..

Ok Turner is showing "Temple of Doom" and I guess I could say my TV doesn't work and I have to watch CNN in her room.

"Take a chance on me Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me." Am I singing Abba?

"Matt, how long have I been singing Take a chance on me?"

"Like five minutes now."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"What and give up the free entertainment?"

This is so embarrassing.

They're here!

Leo comes in first, move old man, move. Did the air just get lighter in here? Bliss, that is the word for it. She is FINALLY here! She looks tried, not very well rested at all. God bless Science!

"Hi!" Was that a little too loud?

"Hello, Josh, we need to talk." grumpy old Leo.

"Inside voice, Lyman." Shut up Matt.

I make my way over to Donna as Leo, Matt, Will walk into the other room. Don't kiss her, not here, not now. Must... resist...

Say something clever.

"Good flight?" That's clever? You fool! She lets a small smile leave her lips, good, lets not let anyone know. Keep it professional.

"It was ok. Better then the flight going there." Well of course, now you're coming back to me.

I place my hand on her back leading to the other room, she pushes her weight against it for a brief second and smile becomes slightly coy. Some intern hands her an envelope and we make our way into an already heated debate.

"Look the Republicans are going to put Prop 675 in the can; I say we make it our new motto." Will rather passionately states.

"Our motto is 'What's best for the country.' We shouldn't change it just because there is some flash in the pan idea." Matt states.

"I think we should sit on it for a few days." Leo the voice of reason. "Donna, what do you think?" All eyes are on her, as she stares at the paper in her hand.

"Um"

Pause

"Um I think the Republicans are...um... Prop 675 it is flawed"

She pauses again, what the hell is going on here?

"...um I ...don't think we should um, do..." Her eyes return to the paper.

"Donna, you ok?" Good question Will.

"What? Huh?" Time for me to step up.

"Guys can I have the room?" Where the hell is she going? She's walking out the door. "Donna, you stay."

"Oh, ok." Something is clearly not right here. Leo glances back at me as he walks out the door. I take one step closer to her.

"Hey." I speak softly, and reach to touch her arm. She looks up at me as if it was the first time she's seen me in years. It takes a few second to recognize me. She looks slightly more focused, like she's planning something. "I've been trying to come up with an excuse to come over tonight." A small smile on her face and mine. "You know Temple of doom is playing tonight. I thought I could come over..."

"Josh." It is the way she says my name the throws me off. Oh, is she going to dump me?

"I need to tell you something."

She's dumping me and we haven't even been together.

"I am scared and I don't need you freaking out ok."

I can't breathe. She's leaving AGAIN.

"Donna, what's wrong?" That sounded stable right. Maybe I can convince her with my advanced negotiating skills.

"I got this yesterday," she hand me an envelope from her purse. Stop shaking hands. I open it up.

Cunt.

Well that's not a very nice way to start a letter.

Bile makes it way up my throat as I start to read. My body isn't working the way it should.

Words like slice, butcher, blood, breast, and bitch.

"Donna this is a death threat."

"I got another one today, just now." She's being followed. Her body crashed into mine. I steady her, but I am a shaking as much as she. "What do I do?"

"I'll handle this. You go back to your room, I'll be with you in a few minutes." But I won't let her leave for a moment.

"Donna, go back to my room instead." She nods, as she walks away I don't think I've ever seen her look so small and fragile. Her alabaster skin hardly contains any pigment at all. Her eyes say "thank you", while her mouth is unable to speak. I reread the letter in my hand, and rush into the bathroom to vomit.