Disclaimers: Same as before

Author's Notes: In the last chapter Santos is a jerk, but fear not he will redeem himself by the end of the story. This chapter contains Josh and Donna's reaction to the death threat and a small section with Helen. I wanted a scene where Donna is back in the game. Again this chapter contains harsh language and adult situations. (One of my favorite jokes is in this chapter)

Feedback: Thank you for all of it.

Then Everything Changed

Chapter 10

1I can't fucking believe Will. He didn't see her, bleeding and scarred. He has no clue what its like to lose someone. Not anyone as valuable as Donna.

Who would want to kill Donna? She's Donna! How could any one hate her? The rage is filling every muscle of my body, I never wanted to punch something so bad.

Good thing my door is here.

Bang Bang Bang.

The door opens and suddenly I can't remember why I'm mad. This vision before me is ethereal, magical. Donna is standing in the doorway, teary eyed and her hair is a frazzled and wearing nothing but my dress shirt.

My eyes are beginning to dry out. Blink damn it!

Say something comforting, clever and charming.

"You're wearing my shirt." Damn it!

"Yeah, I needed... um it's going to sound stupid. I'll change."

"No! Don't change, it won't sound stupid. What were you going to say?" She bits her lip. Lucky teeth.

"Um, I needed you around me. Holding me. But you weren't here, your shirt was the next best thing." Single sweetest thing she has ever said to me, aside from the red lights comment.

"I'm here now."

"Yes you are. What are you waiting for?"

My arms pour around her, her arms connect behind my neck, her head planted firmly on my shoulder.

"Ron says…"

"I don't care, I need you just to hold me for now." I start to rub her back feeling how thin my shirt really is. Through the cotton blend I can feel her skin, warmth, texture. It's smooth, a little too smooth as I rub the length of her back. Something is missing.

Her bra.

Oh god!

Think unsexy thoughts. War. The shooting. Toby. That's the keeper; focus on Toby.

Don't notice the way her hair is falling in front of her face and catching the light, or that the only thing separating her naked body from me is a very thin dress shirt that I wore yesterday. Don't notice how close she is pressed against you, her breasts against my chest.

Change the subject, talk to her. In the silence all I can focus on is her body. Her quivering body.

My shirt is getting damp around where her face is resting. Some monster want to hurt her, kill her. My Donnatella.

"Donnatella."

"Hmm?" Who would want to harm her?

"Um… I really didn't have a follow up. I just wanted to say your name." I am such a tool.

"Oh, say it again."

"Donnatella." I say it again because she likes to hear it, the second time its because I need to say it. "Donnatella I will never let anything happen to you."

"I know." Those are all the words that we say for the next few minutes. She's still nearly naked, and I'm still trying very hard not to notice that, or how her hair smells like vanilla or her fingers through my hair or her breathe on my neck. See, I barely noticed.

Expect my blood is rushing, well not to my brain. Which I am currently blaming on my lack of emotional display over my rage and disdain for her would be killers.

"I guess I need to come over tonight."

"Why is that?" She nuzzles into my chest.

"Well, I need to protect you." Duh?

"How do you plan on doing that in your sleep?"

"Its one more body he would have to get through."

"Because the secret service isn't enough."

"Not for you." I can feel her cheeks tighten through my shirt. "I guess that makes me like Sir Galahad."

She looks up at me, tears still lingering on her eyelashes. An unreadable smile forms on her face.

"Galahad was pure in sprit, mind and body." She slowly grinds her hips against mine, "You're Sir Lancelot. There was nothing wrong with his libido."

Horror. That's the emotion of the day.

"I should get changed." All I can do is nod.

I don't remember walking into the bathroom. I don't know how long Josh was holding me. Too many thoughts are running through my head at once.

Someone wants me dead.

But I am so nice.

We can't support Prop 675.

Josh.

When I left him in Santos' room, he looked like, well, what I would have imaged him to look like after he saw the news footage about the car bomb.

I know that look, six years ago it was on my face.

Well. At least I know he finds me desirable.

That's a nice confidence boost on a very crappy day.

Did I grind against him? When did I turn into such as slut?

Someone wants to hurt me; I am putting my friends in danger.

"I think I should quit." I call from the bathroom. Changing back into my clothes I sniff his shirt one last time. I think I am an addict.

"You can't." He calls back.

"I am a risk to the congressman. I should leave."

"We get ten death threats a day, Donna. Did you think a minority and an interracial marriage wasn't going to spark some contention amongst the highly educated skin heads in this county?"

"No, but I don't want to be the one be the reason anyone gets hurt." When I open the door, he's standing, waiting for me. Once again his arms are around me.

"Leo won't let you leave. And I can't let you leave."

"Why not?"

"Because." He starts to struggle with the words. "I can't let you go." We stay there until a knock that the door rips us part.

Leo enters and informs us of the Secret Service's plan. He also reminds Josh to call Stanley. I should have known this was coming. Josh starts to argue when Leo stops him with a single phase, "Can't have you throwing your fist through another window? Can we?"

Leo also tells me that all the agents volunteered for my detail.

We return back to the headquarters where Helen is screaming at her husband. Pangs of guilt twist my stomach when I realize they are fighting over me.

"Don't you dare take this from me! I was never really behind this whole stupid idea to begin with. She's going to keep me sane for the next couple of months. I need her!"

"She's a risk."

"So was marrying you. So was running for Congress. So is running for President."

Matt stops talking for now, now that he realizes I am in room. I have a feeling their argument will continue after I leave.

For the rest of the day its business as usual. Expect that Josh is always at arms length away from me. He is constantly guiding me with his arm on my back, or rubbing me arm. When he isn't touching me, he's watching me or asking me if I am all right. Normally, I would get irritated by this, but I know his history and how his mind works. So for today, I let him be overprotective. If he is like this tomorrow I'll kill him.

I can barely make eye contact with my ass of a husband for now. They start debating about 675 again. I know he's against it but everyone else is either on the fence or for it. He was waiting to strike, but fears how they are going to react.

Finally a voice of reason:

"Look, Prop 675 is a bad idea. Its sends funds for urban devolvement for the next five years but the problem is the proposition does say where in the city the funds should go. It gives control of the money to upstart companies. However, every upstart company listed isn't really an upstart but a subsidiary of larger corporations, who would rather place their money in "safe" areas then in property stricken areas. If this passes we set back urban comminutes at least twenty years."

My husband stares at Donna.

He was thinking the same thing.

I glance at him and smile. "That's why you need her to stay."

I win.