Disclaimers: Same as before.

Author's notes: I don't know if people read this. I don't know if you guys care, but I like writing them and for this chapter it feels necessary. The original idea for this story started here in this chapter, so keep this in mind. I was a little tired of stories that Josh and Donna just fell into bed together, theirs is a complex relationship and I wanted it told, even with my feeble attempts to express it.

With that being said, I hate reading stories where bad things happen to these two endearing characters. But now that I am writing a story it seems only natural, both of their lives are filled with tragedy. So this next chapter marks a HUGE change in the story. For those of you who are in it for the Josh and Donna love story, (and if I was a reader, that's what I would be in it for) please bear with the tale a little longer. You will be greatly rewarded. Please don't hate me.

Then Everything Changed

Chapter 22

There are moments in your life you know your life will be forever altered. The minute you propose and she says yes. The minute you find out she's pregnant. The minute you learn about the death of your father. Those are the life defining minutes. Sometimes you have life defining hours, like when the deputy Chief of Staff knocks on your door and asks you to run for president.

Tonight I had a life changing hour. In one hour, I lost my wife, my best friend, and my best employee. In second I lost all my dignity, honor and self respect. I seized the check.

We were at the Philadelphia's Sons for Tomorrow Dinner. The best and the brightest on the East Coast show up for this one. Money has always been an issue, and with staffing growing at an enormous rate, we needed cash in hand. Sure we made some money in California, but this one, if done right; we wouldn't need to do any more ass kiss to rich white men for a while. We could focus back on the issues. Our game faces were on.

Donna had missed all of my speech, Josh was lagging behind. I saw her speaking to Will and Leo, neither who looked comfortable with what they were talking about. Now I know what they were asking her to do. Now I understand their discomfort. Discomfort, what they were asking was despicable, discomfort should be an understatement. I am sickened to say it wasn't.

I didn't think much of it. She walked off and I continued to talk with some pharisaical CEOs. In fact I didn't even notice she was gone. I didn't even notice.

Helen was beside me, feigning interest in what these people were saying, but her thoughts were in up state New York, where we dropped the boys off for summer camp for the next two weeks. My thoughts were with them too, feeling guilty I didn't spend as much time with them and vowing next time I would. It's the same vow I make every time they leave me.

Then everything changed.

I didn't think much of Bram talking to Josh. But the red flag went up when all the blood rushed out of his face. He was across the room and running, well limping very fast towards me.

His eyes: "Did you know?"

Mine: "Know what?'

Bram lead the way, Josh and I follow, gaining Will along the way. No one spokes. The air around us was tense; the others seemed to know what is going on. I was the only one out of the loop.

We went through a long corridor where we saw Jackson and Steven outside a door.

"Open the fucking door." Josh spit.

Nothing could have prepared me for this sight. I knew both people in the room. I knew what was going on. But it took a few seconds to process.

Justin Hall, heir to one of the largest fortunes in media. His family owns nearly television networks, fifteen websites and seven new magazines. Justin Hall is a rapist. The only reason he's been able to say out of jail is the fact that he is the heir to one of the largest fortunes in media. He bought off all of his victims with huge lumps of money. Eight years ago he was at a fund raiser like this, and had his way with an intern. I didn't know he was going to be here. I never would have brought Helen here if I had known.

I should also mention, he has a affinity for blonds.

The other person in the room was Donna Moss.

He did not even look up. His mouth was firmly pressed against hers. One hand was squeezing tightly against her left breast, holding her in place. I couldn't see his other hand, but I was pretty sure it is up her dress. One of the straps to her dress was torn.

My God, if we had gotten here five minutes later.

But Josh didn't see any of that. He did not see where his hands were placed or her torn dress. He couldn't think in "what if's" and "five minutes into the future." He just saw Donna's lips on another man's. That image was being brunt into his brain.

He walked over; fist clenched and yanked Donna out of Justin's arms. I wanted Josh to beat the shit out of the guy. Hell, I wanted to do it myself. But he just stared at her, but not seeing her at all.

From this point one I should say everything happened very fast.

"We are leaving." He commanded.

Justin hissed. "Wait, don't forget your check." Will grabbed the check.

That bears repeating. Will walked across the room, throw his coat over Donna and took the check.

We rushed out of the room. Jackson cried, "Maple leaf is on the move."

Helen ran down the hallway, saw the huddle mass of Donna Moss, the statue of Josh Lyman, and Will handing me the check. She also saw me placing the check in my breast pocket. There was an expression on my wife's face, I had never seen before, not in all the years of marriage, and dating, it was a blend of horror and disappointment.

We all walked out of the building using back corridors and hallways. Bram stayed behind to tell Leo and the others where we were, it would be their job to keep up appearances.

Donna got into the car with Helen and me. Josh and Will rode alone in the other one. It was in the absence of light in the car ride home I really looked at Donna. She was brave, but shaking. Her whole body was quivering gel. Helen rubbed Donna's back and told her everything was going to be ok. That seems like the standard thing to say when ever something goes wrong. In my life I have rarely seen everything turn out ok.

It was the longest car ride of my life and it was only three miles.

Jackson helped Donna out of the car. Helen supported her as well. She stood in the hotel lobby waiting for Josh. I know this was a mistake. I wanted to tell her so. But the words never left my lips.

Josh and Will arrived. Will emerged from the car with a bloody lip. Good Job Josh.

Josh and Donna walked in silence to the elevator.

Will walked to the hotel bar.

Helen turned to me, "Do not say a word to me."

"But Helen."

"You are speaking. I am going to the room and I am going to pack. Do not come up after me. Do not try to talk me out of it. Do not try to be the hero and with one sweeping romantic gesture hope everything will change. Because it will not. Sometimes I look at you and I can't recognize you any more, Mathew. Ask yourself how much are you willing to give up to be president? How much are you willing to lose?"

She stalked away. I was left standing in the hotel lobby. Josh came back down and declared he was going for a walk.

"Take an agent."

"No I need to be alone."

"Josh, you are taking an agent."

"Why should I?"

"You've been getting letters too." I snapped back. There are no more emotions for him to feel. He just turned around and Steven walked with him.

I don't know how long I was sitting in the lobby, staring at the tiles, when a pair of feet interrupted my concentration.

"Matt, I am leaving. Donna's quitting."

"What?"

"I am taking a red eye back to Houston. I'll call you when I get there. Right now I can't look at you. And quite frankly I don't know when I will be able to. Good bye."

I called out in the last act of desperation, "Helen, I love you."

"I know," was all she said.

I walked into the bar, and gazed at Will Bailey. "What?" He spits.

"Don't speak to me right now Will."

"What like this is my fault? Like I sent her in there? Like I was supposed to keep time but got distracted. Well, that IS my fault. But your wife leaving you, that isn't my fault."

"I beg to differ, Bailey."

"Your wife isn't leaving you because of what happened to Donna. And Donna isn't quitting because of what happened to her. Your wife left because the check is still in your coat pocket. And Donna is leaving for whatever stupid thing Josh said to her, which he presumably did say."

What stung the most was that he was right. It was easier to blame Will for everything, but I too had a large part in this disaster.

Here I am, one hour later sitting in a hotel bar, with a drunk and bleeding Will Bailey to my left. A barely recognizable Josh Lyman just entered the bar. . There are five agents who want to kick my ass. And I still have the check, burning my heart, in my pocket.

It's funny how one moment will change your life forever.