Disclaimers: You know what they are, should I keep writing them? Do I have to? What is the legal purpose, everyone knows I don't own these characters. What's the point in having to write it like a million times?

Author's notes: Thank you to everyone who has been leaving feedback, especially anyone who repeatedly posts and any one who is new to posting. OK that's like everyone, so thank you every much it makes me glow all happy like. I think chapter sums up everything that has happened nicely as well as adds new elements. The Plot will start moving along faster. Promise. Enjoy! POV Annabeth, Vinick and Josh.

Donna has passes the phone off to someone else, and that person hasn't hung up, purposely. Sixteen seconds after CJ informs me Donna changed history, Zoey Bartlet comes running into the room. "OH MY GOD! Did you see that?"

"Yes!" CJ nods.

Slowly people start to filter into the room, Carol, Margaret, but we all take notice when Dr. Bartlet enters the room. Then we hear the one line that will live in infamy. "DID YOU JUST CALL ME A STUPID BITCH?"

"Who is she talking to?"

"No way did someone just say that?"

"Well he's a dumb ass."

Then she launches into her full verbal assault. She calls the DNC a tiny loser of a man and declares herself an Amazon. By the end of her rant, every woman in the room is cheering.

"I want to be Donna Moss when I grow up," Zoey declares.

Me too. Who knew she had this fiery beast growing in her? I didn't, but in all fairness I don't know her all that well. Then she starts to renegotiate her contract, ten thousands later and a new title, CJ proclaims she too would like to be Donna when she grows up.

Whoever is holding the phone has walked into the hallway, most likely to give Donna and Josh some time together. Then rather loudly we here, "Donna Moss, I love you," followed by cheers.

There is a collective head slap from every woman in the room.

"I can't believe he told her like that?" Dr. Bartlet

"How long have we waited, eight years? What an idiot!" Carol.

"I am just glad it happened while they were out of the White House." CJ smirks.

We sit around the phone waiting for another explosion from Donna, but it never occurs.

Then once again someone calls Donna a bitch. I've never seen CJ's face change so fast. I recognize the voice, but I can't place it until Donna repeats her name. Andi, Toby's ex wife, and for some reason, CJ doesn't seem to like her very much. As Donna verbally attacks Andi, CJ stands and pumps her fist in the air. "That's my girl!"

Somehow I get the feeling that CJ wishes it were her screaming at Andi and not Donna.

Over the next few minutes nothing happens but we do here Josh scream her name. Damn it took him long enough; the press conference was like ten minutes ago.

In the past five hours we have scene Donna grow into something, or shed her skin and finally transform into what she naturally was the entire time.

A part of me wished I had known her from the beginning, at the start of the administration. I get the impression from the motherly pride and sisterly pride beaming on the others face's its been a long road for Donna to get to this point. I think the others are just happy they could see or should I say hear it.

"Quite a show." A voice comes one rather loud compared to the other voices, it startles us.

"Yeah, Ronna, just wish we had front row tickets like you do." CJ smiled.

Ronna says her goodbyes and hangs up. The other women in the room sit back and evoke stories of Donna. How do you leave your underwear at an art opening? She voted for the wrong guy? 20 hours lost with Toby and Josh, I think she should be eligible for sainthood. She really has come a long way, hasn't she?

I should try to hang out with her some time. The room fills with laughter and smiles, a far cry from the tension hours before.

CJ is still laughing a little when she picks up the call from Leo.

"Hey, Leo how are you feeling? That's good." Silence and CJ sits down, slightly paler. "I thought the target was Santos? It makes sense right? Leo, I don't understand. How could this happened? How long have you known? TWO WEEKS! Leo I never would have let her leave if I knew." We are all sitting now, smiles fading. "Yes I will inform the staff and the President." CJ hangs up the phone and rubs her temples. "Abby can you inform the President that the target of today's attack was Donna Moss? I think it would be best if he heard it from you."

"Yes, of course CJ."

No one in the room moves. The same thought is reeling in everyone's head. Who would want to kill Donna? How is that possible?

"Donna was the target?" Zoey's voice quivers. "Do they know who did it?"

"Not yet, the Secret Service and the FBI are looking in to it."

"LOOKING IN TO IT!" Carol bellows. "Its Donna, who would want to hurt Donna?"

"Did anyone check Amy Gardner?" Margaret asks. Small smiles appear across many faces, but not enough to make anyone laugh.

"Donna wanted the White House staff to know first, before the news went public."

"Family." Dr. Bartelt whispers under her breath then louder she states, "She wanted to inform family."

'I'll come up with a list of people who knew Donna personally and should know prior to the announcement." Carol stands and CJ nods in agreement.

"I'll tell Charlie." Zoey whispers.

One by one the room empties and CJ the Great Amazon herself is beginning to crack. I can't even begin to comprehend her emotional state. In one day everyone she cares about has been attacked, physically, emotionally, medically. I know she would rather be at the hospital, but her job keeps her here.

"CJ, I know I am not really qualified but if you want to leave, everyone would understand, I could watch the place for you if you wanted."

She gives an appreciative smile, "No you are going to be busy when the story breaks. But thank you for the offer."

"CJ, can I come with you when you go to pick them up?" My shyness sparkles through.

"Of course you can, Annabeth." She smiles and I have crossed the line from co-worker to friend.

Bruno comes storming in and out of my office, every time the press says something charming and wonderful about Donna he screams for a couple of minutes and leaves. Each time he becomes more agitated.

"How could she do this, damn it?"

"Weren't you the one who called her harmless?"

"Shut up! Do you here what they are saying about her, "She's saving politics." "She is sweet and endearing." "It takes a special kind of woman to stop a press conference to talk to her mother!" Do you know what they are saying about us? "Vinick is halting campaigning until the Santos campaign resumes its schedule." That's it!"

The phone rings and I pick it up only to shut Bruno up. "Hello."

The voice on the other side of the line seems tried and familiar.

"Hello, Senator this is Matt Santos."

"Matt, how are you feeling?"

"I've been better."

"I can imagine."

"Senator I wanted to thank you personally for pausing your campaign, I am overwhelmed with your kindness."

"It seemed like the right thing to do."

"Thank you again. The truth nature of this call is really quite different. Donna Moss has been in contact with you all day, as I have been told."

"Yeah, she is really quite wonderful, if you don't want to keep her employed I would be more then happy to have her."

"I don't think I will be giving up my new campaign manager."

"Good for her."

"Senator, she said she was going to call you about who was the target, she wanted to keep you in the loop."

"Yes she mentioned that. But to be honest I assumed the target was, well, um, you."

"I am afraid you are incorrect. The target of today's attack was in fact Donna Moss herself." He keeps talking but I really can't hear him. I don't understand, from what I could gather today, she is really very nice, why would someone want to hurt her? I've spoken with her seven times today, not once did she give any indication that she was in danger. She seems so concerned about everyone else. What other burdens is she carrying without the aid of her family and friends to help support her?

Santos says he is looking forward to meeting with me tomorrow. I say me too and we say our goodbyes. I hang up the phone and look at my staff that has now notice a distinct change in my demeanor.

"Senator is everything ok?" They only call me Senator when something is wrong.

"No, I am afraid I have been informed of the target."

"It was Santos, right?"

"No, it was Donna."

"Donna Moss?"

"Yes."

"Donna Moss was the target?"

"Yes."

"Donna Moss who used to work at the White House as Josh Lyman's assistant?"

"That's the only one I know of, Bruno."

"I don't understand, she's so nice."

"I thought the same thing."

"Are people investigating this?"

"Yes, the FBI and Secret Service."

"Did they check out Amy Gardener? Because I don't think she likes Donna very much."

"I don't know Bruno."

We sit in silence. We are shaken to our core, Donna should be safe, she isn't running for a public office. She is a private citizen who happens to work for a public servant. She shouldn't be at risk. If Donna is a target, I have to wonder who else could be next? Suddenly, I have a whole new appreciation for my staff.

Donna enters my room, slowly. She's been hiding from her doctor since the Press Conference. Even Cindy has been aiding Donna in her escape.

She sits on my bed and I point over to the bag Amy left, its comfortable pants and a tank top as well as a sweatshirt. Amy foreshadowed Donna would be spending the night here.

"How are you doing?" I rub her arm.

"Dreading the next phone call I have to make. Did you make yours yet?"

"Not yet. Do you want to do it together?"

"No I think I would rather be alone."

"Donnatella, you don't have to do everything on your own."

"I know, but this I do." I want to pull her against me, hold her to my chest and tell her everything is going to be all right. But I am not sure if it will be, and I can't handle lying to her any more.

Cindy enters the room, she doesn't knock, clearly she doesn't know us, or maybe she knows does. I don't know, she seems to follow Donna around like a puppy and take blood from me. Nice kid as far as I can tell.

"Donna, Dr. Patel is looking for you."

Donna sighs and hangs her head. "Is he going to ask about the other bruises?"

Cindy nods.

"Can I talk to my mom while he is examining me?"

"I don't see why not. You've broken every other rule we have here."

Donna stands up but her arm lingers just a little longer. She turns back to me, her eyes dancing with fear. I wish I could be there for her now, I wish I could leave this bed. Hell if I am wishing for things I wished none of all this crap happened.

"I'll come talk to you later." She smiles, but I know it is really masking all her anxieties. As she leaves I hear. "Mom, I am going to need you to sit down."

It's really not a bad way to start that conversation. I dial my mom, (Donna left a cell phone behind for me)

"Mom?" She picks up on the first ring.

"Josh, honey, are you ok?"

"I've been better. Of course I've been worse."

"Do you really think now is the right time to joke?"

"No, but it lightens the mood."

"If you say so. How are you feeling?"

"Physically I am on a lot a pain meds, I don't feel much of anything. Emotionally, well, I feel like I went ten rounds with Ali, Tyson, and Foreman. Besides that all is well."

"You are an idiot you know that."

"So I've been told."

"Why did Donna quit? Did you do something stupid?"

"Skipping right to the meat of the matter aren't we? You don't want to continue with the motherly banter with your son?"

"No, I want the truth, I've waited too long for grandchildren and quite frankly I am thinking Donna is my one and only shot at it." Nice choice of language Mom. She is going to pry the truth out of me anyway. I don't know how much Donna wants her to know, the stuff with Justin Hall, the fight, the bombing. I guess I could start with that.

"Mom, are you sitting down?"

"I am now. What is going on?"

"I want to talk to you about the target of today's attack"

"It was Santos, Right?'

"No."

"Was it you?" At this point I sort of wish.

"No."

"Donna?"

"Yes." Damn she's good. "Two weeks ago she started receiving death threats. She didn't announce it during the Press conference because she hasn't told anyone yet… but she didn't want you to find out on TV."

"That's very kind of her."

"She's a nice person."

"So why did you hurt her?"

"How do you know I hurt her?"

"She quit. You did something stupid. I know you, I know how sick you looked. I know you were throwing up, you had that same look when you broke the china plate when you were 12. Joshua, what did you do?"

"I said something mean and hurtful without knowing all the facts."

"Oh Josh, how could you?"

"Hey you wanna back off? If we didn't get into that fight Donna would be dead right now."

The words sink into my brain, linger and haunt. Donna could have died. If everything went as planned I would have told her I loved her last night, we would have had sex back in the hotel room and this morning I would be burying her. A lifetime without Donna. My stomach flips, my hands shake, breathing is suddenly very difficult.

"The words just sink in, honey?"

"Yeah."

"You got a second chance now. Don't blow it!"

"I told her I love her?"

"You jackass!"

"Thanks Mom."

"What a waste of two ivy league educations, when I think of the money we spent…"

"Thanks for keeping everything in perspective."

This is what my mother does, its were I learned it, deflect, joke, laugh it off, but then she hits you with the cold hard facts. "Son, there is something I want you to keep in mind. The next couple of weeks, it won't be about you. She will focus her energy on you, but you need to draw her attention back on herself. She's hurting 20 times worse then you are. She will need you, now more then ever."

"Yes, I planned on it."

"Did you? Really?"

"I am now."

"Good boy, now when are you coming down to see me?"

"Two weeks, I guess we have a week off for healing and then I guess we are resuming the schedule as usual."

"Good, bring Donna."

"I will. Love you, Mom"

"I love you too, Josh. Call me soon."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

I hang up; I think she knew, in fact there is no doubt in my mind. My mom knew, just when I think she couldn't possibly get any stronger, she amazes me.

Donna is going to need me, Mom is right, she will focus her attention on me, Will, Leo and Matt and when it isn't on that it will be on the campaign. She's going to crash, hard. And all I can do is catch her when she falls.