Blame Aristotle
Ch. 8
A/N: SORRY! We've been having computer issues here at home and it snafu'd my last chapter. Hope it works! This timeline unfortunately is following Mr. Wells' version. Thanks for being patient – it took awhile to get this last part done, and then I lost the notebook in which it was written. Karen
Previously:
"Ow!"
"CJ! That hurt!"
Summary: Josh and Donna have just told the President and the senior staff. Everybody on the merry-go-round! Hang on…
The Oval Office
Josh sat on the couch rubbing the back of his head and glaring at CJ.
CJ returned the glare full force. "What did you expect, Josh? Tea and crumpets? Do you realize what this means? I'm now short a deputy and a senior assistant, and, and…"
"CJ, calm down" the President attempted to placate his Chief of Staff without too much success.
"Mr. President," CJ started, but as Jed raised his hand, her voice trailed off.
"CJ, it won't be a problem – we only have a year left in office, we can make this work."
CJ opened her mouth again to protest but Leo spoke up from the other side of the room. "CJ, I'm not dead yet, I'll be around to help you. Now just shut up, apologize to Josh for smacking him and go give Donna a hug." Leo made it sound like he was reprimanding CJ, but the twinkle in his eyes said otherwise.
CJ gaped at Leo, then threw her hands into the air and did as she was told. She crossed the room to where Donna stood with Charlie and Debbie. CJ put her arms around Donna in a mighty hug.
"Girl, I'm so happy for you, I really am, but…"
"CJ, we understand that the timing couldn't be worse, but it wasn't something we had control over." Donna explained contritely.
"What I'd like to know is how you finally got Josh to pull his head out of his ass." Charlie asked.
"Oh, it's hard to avoid the discussion when someone is waiting for you in your own apartment." Donna replied, an evil grin on her face.
"Nowhere to run, huh?" Charlie said.
"Nope, and I can be very persuasive when I need to be." Donna replied.
"I've always found a file folder to be persuasive enough." CJ interjected.
"Yes, but a 2x4 leaves a more lasting impression." Debbie offered.
"True, but there's the whole portability issue." CJ countered.
"You have a point there." Debbie conceded.
Charlie warily stepped away from the group of women. "I think I'm gonna go talk to Josh now. Staying for the rest of this conversation could be very risky for my health."
Across the room, Josh stood with the President, Leo and Toby by the portico door. Toby was lost in thought – he was truly happy that Josh and Donna finally had the opportunity to freely express feelings long held in check. They both had made sacrifices for the administration, sacrifices that had almost been too much.
Rosslyn and Gaza – two places that Toby would never be able to consider as just "places" again. 'Thank God for second chances' Toby thought as watched Josh squirm under the relentless grilling he was enduring from Leo and the President. Toby grinned as Charlie joined the group.
"Josh getting the 3rd degree?" Charlie inquired quietly.
"Oh Charlie, if I were you, I'd take notes because if you and Zoe get back together and take the next step – well, let's just say that what Josh is enduring now is just a mere taste of what you will suffer." Toby favored Charlie with that sly smile normally reserved for unsuspecting lobbyists who tried to cut funding for PBS programming.
Charlie winced, a telltale sign that he most assuredly understood the validity of Toby's statement. All too well did he understand, he'd already been the reluctant victim of a similar interrogation not all that long ago.
"Toby, do you really think I needed that little reminder?" Charlie closed his eyes, trying to avoid the memory.
Toby just chuckled – "Yes, I do."
Meanwhile, Josh, it was safe to say, was not feeling very comfortable at the moment. It was disconcerting enough to be ruthlessly grilled about one's personal life, even more so when the "grillers" happened to be the two most powerful men in the free world. That would be bad enough in and of itself but given the intimate knowledge these two men possessed concerning his life, well, let's just say that Josh was realizing a whole new meaning for the term 'living hell'.
Charlie snuck a peek at the President and Leo. The two gentlemen were delighting in making Josh squirm, true, but even more they were intrigued by the brave manner in which the young man was responding. They smiled as they watched Josh glance across the room at Donna. A look of wonder tinged with pure happiness stole across Josh's face as he watched Donna talk with CJ and Debbie. Josh was caught up in the sight, oblivious to all else until the President cleared his throat purposefully. Josh whipped back around and refocused on the President. Leo just smirked.
"Are you back with us now, Josh?" Leo grinned.
"Sorry about that, sir." Josh mumbled, slightly redfaced.
"Josh, it's ok. You are allowed now, we understand. You two have had to put your relationship on hold for so long, now that you can openly pursue it must be unsettling," the President observed.
Josh nodded sheepishly, relieved that the President was granting him some leeway today.
"I feel like the luckiest man in the world, sir. So many times I wanted to tell her how I felt, but first I had to admit it to myself. Gaza turned my world upside down. The thought of losing her forced me to be honest with myself. When she woke up, I was so grateful that she was alive. Then to hear her tell that I needed a shave, my world righted itself. My Donna was back. Then the blood clot and the second surgery, things went spinning off course again. But she woke up again, and when she smiled at me, the universe settled down again.
Then after she healed, she knew she wanted to do more and I ignored it, her. Donna did what she needed to do, and I'm so proud of her. And once I calmed down, I knew she was right. The last few days have been chaotic and downright lonely." Josh paused in reflection.
The group of men nodded wordlessly – no one wanted to break the spell. They were experiencing a Josh no one had ever seen.
"The day I went to Houston I was miserable – Donna was gone and I was trying to convince a guy to run for president. The flight home was even worse, Santos hadn't given me an answer and I had already ducked one phone call from Donna. I was not in the best of moods by the time I got to my apartment. To walk in and find Donna there asleep on my couch brought everything into focus. I could see traces of dried tears on her cheeks and I knew why she had been crying. Then my phone rang, it was Leo calling to check up on me." Josh glanced at the man who had been his mentor for so many years. Leo smiled softly in return, remembering the conversation with Josh.
"As I recall Josh, I promised to beat the crap out of you if you hurt Donna," Leo reminded him.
"Yes you did, and Donna told me that she had a similar discussion with you." Josh shot back.
"Leo! Did you threaten to beat up Donna?" Jed gasped dramatically, always happy to yank Leo's chain.
"No sir, I simply browbeat her, verbally of course, into promising to come to me for anything, anytime. She wisely, albeit reluctantly, promised to do so." Leo answered loftily.
Josh smiled at the picture Leo's words conjured in his mind. Similar grins appeared on the faces of Charlie, Toby and the President. Donna was not someone easily handled, nor did she always surrender easily.
Josh nodded. " I figured it was something like that. She didn't really give me the details."
Leo just chuckled. " Donna's not stupid, Josh. She knows exactly what you would do with that kind of information. Seriously though, Josh, have you accepted why Donna joined the Russell campaign?"
"Yes I have. Donna made me pull my head out of my ass on that one, no problem. And more importantly, she's forgiven me for being such a self-centered jackass. Well, for now, anyway." Josh admitted the last with a touch of embarrassment as the others laughed heartily.
"That's the first step Josh, knowing when you're whipped." Toby chortled.
"Gee, thanks Toby – that means a lot coming from you." Josh retorted, which only resulted in more laughter at his expense.
The women glanced across the room at the group of laughing men. Debbie was first to comment.
"Well, ladies, shall we go see what is so funny over there?"
"Definitely. Come on, girls!" CJ had finally loosened up and was starting to enjoy herself.
The men noticed the advancing women and attempted to regain some semblance of decorum, but failed miserably. Donna sidled up next to Josh, who immediately grabbed her hand to keep her close. Meanwhile the President had signaled to Charlie, who in turn had gone to the phone and placed a short phone call. Within moments, a steward entered the office, pushing a small cart before him. The cart contained several glasses and an ice bucket cradling a bottle of champagne. At a nod from Charlie, the steward began filling glasses and handing them around to the group. When this task was completed, the steward quietly withdrew from the office. Everyone turned to the President.
Jed looked at each member of the group in turn, finally allowing his gaze to rest on Donna and Josh. He thought about the triumphs and the sacrifices they both had experienced on his behalf. He thought of his staff as family, it was true. But of them all, Josh and Donna held a special place in his heart. It was time to let them know that.
"I have always believed that certain people who serve at my pleasure are more than just employees. All of you in this room, as well as Carol, Bonnie, Ginger and Margaret, you are part of my family. And as such, I am proud of your successes, sad for your failures and losses, and yes, sometimes royally pissed at your screw-ups. Today I have the good fortune to be able to celebrate a truly wondrous event, the union of Donna and Josh. We have all hoped and prayed for this day, and thankfully the good Lord saw fit to answer those prayers, although at times I confess I was beginning to wonder. Josh, you have been through the trials of Job in your life, it's about time you are allowed to be happy. Donna, you have had your own difficulties along the way, but you have come through them a stronger and better person who has inspired us all. We watched the two of you became a team, each complimenting the other in every way possible. I think I speak for all gathered here that we are truly happy that all obstacles have been conquered and you may now openly cherish one another. That which is pure shall be allowed to shine forth unhindered." With that, Jed raised his glass in salute. The others followed his lead.
Donna ducked her head bashfully as the tears threatened to fall. Josh squeezed her hand and she looked up again, eyes shining and full of love. Josh leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her lips, an action that was met with a roar of approval from their friends. Josh bent his head towards Donna's. "Are you ok?" he asked softly.
Donna nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm ok."
"Good." With that, Josh turned back to his friends.
"Mr. President, we thank you for your kind words. We can't begin to thank you for the opportunities you allowed us as a part of your administration. We only hope that we continue to earn and deserve your friendship and respect. And that goes for the rest of you as well. You have been a cherished part of our lives and we hope you continue to be for a long time." Josh's eyes were now starting to tear up as he looked at each member of the group while he spoke. For a long moment nothing was said, nothing needed to be said, they all understood.
A knock at the door finally broke the silence. As Charlie moved to answer it, the President cleared his throat.
"Well, as much I as I would love for the party to continue, I'm afraid that we must get back to running the country. And although you no longer work for me, you are both hereby ordered to keep this office advised as things progress. When would you like to borrow the Rose Garden?" Jed quipped.
"Well, sir, once we figure that out, you'll be the first to know. But right now, we do need to inform our parents about certain events that have occurred." Donna replied.
"Good enough. Now, all of you, get the hell outta here!" the President roared with mock ferocity. Everyone took the hint and exited promptly, Josh and Donna bringing up the rear. At the door, they paused and turned back to find Jed watching them depart, a soft smile gracing his craggy face. They nodded to him, smiles on their own faces, and then they left.
"May God bless you both." Jed whispered as the door swung shut.
THE END.