Donna arrived at the police station around nine o'clock Sunday morning. She'd got to the house at half two that morning where she apologised to a very drunk and very tired Ainsley for missing the entire night who, in turn, told her, through bouts of giggles, that Josh had been arrested. Donna, while shocked and knowing she should go see if he needed help, after hearing the whole story decided it would do Josh good to spend a night in a jail cell. So here she was later that morning after just a couple of hours sleep, ready to attend a wedding but making a detour to the local police station to bail the best man out.
She opened the door to the station and headed straight to the front desk. The officer behind the desk, an old, balding, overweight man, lowered his sunglasses to cast his eyes up and down her. She shivered.
"I'm here for Josh Lyman," she said, ignoring the lecherous look the officer was giving her.
"A little overdressed for visiting convicts aren't you?" The officer asked her.
She gave him a forced smile. "You know who Josh Lyman is, don't you? Chief of Staff for the President," she said at the officer's blank face.
"President of what?" The officer drawled.
"The United States," Donna said in a slow voice, as though she were explaining a difficult concept to a child. "And he'd best man for Congressman Seaborn who is getting married in less than two hours. Now I'm going to pay whatever bail is needed but I'm going to do it now so will you please go and release him?"
"No need," the officer claimed. "We will not be pressing matters with Mr Lyman, he was just too drunk to go anywhere last night so he spent the night here. The only problem we're having is waking him up. He seems to be dead to the world."
Donna fought back the smile. "I can fix that, is his pager in his personal effects?"
The officer got up and had a look, returning with it. "What about it?"
"Put it in the cell with him and let me use your phone."
The man passed a phone over the desk and headed through a door in the back. Donna dialled the number instinctively. Many times she'd started to dial this number and his cell number but she could never bring herself to finish keying them in, this time she did.
- - - -
Bzzz the noise woke Josh. He sat up from his space on the floor with such speed that he banged his head on the wall.
"Ow!"
"Morning, sunshine," the same officer Donna had spoken to said to Josh cheerfully. "Had a good night did we?"
The combination of mass alcohol Josh consumed the night before with the pain from banging his head gave him a blinding headache. This, combined with disorientation, made Josh mutter something unintelligible before facing the officer.
"What did I do?" Josh asked; the previous night still seemed foggy.
"Oh, only exposed yourself to a group of college girls," the officer answered in a deadpan voice that reminded Josh of Toby.
He wasn't thinking about that when he heard the answer though. His face became ashen and he began to panic.
"What? I didn't, did I?"
The officer began smiling. "No, now get up. You're leaving, you've got a lady waiting out front for you and she doesn't look happy."
"What's she look like?" josh asked as he began standing up, grabbing hold of his pager as he did.
"Blonde, green eyes, dressed up for a wedding."
At this description Josh became sure it was Ainsley. His initial thought had been Donna but the 'dressed up' comment and news of her not looking happy sounded exactly like Ainsley, especially as she had warned him several times that if he did anything to ruin this wedding she would personally kill him.
"Can't I stay here a little longer?" He pleaded with a whine as the cell was unlocked and its door opened.
"I'm afraid not, we have to keep the cell free for the real criminals. Now hurry up, I hear you're best man, can't have you late, can we?"
"Guess not," Josh muttered as he followed the officer through the door and into the reception area where Donna was waiting. Relief washed over Josh when he saw her bright smile.
"Just get your effects and then you can go," the officer said as he handed a basket with Josh's wallet, watch and cell phone in.
A couple of minutes later Donna and Josh stepped out into the busy street.
"I hope there's no press about," the very dishevelled Josh said. He needed to shave, his clothes were crumpled, his hair was messed and the hangover was clear in his expression.
"I doubt they're hanging around the station, Josh," Donna answered distractedly as she attempted to flag down a cab. "Will you hurry up? You stink and you still need to get ready. You have an hour before Sam's coming to pick you up."
"Alright, I'm coming," he answered as he climbed in after her.
The cab ride was silent but it gave them both time to think. Memories of the night hit Josh fast and furiously and he slowly began to remember what he'd gone to the house to say. Donna was thinking up the best way to start the discussion they'd both been avoiding, which, non-surprisingly, was the same thing Josh wanted to talk about. It stopped at Josh's hotel and they both got out, Josh led them to his room.
"Shower," she instructed him as soon as he opened the door. "I'll get your suit ready. Don't forget to brush your teeth, you smell of alcohol!"
"Yes, Donna," Josh said knowing better than to argue.
As he showered Donna got the suit out, surprised to find it didn't need ironing. She heard the water switch off in the next room and shouted through.
"You hired yourself a cleaner?" She guessed.
"What do you mean?" His voice came back muffled.
"I remember, before I left, I had to iron some clothes for you to go out in. You didn't even know where the iron was, there's no way you did this yourself."
"Actually, I did," he answered, opening the door a touch and reaching a hand out for the suit. "After you tidied it I made an effort to keep on top of it, you'd be proud of me 'Tella."
Donna raised an eyebrow. "'Tella?" She asked him laughingly as she gave him the suit.
"I like it," he said just before he closed the door.
"So do I," she said quietly.
A few minutes later Josh stepped out looking clean, refreshed and ready for anything. The only thing he hadn't done was his tie.
"Can you tie it for me, please?" He asked her sheepishly.
"You still haven't learnt?"
"No," he shook his head. "I did, I just don't compare to you."
She laughed. "Come here."
She pulled him close towards her. There were inches between them as she expertly fastened his tie. When she was finished she placed her hands on his chest to admire her work, she didn't realise what she had done until he brought his own hands to rest over hers.
"Donna –"
"Josh, we need to talk about what happened."
"I know but we don't have to do it right now do we?"
"Yes," Donna answered him. "Because if we don't we never will. So, I want to tell you why I left."
"I know why, you were protecting me and you were protecting the administration."
"No," Donna interrupted him.
"What do you mean, 'no'?"
"I left because I couldn't bear to be with you," she began but stopped when she saw his face. It was one of total pain. "No, not like that. Oh, God, Josh, never like that. When I left Wisconsin I just left, I didn't tell anyone, I didn't really get over the things that had dragged me back. I fell in love with you and we had that fantastic night but I woke up that morning and I realised it could be serious. The only relationship I've had that's been that serious was with Kevin. I started remembering, I started associating you with him. I couldn't stand it."
"You left because I reminded you of Dr Freeride?" Josh asked disgusted.
"No, not just that. The other reasons, too and because the day we sorted everything out before you asked me to drive Kim home I'd accepted the job with Russell and I was trying to tell you and you just wouldn't listen. Nothing had changed, not really, I just had to go."
"Why are you telling me this?" Josh asked, still disgusted and feeling guilty at Donna's admissions.
"Because you need to know the truth and you need to know the real reason because I have something else to tell you."
"What?" Josh challenged.
"Yesterday, you noticed I wasn't around, I assume? I went home, I went to see him."
"Him? The doctor?"
Donna nodded quietly. "Relax, nothing happened. I just had some stuff to sort out because I want to give this a try."
"What this?" Josh asked her in confusion.
"This, us. Josh, I want us to be a couple."
"I need to tell you something," Josh said, avoiding her gaze.
"What?"
"When you left, I had lots of opportunity to come after you so many times but I never did because I didn't want to ruin what I've spent so many years working to do. I was glad when you left with those reasons because it meant I didn't have to give anything up. As much as I loved you I couldn't do that to myself. It was selfish, I know."
"Loved," Donna echoed sadly, her heart slowly breaking.
"What?" Josh asked with a frown.
She smiled wryly. "You said 'loved'," she said sadly.
"Donna –"
"No, Josh, it's alright," Donna said with a casual shrug. "Sometimes these things happen. While we're making these confessions I have one more."
Josh nodded for her to go ahead.
"When I left I forgot to give you your credit card, the other day I kind of used it to buy a dress…an expensive dress I couldn't afford. I really shouldn't have done."
"I know," Josh said. "I got a shock when I tried to use the card the next day and I had 'insufficient funds'," he was still smarting over the incident at the suit shop.
Donna winced, "I'm so sorry. Here's your card," she handed it over to him before going back in her bag. "And here's the money." She held out $2,500 wrapped in an elastic band to Josh.
Josh stared at her, "You said you couldn't afford the dress, where did this come from?"
Donna shrugged. "I had a bit of money owed to me. Take it."
"No," Josh shook her head. "Keep the money, keep the dress. I bet it's a nice dress."
"It is," she agreed.
"I hope I can see you in it one day."
Donna looked doubtful. "Maybe."
There was a knock at the door and Josh answered it.
"You ready to go?" Sam asked brightly, a total contrast to the sombre mood that had filled the hotel room.
A/N: Just a quick response of chapter 7's reviews unless there's pressing issues to deal with because I'm in a rush.
kursk I did think that was something Josh would do, not so sure about Donna being free to get with Josh now though and only two chapters left...Guess we'll have to wait and see.
JDfanatic Glad you liked it, I probably could have done a lot more about Donna's reaction in here but I really wanted to get this out so it's tough. I might repost it one day and let more be shown but I doubt it.
AgtDanaM I completely agree! Obviously! Glad you liked it! As for the chapter 6 review. Yes I am British. You don't call it a hen party, so you? I was trying to remember what it is. Bachelorette, right? Or is that just Australia? And as for the secret service. I completely forgot about them! But, they are meant to go unnoticed, aren't they? And I'm sure even if they were around Jed would have insisted on carrying his bags, he's like that!
miss jasadin Bet you're more worried now, right:D
WithanN I haven't seen season 6 yet so I haven't really noticed the lack of group scenes but I'm glad you enjoy them because the epilogue will kind of be an entire selection of them.
Meganfitz lol, well I love that you're so enthusiastic about it all!
And just because I feel cruel not including them:
Caia Glad to hear it, I hope I haven't made you too upset now though.
MissNebraska2007 That's really not a problem. I really do like your fic. Unfortunately there's only 2 chapters left, not quite forever.
Ok, got to run. Bye guys!