Characters: Josh, Donna, Carol
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Spoilers: The Ticket
A/N: So, I had a request for Donna's point of view, so here it is. Thanks to KristyP for suggesting it - I would never have thought to do it otherwise and it was a really good idea. Set after "The Mommy Problem".
"C'mon Donna…"
"I don't know, Carol. I'm not really…"
"You haven't been out in almost a week."
"Yes I have!"
"No, really, you haven't."
"I was out just last night."
"Where'd you go?"
"Blockbuster. They finally had a copy of 'Million Dollar Baby' in…"
Carol groaned and dropped her fork into her salad.
"I'm not kidding Donna!"
"Neither am I. I swear, every time I went in to get that movie they were out. It was really starting to get annoying!"
"DONNA!"
Donna looked across the table at her friend. She knew she was starting to frustrate Carol, but she really wanted to avoid this conversation at all costs.
"Donna, look…"
"Please don't Carol."
"Look, Toby said I could leave at a decent hour tonight. His words, I believe, were 'no reason for you to sink with the ship as well', so I'll be by to get you at about 8. Late dinner, drinks, and, you know that thing you used to be so good at… what was it again… oh yeah, FUN!"
"Look, Carol…"
"No WAY! You've blown me off three times this week and I'm about tired of this mopey Donna! So, either tell me what's wrong or suck it up and have fun with me and Cathy and all the cute single guys she works with over at the CBO!"
"Wait… you two aren't trying to set me up, are you?"
"Well, no, not intentionally, but would it be the worst thing in the world if you met a nice, cute…"
Donna didn't even hear the rest of that sentence since she was banging her head against the table.
"DONNA!"
She looked up at Carol and saw the worried look on her face.
"Alright, you win."
"So, me, you, Cathy and a ton of cute guys buying us drinks and…"
"Nononononono… I meant, you win, I'll tell you the story. You see, the night of the convention…"
She had been looking back and forth between him and the TV for almost an hour. Everyone had cleared out about the time Will had announced that they should all get drunk and try to forget about this last week. They had been the only two that didn't follow him to the bar. After her third beer, she was a little tipsy and was more than willing to say 'screw it, why not'!
"So, I have a question" she said draining the last of her beer.
He smirked at her. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Well, I was just wondering when we were going to have our first date?" See what a couple of beers can do to a girl who has only eaten potato chips and muffins for the last three days!
"Really?"
"Absolutely. I mean, it's something I've been thinking about for awhile now…" Damn her and her mouth when tipsy! She really wanted to get that smirk off his face, but she was currently debating about whether to kiss it or slap it off his face.
"REALLY!"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Lyman. And yes, it has crossed my mind a few hundred times, but you know me – I'm an old fashioned type of girl. Would you believe I've never actually had to ask a guy out on a date?"
"Not at all, Donnatella. You're a beautiful woman. I would imagine that men are asking you out all the time." Well, well, well… not as stupid as most people think he is!
"You have no idea."
"I don't like that idea one little bit" he growled as he finished his beer. She giggled a little, loving the jealous Josh and realizing it had been a really, REALLY long time since she had seen this particular version of Josh.
She looked over at him, expectantly.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"The date! Our first date! When are you going to ask me out? I mean, God Josh, it's only been 9 years."
"What makes you think…"
"Really! I mean, really, with that line. I mean, I HAVE eyes!" Duh, me, Carol, CJ and half the women in the West Wing. If he had any idea how many times I've heard 'Wow, if only someone would look at him like that when I walked in the room…'
He smirked at her. "Yeah, I guess you do. Alrighty then. Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow what?"
"Well, I have to fly back to DC tomorrow night, but I'll get the red eye, so we can do lunch and some of that touristy stuff that you just love to do."
"Fun! I'll be ready by 11:30. Don't be late."
And, just like that, there it was – Josh Lyman and Donna Moss' first date.
She had been ready for about 10 minutes when he knocked on the door 5 minutes early. She about jumped him right there in the hallway when she opened the door to Josh Lyman, in khakis and a navy blue t-shirt, holding a single rose for her. She couldn't help but love the feeling she got as he admired her throughout the day.
They had a fantastic lunch. This was her Josh, the Josh she had missed over the last three years. It was like a little part of the real Josh, her Josh, disappeared with every road bump – Hoynes having to resign, Zoey and the kidnapping, having to get stuck with Bob Russell as VP, Carrick and the Shutdown, Gaza, CJ being promoted to Chief of Staff, the China trip – it all seemed to take it's toll on him till he was just a functioning version of the man she used to work for.
There was no pressure, no stress – it was just them being Josh and Donna. They didn't have to be careful or guarded. If they wanted to hold hands, they could, and they did. If Josh wanted to buy her some gaudy thing she admired in the store window just to see what he would do, he could and he did, on more than one occasion.
She wasn't crushed when the day ended and they pulled up to the airport. This just felt like the beginning of something else… something they were on the verge of… something new in the Josh and Donna dynamic. There were no declarations, no passionate kiss – just one long hug and a lingering kiss on the cheek, which she was really ok with. He promised to call as soon as he had a chance and she gave him a huge smile as he walked through the door toward security.
She was nervous, four days later, standing behind Ronna, waiting for Josh. She had rehearsed and rehashed this speech until she had it down cold. Josh knew her, but he didn't know the political her, the professional her. She knew it was going to be awkward and she knew he was going to make her work for it – she was fully prepared for most anything he was going to throw at her.
She hadn't expected him to throw her words back at him. She hadn't expected him to gloat and say no. She hadn't been prepared for 'and if you think I don't miss you everyday…' – not after the way they had been on the date. She could barely contain herself as he offered to make calls for her. She cried the whole way down in the elevator – not for the job, she had 10 messages saved on her cell phone from different senators and non-profits wanting to know what her plans are now. She cried for something else… something she thought was going to start but now seemed to be on hold indefinitely, if it was going to happen at all.
She could barely see Carol through the unshed tears. Carol herself looked ready to cry.
"Oh Donna…"
"So, you see… well… I just haven't been… I really thought that Josh and I were on the verge of… and now…"
Carol reached over and grabbed her friend's hand.
"Say no more. OK, so, time to revamp the plans. I say, me, you, Cathy – no men – greasy burgers, a chick flick – I think Must Love Dogs is out – and then lots of fattening ice cream at that great creamery over by the mall."
Donna smiled at her friend and shook her head.
"OK, we'll pick you up tonight. I'll call Cathy when I get back to the office."
The women paid for their lunches and headed out onto the street. Donna and Carol were about to go their separate ways – Carol back to the White House, Donna to the Hill to meet with yet another Congressman who wanted to hire her – when Carol stopped her.
"You know, Donna, I think if you just give it some time… I mean, you know Josh, when just has a minute to think after he's opened his mouth… or maybe Leo will beat some sense into him... well, I guess is that I'm trying to say that he'll see, Donna, you know he will."
"I hope your right Carol, I really do!"
Carol gave her friend a hug and both headed in opposite directions.
THE END