Raindrops and Realizations PT. 4

Disclaimers are around here someplace – look in parts 1,2 or 3. I think this plot bunny has reached the end of the line. Whatever shall I do with less than 3 fanfics under construction all at once? Clean my house! Perish the thought!

I hope you've enjoyed this – the feedback has been very enjoyable, I hope to remain worthy. 

Previously:

He stood at the window and watched the rain.

Josh watched as the raindrops made jagged tracks down the glass. Each drop took its own course, eventually merging at the bottom of the pane in a shallow pool, before dripping off the edge. Night had fallen firmly, the streetlights bright pinpoints stretching in both directions down the street. As he stood there, the rain finally began to slacken up and in time, stopped altogether. Josh breathed a sigh of relief – he didn't like the idea of handing Donna's diary over to Calley inside a coffee shop or anywhere else there might be witnesses. Doing this thing in the park would be risky enough, but they were left with very little choice at this point. He leaned his head against the glass and sent up a silent prayer that this whole debacle would soon be over.

"Josh?"

He turned from the window to find Donna standing in the bedroom doorway, wrapped in the quilt from her bed. He walked over to her, grinning slightly at the sight of her sleepy face and tousled hair.

"It's about time you woke up, sleepyhead," he gently teased.

"Is it time to leave?"

"Nah, but if we are going to have anything to eat before the thing, we should get going."

"No, I can't eat, but if you want something, feel free.." she offered.

"No, I'll wait till after the thing, at which time I expect you to eat something. Did you even have lunch today?" Josh hadn't been able to prevent it the first fainting episode, but he could try to prevent a repeat performance.

Donna grimaced at the tone of his voice, he meant what he'd said and she wasn't in much of a position to argue. She simply nodded in agreement and walked to the window.

"The rain's stopped."

"Yeah, just before you woke up. But I think the wind is picking up, so you'd better dress warm for the thing, no need to catch a cold." Josh advised.

She smiled, not quite a 1000 watt smile, but a smile that told him that she appreciated his concern. "Why don't I go change so we can leave on time?" she proposed.

"Sounds good. We should leave in about 15 minutes." Josh decided after checking the VCR clock, knowing better than to check his own watch.

"OK." With that, Donna disappeared back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Josh turned back to the window.

'Please let this end well.'

As promised, Donna was ready in short order and they managed to leave on time, the diary safely tucked in the inside pocket of Josh's coat. Mason Plaza was within walking distance, but Josh drove since they would be waiting in the Plaza while Calley read the diary. Might as well stay warm while we can was his reasoning. Very few words were exchanged as they waited for the appointed hour and Calley to arrive. The enormity of what was about to occur began to weigh in on Donna, while Josh mentally inventoried possible scenarios and strategies to counter whatever moves Calley decided to make.

Josh looked over at Donna, her hair backlit by the nearby lamplight. She was staring straight ahead, still as a statue, as if she were in a trance. Josh felt his heart contract, a quiet Donna was never a good thing. Seeking to reassure her he reached over and took her hand in his.

"Donna, it'll be okay, relax."

"I wish I could, Josh, maybe when he's done reading…" Donna's voice trailed off as she saw Calley approach from the other side of the fountain.

"Stay here – you don't have to talk to him." With that, Josh stood up and walked over to Calley.

Calley watched as Josh approached, although in reality he was focused more on Donna. She had turned away from him once he came into view, so she was in silhouette as he looked at her. In another time and place, he would have been begging for her mercy and forgiveness, but that couldn't happen now. Too much was at stake – for all of them.

Calley brought his gaze back to the man standing before him. Josh had taken the diary out of his jacket and held it out to Calley.

"There's a coffee shop across the street. You'll read it there. If there's something that bothers you, you'll issue a subpoena and you'll have it back by the rest of the day. If not, that's the end of it.

I haven't read it, but this shows up on television or anything I don't like gets out about this, I have the entries for October 4th and 5th."

Calley was slightly puzzled. "What's October 4th & 5th?"

Josh pointed at Calley. "You."

Calley swallowed hard. "That's fair." His gaze slid past Josh to the woman sitting alone on the bench in the distance. He brought his eyes back to Josh and took noted of the steely gaze currently focused in his direction.

The diary changed hands and Calley walked away.

Josh turned around and looked at Donna. Her head was bowed, her hair falling across her face, effectively hiding her emotions from Josh. He walked back to the bench and sat down next to her. Donna looked at him, and for a moment he was lost in those eyes, eyes that couldn't hide the fear and uncertainty of what was to come. Not trusting himself with words, he pulled her close to him with his right arm. She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. For the longest time they just sat there, lost in their own thoughts, listening to the autumn wind rustling through the barren branches of the trees in the park.

Calley finished his evaluation of the diary and returned to the park. The scene that greeted him was a fitting capstone to the last hour. The diary revealed nothing extraordinary about the President's MS, so as far as the hearings were concerned, the matter could quietly go away. The diary did confirm what most of DC privately (and not so privately) suspected – Donna Moss and Josh Lyman had a unique relationship that defy description. Calley shook his head as he recalled one of the passages after Rosslyn, it was almost indecent the depth of emotion to be found in those pages. After reading the diary, Calley had a fair idea of where Donna's heart belonged, but he hadn't been so sure about Lyman. The man was such a political animal, could it be possible that he actually had a heart that could feel that much emotion for someone like Donna? Now, standing in the shadows, a silent voyeur to the tableau before him, he realized that Lyman did have a heart after all. The couple on the bench sat quietly, seeking and giving comfort in one of the few means available to them. Calley cursed silently, the romantic in him hating the fact that he had to disturb them, but the pragmatist argued that the sooner the three of them parted company, the better.

The sound of someone clearing their throat stirred Donna and Josh from their stillness. Donna looked off into the darkness as Josh stood up and walked back to the fountain. Calley held out the diary to Josh.

"I don't need to subpoena this – there is nothing in here that is relevant to the proceedings."

Josh looked at Calley, a touch of suspicion coloring his question. "That's it? This will never be discussed again?"

"No, not by me or the Republican party. As far as I'm concerned, Donna's deposition does not need to be amended."

"Good enough. I will not use October 4th and 5th unless you give me reason to. Understood?"

"Don't worry, I won't put her through that."

Josh studied the other man for a moment. What he saw satisfied him, for now.

"Don't ever call her again – are we clear on that?"

Calley smiled ruefully, if only it were his place to share with Lyman what was REALLY in Donna's diary. But, decency dictated he remain silent, it wasn't his information to reveal.

He simply nodded and walked away, soon lost to sight. Josh put the diary back in his jacket and rubbed his hands as he returned to the bench. Donna looked up as he approached, the question she couldn't verbalize evident in her soulful eyes.

"He didn't find anything. Your deposition will stand as recorded. That's the end of it." He watched as she processed what he had just told her. He held out a hand to her.

"C'mon, let's go home."

She nodded wordlessly as he pulled her up from the bench. He tucked her arm through his as they walked back to the car. He opened her door and saw her safely situated before closing the door. He got in on the driver's side, but did not start the car right away. Donna looked at him quizzically.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out the diary and handed it to her. She took the book and placed it in her lap with a deep sigh. He watched as she turned her gaze towards the window.

"Donna? What's wrong?"

She shook her head, unable to speak as the tears started to streak down her face.

Josh reached over and pulled her into his arms. As emotionally inept as he normally was, this time instinct served him well. They sat there in relative silence, a silence punctuated with Donna's sobs that in time subsided. She raised her head to look at Josh sheepishly.

"Feel better?" Josh asked quietly.

"Yeah, sorry about that. It's just that…" Donna's voice trailed off as she struggled for the right words.

"Shh, don't. It's okay, really. Consider it a very small down-payment on what I owe you. Okay?" Josh said soothingly.

Donna struggled to hold back the tears as she looked at him and nodded.

"That's my girl. Let's go home."

THE END