Diagnosis and Treatment Pt. 3

Usual disclaimers apply – just amusing myself until TPTB finally get it right…sigh

Summary: Stanley and Leo continue their discussion about Donna and Josh.

Previously on the West Wing:

"Well Leo, it sounds like everything worked out for the best." Stanley observed.

"Until Christmas that is." Leo replied.

"Donna was the one to figure that out, wasn't she?"

"Yeah, it is still amazing to me that I missed seeing what was really happening to Josh. For God's sake, I've know him since he was a kid, how did I not see it?" Leo shook his head in anger as he rose from his chair and walked to the window. He stood there staring but not seeing.

Stanley watched as the older man fought his inner demons for control. 'And this man certainly has his demons,' thought Stanley. He cocked his head as Leo turned back towards the room, sighing as he returned to his chair.

"I'm getting too old for this crap," muttered Leo.

"You wanna know what I think?" Stanley offered.

"Probably not, but I've noticed you have no problem telling truth to power." Leo replied dryly.

Stanley had the good grace to blush slightly before speaking.

For all of your crusty, ferocious bluster, for all of your savvy political prowess and power, I think you are a closet romantic and protective mother hen where your staff is concerned. You would gladly deal with all the fallout that would occur if Josh and Donna ever acted on their feelings. Oh sure, you'd grumble a bit for appearances sake, but privately you'd be the first to congratulate them."

"You died a thousand deaths that night at GW, but like Josh, you survived. And now your heart has been broken again by the events in Gaza, because you think of Donna as your own daughter. And you just sent 'your son' to Germany to face whatever is going on with Donna by himself."

Stanley paused and waited while Leo, head bowed and hands clasped, pondered his words.

"Leo, don't second-guess yourself about sending Josh to Germany. It was the right thing to do." Stanley said quietly.

Leo raised his head to look at the other man, a look of complete disbelief on his face.

"Josh has mentioned your freakish, and might I say rather annoying, ability to say exactly what he's thinking. How do you do it?"

Stanley smiled ruefully. "It's a curse, actually. After all, would you be happy knowing that you understand exactly just how Josh's mind really works?"

Leo chuckled heartily. "No thank you! I sometimes wonder how Donna has managed to keep her sanity for this long."

"How long has she worked for him?"

"Since the campaign, she basically hired herself, and that was that. Once she was on board, Josh changed for the better. She's always been able to read him and for some reason she has stayed loyal to him through all the crap. Yeah, she was the one to come to me. Not that others hadn't noticed anything; they just didn't recognize what they were seeing. But she did and it scared her to death. But the kid's strong, God love her, I just hope they both can stay strong. She's in pretty bad shape."

"Just how bad is it?" Stanley asked softly.

"Collapsed lung, compound fracture of the thigh bone, multiple lacerations. I had a phone call updating her condition just before you arrived." Leo looked down at his hands once again.

"Well those are pretty significant injuries, but barring complications, she should recover completely." Stanley paused; something in Leo's eyes caught his curiosity.

"Leo, what haven't you told me?"

"She was the only survivor from that vehicle." And with that simple statement, the demons had returned.

Stanley nodded in understanding – now he knew the name of at least one of Leo's demons, possibly two.

"You're afraid of what's waiting down the road for her, because you've experienced it yourself, haven't you? And you remember what happened with Josh."

"Yeah, and it's a terrifying trip down that road. I know Donna is strong, and together she and Josh can be a formidable combination, but they been through so much already for this administration… Honestly, Stanley, how much more can either of them take?" Leo's voice was rough with raw emotion as he passed a hand over his face in frustration.

"Well, we will just have to make sure they have our full support, won't we?"

"Will it be enough?"

"I think you and the rest of the staff have the capacity to give Josh and Donna the support they'll need."

"But Donna was the one to keep Josh together. I don't know if he can hold it together without her help," Leo fretted.

"Leo, I think that you will be surprised at just what Josh is capable of."

"So what you're sayin' is that Josh is well aware of just how important Donna is to him personally?" Leo's was heavily laced with skepticism.

Stanley grinned. "While I can't divulge specifics concerning Josh, I can tell you that he harbors a deep-seated desire to take care of Donna, to protect her whenever possible, and not just for the short-term."

Leo closed his eyes in resignation. The information just given him was a double-edged sword – a glimmer of hope that Josh and Donna might finally get a chance to be happy together coupled with the distinct possibility of a media nightmare when the facts became public knowledge.

"Stanley?"

"Yes, Leo?"

"You really know how to hurt a guy, ya know that?"

Stanley nodded with a full-blown Cheshire cat smile creasing his face.

"It's all part of my boyish charm, Leo."

"Seriously, do you think they'll be okay?"

Stanley considered the question before answering the older man.

"Let me put it this way. I think that Josh has the capacity to support Donna much in the same way as she did for him after Rosslyn. You said yourself how Josh responded to Donna during his recovery; I'd be willing to bet that Donna will respond positively to Josh's presence in Germany. Yeah, I think they'll be just fine."

Leo sat back, quirking an eyebrow towards Stanley. "Just so you know, if this all blows up in our faces, I will be blaming you for the fallout."

Stanley just chuckled.

"What, you find that funny?" Leo grumbled.

"Yeah, I do. Wanna know why?"

"Oh please, I could use a good laugh."

"Because the idea of watching Josh finally figure out what has been right in front of him for the last few years should prove to be very entertaining. You have to allow me my little pleasures, Leo, and one of mine is finding the humor in almost any situation."

Leo just shook his head. "Stanley, you are a very disturbed person, do you know that?"

Stanley smiled. "Yes, I do, Leo."

Leo sighed. "I'll keep you posted. Now, get the hell outta my office, would you?"

Stanley just laughed as he left the office. Leo watched him depart, a silent prayer in his mind.

'Dear God, please let him be right."

THE END