I didn't really edit this too much. I just tried to get it done. IT IS EXTREMELY CHEESY.
I was watching "Noel" in, maybe, mid-early November, and I got the idea to write a post-episode FF for it. I started two different beginnings, and then just decided to finish writing it tonight, in time for Christmas.
I am pretty sure that in this piece I have used the word "yeah" about 40 billion times, and I think I ripped-off something from another writer. So, basically, I've inadvertently plagiarized, because I cannot remember from whom I stole. Oh well. If you feel mortally offended that I stole a certain thing from you, feel free to let me know, and I'll give you credit. I know that this (a post-ep for "Noel") has probably been done more times than people truly want to count, but I want to do this anyway. It's a one shot, so there isn't really any need for reviews to motivate me to write more, but if you'd like to drop a ":)" or ":(" saying whether or not you liked it, I'd be greatly obliged.
So, in closing, SEASON'S GREETINGS, and, ENJOY!
The carolers were still singing as they walked to his car.
"Leo's a really good man, Donna."
"I know he is, Josh. He cares for you a lot."
"Before – he started saying this thing about a guy who was down in a hole. And, that, a doctor and a priest came along, and all they'd do for the guy in the hole was throw something down into it. But then, the guy's friend came along, and he jumps in. The guy in the hole thinks the friend's crazy, but then the friend says that he's been down there before and he knows the way out."
"That's really sweet of him."
"Yeah."
Josh gazed off, eyes glazing over for a minute, until Donna interrupted him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hm? Oh, I was just wondering what was going to happen to your car."
"I'm just going to keep it here tonight and take a cab."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It's more important that you go to the hospital and get all set up."
"It shouldn't take too long. You can probably get back home and meet up with your friends, or whatever you do on Christmas Eve."
"It's no big deal. I usually don't do very much."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Unless I'm in Wisconsin, there isn't really much."
"Right. Wisconsin."
Josh stopped walking.
"I thought your flight was—"
"Tonight. But it's okay, I talked to my parents," Donna said, continuing her stride.
"Donna—"
"No, it's really fine. They're going to come out sometime in the spring. I told them how beautiful it is out here then."
"Donna, you really didn't have to sacrifice your holiday to take me to the hospital."
She stopped, slowly turning around.
"No, I did. I worry about you, Josh. It's important that you get all better. If it weren't for a bunch of crazed lunatics, none of this would have ever happened. You wouldn't have almost died, and then contemplated suicide. You're the one person in my life who's given me a huge opportunity, and I wouldn't be anywhere without you. I care about you too much to let you do this alone."
"Donna."
"Come on," she said, walking back and taking his un-bandaged hand into her own, "we're almost at your car. I've never gotten to drive it before."
Josh smiled. "What makes you think you're going to get to drive it?"
"Your hand could potentially be harboring an infection. Since using a steering wheel requires hands, I'll be driving."
"You better not damage my car."
"What makes you think I'd do that? I'm an excellent driver."
"Uh-huh. You know, you've been vetted and everything."
"Meaning what?"
"That I know about the incident with a mailbox at age seventeen on Lincoln Avenue."
Donna stopped walking and turned to him, their hands still together, stopping Josh short.
"They have that in my FBI file?"
"From the insurance company."
"I was seventeen. I made a mistake. Everyone does."
"Yeah, which is why it's fine."
"I wasn't purposely going out and backing up into mailboxes."
"I know."
"It's not as if I decided that my crazy, wild child terrorism game of choice would be injuring some people's mail receptacles."
"I know, Donna."
"Okay."
They started up again.
"But, you know, the U.S. Postal Service is a little concerned with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you first you backed up into a mailbox, then you got caught trying to get a letter back out of a public box."
"No. I'm flagged?"
"Yeah. It actually took some work and a little bit of persuasion by Leo to get the Postmaster General to OK you to work at the White House."
"No."
"Uh-huh."
"No. That seriously couldn't have happened."
"Seems that you aren't the only one here that owes Leo a little thanks."
"The U.S. Postal Service really has that much say in whether or not a person can work at the White House?"
"Oh, yes. You'd be surprised. Think about how much relies on our mail system in the country. It's a big deal."
"But enough that I could become a major flight risk to the administration?"
"Well, some Presidents take the Postal Service very seriously."
"Like?"
"Grover Cleveland, for instance. He broke up a labor strike so that the mail could get from one end of the country to the other."
"Yeah, but that was back before telephones and computers."
"Still. Some of the people over at the USPS think that anyone who could potentially screw around with the White House mail is an important subject to background check."
They walked a few feet more in silence and arrived at Josh's car.
"Keys?" Donna asked. Josh handed them to her, prompting her to give a quick thank you before getting in, buckling up, and starting the car. Josh was slow to get in, throwing his backpack into the backseat, sitting down, buckling, and pushing his seat back, sighing. Donna put the car in reverse, backed out, and they headed on their way. After five minutes, Josh broke the silence.
"Where we headed to?"
"G.W."
"All right."
He found it somewhat suspicious that she had stopped talking after his comments about the mailbox incident. Maybe she didn't know that the entire time he had actually been joking.
Maybe I should tell her, he thought. Later, I will. Right now she looks like she's weighing in on something else in her head.
"Music?" he asked.
"Sure," she said, almost whispering.
He turned the radio on softly, just enough to keep the car from going into complete silence. The sky was gorgeous. The moon was full, the stars shining brightly, and not a cloud in sight. Quite the Christmas Eve, he thought to himself.
Sitting in silence like this with Donna was eerie. Unless they'd had some monumental argument or misunderstanding, the two usually never stopped talking for this time. Something was wrong, but Josh couldn't figure it out. Just before they had been bantering back and forth. What was up?
"How did you know something was wrong?"
"What?"
"How did you know something was wrong with me?"
"I don't know, I just did."
"There has to be more to it than that, Donna."
"Well, just – your attitude had changed. You were more reserved, shutting people out, blowing up over the slightest thing. It just wasn't you."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Oh, Josh, it's not your fault. I just wish I had caught on to it a little bit earlier."
"Well, you did right in time."
"Yeah, I just think I could have saved you from hurting your hand."
"It's just a hand, Donna."
"Yeah, but it symbolizes more than that. It means that you almost decided that things were so bad you needed to take your own life. Do you know how horrible that is?"
"Yes."
"And I just can't – I can't stop blaming myself for letting it get to that level."
"What? Why? Donna, it isn't your fault."
"No, but it is, sort of. I was so obsessed with getting to see Yo-Yo Ma that I missed some of the signs. Here I was, jumping around, bugging you, making sure that I got to see a stupid cellist, when your life was in danger."
"Donna."
"I could have stopped it from getting so bad, Josh. Maybe you wouldn't have hurt yourself."
"Donna, please. Stop."
"No. I know you're trying to take some of the guilt off, but I know I screwed up. I didn't screw up a lot, but, look at your hand, Josh. It's not okay.
"But, Donna, there's nothing you could have done."
"Just drop it for right now, okay?"
"Okay."