Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, just an idea, but trust me you can't get anything from that! Leave me to live in fiction
Summary: Donna starts working for the White house as the Press secretary. She had no idea that her first statement will have to be about her getting a job without proper education. She tells them a story. And Josh watches…lousy summary, just give it a chance.
Thanks to:
Caia – yeah, Josh's deputy is really something.
Kursk – this chapter is supposed to bring things a bit closer. Hope that it did.
KristyP – I agree. Leo needs more screen time.
lady-peaches – well, you're gonna love this chapter than. Sort of a women's strike.:)
kasluvsg1 – thanks for the review. And hope you'll like this. Sorry for the wait.
dietcherryemma – yup, the event started. And it's gonna be a bomb!
Arcana – Thanks. I wanted to show that Josh still has that romantic side in him.
mhcrose311 – thanks a lot! Really, great compliment, but I'm not majoring in English. But, I agree, they really need to bring old Josh back. Especially now when Donna's working with him.
miss jasadin – you're so sweet! And you really should punish me for not updating sooner. However, I'll make to you. Next chapter will be up in a day or so. I PROMISE!
Kala – Enjoy away!
Challah – here's more
Sharon – well, yeah, grammar can be difficult, especially when English is not your basic language, which is my case. :)
JennCorinthos – yes, Edie got a lot of enemies. Don't worry; I'll take care of her later.
actress43 – Hope you enjoyed the chat. There's more to come soon.
Iflytev.Bluedestiny – Don't worry. I plan to finish it.
Chapter 9 – The event begins…
C.J. just put on her dress and looked at the clock. It was still fairly early, and she decided to catch on the news. There was some story about Leo, and decided to give him a call. He was also there for the ride. And she wanted to see what his opinion on the matter was. She dialed his cell phone number and waited.
"Hello."
"Hey, Leo, it's C.J."
"Hi, C.J., nice to hear your voice. But, shouldn't you be at the party right about now?" – Leo asked knowing about the Women event.
"Yeah, I was just going, but I saw your face on the TV, and decided to give you a call.
"Well, that was nice of you. Anything I can do for you?"
C.J. took a deep breath and Leo knew that there was something wrong.
"Well, it's Donna actually."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, ever since that thing she said at the conference, I can't help but to feel guilty."
Leo was confused at the beginning but that she continued.
"I told her once that she needs to live her life without Josh. And now I realize that Josh is her life." – C.J. was very sincere, but simply because she was tired of playing this political game with her friends. Two friends who survived through hell, and who deserved to be happy.
"I see." – Leo softly said, knowing exactly what C.J. meant.
"That's all you have to say? No: don't worry C.J. you did the right thing?"
Leo chuckled imagining her face.
"Well, I would've told you that a couple of years ago, but now…well, I just feel the same way you do."
"You do?" – C.J. was surprised. – "Did you talk to Josh?"
"As a matter of fact I did."
C.J. almost fell from her chair. Her grip on the phone increased and she tried to calm her voice.
"You talked to Josh about Donna? What did he say?"
"Well, not much at first. You know Josh. But, that admission from Donna really got to him. He thought she hated him. You know, he actually said that he was too scared to call her, because she might not take his call?"
If it was possible, C.J. felt even worse.
"God, Leo, when did it all get like that? It shouldn't be like that!"
"You're preaching to the choir, C.J. However, I can tell you that I think he send her flowers."
"You're serious?" – C.J. eyes widened.
"Yeah, I planted the bug in his ear, and by the look on his face, I think he actually took my advice. It should probably get there tonight." – Leo smiled hearing C.J. laughter over the phone.
"Leo, that is something! Look, I'm gonna swing by Donna's office before the party to see if she received it."
"OK, talk to you later. Have fun."
C.J. hung up the phone and grabbed her purse. In a few moments she was ready and she walked over to see Donna.
Carol was sitting behind her desk typing some last minute memo hen she heard C.J. voice.
"Hello, my wonderful friend."
"You're in a good mood. You look good by the way." – Carol stopped typing and looked at C.J.
"Thank you. Now, can you tell me if your boss received some flowers today? Perhaps from a certain campaign manager?" – C.J. quietly asked.
"Josh?" – Carol whispered back. – "No. Why? Did he send her flowers?"
"Well, Leo thinks so. Do me a favor. If a delivery comes this evening go downstairs and get Donna. Don't wait until after the party.
"You got it." – Carol winked with a smile. She got from C.J. face that something good was going on and she wanted to be in it.
"Great, well, I'm going in."
Donna was sitting behind her desk going through some papers. The night has fallen and most of the staff has already left. It was not unusual for her to be sitting in her office in the gown working. She didn't think twice of it.
"You know, you won't turn into a pumpkin at midnight if you go to the ball." – Donna heard C.J's voice from the door. She smiled as she looked up from her papers.
"Just finishing up. Can you wait a minute and we'll go together?"
"Sure." – C.J. entered and with some difficulties sat down. – "And people think we're standing at parties because we like to mingle."
Donna smirked and went behind her desk to pick up her shoes.
"You look good, by the way." – Donna smiled at her.
"Thanks. But, it's possible that you'll be the only one to see, cause I don't know if I'm gonna be able to stand back up. You look good also, by the way. New dress?"
"Yeah, I decided it's a good occasion to splurge a bit." – Donna was looking at herself in the mirror. Her dress was a long one in a beautiful shade of red and it fit Donna's body like a glove. However, when her eyes reached her feet she smirked.
"Well, the ensemble is not quite ready." – she wasn't wearing her shoes. – "I didn't want to put them on until the last minute."
"Smart woman. Unfortunately, I can't walk around here in my underwear."
"Well, you could, but I think you would be getting a new secret service name." – Donna laughed at the thought.
"Yeah, something like: naked chick."
Donna closed the drawer and glanced over her desk. She was always a perfectionist and C.J. couldn't help herself not to feel sad again. It was good to see Donna behind this desk, but her happiness wasn't coming through her eyes. She was back at the White house, but her heart wasn't. C.J. knew better than to comment that out loud so she just smiled at the young woman.
"Ready?"
"Yeah." – Donna sighed before turning off the lights. She slipped her shoes on and got up. She looked over at C.J. who still wasn't moving from her place.
"Need help"?
"I would highly appreciate it." – C.J. seriously replied causing Donna to chuckle.
At the same time, in front of the White house, Helen Santos was getting out of the car with Annabeth in tow. She immediately linked their arms together smiling at Helen.
"Nervous?"
"A little. I'm not sure how people will react to me."
"Oh, they will love you. Don't worry. Come on!" – she guided them towards the entrance, and while Annabeth was saying hello to some people, Helen was absorbing everything in. She was obviously impressed and she wasn't even in the ballroom yet. She tried to connect names with faces and she was surprised to see how many she managed to recognize. Unfortunately, the one she wanted to see wasn't there yet.
"Well, the evening is still young. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to meat the famous Mr.Moss. Now, it's time to paste a smile to my face." – she thought to herself.
Annabeth introduced her to some women whose names she instantly forgot. The both of them have walked towards the main room and Helen felt like she was entering some strange world; the world of ball gowns, fancy tablecloths and high heels.
"Oh, Lordy!" – she muttered and increased the pressure on Annabeth's arm. As time passed bye, she was feeling more relaxed. Of course, two glasses of champagne helped as well.
After a few excruciatingly boring conversations she had with someone she couldn't remember, she decided to find the darkest corner of the room for a second. To at least recharge her batteries. The night barely started and she was feeling like she was walking around the block for an hour. People were still entering, but somehow the room hasn't appeared smaller. Suddenly her eyes found the face of C.J. Cregg and she arched her back a little to see who walked in with her. As the crowd parted, she saw that Donna was standing next to C.J.
"Well, well, the evening just got more interesting." – the thought crossed her mind. Slowly, she took a step further trying to get a better look at Donna. Just than Annabeth grabbed her arm.
"Having fun?"
"Yeah, a blast." – she sarcastically remarked still looking at Donna. The motion that Annabeth noticed.
"They're quite something, aren't they? I mean, C.J. started as a Press secretary and worked herself to the position of the Chief of staff. And she's just as strong in that position as she was while handling the press. And let me tell you, that's not easy." – she chuckled and than her eyes moved to Donna. Her look got warmer and she smiled.
"And, Donna didn't even finish college. However while working side by side with these great people she has became a great political mind."
Helen watched Donna's face and tried to figure out what was different about her.
"She looks older than on those tapes, and more tired."
She decided to share her opinion with Annabeth. It was obvious she didn't have a problem with speaking about Donna.
"She looks kind of tired. Well, that's understandable, I guess. She has more responsibility."
Annabeth grabbed the bait making Helen smile.
"I don't think that's it. When I was here, I heard a lot of stories about Donna. There were times when she stayed here for days and only went home to change clothes. However, she hasn't looked this tired. Well, now that I think of it; she looks more sad than tired.
Helen nodded taking that information in. The more she heard about Josh and Donna she found the relationship very intense, with lot of feelings still not straightened out. She realized Annabeth asked her something and she shyly smiled.
"Sorry, what?"
"I asked if you wanted to meet them."
"Sure." – she shortly replied thinking how that was the thing she wanted from the beginning.
Both of them approached C.J. and Donna and Annabeth put on her greatest smile.
"Girl! Nice gathering!"
"Annabeth, nice to see you. I was thinking you'd be too busy playing dress up with Leo." – C.J. laughed giving Annabeth a little kiss on the cheek.
"Why I am not surprised that he complained to you also. I swear to God, than man needs to relax a bit." – she turned to Donna. – "Donna. You look really nice. Congratulations, dear. You deserved a promotion!"
"Thanks, Annabeth." – Donna also kissed her cheek and that turned her attention to Helen.
Annabeth linked her arm with Helen's and made the introduction.
"Ladies, meet Helen Santos. She really didn't want to come tonight, so be nice to her. She finds all of this intimidating."
Helen rolled her eyes with a smile and shook both of theirs hands, holding Donna's look a bit longer than necessary.
"Nice to meet you, Helen. Don't worry, this crowd isn't as intimidating as it appears." – C.J. said.
"Oh, I know that. It's just that I REALLY hate these kinds of things. I'm a mom, you know. I'm used to children's parties where you don't have to worry about the kind of clothes you wear, because you'll be throwing it away at the end anyway."
"You'll get used to it. Trust me." – Donna warmly smiled. She liked Helen. She belonged to the real world, and she liked that.
"I'm sure I will. God knows the people who run my husband's campaign will make sure of that."
The remark caused Donna to shift from leg to leg hoping that the conversation will not take the wrong turn. However, C.J. decided to jump to the conversation about Santos's staff. Something in her brain told her that this can be a good thing.
"Oh, I'm sure that Josh pushes them to the maximum." – as she said the sentence, Donna's head turned towards her. But, C.J. hasn't even blinked. She simply waited for Helen's response.
Helen, on the other hand felt C.J. look on her, and she felt the vibe coming from her. "Josh pushes everyone around, even my husband. I'm telling you, by the end of the campaign, the guy will make more enemies than all the staff together." – Helen didn't need to look at Donna to see the disapproving look on her face. It was obvious that she didn't like the fact that Helen just insulted Josh.
C.J. simply chuckled, not missing a beat.
"Yeah, no one knows how to make enemies like Josh. Seriously, he made an art out of it."
"C.J.!" – Donna exclaimed.
"What?" – C.J. innocently asked.
"Well, nothing, but come on. Josh is your friend."
"He is, but you should know the best how Josh is with people. How many flowers did you need to send to people apologizing for Josh? I don't understand how can you be mad at me?"
"You just need to get Josh." – a voice was heard from behind and Donna gulped. – "Right Donna?"
She turned around meeting with the one woman she wanted to avoid the entire evening.
"Amy." – she nodded.
A/N – OK, I REALLY need to apologize to everyone. I know it's repetitive, but I was SOOOO busy. Well, actually still am for a week, but I managed to find some time this weekend. So, here's a new chapter. And the next one is half done, so expect that in a few days
But, before that, let me know what you think of this one!