Ainsley Hayes was not a part of the inner circle.
No matter how much Sam tried to convince her she could be, she knew she wasn't ever going to be. That bond had formed in New Hampshire almost a decade ago.
"How are you?" Her southern drawl crept across the phone line to her boy friend.
"I'm.. tired." He sounded it, Ainsley decided biting the tip of her pen. "How are you?"
"I don't know Congressmen, I'm a little lost, rattling around in this big old house by myself." He chuckled a little and she smiled.
"Come on, Counselor. I just get in your way." She loved how he said things like that.
"Yes, but I'm used to your liberal blabber, and your cooking. I'm starving here, Sam."
"Then come here." His voice was simple and nondramatic, she knew this meant that he was serious.
"Sam, we talked about this when you left. Those people don't like me." She knew that wasn't entirely true.
"That's not true. They all like you."
"Josh does not like me." She announced, she heard Sam sigh.
"Josh doesn't like anyone." She smiled at his comment. "And your wrong. He likes you just fine. He came to your defense last night."
"Why did I need defending?" She heard Sam stifle a grunt at his own ignorance and it made her want him to squirm. "Sam, why did I need defending?"
"It was nothing. CJ suggested that I call Mallory McGarry and see how she was doing. I said no thanks. CJ got defensive. Josh came in with 'he's got a republican girlfriend' and that was that." Sam sighed again. He felt guilty for not calling Mallory. Ainsley could tell. "Josh was only defending you because he's head over heals for Donna and wanted her to know that he would never cheat on her."
"They've.. finally?" Ainsley was shocked.
"Looks like it." Sam's voice was proud.
"I thought you said they were barely speaking?" Josh and Donna was one of Sam's favorite things to talk about since Donna left Josh. She knew that it was because he couldn't discuss it with either of them.
"Well apparently, they've spoken." Sam chuckled.
"Sam?" She pulled herself up straight in the chair. "You should go see Mallory McGarry."
"Ainse." He sighed out her nick-name in anguish. "You should come to the funeral." Ah, Ainsley thought, check and mate.
"Fine." She said stiffly. "I will if you will."
"I had already planned on attending." He quipped.
"Sam!"
"Why do you want me to talk to Mallory?"
"Because Sam, if you were with her, and my father had died, I would have liked to see you." She let her words sink in with him. She registered another sigh. He was tired, she started clicking, guiltily, on her lap top looking for flights to DC. She should have gone with him when he asked.
"Ainsley. I love you." His voice poured into her ears and she smiled.
"I love you to, Congressman."
"Call me when you know when you'll be here?" He actually yawned this time.
"I will, and Sam?" She heard his inquiring grunt and continued. "Have the apartment cleaned. I don't want to see how gross you've been living when your in DC."
"Good night, Counselor." She could almost see him shake his head as shehung up the phone laughing.
Ainsley booked her flight, called Babish and then a friend on the review board for Toby's government hearing. If she was going to do one thing for Leo, it was going to be securing Toby's admittance to his funeral.
Matt Santos shook the rain from his coat as he wandered into the East Wing, following the line of people leading him. Debbie, a woman with unkempt hair and wide eyes was talking to him, he wasn't listening. Luckily his wife was nodding.
She announced them to President and Mrs. Bartlett as the staff and family members scattered about the house. Matt wondered if he would ever live here now. He noticed Helen taking it in. She was wondering the same thing.
"Mrs. Bartlett, thank so much for inviting us for dinner."
"Please, its Abby! May I call you Helen?" He studied Dr. Abby Bartlett. She looked exhausted.
"Yes please, thank you, Abby." Matt loved his wife.
"Would you like me to show you around the residence a little? As a teaser?" He liked Abby Bartlett and her sparkly eyes. He heard Helen sigh wistfully.
"Sounds wonderfully torturous." They laughed as they excused themselves. Matt looked at the President.
"They'll have the whole place redecorated in their heads by the end of the tour." Jed Bartlett teased. "Matt, I want you to know that you have our complete support. We'll do what ever we can. I know that Josh has felt like we haven't been doing our share."
"Josh is never satisfied with anything, Sir." Matt interrupted, something Jed Bartlett wasn't used to, by the way his eyes shot up in surprise. "I've been pleased with how the White House has been supporting us."
"I'm glad to hear that, Congressman." Jed said honestly. "But Leo McGarry was my best friend. He believed in you enough to join your ticket. The least I can do for him is to make sure I give you all the power of the Presidency in this election." He smiled up at Matt. "It's a lot of power, Matt."
"I'm ready for it, Sir." He hoped he sounded confident.
"Josh Lyman thinks you are. That's enough for me." Matt was surprised at that.
"That's good to know, Mr. President. I don't know if Leo told you, I've had my doubts about Josh." He saw Bartlett's head bob up and look at him before nodding.
"I'm sure you have, but the only person more qualified than Josh, is gone." Matt noticed how the man had all but whispered 'is gone'. He felt suddenly like he was intruding on someone's grief. He paused politely for the man who he hoped would be his predecessor.
"I have to say, Josh has been amazing me lately." Matt chuckled. "What ever Leo did, worked. I didn't even know Josh could smile."
He saw the worry crease across Jed Bartlett's face at the mention of a somber Josh. It was the same way that Leo and Donna had been looking at him. Matt wondered who Josh Lyman had been before becoming his campaign manager. He wished he had known that person.
"Donna." He had been startled when the President spoke. "I'm sure it's better with Donna there." Matt found himself nodding along with Bartlett. I was true. Donna helped. "They deserve to be together. Duty has kept them apart too long." He saw Bartlett look up with remorse. Matt wasn't sure if it was for keeping Josh and Donna apart or for divulging this to Matt Santos.
"I have to say, I was amazed." Matt laughed a little. "I never would have thought Josh would have been the soul mate type."
Bartlett's lips curved upward, but his eyes did not smile, he just looked down at his hands.
"When I met my team, Lord, they were a bunch of kids. I couldn't possibly see how they were going to get me to the airport, more less the White House." He chuckled. "I had Leo. He believed fiercely in them." Jed's voice held a sorrowful reverence. "I trusted him because he was my best friend. Do you trust, Josh?"
"I'm starting to." Matt admitted honestly.
"He's a great man. He's done great things for this country. He's sacrificed a lot, took a bullet, alienated some good friends, and almost lost the love of his life, twice. Without Josh Lyman, I could not have been Jed Bartlett". He reached for the pitcher and refilled Matt's glass. "You should see about getting to know him."
Santos hadn't really remembered that Josh had been shot. He hadn't know about Donna, he hadn't know anything about Josh really, except for the fact Josh Lyman thought he should be president.
"My Chief of Staff was the one I turned to for everything." He smiled wistfully. "I guess the 'new girl' still is. Get to know him, Matt. Get to know Donna. It's worth it."
"It's the pace that I can't seem to keep. Here, then there then on to the next place. It's exhausting."
"I'm sure Josh has been keeping everyone on schedule." Abby laughed at the image before amending it. "Or at least Donna has been."
"Abby?" Helen Santos looked at the woman next to her. "Can I ask you a personal question about Josh Lyman?" The other woman looked wary. "I understand if you don't want to answer it, but I'd like to ask."
"You should ask Donna." Abby smiled.
"It's about Donna." Helen admitted.
"Oh yeah?" Helen thought this was a strange remark.
"Yes." She sighed. "Leo was almost cryptic about it. Implying but never quiet saying it."
"Saying what they were to each other?" She knew Abby understood. Helen nodded. "I don't think it would cause a lot of press problems for you, if that's why your concerned."
"No not at all. I'm just trying to... humanize Josh" Helen realized how it sounded when it left her lips and she wanted to take it back.
"Helen, I assure you Josh Lyman is human." She teased. "Even if he runs at the pace of the million dollar man."
"I just have never met a person so driven." She shook her head. "So matter of fact. He never seems to stop to think about how what he's asking of us is effecting us."
"He's focused, but I assure you he has a soul." Abby sounded irritated and amused at the same time.
"And apparently it's name is Donna." Helen blurted out. She saw amused win out over irritated on Abby's face.
"Yes. In a way." Her face became serious again. "Josh Lymann is a good man, having a hard time doing an important thing." She shook her head. "You should talk to Donna. Get to know her, she'll let you in on who Josh Lymann really is." Abby looked around, then back at Helen. "Leo McGarry was like a father to Josh. Josh feels guilty as hell for this, even though it's not at all his fault." She glanced at Helen when she said this part, as if to banish any blame Helen might want to lay on Josh. "Donna will get him through it. She always does. You've got to understand the press didn't call him 'Bartlett's pit bull' for his charming way of negotiating and intricate personality skills." Helen laughed at this. "But his tenacity is his job, but his loyalty to his friends is who he is."
Helen stopped to consider this theory for a minute, her eyes looking around the second floor landing of the White House Residence without really taking it in.
"By the way, nice thong." Helen blushed, remembering the picture in the tabloids. "They once got a picture of me in a see through blouse. Donna Moss once dropped her underwear in front of Karen Cahill and Sam Seaborn accidentally slept with a law student/prostitute. None of that seems to have gone down in history. This will go away." Helen laughed again, feeling like she should listen to Abby Bartlett.
"Who does he think he is?" Donna sighed at the edge of Josh's voice.
"He's Toby Zigler. Former White House Communications Director, and briefly, press secretary. Now the man under indictment for treason, ring a bell?" Donna pulled her damp coat off and tossed it on Josh's coat rack.
"Donna," He scrunched up his nose in disgust. "You cannot possibly defend that." He flopped into pout position, the backs of his hands pressed to his forehead, hips at the edge of the couch. She sat down next to him, pulling his hands free and tugging the top portion of his body into her open arm. He sighed and relaxed into her shoulder.
"Josh, he's being Toby." She told him. "Angry, guilty drunk Toby, but Toby just the same."
"What am I going to tell CJ?" He mumbled sadly. Donna put her head on top of his.
"That he's sorry. That he misses her, too." Donna felt him nod slowly. "I don't think we should talk about this." He stiffened in response to her 'rules' voice. "What else is there to talk about?"
"Santos and Helen are at the White House having dinner with the Bartlett's." He said absently before he realized what he'd done.
"You called and checked his schedule? I swear Josh, don't make me take your phone away!" She pushed her shoulder out so he could see her serious face.
"We shouldn't talk about this either." He whined defensively.
"We'll then we're out of things." Donna decided. She felt Josh move beside her. He slipped down her body until his head was in her lap. She looked down and smoothed his hair back. She watched his eyes drift shut and then reopen. She wondered if anyone had touched him at all while she was away. It made her heart hurt.
"We could talk about this." He announced, lifting his arm and gesturing in the space between them.
"We could." She purred at him. It had surprised her, the tone that her voice took. "Is that disrespectful?"
"Is what?" He blinked up at her with his twinkly eyes.
"Talking about.. this?" She repeated his gesture.
"Maybe." He considered, his jaw cocked to the side as he did this. She traced it with her fingers. "I can see how talking about my desire to carry you to the bed and ravage you might be disrespectful."
"Ravage me?' Her absent whisper for confirmation was something Josh was familiar with, but she saw his smile a widen anyway.
"Uh Huh." It was Josh's turn for the breathy whisper, it made her body shiver. She hoped he didn't notice. She watched as one side of his smile rose higher than the other. He noticed.
"Leo really wanted us to be happy." She said truthfully, pleading for a lack of guilt.
"Yeah." She had resumed touching his face, pushing her hand against his curly hair. Then tracing down his dimples. "Donna?"
"Hum?" She saw his eyes flutter and roll slightly back into his head.
"If we're going to continue mourning tonight, you gotta stop doing that." His voice was heavy, she knew he was fighting against his body. She'd seen him do it in pain, but never in pleasure. It took her breath away.
"We could still mourn tomorrow." She felt her breath heave in her chest. He pushed his cheek towards her body in appreciation of the increasing rise and fall.
"Um Hum." His eyes were shut now, creases running across them. His mouth however was slightly open. Relaxed and waiting. She trailed her hand absently down his body. Appraising his face. She felt him start to move from her lap, rolling off the couch and coming up from the floor to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her to him again. "I don't remember this from the rules." He said from her neck between kisses.
"Revisions." She heard herself say dipping her head down to his and meeting his lips again. He started towards the bedroom, stopping at the bed and looking at her eyes.
"This should be perfect. I should have candles and satin sheets." He looked embarrassed, she loved this man.
"It will be perfect." She whispered in his ear, feeling him shudder. He dropped her onto the bed causing her to yell. She looked at the smug satisfaction on his face from that. She tried to look offended, but she wanted him too badly and he knew it. She sat up slightly, reaching towards him. Grabbed his tie, she pulled him down to the bed on top of her. His breath hitched at the feeling of her beneath him, Donna's body arched against him unconsciously, when he did this. His eyes widened.
Neither of them spoke as Donna loosened his tie and pushed it over his head. She stopped for a moment to pull her hand down his cheek, she watched his eyes. His kissed her forehead as she unbuttoned the front of his shirt and pulled his belt buckle loose as he shook the shirt off.
She pushed her fingers up the bottom of his undershirt, urging him to take it off. He complied, as she studied him. Her finger carefully tracing the scar on his chest before running it down to the button of his pants. He smirked at her, shaking his head in disbelief.
He sat up on his knees, straddling her body, as his arms worked up the side of her. Gathering the soft fabric above his hands until he reached her shoulders and slipped it off of her. She was glad she had worn the red lacy bra that hooked in the front. Not that she felt the need to show off to Josh, but she appreciated the lusty look he gave it as he unhooked it.
He kissed her chest stopping over the thin careful surgical line. She thought about what he had said about Gaza, biting her lip. Josh saw the crease of worry between her eyes and kissed it away.
"I love you." His voice was crystal clear, it was not a panicked whisper or a quip of banter. It was Josh, her Josh, wanting her to know she was loved.
She inhaled slowly, moving his hands down to the band of her skirt and gave him silent permission.
He softly accepted, kissing her hips and abs and thighs as he pulled her clothing away with one hand. He kissed the corner of her panties before slipping them down.
Again her body arched as he did this. She heard him moan in response. One of his hands feverishly working on his pants. He moved his mouth along her, before returning his naked body to hers. "Your so beautiful." He breathed from somewhere on her body. She didn't know where he was anymore.
She reacted to his voice, grabbing his hips with her tight grasp and pulling him towards her. He ran his hands up her thighs and pressed them apart. She gasped at the sudden coolness, her body tensing in anticipation. Josh held her eyes when he completed the movement.
"I love you." He repeated pulling her to him tightly, managing her hips like they were his own.
"Josh." Donna chuckled, had she just moan his name? People didn't really do that did they? She heard herself do it again. He dropped his head to her chest and met it with deep hot kisses. She heard her voice again, this time in one of those stereotypical mantras she never expected were real. She dug her nails into his shoulders, crying out.
She heard him whispering to her and tried to focus on his words.
"Never leave me again." She clung to him.
"Never." She promised.
He pressed into her, she felt his breath on her face as she gasped it in. Her eyes flashed open as she climaxed. She wanted to see him, she wanted her body to know that it was really him. He took her face in his hands as her body tightened and shuddered around him. She pressed her forehead in his shoulder and listened to his soft cry.
He kissed her shoulder and she curled herself into his chest.
"Well Damn that would have been worth loosing my job for." He whispered into the dark.
"I said it would be perfect." She said in full I-told-you-so mode.
"I should listen to you more."
"You won't."
"That's probably true"
They were still Josh and Donna. Part of her sighed in relief, part of her whispered I-told-you-so.