Title: Joshua
Category: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What happens when Josh finds out that he shares the same first name with Dr. Freeride?

Disclaimer: Not one inch of the West Wing belongs to me, not even a molecule of the air they breathe
Author's Notes: Feedback the best stuff on earth

Writing Commenced: 1-18-06

"Donna! Donna! Just listen to me for one second!"

"No, Josh, I'm done. I can't live like this anymore."

"Please, it'll just take a minute, just a minute, I promise." His voice changed to a whisper. "Please?" he asked, gently touching her shoulder. He just wanted to hear her call him Jay, then he knew things would be okay. She turned around slowly. After all, a few years of her life were gone to taking care of him. If she walked away now without any idea of what he had to say it might haunt her forever, and that's the last thing she wanted.

"Ok. You have one minute. Go." Her voice was cold and strong, like steel.

"Donnatella Moss...I love you. You're everything to me. I know we've had our ups and downs but...we're meant to be together. And I…I'm really sorry about everything I've ever done to hurt you. Please…please marry me." Josh dropped down on one knee, pulling an oversized engagement ring out of his pocket and watching as her features played out a wide range of emotions.

At first her gaze softened in a way that reminded him of the first time he met her, before he had come into her life and changed it. That was before he had introduced her to the evils of the world. Then her nose crinkled like it used to after he had done something incredibly stupid and was asking for forgiveness (usually following a night of drunken debauchery) and next, when her jaw tightened, he knew he was in trouble. Her face, which a second ago was so expressive, changed to stone. He had to do something quick, so he did the only thing he could think of – he stood up and kissed her hard. The last thing Josh expected to feel was the sting of metal crutches crashing against his shin.

"Donna!" he yelped, pulling away from her lips. "That's not how you act towards your fiancée!"

"Then it's a good thing I don't have one!" she said as she headed towards the door. The crutches were slowing down her escape immensely and she couldn't get into her car before Josh came running out after her.

"You'll regret this!" he yelled at her as she threw her crutches onto the passenger seat while settling herself in the driver's side. Luckily she still had the ability to drive after the accident. "You'll never find anyone to love you, Donna. I'm the best bet you've got!"

"Joshua Morrison…go fuck yourself," was the last thing that came out of her mouth before slamming the car door shut. Her foot felt was like lead on the pedal as she put the car in gear and drove back to Manchester, New Hampshire.

Author's note: for those who may have gotten confused in this first section Jay and Josh are the same person.

- - - - - - - -

Bartlet for America Campaign Headquarters

Manchester, New Hampshire

Donna was sitting in her car trying to calm the beating of her heart. Ten feet away stood the doors to Governor Josiah Bartlet's presidential campaign headquarters, and ten feet away from that was Joshua Lyman's office and most likely the man himself, drinking coffee and reading a file. Well, that's what he used to do when he first entered the office in the morning. Of course she had never brought him coffee, but maybe his new assistant did.

Her heart rate increased. She hadn't considered that possibility. Maybe he had a new assistant and didn't want her anymore. She unconsciously pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to look perfect. She was going to have to beg. From what Donna knew of Josh Lyman he wasn't one to let things slide by. He was going to want a full apology, and possibly some groveling. With this in mind Donna took a deep breath and opened the car door, grabbing her crutches and making her way towards her fate. The only sound she could hear besides the buzzing in her ears was the crunch the metal crutches made with each step as she drew nearer to the doors.

Then a thought hit her. There was no way she could go in with crutches because is she used them there was no way she could keep up with him. With that firmly in her head she returned to the car, threw her crutches in the back seat, took a deep breath and hobbled into headquarters.

The smells and sounds that immediately invaded her senses were familiar and comforting. This was where she belonged and if Josh couldn't see that, well, she would have to make him.

The first time she came here she was looking for a job to get away from her old life and show her ex-boyfriend that she could make it on her own; she didn't need him and never would. The reason she chose to hire herself for Josh Lyman after getting away from Jay was…she didn't want to say a mistake, because it wasn't, but it was more like…not the right choice. It was stupid of her to pick the one guy in the whole office who shared the same name as her ex-boyfriend. But at the time it had felt…comforting maybe. It was a familiar word in a strange place.

Margaret was the first person to approach her. "Hey Donna, you're back!" Lowering her voice she continued. "It's a good thing because Josh has been snapping at everyone since you left. I think he'll be glad to see you." She touched Donna on the arm and went on her way. Donna's shoulders sagged a bit with relief, but lifted as she made each step towards Josh's office. Despite the pain she was going to go in there with her head held high and no limp.

When she first saw him he was standing at his desk, looking down at a file, sipping his coffee. Without looking up he put down his coffee and pulled on his suit jacket, picked up the file, cup of coffee and continued reading. He almost passed right by Donna who was staring at him, half in his office door, half out. Josh froze and his eyes lifted to her face, slowly looking over her features as if to determine if it was really her or a clone.

"Hey Josh." She gave him a small, unsure smile.

"Thank God. There's a pile of stuff on the desk," he said and breezed past her, still sipping on his coffee and reading the file. She let out a breath. That had gone over better than she thought.

- - - - - - - -

So far it had been a relatively good day. Josh had accepted her back into his busy life and also into the campaign. She had a little trouble keeping up with his pace around the office and it took a toll on her ankle, which is why she currently had a bag of ice crushed to the affected area, wand was elevating her ankle on a nearby chair, trying to the numb the pain. Donna closed her eyes, leaned her head back and let the ice do its work. She didn't notice Josh watching her.

He couldn't believe she was back. The day she left he was sure it would be the last time he saw her. The people who left him never came back. He studied her carefully. She had gotten her hair cut shorter, and now when she worked she liked to put her left leg on a chair. It was a nice leg and she should show it off he thought as his gaze trailed down it, it was just that…what the hell?

"Donna?" he asked coming up behind her. "What the hell is on your ankle?" Donna jumped in her chair. She didn't want him to find out about her accident. "Donna," he said, his voice lowering with concern. "What happened?" The distress in his eyes almost killed her Don't-Tell-Josh-What-Actually-Happened Plan. But she had to stick to it.

"I slipped."

The brown in his eyes became darker as a shadow passed over his features. "Did he do this to you?" His voice was rough.

"What?" Her eyes widened in recognition of his words. Jay was a bastard but he would never lay a hand on her. "No, Josh! He didn't touch me! When I was heading out to my car I slipped on some ice on the front walk."

"You slipped on ice? In April?" His body screamed of disbelief.

"Yeah." The eyebrow raise made an appearance and she couldn't help but bite her lip to stop a grin from appearing.

"There aren't just random ice patches in April, Donna." If there's one thing she knows it's that Joshua Lyman is a difficult man, which, while an advantage in politics, it proved to be a pain her ass.

"It was…a late thaw." She held her breath as he stared at her for a minute. Josh was having a silent debate with himself, determining whether she told him the truth. He did this pretty often and Donna could tell when the process was occurring. His eyes would wander towards the ground, like he's examining his shoes or the floor for scuff marks, but really his brain is in full motion.

"What about kitty litter?"

"What about it?"

"Did you put any down?"

"…No…"

"Donna, you should ALWAYS put down kitty litter. I thought all Wisconsinites knew that. It's common sense in New England." Donna just stared at him.

"Josh?"

"Yes?"

"Is there a reason you're bothering me? Did you need something?"

"Well, I am your boss."

"Exactly. Do you need something?"

"No, just wanted to make sure everything's okay."

"Everything's just fine, thanks."

"Ok…if you need something, I'm over there," he said pointing towards his office. "Just holler." Her face split into a grin.

"Like you?"

"Yes, Donna, like me." He smiled at her and their gaze met. The deep blue color her eyes turned as he looked into them was making his breath quicken.

"Thanks Josh." Her smile became shy and she shifted her gaze towards the computer. "I should have these notes to you in a half hour."

- - - - - - - - -

A/N: Feedback, please! Tell me how it's going, what you think. If you hate it or not. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.