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

October 16, 1999

"Donnatella Moss we are leaving in ten minutes! Ten minutes! We can't be late!" he said, banging on her door. Josh, surprisingly, woke up that morning without a hangover or being awkward around Donna. She had roused him after his nap, took him back to his room, made sure he was alright and left.

"I heard you the first six times, Josh!" she said swinging open the door. "Do you think I'm deaf, or did I suddenly revert back to a child who was incapable of listening, which, I might add, reminds me of you." She took a look at him. He was decked out in Mets gear. A Mets jersey with number 31 on the back and Piazza's name (of course), a Mets hat, and a glove. "What's the glove for?"

"Just in case a ball comes our way, Donna. Always be prepared, remember?"

"You weren't a boyscout."

"No, I wasn't, but I would've made one helluva good one," he grinned at her and then looked her up and down. She had on a spare Mets shirt he had leant her, and jeans. It was a start. "We need to get you a hat."

"I don't need a hat."

"Donna, everyone needs a hat, it's the American way!"

"The American way? Well, it's a good thing the all-mighty and powerful Josh Lyman was here to help me. I, a mere mortal, was thinking that the American way was life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

"Oh, just give it up, Josh. She doesn't need to wear a damn hat. It's not like she's seeing a good team," Toby's dry voice sounded out as he passed by them in the hallway.

"But this is the year, Toby! The Mets are going all the way!"

"I wouldn't bet on it," Toby replied as he entered the elevator.

"Don't listen to him, he's just a pessimist."

"Once again you give me information that would have been impossible for me to figure out otherwise. What would I do without you?"

"I don't know, probably sit in a room wondering 'where's Josh?'"

"Or, you know, having a life that didn't involve taking care of a little boy. Yankees all the way, baby!" Toby said with as much enthusiasm as Toby usually did before the elevator doors closed.

"You know, I think he was trying to insult me."

"You were always a quick one Josh."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I can't believe they're going to lose." Josh's head was buried in his hands as Donna looked on with sympathy. She had stood next to him and cheered the Mets this far into the game and now it looked like they were going to blow it big time. The score was Atlanta Braves 2, New York Mets 1. A sweep in the playoffs was embarrassing. "We should go."

"No."

"Why, Donna? They're going to lose and then I'm going to have to see the damn Braves celebrating on MY field." His face was red, whether with embarrassment, anger, or conviction she couldn't tell.

"First of all, it's not your field, and second of all, you said it yourself 'ya gotta believe.'" Donna knew it was the eighth inning but hell, as Josh said, these are the Amazin' Mets.

"Yeah, but these aren't the 1986 Mets. These are the 1999 Mets, who like to lose."

"They got this far, Josh."

"And they're not gonna make it any farther. They blew it."

"You're being a child."

"So what?"

"Just watch the game. You never know." She tried to give him an encouraging grin.

"Fine, but when we get back later and I'm depressed for the next few weeks don't complain to me about my attitude."

"It's not like you would listen anyway." Both their heads popped up when a chant of "asshole" began. Donna turned to Josh.

"Hey! They're not talking about me!" he said, pointing at himself indignantly. She laughed at him as his eye caught the bullpen to see the Atlanta Braves' relief pitcher, John Rocker, currently the most hated man in New York, stride out on the field. The Mets had runners on the first and second bases (Josh was too busy wallowing in his misery to care). Josh immediately joined in on the chant, urging Donna to do the same. She entered when his dimples appeared and it was impossible for her not to chant and grin back.

Rocker was ready to pitch as John Olerud took the plate. The next thing you know the players on first and second had each stolen a base and now were on second and third. Josh was jumping around, his sorrows of a second ago forgotten about. The crowd quieted down as finally Rocker threw a pitch. The crack of the ball against the bat, made a loud sound. The crowd watched in momentary wonder as the ball soared through the air, going farther as it went on. Josh unconsciously wrapped his hand around Donna's waiting to see whether the ball was caught, dropped into an open area, or a homerun.

The noise from the crowd increased as they realized that the ball was going to drop into center field. Mets fans began jumping around as the player on third got home, then as the player on second followed. The ball dropped, fans began heckling Rocker and jumping even harder, the cement under Josh and Donna's feet was shaking. Josh pulled Donna to him, hugging his happiness out on her. Then a drunken guy in front of them leaned over and joined in on the hug. No one cared, Josh's team was winning.

After the three of them pulled away they were jumping up and down with everyone else. They slapped hands with those around them.

"That's the Amazin' Mets baby! The Mets Donna! Ya gotta believe!" Josh screamed, jumping up and down with everyone else. He gave her hand one final squeeze and released it.

A/N: The Mets went on to lose the 1999 National League Championship to the Braves in Game 6 for those who don't know. They won this game 3-2. Sorry for all of those who didn't like this chapter/don't like or know about baseball. I figured it would be fun to show them at a good game (and this one was good). I hope the writing wasn't too horrific. Thanks for all the feedback! Please leave more, it makes me smile (and sometimes gives me ideas).