Title: The Path Which Has Led to the Present (9)
Author: Aerial312 Rating: PG Category: Humor/Fluff/Angst/Romance (a little of everything)
Spoiler Info: Pre-Series.
Disclaimer: I own nothing…I just borrow.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated. Archiving: Sure. Just let me know where its going.

"You left me alone out there with Senator Johnston."

"You were having a conversation that I didn't need to hear."

"As opposed to all the other conversations I've had tonight with various other members of Congress that you did need to hear?"

"My feet hurt."

"Conveniently that only occurs when I'm talking to old, wrinkly, female Senators."

"No—"

"As opposed to young freshmen Congress—"

"My feet hurt!"

"New shoes disappointing?" Josh sat in the chair beside Donna.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"But they hurt?"

"Yeah, but they got compliments."

"Oh, that's right." Josh scowled. The businessman who had looked her up and down. Repeatedly.

"CJ liked them too! He was just being nice, Josh."

"He was leering at you the whole time I was talking to him."

"He was not."

"Yes, he was." And Josh had wanted to strangle him for it.

Donna giggled. "That really pissed you off."

"He was sleazy."

"He was just friendly."

"He—"

"He was schmoozing."

"With your breasts!"

"Josh! A littler quieter please."

"His eyes were fixed on your chest."

"No, they weren't." Josh looked at her pointedly. "Okay, maybe they were."

She smiled. "You were jealous." Yes, yes he was. And he wasn't exactly sure why. It really set him off. It was like she was his little sister. Yeah, that's what it must have been. No, not really. He did want to protect her, but he didn't feel all the brotherly about it. Oh dear.

"No…"

"You ended that conversation really fast."

"He was annoying."

Donna smirked. "Would he have been as annoying if—"

"Yes."

"How do you know what I was going to ask?"

"I just do."

"Then what was it?"

"You were going to ask if he would have seemed as annoying if he wasn't hitting on you? And yes he would have been. He's just the type of pompous jerk I hate at these things."

"This was fun though. The fundraiser."

"And thankfully, we can leave soon."

"Spoil sport."

"I've been a good sp—"

"Yes, you've been on your best behavior." Josh nodded. "Because Leo told you you'd better be."

"Well, yes. Because it's a fundraiser. We always have to be on our best behavior at fundraisers."

"But you aren't always, are you?"

Josh shrugged.

"Otherwise, Leo wouldn't have pulled you into his office to tell you specifically to behave."

"It wasn't specifically for that, it just came up—and how do you know that?"

"Margaret listens at the door sometimes."

Oh jeez. Good to know. "She should be careful about that. She'll get in trouble if she's caught."

"You're not going to tell on her, are you?"

"Tell on her? What, am I five?"

"Sometimes you act like—Ow!"

Josh had pinched Donna lightly on the arm. "That didn't hurt."

"It did. So, you ready to get out of here?"

"I thought I was a spoil sport?"

"My feet hurt."

"So that makes you the spoil sport."

"Oh, come on. Let's watch a movie." Donna stood up, grimacing. She lost her balance as she tried to slide into her painful new shoe. Josh reached out and caught her, and for a moment she was pressed against him. And he couldn't breathe.

"Thank you," Donna smiled, pulling away.

Josh held onto her arm as she stepped into the other shoe. "Can I pick the movie?"

"We'll see."

"Not Titanic!" Josh flopped down on the bed.

Donna was sitting on top of the covers in his Mets T-shirt and boxers, flipping through the pay-per-view movies.

"Pleeease! I haven't seen it."

"You're not missing much."

"You've seen it?"

"Back in January, when things were still really slow in New Hampshire, CJ and Sam dragged me with them."

"Really?"

"Yes. It was terrible."

"Hmmmph…" she pouted.

"Donna, its three hours long." He wasn't going to be able to resist that pout for long."

"I wouldn't mind if you fell asleep—"

"That's not the point."

"And it wouldn't kill you to get some extra sleep."

"Extra sleep? It's already almost midnight."

"Please…" Full pout. His resolve was gone.

"You're sure you wouldn't rather watch Tomorrow Never Dies?"

"I don't really like Bond."

"Or The Wedding Singer?"

"Titanic."

She looked him straight in the eye, with her lower lip puffed out.

He laughed. "Okay."

"Thank you!" she grinned, and hugged him.

Donna quickly selected the movie from the list, and settled under the covers.

"If its okay…?" Josh began to pull some files out of his backpack.

"I guess…"

"You're not going to make me watch the whole thing again, are you?"

"If you're not going to watch, you should sleep."

"It's still early. I could get some work done."

"I want to turn out the lights to really enjoy the movie."

Josh sighed, and put the folders back. "I'll watch for a little while."

"Good. Climb in. Oh! But first, turn off that light."

Josh did as he was told, then scooted in next to her. He puffed his pillows up, and leaned back.

"This part is stupid."

"Joshua! Be quiet!"

"I'm just saying."

"Josh!"

"Fine."

Josh's right arm was brushing against Donna's left, and thankfully this drew his attention away from the movie. Her skin was so pale and soft. No. He couldn't be thinking about her like this. He couldn't. Josh scooted further down, and closed his eyes. Donna was watching the movie with her full attention. He decided to press his luck, and lay his cheek against her arm. No reaction. He'd keep his head there for a few minutes, and then roll over and sleep. He was out in less than a minute.