Title: The Path Which Has Led to the Present (21?)
Author: Aerial312
Rating: PG-13.
Category: Humor/Fluff/Angst/Romance (a little of everything)
Spoiler Info: Pre-Series.
Disclaimer: I own nothing…I just borrow.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated. Sure. Just let me know where its going.

A/N: was being silly last night, so I couldn't post this here..

"Where's the—?"

"Here."

"Is it tabb—?"

"Where the data is. Like usual. You won't care about the rest."

"Great."

"This one you'll want to read the section that the green post-it is wrapped around, and this one you just need to read the whole thing. Blue summary cards are clipped to them all. These three, here, are short, and unimportant. The summaries will suffice. The—"

"Donna, when did you read all of these?"

"Last night."

"Thrilling evening reading environmental policy?"

Donna smiled. "Its not that bad."

"I hate environmental policy."

"What a reassuring attitude for the campaign's domestic policy advisor. Especially since we're in Texas."

Josh smacked her with a briefing book. "I hate reading about environmental policy."

"Is that better?"

"I do the reading. I just hate every minute of it. So, as you can see, this is going to be a wonderful evening for me."

"How much later are you gonna work?"

"Enh," Josh shrugged. "Till I feel like going to bed. Probably pretty late."

"Its already pretty late."

"Oh, you can go. You don't need to stay up with me. Go get some sleep."

"Yeah…"

"You look exhausted."

"Well—"

"And judging by the amount of reading you did, I'd say you didn't sleep much last night."

"I—"

"Get some sleep. We've got a bunch of outdoor rallies tomorrow. It's really fucking hot outside. I don't you—"

"I'm fine."

"You're not taking care of yourself."

"Says Mr. I'm Going to Stay Up All Night Reading."

Josh looked at her pleadingly. "Please."

Donna sighed and turned toward the door. "We start at 7 tomorrow. Another breakfast."

Josh nodded. "G'night."

He settled back in the chair, and put his feet up on the table, pulling a briefing book onto his lap. Donna had looked so melancholy. He hated to see her like that. Usually, she was bursting with optimism, and he had come to adore that. Looking at the blue note card that preceded this first article, Josh smiled. He wasn't usually this lazy about the reading. But he kind of loved that Donna enjoyed it so much. If it made her feel more important, he was going to let her baby him.

Josh got into his reading, and was startled when Donna came scurrying back into the room a minute later.

"I just walked in on—"

"No!"

Donna was blushing furiously. "Yes."

"With who?"

"Chris, from the Texas DNC office."

"Is that the one CJ and Margaret have been calling hot Chris?"

"Yeah."

Josh cracked up. "Apparently Ginger beat them to the punch."

"I am so mortified."

"Why are you mortified?" She should be mortified. There wasn't any kind of warning on the door, was there?"

"No."

"Then its her fault. When you have a roommate—"

"But still, I walked in, and they were…right in the middle."

Donna sat down and buried her head in her hands. That blush was driving Josh crazy again. He sat down beside her and patted her back, trying not to be so amused.

"How long till you think its safe?"

"I can't go back there tonight! I'll get some more reading done instead."

Donna reached for the filebox, but Josh grabbed her hand.

"You are getting some sleep tonight."

"But—"

"You are."

Donna glared at him. Josh picked up his stack of briefing books and stood. Donna didn't move. Was she being stubborn, or did she not realize that he was just going to take her back to his room?

"Come on."

"I'm not going back there."

Okay, she didn't realize. Good. "I know that. But you still need to sleep, so you're coming to my room."

"Am I now?"

"Donna…"

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

She stood up and grabbed the filebox.

"No," Josh swiped it from her hand and put it back on the table. "You're sleeping. You're not reading."

"If I want to stay up—"

"But you don't. You're just being difficult. Come on."

Josh put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the room, silently thankful for Donna's roommate's indiscretions.


"It's really, really hot," Josh whined.

Donna nodded. "At least it's a casual day. A suit would be much hotter."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Do you have sunscreen on?"

"I don't need sunscreen."

"Everyone needs sunscreen."

They stood watching Governor Bartlet address the crowd.

Donna wiped the sweat from her face. "Do you still have that water?"

"About a sip left."

"Could I have it?"

Josh handed over the water bottle. "You're turning red."

"I know. I've put on sunscreen 3 times, and its just not working. The sun's too strong."

"Take my shirt. I've got a T-shirt on underneath."

"No, you can keep it."

Josh began to unbutton. "You need it more than I do." He wrapped the shirt around Donna's shoulders, and she stuck her arms in.

"Thanks."

The continued to watch the speech in silence.

"Would it be bad if I sat down here for a little while?"

"I don't think so, other people are sitting."

Donna sat on the grass. She drew her knees up to her chest, and lay her head on her arms. Josh squatted beside her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just needed to sit."

"Why did you need to sit?"

"Its hot out here."

"And?"

"And I was feeling a little unsteady—"

"Dizzy."

"Yes, a little dizzy."

"And now?"

"It helps to sit."

"You should go sit in the tent over there, in the shade. Have a water."

"I'm fine here."

"You're fine there because you're really feeling better, or you're fine there because you're afraid you'll pass out if you try to walk across the field to the tent?"

Donna turned away from Josh.

"Donna?"

"I don't know." It came out smaller than she would have liked.

"Come on. I'll help. You need to get out of this sun."

Josh grabbed Donna's hands and pulled her to her feet.

"Steady?"

"Somewhat."

"I've got you." Josh wrapped his arm around her waist, and they slowly made there way around the back of the crowd to the tent.

"Almost there."

"Good."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm still upright."

"Yeah."

They got to the tent, and Josh sat Donna down in a chair, in front of a box fan that someone had brought in. There were several other people, also bothered by the heat seeking refuge in the shade. Josh started to walk to the other side of the tent.

"Where are you going?"

"Cooler. I'm going to get you a nice cold drink. You should take my shirt off again."

Josh returned with a water for Donna to drink, a few wet napkins, and a few sodas, which he intended to use as ice packs. She hadn't moved since he left her, so he set about unbuttoning his shirt and taking it off her. He then wrapped a can of soda in the shirt, and held it to the back of Donna's neck with one hand. With the other, he raised the water in front of her.

"Drink this."

She took it from him, and struggled with the cap. Finally getting frustrated, she threw it to the ground.

"It's okay. It's okay," Josh retrieved the fallen bottle, and unscrewed the cap, holding it up to her mouth. Donna took a long sip. "You got it?"

Donna nodded, taking the water from him. Josh put the soda can back in position, and placed another one against her back.

"That helps."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

He rubbed her arms with the wet napkin, and took another and wiped her face.

"There. That should really help cool you down, with the fan and all."

"Thanks," Donna leaned against him.

They sat in silence until the Governor finished his speech. Sam came trotting up.

"Some guy in the front passed out. CJ said she feels like she's going to. It's really hot, man. She okay?"

"Better now."

"The heat?"

"Yeah."

"Bus is just out in the parking lot. I'm going to go make sure CJ is okay."

"Good."

"I'm going to get Donna to the bus."

Sam jogged off.

"Hey," Josh called softly to Donna. "Donna?"

"Hmm?"

"How you doing?"

"Much better."

"How come you didn't answer?"

"I was drifting off a little."

"Sitting up?"

"Well, I was leaning…I sleep well…I just drifted off."

Josh smiled. "Let's get over to the bus. Then you can drift off again in the air conditioning."