Title: The Path Which Has Led to the Present (32/35)
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: The last few chapters have been coming quickly, because I've had lots of downtime at work. Expect more time between the last few. I think its going to be 35…

"Eat this."

"You got me a burger after all."

"You're stressed."

"You don't usually cave."

"I didn't get you fries."

"Ah, a side salad."

"I know it doesn't meet your criteria for being able to eat standing up—"

"Its fine. Dressing?"

"Light—"

"Ugh."

"Light Italian. In the bag."

"I'm gonna eat that first so that I can get rid of the salad taste with the burger."

"As long as you eat it."

Josh sat at the desk, and pulled the top off of the small container. "Do I have to eat the broccoli?"

"No." He began to pick the little green florets out. "But don't throw them out!"

She held out her own salad, and he dropped them in.

"What've you got?"

"Caesar salad."

Josh wrinkled his nose. "A bowl full of lettuce."

Donna shrugged.

"How come you get a nice, creamy dressing, and I get light Italian?"

"You don't like Caesar."

"No, but I like that one you dip buffalo wings in."

"Blue cheese? Nope, that one's way too bad for you."

Josh sighed and took the last bite of his salad. He picked up his burger.

"Mmm. Much better…but where's the cheese?"

"Hamburger."

"But I like cheeseburgers."

"But its not—"

"If you got my a burger because I was stressed, why didn't you get me the burger I like?"

"I still want you to eat more healthy."

"So, you want to comfort me, but not that much?"

"Josh…"

"Just a little, tiny, bit?—"

"Josh."

"Just enough to—"

"Are you done?"

Josh grinned. "I'll just suffer through my cheeseless—"

"Bite me."

"There's that lovely sentiment again. Is it an invitation?"

Donna smacked his arm hard, but blushed furiously. She wouldn't mind him biting her…nibbling on her ear…

"You're turning red—"

"I—"

"You're the one who suggested—"

"It's an expression."

"It is?"

"I…uh…"

Donna turned away from him, then turned back, and away again.. As smug as he was right now, there was a twinkle in his eyes that she hadn't seen all day.

"Did I render you speechless? Aww…you're flushed…"

Donna turned and smacked him again.

Josh caught the offending arm and grabbed her other. "Okay, okay. Hands to yourself."

Donna continued to try to hide her warm red cheeks, but he held her wrists and in such close proximity it was near impossible. She tried to turn her head, but his gaze remained on her. She turned her head and laid it against his shoulder.

"Why are you so embarrassed?"

Donna didn't answer, hoping he'd quit this line of questioning. It hadn't been an invitation, but the second he said that, her mind instantly went to that place that she'd been trying to keep in check for so long.

Josh looked across the back of Donna's head, trying to spy her face. She was nearly his height in heels, and couldn't get a good look. He released her wrists and wrapped his arms around her.

"What's got you?"

Donna shrugged, and he rubbed her back with the heel of his hand. She took a deep breath.

"Don't cry, okay?"

Donna giggled softly. "I'm not."

"Just making sure," Josh grinned. "Now, don't go getting makeup on my shirt."

"Oh!" Donna pulled away quickly, and examined the shoulder her head had been on. "There's nothing there."

"Good."

"But, did you look at your tie after you tied it?"

"Why?"

"Its very uneven."

"It is not."

"It is."

Deftly, she untied his tie, and began to rework it. "Hold still."

"When did you get so good at tying a tie?"

"My mom thought it was a skill every woman should know to be of help"

"To be of help?"

"Of my mother's quirks and outlooks about a woman's place, this one has proved most valuable.

"A woman's place?"

"We don't have time for me to get into that…" Donna sighed.

Josh looked at his watch. "No, we don't. We actually need to leave right now."

Josh swung on her suit coat, Donna grabbed a cardigan, and they left the room, walking quickly to the elevator.

"I'm prepared this time."

"I see that."

"Is Leo definitely joining us tonight?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

"I have to go check him now."

Josh clicked the button for Leo's floor. The car stopped and Josh stepped out. Donna followed. He turned to face her, holding out his arm.

"I need you to meet us there."

"I can't come with?"

"I need to do this alone."

Donna looked him straight in the eye, curious. "Is everything going to be okay?"

"I think so…"

She nodded slowly. "Do you need me to do anything while I wait?"

Josh smiled softly. "No…just keep your eyes and ears open."

"Okay. It's getting on this street till the big intersection, and take a left, then a right at the next, and its there?""

"Right." She stepped back into the elevator. "Wait, Donna!" She pushed the door open button. "You shouldn't walk over there alone. Its dark already."

"I"ll be fine."

"No, no…I can't ask you to walk by your—"

"I'm a big girl—"

"Donna, that's not in question. I just—"

"I'll be fine!"

"What are you two arguing about now?" Leo asked, coming out the door of his suite.

"We were just coming to get you."

"Hi, Leo."

He approached them. To Josh, he looked vastly better. A neat, crisp suit, and the lucidity had returned to his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Donna asked.

"Much better, thank you." He caught Josh's eye, giving a slight nod.

Josh nodded in response. Leo was back on track. Maybe not completely sober, but back on track.

"Now, what the hell were you two arguing about."

"First, he tells me that I need to go ahead without the two of you, then he says I can't walk alone."

"He's right."

"But why?"

"Donna, you're a young girl. This is a pretty big city."

"I can handle—"

"I'm sure you could. But its not a gentlemanly thing to do. Given the option, a gentleman never lets a lady walk alone at night."

"Since when is Josh a gentleman?"

"Hey!"

"I think he showed good judgment in this case."

"Ha!"

She smacked his arm. He caught it, and twisted it behind her back.

"Okay, okay, enough you two. We don't need the press seeing these games."

Josh pulled away quickly. "Right."

They reached the lobby, and Leo turned to Donna, "Kiddo, could you go ask the concierge to call us a taxi?"

Donna nodded swiftly, and walked over to the desk.

"We'll talk after the debate."

"Okay."

"I know you have more questions."

"I do."

"I've got a lot to tell you about, just in case."

"Okay."

"Who knows?"

"I told you that I wouldn't tell anyone."

"What did you tell Jed?"

"That the two of you needed to have a conversation."

"Good. That was a good way to handle it. If he asks, I'll tell him."

"Okay."

"Do the others suspect anything?"

"For the most part no, they bought it."

"For the most part?"

"Two exceptions, not counting the Governor."

"Who?"

"Dr. Bartlet—"

"I figured as much. And?"

"Donna."

"Donna? She suspects?"

"Let me qualify that one. I don't think she suspects that you fell off the wagon. But she certainly suspects—no, she knows-- that I wasn't telling the truth."

"How?"

"Leo, I've never met anyone who can read me as well as Donna. It's nearly impossible for me to lie to her."

"Be careful with that. There are times you might have to."

"I know."

"Do little games like the one I just witnessed happen often?"

Josh shrugged.

"Be careful. I know you're close. I don't care about the games, as long as there's no way someone could see it. Got it? Be careful. Think."

"Is this a good time to lecture me about thinking?"

"Josh—"

"I'm sorry."

"I know I screwed up. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try not to."

Donna walked over. "Cab's here."

Josh was thankful for the interruption. He didn't like where this conversation was going. He placed his hand on the small of Donna's back, a move that didn't go unnoticed by Leo.