Title: The Path Which Has Led to the Present (33/35)
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: This was the hardest chapter for me to write, out of the entire series so far. 2 more chapters.

"After all that—"

"He kicked ass!"

"Yeah."

"He—"

"Was incredible."

"He had the crowd mesmerized the whole time. You'd never know he was sick earlier."

"You should go join the others at the bar."

"You're not coming?"

"I've gotta go take care of something."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Leo?"

"Donna…I just need to go talk to him."

"Is it bad?"

"I don't think so."

"Okay…"

"Go, have a good time."

"Come join me when you're done?"

"Maybe."

"Come on."

"I'll stop in. I won't promise I'll stay."

"Fair enough. See ya later!" Donna called as she walked away down the hall.

Josh sighed and turned toward the elevators. He made the trip, once again, to Leo's suite and rang the buzzer.

"Amazing, you rang, like a normal person."

"You took off awful fast."

"I saw the Governor back to the hotel, had a word with him, and said good night."

"Does he know?"

"We didn't discuss it. There were other, more important matters, like where our focus needs to go for the next 9 days now that we've walked all over Maguire."

"So what weren't you telling me earlier?"

"Waste no time getting to the point."

"Never been my way."

"It was a slip, Josh. It's not gonna happen again. And I'm not worried…"

"But?"

"But, there were other people around."

"People who don't know you're an alcoholic though, right? That's the whole reason you drank, right?"

"Right…they didn't know…but one of the guys, this Gibson guy, he forgot his briefcase. Came back for it an hour later—"

"When the nips were all over the table."

"Right. It was right as I was on the phone with you."

"So you were pretty far gone."

"I was really gone. And he saw it all."

"Do you think he'll speak out?"

"I don't know, I don't know the guy."

"Any clue?"

"No, sorry Josh, I don't know."

"Fuck!"

"I know, we're in a tough spot."

"Leo, this guy could screw this enti—"

"Don't you think I know that!"

Josh paced about the room. "So we just have to trust him?"

"We don't have a choice, Josh."

"I hate having to trust someone else to do the right thing."

"Sometimes you have to."

Josh sighed. "So what now?"

"We trust, and we move on. Tomorrow we're heading into our whirlwind trip through more states in less time than ever before. I'm going to be going back to DC for a few days, to make sure we're coordinated on all fronts, so I'll need you to keep the ball running on the road."

Josh nodded.

"Keep your head in the game."

"It's in the game."

"Keep it there."

"You bringing Mandy back again?"

"Naw, I just want you at your best."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Josh…"

"I'm in the game, Leo."

The older man nodded. "Good night."

"Night."

Josh wandered down the hallway, wondering if Leo was really insinuating what he thought he was. He slowly made his way down to the hotel bar, not feeling much like celebrating.

"Hey!"

"Hi."

"That didn't take long."

"No."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah…"

"You don't sound convinced."

"I—I just don't feel like partying right now. I told you I'd come by, but I'm going to go upstairs."

"Okay, I'll come—"

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"Finish your drink." Josh started out of the bar. Donna followed.

"Do I look like I have a drink?"

"Why not?"

"I've been talking."

"I'm not in a good mood."

"You're often not in a good mood."

"Donna…go have a good time."

"Don't worry about me."

Josh sighed, and jabbed at the button of the elevator. They rode in silence. Arriving at their room, Donna quickly pulled out her card, and opened the door. Josh trudged into the room and flopped on the bed.

"You should get comfortable," Donna called, as she grabbed her pajamas and headed into the bathroom. When she emerged a minute later in his Mets T-shirt and boxers, he was still laying on the bed, fully clothed. She knelt beside him, and began undoing his tie. "Come on."

Josh sat up slowly. "It's early. I should do some reading."

"You're fried."

"I'll get a second wind."

"Or you could rest."

Josh kicked off his shoes, and undid his belt, letting his pants fall to the floor. He began to undo the buttons of his shirt, staring off at the wall.

"Josh…are things really okay?"

He didn't answer.

"Are they? Cause, I've never seen you down like this before."

"I'm fine."

"I—"

"I'm fine!"

"Josh, what happened with Leo?"

"Donna, why won't you take I can't tell you for an answer!"

"I just—"

"I can't tell you!"

"Why not?"

"Donna, there just some things I can't tell you…" Josh took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check.

"Do you not trust me?—"

"Donna! You know I trust you—"

"It doesn't—"

"Let me finish!"

The harsh tone of his voice made her recoil a bit.

"There are going to be things I can't tell you! It has nothing to do with trust…" He sat on the bed, dejected looking.

Donna sat beside him.

"The nature of my position, and, we hope, my future position, is that there are things I'm going to know that are for me only…it doesn't mean I don't trust you… I trust you more than I trust anyone…I really do…I just can't…I can't, Donna…I'm…I'm just frustrated today…"

He lay back staring at the ceiling.

"Because you have to shoulder the whole problem?" Donna asked, laying on her side, her head propped up on her hand..

"Yeah…I mean, its probably gonna be fine, but its just…I hate not being in control…"

"I know," Donna said softly.

Josh rolled on his side to face her, "I know you know."

They were suddenly very close. For a moment neither moved, but then, like a magnet, they were drawn together. Their lips met, and their legs entwined. It contained none of the sloppiness of their earlier, drunken kiss, but was just as intense. Where that had been fast and furious, this was slow and mesmerizing. Josh wrapped his arm around Donna's waist, and she ran her fingers through his unruly hair. He pulled her closer, his tongue continuing to dance with hers. She pulled back a bit, pulling lower lip with her teeth as she ran her hand up the bare skin of his back, under his shirt. Josh moaned, and rolled on top of her. They continued like this for a long time. Josh was aroused, really aroused, and for once, he didn't care, in fact, all coherent thought had left his brain, and all he wanted to do was continue to kiss Donna, and hold on for dear life.

Donna's fingers continued to dance along his back muscles, taking their time tracing each one. She gasped softly as Josh kissed his way down the side of her neck. He slid back up to kiss her lips, and she could feel just how turned on he was. She pushed him over, to climb on top of him, but they were too close to the edge of the bed and toppled to the floor.

For a moment, they lay there bewildered, in a tangled heap. Then Josh began to laugh. Hysterically. His laughter was infectious and soon Donna was laughing just as hard.

Josh sat against the side of the bed, grinning broadly.

Donna sat facing him, drawing her knees up. "You're in a better mood."

"Yeah…"

"Good."

"But…and I really hate to say this—"

"We can't do this."

Josh looked sadly at her. "No, we can't."