Josh continued to be high strung and somewhat reclusive the next few weeks. Unsure of what, exactly, the issue was, Donna rolled with the punches. She knew how to anticipate his needs and she did so, running interference with anyone she could.
If they were alone, or wrapped up in a project, Josh would begin to relax a bit, but that was becoming more and more rare. If they were on the road he'd somehow morph into his old self. He'd split a beer with Donna and they'd work late into the night, laughing and joking with the rest of the senior staff. When they were in Nashua, however, Josh would disappear after work. Any off weekends would find him out of town and if his mother called he'd be sure to close the door for the conversation.
Donna knew Noah Lyman was sick, but that wasn't what was distracting Josh. He'd talk to her about that. Rather than alienate him further, Donna just decided to blindly support him, working as hard as she could to make his life a little easier.
She was finishing up a project late Friday night in the campaign headquarters, most of the staff having left for the evening when Leo found her.
"Where's Josh," he asked, looking closely at a blue file folder full of what appeared to be polling data.
"He's gone for the weekend," she told him.
"Already?" Leo glanced at his watch, surprised to see that Josh had left so early on a Friday.
"Damnit," he muttered. "I need to get this to him tonight. We can't wait til Monday."
"Oh, um, can I fax it?" Donna offered. "Or is it something I can read to him over the phone?"
Leo shook his head. "Donna, have you ever been to Connecticut?"
oOoOoOoOoOo
Donna parked the one way rental in the driveway of the address that Leo had given her. She checked and double checked what she'd written, taking in the large, beautiful house. Pulling the grouping of folders that Leo had compiled and sent, Donna grabbed her purse and locked the car.
She'd had 3 hours to process what Leo had told her before she'd left but she couldn't quiet wrap her head around it. It did, however, explain the way Josh had been acting.
She rang the doorbell, standing nervously on the front porch. Only a few moments later she heard Josh's familiar footsteps walking quickly to the door and throwing it open.
The stood there, face to face, neither of them speaking. Josh was stunned; his eyes widened in surprise. "I thought you were the pizza guy," he admitted to her, unsure of what to say.
"I'm not," she supplied. "I'm your assistant. And also, you know, not a guy," she joked. "Your mom ordered pizza for dinner?" Donna was surprised.
"She's not here," Josh told her, still not moving. He wasn't sure what to say.
Donna, for her part, thought he looked pretty damn adorable in his jeans and tshirt with a little burp rag over one shoulder and a baby in his arms.
Ready to take the tension from the air, Donna stepped inside, immediately placing a light hand on the baby's back. "And you must be Audrey Joan," she cooed. It was only a few seconds before she had placed her things down and gently taken the baby from Josh, fawning over her.
Josh stood there, dumbstruck, and scratched the back of his head. "How did you-"
"Leo," she supplied, her attention now focused solely on tiny Audrey.
She wandered into the living room where Josh had clearly been watching the Mets game prior to her arrival, making herself at home on the couch.
"Why are you here," he asked. "Not that I'm not happy to see you," he supplied quickly.
"Something urgent with polling data. The folder is next to my purse."
The pizza arrived and Josh studied the data, talking over a few of the finer points with Donna. Audrey barely made a peep- she was content to be held by Donna. After Josh put her down he collapsed on the floor, leaning back on the couch next to Donna.
"I'm beat," he announced. "I don't know how something so tiny can make me so exhausted."
Donna chuckled.
"Donna, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I am. It's just all very overwhelming for me right now."
Donna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure it is. But Josh you know I'm here if you need a hand."
He nodded that he did.
"So, not to be too intrusive, but I think the cat's out of the bag now… so, what happened? Leo only gave me the bare details."
It was a one night stand, he explained. Something that he never did, with the kind of woman he never even found attractive. It just- happened. And then, 9 months later, he got a call from the hospital. She'd had the baby and then had what Josh was referring to as a 'spiritual awakening' and had decided to move to a remote mountain retreat in Thailand. She'd signed the paperwork waiving parental rights and that was that. Josh had a DNA test completed and Audrey was, in fact, his. He'd taken care of the paperwork for it at Noah's office in the city that day and soon afterwards the results came back and the legal portion was taken care of. His parents were helping with Audrey during the campaign.
At some point during their conversation, Donna had found her hand in his curls, gently reassuring him that he wasn't alone in this.
"I'm terrified," he'd admitted.
"Probably normal," she'd told him. "But you don't have to do it on your own, Josh. Remember that."
They'd talked for a while longer, Donna finally getting up and stretching. "I better get going," she admitted.
"What?" He looked at the clock. "It's 1am."
She nodded. "Leo said he'd pay for a hotel. I'm just going to get some sleep and drive back in the morning."
"No way," he shook his head. "You'll stay here. We have plenty of room. Besides, my Mom would have a stroke if she found out you were in town and didn't stay with us. She really likes you, you know," he told her.
"I'm quite charming, Joshua," she quipped.
"So you say," he responded, not missing a beat.
He grabbed the keys to her rental, glad she didn't drive her beat up car all the way to Westport, and retrieved her bags. Scribbling a note to his parents that Donna was in the guest room he showed her upstairs, telling her to make herself at home and calling it a night, knowing that Audrey would be awake and hungry very soon.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Donna slept like a dream. She was in a large, comfortable bed, in a home, not a discount motel room with itchy sheets. Waking up the next morning she took a leisurely shower and then dressed for breakfast, taking in the Lyman home during the daylight.
"Donna! So good to see you, dear," Edith Lyman was on her feet immediately, ushering the younger woman to the breakfast table and pouring her a cup of coffee.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lyman. You have such a lovely home," Donna did love the way the house looked, but more than that she loved the way it felt. Like it was lived in, that they were a family there. It made her a little homesick for Wisconsin.
"Please, I think we're past the formalities. Call me Edie, everyone does."
"Oh, alright. Thanks, Edie."
Donna and Edie spent the early morning catching up with each other, only interrupted when Edie apologized, telling Donna she was late for a volunteer meeting and heading off. A very frazzled Josh finally wandered down the stairs holding a very alert Audrey a little while later. "Doesn't she need rest," he asked, exasperated.
"Well I don't know," Donna told him. "But you look like you could use some."
"Thank you, Donna. How insightful," he moseyed over to the sink, picking up a clean bottle and rooting around in the pantry for the formula.
Donna hopped up and took Audrey from him, the baby immediately cuddling into her. She kissed the top of her soft little whips of hair and then took the bottle from Josh. "Go back to bed," she told him. "You can't function like this and Leo needs you to know what's going on this afternoon."
"But-"
"But nothing. We'll be fine. I've taken care of babies before, Josh," she assured him. "I'll come and wake you up if anything is wrong."
Not having the energy to protest, Josh drug himself up the stairs and immediately passed out.
Donna and Audrey had an easy morning and the baby was bathed, fed, changed, dressed and happy by the time Donna woke Josh for the conference call.
"You're amazing," Josh told her, marveling at the apparent ease with which the morning had run.
"I know," she told him. "Now give me your credit card. We're going shopping and Audrey might want a new outfit." She gave him a smile and, though he rolled his eyes, he reached into his wallet and handed over his American Express.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Edie took Donna out to lunch, excited for the young woman's company. After that they'd hit a few stores, Donna finding herself unable to resist a few tiny outfits.
"I'm glad you're here," Edie told Donna. "I was so worried about him. He's giving it his all but between this and the campaign he's just burning the candle from both ends. Noah and I made plans this weekend, trying to give him some time alone with Audrey to settle in, but it may have just been too much."
"He seems to be doing alright. He's great with her," Donna told Edie honestly. "I just think it's a bit overwhelming for him."
oOoOoOoOoOo
Donna stayed the rest of the weekend, returning her rental car in Westport and riding back to New Hampshire with Josh. He'd been himself on the car ride, and Donna could tell he was excited to have someone to confide in about Audrey.
"You know, you can tell them. CJ, Toby and Sam, I mean."
"Yeah," Josh sighed. "I know. I will. I just- wanted some time to process it all."
Donna thought that was understandable. She was also glad she now knew what was going on. She'd be better able to assist Josh in all areas now that she knew what was really going on.
Pulling in to a parking spot at the hotel they were now calling home, Josh hadn't even shut the car off when Mandy stormed out of the lobby, yelling on her way over.
"Well, have fun with that," Donna told him. "I'm off to find a cold drink and a hot bath."
Josh groaned, getting out of the car to listen to the verbal thrashing he knew was coming.
Donna grabbed her bag, uttered a chipper "Hi, Mandy!" and continued up to her room.
She was barely done unpacking from the weekend when CJ knocked on her door.
"Mind if I hang out in here for a little while," she asked. "There's an excessive amount of yelling bleeding through the walls in my room."
"Josh and Mandy," Donna ventured a guess.
"Yeah," CJ confirmed. "Who else fights like that. It probably won't be long. He usually just takes a verbal beating and she leaves."
Donna bit her tongue. "May be a bit longer tonight," she told CJ. "They've got a lot to talk about. But, I've got wine and this place has cable, so we're all set."
"I'll drink to that," CJ laughed.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
One by one, Josh pulled the senior staff aside and told them about Audrey, meeting a variety of responses.
Toby was mostly indifferent, his concern for Josh's personal life largely not his top priority.
Sam was congratulatory. He'd asked Josh several questions, and though it was obvious he wished Josh would have confided in him to begin with, by the end of the conversation he understood Josh's reasoning.
CJ was shocked. She would have never guessed. She was glad he was having this discussion with her so she wouldn't have to hear it from the press, but assured him it shouldn't be an issue. There was probably no scandal brewing and she doubted anyone would care the campaign manager of a dark horse candidate was raising his little girl on the weekends. She congratulated him with a hug, and went back to what she was doing.
Mandy, however, didn't take it so well. She experienced a wide range of emotions, telling Josh repeatedly that she was a political operative, not a mother. After their blowout fight at the hotel they'd seen less and less of her. And when she was in town she was clear with Josh about the nature of their relationship- she wanted the clout that came with being associated with him, but she wasn't going to be changing diapers at 2am.
Josh continued to go to Westport as often as possible but a the campaign continued, his free time became less and less. Donna saw it but didn't know what to do. After the end of a particularly long week Leo gave them Saturday afternoon and Sunday off. Josh, who hadn't slept in 2 days, was close to dropping.
As they unloaded from the campaign bus, Donna didn't even let him get to his room.
"Give me your car keys," she demanded, catching him off guard.
"Why?"
"Your bag is already packed. Throw it in the trunk. I'm driving you to Westport for the night. You can nap on the way."
And so they did. Josh spent some quality time with Audrey and caught up on his sleep. Donna had a weekend away and the Lyman family welcomed her with open arms.
Donna adored Audrey, hating to leave her on Sunday afternoon just as much as Josh did. They said their goodbyes and Josh loaded their bags into the car as Donna held Audrey for just another minute.
"I'm glad you two made the trip," Noah Lyman told her. "You're welcome in our home any time, Donna. You're family now," he patted her on the shoulder. "Take good care of him for me," he nodded to Josh.
"Thank you," she told him genuinely, touched at his sentiment. "I will."
oOoOoOoOoOo
The night of the Illinois primary had been an emotional roller coaster for Josh. He drug his feet down the aisle of the aircraft, searching for his seat on the flight. He'd just had the strangest interaction with the Governor, and now he was headed home. He couldn't get there fast enough. As devastated as he was about the loss of his father, he knew his mother would be grief-stricken and he hated the thought of her facing it alone.
Josh sat down next to a businessman and settled in to his seat, closing his eyes. It was only a few moment later that he heard her voice, requesting if the man would switch her for a first class ticket. She needed, she explained, to sit in this row.
The man gladly agreed to the upgrade and Josh opened his eyes, glad he wasn't dreaming. Donna sat down next to him and Josh gave her a sad smile. "What are you doing here," he asked.
"Assisting you. There's apparently something in the job description I've never seen about it."
He appreciated her gentle humor and closed his eyes again, comforted by her presence.
And assist Donna did. Aside from being an emotional comfort to both Josh and Edie, she helped with Audrey, tidied up around the house, greeted friends and neighbors and made sure everyone was eating.
"You don't have to do that," Josh told her in the middle of the night as he passed her in the hall. Audrey had been crying and she'd slipped in to pick her up, trying to intercept the fussing infant before Josh woke.
"I know," she told him honestly. "But I want to," she ran a soft hand over the baby's head and pulled her close. "Get some sleep, our flight is early tomorrow."
Josh nodded his head but didn't move. They had to get back to the campaign rather quickly, but Josh was grateful for the time he could spend in Connecticut. "Thanks," he told Donna. "For everything. You didn't have to be here- you didn't have to do any of this, but I- I'm grateful you did."
His thanks meant the world to her. She gave him a soft smile. "Any time, Joshua," she told him before continuing to pace Audrey to sleep. And she meant it.
xXxXxXxXxXx
Ok, well now we're all on the same page. And so begins our journey through the West Wing years with an extra cute little addition... :)