"Leo gave us the night off." He sat against the edge of her desk and slouched.
Donna looked Josh over skeptically. "He... did?"
"Yeah. It's odd, right?" Josh stared down the corridor towards Leo's office. There was something going on and he knew it. But he couldn't figure out precisely what, and he wasn't in the room just yet.
"Very," she told him as she closed the file she was working on. "But who am I to judge?" The sound of a night off was music to her ears. She was absolutely exhausted and wasted no time gathering her belongings.
"What are you doing?" Josh raised his eyebrows.
"I'm leaving?"
"Oh." He fidgeted with the small cup of paper clips on her desk.
She sighed sat back in her chair and placed her bag down. "We don't get the night off do we?"
"You can go," he mumbled.
"But you were going to ask me to stay," she added.
"Well, I...," he picked up a paper clip and examined it closely, unsure of what to do with his nervous energy.
She sighed. "Alright. I'll pick up something for dinner while you get Audrey. What do we need to work on?"
"No. That's not what I meant. We have the night off. I was just going to see if you wanted to join us for dinner and the zoo."
She smiled softly. "That sounds great, actually."
"You don't have to," he continued. "If you have other plans-"
"I want to," she supplied quickly.
"Really?" He paused, still staring at the odds and ends on her desk.
"Really." She couldn't think of a better way to spend her evening.
Josh looked up at her, a full dimpled grin on his face. "Okay."
"Let's get moving," Donna stood. The zoo is only open for 2 more hours and she's going to want to see the panda bears. You know there's always a line."
Three hours later as Josh walked down the streets next to Donna, who was holding a very happy Audrey after a trip to the zoo and dinner, he promised himself he'd take more evenings off. This, he thought, was his happy place.
OoOoOoO
"You changed." It tumbled out of his mouth as soon as he saw her. It was a knee jerk reaction.
She glanced down at herself, clad in a pair of flannel pajama shorts and an oversized sweatshirt she'd pilfered from his dresser, and then slowly turned to look at him, a curious expression on her face. "Yes. I did." She was making enchiladas for dinner with Audrey and didn't want to ruin her work clothes. They had a stack things to do for Leo, who was wound as tightly as Toby lately.
"But the sweater looked nice."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Not that you don't look nice now," he fumbled, already mentally kicking himself. "You do. You look nice. But it's a different kind of... nice."
"I see..." she stood up and leaned against the counter top, crossing her arms and just waiting for him to continue his rambling.
"I mean, I liked the purple sweater. That's all. Well, okay, not just the sweater. But the way you wore the sweater, I suppose. No. Wait. What I mean is-" Josh's face flushed red.
"Josh?"
"Yes." It came out an octave higher than normal.
"Stop talking."
He nodded his head vigorously in agreement. "Probably for the best," he muttered.
She smiled at him. "And thank you," she added. She was becoming well versed in how to speak the language of Joshua Lyman and she knew how to take his failed attempted at a complement.
OoOoOoO
"Donna! I'm back! Get me on the phone with the majority leader's office... now." Josh started bellowing orders as soon as he zoomed into the bullpen from his meeting at the airport.
"Josh." Donna hopped out of her chair and fell into step with him.
"Also pull the justice department's expenditures for the last five years."
"Josh, I-" Donna tried to interrupt him, fidgeting a bit as she matched his stride.
"And then grab any statistics we have on tobacco use in teens."
She scribbled a quick note.
He rounded the corner into his office, mid yell. He was intending to tell her to have Larry pull a report on the Senators who taken contributions from big tobacco but his words died on his tongue as he practically screeched to a halt, Donna fumbling into him from behind at the unexpected stop.
"Hi, Daddy!" Audrey looked up from where she was coloring in Josh's visitor chair.
"Hi," he walked over and examined her closely, reflexively putting his hand to her forehead to check her temperature. "What are you doing here?" He asked, smoothing her curls as she went back to what she was doing.
"Coloring." Audrey thought it was obvious.
That got a chuckle out of an otherwise stressed Josh. "And why are you coloring in Daddy's office instead of at school?"
Audrey looked up at him and shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea but wasn't at all upset by the change in scenery.
Josh glanced over to Donna for an answer.
"I picked her up," Donna tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and shifted nervously. "I hope that's okay."
"Of course it is," he responded immediately. "But... why?"
Donna shot him a look, trying to explain that she didn't want to spell it all out. "Because of... you know... the thing."
"What thing?"
Donna gave him another exasperated look. "The thing… From the memo."
"Huh?" A look of understanding suddenly crossed his face. "Oh. The satellite?! Donna," he sighed. "Close the door."
She did so, standing with her back nervously against it. He hadn't been himself all week. There was something bothering him. Something he couldn't talk to her about. "I'm sorry," she blurted out, wondering if she'd overstepped. "It's just- I thought that if something happened she'd be safer here. With us."
"Come here," Josh motioned Donna over towards him and wrapped her up. "I'm not mad. You know that right? But Donna the sky isn't falling," he smirked. "We get that fax once a week. Debris fall out of the sky all the time. They've never hit anything."
Donna blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed at her overreaction. "Oh. I just thought..."
"I know," he gave her an extra squeeze. "And you protected her. Thank you. It's one of the many reasons you amaze me," he kissed her temple. "But the sky isn't falling and it probably wouldn't go over too well if the whole country found out we hide Audrey in my office at the first sign of disaster."
Donna shrugged. "Some things are more important than bad press," she ventured a look at him.
"Yeah," he met her gaze. He'd been coming to that realization himself.
OoOoOoO
Donna tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress a yawn.
"Ready to call it a night?" Josh smirked, finding her absolutely adorable.
"Only if you're done," she answered.
Truth be told, he'd had at least two more hours of things to do. But she was exhausted and he probably needed some sleep before his morning meetings.
"Let's go," he announced, grabbing only the bare minimum he'd need to be home for a few hours, and clicking off the lamp on his desk.
She stood in his doorway waiting for him, reaching into her purse and checking the clock.
"Late for something," he quipped.
"Just calculating how long I'll have to wait for the train," she yawned, not thinking before she spoke. She as exhausted.
He immediately went into over reaction mode, his eyebrows shooting up as his blood pressure skyrocketed at the thought of her taking the metro and walking the rest of the way home at this hour. "You don't take the Metro after 11! Donna! If you don't have your car and we are working this late, either I give you a ride home or you take a cab!"
She looked away embarrassed, and all of a sudden something clicked. He hadn't seen her ugly old car in months. And Audrey had mentioned riding the train last week.
"Donna," he advanced on her slowly, taking her arm ever so gently before she could scoot away, "where's your car?"
She wasn't making eye contact, which was intensifying the feeling in his gut.
"Donna?"
"I sold it."
"When did you sell it?"
"A few months ago."
"WHEN?" He can't help but raise his voice. She was obfuscating and he wanted answers.
"August."
"Why?"
"I needed the money."
His heart plummeted to his stomach. He knew the answer to the next question, but he's enough of a masochist to needed to her the answer from her own lips.
"Why did you need the money?"
He tilts her chin up, making her look him in the eye. Hers are bright with unshed tears."I had to take unpaid leave. I sold the car so I cover rent."
Josh pulled her into his arms, crushing her to his chest. Was there anything she wouldn't do for him? Would he ever stop needing her? And HOW THE HELL COULD LEO LET THIS HAPPEN?!
OoOoOoO
"Sagittarius." She wasn't sure how else to tell him that she knew.
The look on his face, however, wasn't what she'd anticipated. His concern for her, however, was evident in his response. Just as it was in practically everything he did.
Donna assured him that she was fine. But just as Toby has warned her, there was no time to sit down and talk it over.
"So, 9:00," she reiterated. "In the residence. Senior staff."
He nodded his head.
"I'll grab you some dinner. You're not eating or sleeping enough," she slipped it in just so she was sure he knew he wasn't getting away with anything. "And then you can head over to meet with Leo for a moment- he needs you at 8:15. And then you'll be in the residence most of the night. I'll head to your place and stay with Audrey so your mother can get some rest."
He continued to study her face for a moment, before nodding his consent to her plan. He felt some of the weight come off of his shoulders as soon as she'd spoken the code word to him. If Donna was in the room, somehow things were always better for him. She had the ability to keep him grounded.
She'd finished everything he'd need for the meeting that evening and handed him a to go container of grilled chicken and vegetables for dinner before heading to his place for the night.
She'd sent Edith on her way and read Audrey a story before putting her to bed. Donna had only been sitting on the couch for a minute when she heard the front door unlock.
"Josh?" She was surprised to say the least.
He let out a deep sigh. "Hi."
"What are you doing home? I thought you had a 9:00 with the President." She glanced at the clock as she spoke. It was only 9:03.
He sat his backpack down and made his way over to her, motioning for her to sit back down on the couch. Josh perched on the coffee table across from her and took her hands, slowly explaining to her what had happened to Mrs. Landingham that evening.
"Come here," he told her, moving to the spot next to her on the couch in one swift motion and opening his arms to her.
She buried her face his chest and cried, Josh gently stroking her hair and whispering reassurances to her. He knew she'd had a rough day and he wanted nothing more in the world than to be able to comfort her.
The loss of Mrs. Landingham hurt them all, but Donna especially had formed a close relationship with the President's secretary.
Once Donna's initial tears had slowed, Josh tipped her chin up to look at her face. Her red rimmed eyes made something catch in his own throat.
"I should go," she sniffed, feeling slightly self conscious under his intense scruitiny.
Josh simply shook his head. "You're upset. Stay here. You can take a bath in my tub and then go right to sleep."
She bit her lip, not sure how to interpret his offer but hesitated for only a moment before nodding her head in agreement.
"Come on," he stood, placing his palm on the small of her back to lead her down the hallway. "I think I still have some of those fizzy bath products you bought under my sink."
He wasn't always sure what to do, especially recently, but Josh knew if he could take care of Donna even half as well as she took care of him, well, that was a start.
OoOoOoO
"You two take that one," Sam nodded towards the large couch on the far wall. "It folds out."
They'd been practically living at the White House for the last week. It was the middle of the night and Toby and CJ had retired to their respective offices to try or a few hours of sleep.
Neither Josh nor Donna hesitated to make themselves comfortable on the pull out couch. Sam flipped the light switch off and passed out on the smaller couch while Donna quickly dozed off herself.
In the dark stillness of the room Josh pulled her a little closer and tucked the blanket in tightly around her. Worked up and unable to fall immediately to sleep himself, he calmed himself by watching her lay peacefully next to him.
All he'd wanted in his life was a career. He'd put everything else on the backburner through college and his 20's, sacrificing to get himself to where he was now. But lately Josh was having a hard time remembering why. He loved what he did, that was certain. And his loyalty to the President and Leo was practically unmatched.
But Audrey and Donna had made their unexpected entrances into his life and now, in the still of the night with Donna curled into his side, Josh wondered if perhaps there was life outside the White House.
If he was in the same position five years ago he would have been devastated at the thought of the President not seeking re-election. And though he knew that the current administration still had a lot to accomplish in office, a part of Josh knew he'd ultimately be okay with whatever answer the President would provide. And though he'd love the chance to help govern for another term, he couldn't help but to wonder how his own life would change if Donna didn't work for him. If nothing was holding him back.
Josh softly kissed her forehead and shifted slightly on the pull out couch, vowing to get a little bit of rest. Aligning his breathing to Donna's, his heartbeat and anxiety both lowered and soon he too was drifting off.
OoOoOoO
"Donna?"
"Yes?"
"Is that a macaroni necklace?"
"Yes..."
"And you're wearing it here, to work in the White House."
She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. "Audrey made it for me."
"Well I assumed that much," he continued. "But I was just surprised you were wearing it to work."
"I'm proud of it," she sat up taller. She'd intended to take it off that morning but she'd forgotten to remove it when she arrived at the office and the day had gotten away from her. "And you're one to talk, Mr. Deputy with the painted Mug." She glanced at the coffee cup in Josh's hand, painted in wild brush strokes and bright colors by Audrey herself.
"Hey, this is art," he defended. "It's abstract! I think it's a commentary on the human experience," he smirked.
Donna rolled her eyes and stood. "Let's go."
"So... You're really wearing the necklace?"
"Yes!" She was going to take it off as soon as they left the bullpen for the motorcade. But she wasn't going to admit that to him.
She turned to look at him, intending to shoot him a glare but was instead met with a full dimpled grin.
She followed him into his office where he grabbed his wallet out of his backpack and a folder from his desk. There was no need to carry along all of his belongings in the motorcade.
The President had made his decision, and the interview was airing as they spoke. And now Josh would stand by him for whatever this press conference would bring.
Donna leaned in the doorway and watched him move about, as she'd done so many times over the last years. This man, intelligent and driven, was in political operative mode. But no matter the mask he wore she knew he was going to take that night's events personally.
She stepped forward, meeting him in the center of the room and placed her hand gently on his lapel.
"No matter what happens tonight, I just want you to remember, Joshua Lyman, that you've done a lot of good for the world. And I'm proud of you." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek softly.
And before he knew what to say she was back in professional mode, standing in the door to the bullpen waiting, ready to follow him into battle.