The next morning, I wake to the sound of running water. Needless to say, hearing running water and 6 hours of sleep makes the need to rush to the bathroom paramount. While I am using the toilet, I hear a male voice singing in a shower. I assume that since Josh's room is right next door, the 2 bathrooms must be connected. Straining my ears to try and figure out what song he is singing while in the shower, I realize that it is one of the songs we danced to last night. A big smile crosses my lips.
Once I'm finished, I exit the bathroom and look over to CJ's bed. She is awake now, too. "Morning." I might have said this a little too cheerily for her.
"Yea, morning." She may be moving around somewhat, but I think 'awake' is not really what CJ is at the moment. She walks past me and into the bathroom. When she comes out of the bathroom a couple of minutes later, there is a smirk on her face. "Did you hear that?" She said, pointing her thumb back towards the bathroom.
"Hear what?" I said, innocently.
"It sounds like Josh is singing in the shower."
"Yea, I heard that, too."
"He's singing a song from last night."
"Yea." I say with a sheepish grin on my face. I can feel the blush start to creep along my face.
As we each shower and get ready for the day, we are both thinking about how happy Josh seemed to be while in the shower. CJ grabs her keycard and we both head down to the lobby to meet up with everyone else and grab something for breakfast. I start to head towards the breakfast buffet as CJ goes over to Toby, Sam and Josh sitting at a far table. As the buffet is near the table, I can overhear everything that's being said.
"Hey, guys."
"Hey, CJ." They all respond in unison.
I look over to Josh who is staring straight at me. CJ looks at him and then to me and I can see her smirk. "So, Josh…" His head snaps over to look at her. He rubs his neck. That snap must have hurt him but he has the 'deer in the headlights' look on his face. I turn back to the buffet so no one can see me snickering.
"What's up, CJ?"
"Are you in a good mood this morning?" CJ has that evil grin on her face.
"Not too bad, CJ and how about you? Did you have a good night's sleep?"
"Oh, I slept just fine. But it was nice being serenaded this morning. You know, 'The More I See You' has always been a favorite of mine."
Now it is my turn to rub my neck. I look over at Josh and his face is that wonderful shade of scarlet. Toby and Sam are looking from CJ to Josh like they are watching a tennis match.
"CJ? What on earth are you talking about?" Toby asks her to clarify as he takes another forkful of eggs.
"Well, Tobias, both Donna and I were serenaded by someone singing while in the shower in the next room over." She looks at Josh who is starting to slide down in his chair. I think if he keeps sliding, he will be able to hide from all of us under the table.
With a plateful of food, I head over to the table, place my plate down and sit down in the chair that is vacant right next to Josh. "OW!" Josh cries. Sam, who is sitting across from me, has this devilish look on his face as Josh sits up straight in the chair again. "What was that for, Sam?"
"It is impolite to slouch at the table." He tells Josh, properly. This earns a snicker from CJ. Josh leans down to rub his leg where Sam must have kicked him.
"Good morning, Donna", Josh says to me. I look up at him to return the greeting but one look at his face and all comprehension has left my brain. I stare into his eyes. He has those puppy-dog eyes glazing right at me. How can anyone think straight when someone is staring at you like that?
"Hi." Yep, that's about all I can muster at a time like this.
"Did you sleep well?" OK, puppy-dog eyes AND dimples? How is a woman supposed to breathe at a time like this?
"Fine." He has reduced me to one-syllable responses. "You?"
"Best night's sleep I have had in…" He sees that everyone's attention is on him for his answer.
"In what, Josh?" Sam asks.
He looks down, guiltily and continues, "weeks."
"And the best morning for the rest of us…" Toby whispers.
It is at this point that Leo and the Governor come over to our table. "Toby, Sam. I need you both to alter the stump speech for today", Leo sternly says. "It needs to read stronger on our education plan."
Sam and Toby grumble as they get up from the table and follow one another to the war room.
CJ heads over to the buffet to grab something to eat and a cup of coffee for herself. The Governor is right behind her appearing to refresh his own coffee.
Leo looks over at Josh and then to me. "Hey! Donna! When did you get back?"
He pulls out a chair to sit as I respond, "Last night. I got into town just in time for dinner."
"Hey, Josh," he says as Josh removes his eyes from me and looks at his boss. "Mind if I steal Donna away for a few minutes?"
"Huh?"
"Great retort, there Josh." Leo snickers at him.
"Um… yea…sure…I guess. If it's ok with Donna, that is."
I follow Leo over to the other side of the room, wondering the entire time what he could possibly want from me.
"Leo, is everything ok? Josh said he would let me have my job back but if it's a problem for y…"
He cuts me off by placing his hand up in front of me. "Donna, I'm very glad you came back to the campaign. If Josh says you can have your job back, I have absolutely no problem with that." I let out the breath I didn't even realize I was holding.
"Thank you, Leo."
"Listen, I wanted to make sure that you were gonna stay around this time." Leo has a very stern look on his face. "We can't have you leave again and go through what we have been since you left. We need Josh at his best if we are going to win this thing."
"Leo, what are you talking about?"
"Look, kid, he went ballistic when you left. He needs you which, in turn, means we need you too. There is no one else who can handle him. You got the Midas touch when it comes to knowing how to control one Joshua Lyman."
"I don't know…"
"Donna, yes you do know what I'm talking about."
OK, what does he see that I am not aware of? "I'm here as long as you want me to be, Leo."
"Good. Now go get that boss of yours and get to it." He leaves me standing there with my jaw hanging down. I am so confused about what is happening around here. Leo goes over to CJ, whispers something to her as I see her look in my direction. She shakes her head yes to him and he and the Governor leave. I am stunned into remaining right where I am. My feet feel like they have been nailed to this spot on the floor.
CJ comes over to me with a smile on her face. "Hey, Donna. Leo asked me if it would be ok that, while on the campaign trail, we share a room. He is trying to conserve some money for the last media push. I told him it was ok with me if it's ok with you. What do you say? Wanna be roomies?" She sees that I am not completely paying attention to her. "Donna?"
"Yea, sure, CJ. Whatever works for the campaign."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm not sure?"
"What?"
"CJ, what is going on around here?" She notices the confusion written all over my face. "Why do I feel like I am the glue that is holding Josh Lyman together?"
"Because you are." I am totally shocked by her response. "Look, Donna. When you first joined the campaign, Josh was always bouncing around on the balls of his feet like he just won the lottery. When you left, well, let's just say that he moped around so much that we thought we were going to have to commit him."
"But, why me?"
"Think about the song you heard him singing this morning." Here comes that blush again. "I think that song will tell you what is going on in Josh's mind." She leaves me standing there to think about her words.
I sing the song to myself:
Each time I look at you is like the
first time
Each time you're near me the thrill is new
And there
is nothing that I wouldn't do for
The rare delight of the sight of
you for
The more I see you, the more I want
you
Somehow this feeling just grows and grows
With every sigh I
become more mad about you
More lost without you and so it goes
Can you imagine how much I love
you?
The more I see you as years go by
I know the only one for
me can only be you
My arms won't free you, my heart won't try
I know the only one for me can only be
you
My arms won't free you, my heart won't try
Oh. My. God! Is CJ telling me what I think she is? Can it be true? Does Josh have feelings for me as more than just his assistant? I look over to the table where Josh was sitting but he is no longer there. I feel a presence behind me.
"She's right."
FINOK so this tale ends here. I am debating on keeping it going into sequels. Send me some reviews, please, and let me know if you want more of this train of thought. I do hope you enjoyed it as much as I had fun writing it.