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Hey everyone! I am so sorry this didn't get out last weekend. I was just bogged down with work and didn't have time to finish it. (I was also busy watching my Yankees in the World Series and I am so happy they won!) Interesting tidbit(to me at least): Last weekend's USA Weekend had an article about Allison Janney (CJ). It talked about how she loves to play board games. It said she likes to play Twister and that she played it with her family on her birthday! Isn't that so weird and funny considering what I wrote about in last chapter?! It also said she feels she has quite an advantage because of her height. Okay, just thought I'd share; that made me very happy to hear from some strange reason. Anyway, thanks for the patience. Hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you thought. ~Steph Disclaimer: "The West Wing" and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to Aaron Sorkin, NBC, et al. This is just for fun out of a love for the show. No profit is made and no infringement is intended.
* * *The Pretenders: Part 8/10* * * Josh slowly lifted himself up off the ground and faced Donna. She smiled at him, but he lowered his gaze before he could see the smile brighten her eyes. Then he carefully positioned himself on the very edge of the bed, his back against the headboard. Donna shook her head at him, "You're going to fall off again if you stay like that." Josh shook his head in disagreement, as his hands smoothed the comforter. "Actually, I have very good balancing ability...I...I just underestimated the width of this bed before, that's all." Donna raised her eyebrows at him and then watched as he surveyed the bed carefully. He nodded, "Yeah, that's better." Donna chuckled and went back to reading her book. Josh began to flip through the television channels at lightening speed. This distraction caused Donna to lift her eyes up and briefly regard the television. Her eyes widened and she hurriedly gestured to Josh, "Go back! Go back!" Josh went back one and then turned to her in confusion, "A blender infomercial?" "Before that," she instructed. Josh went back one more and then watched Donna as she excitedly responded, "That's it!...Stay on this one." Josh tore his eyes away from her and viewed the screen. He sighed, " 'A Few Good Men'?" Donna turned to him and her eyes narrowed, "Please don't tell me that you don't like this movie." Josh hid his smile and responded, "Well...If you can't handle the truth!" Donna laughed and returned her eyes back to the screen as she spoke, "Oh, so you do like it." Josh shrugged, "Ah, it's okay." She turned to him with a look like he'd just declared kittens aren't cute. "Okay? Okay? Josh, 'Look Who's Talking' was okay. 'A Few Good Men' was fantastic." Josh snickered, "Yes, of course. And if Dom Deluise played the main character instead of Tom Cruise, I'm sure you'd be just as enthusiastic." Donna turned to him with a slight smile and said unconvincingly, "Yes, I would." Josh laughed, "Donna, that's like men saying they would still buy Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition if they put Della Reese on the cover." Donna chuckled, "Well, Joshua, maybe I am not quite as shallow as most men. Plus, it's the great writing that drives this movie. Aaron Sorkin is very talented." Josh simply shrugged, "Yeah, he's okay." Donna turned to him again, with her jaw clenched, "Don't make me say it." Josh smiled, "I know, I know. You thought 'The American President' was really great, too." Donna nodded emphatically, "Yes, I did. I also happen to think that Aaron Sorkin should bring his talent to television." She paused and then added with a grin, "He could do a White House drama." This caused Josh to let out a loud snort, "Yeah, like that would work. Like *anyone* would even watch that, let alone enjoy it." Donna shook her head, "I have an eye for these things, Joshua. People crave quality television. They would love to see the inner workings of the White House, get a glimpse into the kind of people who work there." Josh smiled at her, "So you're saying that people would actually care to watch boring people like us?" Donna grinned, "Speak for yourself. I would be highly entertaining." Josh chuckled, "Yes, I am sure everyone would enjoy watching you follow me around the halls of the West Wing, as you dispense every useless fact known to man." Donna smiled and tilted her head slightly, "See, I knew you'd agree." Josh shook his head, "And I am sure that everyone would just love to watch CJ dodge Danny's advances, Sam get tongue-tied with Mallory, Toby be generally grumpy and the President bore people into submission." Donna nodded with a wide smile, "Yes, they would. Throw some political stuff in there and you got yourself a hit show." Josh smiled, as he met her eyes, "You have a very idealistic view of humans, Donnatella." Donna shook her head with a smile, "No, Josh, I just happen to be one of them, unlike yourself, so I feel I have an excellent grasp of what they like." With that, she turned her attention back to the television. Josh's eyes lingered on her face for a few moments, a grin upon his lips. It didn't take long for Donna to point to Tom Cruise and then address Josh, "I see a lot of you in his character." Josh raised his eyebrows, "Well, we are both devastatingly handsome." Donna glanced at him with a smile, "Actually, I was referring to the oversize ego and unbridled arrogance you share." Josh smiled, "That too." Donna turned back to the television and then added softly, "You both can be pretty sweet, too." Josh's eyes widened at her, as he wondered if he'd heard the near inaudible comment correctly. With one last look at Donna, he settled his eyes on the television, a smile brightening his countenance. * * * * * Larry Moss sighed, "I don't know how much more of this I can take, Evelyn. I am not normally so agreeable for such long periods of time." Evelyn patted her husband's hand, "Just hold on for a few more days, dear. You promised me you'd be nice to Josh and try to accept him." "And I've been nothing but nice, even when he and his friends tried to kill me." "That was an accident, Larry." "I've also tried to accept him, but it isn't easy. There's something off about that boy." "Don't be silly, Larry. Josh is a perfectly nice boy." Larry shook his head furiously, "No, no there's something strange about him. It's almost like he's putting on a show for us...I think he's a bit of a freak." "That's ridiculous," she said dismissively. "And I don't like the fact that they are living together already, Evelyn." "Well, I must admit I am less than happy about that, too. Maybe I should go check on them." Larry nodded, "Yeah, do that. And bring me back some Yodels." "No Yodels, Larry. You have to watch your sugar." Larry groaned and waved his hand at her. Evelyn got out of bed and exited the room. She then walked to Donna's bedroom and placed her ear to the door. Her eyes widened at what she heard. "Josh, come on. Give it to me," Donna giggled. "No, you're going to have to do something for me first," Josh said through a chuckle. "Please, I can't take it anymore. I know what I am missing it and I don't like it," Donna responded through laughs. "Okay, fine. I'll give it to you." Evelyn brought her hand to her mouth, as he eyes continued to widen in horror. "Great, Josh. Now it won't go up." Donna said. Mrs. Moss glanced at the door in horrified confusion, as her face began to grow red. She tiptoed back to her room and entered. She closed the door and then addressed her husband. "Larry, do you know what is going on in that bedroom? I can hardly believe it." "What?" he asked in concern, as he removed his reading glasses and looked up from his book. Evelyn respond with embarrassment, "You know...things...Actually, I'm not even sure I know...But definite things...Understand?" "No." Her eyes narrowed at him, "I think they are doing...You know." Larry's eyes widened and he immediately sprang out of bed, "Not while I am under the same roof they aren't!" Evelyn stopped his advance to the door, "What are you going to do?" "Stop them." "How?" He shrugged, "Well, I could start by killing *him*." Evelyn sighed and then followed her husband out the door. They both stopped outside Donna's door. "Josh, hurry up. I can't wait much longer." "I'm trying, Donna. It won't budge." Larry's eyes widened in anger. He quickly threw open the door and yelled, "Get away from my daughter, you freak!" Josh and Donna just stared at him in confusion. Larry perused them, noticing they were fully clothed and in totally innocent positions. He then looked at the remote in Josh's hand. He said weakly, "So you two weren't....We heard...noises." Donna smiled, as she began to realize what they thought. She gestured to the remote control. "Josh took the remote control away from me while I was watching my favorite movie. He kept changing the channels, until the channel changing button got stuck and wouldn't go up past the Discovery Channel. I was getting frustrated because I was missing my movie...That's all." Josh glanced at Donna, who raised her eyebrows at him. He grinned, as he came to the same realization. Larry and Evelyn began to back out of the room. Larry spoke, "Oh, yeah, that's what we thought. Well, enjoy your night...But not too much...Actually, just go to sleep." With that, he quickly closed the door. Donna and Josh erupted in laughter. Josh recovered enough to say, "I think we almost killed your dad twice in one day." Donna smiled and nodded at him. Larry and Evelyn walked down the hall to their room. Larry grumbled as they entered it, "Well, I still don't like him. What kind of guy sleeps in his work clothes anyway?" Evelyn shrugged, as they both climbed into bed. * * * * * Josh awoke the next morning, feeling as if he couldn't breathe. At first, he thought it was just because Donna was in bed with him and she now had the habit of taking his breath away. However, as he opened his eyes and became slightly more lucid, he realized that he literally couldn't breathe. Donna had rolled over to his side and her arm had found its way over his mouth. Knowing that he was incapable of breathing through his nose, but not wanting to disturb Donna's peaceful (and beautiful) figure, he briefly considered allowing himself to pass out from lack of oxygen. Briefly is the key word. Josh gave Donna's face a long perusal, before removing her arm from his face. He watched as her eyelids slowly fluttered open. She smiled sleepily at him and he readily returned it. "Sorry I woke you, but you were trying to kill me in *your* sleep." Donna looked at him in confusion, so he clarified, "You somehow happened all the way over on my side and placed your arm over my mouth. Was I breathing too loud again?" Donna grinned at him and said, "Sorry," through her yawn. Josh nodded and suddenly realized that Donna's body was right up against his own. And there were those feelings again. Those feelings that he was trying his best to deny. He'd had an epiphany of sorts last night that resulted in a bump on his head. However, he was trying with all his might to ignore this troublesome epiphany. Josh abruptly rolled out of bed and stood up. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed at his eyes. "I...I have to go to the bathroom." Donna's raised her eyebrows and then waited for him to leave. When he didn't and instead stood there staring at her blankly, she said with uncertainty, "You have my permission to go the bathroom, Joshua." He looked at her strangely for a moment and then nodded, "Oh yeah. Yeah, I'm going." Josh hurriedly left Donna's bedroom and walked down the hall. He was now realizing that he was still very groggy. Josh was not a morning person, to say the least. It usually took him till at least 12:00 pm to form any kind of attitude that would not result in his being snippy with every person he came in contact with. The fact that he was groggy and confused about the whole Donna situation, caused him failure to see the light filtering from beneath the bathroom door. He tiredly rubbed at his eyes and then flung the door open. Josh slowly removed his hand from his eyes as he became keenly aware that he was not alone. His mouth hung open as he got an eyeful of Donna's father. Feeling a breeze, Larry turned around and saw Josh. They both stood there for a moment, regarding each other with mouths hanging open. Josh finally brought a hand to his eyes and stammered, "I am so, so sorry, Mr. Moss...Larry...Mr. Larry...Mr. Larry Moss...Donna's father...I don't know what to call you now. I didn't see anything, I swear. Well, maybe a little...No, no...I didn't see anything...Okay, so I'll be going now...You take your time...And, again, I am so, so sorry." Larry still stood there in his birthday suit looking entirely shocked. Josh slowly backed out of the bathroom, his hand still firmly clasped over his eyes. Before he left, he groped for the doorknob and began to tug at it, while saying, "So there's no breeze...Wouldn't want you to catch a cold." Josh finished with a nervous chuckle and then shut the door. He exhaled deeply and slowly removed his hand from his eyes. Then he walked back to Donna's room and entered. He smiled slightly at her, "Do you think it's possible to have almost killed your father three times in less than twenty-four hours?" Donna's raised her brow at him, "Why? What happened?" Josh shrugged, "Oh nothing. I just nearly gave your father a heart attack and he quite possibly scarred me for life." Donna laughed at him, "Tell me what happened." "Suffice it to say that your father and I just got acquainted a whole lot better." "Josh." He sighed, "I walked in on your dad while he was...um...in his natural state." Donna's eyes widened at him and she laughed, "You saw my father naked!" "Shhhh!" Josh ordered, "I'd prefer it if half of D.C. didn't know, Donna!" Donna smiled, "I'm sorry...I'm just trying to picture your face when you saw him." Josh squeezed his eyes closed and said in a pained voice, "I wish that's all I was picturing." Donna chuckled and smiled at him, "Look at it this way. You are now officially a member of the Moss family." Josh twisted his face at her and then grinned "So, every new member has to go through this initiation? Damn, if only had known that before I agreed to this." Donna smiled at him, as Josh collapsed onto the bed. * * * * * A few hours later, Josh and Sam were wandering the streets of downtown D.C.'s less-than-nice areas. Sam's eyes darted around fearfully, "Josh, where is this place?" Josh shrugged, "Not that much farther, Sam." "Why couldn't we have driven there? Why did you make me park my car four miles away near those kids who snickered at me?" Josh smiled, "They snickered at you because you don't look very streetwise." "And you do, Mr. Connecticut?" Josh shrugged, "I have a fierce aura, yes." Sam laughed, "Oh please." Josh stopped and turned to him, "Well, if you're so streetwise-looking then why are you getting a tattoo?" "Point taken," Sam grumbled. He then said, "I still don't understand why you made me park the car so far away." Josh was silent for a moment and then replied, "Because I wanted us to have a chance to talk." "And we couldn't talk in my car with the doors safely locked and the windows securely rolled up?" Josh grinned and nodded, "We could, but you're usually much more focused when you fear for your safety." Sam glared at him, "What did you want to talk about?" Josh stopped walking and said in a hesitant, embarrassed voice, "Have you ever had an epiphany, Sam?" Sam nodded, "Yes, when I was thirteen and I realized that Santa Claus was really my parents. Actually, I didn't so much realize it as-..." Josh interrupted him, as he fought the urge to laugh, "You believed in Santa Claus until you were thirteen?" A blush began to creep onto Sam's cheeks as he responded hesitantly, "Well, I wouldn't say I believed really...I was more in denial. The kind of denial that comes with knowing that once you stop believing the quality of your presents diminishes." Josh nodded, as he hid his smile, "So how did this epiphany come about?" "Well, my mom and I were in the mall a few days before Christmas and she yelled, 'Sam, get the hell off Santa's lap and let the little kids have a turn. What's wrong with you anyway? Haven't you figured out that your father and I are Santa Claus yet?' Not only did she embarrass me, but she shattered the illusions of forty-five kids ages seven and under." Josh couldn't help it and burst out laughing. Sam shook his head and avoided his eyes. He finished in a mutter, "She also told me to stop being a 'kolpaliat'." Josh curbed his laughter long enough to ask, "What's a 'kolpaliat'?" Sam shrugged, "How the hell should I know? Apparently, I was being one though." Josh chuckled once more before asking, "That really wasn't an epiphany, Sam." "No, it wasn't." "You could have just said no." Sam smiled, "I could have, but I'd hate to ever deprive you of entertainment derived at my expense." Josh smiled and nodded, before turning serious, "Well, I had one...And then I fell off the bed." "You fell off the bed?" "Donna's bed." Sam's eyebrows raised and his lips curled into a smile, "Well, well, you little tiger." Josh looked at him disgustedly, "It wasn't like that...And please don't ever call me that again." Sam shrugged, "Okay." He paused and then asked, "So what happened?" Josh took a deep breath before beginning, "Long story short, I touched Donna and felt this amazing spark between us. This caused me to realize I am attracted to her, so I fell off the bed." Sam laughed, while shaking his head, "You *just* realized that you're attracted to, Donna?" "Yeah. So?" "Josh, have you ever seen you two together? There's so much attraction there, I'm surprised the bullpen hasn't blown by now." "What? No. I would have seen it," Josh replied in disbelief. "Not if you didn't want to." He paused and then added, "Or maybe you've been in denial." Josh said softly, "Maybe." Sam then tilted his head to the side and said, "So that's all you realized? Is that your attracted to her?" "Isn't that enough for one day?" Sam shook his head, "I think you're in the second stage of denial. You are now denying that you're in love with her." Josh touched his arm and halted his movement, "Okay, answer me this. Why the hell are you advising me on my feelings for Donna when you're on your way to get a tattoo so you can look tougher for your girlfriend?" Sam shrugged, "Think of me like this. I'm the baseball manager who sucked when he played the game, but makes a great manager." "What?" "I can advise on the game, I just can't play it well." Josh rolled his eyes, "And I think you suck at both." Sam nodded, "You may have a point." "Unfortunately, you're all I got right now, so what do you think I should do?" "I think you should go for it." "I should go for it? That's your advice?" "Yes." "I was right, you do suck at this," Josh replied with a shake of his head. "What do you want me to say?" "Ideally, I want you to tell me to suppress my feelings for Donna because I will undoubtedly screw it up if I go for it with her and then I will lose my assistant and friend." Sam looked at him thoughtfully before saying, "I'll leave you with this quote from Erica Jong: 'And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more.' Josh contemplated these wise words, before forcing his head to shake and saying with a grin, "Why do I talk to you?" Sam smiled and replied, "Because I am filled with such wisdom." * * * * * Donna turned to CJ, as they walked through the mall. "Do you know what Josh did last night?" "What?" "He sang to me." CJ's eyes widened at Donna, "Joshua Lyman? Our Joshua Lyman?" "Yes, that Joshua Lyman." "He sang to you and he wasn't drunk?" Donna chuckled, "Well, he did have that second glass of wine at dinner against my advisement." CJ shrugged, "Well, that explains it a little, but not entirely." "Then he fell off the bed." CJ laughed, "Now that sounds like the Joshua Lyman I know." Donna bit her lip, before she spoke next, "I think I may have...feelings for him." CJ turned to her with a ready smile, "And you're just realizing this now?" "Yes. Why?" "Donna, I know it's hard to get past Josh's arrogance and to fit yourself into the same room with his ego, but once you did, how could you not have seen before now that you two have this attraction between you?" Donna smiled slightly and then asked pointedly, "I could ask the same of you and Danny." "We are not the issue." "Why don't you just go out with the guy already?" "Conflict of interests." "Oh please, CJ. You are a total professional. It wouldn't be a problem." "This isn't about me and Danny. This is about you and Josh." Donna sighed, "I don't know what to do about me and Josh. I don't want to ruin what we already have." "Here's my advice: Let things happen naturally." Donna sighed and then smiled, "Really, CJ, I expected more coming from a Press Secretary." CJ shrugged and flashed her a smile. * * * * * "Sam, how about this skull and cross bones?" Josh asked, as he turned his head to glance at him. "Oh, look at these puppies," Sam said sweetly, as he fingered the sample. Josh rolled his eyes and walked to where he stood. "Sam, I thought you wanted to go for tough, not wuss." Sam turned to him and said tersely, "These are bulldog puppies, Josh." Josh smiled slightly, "Yeah, ferocious." Sam shrugged and then went back to viewing the samples. He spoke to Josh, without looking at him, "How did you even know about this place?" "I went to Yale with the owner." Sam turned to him with surprise, "You went to Yale with a tattoo parlor owner?" "Yes." "They have majors for that kind of stuff there?" Josh smiled, "Electives maybe." Sam raised his brow, so Josh continued, "He was really into art. I guess it lead to this." Sam nodded and asked, "What's his name again?" Josh grinned, "Tiny." "Is that one of those names that is totally contrary to his actual appearance?" Sam asked with a hint of fear. Josh smiled and then looked past Sam's head. "Tiny! How've you been?" Sam turned around to find a very large man, with a bald head and tattoos covering the better part of his arms. Tiny smiled, "Josh Lyman. Long time no see." He paused and looked Sam over, "And you must be Sam Seaborn." Sam smiled nervously, as he extended his hand, "Hello...uh...Mr. Tiny." Tiny smiled and shook Sam's hand. "So, have you decided on a tattoo yet?" Sam swallowed hard, "Um, could I maybe see the tattoo needle or tool, whatever you call it, first, please. Tiny nodded and pointed at the large object on a nearby table. Sam's eyes widened and sweat began to drip down his face. He managed to say, "I'm gonna need a little more time to decide." Tiny bobbed his head, "Sure, take your time. Holler when you're ready." With that, Tiny disappeared behind the curtain. Sam turned to Josh and spoke quickly, "Okay, I can't do this. That thing is huge and sharp-looking. It looks like it could cause considerable pain. I...I don't care if Mallory likes tough guys. Let her have Jasper....In fact, I wish them well...At most, I am willing to get a rub-on tattoo...Let's go." Josh grinned at him, "So you don't care if Mallory leaves you." "It's not worth marring my body permanently." "So how are you going to smooth things over with her and make yourself seem more appealing than Jasper then?" Sam raised a finger, "I am going to go back to good old-fashioned courting." "Good old-fashioned courting?" "I am going to woo her," Sam declared with a grin. "Woo her?" "Yes." "What are you talking about?" "Well, I saw on some show the other day that the best way to win a girl's affections, if you're less than tough-looking, is to make a total ass out of yourself." Josh grinned, "Sam, correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you already tried that approach with Mallory?" "Yes, yes I have. But I think I've grown better at it," Sam replied while nodding. "And just what exactly do you plan on doing?" Sam smiled and leaned forward to whisper in his ear. Josh smiled widely at him. "Really?" "Yes. What do you think?" "I think you're going to make a total ass out of yourself," Josh replied with a grin. "Good." "And I don't think it'll work." "No?" "No." "Are you going to try to talk me out of it?" Josh shook his head with a wide smile, "Hell no, I live to see you make a total ass out of yourself." Sam shrugged and then smiled at him. To Be Continued... ****************************************************************************** ******************** Please let me know what you thought, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks for reading. Feedback link---> FEEDBACK ~Steph
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