Title: Red Lights
Category: Josh/Donna
Rating: G
Summary: Donna runs some red lights.
Author: StarGazr
E-Mail: StarGazr1152@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: These wonderful characters are not mine but Aaron Sorkin's.
I was taught early on to play nice in the sandbox... I only hope Aaron
and his buddies at NBC can do the same.
Author's notes: This is only my second attempt at West Wing Fic, I hope
you enjoy it. I thought "17 People" was an amazing episode, and of
course I loved the Josh/Donna stuff in the episode. This is my take on
a continuation of that conversation.
"Red Lights"
By, StarGazr
"I'm just saying," Josh argued, striding across his office, "that
if
you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for a beer."
"If you were in an accident," Donna countered, walking over to him by
the door, "I wouldn't stop for red lights. Thanks for taking me back.
Oh," she added, leaving the office, "and the flowers were beautiful."
Josh watched her walk back toward the Roosevelt room. He leaned his
head back on the door frame and sighed. Suddenly the phone rang.
"Josh Lyman," he answered. He listened carefully and let out a groan.
"OK, I'm on my way."
With the speech Sam needed in hand, Josh grabbed his coat and keys and
ran back to the Roosevelt room. "I have to leave," he said, tossing
the notebook to Sam.
"Where's the fire?" Sam asked with a mouthful of food.
"On the Hill. I should only be an hour, but you never know," Josh
said. He slipped on his coat and headed out. "Oh, if you guys finish
early, page me so I don't have to come back."
"I think we can do that," Sam said, going over his old speech. "Toby
should be over soon to help."
"OK, I'll be back soon," Josh said. He laid a gentle hand on
Donna's
shoulder as he turned to leave. She didn't turn to him, but patted his
hand before he walked away.
"OK, I've got something!" Sam announced.
Josh ran out into the parking garage. Once in his car, he peeled out
into the night. "Of all nights for Stackhouse and Lillienfield to get
into a pissing contest," he grumbled. He raced through town till he
saw a yellow light turn red. "Shit!" He yelled, slamming on his
breaks at the last moment.
'If you were in an accident...' he heard Donna say in his mind. The
tension drained from his body. He hoped the meeting would be fast so
he could see Donna before she left for the night. He unbuckled and
leaned over to open the passenger side window.
The light turned green and Josh pulled out, reaching for his seat belt.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of horns blaring. He jerked his head to
the left just a motorcycle came crashing into the driver's side of his
car.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sam stretched and tossed a plastic spoon onto the table. "It's just
not..."
"Funny," Ainsley said. Donna laughed. She had kicked off her shoes
and was resting her feet on the arm of Toby's chair. Toby had joined
them over and hour ago, and could think of nothing to help them.
"Ya know what, Ainsley?" Sam asked.
"What, Sam?" She asked, sweetly.
He stood and hovered over the table. "I got nothing!" He shouted.
Taking a deep breath, he looked around the room. "Where's Josh?"
"I called his cell phone a few minutes ago, but he didn't answer,"
Donna explained. "Maybe I should phone the Hill."
"I'm sure he just got stuck in some pissing fight about welfare with
Lillienfield and Stackhouse," Toby told them.
Donna nodded and played with her melted ice cream that Ainsley had
found in the mess for them. A night guard walked into the room. "Mr.
Ziegler, there's a call for you. They're looking for Mr. McGarry, but
I told them he was gone."
"Who is it, Dave?"
"It's George Washington Memorial. Something about an accident," the
guard handed Toby a portable phone.
Sam, Ainsley, and Toby all stared at each other. "Toby Ziegler. Yes,
yes... Oh God... We'll be right over," Toby hung up. "It's Josh.
Donna..."
He looked over at her seat, but she was gone.
"I'll call Leo," Sam said.
"I'll page CJ to see if her plane has landed. I'll meet you at the
hospital," Toby said, leaving the room.
Sam's hand was shaking as he dialed Leo's home number. "This is not
happening again," he mumbled.
"Sam," Ainsley whispered gently. "I'll talk to him. Go get your
stuff, I'm driving." She took the phone and gently ushered him out the
door. "Leo?"
A few minutes later, Ainsley met Sam in his office. "Leo's going to
call the President and then meet us over there," Sam was looking at a
photograph as she spoke. She stood behind him to see it. The picture
was of him, Josh, Donna, CJ, Leo, Toby, and the President.
"This was taken after we won the Illinois Primary. Right before Josh
found out that his father had died," he sighed.
Ainsley touched his shoulder, "He's going to be OK. Josh is strong."
"I know, I just... we shouldn't have to go through this all over again,
you know?" Sam silently and followed Ainsley out to her car.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Donna sped through town. Once she heard that there had been an
accident, she knew it was Josh. Up ahead, there was a red light.
Slowing and seeing there were no cars, she sped through the light.
At the next intersection, she saw a police car and several people
standing around. Off to the side of the road was a beat up motorcycle
and a car with it's driver's side completely smashed inward. "Josh,"
she choked.
Slamming on the gas, Donna flew through another red light. George
Washington Memorial Hospital was in sight when she heard police sirens.
Donna didn't care. She passed through a stop sign and was almost hit
herself. The police officer continued his pursuit.
Donna pulled up to emergency entrance and threw her car into park. She
ran into the ER with the officer close behind. "Ma'am stop!"
Out of breath, Donna showed her White House ID to the receptionist. "I
need to see Joshua Lyman. He was just brought in."
The officer approached her. "Ma'am, you're going to have to come with
me."
"No," Donna yelled as he grabbed her arm.
Suddenly she heard a loud yelp come from one of the ER rooms. "OW!
Get off of me, I'm fine! I don't need any more shots!"
Donna struggled and broke free of the officer's grip. She ran down the
hall in search of the angry patient. She ran past a curtained area,
then turned back when she heard him speak. She pulled the curtain back
and saw Josh struggling with a nurse. She was so relived to see him
OK.
"Donna!" Josh exclaimed. "How did you..."
"Toby got a call... I raced over..." she began to mumble, tears in her
eyes.
The nurse watched Donna, then quietly left them. "Oh, Donna... I'm
sorry, I thought they would have told you..." She slowly began to walk
toward him, only to be grabbed by the officer. "Donna, what's going
on?" Josh swung his legs off the table. His shirt was off and he had
a bandage across his upper back.
"Well... I sorta... kinda.. May have..."
"Your friend here ran at least two red lights and a stop sign and
refused to stop for a police officer when ordered to do so," the
officer informed Josh.
"Officer, I don't know if you recognize me, but I am the White House
Deputy Chief of Staff," Josh explained, hopping off the table. "The
woman you are holding is my personal assistant and she's here because I
was in an accident."
The officer released Donna's arm. "Sir, I don't care who..."
Josh held up his hand to stop him from talking. He winced in pain.
"Take it up with Leo McGarry."
The officer gave Donna a stern look, then turned and stalked off. Josh
turned to Donna who was shaking. "Donna, what happened?"
"All I could think about was Rosslyn. I'm sure the others are on their
way," she felt hot tears running down her cheeks. "I saw your car on
the way over."
"Oh, God," Josh reached out and rubbed her shoulders. "I was at a red
light and had unbuckled. When I saw the motorcycle, I threw myself
across the seat and covered my head. He shattered the window and the
glass cut up my back."
Donna's body was shaking badly and Josh pulled her into an embrace.
"If you hadn't unbuckled..."
"Shhh..." Josh stroked her hair and closed his eyes. "Don't
think about
that," he whispered. Donna closed her eyes and listened to the sound
of his steady heartbeat.
After a few moments, Josh opened his eyes. "We're being watched," he
mumbled into Donna's hair. Donna quickly turned to find Leo, Sam,
Ainsley and Toby standing by the door.
"And here we thought you were dying," Toby said.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you," Josh said sarcastically but with a
smile.
"Your car is pretty banged up. I'm having it towed," Leo told him.
"We'll be in the waiting area. I have to call the President. And
there's a police officer I have to deal with."
Donna ducked her head and blushed. Leo smiled and ushered the small
group from the room. Josh grabbed his shirt, but say the blood stain
and decided against it. Sam suddenly reappeared and threw a sweat suit
at him.
"I thought that you might be staying for awhile so... there you go," Sam
turned to leave.
"Hey, Sam," Josh called. Sam turned around. "Thanks, buddy," he
said,
pulling him into a friendly embrace.
"Don't do it again, OK?" Sam ordered as he left the room.
Josh pulled the sweatshirt over his head and turned to Donna. "It's a
little small," he commented.
"It's fine. Come on, I'll drive you home," Donna took his hand to
lead
him from the room, but he pulled her to him.
"You didn't stop for any red lights, Donna."
"No, I didn't," she whispered.
Josh brushed her hair back and cupped her face. "I love you, too," he
whispered, gently kissing her lips.
Donna smiled and nodded. Josh put his arm around her waist and led her
down the hall. "Tomorrow we'll go car shopping," she informed him.
"OK, then maybe I can drive you to a nice restaurant in my new car,"
Josh suggested.
"I like that idea," Donna agreed.
Out in the waiting area, CJ had arrived and was talking to Ainsley, Leo
was on the phone, while Sam and Toby appeared to be working. "Let's
get out of here," Josh said to them. Everyone expressed how glad they
were that he was OK. Josh kept his arm around Donna as they walked out
of the hospital.
As they were walking out, Sam said, "I think I've thought of a way to
bring the funny!" Everyone groaned as they left the hospital and
headed back to the White House.
~ ~ ~ The End ~ ~ ~
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