Up Against The Wall

by: Brandy
Character(s): Josh, Donna
Pairing(s): Josh/Donna
Category(s): Post-Episode/Romance
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: Not mine. I'm just running with the story and filling in the blanks for the summer. This officially lives in Speculationville.
Summary/Spoiler: Small spoilers for '25', otherwise, wild speculation.
Author's Note: This one goes out to Sharon, who very nicely demanded it- :) and for everyone else who said, "No!!! You can't leave it there!!!"

The following quotes apply to this story in one way or another in various places, for various reasons, and were and have been insiprational to me. I ll let you guys figure out where and why.

Ten-fifteen that evening....

Josh answered the door of his apartment with an impatient crease to his brow and without so much as a hello, pulled Donna inside.

"You're late.The food is getting cold."

"Good evening to you to Josh," she answered, rolling her eyes a bit at his tone.

"Sorry, but I was beginning to worry. What took you so long?"

"I had to stop by my place and change and get my messages. I'd almost forgotten what the place looked like. Then my Mom called and she wanted me to fill her in on everything that's been happening."

"What? CNN's wall-to-wall coverage wasn't enough for her?"

"She has this idea I always know more than is being reported..."

"Yeah, my mom's the same way. The only difference is, that she doesn't want to know what I know," Josh replied with a smirk.

"I wish I could say the same, but... anyway, she eventually got the message that I was on my way out and wasn't in the mood for a long chat. Then I stopped at the video store and the lines were awful."

"What did you get?" Josh asked, reaching for the bag she had just dropped on the coffee table.Before he could look inside though, Donna snatched the bag out of his hand.

"Feed me first," she said holding the bag away from his reach.

"I can't even look? That's not fair."

"Deal with it. I'm starving, and I'm the one who had to stand in the line from hell before I could leave and come here for my promised meal. All you had to do was pick up take-out."

"Actually all I did was pick up the phone," Josh admitted with a little grin.

"Feed me!" Donna replied with a mock growl that soon dissolved into laughter. Josh couldn't help but grin at her, and with a shrug of good natured surrender, he grabbed her hand, and together they walked over to the table where everything had been laid out. Donna had to admit, it was quite the feast- not to mention, quite the variety of tastes.

"What is this- a foray into eclectic cuisine?" Donna asked as she eyed the variety of dishes spread out on Josh's table.

There was Carolina Pull-Apart Chicken BBQ and Cole slaw from this place called "Daisy's" that Ainsley had introduced them to. Next to that were Maryland Crab cakes, and Shrimp and Pasta salad from "Chesapeake Landing". There was Beef Lo-Mein and Cashew Shrimp from "Fong's", and finally a plump Calzone from " L'Italia" and half of a New York Cheesecake from the bakery around the corner from Josh's apartment.

"Uhmmm... I couldn't decide what I had a taste for- or what you were in the mood for. The cheesecake I already had," Josh admitted with a sheepish little grin.

"Were you expecting others to share this with us?" Donna asked, an eyebrow arched inquisitively.

"No... just hoping to have a long leisurely evening and catch up on the pleasure of several things that I've had to postpone enjoying of late, " Josh replied as he moved closer to where Donna stood, taking her hand in his once again, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Like a good meal?" Donna asked, her eyes dancing, and a little smile playing along the corners of her mouth.

"That's one thing... but not the most important."

"What's the most important?" Donna asked, a little breathlessly.

"I'm looking at what's most important," Josh replied softly, the smile on his lips extending to his warm brown eyes. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across her fingertips, then gently pulled her into his arms. " I'm holding on to what's most important."

"Josh?"

"Yeah?" he asked as he brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, his hand lingering there, caressing the line of her jaw.

"I'm... I think you're trying to tell me something- I'm just not sure I know exactly-"

"Then maybe I better clarify my statement," he said as he captured her mouth with his and kissed her with all the pent-up desire he had been feeling since the night of the Inauguration- maybe since long before then.

There was the tiniest moment of hesitation on her part, although the part of his mind that could still function properly realized that it was more surprise than hesitation. After that moment, he felt her full and enthusiastic return of his attention. It was then that he knew he was well and truly lost. He had never expected or experienced anything like what transpired between them when they kissed. Josh had intended to show her the depth of his feelings for her, but that she reciprocated them so completely was something he had only hoped for.

When they finally drew apart, their eyes met and they couldn't help but smile at each other.

"That was... nice," Donna observed, her eyes dancing and her voice a breathless whisper.

"Nice, huh? I can think of a few more fitting adjectives."

"Hmmm... like what?" Donna asked, her brow arched in challenge, as she caressed his shoulders.

"Astounding...incredible...delicious...wonderful...mind-blowing spectacular ... I can't even begin to describe ..." Josh trailed off as he captured her mouth in another kiss.

When he drew away from her that time, he saw the smoldering passion he felt reflected in her eyes. He saw that, along with something else, something he d been hoping to see. Something that he wanted to hear... that he needed to hear.

"There was one thing I didn't say... one thing I need to say. Donna... I love you. I'm in love with you. I think I have been for a long time... but now- I had to tell you... I couldn't go on any longer without you knowing... he admitted, slowly and unconsciously putting distance between them as he spoke. It was a defensive move on his part and it tore at Donna's heart when she realized why he was doing it. He was afraid she didn't fully return his feelings.

He would have continued to falter along- his heart exposed, his vulnerability finally revealed but Donna couldn't contain herself any longer She pulled him back into her embrace and kissing him soundly and thoroughly she looked into his eyes with tenderness and determination.

"Josh Lyman, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm crazy in love with you."

"You are?" he asked, sounding incredibly pleased and slightly shocked at the same time.

"Yeah, I am." she admitted, then laughed. " I most definitely am. What have you got to say to that?"

"How about ...thank you? Thank you for being there for me always. Thank you for being there while I worked it all out. Thank you for not running away with someone else while I was being stupid or stubborn... or both. Thank you for giving me something to smile about even when the world was going to hell Thank you for reminding me that they don't always get their way, and we can win one once in awhile. Just... thank you."

When Josh finally punctuated his suggestions with a soft kiss and a smile he noticed that there were tears brimming in Donna's eyes and even though he knew they were happy tears, they still touched him deep in his soul.

"You know- despite CJ's aversion to having you in her press room, you can be quite eloquent when you choose to Joshua Lyman."

When he tried to shrug her compliment off with a funny little quip, Donna placed a finger over his lips and kissed him, first on both cheeks, and then on his lips. The last kiss was both tender and lingering.

"For all those things you thanked me for, I can thank you for the same things - as well as many more.The funny thing about us- something I've only just recently realized- is that we truly are partners- in every sense of the word. We 'get' each other- and we do it in a way that no one else ever has. It kind of makes all this ... this stuff we've just admitted a little less scary. Don't you think?"

With a slow smile turning the corners of his mouth and a twinkle in his eyes Josh nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I do. It's crazy as hell, but I'm not scared- not at all. I'm just incredibly excited- like I just found out that I get to have my birthday three hundred and sixty-five times this year."

Donna laughed out loud at that, once again having the singular ability to follow the odd leaps Josh sometime made.

"My, my- think of all the presents you get to open..." she remarked with a wicked grin and a wink.

"Yeah, I'm thinking of one I'd like to open right now," he replied with a suggestive grin.

"Not quite yet, birthday boy," Donna said, wagging her finger and slipping out of his grasp.

"Oh... yeah- well, I didn't mean... I mean, I don't want to rush anything. I mean I want to, but..."

Taking pity on him, Donna once again placed her finger on his lips, " You're incredibly cute when you're trying to be sensitive. What I meant was, feed me first, then we'll see about the uh....unwrapping," Donna suggested with a wild blush coloring her cheeks by the time she was finished speaking.

The suggestive and teasing grin firmly back in place, Josh poured her a glass of wine and after handing it to her and raising his own glass said, " Here's to satisfying all our appetites."

************************

Much later, as they lay together, Josh's bedsheets tangled together with various discarded articles of both their clothing- tangled in much the same way their bodies were tangled together, Josh asked Donna something.

"What did Amy mean when she said she had her answer and wished you luck?"

"Hmmm?" Donna asked, without much interest. She was warm, content and sated She couldn't remember a time in her life when she had been this content, happy and relaxed all at the same time.

"When we found out about Zoey, and Amy came into my office and saw us. She said she didn't need the answer to some question anymore, and she said 'good luck- you're going to need it.' What was that about?"

"Josh- did you happen to notice how relaxed and happy I feel right now?"

"Yes, I did, and might I say that echo that sentiment whole-heartedly," he replied with a happy sigh.

"Yet you pick this moment to ask me about something about your ex-girlfriend. That doesn't strike you as just a little tacky?"

"Well, yeah... when you put it that way, I guess. I was just wondering. Never mind."

"Nope- can't do it. It's out there now.Now I've got to explain it or you'll just lay there and wonder, and it will be here in bed with us distracting you," Donna said as she sat up a little, but still remained firmly in his embrace. As she sat up, the part of the sheet that had been partially covering her slipped, and what was revealed immediately captured Josh's attention.

"Donna, I can assure you, there are far more interesting things in this bed to distract me than some random comment somebody made. A comment that I've already forgotten all about, as a matter of fact."

Smothering a satisfied grin, Donna swatted Josh's arm and trying to sound stern said, "Tough. You brought it up, so pay attention."

With a sigh of resignation and momentary defeat, Josh sat back with an exaggerated pose of patience, waiting for Donna to explain.

"The night Zoey graduated- the night everything happened, I was in the bullpen polishing up the last minute stuff for the trip, and Amy came up with an update on the on again/off again Wellingtons."

At the mention of the Wellingtons Josh rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Settle down, I told you I worked it out," Donna said with a playful swat on his arm.

"That's right, you told me- some joint DOJ session or something?"

"Yeah- anyway, Amy was on her hobby-horse about that comment she made to you about the appointment list for Vice-President...."

"What comment... oh- that comment. That was - I didn't get- I just didn't like it- that's all."

"I know. But she couldn't figure out why.So... I tried to explain it to her"

"How?"

"I explained why you look at things the way you do. Why you feel responsible for things that sometimes maybe you shouldn't- but do anyway. I told her she had to 'get' you to understand why it bothered you."

"Which she doesn't, and likely never has..." Josh muttered, mostly to himself.

"Yeah... although I didn't say that. I think she took it that way. Then she asked me... she asked me something." Donna said, hedging a little at the end

"What?" Josh asked, looking intently at the odd expression on Donna's face.

"She asked... she asked me if I was in love with you?"

"Really?"

"Yes, really. What?" Donna asked, giving him a pointed look.

"So- what did you say?"

"Nothing. Just then all hell broke loose."

"What would you have said?" Josh asked with a little smile.

"To her? Right then? Nothing. I figured if I was going to say it to anyone for the first time it really should be you. It wasn't until then I finally realized I couldn't avoid it any longer. I was in my corner, my back up against the wall. Nowhere to run anymore."

"You make it sound like a bad thing- admitting your feelings, I mean."

"Not bad. Just a little scary at first. Once I realized I didn't have anything to be scared of it was easy."

"So that's what she meant when she wished you luck. I guess she thinks I'm a hopeless cause," Josh sighed.

"For her you were, but not for me. I 'get' you- remember?"

"You get me, therefore you got me. Hmmm... as odd as that sounds, I like it I get you too. You know that right?"

"Took you long enough," Donna groused good naturedly, giving him a little poke in the ribs.

"As long as I got you. That's all that matters." Josh observed with a deep and content sigh as he wrapped his arms more firmly around her and buried his face in her neck. Donna smiled and curled into Josh as well. 'Yes', she thought, 'it really was all that mattered'. With a contented sigh of her own she closed her eyes and fell asleep to the reassuring sound of Josh's heart What a sweet sound...

The End

Sequel: Sum of My Fears

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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