Taking Care... of Life

by: Jaye Reid

Character(s): Josh, Donna
Pairing(s): Josh/Donna
Category(s): Romance
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: Owned by the brilliant Sorkin and WB. Not mine, never will be. I have no money, therefore I'm not worth suing. Borrowed for my own amusement.
Summary: "...the circumference of life cannot be rightly drawn until the center is set." Benjamin E. Mays (1895 - 1984)
Spoiler: Season 1 - 4
Author's Note: I started writing this waaaayyy long ago, and of course, cannon has taken widely different paths to the way I was headed. I do however like to include cannon in my work, so you will see, although the timeline of this story is 2 -3 years ahead of what we see on the show, I have woven a bit of cannon into my timeline. It's just a bit further down the track! I have the next story in the series already partly written and I know the exact direction it will be taking. It will be out in a much shorter time than this one compared to the previous. My sincere thanks to everyone who has emailed me privately, hassled me in JDchats for the next installment and to all those who voted "Taking Care..." as most Outstanding WIP & Series in this years Golden Coffee Cup awards. Last but not least my highest recognition to three amazing women. Baby D who endures my addiction and Aim and Bridget whose talents I live in awe.

They released Josh from the hospital after the 10 days, and he was more than keen to see the outside world again. The journey to Donna's house wasn't as bad has he anticipated, however he wasn't looking forward to the three and a half hour car journey to Stone Harbor the next day.

"I feel like an invalid propped up here on the sofa, Donna," Josh whined again as Donna disappeared into the kitchen to check on dinner.

"Tough!" she called, for more than the first time before the doorbell rang and she came bustling back through the lounge. "I'll get it, don't you move," she instructed.

"Humph! As if I can get out from under all these blankets. With the heating turned up so high I'm gonna melt under them Donna," he continued to complain.

She threw him a glare and he decided to stop complaining considering reinforcements - for Donna at least - were arriving.

The evening proceeded peacefully. They talked about work, they talked about football, they talked about the smack down on the tabloid CJ was able to deliver when Joey agreed to marry Sam and they talked about Toby's impending fatherhood. Josh joined everyone at the table for the meal although retired back to the sofa soon after. He had not spent as much time sitting up, and he found his head beginning to swim. CJ gave him a worried glance, but he brushed it off, telling her he was feeling much better than he actually looked.

"I brought you a gift mi amore," CJ said with a grin, pulling the ottoman up nearer to where Josh was now voluntarily propped back on pillows and under blankets.

"You shouldn't have CJ, it's not like, you know, I nearly died or anything this time," he shrugged.

"Don't talk like that Josh!" exclaimed Donna from the table.

"Sorry," he offered, knowing how much Donna hated him mentioning anything related to death and his health. He turned his attention back to CJ to avoid any further chastisement from Donna. "Where's my present?"

CJ reached down to her shoulder bag that was sitting on the floor beside the sofa. "Here, I hope this is useful over the next few weeks," she said, tossing the package to him.

Josh ripped at the wrapping like a child looking for candy. His actions made Sam and Donna laugh.

"A woolly hat, scarf and... and gloves?"

"Will the hat actually fit on his head?" Toby questioned dryly.

"Don't mock the hat," CJ stated pointedly.

"I don't think Toby was as much mocking the hat as he was Josh's head," chuckled Sam.

"Hey, still in the room and see, it does fit!" Josh grumbled, pulling the hat onto his head. Unfortunately for him, lying back on the pillows had mussed up his hair somewhat, and it stuck out at bizarre angles from under the edge of the hat. Fortunately for the rest of the room, it provided them with several minutes of one-liners and entertainment.

***

After everyone had left, Donna loaded the dishwasher whilst Josh channel surfed.

"You're going to wear the remote out, Josh," Donna stated, switching the kitchen light off and leaning in the doorway.

"I'll buy you a new one," he replied off-handedly.

"Like everything else you've bought me?" came the words from her mouth before she could stop them.

Josh stopped changing channels and looked at her. "Excuse me?"

"Nothing... nothing, I... I shouldn't have said, just nothing."

"No, it's not... come and sit over here," he instructed, switching the television off.

"Josh, really, I..."

"Here, sit, now," he interrupted.

Donna moved silently to the ottoman that was still beside the sofa. At the same time Josh, with a pained grimace, swung his feet off the sofa so he was sitting directly in front of her.

"Like everything else I've bought you?" he questioned, lifting her chin so she was looking at him.

"I didn't mean..."

"Yes you did. Donna, do you feel uncomfortable that I... I'm not trying to buy your love Donna."

"I didn't say you were Josh. I would never think that of you Josh - never."

"But still..."

"I don't have anything to give you Josh. I'm just a college drop out who walked into your life and..."

"Stop. Stop right there, not another word. How can you think, how could you possibly..."

"Josh..."

"No. You have nothing to give me? You think... Donna, you have given me the most important thing I could have ever wanted. Forget all the other things you do. Forget how much of a role you have played in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, of the Chief of Staff... forget the intrinsic part you have played in the whole being of the White House, of the government and the running of this country..."

"Please Josh, I'm sorry... I didn't mean it. I... I..."

"Believe me when I tell you that you bring more to me than anyone else ever could. You bring me the want... the *need* to live. I look at you and I want to live forever. I want to be wherever you are. You get me through the nights. You're the one who made me hang on when all I wanted to do was close my eyes and wait for Joanie and my father to come and get me. You were the reason Donna. You are the reason for my continued breath, every day."

"Josh..." Donna barely whispered as her eyes filled with tears.

"Don't... don't *ever* doubt your importance to me. I love you damn it... I love you with everything I have in my being. Now, look what you've made me do," he complained jovially as he swiping the back of his hand over his eyes before brushing at the tear trickling down her cheek.

"I love you too," she whispered, before leaning forward and softly kissing him.

"You know I'm never going to get tired of hearing that," he smiled as their lips parted.

"Good. Now, come on, it's late. You need to get some sleep," she instructed pulling the blankets off him.

Josh kicked his legs back up onto the sofa and waited for Donna to dump the blankets back down over him. She looked curiously down at him as she began to fold them up.

"What? I'm not making you sleep on the sofa Josh. I hardly think you will get a comfortable nights sleep on there."

"Oh, okay. I've slept on worse you know. Actually this sofa is much more comfortable than the old one you had."

"The old one actually belonged to my room-mate," Donna replied, tossing the last of the blankets folded on to the ottoman.

"Well, I'm just saying, it would have saved you the trouble of making up the spare bed," he shrugged as he shuffled towards the stairs.

"I didn't. You're sleeping in my bed."

"Donna, I'm not kicking you out of your own bed."

"No, you're not," she replied, giving his arm a gently push when he stopped.

"Then..."

"I'll try really hard to control myself Josh."

"Donna..."

"I promise, you've recently had surgery. I would be crazy to try anything with you not in peak condition," she smirked.

"Peak condition?"

She sighed as he stopped and blocked the bottom of the stairway. "I just want to be close to you Josh."

"Yeah?" he asked, a smug grin spreading across his face.

"Yes," she replied, realizing she had unleashed the insufferable ego manic side of him.

"You know Donna, it has been 10 days. I might not be as far from peak condition as you think."

"Well that's not what the doctor says. He said you shouldn't resume that sort of physical activity for some time."

"What? You asked?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and once again stopping on the stairs.

"I might have enquired," she smiled shyly.

"Well, it's not like I've done anything for so long to think about resuming, so I guess I should follow Doctor's orders?"

"I think so," she countered, giving him a nudge to move.

"So, this bed of yours..."

"It's a big bed Josh, just move."

"Moving... I'm moving," he complied.

**** ****

"Joshua, is that you?" his mother called, hurrying from the kitchen to the front door.

"Yeah it's us Mom," he called back tiredly as he shuffled through the door.

"Where's Donna?"

"She's getting the bags. And before you tell me that I'm not much of a gentleman, she wouldn't let me carry anything more than my backpack," he replied, heading for the lounge.

"Are you sure you don't want to lie down?" his mother questioned.

"Please don't fuss Mom," Josh whined. The pain pill he took before leaving Washington was wearing off. "I spent 10 days in hospital basically lying down. Well other than the PT torture."

"I'll go help Donna then," she replied.

"No need," came Donna's voice as she kicked the door closed.

"Oh my dear child, put the bags down there. They must be heavy," Maya Lyman proclaimed, meeting Donna in the doorway and giving her a hug as she dropped the bags.

"No, not too heavy, we've become very experienced in packing," Donna replied, hugging her back.

"You have, I haven't packed for myself in years. Hey, I didn't get a hug," Josh complained looking back over his shoulder at the women.

"Joshua don't be such a kvetch," his mother chastised. "And you admit that Donna is better at something than you? My son has a failing?"

"Mom..."

"Oh I will have to mark today on the calendar," she continued to sass, smiling to Donna.

"Now I know where he gets his sarcasm from," Donna chuckled, collapsing in the chair beside Josh.

"No, Papa was worse," Josh said, looking up at his mother.

"I haven't heard you refer to him as Papa for a very long time," Maya said softly.

"Well I don't have Ralph Jonstone and Peter Millar to beat me up anymore when I do," Josh shrugged.

"Those boys," Maya complained, shaking her head, "never any good."

"Do you know what ever became of them?" Donna queried.

"Ah Ralph... I think he finished high school. Didn't he go and work in his father's dry-cleaning business?" Josh answered, looking to his mother for confirmation.

"Yes," Maya nodded. And that Millar boy - he got in trouble with the law."

"Yeah, I remember something about that," Josh agreed.

"His poor parents, he was in and out of jail for years. Drove his mother to an early grave that boy. He's dead now you know. Tried to rob a store and was hit by a pickup truck when he was running away."

"What goes around comes around," Donna said with conviction.

"Or he should have taken more notice in Driver Ed," scoffed Josh.

"They had Driver Ed way back then?" Donna smirked.

"Ha, ha. Funny girl," Josh drolled.

"I am making lunch," Maya stated as she rose from her chair. "Just soup and bread. I need to do some shopping, but my Joshua can be a little fussy so I thought I would wait until you were here."

"We can go shopping when Josh has his nap," Donna suggested.

"I'm not a baby, I don't need a nap," he complained trying to get out of the chair and in the end having to look to Donna for help.

"No, of course you don't," Donna nodded, humoring him. "Maya, would you like some help?"

"No, almost done. Why don't you go upstairs and freshen up. Joshua, you too."

Josh and Donna headed back to the stairs, Donna picking up their bags along the way.

"You're in the main room right Mom?" Josh called as they reached the top of the stairs.

"No, I thought you might want it," she called back.

"Okay," he bellowed back. "This way," he pointed and Donna followed him down the hall to a bedroom, dropping his bag on the bed and hers on the floor.

"Wow," said Donna, admiring the view of the bay as she pushed the drapes open.

"Yeah it's nice. Not the open ocean view you'd get if the house were a few streets over. Mom and Papa felt it was safer for us kids to be on the bay. The bay is nice."

"Well, you wouldn't get tired of waking up and having that view," Donna remarked.

"Wouldn't know," he shrugged, "this was always Mom and Papa's room."

"Oh... okay, well... which room is mine?" she asked, walking back from the window and picking up her bag.

"Hang on, I'll ask Mom," said Josh, stepping back out into the hallway and protectively placing his hand over his chest. It unexpectedly hurt when he yelled last time, and he wanted to avoid the pain. It didn't stop him from yelling as he figured it would hurt more to traipse down and then back up the stairs.

"Mom? Which is Donna's room?" he called.

"I just told you," she yelled back.

"Mom?" he questioned, not as loudly.

"I just told you Joshua," she began coming out of the kitchen and looking up to him. "You can have..."

"You said I was in the main room, you didn't say Donna was," he remarked.

"Oh... well... I... not that I necessarily condone with things young people do these days, but I just assumed you and Donna... I thought the separate addresses were more for appearances than anything else."

"Well..." he hesitated, was he really having this conversation with his mother? "It's okay Mom. We can share a room. I mean... we have before... not that we've, you know... *done* anything other than sleep you understand..."

"Joshua..."

"Yeah, okay," he said blushing slightly. This conversation made him feel like he was 16 and had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been.

"Lunch is ready," she replied, without further discussion, before turning back to the kitchen.

Josh returned to the room. Donna was still standing beside the bed.

"Guess what? We're sharing the bed," he announced.

"I... I heard," she stumbled. "Oh my God Josh, she thinks we're sleeping together!"

"Well, technically we do," he shrugged, as he unzipped his bag on the bed.

"No, not like that!" she complained, taking a swipe at his arm. "Oh, how can I face her? She thinks we're having sex!"

"Donna, last time I checked we were adults, over the age of consent. Other people our age in relationships are usually having sex."

"Since when are we like normal people?" she snorted.

"Yeah, never. That should have been Mom's first clue. Come on you think she's going to treat you any differently now because we're *not* having sex?" he asked.

"No, I guess not."

"It's getting cold!" came the call from downstairs.

"Come on Donna, it's getting cold. I think my Mom realized from the look on my face that she over assumed. It will be fine, Donna. Unless you want another room? There are plenty."

"No, it's okay. I can keep a closer eye on you," she replied tossing her garment bag on the bed and following Josh downstairs.

******

After lunch, Josh had a discussion - albeit uncomfortably - with his mother on the status of his relationship with Donna. The whole idea of them not doing anything whilst they could cause a scandal for the administration was obsolete since the morning he proposed and she accepted. But that was followed immediately by his surgery and it wasn't as if they could take their relationship to the next level since. Donna unpacked their things whilst he had the discussion.

Maya noted these circumstances didn't make her son happy. She suspected Donna felt the same way. They were sacrificing so much and she hoped President Bartlet realized just how much.

Having only left the hospital 24 hours prior, by the time they finished their talk, Josh was more than ready for painkillers and the sleep he said he didn't need whilst they did the domestic chore of grocery shopping in nearby Avalon.

"I didn't know what you or Joshua would want to eat, so I thought it wise to wait until you where here," Maya offered as they strolled along the store aisles.

"It will be good for him to have something that doesn't come out of a take-out container," Donna chuckled.

"I hear you cook for Joshua and your friends on a regular basis," Maya commented.

"Only once a fortnight or so. It depends on what is happening at the White House. Many of our dinners are cancelled at the last minute because something comes up," she said with a shake of her head.

"And I hear that is when you make a delivery run so they still eat properly," Maya smiled, patting Donna's hand that rested on the shopping trolley.

"I have to go in anyway to help Josh, so really it isn't that much of a trouble. I've taken to keeping a stash of microwavable Tupperware containers at the ready," she laughed.

"You're a good girl Donna. My son loves you very much."

"I... I know. I love him too. It's just this is what we have to do at the moment. We may not like it..."

"It's alright dear. Joshua explained to me earlier why things are as they are."

Donna nodded, still feeling the need to explain herself.

"It's just that... this is the most important thing Josh will do - it's what he's always wanted. I won't be the reason he doesn't do it anymore."

"Donna, my dear, dear girl. What my Joshua has always wanted is for someone to love him the way you do. And the most important thing he will ever do is provide me with grandchildren," she chuckled. "Helping the President and Leo run the country? Not so much."

Donna laughed. "I promise we will give you grandchildren. One day, I promise."

"I'm getting old."

"I know, you tell that to Josh all the time. Don't start on me too," Donna continued to laugh.

****

Maya and Donna were still joking when they carried the groceries inside. They were surprised to find Josh out of bed and pacing.

"Donna! Where have you been!" he exclaimed as they entered the room.

"Josh, what's wrong? Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?" Donna worried.

"No. No, what I need is for you to take your cell phone with you when you go out. I couldn't contact you," he panted holding up her phone.

"Joshua, sit over here and calm down," his mother instructed, taking him by the arm and leading him to a stool at the kitchen bench.

"Josh I..." Donna began.

"You could have called me on my cell Joshua if there was something wrong," his mother chastised.

"Nothing was wrong. Wait... you have a cell?"

"Yes Joshua. I've also given you the number. You have phoned me from your cell before. I believe Donna may have added it to your contact list, hmm? Do you need something for the pain?" she continued, placing a glass of water in front of him.

"No... yes," he decided, and Donna quickly raced upstairs to get the painkillers.

"You're a silly boy to work yourself up like this over nothing," his mother scolded, once Donna was out of the room. "You shouldn't talk to Donna like that. She doesn't have to be here you know. She doesn't have to be in your life. You work yourself up like this and you won't have to worry about waiting until you are out of the White House, she'll bury you before this term is over!"

"I know Mom... I'm... I'm sorry."

"It's not me you should be apologizing to," she sighed.

"Here they are," Donna said hurriedly as she bound down the stairs, opening the pill bottle as she did.

"Thank you," he offered apologetically as he took the tablets from her and washed them down with the water.

"Are you supposed to take them with food?" his mother asked, holding out her hand to Donna and inspecting the drug details on the bottle.

"Yes he is. We bought some cinnamon buns. He could have one of those," Donna replied, not game enough to talk directly to Josh after his angry outburst.

Maya retrieved the Kohlers Bakery bag and passed him a bun to eat.

"I don't think I can eat all of this," he said, shaking his head after taking a bite. "These cinnamon buns were huge when I was a kid, and they still are."

"Eat what you can then," his mother instructed.

"Donna?"

"Yes Josh?"

"There was a phone call. Ah... Toby called you. He wants to discuss the add-ons with review of HR 728? I... I couldn't help him. I don't know anything about it," he offered dejectedly.

"We had another meeting last week about a couple of additional changes to our original alterations. We decided we needed them to avoid Congressmen Fenshaw, MacLean, Burrows and Keller attaching a rider," she sighed, reaching for her phone.

"It's the education bill on..."

"Yeah," Donna nodded as she waited for her phone to connect to Toby's direct line.

She changed her weight from one foot to another while she waited for Toby to pick up.

"Toby... yes it's me Donna... yes I got your message... yeah he was," she said.

Josh surmised they were discussing the minor nutty he had on the phone with Toby when he realized Donna had left her cell at the house.

"Okay who is causing problems...You're kidding... ohhh damn! Yes... yes..." she continued, rolling her eyes as she listened to Toby complain about another errant member of congress. "Well what is his number, I'll give him a call? Yes, I'm sure... hang on I'll get something to write it down. Hang on Toby," she said as she fished in her bag for a pen and scrap of paper. "Go ahead."

Josh started pulling groceries out of the shopping bags and placing them on the bench whilst his mother put them away as he waited for Donna to finish her call.

"Okay, thanks Toby. I'll give you a call and let you know what's happening," Donna finished, clicking her phone closed.

"Problems?" Josh asked casually.

"Yes. I need to make a call. Is there..."

"You can make the call from the study," Josh interrupted.

"A holiday house has a study?" Donna asked surprised.

Josh smiled. "My father was a lawyer, his friends who sometimes came here with us were lawyers, the ones who still come here from the firm are and I'm a politician... the house has a study."

"Okay, thank you. I will find it where?"

"Other side of the stairs and to the right," Josh pointed.

"I'll be a few minutes. That's if I can even get Burrows to take my call," she grumbled.

*

Josh continued to help his mother unpack and put away the shopping, all the while glancing in the direction of the hallway.

"Oh for goodness sake Joshua, go eavesdrop on her before you drive me crazy," his mother complained.

"Mom, I don't eavesdrop, I..."

"Go."

"Okay," he breathed as he headed for the study. Donna was facing the window with her back to him, so he leant against the doorframe while she spoke.

"No... no... Congressman... Congre... Congressman Burrows! Look I understand your concerns. It's not as if we haven't already discuss... yes... yes... I'm fully aware of that. But if you think I'm going to allow these amendments necessary on HR 728 to be railroaded by your... no... no... you are! You're allowing uninformed judgments lead you blindly instead of the actual facts and figures Congressman. What... no, they aren't the figures... No they're not the correct figures, I know, I have been studying the figures for weeks now. They are not the correct figures. What is the date on the... those figures are outdated by 3 years Congressman. I had the updated figures faxed to your office last week along with the report from the budget committee... okay, I will have them faxed... no, better still, I will bring them personally. When can I do that? Tomorrow? I... I'm not in Washington at the moment Congressman. Yes, I can get back by late afternoon. Yes... I will see you then Congressman Burrows... yes, thank you," she groaned after the Congressman hung up the line. She swung the chair back around to find Josh standing in the doorway grinning.

"You're allowing uninformed judgments lead you blindly instead of the actual facts and figures?" Josh queried with a smirk.

"Josh..."

"You... *you* won't let the amendments be railroaded? They're fighting words Donna."

"I know. I probably let him get to me too much, but I'm not. I'm not letting him or his free lunch 'we can do whatever we want because we think we can' buddies stop these amendments go through," she complained.

"Wow."

"What?"

"You're... you do some serious ass kicking don't you?"

"I learnt from the best."

"Thank you."

"I was talking about Leo."

"Funny girl. So, you have to go back?"

"Yes. I'll drive back late tomorrow morning. It will give me some time to go over some details with Toby prior to my meeting."

"So you will still stay tonight?"

"Yes. I... I just don't know if I will make it back depending on what happens with this meeting tomorrow. I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry," Josh shrugged shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Not like plans we've made haven't been changed because I've had to meet with someone or fly somewhere at the last minute."

"Yes, but that's you Josh. You're the Deputy Chief of Staff for the President of the United States of America."

"And you're the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for the President of the United States of America. And at the moment along with a small army of merry men, you're also covering my job."

"I really wanted to spend some time with you," she replied, meeting him in the doorway.

"It happens. It's the job, we know it happens," he sighed wrapping his arm around her.

"How are you feeling? Do you want to go and lie down again?"

"Yeah, come out on the deck with me. We can bundle up and there's an outdoor beach lounge," he suggested.

"Only if you wear your woolly hat CJ gave you," she grinned.

"If I must... at least the others aren't here to grouse me over it," he complained.

*

Half an hour later Maya braved the cold late afternoon air to wander out onto the deck herself. She found them curled up together on the lounge, tucked away in a corner out of the wind, and virtually buried under a ton of blankets and rugs.

"Are you alright under there?" she joked.

"He's asleep," Donna whispered as she looked down to Josh resting on her arm. "We're fine. I'll give him a little longer before I wake him up."

Maya took one of the other chairs and sat down near them, smiling at the way her son slept peacefully in Donna's arms.

"Tell me again why I don't have grandchildren?" she asked wistfully.

Donna smiled. "It hasn't been our time yet."

"So much love needs to be shared."

"I know. I want to. You have no idea how much I want to have children with this man," she replied, almost tearfully.

"I do understand. Just as much as I wanted to have them with his father," Maya nodded before standing.

"Thank you," Donna smiled.

"No, thank you for loving my son," she replied. "I'm going back inside. Don't stay out for too long. I don't need you getting sick."

"We won't," Josh mumbled.

"You..." Donna began, surprised he was awake.

"I want you to have my children too. Now let me sleep for a little longer, okay."

"Sometimes you're impossible Josh," she sighed, pulling his hat down over his forehead.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

| << back | | The National Library |