Desperate Times

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="03fc8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B>Donna hits financial hard times and things quickly go from bad to worse.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto:kuebsr@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:kuebsr@hotmail.com"><U><B>E-Mail Me</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CCFF" FACE="Edwardian Script ITC" ><B>Smiles, Tears, & Happy Endings</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Smiles, Tears, Happy Endings"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shelleys Stories"><U>Shelley's Stories</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boomerang"><U>Boomerang</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="238 Days"><U>238 Days</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Proposal in Paradise"><U>A Proposal in Paradise</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blood Ties"><U>Blood Ties</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Party Tricks"><U>Party Tricks</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Does Anyone Really Miss Her?"><U>Does Anyone Really Miss Her?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="No Time To Be Shocked"><U>No Time To Be Shocked</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love Always"><U>Love Always</U></A>   |   <B>Desperate Times</B>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding Our Way Back"><U>Finding Our Way Back</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadblock"><U>Roadblock</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding The Treasure"><U>Finding The Treasure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hey Baby, Lets Go To Vegas"><U>Hey Baby, Let's Go To Vegas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Matter Of Trust"><U>A Matter Of Trust</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasure Sure"><U>A Pleasure Sure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id226.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Excellent Rookie Season"><U>An Excellent Rookie Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id227.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Even Steel Magnolias Cry"><U>Even Steel Magnolias Cry</U></A></div> <div> Desperate Times</div> <div> "And that brings us back to the living room," Donna said as she moved </div> <div> down the hallway </div> <div> with her potential new roommate, Serena.</div> <bR> <div> "It's a very nice apartment," Serena nodded, looking around </div> <div> approvingly, "but it's a little </div> <div> short on windows."</div> <bR> <div> "Short on windows?" Donna asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, I need plenty of glass for my crystals to reach their full </div> <div> potency," Serena said, </div> <div> pulling out a compass and trying to identify the North-facing end of </div> <div> the apartment.</div> <bR> <div> "Crystals?" Donna asked with trepidation.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Serena asserted, "I believe very strongly in the power of </div> <div> crystals. In fact, that's </div> <div> how I make my living. I sell crystals."</div> <bR> <div> "And is crystal selling a lucrative occupation?" Donna asked </div> <div> hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Some months are better than others," Serena said matter-of-</div> <div> factly. "Can you tell me why </div> <div> you are looking for a new roommate?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Donna said, as she watched the woman with a mixture of </div> <div> amusement and </div> <div> confusion, "I just moved into this place a couple of months ago. My </div> <div> boss has been </div> <div> bugging me to move to a safer neighborhood and, frankly, I was a </div> <div> little tired of stepping </div> <div> over winos to get to my front door."</div> <bR> <div> "Uh-huh," Serena said distractedly, as she moved towards the windows </div> <div> and placed her </div> <div> hand against the glass.</div> <bR> <div> "What are you doing?" Donna asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "Feeling for vibrations," Serena whispered, "Please, finish your </div> <div> story."</div> <bR> <div> "O-k," Donna stammered. "Well, when we moved in here, my roommate </div> <div> assured me that </div> <div> she was totally committed to staying in DC for at least the length of </div> <div> the lease. Six weeks </div> <div> later, she ran off to LA in the middle of the night with some guy she </div> <div> had known for three </div> <div> days. I used up most of the money I had in savings to pay the moving </div> <div> costs. Now I'm </div> <div> trying to handle all of the utilities plus the rent by myself, and I </div> <div> just can't do it."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I like the place a lot. It has good vibrations. I'd like to </div> <div> move in if you'll have me," </div> <div> Serena said, looking Donna directly in the eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Donna hesitated. She couldn't picture living with the strange </div> <div> woman standing in </div> <div> front of her, but she also couldn't afford to wait another day before </div> <div> finding a new </div> <div> roommate. "I guess you can move in as soon as possible. I just need </div> <div> you to pay your half </div> <div> of the security deposit, and the cleaning deposit, and this month's </div> <div> rent."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I may not be able to come up with all of that money right </div> <div> away," Serena said </div> <div> evasively.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I'm flexible," Donna said, "How much can you come up with?"</div> <bR> <div> "Ummm, none right now. But as soon as I get a base of operations, and </div> <div> I can make some </div> <div> calls and sell some crystals, I should be able to give you at least </div> <div> part of it."</div> <bR> <div> "You sell the crystals over the phone?" Donna gasped.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Serena said innocently, "I help the unenlightened understand </div> <div> the power of the </div> <div> crystals."</div> <bR> <div> Donna suddenly pictured her living room being turned </div> <div> into 'telemarketing central' with </div> <div> boxes of prepackaged crystals in every corner. She wasn't even sure </div> <div> her landlord allowed </div> <div> a business to be run out of the apartment. For that matter, she </div> <div> wasn't even sure it was </div> <div> legal.</div> <bR> <div> "Well... I'm really looking for someone who can... you know... </div> <div> actually help me pay </div> <div> the rent," Donna said, as she politely ushered Serena to the door.</div> <bR> <div> "You'll let me know if you change your mind?" Serena asked, as she </div> <div> stepped into the </div> <div> hall. "I get very good vibes from both you and the apartment."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said, "I'll let you know if I change my mind." </div> <bR> <div> She leaned against the wall in the entryway and chuckled. 'Well at </div> <div> least I have good </div> <div> vibes,' she thought to herself.  </div> <bR> <div> But those vibes weren't doing anything to help her find a new </div> <div> roommate. She had been </div> <div> looking for almost a month with absolutely no luck at all. She was </div> <div> going to end up being </div> <div> thrown out on the street if she didn't find one soon.</div> <bR> <div> She looked at her watch and winced. She was going to be late for work </div> <div> on top of </div> <div> everything else. With everyone scrambling around getting ready for </div> <div> his or her testimony </div> <div> to the Special Prosecutor, this was definitely not the time for </div> <div> tardiness. </div> <bR> <div> She grabbed her keys and her tote bag and headed out the door. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna cursed silently as she reached her desk and realized that Josh </div> <div> was already in his </div> <div> office. She made it a point to always try to arrive ahead of him. She </div> <div> liked to get things </div> <div> organized before the phone started ringing, he started calling her </div> <div> name, and the general </div> <div> chaos of an average day in the west wing began.</div> <bR> <div> She hung up her coat and began hurriedly checking for phone messages, </div> <div> at the same time </div> <div> gathering together the files that Josh would need for his morning </div> <div> meeting. She was rifling </div> <div> through her desk looking for her pink phone message pad, when she </div> <div> heard a voice from </div> <div> the edge of her cubicle.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna?" Josh asked, his voice laced with concern, "Are you ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna said, trying desperately to exude an air of </div> <div> normalcy, "I'm just running </div> <div> a little behind this morning. I'll have your schedule for you in just </div> <div> a second."</div> <bR> <div> Josh watched for a few more minutes as Donna moved quickly to put </div> <div> things in order, but </div> <div> it was clear that she had other things on her mind.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, I need to see you in my office, please," he said calmly.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, I'm a little busy right now. I'm trying to get...."</div> <bR> <div> "That can wait. I need to talk to you now," Josh said as he turned </div> <div> and walked into his </div> <div> office. He took a seat behind his desk and looked up to see Donna </div> <div> standing in the </div> <div> doorway.</div> <bR> <div> "Come in and close the door," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Josh, I know I was late this morning. I'm really sorry. It </div> <div> won't happen again," </div> <div> Donna said apologetically.</div> <bR> <div> "This isn't about that," Josh said soothingly, "Please sit down."</div> <bR> <div> Donna perched nervously on the edge of the visitor's chair and looked </div> <div> at the floor. She </div> <div> sent up a quick prayer that Josh wasn't going to fire her, although </div> <div> he would have every </div> <div> right. The west wing was in full battle mode, preparing to deal with </div> <div> the Special </div> <div> Prosecutor's office, and Josh needed an assistant who had her head in </div> <div> the game.</div> <bR> <div> Ever since Kim had abandoned her and taken off for LA, Donna's focus </div> <div> had been split </div> <div> between work, and trying to figure out how to keep her new apartment. </div> <div> She was glad that </div> <div> she had finally let Josh convince her to move to a better </div> <div> neighborhood, but there was no </div> <div> way she was going to be able to hold onto her new place if she didn't </div> <div> find a roommate </div> <div> soon.</div> <bR> <div> The rent was already two days overdue, and the landlord's patience </div> <div> was wearing thin. </div> <div> Donna dreaded having to ask him for another extension. Every time she </div> <div> talked to him, he </div> <div> leered at her and made smarmy innuendos about finding a way to take </div> <div> her rent out in </div> <div> trade. After every conversation she had with him, Donna felt like she </div> <div> needed a long hot </div> <div> shower.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, are you listening to me?" Josh asked, cutting through her </div> <div> thoughts.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry. What were you saying?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I asked you what is going on with you lately," Josh said, leaning </div> <div> forward and looking </div> <div> directly into her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> Donna couldn't lie to Josh; he knew her too well. Still, she knew he </div> <div> had a lot to deal with </div> <div> right now. She didn't want to complicate his life any further by </div> <div> dumping her problems in </div> <div> his lap.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm having a few small 'issues' at home. It's really nothing to </div> <div> worry about," Donna said, </div> <div> trying to sound as convincing as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "Anything I can help you with?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, but thanks. I can handle it myself," Donna assured him.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at her suspiciously, not at all sure that she was telling </div> <div> him the entire truth. </div> <div> Over the years they had worked together, he had learned to read her </div> <div> fairly well. There </div> <div> was definitely something worrying her, and that in turn worried Josh. </div> <div> He had the feeling </div> <div> that it had nothing to do with the ongoing investigation, or even her </div> <div> upcoming testimony.</div> <bR> <div> She hadn't been herself for several weeks now, and Josh chastised </div> <div> himself for not asking </div> <div> her about it sooner. The fact that they were all busy was no excuse. </div> <div> Donna had always </div> <div> been there to help him when he needed it, and now he felt as though </div> <div> he was letting her </div> <div> down.</div> <bR> <div> The worry that he saw in her eyes made his heart sink. He wanted to </div> <div> run around the desk </div> <div> and wrap his arms around her. Tell her that everything was going to </div> <div> be fine. That he </div> <div> would fix whatever was upsetting her. But he couldn't do that.</div> <bR> <div> The persistence of the Special Prosecutor, and the very real </div> <div> possibility of an </div> <div> impeachment trial, made this a very bad time for him to explore </div> <div> whatever feelings he </div> <div> might have for her. </div> <bR> <div> He knew that there were people involved in the investigation that </div> <div> would give anything for </div> <div> a chance to bring him down. Beginning a relationship with his </div> <div> assistant would be exactly </div> <div> the ammunition they needed. He was determined not to give it to them; </div> <div> not to let Donna </div> <div> get caught in the crossfire. But still, he wanted to help her in any </div> <div> way possible, to take </div> <div> away the look of fear and sadness in her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Please, Donna," Josh said sincerely, "I really want to help you, but </div> <div> I can't do that if you </div> <div> won't tell me what's wrong."</div> <bR> <div> "You have enough to deal with right now," Donna said as she reached </div> <div> across the desk </div> <div> and squeezed his hand, "I can handle this myself."</div> <bR> <div> Josh held her hand tightly as she tried to pull away.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me what's wrong," he pleaded.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked into his eyes and saw his concern for her, and her </div> <div> resolve broke down. </div> <div> Maybe he could help her after all. She would certainly feel better </div> <div> telling him, she hated </div> <div> keeping secrets from him.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, the thing is..." Donna began, but she was interrupted almost </div> <div> immediately by a </div> <div> knock on the door.</div> <bR> <div> "Come in," Josh said a bit testily as he released Donna's hand.</div> <bR> <div> Carol opened the door but remained standing in the doorway.</div> <bR> <div> "Sorry to interrupt," she said, "but I'm supposed to tell Donna that </div> <div> Oliver Babish is ready </div> <div> to see her."</div> <bR> <div> "Already?" Donna asked, glancing at her watch.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Carol answered, "he's waiting for you."</div> <bR> <div> "Did you just get finished?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Carol sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "How was it?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I've had more pleasant mornings," Carol said dryly.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, thanks," Donna said, twisting her hands nervously, "I'll get </div> <div> right down there."</div> <bR> <div> Carol nodded as she turned and headed back towards her desk. Donna </div> <div> looked uneasily at </div> <div> Josh and said, "I guess I better not keep him waiting."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess not," Josh agreed, "but we aren't done here. We'll finish </div> <div> this conversation later."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Donna smiled, feeling better at the thought of talking things </div> <div> out with Josh.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Oliver Babish spent the first 30 minutes of the meeting going over </div> <div> the basics of what </div> <div> Donna could expect during her testimony. He covered a list of general </div> <div> questions that she </div> <div> would probably be asked, and they discussed her answers. He showed </div> <div> her how to be </div> <div> careful that she only answered the question that was asked and didn't </div> <div> give any other </div> <div> information.</div> <bR> <div> Just as she was beginning to think that the meeting wasn't going to </div> <div> be as bad as she had </div> <div> feared, Oliver moved around and leaned against the front of his desk, </div> <div> facing her. His </div> <div> towering presence sent a wave of anxiety coursing through Donna's </div> <div> body.</div> <bR> <div> He looked at her for several minutes as though trying to decide how </div> <div> to best proceed, then </div> <div> took a deep breath and began to speak.</div> <bR> <div> "I need to discuss several issues with you, Ms. Moss, that I have not </div> <div> had the need to </div> <div> discuss with the other assistants."</div> <bR> <div> "Such as?" Donna asked a bit defensively.</div> <bR> <div> "Such as your unusually close relationship with your boss," Babish </div> <div> stated flatly.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at him, her eyes growing wider. "What do you </div> <div> mean 'unusually close'?" </div> <div> she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "It's common knowledge around the west wing that you and Mr. Lyman </div> <div> don't share the </div> <div> average boss/assistant relationship," Babish said.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh and I are friends, that's all!" Donna insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "I believe you," Babish said calmly, "but let's get something </div> <div> straight. What I believe </div> <div> doesn't matter. What the truth is doesn't even matter. The only thing </div> <div> that matters is what </div> <div> the opposition can convince people is true."</div> <bR> <div> "What are you saying?" Donna asked, as tears began to pool in her </div> <div> eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm saying that the Republicans are looking for a weak spot; any </div> <div> opening to get in and </div> <div> cause trouble. They want to muddy the waters as much as possible; </div> <div> divert the public's </div> <div> attention from the real matter at hand."</div> <bR> <div> "But what do I have to do with that?" Donna stammered.</div> <bR> <div> "Ms. Moss, what college did you attend?" Babish asked.</div> <bR> <div> "University of Wisconsin," Donna answered.</div> <bR> <div> "And what was your field of study?"</div> <bR> <div> "I had several."</div> <bR> <div> "But what field is your degree in?"</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't get a degree," Donna said as her voice began to falter.</div> <bR> <div> "Then certainly you had experience as an executive assistant before </div> <div> you were hired by </div> <div> Mr. Lyman?" Babish continued.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Donna mumbled.</div> <bR> <div> "Then what exactly were the qualifications that got you your job?" </div> <div> Babish asked </div> <div> pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> "This isn't fair!" Donna cried as she jumped up out of her </div> <div> chair. "You're twisting this all </div> <div> around. You're making it into something it isn't."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm just trying to give you a taste of the kind of questions that </div> <div> you are going to get from </div> <div> the prosecutors," Babish said matter-of-factly.</div> <bR> <div> "So what am I supposed to do?" Donna asked, trying hard to hold back </div> <div> her tears.</div> <bR> <div> "You need to be careful," Babish said sympathetically. "The </div> <div> opposition is watching </div> <div> everyone involved very closely now. You need to put a little distance </div> <div> between Josh and </div> <div> yourself, at least for the time being. Don't give the Republicans </div> <div> anything to use against </div> <div> either one of you."</div> <bR> <div> "But why in the world would they care about me?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not you they're after," Babish said. "Josh has made a lot of </div> <div> enemies on the hill. They </div> <div> would relish a chance to bring him down a peg or two."</div> <bR> <div> "Could they really do that?" Donna asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Careers have been damaged over less incriminating things," Babish </div> <div> said disgustedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I won't let Josh's career be ruined because of me," Donna said </div> <div> resolutely. "Tell me what </div> <div> to do."</div> <bR> <div> "Keep a safe distance between Mr. Lyman and yourself. Keep things on </div> <div> a strictly </div> <div> professional level," Babish stated.</div> <bR> <div> "I can do that," Donna nodded.</div> <bR> <div> "For that matter," Babish added, "keep all of your work relationships </div> <div> on a totally </div> <div> professional level. Don't give anyone any reason to think that you </div> <div> were hired out of </div> <div> friendship...or anything else. Let them see that you are good at your </div> <div> job."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand," Donna said as she struggled to pull herself </div> <div> together. "I can do that. I </div> <div> won't let anyone else get hurt because of me."</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Oliver said, "then I'm sure everything will be fine."</div> <bR> <div> As Donna reached the door, she turned back and asked in a quiet </div> <div> voice, "Would it be </div> <div> better if I just resigned?"</div> <bR> <div> "No," Oliver assured her, "In fact it would look worse. It would look </div> <div> as though you have </div> <div> something to feel guilty about."</div> <bR> <div> "But you'll tell me if it comes to that, right? If it would be better </div> <div> for me to leave?" Donna </div> <div> stammered.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, I will," Oliver assured her.</div> <bR> <div> Donna mumbled her thanks as she left his office as quickly as </div> <div> possible, headed for the </div> <div> sanctuary of the ladies room, and the chance to have a good long cry.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> By the time Donna returned to her desk, Josh had already left for his </div> <div> morning meetings. </div> <div> She buried herself in work, trying to forget about both her meeting </div> <div> with Babish and her </div> <div> inevitable discussion with her landlord. She was so wrapped up in her </div> <div> own thoughts that </div> <div> she didn't hear Josh approach her desk.</div> <bR> <div> "How'd it go?" he asked quietly.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Donna said without looking up.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna?" Josh said questioningly. </div> <bR> <div> When Donna finally raised her head, the sight of her eyes, red and </div> <div> puffy from crying, </div> <div> broke his heart. </div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong? What happened?" he demanded.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing, Josh. I'm fine. Really," she said, trying to sound </div> <div> convincing.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't look fine," he said as his voice began to rise. "What did </div> <div> Babish say to you?"</div> <bR> <div> "We just discussed my testimony, nothing else," Donna lied, hoping </div> <div> that Josh couldn't </div> <div> see the dishonesty in her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Then why were you crying?" Josh asked accusingly.</div> <bR> <div> "It's nothing," Donna said calmly, "I was just having a bit of </div> <div> a 'moment'. It's over now. </div> <div> Nothing to worry about."</div> <bR> <div> "Fine, then come in my office," Josh said, "I want to finish our </div> <div> conversation from </div> <div> earlier."</div> <bR> <div> 'Distance,' Donna kept repeating over and over to herself, 'Keep </div> <div> everything </div> <div> professional.'</div> <bR> <div> "I'm really busy right now, Josh," she said quickly. "I have to go </div> <div> find some files for the </div> <div> research you need."</div> <bR> <div> "It can wait," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "No, it really can't," Donna lied again. </div> <bR> <div> "I want to know what's upsetting you, Donna," Josh insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "It's really nothing," Donna said, "I shouldn't have even mentioned </div> <div> it in the first place. </div> <div> Now if I don't go pull these files, I'll never get this research done </div> <div> on time."</div> <bR> <div> Josh watched as Donna gathered up her list and headed out of the </div> <div> bullpen. He knew that </div> <div> there was something she wasn't telling him, and he was determined to </div> <div> find out what it </div> <div> was.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> When Donna finally arrived home, her leering landlord met her just </div> <div> inside the front door </div> <div> of the building.</div> <bR> <div> "Hello, Ms. Moss," he said smarmily as his eyes ran up and down her </div> <div> body.</div> <bR> <div> "Hello, Mr. Wilson," Donna said as she held her purse and her tote </div> <div> bag in front of her </div> <div> body in an attempt to shield herself from his gaze.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you have my rent money for me?" he asked with a small smile.</div> <bR> <div> "Not all of it," Donna said shakily, "but I promise I'll have it by </div> <div> the end of the week."</div> <bR> <div> "We've talked about this before," Wilson said as he moved </div> <div> closer. "I'll let you slide until </div> <div> Friday, but that's it. After that, we're going to have to work </div> <div> something else out."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll have it by Friday," Donna promised as she slipped past him and </div> <div> hurried to the </div> <div> elevator. </div> <bR> <div> She sighed with relief when she finally got inside her apartment and </div> <div> locked the door. She </div> <div> looked at the thermostat as she took off her coat, then headed to the </div> <div> bedroom and came </div> <div> back with a heavy hooded sweatshirt. The fall nights had turned </div> <div> unseasonably cold, but </div> <div> Donna couldn't afford to turn up the heat. She was already a month </div> <div> behind on the bill as </div> <div> it was, and she couldn't afford to make the situation any worse.</div> <bR> <div> She winced as she went to the cupboard and pulled down another can of </div> <div> tuna. It seemed </div> <div> to be the staple of her diet lately, but with the way her finances </div> <div> were going, it was all she </div> <div> could afford.</div> <bR> <div> She searched her mind for any possible way to come up with the rest </div> <div> of the rent money, </div> <div> but there was none. Margaret had offered to lend her a little money </div> <div> to tide her over, but </div> <div> Donna had refused. She knew that Margaret's budget was almost as </div> <div> tight as hers and she </div> <div> didn't want to impose.</div> <bR> <div> There was only one thing left to do. Donna had told herself it was an </div> <div> absolute last resort, </div> <div> but it seemed as though the time had come. The last time she taken </div> <div> her car in to be </div> <div> serviced, her mechanic had made her an offer on it. He was looking </div> <div> for a car for his </div> <div> daughter, who had just gotten her license. He knew Donna's car inside </div> <div> out because he </div> <div> had worked on it since the day she arrived in Washington. He had been </div> <div> kidding her about </div> <div> needing to upgrade her car now that she had a new apartment, joking </div> <div> that her old Taurus </div> <div> just didn't fit into the new neighborhood.</div> <bR> <div> She hated the thought of riding the Metro indefinitely, but if she </div> <div> took his offer, and did a </div> <div> little bit of creative bill paying, she could have the rent money, in </div> <div> full, by Friday. Donna </div> <div> left the tuna on the counter and went back to the living room. She </div> <div> pulled the mechanic's </div> <div> card out of her purse and turned it over to where he had written his </div> <div> home number. </div> <div> Glancing at the clock, she hoped he was still awake.</div> <bR> <div> Tears began to fall silently down her cheeks as she dialed the </div> <div> number. She took a deep </div> <div> breath and tried to swallow around the lump in her throat as she </div> <div> heard her mechanic's </div> <div> voice on the other end of the line.</div> <bR> <div> She knew she had to do this.</div> <bR> <div> She had no other choice.</div> <bR> <div> Two weeks later, Josh pulled CJ aside after the morning staff meeting.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you have a few minutes?" he asked, "I need to talk to you about </div> <div> something."</div> <bR> <div> CJ was about to put him off and ask if they could talk later in the </div> <div> week when she noticed </div> <div> a look in Josh's eye. He looked worried about something, and CJ got a </div> <div> feeling it wasn't </div> <div> work related. She knew that whatever it was that he wanted to talk </div> <div> about, it must be </div> <div> important. </div> <bR> <div> "Sure," she said. "Let me drop these notes off to Carol and I'll meet </div> <div> you in your office."</div> <bR> <div> "Um...my office is no good," Josh said anxiously, "How about the </div> <div> Mess?"</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, what's wrong?" CJ asked with a growing sense of alarm.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll meet you in the Mess. We'll talk there," Josh said as he headed </div> <div> down the hallway.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," CJ agreed worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> Fifteen minutes later, CJ entered the Mess and saw Josh seated at a </div> <div> table in the corner, </div> <div> staring distractedly into space. She grabbed two cups of coffee and </div> <div> slid into the chair </div> <div> across from him.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, Josh," she said sternly, "you're starting to worry me now. </div> <div> What's the problem?</div> <bR> <div> "Have you noticed anything different about Donna lately?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you mean anything specific?" CJ asked, "I mean, this </div> <div> investigation has everyone on </div> <div> edge?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's more than the investigation," Josh said, shaking his head.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" CJ asked, clearly concerned.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna's been acting strange for a while now," Josh said </div> <div> seriously. "At first, I just </div> <div> chalked it up to the investigation, and all the events of the summer </div> <div> catching up with her. </div> <div> She seemed like she was worried all the time, and I noticed dark </div> <div> circles under her eyes. I </div> <div> kept meaning to ask her about it, but you know how crazy things have </div> <div> been around here. </div> <div> I just never got the time."</div> <bR> <div> CJ couldn't help but notice the look of guilt that crossed Josh's </div> <div> face before he continued.</div> <bR> <div> "Finally, I made a point to ask her what was wrong. She hesitated a </div> <div> little, but finally she </div> <div> started to open up. Just before she could tell me what the problem </div> <div> was, Carol poked her </div> <div> head in and told Donna it was time for her meeting with Oliver </div> <div> Babish."</div> <bR> <div> "Did you ask her about it when she got back?" CJ said softly.</div> <bR> <div> "I tried. But it was like Donna seemed more determined than ever to </div> <div> keep it to herself. </div> <div> Her eyes were red and I could tell she'd been crying, but she </div> <div> insisted that she was fine. </div> <div> Every time I've tried to talk to her since then, she finds some </div> <div> excuse to get away. It's </div> <div> even to the point where I actually think she's avoiding me."</div> <bR> <div> "I can't imagine Donna avoiding you," CJ said skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, she is," Josh assured her. "And it's really starting to worry </div> <div> me. She is so skinny </div> <div> she looks like a skeleton, the dark circles under her eyes just keep </div> <div> getting bigger, she's </div> <div> been sniffling away with a cold for two weeks, and she looks as </div> <div> though she hasn't had a </div> <div> good night's sleep since who knows when."</div> <bR> <div> "What do you want me to do?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Would you talk to her?" Josh asked, his eyes clearly pleading for </div> <div> help.</div> <bR> <div> "Sure, I can try," CJ promised, "but I'm not sure how much luck I'll </div> <div> have if she won't </div> <div> talk to you."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm counting on the power of the sisterhood," Josh said with a small </div> <div> smile.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do my best," CJ pledged.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said glancing at his watch. "I gotta go. I have a </div> <div> meeting on the Hill in 20 </div> <div> minutes."</div> <bR> <div> "Good luck," CJ called as he headed out, almost running over Donna </div> <div> who had come to </div> <div> find him to remind him it was time to go.</div> <bR> <div> CJ watched intently as they spoke, trying to discern any sign that </div> <div> something might be </div> <div> wrong between them. She had to admit that Donna looked completely </div> <div> wrung out, and she </div> <div> was uncharacteristically fidgety.</div> <bR> <div> After Josh left, CJ continued watching Donna. She watched her </div> <div> approach the counter, </div> <div> then saw her open her purse and discreetly begin counting her change. </div> <div> After a few </div> <div> seconds, Donna turned and headed out of the Mess, her head hung down </div> <div> dejectedly. CJ </div> <div> shook her head as she realized that there was definitely more going </div> <div> on than the </div> <div> investigation.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Later that afternoon, CJ approached Donna's desk.</div> <bR> <div> "What are you doing for dinner tonight?" she asked cheerily.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing special," Donna answered, "I'll just fix myself something at </div> <div> home."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, forget that. Let's head over to Houlihan's."</div> <bR> <div> "I really can't," Donna argued. "I need to get home and take care of </div> <div> a few things..."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure it's nothing that won't wait," CJ insisted. "Besides, I </div> <div> want to bounce some </div> <div> ideas off you concerning how we should handle the coverage of </div> <div> everyone's testimony."</div> <bR> <div> "You want to bounce ideas off me?" Donna questioned.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't act so surprised, Donna. You have a good head on your </div> <div> shoulders. Besides, it's </div> <div> nice to get a woman's point of view. So we'll call it a business </div> <div> dinner and we'll let Uncle </div> <div> Sam pick up the tab. I'll expense the whole thing."</div> <bR> <div> CJ couldn't help but notice how Donna relaxed at the mention of the </div> <div> expense report. She </div> <div> knew that Donna had always talked about being a girl on a budget, but </div> <div> apparently things </div> <div> were worse than CJ had imagined.</div> <bR> <div> "I have few things to wrap up," CJ said, "Can you be ready in an </div> <div> hour?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sure," Donna agreed.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Ninety minutes later, after a few minor delays, they headed out of </div> <div> the White House. The </div> <div> unseasonably cool weather continued and they wrapped their coats a </div> <div> little tighter as they </div> <div> headed out the door.</div> <bR> <div> They were barely 25 feet down the walk when Sam, Toby and Josh came </div> <div> out the door </div> <div> behind them. They trotted down the walk to catch up with the two </div> <div> women.</div> <bR> <div> "Where you headed?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "We're going over to Houlihan's for dinner," CJ answered, trying to </div> <div> give off a definite </div> <div> 'we want to eat alone' signal.</div> <bR> <div> Josh knew what was going to come out of Sam's mouth next and there </div> <div> was no way for </div> <div> him to stop it. </div> <bR> <div> "Great!" Sam said excitedly, "that's where we're headed. We'll join </div> <div> you."</div> <bR> <div> Donna stiffened noticeably. Before CJ could open her mouth to </div> <div> protest, Donna started </div> <div> talking.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh geez, you know what? I totally forgot that I have to get home and </div> <div> call my mother. </div> <div> It's her birthday and I want to make sure that I get her before she </div> <div> goes to bed."</div> <bR> <div> "But..." CJ protested.</div> <bR> <div> "You can bounce your ideas off these guys," Donna said, the words </div> <div> tumbling hurriedly </div> <div> out of her mouth. "I'm sure they can be of more help than me anyway."</div> <bR> <div> CJ looked helplessly at Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "No, listen," Josh insisted, "we don't want to intrude. You guys have </div> <div> your 'girls' dinner' </div> <div> and we'll eat at the bar like the manly men we are." He hoped that </div> <div> his teasing tone might </div> <div> put Donna at ease.</div> <bR> <div> But it was too late. All Donna could think of was Oliver Babish's </div> <div> admonition to keep her </div> <div> distance from Josh and the others in anything that might resemble a </div> <div> social situation. </div> <div> Dinner with CJ would have been able to be explained away, but she </div> <div> knew that it would </div> <div> be a little harder to explain why she was present at what looked very </div> <div> much like a meeting </div> <div> of the senior staff.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said, "you guys go, and have a good time. I really need </div> <div> to get home."</div> <bR> <div> With that, Donna pulled her coat a little tighter, then turned and </div> <div> began walking down the </div> <div> street.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey," CJ called, "where are you going?"</div> <bR> <div> "To the Metro," Donna called back over her shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> "Where's your car?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> Donna had been preparing an answer to this question for weeks, </div> <div> knowing that it was </div> <div> bound to come up some day.</div> <bR> <div> "It's visiting with my mechanic again," she said, wincing a bit at </div> <div> her dishonesty, but glad </div> <div> that there was at least some truth in her answer.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I can give you a ride," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "No, no, I'm fine," Donna said, "You don't have to bother."</div> <bR> <div> As Donna turned and walked hurriedly down the street, Sam and Toby </div> <div> caught the look </div> <div> that passed between Josh and CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "Did I do something wrong?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, it isn't your fault," CJ said. "I was just trying to get Donna </div> <div> alone so I could make </div> <div> sure she's ok. She's been acting a little strange lately, and Josh </div> <div> and I are worried about </div> <div> her."</div> <bR> <div> "If I had known..." Sam sputtered guiltily.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not your fault," Josh sighed. "For some reason she seems to be </div> <div> avoiding me. CJ was </div> <div> just going to try to find out what the problem is."</div> <bR> <div> "Did the two of you have an argument?" Toby asked as they crossed the </div> <div> street and </div> <div> headed down the block to Houlihan's.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Josh said, "that's the strange thing. I can't really think of </div> <div> any reason for her to be </div> <div> acting this way."</div> <bR> <div> CJ considered telling Josh what she had seen earlier in the Mess, but </div> <div> then decided against </div> <div> it. If Donna was having serious money problems, she might not want </div> <div> that news spread </div> <div> around.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll try to find time to talk to her tomorrow," CJ promised as they </div> <div> reached the door of the </div> <div> restaurant.</div> <bR> <div> "Me too," Josh said, "I just hope one of us has some luck."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh got into work early the next day with a renewed determination to </div> <div> talk to Donna and </div> <div> find out what was wrong. Unfortunately, the business of the country </div> <div> didn't allow that to </div> <div> happen.</div> <bR> <div> Aside from renewed fighting in the Middle East, there was a major </div> <div> gang war brewing on </div> <div> the streets of DC. The violence had been escalating for several days, </div> <div> but the tensions </div> <div> were running even higher now because of the death of two gang members </div> <div> in a fight the </div> <div> previous night.</div> <bR> <div> Between those two events, and the meetings that Josh already had </div> <div> scheduled, he felt like </div> <div> he was being pulled in a hundred different directions.</div> <bR> <div> It was close to four o'clock by the time he got a chance to talk to </div> <div> Donna. He called her </div> <div> into his office and closed the door. She sat in the visitor's chair, </div> <div> twisting her hands </div> <div> nervously and looking at the floor.</div> <bR> <div> Josh decided to approach things from a different angle.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna," he said softly, "you know you can talk to me right?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna shook her head but didn't answer.</div> <bR> <div> "About anything," Josh continued.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna whispered.</div> <bR> <div> "Then please tell me what's wrong," Josh begged. "Is it something I </div> <div> did?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna's head snapped up. </div> <bR> <div> "No, Josh, it's not you. It's nothing you've done," Donna said </div> <div> tearily.</div> <bR> <div> "Then what?" Josh pushed on, sensing that Donna was on the verge of </div> <div> opening up to him.</div> <bR> <div> As Donna opened her mouth to speak, the phone on Josh's desk rang.</div> <bR> <div> "Damn!" he said, as Donna reached over and picked it up.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman's office," she said, trying to compose herself. "I'll </div> <div> tell him."</div> <bR> <div> She replaced the phone on the base and said, "Leo needs to see you </div> <div> right away."</div> <bR> <div> Josh stood up and moved around the desk. He placed his hand on </div> <div> Donna's shoulder and </div> <div> said, "Please wait for me. I'll be back as soon as I can."</div> <bR> <div> Donna glanced at her watch. "I'll wait, but I need to be out of here </div> <div> by 7:30 at the latest. I </div> <div> have to be somewhere."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll try to be back," Josh promised. "We really need to talk."</div> <bR> <div> Donna watched him go with a tear in her eye. She knew that Babish was </div> <div> right, but when </div> <div> she looked in Josh's eyes she saw so much concern, and she knew that </div> <div> she was hurting </div> <div> him by not telling him the truth.</div> <bR> <div> Her relationship with Josh had always been strong enough to overcome </div> <div> whatever life </div> <div> threw their way. Maybe it would be strong enough to find a way to </div> <div> deal with this too.</div> <bR> <div> Donna returned to her desk and tried to get some work done. When she </div> <div> glanced at her </div> <div> watch next, she saw that it was 7:15. </div> <bR> <div> She opened her purse and pulled out a small velvet pouch. She choked </div> <div> back tears as she </div> <div> reached in and took out the beautiful diamond broach. It had been </div> <div> willed to her by her </div> <div> grandmother. It was the only thing Donna had left from the woman she </div> <div> had loved more </div> <div> than life itself.</div> <bR> <div> And now she had no choice. She had to sell it. She was having </div> <div> absolutely no luck finding </div> <div> a new roommate. The broach was the last thing she owned that had any </div> <div> value at all. The </div> <div> thought of selling it practically tore Donna's heart out. </div> <bR> <div> She had taken it downtown and showed it to the man at the pawnshop. </div> <div> With what he was </div> <div> willing to give her, she would be able to meet her rent, and pay a </div> <div> few of her bills, for the </div> <div> next month. </div> <bR> <div> As Donna returned the broach to its pouch, she thought back to the </div> <div> conversation she had </div> <div> had with her parents the previous month. She had finally swallowed </div> <div> her pride and called </div> <div> home to ask if they could lend her a little money until she found </div> <div> someone to share </div> <div> expenses.</div> <bR> <div> Her parents had not only refused to give her the money, they had </div> <div> chastised her for living </div> <div> above her means. They told her that she had made a mistake moving to </div> <div> a nicer apartment, </div> <div> and that it wasn't their fault she wasn't satisfied with her previous </div> <div> surroundings.</div> <bR> <div> When Donna had argued that her previous apartment wasn't safe, her </div> <div> parents had </div> <div> reprimanded her for living in Washington to begin with. They had </div> <div> never liked the idea of </div> <div> her leaving Madison; Donna knew that. But now, when she was at her </div> <div> lowest, they chose </div> <div> to ridicule her instead of offering her their support.</div> <bR> <div> They told her that they would be willing to help her financially, </div> <div> only if she came back to </div> <div> Wisconsin and severed all ties with her "Democratic friends", as her </div> <div> parents so derisively </div> <div> called them. They told her that she should have known she didn't have </div> <div> what it took to </div> <div> survive in the big city. They asked why all of these people that she </div> <div> considered such good </div> <div> friends weren't willing to help out.</div> <bR> <div> Donna tried to explain that things were very unsettled right now and </div> <div> she didn't want to </div> <div> burden her friends. She assured her parents that she could get back </div> <div> on her feet by herself, </div> <div> she just needed to find a new roommate.</div> <bR> <div> They steadfastly refused to help. They even told Donna that there was </div> <div> really no reason </div> <div> for her to call home again until she was willing to admit her failure </div> <div> and return home to </div> <div> Madison.</div> <bR> <div> Donna had cried for two days after that phone call, and now she was </div> <div> actually </div> <div> contemplating selling the only family heirloom she had. Deep down, </div> <div> she knew her </div> <div> grandmother would understand, but still it was a terrible thing to </div> <div> have to do.</div> <bR> <div> If her parents ever found out, it would only reinforce their opinion </div> <div> of her as someone who </div> <div> couldn't make a good decision.</div> <bR> <div> She looked at the clock again and saw that it was 7:25. If she didn't </div> <div> leave right away, she </div> <div> would never make it to the Metro in time to get to the pawnshop </div> <div> before it closed. She </div> <div> scribbled a note for Josh and left it on his desk, then grabbed her </div> <div> coat and tote bag and </div> <div> headed out.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh hurried down the hallway towards his office, hoping to catch </div> <div> Donna before she left.</div> <div> The members of the senior staff had just been briefed by the DC </div> <div> police about the </div> <div> escalating gang violence. </div> <bR> <div> Riots were breaking out all over the city, and although this was </div> <div> strictly a matter for the </div> <div> DCPD to handle, open warfare in the streets was always a concern to </div> <div> the White House, </div> <div> and something about which they wanted to be kept informed.</div> <bR> <div> As he rounded the corner, Josh saw that Donna wasn't at her desk. He </div> <div> peeked into his </div> <div> office and saw a note in her distinctive handwriting propped up </div> <div> against the lamp. He </div> <div> picked it up and skimmed it. </div> <bR> <div> "Damn!" he said to no one in particular as he headed back towards </div> <div> Leo's office.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you catch her?" CJ asked, as Josh stepped back into Leo's office.</div> <bR> <div> "No!" Josh said emphatically, "In fact, she left me a note saying </div> <div> that she had to run an </div> <div> errand downtown."</div> <bR> <div> Sam, Leo and Toby all looked up at the mention of Donna heading </div> <div> downtown. </div> <bR> <div> "She shouldn't go downtown in this mess," Leo said worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh agreed as he pulled out his cell phone and hit the </div> <div> speed dial. He paced as </div> <div> he listened to the phone ring. He slammed his phone closed angrily as </div> <div> the voice mail </div> <div> picked up.</div> <bR> <div> "Did she get her car back, or is she on the Metro?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Josh said distractedly.</div> <bR> <div> "MARGARET!" Leo called out.</div> <bR> <div> The redhead appeared in the doorway almost immediately.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes?" she said.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you know if Donna got her car back yet?" Leo asked as he </div> <div> continued to shuffle </div> <div> papers on his desk.</div> <bR> <div> Her momentary hesitation in answering made him look up. Within </div> <div> seconds, every eye in </div> <div> the room was on Margaret.</div> <bR> <div> "Margaret, do you know something you're not telling us?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I promised Donna I wouldn't...." Margaret stammered.</div> <bR> <div> "Listen," Josh said, crossing the room to stand right in front of </div> <div> Margaret, "this is </div> <div> important. Donna may be in danger. If you know something, you have to </div> <div> tell us."</div> <bR> <div> "Margaret?" Leo prompted.</div> <bR> <div> "She went downtown to a pawn shop to sell her grandmother's broach," </div> <div> Margaret said </div> <div> softly, her eyes glued to the carpet.</div> <bR> <div> "What?!" Josh asked. "What pawn shop? And why is Donna selling her </div> <div> grandmother's </div> <div> jewelry?"</div> <bR> <div> "She needs the money," Margaret said.</div> <bR> <div> Josh quickly composed himself. He knew that getting angry and </div> <div> frustrated would only </div> <div> make Margaret retreat further, and he needed to get information from </div> <div> her. She seemed to </div> <div> be the only one who knew what was going on with Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "Please," Josh said as calmly and as soothingly as possible, "tell me </div> <div> what you know </div> <div> about what is going on with Donna."</div> <bR> <div> Margaret paused and looked Josh directly in the eyes. She had begged </div> <div> Donna for weeks </div> <div> now to tell Josh the truth, but Donna had refused. She said had her </div> <div> reasons but Margaret </div> <div> didn't know what they were. Margaret saw the anguish in Josh's eyes </div> <div> and decided to take </div> <div> the bull by the horns. If Donna was angry at her later, that's just </div> <div> something she would </div> <div> have to deal with.</div> <bR> <div> She took a deep breath and then, with a shaky voice, she poured out </div> <div> all of the facts that </div> <div> she knew.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna's roommate moved out several months ago. She just up and left </div> <div> in the middle of </div> <div> the night, leaving Donna holding the bag for all the bills and rent. </div> <div> Donna used up most of </div> <div> her savings paying for a new transmission for her car, and her half </div> <div> of the moving </div> <div> expenses. At first she wasn't worried; she just figured she would get </div> <div> a new roommate and </div> <div> everything would be fine. But it wasn't quite that easy. She couldn't </div> <div> find anyone to move </div> <div> in, and the bills started to mount."</div> <bR> <div> Margaret hesitated, not sure how far she should go, but then decided </div> <div> that as long as she </div> <div> had started, she might as well tell everything.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna tried every cost cutting measure she could think of, but she </div> <div> still is having trouble </div> <div> meeting the bills. Her new landlord is a major scuzzball, and he is </div> <div> giving her a real hard </div> <div> time about the rent. He keeps telling her that he can take it out in </div> <div> trade if she can't come </div> <div> up with the money."</div> <bR> <div> Josh clenched his fists in rage. CJ stood up and placed her hand on </div> <div> his shoulder in an </div> <div> effort to calm him.</div> <bR> <div> "No matter what she does," Margaret continued nervously, "she can't </div> <div> get caught up. She </div> <div> has the thermostat turned down so far that it's like an igloo in her </div> <div> apartment at night."</div> <bR> <div> 'That explains the cold she can't seem to shake,' Josh thought.</div> <bR> <div> "Then last month," Margaret said as she dropped her eyes to the </div> <div> carpet again, "she had to </div> <div> sell her car just to make the rent."</div> <bR> <div> "What?!" Josh asked incredulously, "How could she sell her car? Why </div> <div> didn't she ask me </div> <div> for the money? She knows I would have given it to her. Why didn't she </div> <div> come to me with </div> <div> any of this?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Margaret said, "I begged her to tell you the truth, </div> <div> but she said that she </div> <div> couldn't."</div> <bR> <div> "Why not?" Josh asked angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Margaret repeated. "I don't think she even would have </div> <div> told me anything </div> <div> was wrong if I hadn't stopped by her place one night and found her </div> <div> sitting in the dark, </div> <div> wearing her coat because the place was like a freezer, eating boxed </div> <div> macaroni and cheese </div> <div> for dinner. I offered to lend her some money but she said that she </div> <div> couldn't accept it. And </div> <div> she made me swear not to tell you, or anyone else, what was going on."</div> <bR> <div> "So she's riding the Metro downtown?" Leo asked apprehensively.</div> <bR> <div> Margaret shook her head as her eyes began to fill with tears.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm going out to look for her," Josh insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't be ridiculous," Leo answered. "It would be like looking for a </div> <div> needle in a haystack. </div> <div> There's no way you would ever find her."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing!" Josh said </div> <div> angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll notify DCPD. We'll have every cop in the city keeping their </div> <div> eyes out for her," Leo </div> <div> said as he reached for the phone.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, Josh," Margaret murmured sadly.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not your fault," Josh assured her. "We just need to find her so </div> <div> we can get her back </div> <div> here. We'll worry about fixing the other stuff later. All that </div> <div> matters is that we get Donna </div> <div> back here safe and sound."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stepped off the Metro and straight into hell. There had been a few young men making noise and acting menacingly on the train, but Donna had hoped to get away from them when she finally got to her stop.</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.</div> <bR> <div> As she moved up the steps to street level, she saw nothing but chaos in front of her, and she froze. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Night was falling, and she felt very uncomfortable venturing into the unknown, but she also wasn’t sure that heading back to the subway, where she would truly be trapped, was a good idea either.</div> <bR> <div> She quickly took her grandmother’s broach out of her purse and stuffed it into her bra. Then she tucked her White House ID into the waistband of her skirt and buttoned her jacket. She decided to try to make her way up the line to a different station and then back to her apartment.</div> <bR> <div> As she walked along, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, she was quickly surrounded by a group of tough looking young men. The oldest one looked barely out of his teens. Several of them were carrying knives and Donna saw at least one set of brass knuckles. She began to shake, but tried to keep a calm head.</div> <bR> <div> The boys began taunting her as they closed the circle in tighter and tighter. As they got closer, Donna could smell the distinct odor of marijuana and cheap beer. They made crude comments about her appearance, and asked what a girl like her was doing downtown. </div> <bR> <div> As Donna looked around, trying to assess the situation and decide whether or not screaming would do her any good, one of the boys grabbed her purse and tote bag, and shoved her roughly to the ground. </div> <bR> <div> Donna was momentarily stunned as her forehead made contact with the sidewalk. As she was trying to gather her wits, she felt one of the boys grab her arm and begin dragging her along the cement. Panic began to set in and Donna struggled to get free.</div> <bR> <div> Then from out of nowhere, she heard someone yelling something about ‘finding the enemies’ hideout’. All of the boys froze momentarily, then took off running down the alley towards the origin of the voice. Donna was still having a bit of trouble focusing, but she jumped to her feet and headed off in the opposite direction as quickly as she could. </div> <bR> <div> She had no identification, no apartment keys, no phone, nothing. She needed to find a way to get back to the White House.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh paced the hall outside of Leo’s office as he kept trying both Donna’s home number and her cell number over and over, getting more and more frantic every time he received no answer. It was almost 9:00. Donna had been gone over an hour and a half with no word.</div> <bR> <div> He punched his speed dial once again and listened to the ringing. His heart jumped when he heard the phone click as someone answered. His relief turned to icy fear when he realized the voice on the other end wasn’t Donna’s.</div> <bR> <div> He glanced at the display to make sure that he had dialed the correct number, and then he growled into the phone, “Who is this?”</div> <bR> <div> “Who is this?” the voice mocked. Josh could hear a lot of yelling and hooting in the background. He couldn’t make out what anyone was saying, but he was certain that none of the voices were Donna’s.</div> <bR> <div>  “Look, buddy,” Josh seethed, “you have no idea who you are dealing with here. Tell me who you are, and where you got this phone.”</div> <bR> <div> “This phone?” the boy sneered, “Some blonde girl gave it to me.”</div> <bR> <div> Josh could no longer contain his fury. “Tell me where she is!” he screamed into the phone.</div> <bR> <div> Josh’s raised voice caused CJ to open the door to see what was going on.</div> <bR> <div> “Sorry, bro. I gotta go now,” the young man said.</div> <bR> <div> “Tell me….” Josh screamed again as he heard the phone disconnect. All that remained was the buzz of the dial tone.</div> <bR> <div> “What happened?” Toby asked as he stood in the doorway behind CJ.</div> <bR> <div> “Some punk answered Donna’s phone,” Josh choked out, as CJ led him back into the office and gently pushed him down on to the couch. “He said he got it from ‘some blonde girl’. It had to have been Donna. Something bad has happened to her. I have to get out there and help look for her.”</div> <bR> <div> “Did he say anything else?” Leo asked, “Anything that might tell us where he was, or where Donna is?”</div> <bR> <div> “No,” Josh said as he dropped his head into his hands.</div> <bR> <div> Leo sensed Josh’s feelings of hopelessness and frustration, and he knew that his deputy was very close to exploding. As he was trying to decide how to avoid the explosion, Margaret burst into the office.</div> <bR> <div> “Donna’s on line one,” she said breathlessly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at her for a split second, then dived for the phone on Leo’s desk.</div> <bR> <div> Josh picked up the phone and punched the button for line one. “Donna, where are you?” he asked frantically.</div> <bR> <div> “Josh, I’m sorry. I know it’s crazy there. I didn’t know who else to call,” Donna sobbed.</div> <bR> <div> “Donna, it’s fine. Tell me where you are,” Josh said, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, even though he felt ready to jump out of his skin.</div> <bR> <div> “Tell me where she is,” Leo whispered, “I’ll send a squad car right away.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m at a place called ‘Appliance Discounters’ on K Street,” Donna said shakily.</div> <bR> <div> She picked up a card off the counter and gave Josh the exact address, which he immediately relayed to Leo, who called it in to the DCPD.</div> <bR> <div> “You just stay there, Donna. The police are on the way to pick you up,” Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll try,” Donna sobbed, “but there are all kinds of people out front and they are breaking store windows and looting everywhere….”</div> <bR> <div> “I know,” Josh said as soothingly as possible, “But you need to stay put. Someone is coming to get you.”</div> <bR> <div> “Ok,” Donna said. There were some muffled voices in the background and then Donna came back on the line, “I have to go. There are other people waiting to use the phone.”</div> <bR> <div> “Donna, wait….” Josh pleaded.</div> <bR> <div> “I can’t, Josh. There are other people who need to make calls,” Donna said. “I’ll talk to you in a little bit.”</div> <bR> <div> “Be careful,” Josh whispered.</div> <bR> <div> “I will,” Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> They both said “Goodbye” simultaneously, and Josh hung up the phone.</div> <bR> <div> “The police are on their way,” Leo said consolingly.</div> <bR> <div> “Please, God, let them get there in time,” Josh said</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> “Why haven’t we heard anything yet?” Josh asked as he sat on the couch in Leo’s office.</div> <bR> <div> Toby had forced him to take a seat,  claiming that he was going to have no choice but to break Josh’s knees if he didn’t stop pacing.</div> <bR> <div> “It’s only been 30 minutes,” Leo answered, “Things are crazy out there. Give them time.”</div> <bR> <div> “It’s been 34 minutes,” Josh corrected, looking at his watch for the hundredth time.</div> <bR> <div> Josh started to stand up, and Toby shot him a look. Just as Leo thought he was going to have to step in between them, his phone rang.</div> <bR> <div> “DCPD on line three,” Margaret said a minute later from the doorway.</div> <bR> <div> “McGarry,” Leo said as he picked up the receiver. He listened for a few minutes then said “Thank you,” and hung up the phone.</div> <bR> <div> He turned to look at Josh and smiled, “They’re on their way here,” he said, relief evident in his voice.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh, thank God,” Josh said as he sunk back down into the couch, “Thank God.”</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It was 30 nerve-wracking minutes later when they got the call from the front gate saying that Donna had arrived. They had been directed to send her to Leo’s office right away.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as Josh heard her voice in the outer office, he jumped up and ran to the door. He saw her standing beside Margaret’s desk. She had a large purple bump on her forehead, and there was a large bleeding cut on her left knee. She had her coat wrapped tightly around her, but she was still shaking uncontrollably.</div> <bR> <div> He crossed the room and wrapped his arm gently around her shoulders, leading her into Leo’s office and sitting her down on the sofa, then sitting down beside her.</div> <bR> <div> “Are you ok?” he asked gently.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m fine,” she said, “Just a few bumps and bruises.”</div> <bR> <div> “I was worried about you,” he whispered.</div> <bR> <div> At those words, Donna’s tears began to flow.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “I didn’t know about the riots until after I was already halfway downtown, and by then it was too late. This group of thugs stole my tote bag, and my phone was in it so I couldn’t call. It took me forever to find someone willing to let me use their phone.”</div> <bR> <div> “What were you doing in that part of town alone to begin with?” Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> He saw the look of panic on her face, a more intense version of the look she had given him every time he had asked her what was wrong in the last couple of months.</div> <bR> <div> “I….I…” Donna stammered.</div> <bR> <div> Josh rubbed her back rhythmically and said, “We know all about your roommate leaving, and your rent problems, and the fact that you sold your car.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked up and caught Margaret’s eye. “I’m sorry,” Margaret mouthed.</div> <bR> <div> “It’s ok,” Donna mouthed back, knowing by the look on her friends face that she had done what she thought was right.</div> <bR> <div> Leo crossed the room and sat in the chair beside Toby’s, facing Josh and Donna.</div> <bR> <div> “Why didn’t we know about this before things got this far?” he asked. “If you had come to us, we would have gladly helped you.”</div> <bR> <div> “I know,” Donna said apologetically. “At first I really thought that I could handle it on my own. I thought that I would find a new roommate and everything would be fine. But that didn’t happen. And then…..”</div> <bR> <div> “Then what?” Leo and Toby asked in unison.</div> <bR> <div> Donna hesitated, wondering just how much she should say.</div> <bR> <div> “What, Donna? What happened?” Josh asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> “Oliver Babish said that it would be best if I kept my distance. Especially from Josh, but from the others as well.”</div> <bR> <div> “What?” Josh thundered.</div> <bR> <div> “Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand him?” Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m sure,” Donna said confidently. </div> <bR> <div> “But why in the hell would he say something like that?” Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> “He said that the Special Prosecutor’s office would be looking for any little scandal they could find in order to divert attention from the matter at hand. He said that because I lacked the qualifications for the job as Josh’s assistant, they might try to insinuate that I got my job in another way.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna hung her head, and Josh wrapped his arm around her more tightly.</div> <bR> <div> “But we know that’s not true,” he said, “So what do we care what they say?”</div> <bR> <div> “I don’t care what they say about me,” Donna sniffled, “I care what they say about you.”</div> <bR> <div> “Is that what this has all been about?” Josh asked softly. “You were afraid to come to me because of how it would look to other people?”</div> <bR> <div> Donna nodded her head as her entire body began to shake again from her sobs.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh, Donna,” Josh said softly as he wrapped both arms around her and pulled her to his chest. “It’s ok. We can fix this. Everything will be fine.”</div> <bR> <div> “Donna, do you need to go the hospital and get that bruise looked at?” Leo asked softly.</div> <bR> <div> “No,” Donna answered, “I’m fine.</div> <bR> <div> “Ok then. Josh, I want you take Donna home. Make sure she gets a good meal and a good night’s rest. There is nothing we can do here until the police get the rioters under control.”</div> <bR> <div> “I can get home by myself,” Donna insisted.</div> <bR> <div> “You’re not going to your home, you’re coming to my home,” Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> “But what if someone….” Donna began to protest.</div> <bR> <div> “You let me worry about that,” Leo said sternly. “Now you two get out of here, and I don’t want to see either of you in here before 8:00 AM. Am I understood?”</div> <bR> <div> Donna shook her head. She thought about protesting but realized that it wouldn’t do any good. Besides, the thought of going home to Josh’s nice warm apartment, and finally being able to really talk to him for the first time in months, seemed like the perfect way to spend the evening.</div> <bR> <div> As they headed back towards Josh’s office to get his coat and backpack, they heard Leo yell, “Margaret! Get me Oliver Babish on the phone.”</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna shivered for the entire ride back to Josh’s apartment from a mixture of the cold, and nerves. As soon as they were through the front door, Josh turned up the thermostat.</div> <bR> <div> “You’re going to jump in a hot shower and you’re going to stay there until you warm up,” he said in a tone that left no room for negotiation.</div> <bR> <div> Donna took off her coat and hung it on the hook in the entryway. Josh took her hand and pulled her back towards his bedroom. He stopped in front of his dresser and pulled out a pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and a pair of thick wool socks.</div> <bR> <div> “You know where everything is right?” he asked as he reached in and flipped on the bathroom light.</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, thanks,” Donna said as she entered the bathroom that had become so familiar to her during Josh’s recovery.</div> <bR> <div> “There is some peroxide in the medicine cabinet for your knee, and there should be some bandages in there too.</div> <bR> <div> “Thanks,” Donna said, managing a smile at the sound of concern in his voice. </div> <bR> <div> As soon as Josh heard the water running, he went back to the kitchen and pulled his assortment of take out menus from the drawer. He hoped that he would be able to find someone willing to come out despite all of the chaos in the city. On his third try, he found out that the deli down the street was willing to make a delivery.</div> <bR> <div> He ordered an assortment of food and promised the delivery boy a generous tip if he could get it there quickly. The food arrived just as Josh heard the blow dryer shut off.</div> <bR> <div> He watched Donna walk down the hall toward the kitchen and he was struck by how tiny she looked.</div> <bR> <div> “What?” Donna asked, tugging self-consciously at the hem of the sweatshirt she was wearing when she saw Josh staring at her.</div> <bR> <div> “Nothing,” Josh said, “I was just noticing how thin you’ve gotten. You’re practically swimming in that sweatshirt.”</div> <bR> <div> “Well, I haven’t….” Donna started, and then trailed off. Even though she knew that Margaret had told everyone the truth about her financial situation, she was too embarrassed to admit to Josh that she had let things get this bad. That she had been living on one small meal a day for weeks.</div> <bR> <div> Josh sensed her discomfort and immediately tried to lighten the mood.</div> <bR> <div> “Well, there’s a ton of food here, so we’ll just have to fatten you up,” he said cheerily.</div> <bR> <div> “Gee, that’s a wonderful image,” Donna smiled.</div> <bR> <div> Josh grabbed a handful of silverware, picked up the bags from the deli, and headed into the living room. Donna followed him and within minutes, they had all of the food spread out on the coffee table and they were sitting side by side on the couch enjoying every bite.</div> <bR> <div> Donna ate as though she hadn’t had a decent meal in months, which in actuality, she hadn’t. Once she had finished her sandwich, coleslaw, and two pickles, Josh reached down and lifted up a bag that he had hidden by his feet.</div> <bR> <div> “Are you too full for dessert?” he asked, waving the bag in front of her.</div> <bR> <div> “It depends, what is it?” Donna asked curiously.</div> <bR> <div> “Cheesecake,” Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m never too full for cheesecake,” Donna laughed as she grabbed the bag from his hand.</div> <bR> <div> When they finished eating, they settled back on the couch. Josh was pleased to note that Donna actually looked relaxed and happy for the first time in a long time. This was what he had wanted worse than anything, for her to be happy.</div> <bR> <div> “Donna?” he said, not wanting to ruin the moment, but needing to say some things.</div> <bR> <div> “Hmmm?”</div> <bR> <div> “Why didn’t you come to me sooner, before things got so bad?”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m not sure,” Donna answered, pulling away slightly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her back towards him.</div> <bR> <div> “Please, Donna. You know that you can tell me anything.”</div> <bR> <div> “Well, at first I thought it was no big deal. I knew that I had cut myself a little short between the moving expenses and the car repairs, but I thought I could handle it. I never imagined how hard it was going to be to find a roommate. The longer I went without finding one, the more I used up what little money I had left. I couldn’t believe how fast it went.”</div> <bR> <div> “I would have happily loaned you some money,” Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> “I know,” Donna sighed. “I guess I just didn’t want to admit that I couldn’t handle it myself. I mean, I had only been in the new place for a couple of months and I didn’t want to admit I needed help. But the more time that passed, the worse things got. I started falling behind on all of my bills and my rent was late. I did everything I could think of to save money but nothing seemed to help.”</div> <bR> <div> “Including living on almost no food and turning your heat off?” Josh asked admonishingly.</div> <bR> <div> “Yes,” Donna admitted sheepishly.</div> <bR> <div> “This really isn’t about the money,” Josh said, “What really upsets me is the fact that you didn’t feel like you could come to me for help; that you felt like you needed to handle this alone.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m sorry,” Donna said dejectedly. “But the thing is, I had finally decided to tell you the truth the day I had my meeting with Oliver Babish. But after what he said…”</div> <bR> <div> “Donna…” Josh interrupted.</div> <bR> <div> “No, I mean it. He made sense….”</div> <bR> <div> “Donna!” Josh repeated, this time more loudly.</div> <bR> <div> Donna raised her eyes and looked at him.</div> <bR> <div> “I want you to listen to me very carefully,” Josh said gently. “I don’t care what anyone thinks, or what anyone says. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that you can’t come to me with. I mean that, Donna. I want you to be happy, nothing is more important than that. Not even my career.”</div> <bR> <div> “But Babish said….” Donna stammered.</div> <bR> <div> “I don’t care what Babish said,” Josh assured her. “If you are having a problem, you come to me first. No matter what it is. I’ll always be there for you, Donna. And whatever problems might arise from that, I’ll handle them.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m so sorry, Josh,” Donna said as she laid her head on his shoulder. “I should have trusted you. I should have come to you.”</div> <bR> <div> “Yes,” Josh said, kissing the top of her head, “you should have, but what’s done is done. So now we just have to get this all straightened out.”</div> <bR> <div> “Well, I put up a new batch of notices looking for a roommate and…”</div> <bR> <div> Donna’s words were cut off by Josh’s finger on her lips.</div> <bR> <div> “Let’s not worry about that right now,” he said. “Right now you just need to relax and get some rest.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna wondered if he wanted her to get up. She wasn’t going to kick him out of his own bed. She would be happy to sleep on the couch, she would be happy just to sleep someplace warm for a change.</div> <bR> <div> But Josh wasn’t moving and he wasn’t acting as though he wanted her to get up. In fact, he reached up and pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and covered them both up with it.</div> <bR> <div> Donna relaxed and allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of Josh’s arms around her. She laid her head on his chest and heard the strong, steady beating of his heart. Before long, she found herself being lulled to sleep.</div> <div> When Donna woke up, the morning sun was streaming through the windows. Somehow, during the night, she and Josh had managed to lie down. She was curled up against his chest, and she could feel his hand softly rubbing her spine, easing her awake. She lay perfectly still for a minute, reveling in the sensation. She wanted nothing more than to stay exactly where she was forever, but she knew that they had to get up and face a new day.</div> <bR> <div> “Morning,” she said as she lifted her head and looked at him.</div> <bR> <div> “Morning,” he smiled back. Donna noted that he looked like he had been awake for some time.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m sorry,” Donna said, disentangling herself from him and sitting up. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on top of you.</div> <bR> <div> “Do you hear me complaining?” Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at him, and just for an instant, she saw a flash of something in his eyes. She couldn’t identify it exactly, but it made her heart beat faster and her stomach flutter.</div> <bR> <div>  “I’m gonna put on a pot of coffee,” he said as he stood up and stretched, “then I’m gonna jump in the shower. As soon as I’m ready, we’ll run by your place and you can change for work. Sound good?”</div> <bR> <div> “Sounds great,” Donna said, stifling a yawn. “But why don’t you just go ahead and jump in the shower. I’ll make the coffee.”</div> <bR> <div> “You’ll make the coffee?” Josh asked with an astonished tone.</div> <bR> <div> “Yes,” Donna chuckled. “I’ll make it, but you’ll have to pour it yourself.”</div> <bR> <div> “Ahh, it’s nice to see life is getting back to normal,” Josh laughed as he walked back the hallway.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The first thing Josh noticed as the entered Donna’s apartment was that it felt like an icebox. He immediately found the thermostat and turned the heat up, while Donna went to change for work.</div> <bR> <div> “Hey, listen,” he called from the living room, “it’s too cold to get dressed here. Why don’t you just grab your stuff and change in the locker room at work.”</div> <bR> <div> “Good idea,” Donna said as she emerged from the bedroom, carrying her clothes for the day.</div> <bR> <div> “And why don’t you get all of your bills together and we’ll take a look at them later,” Josh added.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “They’re right there on the coffee table,” Donna said as she moved into the foyer. She looked through the peephole and saw her landlord staring back at her. She had expected to have the rent money for him as a result of selling her grandmother’s broach, but that hadn’t happened. Slowly, she opened the door.</div> <bR> <div> He immediately stepped inside. “Well, Ms. Moss, you promised me that you would have the rent money by last night. That didn’t happen. I let you slide for almost two full weeks last month, but I can’t do that again.”</div> <bR> <div> Josh moved towards the door but still remained hidden by the living room wall. He listened very intently to what was being said.</div> <bR> <div> “Well, there was a bit of an emergency yesterday and…” Donna began.</div> <bR> <div> “No excuses,” Wilson leered. “I told you that we would have to make some other kind of arrangements if you couldn’t come up with the money on time this month.”</div> <bR> <div> He took a step closer to Donna and reached up to touch her hair. With that, Josh exploded around the corner.</div> <bR> <div> “What in the hell do you mean by that?” Josh growled.</div> <bR> <div> “Who..who are you? Wilson stammered, clearly shocked by Josh’s presence.</div> <bR> <div> “Joshua Lyman,” Josh answered with barely concealed fury. “I’m the Deputy Chief of Staff, and Donna’s boss. And your name is?”</div> <bR> <div> “Jack Wilson,” the landlord said, sticking out his hand, which Josh declined to shake.</div> <bR> <div> “Well, Mr. Wilson,” Josh continued, stepping in front of Donna, “you will have a check on your desk this afternoon for everything you are owed, plus one month’s rent in advance.”</div> <bR> <div> “Uh…oh..um..that’ll be fine,” Wilson stammered.</div> <bR> <div> “I thought so,” Josh sneered.</div> <bR> <div> Wilson excused himself and turned to walk away, but Josh called him back. </div> <bR> <div> “One more thing,” he said as his eyes narrowed, “If I ever hear that you’ve been harassing Donna again, or any of your other tenants for that matter, I’ll have the Health Department, The Housing Authority, The Building Inspector, and anyone else I can think of descending on this building so fast it’ll make your head spin. Am I understood?”</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, sir,” Wilson said, swallowing hard.</div> <bR> <div> “Good,” Josh said contemptuously.</div> <bR> <div> Josh turned back around and saw that Donna had gathered up all of her things and was ready to go.</div> <bR> <div> “My hero,” she chuckled as she locked the door.</div> <bR> <div> “Why shucks, ma’am. It was nothin’,” Josh laughed as he slid his arm around her waist and walked towards the elevator.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> When they arrived at work promptly at 8:00 and not a minute before as ordered, Donna found a note on her desk from Margaret saying that Leo wanted to see her in his office as soon as she arrived.</div> <bR> <div> She told Josh where she was going then headed nervously down the hall. Margaret smiled as Donna approached.</div> <bR> <div> “How are you feeling this morning?” Margaret asked.</div> <bR> <div> “Better thanks,” Donna smiled.</div> <bR> <div> Margaret hesitated, then looked down at her hands and said, “I’m sorry that I told them everything. I was just so worried…...”</div> <bR> <div> “It’s ok,” Donna interrupted, smiling. “You were right. I should have told them months ago. You did the right thing.”</div> <bR> <div> “Thanks,” Margaret smiled, her face brightening at the realization that Donna wasn’t angry with her. “You can go right in.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna knocked lightly before opening the door and stepping into Leo’s inner office. He waved her in and directed her to one of the visitor’s chairs. After a moment, he finished with the file he had been studying, took off his glasses and folded his hands in front of him.</div> <bR> <div> “So,” he started, “how are you?”</div> <bR> <div> “Much better, thank you,” Donna answered.</div> <bR> <div> “Did you get some sleep?”</div> <bR> <div> “Yes.”</div> <bR> <div> “That’s good.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna reached up and began to twirl her hair nervously. She couldn’t believe that Leo had called her to his office just to see if she had slept. Sensing her nervousness, Leo decided to jump right in.</div> <bR> <div> “I talked to Oliver Babish,” he said.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh,” Donna said, lowering her head.</div> <bR> <div> “We discussed what he told you about keeping your distance from Josh, and from the others as well.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m sure that he’s right, Leo. I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.”</div> <bR> <div> “Listen, Oliver has one job here; to deal with the investigation. And we brought him in because he’s the best. If anyone can get us through this mess in one piece, it’s him.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna nodded.</div> <bR> <div> “When he told you to keep your distance, he was doing what he thought served the members of the administration best.”</div> <bR> <div> “I understand that,” Donna agreed.</div> <bR> <div> “But, in this particular case, he was wrong.”</div> <bR> <div> “What?” Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> “Oliver wasn’t really seeing the whole picture. First off, you were with us during the campaign so we were all familiar with your work; we knew how qualified you were, degree or no degree. Secondly, I could stand up in front of any grand jury or senate committee and make an argument that we’re lucky to have found you. You’re the only one who could work for Josh for more than a day without either killing him or quitting.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled for the first time since she had entered the office.</div> <bR> <div> “The point is, Donna, it’s not always about what’s down on paper. And if I need to find a way to make other people understand that, I will. So you let me worry about it, ok?”</div> <bR> <div> “Ok,” Donna said, tears pooling in her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> “I have to look at things in a little different way than Oliver does. He is focused on the next few months, I am trying to keep my eye on the long term. I think of the people who work here as my family. I don’t want to just bring them in, get what I can out of them while they work here, then cast them aside. I want them to be happy, not only here, but after we leave office.”</div> <bR> <div> “And we all appreciate that,” Donna said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> “Well then I hope you appreciate the spirit in which I am about to make my next comment.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at him quizzically. </div> <bR> <div> “Don’t pass up a chance for happiness out of fear of how it might look to other people,” Leo said. “Part of the reason Oliver was so concerned about your testimony was that he sees the same thing the rest of us see.”</div> <bR> <div> “What..what do you mean?” Donna stammered.</div> <bR> <div> “There is something special between you and Josh. Something that’s been there since day one. But you’re both so concerned about how what other people are going to think that you push your feelings down and pretend they don’t exist.”</div> <bR> <div> “Leo…” Donna sputtered.</div> <bR> <div> “Let me finish. You can’t choose who you fall in love with, Donna. But you can choose what you do about it. And if you pass up the chance, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I guarantee it.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna realized that denying her feelings to Leo was useless. She had bottled them up for so long, and she thought she had done such a good job of hiding them, but apparently people could see right through her.</div> <bR> <div> “Leo, it’s so complicated,” she said quietly.</div> <bR> <div> “No, it’s really not,” Leo said in his best fatherly tone. “Love is the simplest thing in the world. It’s all the crap around it that gets complicated. But you let me worry about that.”</div> <bR> <div> “But…”</div> <bR> <div> “No buts. There’s nothing going on here that anyone has to be ashamed of. I’ll deal with the fallout. But you’re going to have to be the one to make the first move, Donna.”</div> <bR> <div> “I don’t even know if Josh feels the same way I do,” Donna admitted.</div> <bR> <div> “Trust me, he does,” Leo chuckled. “He’s just afraid to make the first move. It’s gonna have to be you.”</div> <bR> <div> Leo could see Donna mulling over all of the things he had told her.</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll think about it,” she finally said, with a bit of determination in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> “That’s all I ask,” Leo said. “You can get back to work now. Oh, and would you send Josh up to see me?”</div> <bR> <div> Leo laughed when he saw the panic on Donna’s face.</div> <bR> <div> “I just want to fill him in on what we went over at the staff meeting this morning,” he smiled.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh, yeah, sure..I’ll send him right up,” Donna sighed with relief as she left his office.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> “You wanted to see me?” Josh asked as he entered Leo’s office five minutes later.</div> <bR> <div> “Yeah, have a seat,” Leo said. “I just wanted to fill you in on what we covered at staff this morning.”</div> <bR> <div> Leo proceeded to give Josh the rundown on how the police had gotten control of the downtown streets, as well as the latest on the situation in the Middle East, and a few other matters that had been discussed.</div> <bR> <div> He handed Josh a stack of briefing notes that needed to be reviewed.</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll get right on this stuff,” Josh said. “Is there anything else?”</div> <bR> <div> “Just one other thing,” Leo said. “We all had a pretty rough night last night, how are you feeling this morning?”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m fine,” Josh assured him, “now that I know Donna is ok.”</div> <bR> <div> “Josh, you know I make it a policy never to interfere in anyone’s personal life,” Leo said cautiously.</div> <bR> <div> “But?” Josh prompted.</div> <bR> <div> “But in this case, I’m going to make an exception.”</div> <bR> <div> “What are you talking about, Leo?”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m talking about you and Donna. I’m talking about the look I saw on your face last night when you didn’t know where she was. I’m talking about the panic in your eyes when you thought she was downtown in the middle of a riot all by herself.”</div> <bR> <div> “She’s my friend, Leo. I was worried about her.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m an old man, Josh, but I’m not blind. Your feelings towards Donna go way beyond friendship.”</div> <bR> <div> “Leo, I don’t wanna discuss this,” Josh said, shaking his head.</div> <bR> <div> “Look, Josh, just let me say my piece and then you can leave. I know that this is a delicate situation. Falling in love with your assistant isn’t the best idea in the world . But it happened. And we’ll deal with it.</div> <bR> <div> You’re both single, you’re both well past the age of consent. No one did anything wrong here, and I’m tired of hiding just because of what other people think. Love is a precious thing, and it’s a sin to waste it. We all deserve a little happiness in this life. Politics isn’t going to keep you warm on long cold winter nights.”</div> <bR> <div> Josh knew that there was no use in lying to Leo. His boss always been able to see right through him.</div> <bR> <div> “I could screw everything up,” Josh said, “if I tell her how I feel, and she doesn’t feel the same way, then I’ll lose everything. I’ll lose her as my friend, as my assistant, everything.”</div> <bR> <div> “Trust me,” Leo said, rounding his desk and placing his hand on Josh’s shoulder, “that isn’t going to happen. Donna loves you. But women like to be pursued, Josh, so you are going to have to be the one to make the first move.”</div> <bR> <div> “You think so?”</div> <bR> <div> “I know so,” Leo smiled. “Now get back to work, and formulate a plan to tell Donna you’re in love with her.”</div> <bR> <div> “Thanks,” Josh said excitedly, “I think I will.”</div> <bR> <div> As Josh bounced out of the office, Leo smiled to himself. ‘If only one of them takes my advice, everything will be fine,’ he thought. He glanced at his watch and saw that it wasn’t yet 9:00 AM.</div> <bR> <div> ‘Well, I’ve opened two sets of eyes to what’s been right in front of them all along and I still have three hours till lunch,’ he chuckled to himself. ‘It’s going to be a good day.’</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Later that night, they were settled on the couch in Donna’s apartment, eating Chinese take out and watching CNN.</div> <bR> <div> “Thanks for bringing me home,” Donna said between bites of eggroll.</div> <bR> <div> “No problem. I just wanted to be sure that your landlord got the message earlier,” Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh, I think he got it loud and clear,” Donna laughed.</div> <bR> <div> “I hope so. But if he ever gives you any more trouble…” Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll tell you right away. I promise.” Donna said, wiping her hands with a napkin. “Besides, it might not be a problem for much longer. Bonnie has a friend in the State Department who just found a few days ago that her roommate is getting married, so she’s looking for a new place. She’s coming by tomorrow at lunchtime to meet me, and if we’re compatible, I’ll bring her by to see the apartment.”</div> <bR> <div> “That’s great,” Josh said.</div> <bR> <div>  Donna sighed as she pushed away the cardboard food containers and said, “I’m stuffed.”</div> <bR> <div> “Me too,” Josh agreed, leaning back on the couch and pulling her back with him.</div> <bR> <div> They sat for a minute, enjoying the closeness, and thinking about what Leo had said. </div> <bR> <div> Finally Josh decided to take the first step.</div> <bR> <div> “I was talking to Leo this morning,” he said carefully.</div> <bR> <div> “About what?” Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> “About things….about us.”</div> <bR> <div> “Us?” Donna asked, her voice much higher than she had intended.</div> <bR> <div> “Yeah, us,” Josh said, trying to gauge her reaction.</div> <bR> <div> “What about us exactly?”</div> <bR> <div> “Well…the thing is…Leo said….”</div> <bR> <div> Josh hesitated, wondering why it was he couldn’t just say the words. He knew that the feelings were real, but there was still something holding him back. He was so afraid of losing Donna if he didn’t handle the situation correctly.</div> <bR> <div> “That I was in love with you? And that you would have to be the one to make the first move?” Donna said questioningly.</div> <bR> <div> “How did you know?” Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> “Because he told me the same thing,” Donna smiled, “except he said that you were in love with me and I would have to be the one to make the first move.”</div> <bR> <div> “Are you serious?” Josh asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> “Totally serious,” Donna assured him.</div> <bR> <div> “Donna, I think we’ve been set up,” Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> “I think so too,” Donna answered.</div> <bR> <div> They both started to laugh. Josh looked into Donna’s eyes and before he knew it, he was pulling her onto his lap. Donna straddled his legs, her face just inches from his.</div> <bR> <div> “Donna?”</div> <bR> <div> “What?”</div> <bR> <div> “I think Leo might be right.”</div> <bR> <div> “I think so too.”</div> <bR> <div> Josh couldn’t wait a second longer and he reached up and touched his lips to hers. They both a felt a jolt of electricity as the kiss quickly deepened. When they came up for air, Josh said,</div> <bR> <div> “Oh yeah, he was definitely right.”</div> <bR> <div> “No doubt about it,” Donna said breathlessly.</div> <bR> <div> “I love you, Donna,” Josh said as he placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her down for another kiss.</div> <bR> <div> “I love you too,” Donna whispered the second before their lips met again in a kiss that they felt all the way down to their souls.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>