A Few Bumps in the Road

by: Evelyn

Disclaimer: Aaron Sorkin owns everything.

Category: Romance, Josh/Donna

Spoilers: Everything through Season 3

Rating: YTEEN

Author's Note: Special thanks to Shelley for her fabulous editing and insight into all things Sorkin. This follows 'Calling the Question' and 'Like a Bad Penny.' It helps if you've read those stories, but if not, please know that Josh and Donna are finally together and the Evil Amy is gone! Thanks.

The meeting with Bruno went longer than Josh expected, and was shorter than the political consultant had wanted. He'd cut it off after 45 minutes because Josh's temper and snide comments were making the discussion counterproductive. Toby, CJ, Sam, and Josh walked out together.

"I could use a beer. Anyone up for Gilligan's?" Sam asked. CJ and Toby readily agreed and looked expectantly at Josh.

"Go get Donna and come on. You could use a drink," CJ said gently.

Josh thought for a moment and then said, "Sure, we'll meet you there," and headed down the hall to his office.

"Hey," he said softly from the doorway. Donna was sitting at his desk, writing something.

"Hey," she said with a tentative smile. "I was just leaving you a note before heading out."

He walked into his office and stood next to Donna. He put his hand on her cheek and said quietly, "I don't want to argue anymore."

Donna stood up and wrapped her arms around Josh, leaning her head against his shoulder. He brought her closer. "Me either."

"CJ, Toby, and Sam are going to Gilligan's for a beer. I told them we'd meet them there."

Donna took a deep breath and pulled back to look at Josh. "You go on and I'll be there in 20 minutes."

"Why?"

"I'm going over to the Hay Adams to pick up my grandmother's dish, and then I'll come over to Gilligan's."

Josh dropped his hands to his sides and stepped back. "I thought that discussion was over," he said with a steely look in his eyes that matched the tone in his voice.

"Josh, I don't want to argue with you about this," Donna said, keeping her voice soft and calm. "If you want, come with me. It'll be a classic meet and greet. We'll be out of there in under five minutes."

"No," Josh said curtly.

Donna pulled on her coat. "Ok, I'll meet you at Gilligan's."

"Fine," Josh snapped and looked down at his desk, rearranging the file folders.

Donna stiffened and started to say something sharp in return, but held her tongue. She decided there was nothing more productive she could add to the discussion. She walked through the West Wing, exited the guarded front gate, and cut through Lafayette Park. She arrived at the stately old hotel within a matter of minutes. She stood in the lushly carpeted lobby and thought to herself, "What the hell am I doing?" but her reverie was quickly interrupted.

"Donna, how are you?" came the flat Midwestern voice of Dr. Phillip Marcus, as he strode across the lobby and pulled her into a big hug.

"I'm fine," she replied, extricating herself from his arms. She looked up into the small, blue eyes of her ex-boyfriend, a blonde, six-feet-four-inch tall, gangly man. "Thanks for bringing the dish. I really appreciate it. It was my grandmother's."

"I was glad to have an excuse to see you. Come on, have a drink with me for old times sake," Phil said.

"Sorry, I'm meeting my fiancee and some friends," Donna said quickly. "If you'll just give me the dish..."

"I left it at the table. I was having a beer with some friends while waiting for you," Phil said pointing toward the bar. "At least let me introduce you to them now that you're all famous."

"Really, Phil," Donna began, but Phil was already walking into the bar and she hurried to catch up, planning to grab the dish and get the hell out of Dodge.

The bar was crowded as they wove their way through the lounge to the far corner. At the table were four other men, two of whom Donna recognized as friends of Phil's from his med school days.

"Hey, Donna, how are you?" called Jack Gordon, an eager, overweight dermatologist with an overbite. "Congratulations, I saw your engagement announcement in the newspaper."

"Thanks, Jack. Bill, how are you," Donna nodded to Bill Tompkins, another med school buddy. "How's Alice?"

"Gone," was his dour reply.

"Jeff Billings and Ken Anderson, this is Donna Moss, my old, uh, uh..."

"Friend," Donna supplied, and shook hands with the other two men.

"Donna is the executive assistant to the President. She works in the White House," Phil said with amazement in his voice.

Donna recognized the tone of surprise in his voice and smiled. "What a gomer," she thought to herself. She reached down and picked up the cut-glass dish on the table.

"Thanks again for bringing the dish," Donna turned to leave.

"Sure you won't stay for a drink?" Phil asked.

"No, Josh is waiting," she said firmly. "Nice to see you," and started to thread her way through the lounge, when out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar head of curly brown hair sitting at the far end of the mahogany bar, nursing a scotch.

She quickly cut across the room and slid onto a stool next to Josh. She put her hand over his and asked, "Buy a girl a drink?"

He looked morose, but said softly, "What do you want?" and motioned for the bartender.

"The usual, but with extra fruit," she said with a smile, giving his arm a squeeze. He looked into her eyes, and then gave a tentative smile.

"She'll have a whiskey sour, but throw in some extra pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries, please." The bartender nodded.

They sat in silence for a moment, until the bartender returned with Donna's drink. She took a sip while Josh picked up the cut-glass dish and turned it over.

"I chipped it when I was about 10, carrying it to the table one Thanksgiving," Donna said pointing out the corner of the dish that was uneven. Josh put the dish down and took hold of Donna's hand in both of his. He looked at her and then leaned in for a kiss. She put her drink down and placed her hand behind Josh's neck, deepening the kiss. When they broke for air, the tension between them was gone.

Josh glanced across the room to the table of doctors and commented. "You can tell a lot about a man from his eyes. You know for a big guy, he's got small eyes. I don't trust him."

Donna stared into the big, brown eyes of her fiancee, and smiled. "That's not all that's small," she said mischievously.

Josh's eyebrows went up to his hairline and he burst out into a huge grin.

"Let's get out of here," he said firmly, picking up the dish and grabbing Donna's hand.

Chapters- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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