Worth The Wait

by: Ginny

Pairing(s): Josh/Donna
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: The usual.
Summary: The waiting is over. Sequel to "One Step at a Time".
Feedback: Greatly appreciated.

Part 2

Almost an hour later Donna got home. She had taken the easy way out and picked up a rotisserie chicken at the food store and had just planned on microwaving the potatoes. She put the food in the kitchen and went into the bedroom to change.

She emerged a few minutes later dressed in a pair of flannel pants and a Harvard t-shirt of Josh's. She grabbed the phone off the wall and dialed his cell phone number. He answered the phone and let himself in the front door at the same time.

"Josh, I must say I'm impressed. I was sure you would still be sitting at your desk" she yelled from the kitchen as he dropped his backpack, coat and overnight bag. He walked into the kitchen and gave her a light kiss on the lips.

"Dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes. There's iced tea in the fridge? You must have left quickly. No last minute emergencies, huh?"

"I left 5 minutes after you. I wasn't getting anything done anyway. I stopped by my place for a few things." he said as he grabbed a bottle of tea from the fridge and walked in the living room. He kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the couch.

Donna scrubbed the potatoes and put them into the microwave before joining Josh in the living room. He was sprawled out on her couch. He had his right hand thrown over his eyes and his left was absentmindedly fingering the scar on his chest. She knelt down next to the couch and caressed his cheek.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, not really"

"OK, let me know if you change your mind."

He reached over and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with his left hand. She caught his hand and kissed his palm. He closed his eyes and she watched him until the timer on the microwave chimed. She got up to get dinner on the table.

"Josh, come on. You have to eat" Donna declared from the kitchen.

He dragged himself off the couch and sat down across the small kitchen table from Donna. He set his feet in her lap and picked at his food for a while. Donna watched him while she ate. She hated the way he withdrew from the world after these gun control meetings. She was glad he had a therapy session the next day.

"Josh, when was the last time you actually ate, grabbing something while in a meeting doesn't count. Neither does the muffin and coffee you had for breakfast this morning."

Josh didn't answer, he just shrugged his shoulders and picked up his fork as the phone rang. Donna moved his feet to rise and answer it. It was Leo. She didn't let on to Josh who it was and just took it in the bedroom.

When she returned to the kitchen Josh had at least eaten something. He was sitting with his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. She crouched next to him and gently rubbed his back.

"That was Leo" she said.

"Oh, God. He knows doesn't he?" groaned Josh as he sat up and pushed his chair back from the table. Donna stood and he pulled her into his lap.

"I think he may suspect something but he didn't come out and ask me if something was going on. He just wanted me to know that he and the President are worried about you. I did tell him you were here. He was worried you were out in some bar abusing that sensitive system of yours. I told him we were working and I was trying to make sure you had one decent meal this week." said Donna as she kissed his forehead and smoothed back his hair.

"I think I should talk to him tomorrow. I don't want him to hear something from the rumor mill. I at least owe him that much. Is that OK with you?" he asked wrapping his arms around Donna's waist.

"That's fine. Let me know if you want me to come too" she added as she got up and cleared the table.

"I will." he sighed as he helped with the dishes.

"Josh, why don't you go take a long hot shower. You have to relax. You've been running on empty for a few days now and you're about to crash." said Donna as she filled the dish pan with hot water.

"Fine. Uh, Donna...can I,uh...stay tonight?" stuttered Josh.

Donna turned to him and looked into those puppy dog eyes. She couldn't say no even if she had wanted to.

"Of course" she replied as she kissed his cheek. She turned her attention back to the sink as she heard the bathroom door close. She washed the few dishes they had used and sat down to watch TV in the living room.

After a while she heard Josh go into the bedroom.

"Donna, I left my bag out there, can you bring it in?" yelled Josh from her bedroom.

Donna grabbed the bag and took it into her room. He was sitting on her bed with a towel wrapped around his waist. The sight of him made her knees grow weak. She handed him the bag and turned to her dresser and straightened the photos in an attempt to look busy while he changed. Of course, could see his refection in the mirror anyway.

She turned around when she saw him sit back down on the bed. She picked the towel up off the bed, stood between his knees and dried his hair for him. She finished and took a step back to look at him. He looked utterly adorable, scared, sexy and lost all at the same time. Mostly he just looked lost. Her heart ached for the pain he was obviously in. She wanted to help but knew if she pushed too hard he would shut down even further. She motioned for him to stand up and she pulled back the covers. He crawled into bed wearily.

She sat next to him and reached out to touch his chest. She was getting used to both the long scar that ran down the length and the smaller one that had been caused by the single bullet that had nearly claimed his life. Tears threatened her eyes and she moved her hand.

"Josh, uh...never mind. Do you need anything" she asked as she got up to turn out the overhead light.

"Other than a weeks vacation somewhere far away from DC?" he smirked. "There's a bottle of Tylenol PM in my bag, how about 2 of those, a glass of water and a back rub."

"I think I can do that." agreed Donna as she went to the bathroom to get some
water. She handed it to him and dug in the bag for the bottle of Tylenol. She handed him 2 pills. While he took them she opened her nightstand to look for some oil.

"Nothing that smells like a girl" teased Josh as he smiled and showed his dimples.

"OK, how about Cool Citrus Basil?" she asked grabbing a bottle she had picked
up over the weekend. "Good thing I did drag you into Bath and Body Works, everything else I have smells like a girl" she teased. She and Josh had gone to the mall and she had to drag him into the store. He was amazed at all the body care products that were apparently very important to the average woman. Donna had teased him that there was more to life than Irish Spring and Speed Stick.

She opened the bottle and handed it to him to take a whiff. While he did so she reached back into the drawer, found out a scrunchie and pulled her hair back.

"Not bad. I can live with it."

"Good, now roll over" ordered Donna with a smile.

She pulled back the covers and straddled his hips. His shoulders felt like steel under her fingers.

"Owwww" cried Josh

"Sorry, I don't see how you can even move your head from side to side, you are so tense."

She spent the next 20 minutes loosening the knots in his neck, shoulders and back. His breathing had slowed and she could tell he was settling down. When she was sure he was sleep she climbed off of him and covered him up. He turned on his side facing her. The lines on his forehead had smoothed out and he looked almost peaceful in his sleep. With a quick kiss on the cheek Donna got up and padded into the living room. She glanced at the clock on the VCR. Miracle of miracles, Joshua Lyman was sound asleep at 9:45 PM.

Donna curled up on the couch with the remote and spent the next 2 hours watching TV. She was starting to doze off when the sound of Josh's voice calling her brought her to her feet.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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