Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 1/?
clarksgirl90@hotmail.com
Summary: Donna gets into a car accident
Disclaimers: Don't own any, never did, never will
Feedback: Hell ya!
**********************************************************************
"I understand," Donna said into her phone as she walked down the
street to get to the White House. "I understand Steph. All I'm saying
is- -"

"All you are saying is that I'm right. Right?" Stephanie Gault says
in a voice that Donna knew she was smiling.

She laughed before saying, "Oh, come on! I told you!"

"You told me nothing," Steph says with a light laugh

Donna stops at the corner before saying, "I told you he was a jerk!"

"No, you said he was a hot jerk"

Donna had to think about that one for a second. Alan Marks *was* hot
a few years ago, but was he hot any more? Well, he might be to some
people, but Dr. Freeride had no appeal to Donna. No way. A few years
ago she thought Alan was steamy. Now, not so much. She thought other
people were hot. Like someone she knows with curly brown hair and
amazing brown eyes. But like she said, some people might not find him
hot, but he most certainly is. Especially to her.

"Okay, yes a few years ago he was hot, but not anymore"

"Because you don't go for the guys who have blonde, wavy hair, and
blue eyes that look light they could light up the night, right?"
Steph teased

"Well, if the right guy came along who looked like that, sure! Why
not?" Donna said before looking up at the red hand on the other
corner telling her not to go. God, how long was this light?

"You know why not? Because you think hot is a guy who happens to be
your boss!"

"Stephanie!" Donna yelled before finally crossing the street. "I
can't believe you just- -"

But Donna was cut off my hearing a load horn, and when she looked to
her left, all she saw was headlights. For a second she felt like she
was defying gravity. She liked it, but than she could feel herself
going down. She saw nothing, heard nothing. Felt nothing.

"DONNA?!" Stephanie screamed through the phone.

~*~

Josh sat patiently for the Congressman to shut the hell up or else he
would jump across the table and slapped the man a few times to shut
him up. The guy made no sense whatsoever, and Josh felt like he was
back in high school where it felt like he was the only one who knew
what the teacher was talking about. God, he thought everyone was so
stupid, until he realized that no one could be as smart as him. Hey
760 verbal baby! That's got to show for something.

But seriously, if Congressman Dwight doesn't shut up in two seconds,
Josh was not going to be held for his actions.

"What I don't understand is why you want to take money away from the
army," Congressman Dwight said to Josh and Toby. Toby actually looked
like he was going to shoot the guy if he could get his hands on a
gun.

"Because if we take money away from the army," Toby says slowly so
the Congressman could follow along, "then we can get better
education"

"But that would mean putting the money towards education,"
Congressman Dwight says in a confused voice.

Toby leans his head back and mumbles, "Oh, sweet Jesus"

Josh can't help buy laugh a little. He had the same thing running
through his mind.

"Yeah, but that's what we want," Josh says. "We want the money to go
towards education, because with a better education, a better life"

"But what about the army?" the Congressman asks

Josh knew what it felt like to get shot, and it was a lot less
painful than this. He lean forward before putting his head in his
hands. God, there is no way to get through to this man!

Thankfully his cell phone rang. An excuse to get away! Josh joyfully
picked up his phone and said, "I need to take this," even though he
wasn't expecting a call. He could see the glare Toby was giving him
out of the side of his eye, but he didn't care. He was happy to be
free.

But he got curious when he looked down at the i.d. on the phone and
it said DONNA CELL. Donna never calls when he was in a meeting,
unless it was REALLY important. He opens his phone and puts it next
to his ear. "Hey. What's up?"

"Is this Josh?" a man greets him. Okay, no need to worry, Josh
thinks. But why is a MAN calling Josh on Donna's phone?

"Um, yes. Who is this?"

"I'm Steve Martinez, emergency nurse on call. Do you know a Donna
Moss?"

Everything, it seemed, was going way to fast. Who the hell is Steve
Martinez, and what is this about an emergency nurse on call? What is
going on?!

"Um, yes I do. How did you get this number?" Josh asked. A million
thoughts were going through his head. Why he choose that question to
ask, was beyond him.

"You were Ms. Moss I.C.E." Steve Martinez said. Josh remembered Donna
talking something about an I.C.E thing for the phone. It stands for
In Case of Emergency. When you type someone's phone number into your
phone, you're supposed to put ICE next to the person's name, so in
case something happens to you, the police or whoever, knows who to
call. Josh guessed that he was Donna's ICE. Which made perfect sense
since she was his ICE.

"Is everything okay?" Josh asked. He almost dreaded the answer. If
the emergency nurse calls you, obliviously something happened. He
just didn't want to know what happened.

"No, sir. Ms Moss was in an accident. We're taking her to George
Washington Hospital"

TBC



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 2/?
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
Josh didn't even look to see if there was a chair near by, he just
fell right to the ground, as if his legs just gave up on him.

George Washington Hospital? Car accident? Donna? No. No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, NO! Those three things do NOT belong in the same
sentence!

"Sir?" Steve asks "Are you still there?"

Josh, not even realizing it, dropped the phone while he was going
down to the ground. He grabbed the phone before someone stepped on it
and said, "Yes, I'm here"

"Sir, are you going to come or- -"

"I'll be there," Josh said fast. "I'll be there soon" And with that,
he hung up.

He doesn't know how much time past, could have been seconds or it
could have been hours and Josh wouldn't have known the difference. He
was still in his little world when he heard someone say, "Josh"

He looked up and saw Toby starring down at him. With Toby being so
high up, Josh felt small. Really small. He also felt hopeless.

"Josh, what's going on?" Toby asked in his usual give-me-no-crap
voice.

Josh looked up at him and swallowed, trying to get moisture back down
his throat. "That was...um...that was..."

"Josh? What's going on?" he asked again but this time it was much
softer.

Josh looked down, but he didn't see anything. He couldn't really,
since the tears in his eyes were blocking his sight. "Donna..." he
mumbled.

"Josh? What about Donna?"

Josh looked up again and said the one sentence he never wanted to
pass his lips. "Donna's been in a car accident"

Toby looked more shocked than Josh had ever seen him. He looked away,
as if he couldn't look at Josh a second longer, before turning
back. "Where is she?"

"George Washington," Josh tried to stand up, but his legs seemed like
jello. "I have to go to George Washington"

"You'll go when you're more stable," Toby said holding Josh by his
arm.

"No. I have to go now," he answered before looking at Toby and
saying, "Red lights, Toby"

Toby looked confused before saying, "Is that code for something?"

"Yeah," Josh said before pulling his arm out of Toby's grasp. "It's
code for me being with Donna when she needs me"

~*~

He's pretty sure he broke more than a dozen laws by driving the way
he did to the hospital, but Josh didn't give a fuck. His only
thoughts were about Donna, and okay so maybe the usually twenty
minute ride only took ten minutes this time, but he still didn't
care. And not one cop could control him, if they even dared.

He isn't even sure if the place he park was an actually parking
space, but like before, he didn't care. He walked into the emergency
room before walking up to the nurses station. "Where's Donna Moss's
room?"

The nurse looked up from the computer and said, "I'm sorry?"

"Donna Moss," Josh replied in an angry voice. "Where is Donna Moss's
room?!"

"Are you a relative?" the nurse patiently asked.

Josh, knowing they wouldn't let him in unless he lied, said the first
thing that came into his mind, "Yes. I'm her husband"

"Oh," the nurse said before typing on the keyboard. She looked up and
said, "She's in ICU. You can't see her unless a doctor goes in with
you"

"Then page a doctor," Josh said through gritted teeth.

The nurse looked a little frightened, but she did what Josh asked her
to, so he was happy about that.

Josh went to sit in one of the uncomfortable looking chairs. He was
not a patient man, especially where Donna was concerned. He closed
his eyes and tried to take deep breaths, but it didn't help; he had
to know how Donna was.

"Excuse me?" a man said standing over Josh. When he looked up, Josh
realized the man was a doctor, if the white jacket and id that
said `Joseph Simon, M.D' was any clue. "Are you the man here about
Donna Moss?"

Josh stood up and said, "Yes, I am"

"Come this way," the Doctor Joseph said before leading Josh to the
corner of the room. Josh wasn't excellent at reading people, but he
got the feeling this was a bad sign.

"Is everything alright?"

The doctor took a deep breath before saying, "Ms. Moss, as I'm sure
you know, was hit by a car that was going through a red light.
Amazingly, she didn't sustain any injuries, but than again the car
wasn't that big"

Josh was finally able to breath. She's okay. She's going to be
alright. "That's great"

Dr. Joseph gave him a sad smile before saying, "Well, yes that is the
good news"

His happiness faded fast. "What's the bad news?" Josh asked, his
voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor took another deep breath before saying, "She sustained a
head injury."

Josh could feel himself going pale. "Is...is she going to be...alright?"

"I don't know. She's in a coma right now. We won't know anything
until she wakes up"

Josh swallows the lump he has in his throat. "When will she wake up?"

Dr. Joseph shrugs. "She could wake up now, she could wake up in a few
weeks. It all depends"

"Depends on what?"

"It depends on her. Until she wakes up, there really isn't anything I
could do for her"

"Is there anything I could do? Like, I don't know, talk, maybe? Read?
Something like that..."

"Actually, talking to her might help. Would she recognize your
voice?"

She's known Josh for years. Yeah, Josh thought to himself, she must
recognize my voice. "I think so"

"Well, great than. Right this way" the doctor says before lending
them down a hallway. Josh isn't really sure on where he's going,
since all he can think of is seeing Donna. Will she recognize Josh?
Of course she will! She has seen his face everyday for years. How
could she not know him?

They get off an elevator- -truth be told, Josh didn't even realize he
got ON an elevator- -before walking down yet another hallway. The
doctor stopped in front of a door with the number 546 on it. "This is
Ms. Moss. Now let me just tell you a few things. She might move, not
a big movement a small one, and if you squeeze her hand she might
squeeze back. These are all good signs, but it doesn't necessarily
mean she will wake up. Just wanted to let you know that so you don't
get your hopes up if she does either"

Josh nods, wanting the Doctor to open the door so he can finally see
his Donna. "Are there any questions?" Dr. Joseph asks. Josh shakes
his head. "Okay, then follow me"

He opens the door and Josh stands in the doorway looking at the body
on the bed. For a minute, he feels like this is a nightmare. He'll
wake up any second and call Donna and she'll yell at him for calling
her so damn early, but somehow Josh knows this is not a dream.

He slowly walks into the room, never taking his eyes off of her. He's
afraid if he even blinks, she'll disappear, like smoke into a fan. He
doesn't hear the door close again but does realize that he is all
alone.

He looks down at her, so pale against the sheets. She has her eyes
closed, like she's sleeping. Cuts all over her face, but still he
thinks she's beautiful. The only thing that would make her even more
beautiful at that moment is if she opens her dark blue eyes, so he
could get lost in them, like he has countless times before.

He slowly drags a chair closer to the bed and holds her left hand. He
than, ever so slightly, cries.



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 3/9
Everything in part one.
*********************************************************************
"CJ, I need to talk to you," Danny Concannon said walking into her
office before shutting the door.

"God, I hate it when a reporter says that to me that," CJ mumbled
under her breath

"Than I think you're in the wrong business," Danny said trying to
lighten the mood

"I guess so," she replied. She would have said a witty response but
with thing with Donna, no one really felt like joking. "What's up?"

"First off, I want you to know that everyone in the press room is
really upset about what happened to Donna"

"Thanks. What do you want?"

"And no one wants to make a big deal. It was just being in the wrong
place at the wrong time, right?"

"Right. What do you want?"

"Well, my editor wanted me to write about it since it was someone in
the White House was involved..."

"Danny, I told everyone in the Press Room today what they needed to
know. I even threw in a quote from the President. What do you want
from me?"

"I want you to know that my editor, for reasons that are unknown to
me, went through the check-in sheet at the hospital"

"And what?" CJ asked, tired of playing twenty questions with him.

"And, well, found that Donna's husband came to pay for a visit"

"Donna's husband?!" CJ yelled before slowly standing up. What in the
world...? Donna had a HUSBAND?! Why was she ALWAYS the last one to know
about these things?

"Yeah, and here's the part you're gonna love"

"Oh, `cause I don't love this already?"

Choosing to ignore that, Danny continued. "She was visited by her
husband, Joshua Lyman"

Everything it seemed just went from bad to worse. What the hell is
going on? Josh and Donna were MARRIED!? When did this...? How did
this...? Where did this...?

"If that's the case CJ," Danny said breaking her out of her little
daydreaming, "tell them I said congratulations. That was a long time
coming"

"Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"Get out"

"Okay," he said before going to her door. Before opening it, he
turned and said, "I just wanted you to know. I don't know if any
other reporter is going to look into it"

"Thanks Danny"

"No prob," he said before opening the door and walking out.

~*~

It has been three days since Josh found out Donna was hit with a car.
She still hasn't waken up, which is scaring Josh.

`What if she never wakes up?' He sometimes finds himself
thinking. `How will he go on? Donna knows everything about him. What
if she...'

`No', Josh would say to himself when that question comes to mind. She
will NOT die on him. He won't be able to lose someone else he loves.
He's not loosing Donna. Not her, not ever.

Her mother showed up only a few hours after he called to tell her
what happened. Marjorie Moss has been trying to get Josh out of the
hospital and in some clean clothes, but he's like a stubborn mule. He
won't leave Donna's side, even for a second.

CJ, Sam, and Toby came to visit once on their lunch break, or
whatever break they had at the same time. They all agreed Josh needed
to go home and for the love of God, please take a shower. Sam joked
that the reason Donna wasn't waking up was because she didn't want to
smell Josh.

"Josh," Marjorie whispered to him, who fell asleep in the chair next
to Donna's bed. She shook him a little before saying his name a
little louder.

He stirred a little, quickly looking over at Donna, but seeing no
changes from the last he looked at her, looked up at Donna's mother
who was standing right above him.

"Sweetie, go home," she said with a soft smile.

"No," he mumbled. "Not tired"

Marjorie sighed and said, "Josh, you need to go home and rest in a
bed. This chair probably isn't helping your back"

"I don't care"

`Donna's right', she thought. `He IS very stubborn.' "Josh, I would
like a moment alone with my daughter"

That never accord to Josh. Maybe she DID want to be with Donna.
Alone. But he's been there the entire time, she never really talked
to her. He slowly got up and couldn't help thinking that maybe a bed
would be nice.

Marjorie put her arm around Josh and walked him to the door, just in
case he changed his mind. "Josh, I'll call you the second she opens
her eyes, but for now, go home. Sleep, shower, change, eat, go to
work if you have to. When was the last time you were at work?"

He thought back. "The morning of the accident"

She nodded. "That's what I thought. You're office must look like a
much of buffalos passed by. Go. I'm sure Leo will find something for
you to do to keep your mind occupied"

He looked back at Donna lying on the bed. "You'll call..."

"The second she wakes up and not a minute later. I swear. Go. Home.
Now," she said before opening the door and pushing him out. Before he
could say another word, she said, "The second she opens her eyes,"
before closing the door.

~*~

Josh did everything Marjorie told him to do; he even went back to his
office. But the sight of Donna's desk made him check his phone for
the thousandth time. He walked into his office, and looked around. It
was exactly like he left. A complete mess, and so help him if he
needed a file and fast. It would take him a while to even locate a
pen, for crying out loud.

CJ watched him walk into his office from her desk and couldn't help
but think about what Danny said. Could they really be married? That
would certainly answer a lot of questions, but why would they choose
NOW to tell people? She had to know.

Though she really didn't want to do it, she got up from her desk and
began walking to Josh's office.

"Don't forget you have a meeting with Toby in ten minutes," Carol
said to CJ as she passed.

"I know," she mumbled back. She continued walking down the hallway
before stopping in front of his door. She knocked and when she heard
the `Come in' she opened the door.

CJ did see Josh after he was shot. She remembered how pale he looked
and how...unlike Josh he was. He barely made a peep and lifting his arm
seemed to take more effort than he had. She remembered that she hoped
to never, in her entire life, to seem him like that again.

Well, the Josh before her made the post-shooting Josh look like
regular Josh. To say he looked worse than shit was putting it nicely.
He probably went home and changed, but that barely even helped. It
looked like he lost weight, and she wondered when was the last time
he ate. He's hair was still a little wet, so it made his hair look
even more wild. And he looked like he could fall to sleep standing
up. He needed to rest. Badly.

God, she didn't want to bring this up, but this was her job. And
sometimes she hated her job.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"I need to talk to you about something"

"What?"

Exhausted probably doesn't even come close to how he looks right now.
God, how does someone work on such little sleep?

"Danny came into my office and said that his editor was looking at
the check-in sheet for the hospital and came across the fact that
Donna was visited by her husband"

Josh looked up at her like she announced she was Republican. "CJ,
what are you talking about? Donna's not married" `Cause if this thing
with her being hurt doesn't kill him, her being secretly married
will.

"Well, than why does it say that her husband, Joshua Lyman, came to
pay her a visit?"

He rolled his eyes. He seriously didn't have the time and patience to
deal with this crap. "Fine, I said I was her husband. They wouldn't
let me in to see her unless I was related and I needed to see how she
was. I'm sorry if I scared the crap out of you, but in case you
haven't noticed, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE
WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW!"

She wasn't sure what reaction she was going to get from him, but that
wasn't what she saw coming. "I'm sorry Josh. I know you're worried- -"

"Worried? WORRIED!? You think I'm WORRIED!? I'm out of my mind with
panic, CJ!"

She nodded. That's what she was expecting. "I understand..."

"Do you? Do you know what it's like to watch you're best friend lie
there and there is nothing you can do about it?"

"Yes Josh. I do. In case you forgot, I waited fourteen Goddamn hours
watching my best friend lie there and there was nothing I could do
about it? In case you forgot, everyone in this building was waiting
for fourteen GODDAMN hours. We know Josh! We know what you're going
through. And I'm sorry that this White House crap is unimportant to
you, but while you sit there the Earth is still moving. And I have
business I need to get done."

He looked up at her. He did forget that his best friends waited for
him. He totally forgot that they sat there wondering if he was going
to make it or not. He shook his head. He totally forgot. "I'm sorry,
CJ- -"

"No, I'm sorry. I know this is tough on you and- -"

"I told them I was her husband to get into her room. I don't even
clearly remembering saying it, but I'm pretty sure I said that. I...I
just wanted to see her. I wasn't thinking straight. If the press
asks, that what you say. I just wanted to see her."

She nodded. That sounded like Josh. "Okay. If they ask, I'll say
that."

She turned to leave before his voice called her back, "Thanks, CJ"

"For what?"

He looked at her and said one word that they both at this point
hated, "Waiting"

She nodded. "There really wasn't anything else I could do." With that
she opened the door and walked back to her office.

~*~

Everywhere he went someone asked him about Donna. He wished he could
say over the loud speaker that nothing has changed and PLEASE stop
asking him about it, but he was almost 95% sure they didn't have a
loudspeaker in the White House.

Leo asked him if he could sit in with Toby about the energy bill, and
taking Marjorie's advice, decided that would be for the best. He did,
after all, have to try to get her off of his mind.

The meeting didn't work. Meaning, he still thought about her, in the
hospital bed, in a coma. God, how he wishes he was there to watch.
Just watching her breath was better than listening to this crap for
another minute.

The Congressman was going on and on about...well something. Josh wasn't
too sure about what at this point. If he was to take a quiz on what
he was supposed to be listening to, he would fail immediately. But
than it came.

His phone rang.

He picked it up off the table and got up from his chair without even
asking if he could be excused. He didn't really care about manors at
that moment. All he wanted to know was what is happening with Donna.

He walked into the busy hallway and answered, "Lyman"

"Josh, it's me, Marjorie"

He could feel his heart pumping, his pulse going off the
charts. "Yeah?"

"She's awake"

~*~
Once again Josh raced out of the building and into his car. Once
again he rushed to the hospital, not giving a damn about the laws.

Donna's awake.

She's going to be okay.

Donna's awake.

Donna.

Is.

Awake.

Those were the most beautiful three words he was ever heard.

Unlike last time, he didn't stop at the nurses station, but instead
ran to the elevators. He knew the room number. 546. When he got off
the elevator, he ran down towards her room, seeing her mother
standing in front of the door. When he got closer she spoke.

"Josh, I need to tell you something"

"I'm sure it can wait," Josh said, putting his hand on the doorknob.
He honestly didn't care what she had to say. He needed to see Donna.
Now.

"It's important Josh," she said

"I'm sure it is, but it has to wait"

"Josh," she said before putting her hands on his arm, holding him
from going in. In any other situation, this would have stopped Josh
from going in and listened to what she had to say, but he couldn't.
He couldn't stop. He had to see her. Right this minute. "Please
listen to me"

"Right after I see her," and with that he broke his arm from her
grasp and opened the door.

Donna was lying on the bed, her head facing the window that showed a
perfect view of the Washington Memorial.

He leaned against the doorframe, not able to hold himself up anymore.
She was awake.

He started to cry, but happily this time. He walked closer, before
saying, "Donna?"

She looked over at him, her dark blue eyes fixed on him. He felt
happy again. Giddy, even. She was up. She was going to be okay.

"Oh my God, Donna. You scared the living daylights out of me!" he
said before walking over so he was next to her bed.

"I'm sorry to have scarred you," she said in her most polite voice.
That should have given Josh a clue of what was to come, but it
didn't. He was just so happy to see her amazing blue eyes.

"I'll make sure you repay me," he said with a grin

They were silent for a minute, Donna looking everywhere but him. She
coughed a little before saying, "Um, this is probably going to sound
a little weird"

"What is it?"

She finally looked up at him and their eyes met. She finally
asked, "I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"

TBC



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 4/9
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
Josh knew what it felt like to be in pain; he was, after all, shot at
only a year ago. He has the scar down his chest to prove that he
knows pain. But when Donna asked him that question, taking a bullet
for the President was like a walk in the park.

He than thought maybe she was joking. She always loved to tease him,
but the look on her face showed this was not a joke. She honestly had
no clue who he was.

And that killed him.

"I'm sorry to have to put it like that," she said, trying to put get
rid of the silence that took over after she asked that
question. "But, um, who are you?"

Josh just stood there, looking like an idiot. `She doesn't remember
me?' he asked himself. `She doesn't REMEMBER me?'

"Josh," he heard someone say behind him. He slowly turned around and
saw Marjorie looking anxious. "I need to talk to you. NOW!"

He still didn't move. He just looked back at Donna, his heart
breaking in the process. `She doesn't remember me' How could she not
remember Josh? They spent all their time together! He was her
emergency contact number, for crying out loud!

Marjorie, getting tired of waiting by the door, grabbed Josh's arm
and pulled him to her. When they finally got outside the door, she
closed it and he lost it.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" He shouted, the vein in his forehead
about to pop.

"Josh," she said in her most soothing voice. "Donna has amnesia"

He looked at her and said the only thing that came to mind, "You're
kidding?"

"No, I wish I was," she said before she took a deep breath. "The
minute she opened her eyes, I called you, just like I promised. When
we hung up, I called Doctor Joseph and told him she woke up. Before
he came, I was asking her simple questions like `Are you feeling
alright?' `Does anything hurt?' You know questions like that. Finally
the doctor showed up and started asking her questions that were
basically what I asked. Then he asked what day is it. She said it was
Tuesday. He corrected her and said it was Wednesday, but she was
close. The Doctor said that's common with a head injury. He than
asked her a series of questions, like `Where are you?' `Where were
you born?' you know things like that, she answered none of them
correctly. Finally he asked what her job was, and she said `I don't
know'. He than took me outside and explained that she has the full
case of amnesia, and that it's pretty unusual, but to try to talk to
her and remind her of her past. When he left was when you showed up"

Josh took a moment to take it all in. Donna has amnesia. How could
this happen? How could someone just forget their life? It didn't seem
possible, yet Donna was experiencing it right now.

"When...when will she remember?" Josh asked looking into the window the
door had provided. She was looking at them, but more to the point,
she was looking at him. `Maybe she remembers me,' he thought like in
that love movie Donna made him watch that one time when she had the
flu. `The Book' or `The Notebook' or the `The Notepad', he didn't
remember the title but it was something like that. When the main
woman had Alzheimer's, but somehow, whenever her husband would tell
her the story of their love, the woman would always remember. `Maybe
she's knows me' he thought happily to himself. Hey, it could happen.

"They don't know," Marjorie said, pulling him out of his little
fantasy. "She could remember in a few hours, she could remember in a
few months. They have no idea"

Josh looked at her before looking back at Donna. How could this be?
Donna knows everything about him. Everything! How could she just
forget?

"Josh," she said, touching his arm lightly. "I have come to a
decision" He looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "I think it
is best if she comes home to Wisconsin with me"

"No," he answered simply. He could not have Donna taken away from
him, not without a fight. First she lost her memory- -their whole
past together- -and now her mother wanted to talk her away from him?
No way.

"Josh," her mother said with a sigh. She knew it wasn't going to be
easy. "Just listen to me" He looked at her waiting for her to go
on. "I know this is hard on you, but Josh think about it. Her whole
job was memorizing. Names of Senators, Congressmen, remembering
numbers; things like that. Josh, how could she do this job without
remembering all of that?"

"She'll remember," he answered

"How do you know? She might never remember. She can't go on doing a
job that took her years to get. She worked hard to get where she is,
and all thanks to you. But Josh, she doesn't remember"

"But if she stays," Josh said, "than maybe she will remember"

"Josh, you're the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the
United States. You do not have months to take off so you can help her
remember. I promise that if she shows any sign of remembering
anything, I'll have her on the first flight back, but Josh...she
doesn't remember"

He looked at her, knowing she was right but not wanting to give in.
Giving in meant he couldn't help her and he wanted to help her.
Needed to help her. He looked down at his shoes before whispering, "I
just don't want to let her go"

Her mother took pity on him. "I know you don't. But Josh, honey, she
can't do her job unless she remembers things. And right now she has
no idea who either of us are!"

He hung his head. She was right. "Is there someway I can help?"

She smiled. It didn't reach her eyes, but she smiled. "Yes. Go in and
talk to her. Tell her who she was and what she was able to do"

He nodded and slowly opened the door. He walked in, unsure if she
wanted him here. She looked over at him and smiled. "You again"

He grinned a little. "Me again"

Her mother coughed a put her one hand on Josh's shoulder. "Donna,
honey, this is Josh Lyman"

"Oh!" Donna said. "Well, um, nice to meet you"

"Uh, you too"

There was silence before Marjorie whispered to Josh, "Better start
talking, `cause she sure ain't"

He cleared his throat and walked a little closer to her. "So, uh,
what do you want to know?"

She shrugged. "Everything"

"Do you want to me start at the beginning?"

She laughed which made his heart swell. God, did he love her
laugh. "Always a good place, don't ya think?"

He sat down on the chair that he vacated before he left. Before he
could open his mouth, her mother said, "I think I'll go downstairs
for some coffee. I'll get you guys something to eat" And with that,
she left.

Josh settled into his seat, "So, here's how we met..."



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 5/9
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
TWO AND AN HALF WEEKS LATER:

Donna left the bathroom, having taken care of her morning duties. She
walked into her parent's kitchen, were she saw her mother over the
sink, washing some dishes.

"I swear, your father must think he's a king or something," her
mother says before putting the wet dish in the rack to dry. "Leaving
dirty dishes in the sink, expecting the maid to clean"

Donna smiled at this. She may not remember what her life was like
before her accident but she seemed to enjoy it now.

She remembers that nice man who came to her hospital room so much
after she woke up. Josh Lyman. `He's really something,' she thought.
God did she wish she remembered him. He was so caring, explaining in
every detail the moment they met and everything they ever talked
about. He seemed to really know her, but she guess that it was no
surprise since they were best friends. What really surprised her was
the fact that he was also her boss.

How many bosses would know their employee's favorite color? How about
favorite movie? Actor? Food? It didn't make any sense, but yet,
somehow, it made perfect sense.

She just didn't see how.

"Maybe," Donna said to her mother about the dishes, "Dad was going to
wash them, but than forgot"

"Like how he forgot to tape last night's episode of `Friends' but DID
remember to buy that stupid movie about...oh, what is it called? The
one where the girl turns 30 over night"

"`13 Going On 30'" Donna answered.

"Yes, that's the one," her mother said before going back to the
dishes. "I never understand your father"

Donna smiled before looking down at the table. Sitting there was a
brown package. "Mom, who is this for?"

"For you, Sweetie. Came last night, but I forgot to tell you"

Donna picked it up. It wasn't heavy, but there was definitely
something in there. "Me? Did I order something?"

"I don't think you did. Who's it from?"

Donna looked at the return address. "'87-43 84 Street Georgetown,
Washington. Sound familiar?"

Marjorie shook her head. "Not really. No name?"

"No"

"Well, open it up and see what ya got?"

Donna took a knife and sliced the tape in half. She than opened the
box and took out all the loose paper. Inside was a wrapped gift in
the shape of a rectangle. She sat down on the chair and looked at it
carefully. "Is it my birthday?"

"No, you're birthday's not for a couple of months"

"No holidays are coming up, right?"

Again, Marjorie shook her head. "None that I know of"

Donna looked back down at the present. Who would send her a gift for
no reason? She slowly opened the gift, wondering who would send her
something now. As she unwrapped it, she realized it was a book. When
she fully unwrapped it, she turned it over so the cover was facing
her.

"`Heimlich Beckengruber on the Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing'?"
Donna asked herself. What in the world...?

*..."It's got a molted calf cover"...*

She looked up to see if her father came into the room and for some
strange reason was telling her about the book, but he wasn't around.
There was no man around her; just her mother and her in the kitchen.

But she would bet her life that a male voice said it had a molted
calf cover. Come on, no one thinks about that when the look at an old
book. Do they?

She looked at her mom. "Mom, did you say something?"

She shook her head. "No. What is that?"

Donna held it up for her to see. "It's a book. About the art and
artistry of Alpine skiing. Who would send me something like *that*?"

Her mother shrugged. "I honestly have no idea. It doesn't say?"

Donna looked in the book to see if maybe there was a card, but
besides all the loose paper, the box was empty. "Nope, nothing"

"Hmm, that's strange" Marjorie said before going to get herself a cup
of coffee

Donna thought it was strange too. No one just sends an old book,
right? But maybe it was a sigh. Yes! What if had to deal with
something that she...liked. Like Alpine skiing.

"Mom, did I enjoy skiing?"

"I don't think you even tried it," her mother replied.

Well that theory went out the window. But this had to mean something.
She opened the old book, flipping through the pages. Nothing really
caught her interest, but for some reason she bought this. Or was it a
gift?

"Did I receive this from someone?"

"Maybe. I don't know"

She looked back down at the book and continued flipping. She closed
the book before opening it up again. She looked at the first page and
continued on...before stopping again at the first page.

`December 24, 1999' it read. Holy shit, someone wrote her something!

`Dear Donna,
First of all, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year. I hope that everything you wish for in this new year comes
true- -who knows, you might even go skiing!

But I want to take this very special time of the year to tell you how
much you mean to me. Donna, you mean more to me than words can
describe. Now I don't want you to get all mushy and such, but I just
wanted you to know that without you I wouldn't be the person I am
today. And for that, I owe you my life.

I hope you get everything your heart ever wished for, Donnatella.
Because you deserve nothing less than that.

Merry Christmas

PS - Skis would have killed you'

And by than there was no more room at the bottom of the page so
whoever wrote this beautiful letter- -that had her close to tears- -
couldn't sign it. She flipped the page over, maybe they signed on the
back. No such luck.

One thing was for certain, and that was whoever wrote this cares
about her. Deeply. `You mean more to me than words can describe'?
Come on, that must mean she means a lot to somebody, right?

But to who? That was the question. Who gave her this gift with such a
beautiful letter in it? Who lives at 87-43 84 Street Georgetown,
Washington? Why would someone give her an old book about alpine
skiing?

Who was Donnatella Moss?

She had so many questions, just no answers. This has been driving her
nuts long enough. She needs answers. Now.

"Mom, I want to go to Washington," Donna said in a voice that says
she has made up her mind. Maybe there would be some answers, if not
all.

Her mother looked at her. She knew it was a mistake to bring Donna
here. This isn't her life anymore, so she wouldn't get any answers.
But her baby was hurt and she wanted Donna close to her. To protect
her. But, after being in that hospital, Marjorie found out she wasn't
the only one who wanted to protect her. Joshua Lyman. What a man.
Didn't move for two days before she pushed him to the cafeteria.

Maybe it was time to go to Washington. Josh could show her around and
maybe she'll remember something. Maybe just spending time with him
will remind Donna of all the times they spent together. At least once
a week Donna would call her and tell her what had happened. And every
time the stories all revolved around Josh. How did Donna not see that
she was in love with him? Marjorie was miles away and SHE could see
it.

"Okay. We'll go to Washington"

TBC



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 6/9
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
Donna didn't know what to expect when she got off the airplane in
Washington. She guessed she thought that everything would come back
to her and she could go back to the way things were before her
accident, but she didn't remember anything. Not the crowd, the smell,
the sights. Nothing. Nothing jumped out at her and asked
her, `Remember me!?'

"Come," her mother said. "Let's get our luggage"

Her mother gently pulled her as Donna looked all around her. Everyone
seemed to be in a rush, like they had to be in ten different places
at once. `How could someone live like this?' she asked herself. She
would go mad if she had to do this. But than again, maybe not. What
if she did this everyday? What if *this* was her life?

"Here you go, Sweetie," her mother said before handing her her
luggage. They started walking toward the doors. They opened
automatically and Donna could feel the nice warm weather hit her on
her face. It felt so nice. Wisconsin was still a little chilly, but
this nice warm weather was defiantly up Donna's alley. Maybe that's
why she moved here.

But would you really move somewhere when it might only be warm for a
couple of weeks?

Every time Donna turned around, it seemed like she had another
question. Why did she move here? Was it because of love? Money? A
job? Friends? Weather? The list could go on, but Donna needed
answers. She needs them now.

"Taxi!" her mother yelled. After a few minutes, a taxi stopped in
front of them and her mother told her to get into the car. Marjorie
put the bags in the trunk before getting in herself.

"Where to ladies?" the taxi driver asked.

"Um, to the nearest Motel 6 or Days Inn. Whichever is fine," Marjorie
said to the driver before looking over at Donna.

But Donna was looking at all the sites. Before she left, she really
wasn't outside all the much. Marjorie wanted her to come home to
Wisconsin ASAP, so all of this was new to her.

She could see the Washington Memorial, and the top of the Capitol
building. She wanted to see everything, and she knew she had to since
something here had to remind her of something.

She continued to look out the window when they stopped at a red
light. A silver car pulled up next to them, and the car stopped right
next to Donna's door. For some reason Donna couldn't take her eyes
off of the car. It looked familiar, but like she saw it on television
or something like that. Yes, that must be it; she saw it on t.v. She
looked at the person who was driving it, and gasped.

It was Josh!

Her mother heard her gasp and asked, "What?! What is it?"

Donna pointed to him before saying, "It's Josh!"

"What?" her mother asked before leaning over and seeing that it was
indeed Joshua Lyman driving that car. She reached over Donna to press
the button down to opened the window. Both she and Donna started
yelling, "JOSH!" to get his attention.

After a few seconds, Josh looked over and to say he was surprised was
to put it mildly. `DONNA?!' his mind screamed. Was that really Donna?
For the passed few weeks every time he saw a blonde, he thought it
was Donna, but now he knew that his mind was not playing a game.
Donnatella Moss was looking straight at him. Did that mean she
remembers?

He didn't care if she did remember or not. Donna was here!

He pointed to an empty spot by the sidewalk, and her mother nodded
before turning towards the driver. Donna never took her eyes off of
him.

When the light turned green both cars started moving and Josh
signaled to get into the next lane. When he was able to he parked in
an empty spot and jumped out of the car.

DONNA WAS HERE! He was so happy, he thought his head was going to
explode. Donna was finally home. Oh God, how he missed her. He missed
her smile, her wit, her blonde hair, her smell, her eyes, he missed
HER.

He walked over to them as they got out of the car. "Joshua!" Marjorie
said before hugging him. He let go off her before turning to Donna.
His body screamed to hug her, to be able to hold her in his arms, but
for some reason he couldn't. Maybe it was because all Donna did was
smile and hold out her hand. It wasn't a hug, but at least he was
touching her.

He looked over at Marjorie, silently asking if she remembered. And
just like she was reading his thoughts, her mother shook her head and
mouthed "No"

Then she most of remembered him from the hospital, he thought. "Hello
Donna"

She nodded, "Josh. How are you?"

"Good. I'm good. You?"

"Oh, I'm fine"

He silently looked at her after that, wanting desperately to drop the
casualties. He wanted to ask her if anything looked familiar, if she
remembered anything. Anything at all. But he couldn't.

"So, um," he asked looking at Donna before looking at her
mother, "how long are you going to be here?"

But it surprised him to hear Donna reply, "As long as it takes"

They looked at each other again and he would bet his life on the fact
that he was feeling something pass between them. God, she was gone
too long. Two weeks is much too long.

"We were hopping that maybe you could show Donna around," Marjorie
said, trying to get Josh's attention. "You know, help her remember"

Josh didn't even hesitant, "Of course." But than he remembered, "But
not right now, I have to get to a meeting. At the Capital building.
But when I'm done I'll call you and we can meet at the White House"
He turned to Donna, "Do you have your cell phone?"

"Yes"

"Great. Than I'll call when I'm back at work and than you guys can
come. Does that sound alright?" he asked Donna, but her mother
replied.

"That sounds fine"

He nodded before walking backwards towards his car. "Okay. Then I'll
call you later"

Donna replied, "Later"

~*~

Something felt weird.

She wasn't sure what it was, but something didn't feel right. She
slowly opened her eyes and she noticed that this wasn't the place
where she fell asleep. No, this looked more like a bedroom than an
actual hotel room.

She got up so she was leaning on her elbows, but she looked around
the room. A nightstand stood next to her bed, a big chair sitting
next to that. A dresser stood right in front of her bed, and off in
the corner was a television stand with a nice screen t.v. sitting on
it.

Instead off being scared, she felt normal. Like she saw this place
everyday. There wasn't anything in the room that would make her feel
anything but comfort.

She went to the door and opened it. Again, nothing outside of the
door looked familiar, but somehow she felt normal. She walked into a
room that looked like it was a living room. Four people sat on the
couches, no one looked familiar except for Josh who got up when she
walked in.

He didn't say anything, but gave her a smile that made her weak in
the knees. How can one smile make her feel like she is a school girl
with a crush on the teacher?

She looked at the other three people in the room. No one stood out in
her mind, but something about them was familiar. There was two men
and one woman. The one man looked old and grumpy, while the other man
looked young and...not so grumpy. The woman had reddish brown hair but
a nice and comforting face that made Donna feel like they knew each
other.

Suddenly she heard a phone ring. She looked at Josh, but he was
fading away.

"Wait!" she shouted to him. "I need to talk to you!"

But it was too late. He was fading, along with the rest of the group.
Why were they here? Who were they?

She heard someone talking. She felt something warm on her face and
neck. What is going on?

She slowly opens her eyes and notices that she is indeed back in her
hotel room. She never left; she just had a dream. She sat up,
watching her mother talk on the phone.

"Well she just got up so give up so about an half of hour."
Silence. "Okay." Silence. "Okay, so all I have to do is give our
names?"

With that Donna got up from the bed and rubbed her eyes. How long had
she been out? She walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
She knew she had a dream, but for the life of her she couldn't
remember what it was about. She saw...someone. Urgh, this is driving
her nuts.

All she sees are faces. So many faces, all different looking, but
when she wakes up she can never remember what the person looked like.
Just like now, she couldn't remember what anyone or what anything
looked like in the dream.

She hated not knowing.

Maybe Josh had answers. God, did she hope he had answers. She needed
to ask him so many questions.

She looked in the mirror and picked up the brush. Combing it through
her hair, she thought about her dreams. She never really remembers
her dreams, just remembers knowing that she had them.

Everything was so confusing. Shouldn't you remember one dream you
have? How can someone forget them all?

"Donna?" her mother said as she knocked on the bathroom door. "Are
you alright?"

"I'm fine," Donna responded

"Okay, well Josh just called. He said that he should be in the White
House in about five minutes, so we should head over there. Are you
almost ready?"

Finally, the chance to know something about her past. Finally being
able to know who exactly Donnatella Moss is.

"Ready as I'll ever be"

TBC



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 7/9
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
The first thing Donna realized was that everything felt like a dream.

She knew she wasn't dreaming; she kept pinching herself just to make
sure. But for some odd reason, looking at all the monuments and the
history didn't bring anything back to her. Instead it made her wonder
more.

But she was finally going to get answers. Because, according to what
she knows and what she has seen, Joshua Lyman is her best friend. And
if anyone could help her, it was him.

She wondered, not for the first time in the past two weeks, if Josh
and her went more than best friends and co-workers. Did they date?
Were they boyfriend and girlfriend at one time and now he's doing
this out of guilt? As much as she wanted to, she couldn't ask her
mother. She didn't know why, but even the thought of asking her made
Donna start to blush. Why?

"We're almost there," her mother said, breaking her out of her little
daydream. She looked out the window and could see in the distance the
Capital building. She didn't how she knew it was the Capital; she
just did.

Maybe she was remembering. Maybe the answers are coming to her.

The cab driver stopped and her mother paid him before getting out of
the car. Donna got out on her side and immediately felt the warmth of
the sun on her face. Did she like the beach? `Cause she loved the way
the sun felt on the face, so maybe she enjoyed going to the beach and
feeling it everywhere on her skin.

Donna walked to the sidewalk and stood next to her mom. She looked at
the building before her and saw...something.

It like a flip book, the imagines were going so fast she couldn't
place what she saw. She was pretty sure she saw faces, but they all
looked so different, and moving so fast, she couldn't even tell you
what color hair they had. She saw other things too. Like snap shots
of things but the imagine was taken away before she could really take
in what the photo was about.

This building had answers. And she had so many questions.

~*~

To say Josh was nervous was the understatement of the year.

He kept looking at his watch, wondering what was taking them so long.
It wasn't a long drive from the hotel they were staying at to the
White House. He should know, he did a Map Quest on it to see how long
they said it would take. They recorded about fifteen minutes. Josh
looked at his watch; it's been seventeen minutes since Marjorie
called to tell him they were on their way.

He paced back and forth. This was killing him. First waiting for
Donna to wake than finding out she had no earthly idea who he was!
Now he felt different. What if Donna didn't recognize him? What if
coming back was all a big mistake and Donna wanted nothing to do with
him. He would die.

Well, not really, but he defiantly wouldn't see the light of day
again. He could become a workaholic, never leaving the office. Than
they would find him, dead on the floor due to starvation- -since
eating would always remind him of how Donna always took good care of
him- -and exhaustion- -ditto. Than he would haunt the wall of the
White House and tell employers not to fall in love with their
assistants.

Whoa, fall in love with their assistants? Was Josh in love with
Donna?

That took a no-brainer. Of course he was. That's why he wanted Donna
around. Because he wanted her. Needed her.

Loved her.

And he hated waiting.

He paced the length of his office, noting that it seemed smaller than
other offices when Bonnie- -his temporary assistant- -came in. "The
front desk called," she said to him, not leaving the doorway. "They
said Donna and her mother were here"

He looked at her and felt his heart race. God, he was acting like he
was going to go out with her, not show her around the building.

One thing he knew for sure was that he had to make Donna like him. If
she didn't like him, then she would have no reason to stay because
she wouldn't want to know who she was, then she would move back to
Wisconsin, marry some gomer who didn't appreciate Donna the way Josh
did, and he would go back to his fantasy of him dying in the office.

He took a deep breath before passing Bonnie on his way out. He walked
towards the double doors and opened them up.

Donna looked at him as he walked in and gave him a smile.

Not a bad way to start things off, Josh thought.

"Donna," he said walking over to her.

"Hi Josh," she half-whispered. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Why didn't Harvard or Yale have a course on how to read women? That
would be useful; not that chemistry crap.

Marjorie turned and noticed Josh. "Oh, Josh. I didn't see you there"

"Yeah, I tend to sneak up on people," Josh smirked.

Donna thought she would faint. Oh, that smirk. It seemed to make her
weak in the knees. And when did he have dimples? Man, is this guy
perfect or what? She so wished she could remember him.

"So, um," Josh started to say before stopping. `God, it feels like
I'm back in high school'. "How are you feeling?"

Donna nods. "Good. I'm good"

"That's good," he says. `Good? 760 verbal and the best word I can
come up with is *good*?' Josh thought. He was disgusted with himself.

Marjorie looked at the two of them. She knew this had to be hard for
Josh. The woman who knew him better than he knew himself had no idea
who he was. "Josh," she said making him move his eyes from Donna to
her. "Why don't you show us around? Let us see this wonderful
building."

"Oh, right. Of course," he walked towards the double doors he just
walked out of before turning towards Donna. He hoped something would
ring a bell.

He opened the doors and let the two women through. Once he closed the
door he walked into the area where Donna's desk was. "This is where
you worked...I mean work"

Donna looked at the desk. It wasn't messy, but there were papers
everywhere. Some pictures were also on display. There was one of her
parents- -that she knew since she knew what her parents looked like.
One was of a little girl- -niece maybe? One was of her in a beautiful
looking dress standing next to a man in a tux. She never saw the man
before, and they weren't touching, yet they were standing close
together. The man had a beard but was also losing his hair. She
wondered who he was. But the last one caught her interest.

It was of her and Josh.

They probably didn't even know the picture was being taken. He was
looking at her and she was laughing at something that couldn't be
seen in the picture. But it was the look he was giving her that made
her breathless. He was looking at her like she held all the answers
to his questions, that no matter what, she would know. But she didn't
know now, and she wondered if Josh would still look at her like that.
She doubted it, but a part of her hoped one day she would see that
look.

"Anything look familiar?" she heard Josh ask.

"No. Nothing" God she was getting so tired of that answer. One time
she wishes she could say `Yes! I know it!'

"Well, maybe something will click when you see my office," he said
before turning around and walking towards the closed door. He opened
it and let her pass through, her mother following, before Josh came
in.

Her father is not a very neat man. She's was at home for almost three
weeks, and one thing she gathered was her father was not a neat
person.

It sometimes made her nuts to look at the dinning room table that was
filled with papers, going from bills to his student's test papers.
Her mother complied about it a lot too, and to give him credit, her
father did sometimes clean the table, but the next day it would get
all messy again. Donna never understood how her mother could marry
such a messy person.

But, she had to pity the woman Josh ended up with. Saying his desk
was a mess was putting it nicely. Donna would consider it lucky if
she found the computer. Papers were everywhere; on the desk, on the
computer, on the floor, on the chair. Everywhere you looked, there
was a piece of paper.

"Oh good God, Josh," she heard her mother say. "How do you find a
chair!?"

Donna didn't know if Josh replied. She was barely paying attention.
Something about this place. It was so familiar, like she's been in
here all the time. But she couldn't place any situation that she had
had in here. She walked a little further in, lightly touching the
piece of paper that was on top of one of the many piles. She knew
this place; she's seen it before.

But like before, when she thinks she's finally remembering something,
it's taken away from her. It's like a robber taking her memory and
running off before she even knows what's happening.

*"...red lights..."*

*"...on a stamp..."*

*"...really hot in this shirt..."*

She looked behind her, Josh starring at her, begging her to remember.
Her mother looking around and shaking her head.

Who said that? Before Donna could ask, someone walked into the room.

"Josh, do you have...hi," the woman said looking at Marjorie before
turning and looking at Donna. "DONNA!" the woman said with a big
smile before going and giving her a hug. "Oh, my God, I've been so
worried. How have you been?"

"Um, good"

"Claudia Jean, I would like you to meet Donna's mother, Marjorie
Moss. Marjorie this is CJ Cregg" Josh said

"Hi, nice to meet you," her mother said before extending her hand
toward CJ

She shook it while holding on to Donna with her other hand. "Like
wise. So," she said before dropping her hand and looking at
Donna, "what have you been up to?"

"Um, nothing much," Donna said, looking at Josh and silently
asking, `Who is this?'

He mouthed, `A friend' before turning towards CJ, "Donna just came
back to see the White House." He hopped CJ could read between the
lines.

And he was glad to see her face fall a little bit. Not because he has
pleasure in seeing CJ upset, God no, but it showed that CJ got what
he meant. He was glad he didn't have to painfully say, "Sorry CJ, but
Donna STILL doesn't remember us"

"Oh," she said in a different voice. "Well, isn't it a remarkable
building?"

Donna nodded. "I've only seen the lobby and Josh's office, but yes,
it does seem like a remarkable building"

"You've only seen Josh's office?" CJ asked. When Donna nodded, she
replied with, "Well, there is a lot more to see." Than
whispered, "and the other rooms are much cleaner." Before saying
louder, "Is Josh showing you around?"

"Yes, he is," Donna says looking over at Josh.

He doesn't understand it, but somehow every time Donna looks at him
he feels like he's back in high school. He gets that feeling a nerd
gets when he notices that the head cheerleader is looking at him. He
wishes he understood it, but for now he had to play it cool. He
didn't want to lose her twice; once was enough, thank you very much.

"Well, mi amore, do you need help, or you think you got it under
control?"

"I think I got it, CJ," Josh said with a smile. God, did Donna love
that smile. Those dimples are to die for. "Unlike Sam, I do know that
the White House was not built only a few years ago"

"What?" Marjorie said looking at CJ before looking at Josh.

CJ answered with, "A few years ago, our friend Sam Seaborn was giving
a speech to fourth graders about the White House"

"Only," Josh picked up, "it seemed he didn't know that much about the
White House. Said that the Roosevelt room was for...who was it CJ?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt? And didn't he say he was the 18
president?"

CJ started laughing at the memory Mallory told them one night when
the gang went out to get a few drinks and relax after work. "Yep.
When, if you know your history, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was not the
eighteen president, but - -"

"The eighteenth president was Ulysses S. Grant," Donna said.

Everyone looked at her, amazed. How did she know that? "Donna?" Josh
asked with the million dollar question in his tone of voice.

"I don't know," she said looking at him. There was something in his
eyes, she noticed. Hope, it looked like. He hoped she remembered. "I
don't know how I knew that; I just did"

Marjorie smiled. "Maybe you're remembering"

She smiled at that thought. "Oh, God I hope so. I hate not knowing
who I am"

CJ looked at her. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I'm sure one of us knows the answer"

She nodded. "I'll remember that"

Josh clapped his hands than rubbed them together. "How about that
tour?"

~*~

"This is an absolutely beautiful building," Donna said as they walked
down another hallway. Not that she minded, she loved seeing CJ's
office, the bullpen, the mess, the communications department, Toby's
office, Sam's office, the Roosevelt room- -which, Josh added, was for
Teddy Roosevelt, not Franklin- -the Rose Garden, and finally the
Moral Room.

"It's so...green," Donna said with a smile. She looked all around her,
wondering how she could walk into these rooms without wanting to
faint. She was standing in a room where decisions are made. She's
standing in greatness. This is a little overwhelming.

Josh laughed. "Yeah, it kind of is. One my co-worker Sam and I tried
to make a fire here in the fireplace," he said before standing in
front of it.

"What happened?" Donna asked coming to stand next to him. Something
about this was familiar.

*"...no flammable liquids of any kind to start a fire, ever..."*

"Well," Josh said taking Donna out of her little daydream. "As it
turns out the flue had been shut since the 1800s. There was smoke
everywhere!"

*"...it's going pretty good now!"..."There's smoke in the
hallways!..."*

"And I had to go wake up the President," said a young black man as he
walked into the room. "You want to talk about a tough job? Wake the
President up and tell him the building is not on fire, but he has to
stand outside in January in his pajamas because these two idiots
wanted to get warm"

Donna started laughing. That was something to see. She didn't think
she would be to happy if someone had to wake her up because two
idiots didn't know that a flue was shut.

Josh loved hearing that laugh. God, what was it about this woman that
he loved? Everything, it seemed. He missed her so much. He hopes she
remembers something, because he doesn't want to spend another three
weeks without her by his side.

"Donna, this is Charlie Young. He's the President's personal aide,"
Josh introduced. Charlie walked out to Donna and stuck his hand out.

Donna shook it before saying, "Wow, personal aide to the President.
That's gotta look good on the resume."

"Yeah, does get people thinking that I might be good at something,"
Charlie joked. He turned to Josh and said, "Whenever you're ready"

"Ready for what?" Donna asked looking at Josh, than Charlie, than
Josh again.

He gave her that smirk that made her weak and said, "You'll see"

He put his hand on her back before leading her to another door.
Charlie opened it and they walked into a little office. There were
two desks, one in front of windows, the other desk to the door. Both
desks were messy- -though not as messy as Josh's desk- -but the one
in front of the windows had what looked like a cookie jar sitting on
it. And a woman, clearly in her sixties, sitting behind it.

"Mrs. Landingham," Josh said from his place next to Donna.

The older woman looked up and smiled when she saw Donna. She got out
of her seat and walked over to her. "Donna, my dear. How are you?"

She hugged Donna before pulling back. Donna smiled at how she made
Donna feel like she belonged here. "I feel fine. And you?"

"Still polite, I see. That's always good. I'm fine, dear." She looked
over at Josh, silently asking the question everyone asked him when
they saw Donna. He shook his head. She looked a little disappointed
before saying, "It's so good to see you Donna"

"Thank you...I'm sorry, I don't think I caught you name"

"I'm Mrs. Landingham, dear," she said with a smile

Someone coughed behind Josh and he turned around and noticed the one
person who had been silently following them. "Oh my, Marjorie, I'm
sorry. Mrs. Landingham, this is Donna's mother"

Mrs. L held out her hand which Marjorie shook. "So nice to meet you,"
Donna's mom said with a warm smile.

"You too," she said before turning towards Josh. "You don't have much
time. He has to meet with Fitz in a little bit"

"We won't take long," Josh assured her as he walked led Donna to the
door in the room.

"Where are we going?" Donna asked looking at Josh.

He smirked before saying, "You'll see"

He opened the door and Donna walked in. She gasped when she realized
what room they were standing in. If she thought the rest of the
building was filled with history, this room topped the cake. She knew
this room was important; it was like a vibe the second you walk in,
you knew it had history.

She thought she heard her mother gasp, but she's been hearing things
since she entered this building. This place held lots of memories.
Not only memories from centuries before, but her own memories.

*"...in a memo hastily written by..."*

*"...we don't normally raise our hands..."*

She knew this place. She knew it well. She could feel it. She looked
around and could feel the memories. Oh, God, did she want to
remember. And this room.

This room. It was filled with memories.

"Donnatellla Moss!" she heard someone yell. She has heard this
before. Somewhere before. God, who calls her that? It was someone one
in this room! She knows it.

She felt someone poke her back and she looked behind her. Josh
whispered to her, "The President doesn't like to be kept waiting"

She looked over by the desk and sure enough an older man was sitting
there, watching her from his seat. He was a much older man - old
enough to be her father. He had the warm look, like you would follow
him if he just asked you to. His smile meant no harm, like he just
wanted to get to know you better. She knew now why he was elected
president. He had a warm appearance, someone you wanted to know
better.

She smiled and stood straighter. For a second she thought she should
curtsy, but she resisted the urge. "Hello"

The older man stood up and began walking over to her. When he was
near enough, he took her right hand and held it in his. "Oh, Donna.
How are you?"

"I'm good, Mr. President," she said with a nervous smile.

"Good. You gave us all quite the scare there, Donnatella," he said
with a warm smile. There it is again. Donnatella. Who called her
that? She knew her mother called her that when she was mad or playing
around. But someone else always calls her Donnatella.

*"...because in the world of Donnatella Moss..."*

*"...Donnatella Moss!..."*

*"...interpreting the classics with Poet Laureate, Donnatella
Moss..."*

"I'm sorry to have scared everyone," she says not knowing how to
respond.

The President motions for her to sit down and Donna carefully walks
over to the couches. The President than notices the woman standing
behind Josh, "Hi, do I know you?"

Marjorie stood still, not quite sure she knew how to breathe. She was
standing in the Oval Office. Wait until she told her poker group
about this. It finally dawned on her that someone was talking to her.
She turned to the President and gulped. Ooops. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm
Donna mother, Marjorie"

He held out his hand which she took. "Nice to meet you." Letting go
of her hand, he turned towards Donna and Josh, who were sitting next
to each other on the couch. "So, Donna, what have you been up to
lately?"

"Oh, you know, not much"

"Do you like Washington?"

"Oh, yes sir. It's...it's...well there really is no word for it"

He smiled in understanding. "Yep, this place sure does take the cake.
Did you see the White House?"

"Yes sir. Josh gave me a tour"

"*Josh* gave you a tour?" the President asked, surprise clearly in
his voice

"Yes sir"

"Josh Lyman?"

Donna started giggling now. She wasn't sure why. But for some reason
she started giggling. "Yes"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Sir," Josh said from his seat. "I showed her around. She already
confirmed it"

"Don't get snarky with me," the President said, jokingly.

*"...this is his way. He's just going to snark me every April..."*

Josh smirked. "Yes sir"

Mrs. Landingham walked in, "Sir, Fitzwallace" she said as she tapped
to her watch.

"Right," the President said standing up. Donna, Josh, and Marjorie
followed suit, and right before he left he said to Donna, "We miss
you around here. Don't think we don't think of you every chance we
get. We all want you to get better soon"

Donna nodded and looked down. When she looked back up he realized
that she was trying to keep her tears at bay. "I will try to get
better soon"

He nodded and said, "I'll hold you to that" before walking out of the
room.

Marjorie looked around. "I can't believe I'm standing in the Oval
Office"

Josh smiled. "The first time I walked in here I almost fainted. It
was quite the experience"

Donna smiled. "How did I react? You know, the first time."

He looked at her and said, "You looked exactly the same way you did
just now. Like you were going to pass out, but didn't want to
embarrass yourself"

The one side door opened and Leo came walking in. "Donna! How are
you?" he said walking over to her and giving her a hug.

"I'm good," she said as she leaned back. The man before her looked
older- -about the same age as the President. His smile brought her
warmth. She couldn't help but return the favor.

"Come into my office," he said as he led the group into the next
room. The minute Donna walked in she heard something

*"...Hey! Norma Rae! Get in here!..."*

"Norma Rae?" Donna mumbled to herself. Who was Norma Rae?

"Did you say something?" Josh asked her

She looked at him and shook her head. She didn't know why she didn't
ask Josh who Norma Rae was. He probably knew. But why would she walk
into a room and think of someone named Norma Rae?

"So, Donna how are you?" Leo asked leaning on his desk.

Donna sighed. She was getting pretty sick of this question. "I'm
good"

"Isn't this building amazing?" he asked

"Oh, yes it is. I don't think I have ever seen anything like it"

"Josh," Leo said turning to the younger man. "Did you take Donna to
Martin's?"

Josh shook his head no. "Um, no. Maybe we'll try it, before...um,
before you guys leave" Something Josh did not want to think about.

Leo turned back to Donna. "If he takes you there, you have to try the
Chianti Braised Short Ribs. It is delicious. That with a cup of red
wine and chocolate cake for desert. You'll never taste anything like
it."

Donna nodded. "I think I'll try that, if we ever go"

Margaret ran in and said, "Leo, you're needed in the Situation Room,"
before looking at whom Leo was speaking with. "Donna? How are you?"

Okay, she was getting REALLY sick of answering this question. "I'm
good"

Margaret gave her a hug before whispering in her hear, "You better
get better fast because no one can stand working with Josh anymore"

"I heard that," Josh said

Margaret leaned back and looked at him. "Good, it was meant for you
to hear"

Josh pointed to the side door and Donna nodded. When they walked out
into the hallway, Donna said, "I must have been really friendly with
everyone, huh?'

Josh smirked. "You have no idea"

There was something about that smirk. She couldn't place her finger
on it, but something about they way his one dimple came out gave her
butterflies. She wondered if they were dating. She wondered if they
did date and now he's doing this out of guilt. Somehow she couldn't
see herself breaking up with him. The way he looked at her and the
way he touched her...no, they had to be dating. Right?

"Josh!" Someone yelled behind them. They turned around to see Sam
running down the hallway. Donna met Sam before and he had been so
nice to her. He asked her how she was, and she responded with her
usual `Fine'. But when she saw him right now, she heard a voice
again.

*"...I added a joke..."*

*"...There are just some things you are sure of. Like longitude and
latitude..."*

"Josh," Sam said again when he caught up with them. "I just wanted to
ask you guys if you wanted to join us. We're going to the Hawk and
Dove"

*"...I'll get you drunk at the Hawk and Dove..."*

"Who's us?" Josh asked

"Me, Toby, and CJ. Maybe Carol, but I'm sure. Want to come?"

Donna loved the idea of a small group of people gathered around a
table. For some reason, she desperately wanted to go. "I want to
come," she said

Josh looked at her. "You sure?"

She nodded. "Yeah,"

Josh turned to Marjorie. "You want to join us?"

She actually laughed at the question. "Me? No, I won't come. Did you
used to do this kind of thing often?"

Josh shrugged. "Once in a while, yeah"

"Then it would be nice for Donna to go with you. I'll find something
to do at the hotel"

"You sure?" Donna asked her mother

Her mother smiled. "Yeah. I can take care of myself"

Sam clapped his hands. "Great. We'll met there at eight"

TBC



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 8/9
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
Josh dropped Donna and Marjorie off at their hotel shortly after Sam
asked Donna and Josh to join him at the Hawk and Dove.

Donna and Marjorie walked to their room, not saying a word. Once the
door was closed behind them, Marjorie tried to get rid of the
silence. "So, you enjoyed the tour today?"

"Yep," Donna mumbled, not evening listening to her mother.

Today was extraordinary. She felt like she learn so much; not just
from Josh, but from the way everyone was around her. Obliviously, she
was someone they all cared for, someone they felt like they had to
look after. She felt warm, knowing that if someone ever happened to
her, so many people were right there to help her up.

But the first person, it seemed, to help her get back on her feet was
Josh. She wondered if this feeling she had inside was new. She
wondered if her stomach always had butterflies and if her knees
always felt like they were going to give in when he smiled. She
wondered if she always held on his every word and had to laugh when
he did, since his laugh was contagious. She felt like she learned so
much from him. Maybe her memory was coming back. Maybe she was
remembering who Donnatella Moss was.

She heard her mother's voice, but paid no attention to what she was
saying. She was lost in her own thoughts. It was her cell phone
vibrating in her pocket that made her come out of her little
daydream. She took her phone out and looked at the display scene.
JOSH CELL. She couldn't help but smile. Just seeing his name made her
heart beet up. She wondered, too, if that was normal.

"Hello?" she said in the phone.

"Donna?"

"Yes?"

"This is Josh"

"Yeah, I got that from the display scene. What's up?"

"Um, I'm outside your hotel, if you wanted to go out tonight."

For a second, she got excited. Going out? With Josh? It made her
pulse race and her heart pump like she ran a mile. She wondered if he
could hear it through the phone.

But then she remembered. Sam had invited her and Josh to go out with
the gang around eight. She looked at the clock on the nightstand.
7:55 p.m.

"Oh, right. Of course"

"You still want to come, right?"

"Yeah. I...I'll be down in a minute," she said as she pressed `end' and
looked at her mom.

"What that Josh?" her mother said climbing into bed and grabbing the
remote.

"Yeah. He's downstairs. I forgot for a minute that we're going out
tonight"

"Yep, you're going to party while your old mother sits here and
watches `Friends'"

Donna grabbed some clothes out of her suitcase and went into the
bathroom to change. "You're not old, Mom" she said through the closed
door.

She heard her mother laugh as she put on her shirt. It wasn't sexy,
but Donna felt comfortable in it and it looked good on her. She
pulled on a pair of jeans that fit her like a glove. She walked out
and her mother said, "Well, it's a good thing your father isn't here.
He would never let you out wearing that"

"It's nothing Mom"

"If it was nothing, *I* wouldn't let you out," her mother joked.

Donna laughed at her mother's lame joke before putting on a pair of
her favorite boots. When she was already, she grabbed the room and
her cell phone before walking over to her mother. She placed a kiss
on her forehead and said, "Don't wait up"

"Go out and party!" Her mother smiled as Donna left the room.

She saw Josh waiting in the lobby and just looked at him for a
minute. He was wearing the same thing as before, but he lost his coat
and tie. His shirt was rumpled and his sleeves were rolled up to his
elbows. His hair was going in ten different directions and she could
just feel herself getting lightheaded and she didn't have anything to
drink yet.

She was getting addicted to Joshua Lyman. That she was positive of.

"Hey," she said as she walked over to him.

He smiled and she tried to stand straight, but the site of his
dimples really did make her weak in the knees. "Hey"

"We ready?" she asked

"I'm all set," he said. They began walking and he put his hand on her
lower back. It set shivers up and down her spine, but she liked it.
Another thing she was getting addicted to.

They got into his car and he began driving. Once they were out of the
parking lot, he said, "So, um, did anything bring back memories?"

She thought back. She remembered walking into certain rooms and
hearing someone say something, but now she couldn't remember what
they said. It really felt like a dream. You remembering seeing
something, you just can't remember what it was. That was exactly what
Donna was going through. She wanted to remember; tried her hardest.
But she couldn't remember. What was going on in her brain?

She looked down; for some reason she couldn't look at him as she
said, "No"

"Oh," he said. She could hear the disappointment in his voice, and
she wanted to scream. Why couldn't she remember anything?

They pulled into a parking space and Josh got out of the car. He
walked around to her side and opened the door for her. "Thank you,"
she said with a smile

"You're welcome," he smiled back.

After he locked the car, they began walking toward the bar. He opened
the door for her, and she walked in. It was crowed, but than again it
was Friday night. She looked at him, but his eyes were on the booth
in the corner. She looked that way also and saw CJ, Sam, and Toby.

They began walking over there, and when they were close enough, Sam
yelled- -since he wanted to be heard over the loud music- -"You guys
made it!"

CJ moved closer to Sam who was sitting in the middle of the booth.
When Sam realized that Josh was going to sit next to Donna, he moved
closer to Toby. Once everyone was settled, Josh asked what they were
drinking.

"Well, CJ ordered the grasshopper, but Toby and I are having beers,"
Sam answered

"What's a grasshopper?" Donna asked looking at CJ, since she was the
one who ordered it

But Josh replied, "It's a drink that extra green and creamy"

CJ rolled her eyes and said, "Pay no attention to the man behind the
curtain. It's a drink that has 3/4 oz light cream, 3/4 oz white creme
de cacao, 3/4 oz green creme de menthe. It's very good"

"I think I'll try that," Donna said. Josh nodded and got up. "Where
are you going?"

"I'm going to get our drinks. Who's tab?"

"Me," Toby said.

"I'll come with you," Donna said standing up. She wanted to go with
him for two reasons. One, she felt comfortable in his presence. It's
not that she thought Sam, CJ, or Toby were going to try to kill her,
it has to do with the fact that something about Josh around...makes her
feel like she has hope, if that makes any sense. She couldn't really
describe it. Two, she just liked being around him.

They walked off to the bar, as CJ shook her head. God, they were so
oblivious. "I can see what's happening," she said.

"What?" Sam asked

Well, this just sounded familiar. She smiled before continuing. "And
they don't have a clue"

Come on, Sam. "Who?" he asked.

Time to finish it off. "They'll fall in love and here the bottom
line, our trio downs to two," she said as she raised two fingers.

"Oh," Sam said. Then looked at CJ, confused. "But, CJ, we have more
than three people in our group"

Toby rolled his eyes. "God, how did I get that, but you didn't?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's a song from `The Lion King' you idiot!" CJ says slapping Sam on
his head.

"Yeah, those two animals are singing it," Toby says

"Toby, the movie was nothing but animals. Can you be a little bit
more specific?"

"That small thing and the pig," Toby said waiving his hand in a
circular motion.

"Oh!" Sam said with a smile. "Timon and Pumbaa!"

Toby shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

"Anyway," CJ said trying to get the conversation away from `The Lion
King'. "Don't you see how he trying to get her to fall in love with
him?" CJ said as she looked over at the bar. Josh and Donna were both
leaning on their sides so they could face each other. When someone
accidentally bunked into Donna, Josh put his hand on her back and
leaned closer to her. Wow, now they were REALLY oblivious.

"You know," Sam said picking up his beer bottle. "I don't think he's
trying to get her to fall in love with him. I think he's trying to
get her to remember"

"And in the process she falls in love with him?" CJ asks

"This sounds like a bad romantic book. The heroine gets into an
accident and can't remember a thing. The hero in the book tries to
get her to remember and all along they fall for each other." Toby
shudders thinking about it.

"Actually, he has already fallen for her. He just doesn't realize
it." CJ said

"No, he knows. He just wants her to remember. He's not actually
trying to get her to fall for him. She just is," Sam says

"Who would fall in love with Josh twice?" Toby asked

CJ just looked at him. "Donna"

~*~

"So, did you have fun tonight?" Josh asked when they left the bar and
walked over to his car.

"Oh yes. I had lots of fun," she said as she got in.

Tonight was a blast and she was grateful that she was able to come.
Everyone was so nice to her, telling her stories about the White
House and trying to get her to remember. She tried to think of what
they were telling her- -how Josh sends her flowers every April, when
Josh got drunk and had to wear Sam's foul weather gear, when Sam,
Toby, and Josh didn't know what time it was in Tokyo. And so many
other stories that made her laugh so hard her stomach started to hurt
and she had tears coming down her eyes.

She sat next to Josh the entire night, but she wasn't complaining.
Far from it, actually. She and Josh, through the entire night, were
pressed from the waist down to their feet. She could feel his heat on
her right side and tried not to swoon like a school girl with a
crush. But it was incredibly hard. Have you ever seen this man smile?
How can you know swoon over that?

But even more powerful than is dimples is his touch. All throughout
the evening they were touching in some way and Donna could feel the
sparks wherever he touched. It was like magic. Another thing she
getting addicted to. She was getting addicted to him, and fast. She
wondered if she was addicted to him before.

They talked all the way back about different things. About his
favorite book and what he thought might be her favorite book, but he
wasn't too sure since she read a lot of different things. When he
pulled into a parking space, he was telling her about a show he
liked.

She wasn't sure what made her do it. Maybe it was the way that
perfect mouth made the perfect smirk. Or maybe it was because she
like the sound of his voice. Or maybe it was because he was so nice
to her.

Whatever the reason, she felt like she was doing an out-of-body
experience. One minute she was sitting there, listening to him talk
about a television show he says Donna likes. The next she was kissing
him.

She just leaned over and pressed her mouth to his. She felt his mouth-
-warm and wet under her lips- -and felt like she was in heaven. She
pulled back a little, to make sure this was alright. He had his eyes
open wide and his mouth was forming a perfect little `O'. But other
than that it didn't look like he was even breathing.

She leaned back a little further, scared that she scared the crap out
of him. She opened her mouth to apologize when she felt him put his
hand on the back of her next and pull her closer to him.

He tasted like beer and pretzels, and something that she never tasted
before, but it was purely Josh, so she was becoming hooked on it.

Josh felt like he was on cloud nine. Nothing would make this night
even better. Well, okay a few things could, but for now Josh would
just remember what Donna tasted like after years of dreaming of this
moment. She tasted...well, he wasn't sure what she tasted like. But he
loved it. He could never get enough of this taste, not for the rest
of his life.

He took it a step further and tasted the bottom of her lip with his
tongue. She opened her mouth and he nearly forgot how to breathe. The
moment he dreamed of. The moment he has been waiting for since he
gave Donna his id badge.

He had to pinch himself to make sure he didn't fall asleep somewhere
between getting into the car and this moment.

They both pulled back at the same, the need for oxygen was just too
great. They leaned on each other's forehead and took deep breaths.

"We never did that before, did we?" Donna asked when she almost got
her breath back.

"No." Josh said with some regret. Why didn't he ever try to kiss
Donna?

She smiled at him and he almost forgot how to breathe again. "Well,
then we are good at trying new things"

He nodded. They were very good.

She pulled back, but his hand remained on the back of her neck. She
looked at the dash board and said, "It's after midnight"

He didn't care. He would stay up all night if he could continue
kissing her. "Yeah"

Then she said the four words he did NOT want to hear. "I better get
going"

He pulled her towards him so their foreheads were connected
again. "No"

She laughed. He was begging her not to go, and she laughed at
him. "Josh, I have to. My mother is going to worry"

He didn't want her mother to worry, but he didn't want to let her go.
Not now, not when he finally got her into his arms. He kissed her one
more time before saying, "I guess"

She kissed him again. It was meant to be short, but he pulled her
closer and five minutes later she said, "Josh, I really have to go"

"Okay," he said. One more quick kiss and she opened the door before
he convinced her to stay with him. Not that that would be a bad
thing, it's just...she was still trying to figure out who she was.
Staying a night with him, even though it sounded like a little piece
of heaven, was not what she needed right now.

She needed to find out who Donna Moss was first.

TBC



Title: The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing 9/9
Everything in part one.
**********************************************************************
She couldn't get him off her mind.

She woke up the next morning smiling. Her mom asked her what she was
so pleased about. Donna couldn't answer. Her smile just got bigger.

And when her phone rang, and she saw it was him she thought her smile
was going to jump right off her face.

"Hello?" she asked when she picked up the phone

"Donna?" Josh asked.

"Yes?"

"It's, um, Josh."

She had to smile. He sounded so nervous. She sat on the bed as her
mom came out of the bathroom. "Yeah, figured that out. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you would want to see your apartment today"

Donna never even thought of her apartment. Of course, besides the
White House, that would have lots of memories. Pictures and things
that probably meant a lot to her at one time.

She smiled as she thought of the book she got a few weeks ago.
Something about alpine skiing. She still hasn't figured out who sent
it to her. But she could probably guess. She got up and looked
through her suitcase until she found the book- -she brought with her
with for reasons she couldn't explain. When she was packing, it was
sitting on her nightstand. Before she really knew what she was doing,
she stuffed it into her bag.

"Yeah, I would like to see it. Don't you have to work today?"

"Um, no actually. Leo gave me the day off. Sam and Toby have to work
on the speech the President's giving in a couple of weeks and CJ has
to tell the press about what's happening with the situation in Iraq.
So, I get the day off, since I'm not needed"

"I never thought I would hear the day when Josh Lyman said he wasn't
needed," she said.

He was quiet the only sound was his breathing through the phone. Then
he mumbled, "Wow"

"Wow what? What did I say to deserve a `wow'?" Donna asked, honestly
not knowing the answer.

"That thing you said, about me and saying I wasn't needed, it just...
that just...that sounded like the old you."

She looked down and blushed. Why she blushed was beyond her, but she
could feel her cheeks heated and looked up to see her reflection in
the mirror. She was as red as an apple. "Are you calling me old?"

Silence. "Now you REALLY sound like your old, sorry, the woman you
were before"

She had to smile at that. He was just so damn cute, she couldn't help
but smile.

"That's better. Now, when would we go to my apartment?"

"When can you be ready?"

"In about five minutes," Donna says as she looks down at her outfit.
Just change out of this baggy shirt, put on some make-up, and she
will be good to go.

"I can be there in fifteen"

"Fine. In fifteen minutes than," Donna said before she pressed `end'.
She laid down on her bed and sighed.

"I take it that was Josh," she heard her mother say.

"Yeah, he's going to come and take me to my apartment," she said
before she sat up. "You want to come?" she asked, even though she
really didn't want her mother to come. Not that she's embarrassed by
her mother or anything like that. It would be kind of hard to kiss
Josh if her mother was standing here. And Donna was 100% sure she was
going to kiss Josh the next time she saw him.

"No, I think you and Josh might want some time together"

She looked at her mother, and asked, "Did Josh and I have a
relationship?"

Her mother laughed. "Honey, you two were like best friends."

"No, Mom, I meant like...did we date?"

Her mother stopped folding her pajamas before going and sitting next
to Donna. "Donna, honey, I honestly can't answer that. You might
have, but I don't think you did."

"Why not?"

Her mother sighed. "You guys never saw it."

"Never saw what?"

"He loves you." Donna gasped when her mother said that. That really
was the last thing she thought her mother who utter, but it's also
the same thing that made her heart swore.

Joshua Lyman loved *her*? How was that possible? She probably doesn't
even deserve him. Donna, from what she gathered over the past couple
of weeks, was a college dropout who wanted to support her boyfriend.
When she dumped him, she took a chance and drove to New Hampshire
where Josh took her under his wing. Now he was *in* love with her?

"And you love him too," her mother said, brushing some hair away from
her eyes. Donna looked her mother, shock written all over her
face. "You would never admit it," her mother continued. "But I knew.
I knew it when you called me that first night you were on the
campaign. I knew it when you came back with Alan- -or as Josh likes
to call him Dr. Freeride. You were so miserable with Alan. You were
over him, and you wanted someone like Josh. I knew it."

"How can you tell he loves me?" Donna asked, almost not daring to
believe it.

Marjorie smiled. "When you were in the accident, he didn't leave your
side for four days. When you called out to him in the car, it looked
like he was going to faint. Yesterday, he didn't take his eyes off of
you for a second. Not a second. He was fairly oblivious."

Donna's phone rang, and she looked at the display screen: JOSH CELL.
Donna got up and started taking off her shirt. She threw it on her
bed, beside her mother, before digging for another shirt.

"Aren't you going to get that?" her mother said, pointing to the
phone.

"It's just Josh telling me he's outside," she said, still searching
for another shirt. Why couldn't she find a more attractive- -ah,
there we go. When she finally finished putting on the shirt, she
grabbed her pocketbook, and started shoving things in it. Her phone- -
which is ringing a second time- -her wallet, her room key. She got on
the elevator and it seemed to take forever to get down to the main
floor. Finally the doors opened and she walked off of it. She saw
Josh in the middle of the lobby, phone pressed up to his ear.

She walked up behind him and said, "That person should learn how to
pick up their cell phone"

He jumped nearly a mile into the air and did that strange jump-and-
turn-around thing. "GOD!" he yelled. "You scared the crap out of me!"

She smiled and said, "Sorry"

"You don't look sorry," he said before putting his hand on her lower
back and led her to the main doors.

"That's because I'm not," she said with a giggle. "You should the
jump-and-turn-around thing again. That was cute"

They reached his car and he turned her so her back was pressed
against the door. He gave her a smirk before saying, "Not as cute as
you"

And then he kissed her.

If at all possible, it was even better than the night before. She
literally saw fireworks, and wondered if someone could die of
happiness.

He pulled back and looked at her. Her eyes were still closed, her
mouth still in the kissing position they had, and his heart yelled
for him to go back in.

But somehow this didn't feel right. It felt like he was cheating on
Donna, which was ridiculous because a) he technically wasn't dating
Donna, so cheating on her was impossible and b) well because this WAS
Donna.

Physically anyway.

She opened her eyes and saw him looking at her. Her deep blue eyes.
God, he really missed looking into them everyday. How did her go two
and a half weeks without this woman?

"Is everything alright?" she asked

He smiled. He still felt like he was cheating on Donna, but right now
he had her in his arms. He wasn't going to complain. "Everything's
fine"

"Are you sure?" she asked with a pout.

When he saw the pout, that was it. He had to give in. He has dreamed
of kissing that pout off of her lips. He leaned back down and kissed
her again.

He'll figure out what to do with the cheating-on-Donna thing. But for
now, he was going to enjoy having Donnatella Moss in his arms.

~*~

"So, this is it," Josh said letting Donna into her apartment with his
key.

She asked him how were they going to get in, since she kind of forgot
her keys at the hotel. They were almost at her apartment, but she
didn't want to go all the way back. Josh told her that he had a key.
She had to smile at that. She gave him a key to her apartment. That
had to mean something, right?

She slowly walked in, trying to take everything in. She walked into
what looked like a foyer. She walked into the little doorway and saw
what appeared to be the living room.

It had hand-me-down couches and a chair. A coffee table sat in front
of the couch that was in front of the windows. A love seat sat in
front of the one wall and had a table holding a lamp on one side, and
a bookstand on the other. An entertainment center held her television
and DVD player, along with many movies. She looked at them, all
ranging from what looked like comedy to horror.

"Do you want to hang up your coat?" Josh asked, standing behind her.
She started unbuttoning her coat, not really paying attention. Her
focus was more on the photos she found in some places on the
bookshelf.

All the pictures were of people she met. She saw on picture of CJ,
Sam, and herself from what looked like a celebration of some sort.
Another was of Toby and herself; he was wearing a tux and she had
regular clothes on. There were a few others, pictures of her parents,
a young child- -a niece, maybe. But one photo caught her eye. It was
a photo of herself and Josh. He was wearing a tan suit, with a crispy
white shirt. She had on a plain black dress. They were both looking
into the camera and smiling. What she noticed, though, was his hand
was placed firmly on her waist, like he wasn't going to let her go
anytime soon. That made her smile.

She looked into the other room and saw a dining room table. It wasn't
neat, but it wasn't that messy. She moved on to the other rooms- -the
kitchen and the bathroom, before she finally made it to her bedroom.

She walked in and the first thing that hit her was how familiar this
place was. Like she saw it before. She walked further in and tried to
take it all in. She sat down on the bed, looking all around her.

"Are you alright?" Josh asked from the doorway. He was worried about
her. She didn't seem to be getting her memory back, but, than again,
she hadn't made so much as a peep since they walked into her
apartment.

She looked over at her nightstand, but it didn't look right. She
couldn't place it, but something was off. But how would she know
something was off, since she didn't remember seeing it before? But
she could tell; something was wrong.

She pointed to it, but didn't say anything. Josh looked at her before
looking at the nightstand. He looked back at her and asked, "What?"

"Something's not right," she whispered so low, he was lucky to even
have heard it.

"What do you mean something's not right?"

She shrug and dropped her hand to the mattress. "I don't know. It
just...it looks...wrong"

He walked in closer, trying to understand what she was talking
about. "Looks fine to me"

"But something...God Josh, there is something wrong with it and I
can't figure out what!" she said, getting frustrated at herself.

"Donna, there is a lamp and a little basket with...thingys in it.
What's wrong?"

She held her head. All of a sudden it started feeling funny. She
couldn't explain it, but it felt like a cloud or something like that
entered her mind. What is going on?!

"Josh, something's missing! I don't know what, but something is
missing!"

"What?"

She looked at him. He wanted to know, it was written in his eyes. But
she couldn't explain it. It just felt wrong.

"Josh, something is missing. I know it." She said. She rubbed her
head a little bit more. What is going on?

"Well," he said, bending down on his knees. She removed her hand so
she could see him. He held her hand in his hand and said, "I'm sure
whatever it is, you'll figure it out. You always do"

She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the lips. When they pulled
apart, she whispered, "I KNOW something is missing, Josh. You have to
believe me"

"I do believe you. Did I give you any hint that I didn't?" he asked.
She shook her head no.

She leaned further back, rubbing her head. Her mind still
felt...weird. Like something was going on, but she had no clue what.

"Actually, I have a confession to make," Josh said, still not moving
off the floor.

She looked at him, confessed before he said, "A few weeks after the
accident, I came here to look for some files. You sometimes used to
bring files home with you so you could work on them. Anyway, I came
here, and I was looking all over, `cause I couldn't find them. I came
in here, and I saw something on your nightstand. I don't know if you
got it, but I sent you something. I sent you a book. It's called `The
Art'- -"

"`The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing'!? You sent that?!" she
asked. She couldn't believe it. All this time, she was wondering who
sent her that book with the beautiful note, and it was him! He sent
her the book!

He gave her a weak smile. "Yeah. I don't know why I sent it. At the
time, it sounded like a good idea, and I was hoping that maybe it
would get you to remember, because- -"

"Did you write the inscription?" she asked. She couldn't wrap her
mind around this. Joshua Lyman sent her the book.

"Yeah, I, uh, I gave it to you during Christmas during our second
year."

She kissed him, right there and then. She had to. Not only was that
the most beautiful thing she had ever read, but that he sent it to
her to help her remember! Have you ever heard of something so sweet?

"Now, I wouldn't have minded if you had given me that reaction all
those years ago"

She lightly slap him on the arm. "There you go. We were just having a
perfect moment, and you had to go and be you"

*"...Okay, what I need is for you to stop being, like, you for a
second..."*

He smiled at her, one of those knee-weakening smiles. "There *you* go
again. You're sounding like yourself"

She smiled, "Really?"

"Yeah," he said before kissing her again. He could never get sick of
kissing Donnatella Moss.

She laid down on the bed, pulling him with her. He had his hands on
either side of her head to balance himself. They were making out like
two teenagers when something hit her.

She pulled back and said, "Molted calf covers!"

"Well, that's not something you hear when you kiss of girl," Josh
said with a smirk.

She slapped him again, a little harder than last time, and
said, "Josh, the book. The alpine book. It has molted calf covers!"

"Donna, why the hell would I care...oh...my...God!" he said. He
looked down at her like she was the most amazing creature on this
Earth. And to him, she was. "Yes! Yes, the book has a molted calf
cover! I said that to you when you opened it up"

"I remembered!" She said, her smile practically jumping off of her
face. "When I opened it up at home I heard someone say something
about the covers! Josh, the book started helping me remember!"

"We should have that thing laminated," he said before kissing her
again.

But wait a minute, if she remembered that, then maybe...

He pulled back, "Who is my favorite baseball player?"

"Mike Piazza," she said without hesitation

"What's your favorite movie?"

"`His Girl Friday'"

"When did you start working for me?"

"February 1998, before leaving for a while then coming back in April"

"Do you bring me coffee?"

"Hell no!"

"Donna," he said as he rolled over, so they were side by side. "You
remember!"

She smiled at him before giving him a huge bear hug. "I remember,"
she whispered in his ear

"I know"

She pulled back and yelled, "I remember!"

He pulled her back towards him and moved some of her hair away from
her face, "Yes, you do"

"I remember," she said, before pointing at him. "And it's all because
of you!"

"I had nothing to do with it"

"Yes, you sent me the book. The one book that I love and always keep
on my nightstand. I used to read it before I went to sleep."

"Why?" he said, still playing with her hair.

"Because it made me think you cared about me," she whispered as she
looked into his eyes.

"I do care about you"

"I know"

"I care about you a lot"

She smiled. "I know"

"And just so we're clear, I cared about you a lot back then too"

She smiled even deeper, if that was at all possible. "I know"

"Donnatella Moss," he said, placing his hand on her cheek. "I'm in
love with you."

She got tears in her eyes. She had been waiting to hear him say that
since God knows how long. "I know"

"You know? You couldn't say anything better then `I know'?"

She tackled him, so she was now on top. She bent down and said right
above his lips, "I love you too, Joshua Lyman"

He kissed her then with more passion than he thought he had in him.
She kissed him back with the same about.

When the need for oxygen was too strong, they broke apart, both
taking deep breaths. She lightly kissed him again and said, "Josh?"

"Hmm?"

"I found out who I was"

He tackled her and she shrieked as they turned over. "I know" he said
before kissing her.

"I found out, and it was because of you"

"I just helped here and there," he said before kissing her neck.

"Yeah, but now I can find out who I'm going to be"

"And am I going to be with you the entire time?" Josh asked, looking
into her eyes, hoping to get the answer he wants.

"You, Joshua Lyman, are never going to leave my side."

"For the rest of our lives?"

She smiled at him. "For the rest of our lives"

THE END
I'd like to thank everyone who sent me feedback. Guys, that means so
much to me. THANKS!

I really hope this story was worth your time.

Although, you just finished the story, so there must have been
something you liked about it.

~Joanna