Title: A Bittersweet Victory (1/1)
Author: Aerial312
Rating: PG-13
Category: Fluff
Spoiler Info: the very beginning of the first Bartlet for America
campaign
Disclaimer: I own nothing...I just borrow.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated. robinmgrady@gmail.com
Archiving: Sure. Just let me know where its going.
A/N: A little tiny bit at the beginning taken from "In the Shadow
of Two Gunmen, part 2".

<><><><><><><><>

"And Donna, you've got to get happy, Donna, you've just won the
Illinois Primary, come dance with me!"

"No, Josh. No, Josh...your father died."

Josh froze as shes said it, staring at her in disbelief as the
victory celebration continued around them.

Donna grabbed his arm. "Come into the other room."

Josh continued to stare blankly ahead. Donna lay her hand on the
small of his back, and led him into a side room.

"Sit down."

He did as he was told. Donna perched on the bed beside him.

After a moment, he spoke, " I need to call my...I...how...?" he
stood in frustration and began to pace. "He was getting better!
He...!" Josh slammed his fist against the wall, leaning against it,
breathing hard.

Donna crossed to him, and began to gently rub his back.

Josh turned to face her, still leaning against the wall, eyes
glassy. "How?...did you...find out how?" he choked out, turning
away from her once again, as he fought to keep the tears at bay.

Donna stepped closer, and he pulled her suddenly into a tight hug,
resting his chin on her shoulder so that his face was still obscured
from her. She squeezed him back, just as tightly, and for a moment,
they just held onto each other.

"I only know the very basics--"

"Anything."

"-cause I didn't want to pry."

"I don't want my mom to have to tell it again-anything that you can
tell me..." he pulled back to looked at her, cheeks stained with
tears.

Donna took a deep breath. "Of course. Why don't you sit down
again?"

Josh nodded, and pulled her to sit beside him.

"While he was having his chemo, he developed a pulmonary embolism--"

"What's-"

"Blood clot. It caused him to go into cardiac arrest, and..."

"Yeah."

"That's really all I know."

Josh nodded. "I need to call my mom."

"She's expecting it."

"I shouldn't have wasted--"

"You needed to calm down first."

Josh let out a bitter little laugh. "Calm?"

"Calmer." She squeezed his hand.

He squeezed it back. "Yeah."

Donna stood, and crossed to the bathroom to fill a glass with water.

Josh looked at his phone in his hands and sighed. "I need you to
get Leo."

She knelt beside him,and offered the water. "Do you want me to tell
him?"

Josh looked up at her from the water. After a moment, he shook his
head. "I can do it."

"You're sure?"

Josh nodded. "Just tell him I need to see him ASAP, and then...."

"I'll get you booked on the first flight out."

"Thank you," he mouthed, opening his phone.

Twenty minutes later she returned to find him lying on the bed,
staring up at the ceiling.

"Everything's all set." She stood beside the bed. "You need to get
going now."

"Yeah?"

"Your flight leaves in 45 mintues."

Josh shot to his feet. "I need to pa--"

She held up his suitcase. "I took care of it while you were talking
to Leo. Should have everything you need."

"Has Leo told everyone...?" Josh eyed the door, cautiously.

"They know something's up, but he's waiting till you're out the
door before he actually tells them. So you don't have to deal with
anything...Comeon."

She led him swiftly out the door, and through the adjoining room
into the hallway.

"You're on Delta Flight 175 to Kennedy. You'll get in around 11.
There'll be a car there to take you to Westport," she told him, as
they rode the elevator down to the lobby.

"I guess it's a good thing the hotel is right next to the airport."

Donna smiled. "I packed you 2 darker suits, and a few more casual
things. Your toiletry bag's in there--"

"Any work?"

"I threw in the California files that you were going to read
tonight, just in case--"

"I'll read them on the plane...take my mind off--"

"Yeah."

"Seems like you thought of everything."

"I tried to..."

"I would have never been able to get this all together so quickly."

"s there anything else that you need right now?"

Josh shook his head, as he stepped up to the counter to check
in. "Don't...don't leave yet."

"I won't."

He looked at her thoughtfully for a second, then turned back to the
ticket agent. They walked to the gate silently. Josh stared out
the window.

"This is going to be unbearable."

"What do you need me to do while you're gone?"

Josh sighed. "You know, I was this close to asking you to come,
back there at the counter?"

"If you want me to..."

"No, I need to do this...alone. I need to face it, and be there for
my mom."

"I'll call her and tell her you're on your way."

"You should probably head back now. The Governor should be taking
the stage any time now..."

"I can wait, if you want."

"No...you should go back there."

Donna nodded.

"Call me tomorrow when you guys get to California."

"Yeah?"

"I'll need the distraction, I'm sure. I want to know what's going
on."

"You'll be busy--"

"I'll need the--"

"Okay."

He held her gaze for a minute, before pulling her into his
arms. "Thank you. I...I don't know what I would have done without
you."

She squeezed him tightly. "You sure you don't want me to stay?"

"They're gonna be boarding an minute...I'll be fine."

She pulled out of his embrace and squeezed his hands. "If you need
anything..."

He nodded, sinking into the chair behind him.

"Call me when--"

"I land, yeah." He forced a smile, and gave her a short wave. "Go
enjoy..."

She smiled, and kissed the top of his head, then turned and left.
Josh sighed, and looked up at the TV broadcasting the primary
results.

<><><><><><><><>

FIN