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PART 5/5

Josh and I went back to his office. With the assistance of many senators, the senate chamber was filling with people asking questions about autism and giving Senator Stackhouse an opportunity to answer those questions. Josh knew he would be calling the committee chairman Monday morning to re-open the bill in order to discuss autism care and research.

Meanwhile, he had to finish his email to his mother. I had wheeled my desk chair in and was relaxing, watching the senators ask their questions, and waiting for Josh to finish so we could go home. He was going to be gone for a day and a half over a weekend-our time--so I wasn't letting him out of my sight tonight.

"I'm telling my Mom how fantastic you are," Josh teased.

"Can I see?" I asked, thinking about turning around.

"No. I told you that earlier."

We were both quiet for a moment before Josh asked, "Donna, don't you want to drink from the keg of glory? You were part of something huge today."

"Maybe, Josh, but I don't have an ego the size of the Pentagon to satisfy, unlike some people I know. The president's acknowledgement in the bullpen was plenty for me. Between that and the way you looked at me when he said it." I trailed off reaching my hand back over my head to run my fingers through his hair.

"I wanted you so bad right then," Josh said quietly.

"You don't want me now?" I asked, teasing.

"You know I do."

I stood up. "You know, I'm not going to drink from the keg of glory, but I think I might have a beer." I walked over to the small refrigerator next to Josh's office.

"Hey, would you mind getting me one, too?" Josh asked as I disappeared.

"How about we share one?" I asked as I came back into the room.

He started to give me his pouty look, but decided not to complain.

We were joking around and passing the beer back and forth when Leo surprised us by tapping on the doorframe to Josh's office.

"Hey Leo," we both said in unison, then burst out laughing.

Leo eyed the beer bottle in my hand and said, "How many is that for you two?"

"This is the first one and we're sharing it," Josh answered.

"We're just in a good mood, Leo," I added.

"Well, speaking of that, I want to sit down with the two of you next week and discuss what makes sense as far as giving Donna opportunities to shine like this more often. Think about it over the weekend. My first thought was this: Donna, you would still maintain control over Josh's schedule, but other administrative work would fall to the bullpen pool-for both of you. I can see Josh, and the rest of the senior staff, mentoring Donna so that she can take on more assignments of her own and see them through."

I was practically beaming back at Leo. Josh and I had both turned our chairs so we were sitting side-by-side, facing Leo. Josh took my hand below the level of the desk, though I'm sure that Leo could tell.

Leo leaned on the doorway and said, "You know, the president said something to me earlier tonight. He said, 'Leo, you have a deputy who's frankly a lot smarter than you are.'" Leo shot a look at Josh who was smiling pretty smugly. Leo continued, "Truth hurts. Me as much as it should you, Josh. The same could be said to you about Donna." Leo watched Josh's face fall a little, but rebound when Donna squeezed his hand. They really did have something special. Leo had never seen anything like it before. Closest he'd seen was Jed and Abbey when they were younger. They didn't work together, but when they were around each other, they did have a hard time keeping their hands off of each other. He knew that this could be a headache for him, but he couldn't help but smile at the kids he thought of as his own as he turned to leave.

"Have a good weekend, you two. Monday-I'll have Margaret set something up, okay?"

"Great. Good night, Leo," we both called.

Josh and I looked at each other for a long time. I spoke first and said, "So are you done with that email to your mother? You did tell her I said 'hello', didn't you?"

"Yes, I sent her your regards. And I'm not completely done, but I'll send what I have to this point and promise her I'll finish it next week. I don't want to waste any more time sitting here."

I grinned back at him. I drained what was left of the beer and went about getting our stuff ready to go. I packed Josh's backpack with the papers he'd set near it, then went and grabbed some things I wanted to read over the weekend. By the time I was finished with these tasks and had shut down my computer, Josh was turning off the TVs in his office and putting on his jacket.

"Ready?" he asked, zipping his backpack and hoisting it onto his shoulder.

"Let's blow this pop stand!"

We waited until we were outside the building before Josh took my hand. I'm not sure why we waited-we were showing more and more of our real life to people everyday and I really think nobody was noticing and didn't really care anyway. Evidently a lot of people thought we'd been dating for a long time already.

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I was still in bed when Josh left Saturday morning. I had found him on an earlier direct flight that was going to get him into West Palm Beach in time for him to drive to the game he so desperately wanted to see. I chose not to bring up the fact that it was an intra-squad game that he was going to.

Before he left, he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at me. I could tell that he really didn't want to leave me, cocooned comfortably in his bed. But I also knew how much he had been looking forward to this weekend since well before we became "us." Basically, he wanted to have everything that day.

The kiss he gave me before he walked out the door almost made me beg him to stay, but I knew he'd be back soon. I decided to practice some self-control and concentrate on myself for the rest of the day.

After he left, I buried my face in his pillow and went back to sleep for a little while. When the alarm went off at 8:30 a.m. I was ready to begin my day of beauty. I had arranged for this day before Josh and I became "us" as well. I knew he was going to be gone for the weekend and I wouldn't have to work, so I'd planned this day. After my day at the salon, I was planning on doing some shopping-something I don't allow myself to do too often since I'm a girl on a budget. And if Josh is lucky (which he probably will be), I might pickup something more than just basic necessities when I hit Victoria's Secret.

My day was fantastic. The women at the spa were the best and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every treatment. I felt like a supermodel when I left there. I wandered calmly around the mall, not wanting to waste that massage by getting stressed out. I got the attention that Julia Roberts was looking for in Pretty Woman when I walked into the finest stores. It must have been something about how I was carrying myself because I felt like a million dollars.

By the end of the day, I had selected 4 new summer suits with accessories, 3 pairs of new shoes, casual summer shorts, dresses, and some basics along with a 'present' for Josh from Victoria's Secret.

I had eaten a late lunch after my spa day, so I wasn't really hungry for dinner. I took my new things back to my apartment and did some closet re-arranging, then sat down on the couch to watch a little TV before going to bed.

Unfortunately, I got caught up watching a romantic movie that just made me miss Josh more. I had a little pity party for myself, before I realized that I could partially remedy my situation. He was gone and wouldn't be back until early Sunday afternoon. I had a key to his apartment-I could go over there and sleep in his bed again, surrounded by his scent.

Just the thought made me feel better, so I grabbed a few things and headed over to Josh's place. I felt a little funny letting myself into his townhouse knowing that he wasn't there and wasn't going to be there, but quickly relaxed once I started moving around. I had spent so much time there somewhat alone-while Josh was sleeping-during his recovery last summer, that it felt pretty normal. I made myself a cup of tea and watched a little TV from Josh's couch before I decided to go to sleep.

When I walked into his bedroom, I saw the Harvard t-shirt that Josh had slept in the night before lying on the back of a chair. I picked it up and held it to my nose, inhaling the uniquely Josh scent that permeated it. My decision made, I stripped down to my panties and pulled the t-shirt over my head. It was pretty big on me, but felt great. I felt surrounded by Josh even though I was alone.

I turned off the lights and slipped into Josh's bed, clutching his pillow in front of me. I breathed deeply and soon after, fell asleep, wishing he were there.

It was still dark out Sunday morning when I felt the bed shift under the weight of another person. I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes, but I didn't have to. I knew it was Josh-I could smell his cologne. The bed shifted as he moved closer to me, then his arms were around me, spooning behind me and pulling me close to his body.

I know I was smiling, but he couldn't see that. I sighed heavily and he did hear that. He squeezed me closer and whispered, "Hi honey, I'm home," nuzzling my neck.

"Couldn't stay away, huh?" I asked.

"I missed you too much, so I caught a late flight Saturday night. You don't want to know what time it is," he groaned.

"I'm glad you're here," I said, as I lifted his hand to my lips and kissed it gently. "I missed you too."

He blew lightly, moving my hair so he had access to my neck, then proceeded to place soft kisses on the back of my neck and shoulders.

I wrapped his hands in mine, sinking back into his warm embrace and said quietly, "Dude."

He chuckled a little between kisses and said, "Dudette."

The End