By Lacy

The nurse at the station down the hall from Donna's room informs me that Dr. Attwater has cleared her for release tomorrow afternoon. Sunday afternoon.

I thank the woman and head back to Donna's room. When I enter, I am struck by how much better she looks than she did only last night. The color has returned to her face and the sparkle is back in her eyes.

Since I left her room, someone came in to remove the nasal IV drip that had been partially attached to her face. She is being fed, intravenously, through a tube in her arm, which will be removed sometime before she is released.

She must be feeling better, because I stand at the door, watching her climb out of the hospital bed.

"Donnatella. What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Josh? I'm getting out of this god-forsaken bed." She is behaving much the same way I did after my gunshot wound. As soon as I felt able, I just wanted to get out of the bed.

"Should you be doing that?" I ask.

"I feel fine, Josh. I feel great, actually. And I've started to lose muscle tone in my legs." Her voice carries a spunky sarcastic resonance.

"I don't think you can lose much muscle tone in one day, Donna."

"Are you a doctor, Josh?"

"That's my girl." I grin.

She grins back and her eyes sparkle in a way that makes my heart flutter. The strength in her eyes tells me that she is going to be just fine -- even if she is still unsure.

"And don't you forget it," she responds.

"Something tells me you won't let me."

"Darn tootin'."

I laugh at this, and the vibrations that travel deep into my chest feel incredible. I approach and help her untangle the IV tube so that she can stand up and walk.

"Thank you," she whispers. We are standing close together, and cannot help but stare at her beautiful rosy lips. I remember that only last night they had a horrifying blue tinge to them. I touch her face and she looks into my eyes.

My lips are on hers as though they have a mind of their own and our kiss deepens. My arms wrap around her as she shivers in her thin hospital gown. She throws herself wholeheartedly into the kiss, snaking her unimpeded arm around my neck.

"Josh," she sighs when we break apart.

"Donna," I whisper. I lick my lips, still tasting her on my tongue.

"When am I getting out of here?" she asks. Then her eyelids drop just a touch and her gaze becomes smoky and seductive. "I miss you, Josh."

My knees threaten to give way. All saliva in my throat has suddenly decided to go on holiday, because I have to swallow to speak again. "Tomorrow afternoon," I tell her.

"Not soon enough," she pouts.

"Donna," I warn. "You will follow the doctor's orders on this. Am I understood?"

She studies my eyes and knows that I am only concerned for her. "Okay," she agrees.

"We have to talk, Donna."

"What's up?" She steps easily into assistant mode. This amazes me, because I am still having trouble with the boss-boyfriend transition. It is something I hope I will get the chance to master.

"I'm getting five minutes with the President at four o'clock."

"You're going in there alone?"

"Yes,"

"Well, maybe I could sneak out of this place and go with you. I can be stealthy. They'll never know I'm gone," she whispers conspiratorially.

"You're staying here." I try to communicate with my tone that there is no wriggle-room on this subject.

"But, Josh--"

"Here," I reiterate. "This isn't something you can control, so let it go. I'm speaking to the President."

"And Leo?"

"I'll worry about Leo after I get through with the President."

"What about the rest of the senior staff?"

"I've asked CJ to get together with Sam and Toby."

"She's going to tell them?"

"I don't know. I've left it entirely up to her discretion. I'm trusting her with this."

"We're still talking about CJ, right?"

I laugh. CJ has been known for being accidentally less than discreet on occasion. "Yeah," I chuckle. "Don't worry about CJ, Donna. You have to think about the role you're going to play in all of this."

"Can't I just be me?"

"I would prefer that, yes. But what I'm really wondering is...are you up for this? This could all blow over in a few days, or it could go on for months. Our relationship will be scrutinized by the press and the people, and there might even be some paparazzi involved. They're going to want to do interviews -- exclusives, even. Exposés, Donna. We'll probably end up on 'Hard Copy'. Are you ready for that? Because it's not too late to back out."

"Josh--"

"Donna, I need to know if you're ready for this."

"We're really laying it all on the line, aren't we?"

"We don't have to."

"I don't want us to be a secret anymore, Josh. I want the whole world to know how we feel about each other."

"Even if it means being hounded by the press?"

"I'm tougher than I look, Joshua."

"Is that your final answer?"

"Am I going to win something?" Her eyes light up like a child at a carnival booth.

"I'm not enough of a prize?" I hold my arms out for her.

"You're the only prize I want." Her arms wrap around me, locking together behind my back.

"Okay, then," I say. She kisses me again and our lips mesh perfectly together reminding me what we are doing all of this for.

"Are you going to see the President dressed like that?"

I look down at my jeans and pullover sweater. "I guess not," I reply.

"It's Saturday, so you can get by with khakis and nice shirt. This is serious, Josh. He has to know that you're serious."

"Okay, Donnatella. I'll go home and change," I smile to placate her. This woman has me completely wrapped around her little finger. "Kiss me, again," I demand.

She does, and the kiss lasts for an extended moment, before I have to force myself to leave.

"Good luck, Josh," she says as I open the door.

"Luck's not going to have anything to do with it." I wink at her and smile, before closing the door behind me.

TBC

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