Finding Our Way Back

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="03fc8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B>Josh and Donna learn a few important lessons .  </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#99CCFF" FACE="Edwardian Script ITC" ><B>Smiles, Tears, & Happy Endings</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Edwardian Script ITC" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Edwardian Script ITC" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Smiles, Tears, Happy Endings"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shelleys Stories"><U>Shelley's Stories</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boomerang"><U>Boomerang</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="238 Days"><U>238 Days</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Proposal in Paradise"><U>A Proposal in Paradise</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blood Ties"><U>Blood Ties</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Party Tricks"><U>Party Tricks</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Does Anyone Really Miss Her?"><U>Does Anyone Really Miss Her?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="No Time To Be Shocked"><U>No Time To Be Shocked</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love Always"><U>Love Always</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Desperate Times"><U>Desperate Times</U></A>   |   <B>Finding Our Way Back</B>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadblock"><U>Roadblock</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding The Treasure"><U>Finding The Treasure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hey Baby, Lets Go To Vegas"><U>Hey Baby, Let's Go To Vegas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Matter Of Trust"><U>A Matter Of Trust</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasure Sure"><U>A Pleasure Sure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id226.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Excellent Rookie Season"><U>An Excellent Rookie Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id227.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Even Steel Magnolias Cry"><U>Even Steel Magnolias Cry</U></A></div> <div> Finding Our Way Back</div> <bR> <div> by Shelley</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna pulled her car onto the highway and headed out of DC. She was </div> <div> at loose ends, and she thought that a nice long drive might clear her head.</div> <bR> <div> Things had been unsettled since her deposition in front of the </div> <div> Oversight Committee. Josh insisted that everything was alright, and he *had* gone out of his way to help her fix things with Cliff, but nevertheless...Donna got the distinct impression that he was still upset with her. Or worse yet..disappointed.</div> <bR> <div> Things just weren't the same between them. They tried to joke and </div> <div> banter like before...but it seemed forced. They couldn't seem to get back the easy rapport and rhythm that they had enjoyed ever since their very first meeting.</div> <bR> <div> Donna blamed herself completely. She was the one who had screwed up, </div> <div> and she wasn't sure if Josh would ever be able to forgive her. If he would ever be able to feel the same way about her again.</div> <bR> <div> She wasn't sure how much longer she could continue to work at the </div> <div> White House. It was getting harder and harder to face Josh every day, and see the hurt and confusion in his eyes.</div> <bR> <div> Donna blinked back tears as she began to mentally berate herself for </div> <div> the mess she had made of things. She was determined not to cry. She had shed more tears in the last few months, since Mrs. Landingham's death, than she had in the previous ten years.</div> <bR> <div> She was struggling with her emotions, trying to keep them in check, </div> <div> when her eyes were drawn to the other side of the road.</div> <bR> <div> The pickup in the oncoming lane crossed the centerline heading </div> <div> straight towards Donna's car. It all happened so fast; she had no time to react.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ready to go?" Sam asked, as he and CJ entered Josh's office.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep. Nothing here that can't wait till tomorrow," Josh said, closing </div> <div> the folder he had been reading.</div> <bR> <div> When CJ had mentioned that she and Sam were going out to grab a few </div> <div> beers after work, Josh had jumped at the chance to join them. It had been another long day in a seemingly never-ending series of long days. He welcomed the opportunity to kick back, relax, and not think about anything work related. It had been weeks since he'd allowed himself that luxury.</div> <bR> <div> He hadn't had a relaxing night out since...well...since  before </div> <div> Donna's deposition, or "diarygate" as he had taken to calling it...only in his own mind of course.</div> <bR> <div> He had been shaken that Donna had lied, and even more shaken when he </div> <div> realized the circumstances under which Cliff must have seen her diary. It was something Josh wasn't prepared to deal with. Something that, for reasons he couldn't quite place, made him quite ill.</div> <bR> <div> He was having trouble sorting out all of his conflicting emotions </div> <div> towards Donna. He wasn't angry with her; he knew that. And when she had come to him and told him about the lie, he had known immediately that he would do whatever was needed to help her find a way out of trouble.</div> <bR> <div> Donna was an attractive woman who had every right to her own personal </div> <div> life. And for some reason he couldn't quite identify, Josh found that thought very unnerving.  </div> <bR> <div> He hated the way things had been between them since the deposition. </div> <div> He wanted to find a way to put things back to normal with her, or at least back to as normal and he and Donna had ever been. But more than that, he wanted to find a way to relieve the anxiety, fear, and self-recrimination he saw in her eyes every morning.</div> <bR> <div> "Is Donna coming?" CJ asked, breaking Josh out of his reverie.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Josh said, "She's already left for the day."</div> <bR> <div> "Is she ok?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna hasn't exactly been confiding in me lately," Josh said flatly, </div> <div> busying himself with shoving papers in his backpack. "I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask."</div> <bR> <div> "Look," CJ said as she perched on the edge of Josh's desk, "I know </div> <div> this is none of my business, and if you want me to butt out just say so. I don't know exactly what happened between the two of you, but it's quite clear that you're both miserable. Is there any way you can put this behind you?"</div> <bR> <div> "I want to," Josh answered sincerely. "I really do."</div> <bR> <div> "Then find a way," CJ said gently.</div> <bR> <div> The three of them headed out of the White House for a bar across the </div> <div> street called Houlihan's. As they waited for the light to change, Josh's cell phone rang. He glanced at the display and saw Donna's familiar cell number.</div> <bR> <div> Reading the look on his friend's face, Sam teased, "Well, it can't be </div> <div> too bad if she is still finding time to check up on you and make sure you aren't abusing your 'sensitive system'."</div> <bR> <div> "She isn't checking up on me," Josh snapped. "She isn't my keeper."</div> <bR> <div> "Whatever you say," CJ laughed, as she and Sam exchanged knowing </div> <div> looks.</div> <bR> <div> Josh wasn't sure where the defensiveness he was feeling came from. </div> <div> For some reason, it was suddenly important to him that Sam and CJ realize that he and Donna weren't joined at the hip. They weren't inseparable. They certainly didn't know everything about each </div> <div> other's lives. Her short liaison with Cliff Calley had made that fact </div> <div> all too clear.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at the smug smiles on the faces of his friends, and then </div> <div> looked back at his phone. 'One more ring,' he thought. 'and it'll switch over to voice mail.'</div> <bR> <div> "Aren't you going to check in?" Sam teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Let's go," Josh said, dropping his phone back into his pocket and </div> <div> stepping off the curb.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ten minutes till staff," CJ called as Josh hurried past her towards </div> <div> his office. "And don't forget, Leo needs the Williams brief."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said, barely able to hide the irritation in his </div> <div> voice. "Donna didn't call and wake me up this morning. I guess its payback for me not answering her call last night. Have you seen her?"</div> <bR> <div> "Not so far this morning," CJ answered, "But if I do, I'll tell her </div> <div> you're looking for her."</div> <bR> <div> "Please do," Josh said angrily. "I think it's time she and I get a </div> <div> few things worked out." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> By the time staff was over, Josh had calmed down considerably, and </div> <div> had made a firm decision to talk to Donna as soon as possible. They needed to clear the air and find a way to get over whatever awkwardness there was between them, before it started affecting their work.</div> <bR> <div> As he and CJ entered the bullpen, Josh glanced at Donna's desk and </div> <div> saw that her computer wasn't turned on. He also noticed that her coat wasn't hanging on the rack in the corner. He quickly pulled open the bottom right hand drawer of her desk, and saw that her purse wasn't in its usual spot.</div> <bR> <div> The irritation that he had been feeling all morning began to morph </div> <div> into something entirely different. 'Surely she wouldn't have quit over one unanswered phone call,' he thought. He felt a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong. Very wrong.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" CJ asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Has anyone seen Donna this morning?" Josh asked loudly enough for </div> <div> everyone in the bullpen to hear.</div> <bR> <div> After he heard a chorus of "no", he walked towards his office, </div> <div> pulling his cell phone out of his pocket as he went. He pushed the button to hear his messages and pressed the phone to his ear. </div> <bR> <div> He relaxed for just a second when he heard Donna's voice, but then </div> <div> her words began to sink in.</div> <bR> <div> "Hi....Josh. It's me. I was really hoping you'd pick up."</div> <bR> <div> Her voice was distant and thready, and Josh knew immediately that </div> <div> something was wrong. Fear and panic began to rise in his throat.</div> <bR> <div> "I really need to talk to you. I've been in an accident....it's </div> <div> pretty bad. I called 911 and the say that they're on the way. But it's just...there's so much blood...I can't get out of the car...I don't know if..."</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly her voice broke and she started to sob.</div> <bR> <div> "It's bad, Josh. I don't know if I'm gonna...well...just in case...if </div> <div> I don't...I need you to know how sorry I am, Josh. How much I regret what I did and all the trouble I caused. I never meant to hurt you...I swear. That's the last thing I would ever want to do."</div> <bR> <div> Josh could hear sirens approaching in the background and Donna </div> <div> sounded as though she was barely hanging on.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, Josh. I just need you to know that. I'm sorry. Please </div> <div> forgive me."</div> <bR> <div> Josh stood in the middle of his office, momentarily too stunned to </div> <div> react. All of the blood drained from his face and his knees suddenly went weak as he crumbled into the visitor's chair in front of his desk.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" CJ asked frantically.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna," Josh choked out. "She was in an accident."</div> <bR> <div> "What do you mean," CJ said, her own head spinning. "When? Was it </div> <div> serious?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Josh said, fighting to regain control as he tried to </div> <div> figure out the best way to proceed. "I need to call the police right away. I need to find out what happened. I need to know where she is."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll call the hospitals," CJ said, heading for her own office.</div> <bR> <div> 'Why didn't I answer her call?' Josh's mind screamed as he picked up </div> <div> the phone and dialed the DC Police.</div> <bR> <div> It took 15 minutes, and three phone calls, for Josh to find out a few </div> <div> sketchy details of Donna's accident. She had been struck head-on by a pickup that crossed the centerline. It had been traveling at a high rate of speed, and there had been no chance for Donna to get out of the way.</div> <bR> <div> The driver of the pickup had been pronounced dead at the scene of the </div> <div> accident, and Donna had been airlifted by Life Flight helicopter to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. </div> <bR> <div> Josh was out the door as soon as he had the name of the hospital, </div> <div> with CJ close behind. She yelled a few last minute instructions to Carol, and asked her to tell Leo what was going on, then dialed Johns Hopkins as they headed for Josh's car, trying to get some news about Donna's condition.</div> <bR> <div> The hospital refused to give out anything but the most basic </div> <div> information over the phone, despite CJ's repeated requests. She even invoked her position as press secretary to try to intimidate the nurses, to no avail.</div> <bR> <div> She did learn that Donna had been brought into the ER at </div> <div> approximately 10:15 PM via Life Flight, that she had been taken almost immediately to surgery, and that she was now in the Intensive Care Unit, where her condition was listed as critical.</div> <bR> <div> She disconnected and threw the phone on the dashboard of the car in </div> <div> frustration. </div> <bR> <div> "They refuse to release any other information to anyone who isn't </div> <div> family," she snapped. "They wouldn't even bend when I played the 'government official' card. I could call back to the White House and have Leo try to shake a little information loose."</div> <bR> <div> "I just need to get to the hospital," Josh said in a voice barely </div> <div> above a whisper, staring out the windshield while his fingers wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. </div> <bR> <div> For the first time since they had found out where Donna was, CJ took </div> <div> a second to really look at Josh. He looked like a man about to lose control. He was pale, eyes staring straight ahead, barely seeming to focus on the road. His knuckles were white where his fingers gripped the steering wheel. His breathing was quick and shallow.</div> <bR> <div> "She's gonna be ok, Josh," CJ said in as comforting a voice as she </div> <div> could manage. "We have to believe that."</div> <bR> <div> "I just need to get to the hospital," Josh repeated. "I can't allow </div> <div> her to be alone. I need to be there with her. I need to tell her that I understand. That she has nothing to apologize for."</div> <bR> <div> "What are you talking about?" CJ asked softly.</div> <bR> <div> "The message," Josh choked out. "Donna called me because she wanted </div> <div> to apologize. She thought I was angry at her and she didn't want to...."</div> <bR> <div> "She didn't want to what?" CJ pressed.</div> <bR> <div> "She was afraid she wasn't gonna make it, CJ," Josh said, fighting </div> <div> back tears. "She was afraid she was going to die..and all she could think of was calling me and telling me she was sorry."</div> <bR> <div> CJ sat silently, battling with her own tears.</div> <bR> <div> "She was afraid she was dying, CJ. She wanted to talk to me...and I </div> <div> didn't even pick up the phone. I had to prove what a big man I was, how I didn't report to her. And I didn't pick up the phone. And if anything happens to her, if she doesn't make it, I'll never be able to forgive myself. Ever."</div> <bR> <div> CJ watched as Josh lost the battle to hold back his tears and they </div> <div> began to roll down his face. She knew that Josh might never recover if Donna didn't make it. As they made their way out of DC towards Baltimore, she sent up a quick prayer that they would never have </div> <div> to face that eventuality.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> After grabbing the first available parking space, one that was marked </div> <div> Reserved for Dr. Danielson, Josh jumped out of the car and headed for the main entrance. CJ struggled to keep up as he charged through the door and headed straight for the admissions desk.</div> <bR> <div> "What floor is the ICU on?" he barked at the young woman sitting </div> <div> behind the desk.</div> <bR> <div> "It's on the fifth floor but...."</div> <bR> <div> Josh didn't wait for her to finish the sentence before he turned and </div> <div> walked away. CJ mouthed a quick thank you to the young woman and followed Josh to the bank of elevators on the other side of the lobby.</div> <bR> <div> Josh punched the UP button over and over as though that would make </div> <div> the elevator come faster. Just as he was about to turn and head for the stairwell, the elevator door at the far end opened up.</div> <bR> <div> He repeated the button pushing ritual once again as soon as they were </div> <div> inside the elevator, first with the 'Door Close' button, and then with the button for the fifth floor. CJ thought that Josh was very likely going to have a stroke if they didn't get to the ICU soon.</div> <bR> <div> When the doors finally opened, Josh and CJ stepped out onto the </div> <div> Intensive Care floor and headed for the nurse's station.</div> <bR> <div> "I need to see Donna Moss," Josh said desperately.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you a member of the family?" the nurse on duty asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, I'm her boss. Josh Lyman. I need to see her right away."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, sir," the nurse said calmly, "I can't allow you to visit </div> <div> Ms. Moss at this time. We have a strict 'family only' visiting policy on this ward."</div> <bR> <div> "You don't understand," Josh said, his voice rising just enough to </div> <div> attract the attention of the people around him. "She called me. I need to see her. I have to tell her...."</div> <bR> <div> "Please lower your voice, sir," the nurse said kindly but sternly. </div> <div> She was used to dealing with people at emotional loose ends. It came with the job of being an ICU nurse. She knew that she had to maintain control of the situation. For her own sake, and for the sake of everyone else involved. </div> <bR> <div> CJ stepped forward and spoke in hushed tones.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, we're sorry. It's just that we're trying to find out some </div> <div> information about our friend. We know that she was brought in last night after a serious car accident. We just need to know how she's doing."</div> <bR> <div> "Her condition is currently listed as critical," the nurse </div> <div> answered. "That's all I can tell you."</div> <bR> <div> "Then find someone who can tell us more," Josh growled, fixing the </div> <div> nurse with a look usually reserved for political enemies.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see what I can do," she said, and headed off down the hall.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh paced angrily around the office of Dr. Warren Alcott, Chief of </div> <div> Emergency Medicine. He and CJ had arrived 15 minutes earlier, after being told that Dr. Alcott was the only man who could give them any information about Donna. Josh's frustration level was just about to reach critical mass, and he looked around the room for something to </div> <div> throw. </div> <bR> <div> Just as he was about to storm back to the ICU and straight into </div> <div> Donna's room, Dr. Alcott arrived, carrying a chart. He was followed by the nurse Josh had spoken with in the ICU.</div> <bR> <div> "Hello, I'm Warren Alcott," he said, extending his hand to Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," Josh said as he shook the doctor's hand, "And this is </div> <div> CJ Cregg. We're here to see my assistant. Donnatella Moss."</div> <bR> <div> "I believe that Nurse Harris explained to you that that won't be </div> <div> possible at this time," Dr. Alcott said as he flipped open the chart in his hand and began to review it.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, I'm not sure you know..." Josh began.</div> <bR> <div> "I know exactly who you are, Mr. Lyman," Dr. Alcott said </div> <div> sternly, "and it doesn't make any difference in this situation. Our policies are in place for a reason. They are what's best for our patients, and for our staff. Ms. Moss is being well cared for, but right now she can have no visitors outside of her immediate family."</div> <bR> <div> "Her family is in Wisconsin," Josh said. "Have they been notified? </div> <div> Are they on their way?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh was determined to find a way to get around the rules and get in </div> <div> to see Donna, but until he managed to do that, he didn't want her to be alone. He wanted someone to be there with her.</div> <bR> <div> Dr. Alcott glanced at the nurse who answered somewhat sadly, "I </div> <div> talked to her family myself last night. They indicated that they weren't going to come at this time, but they asked me to call with any updates on her condition."</div> <bR> <div> "So she's alone?" Josh choked.</div> <bR> <div> "I assure you, Mr. Lyman, our staff here is very skilled. She's </div> <div> receiving the best treatment possible."</div> <bR> <div> "But she needs to have someone with her," Josh pleaded. "Someone to </div> <div> talk to her. If I could just see her for a few minutes. Just to tell her that everything is going to be ok."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," Dr. Alcott said. "That isn't going to be possible at </div> <div> this time.</div> <bR> <div> Josh raked his hands through his hair in frustration. After the </div> <div> shooting, Donna had made sure that he was never alone. She had spent almost 24 hours a day by his bedside, talking to him, coaxing him back to consciousness, giving him the strength to fight through the </div> <div> pain. And now she needed him to do the same for her, and he couldn't.</div> <bR> <div> "Could you at least tell us a little more about her condition?" CJ </div> <div> asked.</div> <bR> <div> The doctor looked at Josh's desperate statement.</div> <bR> <div> "Ms. Moss suffered severe chest and stomach trauma. She sustained </div> <div> damage to her liver, her lower bowel, and both lungs. She suffered massive internal bleeding. Right now, she is on life support while we wait to see how her body bounces back after the surgery. She also suffered multiple contusions and lacerations, but those are </div> <div> secondary at this point."</div> <bR> <div> Josh stared at the doctor in stunned disbelief. How could he be so </div> <div> mechanical? This was Donna he was talking about! How could he talk about her like she was just another patient?</div> <bR> <div> "What are her chances?" CJ managed to choke out.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't give odds on a patient's survival," Dr. Alcott said. "Right </div> <div> now, we're just waiting to see if she can bounce back from the trauma."</div> <bR> <div> CJ stepped over and wrapped a supportive arm around Josh's </div> <div> shoulder. "She'll be ok," she whispered. "She's a fighter. She'll make it through this."</div> <bR> <div> "Look," Dr. Alcott said, his voice softening slightly, "Leave a </div> <div> number with Nurse Harris where you can be reached, and we'll keep you updated on any changes in Ms. Moss' condition. That's really all I can offer you at this time."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> Josh pulled a business card from his wallet. He borrowed the nurse's </div> <div> pen and scribbled his cell number on the back.</div> <bR> <div> "Please call me if there's any change at all," he pleaded, "Or as </div> <div> soon as she is allowed visitors."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do that," Nurse Harris said softly as she took the card from </div> <div> his hand. She understood the reason that the hospital policies were in place, but just this once she really wished she could make an exception.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ drove back to the White House, realizing that Josh was really in </div> <div> no shape to drive and knowing that another car accident was the last thing they needed at this point in time. Josh stared silently out the window, occasionally lifting his cell phone to his ear and listening to Donna's message again.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't torture yourself, Josh," CJ begged. "None of this is your </div> <div> fault."</div> <bR> <div> "I let her down," Josh said despondently. "I wasn't there when she </div> <div> needed me. She reached out to me, and I wasn't there."</div> <bR> <div> "You had no way of knowing," CJ consoled.</div> <bR> <div> "I knew it was her on the phone," Josh argued. "But I had to prove a </div> <div> point, so I didn't answer it. I wasn't busy. I wasn't in an important meeting. I just chose not to answer the phone. She needed me...and I wasn't there for her."</div> <bR> <div> CJ turned her attention back to the road as Josh lifted the phone to </div> <div> his ear, once again listening to Donna's words. She wished she knew what to say to help Josh get out from under some of the tremendous guilt he was feeling, but she couldn't find the right words.</div> <bR> <div> Truth be told, CJ was feeling a little guilty herself. If she and Sam </div> <div> hadn't teased Josh, he probably would have answered Donna's call. </div> <bR> <div> The two friends spent the remainder of the drive lost in their own </div> <div> thoughts, each trying to come to grips with their own feelings of guilt and helplessness.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as they returned to the west wing, Josh headed directly to </div> <div> his office and closed the door, making it very clear he wanted to be alone. CJ headed to Toby's office to fill him in on what was going on, and to ask his advice on how to best handle the situation.</div> <bR> <div> "Is he in?" she asked Ginger as she approached the office.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Ginger answered. "Leo and Sam are in there with him."</div> <bR> <div> "Good," CJ said, "I wanted to talk to all of them anyway."</div> <bR> <div> CJ knocked on Toby's office door, then opened it and stuck her head </div> <div> in.</div> <bR> <div> "Am I interrupting anything?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, no, come in," Leo said. "How's Donna?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well, her condition is critical. She suffered some very serious </div> <div> chest and stomach injuries. She's on life support. The doctor said it's just a matter of waiting to see how her body bounces back."</div> <bR> <div> "Is Josh with her?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No," CJ answered, the frustration clear in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Why not?" Toby and Leo asked in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "Johns Hopkins has a strict visitation policy in the ICU. Family </div> <div> only," CJ said angrily. "They made it perfectly clear there would be NO exceptions."</div> <bR> <div> "How did Josh take that news?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> "How do you think?" CJ asked sarcastically.</div> <bR> <div> "Where is he now?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> "He's in his office," CJ said, "And frankly I'm worried about him. </div> <div> He's feeling guilty because didn't take Donna's call last night."</div> <bR> <div> "What call?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Last night," CJ explained, "Josh, Sam, and I were headed out for a </div> <div> drink after work. Josh's cell rang and it was Donna. But Sam and I teased him about needing to report to her, and how she would remind him not to abuse his 'sensitive system', so he didn't pick it up, he let the voice mail answer."</div> <bR> <div> CJ glanced nervously at Sam and could see he was battling the same </div> <div> feelings of guilt she was.</div> <bR> <div> "And?" Leo asked impatiently.</div> <bR> <div> "And Donna was calling from the scene of the accident," CJ said </div> <div> sadly. "She was scared, and she wasn't sure she was gonna make it, and she wanted to talk to Josh. There were some things she wanted to tell him. She wanted to apologize for the whole Cliff fiasco. She wanted to be sure Josh knew how sorry she was."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God," Leo said, shaking his head sadly.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm going to talk to Josh," Sam said abruptly as he stood up and </div> <div> moved towards the door.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll go with you," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> After they left, Toby looked at Leo.</div> <bR> <div> "I just hope that Donna recovers soon...or those three are gonna eat </div> <div> themselves alive with guilt."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As Sam and CJ entered Josh's office, they saw him sitting at his desk </div> <div> with his cell phone pressed to his ear. It took them a second to realize that he wasn't talking to anyone; he was listening to Donna's message yet again.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Josh answered flatly.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Josh...." Sam began.</div> <bR> <div> "No, you look," Josh said, standing up quickly, "I don't want to hear </div> <div> how none of this is my fault. How I couldn't possibly have known."</div> <bR> <div> CJ and Sam stood silent as Josh raged on.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't answer the damn phone. She needed me and I wasn't there. </div> <div> She needed to hear me tell her that she had nothing to be sorry for...and I didn't pick up the damn phone. And now she's alone."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure she knows you'd be there if you could," Sam said.</div> <bR> <div> "She's alone," Josh said plaintively. "She needs someone with her, </div> <div> someone to reassure her. I know she's terrified...I certainly was when I was in her position. But I had her to hold on to, and now she has no one."</div> <bR> <div> "Josh...." CJ tried to interrupt.</div> <bR> <div> "She needed me to be there for her but I was too busy having a beer </div> <div> and relaxing," Josh said. </div> <bR> <div> Suddenly, Josh's face dropped. He looked as though he was going to </div> <div> be sick.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" CJ asked worriedly as she stepped forward and grabbed </div> <div> his elbow.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna was in an accident, and I stopped for a beer," he choked out.</div> <bR> <div> And the reality of his words hit him like a ton of bricks.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stared blankly at the files spread out in front of him on his </div> <div> desk. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate, he just couldn't absorb any of the information. The only thing he could think about was Donna, lying in a hospital bed, hurt and alone.</div> <bR> <div> The ringing of his cell phone snapped him out of his daze.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," he said tiredly, scrubbing his face with his free hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Mr. Lyman, I'm not sure if you remember me. My name is Sophie Harris. I'm a nurse in the ICU ward at Johns Hopkins."</div> <bR> <div> "Is something wrong with Donna?" Josh asked frantically as his heart </div> <div> leapt immediately to his throat.</div> <bR> <div> "No, no, nothing like that," Sophie said soothingly. "Your friend's </div> <div> condition is still the same."</div> <bR> <div> Josh put his hand to his chest and waited for his heartbeat and </div> <div> breathing to return to normal.</div> <bR> <div> "Is there something else I can help you with?" he asked after he </div> <div> calmed down.</div> <bR> <div> "Actually, I think there might be something I can help you with," </div> <div> Sophie answered.</div> <bR> <div> "How so?" Josh asked, suddenly intrigued.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Mr. Lyman..." she began.</div> <bR> <div> "Please, call me Josh." </div> <bR> <div> "Ok, Josh....I'm so sorry that Dr. Alcott refused to bend the rules </div> <div> this morning. I can tell that Ms. Moss is very special and that you </div> <div> care about her very much."</div> <bR> <div> "She is and I do," Josh said softly, "The problem is that I haven't </div> <div> been very good lately about making sure that she knows that. That's why I need to see her."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand," Sophie said. "That's why I'm calling. You see...I'm </div> <div> working double shifts this week. I'm covering for one of the nurses on the night shift who has the flu."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry to hear that," Josh said, "but I don't really understand </div> <div> what that has to do with me."</div> <bR> <div> "The ward is much quieter late at night...say around midnight...and </div> <div> there are a lot fewer people around. It would be much easier for a person to sneak in unnoticed around that time," Sophie said, praying Josh caught her meaning.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you saying...." Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not saying anything," Sophie answered, cutting him off. "I'm </div> <div> just telling you about my work schedule."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand," Josh said, feeling a sudden rush of gratitude.</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Sophie smiled, "I'm glad. I'll make sure that you're updated </div> <div> regularly on your friend's condition. Goodbye."</div> <bR> <div> "Goodbye," Josh said, "and thanks...for telling me... about your work </div> <div> schedule I mean."</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled his first genuine smile of the day. He was going to get </div> <div> to see Donna after all.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, if no one has anything else, I guess we're through," the </div> <div> President said, calling an end to the afternoon meeting of the senior staff.</div> <bR> <div> He was met with a chorus of 'thank you, sir,' as the staffers all </div> <div> rose.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, could you stay behind for a minute? I need to talk to you </div> <div> about something."</div> <bR> <div> Josh remained as the others headed out to their own offices.</div> <bR> <div> "Have a seat," the President said.</div> <bR> <div> Josh took a seat on the couch and the President sat in the armchair </div> <div> directly across from him.</div> <bR> <div> "Leo told me about Donna. How is she doing?"</div> <bR> <div> "About the same, sir," Josh answered. "It's still a matter of waiting </div> <div> to see how things go."</div> <bR> <div> "I've been married to a doctor for many years, Josh. Abbey has always </div> <div> said that the waiting is the hardest part. But the human body is a remarkable machine. It can heal itself in ways that can only be described as miraculous."</div> <bR> <div> "I know that firsthand, sir," Josh replied.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, you do," the President answered. "Now I understand that the </div> <div> people over at Johns Hopkins are being sticklers for the rules and not letting you visit Donna. That just isn't acceptable. She needs you now. If you want, I can make a few phone calls."</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate it, sir," Josh smiled, "but I've got it covered. I'm </div> <div> going to see Donna tonight."</div> <bR> <div> "Excellent, then you didn't need my help after all. I should have </div> <div> known that Bartlet's Bulldog would find a way."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks, but I actually owe this one to the kindness of a stranger."</div> <bR> <div> Charlie knocked lightly and popped his head in to tell the President </div> <div> that his next appointment had arrived.</div> <bR> <div> "I guess I better go," Josh said, rising and moving towards the door.</div> <bR> <div> "If there's anything Abbey and I can do to help, don't hesitate to </div> <div> ask," the President said with a paternal tone in his voice, "We think </div> <div> of Donna as a member of our family."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh arrived at the hospital just before midnight. He entered the </div> <div> main lobby and was glad to see that there wasn't much activity. He made his way up to the fifth floor and stepped off the elevator, looking around cautiously.</div> <bR> <div> He glanced at the nurse's desk and saw Sophie Harris talking on the </div> <div> phone. She pointed at Donna's room, winked at him, then turned her back and pretended to be engrossed in the charts laying on her desk.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh smiled at her gratefully and slipped quietly into Donna's room. </div> <div> At first he was shocked by her appearance. He had never seen her look so pale. Her face and neck were covered with small cuts that Josh assumed must have come from flying glass. There were IV lines running into both arms. A heart monitor beeped softly and steadily. The most </div> <div> jarring thing was the large tube down Donna's throat. Josh knew that, </div> <div> at this moment, it was keeping her alive by helping her breath, but all he could think of was that Donna would hate it.</div> <bR> <div> He used to make fun of her because she sometimes managed to gag </div> <div> herself with her own toothbrush. She just hated having things that far back in her throat.</div> <bR> <div> Josh approached the bed slowly. When he reached her side, he leaned </div> <div> over and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, Donna. I'm here. I'm sorry it took me so long. It seems you're </div> <div> an extra special patient and the folks around here aren't gonna let just anyone in to see you. I had to pass muster with the staff before I was deemed worthy of a visit," Josh teased.</div> <bR> <div> He pulled a chair beside the bed and gently clasped Donna's hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Seriously, I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner. And I'm sorry I </div> <div> didn't answer my phone when you called. I was being an idiot,</div> <div> Donna. It was all me. None of this was your fault at all. You have nothing to apologize for."</div> <bR> <div> Josh swiped at the tears that had begun to trickle down his cheeks.</div> <bR> <div> "I handled the whole Cliff thing badly. I know that you would never </div> <div> betray me. I've been acting like an ass because...well...I just wasn't ready to admit that I was... It didn't matter that Cliff happened to be a Republican, or that he happened to be on Oversight. I would have been upset no matter who it was."</div> <bR> <div> Josh closed his eyes tightly and tried to come up with the right </div> <div> words.</div> <bR> <div> "I was jealous, Donna. That's all there is to it. And I was just too </div> <div> much of an idiot to understand that. But I understand it now, and I want a chance to make all of this up to you. But in order for me to do that, you have to wake up, ok? You have to get better and you have to get out of this bed."</div> <bR> <div> Josh leaned forward and caressed Donna's cheek softly.</div> <bR> <div> "When you wake up, we need to have a talk. I need to tell you the </div> <div> truth about why I acted the way I did."</div> <bR> <div> "Please, Donna---just wake up."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "How is she? Did you get to see her?" Sam asked anxiously as Josh </div> <div> entered the west wing the next morning.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, I did," Josh said, his relief clearly evident. "She's in bad </div> <div> shape, but she's hanging in there. The nurses said that if she has another good day today, they might start weaning her off the respirator."</div> <bR> <div> "That's great news," CJ said as she walked up behind Sam and Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "It sure is," Sam agreed. "Any idea when she might be able to have </div> <div> other visitors?"</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Josh answered. "Look, Sam, I know you want to see her, and </div> <div> I'd try to sneak you in if I could. It's just that Nurse Harris is taking a big risk for me and I don't want to do anything that might jeopardize any future visits."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand," Sam said.</div> <bR> <div> "We just want her to know we're thinking about her," CJ added.</div> <bR> <div> "I know. I told her that everyone here wishes they could visit," Josh </div> <div> assured them. Suddenly he turned more serious. Getting to see Donna had helped him tremendously, but he knew that he wasn't the only one who had been affected by her accident.</div> <bR> <div> "You guys have nothing to feel guilty about," he said resolutely. "I'm the one who decided not to answer the phone. I'm the one who was acting like a jackass. This is all on me. You guys have been good friends to Donna and I know she appreciates it. I appreciate it too."</div> <bR> <div> "But if we hadn't teased you..." Sam started.</div> <bR> <div> "I would have been a jackass anyway. Come on-you know me."</div> <bR> <div> "True," CJ agreed. "You very well might have found a way to screw </div> <div> this up by yourself."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh smiled. "Your confidence in me is inspiring."</div> <bR> <div> "Anytime," CJ smirked. "Just tell Donna we're thinking about her."</div> <bR> <div> "And that we'll visit as soon as we can," Sam added.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do that tonight," Josh said as he checked his watch and saw </div> <div> that it was 16 hours until he would be able to see Donna again.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh kept up the same routine for the next three days. Every morning </div> <div> he went in to work and tried to keep busy doing the country's business. He received hourly updates on Donna's condition from the nursing staff at Johns Hopkins. He took every call from them, even if he needed to interrupt a meeting to do it.</div> <bR> <div> At midnight each night, Sophie Harris turned her back while Josh </div> <div> slipped quietly into Donna's room. They never spoke when Sophie came in during the night to check on things, or adjust an IV; they just exchanged knowing smiles. And Josh was always careful to slip out around 5 AM before the morning staff began to arrive. He was grateful </div> <div> for what Sophie was doing and he didn't want to get her in trouble. </div> <bR> <div> Things were going well. Donna's condition was improving steadily. In </div> <div> the days since the accident, she had been weaned off of the respirator and was now breathing on her own. Her vital signs were getting stronger by the hour. The doctors felt certain that she had turned a corner in her recovery.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at his watch as he sat gently stroking Donna's hair.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna have to go soon," he said sadly. "It's almost time for the </div> <div> morning shift to get here. But I'll be back tonight. And I'll pick up some of those magazines you like so much on the way. I wouldn't want you to miss a Cosmo quiz while you're in here."</div> <bR> <div> He leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek.</div> <bR> <div> "You're doing great, Donna. Really great. I just know you're gonna be </div> <div> up and around in no time. Now you just keep getting better and I'll see you in 19 hours. Ok?"</div> <bR> <div> He brushed Donna's hair back and placed a soft kiss on the tip of her </div> <div> nose.</div> <bR> <div> "Have a good day," he sighed. "I'll be back as soon as I can."</div> <bR> <div> Just as Josh reached for the doorknob he heard a soft sigh from </div> <div> behind him, then a small, scratchy voice said, "Please don't go yet."</div> <bR> <div> Josh wheeled around quickly and was met by the joyous sight of </div> <div> Donna's big blue eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was back at Donna's bedside in no time flat. The grin on his </div> <div> face stretched from ear to ear, and his dimples were out in full force. In all of the hours since the accident, he had prayed to see Donna's beautiful blue eyes again, and now he was staring into them, and </div> <div> he felt as though he could get lost there forever.</div> <bR> <div> He reached out and caressed her face softly, never breaking eye </div> <div> contact. Donna pressed her cheek into his hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey there," he said softly, "Welcome back. You really had me worried </div> <div> for a while."</div> <bR> <div> "What happened?" Donna asked groggily, trying to acclimate herself to </div> <div> her surroundings.</div> <bR> <div> "You had a car accident. Don't you remember?"</div> <bR> <div> "Kind of," Donna answered, trying to shake the cobwebs out of her </div> <div> head, "It's a little blurry."</div> <bR> <div> "That's ok," Josh said, brushing her hair back off of her face. "You </div> <div> just relax. It will all come back to you."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm thirsty," Donna said, as she attempted to sit up. Suddenly her </div> <div> face contorted in pain and she dropped back to the pillows.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Josh asked, trying not to panic.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," Donna said, clutching her stomach. "It just hurts. I </div> <div> shouldn't have moved so fast.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm going to get a doctor," Josh said hurriedly. "You just hang on, </div> <div> I'll be right back."</div> <bR> <div> Donna nodded in agreement, still trying desperately to fight off the </div> <div> pain as Josh headed out the door towards the nurse's station.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Two hours later, Josh was on his way back to Donna's bedside. He had </div> <div> been pacing nervously in the waiting room while the doctors ran a </div> <div> series of tests. When they were done, the nurse on duty informed Josh that he could go back in. He didn't stop to question why he was suddenly cleared to visit; he was too anxious to check on Donna.</div> <bR> <div> When he entered her room, he was surprised to see how much better she </div> <div> looked. Her bed had been raised up until she was almost in a sitting position. She was still pale, although some color was beginning to return to her cheeks. She smiled at Josh when she saw him. It wasn't her brightest smile, but it definitely made his stomach do a cartwheel.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you feeling?" he asked, as he approached the bed and took </div> <div> Donna's hand in his.</div> <bR> <div> "Much better," she said, gently rubbing her thumb over his knuckles.</div> <bR> <div> "Much better, indeed," Dr. Alcott said, entering the room carrying </div> <div> Donna's test results. "In fact, I'd say you're just about ready to be moved out of ICU."</div> <bR> <div> "That's great," Josh beamed.</div> <bR> <div> The doctor fixed Josh with a gaze that clearly showed he wanted to </div> <div> know how he had managed to circumvent the rules and get in to see Donna in the ICU. Josh simply stared right back at him with a look usually intended to strike fear in the hearts and minds of wayward senators. The two men seemed to reach an unspoken agreement as the doctor </div> <div> turned back to Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "All of your tests look good, Ms. Moss. I couldn't be more pleased </div> <div> with your progress. We'll be moving you down to a regular ward today, and if you continue to heal at this rate, we should be able to release you within a few days."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Doctor Alcott," Donna said sweetly.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't thank me," the doctor said sincerely. "You're obviously a </div> <div> fighter."</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, she is," Josh smiled, bringing Donna's hand to his lips and </div> <div> placing a kiss on the palm.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> After Donna was settled in her new room, Josh finally saw the chance </div> <div> he had been waiting for to talk to her. He sat on the edge of her bed and twisted his hands nervously.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, do you remember calling me after the accident, before the </div> <div> ambulance came?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Vaguely," Donna answered, a small frown creasing her face. "I </div> <div> remember that I wanted to tell you how sorry I was. That I wanted to try to explain..."</div> <bR> <div> "Shhhh," Josh placed his fingers against her lips to quiet her. "You </div> <div> have nothing to apologize for, Donna. I was the one who was acting like a child."</div> <bR> <div> "But...the whole thing with Cliff. I never should have seen him the </div> <div> second time. And I never should have lied about the diary," Donna said as her eyes began to tear up. "You took a huge chance fixing things for me. I could have gotten you into a lot of trouble over that."</div> <bR> <div> "I straightened things out with Cliff because I wanted to," Josh </div> <div> assured her. "There was no way I was letting him make trouble for you. Not after the way he treated you."</div> <bR> <div> "But ever since then we've been...I don't know...different. I mean, </div> <div> you've been acting....different...kind of distant. And I </div> <div> know that you must still be angry with me."</div> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," Josh said, choosing his words carefully, "I was never </div> <div> angry with you. I've been thinking a lot about this in the last few days and I've come to realize something. I acted the way I did because I was...."</div> <bR> <div> "Donna!" Sam and CJ exclaimed as they burst through the door.</div> <bR> <div> "Sam! CJ!" Donna said, obviously pleased to see her friends.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you?" they asked as they enveloped Donna in a hug, </div> <div> remembering to be careful of her injuries.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm feeling better, thanks. The doctor said he's pleased with my </div> <div> progress. He might actually let me go home in a few days."</div> <bR> <div> "That's great," CJ said, "Everyone at work will be happy to hear </div> <div> that. We've all been worried about you."</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate that," Donna said, swiping at the tears threatening to </div> <div> fall from her eyes. "So...tell me what I've missed."</div> <bR> <div> CJ and Sam spent the next hour filling Donna in on everything that </div> <div> had been going on at the White House in the last few days. They carefully avoided any talk about her accident, sensing that that was something she was still working through. </div> <bR> <div> Josh sat in a chair beside Donna's bed, occasionally joining in the </div> <div> conversation, but mostly just enjoying the sight of Donna talking happily with CJ and Sam. He had initially been upset about being interrupted right on the verge of telling Donna everything he had </div> <div> wanted to tell her since the accident, but seeing her smiling and </div> <div> happy more than made up for that. They would have plenty of time to talk later. Right now he was just reveling in the sound of her voice.</div> <bR> <div> After a while, Donna's eyes began to drift closed.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we better go," CJ said, "You look tired, and I have to get </div> <div> back for the afternoon briefing."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess I'm not back to full strength yet," Donna yawned.</div> <bR> <div> "Just give it time," Sam said comfortingly. "It'll come back."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you need to go with them?" Donna asked Josh, as Sam and CJ walked </div> <div> towards the door.</div> <bR> <div> "No, I'm gonna stay here with you today," he said softly.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" she asked worriedly. "Aren't there things you need to </div> <div> be taking care of at work?"</div> <bR> <div> "Are you trying to get rid of me?" he teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Not a chance," she said, suddenly looking down at the bed, afraid </div> <div> that her eyes were giving too much away.</div> <bR> <div> CJ and Sam said their goodbyes and promised to come back and visit as </div> <div> soon as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm glad they could come by," Donna said as she closed her eyes and </div> <div> snuggled down into her pillow.</div> <bR> <div> "Me too," Josh agreed, reaching behind him and lowering the blinds to </div> <div> darken the room so Donna could sleep more easily.</div> <bR> <div> "What were you saying right before they came in?" </div> <bR> <div> "We can talk about that later, Donna. Right now you need some sleep."</div> <bR> <div> "You're sure you want to stay?" she asked tentatively. She wanted him </div> <div> too, but she wanted to give him an out if he was looking for one.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive. I'll be right here when you wake up."</div> <bR> <div> Donna drifted off to sleep with her hand in Josh's, and a smile on </div> <div> her face.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> She was awakened several hours later by the ringing of Josh's cell </div> <div> phone.</div> <bR> <div> "Lyman," he said quietly, moving to the corner of the room in an </div> <div> attempt not to disturb Donna. </div> <bR> <div> He listened intently to the person on the other end of the phone. </div> <bR> <div> "When? How? How many?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh scrubbed his face in frustration and cast a look at Donna, </div> <div> seeing that she was now wide awake.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be right there."</div> <bR> <div> He moved over to the side of the bed.</div> <bR> <div> "I have to go. There's a crisis at work. Something about trouble at </div> <div> one of our embassies."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand," Donna said. "Go. They need you."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, but I'll be back as soon as I can." He gave her hand a squeeze </div> <div> and kissed her quickly on the cheek.</div> <bR> <div> Donna was momentarily stunned, still celebrating the feeling of his </div> <div> lips on her cheek, when Josh reached the door, threw one last dimpled smile over his shoulder, and was gone.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The next few days were a blur. Donna continued to get stronger, </div> <div> healing faster than anyone could have anticipated. She completed all of her physical therapy plus some. Nurse Harris stopped by several times to check on her progress and was impressed by how quickly Donna was healing. </div> <bR> <div> The uprising at the embassy was ongoing, so Josh didn't get to visit </div> <div> nearly as much as he wanted to. It seemed as though every time he was about to make it out of the west wing, some new fire erupted that he needed to put out.</div> <bR> <div> When he did make it over, it was usually late at night. Donna would </div> <div> struggle to stay awake and wait for him, but it was a battle she usually lost. Then she would wake up at 4 AM and find him asleep in the chair next to her bed, his head resting on her mattress.</div> <bR> <div> They hadn't been able to find a minute to finish their discussion. </div> <div> Donna realized that they had both spent a lot of time assuming they knew what the other was feeling after the situation with Cliff. And, for the most part, they had both been wrong. The conversation </div> <div> was going to have to wait until the crisis at the White House was </div> <div> resolved.</div> <bR> <div> Josh spent his time either in briefings, strategy sessions, or on the </div> <div> Hill trying to put together support for the President's plan to deal with the situation.</div> <bR> <div> He talked to Donna several times a day on the phone, and each time he </div> <div> did, she insisted that he not waste the two hours round trip driving to the hospital, when he would be better off using the time to sleep</div> <bR> <div> "You don't want to see me?" he pouted teasingly.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't want to see you fall asleep driving and end up in a bed up </div> <div> in the ICU," she admonished with a laugh. "Nurse Harris might not like me as much as she likes you, and I wouldn't get any late night visiting privileges."</div> <bR> <div> Josh laughed, and thought how good it was to do that with Donna again.</div> <bR> <div> But despite her pleas, he usually made the trip anyway. He simply </div> <div> felt the need to see her, to touch her hand, to assure himself that she was ok. The few hours he managed to spend with her recharged his batteries, even if she was asleep most of the time. Just being near </div> <div> her helped energize him.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It seemed like no time before Dr. Alcott told Donna that she would be </div> <div> able to go home, as long as she agreed to twice daily drop-ins by a visiting nurse, just to check and make sure that everything was going ok.</div> <bR> <div> She had intended to go back to her own apartment, but Josh had been </div> <div> insistent. He wanted her at his place. He argued that it was closer to both the White House and to GW. If anything went wrong, she would be better off there.</div> <bR> <div> Besides, he reasoned, with his place being so much closer to work, he </div> <div> could slip away for visits more often. Donna argued half-heartedly for a while, insisting she could take care of herself, but she finally had to admit that the idea of recuperating at Josh's apartment had a definite appeal. Eventually she gave in, which made Josh extraordinarily happy.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh had planned to be there to take Donna home from the hospital, </div> <div> but he ended up tied up in a briefing with the National Security Advisors. He called to ask Donna is she could wait a few more hours for him, but she assured him that she would be fine taking a cab. He protested vociferously, but she insisted. She was anxious to get </div> <div> out of the hospital and to get settled in to a real bed. Josh finally acquiesced, albeit grudgingly.</div> <bR> <div> Ten minutes later, Sophie Harris entered Donna's room.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ready to go?" the nurse asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Almost, I just need to call a cab," Donna said, zipping her duffel </div> <div> bag.</div> <bR> <div> "No, you don't. I'm driving you," Sophie said matter-of-factly.</div> <bR> <div> "No, no, no. I can't ask you to do that. That's far too much trouble. </div> <div> It's no problem. I'll get a cab."</div> <bR> <div> "If I let you go in a cab, that boyfriend of yours would have my </div> <div> head," Sophie chuckled. "He's the one who 'suggested' I offer you a ride to begin with. He can be very persuasive."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm so sorry about that," Donna said, shaking her head in </div> <div> embarrassment. "He's just being a worrywart. He feels badly because he can't be here himself."</div> <bR> <div> "I got that impression," Sophie said dryly.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, and he's not my boyfriend, he's my boss."</div> <bR> <div> Sophie smiled, using all her energy to hold back an outright laugh.</div> <bR> <div> "What's so funny?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Ms. Moss, it probably isn't my place to say this. But I know people. </div> <div> I see them at times in their life where worry and fear makes it impossible for them to hide behind whatever masks they usually wear. I saw Mr. Lyman when he first arrived here after the accident. And I saw him every night afterward. And I saw how you looked at him when you first woke up-and how you light up every time you hear his name."</div> <bR> <div> Donna blushed as Sophie continued.</div> <bR> <div> "Trust me-what you two share is a lot more than a typical  boss/assistant relationship. And you two are the only ones who can't see that. Now lets get you home before your 'boss' starts wondering where we are and sends out the FBI."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled as she picked up her bag---still trying to wrap her mind </div> <div> around Sophie's words.</div> <bR> <div> 'Oh yeah,' she thought, 'As soon as this crisis is over, we </div> <div> DEFINITELY need to talk.'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was settled comfortably into Josh's guest room by the time the </div> <div> crisis at the embassy finally came to an end two days later. Josh called more or less every hour, and managed to get over to check on her in person three times. The final time, he had been so tired that he had headed back to the White House without his backpack.</div> <bR> <div> Donna was about to go stir crazy, with nothing to do but play </div> <div> solitaire and watch CNN, so she decided to organize Josh's papers. It was about as close to getting back to work as she was going to get, at least for a few days.</div> <bR> <div> She made short work of the papers, throwing out 2 week-old message </div> <div> slips and arranging the rest into nice neat folders. She was about to load everything back into the backpack when she realized that there was still something in the bottom. She chuckled as she reached in and found Josh's cell phone. She checked and saw that the ringer was turned off. She wondered how many people were trying to get in touch with him and </div> <div> wondering why he wasn't answering.</div> <bR> <div> She glanced at the display and saw that there were 12 messages. She </div> <div> decided to check them, then call and let Josh know if there was anything he needed to take care of right away. She grabbed a pencil and began to take note of each call. None of them seemed urgent, but she figured that she would call and pass them along anyway--just in case.</div> <bR> <div> Donna got to the last message and froze. It was her voice. She </div> <div> listened carefully as the words she had said the night of the accident drifted back to her. She closed her eyes against an onslaught of terrifying emotions. She was suddenly having crystal clear flashes </div> <div> of the moments after the accident. How scared she had been. How </div> <div> uncertain over whether or not she would live. And how desperately she wanted to talk to Josh.</div> <bR> <div> She was still sitting on the couch lost in thought two hours later </div> <div> when Josh came through the door.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey there," he said as he noticed her sitting on the couch, "Why </div> <div> aren't you in bed? You need your rest."</div> <bR> <div> "I was just organizing your backpack," Donna said, forcing herself </div> <div> out of memories of the past and back into the present.</div> <bR> <div> As Josh moved towards the couch, he saw that Donna was clutching his </div> <div> cell phone tightly in her hand. It only took one close look at her face for him to realize what had happened. </div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked softly as he took a seat beside her on the </div> <div> couch. He gently lifted the phone from her hand and placed it on the coffee table.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," she assured him, "It was just...kind of...a shock, you </div> <div> know?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure it was," he said, mentally berating himself for not getting </div> <div> rid of the message earlier.</div> <bR> <div> "It brought some memories into clearer focus."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Josh asked, his voice full of concern.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna said, managing a small smile that wasn't entirely </div> <div> convincing.</div> <bR> <div> Josh shifted uncomfortably in his seat, uncertain if this was the </div> <div> time to proceed with the conversation he had wanted to have for so long. Finally, he decided that there was no time like the present..</div> <bR> <div> "I wanted to talk to you about that night, Donna," he began haltingly.</div> <bR> <div> "What about it?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well, things had been so awkward between us," he began.</div> <bR> <div> "I know. But that was all my fault..." Donna interrupted.</div> <bR> <div> "No, it wasn't," Josh insisted. "It was no one's fault really. We </div> <div> we're both dealing with an unfamiliar situation and neither one of us was handling it very well."</div> <bR> <div> "I should have explained to you..." Donna continued.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't owe me any explanations," Josh said, softly but </div> <div> firmly. "The fact of the matter is that I was denying my own feelings, and that was causing me to take things out on you that I had no right to."</div> <bR> <div> Donna sighed and looked in Josh's eyes. She could see so much pain </div> <div> and guilt there. She wanted to get to the heart of the problem so that they could get past this.</div> <bR> <div> "That night?" she asked, trying to bring the conversation back around </div> <div> to where it had started.</div> <bR> <div> "Right," Josh said, taking a deep breath. "That night, CJ and Sam </div> <div> asked me if I wanted to stop for a beer with them on the way home. It had been so long since I'd relaxed. I jumped at the chance. I figured a night of abusing my 'sensitive system' might be just what I needed."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled, "Go on."</div> <bR> <div> "We were on our way to Houlihan's when my cell rang." Josh's voice </div> <div> dropped, and his face clouded over. "It was you."</div> <bR> <div> "And you decided not to answer," Donna said quietly, suddenly </div> <div> understanding the source of Josh's guilt.</div> <bR> <div> "CJ and Sam started teasing me about you checking up on me. And I </div> <div> couldn't deal with all of the feelings I had about that, and about the realization that you might not always be around to do that. And so I acted like an ass, and I passed the call on to voice mail," Josh </div> <div> said guiltily.</div> <bR> <div> He dropped Donna's hand and stared at the couch. He couldn't bear to </div> <div> see the hurt and the anger that he was sure were in her eyes. He was wondering if he should go into his bedroom and leave her alone to think when her hand reached over and took his.</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok, Josh," she said sweetly.</div> <bR> <div> "No, it isn't. What if things had turned out differently?" he </div> <div> shivered involuntarily as he considered the possibilities of what might have happened.</div> <bR> <div> "But they didn't," Donna said calmly. "I'm here. Everything is fine."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Josh sighed.</div> <bR> <div> Donna placed her other hand against Josh's cheek and forced him to </div> <div> look at her.</div> <bR> <div> "You didn't know about the accident, Josh. There's no way you could </div> <div> have anticipated that."</div> <bR> <div> "Still..." he said, unable to let go of the guilt.</div> <bR> <div> "I used to do it all the time you know," Donna said, her voice </div> <div> holding a little guilt of its own.</div> <bR> <div> "What?"</div> <bR> <div> "Duck your phone calls."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yep. If you called late at night, or on a Sunday morning. When I saw </div> <div> your number on the caller ID I would ignore it, because I didn't want you to ask me to work," she confessed.</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled slightly, then realized what she had said. "You said you </div> <div> used to do that. You don't anymore?"</div> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> "Why did you stop?"</div> <bR> <div> "Rosslyn."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh."</div> <bR> <div> "I realized that we never know what's going to happen next. I vowed </div> <div> then and there to never take for granted that there would be a tomorrow," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> "I know the feeling," Josh agreed. </div> <bR> <div> "Looks like we may have both learned the same lesson the hard way," Donna said, looking deeply into Josh's eyes and seeing that there was something else there. Something he had yet to tell her about. "What is it, Josh? What else is bothering you?" </div> <bR> <div> "Donna..." Josh said, grasping for words, still unable to shake the </div> <div> one thought that had plagued him since he found about the accident.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me," Donna pleaded.</div> <bR> <div> "I...I...I stopped for a beer," he said as he looked at her </div> <div> helplessly.</div> <bR> <div> Like a flash, Donna knew exactly what he was talking about. She </div> <div> squeezed his hand tightly.</div> <bR> <div> "You're not like him, Josh. Not at all."</div> <bR> <div> "But you were in an accident. You needed me. And I stopped for a </div> <div> beer," Josh said, giving voice to his guilt. </div> <bR> <div> "There's a huge difference," Donna said gently. "He knew about the </div> <div> accident and he stopped anyway. You didn't know."</div> <bR> <div> "If I had picked up the phone I would have known."</div> <bR> <div> "But you didn't pick it up and there's nothing we can do to change </div> <div> that."</div> <bR> <div> "I just..." Josh continued to torture himself over that night.</div> <bR> <div> "Can I ask you a question?" Donna said, realizing that Josh had </div> <div> beaten himself up long enough, and wanting to put this issue to rest once and for all.</div> <bR> <div> "Of course," Josh choked out, anticipating any harsh words she might </div> <div> have to say.</div> <bR> <div> "If you had picked up the phone, if you had known about the accident, </div> <div> would you still have gone to the bar with CJ and Sam?"</div> <bR> <div> "Of course not," Josh answered adamantly.</div> <bR> <div> "And that's how you are different from him," Donna said with a </div> <div> smile. "You cared, but you didn't know. He knew, but he didn't care."</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled as he realized that Donna meant every word she was saying.</div> <bR> <div> "We still need to talk about why things were so strained between us </div> <div> after the night you told me about Cliff," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "I know. But there's time for that later," Donna said tiredly, </div> <div> leaning over and laying her head on Josh's shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, I have to tell you this. I realize now that I wasn't angry </div> <div> with you. I was jealous. Jealous that you were going out with anyone. His party affiliation and committee assignment just kind of exacerbated the situation," Josh said as the words tumbled quickly out of his mouth. He wasn't sure that this was the best possible time for his </div> <div> confession, but he felt better for having said the words.</div> <bR> <div> Donna lifted her head and looked at Josh. "I don't know why I even </div> <div> accepted the date in the first place. I was so tired, and we hadn't really talked in weeks because you were so busy. I just needed a break and..."</div> <bR> <div> "You don't have to explain it to me," Josh said softly.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I want to. The problem is that I'm not sure I understand it </div> <div> myself. I'm not sure I even know why things happened the way they did."</div> <bR> <div> "All I know is that I don't want to go through that again," Josh said </div> <div> as he leaned back against the couch and pulled her to his side, finally able to relax for the first time in weeks.</div> <bR> <div> "Amen!" Donna said as she snuggled into his side.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Donna, I want to do this right. I don't want to rush you. </div> <div> This...what we have between us..is too precious for that. I want to nurture it and let it grow at it's own pace," Josh said, planting a kiss on the top of her head.</div> <bR> <div> "I agree," Donna sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "So would you consider having dinner with me some night?"</div> <bR> <div> "Why, Joshua," Donna smiled into his shoulder, "are you asking me out </div> <div> on a date?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Josh smiled back, "I guess I am."</div> <bR> <div> "I'd love to." Donna said emphatically.</div> <bR> <div> "Excellent! Unfortunately, it may have to wait a few days. I need to </div> <div> play catch up at work on all of the things that got shoved aside while I was dealing with the embassy thing. Then Leo told me today that he is sending Sam, CJ, and me out on a tour of some areas of the Midwest. They're having some real flood control issues. We're going to meet with local leaders and see what the administration can do to give them </div> <div> some help finding a way to prevent the damage, instead of just stepping in to clean it up after the fact."</div> <bR> <div> "Will you be gone long?" Donna asked, trying to mask the </div> <div> disappointment in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "A couple of days," Josh answered.</div> <bR> <div> "I guess I can wait," Donna said, as she felt Josh's arm tighten </div> <div> around her shoulders.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> A week later, Donna went back to work after having received </div> <div> permission from Dr. Alcott. He made her promise to take things easy, and to rest as often as necessary, but said that he saw no reason why she couldn't start back.</div> <bR> <div> Josh had balked, wanting Donna to stay home until after he returned </div> <div> from his trip. He was afraid that she would overwork herself if he wasn't there to keep an eye on her. But Donna was adamant. She was getting bored sitting in the apartment and was ready to get back. Finally, Josh relented.</div> <bR> <div> At the morning staff meeting, Leo handed Sam, CJ, and Josh a copy of </div> <div> their itinerary for the trip. He wanted to try to get as much done as possible in the short period of time available. Not only was it an issue that the President really cared about, it was a chance to </div> <div> shore up some much needed support for the upcoming reelection battle.</div> <bR> <div> "Looks good," Josh said as he perused the list of activities.</div> <bR> <div> "They're having some real problems with flood water down there," Leo </div> <div> said. "The President wants to take a serious look at overhauling the levy system in this country."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll see what we can find out," CJ agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "I think it'll be fun," Sam chimed in.</div> <bR> <div> "You would," CJ and Josh said in unison, rolling their eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Listen, Josh, do you think Donna's up to joining you on the trip?" </div> <div> Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, her doctor cleared her to come back to work but I'm not sure </div> <div> she's up to traipsing across the tops of levies and dams," Josh said worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I wouldn't think so," Leo said, raising an eyebrow, "and I wasn't </div> <div> intending on asking her to do that. I just found out that Zoey is going to be making this trip with you, and I thought it might be nice if she had someone along to keep her company. She's a little nervous about making public appearances, but she wants to do it to help her father. She's going to meet with a few student groups, have some pictures </div> <div> taken...that sort of thing. I know that she gets along with Donna, and I thought it might be nice for her to have someone along that she could talk to."</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds good," Josh said, glad to have the opportunity to have Donna </div> <div> close enough to him that he could keep an eye on her.</div> <bR> <div> "She's going as a traveling companion for Zoey, Josh," Leo </div> <div> warned.  "Not as your assistant."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said defensively.</div> <bR> <div> "OK then, talk to her about it and let me know. You guys hit the road </div> <div> tomorrow morning at 7AM."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As Josh approached Donna's desk, he saw her typing away furiously.</div> <bR> <div> "I need to see you in my office," he said matter-of-factly.</div> <bR> <div> "Can it wait? I'm kind of swamped here," Donna said without looking </div> <div> up from her typing.</div> <bR> <div> "Let the temp handle it," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "You didn't get a temp while I was out, Josh," Donna reminded </div> <div> him, "None of them wanted to come up here and work for you. That's why all of this stuff piled up. It's gonna take me forever to get this place in order."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, we can get a temp up here while I'm gone," Josh offered.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be here while you're gone," Donna said, trying to hide her </div> <div> exasperation.</div> <bR> <div> "No, you won't be," Josh said teasingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, we've been over this..." Donna argued, thinking this was going </div> <div> to be another conversation about her returning to work too soon.</div> <bR> <div> "You won't be here," Josh said, cutting her off, "because you'll be </div> <div> gone too. Leo wants you to make the trip with us."</div> <bR> <div> "But I thought you said no assistants," Donna said excitedly.</div> <bR> <div> "You won't be going as my assistant. Zoey is going along, to make a </div> <div> few appearances, and Leo wants you to keep her company. You know...so she has somebody to talk to. In case she gets nervous or anything."</div> <bR> <div> "And he wants me to do it?" Donna asked, ecstatic that Leo would </div> <div> consider her for such a job.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep," Josh beamed.</div> <bR> <div> "You mean I get to make a trip, and I don't have to work? I just get </div> <div> to be there to support Zoey and keep her calm?" Donna asked again, disbelievingly.</div> <bR> <div> "That's it," Josh smiled. "Are you interested?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds like fun," Donna said animatedly. "When do we leave?"</div> <bR> <div> "First thing tomorrow morning," Josh answered, "But I want you to be </div> <div> careful. You're still recovering. If it gets to be too much for you, you tell me. These trips can be stressful, and sometimes not all that enjoyable."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna said, swatting him on the arm, "But it's only three </div> <div> days. How bad can it be?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna leaned her head against the back of the seat and closed her </div> <div> eyes. They weren't on Air Force One, since the President wasn't accompanying them on the trip, but the first-class cabin of a commercial airliner was still nothing to sneeze at.</div> <bR> <div> 'Working at the White House definitely has its perks," she thought.</div> <bR> <div> Josh's voice broke her out of her reverie.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, could you..."</div> <bR> <div> "No," CJ said from across the aisle.</div> <bR> <div> "I was just gonna ask Donna if she could..." Josh continued.</div> <bR> <div> "I said, NO!" CJ repeated.</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled to herself, enjoying the exchange.</div> <bR> <div> "CJ, I was just..."</div> <bR> <div> "I know what you were doing, Joshua, and I want you to stop right </div> <div> now. Donna is not along on this trip as your assistant, she's here to help Zoey," CJ said sternly.</div> <bR> <div> "But Zoey isn't here right now," Josh pouted. "And since she's meeting us there, I think I should get to use Donna until Zoey needs her."</div> <bR> <div> Donna turned her head towards Josh, who was seated beside her, and </div> <div> raised an eyebrow disapprovingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Well..I didn't mean use..."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled and patted his hand. "I knew what you meant."</div> <bR> <div> Josh beamed.</div> <bR> <div> "No!" CJ said from across the aisle. "Leo was very clear about this. </div> <div> Whatever you need, you're gonna have to take care of it yourself."</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Josh said as he opened his laptop.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll help if you really need me," Donna whispered.</div> <bR> <div> "I heard that," CJ scolded.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh squeezed Donna's hand lightly, "but I don't want to </div> <div> get you in trouble with Cruella DeVille."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you realize that I'm only sitting a few feet away from you, Joshua?" CJ asked incredulously. "And that I can hear every word you're saying?"</div> <bR> <div> "Don't you have any puppies to hunt down?" Josh shot back.</div> <bR> <div> "Bite me," CJ answered.</div> <bR> <div> "That's enough children," Sam said, looking up from the folder he was </div> <div> studying. "Some of us are trying to work."</div> <bR> <div> "Brown nose," CJ huffed.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, what did I do?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> Donna couldn't hold back anymore and she laughed so hard she snorted.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Sam, CJ, and Josh asked in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing," Donna chuckled, "I just missed this while I was away. </div> <div> That's all."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, we're glad to have you back," Sam said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said. She frowned slightly as she noticed everyone </div> <div> grow quiet. "Now lets not get maudlin. I'm fine, everyone's fine. Lets not dwell on the bad things."</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Donna," CJ said, clearing her throat, "I just wanted to </div> <div> say..well Sam and I both..we feel bad about teasing Josh that night. If it hadn't been for us, he probably would have answered the phone."</div> <bR> <div> "That's right," Sam chimed in, "If it hadn't been for us, things </div> <div> would've been different."</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Donna assured them, reaching across the aisle to place her </div> <div> hand on CJ's arm, "I understand. Josh and I have talked about this. You had no way of knowing what was going on."</div> <bR> <div> "Still," Sam said.</div> <bR> <div> "Still nothing," Donna insisted. "It's done and over with. Everything </div> <div> turned out fine. Now we all need to forget about it and move on."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll move on," Sam said, shaking his head, "But I'll never forget </div> <div> about it. I learned a valuable lesson that night."</div> <bR> <div> "Me too," CJ agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "There seems to be a lot of that going around," Donna said, as she </div> <div> turned and smiled softly at Josh, who smiled softly back.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> By the time they landed, it was raining fairly hard.</div> <bR> <div> "Great," Josh said sarcastically, "This is the perfect weather to be </div> <div> traipsing around levees."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, that isn't gonna be any fun at all," Donna said </div> <div> sympathetically.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me about it," Josh said grumpily.</div> <bR> <div> "Glad it's not me," Donna smiled brightly.</div> <bR> <div> "Nobody likes a smart ass," Josh pointed out.</div> <bR> <div> "At least I'll be a dry smart ass," Donna laughed.</div> <bR> <div> By the time they rounded up their luggage and made their way to the </div> <div> hotel, Zoey had arrived and was waiting for them. They quickly checked in, freshened up, and met back in the lobby.</div> <bR> <div> While Donna and Zoey headed out for visits to a senior center and a </div> <div> job-training program, the rest of the staff set out for a day of meetings with various political powerbrokers and potential campaign donors.</div> <bR> <div> They met back at the hotel around 5 PM, just in time to change and </div> <div> head out for a town meeting that would give local residents a chance to air their concerns and complaints, and also to offer suggestions about ways to revamp the levee system.</div> <bR> <div> The staffers paid careful attention, knowing full well that the </div> <div> people who lived closest to the problem were the ones who could probably offer the best suggestions for fixing it. After the question and answer portion of the evening, there was a chance for some one-on-one discussions. </div> <bR> <div> The residents were impressed by the sincere interest of such high-</div> <div> ranking members of the Bartlet administration. They expressed their thanks, and were assured that the problem would receive immediate attention. Zoey and Donna circulated through the crowd, shaking hands, and making sure to remind people to vote in the upcoming election. All in all, the evening was a rousing success.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone was exhausted by the time they made their way back to the </div> <div> hotel through the heavy rain that seemed as though it was never going to let up. They said their goodnights and headed off to try to get some sleep. </div> <bR> <div> Josh walked Donna to her door, "How did you enjoy your day?" he </div> <div> asked. </div> <bR> <div> "It was a nice change," Donna told him, "But I don't think I'd ever </div> <div> want to make it permanent."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" </div> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said smiling, "I missed my regular boss."</div> <bR> <div> Josh pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "I missed you, </div> <div> too," he murmured in her ear. </div> <bR> <div> Donna stood still,  enjoying the safety and security of Josh's arms, </div> <div> breathing in the scent of his cologne. Finally she said, "We better get some sleep. Tomorrow is another busy day."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess you're right," Josh sighed, placing his forehead against </div> <div> hers.</div> <bR> <div> "Goodnight," she said, planting a soft kiss on his lips.</div> <bR> <div> "Goodnight," he answered.</div> <bR> <div> Donna slipped her keycard into the door, and Josh waited until he </div> <div> heard the locks fasten before he headed off to his own room.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The next morning, the staff gathered for breakfast in a small </div> <div> conference room that had been set aside for their use. Not only had the rain not let up overnight, it seemed to have intensified, adding thunder and lightning into the mix.</div> <bR> <div> "Can you believe this weather?" Zoey asked as she grabbed a muffin </div> <div> and some fruit and took a seat at the table.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm thinking that maybe we should brush up on our ark building </div> <div> skills," CJ said dryly.</div> <bR> <div> "If you call my dad, I'm sure he can tell you exactly how one builds </div> <div> an ark," Zoey giggled.</div> <bR> <div> "I think I'll pass," CJ chuckled.</div> <bR> <div> "The thunder was so loud last night it actually shook the windows in </div> <div> my room," Donna yawned. "I hardly got any sleep."</div> <bR> <div> "Why didn't you call me, or come over to my room?" Josh asked. "At </div> <div> the very least, I could have kept you company."</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't want to wake you," Donna stated, "You needed your sleep."</div> <bR> <div> "I wouldn't have minded," Josh said, catching her eye and smiling.</div> <bR> <div> "The thunder kept me awake too, Josh," CJ teased, "Would it have been </div> <div> ok if I had called you at 3 AM?"</div> <bR> <div> "You know, CJ," Josh laughed, "I'm seeing a not altogether attractive </div> <div> side of you on this trip."</div> <bR> <div> "Bite me," CJ answered, draining her coffee cup and setting it on the </div> <div> table with a thud.</div> <bR> <div> "See?" Josh laughed.</div> <bR> <div> "Actually, during a major rainstorm is the best time to inspect the </div> <div> levee system," Sam chimed in. "It's when they are doing the job they were designed to do, therefore, we can get a better understanding of their value, and of their shortcomings."</div> <bR> <div> "Brown nose," CJ muttered, her mouth half full of blueberry muffin.</div> <bR> <div> Just as Sam was about to launch into a diatribe about how it was </div> <div> always best to be prepared, there was a knock on the door, and a member of Zoey's protection detail entered with a man outfitted head to toe in rain gear.</div> <bR> <div> "Hi, I'm Greg Hill, form the Army Corps of Engineers," he said, </div> <div> reaching out his hand towards Josh. Josh shook it, and quickly introduced everyone else in the room.</div> <bR> <div> After the introductions were completed, Josh asked, "Should we really </div> <div> be out walking along the tops of levees on a day like this?"</div> <bR> <div> "Actually, a day like today is the perfect time to do the </div> <div> inspections,"  Greg said cheerfully.</div> <bR> <div> "I told you so," Sam said, beginning to gather his things.</div> <bR> <div> "Did you all bring raingear?" Greg asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I did," Sam chirped.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," CJ answered grudgingly.</div> <bR> <div> "I..um..." Josh said, panic rising in his voice.</div> <bR> <div> "I packed it for you," Donna said, picking up the bag sitting beside </div> <div> her chair.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said sheepishly.</div> <bR> <div> "You're welcome," Donna answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I guess that's it then," Greg said, "Lets get out there and </div> <div> see what's up."</div> <bR> <div> Josh leaned over and spoke softly in to Donna's ear. "Thanks for the </div> <div> rain stuff. You have a good day and I'll see you later."</div> <bR> <div> "See you later," Donna smiled.</div> <bR> <div> She watched as Josh made it all the way to the door, then turned back </div> <div> with a broad smile and winked. The last action wasn't lost on Zoey.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure you'd much rather be spending the day with me than with </div> <div> them, right?" Zoey teased.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at her and smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "Lets go," Zoey said. "The quicker we do this, the quicker you can </div> <div> get back here to see Josh again."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Zoey had been asked to speak at the local high school, and had </div> <div> happily accepted. Donna smiled as she watched the first daughter interact with the students. 'There stands the next generation of Bartlet politicians,' she thought to herself.</div> <bR> <div> The students were eager to hear everything about the White House, </div> <div> having a father who was President of the United States, and living in Washington DC. Zoey eagerly answered every question, explaining that, even though she no longer lived full-time in the residence at the </div> <div> White House, she visited often and still had a bedroom there. She </div> <div> told the students about college, and the importance of getting a good education.</div> <bR> <div> When talk turned to the President's illness, Donna was impressed by </div> <div> both the intelligent, compassionate way the students phrased their questions, and the mature way that Zoey answered them. The talk was scheduled to last for one hour, but actually stretched to a little over two.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, Greg Hill was taking the senior staffers around to some of </div> <div> the levees that had caused problems in earlier flood situations. He explained how commercial development in the flood plains and wetlands was overtaxing a levee system already strained to its limit. </div> <bR> <div> He explained that, although overhauling the system would be an </div> <div> expensive proposition, it was nothing compared to the loss of life, property, and farmland that accompanied a catastrophic flood. He spoke passionately about the persevering attitude of the people who lived in the shadow of the levees. He wanted to find a way to help them feel confident that there families and property would be safe and protected.</div> <bR> <div> He was in the middle of explaining how rising waters in the Mississippi River, and other waterways, had a direct affect on all of the areas downstream when his cell phone rang. He listened intently for a few seconds, then disconnected and looked at Josh, CJ, and Sam.</div> <bR> <div> "There's a little problem upstream," he said, his brow creased with </div> <div> concern, "The Connor's Bend levee appears to have sprung a small leak. You might get to see the problem up close after all."</div> <bR> <div> "Lets go," Josh said, raising his voice a bit to be heard over the </div> <div> beating of the rain.</div> <bR> <div> With that, the four of them headed back across the levee towards </div> <div> Greg's car.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The principal of Adams Regional High School, Dr. Bill Lewis, escorted </div> <div> Zoey, Donna, and two members of Zoey's protection detail into his office. </div> <bR> <div> "I just want to thank you again for coming, Ms. Bartlet," he said </div> <div> excitedly.</div> <bR> <div> "It was my pleasure," Zoey said. "Thank you for the invitation."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry that the weather has been so awful during your stay," Dr. </div> <div> Lewis said, "I think you would have enjoyed getting a chance to see our beautiful town."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure I would have," Zoey agreed. "It reminds me very much of </div> <div> Manchester, the town I grew up in. Maybe I can come back some day for another visit, and bring my parents."</div> <bR> <div> "That would be wonderful," Mr. Lewis beamed.</div> <bR> <div> "My father is a big fan of small towns," Zoey continued, "As soon as </div> <div> we get back to DC, I'm going to tell him how well we were all treated here, and that he definitely has to try to find time to visit your lovely town and see for himself."</div> <bR> <div> 'Yep,' Donna thought, 'That girl is a born politician.'</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you again for allowing me the chance to meet your students, </div> <div> Dr. Lewis," Zoey said, "But I'm afraid we really have to be on our way."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand completely," the principal said. "Could I trouble for a </div> <div> quick moment to meet some of our staff that couldn't make it to the assembly?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'd love to," Zoey said.</div> <bR> <div> As they stepped out into the school office, Donna asked, "Would you </div> <div> mind if I use the phone for just a second? I'd like to call and check on the other staff members."</div> <bR> <div> "No problem," Dr. Lewis said, indicating the phone on the desk to his </div> <div> right, "Just dial 9 for an outside line."</div> <bR> <div> Donna picked up the phone and quickly dialed Josh's cell, while Zoey </div> <div> chatted with the office staff.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," the voice on the other end answered, although Donna was </div> <div> having trouble hearing it over the sounds of the storm.</div> <bR> <div> "It's me," she said, "I just wanted to see how things were going."</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Josh said honestly, "we're getting a close-up look at some of </div> <div> the problems the residents were talking about last night. One of the levees has sprung a leak, and everyone who lives in the vicinity is trying to sandbag it before things get any worse."</div> <bR> <div> "Is it safe out there? Are you guys alright?" Donna asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "We're fine," Josh assured her. "We're going out with Greg to check </div> <div> on some of the levees further upstream. We'll be back before you know it. How did things go at the school?"</div> <bR> <div> "Great! Zoey had them eating out of the palm of her hand."</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly the horrific sound of shattering glass and people screaming </div> <div> filled the air.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna! Donna!" Josh shouted frantically. "Donna! Answer me!!"</div> <bR> <div> After the noise had passed, Donna found herself lying on the floor of </div> <div> the office, amongst chards of broken glass and pieces of wood. There was pain shooting through her ribs, which she had banged on the desk when she fell. </div> <bR> <div> She immediately searched for Zoey, and found her surrounded by secret </div> <div> service agents, but apparently unharmed. Everyone else who had been in the office seemed to be fine except for a few assorted cuts and bruises. A large part of the office was taken up by a tree, which had apparently been struck by lightning, and had fallen through the window, </div> <div> shattering glass and splintering the window frame.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as Donna realized that there were no serious injuries, she </div> <div> began to relax. Then she remembered that she had been talking to Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you still there?" she asked breathlessly after she had managed </div> <div> to retrieve the phone from the rubble.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna! Thank God. What the hell happened? Are you ok?" Josh asked </div> <div> frantically.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna said, trying to make her voice sound as calm as </div> <div> possible. "Everyone is fine. A huge tree just blew through the window of the office. It scared the crap out of all of us, but we're ok, with the possible exception of a few minor cuts and bruises."</div> <bR> <div> "Zoey's ok?" </div> <bR> <div> "She's fine," Donna assured him.</div> <bR> <div> Josh saw CJ signal that it was time to go as she, Sam and Greg headed </div> <div> for the car to check the levees upstream.</div> <bR> <div> "I gotta go," Josh said. "Are you sure you're ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine, Josh," Donna said. "Really."</div> <bR> <div> "OK. I want you and Zoey to head back to the hotel. Her detail will </div> <div> make sure you get there safely. Once you're there, I don't want either one of you leaving for any reason. Understood?"</div> <bR> <div> "Understood," Donna concurred, "But what about you? I think you </div> <div> should all come in too. It sounds like it's getting dangerous out there."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll be there soon, Donna. Don't worry. You and Zoey just get back </div> <div> to the hotel, and we'll be there before you know it." </div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna hold you to that, Josh," Donna said, unable to keep the </div> <div> worry out of her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "You do that. I'll see you in a little while," Josh said softly.</div> <bR> <div> "Be careful!" Donna pleaded.</div> <bR> <div> "We will. You too," Josh said. "Bye."</div> <bR> <div> "Bye," Donna said as she stared at the receiver in her hand, feeling </div> <div> an unexplained chill start to race up her spine.</div> <bR> <div> The Secret Service hurried Zoey and Donna into the waiting SUV's to </div> <div> head back to the hotel. Donna couldn't believe how badly it was storming. The rain and wind had been constant since their arrival, and it seemed to be intensifying with each passing hour. She hoped that Josh and the others were headed back to the hotel and not stuck out on some levee in this storm. She stared out the window and watched the rain nervously, all the while absent-mindedly rubbing her side.</div> <bR> <div> She was brought crashing back to reality by the sound of Zoey's voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna!"</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Zoey asked worriedly. "You seem to be a million miles away."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna answered unconvincingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Does your side hurt?" Zoey continued.</div> <bR> <div> "What?"</div> <bR> <div> "Your side. You've been rubbing it since we left the school. Is there </div> <div> something wrong?"</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, no...not really. I just bumped it on the desk when the tree came </div> <div> through the window. It's nothing."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure? Because we can make a stop at the hospital if you need </div> <div> to."</div> <bR> <div> "No, thanks. I'll be fine. It's nothing to worry about."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, but only if you're sure. Josh would never forgive me if I let </div> <div> anything happen to you," Zoey smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey," Donna teased, "I thought I was supposed to be the one looking </div> <div> after you--not the other way around.</div> <bR> <div> The two women laughed, and Donna managed to forget the feeling of </div> <div> dread in the pit of her stomach for just a moment. Then a huge clap of thunder hit, so loud that it actually rocked the SUV. Donna turned her face towards the window, trying desperately to hide the fear and panic she was feeling.</div> <bR> <div> "We'll be fine," Zoey said reassuringly.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna answered without turning her head.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh and the others will be fine too."</div> <bR> <div> Donna turned to face Zoey, rapidly losing her battle to hold back the </div> <div> tears.</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right, Zoey."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure I am. In fact, they'll probably beat us back to the hotel </div> <div> and be sitting there all warm and dry, laughing at us because we were stuck out in this storm."</div> <bR> <div> The image of Josh sitting in front of the fireplace in the lobby of </div> <div> the hotel, coffee mug in hand, waiting for them to get back, put a smile on Donna's face. She was beginning to relax a little when the agent in the front seat turned around and spoke to Zoey,</div> <bR> <div> "There's been a flash flood, and the road up ahead is covered with </div> <div> water. We're going to have to turn around and try a different route. Nothing to worry about. We just need to approach the hotel from the high side. We'll be there in no time."</div> <bR> <div> Zoey thanked the agent and smiled reassuringly. Donna tried to return </div> <div> the smile, then turned her head back towards the window, watching the raging storm and sending up a silent prayer for Josh's safety.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stared intently out the window as the Jeep made its way along </div> <div> the muddy road. As hard as he tried, he could never remember seeing so much rain fall in such a short period of time.</div> <bR> <div> During the drive, Greg had grown increasingly quieter, focusing all </div> <div> of his concentration on the road ahead. CJ and Sam were sitting in the back seat, trying valiantly to make small talk about levees and their usefulness.</div> <bR> <div> As they turned off the main road and approached the Connor's Bend </div> <div> levee, the radio on the dash crackled to life.</div> <bR> <div> "Greg, are you there?" a voice asked through the static.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm here," Greg answered, picking up the mouthpiece, "What do you </div> <div> need?"</div> <bR> <div> "What's your current position?" the voice asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm just arriving at Connor's Bend. What's up?"</div> <bR> <div> "We've got big problems upstream from you. Signs of major stress at </div> <div> at least three locations. I need you to get up here ASAP and take a look. We're sandbagging, and moving in as much fill as we can, but it doesn't seem to be helping."</div> <bR> <div> Greg closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to decide on the </div> <div> best course of action. He had a duty to the citizens of the area to do everything he could to prevent disaster, but he also had to consider the three members of the President's senior staff, whose safety he </div> <div> was currently responsible for.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be there as soon as I can," Greg said into the microphone </div> <div> before replacing it on the dash of the Jeep. He drove the car along side the levee for a few minutes, not saying anything, and then came to a stop in front of what looked to be nothing more than an elaborate tree house. He turned in his seat so that he could see all three of his passengers at the same time.</div> <bR> <div> "We seem to have a little situation developing here," he began. </div> <bR> <div> "A situation?" CJ asked. "What exactly do you mean by that?"</div> <bR> <div> "The conditions upstream are very unstable. I need to get up there </div> <div> right now and take a look to see what we can do to avoid a system wide failure."</div> <bR> <div> "Then let's go," Josh said determinedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't take you with me," Greg answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Why not?" Sam asked, reaching out and taking CJ's hand.</div> <bR> <div> "It's just too risky. You'll be safer here. This is the Corps base </div> <div> station. We use it to observe the levee under conditions just like this. You can stay here, and I'll come back to get you as soon as the crisis passes."</div> <bR> <div> CJ craned her neck to look out the window and up at the station. "Is </div> <div> this safe?" she asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "Perfectly safe," Greg assured her. "I'll take you guys up and </div> <div> familiarize you with the place, then I have to get going."</div> <bR> <div> All four got out of the Jeep and one by one they climbed the ladder </div> <div> to the platform. Greg first, followed by CJ, then Sam, then Josh. The base station consisted of a single small room, no more than ten feet square, and an observation deck of approximately the same size. They moved inside, and Greg opened a small footlocker in the corner and took out three life vests, tossing them to the staffers.</div> <bR> <div> "What are these for?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Better safe than sorry," Greg insisted. "This is your radio," he </div> <div> said, pointing to the setup against the far wall, "You'll be able to reach me if you need anything at all. Give me a call if there are any problems. Other than that, just hang tight, and I'll be back as soon as I can."</div> <bR> <div> Josh stared, a bit disbelievingly, as Greg started back down the </div> <div> ladder towards the Jeep. Then he turned and looked at Sam and CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I guess this is what you call getting a close up view of the </div> <div> situation," he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.</div> <bR> <div> "I'd say so," CJ agreed.</div> <bR> <div> Sam looked around, "You know, this place is pretty cool."</div> <bR> <div> "You would think that," CJ said, rolling her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Josh agreed, egging Sam on. "I think we missed our callings, </div> <div> Samuel. We should have joined the Corps of Engineers."</div> <bR> <div> "Or better yet, the National Park Service," Sam said excitedly. "We </div> <div> could have become park rangers."</div> <bR> <div> "Oooh yeah," Josh agreed, "We could have had really cool hats, and </div> <div> lookout posts, and everything."</div> <bR> <div> "And you both could have worn cute uniforms, with shorts that showed </div> <div> your bony knees," CJ chuckled.</div> <bR> <div> "True," Sam said dejectedly. "I forgot about the uniforms."</div> <bR> <div> "We can't let that stand in the way of our true calling, my friend. </div> <div> I, for one, have no shame of my knees. I shall wear the shorts proudly," Josh said as he raised his hand to his forehead in a mock salute.</div> <bR> <div> "Same here," Sam said, casting a defiant look at CJ. "I have fine </div> <div> looking knees.</div> <bR> <div> "You two need professional help," CJ said as she finished donning her </div> <div> life vest, and settled into a chair in the corner to watch the rain.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> After several changes of direction, the Secret Service finally </div> <div> managed to get Zoey and Donna back to the hotel safely. As they entered the lobby, Donna looked around, hoping against hope to see Josh and the others. They were nowhere to be seen. </div> <bR> <div> Within minutes, the agents assigned to protect Zoey were talking </div> <div> animatedly with the manager of the hotel.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you think is going on?" Donna asked Zoey as they watched the </div> <div> conversation from across the lobby.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Zoey answered, "Lets find out."</div> <bR> <div> Zoey and Donna crossed the lobby and approached the group.</div> <bR> <div> "Is everything ok?" Zoey asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Everything is just fine," the manager assured her. "I was just </div> <div> telling the agents here that the hotel is completely safe. We are well above flood level."</div> <bR> <div> "That's good to know," Zoey said.</div> <bR> <div> "We're just being cautious," one of the agents assured her.</div> <bR> <div> "I know, and I appreciate it," Zoey said.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked nervously at the manager, "Do you really think the </div> <div> flooding is going to get that bad?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's bad alright," a young man said as he approached the group. "I </div> <div> almost had to ditch my car and bring my fishing boat to work."</div> <bR> <div> Donna's face went pale. "But our friends are still out there. They </div> <div> were going out to inspect some of the levees. They should be back by now," she said, panic rising in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure they're fine," one of the agents said calmly. "They're </div> <div> probably somewhere warm and dry just riding things out."</div> <bR> <div> "But they should be back here," Donna insisted. "This was supposed to </div> <div> be a simple fact-finding mission."</div> <bR> <div> "Listen," Zoey said, "why don't you give Josh a call on his cell? </div> <div> You'll feel much better once you know everything is ok."</div> <bR> <div> "Good idea," Donna said, pulling out her cell phone and dialing the </div> <div> familiar number.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As his cell began to ring, Josh glanced at the display and saw </div> <div> Donna's number. </div> <bR> <div> "Hey beautiful," he said with a smile as he answered.</div> <bR> <div> Donna breathed a sigh of relief to hear his voice. "Is that how you </div> <div> always answer your phone?" she teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Only when I know it's you," he laughed.</div> <bR> <div> "And what if I had loaned my phone to Zoey?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Then I guess I'd have a lot of explaining to do," Josh laughed. "Are </div> <div> you back at the hotel?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna said. "I was hoping you guys would be back by now too. </div> <div> The weather is getting really bad out there and it's starting to flood."</div> <bR> <div> "We know," Josh said, trying to keep the tone light. "We just got a </div> <div> little hung up. We'll be back as soon as we can."</div> <bR> <div> "Where are you?" Donna asked, sensing there was something Josh wasn't </div> <div> telling her.</div> <bR> <div> Josh hesitated. He didn't want her to know that for the last hour, </div> <div> he, Sam and CJ had watched in horror as the small leak in the Connor's Bend levee began to grow. They had used the radio to report that information to Greg Hill, who had promised to send a team down as soon as one became available. Right now, the Corps had its hands full fighting a battle to save the levees upstream. They knew that if one of the larger upstream levees collapsed, it would cause a catastrophic domino effect.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, that's actually a kind of funny story," Josh said. "We're </div> <div> sitting in the observation station out here at the Connor's Bend levee. Greg had to go ahead and take care of some other business so he left us here to hold down the fort."</div> <bR> <div> "He what?" Donna screamed.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm just teasing you," Josh assured Donna. "Greg had to take care of </div> <div> a few things so he left us here. He said that it's perfectly safe."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't like this, Josh. I don't like this at all."</div> <bR> <div> "Really? Because Sam and I are having the time of our lives. We're </div> <div> considering changing careers and becoming forest rangers."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna said dryly. "At least in the woods you don't have to </div> <div> worry if the flue is welded shut. What about CJ?"</div> <bR> <div> "She's mocking us," Josh answered.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure you deserve it," Donna said, trying but failing to hide the </div> <div> fear in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Everything will be fine, Donna," Josh said soothingly. "We'll be </div> <div> back before you know it."</div> <bR> <div> Without warning, the noise level outside the station increased </div> <div> exponentially, and Sam and CJ yelled, "Oh my God!" in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" Donna screamed into the phone.</div> <bR> <div> Josh turned quickly and looked out the window, just in time to see </div> <div> the levee give way.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened?! Josh, please tell me what happened?!" Donna screamed </div> <div> into the phone, immediately attracting the attention of everyone else in the hotel lobby.</div> <bR> <div> "The levee let go!" Josh said, battling to keep his voice as calm as </div> <div> possible. "The water is just pouring right through it."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Donna sobbed. "This can't be happening."</div> <bR> <div> "Calm down, Donna. It's gonna be ok. We've got to get on the radio </div> <div> and let Greg know what's going on."</div> <bR> <div> "How are the three of you gonna get out of there?" Donna asked, her </div> <div> panic not subsiding at all.</div> <bR> <div> "Greg said that this station was perfectly safe. The water is rising </div> <div> but it isn't up to our level yet," Josh said soothingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" Donna asked. "You're not just saying that to make me </div> <div> feel better are you?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, Donna. We're ok. Sam is radioing Greg now to update him on the </div> <div> situation. I'm sure he'll know exactly what we should do."</div> <bR> <div> "Just be careful," Donna begged, "All of you. Please."</div> <bR> <div> "We will," Josh said softly. "You still owe me a dinner date and I </div> <div> don't have any intention of missing that."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled. "And I have no intention of letting you."</div> <bR> <div> Sam turned back from the radio towards Josh and CJ, a small look of </div> <div> concern creasing his brow.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it, Sam?" Josh asked, as Donna held her breath on the other </div> <div> end of the line, praying that Sam had good news.</div> <bR> <div> "Greg said that the situation upstream is critical. They've lost one </div> <div> levee already and they're fighting tooth and nail to save the ones that are still standing. He said we should just hold tight and he'll send someone to pick us up as soon as he can."</div> <bR> <div> CJ turned and looked out the window at the raging water outside. The </div> <div> water that was inching closer to the level of the station with each passing moment</div> <bR> <div> "What's that supposed to mean?" Donna sobbed, no longer able to hold </div> <div> back the tears. "Why can't they send someone out to get you now?" </div> <bR> <div> "They're doing the best they can in a bad situation, Donna," Josh </div> <div> answered. "Everything will be fine. A week from now we'll be laughing about this."</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> "I am," Josh assured her as he moved over to the edge of the room to </div> <div> gain a little more privacy. "Listen, Donna, I just wanted to tell you..."</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me what?" Donna asked softly.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly the line crackled with static.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna? Donna?" Josh yelled.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh? Are you still there?" Donna shouted.</div> <bR> <div> After listening to the static for over a minute, Josh and Donna both </div> <div> disconnected.</div> <bR> <div> "Is everything ok?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "We just lost the connection," Josh said dejectedly.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile back at the hotel, Zoey crossed the lobby and placed her </div> <div> arm supportively around Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "What happened?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "The line went dead, and they're stuck out there all alone, and the </div> <div> levee let go." Donna sobbed.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure they'll be alright," Zoey said.</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right," Donna answered, as the sky lit up with </div> <div> lightning.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna had been pacing the lobby nervously for almost two hours, </div> <div> refusing everyone's suggestions that she should go up to her room and try to get some rest. The electricity in the hotel had gone out about an hour before, and the lobby was illuminated by nothing more than candles and a fire in the fireplace in the corner. The lightning flashes outside cast weird shadows on the wall and did nothing to improve Donna's deteriorating mood. </div> <bR> <div> "Donna, this really isn't helping anything," Zoey said gently as </div> <div> Donna paced past the couch where she was seated with a member of her security detail.</div> <bR> <div> "There has to be something we can do," Donna said as she raked her </div> <div> hand through her long hair.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure that everything that can be done is being done," the agent </div> <div> seated beside Zoey said.</div> <bR> <div> "No, it isn't!" Donna snapped back angrily. "Someone should be on the </div> <div> way out there to rescue them and bring them back here. We should be doing something-ANYTHING-other than just sitting here."</div> <bR> <div> "There's little we can do in this storm," the agent said calmly, </div> <div> understanding that Donna was upset, and not wanting to make the situation any worse. "We can't get anyone to them in this weather, the cars can't make it through, the choppers can't go up in a storm </div> <div> like this. For crying out loud, we'd need a boat to get out there."</div> <bR> <div> Donna spun around angrily and went back to her pacing. As she moved </div> <div> towards the other side of the lobby, she saw the young man whom they had talked to earlier sitting behind the front desk, with a number of other employees. Suddenly, she had an idea.</div> <bR> <div> "Hi," she said approaching him, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name </div> <div> earlier."</div> <bR> <div> "It's Zach," the young man said looking up.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "Is there something I can help you with?" Zach asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I hope so," Donna answered determinedly. "Is there somewhere a </div> <div> little more private we can go to talk? I mean...can you take a break?"</div> <bR> <div> Zach looked at the manager questioningly and he nodded. "Sure," he </div> <div> said, moving around in front of the desk and motioning to a small kitchen off to the left.</div> <bR> <div> "What can I do for you?" Zach asked as they entered the room, and sat </div> <div> down at a table the employees of the hotel used for lunch.</div> <bR> <div> "Well.." Donna hesitated, before deciding that there was no good way </div> <div> to ask this other than to just spit it out, "Earlier, you said that you almost abandoned your car and brought your boat in to work. Were you kidding about that?"</div> <bR> <div> "Only halfway, why?" Zach asked cautiously.</div> <bR> <div> "Because three people who are very important to me are stuck out at </div> <div> the Connor's Bend levee..."</div> <bR> <div> "But that levee gave out," Zach interrupted.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna said, choking back tears. "They are in the Army Corps </div> <div> of Engineers Observation Station right now. But the Corps can't get anyone out there to save them, and I'm terrified that something bad is going to happen."</div> <bR> <div> "What do you want from me?" Zach asked, pretty sure he knew the </div> <div> answer but wanting to hear the words anyway.</div> <bR> <div> "I want you to take me out there to pick them up," Donna said </div> <div> resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> Zach glanced out the window at the pounding rain and said, "I don't </div> <div> know."</div> <bR> <div> "Please," Donna begged, "If it's money--I can pay you."</div> <bR> <div> "It's not money," Zach said, slightly insulted. "I just don't know if </div> <div> we can make it. It's pretty treacherous out there."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm willing to try if you are," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> Zach looked into Donna's eyes and saw total desperation, then he </div> <div> turned and looked back out at the weather.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is the water getting any higher?" CJ asked from her seat on the </div> <div> opposite side of the room. She had moved away from the window when the sight of the swirling water began to make her seasick.</div> <bR> <div> "Hard to tell," Sam answered, "I think it's about the same."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, that's a good sign," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> Sam went back to staring sadly out the window.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Come here," Sam answered, motioning for CJ and Josh to join him at </div> <div> the window. As soon as they did, they saw immediately what Sam was looking at. They watched helplessly as bikes, lawn chairs, children's toys, and other assorted household items floated by. They could only imagine the devastation that had already been caused in the lives of so many people. They all hoped that Greg and the others could shore up the </div> <div> levees upstream before things got any worse.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of creaking wood.</div> <bR> <div> "What was that?" Josh asked, cocking his head to the side.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know but it didn't sound good," CJ answered, an edge of </div> <div> worry to her voice.</div> <bR> <div> Without warning, another large crack filled the air and the station </div> <div> shook violently. Josh grabbed onto CJ to help keep her upright as Sam held tightly to the window frame.</div> <bR> <div> "Wait here," Josh said sternly as he headed towards the door. Once </div> <div> out on the observation deck, he peered over the edge trying to see through the rain. At first he saw nothing, but as he leaned over the back edge he saw a sight that made his heart leap into his throat. </div> <div> One of the four posts holding the station up had snapped in half. </div> <div> Josh quickly gathered his composure and went back inside to face Sam and CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Sam asked, immediately sensing that something was wrong </div> <div> by the look on Josh's face.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we may have a little problem," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God, what's wrong?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll do it," Zach said, shaking </div> <div> his head.</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Donna asked in amazement. "Thank you. I can't tell you how </div> <div> much I appreciate this. Can we go right away?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'll have to ask my boss, but I don't see why not. There's nothing </div> <div> for me to do around here until the electricity comes back on."</div> <bR> <div> "Great," Donna said. "I'll go tell Zoey that we're leaving."</div> <bR> <div> "She can't come with us," Zach insisted nervously. "This is a stupid </div> <div> enough idea, and I can't believe we're doing it. There's no way I'm taking the President's daughter along."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," Donna said, "The Secret Service would never let her </div> <div> out of their sight long enough for us to get out of here. I just want her to know what's going on."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok then," Zach said, "I'll meet you at the front door in a few </div> <div> minutes."</div> <bR> <div> "Deal," Donna said as she headed out to find Zoey.</div> <bR> <div> A minute later, Donna had pulled Zoey into a corner so they could </div> <div> have a conversation without the Secret Service overhearing. She laid out her plan as quickly as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Zoey asked when she finished.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't just leave him out there. Any of them. If there's a chance I </div> <div> can go bring them back...I have to take it."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, what can I do?" Zoey asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I just need to keep the agents busy until after we're gone. It's not </div> <div> like they could stop me from going, I mean I'm not their responsibility, but still...they could call Leo and delay things..and I need to get out there as soon as possible."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do it," Zoey said, taking notice of the desperation in Donna's </div> <div> eyes. "You just need to promise me that you'll be careful."</div> <bR> <div> "We will," Donna said, breathing a sigh of relief, "We'll go out and </div> <div> get them and be back here before you know it. I just need you to do me one other favor."</div> <bR> <div> "What?"</div> <bR> <div> "Will you please keep trying to call Josh?" Donna asked, pressing her </div> <div> cell phone into Zoey's hand. "There's no way I'll be able to do it with this rain coming down. If you get a hold of him, tell him I'm on my way. Tell him to hold on, I'll be there soon."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Zoey said, giving Donna a quick hug.</div> <bR> <div> They both turned at the same time and saw Zach standing by the door.</div> <bR> <div> "I'd better get going," Donna said, "Thanks for all your help."</div> <bR> <div> "You're welcome," Zoey said. "I just want you all back here safe and </div> <div> sound very soon."</div> <bR> <div> "I want that too," Donna said solemnly.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, then let's do it," Zoey said, winking at Donna. </div> <bR> <div> She began to walk back towards the waiting agents, then unexpectedly </div> <div> pointed towards the far end of the lobby, "What's that?" she said, alarm in her voice. When the agents turned to look, she mouthed, "Go," to Donna, and watched as she and Zach slipped out the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh, Sam, and CJ worked together, trying to prepare themselves for </div> <div> the worst. CJ was on the radio, trying to reach Greg Hill and let him know about the new developments. Sam and Josh found a long rope in one of the footlockers and were out on the observation deck, securing it to the largest tree in sight. With each successive creak and crack, their </div> <div> movements became more urgent.</div> <bR> <div> "Did you get through to him?" Josh asked as he and Sam came back into </div> <div> the station.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," CJ answered, "The reception was bad so I couldn't </div> <div> tell if he actually heard me or not."</div> <bR> <div> "All we can do is keep trying," Josh said with more confidence than </div> <div> he really felt. "I'm sure everything will be ok."</div> <bR> <div> "Explain to me again what the rope is for," CJ said nervously.</div> <bR> <div> "It's for..well..in case the rest of the posts give out," Sam said, "We'll need to hang on to this so we don't get carried away by the current."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh," CJ said solemnly.</div> <bR> <div> They all fell silent, lost in their own thoughts, until they were </div> <div> startled back to reality by the ringing of Josh's cell phone.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna?" he said, pressing the phone to his ear.</div> <bR> <div> "No, Josh. Its Zoey," the voice on the other end answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Zoey? Is everything ok? Is Donna ok?" Josh demanded.</div> <bR> <div> Zoey took a deep breath. She knew that what she had to tell Josh </div> <div> wasn't going to make him very happy, but she had made Donna a promise and she intended to keep it.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna is on her way out to get you," Zoey said hurriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "She's what?!" Josh screamed.</div> <bR> <div> "She's on her way out to get you. One of the hotel employees has a </div> <div> boat and he's bringing her out."</div> <bR> <div> "How did this happen? Why didn't someone stop her?" Josh thundered.</div> <bR> <div> "We're talking about Donna here, Josh. Once she found out that there </div> <div> might be a way she could help, there was no stopping her."</div> <bR> <div> "I know how she can be. It's just that...it isn't safe for anyone to </div> <div> be out in this."</div> <bR> <div> The line began to crackle with static.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't hear you anymore," Zoey shouted over the noise. "I just </div> <div> wanted to let you know what's going on."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh shouted back, "I appreciate it. I'll talk to you soon."</div> <bR> <div> "Something wrong?" CJ asked as Josh slipped his phone back into his </div> <div> coat pocket.</div> <bR> <div> Before Josh could answer, there was a loud crack, the floor underneath them gave way, and he found himself suddenly plunged into the cold water.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stared out the window at the rain and lightning. All she could </div> <div> think about was the fact that Josh was trapped out there, along with Sam and CJ. She prayed that Zoey had managed to get a message through, and that Josh knew she was on her way there. She hoped that knowledge might give him, might give all of them, the strength to hold on a </div> <div> little longer.</div> <bR> <div> For the hundredth time since they left the hotel, Donna sent up a </div> <div> quick prayer of thanks that Zach drove what she laughingly referred to as a monster truck. It had a custom paint job and all sorts of fancy accessories, but most importantly it had a lift kit, and huge tires </div> <div> that enabled them to navigate through streets that were beginning to </div> <div> flood. The rain didn't seem to be letting up, and all Donna could think about were Josh, Sam and CJ stuck somewhere next to a levee that had given way. </div> <bR> <div> "Are we almost there?" she asked anxiously as Zach made his way down </div> <div> a maze of residential streets.</div> <bR> <div> "Almost," he answered, never taking his eyes off the road.</div> <bR> <div> Within a few minutes, they turned into the driveway of an attractive </div> <div> split-level home with a detached garage. </div> <bR> <div> "Wait here," Zach said as he jumped out of the truck and ran into the </div> <div> house. Donna fidgeted nervously, anxious to get going. She couldn't think of anything but getting to Josh, Sam and CJ and bringing them home safely.</div> <bR> <div> A few minutes later Zach reappeared with another man, slightly </div> <div> younger but with very similar features. The two of them ran quickly into the garage, and emerged a few minutes later carrying a small fishing boat on their shoulders. They lifted it carefully into the back </div> <div> of the truck, then a few seconds later, both of the truck's doors </div> <div> opened.</div> <bR> <div> Donna quickly slid to the middle of the seat as the two young men </div> <div> climbed in.</div> <bR> <div> "This is my brother Matt," Zach said.</div> <bR> <div> "Nice to meet you. I'm Donna," Donna said, extending her hand to the </div> <div> young man sitting beside her. "Are you coming along?"</div> <bR> <div> "No," Matt answered. "I'm just gonna go with you out to put the boat </div> <div> in the water, then I'm gonna take the truck back home."</div> <bR> <div> As they pulled out of the driveway, the brothers debated the best </div> <div> place to put the boat in the water in order to make it Connor's Bend as quickly as possible. Donna just hoped that, wherever they were going, they got there soon. </div> <bR> <div> "How long will it take to get there?" Donna asked nervously.</div> <bR> <div> "It depends," Zach answered. "We're gonna try to head upstream as far </div> <div> as possible before we put the boat in the water. That way we'll approach Connor's Bend from above and we won't have to fight the current all the way in."</div> <bR> <div> "That's good," Donna said, looking anxiously out the window at the </div> <div> storm.</div> <bR> <div> After close to an hour of navigating the water-covered roads, Zach </div> <div> finally pulled the truck into a parking lot. At least, Donna thought that it looked like a parking lot. It was hard to tell with 6 inches of water lying on top of it. At the end of the lot, Donna could see what looked like a boat slip, though again it was hard to tell.</div> <bR> <div> Zach saw Donna nervously eyeing the current in the river.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you wanna do this?" he asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive," Donna answered resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok then, let's go."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It took a few seconds after the initial shock of hitting the cold </div> <div> water for Josh to regain his senses. He pushed himself to the surface of the water and frantically began searching for Sam and CJ. He finally saw them, clinging to what was left of the collapsed observation </div> <div> post. He reached out and grabbed a hold of the remnants of the </div> <div> observation deck and pulled himself over to where they were.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you two ok?" he asked breathlessly.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," Sam answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I'm sure a man of your considerable sailing ability would </div> <div> probably spend plenty of time overboard," CJ teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Even under these circumstances, you choose to mock me?" Sam asked </div> <div> incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "I have to do something to take my mind off the fact that this water </div> <div> is damn cold," CJ smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "Well mock Josh then," Sam pouted.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry, there's plenty of mocking to go around," CJ assured him.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh goody," Josh said sarcastically, "In the meantime, I'm gonna get </div> <div> the rope and we're gonna find something to secure the other end to."</div> <bR> <div> "This post seems pretty solid," Sam said, indicating one of the posts </div> <div> that had been supporting the observation deck. The deck itself had given way under the onslaught of water, but the post seemed to still be standing strong.</div> <bR> <div> "OK, we'll use that then," Josh said as he set off towards the tree </div> <div> that they had attached the rope to earlier. He was glad that Greg had made them all put on life vests, and he was doubly glad that it was only a short swim to the rope. He didn't think he would have been able to make it much further in the cold water, fighting against the strong current.</div> <bR> <div> He retrieved the rope and then let the water carry him back to where </div> <div> Sam and CJ were still clinging to the rapidly deteriorating building. Between the rushing water, the rain, and all of the debris, it took nearly fifteen minutes to get the rope secured to the post. As soon as it was done though, they had something to hold on to to help them </div> <div> fight the current. Josh would much rather have been up higher, out of </div> <div> the water, but there was no way to accomplish that at this point. They just had to hope someone came along soon to rescue them.</div> <bR> <div> Thoughts of rescue snapped his mind back to Donna, and the fact that </div> <div> she was out somewhere in this storm in a boat trying to rescue him. 'Why couldn't she just stay at the hotel like I told her to?' Josh thought. But even in his own mind he knew that was a silly question. Donna wasn't the kind of woman who sat around and waited for things to happen; she was the kind of woman who made things happen. There was </div> <div> no way she would sit at the hotel and do nothing if she thought there was anyway she could help her friends.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh!" CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Josh said, turning his attention back to the situation at </div> <div> hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Where were you? You seemed like you were a million miles away," CJ </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <div> "Sorry, I was just thinking about something," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Or someone?" Sam teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Actually, I didn't get a chance to tell you," Josh said seriously, "Zoey told me that Donna talked some guy who works at the hotel into bringing her out here in his boat to try to get us."</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Sam and CJ asked in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "Apparently she got tired of waiting and decided to take matters into </div> <div> her own hands," Josh said. "One of the hotel employees owns a boat, so they're on their way out here."</div> <bR> <div> "In this weather?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Josh said as he looked at the sky worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> Before he could think about it anymore, there was a loud crack as a </div> <div> nearby tree splintered. They all turned and covered their heads as pieces of wood rained down around them. When they lifted their heads again, Josh and Sam both saw blood running from CJ's forehead.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God, are you ok?" Josh asked as he pulled himself along the </div> <div> rope to get closer to her.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," CJ answered, a bit stunned. She reached her hand up to </div> <div> touch her forehead, and it came back covered in blood.</div> <bR> <div> "It's bleeding pretty badly," Sam said, his voice laced with concern.</div> <bR> <div> "Gee thanks, Sam. That's encouraging," CJ scowled.</div> <bR> <div> "You know how head wounds are," Josh said, shooting Sam an </div> <div> admonishing look, "They always bleed a lot. I'm sure it looks worse than it really is."</div> <bR> <div> Josh reached up under his life vest and tugged until he managed to </div> <div> tear away a piece of his shirt, which he then pressed against CJ's head.</div> <bR> <div> "That should stop the bleeding," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," CJ answered, squinting against the wind and rain, "I just </div> <div> hope someone gets here soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna knelt in the front of the boat, desperately scanning the </div> <div> horizon for any sign of the observation station. The pounding rain made it difficult to see more than a few yards ahead. In her hands she held one of the boat's oars. It was normally used to navigate the boat short distances when the motor was turned off, but Donna was using it to try to push debris out of their path. Every scrap of wood and tree limb that floated by made Donna's panic more intense. She didn't know how anyone could survive in these conditions for long. She just prayed they got to Josh, CJ, and Sam in time. </div> <bR> <div> At the back of the boat, Zach was using the other oar to keep debris </div> <div> out of the propellers of the motor, all of the while trying desperately to spot any familiar landmarks.</div> <bR> <div> "Are we close?" Donna yelled against the howling wind.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," Zach shouted back. I recognize those trees over there </div> <div> from when my dad and I used to fish this part of the river. We should be about 5 miles upstream of the Connor's Bend levee."</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Donna said, returning to her task with renewed determination.</div> <bR> <div> Within seconds, a large piece of debris headed directly towards the </div> <div> boat. Donna reached out and shoved it aside with the oar, then let out a yelp of pain and grabbed her side.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you alright?" Zach shouted.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna grimaced.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't look fine," Zach observed.</div> <bR> <div> "I hit my ribs on a desk earlier. It's nothing," Donna said, trying </div> <div> to catch her breath.</div> <bR> <div> "I think maybe you better get them looked at," Zach said loudly.</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna promised, "As soon as we find my friends and get them </div> <div> back safely."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't take this much longer," CJ said, adjusting her grip on the </div> <div> rope.</div> <bR> <div> "Sure you can," Josh said with more confidence than he really </div> <div> felt. "You don't want me to have to call you a girly-girl, do you?"</div> <bR> <div> CJ laughed despite the pain in her head and the frigid water swirling </div> <div> around her body. "I wouldn't recommend that unless you want me to kick your ass."</div> <bR> <div> "That's the CJ we all know and love," Josh smiled back.</div> <bR> <div> "She has a point though," Sam said through chattering teeth, "This </div> <div> water is really cold."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh agreed, "But we just have to hang on for a little </div> <div> while longer. Someone is bound to be here soon."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you think Donna will make it all the way out here?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Josh said quietly. "I really wish she would have just </div> <div> stayed at the hotel. I hate the thought of her being out in all of this. It isn't safe. I just wish she would have listened to me."</div> <bR> <div> "First off," CJ said in as comforting a voice as she could </div> <div> manage, "when does Donna ever listen to you?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh laughed and nodded his head in agreement.</div> <bR> <div> "Secondly," she continued, "there is nothing Donna wouldn't do to </div> <div> save you, Josh. I'm not at all surprised she found someone with a boat. If she hadn't found anyone, she probably would have stolen one."</div> <bR> <div> "I really don't deserve her," Josh said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes you do," CJ said, "The two of you belong together. Although </div> <div> you've had more than your share of emergencies lately. You need to settle down to a nice boring life together."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think that'll ever happen," Sam said dryly. "The two of them </div> <div> seem to be magnets for excitement."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, well, if this is excitement," Josh said, "I could use a little </div> <div> less of it."</div> <bR> <div> "You and me both," CJ chuckled.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "The levee should be straight ahead," Zach said, as he turned the </div> <div> boat around to face the other direction.</div> <bR> <div> "What are you doing?" Donna screamed frantically. "Why are you </div> <div> turning around?"</div> <bR> <div> "We need to let the current carry us in backwards," Zach yelled </div> <div> back, "Otherwise we'll sail right past them."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh," Donna said sheepishly. She was no stranger to boats, having </div> <div> spent many afternoons fishing with her brothers. She should have known that they would need to use all of the power the small motor had to try to fight the current. She moved to the back of the boat and resumed scanning the horizon.</div> <bR> <div> Off in the distance, she saw a flash of yellow. She strained her eyes </div> <div> to try to make out what it was. Then it moved again.</div> <bR> <div> "I think I see them!" she screamed excitedly, pointing towards the </div> <div> horizon.</div> <bR> <div> "Where?" Zach asked.</div> <bR> <div> "There. Look. Do you see the yellow? Doesn't that look like a person </div> <div> to you?" Donna asked eagerly.</div> <bR> <div> "It's hard to say," Zach answered, focusing his eyes where Donna was </div> <div> pointing. "Lets go have a look."</div> <bR> <div> As the boat moved closer, Donna began to be able to make out three </div> <div> distinct life vests. She was convinced it was Josh, CJ, and Sam. She began screaming their names but it was useless. She couldn't be heard over the howling wind.</div> <bR> <div> When they were about 500 yards away, Josh spotted the boat.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, a boat!" he said, pointing excitedly behind them. "I told you </div> <div> someone would find us."</div> <bR> <div> The three of them began waving at the approaching boat, and finally </div> <div> they saw someone waving in return.</div> <bR> <div> Zach moved the boat towards them slowly, battling the currents and </div> <div> the debris. </div> <bR> <div> "Grab the mooring line," he said to Donna.</div> <bR> <div> Donna moved to the front of the boat and quickly grabbed the rope </div> <div> that was attached there.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you want me to do?" she asked as they continued to drift </div> <div> closer to Josh and the others.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna maneuver over near one of those trees," Zach said. "I need </div> <div> you to tie the rope around one to help keep us in place."</div> <bR> <div> "But we aren't there yet," Donna protested.</div> <bR> <div> "This is as close as we can get," Zach insisted, "Otherwise we chance </div> <div> having the current drag us right into them and having someone get sliced up by the propeller."</div> <bR> <div> Donna's face paled at the thought.</div> <bR> <div> "They'll have to swim to us," Zach said.</div> <bR> <div> As he moved close to several trees, Donna tossed the rope around one </div> <div> and began to tie a knot.</div> <bR> <div> "What if this isn't tight enough?" she said worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Use one of those clamps to help hold it," Zach shouted. "I'll be </div> <div> using the motor to help fight the current. We should be ok until we can get them to the boat."</div> <bR> <div> Once the boat was securely anchored in place, Donna moved as close to </div> <div> the back of the boat as she could and began shouting.</div> <bR> <div> "You're gonna have to swim over to us."</div> <bR> <div> Josh, Sam and CJ couldn't really make out the words but they knew </div> <div> what Donna was saying. They were going to have to swim against the current to make it to the boat.</div> <bR> <div> "OK," Josh said, "We'll do this one at a time. Sam, you go first. CJ </div> <div> will follow, and you'll be there to help her into the boat. I'll come last. Sound like a plan?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds good to me," CJ said, "Anything to get out of this freezing </div> <div> water."</div> <bR> <div> "OK, here we go," Sam said, letting go of the rope and starting to </div> <div> move towards the boat. They all watched as he fought hard against the current, making slow but sure progress. He would move forward a few yards only to lose almost as much ground to the current. Finally, </div> <div> after about 15 minutes of intense effort, he made it to the boat.</div> <bR> <div> Donna reached down, grabbed his hand, and pulled as hard as she could </div> <div> to try to get him into the boat. She cried out as a pain shot through her side.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing," Donna said, brushing him off as she signaled for CJ to </div> <div> start over.</div> <bR> <div> It was even slower going for CJ. Several times she was forced to duck </div> <div> out of the way on oncoming tree limbs and pieces of wood. Each time, she seemed to lose more ground than the time before. The pain in her head was getting worse and her entire body was shaking from the cold.</div> <bR> <div> When she was within a few feet of the boat, Donna held out the oar </div> <div> for her to grab onto, as Sam reached over the side of the boat and managed to get a hold of her collar, which he then used to help her into the boat.</div> <bR> <div> With the added weight of two more people in the boat, the rope around </div> <div> the tree began to let go. Donna looked at it with terror in her eyes, and then turned back towards Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Hurry!" she screamed. "The rope won't hold for much longer!" </div> <bR> <div> Josh couldn't make out her words but he could hear the panic in her </div> <div> voice. He let go of the rope and began swimming towards the boat as quickly as he possibly could. Every time he lifted his head to check out how close he was to the boat, he saw the scared look on Donna's face and it made him fight the current even harder. He just wanted to get in the boat and put his arms around her. Assure her that everything was ok.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked frantically from the rope, to Josh, and back to the </div> <div> rope. The friction of the boat pulling against the tree was causing the rope to fray at an alarming rate. If it let go, not only would Josh be stranded in the current, there was a good chance that he would be </div> <div> cut up by the boat's propeller.</div> <bR> <div> 'Please,' she silently prayed, 'Please let him get here in time.'</div> <bR> <div> "He's gonna make it," Sam assured her quietly. He wrapped his arms </div> <div> supportively around Donna's shoulders but she wouldn't look at him, she refused to take her eyes off Josh. She was silently sending him every bit of strength she had. Trying to will him into the boat before the rope broke.</div> <bR> <div> When Josh finally reached the side of the boat, Sam and Donna reached </div> <div> down and hauled him in. He stumbled over the side and right into Donna's waiting arms. She held his shivering body as close as possible, trying to warm him up. She placed a soft kiss against his forehead, and then a gentle one on his lips, which were starting to turn blue. </div> <bR> <div> Ten seconds later, the rope helping to hold the boat in place snapped.</div> <bR> <div> "We'd better get out of here," Zach said, quickly revving the boat's </div> <div> engine and heading off.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Donna whispered worriedly in Josh's ear.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," he assured her through chattering teeth, "But as soon as </div> <div> we get back on dry land you're going to explain to me why you didn't stay put at the hotel like I asked you to."</div> <bR> <div> With that, he wrapped his arms further around Donna and hugged her as </div> <div> tightly as possible. She tried to hide the wince of pain but Josh noticed it immediately.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" he asked, pulling back to look her in the eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "It's nothing. Really."</div> <bR> <div> "You let me decide that. Tell me what's wrong," Josh insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "I hit my ribs earlier when the tree came through the window at the </div> <div> school. I think I just bruised them, that's all."</div> <bR> <div> "Let me see," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh..." Donna started.</div> <bR> <div> "Now, Donnatella!"</div> <bR> <div> Josh, Sam, and CJ all gasped as Donna lifted her shirt to reveal a </div> <div> large purple bruise covering most of her left side.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sit down," Josh said softly but insistently.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, I'm fine," Donna said, trying to hide her labored breathing.</div> <bR> <div> "Please. Sit down," Josh repeated, not able to conceal the worry in </div> <div> his voice.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine. It's just a bruise," Donna said, reaching for the oar she </div> <div> had been using earlier. "Besides, I need to help Zach move the debris away from the front of the boat." </div> <bR> <div> "I'll do that," Sam volunteered, grabbing the oar from Donna's hand </div> <div> and stepping past CJ to the front of the boat.</div> <bR> <div> Donna glared at Sam, then turned and looked at back at Josh who was </div> <div> staring at her expectantly. Deciding to try another tactic to take his mind off of her injury, she reached out and placed her arms around his waist, snuggling against his chest.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm so glad you're safe. I was so worried," she said gently.</div> <bR> <div> Out of the corner of his eye, Josh caught CJ trying to stifle a laugh.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not gonna work, Donna. I still want you to sit down."</div> <bR> <div> Donna huffed, and then took a seat next to CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me what happened," Josh said, kneeling down in front of her.</div> <bR> <div> "I fell against the desk this morning at the school when the branch </div> <div> came through the window. I just bruised a rib, that's all."</div> <bR> <div> "I think it's more than that, Donna. You can hardly breathe."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine. I think it's just a combination of the wind and the </div> <div> exertion. Give me a few minutes to catch my breath and I'll be fine."</div> <bR> <div> "We're taking you to a hospital to have your ribs looked at," Josh </div> <div> said adamantly.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, I'm fine. I don't need to go to a hospital," Donna said, her </div> <div> voice right on the edge of whining, "Let's just go back to the hotel."</div> <bR> <div> "We need to go to the hospital anyway," Josh said, holding his </div> <div> ground. "CJ needs to have the cut on her head looked at."</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, how did I get dragged into this?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "You're both seeing a doctor, and that's that," Josh said, making it </div> <div> perfectly clear that he was not willing to compromise.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I've been told more than once that I needed to have my head </div> <div> examined," CJ chuckled, "I guess now is as good a time as any."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Fighting the current back up the river proved to be slow going, but </div> <div> Zach knew it was the only safe way out. If he tried to go with the flow of the water, they could very easily be swept away and end up crashed against the trees or tossed about with all of the other debris in the water. Going back the way they came was definitely the best route, but it was taking quite a bit longer than he had expected.</div> <bR> <div> Josh had grabbed a tree limb that was floating by and was helping Sam </div> <div> move debris out of the boat's path. Suddenly he heard a small yelp, and turned to see Donna grab her stomach and double over in pain.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna!" he said as he leapt immediately to her side, "What's wrong?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Donna said, fighting back tears. "All of the sudden, </div> <div> the pain just got a lot worse."</div> <bR> <div> Josh wrapped her in his arms and began rhythmically stroking her </div> <div> hair. "It's ok. You're gonna be ok," he cooed.</div> <bR> <div> Donna buried her head against his life jacket to muffle her sobs.</div> <bR> <div> "How much longer till we get back to town?" Josh shouted to Zach.</div> <bR> <div> "Shouldn't be long now," Zach shouted back. "No more than thirty </div> <div> minutes or so."</div> <bR> <div> Josh lowered his head to the crook of Donna's neck. "Hang on, </div> <div> Donnatella. We're almost there."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It was close to an hour before they could manage to reach a spot </div> <div> where they could safely get the boat out of the river and get themselves back on dry land. By the time they did, everyone was soaked to the skin, and freezing. The pain in CJ's head was intensifying, and everyone on board the small boat was suffering the effects of the </div> <div> cold water and brisk winds. It was Donna, however, whose condition was deteriorating most rapidly.</div> <bR> <div> She was having more and more trouble breathing as time went by, and </div> <div> her lips were beginning to take on a slightly blue-ish cast. As Josh held her against his chest, trying to shield her from the wind and rain, he could feel her heart racing.</div> <bR> <div> "We need to get to a hospital," Josh said, turning towards </div> <div> Zach, "Where is the closest one?"</div> <bR> <div> "About four blocks that way," Zach answered, pointing up the hill </div> <div> directly in front of them. "My girlfriend Katie is a nurse's aide there."</div> <bR> <div> "Can you make it?" Josh asked Donna worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> Donna nodded her head resolutely, and the group set out in the </div> <div> direction of the hospital. Halfway there, CJ swayed dizzily.</div> <bR> <div> "I've got ya," Sam said as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "It's </div> <div> not much further now."</div> <bR> <div> "It's just this damn headache," CJ winced.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, maybe you're not as hard-headed as I've always thought you </div> <div> were," Sam joked.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, I see, you wait until I'm in a weakened condition, and then you </div> <div> mock," CJ said incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "You know what they say about payback," Sam smiled, as he tightened </div> <div> his arm around her waist and continued to help her up the hill.</div> <bR> <div> About a block from the hospital, Donna's knees buckled. The weather </div> <div> and the exertion simply became too much.</div> <bR> <div> "Hold on," Josh pleaded as he swept her into his arms and began </div> <div> heading towards the ER as quickly as possible. Within minutes, they made it to the entrance, and were greeted by the sight of an overflowing waiting room. Josh searched frantically for a doctor.</div> <bR> <div> The nurse handling triage had seen them coming and approached Josh, </div> <div> followed by two orderlies pushing a gurney. Josh laid Donna down gently, but kept a firm grip on her hand. Another orderly approached quickly pushing a wheelchair, which he carefully helped ease CJ into.</div> <bR> <div> "We need to see a doctor right away," Josh said frantically.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," the nurse said in a soothing voice, "We are on full </div> <div> alert. We have all of our personnel here. We'll get a doctor for both of your friends right away."</div> <bR> <div> As if to prove her right, a doctor appeared immediately. He </div> <div> introduced himself as Dr. Burke. He instructed the orderlies to take CJ to Room 3, and to page Dr. Watkins to take a look at her. He then turned his attention to Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "What seems to be the problem, young lady?" he asked, keeping his </div> <div> tone as light as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "I think I bruised my ribs," Donna managed to get out between gasps </div> <div> for breath.</div> <bR> <div> "She was just released from the hospital a few weeks ago," Josh </div> <div> jumped in, "She had massive internal injuries in her chest and stomach. She banged her ribs on a desk earlier, but her breathing has been getting more labored for the last hour, and her heart started </div> <div> racing about 30 minutes ago."</div> <bR> <div> The doctor lifted up the side of Donna's shirt. A look of concern </div> <div> creased his brow when he saw the large bruise. He pulled out his stethoscope and told Donna to remain as quiet as possible. After listening to her chest for a minute, he looked back at Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "What hospital was she treated at?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Johns Hopkins in Baltimore," Josh answered, brushing the hair out of </div> <div> Donna's face.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you remember her doctor's name?"</div> <bR> <div> "Dr. Alcott."</div> <bR> <div> "OK. Let's call them and have them fax over her medical charts right </div> <div> away," Dr. Burke said.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll take care of that, " the nurse who had initially approached </div> <div> Josh said as she headed off towards a phone.</div> <bR> <div> Josh watched worriedly as another nurse placed a hospital bracelet </div> <div> around Donna's wrist.</div> <bR> <div> "Patient's name?" she said, looking at Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Donnatella Moss," Josh answered, never breaking eye contact with </div> <div> Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "Let's get her back to Exam Room 1," the doctor ordered. "I want a </div> <div> chest x-ray and arterial blood gases, STAT."</div> <bR> <div> Josh watched helplessly as they wheeled Donna away.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll let you know as soon as we have more information," Dr. Burke </div> <div> said as he followed the gurney towards the exam room.</div> <bR> <div> As Josh looked up he saw Zach approaching them with his arm around a </div> <div> young nurse's aide.</div> <bR> <div> "This is my girlfriend, Katie," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Nice to meet you," Josh said. "We owe your boyfriend a huge debt of </div> <div> gratitude."</div> <bR> <div> "We certainly do," Sam agreed.</div> <bR> <div> Katie beamed at Zach, then turned back to Josh and Sam. "Would you </div> <div> like me to get you some scrubs so you can get out of those wet clothes?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, that'd be great," Sam said appreciatively, as Josh turned once </div> <div> again to stare off in the direction that Donna had been taken.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 15 minutes later, Josh and Sam were seated in the ER waiting room. </div> <div> Their hair was still wet and they were still quite chilled, but at least they were now dressed in dry clothing.</div> <bR> <div> "She'll be fine," Sam said reassuringly, "They both will."</div> <bR> <div> "She never should have been out on that boat," Josh said, "It's all </div> <div> my fault."</div> <bR> <div> "Well..yeah...sure," Sam said, "Being as you knew that the levee was </div> <div> gonna collapse, and we were gonna be thrown into the icy river."</div> <bR> <div> Josh glared at Sam. "You know what I mean. She should have stayed at </div> <div> the hotel and..."</div> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," Sam interrupted. "None of us knew what was gonna </div> <div> happen out there today or we wouldn't have gone. But once the worst did occur, there was no way you would have been able to keep Donna from coming out after you. Just like, if the circumstances had been reversed, nothing would have kept you from going out after her. It's called being in love."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh sighed. "And I need a chance to tell her that."</div> <bR> <div> "You'll get it," Sam assured him. "She's gonna be fine. But so help </div> <div> me..if you don't tell her exactly how you feel, and I mean right away, I'm gonna take matters into my own hands."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll tell her, Sam. I promise. But she has to be ok so I get a </div> <div> chance."</div> <bR> <div> Twenty minutes later,  Dr. Watkins approached Sam and Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you gentlemen here with Ms. Cregg?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, how is she?" Sam asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "She'll be fine. I put five stitches in the cut on her forehead. She </div> <div> appears to have a mid-grade concussion. We're gonna keep her overnight for observation, but if all goes well, we'll release her in the morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Can we see her?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "In a little while," Dr Watkins answered, "I'll send a nurse down to </div> <div> get you as soon as we have her settled in a room."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Sam said.</div> <bR> <div> "My pleasure," the doctor answered with a smile before turning and </div> <div> heading off to see his next patient.</div> <bR> <div> "Now let's just hope the news about Donna is as good," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> An hour later, Sam returned from calling Leo to fill him in and </div> <div> stopping off for a quick visit with CJ to find Josh pacing the floor in the waiting room.</div> <bR> <div> "How's CJ?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Pretty good. She's a little tired. They gave her some medication to </div> <div> help her sleep. She wants us to let her know as soon as there's any information on Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "I just wish I knew when we were gonna hear something," Josh said </div> <div> agitatedly.</div> <bR> <div> Ten minutes later, Dr. Burke entered the waiting room.</div> <bR> <div> "How is she?" Josh asked, pouncing immediately.</div> <bR> <div> "Your friend is going to be fine," the doctor said reassuringly, as </div> <div> he led Josh over to one of the plastic waiting room chairs, and took the seat opposite him. "She suffered a traumatic pneumothorax, which is essentially a collapsed lung."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Josh gasped.</div> <bR> <div> "Calm down. That isn't as bad as it sounds. According to the doctors </div> <div> at Johns Hopkins, she suffered a similar injury in the initial accident. Once you've suffered a pneumothorax, you are far more susceptible to it happening again. About 50 % of patients suffer a </div> <div> recurrence."</div> <bR> <div> "Will she need surgery," Josh asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think so. We're cautiously optimistic. We need to remove the </div> <div> air from the pleural spaces in her chest so that her lung can re-inflate. Many times, given the right circumstances, the body will heal itself. We think that there is an excellent chance we can manage Donna's condition with rest and medication. We'll keep her here overnight for observation, but I'm optimistic we won't need to insert a chest tube."</div> <bR> <div> "Can I see her?" Josh pleaded.</div> <bR> <div> "We're moving her to a room right now," Dr. Burke said, "In fact, </div> <div> we're a bit short on bed space due to the flood, so we're gonna put her in the room with Ms. Cregg. You can head on up there. She'll be up very shortly."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Dr. Burke. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this," </div> <div> Josh said happily.</div> <bR> <div> "My pleasure," Dr. Burke smiled.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Twenty minutes later, Sam was sitting placidly beside CJ's bed while </div> <div> Josh fidgeted nervously, looking at the door every few seconds.</div> <bR> <div> "Just relax, Josh. She'll be here soon," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh is nervous because he has something he has to tell Donna," Sam </div> <div> teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh really?" CJ said, raising an eyebrow.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep," Sam continued, "Because if he doesn't, I will."</div> <bR> <div> "Back off, Sam. I'm not gonna jump down her throat and tell her I </div> <div> love her as soon as she comes through the door."</div> <bR> <div> "There's no time like the present. Time's a wastin'. Tick tock," Sam </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <div> CJ chuckled out loud as Josh glared. "I think this is payback for the </div> <div> mocking," she said.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't mock him, you did!" Josh insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "But you didn't defend me, and now you must suffer the same fate as </div> <div> the mocker," Sam </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <div> Josh was about to protest when the door swung open and an orderly </div> <div> pushed Donna into </div> <div> the room in a wheelchair.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey there," Josh said, moving immediately to her side, "How are you </div> <div> feeling?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna said, grasping his hand and managing a small </div> <div> smile. "Just a little sore, that's all."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, the doctor said you'll be up and around in no time."</div> <bR> <div> "I hope so," Donna said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> "Tick tock," Sam said in a singsong voice.</div> <bR> <div> "What did you say, Sam?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Just ignore him," Josh said dismissively, while Sam smiled like a </div> <div> Cheshire cat.</div> <bR> <div> Donna had the feeling she was missing something, but decided to let </div> <div> it pass for now. She'd make Josh tell her all about it later. Instead, she turned her attention to CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you feeling, CJ? she asked, as she climbed out of the wheelchair and into the hospital bed, grimacing only slightly from the pain.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," CJ answered. "My headache is almost gone. In fact, the </div> <div> doctor said it was ok for me to walk around a little. Sam, let's you and I go and get a cup of coffee."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure you should be having coffee," Sam admonished. "What did </div> <div> your doctor say?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sam," CJ said, trying to convey a message with her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm just saying. I'm not sure whether caffeine is good for </div> <div> concussion patients."</div> <bR> <div> "SAM!" CJ hissed. "I was just trying to give Josh and Donna a little </div> <div> time alone. Now help me out of this bed and let's go get some coffee."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh," Sam said apologetically, "Right. Coffee. That sounds good. I </div> <div> could really use a cup."</div> <bR> <div> Josh shook his head and laughed as he sat down on the side of Donna's </div> <div> bed.</div> <bR> <div> "Sam can be a little dense sometimes," he laughed.</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe his brain is still thawing out from the cold water," Donna </div> <div> joked back.</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe," Josh said, then his face suddenly turned very serious.</div> <bR> <div> "Is everything ok?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I was just so worried about you. That's all."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna said, taking Josh's hand and placing a kiss on his </div> <div> palm.</div> <bR> <div> "I know but if..." Josh said sadly.</div> <bR> <div> "Shhhhh. Let's not play the what if game," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry. It's just that I was afraid I might never get a chance to </div> <div> tell you..." Josh started hesitantly.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me what?" Donna urged.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell you how much I love you," Josh said, searching Donna's eyes for </div> <div> a reaction. He wasn't sure she was ready to hear his declaration yet, but there was no way he could go another minute without saying it.</div> <bR> <div> Donna's heart melted when she saw the insecurity in his eyes. Her </div> <div> love was the last thing she ever wanted him to be unsure about. </div> <bR> <div> "I love you too, Joshua," she said, "I have for a long time. Don't </div> <div> ever doubt that."</div> <bR> <div> When Josh looked in to Donna's eyes, the depth of emotion he saw </div> <div> there blew him away. He knew without a doubt that she shared his feelings completely.</div> <bR> <div> "Thank heavens you didn't have to hear it from Sam," Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Donna asked confusedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Never mind," Josh sighed as he took Donna tenderly in his arms, </div> <div> careful not to hurt her sore ribs, and placed a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. A kiss that was full of promise for the future. </div> <bR> <div> THE END</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>