Even Steel Magnolias Cry

<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> Post-ep for The Benign Prerogative</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CCFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Smiles, Tears, & Happy Endings</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </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>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding Our Way Back"><U>Finding Our Way Back</U></A>   |   <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>   |   <B>Even Steel Magnolias Cry</B></div> <div> Even Steel Magnolias Cry</div> <div> by Shelley</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Joshua, you look deep in thought. What's on your mind?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked up and saw Abbey Bartlet standing in front of him.</div> <bR> <div> "Good evening, Ma'am. I was just thinking about what a great job your </div> <div> husband did tonight."</div> <bR> <div> "He's back on his game, isn't he?"</div> <bR> <div> "He definitely is. This speech will give us plenty of momentum to </div> <div> start moving forward with our agenda."</div> <bR> <div> "It's about time, don't you think," Abbey asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, Ma'am. I do."</div> <bR> <div> "I know everyone has been a little off-kilter lately, myself </div> <div> included. But this is a new year and it's time to put all that behind </div> <div> us."</div> <bR> <div> "I couldn't agree more."</div> <bR> <div> The look in Abbey's eyes was letting Josh know she intended to be </div> <div> more involved in the administration's policies than she had been in a </div> <div> while. Even though he sometimes complained about her interference, </div> <div> Josh admired Abbey Bartlet and welcomed her input. He knew she could </div> <div> inspire the President like no one else, not to mention how she could </div> <div> keep them all on their toes.</div> <bR> <div> "Where's Donna?" Abbey asked, looking around, "Still taking care of </div> <div> the special guests?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, she went home. She had a tough day."</div> <bR> <div> "I heard about Donovan Morrisey. It was a real tragedy."</div> <bR> <div> "Donna met with Mrs. Kahler. She made a connection. She understood </div> <div> why he was being left off the list from a political standpoint, but </div> <div> still...well she did everything she could to keep him on."</div> <bR> <div> "She's not the same girl that joined the campaign in Nashua," Abbey </div> <div> smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "No, she certainly isn't."</div> <bR> <div> "She's a real asset to this administration."</div> <bR> <div> "She's quite valuable," Josh agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "And you're sure she wanted to be alone," Abbey asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure. I offered to drive her home. I offered to take a walk </div> <div> around the monuments. I offered to take her out for a drink, or </div> <div> dinner. I'm just not sure I was offering the right things."</div> <bR> <div> "She just needs some time alone to sort this out," Abbey assured him.</div> <bR> <div> "I understand that. I really do. It's just that...I want to do the </div> <div> right thing here. If she really wants to be alone, I don't want to </div> <div> push. But if she wants me to be there, and just doesn't know how to </div> <div> ask, I want to be there. I don't want to mess this up."</div> <bR> <div> Abbey could see the sincerity in Josh's eyes along with the confusion </div> <div> and anxiety.</div> <bR> <div> "Just listen with your heart, Josh. If you do that, it's impossible </div> <div> to mess it up."</div> <bR> <div> "Even for me?" Josh said wryly.</div> <bR> <div> "She'll come to you when she's ready."</div> <bR> <div> "Ya think?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "I know she will. Believe me, I know what it is to feel helpless when </div> <div> you see someone you care about in pain. Just trust her to know what </div> <div> she needs, and be there for her when she lets you now that what she </div> <div> needs is you."</div> <bR> <div> "I can do that," Josh said resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> Abbey could tell he had gotten the message.</div> <bR> <div> "I have some mingling to do. Enjoy the rest of your night."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Josh smiled as she walked away.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked up from what she was measuring and frowned as she heard </div> <div> someone knocking on her apartment door. She wondered who in the world </div> <div> would be visiting her tonight. Most everyone she knew was still at </div> <div> the White House, celebrating how well the President's speech had gone </div> <div> and looking at poll results to gauge the public's reaction.</div> <bR> <div> Maybe it was Josh. She had felt a little bad about the hurt look on </div> <div> his face earlier, when she had insisted on being alone, but she </div> <div> needed some time to get her emotions under control. </div> <bR> <div> As she pulled open the door, she was shocked to see Abbey Bartlet </div> <div> standing there with two Secret Service agents.</div> <bR> <div> "Hello, Dr. Bartlet," Donna stammered as she instinctively </div> <div> straightened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair. "Is </div> <div> something wrong?"</div> <bR> <div> "What could be wrong?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure. I just never expected...I mean you've never been...I </div> <div> mean my apartment..."</div> <bR> <div> "Speaking of which, may I come in?"</div> <bR> <div> "Oh of course, Ma'am," Donna said as she stepped aside. "I'm so </div> <div> sorry. I mean...of course you don't want to stand in the hall..."</div> <bR> <div> "Relax, Donna," Abbey said as she entered the apartment followed by </div> <div> her detail. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."</div> <bR> <div> "Of course, Ma'am." Donna couldn't keep the confused look off her </div> <div> face.</div> <bR> <div> "Is there anyone else in the apartment?" one of the agents asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, I'm here alone," Donna said as the other agent headed down the </div> <div> hallway, looking around. Her eyes darted around the apartment, </div> <div> wondering if it was clean enough for the First Lady of the United </div> <div> States. </div> <bR> <div> Her mail was scattered on the coffee table. There was a load of </div> <div> laundry on the couch waiting to be folded. She was thankful, at </div> <div> least, that she had chosen to dust as a way to get her frustrations </div> <div> out as soon as she had arrived home.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry about the mess..." Donna began.</div> <bR> <div> "Nonsense. It looks fine," Abbey said reassuringly. "I'm amazed you </div> <div> have any time at all to keep things up with as many hours as you </div> <div> work."</div> <bR> <div> "Are there any other doors to the outside?" one of the agents asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, just this one," Donna said as she indicated the door they had </div> <div> come through.</div> <bR> <div> "It's nothing personal," Abbey assured her. "They're just a little </div> <div> nervous because they didn't get a chance to check things out ahead of </div> <div> time."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand."</div> <bR> <div> "We could probably speed things along if we just let Dave here stay </div> <div> inside the apartment with us. Is that alright with you?"</div> <bR> <div> "Absolutely, Ma'am."</div> <bR> <div> "Good. Dave, you can stay here. Rick can guard the door. And we'll be </div> <div> all set."</div> <bR> <div> "That'll be fine, Ma'am," the two agents agreed. Dave took up a post </div> <div> in the living room as Rick stepped out and closed the door behind him.</div> <bR> <div> Donna helped Abbey off with her coat and hung it in the closet. She </div> <div> looked at the agent in the living room but he declined to give his up.</div> <bR> <div> "Can I get you something, Ma'am? Something to drink or..."</div> <bR> <div> "Please, Donna, start by calling me Abbey."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok...Abbey," Donna smiled.</div> <bR> <div> The First Lady looked towards the kitchen and saw a roll of shelf </div> <div> paper stretched out along the counter.</div> <bR> <div> "Relining your cabinets?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna blushed, "I was just trying to..."</div> <bR> <div> "No need to explain," Abbey said. "I tend to polish the silverware </div> <div> when I've got something on my mind."</div> <bR> <div> "It's been a long day," Donna sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "I heard about Donovan Morrisey. I'm very sorry."</div> <bR> <div> "It's silly. I know. I never even met him and hadn't even heard his </div> <div> name before a few days ago."</div> <bR> <div> "You feel for people, Donna. You work in an environment where almost </div> <div> everyone thinks in political terms, but you think in human terms. And </div> <div> even though that causes pain sometimes, I hope you never give it up."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll try not to," Donna promised, thinking back to earlier in the </div> <div> night when Josh had told her he hoped she didn't start keeping things </div> <div> at arm's length. </div> <bR> <div> "I've learned a lot in the last year. Through all of the ups and </div> <div> downs, especially Zoey's kidnapping. There is nothing more important </div> <div> than staying connected with the people we care about."</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at the First Lady, unable to speak around the lump in </div> <div> her throat.</div> <bR> <div> "I care about everyone who works in the West Wing," Abbey continued, </div> <div> placing her hand gently on Donna's arm. "But you're more special to </div> <div> me than most. You remind me of myself when I was younger."</div> <bR> <div> "I wouldn't say that. At my age you were in medical school, with a </div> <div> husband and children."</div> <bR> <div> "I mean in here," Abbey said as she removed her hand from Donna's arm </div> <div> and placed it over her heart. "I knew it the night of my birthday </div> <div> party."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you...Ma'...Abbey I appreciate you coming all the way over </div> <div> here to talk to me."</div> <bR> <div> "You're very welcome. And I meant every word," Abbey said. She knew </div> <div> she couldn't stay long, so Abbey decided to get to the point of her </div> <div> visit.</div> <bR> <div> "I talked to Josh earlier?"</div> <bR> <div> "Did you?" Donna asked nervously, wondering where the conversation </div> <div> was headed.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, I did. He's worried about you."</div> <bR> <div> "There's nothing for him to worry about. I'll be fine."</div> <bR> <div> "But he doesn't know that. All he knows is that you're upset and he </div> <div> wants to help."</div> <bR> <div> "That's very sweet, but I really just want to be alone."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" </div> <bR> <div> Abbey Bartlet had a talent for seeing through people's facades.</div> <bR> <div> "I just don't want...well...I'm still trying to get hold of my </div> <div> feelings about what happened. And there's a good chance that, before </div> <div> this night is over, I might shed a few tears. Whenever I cry around </div> <div> Josh, he tries to fix things. But no one can fix what happened </div> <div> tonight. So maybe I just want to cry. You know what I mean?"</div> <bR> <div> "I know exactly what you mean. I also know how to get around it. You </div> <div> can have all the comfort of being around someone you want to be </div> <div> around and none of the 'He Man Fix-It' routine."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?"</div> <bR> <div> "Absolutely. 'Beaches', 'Terms of Endearment' and 'Steel Magnolias'. </div> <div> It's the Cry Me A River Marathon. He'll just think you're crying at </div> <div> the movies."</div> <bR> <div> "Really? You think he'd fall for that?"</div> <bR> <div> "He's a man, Donna. A smart man...but still a man."</div> <bR> <div> Donna laughed. Her first genuine laugh in days.</div> <bR> <div> "And with that," Abbey said, "I need to get back. Jed will be </div> <div> wondering where I am."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks for coming by. Thanks for the help...and the advice," Donna </div> <div> said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> "My pleasure."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> An hour later there was another knock on the door. This time Donna </div> <div> smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey," she said as she opened the door to a smiling Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey yourself," he replied. </div> <bR> <div> He put the bags on floor, took off his coat and hung it in the closet.</div> <bR> <div> Donna began rifling through the bags. "Did you get everything?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, I did. And I hope you appreciate it. I couldn't find an open </div> <div> video store so I finally had to bribe the clerk at the grocery store. </div> <div> It cost me twenty dollars to get him to open up the video section so </div> <div> I could get the movies you wanted."</div> <bR> <div> "You're a prince," Donna said, with only a small touch of sarcasm.</div> <bR> <div> "I got the ice cream and the Doritos..."</div> <bR> <div> "Not the green Doritos, right? I hate those."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm well aware of your Doritos preferences."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "I also grabbed a six-pack. And I called about ten minutes ago and </div> <div> ordered the pizza," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks."</div> <bR> <div> "It was nothing. Well, not nothing. I had to go to three different </div> <div> stores..."</div> <bR> <div> "I meant thanks...for coming over...for wanting to."</div> <bR> <div> "You're very welcome, Donna. I wouldn't be anywhere else."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Two hours later they were sitting on the couch, shoulder to shoulder, </div> <div> watching 'Steel Magnolias' as tears ran slowly down Donna's cheeks.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you okay?" Josh asked softly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna hesitated. "This movie always makes me cry."</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at her closely. It was pretty clear he only half believed </div> <div> it was the movie that was causing the tears. Or at least that it was </div> <div> only the movie. </div> <bR> <div> He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. She laid her </div> <div> head on his shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm here if you want to talk...you know...about the movie."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna said as she snuggled closer. "I know."</div> <bR> <div> The End </div> <div>   </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>