Title: Noticing in Grief
Author: Published as Finn AUS
Rating: G
Spoiler Info: Loosely related to events that may take place during/after Election Day Pt 2
Disclaimer: WB, NBC, Aaron Sorkin are the masterminds, John Wells is the minor-mind who had the good fortune to co-produce. I have no money, and even less with the US conversion rate so really not worth it.
Archiving permission: Awesome, please let me know so I can go look!
Summary: As grief sweeps through the campaign and the White House, more people begin to notice Josh and Donna's new relationship.
Author Note 1: After the lovely feedback from the first Noticing and many people wanting to see how other West Wingers would find out, this came to me after seeing the preview for Election Day Pt 2.
A/N 2: Thanks and love to Caz, the beta of all beta’s who is always constructive, always helpful and always supportive.
Feedback: Would love it, really and truly.
Leo noticed – but only because he literally walked in on it. He’d managed to free himself from the stranglehold that Annabeth had on his day, with plans to rest for twenty minutes. The corridors of the hotel were crowded and as he headed to his hotel room, a large part of him was glad this was finally over. He decided to take the stairs - it was only one flight after all and he’d been feeling great all day. Sleep deprived, but hell, kids twenty years younger than him were falling over at the finish line.
They’d sprung apart like teenagers and although he’d actually seen nothing at all, their body language and guilt ridden faces told him everything.
‘Well, it’s about damn time,’ Leo smiled and then marched straight past Donna and Josh. He’d made it to the first flight and then turned back to Josh, who was smiling at him.
‘You did good kid, you did good.’ Leo looked at him tenderly, nodding his head almost imperceptibly. Josh could only beam at him in return, words between them unnecessary. As Leo headed up the next flight of stairs, he reminded himself to call Jed Bartlet – that man owed him 50 bucks.
Helen noticed – but only because she recognized the self sacrificing grief Donna was going through. It was etched across her face – her normally pale complexion turned ashen as she kept back unshed tears. It was sheer determination to hold it together, to stand straighter, to speak clearer and be more resolute than anyone else. Helen knew, absolutely knew it was not an effort to appear professional. It was to be the pillar of strength he needed, the shoulder on which he could lean. She was the one person who could on some level fathom the world of pain Josh was in. They all sat in silence, the eerily white hospital walls reflecting back at them, and as she briefly caught Donna’s eye, Helen understood that Donna was there for Josh, completely.
Matt noticed – but only because he’d coincidentally headed to the same location as Josh. For some unknown reason, it seemed to beckon to him and he realized he needed to say a private farewell. He stood in the empty living room of Leo’s suite and listened to the initially hushed voices coming from the bedroom. He hadn’t meant to stay, to intrude on this private moment between them, but he couldn’t move. Their voices rose with passion and pain and then Josh’s cracked - and Matt knew he was broken. It was then he slowly eased away, the agony of not only losing Leo but losing some part of Josh now resting heavily in his heart.
CJ noticed – but only because she was glancing to the side to discreetly wipe a tear from her cheek. It was moments before Josh, the President and others would carry Leo from the church and he stood across the aisle from her, with a number of Santos’ staffers. She’d barely had time to speak to him or Donna over the past few days. The White House was sombre and she doubted that laughter would return before President Bartlet walked out of the building for the last time. Still - she saw it. Donna had slipped her hand into Josh’s during the service and to any outsider it would seem inconsequential, yet CJ knew. Their fingers were intertwined, an equal show of support - and as the congregation sat down, she watched Josh squeeze Donna’s hand and offer it back to her. The look they shared spoke volumes in the surrounding silence. It spoke of offered relief, of love, of assurance and a shared decision to always be there to hold a hand in support.
Abbey noticed – but only because she was almost as worried about Josh as she was about Jed. These two men who had formed the friend and son circle around Leo were now exposed and open. Abbey knew she could be there for Jed but her fear for Josh had been building for days. He’d been away from the White House for a long time now, but the rumors about his edginess had made their way back to her. She’d been worried that this event would send him spiraling out of control - until she noticed. They had gone back to the residence after the ceremony, and were talking quietly amongst themselves when Abbey saw Donna whisper tenderly into Josh’s ear and watched as he gazed back at her. They looked at each other for a long moment, until they were interrupted by a slender young woman with short dark hair. Abbey knew then that while Josh wouldn’t come through emotionally unscathed, he would at least be looked after, cared for, loved.
Danny noticed – but only because he’d swung by the press room as the paper’s photographer was excitedly waiting for him, telling him there was a photo he needed to see. The photo was taken from a batch featuring the guests departing the funeral earlier. It was a simple moment of grief, of intense privacy between two people who were clearly in love. They stood removed from the group, Josh obviously needing to catch his breath. He was leaning gently into her embrace; she was wiping tears away from his cheeks. Their bodies were pressed to each other, as if physical contact could provide a deeper well of strength. The next image was heartbreakingly beautiful. A kiss – to provide solace, a home for him to return to should the grief threaten to overwhelm him.
‘Hey Danny! You gotta see this,’ the photographer enthused, pointing to the screen.
‘Delete it.’ Danny’s voice was clear and low.
‘What?’
‘Delete it,’ he repeated.
‘Look, I know you and he go way back Danny, but you can’t order me around. This is news, two high profile Santos’ employees are messing around. This could be a huge story,’
‘Delete the photos. Forget you took them. If I ever see them printed anywhere -anywhere at all - I will have you fired.’
Jed noticed – but only because he’d left the wake to walk the halls and found them sitting in Will’s office. They sat on the couch, Donna’s head resting on Josh’s shoulder, his hand gently stroking the hair across her forehead. They were completely comfortable in each other’s presence - they weren’t speaking but they didn’t need to, their body language spoke volumes. Jed strolled into the office.
‘Mr. President,’ they both rose immediately.
‘Please … please sit down,’ he waved them back to the couch while he leaned against Will’s desk. He said nothing for a moment, just stared at the carpet. Suddenly he reached into his pocket and removed a crisp 50 dollar bill.
‘I owe Leo this, Josh and I think you should take it on his behalf,’ he passed the bill towards him. Josh accepted the money, confused.
‘Thank you sir, but I’m not sure I understand.’
‘He and I had a bet … about … the two of you. He said you’d figure it out before the Election and I said afterwards.’ Jed smiled at the memory. ‘He called me, that day, boasting about how his boy had just snuck in under the wire.’ Donna raised her eyebrows and squeezed Josh’s hand.
‘Josh, you know…he…we’re…’ the President couldn’t say it.
‘I know sir,’ Josh whispered.
Josh noticed – but only because he’d been noticing for nine years. It was here in the lobby as they left the wake, heading home shadowed by life-changing grief that she turned to him, her blue eyes glistening with tears.
‘This hole you’re in… the walls are steep. But hey, I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.’
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