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Title: Healing
----------- She had fallen asleep before the movie had ended, and slept now peacefully on the other end of his couch. The pale moonlight coming from the window made her hair glow like a silver platinum. She changed her position and snuggled deeper against the soft cushions. On the table in front, were two empty bottles of beer and an almost empty bowl of popcorn. He lifted his bottle to his lips and took a sip. His eyes fell on his now re-bandaged wound and he leaned back on his couch, staring at his hand. She had taken him to the hospital and then driven him back on his apartment. And he had asked her to come in, to stay with him, knowing that her closeness was the only thing he would ever need. They had sat in silence, watching old black and white movie. From time to time, she had glanced at him and they had shared a soft smile, the smile that told everything was going to be fine now. He turned his head to look at her, and reached to brush a lock of hair away from her face. His life was different now. Shots had been fired at them, and he had been hit. In seconds their lives had changed and fear had filled their minds. But he had survived, with his friends help, with her help, and he had returned back to work, and took back what he had missed while being in recovery. And now, months later, the nightmares had came back. The sound of sirens hadnīt left him alone, and he had lost it. He leaned closer to her, brushing her forehead with his lips. "I love you." His whisper was barely audible and he placed another kiss above her eyes, pressing his cheek softly against her nose. "I love you so much." He said and then pulled back. With a gentle hand, he touched her face, and let his palm to cup her cheek tenderly. She leaned against his touch, unconsciously, still asleep. The same commercials were repeated on TV one after another and he closed his eyes from the flashing information. Sleep didnīt come, and he didnīt except it. So many nights he had stayed awake, staring into nothingness. A quiet knock from the door made him turn his head toward it and open his eyes. He stood up and walked to the door, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Merry Christmas." CJ smiled almost unsurely. "Itīs three in the morning." Josh replied and moved aside to allow her to step in. "I couldnīt sleep." She said softly and took off her hat and gloves. "Itīs almost Christmas anyway." He nodded and helped her with her heavy winter coat. They walked into the kitchen and she leaned against the counter, watching as he opened the fridge and pulled out two beers. "Donnaīs sleeping?" She asked, taking the offered beer. "Yeah." He nodded, leaning against the fridge. "Fell asleep in the middle of Itīs A Wonderful Life." He chuckled quietly. "Itīs a good movie." CJ smiled softly. "Itīs okay, I guess." He lifted his eyes from the bottle and saw the worry in her face. "Iīm fine." He straightened up and took a step closer to her. "I know." She said whispering. "Look CJ..." He started after the moment of silence. "Why didnīt you tell us?" She asked suddenly, her voice almost too quiet for him to hear. "I..." "Why didnīt you tell us?" She asked again. "You scared us." "I donīt... I... I thought I could handle it." "You scared us." The look on her face was hurt. "You scared her." "Who? Donna?" "You should have told." "But I didnīt." He snapped and then lowered his head regretting the tone of his voice he had used. "I thought I could handle it by myself." She stared at him, holding back tears she was afraid would fall down on her cheeks. "Youīre okay now?" She asked whispering. "I will be." He lifted his eyes to meet hers. "I need help, but Iīll be fine." She nodded and a quiet sob escaped from her lips, and with two steps he was near her and took her in his arms. Her arms wrapped around him and she rested her head on his shoulder. "You are one of my best friends, and I care about you." She said quietly. He smoothed the back of her head nodding and pressed his lips on her hair. "I know." She pulled back from his embrace and wiped the trace of the escaped tears away from her face. "Should we wake Donna?" He asked, glancing at his living room. "Well," she chuckled. "It <is> a Christmas morning." He followed her into the dark living room and sat on the couch next to the sleeping woman. "Donna." He shook her shoulder gently. A soft smile crept on her lips and she stretched sensually. "Yeah?" She asked huskily, her eyes still closed. "Wake up, Donna." He tried again. "Itīs Christmas." His voice was low, and he leaned down to her. "And Iīve got a present for you." "And what present is that, Josh?" Her voice was sleepy and she rolled on her side to face him. He glanced quickly at CJ who sat farther. "Did you get me those skis, Josh?" She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "No, not skis." He smiled back and reached to brush her hair behind her ear. "No skis, huh?" She pretended to pout, but her eyes gave away the love she felt for him. "You donīt know how to ski." He chuckled. "Thatīs irrelevant..." "How is that irrelevant..?" "What did you get me?" "Get up, itīs Christmas." He laughed and pulled her up to sit next to him. It was two hours later when the White House senior staff sat in the living room, opening presents and talking happily. Josh Lyman sat on the couch next to the woman he loved and looked at his friends. Donna laughed lightly as she watched Ainsley throwing herself in the arms of Sam Seaborn. "I guess she liked the present." She commented smiling and turned to look Josh. "Yeah, it seems that way." She leaned back on the couch, and rested her head against his shoulder. "I loved my present." She said softly. "Thank you." "Youīre welcome." He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Donna." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Merry Christmas, Josh." She replied and snuggled closer to him. He looked at CJ as she talked with Toby and Leo near the Christmas tree. He was going to be fine. The people who mattered him the most were there, and he was going to heal. He glanced at Sam and Ainsley who sat close each other in front of the fireplace, and talked quietly. Then his eyes returned to CJ, and their eyes met. With a soft nod he let her know everything would be fine. It was 5.30 on Christmas morning, and his life had changed, again.
The End
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