Seeing Red
Josh/Donna

They say the color of jealousy is green. He thinks they're wrong. He's positive the color of jealousy is red.

He thinks about the rich, vibrant silk swishing against her long, alabaster legs; the realization that this dress was worn for another man; the flicker of anger in her eyes as he hurled veiled insults at her fragile ego; the regret he felt as he watched her walk away.

He thinks about the feelings he had when she came back and he told her she should keep the dress.

And he thinks, yes, the color of jealousy is definitely red.

***

Amazing
Josh/ Donna

He's fascinated by her eyes.

He's not quite sure when he first noticed - was it when he saw that glimpse of naive trust and determination in them the day they met? - but he can see all her emotions reflected there.

Over the years he's seen fear, hope, betrayal, trust, anger, jealousy, but no emotion can rival the joy he sees shining in them tonight, making them bluer than the cobalt of her dress.

As he leads her to the waiting car - blond curls bouncing, crimson mouth smiling - he ponders the emotions he has yet to see.

***

The Senator
Crossover with Mr. Sterling

"Senator, what are you still doing here? You have a three o'clock with Josh Lyman."

He looked at her quizzically. "Who?"

She sighed in frustration. Senator Sterling still didn't know half the players in this town. "The White House Deputy Chief of Staff. He wants to talk to you about prison reform."

Shrugging on his jacket, he asked, "What's he like?"

She thought for a moment. "Sort of like Tommy. Now GO! You're late!"

She shooed him out the door and then turned back to the freshman senator's chaotic office. "Someone call Donna Moss. Tell her he's on his way."

***

The Deputy
Crossover with Mr. Sterling

"Donna!"

Silence.

"DONNA!"

"Don't yell!"

"I wasn't-"

"You were." She glared at him. "What did you want?"

"Where's my three o'clock?"

"His office called and said he was on his way. Apparently, he didn't know who you were," she smirked.

"You're kidding!"

"Nope. The mail guy told me that he's hopeless at keeping track of who's who." She peered at Josh thoughtfully. "What are you meeting with him about?"

He looked guilty for a moment, but quickly recovered. "Prison Reform."

She saw right through him. "No, you're not."

"No, I'm not. Leo wants me to get him on our side."

***

The Meeting
Crossover with Mr. Sterling

Sterling sat forward in his chair. "Mr. Lyman, this discussion has been very interesting so far, but why am I here?"

Josh smiled. "We're discussing prison reform. You were formerly a prison warden. Your input would be appreciated."

"I'm sure it would, but that's not really why I'm here, is it?"

"Why else?" Josh questioned, his gaze sharpening on the man in front of him.

"You want me on the side of the Democrats in the next election. I'm sorry; I can't do that. I won't choose sides." He stood and held out his hand. "It was nice meeting you."

***

Chance Meetings
CSI crossover: Sara/ Donna

They'd first met in New York, bonding over whiskey sours in a smoky bar, their friendship cemented by the unrequited love each had for her older, socially inept boss. They both got a little drunk, and at the end of the evening, Sara was shocked when her new friend kissed her passionately. Shocked and a little bit excited.

They'd met several times since then, and each soft kiss, each tentative caress, had thrilled Sara. But tonight, she's determined to end this.

Because he finally noticed her. He had touched her cheek and called her sweetheart. And she belonged to him.

***

Changing Names
Debbie/ Tribbey

She was not so happily married when she first met him. He came into her office swinging a cricket bat, demanding a new associate counsel. He paused when she leveled a cool look at him and changed the demand to a request.

Her marriage was already in shambles, so she accepted his dinner invitation. Later, in his bedroom, she became acquainted with the other talents of his expressive mouth and with the touch of his large hands. He made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time.

Her marriage ended shortly after the affair. She doesn't regret it

***

Sins of Omission
Will/ Zoey

"I've never met her, but I hear she's nice."

He lied. He met her at that bar. She'd been there with her friends and had flirted with him.

"Are you a politician?"

He answered that he worked at the White House, but that it was only a temporary job.

"I'm Jed Bartlet's daughter."

He didn't care. He kissed her anyhow.

"Make love to me."

He did. Her young supple body had been crushed beneath his, her auburn hair spread across his pillow. She'd cried another man's name as she came. He pretended not to hear.

"Don't tell Charlie."

He didn't.

***

Contrasts
Andi/ Fitz

"Congresswoman Wyatt."

"Admiral."

They greet each other formerly whenever they meet by chance in the White House halls. But in her bedroom it is a different story. There are sighs of passion and whispered endearments there.

She strips him of his medals and his uniform but he still remains all man, large and proud and masculine. He peels back her staid suits to reveal her soft, feminine lingerie and womanly charms.

He brings her to passionate heights she hasn't previously experienced. She makes him feel protective and gentle.

They are a contrast in every way but mesh perfectly.

"Percy."

"Andrea."

***

A little while ago, there was a meme challenge on LJ that asked the reader to use the first line from someone else's fic to write a drabble. Here are my contributions and the person they were written for. To see that drabbles that were written for me, go here.

The Last Day
Written For Yana
Josh/ Donna

"So I guess this is it." Josh collapses in the seat next to Donna. She's so exhausted that she doesn't even bother to move as the sofa sags under his weight. She just lets her head fall back against the padded cushion and stares up at the ceiling. There's not much there to look at.

"Yup."

"The last day of the administration," he says, as if she doesn't know what he means.

"Uh-huh." She blows a strand of hair from her eyes. They'd spent the better part of the past three days boxing up all of their personal items. The new administration moves in bright and early tomorrow morning.

"I feel like we should be sad or introspective or something. It's the end of an era."

She rolls her neck sideways so that she can look at him. She's too tired to deal with this right now. "Josh? Shut up."

"We should celebrate," he announces, warming up to his topic and ignoring her peevishness.

Warily, she asks, "How?"

There's a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he turns to her and says, "By finally kissing."

He doesn't wait for her reply.

***

Frisky
Written for Yana
Abbey/Amy

Abby purred, stretching. "You're always frisky after you've had some on the side."

Amy blinked innocently at her, then ran a hand across her breast, and pinched a nipple. "I'm always frisky. Period."

"That's what I like about you most," she said as Amy bent her head and licked a path along her thigh. "You're full of youthful energy."

"I can be full of lots of other things, too. If you want me to be," she offered before spreading Abby's legs and delving her tongue into the wetness there.

Abby shuddered. She always did love being fucked by younger women.

***

Smut-lite
Written for smut_queen
Josh/Donna

She looked comfortable on his bed. Comfortable and very, very naked -- every inch of silken, alabaster skin exposed to his greedy eyes. He didn't think he would ever get tired of looking at her like this. Or of being able to touch her whenever he wanted, however he wanted.

He ran a finger across the curve of her hip and her eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning," she whispered, her voice husky from sleep.

"Is it? Good, I mean."

She grinned and pulled him down on top of her in the bed. "What do you think?"

"Definitely a good morning."

***

The Picture
Written for helsinkibaby
Josh/Amy, Josh/Donna

It was just a picture. An innocent, black and white picture of a bride and groom.

It's shouldn't have affected her so much. But as she gazed at the bride's wide smile, the groom's eyes crinkled up in pleasure, the guests in the background grinning and cheering, she felt an aching pain in her heart.

It could have been her in that picture. He had loved her, at least for a little while. But his feeling for *her* had always been stronger and she knew it. That's why she hadn't been surprised when he ended things.

Still� it hurt to see them so happy.

***

Why
Written for helsinkibaby
Josh/Donna

�Come with me.�
"What?"
"Come with me."
"Josh, I can't."
"Why?"
"I don't belong there."
"You didn�t belong in politics either and look how well that turned out."
"Not helping."
"Sorry."
"Theoretically, *if* I came with you, what would I do?"
"Whatever you wanted to do."
"I'm fairly certain they already have students on the payroll to do things for you there."
"Sounds kinky."
"Josh!"
"Ok, ok. I wasn't talking about taking you with me as my assistant anyhow."
"You weren't?"
"No."
"Then what�?"
"Donna, you know what I'm asking."
"I'm not sure I do."
"Come with me, Josh, not your boss."
"Ok."

***

The One
Written for Jo March
Josh/Donna, Josh/Joey

Joey Lucas flunked the audition.

She was supposed to be Josh's One -- the person he could love and who would take care of him forever-after.

Not that I believe in One's. Oh, no. After Freeride, I knew that there was no such thing.

Josh, though� He's got a soft side that most people don't get to see. And he believes in the The One and fairy-tale endings, even if he'll vehemently deny it. I know he does.

Joey was supposed to be his. She flirted with him and flattered him and led him on, and he fell for it. Fell *hard*. She's all he's talked about since he first found out she was a woman. Trust me, I know. I've listened to him plotting ways to fall into her sideways for days now. I've even encouraged him. So what was she doing in a hotel room with Al Keifer instead of Josh?

If I was in her place, I'd choose Josh over Al in a heartbeat. Not that I'd ever get the chance. I mean, this is Josh and he doesn't see me that way. Does he? No, because he thought Joey Lucas was his One.

And she broke his heart.

***

Unbearable
Written for Dianora
Toby

No, no, I specifically requested the salmon, not the chicken." Gillette looked disdainfully at the waiter. It was the latest of many such remarks � his water glass had been dirty, his fork too large, his salad with walnuts, his drink too weak.

"Yes, sir. My apologies."

Toby was amazed at the waiter's politeness. He would have been tempted to pick up the nearest steak knife and plunge it deep into the Senator's chest.

"And don't forget to include lemon. A real wedge, not one of those fancy curled slices."

He sighed quietly. It was going to be an unbearable evening.

***

Homecoming
Written for Dianora
Josh/Donna

Her apartment, when she finally returned to it, was empty. All of her books, all of her precious photos and personal mementos, had been carefully packed and stacked neatly against the wall.

"I thought maybe you could stay with me," he offered. "You're going to need help at first and my building has an elevator."

He didn't dare look at her while he spoke; he was too afraid of how she would react.

She awkwardly turned the wheelchair towards him, but didn't say a word. When he finally met her eyes, there were tears glistening in them.

"Thank you."

***

Decay
Written for Keladryb
Sam/Donna

Even from across the yard, she knows Sam's telling him now. She can tell by the look on his face � shock and a hint of sadness. He covers it quickly and shakes Sam's hand in congratulations, but she notices how flat his expression is and she's sure Sam does too.

She didn't want it to be like this, but there was no other way. He never gave them a chance. After a while, Donna just stopped hoping and moved on with her life. Looking at the sparkling diamond on her left hand, she doesn't regret her decision to say yes.

***

Her Desire
Written for MichelleK
Donna/Amy, Josh/Various

Two years ago, it was Joey Lucas. (You liked her and even encouraged that relationship. It�s a shame she was in love with Kenny.)

The year before that it was Sarah Sluttinger. (You can't be bothered to remember her correct name; it was a fling that lasted less than a month.)

And before that it was Madeline Hampton. (You shudder when you think about that woman; she's a heartless bitch and he's better off without her.)

This year, it's Amy. (You can't bear to think of them together because he's the one that has her and you're the one that wants her.)

***

For intopolitics
Toby/Bonnie

He likes his cigars fragrant. His scotch aged. His coffee strong. His steaks rare.

He likes his office dim. His television muted. His arguments loud. His writing sharp and lyrical.

He likes his sex fast and hard, the room quiet of all but their labored breathing. She knows just where he likes to be touched, exactly how he likes her to move against him. She knows not to comment when he calls the wrong name.

But for all these thing that Bonnie knows, she is still left wondering to whom his heart really belongs, to her or the other woman.

***

For michellek
Donna/Amy/CJ

Amy finds them drinking together at the bar. They look cozy, and Amy feels a flash of jealousy. Until Donna looks up, notices her, and offers her a small, mischievous smile. "CJ's missing the companionship of men."

Amy smirks back at her. "Really?" She rests one hand on Donna's shoulder and the other on CJ's. When she speaks, her attention is focused solely on Donna. "We could probably show her a thing or two."

"I'm sure we could," Donna agrees as her smile gets wider.

"How about it, CJ?" Amy asks, turning her attention to the other woman. Her hand moves from CJ's shoulder to the back of her neck, where she starts to massage the tense muscles with soft, feather-light strokes. "Are you interested in some female companionship instead?"

CJ glances at both of them, blinks, tries to make up her mind. Then finally says, "Why the hell not?"

***

For sternel
Josh/Donna from someone else's POV
Leo, post-Holy Night)

He's an idiot.

His heart is in the right place, but his head – his head is up his ass, the poor kid.

I wasn't going to get involved. They're both adults and they can figure this thing out for themselves.

But what was I supposed to do when Donna was in my office, with that look on her face because the President's crazy idea meant she'd miss her Christmas get-a-way with that new aide of Nancy's? I did the only thing I could – I got her on a helicopter going that way. Why should everyone around here have a lousy Christmas? She deserved something good. We all did.

But Josh – you'd think someone had told him his puppy just died. He didn't say it outright, but he was upset with me. Upset that I had ruined his holiday. Because that's all he really has to look forward to at Christmas – her and her company. And I'd taken that away from him this year.

He'll recover though. He always does. She'll be back in two days and he'll be sulky and quiet. Things will be tense for a little while and then they'll go back to normal. It's what they do.

***

For lifeasanamazon
CJ/Donna, pre-tension

"Cocktails," Donna announced, taking another sip from her drink.

CJ sputtered and almost knocked over her Dirty Martini. "Please, don't say that," she begged.

"Why? That's what we're having. Cocktails," Donna repeated, this time with a slight giggle.

"But, that makes me think of…" In her hazy drunken state, CJ couldn't manage to utter the word so she just waved her hand about in the air. "You know."

"Cocks?" Donna suggested, drawing the word out slowly and deliberately.

CJ nodded. "Yes. And since I am currently without male companionship, that's just sort of sad."

"Yeah," Donna muttered, then went back to drinking.

***

For amut_queen
Josh/Donna/Sam

Hands. That's what she remembers about last night. Hands on her arms, her breasts, her stomach, her hips, her thighs. Hands touching her in a thousand different places, making her feel things she hasn't felt in a very long time.

And eyes. One set of soft blue, another of deep brown. Both of them looking at her with desire - wanting her, craving her.

And then… a flicker, just a brief one, and she knew that it was an illusion. She may have been a participant, but she wasn't the one that either of them wanted. They only wanted each other.

***

For MJ
Donna/ Abbey

"Donna, dear, what makes you stay?" Abbey asks, genuine curiosity in her voice.

Donna's eyes dart to hers. "I'm not sure what you mean, Ma'am."

"You know exactly what I mean," Abbey chuckles. "The long hours, the tedious work. You're smarter than a lot of people think. So why do you stay here? I know my husband is a dynamic man, but I don't think that's the reason."

Donna smiles at her, not wary anymore. "I serve at the pleasure of the President," she replies. "And the President's wife."

"That's what they all say," Abbey says and then kisses her.

***

For Fish
Donna/Katie Witt

Donna doesn't know when she first noticed Katie. Maybe it was during the campaign, when they were both new to politics. Maybe it was the day the staff moved into the White House and, her arms full of boxes, Donna literally ran into her. Maybe it was when the first crisis occurred and Donna watched the briefing from the back of the room.

All Donna knows it that somehow Katie went from being that reporter at the front of the gaggle to the woman she wants to go home to every night. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

***

For Yana
Josh/Donna/Sam

They barely made it through the door before Josh was pushing her back against it and pulling her blouse down her shoulder. She gasped as his hot wet mouth made contact with her skin.

"Excuse me," Sam said timidly from his spot by the desk. She and Josh both whirled towards him, startled. "I was supposed to have a meeting with Josh, but I don't want to interrupt anything."

"You aren't," Donna assured him with a mischievous smile, as her hand stroked down Josh's arm. Josh gave her a small encouraging nod and she added, "You could always join us."

***

New Beginnings
Andy/Toby

She's not sure when she first noticed it, but she thinks it was the night he stopped by unexpectedly for dinner. /With/ dinner, actually. An oven-roasted chicken and some juice boxes for the kids, and a really stunning Pinot Grigio for them. They'd put the kids to bed together after dinner, then had sat out on the front steps, sipping their wine and talking about nothing much at all. When he'd left, he'd kissed her softly on the cheek and she'd looked down, tears in her eyes, and seen it. A perfect crocus, emerging anew, like a phoenix in springtime.

***

Expressions of Wonder
For Eman's birthday
Josh/Donna

She opens her eyes to find him watching her. The sheets are tangled around his body, his head is propped on a hand and the look on his face�

She's seen that look before. Not very often, and always at the most inopportune moments, but she knows she's seen it before. While waiting nervously near a fountain, when she was shivering but still smiling on a cold snowy night, in the hospital room right before her mother bustled in and took over.

She never quite understood what it really meant before. But now she does. It means 'I love you.'

***

Flowers in Winter
Josh/Donna

When she arrives at her office in the East Wing that morning, there is a small potted camellia on her desk. And when she turns around, Josh is lounging in her doorway, an inscrutable look upon his face.

It isn't February or April. It's not even September or November, both of which he celebrated with gusto this past fall. It's January. And she wonders what occasion inspired him to purchase flowers this time.

When she asks, he doesn't answer. He simply shrugs and smiles at her, then disappears.

And that's when she realizes � he isn't celebrating /them/. He's celebrating /her./

***

Teardrops on Roses
CJ

She's tried viewing them as nothing more than what they are -- flowers in Hogan's corsage, blooms in Donna's not-anniversary bouquet, vibrant splashes of color in the centerpieces at the state dinner.

But no matter how hard she tries, it doesn't work Every time she sees a rose, she sees blood. Real or imagined, she isn't sure, but it's there. A deep, dark, oozing red, taunting her, hurting her, reminding her of what might have been and what can never be.

Reminding her that even the most beautiful of nature's gifts can be ugly when it's a reminder of death.