�By the time she got back from Germany things were crazy with the peace talks and Leo�� Josh said, trailing off as memories of Leo overtook him. It took Josh a moment to pull himself together. �We started drifting apart after she came home. It was a lot of things, but one of the big things that happened was that she wanted me to help her advance her career and I couldn�t make her see that I barely had enough power to keep my own afloat. Not to mention that I knew that without her I didn�t have a chance at keeping my head above water. And then she left, and I left and��
�And you got a man elected President at the expense of your personal life. I�ve been there,� I said, nodding. I really wanted to look at the ring that Josh had chosen, but there was something inside me that wanted to wait, to see it for the first time on Donna�s finger. In the end that desire won out and I pressed the small box back into Josh�s hand. �Just promise me you won�t rush anything. Things are good now, though you two obviously have a lot to talk about, but the last thing your relationship needs at the moment is pressure. If it feels right, ask her�and I mean actually ask her, don�t just assume that she�ll say yes�but if it doesn�t feel right, don�t ask. If the past nine years has proved anything its that she�s not going anywhere.�
Josh nodded. �I promise. And I promise about the phone call thing, too. It�s not gonna be easy,� he said as we neared the doors that signalled the end of the line for me. At the same moment Josh and I both noticed a tall brunette standing by the wall with a Secret Service agent guarding her and the rolling suitcase she had resting by her feet. �CJ�s here. That must mean Donna made it,� Josh said with a sigh of relief. I knew he was still worried, even if he wasn�t saying anything about it. �I don�t see her,� he frowned as he looked around, craning his neck like a maniac as he searched for his beloved Donna.
�Mi amore!� CJ said happily, reaching her arms out and pulling Josh into a tight embrace. From the way Josh and CJ have been acting I got the impression that they hadn�t exactly been close since he left the White House, maybe even since she was named Chief of Staff when he was the Deputy Chief of Staff and it would have been more logical to promote him. Though, I have to say, I did enjoy watching Toby doing the briefings. �She�s in the bathroom,� CJ said reassuringly when Josh didn�t stop his manic craning of the neck routine.
�Thanks for driving us, guys. The cost of long-term parking is almost as much as the flight and we�re just lowly government employees,� Josh said to both CJ and myself.
CJ rolled her eyes. �Chiefs of staff to the next President and First Lady of the United States. Hardly lowly positions,� she said. �Hey, Spanky, Ginger wanted me to tell you that she�ll take it without the two week thing, but that she expects time off for her birthday.�
�Take what?� Josh asked.
�I offered Ginger the position of Deputy Deputy Chief of Staff,� I said.
Josh frowned. �No one other than Donna is allowed that title,� he said indignantly.