Thank you so much for all the amazing feedback and apologies for the delay in writing this. I was waylaid with a Stargate convention and then flu!

How can he not see how serious this is. I need to find some control in my life, I need to get him out of my dreams, I need to find that bloody piece of paper.

“‘Cause in one of these boxes are Fed Ex receipts and mail room records for any gifts or packages sent to senior staff and in one of these boxes is a piece of paper which says WHICH BOX IT’S IN!”

I’m breathing heavily and I realise that we’ve gotten quite close, I can smell his scent and he smells so good. Very good. This is not good I’ve got to get this under control.

“I’ll be in the office.” He pulls back and puts some distance between us – thank goodness.

“Your office is down the corridor about 200 feet from here. Try not to commit any felonies on the way.” Okay now I’m bringing the wit.

“I’ll do my best.” He says before disappearing out the door.

It’s been several days since we got back from and my little chat with Josh. Believe me when I say that I can’t believe that we are back into a swing so soon. Okay so that conversation was slightly more .... lively than usual but you can’t blame a girl who is running around on no sleep.

The hardest is no touching, especially as I’m so used to touching her.

Hey! Get your minds out of the gutters. Not there.

Well, during that one mind blowing moment, but that was the only time.

I mean, in the little ways. Guiding her as we walk down a corridor. Our hands brushing as we share food. Silly things that I never gave a thought about until now.

When did she become such a big part of my life?

I really should make that call.

Donna’s POV

“Donna?”

“Yes Josh.” I’m trying to get about twenty things done and he keeps sneaking up on me. Would it really be a bad thing to lock him away somewhere?

Like my bedroom?

Oh god I’m such a simpering girl... I’m turning into one of those girls that follows him around. Please promise me if I start chanting his name that you’ll have me committed?

I turn around and try to brace myself for the sight that awaits me.

It should be made illegal for that man to wear a tux. Sam and him are always joking about how good they look but Josh goes beyond that. The black hugs his body in all the right places – emphasising how good he looks.

“This damn thing keeps coming undone,” he moans. His tie is flapping loose around his neck so I step towards him to fix the damn thing for about the third time tonight.

It’s not as easy as it should be as I look up into his face and meet his soulful eyes, which were already searching for mine. I give up trying to tie this stupid bowtie as my hands start to shake and as I look at them I realise that I can’t hold them still.

I’m trying to work out what’s got me so jumpy when his hand closing about mine brings my eyes back to his and I realise how close we are.

Josh POV

I can’t believe how beautiful she is. And how boring this evening is.

Please can someone explain to me who on earth invented the tux? It has to be one of the most uncomfortable things to wear. And this damn tie keeps coming undone. If I didn’t know better I would think that Donna was not tying it right on purpose.

I can’t be the only one affected by this closeness. Her hands brushing my chest, her forehead furrowed as she concentrates on getting this tie tied. She looks so tired.

Does she know that I worry about her?

Does she know that she’s tamed me in a way that I never thought possible?

I don’t know if this is love, but I want to find out. I just have to convince her to find out with me.

And suddenly I realise that we are just stood there looking at one another and I realise that since we got back from Manchester that this is the first time that we have stopped in one another’s presence.

Her hands are shaking and I break the unspoken rule that we have created about touch and take her hand in mine.

She smiles and for a second everything is okay again. She pulls away and finishes this damn tie and already I miss the contact.

I have to do something soon or I’m going to go insane.

And suddenly I’ve made the decision and I know that I’m going to make that damn call tonight.

Once I’m done with this stupid evening.

Donna POV

His eyes have taken on a very determined look and for a second I’m scared but hopeful that he will kiss me. Then he steps back and the moment is broken.

But part of me is still worried. I’ve got this feeling that he just came to a decision, and that it concerns us.

Joshua... please tell me that you aren’t going to do something stupid?

Josh POV

That had to be the longest evening ever. I sent Donna home ages ago since she was nearly dead on her feet. These damn things wouldn’t be so bad if we weren’t still being investigated.

We are all spread thin and Donna is still trying to protect me. Does she realise that I would do anything to protect her from how bad this investigation could get?

I stumble into my office and look at the phone on my desk.

I can do this.

I really can.

I slump into my chair and pick up the phone. Listening to the dial tone does nothing to work out this knot of tension in my stomach. I start to dial the number that I’ve had memorised for the past two weeks.

God I wish I’d gotten Sam to write me something. But CJ has sworn me from talking to Sam. Until I’ve made this phone call.

I know she has talked to Leo and I have to say that I’m surprised that he hasn’t called me in to torture me for what must be the biggest headache to add to all his problems. I don’t know what CJ said to him but I know that my love for her has grown. She really is one of the best friends I could ask for.

“Hello?”

A sleepy voice breaks me from my thoughts. It’s only then that I think to look at the clock.

Crap!

This isn’t good.

I’ve just rung Donna’s mom and dad at 3.00 a.m.  in the morning.

Boy am I stupid.

“Hello, is anyone there?”

Think Joshua... say something.

I can hear another sleepy voice join the first one.

“Who is it?” that’s Donna’s dad

“I don’t know. There’s just silence. But it’s a Washington number.”

Great don’t you just love Caller ID?

Donna’s dad comes on the phone. “Hello? Donna is that you sweetie?”

It’s now or never.

“No sir, this is Joshua Lyman. I need to talk to you.” I hear an intake of breath and realise my mistake. Before he can say another word I alleviate his fears that this is the phone call that every parent dreads in the middle of the night “Donna’s fine. She’s home sleeping right now.”

I hear his relieved sigh and I don’t know if I can forgive myself for making him worry like that. I know only too well how a parent worries.

“It’s Mr Lyman” I hear him mumble to his wife who is obviously anxious “But don’t worry, it’s not bad news. Donna’s fine.”

“Then what on earth does he want at this ungodly hour?” I hear her retort.

“Son, I don’t mean to be rude but what couldn’t wait until a more decent hour?”

“Sorry sir, believe me I wouldn’t have called if I had thought to look at a clock. But I’m sure as Donna has told you, I’m a bit of an idiot.”

I hear him chuckle and the click on the line tells me that his wife has picked up another line in their house to hear what is going on.

“Well I wouldn’t say that she has used that word.” Her father laughs. “But I think I remember Donna mentioning that you have a bit of a forgetful streak.”

I smile at his way of trying to spare my feelings while at the same time still making a point.

“Sir, I can call back in the morning if you prefer.” I’m beginning to wonder why on earth CJ thought I could do this. She calls me stupid but I think she needs to have her head examined for letting me do this.

“Mr Lyman you just woke me up at 3.00 in the morning. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say to me.”

Despite the firm tone I can tell he is smiling and for some strange reason I have a feeling that he knows something. That somehow he has his father instinct turned on and he knows what this is about.

“Well Sir...” I begin. “Firstly, could you not call me Mr Lyman, I keep expecting my dad to be stood behind me.”

“I tell you what. You call me Robert and I’ll call you Josh. How’s that?”

I can hear Mrs Moss sigh and I know she is getting fed up with this chit chat. So down to business it is.

“Robert, I’m calling to ask you something. Something important and I’m not sure how you’re going to react..”

“Josh.. spit it out.” Robert chuckles “I promise I won’t bite”

“Much...” I hear Mrs Moss mutter.

This isn’t going how I thought it would. My head is spinning and I’m beginning to wonder if I should just run from the office and disappear off the face of the earth.

Then I remember Donna’s hands in mine. And I know there’s no going back.

“I would like your permission to woo your daughter.”

There, I said it.

I hold my breath and wait for a response.

Still holding my breath.

Going blue.

“Breathe, Josh” Robert tells me down the phone – this guy is freaky. I can see where Donna gets her freakiness from.

“I know that this probably sounds very inappropriate to you and that if you could you would teleport Donna home right this instance, but I wish you would just hear me out and understand that this is something that I had to ask and I know that I’m older than her and that I’m her boss and that you probably had higher hopes for your daughter than some middle aged workaholic...” I realise that I’m babbling but now I’ve started talking I can’t stop. I’m afraid of what he’s going to say and so my mouth has decided to go into overdrive.

“For goodness sake.” Donna’s mum interrupts my ramblings. “Do you love her?”

“Honestly? There’s potential, great potential, amazing potential. I love her deeply as a friend and she makes my life complete in a way I didn’t know was possible. She’s the missing piece in the jigsaw of my life.”

There’s a pause as they digest what I’ve just said. “How does she feel?” Robert asks.

“I know she cares for me, I think she loves me but I wouldn’t dare to presume.”

“Good answer” Robert replies. “Look Josh, she’s a grown up and she’s never listened to a word we say. I don’t know why you thought you needed our permission, but the thought is very much appreciated.”

This is unbelievable, this is going so much better than I could have hoped. Especially since I’m involved in the conversation.

“Joshua.” Mrs Moss sounds so much like Donna it is scary.

“Yes Ma’am.”

“What does Donna think about all this?”

“To be honest she thinks that I couldn’t have picked a worse time to explore a relationship with her. That the election needs to come first. But I don’t agree.”

“And if she decides that she doesn’t want a relationship with you?”

“I’ll consider myself the luckiest guy on earth for having her as my friend and for having the best assistant that anyone could hope for. Of course, I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention the best assistant bit.”

Robert burst out laughing and I hear a thumping noise. The ouch confirms that this was Mrs Moss thumping Mr Moss. So that’s where Donna gets that from.

“Son... you’ve got our best wishes” Robert. “Just understand that if you break her heart you won’t have to deal with us. Donna inherited her mother’s fighting abilities.”

“Mr Lyman, ignore my husband.” Another ouch floats down the phone. “Just promise me that you will take care of our daughter no matter what and you’ll make us happy.”

“I promise.”

“And as a mother can I just say that you should be in bed by now and not working such long hours?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Then go home.”

“Yes Ma’am – good night.”

I hear the line click off. Donna’s mother is scary. Kind but scary.

And was I unreal or what? Come off it I was amazing wasn’t I? I totally charmed them. Like I ever had my doubts.

There is no way I could go to bed now, I’m so psyched and with my remarkable mind now working at full speed.

Hmmm I wonder what Sam is doing right now.

Donna’s POV