It is done, and I did it...!

[caz963]

rentypoo wanted a list of “fic where Josh and/or Donna undergoes some sort of trauma which finally forces them to face up to their feelings for each other.”

Now, as someone (I think it was quaggy_mire) pointed out, both Josh and Donna experienced severe trauma in canon – but they STILL couldn’t admit to how they felt about each other!


But still, it’s a good plot device for fic, so here’s a short round up. I should say at this point, with no disrespect intended to ANY of the authors, that in general, this is the sort of fic where you have to check your “reality-o-meter and characterisation radar” at the door, because there’s pretty much no way that these characters could ever find themselves in these situations (well, most of them, anyway). So, whilst I have read all these fics, and for the most part, enjoyed them as a good read, they’re the airport novels amongst the Dickens and Trollope, if you see what I mean!

So, those reservations expressed, here’s a round up!

By Suzy K. - Bright Light City.
Donna disappears suddenly – unbeknownst to Josh, Dr Freeride had turned up out of the blue and was threatening Donna that he would accuse her and Josh of having an affair, so to protect Josh, Donna hi-tails it to Vegas. Angst, lots of smut (some of it pretty unbelieveable!) and poor victim!Donna.

Concrete and Roses – Donna, CJ and Ainsley in California are caught up in an Earthquake… all are injured, but Donna worst of all. And for those of you who don’t really like the “Donna never had good sex until Josh” fics – it’s one of those!

Broken Glass. Pretty dark this one, and very looooong. Donna is brutally attacked and left for dead by a serial rapist. In order to help catch him, Donna allows herself to be thought dead, and dons a new identity. This opens a whole other can of worms, as we learn that she was abused as a child and has buried the memories, which of course leads to more angst. Like I said, there are very dark themes in this one, although it’s not too explicit, but if you don’t like the idea, then stay away.

Trial by Fire. Set after The Two Bartlets, Donna is on jury service (remember in that ep, she was nagging Josh to get her out of it?) and there is a prisoner breakout and hostage situation – both Josh and Donna are in the courtroom at the time – Donna is (accidentally) shot whilst trying to save someone’s life.

Suzy’s fics have Donna as the injured party, whilst in spitzthecat’s fics, it’s Josh. You’ll find them at The Joshua Monologues site. I can’t link to the individual fics, so just go to the homepage, then to “other tales”, where you’ll find the following:
Hurricane - Hurricane Gaston hits Florida. Set early S5 (I think – mention of “Zoey’s return” but seemingly pre-Amy II)
Silent Night - Josh has a car accident a couple of days before Christmas
The Rising - Ordered on an official visit at the last minute by the First Lady, Josh is in the wrong place at the wrong time…
What Doesn’t Kill You has Josh the victim of a hate crime.

At the same site, but under S.G.E’s Tales are some more Josh-centric fics, but be warned, they’re not for the faint hearted!
Guilt in particular is VERY dark – both Josh and Donna are kidnapped and brutally beaten – and Donna is raped in front of Josh. The fic is really about how they deal with what happened and how they come to terms and come back to each other, because Donna can’t bring herself to see Josh afterwards. Heavy stuff, but quite well written.
One More Victim is another hate-crime fic
Yizkor - Josh is arrested for a murder
Brain Waves- set S6, Josh is attacked by (as it turns out) political rivals.

Best Laid Plans by Shan is another “Donna in danger” fic; it’s very long (47 chapters), but quite well written. Donna is caught up in the middle of a bank robbery. Although it’s set sometime in S5, Sam is still around (very AU!).

The Maine Thing, by Chai. I like all of Chai’s stuff – she’s a very good writer, and she gets Josh pretty well. Set 2 years after the end of S6, Santos lost the nomination, Josh disappeared, and Vinick won the election. I have to say that I think this one goes off the rails a bit at the end (sorry, Chai!) but it’s still well written and worth a read.

I think that Jen’s What Matters Most could count as a “traumafic” – it’s set after Ninety Miles Away, there’s a riot at the rally in Florida and Josh is caught up in the middle of it.

Most of these are fairly “recent” i.e written over the last 3 years or so. I’ve been looking around for some earlier ones, but the one or two I’ve found… well, let’s just say I have stronger reservations… and leave it at that!

Also, seri_scribble asked for recs for the “funniest” fics. “Well,” I thought, “that’s easy!” But then realised that actually, it isn’t! Because I think that the very best fics, many of which I’ve already recommended, mix the funny with the serious and the plot – much as the best of the show did. There are very few out-and-out comedy fics – and the best of those are undoubtedly by Bramble . I’ve already mentioned Adios mi Hermano as being hilarious, and it really is laugh-out-loud funny, so don’t read it in public! The One With the Shower and The Naked Plan, the Edibles Series… basically, most of her stuff is pretty funny, although it’s not all comedy – there’s some really nice, romantic fic there, too, like Quiet Time and Something Warm About the Rain.
Speranza’s fic is also very funny whilst remaining totally in character. If you haven’t checked out her fic yet, here’s her West Wing page. They’re all fantastic, but A Van, a Plane, a Car and a Bus and The Age of Aquarius had me chuckling for days.

Dianora brings the funny, too, but as with Speranza it’s part of the story. There’s her recent Double Date - yes, CJ & Danny go out with Josh & Donna! – and there’s one of my favourite exchanges ever in
Morning - I hope Dia won’t mind if I quote it here:

“I’ll make you some eggs, how does that sound?”
“I have eggs?”
“Yes. I checked last night.”
“Really? In the refrigerator?”
”No, Josh, in the henhouse out back.”

Well, it makes me laugh…

There’s a lot of humour in Jo & Ryo’s fics – I haven’t linked to anything in particular, because really, just go and work your way through everything – it’s all fantastic!

Sittin’ in Committee by Carleton 97 is pretty funny – Josh has to go talk to a group of Mallory’s pupils (as a punishment for something he’s done!) – Donna goes too, and her internal monologue is hilarious!

Another fic which made me laugh was Bex’s In Her Mind, wherein Josh and Donna are having a conversation whilst hanging around in Bex’s brain. Why We’re Not Doing What We Should Be Doing is a dialogue only fic which is pretty funny, too.

In one of my previous posts, I recommended Mich’s Much Ado About Politix and mentioned that there was another Shakespeare parody, but that I couldn’t find the link! Well, I’ve found it - A Midsummer’s Tale.

Here are a couple of other fics, written in the early days that are worth checking out - As Chaste as Ice a post ep for On the Day Before where Josh goes for a run and thinks about his relationship with Donna and the Cliff fiasco, and In Heat, both by Heather Jarman..

Fluff from eMetiB, Thunder and Lightning, and a fic I meant to recommend before but kept forgetting, by Marguerite - Lay Down Your Head - four couples after Two Cathedrals. You might not be a fan of all the pairings, but it’s beautifully written.

I’m indebted to christinekh for the nudges in the direction of the following fics. Most of these are early ones, which I’d read and forgotten about, so I’m grateful to her for reminding me of them.

Sweet as Pecan Pie and Yizkor (warning – character death) by Demon Faith.
Ask Me Again by Mary is nice and fluffy. I remember Cath’s Photographs being one of the first fics I ever read. She gets into Donna’s head quite well in this one - What She Wants.
And Allison’s The Company of Women, Downtime and Lessons are beautifully written – they’re JD but also show Josh and CJ having a lovely, deep friendship – which you get the sense of in the early days of the show (thinking particularly of “Crackpots”).


OK, so this post’s getting very long (again!) and there are more fics I’d like to mention, but it’s getting late, I’m getting tired and I’ve forgotten what they are, so I’ll leave it at that and start a new list when I’m more awake!

Hopefully, all the links work this time *g*! Let me know what you liked (or not!) and if you’d like me to find anything else!