Title: The Office
Category: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Some time spent back in Manchester on the campaign trail

Disclaimer: Only in my own twisted world would I actually own these characters, but unfortunately I don't : )
Author's Notes: Feedback helps me write better and also feeds my addiction

Writing Implemented: 6-3-05

Chapter 1

"Ow, awwh, c'mon!" his voice rose as he shook his hand violently, trying to dull the pain that the edge of a piece of paper had just inflicted. "This sort of thing never used to happen when Donna was around," he muttered. But he knew that wasn't true, these things did happen, they just didn't hurt as much.

He threw down his pen. This was getting ridiculous; he'd never missed anyone so much in his entire life. It's not like she was far away either, she was in the same damn town! What was wrong with him? He rubbed his hand down his face as he stood up resolutely.

This place wasn't helping, he thought as he looked around. It had been Josh's idea to rent out the old Bartlet New Hampshire headquarters for the Santos campaign, but it just held too many memories and he was being distracted from his job.

Just as he was about to sit back down in his make-shift office he saw a blonde walk in. He blinked twice, rubbed his eyes, made sure it was her and sat down to pretend he was doing work. A few minutes later a voice broke through his thoughts.

"So, you're in the same place?" Donna asked, leaning against the door to his office.

"Yeah, I figured why mess with tradition? This office served me well the first time" he grinned at her. "Sit down." She came later in the night, hoping not to be seen by too many people. It would be strange for a Russell staffer to be seen in the Santos Headquarters and she didn't want to draw attention to herself. She had judged right. Josh was basically alone except for a few other over-zealous staffers. "How've you been?" he asked.

"Oh, you know, as well as one can be while on the campaign trail." She looked at him closely. "Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Donna…"

"Josh…" she countered.

"Look, it's not really any of your business," he snapped, surprising even himself. Her face fell.

"Oh, ok, sorry," she said resignedly then paused and looked at him. "I guess I better get going." Donna pointed towards the door.

"No." He flicked his eyes around the office real quick. "Don't do that. I didn't mean to…you know." Then Josh looked down and shuffled a few papers around as he asked: "Have dinner with me?"

"Sure." He looked up at her and grinned at the reassuring smile he found on her face.

"Where do you want to go?"

"How about Fratello's? That place is always good."

"Well, yeah, since we've eaten there a hundred times. It was the first place I took you to after you joined the campaign. You were babbling on and on about…"

"I do not babble!" He smirked at her.

"Anyway you were babbling about how you were Italian and Irish and that you didn't understand how the two fit together since they're such opposites but that you always enjoyed Italian food more and how you hadn't had good Italian food since you got here, which I must question how there can be good Italian food in Wisconsin …"

"So you told me that Fratello's was a pretty damn good Italian restaurant and then I found out how expensive it was…"

"And you kept going on and on about how you couldn't afford to eat there…"

"So you took me out."

"To shut you up."

"Yeah, sure but I knew were just trying to get me into bed." His heart almost stopped.

"And yet you went along with it, what does that show?" He raised an eyebrow.

"What? Who was I to turn down a free meal? I was basically living out of my car."

"Hey, I gave you a place to sleep." Her eyes softened at the memory.

"I remember. You slept on a cot until you could get me on salary and in a room."

"But what I remember are the rules you implemented for those nights, like I was going to jump you or something."

"Well, it's not like I always sleep in the same room with someone I just met. You were a strange guy, I had to protect myself! Who knows what would have happened if you were left to your own devices."

"Yeah…" he said not knowing where to go next in the conversation. "Anyway, dinner?"

"Yep." Josh put on his jacket.

"Right this way Ms. Moss," he said as he put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out the door into the Manchester streets.

Author's Note: Do you like the way it's shaping up so far? Any suggestions?