I don't understand why life can't be simple. I don't understand why tragedies breed emotions. I don't understand why I had to be stubborn and move a million miles from home. I don't understand why I couldn't bring myself to visit my family more often. I don't understand why I'm not two weeks away from the big 3 – 0 and still single with zero prospects. And I don't understand why my boss is staring at me out his office door.

"Yes?" Donna asked Josh as she spun around in her rolling chair.

"I need that file for the thing," Josh said. "Uh….what were you doing?"

"Writing in my journal," Donna said smiling. "It's on the computer and I keep it on a disk that I carry with me at all times. I don't even keep a copy on my hard drive at home," she assured him. "No traces," she said with a sad smile.

"I wasn't presuming anything," he told her.

"I was just saying – I don't want anything like the Cliff thing to ever happen again," she told him. "Sometimes….sometimes it's just easier to get things out on the keyboard, ya know?"

"Whatever you need, Donna," Josh smiled as he walked past Donna's desk and grabbed the needed file from her extended hand. "I'll be back by 7," he told her.

"I'll be here," she sighed and spun back around to answer the phone. "Josh Lyman's office," she said dutifully into the receiver.

"Donna?" Leo asked just to be sure.

"Leo," she smiled. "How are you? We've all been worried sick," she told Josh's boss.

"I'm alive," Leo smiled. "And how are you, kiddo?" he asked.

"Alive as well," she smiled.

"I'm out of the hospital," Leo boasted.

"I'm outta my wheelchair," Donna bragged.

They both laughed.

"How's everything?" Leo asked.

"Good," Donna smiled. "CJ's adjusting and Toby's managing the Press okay."

"Right," Leo nodded. "He can't do much worse than he's done so far."

"True," Donna agreed.

"How's Josh?" Leo asked.

"Worried about you," Donna answered. "And me," she admitted. "He feels so guilty about everything that's happened and there's no talking him out of it."

"That kid always wants to take the world on his shoulders," Leo sighed. "You know he calls everyday – like three or four times?"

"He insists on making me leave by 8 PM usually under his watchful eye," Donna added. "He calls me randomly at home to make sure I'm okay and he checks in on me here when he's out of the office more than a couple of hours."

"He cares about you," Leo said simply.

"He cares about you, too," Donna smiled.

"I heard through the grapevine that Russell's office wants him," Leo said more seriously.

"He hasn't mentioned it," Donna said honestly. "But Josh loves the Administration," Donna said. "He's loyal."

"He's a political operative and the Administration is all dried up," Leo explained.

"He'd have mentioned it," Donna insisted.

"I'm sure he would've," Leo said, clearing his throat. "Just take care of yourself and let him know I'm okay. Mallory's coming over tonight so he doesn't need to call."

"I'll let him know," Donna smiled. "Take care, Leo."

"You too, Donna. Good night, my dear," he smiled as he hung up and shook his head. "Josh," he muttered. "What are you doing?" he wondered out loud.

"Donna?" he bellowed as he rounded the corner of the bullpen on the way to his office.

"Yes?" she asked, limping around from her desk to greet him. She couldn't wait to regain full use of her legs. She missed keeping step with him in one of his boasting moods.

"I am a god," he proclaimed. "All the little people of the world should bow to me and be in awe of my mere existence."

"I'll be sure to send out that memo," she replied dryly. "What did your greatness do now that will surely have the world shouting your praises?"

"That's more like it," he said with a wink as he made it around his desk and flopped in his chair. "Sit, my dear Donna. Sit down and hear how your boss is the greatest man in all of the land," he ordered with a dimpled grin.

"Do tell, o' great one," she giggled.

"I bested two of the Republicans' top guys today in what one might call a dual of sorts," he smirked. "It was like a game of chicken and like the master I am I didn't blink first. I got everything we could've asked for in this bill. Everything! It was more than Leo could've even hoped for. CJ was impressed as hell. The President will probably exert and executive order making tomorrow "Joshua Lyman Day" or something equally special," he smiled. "Now," he nodded. "Now, you may praise my almightiness."

Donna laughed and clapped approvingly. "Well done, Josh," she smiled. "I'm glad you were so successful. Leo will be pleased."

"I should call him to spread the good news," he said, reaching for his phone.

"Wait until tomorrow," Donna suggested. "He called earlier to let you know that Mal is going to be there tonight so you didn't need to check in on him," she told him.

"This is what's called bragging, Donna," Josh felt the need to explain.

"Whatever it is, do it in the morning," she smiled. "It'll keep," she promised.

"It will," he nodded. "Brilliant idea, Donna. Now I can keep the excitement going another day!"

"You're ridiculous," she said, shaking her head as she rose from the chair. "We should get going, don't you think?" she asked gathering her things, knowing he'd oblige her.

"As you wish," he bowed sarcastically and flipped off the lights on their way out.


Once at home, Donna looked up Will's cell number. "Will? It's Donna Moss."

"How're you doing?" Will asked, rolling back in his chair in his dimly lit office.

"I'm good," she smiled. "I'm happy to be back in the swing of things again."

"We all missed you," Will smiled. "Josh was a wreck and a pain in the ass, if you don't mind my saying."

"I don't mind at all," she laughed.

"What can I do for you Donna?" Will asked, trying to ascertain the cause of her call.

"Have you guys approached Josh to work for your campaign?" Donna asked.

"Why don't you ask Josh?" Will asked.

"Because I don't want to appear to be nosey," Donna sighed.

"So, you're snooping around behind his back," Will laughed.

"Yes," Donna confirmed. "Just tell me," she said exasperated.

"We've asked him to head up our campaign," Will confirmed Leo's earlier statement.

"I want to help – with the campaign I mean," Donna blurted out.

"Donna," Will sighed. "We only just asked him…"

"Will," she said firmly. "I can do many things," she said. "I think….I think I would be very…very helpful."

"I'm sure you would be Donna," Will smiled. He'd secretly wanted to snag Donna for a press position; he just wanted to wait until he had Josh's status confirmed.

"I know I might not have the little certificates or anything that others might have," she sputtered.

"Stop," he told her. "Donna, you're great. We'd love to have you on board. I think you'd be excellent in the press department."

"I would?" she giggled. "You think?"

"I know," he smiled.

"I'd have to see what Josh thinks," Donna hedged a minute.

"Donna," Will interrupted. "We want you for you and to help us – not Josh."

"But what would he do?" Donna asked.

"You're hired, Donna," Will told her.

"Thanks," she smiled unsurely.

"Good night," he told her and hung up the phone only to have it ring again immediately.

"Hello?" he asked with a sigh.

"Will," Josh smiled. "Bad news, buddy."

"What?" Will asked, fearing that he knew the answer already.

"Russell…he's not it for me," Josh told him honestly. "I need to be working for someone who's the real thing. Russell's not it."

Will smiled and shook his head. "I figured. Santos?" he asked.

"Santos," Josh smiled.

"It's gonna be tough," Will told him.

"You can come work for me when you lose," Josh offered with a smirk.

"I might take you up on that offer," Will laughed.

"Have a good night, man," Josh smiled and hung up.

Will shook his head. "He's gonna flip out!"