Disclaimer: Not my characters, alas.
Character: Joey Lucas
Summary: "So today's not a good day for a meeting, then?"
Word count: 532
A/N: Written for the twwminis for 2ndaryauthor who asked for Sam, CJ, the Bullpen Gang, Mandy, the President's weekly radio address, technical difficulties and a favourite novel.

Joey glanced around the communications bullpen, noting that it seemed to be in even more chaos than usual. She'd come to meet with Josh to go over last week's polling data, but he wasn't in his office, and an unusually flustered Donna pointed Joey in the direction of Sam's office before rushing off to the Oval Office.

Someone tapped Joey's shoulder; she turned and smiled at CJ.

"What's today's crisis?" Kenny, slightly to Joey's left, spoke for her.

"The President's recording his weekly radio address. He had it perfectly on the third take, then the technician discovered there was a problem with the equipment and it hadn't recorded."

"Ah. Have you see Josh?"

CJ frowned then shook her head. "Maybe Sam knows where he is."

"Thanks."

Joey headed to Sam's office, then knocked on the door and waited for him to look up.

"Oh, hey, Joey. Kenny." He waved them inside. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm supposed to have a meeting with Josh, but no one seems to know where he is."

Sam nodded slowly. "Ah, yes. Donna's helping with the radio address today; Josh always manages to get lost when she's not around."

Joey wasn't too surprised by this piece of information.

"You know," Sam continued, "the last time I saw Josh he was arguing with Mandy. Leo's probably locked them in a closet somewhere until they sort it out."

"So today's not a good day for a meeting, then?" Joey had dealt with Josh before when he'd fought with Mandy; it was not an experience she wanted to repeat.

Ginger stepped into the office holding a notepad and a pen. "Sam, what's your favourite novel?"

"I don't have time to read novels."

"Hmm." She tapped the pen on the notepad, then made a brief note before turning to leave.

Sam looked at Joey, his expression puzzled. "Do you ever get the idea that this place is a loony bin?"

Joey chuckled. "I don't think you want me to answer that."

"No."

Donna entered the office, smiling triumphantly. "Seven takes! It's done!"

"And you're sure it recorded properly?"

"It better have recorded properly." She glanced at Joey. "You didn't find Josh?"

"No."

Donna's smile disappeared. "I'm going to kill him. He knew he had a meeting. I'm gone for five minutes and things fall apart." She threw up her hands and left the office.

"She'll track him down," Sam said. "She always does."

Joey wondered again if there was anything to the rumours she had heard about Josh and Donna. She doubted they were having an affair; Joey was an expert in reading body language and while she saw a mutual attraction, she didn't see anything that indicated they were lovers.

"Can I get you anything while you wait?" Sam asked. "Coffee?"

"No, thanks." Joey stood, followed a moment later by Kenny. "We'd better get back to Josh's office in case Donna has found him."

"Okay." Sam smiled then turned back to his computer.

As Joey walked through the bullpen, she saw Ginger scribble something on her notepad as she talked to CJ and Toby.

Hiding her smile, Joey thought it was always entertaining coming to the White House.