***THURSDAY***
It's frigid as he walks in to work but his coat is warm and it doesn't really bother him. He's still in a good mood from not only winning the New Hampshire Primary, but also getting more votes than Richie in Hartsfield's Landing. He joivally greets Larry, who is sitting at the guard desk like always. He wishes that Donna was there to welcome him the moment he's through security. Things have been moving back towards normal with them and that's one of the things he's missed over the last few months.
He heads towards the bullpen, considering how to tease her about it, but stops a little short as he sees her at her desk still wrapped in her coat. He kicks himself a little for insisting Monday night that she return his coat the next day. The weather has been terrible this week, she'd be better off if she'd kept it. He could have driven.
When he presents himself in front of her desk, she looks up. Her nose is red and her eyes are glassy. Involuntarily he takes a step back.
"Oh good. You're here." She mumbles, handing him a folder. "Don't take off your coat. Leo wants you on the hill, pronto." She pauses, closing her eyes for a moment, as if the effort of giving him Leo's instructions were exhausting.
He takes a step forward, wondering for a moment if she's conscious. But she opens her eyes again. "Go!" she tells him forcefully "Leo said to call him on the way."
Having learned the hard way that it's never that good of an idea to argue with either Leo or Donna, he turns on his heel and heads back the way he came.
As he walks, he flips his phone open, but when the switchboard operator answers, instead of asking for Leo, inexplicably, he requests the First Lady.
"Josh?" She answers in confusion. It truly is unprecedented for him to call her directly rather than dealing with her Chief of Staff.
"Dr. Bartlet. I need a favor."
Something about his voice tugs at Abbey Bartlet's heart. She's had a soft spot for Josh for quite some time now, especially when he sounds like a little boy rather than an arrogant jackass. Come to think of it, she generally has a soft spot for arrogant jackasses.
"What is it?"
"This is… I don't know… I know I shouldn't really ask this …"
"Spit it out, Joshua."
"Would you please check up on Donna? Leo is sending me to the hill today and when I left Donna didn't look so good. I think she might be coming down with something."
. . . . . .
Several hours later, when the meetings are over, Josh calls Leo from the cab on the way back to the White House.
"Yeah?"
"It's done."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, then. Good job."
"Thanks."
"Oh hey, I've been instructed to tell you to report directly to the East Wing when you get back here. Abbey wants to see you. You piss her off?"
"No! I don't think so." Josh tries to rack his brain for any problems with the First Lady's agenda, but nothing comes to mind. Then his stomach sinks. "I asked her to check on Donna earlier. It seemed like she might be coming down with something."
"You asked the First Lady to check on your assistant?" Leo repeats incredulously before letting out a long sigh. "Why am I not surprised? Fine. When you get back go straight to the East Wing, and then do whatever she says."
"Thanks, Leo."
Josh only has to worry for a few more minutes before he finds himself buzzing to get into the First Lady's offices. The Secretary takes one look at him and sends him into Abbey.
"Oh good, Josh, you're back."
"How is she, Abbey?" He asks a bit desperately, causing Mrs. Bartlet to smirk. If this little crisis doesn't move that relationship along, she might have to intervene. It's about time these kids see what's right in front of their faces.
"She has influenza. She was running a fever, so we gave her some medication and I had a steward drive her home. She needs rest and fluids. She should be better in a couple days."
"She's home alone?" He questions in a high voice. "Is that a good idea?"
"It's not ideal. But Donna doesn't have a roommate anymore, and she doesn't have any family in DC." Abbey lets her voice trail off a little, watching for Josh's reaction.
"We're her family! She practically moved in with me after Rosslyn," Josh declares adamantly, causing Abbey's smirk to turn to a smile. "I should go over there. Don't you think?" He finally asks.
"Yes, Josh. I think that would be a good idea."
"Leo told me to do whatever you said."
"Well, in that case, Joshua- I'm telling you, go take care of that young lady."
He immediately turns to leave, but she calls him back. "Josh! Do you know how to take care of someone?"
He looks a little embarrassed, but she gives a little chuckle. "Follow the directions on the fever reducer. Get her to drink as much fluids as possible, and just make her comfortable so she can rest. And you need to wash your hands a lot. She's contagious."
"Ah-kay." He agrees, striding out of the room with a new purpose.
O0o0o0o0o0o0oo
Josh quickly hands the cab driver more than enough cash for the fare. He doesn't have time to stop and count the bills in his wallet, he's just anxious to get to Donna. Abbey Bartlet had sounded calm and collected when she said that Donna was sick, but Josh could see that below the surface she was hiding her concern for his sake.
He takes the stairs to her apartment two at a time. With his key in hand, he quietly opens her front door. It's been awhile since he's been to Donna's little home, but he's always loved being here. Something about it is calm and relaxing, and that something, he's pretty sure, is Donna's presence. There had been more times than he could count when he found himself laying on her couch after a stressful day, and she would always make it better, even if it was just sharing a beer and sitting quietly with him. He really just wants their friendship back to what it was. Life just isn't as good without her.