Earlier in the evening

Josh

"Why don't you go home? It's a warm evening and a great night to walk home. It'll clear your head and you'll be ready to start again in the morning, which by the way is not that far off."

CJ stood up. "Sounds great. See you in the morning."

Josh went back to his office. He was now the only one left in the West Wing. It was 12:30 in the morning. He couldn't decide what to do next. It had been a crappy day for him. He opened himself a beer and sat down at his desk.

Thinking over his day, he remembered how it had turned bad.

Earlier that day:

"Good morning, Josh."

"Good morning, Donna. Have you seen that report on the farm subsidies? I need it for Senior Staff in ten minutes."

"I left it on your desk last night."

"It's not here now."

"Look for it."

"I did. It's not here."

Donna came in and, after a brief search, pulled the folder from under a pile of takeout cartons and bags. "Here it is. I told you it was here."

"Thanks. Gotta go."

"Why don't you clean up your desk?"

"That's your job." He left her standing there, her mouth wide open.

"My job? We'll see about that."

When Josh came back an hour later, he turned the corner into his office and stopped cold. Scattered across his desk and floor were the contents of about four trash cans.

"DONNA!"

Donna saw him standing in the doorway and met him there.

"Yes, Josh?"

"Um, know anything about this?"

"No, should I?"

"Donna, did you empty the trash onto my desk and floor?"

"No, Josh, whatever gave you that idea?"

"Donna, please, clean up your mess. I have meetings the rest of the day." With that, Josh was gone.

Donna sighed. She was tired of playing Josh's little games. She grabbed her coat and purse.

"Bonnie, tell Josh I'm gone for the rest for the day. I'll see him tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Donna."

Josh didn't get back to his office until after six. The office was still a mess and a note was posted on the door. 'Donna left at 9 and said she would be gone the rest of the day. Be back tomorrow.'

Just as he was going to say something, Leo came up behind him and looked over his shoulder.

"What the HELL happened to your office, Josh?"

Josh turned around at the sound of Leo's voice. "Um, well, Leo…"

"Spit it out, Josh. Did you have a party in here and forget to invite me?"

"No, sir. Let me explain."

"Well, I would think so."

Josh described this morning conversation between him and Donna, and then showed him the note.

"Josh, I think we need to talk in my office."

The two men walked in silence. Josh felt like he was being called to the principal's office. In a way, he was.

"Sit down, Josh."

"Yes, sir."

"Josh, let me explain something. Donna is an employee of yours. She is your assistant. She is there to help you with your office. That means with your White House duties. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now, tell me where, in the list of her White House duties, is cleaning your desk and your office listed?"

"Nowhere."

"Now, tell me, in the list of YOUR White House duties, is maintaining a safe and healthy office environment listed?"

"Everywhere."

"Good. You're getting the message. Now, tell me, what are you going to do when you leave here? I mean, the very next thing?"

"I'm going to go to my office and clean up everything, including my desk."

"And then tomorrow, what are you going to do? First thing?"

"Apologize to Donna?"

"Apologize how to Donna?"

"Apologize profusely to Donna."

"That's right. And are you ever going to say things like that ever again to anyone?"

"No, I am not."

"No, you are not. Because why not?"

"Because if I do, you will fire my ass."

"That is correct. Have a good night, Josh. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Leo."

He finished his beer and grabbed his keys and coat. He would indeed apologize to Donna in the morning. And order her some flowers as well. Roses would be nice.

As he turned down Pennsylvania Avenue, his thoughts were not on the road, but on how thoughtless he had been to Donna. The traffic was light at one am so he wasn't giving much thought to the oncoming traffic. He had driven this route so many times at this hour of the night, it was like he was on autopilot. So his mind didn't register the box truck that swerved into his lane and came directly at him at a high rate of speed. Only at the last minute, with the highlights glaring in his eyes, did he register that the vehicle was about to collide with him head-on. The last thought in his mind was 'What the hell?'