I love my job.

I get a natural high when I can say 'Hi. My name is Sam Seaborn. I'm the Deputy Director of Communications for the White House.' I left a possible six-figure salary at Gage/Whitney and took my Princeton and Duke educations to Manchester, New Hampshire to help elect Josiah Bartlet.

There are very few days when I don't enjoy coming to work.

Today just happens to be one of those days.

The day started out well. I had no trouble commuting at 6:30 in the morning. When I got to my office, Cathy hadn't stolen my doughnut. I sat down and opened The Washington Post. First thing I do is read Danny Concannon's article. He's a decent guy, doesn't treat us too bad. C.J. really should give him a chance. After his article I scan the rest of the newspaper. For some strange reason, my eyes stop on "Ask Eve." Eve gives advice on people's love lives here in D.C., which I find extremely strange. What makes people think she's an expert?

The first two letters were rather boring. Why do women immediately run to these advice columnists when they have a fight with their boyfriends? And these columnists say five sentences and the women think they've struck gold. Unbelievable.

The third letter, however, stuck a chord with me. I had to read it three times just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

Dear Eve,
I've been working in Washington for three years as an aide to a powerful man in government.
Our office has recently recovered from a tragedy. When I almost lost him, it was then that I
realized how deeply in love with him I am. I don't know how he feels about me, though. Our
relationship goes so far as he hates every man I go out with and I even try to set him up with
other women! My biggest problem is, other than the fact that he's my boss, is that I don't want
to lose the best friend I've ever had. Please help!

-Wishful in Washington

Oh. My. God. That's got to be Donna! This just reeks of Donna Moss. Everybody--Toby, C.J., even Leo--knows how deeply she cares for him. It was evident with the way she took care of him after the shooting. But, she really shouldn't have gone and written a letter to "Ask Eve." If people find out that she…

I've got to find C.J.

It's about another hour before I can make it over to C.J.'s office. I needed to have a plan in place on how to handle the Donna situation.

"Hey Sam."

"Hey Carol. C.J., I'm glad I caught you." I enter her office and shut the door.

C.J. continues scanning a file not looking up. "What do you need, Spanky?"

You mention a child-hood nicknameonce…

"Please stop calling me that."

"Sam, I've got thirty minutes until the morning briefing and I need to be prepared for questions regarding the President's favorite flavor of ice cream. Heaven forbid they ask about the Middle East peace talks, they just want to know if the President prefers chocolate or vanilla."

 "He prefers mint chocolate chip."

C.J. glares at me. I seriously think she could kill somebody with that look.

"Sam, has anyone ever told you that you are a really big nerd?"

"Yeah, but I'm a cute nerd."

C.J. closes her folder. "Do you actually have a reason as to why you are in my office?"

"Have you ever read the 'Ask Eve' column in The Post?"

"No, who is she?"

"She gives advice on people's love life here in D.C."

"And that's supposed to impress me how?"

I throw the section of the paper on her desk. "Take a look at the highlighted letter."

C.J. picks up the paper and starts reading. Her eyes grow wider with each line. "Are you kidding me? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??" She throws the paper down. "This time I really mean it. I quit."

"Yeah. Okay, here's the plan I've come up with."

"You have a plan? You already have a plan for this? You really are such a nerd."

"Yeah. We'll 'casually' watch Donna throughout the day. We'll talk with her; maybe get some information out of her. And we'll see if any of the other assistants know anything."

C.J. stands up and gathers her not pad. "That's great, Sam. Now all we need is the talking dog and The Mystery Machine. Tell Shaggy and Velma hello." She opens the door and heads to her briefing.

I pump my fist. "Excellent."

Wait a minute! Did she just put me down? Whatever, I've got to go get ready for Senior Staff.

The senior staff meeting went relatively well. Toby only yelled me at once. When Leo dismissed us, Josh and I head over to his office. This is my chance to talk with Donna.

 "So, Josh, did you ever ask out Joey Lucas?"

"Nah. But she did say something interesting."

"Really? What's that?" I take a sip of coffee.

"She said that the reason Donna was pushing me so hard to ask Joey out was that Donna likes me. I mean likes me likes me--in a non-employer/employee relationship."

Cough! I choke on my coffee. "R-really? Um, okay. And what do you think of that?"

"Haven't given it much thought. Been too busy with the Surgeon General thing."

We enter his office and Josh sits down in his chair, while I take a seat in the visitor's chair across from him. "Well, will you ever think about it?" I brave another sip of coffee.

"I dunno. May I'll write 'Ask Eve' and see what she thinks I should do."

COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! Now I'm really choking. Josh runs over to me with his arms in the air.

"Arms up!" He raises my arms in the air and then puts his back up.

When I finally calm down, I look up at Josh, who still has his arms in the air. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"Donna taught me this. It's something that her family does. It's to open up your diaphragm to let more air in. And the others in the room do the same so that the cougher doesn't look or feel like an idiot."

"Oh, okay." I continue to look at him and he looks at me. We both realize that we still have our arms up in the air. We immediately put them down.

"Sam, did my saying something about that column upset you?"

I stand up and walk over to his chalkboard. "NO! Uh, no. Have you read the column recently?"

"No. Donna won't give me back my copy of The Post. First she doesn't get me coffee and now she won't give me back my newspaper. What's next, stealing my lunch money?"

Well, that's interesting. That letter is from Donna. She deliberately stole Josh's paper so he wouldn't read her letter! And as if on cue, Donna pops her head in.

 "Josh-oh hey Sam. Josh, you have a meeting with Budget in two minutes."

"Thanks. Oh, Sam? Did you want to talk with me about something?"

Boy, do I. "Yeah. Leo wants us to work on the VAWA thing. But it can wait."

"Okay, I'll stop by after Budget."

Donna shakes her head. "No you won't. You have a meeting with Leo after the meeting with Budget."

Josh rolls his eyes. "Then can I go out and play with Sam, Mom?"

"Yes. You have one hour to talk with Sam before your meeting with Senator Allen."

"Great. Thanks."

Donna crosses her arms. "Josh, Budget, now." Then the two just walk out of his office without saying a word to me. I think when they talk to each other; the rest of the world disappears.

I exit Josh's office and head over to Donna's desk. I notice that she's reading The Post. "Hey. What 'cha reading?"


Donna's head pops up and she slams the paper down. "Nothing."

"Really, 'cause it looks to me like you're reading 'Ask Eve.'"

"No…yes."

"Anything interesting?"

Donna averts her eyes from mine. This has got to mean something. "No. Just you usual Lonely Hearts Club."
AHA! "Okay, see ya."

I turn and briskly walk out of the bullpen, turn the corner, and sprint towards C.J.'s office.

To Be Continued...