***
The next day
Late afternoon
***


"How was lunch?" Donna asked as she placed four neat file folders on Josh's
desk.

Josh, who was looking out the window, turned around slowly. This was the part he
was really dreading. "Lunch was...in the mess on a Navy destroyer."

"But did you see anything interesting? I mean, they're the size of small cities,
and you flew there on Marine One with the President and Amy. Something
interesting must've happened."

"Close the door," Josh sighed.

"Josh...did you push any buttons you weren't supposed to?" Donna asked, her tone
light and mocking. "Are we now at war with Nova Scotia?"

"Just close the door, please. And sit down."

Donna's eyes were wary as she took a seat in Josh's extra chair. "Just how bad
is it?"

"I wouldn't say bad. I'd say, maybe, surprising. Amusing, even." He kept his
hands folded in his lap. "You know Amy was there."

"Josh, just yesterday I helped her assistant coordinate the travel
arrangements." Donna's brow furrowed. "You two didn't, you know, in a bunk
somewhere, did you?"

"Donna! No. But the thing is, it turns out the captain knew Amy back in grad
school, and she introduced me, and he was explaining how he can actually marry
people aboard his ship. We were joking around, and he walked us through it. And
oddly enough, as it turns out, it was...the President told us on the way back
that...it was enough to be legally binding."

He had to stop. Donna's face was ashen and her mouth was twisted in what he was
pretty sure wasn't an attempt to hold back laughter. "Oh, God, Josh," she
whispered.

"Anyway. Amy and I, we accidentally got married."

"But...but it's not...you can get it annulled, or something...right?"

Josh shook his head and brought his hands to the desk. "We're married, Donna. It
was, you know, kinda weird for the first few minutes, but we've warmed to the
idea, and you have to admit it's a good story. So I went to the bank and got my
dad's ring out of the safe deposit box, for now, and Amy's looking around for
something of her grandmother's to wear until we get something new. Or we might
keep these, I don't know." He toyed with the antique gold band that twinkled on
his left hand. "I wanted you to be the first to know."

She just nodded without saying another word. When she stood up, Josh saw that
her legs were shaky, her knees practically buckling as she wobbled toward the
door. C.J. was coming in as she went out. "Hi, Donna."

There was no response but the quick clattering of Donna's heels as she ran down
the corridor. C.J. looked at Josh. "What'd you do?"

"I didn't..." He raked his hand through his hair, looking down at his desktop,
then back up at C.J.'s puzzled, angry expression. "Amy and I got married."

C.J. said "Ah," pivoted on one heel, then spun back. "I'm sorry, you said...?"

"C.J."

"When? How?"

"Today, and it's a long story involving the United States Navy."

"Ah." C.J. held her note pad close to her chest. "Well, I'm going to need more
than that because when this hits the press, I'll be expected to come up with the
details."

"I'll have Donna send you a memo," Josh said.

C.J. blinked at him, then reached for the door and slammed it hard enough to
rattle the photographs on Josh's wall. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"What?"

"Is that supposed to be funny?" C.J. was standing at his desk now, palms spread
on the surface, leaning over and glaring at him with all her considerable might.
"Josh, you are such an idiot. Do you think Donna's sitting at her desk, waiting
for you to give her the juicy details of your nooner nuptials?"

Josh rose quickly. "I don't think I care for that phrase, C.J."

"Well, that's a little bit too bad, Joshua, because I'm willing to bet that at
least four major papers use it for their headlines! And I'm the one who's going
to have to sell it out there at the briefings. You think this isn't going to get
noticed?"

"I think this is no one's business but mine!"

"Think again, Watson. You're a highly visible member of the administration, more
visible since you've just turned down the Chief of Staff job for the Minority
Leader in the week that he suddenly becomes a Majority Leader. Your girlfriend's
on television three nights a week, and her face is on the cover of everything
from 'Working Woman' to 'Vogue.' You honestly think you can just slip out and
quietly get married and no one will notice? God, Josh, haven't you learned a
thing all these years?"

"I don't care if they notice. And why the hell can't Donna write the memo?"

"Cut the crap, Josh, even you aren't that damn dense."

Josh reeled, stepping back toward the window, then he rounded the desk and
headed for the door, opening it and pointing to the hallway while staring at
C.J. with anger flashing in his eyes.

"I'm still, for the next five weeks, the Deputy White House Chief of Staff. You
work for me and you need to get that straight. Get out of my office."

"Yeah, as soon as this big clump of people moves out of my way," C.J. said,
adjusting her glasses and waiting for Josh to actually look in the direction he
was pointing.

Toby stood there, arms crossed over his chest. Leo was walking up with Margaret
in tow. "What the hell is going on in here?" Leo asked.

"C.J.'s having a conniption fit," Josh stated. "What the hell is going on out
there?"

The two men deferred to Margaret, who straightened her shoulders and gave Josh
an evil look. "Roy - the guy at the desk in the lobby - just called about Donna.
She tried to leave without signing out, so he stopped her and told her go back
to sign. He said she was agitated and wouldn't tell him why. Then she threw up
on his shoes and ran out of the building. Secret Service didn't think anything
about her leaving and by the time anyone told them there was a problem, she'd
already disappeared. She's not answering her cell phone or her pager."

"Any idea why this might have happened?" Leo asked.

Josh felt the blood drain from his face. He looked at C.J., who was standing
with her hand over her eyes, then back at Toby, and finally at Leo.

"I kind of...accidentally..." He swallowed hard and held his left hand up.
"Today."

"You were with the...you...on the ship?" Leo's voice rose. "What the hell,
Josh?"

"I've been dating Amy for four years - why is this a surprise to anyone?"

"Perhaps because, during that time, the two of you have broken up more often
than I've had hot meals," Toby suggested dryly.

"Okay, I probably didn't pick the best way of telling Donna," Josh muttered.
"But you know, a few congratulations might be in order. Or at least a lessening
of the overt hostilities."

There was a moment of tense silence, then Leo walked up and patted Josh on the
arm. "Congratulations, Josh. I hope you're very happy."

"I'm sorry. Congratulations," C.J. said, putting her hand on Josh's shoulder. "I
was just...shocked."

Toby and Margaret mumbled things Josh couldn't hear and walked away. Josh
watched them leave, then turned to C.J.

"If this is the bachelor party, then I can't wait for the honeymoon." He rubbed
his eyes. "Guys, I think I'd like to be alone for a bit, okay?"

"I really am sorry, Josh," C.J. said, trying to hug him, but he pulled away.
"Josh."

"It just...happened so fast. And I do love her."

C.J. nodded. "I'm going now," she murmurred. "I really am happy for you, Josh.
It's gonna be okay."

Josh listened as the door snicked shut, then looked out of his window at the
gathering dusk. "Yeah, that's what you want to hear three hours after you get
married."

He sat down at his desk, puttering around with the documents he would have to
keep, file, add to the Presidential library, or just throw away. Good thing the
marriage license wasn't in his hands, or he might be tempted to chunk it into
the circular file as well. But he had Amy now, forever; she'd promised herself
to him, and he to her.

And he did love her. He did. Love her.

By the time he finished his solitary reverie, it was nearly dark outside and
Matt Skinner was standing in his doorway, grinning at him. "I wasn't sure if
we'd be meeting today or not - given the rumors floating around."

Josh cocked his head. "Rumors of my death may or may not be greatly
exaggerated."

"I hear congratulations are in order." Matt took a seat and extended his hand to
Josh, who shook it. "Something about a Navy captain? You been holding out on me
all these years?"

"Yeah, it's a long story. And I've had a lot of time to think about it. Solitary
time."

"You shocked people who don't shock easily, Josh. That takes real talent.
They'll come around once the initial...thing wears off." Matt looked around the
office. "Donna's still out?"

"She left for the day. She wasn't feeling well."

"Yeah, I heard about that, too."

"Well, you're a genuine fountain of information today, aren't you?" Josh leaned
back in his chair, feeling his chest tighten with the growing anxiety. "What,
just out of curiosity, did you hear?"

"That you told Donna you'd gotten married and she ran out of here after booting
her lunch on a guard's shoes. And that no one's heard from her since." Matt
smiled ruefully. "Did you really think she'd offer to throw Amy a shower?"

"I didn't expect the news of my marriage to make her vomit. Or to make C.J. yell
at me, or Leo and Toby avoid me. And I'm pretty sure Margaret's in her office
making Josh-shaped voodoo dolls to stick pins in." He sighed. "Matt, I've been
dating Amy for over four years, give or take some times that were a
little...strenuous. Donna dated Cliff Calley for a long time. I didn't throw up
on her."

"No, but she never committed to him." Matt pulled the chair closer, pinning Josh
with his gaze. "Face it. If she'd married Cliff Calley - and he did ask her, you
know, three times--"

"I didn't know that," Josh breathed.

"Well, he did, and if she'd said yes then you'd have moved heaven and earth to
stop her. And even if you couldn't stop her, at least you'd know you'd tried.
But Donna didn't get that chance, Josh, and frankly I think that's pretty crappy
of you."

"Donna and I don't have that kind of relationship," Josh said, his voice
sounding flat even to himself.

"Please, Josh. It's me. Don't try and bullshit me." Matt looked at him and
sighed. "I know it was complicated. For a while I thought I'd need a flow chart
to keep track of what was going on. But please, don't kid yourself - there was
something, and you know it."

"Was. Something." Josh whispered, turning the wedding ring around and around on
his finger. "But I love Amy. I'm married to her. Better or worse."

"Let's hope for better, then. Let me know when you get settled, I'll take you
guys out to dinner."

Josh's eyes focused for the first time in about two hours. "You say no one's
heard from her?"

"Not a peep," Matt said evenly, able to follow the disjointed train of thought.
"Margaret called her roommate but she didn't go home. Bonnie and
what's-her-name?"

"Ginger."

"Yeah, Ginger. Toby sent them out to all their haunts. C.J. sent Carol to the
Georgetown library, and before you ask, yes, they've called Cliff and he hasn't
seen her either."

"Damn." Josh punched numbers into his phone, waited, and talked. "Donnatella.
Pick up the phone. No, wait, if it's on voice mail, you don't know it's me. But
when you get the message...call." He hung up, and when he looked at Matt he knew
he must have looked like hell because Matt leapt to his feet.

"I'll find her, Josh. Stay put."

Matt didn't like the sudden pallor or the way Josh's right arm didn't seem to
work correctly anymore, or the way Josh's breath came fast and shallow. Damn
him, anyway, stupid son-of-a-bitch.

He walked out of the White House without a firm idea of where he was going. He
remembered someone telling him that Donna went to clear her head somewhere when
Josh was still in the hospital, back when she was holding his office together
with spit, chewing gum, and tenacity. He'd know it when he got there. He'd know
it.

Matt watched everyone in the thinning groups of people, looking for bright
blonde hair atop a tall frame. At least she'd be easy to see. It was dark by the
time he got to the Lincoln Memorial, but even though she was sitting out of the
way of the spotlights, slouched over with her face in her hands, he knew he'd
found her. Stepping back out of the way, he reached for his phone and dialed.
"Josh. It's Matt. She's okay, and I'll call back later."

He didn't wait for a response, just folded the phone and went to sit next to
Donna. "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"

"You get a lot of women with that line?" Donna asked, her head still down.

"I don't know - I've never tried," Matt answered breezily, leaning over so that
when Donna lifted her head, she'd know who he was.

"Senator!" Donna uncurled herself and started to get up, but Matt shook his head
and patted the place next to him.

"It's okay. I was just worried, so I thought I'd take a little walk. See if I
could spot you. You should wear a hat if you don't want to be recognized."

Donna regarded him with suspicion. "Did you go to your meeting with Josh, by any
chance?"

"Well, I showed up, but there wasn't much of a meeting." He paused for a moment.
"He's out of his mind with worrying about you."

"He has a novel way of showing it."

"Yeah, I think that's just now occurring to him. You know he can be slow on the
uptake sometimes, right?" He jostled her arm with his shoulder and that earned
him a wan smile.

"You'd think he'd be a little more clued in after nine years," Donna sighed.

"That's almost a third of your lifetime." Matt shifted on the steps, stretching
his legs out in front of him. "I spent forty of my forty-one years convinced
that everybody in your - I'm sorry, our - party was insane."

"Josh probably didn't do much to help you change that image. I mean, who
accidentally gets married? It's like I'm stuck in a bad sitcom and can't get
out."

Matt laughed and nodded. "I'm just saying that we've both had something
fundamental shift around under us. It's something we have to work at, finding
our sea legs when we're feeling cast adrift."

Donna nodded, solemn. "That's exactly what I'm feeling right now, Senator."

"It's way past banker's hours, and we're not on the Hill or in Josh's office.
Call me Matt."

The full wattage of her smile came out like daylight. He was relieved to see
that after so much gloom. "I appreciate that. You've always been so nice to me.
Nicer to me than to Josh, actually."

"It's because I know who's important." He looked at his clasped hands for a few
moments. "You know, just because I switched parties doesn't mean my staff did.
They jumped ship faster than mice on pogo sticks. I'm working out of my office
with two interns who share one brain cell between them."

"That has to be rough - I mean, you're practically learning a new language."

"I am. And I need someone who's fluent. Someone who knows how to get things done
without undoing everything else. Someone with enough talent and energy to keep a
staff motivated."

"That can't be too hard to find," Donna said, looking up at the night sky. "Many
of the smartest Democrats in D.C. are pounding the pavement right now."

"Oh, I've found exactly the person I need."

"Really?" Donna's expression was curious, but as Matt continued to look at her,
smiling, she began to look doubtful. "You're going to try and lure Josh
away...?"

"No. God, no. I mean, I like the guy, he's my friend, but no way could I work
with him. But I need the kind of person who can work with people like Josh." He
waited for her to catch on, or for her to allow herself that flight of fancy,
but he could see her holding it in check, not letting herself believe what she
was hearing. "Donna. I want you to come work for me."

She nodded, but her brain obviously hadn't quite caught up. "You want me to get
an office staff together for you. I can do that, I've hired a lot of--"

"Donna. Stop." He was almost laughing. "I want you to help me organize a staff.
Then I want you to be in charge of it." There. Her eyes widened and he finished
his statement. "I'm asking you to be my deputy chief of staff. A special
advisor."

Donna stared at him, the corners of her mouth turning downward. "Did Josh put
you up to this?"

"Josh doesn't know, and he'll probably kill me if you take this job, but I don't
care. I've thought long and hard about who'd be the best person for the
position, and it's you."

"I don't have a degree," she stammered. "I never finished school, I'm just this
girl who walked up to the campaign office and assigned herself to Josh Lyman."

"Do you have any idea how many times Josh told me that story?" Matt asked
softly. "Do you understand how much we admire you for doing that? Donna, what
you have, they don't teach in school. You're the perfect person for this job.
You've earned it. I was planning to talk you into it over a power lunch, but
that's too ordinary. So I'm doing it right here on the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial." He sensed her hesitation as she lowered her gaze to her lap. Ducking
his head so she could still see his face, he continued. "Take the job, Donna.
There are perks. I don't bellow. I can actually use a computer. I don't like
anyone's coffee but mine, so I make it myself."

Donna sighed. "You make it sound like my dream job."

"It is, it really is. And the biggest perk of you working with me?" He took her
hand and squeezed it gently. "We won't accidentally fall in love."

Her shoulders began to shake and he put his arms around her, holding her as she
laughed and cried all at once. He rocked her gently, silently raining curses on
Josh Lyman and all the men whose influence had left this wonderful woman so
insecure, so unhappy.

Well, it wasn't going to happen again, not on his watch.

While Donna dried her eyes and combed through her wind-tangled hair, Matt picked
up his cell phone and checked messages. Josh. Josh. Leo. Josh. C.J. Toby. Josh.
Josh. And an unfamiliar number.

"Hey, Donna, look at this." He showed her the cell phone. "Is that who I think
it is?" Donna nodded, confirming that the President had made his own enquiry.
"Okay, let's take a walk by the White House, let him know you're all right. Then
we'll go out for dinner, and you'll tell me all the ways you're going to make my
career a shining success."

"I'm not likely to be much company tonight," Donna demurred.

"That's fine. Then I'll tell you all the ways I'm going to make your career a
shining success." He held out his hand and helped her to her feet. "But right
now we don't have to talk at all."

They walked quietly, each lost in thought, until they reached the main gate of
the White House. Donna got them buzzed in, signed them in, left a short note
apologizing to Roy, and finally started walking down the familiar corridors that
were now lined with boxes and boxes of materials that would have to be stored
somewhere.

"Donna. Thank God," Charlie said as he ran up to them. He opened his arms and
Donna went into them, sighing gratefully at Charlie's presence, at his comfort.
Charlie looked up at Matt over her shoulder and mouthed his thanks before
turning his attention back to Donna. "We sent Josh home once he heard you were
okay. You don't have to worry about bumping into him tonight."

"Thank you. I'm being...so stupid."

"No. You're not." He patted her on the back. "You're not. Now come on - the
staff's got standing orders to get you in the minute one of us spots you."

The three of them started walking to the Oval Office. Donna hesitated at the
threshhold. "You want me to come with you?" Charlie and Matt asked at the same
time, but Donna shook her head.

"I'm okay. But thanks." She knocked, waited for permission to enter, and walked
up to the Presidential Seal on the carpet. "Good evening, Mr. President."

"Donnatella. I'm so, so sorry about all of this." He took her hands and brought
her to the loveseat, taking the spot beside her. "You had us very worried, young
lady."

"I'm sorry, sir. I just had to get some air."

"I can understand that." Bartlet sighed heavily. "I suppose we all knew you and
Josh were close, and on some level I should've seen this coming. I'm just
terribly sorry for my role in this."

"Oh, no, this isn't your fault. It's not anyone's fault. It's just..." She
trailed off, unable to meet his clear, compassionate eyes. "There are only a few
weeks left, and almost everyone has a job lined up. Most of what was going on in
Josh's office can be done by almost anyone. I'll arrange for a temp. Or two,
since he'll probably fire the first one before lunch."

"And what are your plans?"

"I've had an offer." At the President's look of alarm, she clarified her
statement. "I'm going to be the Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Skinner, sir."

Bartlet whistled his approval. "Very nice. Good for you! I am sorry about the
circumstances, though. You've brought a lot to this administration over the
years. Abbey and I are very grateful to you for all you've done. I want to make
sure that we don't lose you, Donna. You mean so much to us, you really do."

"Thank you, sir," Donna said, her voice rising and breaking. She waved her hand
in front of her face for a moment. "I'm going to get my things and go, and I'll
fax my letter to Leo first thing in the morning."

"May I give you a little advice, please?" Bartlet said, putting his arm around
Donna's shoulders. "Don't just walk out. I know it feels like the thing to do,
but you're still a little in shock and you're moving very, very fast. Come back
in the morning. Say your goodbyes to everyone. And that includes Josh."

"I can't face him," Donna whispered.

"He's the one who should be afraid of facing you. Don't misunderstand, I love
Josh Lyman even when I want to kick his ass into next week. It's not that he got
married, it's not that he did it by accident and at work, it's that he handled
the situation about as badly as it could have been. He knows he's screwed up,
and he's going to have to take it like a man."

That made Donna laugh ruefully, gave her the strength to look the President in
the eye and thank him. He helped her up and walked her to the door, where Matt
was waiting. "Senator, is it true that you're going to be looking after Donna
for me?"

"I think it's the other way around," Matt said as he shook hands with the
President.

"I stand corrected. Donna, you are not to leave this building tomorrow until
you've given your contact information to Charlie, is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," she said, surprising them both by throwing her arms around him and
hugging him tightly.

Bartlet stroked her hair for a moment before stepping back, grinning. "Matt,
you'll notice that the Secret Service did absolutely nothing to stop her. Didn't
even flinch. That's the kind of power she has around here. Don't forget it."

"Oh, I won't." Donna saw admiration in the eyes of both men just before her own
eyes filled with tears. As she walked with Matt out of the White House, Donna
knew there would be tears over dinner, and some laughter, and some hope, and a
new beginning.

And new beginnings were good.

***
Part 4