Chapter five.
There was a knock on Josh's door not long after he'd closed it on his return home that night. He turned on his heel and answered it. She was holding a stack of newspapers, looking quite irate.
"Donna! W-what are you doing here?" He ran a hand through his hair.
"I heard about C.J. and Toby." She held up the papers.
"Did you?" He asked stupidly, trying to make some kind of small talk, knowing how angry she would be when she found out.
"Yes I did, Josh. I do read the papers. Can I come in?" He motioned for her to go in and she stalked into the living room.
"You want a drink?" He asked. By the look on her face, it was clear she didn't.
"What's happened to them?"
"What?"
"Josh, drop the act. What's happened now that the press have found out? What's the situation?"
He paused, looking uncomfortable, then said in a small voice, "They're both staying."
"WHAT?" She dropped the newspapers on the floor.
"Well, they are the Communications Director and the Press Secretary. They're not…"
"Assistants? Is that what you were going to say?"
"They're more in the public eye than you were. And the President can't afford to lose them, not now." He looked at her and his heart melted. He willed her to feel for him what he felt for her, but he was certain she didn't. She stared at the floor, not wanting to lock her eyes with his for fear of feeling what she used to, thinking he felt nothing, or maybe even worse, that he hated her.
"Can I stay here tonight? It's a long way back to New York at three in the morning."
""Yeah. You know where the spare room is. I'm going to bed." He yawned and started to walk up the stairs. Her hand grabbed his, stopping him in his tracks. She leant in towards him, feeling it was like it used to be…
"No, Donna."
"Why?"
"Look what happened last time. It ended up a mess. I can't risk doing that to you, or me, again." He turned and walked up the stairs and this time, she didn't stop him.