A Reason to Give Thanks
Chapter 2 by Cath
For disclaimers, notes, and authors, see part one.
*
"So you'll be at my place at eight o'clock tomorrow morning?" Josh asked as Donna prepared to leave the West Wing for the night.
"Yup, bright and early. I can't believe you're letting me go now," she teased.
"It's going to be a long and lonely evening," he replied, smirking. "But I'm sure I'll cope."
She grinned. "See you tomorrow. And remember, don't touch a thing in the kitchen until I get there, okay?"
"You don't trust me?" Josh asked, feigning innocence.
"Hell, no!" she threw over her shoulder as she left his office.
He smiled to himself. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day. But for now, he was going to meet Congressman Skinner at a bar.
*
The buzzer announcing Donna's arrival went off five minutes before eight. Josh took her coat and she wasted no time making her way into the kitchen.
"It's not going to be a problem to cook for six instead of five, is it?" he called as he followed her.
"Who's six?" Donna asked as she began opening Josh's cupboards to find them stocked with the groceries she'd purchased several days earlier.
"Danny. I saw him at the hotel last night when I was meeting with Matt," Josh answered as he leaned against the counter and watched her, making sure to keep out of her way.
"Danny? You mean Danny, formerly of the White House Press corps and now…" She faltered. "What the hell is he doing now anyway?"
"He just flew into DC to cover the post-election interviews for the Post," Josh told her. "And yes, that Danny."
Donna swatted him over the head. "You invited Danny!"
"Ow! That hurt!" He rubbed his head. "Yes, I invited Danny," he confirmed, wondering why she felt the need to hit him.
"Don't you think that's a little, you know, presumptuous?" she asked, glaring at him. "CJ's coming!"
"No, what difference does it make?" He frowned. "CJ likes him."
"Josh, they almost had a, a thing!"
"There's football, and beer, and Donna – a thing?"
"They almost… kissed," she told him.
He still didn't get it. "So?"
"So, don't you think it might be awkward?"
"Why?" he asked.
"You really are an idiot!" she huffed.
"Look, it'll be fine. He'll be watching the game while all you women are in the kitchen," he reasoned.
Donna's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"And then after dinner he's gonna fall asleep like the rest of us." He only realized his mistake regarding the women cooking when he saw the look on Donna's face.
She took the opportunity to swat him over the head again. "That's it! You get to put the stuffing in!"
"Donna, no! That's gross!" He eyed the turkey warily.
"Too bad, bird boy," she smirked.
He grasped frantically for an excuse. "I don't think you're supposed to cook the stuffing in the turkey, anyway. What do the instructions on the box say?"
She thrust the box in his face. "They say to stuff the bird, pumpkin patch." She folded her arms and leaned back against the counter beside him, a smile on her face.
Josh groaned.
*
"That's right Josh, you have to slip your hand in gently..."
"Are you sure you don't want to do this?" he asked, his hand half inside the dead turkey.
"Very sure," Donna said cheerfully. "It's much more fun to watch."
"This feels so weird. Almost obscene," he commented. "In fact, it's kinda like…" He stopped.
"Keep your twisted fantasies to yourself, okay?" she replied with a wry smile. He finished stuffing the turkey and made a dramatic point of washing his hands thoroughly to get rid of any imagined entrails.
"Now what?" he asked.
"Now the turkey goes in the oven." She lifted the turkey into the roasting pan, then stared at it for a few moments, almost contemplative.
"I wonder how Ethelbert's getting along without Bob," she pondered aloud.
"Ethelbert and Bob?" Josh asked.
"The turkeys," she informed him. "Ethelbert got pardoned and Bob… well, that's another story."
Josh rolled his eyes. "What kind of dumb-ass name is Ethelbert, anyway?"
"I had an ex-boyfriend called Ethelbert!"
"Well, what kind of girl dates a guy named Ethelbert?" he asked.
She raised her eyebrows. "Do you want to be wearing the giblets?" she warned, grabbing the bag and waving it in front of his face. He ducked, grinning, then gave her a small shove back towards the turkey.
She gave him a mock evil grin over her shoulder, then put the turkey in oven and washed her hands.
"What's next?" he asked.
"Vegetables," Donna announced, handing him a large bag of carrots. "Peel," she instructed. Josh groaned again.
*
It was after eleven when Danny arrived. "I hope I'm not too late," he said to Josh as he entered the apartment. He noticed the lack of people. "Or too early, for that matter." He glanced at his watch. "You said eleven, right? I can come back later if you're not ready."
"It's fine, Danny," Donna said as she emerged from the kitchen. "Everyone else is just, well, late."
"I come bearing gifts," Danny said, holding up a pack of beer and a box of chocolates. "Josh said you were going to cook but I figured he wouldn't have told you he'd invited me and I decided you couldn't kick a guy out if he brings gifts."
Donna laughed. "It's no problem, but thanks anyway."
"Would you like a drink?" Josh offered after inviting Danny to take a seat.
"Sure, I'll have a beer."
"I will too," Donna called out as she went back to the kitchen.
The buzzer went again and shortly afterwards Sam entered.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" he greeted. "Danny?! What are you doing here?"
"I was told that there would be food, beer and football," Danny replied. He held up the can of beer. "I've got the beer, now I'm just waiting for the food and football."
"Beer, Sam?" Josh asked.
Sam nodded, "Want to take this through to the kitchen?" he asked, holding up a container.
"What is it?" Josh questioned.
"Pumpkin soup – special recipe."
"Right," Josh replied. He took it through to the kitchen and returned with the beer. "Take a seat," he told Sam. He turned the TV on, found a station showing the football game, and flopped down on the couch.
"Josh!" Donna called from the kitchen.
"What?" he called back.
"You've not finished mashing the potatoes!"
Josh sighed. "Enjoy the game," he said, returning to the kitchen.
*
About twenty minutes later CJ arrived. She was slightly shocked to see Danny sitting in the living room. Upon confirming that Josh was responsible, she dragged him to the empty guest bedroom.
"Why the hell did you invite him?!" she demanded, hitting him on the side of the head.
"Because he had nowhere else to go. Besides, I thought you liked him!" She hit him again. "Ow! You've already hit me once! Donna has too!" he complained.
"Good! I doubt she did it hard enough!" CJ glared at him.
"What do you want me to do? Throw him out?" Josh asked.
"That's not the point. In future, tell me before you do something like this!"
The door buzzer went. "I'd better go get that," Josh said, looking for a quick escape.
"In future, you will tell me before you do something like this!" CJ repeated.
"Yes, yes, I'll tell you," Josh replied. "Now can I go?"
CJ opened the door and let him escape, ignoring the questioning looks from Danny and Sam.
"Ainsley, hi," Josh greeted as she entered.
"Hello everyone. I'm just going to take this through to the kitchen," she said, indicating the plates and containers she was holding.
"What've you brought?" Sam asked.
"Pumpkin soup and Rocky Mountain Oysters," she replied as she headed for the kitchen.
"She brought pumpkin soup!" Sam protested.
"So?" Josh asked.
"I brought soup. I can't believe she brought soup!"
"She also brought Rocky Mountain Oysters," CJ smirked.
"Is seafood traditional?" Josh asked.
"Ah, you'll just have to try them," CJ commented. She grinned. "You'll love them."
*
To be continued in part three.