Title:  A Day In The Life of… White House Deputy Chief of Staff

Disclaimer:  *So* not mine ::sigh::

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers:  Through Season 4

Feedback:  Always welcome at kjtinlin@aol.com :-)

Thanks:  To Alicia, Sharon and Lisa.

Part 7/8

**

What's that beeping?  Oh, it's my alarm.  Wait, it's 5:06 already, how can that be true?  I know what you're thinking; you're thinking 'why does he set his alarm for 5:06 and not, say, 5:00?'  Well, the answer is simple; this way I can say 'at least I didn't have to get up at 5am'.  Also, I can hit the 'snooze' button and not actually have to get out of bed until my alarm goes off for the second time, at 5:15.  You know, that's something that's always bugged me; why do the snooze functions on alarm clock-radios sound again after *nine* minutes?  I mean, the common phrase is 'just another *five* minutes', so why nine?  There must be a reason for it, but I shouldn't get caught up in this; for all I know, snooze functions are no longer set for nine minutes – I haven't bought a new alarm clock since college!  Anyway, the damn alarm is going off again, which tells me I've been thinking about this for nine minutes so, time to get up.

Okay, Josh, put the coffee on and then jump in the shower, you can do it.  No coffee, aargh!!  What the hell am I supposed to do now?  Donna threatened me with bodily injury if I turned up at work again without having had my 'wake up' cup of coffee.  Guess I'll need to go to Starbucks on the way but, if I do that, I'm then gonna get hell from her for not buying her something but, if I do buy her something, it'll upset the power balance, since she won't bring me coffee.  What's a guy supposed to do?  Hmm, I could buy her coffee and then make her beg for it.  Alright, shower first and then decide on the way to work.

*

Ah, is there anything better than the smell of coffee early in the morning?  Well, okay, there are a *few* things better, but I'm only going to think about one right now - *drinking* the coffee!

"Morning, Josh.  What's that you've got there?"

Ha, Donna thinks that by being nonchalant she'll get what she's after - not a chance!

"It's coffee, Donna."

"You don't say!"

Hey, was there any need for the sarcasm in her tone?  Well, okay, maybe there was.

"Yes, I do say, and I also say that I'll be going into my office now."

Okay, Josh, one foot in front of the other, keep walking and don't run into anything.  Two more steps…

"Josh!"

Damn!  Do I turn around, or do I ignore her and make her follow me?  I think this might be easier on my own territory.  Okay, set the cups on the desk…yes, I said *cups*, plural.  Just wait a second and Donna will inquire as well.

"Josh."

I knew she'd follow me.  Took her longer than I thought it would though.

"Yes, Donna?"

"You, uh…you brought coffee."

"Your observation is correct."

I know I'm grinning smugly, but I can't help it - sue me!

"Two cups?"

If she thinks the hopeful tone is gonna work, she can think again.

"Yes, two cups."

Hehehe, I can see the exasperation in her eyes.

"One for you and one for…?"

"Me."

"What?"

Oh, this is gonna be fun.  I contemplated the whole way to Starbucks as to whether I should buy her a cup or not, but the possibility of her begging made my decision for me.  So, I ended up buying a cup for each of us, but I'm not gonna tell her that straight out, where would be the fun in that?  I'll just wait until she asks the question and then I'll give her my pre-prepared answer.  Okay, Josh, wipe the grin off your face before you give the game away.

"Both cups are for you?"

She's eyeing me suspiciously, as well she might I guess.

"Yes."

One-word answers really piss her off, hence my reason for this whole exercise - I'm a master politician, I knew exactly how it would play out.

"Why do you need *two* cups of coffee?"

Oh, Donna, don't pout; you're just making it more fun for me.

"To keep myself balanced."

The look on her face right now is priceless; she's stuck somewhere between confusion at my statement and wanting to hit me because she knows that, whatever I mean, it's gonna be me being my usual sweet, charming self.  Yeah, I know you don't believe that either.

"Balanced?"

Okay, how do I explain this in a way that will make her just laugh rather than hit me?  This whole idea struck me earlier, while I was in the shower.  I think it was thinking about the 'balance of power' between Donna and myself.  The 'balance' thing got stuck in my head and, well, here's the result.

"Yeah, you know, a cup of coffee in each hand to make sure my center of gravity isn't off."

Okay, she's not attempting to hit me, but she's not laughing either.  Hmm…

"Your center of gravity?"

Damn, this isn't going anything like the way I planned.  Where did my master politician skills go?  Oh wait, I haven't had my coffee yet.  Okay, take the lid off and take a sip, Josh, all will be well after that.

"Ah, coffee."

Oops, I didn't mean to say that out loud - she's glaring at me now.

"Josh!"

She's tapping her foot impatiently and her eyes are really wide; in fact, the phrase 'bugging out' would fit perfectly.

"Okay, okay, I bought the other cup for you."  She takes the cup I hold out, but she's eyeing it warily.  "I didn't poison it or anything, Donna."

"Are you sure?"

"Donna!"

Hey, she just switched cups on me!  I waved my arms around in exasperation for a moment and she took the opportunity to switch cups, so that she is now holding the one I took a sip from earlier.

"Donna!"

"What?  If the other one doesn't have anything wrong with it, what's the problem?"

Oh, she's trying the sweet, innocent voice now.  It's not going to work.

"The other one is *your* favorite, not mine.  See, I go to all the bother of buying your favorite flavor of *girly* coffee, but I end up having to drink it; last time I ever do that.  Don't you trust me or something?"

Okay, that was meant to be a joking statement but, for some reason, my voice sounded strange when I asked if she trusts me.

"Of course I trust you, Josh."

Her voice was really low when she said that, and it had a…a *quality* to it that I haven't heard before.

"I know you do."

I don't think I've ever let my voice be that soft, I hope she realizes that; I wouldn't be like this with anyone but her.  Maybe this is…maybe this is the *moment* I discussed with Leo.  Should I take the chance?  There might never be a better one, I'm just gonna go for it.

"Donna?"

"Yeah?"

Okay, she's giving me a piercing gaze and it's…disconcerting isn't the right word, but it is having a strange effect on me.

"I…I just --"

"Josh, you need to read this, now."

What the hell?  Oh, it's CJ.  She just walked, no *barged* into my office and thrust a paper under my nose.

"CJ, can't this wait, I'm kinda --"

"No, it can't wait; that's why I said you needed to read it *now*!"

Uh oh, she seems pissed.  Wait, have I done something?  I don't think I have, but you never know.  Okay, Josh, take the paper and read what she's pointing at.  Oh, there's a really scathing op-ed piece about the Administration - I'm gonna have to kick some Republican butt for this.

"I'll leave you to it."

Huh?  Oh damn, Donna just left the office, taking her coffee, or rather *my* coffee with her.  I hope that wasn't *the* moment that just passed.

*

Phew, I *finally* got CJ out of my office after we came up with a suitable response to the op-ed piece, but not before we had involved Toby and Will.  Hmm, I'd expected Donna to come into my office as soon as the others left, but she hasn't appeared yet.

"Donna?"

She's not replying.

"Donna?"

I called a little louder that time, but still no reply.

"DONNA?"

Okay, I know I bellowed that time, but I know it'll get her attention.  Hmm, she still hasn't answered; even when she's on the phone she always answers, just to tell me to shut up 'cos she's on the phone.  Damn, I'm gonna have to drop my feet from my desk and actually leave my office to see where she is…although, maybe if I sit here and yell long enough, she'll either get back from wherever she is, or someone will get fed up and come tell me where she's gone.  That would be a good plan, except I know Donna would call me on it later.  Okay, Josh, get up and walk.

*

Well, apparently Donna went to see Bonnie and Ginger while Toby and Will were in my office.  One of the interns said she mentioned something about coffee and that Bonnie and Ginger would never believe her.  You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think she was mocking me, but I *do* know better, Donna wouldn't mock me - no, I didn't believe myself then either.

*

"You were looking for me?"

Donna's looking at me intently, actually she's staring; have I spilt something on my tie again?  Nope, nothing there, but now she's looking at me like I've gone crazy.  Nice one, Josh!

"Josh, what did you need?"

Oh, I'm supposed to answer her, aren't I?  What did I want again?  Okay, well, obviously I can't tell her that I just wanted to see her, that I'm used to her appearing in my office after a meeting so I can talk about everything with her so, what can I tell her?

"It's okay, I sorted it myself."

"You did?"

Why does she sound surprised?  Wait, her tone held more disbelief than surprise.

"Yes, I am capable of doing things for myself, you know."

She's smirking at me now.

"Except when it involves computers."

"Donna."

"Alright, I won't start.  So, you don't need me?"

You know, I'm *so* tempted to answer that in a way she totally isn't expecting, but now isn't the time or place.  Should I just go for the playful banter instead?  Nah, even that's been getting onto dangerous territory lately and I don't trust myself right now; it's still early and I've only had a half-cup of coffee.  What, you didn't seriously think I'd drink all of that *girly* flavor, did you?

"No, I'm okay for the moment."

I'm smiling at her and she's smiling back.  Uh oh, we've locked eyes.  Danger, Will Robinson!

"I'll call if I need anything."

Yeah, I know it's lame, but I couldn't think of anything else with my coffee-starved brain.  Seriously, I have a plan for…actually, I don't want to think about it right now.  I'm not exactly known for my patience, but I swore to myself I'd take my time with this, let Donna figure things out.  If I don't stop thinking about it though, or I keep getting into situations like this with her, I'm just gonna blurt it out and probably scare her off.

I'm giving her my best 'nice' smile now, but I've dropped my gaze to my desk.  She's taken the hint and left, but she was walking kinda heavily; she half-stomped out of my office.  Oh, Donna, I hope you forgive me when 'all is revealed'.

I'm surprised she doesn't already know about my plan; Leo had to go and open his mouth to tell Margaret.  I swear, every time I see her now, she spooks me; she keeps giving me piercing looks, like she's trying to get me to crack and tell her my plan and it's timeframe.  Does she really think I'd shoot my mouth off that easily?  Okay, maybe that was the wrong question to ask; I'll rephrase.  Does she really think I'd shoot my mouth off about something relating to *Donna* so easily?

I dropped a hint to Leo yesterday about when my plan is going into action; I told him I couldn't work Friday night (tomorrow) and I think he got the message.  Amazingly, he hasn't told Margaret that part yet; I'd know if he had because she'd definitely have said something when I went to Senior Staff this morning.  Anyway, I'm pretty sure he won't tell her because he learned his lesson last time; yes, I had a few *words* with him, but mainly he learned because Margaret is now bugging him even more, trying to find out if he has any further information.

I had planned on waiting a while longer, but I can't stand having to watch what I say to Donna in case I give myself away; I don't like not being able to banter properly, it's not *us*.  So, today is the day I'm going to kickstart things.  I hope this works.

*

"Donna, do you have plans for tomorrow night?"

She's looking at me warily; she probably thinks I'm going to ask her to work late.

"No, Josh, I don't, but I'm not going to work late."

Yep, that's exactly what she thought.

"It's okay, I don't want you to work late."

"You don't?"

"No."

"So, why did you ask what I'm doing tomorrow night then?"

"I didn't."  She looks totally confused; I love messing with her.  "I asked if you had plans, not what the plans were."

She just rolled her eyes at me!

"Is that you trying to practice being a lawyer again, Josh?  Really, you need to do better than that if you're ever going to make it in the 'real World'."

Hey, did she just insult me?  She did, didn't she?

"Donna, I *am* a lawyer."

"Keep telling yourself that, Josh and I'm sure one day someone will believe you, not me, but someone."

Hey!

"Hey!"

"Anyway, why did you ask if I had plans, if you're not going to ask me to work late?"

Oh right, I'd better get back to that.  Wait, she's just trying to distract me from the fact that she insulted my lawyerly skills again.  What, lawyerly *is* a word, or at least it should be!

"Josh."

She's sounding impatient now and I don't want her annoyed with me when I ask her.

"Right, yeah, uh…"

Damn, I had all this planned out in my head, but I can't remember a word.  Come on, Josh, pull yourself together, it's not that difficult.

"Josh."

"Yeah, sorry, uh…Donna, would you have dinner with me tomorrow evening?"

"Is that your way of getting me to work late?  I'll agree to have dinner with you and then you tell me we'll be eating take-out while we work?"

Does she really think so little of me?  Okay, I admit, on past evidence she does have a point, but still…

"No, I promise, we won't be working.  In fact, we won't even be in the White House."

There, let her stew on that for a while.  Hmm, it's maybe not such a good idea if I sound as smug as I did just then.

"So, we're going to be in your apartment, where you'll just happen to have some work waiting for us?"

What the…?

"Donna, we won't be working; what do I have to do to convince you of that?"

She still looks dubious.

"Look, we won't be in my apartment.  I thought we could go out, you know, to a restaurant."

I can see light dawning in her eyes.

"Oh, so it's another Senior Staff/Senior Assistants dinner, is it?"

Huh?  Oh, she thinks…

"No, well, yeah, I guess, but it'll just be us, you and me."

"So, it's a DCoS/Senior Assistant to the DCoS dinner?  Another 'thank you' dinner?"

Is it just me, or did she sound disappointed when she said that?

"No, it'll be a Josh and Donna dinner."

From the look she's giving me, I don't think I'm making myself clear.  Damn, this all sounded good in my head.

"Look, I…I just thought it'd be…nice if we went out to dinner, just the two of us.  It'll give us a chance to spend some time together."

"Josh, we spend about 18 hours a day together."

Is she not getting my meaning, or is this her way of telling me to back off?  Damn, why don't I understand women?

"Donna, I meant *away* from the office.  Look, I'll understand if you don't want to, I --"

"I'd love to."

"You would?"

"Sure."

She's smiling at me.  That's a good sign, right?

"Great, it's a date.  Listen, why don't I pick you up from your apartment, say around 8?  You can leave here whenever you need to so you can get ready."

She's looking dubious again.

"Barring any emergencies of course."

"Of course."

Yeah, that's what she was waiting for.  Typical, although, I guess I can't blame her.

She gave me a beatific smile as she left my office.  I *so* need to make sure tomorrow night goes the way I want to, the way I want *her* to want it to.  Please let tomorrow be a good day, so I can get out of here to keep my date.

**

The End

Still to come, in Part 8, what has Donna been thinking about lately?  Yes, the end of this series is approaching. ::sob sob::  g  Now I just need to, you know, *finish* writing it.