Disclaimer and everything else first chapter.  enjoy

White House:  Two weeks later

Things had progressed downhill pretty quickly days later.  In the beginning at least Josh was trying to make an effort, being polite and even trying to at least hold some kind of small talk.  She realized that he was feeling stress from a certain educational bill they were trying to pass and she wanted to avoid adding pressure and stress onto Josh.    As the days passed, Josh and Donna's relationship grew weaker and weaker.  It was at the point of Josh yelling commands at Donna from his office or sending short emails.  Her level of responsibility was also dropping as the days went by.  He no longer kept her past 7 p.m., insisting that should he need her, he'll just page her.  Josh seemed to trust her less and less with important tasks, opting for one of the other senior assistants to complete the job.  Josh farming out her job did not help her relationship with the other staffers, which had also been steadily declining.  The others staffers, taking the lead from their respect bosses and Josh, started to slowly freeze Donna out.

Donna wasn't sure what to do.  It did not seem like Josh needed her or trusted her anymore.  And if Josh did not trust her, then she couldn't be successful at her job.  Right now she felt like a glorified intern, answering calls and copy unimportant notices.  After a nasty fight with a copier, she decided she couldn't do this anymore.  She couldn't be around this environment any longer; she needed to feel important again.  She needed to feel like she was making a difference.  She started a job search.

White House:  Several Days later

"DONNA!"

She sighed and entered his office, "Yes Josh?"

"Can you run these books over to the East Wing to the First Ladies office? "
"Sure.  Anything else?"

"No, but could you see if Ginger's free, I'm going to need her help with some research."

"I could help you if you want.  It's what you pay me for."

"Thanks, but Ginger's got a little bit more experience with this subject.  Besides you've got to deliver these books for me."

Donna sighed, "Okay see you later."

'Well this is a new low,' Donna thought to herself, 'being forced to ask other people to do my job.'

East Wing

"Hey Amy."

"Hey Donna.  Oh great, is that the stuff from Josh?"

"Yup.  Make sure you tell him I made it all the way here without getting lost or losing anything."

Amy smiled at Donna's sarcasm.

"Everything okay between the two of you?"

Donna thought about lying for a second, but then reconsidered when she realized this was the nicest anyone had been to her in weeks.  And of all people Amy.  Sure she had her reservations, for all Donna knew Amy would use this against her.  But what did she have to lose, she was planning to leave anyway.  She already had three interviews lined up.

"Things are a little tense actually."

"Everyone seems on edge on that side.  I'm sure it's just the education bill.  I heard that Schiller and Thompson might jump."

"Well that would be why Josh has been working on them all morning."

"He didn't tell you?" Amy asked surprised.

Donna shrugged, "Josh doesn't really tell me anything important anymore.  I'm basically a glorified intern over there."

Amy couldn't believe she was considering this, but if they weren't taking advantage of Donna, she might as well be.  Amy knew that Donna was bright and could hold her own with Josh, which would be a huge asset.  Besides it'd piss Josh off.

"Well look I don't know if you're interested, but we do have some room over here."

Amy could swear that she saw Donna's eyes light up for just a second, but Donna quickly composed her self to not give away her interest.

"What type of job?  Because as much as I loved to make a difference, assistants in the West Wing make more then those in the East and I've got rent and bills to pay."

"It's not an assistant, although it's not much higher.  It's a Junior Advisor for Political Affairs.  You'd report to the Senior Advisor, Janye Guiness, who reports directly to me and the first lady.  It isn't that glamorous, but it offers more pay and more input.  And until you're settled, it has the added bonus of avoiding the senior staff."

"Donna, what a pleasure to see you on this side of the building.  Glad to see that Josh let you out of his wings for a moment."

"Actually, Mrs. Bartlet, I just offered Donna the Junior Advisor position."

"Really?  Did you accept? It'd be a great career move."

"Well I don't know."

Donna looked back and forth between these two women.  Two women she admired, even though if she'd never admit it out loud about Amy.  These two strong and smart women seemed interested to work with her.  They were giving her chance in a lifetime, how could she say no?

"Are you sure I'm qualified?"

"Please Donna, you were Josh's aid for three years now.  You've helped him research and advise the President, I think you're ready to move on your own."  Donna started to think that maybe all this time, Amy did not hate her.

Donna looked at both women again and smiled, "I'd love to be your Junior Political Affairs Advisor, Mrs. Bartlet."

"Great, I'll leave you with Amy to sort out all the details.  Besides I have to go to some lunch for the arts of some country I honest to God think is 5 days old.  Pleasure to have you as part of the team, Donna."

Mrs. Bartlet left and Donna and Amy headed into Amy's office.

"So how soon before you can start?" 

"Well I'll give Josh and Leo the standard two weeks notice.  That should give me plenty of time to hire a replacement and train them."

"That should be plenty of time to get your office furnished."

"I'm sorry did you say office?"

Amy laughed, "yea, you get an office.  But don't celebrate yet, you haven't seen it."

"But it's an office. I'll be happy with just that."

Donna suddenly became quiet and thought for a moment.

"Amy can I be honest with you?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Well, why are you doing this?  We haven't exactly been pals in the past and I know a lot of it has to do with our respective relationships with Josh, but why would you help me out now?"

Amy sighed, "Well it's true we haven't gotten along and your right it was about Josh.  I'll admit it I did not like you when I met you.  I mean look at you, you're a 13 year's old wet dream and Josh had the maturity level of a 13 yr old.  So yes I was jealous of you, of course I'll never admit it out of this office.  But I offered you the position because I know how smart you are and the experience and contacts you have are definitely an asset.  You can be incredibly valuable to Mrs. Bartlet and her agenda.  Besides I know this will piss Josh off, and I enjoy that."

Donna smiled at Amy, "thank you.  Thank you for that and for the job and well basically for being my savor." They both laughed.

Donna stood, "okay I'm going back to my desk, Josh probably thinks I'm lost somewhere."

"Bye Donna."

Donna left and closed the door behind her.  She took a look at her surroundings, which in two weeks would be home.

"And so starts a new chapter."