Disclaimer – I don't own any of these characters – they are the property of NBC, John Wells and the fabulous Aaron Sorkin.
Rating – PG, for now
Pairings – Josh/Ellie, Ellie/OC
Spoilers – None
Summary – Josh Lyman meets Eleanor Bartlet during the campaign and falls in love with the young, married medical student. For the purposes of my story, Ellie is several years older in this story and very different than she is on the show.
A/N – My obsession with the men of Band of Brothers continues. In my sick and twisted imagination, now that I've killed off Ron Livingston, I need a new hottie to fill his shoes. Dr. West looks bizarrely like Damian Lewis, the very handsome British gentleman who plays Captain Winters in the mini- series.
"Donna!" Josh bellowed, rounding the corner of his office and striding up beside his assistant's desk. Donna was on the phone and held up a finger to shush him. He frowned, waiting impatiently as she shook the pencil between her fingers, making random notes on a pad of paper.
"Yes, oh Great and Powerful Master, how may I serve you?" she teased once she hung up the phone.
"I hate it when you do that," he answered, blowing out a breath.
"Which is exactly why I do it, Josh," she rolled her eyes. "You have got to learn a thing or two about women."
"I'm trying," he said with a grin. "Which is exactly why I need for you to make me dinner reservations at Gianni's."
"Gianni's?" she asked. "Isn't that Ellie's favorite restaurant? You must really be trying to get out of the doghouse."
"I'm not taking Ellie," he explained, somewhat sheepishly.
"Then who?" she demanded, resting back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest.
"None of your business." His laughter was stopped immediately by Donna's cold glare.
"Tell me, or make your own damn reservations," she shot back.
"Amy."
"Gardner?" she questioned, her eyes wide.
"Yeah."
"You're taking Amy Gardner to Gianni's?" she asked loudly.
"Did you feel the need to announce that to the entire West Wing?" he shot back.
"Why are you taking Amy Gardner to Gianni's?" she demanded, lowering her voice.
"Because I like her," he explained, another goofy grin crossing his lips.
"You like her?" Donna was taken aback. "Are you sure this isn't some sick and twisted attempt to make Ellie jealous and win her back?"
"Okay, it started out that way, I'll give you that," he admitted, sitting down on the edge of her desk. "But, I don't know...Amy's smart and funny and she puts me in my place on a regular basis...."
"We should trade tips," Donna mused.
"And she happens to be gorgeous, if you hadn't noticed."
Donna smiled. "I haven't, but obviously you have."
"I have," he said and Donna didn't miss the far off look in his eyes. "I really like her, Donna."
She sat up and shook her head softly, reaching for the telephone. "I'm glad, Josh."
"Thanks," he answered, slapping his hand on the wall of her cubicle.
"Hi Andre," Josh greeted the Maitre D' at Gianni's. "I think you have a table for us."
"Of course, Mr. Lyman, right his way," Andre answered, picking up two menus and motioning for Josh and Amy to follow. He placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her through the dining room. He noticed the door to the party room was slightly ajar. "Hey, Andre," he asked the Maitre D', "Who's in the party room?"
Andre's eyes darted to the door. "No one," he answered- much too quickly for Josh's taste.
Josh stopped walking and turned back to the door. "No one?" he questioned with a grin. "That was awfully fast, Andre. Are you sure it's no one? I could almost swear I hear talking in there."
"Mr. Lyman," Andre began, just as Ellie slipped through the door. She stopped and stared at Josh and Amy, her smile immediately fading, replaced by a frown. She and Josh exchanged glares before finally Ellie spoke.
"Josh, Amy," she acknowledged uncomfortably. She was wearing a simple black cocktail dress and diamond stud earrings. Her hair was down and Josh hated to admit it, but she looked beautiful.
"Ellie," Amy answered, breaking the uncomfortable silence by stepping up to hug the younger woman. "How have you been?"
"Good," Ellie stammered slightly, smoothing the front of her dress. "I'm good. I was on my way to the restroom."
"So, where's Curtis?" Josh asked coldly.
Ellie glared at him. "What makes you assume I'm here with Curtis?"
As if on cue, the doctor stepped out of the private dining room. Josh snickered bitterly. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, grabbing her elbow and not bothering waiting for an answer. He drug Ellie back into the lobby - leaving Amy and Curtis staring at the scene.
"What is wrong with you?" Ellie demanded, ripping her arm out of Josh's grasp.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked incredulously. "What's wrong with you?"
"There's nothing wrong with me, except that I keep running into you," she spat back.
"Well, forgive me for being hungry," he replied irritably. They stood there, staring at each other, both too overcome with anger to speak.
"Ellie," he finally said softly, "I don't want to fight with you."
"It seems to be what we do best," she mused.
"Yeah," he replied, looking past her to Amy, who was standing inside the main dining room with Andre and Curtis, glaring harshly at him. "I should probably get back."
"Josh?" Ellie said quietly. "I need to tell you something."
"Okay," he replied.
"I'm going to the Congo with Curtis."
He took a deep breath and swallowed hard. "Doctors without Borders?"
"Yeah," she answered.
Josh paused for a moment, processing this new information. "Are you in love with him?" Josh demanded.
"No," she answered honestly. "But..."
"But what?" he asked irritably.
"Nothing," she answered quietly. "I'm leaving in three weeks."
"Do you hate me that much that you have to go to another continent to get away from me?" he asked.
"I don't hate you, Josh," she answered, her eyes glimmering with tears. "I don't think I could ever hate you. We just don't..."
"We don't what?" he asked, his tone softening.
"We don't make each other happy, Josh," she explained, taking a quick swipe at her eyes. "We tried, but..."
"Yeah," he replied, clenching his jaw tightly. "I'm gonna get back."
"Yeah."
TBC...