Part II: Monday

"You look terrified," an amused Abby Bartlet said to her brand new Chief of Staff.

Donna Moss straightened her back as she stood on the other side of the First Lady's office. "No, m'am. It's just.."

"Just what?" Mrs. Bartlet cuts her off.

Donna notices how Dr. Bartlet is looking at her almost exactly in the same manner that the President looks at Josh on those particular days when Josh is completely bumfuzzled by something. But Josh isn't bumfuzzled often, and Donna didn't intend to be that way, either.

"It's just I'm sure these are some pretty big shoes to fill," she finishes.

The First Lady stands from behind her desk and begins to walk out into the hallways of the West Wing. She gives Donna a look that tells her Dr. Bartlet expects her to follow.

"Nosce te ipsum, Donna!" The First Lady bellows into the corridor.

"I'm sorry, what?" Donna says as she struggles to keep up.

"Know thyself. Starting today, you're no longer a secretary. So you shall think of yourself as a secretary no longer."

"Right."

"Today," Dr. Bartlet continues, "You are my new Chief of Staff. The quintessential "novus homo." Or in your case, "nova femina." Maybe I should stop with the Latin."

"Yes, m'am." Donna smiles. The First Lady stops her walk abruptly, and Donna finally reaches her side. Dr. Bartlet looks at her.

"Tell me your thoughts on the GAO's plan to reform U.S. Postal Service."

"My thoughts?" Donna thinks for a moment. "Um, well.. The Postal Service is the 11th largest enterprise in the nation and accounts for nearly 9% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Considering that the USPS is facing competition from other private mail carriers, and that first class mail delivery declined over 3 percent last year, I'd say it's in need of some reform."

Dr. Bartlet is impressed. "You've done your homework."

"Well, I saw that you had a meeting with the GAO on your schedule today, so I thought I'd bone up. Josh always likes to have bullet points with him when he goes to meetings."

"I'd like to have you with me when I go to that meeting."

"Me?" Donna wrinkles her brow.

"Sure. Just to sit in, see what's going on.."

"Okay."

"..and, you know, actively participate."

"Um.."

"You think you're up to it?" The First Lady is looking at her in that way again, and Donna can feel her back straighten, again.

"Of course," Donna replies.

Josh sinks into a chair at the large table in the Roosevelt Room, where CJ and Toby have already gathered. "Is there any coffee in here?" Josh sighs, to no one in particular.

CJ hands him the coffee carafe from her side of the table. "Jack still having issues with the coffee machine?" she smiles at him.

Josh grabs a nearby coffee cup and begins to pour. "That kid has never made a typo in his life, but ask him to make a cup of coffee that not only tastes akin to something made from coffee beans, but also visually appears as though it may in fact be coffee, and he's at a loss. He makes piping hot ecru-colored liquid."

"But again," CJ counters, "Excellent typing skills."

"Only reason I haven't killed him yet." Josh says after a sip.

"Sam's in town?" Toby asks. "I've heard talk that he's back."

"Yeah." Josh replies.

"Have you seen him?"

"Yeah."

"How does he look?" Toby says, glancing at him.

Josh shrugs. "He looks good. He's going to have dinner with me at Donna's tonight, if you want to come. You too, CJ."

"I've got plans, but thank you. And Toby's spending quality time with Huck and Molly," CJ says.

Toby looks at her. "You keeping tabs on my life now?"

"Hey, you tell me things, I remember." CJ shrugs.

"I'll keep that in mind the next thing I tell you things," Toby deadpans.

At that moment, Leo comes through the double doors of the room, a small stack of papers under his arm. He sits down at the head of the table and puts on his glasses.

"Ok people. Not much today, so I'll keep it quick. As you all know, the President will be attending the opening of the new exhibit on the American Presidency at the Smithsonian next week. And considering that means more eyes than usual will be focused on the grandeur and power of the current Office of the President, let's try and keep the screw ups to a minimum this week, okay?"

Leo surveys the group sitting in front of them, and they all nod at him. Satisfied, Leo begins to pass out packets of paper. "Here's the Fiscal Year 2005 budget amendments for the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor. Toby, make it look like we didn't get our asses handed to us by Congress. CJ, tell the press we didn't get our asses handed to us by Congress. Ok?"

The group nods at him in unison.

Leo takes off his glasses. "One more thing. I've got an issue that needs to be taken up with the First Lady's office."

Josh responds immediately. "I'll take it. I mean, if no one else wants to, I'll take it."

Leo, CJ, and Toby look at him.

"By all means," Toby says.

Leo stands and addresses Josh. "Dr. Bartlet has missed a couple public appearances because of the volunteering at the clinic. You know, the side job that no one's supposed to know about."

Josh nods. "You want her to be a little more discreet?"

"I want her to quit the clinic," Leo says resolutely.

"Yeah," is all Josh can say.

Leo stands. "Alright, that's it for now, people. Make me proud. Oh, and don't forget: the state dinner for the King of Spain is on Friday. I expect you all to be there."
At the spacious reception area in front of the First Lady and First Lady's Chief of Staff's offices, a young woman with short black hair was busily answering the phone, when Josh Lyman walked in.

"Donna Moss, can you hold? Thanks. Donna Moss. No, she's out of the office. Oh yes, Senator. Certainly, Senator. I'll tell her you called yourself. Thank you, goodbye. Donna Moss. Hey, Sandy. Yeah, can you move the meeting back to 4? Yeah. Perfect. Thanks." Hanging up the phone, the young woman was finally able to look up and see Josh standing at her desk.

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"Yeah, I was just stopping by to see her," Josh says, motioning with his head towards the Chief of Staff's office.

"She's still on Capitol Hill with the First Lady."

"What's she doing on the Hill?"

"Meeting with a Senate Committee. GAO Reforms."

Josh raises his eyebrows. "She's butting heads with the GAO? On her first day?"

The receptionist nods.

"Wow, okay. I'll just come back later."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"What?" Josh blinks.

"She's booked all day, so you won't be able to see her without an appointment."

Josh becomes incredulous. "Do you know who I am?" he guffaws.

"No," the receptionist replies.

"I'm the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President."

The young woman stands and says, "I'm Donna Moss's senior assistant, Carnie Anderson." She offers an outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you," she smiles sweetly.

Josh looks at her for a moment, then decides to play along. He shakes her hand and smiles back. "New, huh?"

"Uh huh."

"Ok. Fine," Josh sighs. "Make me an appointment."

Carnie types into her computer a moment. "I can fit you in at 10:15 next Thursday."

"Next Thursday?!?!?" Josh shouts.

Carnie is unfazed. "Yup," she replies calmly.

Josh runs his hands through his hair. "Ok, forget it. Just tell her Josh stopped by, okay?"

"Wait, you're Josh Lyman?"

"Yes."

"Ohh. Donna said you could go in anytime."

"Thanks," is all Josh can say.

Carnie pipes up. "But not now, 'cause she's on the Hill."

Josh cocks his head and gives her a homicidal smile. "Right," he says to her before finally leaving, defeated.
A few hours later, Josh walks through his bullpen, fresh from an adjourned legislation meeting. Jack notices him pass by, but decides not to alert him to who is waiting for him in his office. Josh is in one of his moods, and besides, Jack figures that Josh probably won't mind who he'll find in there.

Josh opens his office door to see Donna sitting on the front edge of his desk with her legs crossed, coquettishly flashing a bit of leg. Josh, caught off guard, pauses for a moment in the doorway as his eyes wander over her body.

Donna's smile is wide as Josh snaps back into attention and enters his office; and as he does, he realizes how much he missed seeing her around his office.

"I heard you needed to see me." Donna says to him.

Josh finds himself uncontrollably attracted to her confidence, but he tries to downplay it a bit. "I just wanted to see how your first day was going," he replies.

"It's going good. It turns out, the Postmaster General didn't resign over our Puerto Rican stamp." She stands up to face him. "Anything else?"

Josh walks behind his desk and sits. "Nothing," he says, avoiding her eyes.

Donna reads his face. "There's something else."

Josh takes a deep breath. "Leo wants the First Lady to quit volunteering at the free clinic."

Donna is quick to answer. "Not gonna happen."

"Donna--"

"It's not gonna happen, Josh. Working at the clinic means a lot to her."

"She's missed three public appearances this week alone," Josh responds, his tone a bit harsher.

Donna doesn't back down. "Yeah, with the "Older than dirt, richer than God" clubs. Don't tell me Leo's upset about that."

"It's sending a signal that the First Lady--"

"--is using her medical skills to actually help people on a daily basis in a free clinic," Donna cuts in. "You think she'd be making a bigger difference in the day-to-day lives of regular Americans by going to the Dupont Hilton and giving some stump speech about healthcare and posing for pictures with the D.C. elite? I think it sends exactly the right signal."

"It reflects on the President. We can't have the First Lady pissing off senators wives."

Donna pauses for a moment. "I'll recommend that she cut back on her hours, but she's not going to quit. Take it or leave it."

Josh looks at her. "Yeah, okay," he says. He leans back in his chair, not taking his eyes off of her. "So you hired an assistant?"

"Actually, that was Dr. Bartlet's idea."

"Of course it was," Josh nods.

Donna grins. "Carnie's great, isn't she?"

Josh wrinkles his brow. "She's Fort Knox! I'd have an easier time getting in to see the Pope."

"It'll calm down after the first week."

"Seriously, it's like that time I went to a Stones concert without a backstage pass.

Anyway, what are you doing tonight? We should celebrate. I'm the deputy Chief of Staff to the President, and you're the Chief of Staff to the deputy President. We can trade anecdotes."

"Josh--" Donna tries to interrupt.

"Well, you probably don't have many anecdotes yet, but you can make them up. It'll be fun."

Donna sighs. "I can't. The first lady invited me to have a drink with her and the President up in the residence after work."

"Oh." Josh tries not to look disappointed.

"But I'm sure you can come," she says to him. "You should come. I'd like it if you came."

"Really?" Josh looks at her sweetly. "Wait, is Bouncer Carnie going to be there? 'Cause I'll need to bring proper ID--"

"Josh," Donna chides. "So you'll come?"

Josh finds himself staring at her again. "Yeah." he murmurs.

"Good. I'll see you there," Donna says as she walks out of his office.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Donna turns to look at him in the hallway. "My office."

Josh smiles and nods. "Right. Sorry."
Abby Bartlet breezes into Donna's office, where Donna had been pouring over yet another stack of files.

"Donna, my darling," Dr. Bartlet coos.

"Dr. Bartlet," Donna stands.

"How's it going so far?" she says as she sits down on her couch.

"Good. I.. I may have done a pre-emptive smack-down for the office of the First Lady," Donna winces.

"Oh?"

"Josh, on behalf of Leo, wants to you to quit the clinic."

"And what did you say?"

"I told him to shove it up his ass. But, in a nice way."

Dr. Bartlet gives her a warm smile. "Donna, I'm giving you a promotion."

"You are?"

"You shall be henceforth the Deputy First Lady."

Donna looks down and smiles. "Dr. Bartlet.."

"Call me Abby."
CJ softly knocks on the door to Josh's office a few times when she sees him scowling over his computer. He turns to her as she walks in. "Hey," she says.

"Hey," Josh responds.

"Listen.." CJ says as she folds her arms. "I just got word that there's going to be a cover story on Donna in Newsweek."

Josh raises his eyebrows. "A cover story?"

"Yeah," CJ nods.

"On Donna?"

"Yeah."

"The Gaza thing?"

"Yeah."

Josh leans back in his chair. "Why are you telling me?"

"Well, I tried going to her office, but she has some sort of Gestapo agent as her assistant-"

"Tell me about it," Josh scoffs.

"So I figured you could give her a heads up."

"When's it going to press?"

CJ sighs. "Already has. It hits shelves Saturday."

"Oh. Do we know what its gonna say?"

"I don't know, I just found out about it. It's written by a photojournalist named Colin Ayres."

Josh can't help but scrunch up his face a bit. "Yeah."

CJ's interest is piqued. "You know him?"

Josh shakes it off. "Yeah, sure, we go way back. Anyway. Thanks. I'll let Donna know."

"Ok." CJ turns to leave, but one more thing enters her memory. "Oh, wait, listen, I've got some reporters sniffing around about a story involving a picket line and some speech the president gave like a gazllion years ago.."

Josh's face falls. "You're kidding."

"No, what it is about?"

"Nothing. I swear, even when there is no story, nothing coming from the White House, we're still on spin control."

CJ shrugs. "That's why they pay us the big bucks. Do you want me to get involved?"

"Nah, I got it," he says. Before CJ leaves, though, he adds, "Hey, you're going to the dinner thing, right?"

"For the King of Spain?"

"Yeah."

"Whose full name is Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón?"

Josh looks at her, bemused. "Ok, I'm taking that as a yes."

CJ arches an eyebrow. "Did you know that of all European countries, Spain has the greatest variety of reptiles?"

"Get out," Josh points to the door.
Donna was so absorbed in signing a seemingly endless pile of memos, documents and letters that she didn't even notice when a slim, pale brunette appeared in her doorway.

"You know, it's customary to hang diplomas on the wall of your office," the woman said.

Donna looked up, startled. It was Amy Gardner. Donna suddenly wondered how she could just show up in her office like this, when it dawned on her that Amy must have made an appointment. Donna made a mental note to talk to Carnie about that.

"Screw custom," Donna replied, resuming the task on her desk.

Amy smiles to herself. "You don't have any diplomas."

"You don't have any tact." Donna was about to apologize for that comment, but she decided to let it stay.

Amy walks a little further into her office. "I'm just giving you some friendly advice here, Donna. It may be better to have nothing up there than some framed note. I mean, it just calls attention to.. What does that note say, anyway?" Amy eyes the artifact on the wall.

Donna doesn't look up. "It's a hand written letter from the President thanking me for saving Social Security."

"Oh." Amy nods in recognition. "Nice job on that."

"Thanks." Donna puts down her pen. "You wanted?"

"Can I sit?"

"Sure."

Amy sits in one of the leather chairs and crosses her legs. "I just came to warn you about the first Lady."

"I don't understand," Donna says, concerned.

"She can get a little.. Carried away with her work. And her terms of endearment."

Donna picks her pen back up and continues her writing. "Good to know. Anything else?"

"I'm serious, Donna," Amy's tone turns harsh.

"Okay."

"Has she asked you to call her Abby yet? 'Cause she will." Amy says, satisfied with herself.

"What?"

Amy begins again. "Has she asked you.."

"Yeah." Donna interrupts.

Amy is a bit taken aback. "Really? Wow. It took her two weeks to do that with me…Anyway, I'm just saying, watch your back. She can be your best friend one minute, and then the president's wife the next. It's dangerous."

There's silence for a moment while Donna concentrates on the file on her desk. Finally, she says, "Uh huh."

"I'm serious, Donna."

Donna throws her pen down again. "You've said that already. I get that you're serious. Is that all?" Donna looks her guest in the eye.

"Hey, chill out, sweetheart. You've been here a day. I've been in this office much longer than you." Amy stands and leans over Donna's desk.

Donna stands as well, still holding Amy's gaze. "No, actually, Amy, I've been in 'this office' for about six years now. And I'm getting pretty sick of people coming in here and still treating me like Ditzy Donna the Secretary. I know you're a lot smarter than I am. You're the queen bee of DC insider politics. But you seem to forget that you LEFT this job for knowingly using the First Lady as a figurehead for your own personal crusade. I don't think Abby will ever have to worry about me doing that. So, if you're all finished with the whole "big sister advice" thing, I think we're done."

Amy stares for a moment, embarrassed but also slightly impressed. "Yeah," she utters before walking out.
Josh quietly lets himself into the residential foyer and sees his ex-assistant sitting primly in a chair by a window. He immediately goes to her.

"Donna," he breathes. "I feel like I haven't seen you all day."

Donna looks up at him. "You did, though."

"I did?"

"Yeah, earlier, when I told you the First Lady wouldn't quit the clinic."

"Right," Josh remembers.

Donna softens a bit. "How'd Leo take it?"

"He'll get over it," Josh replies with a sigh.

"Did you see Sam today?"

"Yeah, at lunch. He's looking forward to dinner tonight."

Donna winces. "Dinner tonight! Oh my god, I forgot!"

"It's fine, Sam's not coming by until later."

Donna nods. "We'll just go out to eat."

"Nah, you should cook something."

Donna looks at him. "I can't cook."

"Sure you can. I'll help. It'll be great."

Donna continues looking at Josh. "You want to cook with me. And then eat it, too?" she says in a confused voice.

Josh laughs a bit, and then they both become quiet for a moment.

The sound of the President's bellowing voice in the next room snaps both of them to attention. Donna gets to her feet as Charlie comes into the room, holding open the adjoining door as President Bartlet bounds into the room..

"And get the Spanish ambassador on the phone," the President says in mid-sentence to Charlie. "We've got to get this protocol stuff straightened out by Thursday."

Charlie wrinkles his brow as he shuts the door behind him. "You don't want me to staff it out?"

President Bartlet huffs, "I did staff it out. And now it's Monday, and the dinner is Friday, and Spain is still pissed off."

"Yes sir," Charlie says, understanding.

The President turns to Donna and Josh. "Troilus and Cressida!" he jokes.

"Sir," Josh says, folding his hands behind him.

President Bartlet extends his hand to squeeze Donna's arm. "Are you sick of my wife yet or will it take another day?"

Donna smiles demurely. "Not at all."

"Don't let her boss you around too much," the President continues.

"She is my boss, sir," Donna laughs.

From another adjoining door, the First Lady enters, but the President doesn't seem to see her.

"Yeah, well, I'm your boss too," he continues saying to Donna, "And I say don't let her boss you around too much."

"Will you shut up?" Mrs. Bartlet says behind him.

President Bartlet leans in close to Donna, whispering, "And if you find out how, let me know."

The First Lady approaches them all and gestures for them to sit. "Donna is doing wonderfully," she exclaims. "You should have seen her on the Hill today. I told you she was built for this, Jed."

As they all settle into the collection of chairs and couches, Donna blushes. Josh sits down next to her and protectively rests his arm on the seatback of the couch.

"And I've also decided," Abby Bartlet says, taking a seat next to her husband on a nearby loveseat, "That Donna is now the Deputy First Lady."

Josh cocks his head towards Donna. "Does that mean I have to stand now every time you walk in the room?"

Donna smiles at the thought. "Chivalry's not dead."

"The Deputy First Lady," the President repeats. "Well, I think this works out well for me."

As the group laughs, the President reaches down to the table in front of them and grabs an open bottle of champagne that had been sitting in a canister of ice. As he pours each of them a glass, he says, "In any case, a toast to our Donnatella, who, six years ago, drove her Dodge Dart from Wisconsin to New Hampshire, risking life and limb to join our team."

"Hear, hear!" Josh says as they all take a glass.

"And thank God she did," the President continues. "Donna Moss, you are living proof of the burning spirit of American fortitude. I couldn't be prouder if you were one of my own children." President Bartlet raises his glass, and the rest of them follow suit. "To your health, long life, and success. Ad multos annos."

As each of them sip their champagne, Josh catches Donna's eye, and they look quietly at each other for a moment. The President, seeing this, exchanges a knowing glance with his wife. Just as the President was about to jibe Josh and Donna that no one is fooling anyone with all this gooey-eyed nonsense, Charlie appears at the President's side.

"Yeah?" Bartlet says.

"I'm sorry," Charlie responds. "But the Spanish Ambassador is on the phone for you, sir."

The President nods. "Ok, I'll take it in the next room."

Not long afterward, Abby Bartlet sneaks next door to check on her husband, who was standing near a large pane glass window, resting an arm on the sill, while his other hand held the phone to his ear. He turned when he noticed his wife approach.

Abby smiles at him playfully. "I thought you might need this," she says as she hands him a small weathered tome of a Spanish-English dictionary.

Bartlet takes it, his eyes twinkling. As Abby turns to leave, though, the President calls her back.

"Hey," he says, placing the bottom part of the phone on his chest. "You know that head-in-the-ass comment about Josh? From earlier?"

"Yeah?" Abby says.

"I think I get it now."

Abby walks back over to him. "I was wondering when you would."

"To my credit, I've been a bit distracted lately."

Abby touches his arm. "I know, Jed. I know."
Donna used one arm to steady herself against the counter as she used the other to pry open the oven and peer at its contents. She frowned. "What the hell is going on in there?" she sighed.

Josh appeared in the kitchen behind her almost soundlessly. He placed a half full bottle of beer next to her hand and he leaned in over her right shoulder. "How's it look?" he asked.

She turned to glance at him. "It doesn't look anything like the picture in the book," she whined. "We should have gone out to eat."

"Nonsense!" Josh said, stepping back from her to pick up the recipe book. He ran a finger down the page, scrutinizing the text. "We did everything it said. It should be edible. Besides, I don't want to go out; the Cubs are on." He threw the book back on the counter and Donna rolled her eyes. She hopped over to the other side of the kitchen on her good leg to pick up her own beer bottle.

"I bet the downstairs neighbors love you," he smirked at her.

She takes a sip of beer. "That cane sucks and I hate it. I refuse to use it at home."

There was a knock at the door, and Josh cocks his head at the sound. "That's probably Sam. I'll get it." He flew out of the kitchen and across the living room to the door, pulling it open wide, expecting to see the face of his old friend. But instead, he instinctively froze in surprise.

"Amy." Josh blurts out.

Amy looks just as shocked. She eyes Josh, noticing his casual attire. His dress shirt is unbuttoned slightly and his sleeves are rolled up. His hair is disheveled, and his shoes are off. And he's standing in Donna's doorway. As the realization of what she's seeing begins to sink into Amy's head, she nods and lets out a small, sarcastic laugh. "Hiya, J," she says. "Fancy seeing you here."

"What are you doing here?" Josh's expression hasn't changed.

Amy stares him down. "I wanted to talk to Donna. To apologize about earlier."

"What happened earlier?"

Donna has finally appeared, hobbling a bit as she reaches the doorframe. She asks Josh if it's Sam before she realizes who her guest is. "Amy!" she gasps.

Amy smiles at her. "Hi, Donna."

Donna pauses a moment, then remembers herself. "Um, Come in. Please."

Josh gives Donna a look as he moves out of the way of the entrance.

"Thanks," Amy says as she enters. She takes a quick glance around Donna's living room.

"Am I interrupting anything?" she says with her best 'I Know What's Going On' voice.

Josh is quick to answer. "Yes."

But Donna drowns him out. "No, no, not at all. We were just about to have dinner with Sam. Why don't you join us? Sam's not even here yet."

Amy smiles as she imagines the facial expression Josh must be making behind her. "No, that's okay, I just stopped by to.." she turns to see Josh still in back of her, and her eyes narrow. She turns back to Donna. "Hey, can we talk somewhere? It'll just take a second."

Donna nods. "Sure." She leads Amy out onto her small balcony and closes the door behind them.

Amy walks to the stone balcony wall and leans her weight on it. "I'm sorry for coming to your office like that today."

Donna is instantly forgiving. "No, really.."

"I was treating you like some freshman sorority girl and it was totally out of line."

Donna takes a step closer to her. "No, it's okay. You were just trying to help."

"Yeah, in a bitchy, condescending way," Amy deadpans as she turns towards her.

"It's fine," Donna says. "You know, it's funny, I feel like all I've done today is yell at people."

Amy grins. "Welcome to upper management."

"Yeah." Donna laughs. The two of them are quiet suddenly as they watch Josh through the balcony window. He's standing in the living room, watching something on tv. He takes a swig of beer and then distractedly runs a hand through his hair.

Amy sighs. "He's a good kisser, isn't he?"

"What?"

Amy nods at the window. "Josh. That little thing he does with his--"

"I wouldn't know," Donna interrupts.

Amy curls up the edges of her open mouth. "Seriously?"

"Amy, he's my boss." Donna says, almost automatically.

"No, Donna, he's not. Not anymore."

Donna takes a deep breath as she continues watching Josh. "It doesn't matter. Josh doesn't.. he doesn't see me like that."

Amy tries not to grin again. "Uh huh."

Donna bites her lip as Amy saunters towards the patio door. "I've gotta go," Amy says. "Have a nice dinner," she winks.