As the days wore on, Donna successfully managed to keep their touching to a minimum. Josh was, as usual, incorrigible but Donna was able to keep it together for the both of them. And then Sam came back.
"Hi Donna," he chirped on the phone when she answered.
"Why Congressman Seaborn," she smiled. "When are you getting your cute ass back to the West Wing?"
"I'm in session most of today," Sam explained. "But I was wondering if we'd be able to do the dinner thing tonight?"
"Dinner thing?" she asked.
"With me, Josh, CJ, Toby, and you and Winston," Sam explained. "You know...the one Josh told you about."
"Oh...yeah...that one," she lied. "Right. Let me just double check the schedule," she told him and put him on hold as CJ was making her way down toward Josh's door.
"Is he in?" CJ asked.
"Yeah...you free for dinner tonight with Sam?" Donna asked. "He wants you and Toby."
"Yeah...and you and Winston and Josh, right?" CJ asked. "I talked to Sam earlier," CJ explained.
"Yeah," Donna smiled. "I just wanted to be sure you were both in."
"Yeah," CJ told her as she went into see Josh.
"Sam?" Donna smiled. "We're all good," she told him. "Where and when?"
"I'll send a car over around 7 or so," Sam told her. "See you tonight!"
"Bye," she smiled and then called Winston to let him know their new plans.
CJ left Josh's office and he appeared in his doorway. "You want to go grab some food?" he asked with a grin.
"Sure," she smiled. "The mess?"
"Yeah," he agreed and fell into step behind her.
"Make sure you're ready around 7 tonight," Donna told him calmly.
"Huh?" he asked. "What's around 7 tonight."
"Dinner with Sam and everybody," she told him. "Remember?"
"Donna," he sighed. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Sam told me he talked to you and you were all for it. It'll be him, you, CJ, Toby, and Winston and I," she explained. "He's sending a car."
"I said I'd talk to you about that before," he muttered as they got their food and found a table in a corner.
"Before what?" she asked with a wide grin.
"You know what," he grimaced. "You really want to be at a table with Winston and I?"
"I'd be more worried with you at a table with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys," she smirked. "I can handle myself."
"And I can't?" he asked, his voice a little squeaky. "I've been fine all week," he boasted.
"Uh huh," she smiled. "That's because I was there to control the situation."
"Whatever," he muttered.
"You tend to grin," she explained.
"I grin?" he asked.
"When you're, you know, strutting or whatever...you grin," she explained.
"I do not strut," he proclaimed.
"You really do," she told him. "Ask anyone."
"Like?" he pressed as Carol walked by their table.
"Carol?" Donna called to her. "When Josh gets lucky or has a really good day....what does he typically do?"
"He does that weird strut thing and grins a little," she said. "Why? Must we endure it today?"
"No...he's been mediocre in meetings thus far and I don't see the day improving all that much," Donna assured her. "So no worries for the time being at least."
"Okay," Carol smiled. "Later, Donna. No offense, Josh."
"I don't believe she said that," Josh exclaimed when she left.
"She's an observant woman," Donna told him.
"So you need to be there tonight with Winston to baby-sit my strutting and grinning?" he asked.
"No...Sam wants me to bring Winston, so I will. I need to make sure you don't give up the secret with the grinning," Donna explained and smiled softly at him as she patted his hand. "Keep up!"
"Donna," he sighed. "When can we...you know...discuss things?"
"Things?" she asked.
"You and me," he smiled. "You know...the thing we did. Twice."
"Oooh! That 760 verbal is really shining through there," she laughed.
"You're making me nuts," he told her.
"It's a gift."
----
Josh appeared at Donna's desk at 6:45 PM. "Hi," he murmured to stir her from her work. "Shouldn't your boyfriend be here soon?"
"Sam sent the car for Winston first. So he'll be here soon," she assured him. "You ready?"
"Yeah...you?" he asked.
"Always," she smiled at him.
"Donna," he sighed. "Are you sure you want us all to do this?"
"I want everyone to get to know Winston," she told him. "It'll be fun."
"Not so much," Josh replied, pouting.
"Why do you hate him so much?" she asked in disgust. "You don't even know him!"
"He's a Republican and he's sleeping with you," Josh muttered. "Reason enough for hatred."
"Josh...that's enough," she spat. "I'm not dealing with this tonight from you. Sam's our friend. Can't we try to be civilized?"
"You look amazing when we fight," he told her. "Your face gets all flushed and your eyes get really big."
"Oh my god!" she said, exasperated.
"Donna," he smiled as he came closer and she glared at him.
"Go away," she said through gritted teeth.
"And if I say no?" he asked blocking her from moving away from him.
"I'll scream and we'll both be cooked," she warned.
"I don't believe you," Josh whispered, his breath now on her lips.
"I'll do it," she told him evenly.
"I'll risk it," Josh told her as his mouth barely skimmed her own.
"Joshua," she murmured, not moving away from his lips.
"Mmm?" he asked.
"We have to get downstairs for dinner," she told him. "Before CJ and Toby come looking for us," she moaned as his lips captured her own. Her fingers glided over his face and his moved to her head and he deepened the kiss.
"Donna?" Winston's voice rang out from down the hall, announcing his presence.
Josh and Donna froze for a moment before distancing themselves from one another. "Back here, honey," Donna called back to him.
"Hey," he smiled coming to hug her and kiss her cheek. "Your friends said I should come and get you guys," he told them as he reached for Josh's hand to shake. "I'm Winston," he told him. "Donna's boyfriend."
"Josh Lyman," Josh smiled and shook the man's hand. "Donna's boss."
"Nice to meet you, finally," Winston smiled at him. "Donna talks about you all the time. I feel like I already know you."
"Me too," Josh smiled and led the way down the hall. "C'mon," he told them. "Sam hates to be late for reservations."
"So," Donna smiled as they joined CJ and Toby in the limo. "Winston," she continued, "this is CJ and Toby. Guys? This is Winston."
"Nice to meet you," CJ smiled and shook his hand.
"Yeah, man. Good to meet you," Toby smiled. "We've heard all good things."
"Donna thinks of you guys like family," Winston smiled. "She talks about you all all the time."
"Donna's a special girl," Josh chimed it.
"She is," Winston smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Stop guys," Donna blushed.
"You're blushing," Josh told her. "It becomes you."
She shot him a glare, as did Toby and CJ. "Shut up, Josh," she hissed.
"We're here," CJ piped up as the limo pulled to a complete stop. "C'mon," she told the group. "Let's go find Sparky!"
----
The group found Sam at their usual table and introductions were made.
"So," Sam started. "You and Donna...you've been together for a while now?"
"Yeah," Winston agreed. "About 6 months."
"And we're just now meeting you?" Toby asked.
"She's always working it seems," Winston laughed.
"Josh keeps me busy," Donna smiled awkwardly.
"All the time," Winston laughed again. "I swear, she spends more time with him then with me most nights."
"Not really," Donna mumbled.
"That's a bit of an overstatement," Josh added.
"Josh is a hard ass," Sam smirked. "We've all told him he works Donna too hard."
"Maybe now that he realizes," Toby stated, glaring at Josh, "how unfair he's being toward her."
"Yeah," CJ agreed. "She deserves to spend more time with you, Winston. You guys are so cute together."
"Work is work," Josh insisted. "It's an important job."
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Donna agreed. "I don't mind the long hours. I mean...it's done after the next couple of years. And how many people can say that they worked in the White House?"
"True Donna," CJ agreed. "But you need to have yourself a life, too. There's a big world outside the West Wing."
Donna smiled at CJ and Winston.
"She loves the work," Josh smiled at her. "And I can't work without her," Josh admitted. "So if she works less, I guess I get to work less, too." Josh shrugged, "You think Leo'll mind?"
"He might," Toby grimaced.
"I'd have to agree," Sam smirked at Josh.
"It's unlikely that you'll be able to kick me out of the office much earlier than you," Donna smiled warmly at Josh. "You know how I worry."
"He's a big boy," CJ told her. "He doesn't need to be taken care of anymore."
"Hey!" Josh yelled. "She takes care of me just fine."
"That I do," Donna smiled.
"She's a nurturer," Winston agreed. "That's one of the many things I adore about her."
"Stop it," Donna grinned and hit him. "Let's talk about something else. Sam? How goes the woman search?"
Everyone laughed and Sam conveyed his woman stories. Josh went to take a phone call outside and Donna and CJ went to the bathroom.
"So," Winston said. "Josh and Donna....they just have a weird work thing going on, right?"
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "They've always clicked...since the beginning."
"She's a loyal girl," Toby confirmed.
----
"What's up with Josh?" CJ asked Donna as they were touching up by the vanities in the ladies' room.
"What do you mean?" Donna asked.
"He's being...well....nice. And very un-Josh-like," CJ answered honestly.
"He's in a mood," Donna brushed off. "I threatened to organize another work slowdown if he didn't behave tonight."
"Good thinking, sister!" CJ smiled as she high-fived her.
"Thanks," Donna smiled and they went to join their table.
----
The group was laughing hysterically when Josh rejoined it moments later.
"You know(it's not nice to laugh like that when someone is approaching the table and then stop all of a sudden. It makes them think you might be talking about them," Josh whined.
"We were," Toby told him with a smirk.
"Oh...," Josh smiled uneasily. "What are we talking about me for?"
"I thought it was your favorite topic," CJ chipped in.
"Not unless he's bragging about himself," Sam laughed.
Donna smiled a little in his direction. "We were just talking about your secret plan(you know(to fight inflation," she said as seriously as possible.
"That was years ago and it was CJ's fault," Josh defended himself. "Her and her damn root canal."
"You're too much," Winston laughed. "You're all so funny....I'm glad I got the chance to meet all of you."
"The feeling's mutual," Sam responded for the group. The rest nodded and smiled their agreements except for Josh. Sam nudged him a little and muttered, "Josh....say something nice."
"I'm glad Donna managed to find such a good guy," Josh forced out with a smile. "She deserves to spend her time with someone she respects and who respects her just the same. I hope you continue to make her happy - she deserves it."
Everyone looked at Josh oddly. This was a huge step for him - being nice to Donna's dates and all. Donna blushed at his comments slightly. They were directed at Winston, but he looked more at her while he said them.
"Thanks, buddy," Winston said and shook Josh's hand.
Donna mouthed "thank you" as tears threatened to form in her eyes. She fiercely blinked them back and tortured Sam some more about his latest date and Toby and CJ silently congratulated themselves on a job well done on the Josh/Donna initiative. They both believed that Josh had finally accepted that Donna had a life outside of his and he had to let her live it.
----
The night ended soon after that with the limo dropping them all off at their respective cars and houses. After it had dropped off Donna, Winston and Josh, CJ called Sam's phone.
"You're so smart! I think we're in the clear!" she exclaimed when he picked up.
"It did look good, didn't it?" Sam agreed. "What's Toby say?"
CJ glanced at Toby and then smiled. "He gave me a favorable smirk. So I think we did good."
"Excellent," Sam sighed. "Josh turned a big corner tonight."
"Agreed," CJ said. "I'm happy for both of them...well all of them."
"I have to read some briefing memos," Sam told her. "I'll call you guys tomorrow," he told her. "Good night."
"Bye, Sam. Talk to you later," CJ hung up.
"You should be proud of yourself, CJ," Toby smiled at her. "Your scheming worked this time."
"You helped!" CJ admonished.
"I'll never admit to it," Toby smirked as he got out of the car. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night, Tobus."
----
The ringing phone startled her out of a deep sleep around 3 AM. "H-hello?" she asked, nervously.
"I just wanted to say good night to you," Josh slurred into his cell phone.
"Josh," she sighed. "Are you drunk?"
"I may have partaken in some alcohol after I came home from the restaurant," Josh admitted.
"Where are you?" she asked.
"On your front steps," he told her.
"Come up," she sighed and went to her door to let him in.
He came in and slouched on her couch in a heap. "Hi, Donna."
She smiled and sat next to him. "Hi, Josh."
"Did I wake you?" he asked, noticing her messy hair and the lack of light in the apartment.
"It's 3 AM," she said, exasperated.
"Point taken," he slurred. "I just wanted to say that I had a great time tonight and I meant what I said. You deserve everything in the world."
"Thanks," Donna said quietly.
"And, unfortunately, you won't be receiving the world from Winston," he sighed. "It's a sad thing, I know, but it is indeed true."
"Josh...you were so nice," Donna started to protest.
"It was a test," Josh told her.
"Huh?"
"Sam, Toby and CJ...it was a test to see if I could let you be happy and leave you alone," Josh told her.
"How do you know this?" she asked.
"I'm a genius," he answered quickly.
"Okay..." she trailed off. "What does this mean?"
"It means that I successfully threw them off the scent!" Josh explained, as if it were obvious.
"The scent?" she asked, confused again.
"They think that I am willing to let you live your own life - away from me. You know...with a boyfriend and dates and less work," Josh explained further.
"Which is not happening?" Donna guessed.
"Of course not! You don't want to be with Winston!" he told her.
"I don't?" she asked quietly.
"No," Josh smiled. "He's just a man of convenience."
"Until...what...my Prince Charming shows up?" she asked, sarcastically.
"He's already shown up...he's just...in hiding or something," Josh tossed back with a grin.
"Josh..." Donna began. "You're drunk and not making sense."
"I am indeed drunk," Josh conceded. "But...I make much sense. I am your Prince Charming. You want to be with me, but we can't because of the detriment it would cause the Administration and all of our friends."
"You've decided this because we've kissed a couple of times?" Donna asked.
"You don't believe me?" he asked, hurt.
"No," she smirked. "You're drunk and overtired and rambling."
"Kiss me," Josh told her.
She laughed. "See? You're nuts!"
"Just for a minute. Kiss me. And if you want to stop right away...go ahead. I'll take the hint and stop being a pestering idiot. But if not...we'll have to enact a plan...a better one the inflation thing," he smirked and moved closer to her mouth. "C'mon," he whispered. "What could it hurt?"
"Josh...if I kiss you that'll be the end of it?" she asked hopefully.
"Yep...we'll know one way or the other," he told her.
She sighed and moved her lips toward his and pressed a light kiss on his mouth. She moved her face to adjust the position of the kiss and his hands framed her face lightly as he responded. Then she pulled away. "There," she whispered, out of breath. "One kiss. We're done," she breathed.
"Yeah?" he asked with an arched eyebrow as his mouth moved to claim hers again. This time their tongues dueled for control of the situation and when they pulled away to breathe Donna rested her forehead on Josh's chin and he kissed her hairline.
"So...we're done, right?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah...for tonight. We don't want to wake your roommate," Josh smiled as he got up to leave.
"Josh...I thought we talked about all the reasons why this," she gestured between them, "is not a good idea."
"We did," he answered simply.
"And?" she asked.
"And now we just need to come up with another plan."
"For what?" she asked.
"Deceit, Donnatella," he smiled. "We need to be very careful and inconspicuous so that we keep...what are those names you call CJ, Toby and Sam again?"
"Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys," she supplied.
"Right," he agreed with a nod. "We need to keep Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys off our scent."
"Do we have a scent?" she asked.
He responded by kissing her soundly on the lips. "We most definitely have a scent," he whispered before kissing her quickly again and leaving her alone in the dim light of her living room.
She sat in the quiet for a minute before she reached for her phone to call him.
"Josh?" she whispered when he picked up.
"Donna...go to sleep," he told her.
"But...what are we going to do?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"Nothing at all," Josh told her. "We'll act normal...like we do now."
"Now I'm dating Winston," Donna told him.
"Yeah...but you don't really want to date him so much anymore, do ya?" he asked with a grin.
"Possibly not," she agreed.
"Okay...then you'll phase it out," Josh told her.
"Phase it out?" Donna asked, confused.
"Donna...we'll think of something," he told her. "Look...my cab's at my place. Go to sleep and I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"Right...business as usual," she agreed with a shaky grin.
"Yeah well...that doesn't mean I can't have my way with you behind closed doors," he murmured to her.
"Josh!" she said astonished.
"But again...I guess it doesn't mean that I can have my way with you either," he smiled.
"Exactly," Donna smiled.
"Negotiating these points should be fun," he laughed. "Sleep, Donna."
"You too," she ordered. "Night," she whispered before she hung up and couldn't help but wonder what she'd gotten herself into.
"Hi Donna," he chirped on the phone when she answered.
"Why Congressman Seaborn," she smiled. "When are you getting your cute ass back to the West Wing?"
"I'm in session most of today," Sam explained. "But I was wondering if we'd be able to do the dinner thing tonight?"
"Dinner thing?" she asked.
"With me, Josh, CJ, Toby, and you and Winston," Sam explained. "You know...the one Josh told you about."
"Oh...yeah...that one," she lied. "Right. Let me just double check the schedule," she told him and put him on hold as CJ was making her way down toward Josh's door.
"Is he in?" CJ asked.
"Yeah...you free for dinner tonight with Sam?" Donna asked. "He wants you and Toby."
"Yeah...and you and Winston and Josh, right?" CJ asked. "I talked to Sam earlier," CJ explained.
"Yeah," Donna smiled. "I just wanted to be sure you were both in."
"Yeah," CJ told her as she went into see Josh.
"Sam?" Donna smiled. "We're all good," she told him. "Where and when?"
"I'll send a car over around 7 or so," Sam told her. "See you tonight!"
"Bye," she smiled and then called Winston to let him know their new plans.
CJ left Josh's office and he appeared in his doorway. "You want to go grab some food?" he asked with a grin.
"Sure," she smiled. "The mess?"
"Yeah," he agreed and fell into step behind her.
"Make sure you're ready around 7 tonight," Donna told him calmly.
"Huh?" he asked. "What's around 7 tonight."
"Dinner with Sam and everybody," she told him. "Remember?"
"Donna," he sighed. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Sam told me he talked to you and you were all for it. It'll be him, you, CJ, Toby, and Winston and I," she explained. "He's sending a car."
"I said I'd talk to you about that before," he muttered as they got their food and found a table in a corner.
"Before what?" she asked with a wide grin.
"You know what," he grimaced. "You really want to be at a table with Winston and I?"
"I'd be more worried with you at a table with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys," she smirked. "I can handle myself."
"And I can't?" he asked, his voice a little squeaky. "I've been fine all week," he boasted.
"Uh huh," she smiled. "That's because I was there to control the situation."
"Whatever," he muttered.
"You tend to grin," she explained.
"I grin?" he asked.
"When you're, you know, strutting or whatever...you grin," she explained.
"I do not strut," he proclaimed.
"You really do," she told him. "Ask anyone."
"Like?" he pressed as Carol walked by their table.
"Carol?" Donna called to her. "When Josh gets lucky or has a really good day....what does he typically do?"
"He does that weird strut thing and grins a little," she said. "Why? Must we endure it today?"
"No...he's been mediocre in meetings thus far and I don't see the day improving all that much," Donna assured her. "So no worries for the time being at least."
"Okay," Carol smiled. "Later, Donna. No offense, Josh."
"I don't believe she said that," Josh exclaimed when she left.
"She's an observant woman," Donna told him.
"So you need to be there tonight with Winston to baby-sit my strutting and grinning?" he asked.
"No...Sam wants me to bring Winston, so I will. I need to make sure you don't give up the secret with the grinning," Donna explained and smiled softly at him as she patted his hand. "Keep up!"
"Donna," he sighed. "When can we...you know...discuss things?"
"Things?" she asked.
"You and me," he smiled. "You know...the thing we did. Twice."
"Oooh! That 760 verbal is really shining through there," she laughed.
"You're making me nuts," he told her.
"It's a gift."
----
Josh appeared at Donna's desk at 6:45 PM. "Hi," he murmured to stir her from her work. "Shouldn't your boyfriend be here soon?"
"Sam sent the car for Winston first. So he'll be here soon," she assured him. "You ready?"
"Yeah...you?" he asked.
"Always," she smiled at him.
"Donna," he sighed. "Are you sure you want us all to do this?"
"I want everyone to get to know Winston," she told him. "It'll be fun."
"Not so much," Josh replied, pouting.
"Why do you hate him so much?" she asked in disgust. "You don't even know him!"
"He's a Republican and he's sleeping with you," Josh muttered. "Reason enough for hatred."
"Josh...that's enough," she spat. "I'm not dealing with this tonight from you. Sam's our friend. Can't we try to be civilized?"
"You look amazing when we fight," he told her. "Your face gets all flushed and your eyes get really big."
"Oh my god!" she said, exasperated.
"Donna," he smiled as he came closer and she glared at him.
"Go away," she said through gritted teeth.
"And if I say no?" he asked blocking her from moving away from him.
"I'll scream and we'll both be cooked," she warned.
"I don't believe you," Josh whispered, his breath now on her lips.
"I'll do it," she told him evenly.
"I'll risk it," Josh told her as his mouth barely skimmed her own.
"Joshua," she murmured, not moving away from his lips.
"Mmm?" he asked.
"We have to get downstairs for dinner," she told him. "Before CJ and Toby come looking for us," she moaned as his lips captured her own. Her fingers glided over his face and his moved to her head and he deepened the kiss.
"Donna?" Winston's voice rang out from down the hall, announcing his presence.
Josh and Donna froze for a moment before distancing themselves from one another. "Back here, honey," Donna called back to him.
"Hey," he smiled coming to hug her and kiss her cheek. "Your friends said I should come and get you guys," he told them as he reached for Josh's hand to shake. "I'm Winston," he told him. "Donna's boyfriend."
"Josh Lyman," Josh smiled and shook the man's hand. "Donna's boss."
"Nice to meet you, finally," Winston smiled at him. "Donna talks about you all the time. I feel like I already know you."
"Me too," Josh smiled and led the way down the hall. "C'mon," he told them. "Sam hates to be late for reservations."
"So," Donna smiled as they joined CJ and Toby in the limo. "Winston," she continued, "this is CJ and Toby. Guys? This is Winston."
"Nice to meet you," CJ smiled and shook his hand.
"Yeah, man. Good to meet you," Toby smiled. "We've heard all good things."
"Donna thinks of you guys like family," Winston smiled. "She talks about you all all the time."
"Donna's a special girl," Josh chimed it.
"She is," Winston smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Stop guys," Donna blushed.
"You're blushing," Josh told her. "It becomes you."
She shot him a glare, as did Toby and CJ. "Shut up, Josh," she hissed.
"We're here," CJ piped up as the limo pulled to a complete stop. "C'mon," she told the group. "Let's go find Sparky!"
----
The group found Sam at their usual table and introductions were made.
"So," Sam started. "You and Donna...you've been together for a while now?"
"Yeah," Winston agreed. "About 6 months."
"And we're just now meeting you?" Toby asked.
"She's always working it seems," Winston laughed.
"Josh keeps me busy," Donna smiled awkwardly.
"All the time," Winston laughed again. "I swear, she spends more time with him then with me most nights."
"Not really," Donna mumbled.
"That's a bit of an overstatement," Josh added.
"Josh is a hard ass," Sam smirked. "We've all told him he works Donna too hard."
"Maybe now that he realizes," Toby stated, glaring at Josh, "how unfair he's being toward her."
"Yeah," CJ agreed. "She deserves to spend more time with you, Winston. You guys are so cute together."
"Work is work," Josh insisted. "It's an important job."
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Donna agreed. "I don't mind the long hours. I mean...it's done after the next couple of years. And how many people can say that they worked in the White House?"
"True Donna," CJ agreed. "But you need to have yourself a life, too. There's a big world outside the West Wing."
Donna smiled at CJ and Winston.
"She loves the work," Josh smiled at her. "And I can't work without her," Josh admitted. "So if she works less, I guess I get to work less, too." Josh shrugged, "You think Leo'll mind?"
"He might," Toby grimaced.
"I'd have to agree," Sam smirked at Josh.
"It's unlikely that you'll be able to kick me out of the office much earlier than you," Donna smiled warmly at Josh. "You know how I worry."
"He's a big boy," CJ told her. "He doesn't need to be taken care of anymore."
"Hey!" Josh yelled. "She takes care of me just fine."
"That I do," Donna smiled.
"She's a nurturer," Winston agreed. "That's one of the many things I adore about her."
"Stop it," Donna grinned and hit him. "Let's talk about something else. Sam? How goes the woman search?"
Everyone laughed and Sam conveyed his woman stories. Josh went to take a phone call outside and Donna and CJ went to the bathroom.
"So," Winston said. "Josh and Donna....they just have a weird work thing going on, right?"
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "They've always clicked...since the beginning."
"She's a loyal girl," Toby confirmed.
----
"What's up with Josh?" CJ asked Donna as they were touching up by the vanities in the ladies' room.
"What do you mean?" Donna asked.
"He's being...well....nice. And very un-Josh-like," CJ answered honestly.
"He's in a mood," Donna brushed off. "I threatened to organize another work slowdown if he didn't behave tonight."
"Good thinking, sister!" CJ smiled as she high-fived her.
"Thanks," Donna smiled and they went to join their table.
----
The group was laughing hysterically when Josh rejoined it moments later.
"You know(it's not nice to laugh like that when someone is approaching the table and then stop all of a sudden. It makes them think you might be talking about them," Josh whined.
"We were," Toby told him with a smirk.
"Oh...," Josh smiled uneasily. "What are we talking about me for?"
"I thought it was your favorite topic," CJ chipped in.
"Not unless he's bragging about himself," Sam laughed.
Donna smiled a little in his direction. "We were just talking about your secret plan(you know(to fight inflation," she said as seriously as possible.
"That was years ago and it was CJ's fault," Josh defended himself. "Her and her damn root canal."
"You're too much," Winston laughed. "You're all so funny....I'm glad I got the chance to meet all of you."
"The feeling's mutual," Sam responded for the group. The rest nodded and smiled their agreements except for Josh. Sam nudged him a little and muttered, "Josh....say something nice."
"I'm glad Donna managed to find such a good guy," Josh forced out with a smile. "She deserves to spend her time with someone she respects and who respects her just the same. I hope you continue to make her happy - she deserves it."
Everyone looked at Josh oddly. This was a huge step for him - being nice to Donna's dates and all. Donna blushed at his comments slightly. They were directed at Winston, but he looked more at her while he said them.
"Thanks, buddy," Winston said and shook Josh's hand.
Donna mouthed "thank you" as tears threatened to form in her eyes. She fiercely blinked them back and tortured Sam some more about his latest date and Toby and CJ silently congratulated themselves on a job well done on the Josh/Donna initiative. They both believed that Josh had finally accepted that Donna had a life outside of his and he had to let her live it.
----
The night ended soon after that with the limo dropping them all off at their respective cars and houses. After it had dropped off Donna, Winston and Josh, CJ called Sam's phone.
"You're so smart! I think we're in the clear!" she exclaimed when he picked up.
"It did look good, didn't it?" Sam agreed. "What's Toby say?"
CJ glanced at Toby and then smiled. "He gave me a favorable smirk. So I think we did good."
"Excellent," Sam sighed. "Josh turned a big corner tonight."
"Agreed," CJ said. "I'm happy for both of them...well all of them."
"I have to read some briefing memos," Sam told her. "I'll call you guys tomorrow," he told her. "Good night."
"Bye, Sam. Talk to you later," CJ hung up.
"You should be proud of yourself, CJ," Toby smiled at her. "Your scheming worked this time."
"You helped!" CJ admonished.
"I'll never admit to it," Toby smirked as he got out of the car. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night, Tobus."
----
The ringing phone startled her out of a deep sleep around 3 AM. "H-hello?" she asked, nervously.
"I just wanted to say good night to you," Josh slurred into his cell phone.
"Josh," she sighed. "Are you drunk?"
"I may have partaken in some alcohol after I came home from the restaurant," Josh admitted.
"Where are you?" she asked.
"On your front steps," he told her.
"Come up," she sighed and went to her door to let him in.
He came in and slouched on her couch in a heap. "Hi, Donna."
She smiled and sat next to him. "Hi, Josh."
"Did I wake you?" he asked, noticing her messy hair and the lack of light in the apartment.
"It's 3 AM," she said, exasperated.
"Point taken," he slurred. "I just wanted to say that I had a great time tonight and I meant what I said. You deserve everything in the world."
"Thanks," Donna said quietly.
"And, unfortunately, you won't be receiving the world from Winston," he sighed. "It's a sad thing, I know, but it is indeed true."
"Josh...you were so nice," Donna started to protest.
"It was a test," Josh told her.
"Huh?"
"Sam, Toby and CJ...it was a test to see if I could let you be happy and leave you alone," Josh told her.
"How do you know this?" she asked.
"I'm a genius," he answered quickly.
"Okay..." she trailed off. "What does this mean?"
"It means that I successfully threw them off the scent!" Josh explained, as if it were obvious.
"The scent?" she asked, confused again.
"They think that I am willing to let you live your own life - away from me. You know...with a boyfriend and dates and less work," Josh explained further.
"Which is not happening?" Donna guessed.
"Of course not! You don't want to be with Winston!" he told her.
"I don't?" she asked quietly.
"No," Josh smiled. "He's just a man of convenience."
"Until...what...my Prince Charming shows up?" she asked, sarcastically.
"He's already shown up...he's just...in hiding or something," Josh tossed back with a grin.
"Josh..." Donna began. "You're drunk and not making sense."
"I am indeed drunk," Josh conceded. "But...I make much sense. I am your Prince Charming. You want to be with me, but we can't because of the detriment it would cause the Administration and all of our friends."
"You've decided this because we've kissed a couple of times?" Donna asked.
"You don't believe me?" he asked, hurt.
"No," she smirked. "You're drunk and overtired and rambling."
"Kiss me," Josh told her.
She laughed. "See? You're nuts!"
"Just for a minute. Kiss me. And if you want to stop right away...go ahead. I'll take the hint and stop being a pestering idiot. But if not...we'll have to enact a plan...a better one the inflation thing," he smirked and moved closer to her mouth. "C'mon," he whispered. "What could it hurt?"
"Josh...if I kiss you that'll be the end of it?" she asked hopefully.
"Yep...we'll know one way or the other," he told her.
She sighed and moved her lips toward his and pressed a light kiss on his mouth. She moved her face to adjust the position of the kiss and his hands framed her face lightly as he responded. Then she pulled away. "There," she whispered, out of breath. "One kiss. We're done," she breathed.
"Yeah?" he asked with an arched eyebrow as his mouth moved to claim hers again. This time their tongues dueled for control of the situation and when they pulled away to breathe Donna rested her forehead on Josh's chin and he kissed her hairline.
"So...we're done, right?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah...for tonight. We don't want to wake your roommate," Josh smiled as he got up to leave.
"Josh...I thought we talked about all the reasons why this," she gestured between them, "is not a good idea."
"We did," he answered simply.
"And?" she asked.
"And now we just need to come up with another plan."
"For what?" she asked.
"Deceit, Donnatella," he smiled. "We need to be very careful and inconspicuous so that we keep...what are those names you call CJ, Toby and Sam again?"
"Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys," she supplied.
"Right," he agreed with a nod. "We need to keep Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys off our scent."
"Do we have a scent?" she asked.
He responded by kissing her soundly on the lips. "We most definitely have a scent," he whispered before kissing her quickly again and leaving her alone in the dim light of her living room.
She sat in the quiet for a minute before she reached for her phone to call him.
"Josh?" she whispered when he picked up.
"Donna...go to sleep," he told her.
"But...what are we going to do?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"Nothing at all," Josh told her. "We'll act normal...like we do now."
"Now I'm dating Winston," Donna told him.
"Yeah...but you don't really want to date him so much anymore, do ya?" he asked with a grin.
"Possibly not," she agreed.
"Okay...then you'll phase it out," Josh told her.
"Phase it out?" Donna asked, confused.
"Donna...we'll think of something," he told her. "Look...my cab's at my place. Go to sleep and I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"Right...business as usual," she agreed with a shaky grin.
"Yeah well...that doesn't mean I can't have my way with you behind closed doors," he murmured to her.
"Josh!" she said astonished.
"But again...I guess it doesn't mean that I can have my way with you either," he smiled.
"Exactly," Donna smiled.
"Negotiating these points should be fun," he laughed. "Sleep, Donna."
"You too," she ordered. "Night," she whispered before she hung up and couldn't help but wonder what she'd gotten herself into.
