"Do you want me to wake him?" Chris asked the next morning as Donna came to
collect some papers.
"I'll take care of it." She stood at the bottom of his bed. "Josh, the Senate all just walked out."
"Call Leo, call the majority leader, call Toby. What?"
"Good morning Josh. We're leaving in forty minutes. If you want to be in the motorcade you need to be ready before then."
"The Senate didn't walk out?" He asked sleepily.
"No, not at seven in the morning they didn't. Chris, I still need those numbers by the time we get to the new hotel. If you don't get anywhere with National Strategies, use Josh's name and if that doesn't work use Josh, he's good at demanding numbers from them. He's here until we go back, might as well make him earn that government salary."
"Okay Donna."
"And get him some coffee? He can't function in the morning without it. I should know I lived with him for three months. I'll see you later."
"Three months?" Chris mumbled as Donna left.
"After Rosslyn she stayed with me so I could work when I was awake."
"Yes Mr Lyman. I'll just get you that coffee."
~ ~ ~
"So did you and Josh have a nice chat last night?" Abbey asked as they made their way to Lafayette in the motorcade.
"No ma'am. I was busy organising the speeches for today, then I had a meeting with Agent Connors about security at the places we're visiting over the next few days." Donna said shuffling papers.
"I see." Abbey commented.
"Sam told the President and everyone else had told him the truth because he was annoying everyone." Donna muttered.
"And how do you feel about him knowing?" Abbey asked.
"I used to him not knowing. I think he needs time to adjust to it. Whatever happens I think I'd rather not work for him anymore, it's going to be complicated either way. Excuse ma'am" Donna said as the phone rang. "Donna Moss. we'll get those when we get to the hotel?.... Thanks Chris. .. Just give him the leaflets on the places we've been and the notes I left with you, I'm sure the President will quiz him when we get back. Bye."
"Josh bored?" Abbey asked with a smile.
"Yes ma'am."
"Nothing changes. That job offer is still open."
"I may take you up on that ma'am." Donna said with a smile.
"So you'd like the position as my Chief of Staff?" Abbey asked.
"Mrs Bartlett .. I'm not qualified . I mean I'm honoured but."
"I think you are, you've been doing very well over the last week. Could you see if my husband has a few minutes to talk to me?" Abbey asked.
"Yes Mrs Bartlett." Donna dialled the White House and got through to Charlie and was put through to the President. She handed the phone over to Abbey. Abbey had heated debate with Jed over giving Donna the job. Donna tried not to listen as Abbey listed the various points.
~ ~ ~
"So how has Donna been the last few days?" Josh asked after he'd flicked through some of the information Donna suggested he read.
"She's on top of everything, she's had everyone organised, and everything has run a lot smother than it usually does, especially after Lily resigned. She's good are you sure we can't keep her?" Chris asked.
"I need her to keep my office running." Josh mumbled.
"Also because you realised you were in love with her and came running down here to tell her?" He offered.
"How did you know about that?" Josh asked.
"The White House Grapevine is good. Besides which I could tell by the way you look at her. Give her a few days to get used to you being here. We should have most of Thursday afternoon off."
"What is it you actually do again?" Josh asked.
"I was or still am I guess a minor advisor to the Mrs Bartlett's Chief of Staff, who vaguely at this point is kind of Donna I guess. Mrs Bartlett is still working on finding a new Chief of Staff."
"I know we're trying to help her out there, but she hasn't liked any of our suggestions."
"Mrs Bartlett has strong opinions she needs someone who can see her viewpoint and give her counter arguments when needed."
"I'll take care of it." She stood at the bottom of his bed. "Josh, the Senate all just walked out."
"Call Leo, call the majority leader, call Toby. What?"
"Good morning Josh. We're leaving in forty minutes. If you want to be in the motorcade you need to be ready before then."
"The Senate didn't walk out?" He asked sleepily.
"No, not at seven in the morning they didn't. Chris, I still need those numbers by the time we get to the new hotel. If you don't get anywhere with National Strategies, use Josh's name and if that doesn't work use Josh, he's good at demanding numbers from them. He's here until we go back, might as well make him earn that government salary."
"Okay Donna."
"And get him some coffee? He can't function in the morning without it. I should know I lived with him for three months. I'll see you later."
"Three months?" Chris mumbled as Donna left.
"After Rosslyn she stayed with me so I could work when I was awake."
"Yes Mr Lyman. I'll just get you that coffee."
~ ~ ~
"So did you and Josh have a nice chat last night?" Abbey asked as they made their way to Lafayette in the motorcade.
"No ma'am. I was busy organising the speeches for today, then I had a meeting with Agent Connors about security at the places we're visiting over the next few days." Donna said shuffling papers.
"I see." Abbey commented.
"Sam told the President and everyone else had told him the truth because he was annoying everyone." Donna muttered.
"And how do you feel about him knowing?" Abbey asked.
"I used to him not knowing. I think he needs time to adjust to it. Whatever happens I think I'd rather not work for him anymore, it's going to be complicated either way. Excuse ma'am" Donna said as the phone rang. "Donna Moss. we'll get those when we get to the hotel?.... Thanks Chris. .. Just give him the leaflets on the places we've been and the notes I left with you, I'm sure the President will quiz him when we get back. Bye."
"Josh bored?" Abbey asked with a smile.
"Yes ma'am."
"Nothing changes. That job offer is still open."
"I may take you up on that ma'am." Donna said with a smile.
"So you'd like the position as my Chief of Staff?" Abbey asked.
"Mrs Bartlett .. I'm not qualified . I mean I'm honoured but."
"I think you are, you've been doing very well over the last week. Could you see if my husband has a few minutes to talk to me?" Abbey asked.
"Yes Mrs Bartlett." Donna dialled the White House and got through to Charlie and was put through to the President. She handed the phone over to Abbey. Abbey had heated debate with Jed over giving Donna the job. Donna tried not to listen as Abbey listed the various points.
~ ~ ~
"So how has Donna been the last few days?" Josh asked after he'd flicked through some of the information Donna suggested he read.
"She's on top of everything, she's had everyone organised, and everything has run a lot smother than it usually does, especially after Lily resigned. She's good are you sure we can't keep her?" Chris asked.
"I need her to keep my office running." Josh mumbled.
"Also because you realised you were in love with her and came running down here to tell her?" He offered.
"How did you know about that?" Josh asked.
"The White House Grapevine is good. Besides which I could tell by the way you look at her. Give her a few days to get used to you being here. We should have most of Thursday afternoon off."
"What is it you actually do again?" Josh asked.
"I was or still am I guess a minor advisor to the Mrs Bartlett's Chief of Staff, who vaguely at this point is kind of Donna I guess. Mrs Bartlett is still working on finding a new Chief of Staff."
"I know we're trying to help her out there, but she hasn't liked any of our suggestions."
"Mrs Bartlett has strong opinions she needs someone who can see her viewpoint and give her counter arguments when needed."