A/N: This is a little quicker that I normally post, but the last few days I have been a story writing fiend.

Thank you to Holly who gave me practically every idea in this chapter (literally).

Also thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed and those who have just read. I swear that I haven't even hit the big stuff yet.

Enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen

"I should be able to figure this out," Josh said as he paced his office. Two weeks had gone by since his blip on the Hill and though he hadn't yet found the courage to call up a P.I., he was tempted more and more everyday. "I mean anyone can take a look at my credentials and know that I'm a brilliant guy. I'm a Fulbright Scholar who went to Harvard and Yale. You can't get much better than that."

He knew that he should just let it go, but he couldn't. It was Donna and he wasn't about to let anyone hurt her. No matter how much he hurt. So focusing on discovering the paternity of the child helped ease the pain that he experienced in knowing that someone had been close enough to her to make it in the first place.

"I worked two years as the floor director in the House and two years as director in the Senate. That's a tough job." He sighed. "You have been Brennan's CoS and Deputy for the President of the United States…which you elected." He paused and conceded. "For the most part. You've worked some of the best jobs in Washington and are considered the third most powerful man in this building. Aside from all those military guys and let's just say they don't count."

With a groan, he flopped himself in his chair. "This can't be that hard. I mean, you work Donna like a…overworked animal. And though she gets out on occasion when you run out of things for her to do, she isn't a floozy. This can't be too hard. All you got to do is think about how far along she is and do the math." He paused as he noted that Donna said yesterday that she was right at three months. Then he grabbed his calendar and flipped it back three months from Friday. "This can't be that hard."


"Just shut up," Donna muttered into the phone.

"Donna, you really need to go. You know what I say-"

"I really swear, Sam. If you say that one more time, then I plan on making sure that you lose all your teeth."

"I can get you in today at lunch at my dentist."

"You called me in an appointment?"

"You haven't been to a dentist in years, Donna. The last one you saw was four years ago when you went home for Christmas in Wisconsin. This way, I'm getting you in and setting up a future contact. I'll even make it easier on you. I'll come pick you up, because I really don't have anything to do till late this afternoon, and drive you there. Then we can meet up with Dawnie for lunch."

She rolled her eyes. "You had this all set up before you even called."

"And it happens to be that the office is really close to Georgetown."

"Isn't that a coincidence?" she dryly commented before sighing in defeat. "Fine. What time?"

"I'll be there at eleven thirty." She didn't wait for another word before hanging up.

A whim of temptation overcame her to simply beckon Josh to her, but she doubted that he would find much humor in the gesture. So, she got up and walked into his office without bothering to knock. Donna certain that he was talking to himself. "Busy?"

He looked startled by the sound of her voice. "No. Just chilling until Leo calls me back. Why?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I am going to be taking a long lunch today."

"Another appointment?"

"Sorry Josh," she replied sardonically. "I hate to trouble you with my medical issues."

"Is it the baby?"

"Nope. I don't meet with Dr. Young for another three weeks."

"Then what?"

"A dentist appointment."

He stared at her for a moment. "Do you have a cavity?"

"Nope."

"Sore gums?"

"Negative."

"Any discomfort whatsoever?"

She shrugged. "Not really."

He narrowed his gaze. "And you are going because…"

Another eye roll graced her. "Sam is making me."

"You're a big girl, Donna." He had a smirk on his face now. "I think you can take him."

She smirked back. "I bet I could, but he started freaking out when I told him last night that I hadn't gone to the doctor in four years."

"You know, Sam is nuts about dental hygiene."

"AHH!"

After her quick burst Josh looked at her wide-eyed for a moment. "And apparently you're just nuts."

Wisely she chose to ignore the statement. "I'll be taking a late lunch." With that, she turned to walk out.

"You keep on leaving me here all the time now."

Her blonde hair flew as she turned to face him. "Josh," she growled. "I have been to two doctor's appointments in the last three months. I don't think I'm screwing the federal government or you over on that one."

"Don't forget when I gave you the day off to go shopping."

"Half a day and so what? That's more days off than I had had in previous six months."

Feigning innocence, he shrugged. "I'm just saying."

"You don't want to know what I want to say." She quickly took her leave. In honesty, she really could think of anything, but she decided that it was best to let his mind get creative.

Josh couldn't dwell on Donna's final words for very long. After she left, he had to go to Senior Staff and then have a long and lengthy discussion with Leo about the merits of the President stepping up and taking a stand on The Defense Against Marriage Act. He still had no idea if he won, but he made enough valid points that he was happy.

Then back to the real issue. The baby.

He went straight to his office and began pacing again. He hoped that if he got the blood flowing that he would be able to process everything. He now knew the general time that Donna was impregnated and he just had to trace things back. "I had just broken things off with Amy. That was a rough time. 'Cause then she started slamming me in the face with stupid woman stuff." He looked around and thanked God that CJ wasn't around when that one slipped. With a shake of his head, he got back to topic. "So that Friday I went over to Donna's."

His hands were gesturing as though to urge himself on. "So the Friday is null. Then…" Josh made a mental note. "Oh God. That fits perfectly."


Sam was delighted as he made his way through his old stomping ground. Though he had quite a respectable job on Capitol Hill, he missed the pace and the bonds he made with the people in the White House. But he was determined to look on the sunny side of life.

He made it to Donna's desk to discover that Donna was nowhere to be found. "She went off to make some copies," explained a junior staffer who noted his puzzled stare. "She should be back in a few minutes."

"Thanks." Sam was about to take a moment and lounge in her chair when he saw Josh's door fly open. "Josh?"

"Sam!?" He looked frantic as he gestured him to come near, and when he was close enough to touch he yanked him into his office and slammed the door behind him.

"Whoa there, buddy. I think you drank one too many Yoo-hoos for breakfast."

"Shut up." He looked like a mad man. His hair was rumpled and hands quickly came up to muss it again. "I-I think I know who the father is."

The younger man whimpered, but went unnoticed. "Yeah…"

"You said I know him."

"I did."

"I guess that he has nicknames."

"A few."

"And Donna loves nicknames, so she would love to use them."

Oh shit! Sam's mind was getting blurry. He prayed that Donna wasn't the one who blew it. Though there is a small tidbit of satisfaction in knowing that I can't get the blame.

Josh didn't notice the other man drift. "Well…I don't know his real name."

This brought the dark-haired man back.

"But I've got this." He paused. "Do you know a man named…Zangy?"

Sam knew that his mouth was gaping open, but he couldn't help it. After the shock and disappointment washed over him, there was another emotion. One he couldn't control. Hysterical laughter.

"Sam?"

He quickly gathered himself, nodding urgently at his friend's duress. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he hastily amended.

Before promptly bursting into rich giggles again over the look on Josh's face.

He was doubled over in guffaws that were taking over his whole body. He truly didn't know if he would be able to stand much longer.

"Sam?" This time his tone was less curious and more annoyed.

With a deep breath, he poised himself and looked at the man with seriousness in his gaze. "I have heard of him from Donna and Dawn. But I have to say," he was cracking as a smile twitched his lips. "There are certain…conditions that limit his ability to conceive."

"Like what?"

He couldn't help it as chuckles erupted again.

"I think he's the father!"

Donna timed herself perfectly as she opened the door. "Who's the father?"

Josh turned to her. "I remember distinctly a…" He felt stupid even saying the name. "A Zangy answering you phone the day that Dawn was moving in."

Donna had to giggle as well. "Josh-"

"I'm serious!" With a whine, the third most powerful man in the country stomped his feet in frustration. "Why couldn't it be this guy?"

"Oh God," Sam moaned as he stumbled to a chair to continue his merriment.

Donna laughed at both men before her. "For starters, I wouldn't sleep with a guy nicknamed Zangy." She stopped to look off and tap her finger briefly to her lips. "Though he was gorgeous."

"Donna!"

"His friend was very nice as well."

"Oh, Donna," Sam was cackling still. "Oh Jesus!" He stood up and stumbled toward the door. "I have to call Dawn."

"Ignore Sam," she said noting his increasing anger. "If you knew what Dawnie told us, you would understand." She paused to take a collective breath and to give Josh a moment to control himself. "Zack-a.k.a-Zangy, is a happily married man. He also has a rare condition that would make him unable to ever produce further offspring."

Just when Donna felt that he was about to ease down, a loud roar of laughter was heard in the bullpen. She didn't give a chance for him to retort. "The reason," one of many she mentally added, "that Sam finds this so funny is because from everything I saw and everything that Sam has heard tell of, Zack is fanatically in love with his wife."

"Really?" he asked skeptically.

"Josh, randomly as we were unpacking boxes he paused to whip out his wallet and show me a collage dedicated to his wife and two children." She paused. "And I'm jealous. That Kelly is quite a looker."

"So, it's not Zang-Zack?"

"Sorry." She paused. "And it isn't his friend. They both have the same ailment though Zack's been sterile a shorter amount of time."

"Fine." He wasn't a happy man as Donna walked out of the office shortly there after to take an extended lunch and go to the dentist.

And he had to admit that there was a new suspicion clouding his thoughts.

Sam came in to drop Donna off after lunch and decided that it would be best to pay a quick visit to his best friend's office to offer apologies. "Hey, Josh," he said coming up upon the open door.

The man in question looked up from the folder in his hand. "Hey."

The Congressman took this as invitation enough and stepped across the threshold. "I-I just wanted to say sorry for acting like a real ass earlier."

Josh's eyes narrowed, but he offered no ill remark. "No. Sounds like I was a dipshit for thinking it."

Yeah, kinda is what he wanted to say, but Sam opted for a flick of his wrist and a, "Nah. I would have thought the same thing." An awkward moment passed and he thought it best to speak again. "So…we're starting a movie night over at Donna's and Dawn's. We all thought that before too long Donna won't be able to get out and this way she won't feel all bummed out about it when it happens. She can just already be used to the disappointment. Wanna come?"

"No…sounds like you guys have a thing set up."

He shook his head. "No thing. This is the first week. I get to choose the movie the first time around and Dawnie's second. Donna already admitted that she wanted to watch a cheesy romance movie so I'll be glad to slip you in the third place spot."

"I was going to work on some stuff for next week with Leo tonight." He just hoped that Leo didn't burst in with plans cause he was pulling this out of his ass.

"Are you sure? I was thinking about a manly action, but then I decided that there would more than likely be more complaining than enjoyment. So I decided on a good comedy. I thought Monty Python, but that can be overdone. Then I thought about something a little more on the side of unusual, but Delicatessen might not be their cup of tea."

"Sam…"

"So I think that after this meeting I have to go to down at Harper's office I will go pick up some Mel Brooks. Nothing beats a good Men in Tights."

"Sam."

"I know that Spaceballs is a classic as well. In fact…they all are pretty funny and I think that the girls would get a kick out of them. Even if they have already seen them. That's the beauty about the art of comedy. Good stuff never gets old."

"Sam!" That finally got the man's attention. "I can't and I have a meeting in here…well now."

"Oh." Disappointment befell the younger man's face. "That's fine. I-I'll give you a call this weekend or next week and we can get together for lunch."

"Sure."

But Sam could tell as he made his way out of the White House, that Josh wasn't going to be anticipating his call.