Chapter 8
Josh looked up from the file he was reviewing to stare at the phone, a frown pulling at his mouth. Even with his horrible watch he knew it was nearing 9. Hell, the cheesy clock staring back at him told him it too. So why hadn't she called? The question nagged at him as he leaned back in his chair. She always called. Called to harass him. Called to complain about how late his rare calls came. Called to make remarks on his showing on political shows. Called just to bug him. So why hadn't she? She couldn't be out of town on business, because she always told him, or rather his machine. Hell, he could even recite the cutesey message she gave each time: "Hey, Josh, wanted to let you know I was going out of town on business. You know, just in case you actually cared enough to call or something. Wouldn't want you to worry." So, no, she wasn't out of town. And he hadn't done anything for her to be mad at him for, well, except maybe the birthday thing. But he never remembered anyone's birthday. In fact, she was the one who reminded him of his mother's birthday, so how could she be mad that he'd seemed to have forgotten hers?
"Hey Josh, you do realize you're here to work, not daydream," a voice called causing him to look up at the woman in his doorway and frown even more.
"And good morning to you too, Mandy."
"Well, you're certainly charming this morning," she said as she breezed further into what could loosely be called his office.
"Aren't I always?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?" she retorted as she perched on the edge of his desk. "You know, instead of day dreaming you should be thinking up ways to thank me for the way I'm about to save your worthless hide."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really," Mandy sighed as she crossed her legs. "You didn't call in the poll results to that reporter."
"Actually he didn't call me. And I called Toby before he went to staff to inform him of the problem."
"Then why haven't I heard anything about the numbers on the news?"
"Talk to Toby, not me. My connections only get us so far."
"He's not only your connection."
"Yeah, well, he takes my calls. Can you say the same?" Josh replied pointedly, earning a glare from Mandy as she pushed to her feet. "We have staff," she shot back angrily.
"I'm aware of that."
"Now, Josh."
"Actually, we have five minutes."
"Your watch never has the right time."
"Did you see me look at my watch?" he asked. "No. I looked at my clock, which has the right time."
Mandy eyed the article in question with disgust. "I don't see why you keep that. . . that thing."
"It was a gift."
"Right. From Donna," she huffed.
"Don't start."
"I just don't see why you need a clock like that. It's unprofessional."
"It tells time."
"It has a picture of a lifeboat of all things!"
"It's a reminder."
"Of what? That you can't get along without her? Shows how much she knows."
"Mandy, just drop it. You wouldn't understand."
"Perhaps I don't want to," she shot back. "We have staff."
"I'm coming," he sighed as he pushed to his feet only to pause as the phone rang.
"Josh, staff."
"Mandy, phone," Josh replied through gritted teeth.
"Two words: voice mail."
"Two words: get out."
"Josh. . ."
"I'll be there," he sighed as he grabbed the phone, hoping he caught the call before it switched to voice mail. "Josh Lyman. . ."
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Sonny slipped into the ICU room after a few moments of watching Ned through the window. He then walked over to the other man and handed him a cup of coffee. "Drink it, you look like you can use it," Sonny said as he slid into the empty chair next to him and unbuttoned his jacket.
"What are you doing here?" Ned asked as he looked at him in surprise.
"Brought Carly a change of clothes and all of you breakfast."
"Oh," Ned replied distractedly as he looked over to the bed where Donna was laying, not really seeing it or her.
"It wasn't your fault," Sonny said quietly after a few moments of silence.
"How would you know?" Ned asked angrily. "You weren't even there."
"I've been where you are."
"Have you?" Ned asked bitterly as he looked down into the coffee. "I asked her to talk. Pressured her to. I brought her upstairs. Me."
"And AJ pushed her."
"Because of me."
"No, because he's AJ," Sonny sighed. "Don't you think I've asked myself the same sort of questions? 'What if I hadn't let Carly talk me into going that day?' 'What if I told her to wait upstairs for me?' ' What if I went up with her?' It doesn't help. Doesn't change what happened. They both fell. Both still ended up here, hurt."
"I can't help what I feel."
"It's not gonna help her or you."
"Why do you even care?"
Sonny shrugged, "I don't, but the women I care about do. Listen Nedly, no matter how much that gatekeeper in your head is telling you to take the blame, don't. Junior did this, not you. Hell, I could blame myself. I should've taken care of the twerp years ago."
Ned shook his head at that, "don't we all wish that one," he took a sip of the coffee and then looked at Sonny. "He's gonna get away with it."
"He'll pay sooner or later."
Ned laughed at that as he looked back down into the cup, "since when has AJ ever paid for anything? He may not be the golden boy, but he sure as hell is the untouchable one."
"Everyone's touchable sometime."
"You should talk."
"Hey, I have a good attorney."
"And AJ has the Quartermain name. Funny, I think you'll be seeing the inside of a jail cell sooner than him."