Okay, I realized that I never put in an author's note or disclaimer for the first two chapters, so here it is. I don't own West Wing or the characters, despite the fact that I might want to. I would marry Josh Lyman in a heartbeat, except well, he's Donna's and so I'm gonna go with my second but very close choice of Sam. That was a tough decision, cause seriously…how do you choose between Bradley Whitford and Rob Lowe. Someone tell me!
Please Review…and thank you to those who have reviewed…I totally appreciate and love you guys! Enjoy!
Sam grabbed another cup of coffee and sat down at the table that he and Donna had vacated five minutes earlier. He looked at Josh – all crazy and angry – across the table from him. "What is up with you today?"
"Nothing. I'm peachy, can't you tell. What did you want earlier, when you came looking for me?" Josh hastily choked down his lunch, trying to keep the fear and anger at bay. Josh only glanced at Sam every now and then, afraid that if he looked Sam dead in the eye he would see something there that would make him even angrier than he already was.
Sam watched him for a couple minutes. "I didn't need anything, I just wanted to see if you were free for a quick lunch." Josh grunted in Sam's direction, obviously disbelieving him. "Okay, you need to get a grip today. You're beginning to remind me of Toby. Toby on a good day. Seriously Josh, what is the matter with you? Donna said you were in such a good mood this morning when you came in." At Sam's last statement Josh's head shot up and his eyes flared, and Sam felt like he knew what it would be like to run into a burning building without any firefighting gear. Sam sank back in his chair and decided to keep quiet for the rest of the lunch.
"I have a full day of meeting and people suck. Does that answer your question?" Josh gulped down his coffee, despite the fact that it was probably scalding and stood up. "I have some things to do before my next meeting, and I'm sure there's something that you should be working on." Sam stood up.
"Alright. I'll see you later then." Sam took one last sip of his coffee as Josh turned to throw out his trash.
"Listen, I'm going to be busy the rest of the day, so there's no point in you coming around anytime this afternoon or this evening. I won't be able to chat with you." With that, Josh breezed out of the Mess and charged his way back to his office. Josh was so angry now – just the thought about all that he had seen and heard today had him in knots. He had practically thrown a hissy-fit in the Mess – and it was all because Sam mentioned Donna. Fine. If they're going to be all buddy-buddy around the office today, I'll just stay away from the bullpen, Josh thought as he slammed his office door behind him.
Sam walked back to his office, trying to figure out what had Josh so angry today. Then an interesting thought popped into his head – Josh got super mad anytime Donna was around Sam or anytime Sam mentioned Donna. Sam went into his office to think about this, and perhaps devise a plan to get Josh in a better mood. He couldn't help it – one slightly evil, but very adorable, grin appeared.
Donna grabbed at the highlighter before it had the chance to roll off her desk. What was his problem anyway? There she was, that morning, thinking all about how sweet and funny and attractive Josh was – she had almost let her feelings slip to Sam – when he decided that he was going to become Deputy Downer. For about the four millionth time. What am I ever going to do about him? Donna mused. Her deep, down, sacred inner voice chimed in: It's really hard to love him when he gets this way. The highlighter dropped to the floor. "What did you say?" Donna breathed aloud, as if the statement had been said to her and not by her. "It's not possible, is it?"
"Donna, my dear, Josh is seriously going to have to consider giving you a vacation, especially with you talking to yourself like that." C.J. stood in the bullpen doorway, laughing lightly. "Are you okay? Overworked?"
"C.J., I just, didn't you hear. Okay, nevermind." Donna was mumbling and barely coherent and looked as if a bombshell had fallen off her desk instead of the highlighter.
C.J. grabbed a chair and sat next to her, concern all over her face. "Seriously, Donna, you're kind of scaring me now. Are you sure you're okay?" C.J. put a reassuring hand on Donna's shoulder.
"I was just thinking to myself. I'm really fine, I swear. I was just thinking about some things," Donna said, while pretending to not glance in the direction of Josh's firmly closed door. C.J. followed her gaze, but really didn't have to, to know what Donna was looking at. C.J. rubbed Donna's shoulder lightly. "Oh," was all she said.
Donna gave her a funny look. "What do you mean, 'Oh'?" Donna was afraid that she had really said that she loved Josh out loud instead of just inside her heart. Then Donna had another odd thought: After saying I love Josh once, the second and third times are much easier. Huh. C.J. was still kind of staring at Donna like she thought she might puke any second. "Um, C.J.? I just kind of had a very weird thought."
"About Josh?" C.J. grinned when Donna looked extremely taken aback for about the fourth time in about as many minutes. C.J. sat back in her chair, crossing her long legs and her arms, grinning. "Come on, Donna. Tell me all about it. I'm in the sisterhood."
Donna chuckled. "C.J., despite the fact that I'm always doing something for him, I don't think about him every second of every day."
"Donna, I think you're gonna need some water." Donna gave her a quizzical look. "Your pants are on fire." C.J. burst out laughing when Donna groaned. "Seriously, Donna, if you tell me your thoughts, it might help me put into perspective the conversation I just had with Sam."
"Why? What conversation did you have with Sam?" Donna was semi-panicked now. Did Sam tell C.J. that she had almost admitted her feelings about Josh to him?
"Well I thought it was just one of Sam's musings type of conversations, where he expands on some point that no one knows how he came up with it and no one knows where he's going with it. All he said was that Josh freaked out on you two earlier, and that Josh later freaked out on Sam while they were having lunch. Then Sam proceeded to tell me that he thinks Josh's really bad mood is because you went to lunch with Sam instead of Josh going to lunch with Sam and that sometime this afternoon I should mention to Josh that you have a date tonight, because, and these were Spanky's words: 'It would really go the long mile in helping the two of them out.'" Donna was speechless and C.J. was not really sure why. She had just thought that Sam's bizarre conversation had been just that – bizarre. She didn't think there had been any kind of proof behind his statements. Now she was thinking there might be more to this story than what Sam had let on. "This better not be about another call-girl," she muttered.
Donna was now in a frenzy to pretend to her co-workers that she wasn't in love with the crazy man she worked for. "C.J., I have a date tonight! I have a date with a smart and charming and handsome man who isn't crazy. I'm going on this date if it kills me. No one can stop me, I mean it! No one can keep me from my date." Donna was breathless and wide-eyed, and C.J. just looked thoroughly amused. She smiled and leaned in close to Donna.
"Donna, I can help you. You don't have to admit anything out loud, but I have a feeling that I finally know what Sam was up to. Let me take over from here, and trust me, you will be super-pleased by the time I'm through. Listen – is there any chance that Josh has been acting erratically towards you and/or Sam today?" Donna nodded, mute. "Did he come in angry today, or did his mood deteriorate as the day went on?"
"It started out extremely chipper, then he became angry and irrational and pretty much crazy. I'm not really sure why, though."
"I know why. I understand what's eating at him, and I've got just the plan to get him back to that good mood he had this morning by the end of the night. Did you tell Josh that you have a date tonight?" Donna shook her head, no. "Okay. Then don't mention it to him unless he specifically asks. When it comes time to leave for your date, don't tell him you're going – just go. I promise things will work out – once you put them into the hands of the Queen of Spin. Will you leave this up to me and Sam and maybe Carol?"
Donna thought about it for a moment. She wasn't so sure about this. She trusted her friends completely, but this was her life she was putting in their hands. Because really, if she thought about it hard enough, Josh was her life. But what do I have to lose? "Yeah, C.J. Go for it. Just don't mess this up too bad. Even though I'm still not sure exactly what it is you're up to." C.J. stood with a grin and a clap of her hands. She said goodbye and started for Sam's office to let him know what she had planned. "I'm trusting you!" Donna called to her backside, before sighing deeply and slumping into her chair. Oh God, what did I just get myself into?
"Sam, you've got to stop grinning like the Cheshire Cat or this is never going to work. Now I need you to make sure that you can be seen near Donna at around," C.J. checked her watch, "6:00. That's going to be just about when I'm going to make sure that Josh overhears Carol and me talking about her date. Carol, do you have your part down?" The three of them were holed up in C.J.'s office while C.J. expounded her 'Big Plan for Bringing Josh and Donna Together.'
"Yes. I'm supposed to make sure to ment…"
Sam cut in on Carol. "C.J., I can't believe you actually gave a name to this plan of yours. It's not a national policy." Sam was grinning again and laughing. Carol smiled at him, but frowned when she saw the serious look on C.J.'s face.
"Excuse me, Spanky, but it might as well be a national policy. It's to the point that if we don't get involved then they'll just remain ignorant and unhappy the rest of their days. Besides, I'm sure that if I took this plan to Leo or the President, they would approve. Without questioning my naming of the plan," she gave Sam a withering look, but there was a definite mirth in her eyes. "Okay, anyway, back on point. Carol – you know what to do. Sam – you know what to do and where. And of course, I know what to do, seeing as how it's my big plan." C.J. looked from Carol to Sam and back again. "Alright, when I give the signal it'll be places everyone. Now let's get some work done before we do the best spinning of a story we've ever done!" Sam and Carol nodded and left her office, Sam still laughing. This better freaking work, C.J. thought, or I give up!
Josh was on his way back from his last official meeting of the day, and it had been a doozy. There were just too many unruly Republicans out there and he had decided that he was in the mood to kick some ass. All he wanted now was to get to his office and sit and mope. He was still upset about earlier today, and he still got irrationally angry every time he thought about Donna and Sam in the same thought. Why was the idea of their names being linked bothering him so much? Josh was just about to pass by Carol's desk when he heard her and C.J. talking. He stopped and listened for a couple seconds, attempting to not give away his presence to the women. He didn't know what it was with him, but he seemed rather inclined to listening in on conversations that didn't involve him today.
"…no, that's what I heard too. She told me that 'he was the one.' She seems really excited about it." Carol was telling C.J.
"Bad weather for this type of thing, though. I mean, how romantic can a date in D.C. be when it's pouring cats and dogs?" C.J. was perched on Carol's desk, while Carol was re-organizing files.
"Yeah, but think about it, C.J. Maybe they could end the date with a cozy coffee in his apartment or something. Now that's romantic on a night like this with a man like Sam." C.J. hummed her approval of that scenario. Josh was just about to keep going past, when he heard something that re-enflamed his bad mood and sucker-punched him in the gut. "Yeah, I'm not sure Donna could get a more romantic date than that."
"Carol! You have to keep this quiet. I'm trying to keep the press from getting wind of this before I can come up with an appropriate backstory. Man, did they pick a rough time to start the love of a lifetime." C.J. sighed and shook her head. "But they're our own and we protect them the fiercest. I'm sure Josh will be on the frontlines of their defense." Carol had to duck and turn her head away to keep from laughing and giving away their plan. "Yeah," C.J. continued, "at least someone's found happiness in this administration though, right? Okay, before you go, Carol, I need to schedule for tomorrow's briefings and check on the weather for tomorrow. I think we may just have to move that photo op inside." C.J. went back into her office and shut the door and Carol went back to her duties. Josh shocked and upset and wanting to know whether what he had heard was true, stormed off to find Donna. What he didn't notice in his enraged state was the phone call C.J. placed to Donna's desk to tell him to be ready: crazy, angry Josh was on his way.
Josh stomped and spluttered out expletives in increasing volume as he made his way to the bullpen. Then he stopped short. It was another scene just like the one he had witnessed this morning. Sam was perched on Donna's desk corner and she was grinning up at him. This time though, they both had on their coats and Donna had her purse in hand. Josh couldn't believe it – he couldn't believe that it could actually be true. Were Donna and Sam about to go on a date? With one last curse word, Josh stopped in the bullpen doorway, confronting them.
"DONNA!" Josh knew there was no need to yell, but he felt like it anyway. "You have to stay tonight. I'm sorry, but there were a few problems that came up at that last meeting and you need to go over the Union Certification Standard studies before tomorrow morning. If you're gonna eat dinner, make it quick and make it take-out, because we're gonna be here all night. Working!" Josh finished his speech and stared at the two of them, just daring Donna to defy his decision.
"Josh, I was going to go. I started reviewing those surveys and studies today, and I was going to finish tomorrow morning. I have a date tonight." Donna looked at Sam for nothing more than moral support, but Josh mistook it as confirmation of their date.
"So it's true!" he hissed. Donna and Sam stared at him, as if they had just decided that, yes, Josh Lyman has officially lost his mind. "Too bad. You knew the hours would be odd when you started. No one's lied to you, and you told me that you would be valuable to this administration when you started. How can you be valuable if you aren't here working? You're just going to have to stay or not come back tomorrow." Josh turned to go into his office and Sam jumped in front of him. Donna stayed in her chair, dazed and stunned and not sure whether to cry or kill him.
"Josh, you can't be serious! If you need help tonight, I'll stay. Let Donna go at least. She really did work hard today – like everyday." Sam was performing his part perfectly.
"No, Sam. This is what she signed on for, so this is what she gets. She's not your assistant so you don't have any say. Just go be cozy in your apartment by yourself!" Josh stepped into his office, slamming the door behind him – pretty much in Sam's face. Sam was not so sure what the last sentence meant, but he let a small smile escape nonetheless. The plan was working out just as C.J. said it would. Maybe she should be in charge of national policy plans from now on, Sam thought.
He turned and went back to Donna, kneeling next to her. "I tried Donna, I did. He just seems to be in one of those moods today. Don't worry about anything, though, I swear to you it'll all work out. You're going to have to stay, though, so sorry about your date. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Sam booked it to C.J.'s office in record time, leaving Donna sitting in his wake. She stared after Sam, then at Josh's shut door. She finally moved to pick up her phone – she had to call to cancel her date. Donna dialed, as she thought, I swear to God, C.J., if this is part of your plan, I'm coming after you once I get done with Josh!
Josh remained in his office and Donna at her desk, while C.J., Sam, and Carol headed out for the night. "C.J., you are the puppet master," Sam mock-bowed to her in the lobby. C.J. grinned and clapped her hands together again. There was going to be a major blowout tonight between Josh and Donna and C.J. hoped that tomorrow good moods would be restored for everyone. C.J. frowned, remembering for the first time that this plan could all go horribly wrong and by tomorrow Josh could be dead and Donna in jail. Then she shrugged, Oh well, even love needs a little meddling with sometimes, right? Otherwise Cupid would be out of a job. C.J. grinned at that; that's right, just call me the best-looking Cupid there ever was!