So nervous about my first post, guess I forgot a few things last time…

Title: Time is Up (I hate how you have to pick a title when you post your first chapter, seems a bit premature.)

Disclaimer: I think all of the cute and clever ways to say 'it's not mine, don't sue me' have been taken. So here it is: it's not mine, don't sue me.

Author's note: I have been a fan of West Wing since the beginning, but it was not until the first DVD came out that I became a diehard. I adore the characters of Josh and Donna. Donna is quirky and elegant, Josh is egotistical and vulnerable. This story doesn't fit into any particular timeline except to say that it is obviously before Sam leaves.

CHAPTER TWO

Friday morning, 5:30

Josh's alarm went off routinely. He undressed, showered, and redressed hurriedly and was ready to walk to the White House by six. The walk would take fifteen or twenty minutes and that would give him some time. Time. Yeah, that's what he needed. Time to think about Donna. And Sam. Donna and Sam. The thought made his head hurt. Then again, it could be the slight hangover he was still battling. Three beers and a slight hangover three hours later? Donna was right, I do have a delicate system. Josh left and used his spare key to lock the deadbolt. He slipped it deep into his trench coat pocket before the urge to run back to the safety of his bedroom overwhelmed him.

"Hey buddy, how ya feeling?" Josh walked past the front security desk to find none other than Sam waiting on him.

"You're here early," he ignored the question, finding it difficult to be civil. The walk to work had yielded no new ideas or thoughts on the Sam and Donna situation. All he knew was that their sudden closeness made him uncomfortable. And he had to stop it.

"I wanted to be certain that Donna and I could finish today so I asked her to meet me here at six." Josh's eyebrows shot skyward but he said nothing. Glancing at Sam as they walked toward his office, Josh could see that he looked genuinely concerned. This softened Josh but only slightly. "Anyway," Sam continued, "I just wanted to make sure you're okay. You got a little worked up last night at the bar."

"Yeah…listen Sam, yesterday was a weird day for me, beginning to end." He hoped Sam wouldn't press for details. Josh stopped when he reached Donna's vacant desk; he scooped up his calendar. "Where is she?"

"My office. She went to get us breakfast so I thought I'd take a minute and come over –"

"Yeah. She mad at me?" Josh was at his desk now with Sam standing on the opposite side. He turned on his computer and sat down on a hard lump of metal. His keys.

"Donna hasn't said much to me about last night. When she got here this morning I said, 'Sleep well?' and she looked at me for a moment then said, 'He had too much.' And that was that." Sam cleared his throat loudly attempting to fill the awkward silence as Josh processed what he'd said. "If there is anything you want to talk about…"

"I've got to get back to this," Josh said quickly, gesturing toward the papers and folders on his desk. "Can you ask her to come meet me for lunch?"

"Okay." Sam turned and walked out, calling over his shoulder, "Cheer up, Josh."

"Yeah," Josh whispered to himself. With his head in his hands, he pressed his thumbs deep into his temples. His thoughts quickly turned to Donna. His assistant. His friend. Hell, his best friend. Could she be more…mean more to him? I need aspirin.

Friday morning, 11:37

"I wish you were in charge of my salary, Sam." Donna moved the few remaining files on her lap to the finished pile on the floor. Sam had been so appreciative of her help and she felt needed, something she had not felt in a long time. She liked that feeling.

"Josh is not in charge of your salary, Donna." Sam understood exactly where the conversation was eventually headed.

"I know he's not in charge per say, but you'd think he could make a recommendation or something."

"Donna, you have done a terrific job for me these past two days, I appreciate it. I know that it seems that Josh doesn't value you sometimes, but he does…in his own way. You just have to trust me on this one." Sam took off his glasses and glanced over at her. She is a good assistant, he thought to himself. She deserves a pick me up. But Sam did not want to get into too much detail about what Josh has and hasn't said about her.

"Trust you, Sam? I don't know, is there a good reason to?" Donna was being smart but she didn't care.

"I'm your colleague. I'm your friend. I'm Josh's colleague and friend. I've never given you a reason not to…"

"Okay, okay… you don't have to actually list the reasons. Smart ass."

This made Sam chuckle. Then Donna began to laugh. After a minute or two, she decided it felt good to laugh like that. She'd been so swamped lately and with what happened last night…it simply felt good to laugh.

"Alright, it looks like we're done here." Sam finally said, looking around at the piles on the floor.

"Yeah, just in time for lunch. You hungry?"

"Lunch! I almost forgot. Josh wanted you to meet him."

"What are you doing for lunch?" Donna all but ignored the offer.

"I was going to meet CJ at that new deli on third, but she cancelled on me. I'll probably just go down to the mess."

"Let's go to the deli." Donna stood up and straightened her skirt.

"What about Josh?"

"Look Sam," her tone was exaggerated and she waved her arms wildly. "I can't deal with him right now. No… not can't, won't. I'm in a good mood. Let's go celebrate our big accomplishment."

"Ooo—kay," Sam hesitated but stood up and helped her into her coat. "But I think that you should go see Josh and maybe straighten things out when we get back."

"We'll see."

Friday, 12:15 pm

Josh entered the Communications bullpen tentatively. His limbs were shaky and he felt nauseous from what he assumed was adrenaline. Or it could be the potential results of what he was about to do. In his hands was a thoughtfully written out message scrawled on a hallmark card and a bouquet of yellow roses.

"Josh." He turned to see Ginger at her desk watching him.

"Ginger. Could you go into Sam's office and get Donna, please?" his voice quivered, barely above a whisper.

"Donna's not here."

His face fell. "What? Where the hell is she?"

"She and Sam went to lunch. About twenty minutes ago."

"She went to lunch with Sam." It was more of a statement than a question. He and Ginger both glanced down at his bouquet. "Okay." Visibly defeated, without looking back up, he slowly turned and walked back to his office. She went to lunch with Sam.

TBC