Subject: In So Many Words

Part 1a – Four Little Words

Summary: Josh and Donna as seen by Leo – as he talks with Josh's parents and Donna's mother

throughout the Bartlet administration

A/N: The various plot scenes may belong to Sorkin and Co., but the rest is all a product of my imagination (active and otherwise). This series started rolling around in my mind while on vacation in AZ this spring, it's just taken awhile for me to put it together in a (hopefully) coherent manner. Hope you enjoy!

Archive/feedback: Just tell me where, so I can visit; and please, by all means, feed my muse and stroke the ego! ;)

FOUR LITTLE WORDS – Pt. A

Bartlet for America

Manchester, New Hampshire

Leo McGarry sat in his "office" at the Bartlet for America headquarters listening with one ear to his assistant Margaret while scanning the most recent financials for the campaign. He thought Margaret was rattling on about the greasy spoon down the street, but truth be told, he really wasn't sure. Finally, Margaret stopped talking and just stared at Leo. He looked up at his assistant and said, "I did it again, didn't I?"

"Yes, Leo, you did." Margaret replied with a snort.

"I'm sorry, Margaret, what were you saying?"

"I was just saying that the new girl, Donna, well, she's already got Josh's office straightened out, his calendar now makes sense so that we all can read it, and Josh hasn't missed an appointment in 2 weeks. Leo, I'm serious, you have got to find a way to put her on salary soon! No one else has been able to work with Josh even half that long." Margaret finished her litany and crossed her arms, watching Leo expectantly.

Leo leaned back in his chair and looked at his assistant. Margaret had been with him for years, since his tenure at the Labor Department. He knew Margaret was usually spot-on when it came to assessing personnel, and even he had noticed the change in Josh in the last two weeks. He motioned Margaret into the only other chair in the office.

"Go on, I'm sure you've more to say." Leo said with more than a touch of sarcasm.

Margaret just glared at Leo before continuing.

"Donna is making a difference, Leo. Remember when Josh couldn't find the top of his desk, let alone the most recent polling numbers? Now he can find both – and if he can't, Donna tells him right where to find it. Josh seems more relaxed, more 'pleasant', don't get me wrong, he's still way too intense for me, but he's been far easier to deal with since Donna arrived."

Leo nodded.

"Believe it or not, I've noticed the change in Josh, too. I just didn't know what the reason for it was. Do you think we have anything to worry about, you know…." Leo wasn't good at speaking about the emotional stuff, and Margaret knew it.

She shook her head.

"No, I really don't think that will be a problem. Josh is currently seeing someone, and Donna just got out of a lousy relationship and isn't looking for anyone right now. Donna just wants to make a contribution. She may be trying to regain her self-confidence but I don't think she'll be a problem. Can we keep her, Leo?"

Margaret rarely asked Leo for a favor and the times she did it was never for her sole personal benefit. Leo could no more refuse Margaret than he could Mallory.

Leo chuckled quietly.

"Margaret, you make it sound like Donna is a stray kitten that you've found. But…" he continued quickly before Margaret could explode, "I agree, we should make the move and put Donna on salary. Would you like the honor of telling Josh, or should I?"

Margaret rolled her eyes at Leo.

"No thanks – I'll let you tell Josh, you've had more experience at dealing with 'happy' Josh than the rest of us."

Leo smiled. "All right, I'll do it. Send him in and get back to work.

Margaret left the office to carry out Leo's instructions. As the door closed behind her, Leo's phone rang.

"McGarry."

"Leo, couldn't you at least say 'hello'? an amused voice admonished.

"Noah, what a surprise! Don't you have anything more interesting to do?" Leo chuckled.

Josh's father just laughed. "Why Leo, what could be more interesting than the latest goings on of the Bartlet for America campaign?"

"I can think of many things, old friend. How are things in Connecticut?"

" Boring, Leo. Need any help stuffing envelopes?"

"Are you volunteering, Noah?" Leo asked with a trace of humor in his voice.

"I wish I could, but that damn chemo is keeping me pretty close to home." Noah sighed, frustrated by the limitations of his body. Not wanting to dwell on his illness, he turned the conversation to Josh.

"How's he doing, Leo?" Noah inquired.

"Noah, that boy of yours was made for this. The governor has begun to realize just how valuable Josh and the others are to the campaign. And we've found someone to help him stay organized."

"Really? I never thought that was possible. Who is it, a clone of Mrs. Landingham?"

Leo chuckled at the image Noah had just put into his mind.

"You're pretty close, Noah. Her name is Donna Moss and she stepped right in and took control of the chaos that is known as Josh's office. And he doesn't seem to mind, in fact he's happier than I've seen him in a long time. She came here as a volunteer from Wisconsin, but we are about to put her on salary. I think she will be a good addition." Leo paused.

"Is Josh still seeing Mandy?" Noah asked. He wasn't too keen on that girl – she was too much the barracuda, too self-centered and whiny.

"Yeah, but they've had some snags lately. I think that relationship won't last much longer." Thank heavens for that development, Leo thought. Mandy and Josh at odds was more tension than was needed right now.

Noah exhaled, relieved at this piece of news. Josh needed a supportive partner, someone like Ruth. Noah gave thanks daily that the good Lord saw fit to put Ruth into his life. A balm to his soul, that was his Ruth.

"Ah, I see," Noah said, striving to keep his tone noncommittal and failing miserably. Leo heard the relief in his friend's voice, and something else. Time for the tough question.

"How are you really doing, Noah?"

"Eh, Leo, you know how it is, one step forward, two steps back. Some days are better than others. Today is a good day." Noah didn't want his friend to worry – Josh would pick up on it and that was not where Noah wanted Josh's focus to be right now.

Leo understood the unspoken answer – he hadn't been a politician this long not to know how to hear the unspoken.

"Don't worry, Noah, we'll keep him busy. Donna has already proven herself equal to the task. Margaret has given her approval, and I wouldn't be surprised if Delores Landingham comes in here and urges me to make Donna part of the staff. There is a quality to Donna, it's hard to define."

"Well, if Margaret approves…What's her background?" Ever the litigator, Noah was curious – to be able to keep up with Josh required many talents.

"Her story is interesting. From what Margaret's told me, Donna dropped out of the University of Wisconsin to support her pre-med boyfriend. He used her, took her money, and then as the crowning touch, Donna walked in to find Dr. Freeride in bed with a student nurse. Donna packed up and moved back home. She saw the 60 minutes piece about Governor Bartlet's campaign and decided to pack up and drive to Manchester. She walked in, they told her to go to Josh's office and try to get it organized. Well, Josh walks in, Donna's answering a phone call and things went from there. Josh said she could stay and help him and he's been in a good mood ever since. Noah, you'd like her. She's got a quick mind and seems to have a knack for this stuff. She's a bit young, but she fits in and truly believes in the campaign. The other staffers, CJ, Toby, Sam, they all seem to like her too. She can keep up with Josh where nobody else has been able to – I think Josh is enjoying the challenge." Leo finished his story, smiling because he knew that Noah would feel better about his son's situation.

"That's good to know, Leo. She sounds like a nice girl, don't suppose she's Jewish, is she?" Noah asked hopefully.

"Sorry old friend, blonde, blue-eyed and tall – Irish/Italian descent. Her given name is Donnatella, actually." Leo replied.

"Irish/Italian, you say? Interesting combination." Noah said with a chuckle.

"Like I said, she's a keeper, Noah."

"Good, good. What's next, Leo?" Noah inquired.

"A quick stop in your neck of the woods before we head to Illinois – want me to make sure Josh stops by?"

"That would be nice, Leo. Ruth would love it. You come too, and bring Donna and the rest of the youngsters." Noah suggested.

"Sounds like a plan, Noah." Leo agreed.

"We'll see you soon, then." Noah replied.

Leo replaced the receiver and sat back in his chair. He could tell that Noah wasn't telling him everything regarding the cancer treatments. He sighed heavily, knowing exactly how devastated Josh would be when Noah died. And from what Ruth had told him during their last conversation, the "when" was coming sooner rather than later. Taking a side trip to Westport would be good for Josh, a chance to see his parents before things got really hectic. A knock at the door roused Leo from his musings.

"Leo, Margaret said you needed to see me?" Josh said as he poked his head through the doorway.

"Yeah, come on in, take a seat."

Josh did as instructed, a puzzled look on his face. "What's up?"

"Two things, don't worry, you're not in trouble, as far as I know. First off, we are spending some time with your folks next week in Westport – CJ, Toby, Sam, Donna, me and you – probably Tuesday afternoon."

Josh grinned – it would be nice to visit his folks, it had been too long since his last visit. Having his friends along might temper the merciless interrogation he knew his mother would put him through.

"OK, cool. What's the other thing?" Josh asked.

"How would you feel about having a full-time paid assistant?" Leo sat back and watched Josh's reaction.

The question caught Josh off-balance- this wasn't a question he'd been expecting. He knew he certainly could use the help – and since Donna had been helping him things had been much easier. Donna kept him on schedule and his desk no longer resembled an abandoned toxic waste dump. Having her around on salary would be the best thing for everyone. The others liked her too, so she shouldn't cause any friction. Josh became lost in thought and totally forgot about Leo.

Leo just sat there watching Josh work it out. Josh had a lousy poker face and it amused Leo to see the wheels spinning in Josh's mind. Finally, Leo decided it was time to call Josh back to the present.

"JOSH! Earth to Josh!" Leo snapped his fingers at Josh.

"Oh, sorry Leo. What were we talking about?" Josh stammered.

"An assistant for you. I'm gonna offer Donna a paid position as your assistant. Do you think she'll take it?"

"Yeah, I'm sure of it." Josh replied with a huge grin as he started to bounce around in his chair.

"When can I tell her?"

"Right now if you want, but make sure to tell her to see Margaret to get all of the paperwork in order." Leo told him.

"Okay, got it. This is great, Leo, you won't regret this, I promise." Josh said happily.

Leo looked at Josh with raised eyebrows.

"Believe me, Joshua, anything that puts an end to the exodus of screaming volunteers from your office is definitely worth doing. Donna seems like a smart girl who deserves a chance. If as a bonus she is capable of keeping you organized and out of trouble, all the better. So get the hell out of my office and go tell Donna the news and then get your ass back to work!" Leo growled with mock ferocity.

Josh gulped nervously, wondering if he'd pushed a little too far. Then he saw the slight grin on Leo's face and realized that he wasn't in trouble, as long as he made a speedy exit.

"Got it, boss – I'm going back to work now." Josh backpedaled through the doorway and out of sight.

Leo shook his head as Josh departed. He would have to keep an eye on Josh – after all, he had promised Noah as much.