Ritchies

"Let's get out of here." Josh said to CJ, appearing in her doorway.

It hand been a long day, full of activity. Josh new CJ was tired, but that neither of them had unwound yet. He had decided that a night out for drinks might just do the trick.

"Sure." CJ agreed, taking off her glasses, reclining in her chair and rubbing her temples. "I'm done. No, really, I mean it. I'm done. I can't stare at these memos any more. They're just blurring together" CJ looked up at Josh. "Where are we going?"

"I was thinking that we should stop at Ritchie's for some drinks. Donna said she was interested. We could stop and get Toby too."

"I'm up. I'm getting my coat. And we're leaving." CJ announced. In one quick movement, CJ rose out her chair and grabbed her things. "What about Sam?"

"Nah. Sam's having dinner with Driscoll and Jones. He's trying to sway them towards the thing."

"Okay. You get Donna and I'll find Toby. We'll meet at the gate in 10 minutes."

CJ disappeared down the hallway and Josh turned to walk into the bullpen to find Donna.

Ritchie's had always been a bustling restaurant and bar, but in the last few months it had become "the place" to be seen in Washington DC. It was frequented by the twenty-somethings and fifty-stomethings alike. It wasn't unusual to find financial officers mingling with senate staffers and Georgetown socialites chatting up an ambassador. The décor had an old-world feel, but the atmosphere was up to date and electric at times. The restaurant flowed easily into the massive bar, both of which were busy, but never so full that it seemed to be bursting at the seams.

As the foursome walked through the double doors at the front of Ritchie's they were immediately drawn into the sea of people. Josh smiled and nodded at people he knew, while Donna scoped out a booth in the bar. As they made their way over to their seats, Toby looked around and a grunt escaped his lips.

"Tell me again why you like this place?" Toby questioned dejectedly.

"Oh, come on. It's, like, the place to be." Josh answered trying to use his best valley girl impersonation.

CJ and Donna slid into the booth first, followed by Toby and Josh. A jazz band played on the small stage in the back corner of the bar, filling the room with jazz renditions that hinted of rock in the lyrics and bass. A waitress quickly greeted the group and drinks were ordered all around. Even before the waitress returned, playful banter and cantankerous complaining resumed at the table.

"Senator Ross," Toby complained. "Never in my life have I met a more feeble, obtuse representative of the people. God help us if the people he represents are anything like him."

"Hey." CJ interrupted. "Isn't that Sam's sister over there?"

Toby slowed lifted his head to look over Josh and Donna's shoulders. Donna leisurely craned her neck to follow CJ and Toby's gaze. Josh, however, nearly fell out of the booth as he twisted quickly in his seat to look intently behind him.

CJ started chuckling. "You have to admit Joshua, the hemorrhoid cream was crafty. She's good."

Donna giggled, thinking back to the look on Josh's face when he told her about how he received the industrial sized case of hemorrhoid cream. Josh seemed not to hear CJ and Donna as his sight followed Juliana as she walked through the bar. Juliana walked towards the middle of the bar and greeted two other women about her own age.

"Uh, I should go over and, uh, say hi." Josh stammered. "You know, or at least thank her for my present."

Josh started to rise out of the booth. CJ grinned at Josh. She had a knowing look of amusement on her face.

"Gather ye rosebuds Josh." Donna called after him as he walked away.

"Good evening ladies." Josh greeted.

Jen rolled her eyes and sighed, while Leigh simply stared at Josh with her mouth hanging open.

"Aren't you afraid of something flaring up with me so close?" Juliana asked playfully.

"Very funny," Josh replied, all but ignoring Juliana's friends. "Your present. It was cute."

"Thanks. I thought you'd like it. Well, at least I enjoyed it. Seriously, though, aren't you, I don't know, embarrassed to be seen over here talking to me? You have an entire table of friends over there who must be about to rush over and rescue you from the clutches of, oh what is it, the antichrist?"

Josh just stared at Juliana. He chuckled softly and looked away. Running his hands through his hair, Josh seemed embarrassed and slightly shocked.

"How did you…?"

"You underestimate me, Josh. I know all, I hear all and I see all." Juliana titled her head back and a wide grin spread across her face. "Come on! I don't have the White House bugged, though that isn't a bad idea, things just get around."

"Yeah, well I think I should report your White House 6th sense to the Secret Service. They might be interested in it."

Josh was finding it easier to talk to Juliana and Juliana was equally surprised at Josh's easygoing attitude. The two stood and talked, sipping from their drinks. Their casual air and friendly demeanor during their conversation drew the attention of those around them. CJ and Donna looked on with interest, amused with Josh. Jen and Leigh, who had met up with friends from the majority counsel's office, looked on with skepticism as Juliana chatted with Bartlett's pit bull.

Josh and Juliana had migrated over to an empty bar table, both had all but forgotten about the friends they arrived at the Ritchie's with.

"You and Sam really set the White House on fire?" Juliana asked, the mental picture she was seeing was hilarious.

"Well it wasn't a roaring blaze or anything, just a few small logs. We put it right out."

Juliana and Josh both shared a good laugh. They had been trading harmless, humorous stories for about 30 minutes now.

"Juliana…" Josh started.

"Do people ever call you Joshua?"

"Only when I'm in trouble of some kind."

"So you must hear that a lot," Juliana countered.

"Watch it." Josh joked.

"Yeah, well no one really calls me Juliana. Not my friends anyway. To most people my name is Jules."

"Sam doesn't call you that."

"Yeah, well my big brother doesn't know everything there is to know about me. We've missed out on a bit of each other's lives. But, what were you going to say?"

"Well, Jules…" Josh said her name with ease and like how uncomplicated it was to call her that. "The minority leader is going to bring up legislation we support on…"

"No." Jules interjected firmly.

"Hear me out. I want to know…"

Josh was able to say even less this time than before when Jules cut him off. The look on her face had turned from one of contentment and repose to a look of candor, almost offense.

"Josh, is this your office?"

Josh was taken aback and didn't have time to respond.

"Is this my office?" Jules demanded. "No. I didn't think so. There may be people here who work for you and there may be people here who work for me, but this is in no way the hill or the White House. I'm on a break. I'm here for a drink and some friendly conversation. Good lord, I may even get drunk tonight. If you want to debate legislation and wrangle support, you'll need to make an appointment."

Jules handed Josh a business card, hopped down from her stool. She walked away from Josh and across the bar to her friends. They welcomed her with some teasing remarks and Jules turned to order another drink, without a look back at Josh. Josh was left sitting, alone, wondering what had just happened.

When Josh looked up, Donna was walking across the room towards him.

"What did you do to scare her off?" Donna teased. "Did you start calling her names again?"

"Donna! No. We were having a great conversation about stupid, or rather amusing, things we've done in our past…"

"I'm surprised it wasn't a longer conversation." Donna deadpanned.

"Hey now! Anyway, I wanted to ask Jules…"

"So, it's Jules now, huh?" Donna asked curiously, with a teasing grin on her face.

"Do you want to hear what happened or not?" Josh paused for Donna's acknowledgement and then continued. "I was attempting to ask her about which congressmen could be approached for bipartisan…"

"Stop right there." Donna insisted.

"I seem to be getting a lot of that tonight."

"You two were having drinks and swapping stories and then you bring up work? God you're a yutz!"

"What?"

"I think you know Josh." Donna watched her words sink in. "I came over to tell you that CJ and Toby were taking care of the tab and we were all getting ready to leave. I was wondering if you were going to sit here by yourself all night or if you wanted to share a cab."

"Huh?"

"Oh, come on Mr. Conversationalist. Let's go home."

Josh rose and walked towards the door with Donna. CJ and Toby caught up and the four walked out together. Josh kept looking over in Jules' direction, but it wasn't until he had one foot out the door that she looked back in his direction. Josh flashed and smile and thought about his industrial size case of hemorrhoid cream.

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