Title: If I Could Turn Back Time (6?)

Author: Cheryl A

Rating: Teen

Genre: Angst/Romance (A/U)

Notes: The story is set right after the re-election in the fourth season, then goes off from canon there. It know it's heavy on the angst right now…. But remember good things happen to those who wait, so please be patient. 

Feedback: ; I love it and like to hear what people are thinking both good and bad… let me know!

Thanks again to my beta Elizabeth!

Josh remembered when Donna showed up to work the next Monday and she acted as professional as possible. An outsider looking in on their relationship would probably see nothing wrong with it, as they seemed to have a normal boss/assistant dynamic. However everybody else working in the West Wing definitely noticed the drastic change in behavior between the two of them. The sexually-charged banter was gone and the constant laughter emerging from Josh's office was virtually non-existent. Josh even learned to use the intercom when he needed to speak to Donna. It just seemed more appropriate to use it, rather than calling out to her, given the change in their relationship.

Nobody dared asked them what was wrong or what had facilitated the rapid change. Although rumors circulated that Toby had bribed Sam $250.00 to ask Josh what the hell had happened between them but at the last minute Sam chickened out for fear that Josh would beat the crap out of him, Considering, the way he had been acting that was probably true. C.J also had her suspicions and figured that the voice she swore she heard that Saturday morning must have been Amy's, which could account for why Donna was so pissed off at Josh when she came back to work that week. But when Josh showed up at the Truman Gala alone, she assumed she was wrong about his renewed romance with Amy or maybe it was just a one last fling.

Donna's cold shoulder and strict professionalism was killing Josh. He hated what he had done to her and the damage he caused their relationship. But he kept rationalizing to himself that it was for the best and he had no other choice. Nonetheless it made him miserable that Donna was always so sad and that positive vibe that used to emanate from her was gone. He knew he had to something to cheer her up and take away some of the guilt he was feeling over his recent actions.

When he met the newly appointed Naval Officer Jack Reese at a National Security briefing he knew that he would be the perfect distraction for Donna. After being around Donna for so many years, he knew exactly what her "type" of men were, after all he had to make sure those men were always kept far away from Donna by any means necessary.

Jack Reese was definitely her type, cute, tall, and Republican. At first Jack thought Josh was crazy when called him into his office and insisted that he take Donna out to dinner on Saturday. Even recommending to him what Donna's favorite restaurants were and night clubs she enjoyed to ensure their date would be a success.

This odd behavior definitely made Jack suspicious and he immediately thought that Josh was just trying to sabotage his career at the White House since it was a well known fact that Josh Lyman was curiously overly protective of his cute, blonde assistant and wasn't fond of many Republicans. Jack remembered the warnings he got from other assistants and fellow Navy officers that the worse mistake he could make while he was working closely with members of the Senior Staff would be to hit on Donna Moss. That by doing so, he was just asking for trouble or at the very least a ticket out of the county and back on a ship.

"She's a beautiful woman, very intelligent and extremely funny. She's worked with me for the past five years and I can't tell you how valuable she's been to me. I'm mean she's had her blonde moments, one time she nearly got arrested when she got her arm stuck in a mailbox trying to retrieve a letter she wrote to Ilie Nastase Then about 2 years ago she left her underwear, which oddly enough had her name stitched in them, at an art opening. The underwear was then mailed to me here at the White House which made for an interesting story as I tried to explain to the Press Secretary why she had caught me holding my assistant's pink panties in the middle of the West Wing in front of a dozen staffers." Josh paused as he tried to get himself back on topic in convincing Jack on reason why he should want to date Donna, not reasons to think she was crazy.

"Anyways her full name is Donnatella by the way and her mom's Italian and her dad's Irish. Some words of advice for you, never let her place any sporting events bets for you, she always loses and stay away from her roommate's cat, its evil I tell you. But honestly you couldn't find a more caring, compassionate woman than Donna; she's a friend to many around here."

"Mr. Lyman, she sounds like the perfect woman, but with me being new here and not wanting to cause trouble I'm a little confused about your intentions and I don't want to be stepping in the middle of something." Jack said nervously, still confused about the odd situation he found himself him.

"Oh no Jack, you seem to have misunderstood my relationship with Donna. You won't be stepping in the middle of anything because despite what you may have heard in the past Donna is just my assistant and friend and there's absolutely nothing is going on between us." Josh said trying to sound convincing.

"With all due respect Mr. Lyman, I have had the same assistant for 7 years and I honestly couldn't share one story about her as you have about Donna."

Trying to avert suspicion of himself he continued, "Well then you must take Donna out yourself and see why she's so special then."

"Well I'll think about it Josh." Jack finally conceded if for no other reason to shut Josh up. It was getting very awkward to have the Deputy Chief of Staff playing matchmaker for his assistant.

After all it wasn't as though Josh was trying to strong-arm him into dating some boring, hideous, overweight staffer; this was Donna Moss he was talking about a drop dead knockout that he knew plenty of other men would kill to date. He decided to seize the opportunity and approach her on his way out.

"Hi Donna, I know we just met briefly earlier, but I must say that that color sweater looks beautiful on you as it complements your gorgeous eyes very well." Jack said in his most smooth tone.

Donna smiled, she couldn't remember the last time she got a complement. She had seen the young, strapping naval officer for a few moments earlier while he was waiting for Josh. She had defiantly noticed how handsome he was and had thought if she had met him a month ago she would have definitely been interested in inquiring if he was available. But after everything she had just been through with Josh she was in no rush to jump into a relationship with another man, no matter how cute his smile was.

"Thanks" she politely replied as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. No guy had ever hit on her before in the West Wing; Josh's jealous reputation had made sure of that.

"I know this might sound forward, but I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me this weekend at the Blue Lagoon, I hear the lobster there is excellent."

Donna hesitated as she was taken aback at his unexpected request. "Umm.. Mr. Reese, I'm flattered at your offer but I'm just getting over some jerk who hurt me deeply and I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to date again. I'm sorry, but I'm sure you know how it is."

Horribly embarrassed Jack apologized as well, "Wow Donna, I'm terribly sorry and I hope you believe me when I tell you that I had absolutely no idea. I just met with Josh and he mentioned that the Blue Lagoon was your favorite restaurant and encouraged me to ask you out to dinner there this weekend. I guess being the new guy here I just stepped in one of his little mind-games I hear so much about, I'm sorry you got dragged in it."

Donna was furious at Josh, '"How dare he play match-maker after stomping all over my heart!'" she thought. Even more troubling was the memory that The Blue Lagoon was she and Josh's special restaurant as he had taken her there every year on her birthday for the past 3 years. She was hurt that he would even suggest to Jack that he should take her there on a date knowing the sentimentality associated with that special place.

She shot a glance over to Josh's office as she watched him shift his head rapidly in the opposite direction to try to cover up the fact that he had definitely been eavesdropping on their conversation. Not wanting to be played by Josh any longer she called out to Jack and stopped him from leaving.

"Jack, come back please."

Jack walked slowly back towards her desk, "Again I'm so sorry about my overt request earlier. I really hoped you weren't offended by it."

Donna stood up from her desk to face Jack and so that her actions would be very visible to Josh whom she knew was still spying on her. She placed her left hand and lightly touched Jack's shoulder.

"No I'm sorry Mr. Reese, I really shouldn't have blown you off like that. You seem like a nice man and true gentleman and if the invitation is still open I would like to go to dinner with you and get to know you better this weekend. Perhaps a night on the town is just the remedy I need to get over my heartache."

Jack smiled, pleased at the turn of events. "Of course the invitation is still open, I'll pick you up around 9?"

Donna smiled back, "Sounds great, I look forward to it."

As Jack left and Donna returned to her desk she took another quick glance in Josh's direction who once again quickly tried to avert his gaze and did his best to pretend he had been working the entire time. Not wanting to play these games with Josh any longer, she focused her attention back on work, but still wondered in the back of her mind whether she truly made the right decision in agreeing to date Jack or if it was still too soon.

To her surprise she found that she had tremendously enjoyed her dinner with Jack at the Blue Lagoon that weekend, he was nice, funny and sensitive to her feelings, unlike Josh. As the weeks followed, Donna continued to go out with Jack and found herself coming back to life as she threw herself 100 into their relationship. She felt that she had begun the healing process from the Lyman Heartbreak Hotel, and as she set out on this journey, the tension between her and Josh slowly began to diminish. It was nothing close to how their relationship was before, the playful banter and teasing were still gone, but they were at least civil with each other and had an occasional laugh and smile so they weren't making each other miserable at work.

Then the unthinkable happened, just four months after they began dating Jack popped the big questions to Donna on Valentine's Day, and to Josh's dismay she accepted. This event was the catalyst that shifted their dynamic back into the negative. Josh struggled internally to accept the fact that he had no right to be upset over the announcement and that he should be happy for her, after all, she was still his friend. Donna on the other hand had become obsessed with planning her perfect wedding and she began to become absent minded with things at work that used to come so naturally and easy to her.

But never like today, Josh was so angry and he felt he had a right to be. He thought it all over in him mind again '"How could she give me the wrong location, give me the wrong briefing material? Doesn't she care about anything else other than becoming Mrs. Jack Reese?'"

And with that thought he heard the sound of paper shuffling coming from Donna's desk meaning that she'd finally returned to from her last-minute wedding planning session. Knowing this confrontation was not going to go so well he decided to postpone their discussion until later as they both had work to catch up on. Maybe if he waited until before she left his words would be more effective and perhaps she would leave thinking about how she screwed him over this morning instead of spending the night screwing with Commander Wonderful.

"Donna, please come into my office." he said coldly into the intercom.

She slowly came into his office, "Yes?" she asked.

"Be sure to stop by my office before your little rendezvous tonight as we have some important matters to discuss that actually affect policy and this Administration." Josh continued with his voice as cold as ice.

Donna was startled by his statement and his cold behavior towards her. She was confused as she struggled to think about what she could have done wrong to make Josh so angry.

"Can't we just talk about this now since it seems important and I rather get it over with?" she asked, but Josh shook his head in disagreement.

"Believe me it is important, but right now we have work to do and I'd rather not get into it. Since you were gone most of this afternoon, I'm sure you have plenty to catch up on".

As Donna got up to leave, Josh muttered. "Shut the door on your way out."

She obliged his request, and once Josh found himself facing the other side of his door alone. In an angry rage he threw all the papers off his desk and proceeded to he run his fingers nervously through his hair. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, he had never been this angry or frustrated before.

After today's fiasco he knew he couldn't go on like this much longer and he had to put a stop to this. He couldn't allow himself to become emotional right now, he needed to stay focused. He needed to be strong and prepare himself for what he was going to have to do. As much as it pained him, tonight was the night he was going to fire Donna Moss.