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I'm not a med student nor do I really know anything about medicine. I did a little research, but things might not be entirely accurate in the next few chapters. I'm taking some liberties with this.

Chapter 3

Mid-July-Donna is 3 and a half months pregnant

It had been a month and a half since Josh broke up with Mandy and the campaign was in full swing. The last month had been spent in virtually a different city every day and a different hotel room every night. While she was trying to take care of herself and make sure she ate well everyday, it was easier said than done. Donna was just glad that she was getting over all the morning sickness.

She and Josh hadn't been able to spend a night just hanging out in about three weeks because everything was so hectic. If she let herself admit it, she missed it. She wished she had been able to talk to him lately. She could confide in him. She liked that he asked about how she was feeling, about how things were with the baby. She liked their friendship, loved it really. She wished she could tell him about the changes in the last couple weeks. She was excited and scared all at the same time. She was starting to notice the new roundness of her belly and knew she would have to let the others know soon. They were looking at her a little differently, CJ especially. She knew they would figure it out soon, but she was afraid of their reactions.

Today however started out differently than the last few had. Donna woke up this morning with a strange feeling in her stomach and she felt more tired than she had been feeling. Just the thought of eating something made her queasy. She hadn't had any morning sickness in a few days but today was different. She spent about an hour in the bathroom throwing up. She knew she was running late. The campaign would be leaving for the next stop soon, although she still had a half an hour before Josh would be expecting her. Josh. She forgot to call him this morning, she always called him. It was one of the things she looked forward to everyday.

"Donna?" Sam called as he knocked on her door. "Donna? Have you seen Josh?"

Donna could hear him calling her, but she couldn't bring herself to get off of the cool bathroom tile or to call back to him.

"Donna? Are you in there?" After a couple of minutes Sam left, looking for Josh. He went back downstairs, where people were beginning to gather. That's where he saw Josh, leaning against a column in the lobby talking to CJ and Toby.

"Josh? There you are. I went by your room, and then Donna's. But you weren't there. I didn't see you earlier. Where's Donna? Is she getting us some breakfast?" With the last comment CJ slapped Sam in the back of the head.

"Sam, if you want breakfast, go and get it yourself. Donna is not here to fetch you food."

"Sorry, CJ."

"I haven't seen her this morning. She wasn't in her room?" Josh asked, a little concerned. She hadn't called him this morning and even though she always did, Josh assumed she slept in a little later. She had been working hard the last few days; he thought she was just sleeping in. But if Sam didn't get a response…He started to scold himself. He should have been more concerned. She's pregnant, and he should be paying more attention to her. Josh started to back away from the group, excusing himself to go check on her, but the look on his face didn't go unnoticed.

"Josh?" CJ asked quietly. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah." He tried to act normal, "I'm sure she's just overslept. I'll just go get her."

CJ watched as he ran up the stairs, concerned, but she decided not to dwell on it. If something was wrong, Donna would tell her. They had become friends in the last month, since she returned from Wisconsin.

Josh got to Donna's room quickly, knocking loudly, in case she was sleeping.

"Donna! Are you okay?"

After a second of no response, Josh got out his copy of her key, letting himself in after a few tries. Bursting in and taking a quick look around, he saw her in the bathroom trying to sit up.

"Donna?" Josh said as he quickly entered her bathroom, helping her up, keeping an arm around her waist.

"What's going on? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. The morning sickness was really bad this morning and I'm really tired. I'm sure it's nothing." She said as he led her to the bedroom.

He sat her on the bed, kneeling in front of her. She looked pale and she had dark circles under her eyes. Josh silently cursed himself for making her work so hard.

"I thought you were past the morning sickness?"

"I did, too. Apparently, I'm not. I'll be fine. I'm already feeling better." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Let me just get dressed and I'll be downstairs in a few."

"Dress in something comfortable today. I want you to sleep while we're on the bus." He responded.

"Josh, I'm fine. It's-"

Josh cut her off. "Please Donna, just humor me today."

"Okay, thanks." He gave her a smile and went out into the hall, waiting for her to get ready.

Josh's POV

Once we got on the bus and in our normal seats, Donna was out like a light. She's next to me now curled up, with her head on my shoulder. She looks so peaceful. She must be so tired. I really need to stop working her so long and hard, she needs her rest.

"Josh?" I hear CJ whisper beside me. "Is she okay?" She asked indicating to Donna.

I hate not telling CJ the whole truth, but I made a promise to Donna and I won't ever break any promises I make to her. She's too important to me.

"Yeah, she's fine. Keeping up with me isn't easy." I say with a smirk.

"Well, do you think I could talk with you about something in the back?"

Can't she see Donna's currently sleeping on me? I don't want to wake her, but the look in her eyes tells me this is important. I slowly get up, placing Donna's head on the seat, so that she is lying down, curled up on her side, and then I follow CJ to the back.

"What's up, CJ?"

"Well, this isn't easy for me to ask you. It's important though. The way people perceive things can get in the way of the issues and what's important, and its-" She's acting so weird and she's starting to ramble, so I cut her off to keep her on topic.

"CJ, what is it? Just tell me."

She takes a deep breath, "What's going on with you and Donna?"

What? She's my friend, nothing's going on. I may care about her more than the other women I know in a way that I don't fully understand but… Damn, CJ just asked me something. "Where is this coming from, CJ?"

"Well, it's just that you are always hanging out, late at night in your hotel room, or at your apartment. She was curling up with you on the bus, and I think everybody heard Mandy's accusation when you guys broke up. It's just this isn't a good time to get involved. Wait until after the election." She said in a rush.

"Donna's my friend, CJ..."

"I know Josh, but maybe you should be more careful about when you are seen together."

"No, CJ. She's my friend and I'm not going to stop hanging out with her. You and I both know that nothing would be said if it was me and Sam, or me and you, or you and Sam or Toby. This is all because she's a pretty face, who hasn't completed her degree yet. Well, I'm sorry, but nothing is going on, and I'm not going to abandon our friendship. She's too imp…" I trailed off at the end. No reason to give more fuel to the fire CJ's starting.

"She's too what, Josh?" No. Of course CJ wouldn't leave it alone.

"She's too important to me," I say with a sigh. "She was there for me after my father and she is always taking care of me. She has given me her loyalty and friendship and I plan on doing everything I can to return that."

"But Josh-"

"No, CJ. This isn't up for discussion." With that I turn around and head by to my seat. After lifting Donna slightly, I slide into the seat letting her head rest in my lap, all while avoiding CJ's glare.

I try to get a little more work done, but there really is little point, it is starting to get dark, and I don't have anything to do that couldn't wait. I look down at Donna and realize I've been running my fingers through her hair. I know I should probably stop that, but I can't bring myself to. Her hair is very soft. Instead I'll just lean back and try to take a little nap.

After sleeping all day on the bus, they finally arrived back in Washington, so that they could work a few days in the Washington office. Donna went home with Josh, where they had planned on watching a movie. Donna fell back asleep soon and Josh carried her into the guest room so that she could sleep comfortably.

The morning sickness didn't appear the next morning, but Donna was still exhausted. Even after sleeping nearly 24 hours, she still had no energy. She knew however that Josh was starting to worry, so she was going to act as if everything was fine and go about work like it was a normal day.

Everything was fine until midday when there was a slight twinge in her stomach. That slight twinge quickly turned into sharp cramps that caused her to double over in pain. She knew something was wrong and she needed to get to Josh. He would know what to do.

She made her way over to his office, standing in the doorway,

"Josh, something's wrong."

"With the strategy outline? I didn't notice anything." He said, while reading the memo and not noticing Donna bent over in pain.

"No Josh, something's wrong." Her voice was more urgent this time, getting his attention.

"Donna, what are you talking a-" He looked up this time, confusion quickly replaced with concern. He rushed over to her, standing in the doorway, where she was leaning against it to keep herself up.

"Donna, what's going on?" Panic was evident in his voice as he put an arm around her to help keep her up.

"I don't know Josh. But it really hurts." She said through gritted teeth.

"It'll be okay, Donna. I'm going to get you some help." Josh quickly picked her up in his arms and quickly started carrying her out of the office, not caring who noticed.

TBC…