I've lost count of how many times I've just stood and watched Josh work. Way, way back I used to think I was standing watching the world get better - I'm a little less dewy eyed now. But it's still so familiar, it's like watching a determined steam train chug up hill, Yeah he's 'the little train that could' – tap, tap, score, tap, tap, drink, tap, tap… whoo whoo… When was the last time I heard Josh "Whoo, whoo"? Yeah – I might need some more sleep!

"You just going to stand there?"

"Hey"

"Hey"

"How you doing?"

"I'm doing fine"

"You been sleeping alright?"

"You've asked me that every day for two weeks."

"Feel familiar?"

"No… should it?" Yes it does but it's nice to be on the receiving end. I just wish neither of us ever had to – ask I mean.

"My Donna Moss impersonation may need work, it's the cheese vowel sounds, can't quite get my tongue… you know… around them"

"Never known you to have a problem with the oral before?"

"7…"

"60 Baby… yeah yeah"

"What time is it?"

"Early…Your watch sucks Josh"

"What are you doing here?"

"Staff in ten"

"And you're in on it?"

"You don't think I should be"

"That's not what I said"

"No but it's what you're thinking"

"What the hell is it with women telling me what I'm thinking?"

"You used to be… um… ensorcelled… by it, You used to enjoy it"

"I used to enjoy peppermint ice cream, too, but now those little pieces of candy, they get stuck in your teeth in a way that I find irritating."

"Josh!"

"Hey guys – you two are just peas in a pod I can tell"

"Hey Lou"

"Staff next door – we're gonna start five minutes early - for once everyone's here"

Yeah that saved us. He's asked me everyday this week if I'm ok, he doesn't do it in front of the others for which I'm eternally grateful. Josh Lyman's found tack! Never did I think I'd see the day… Even when I haven't been in the same state as him he's called… oh how I appreciated the 2 a.m. call last Wednesday… Yeah actually I did. I'm sure as much as he appreciated the one at 3.45 the night before. We're sniping at each other still, we never did that and the slightest comment can set us into a full blown 'recrimination-fest'… God that man can quote!... but still when I woke up, struggling to focus on the hotel wall and screams and bangs in my ears and that picture I can't shift of Fitz's eye's burning in the back of my head, I still hit #1.

We file into the meeting room next to Josh's office – the new democratic dream team – maybe it's just because I came in late, these are a great bunch of people, they're smart they're dedicated but every so often when Bram makes a comment, or Lou nags at Otto I think of Sam and C.J. Sam would have got a laugh where everyone just stares at Bram. Josh would have laughed, really laughed. How long has it been since I saw Josh laugh?

Leo winks at me and sits down, Annabeth slips something that I know is Clinique 'Lip Repair' into my hand and takes a seat beside me.

"Ok Guys, let's keep this short we're SMT -5 and we're gonna stay that way."

"At least for the next half hour"

"Yes Sir"

"Lou – media buys west, mid west?"

"Donna's got it"

"Donna?"

"According to the last instructions we've uped buy points in Oregon, Idaho and California"

"Nevada?"

"No, you… the memo said not to… we had a grip and grin for 10 minutes there last week which generated free media and ad buy should bleed in from Oregon and California"

"You got smart at this kid"

At Leo's comment I glance at Josh, Did he just twitch? He took me seriously, that idiotic, self obsessed, sense of humour lacking idiot – I just called him an idiot twice in one sentence – hardly a record for me! He took me seriously!

"Ok – 48 hours debate prep, Donna, Lou, Edie, Miami then Denver then L.A. right?"

"Yes Boss"

"Leo?"

"Ask Annabeth, the hell if I know…"

"D.C. Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa"

"Congressman?"

"I'm guessing I'm going with Lou, Edie et al, there wouldn't be much point in them going without me right?"

"I meant do you have anything to add Sir?"

"No"

"SMT 0, let's move people…"

I put the Lip Repair from Annabeth into my bag and pull out a new pack of note cards. I scribble something on one and head next door. I better make this quick I'm heading away for what's looking like a while.

"What do you want?"

"Blunt as ever Joshua"

"Seriously Donna – I'm kind pressed and you're about to miss the motorcade"

"The Congressman is finishing something up with Leo"

"What do you need?"

"Just to give you this"

"What's that?"

"A note card"

"A note card?"

"In the entire history of our… our whatever… the only way I've ever been able to convince you of a mistakenly held opinion was using note cards"

"Note cards?"

"Yes… note cards…"

"You don't write me note cards anymore."

"Well obviously I do or I wouldn't be standing here holding one now would I?"

"O.K. What do you think I'm doing wrong, is the message calendar out? Ad buy? Come on Donna, Leo's right, you got smart at this. What am I not doing?"

I set the card down on his desk and turn on my heel, calling over my shoulder.

"Read the card Josh"

When he does, when he picks it up, he's going to read three words, just three words:

It wasn't Will