I've lost count of how many times my cell rang yesterday. Gerard from advance, Josh, the L.A. Mayor's office, Josh, the democratic black caucus chair, Lester, Josh, Lou, Annabeth, did I mention Josh? We're 11 points down in Illinois, down in Georgia, down in Missouri. We're heading to Philadelphia from L.A. and the press is getting assy that we're still trailing Vinick six weeks out. From Philly we're heading back to DC. Josh has called me every night since Denver, he spent two hours talking to me the night we were supposed to be going from Denver to L.A. until I reminded him I was in a hotel room in L.A. already and not on the bus and that sleep would be good. It's a long time since I looked forward to sleeping, the long hours with Russell never bothered me, if I avoided sleeping I avoided the nightmares. There's something however about Josh Lyman's voice being the last one I hear before I sleep that has driven those pictures, those sounds, those nightmares out of my subconscious. I think they might be republican and just scared of him.

My cell's ringing again…

"Jos – Sorry – Donna Moss"

"You can answer your cell with my name if you like Donna but you might confuse people"

"Bad habit and no one's going to confuse you with me Josh"

"My dulcet tenor is hard to mimic, many have attempted and failed. It's difficult you know being me… I'm not sure y…"

"But everyone should get a go right?"

"Who stole your cherry this morning?"

"You want to maybe rephrase that?"

"Yeah"

"What do you want?"

"Blunt as usual"

"You're quoting me to me again"

"Yeah it's served…"

"You well in the past I know. What do you want?"

"I'm just calling to check you're awake?"

"Awake?"

"Yes"

"It's 7.30"

"Yes"

"When have I ever been asleep at 7.30?"

"I don't know what slovenly habits you got yourself into when I wasn't around Donna"

"Sleeping to 7.30 wasn't one of them"

"But you picked up others?"

"I mi… Josh did you want anything in particular?"

"No, just you know…"

"Seeking to drive me batty"

"I thought you were half way there already"

"OK.. I need to go and catch up with the others before the motorcade leaves. Are you sure there wasn't anything?"

"No"

"No, you're not sure or no there's nothing?"

"We get updated state by state polls tomorrow"

"Joey's working on them?"

"Yeah"

"And you're worried?"

"Yeah, what if I've missed something, what if I've…?"

"You haven't Josh"

"How can you know that?"

"Because I would have told you"

"And you know everything"

"I know most things"

"Yeah"

"Josh, where exactly would Matt Santos be polling if you hadn't got him into this thing?"

"Donna"

"Where Josh? and Vinick would have been wiping the floor with Russell by now"

"Kay"

"Just remember that"

"Kay"

"You're reading something else aren't you?"

"Kay"

"I've lost your undivided attention"

"Kay"

"Josh"

"What?"

"Put down the piece of paper and say goodbye so I can get off this call"

"How did you know I was reading?"

"'Cause I know everything"

"O.K." The tone he's using means he really doesn't agree with me.

"Kay bye"

"Yeah don't get left behind by the motorcade again. You don't have me to get you home"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response"

"Kay"

"See you in Philly"

"Then I'm heading back to D.C."

"Yeah"

"Ellie Bartlett's getting married"

"I heard… I'm g…"

"I'm invited"

"I know…"

"I've got Josh Lyman plus one"

"Yeah I've got Donna Moss plus one, where are you going with this Josh?"

"You were invited?"

"I spent a little bit of time running around the country with her father a few years back, you may remember it. We weren't all in every meeting and you know running the thing... I got to know Ellie"

"I know Ellie, I spent time with Zoe, Liz hated me"

"You know Ellie, Zoe had a crush on you and yes, Liz hated you"

"The Lyman charm can't work on all women"

"Does it work on any?"

"You're not good for my self confidence Donnatella"

"And your self confidence doesn't need feeding Josh, may I go?"

"You are dismissed"

"Why thank you kindly sir, I do declare I'm…"

"I'll see you in D.C?"

"Unless you walk around with your eyes closed I imagine you will"

"That would be dangerous I'd bump into things"

"Josh!"

"Yeak O.K. Hey before you go C.J. said to call in on her if you where back in town"

"''Kay"

"That wasn't very enthusiastic"

"Yay, Yay, Yippee the White House Chief of Staff wants me to call, yay yay!"

"And that lacked sincerity"

"Josh"

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I'd worry about what I am telling you rather than what I'm not. You have more than enough to be going on with"

"Your sense of humour is a bit of a high wire act isn't it Donnatella"

"We've had this conversation before, Goodbye Josh"

"Goodbye Donna, I'll talk to you later"

"In all of about an hour and a half"

"Don't pine too much"

"Oh I'll try not too. I'm ending this call now Josh"

"That's go…" Oh dear my finger slipped…