"I really need to talk to you," Donna told CJ over the phone. It was the next day, and the stem cell stunt had just been successful. The Speaker had called the vote. The look on his face when the group of Democratic House members had marched down the halls to vote had been priceless – Donna had almost wished she'd had a camera.

But she knew she needed someone neutral to help her work through her confused feelings, and she couldn't think of anyone better than CJ. "I know this may be asking a lot, but is there any chance you could spare any time today?"

"I'm free for lunch," CJ offered. "Do you want to meet somewhere?"

"I need to talk to you somewhere where there's no chance of me being overheard by anyone."

"Okay. Well, why don't you bring some salads to my office then?"

"Sure."

A few hours later, Donna walked toward CJ's office carrying a bag with two to-go chicken caesar salads. She felt a wave of mixed emotions as she walked through the halls, particularly as she passed the area where her desk and Josh's office used to be. On one hand, she felt proud of herself. In just a few months, she'd gone from doing secretarial work to helping run a Presidential campaign. But knew she'd be lying if she said a part of her didn't miss this place. The grandeur of the White House. The great people she'd gotten to be around every day. Her easy banter with Josh…

I have to stop thinking about him, she scolded herself.

"Donna!" CJ approached her with a smile and gave her a hug. "It's so good to see you. Come on in."

"So what's up?" CJ asked as they sat down and got the salads out of the bag.

"Well, I'm sure you've heard all about the stem cell bill."

"That was awesome," CJ nodded and grinned. "It's that kind of thing that makes me love being in politics."

"I know," Donna smiled back. Then she took a deep breath. "I actually got to help out with it -- being a lookout, bringing them food, that kind of thing, while they were hiding out. Sort of by accident. I happened to be in the VP's office when Matt Santos showed up. I got to talk to him alone for awhile before everybody else came."

"Must have been interesting."

"It was. He's a really nice guy, CJ."

"He seems like it."

"I think he'd be a good President."

"I think so too." CJ paused, wondering what Donna was getting at. "But I'm sure Russell would be a good President also."

"I think Santos would be a better President than Russell." Donna got the words out quickly, before she could chicken out.

CJ stared at her. "Donna…"

"He offered me a spot on his campaign last night."

"Santos did?"

"Yes."

"And did you take it?" CJ was still trying to absorb what Donna was saying.

"No. And I'm not going to. At least I don't think so. But I'm confused. I mean, can I keep working for the Vice President if a part of me is rooting for his opponent?"

CJ took a deep breath. "Donna – and this is coming from the part of me that feels protective of you and wants to see you succeed – I think Vice President Russell is going to be the Democratic nominee. I mean, don't get me wrong, Santos has come farther than I ever expected. He's impressive. If God forbid, Russell loses in the general, I wouldn't be surprised if Santos is our nominee in four years. But if you're asking me to advise you to give up everything to join a campaign that, let's face it, more than likely won't be around this time next month-"

"So I should just think about my own selfish career goals, then."

"It's not selfish to care about your career, Donna."

"I know, but…"

"Look, I guess it just depends on how strongly you feel about this. If you truly don't think you can support Russell's presidential bid anymore…"

"It's not that. I don't think Russell would be a bad President. But I don't think he'd be a great one. I think Santos could be a great President."

"The other thing I think," CJ continued, "is that at this point in the race, you jumping ship to join the Santos campaign would be a huge political embarrassment to the Russell campaign. The Vice President and his campaign have done a lot for you, and I don't know, it seems like it might be a little disloyal…" her voice broke off, and she went in another direction. "And besides that, as I said, I don't think Santos has a chance to be our nominee. Your defecting would be a coup for him, no doubt, but it wouldn't save the campaign. So in the end, you would have done political damage to the man who I assume you'll want to win in the general election."

Disloyal. The word hit Donna like a ton of bricks.

"I'm sorry, Donna," CJ backtracked a little bit as she saw the stung look on Donna's face. "I know it's a tough situation. And I can't tell you what to do. I guess if you don't think you can effectively represent Russell's campaign any longer, then maybe you do need to resign."

"I don't want to be disloyal," Donna said quietly. "And it's not like I have anything against the Vice President."

CJ was quiet for a minute. "I hope you don't get mad at me for asking, but this doesn't have anything to do with Josh, does it?"

"CJ, no! Do you really think my life revolves around him to that extent?"

"I had to ask."

"So CJ?"

"Yes?"

"Who are you voting for?" Donna looked at her curiously.

CJ shook her head. "Donna, I decided awhile ago that the best way for me to remain on good terms with both you and Josh was to keep that information confidential."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I can't join your campaign." Donna stood in Matt Santos' congressional office later that day, shortly after her lunch with CJ.

"I understand," Matt nodded. "I appreciate the nice things you said about me yesterday anyway."

"No please, listen. I want to explain why."

"You don't owe me any explanation. Honestly, I didn't really expect that you would. It was just sort of a pipe dream."

"I know, but I want to explain. I don't want you to think it's just for my own selfish career advancement." She wasn't sure why she cared what Matt Santos thought of her, but she did.

"I didn't think that. And even if it was, there's nothing wrong with career advancement."

"Hear me out." She took a deep breath. "I told you how I left my job with Josh. The only reason I'm where I am is because of him. When I met him on Bartlet's campaign, I was a confused college dropout looking for a sense of direction. He gave me a chance when he had no reason to. He even took me back after I left and went running back to my old boyfriend for awhile. And then after we won, he hired me for a job in the White House – the kind of job only a very few people ever get a chance to have. It's only because of the opportunities he gave me that I could ever even have been considered for my current position with the Russell campaign. And to just walk out the way I did, as if the job – not to mention our friendship – meant nothing to me…well, I've never really forgiven myself for that." She sighed. "I know I hurt him. At least I can pretty well imagine how devastated I would have been if the roles had been reversed. It was-" she took a deep breath. "It was disloyal."

"Donna, if you're this upset about this, I think you should really talk to Josh about it."

She shook her head. "I'm not finished. Now I'm working for the Russell campaign, and Will and the Vice President have done more for me than I could ever have asked. They've taken me to a whole new level in my career. Ten years ago, I never could have imagined I'd be where I am today. And while I owe a lot of that to Josh, I also owe a lot of it to Will."

"And to yourself," Matt broke in. "We all have people who help us in our careers, but you wouldn't be where you are if you weren't so talented and hardworking."

She smiled. "Thanks. But my point is, I don't want to make the same mistake twice. I don't want to be disloyal to the Russell campaign now. I don't want to be the kind of person who gets what she wants by stepping all over the people who helped her as soon as she doesn't need them anymore."

Matt looked at her for a moment. "You're a really nice person, you know that?"

"Thanks. Can I ask one favor?"

"Sure."

"Please don't tell Josh I ever considered – well, don't tell him anything. I'd really appreciate it."

"I meant what I said last night. Nothing you said leaves that room."

"Thanks."

They were interrupted by the door to the office bursting open. Donna felt her heart drop as she watched Josh run up to Matt.

"You are the man! You should see the media coverage. You're all over the news. And they're ALL giving you all the credit for saving stem cell funding. This is awesome. It's beyond awesome. I bet we pick up five points minimum from this. Congressman, THIS is why I wanted you to run for President. Because you know how to do stuff like this!"

He stopped short when he saw Donna standing in the office.

She swallowed. "Hi Josh."

"Hey Donna." He glanced between her and Matt. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I was just-"

"Donna helped us out while we were hiding last night," Matt told him. "She helped sneak people up and kept an eye on what the Speaker was doing. She even brought us coffee and doughnuts."

"Really?" Josh glanced at Donna. "The only time you ever brought me coffee was when you thought I was about to get fired."

"Getting fired or saving stem cell funding – those are the two circumstances under which I serve coffee." She smiled nervously.

"Right."

She took a breath. "Well anyway, I was just leaving. Congressman, it was great working with you on your brilliant little scheme. Josh, nice seeing you." She turned and walked out the door.

"Donna!" she turned around when she heard Josh's voice calling her as she headed down the hall.

He walked toward her. "The Congressman says I should talk to you."

She froze. "About what?"

"I don't know, he wouldn't tell me. He just insisted I chase you down the hall."

She shrugged uncomfortably. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Josh was quiet for a moment. "Look, I was probably too hard on you at that Cake and Candidates thing. You're right, it was politics."

"No, you were right. I crossed the line."

"Yeah, well…I think the whole dust-up actually helped us, so maybe I should thank you."

"Glad to help." She rolled her eyes.

Donna looked at him for a moment. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but right then she just couldn't find the words.

"Well, I really should be going. I have to meet the Vice President in Atlanta later today." she finally said.

"Right." Josh nodded. "I have to get some work done also."

She nodded and headed down the hall.

"Donna." She heard Josh call her again, and turned and looked back at him.

He stared at her for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right words.

Say it, Josh. She found herself silently pleading with him. I don't care if you yell at me or tell me you…whatever you need to say, just say it. She could tell from his face that he had as many unresolved feelings about their relationship as she did, and she didn't think she could take much more of the awkward tension between them whenever they were in a room together. Awkward tension. With the person who had been her best friend for eight years. It wasn't right. One of them had to stop being too chicken to try and resolve the situation, but as much of an emotional roller coaster as she'd been on lately, she just didn't think she could be the one to do it.

Finally he shook his head. "Nothing. Never mind."

Her heart sank. "Okay." She turned and walked out the door.