I'm having a bit of a day. Every meeting is running long and I'm falling farther behind. I really want to have lunch with Donna but it's just not going to be possible.

"Lunch is here." Margaret pokes her head in. "So is your 11:30."

"Margaret, it's 12:25."

"I know."

"Have the intern take Donna's soup to her. And get her on the phone. Give me 5 minutes."

"Donna's on line one." Margaret says over the intercom.

"Hey baby, how are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine." She always says she's fine. Drives me freaking crazy.

"Have you thrown up?"

"Not since the coffee."

"Have you had anything else to drink?"

The silence is my answer.

"Donna, you have to drink something. Please, try to drink a bottle of water within the next couple hours."

"Aren't you coming here for lunch?"

"I'm sorry, my meetings are all backed up, and I really can't reschedule since we are going out of town this weekend."

"That's fine. I'm not really hungry anyway."

"Don't be ridiculous. An intern is on the way to your office now with Soup from the Deli."

"Okay thanks."

"I love you. I gotta go."

"Love you too."

As soon as I hang up the phone Margaret is coming back through the door. "Who's my 11:30?"

"Representatives Schriebman and Singer"

Ah yes, the blue dogs looking for influence. We do have to play nice since they helped us get Baker, but I'm not sorry to have kept them waiting a bit.

"Okay send them in."

I manage to keep the meeting with the blue dogs to just an hour in spite of their desire to talk about everything under the sun. I'm rather pleased. I have a lot of information from them, and offered no guarantees on their agenda. Just enough incentive to keep them on our side.

"Margaret!"

She opens the door and stares at me.

"Sorry. What's next?"

Margaret brings my lunch in and puts in on my desk. "Well you are caught up for now. You've got until 2 until your next meeting. So you need to eat that. And Sam would like to see you."

"Well then, send him in.'

"Sam, my man! What can I do for you this fine day?" I take a large bite of my corned beef sandwich.

"You're in a good mood."

"I've got the blue dogs on a short leash, my wife is having my baby, and I'm no longer behind schedule. You want half of this?"

"Is it from Wiseman's?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. You sent an intern all the way up there?" Sam picks up the sandwich and takes a bite.

"Yes. Their Matzo Ball soup is the only thing Donna can keep down these days."

"So what brings you to my office?"

"Donna, actually."

I finish chewing and swallow hard. "What about Donna?"

"Well Ainsley and I just finished lunch." I look between him and the half of my sandwich I gave him and raise my eyebrows.

"Hey, it's Wiseman's I'm not gonna turn that down." He grins a little.

"Anyway, Donna was talking to Ainsley earlier, and mentioned that Ned Carlson had said something mean to her, and she was crying. I thought you'd want to know."

I stand up, fully intending to storm the castle gates. Then I sit back down.

I pick my sandwich up and take another bite, chewing slowly.

"Sam. I'm going to need your help."

I would have liked to just storm up there and knock some sense into the guy, but Donna might not really appreciate that. After all he is on her staff. So, I'm going to have to do it when she's not around. Which means I need to get one of them out of the office. Ned avoids me like the plague. If I summon him to my office, he'll come but he'll probably whine to Donna before hand. I can't have that. Once I put the fear of Josh Lyman into him, I'm not worried about him whining after.

At 5:10 I'm striding toward Sam's office with a determined pace. With a bit of luck, this timing's going to work out just right. Sam set up a meeting with Ned for 5:15. He should be done with Donna's daily wrap up meeting by then. Hopefully he'll bring his coat and plan to leave for the day. But even if he goes back to his office, Donna won't be there because we have a meeting with Ron at 5:30 to go over the final details for the travel this weekend.

I slip in the side door of Sam's office. I'm glad to see that Ned's not there yet. I'd like to see his face when he walks through the door. Sam is studying me as I lean against the bookshelf with my arms crossed.

"I don't have to tell you not to hit him, right?"

"Of course not, Sam. Ned and I are just going to have a friendly chat. You're welcome to stay if you like."

"I think that's probably a good idea."

"Suit yourself."

A few minutes later, Sam's intercom buzzes and Ginger says "Ned Carlson to see you."

"Send him in." Sam grins at me.

As Ned walks through the door, and sees me, his smile immediately becomes a look of concern. As well it should.

"Sam. Josh, I uh, didn't know you'd be here. What's" he swallows hard "what's this about?"

"Have a seat." I use the voice Donna likes to call my no-nonsense voice. Ned sits down and looks around nervously. I stare at him for a few minutes.

"Um, listen, if this is about. . ."

"Shut up. I don't care if you don't like me. That's perfectly fine. I'm no fan of yours either." I take two steps toward him and he goes a little pale. "But if you EVER say ANYTHING that makes my wife cry again, I WILL destroy you. Are we clear?"

"Ye . . . yes, sir." He stammers.

"Good." I growl and then march out of Sam's office, letting the door slam behind me.

Once I'm out of the bullpen, I start to whistle. I'm actually in a good mood now that I've put Ned in his place. It's 5:20 I wonder whether Donna is in her office or mine or Ron's. I consider having Phil check with Jackie, but that's not really what they are here for. I head in the general direction of Ron's office while I give her a call.

"Hey babe."

"Hey where're you?

"I'm in your office. Where are you?"

"I'm just coming from Sam's. I swing by and get you and we can walk down to Ron's together."

Donna meets me in the hall and I take her hand swinging it between us as we walk.

"You're in a good mood!"

"I am. My closest friends know that my wife is having my baby!"

Donna smiles at me. "There are a few people we haven't told that I think fall into that category."

"Your family?"

"No, I was actually thinking the Bartlets and Toby and Andy. We should probably call them soon."

When we get to Ron's office Phil and Jackie join us instead of taking their usual spots outside the door. Ron greets us with his normal smile.

"So Josh, Donna, what's new?" He says it without guile although I'd be shocked if he hasn't already heard the news. I mean, Donna's agents have been watching her throw up for almost 2 months now.

Donna smiles at him. She really is glowing. "Well, let's just say Valentine's day turned out to be eventful after all! We're going to have a baby!"

"Congratulations, both of you. I'm really very happy for you."

"So Ron, when does the baby get its own code name?" I grin at him.

"We usually wait until they arrive, Josh."

"Well, just so you know, we call it the little Bean. That starts with a "B!"

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Now, let's talk about your trip this weekend. Let me get Scott on a conference call so he can report in about the advance work. And we can finalize details."

Once we are in the car on the way home, Donna leans back and closes her eyes.

"That's a lot of fuss, just so I can go home."

"Well you're a very important person. Gotta keep you safe." I grin at her.

"Josh! You know that the detail is mostly yours. If you weren't going they probably wouldn't even send an agent with me."

"Well we'll never know for sure, because I am going, but I'd make sure they would send a team."

"Oh yeah?"

"I am very important person." I say teasingly.

"As my parents are finally starting to realize, I bet." She snickers. "Can you imagine my Mother's face while they screened the house for security issues?"

"Yes" I chuckle. "By the way which one us gets to harass Bella about the speeding tickets?"

"Oh I do! Definitely. I totally owe her for telling my parents about the time I got pulled over in high school."

"Donnatella! I thought you were a good girl in high school?"

"Well I didn't actually get a ticket."

"I bet you just batted those big eyes."

"I think the crying helped too."

As soon as we get home, Donna heads straight to the bathroom to throw up. It's odd how we've both got used to it so quickly. I don't like it one bit, but it doesn't completely freak me out anymore. The car and the smell of food seem to do it every time. This weekend could be hell.

When she comes out of the bathroom Donna strips out of her work clothes and climbs into bed in just her panties. My body reacts instantaneously. I'd like to climb in with her but knowing how exhausted she is really does keep my arousal to a manageable level.

She has her eyes closed but I don't think she's asleep so I ask "Did you keep the soup down at lunch."

"Yes."

That's good. That's progress.

"Did you keep some water down?" That's the thing we are most worried about-dehydration.

"Yes. I managed to drink 2 bottles after lunch. That was only the third time I threw up today."

I start chuckling. I can't help myself. "Only."

She opens one eye. "You did this to me." That sobers me up fast.

"Would you believe me if I said sorry?"

"No."

"But I am." I walk over to her side of the bed and lean down and kiss her forehead.

"I am sorry that this is so hard on you. I had no idea. I love you." I whisper.

"I know." She says without opening her eyes.

"Has your stomach calmed down enough to talk about dinner?"

She inhales deeply, then exhales slowly.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"So . . . do you want soup from the Deli or do you want to try something else? Maybe some plain noodles? I could make pasta. Or I could order some grilled chicken." I don't think we have any thawed and if its smells that are setting her off then maybe if we order in she'll be more likely to keep it down.

"Are you sick of the Deli yet?"

"No."

"Then I'll just take some soup. I don't want to push my luck."

"Okay. I'll order it. Just stay put."

I walk back out to the kitchen and order dinner. Then I go to the guest room to get a suitcase. We're leaving straight from work tomorrow and we're not packed. That's one of the ways that I know this pregnancy is really draining Donna.

As I walk back into the bedroom, I see more evidence. Her suit is laying crumbled on the floor. She just doesn't do that. I pick it up and hang it in the closet. Then I set the suitcase on the chair and get to work. We're only going to be gone two days so I think we can share a suitcase. I've finished the casual clothes when the door buzzes.

By the time I pay for the food and get it back into to the kitchen, Donna's up. She's thrown on the Yale Law hoodie and some boxers. She looks sexy as hell, but she still looks tired. I did do this to her. I really do feel bad.

"Hey." She gives me a look over and knows exactly what I'm thinking, "I was kidding earlier. This isn't your fault. I was a willing participant!"

"I woo'd you."

"Yes. You did."

"And now you're sick and tired."

"And now I'm growing a baby."

"It seems like you got the short end of the stick."

She looks at my groin with a gleam in her eye. "It's a pretty nice stick. I don't have any complaints!"