Jumping to Conclusions

by: Ginny

Pairing(s): Josh/Donna
Rating: YTEEN
Disclaimer: The usual.
Summary: Josh jumps to a crazy conclusion about Donna and someone else in the White House.
Feedback:I would love some.

Part 1

Donna entered Josh's office and threw herself on the chair in front of the desk. Trying to get Josh's attention she sighed, loudly. Josh was completely engrossed in the contents of the folder in front of him that he hardly noticed her until she leaned over the desk and put her hand over the page he was reading.

"Hey, I'm reading here" Josh complained as he moved Donna's hand.

She sat back in the chair and sighed again. Josh finally looked up at her and for the first time that day he got a good look at her. His normally perky assistant was pale, with glassy eyes and a pained look on her face.

"Donna, what's wrong, you look, well, awful" Josh said as he got up from his chair and sat on the desk in front of her.

"Josh, I've been sick for 3 days now, you've just noticed now. What do I have to do pass out at my desk" said Donna, amazed at how unobservant Josh Lyman could be at times.

"I'm sorry. I've been a little preoccupied with the trip to Oregon that I haven't been paying attention to much else. So are you all ready to go, all packed?" asked Josh as he got off the desk and looked for something on the bookshelf.

"That's what I want to talk to you about, I ran into Mrs. Bartlet this morning and she insisted on a checkup. She said I have an ear infection and that I really shouldn't fly. Something about pressure in the ears." said Donna.

"You can't go, who's going to keep my on schedule, this is not a good time to get sick Donna, I need you to..." rambled Josh without looking up. It was at that moment Abbey Bartlet appeared in his doorway, looking for Donna.

"Joshua, do you hear yourself? Give Donna a break, she's doing her best, she has fever of 101 and a raging ear infection but she's still here getting you ready to go. I really hope you appreciate all she does for you"

"Mrs. Bartlet, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there" mumbled Josh.

"I'm sure you didn't. I just came down to make sure Donna gets out of here soon. She needs her rest" said Abbey as she turned to go back down the hall.

"Donna, I'm sorry, I had no idea." Josh tried to apologize.

"Forget it, don't worry, I'll be fine. Just give me a few minutes and I will have everything ready for you." Donna felt tears spring to her eyes and she tried to get up quickly to go out to her desk. She got up a little too quickly and was overcome with dizziness. Luckily Josh had been paying attention to her at the time and he steered her over to the couch.

"Here, rest for a while." She gave a small cry of protest but settled down on the couch. He covered her up with his overcoat and got her a glass of water. He sat down next to her for a minute. She looked so small and pale. "I really am sorry" He leaned over to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye and to kiss her forehead.

"It's OK, all the files you need are on my desk. Don't forget your 3:00 meeting with Senator Harris. I'm just going to rest here for a while, if that's OK?" said Donna as she snuggled under Josh's coat. It was warm, soft and smelled of his cologne.

"Take your time, I'm going to lunch, want me to bring you something back?" asked Josh.

"Ice cream" replied Donna, "chocolate"

"Sure" smiled Josh, "Feel better"

Josh went out to Donna's desk and found everything he needed rather easily. He really did wonder how he would get through 2 days without Donna. He didn't even want to go to Oregon in the first place, 6 hours on the plane with the President. He would probably be subjected to a long lecture on the history of the green bean and knowing Jed Bartlet he was sure at least some of that lecture would be in Latin.

Josh saw Leo ahead of him in the hallway.

"Leo, wait up, going to the mess?" asked Josh.

"Yeah, you too, good, I need to talk to you. I need Donna to stay here and help me. Margaret's mother fell and broke her hip, she has to fly home for a few days." said Leo as they grabbed a table off to the side of the room.

"Well, Donna's not going anyway, she's got a nasty ear infection and Mrs. Bartlet won't let her fly. I was going to give her the two days off but if you need her I guess she could do it" said Josh as he took a bite out of his cheeseburger.

"Don't be silly, she's sick, I'll get someone to help me. Don't worry about it." replied Leo as he ate a large forkful of green beans.

"You just had to have green beans didn't you, Leo" teased Josh.

"Of course"

When Donna woke up over an hour later, the room was dark. For a minute she thought she had slept away the afternoon but then she notice the blinds were closed and the overhead light was off. She glanced at the desk, Josh was reading by the light of the small lamp on his desk, his head bent over a file folder. He was running his hands through his hair and by the looks of his hair he had been at it for a while. It was pretty much standing up on end.

"Joshua, you can turn the light on. And stop with the hair, your going to pull it out sooner or later and you don't exactly have that much to spare." teased Donna.

"Gee, Donna, guess you're feeling better. Back to making fun of me. You want your ice cream now?"

"Yes, please and I do feel a little better, thank you for noticing."

Josh grabbed his appointment book, and the ice cream. He handed her the cup of ice cream and motioned for her to move her feet so he could sit down on the couch. She moved them long enough so he could sit and then plopped them down in his lap with a smirk. He opened his planner up and propped it against her legs.

They did their little bantering act while they went through Josh's schedule and Donna ate her ice cream. They were very comfortable on the couch together. Maybe even too comfortable, they thought to themselves. Josh wasn't quite sure how to tell Donna that Leo needed her help over the next few days.

"Donna, Leo needs some help over the next few days. Margaret had to fly to her parent's, her mother fell and broke her hip. I told him you were sick and wanted to talk a few days off. He would be grateful for any help you could give him." blurted Josh as fast as he could.

"Well, that's not what I was looking forward to doing but I can give him a hand. Really, Josh, I'm not dying or anything. Mrs. Bartlet just didn't want me to fly." said Donna as she offered Josh the last few bites of the ice cream. He had his hands full of papers so she reached over and fed it to him.

Neither one of them saw Sam peek in at them. Sam didn't say a word, he just smiled to himself and went back to his office.

Donna got up off the couch and went out to her desk to get a few final things ready for Josh. As the last of the memos were printing she went to see Margaret to go over some instructions and get some advice. They spent the next 45 minutes going over Leo's schedule and his many quirks.

"Margaret, why is tomorrow circled in red pen on your calendar?" asked Donna as she furious scribbled down some information that might come in handy.

"Oh boy, I forgot about that. Tomorrow would have been his father's birthday. Keep an eye on him, a close eye on him." warned Margaret.

"You don't think he'd drink, do you" wondered Donna.

"No, not really, I mean he didn't drink when the divorce papers came so I think we are safe, but just keep and eye on him anyway. Thanks so much for covering for me, I know you really just wanted to crawl into bed for 2 days."

"It's no problem. I can rest next week, next month, whatever" laughed Donna.

Donna wandered back to Josh's office to make sure he had everything he needed for the trip. She had everything under control by the time he got back from his meeting.

The meeting must have gone well because he was actually smiling when he returned. She was on the phone when he went into his office. She joined him there a few minutes later. He was packing his briefcase. He wouldn't let her help, he just pushed her towards his chair and told her to relax.

"I went over some stuff with Margaret, I'll do what I can for Leo. Hopefully it will be quiet here the next 2 days." said Donna as she leaned back in Josh's chair and put her feet on the desk as she had watched him do countless times.

"Comfy Donna?" he smirked, "Look, thanks for helping Leo. I know you were looking forward to some time at home. Leo knows you don't feel well so I told him to go easy on you. Did you pack the...you know.. the thing?" muttered Josh as he rolled down his sleeves and threw on his suit jacket.

"Yes, Joshua, all your 'things' are packed. Relax, you'll do fine. I asked Sam to keep an eye on you." teased Donna.

"You asked Sam to keep an eye on me? Who's going to watch out for him?" groaned Josh.

"Just stick together and you'll be fine." smiled Donna as she got up out of the chair and walked over to Josh. She reached into his bag and pulled out a brush and handed it to him. "Josh, do something with your hair, please." He took the brush and did the best he could while she straightened his tie. Their eyes met and for a moment he couldn't breathe.

"Josh, earth to Josh" whispered Donna.

Josh came back to earth as she took the brush from him and held out his overcoat. He slipped his arms in tried to put what had just happened out of his mind. What did just happen? He wondered to himself. She handed him his briefcase and garment bag.

"Donna, uh.." mumbled Josh, suddenly at a loss for words.

"What Josh? Your going to be late, go. I'll talk to you later."

He just smiled at her, leaned over and kissed her quickly on the cheek.

"Bye, I'll call you from the plane" And with that he disappeared out the door. Donna followed him out into the bullpen and literally ran into Sam.

"Uh, Donna, what was that?" asked Sam curiously.

"I..I.. have no idea" whispered Donna as she reached up to touch the spot where Josh had just kissed her.

"How much longer are you two going to deny this?" teased Sam as he backed up to avoid Donna's hand as she reached out to slap him on the arm.

"Sam, you're late, go. Keep an eye on him. Have a good trip." said Donna as she shooed him down the hallway.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3

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