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 2

Donna got back to her desk, still somewhat in a daze. The phone rang as soon as she sat down. It was Leo. She headed over to his office for a few minutes before heading home.

After a long bubble bath and some ibuprofen Donna felt much better. She curled up on the couch and watched TV for a while. CNN had a little blurb on the President's trip and she saw a shot of the President, Sam and Josh getting on to Air Force One. She felt her heart skip a beat. What was happening, she wondered. Josh was her boss. But then again he was practically her best friend too. Maybe I'm just delirous from fever or something, she muttered to herself as she climbed into bed.

She was back at the White House by 7:30 the next morning, Leo, of course, had already been there for over an hour. She stopped by her desk for a minute and then went over to make herself comfortable at Margaret's desk. She was just getting settled when Leo came over with a cup of tea.

"Good morning Donna, here's some tea. Thanks for coming in, feeling any better this morning?" Leo asked sweetly as he sat down in the chair next to the desk.

"I'm better, thanks. Just give me a minute and I'll be in to go over your schedule" said Donna as she sipped the tea.

"Take your time" urged Leo as he went into his office.

The morning passed quickly, no major emergencies. Donna talked to Josh right before lunch. Nothing was said about what had happened. The trip seemed to be going well, no long green bean lectures on the flight out. Donna smiled as she hung up. She didn't see Leo watching her from the doorway. He smiled at her.

"Was that Josh?" asked Leo

"Yeah" replied Donna as she felt her cheeks turning red.

"Come on, take a break, time for lunch" declared Leo

"Leo, you don't have to hover over me, I'm fine. You go, I have some typing to do and I'm not that hungry anyway." said Donna as she turned back to the computer.

Leo sat down on the chair next to her. "I promised Josh that I would look after you and I'm sure you promised Margaret the same thing about me" he said

"Right, Leo, you OK?" Donna inquired as she pointed to the calendar on the desk.

"I'm fine, let's go" said Leo as he held out his hand to Donna. She took it for just a second and grabbed her purse.

Lunch was nice. They talked about Josh and how he was coping with things. They both agreed that while he was doing better he still had a long way to go. They talked about the day Donna figured out Josh had cut his hand breaking the window. So much had passed since then. Donna had never been particularly close to Leo but because of their mutual concern for Josh they had gotten closer since Christmas. Although she had never told anyone she really enjoyed his company. He was certainly charming and while he tried to make her feel comfortable he was afterall the Chief of Staff to the President of the United States and that made things a little strange, at least to Donna.

By the time Donna finished her ice cream people were starting to mutter about the weather. It had been raining steadily for hours and from the comments they were hearing the roads were starting to flood.

"Well, let's get back so we can finish up the urgent stuff and then you are going home Donna" stated Leo as he got up from his chair.

"Leo, it's only rain. I promise I won't melt" said Donna smiling to herself with the thought that Leo was actually worried about her.

They worked together for a few hours until Toby interrupted them to complain that he didn't go on the trip.

"Toby, I sent Sam, so what? You wrote most of the speech the President is giving, what's the big deal." growled Leo as the lights in the office flickered.

"So, he'll probably change everything I worked so hard on" whined Toby.

"Get over it and get out. Donna and I need to finish this so she can go home." stated Leo as he turned his attention back towards Donna.

"I hope you can swim Donna, the roads are impassable from the reports on the TV." said Toby as he walked out the door.

Donna went over to the window. Rain was pelting the glass and the visibility was practically nil. From what she could see of the road there weren't many cars at all out there. She sighed as Leo came up behind her to take a look for himself.

"Doesn't look good. Do you want me to have a car take you home?" asked Leo.

"No, I'll wait around a while, maybe it will let up. I have some stuff to do for Josh anyway Don't forget you are having dinner with the Vice President." Donna sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair and rubbed her eyes.

"Donna, you're not going back to that desk. Here, sit down and rest on the couch for a while. You aren't looking so great." said Leo as he steered her across the room towards his couch.

"I am not going to sleep on your couch, I'll go in Josh's office"

"Donna, don't make me order you to stay here" teased Leo. She sighed, sat down on the couch and kicked off her shoes. Leo grabbed a blanket from the closet and covered her up. He sat on the table for a minute smiling at her.

"Leo, you're going to be late for dinner, besides, I can't sleep with you staring at me."

"Oh right, sleep well. I'll be back in a few hours." said Leo as he turned out the lights and glanced back at Donna one last time. I hope Josh knows what he's missing, he thought to himself.

The ringing phone woke Donna up. She struggled to sit up and find the phone in the nearly dark office.

"Leo McGarry's office"

"Donna, it's Josh, what's wrong you sound terrible."

"I'm fine, I was sleeping, what time is it" asked Donna as she reached for the lamp on the end table.

"Uh, almost midnight your time. What are you still doing there. I was expecting Leo to answer"

"It's pouring out and the roads are flooded. Midnight, Oh God, I've been asleep for almost 5 hours." She glanced around the room for any sign of Leo. His bag was still on the chair next to the desk so he hadn't gone home for the night either.

"You've been sleeping at Margaret's desk for 5 hours" commented Josh as he smiled to himself at the thought of Donna with her hair messed, wiping the sleep from her eyes. He forced himself to pay attention to what she was saying.

"Not at the desk, on the couch. Leo insisted." remarked Donna as she stood up and looked out the window. The rain was still coming down heavily. "So how was the meeting today?"

"It went well. We're on our way to the airport now. If I can get some sleep on the plane I will come right to the office. We should be there around 7 or 8. Stay home tomorrow if you're still feeling bad. I can handle things by myself.

"Well, judging by the looks of things outside I think I will be here when you get back. The rain seems to be stopping but everything is very flooded." sighed Donna.

"OK, I'll see you when I get back then. There's a clean sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants in my closet if you want to change."

"Thanks, I think I will change Josh, I..can we talk...oh, never mind, have a nice flight." stammered Donna.

"Sweet dreams, Donna" whispered Josh as he turned to the seat next to him just in time to hear Sam make kissing noises at him.

"Oh, grow up, Sam" groaned Josh.

"You know Josh, denial ain't just a river in Egypt." smirked Sam as he ducked just in time to watch the pillow Josh had thrown at him sail over his head and land in CJ's lap. She never even woke up.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3

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