One Step at a Time

by: Ginny

Pairing(s): Josh/Donna
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: The usual, not mine etc.
Summary: Josh and Donna take tentative steps towards a relationship. Sequel to "Jumping to Conclusions".
Feedback:Feedback is appreciated.

Part 6

Donna took the metro home and changed before heading to the White House. The West Wing was relatively quiet for a Saturday morning. Josh wasn't in his office and she correctly assumed he was stuck in the Oval Office with the rest of the senior staff listening to the nasty details of Ann Stark's latest escapade. She sat at her desk and typed some things for Josh and then went in to tackle to disaster that was his office. Things had been so busy lately that neither she nor Josh had had any time to straighten up in there.

She spent the next 2 hours trying to find the top of his desk and the top of the filing cabinet. She came to the conclusion that Josh never threw anything out. She reached into the back of the middle drawer in the desk looking for the stapler she knew she hid back there when she found a small brown paper bag. Curiously she opened it. Inside was the roll of Peppermint Lifesavers, the spare one Josh had brought to her house on Christmas Eve. She thought about her own unopened roll that was tucked away in the drawer of her nightstand, right next to the photo of Josh taken at the State Dinner last year.

By the time Josh wandered back into his office at 2:00 it was almost spotless. Donna had even found time to dust before sitting on the couch to go over Josh's schedule for the next week.

"Mmm, lemon Pledge" guessed Josh as he took a deep breath and dropped onto the couch, putting his feet in Donna's lap.

"Well, some generic government version anyway" smiled Donna as she patted his knees.

"It looks great, you really didn't have to clean my office. I was going to get around to it sooner or later" remarked Josh.

"Judging by this schedule here you would have gotten to it sometime during Bartlet's second term. You have one busy week coming up."

"Don't tell me that" groaned Josh as he took the schedule from her and sat up to read it.

"Did you eat Josh?" asked Donna.

"Yeah, we had bagels and muffins earlier" remarked Josh as he walked to his desk.

"That was breakfast Josh, it's after 2. Come on, grab your coat and let's go get something to eat. Are you done here or are you coming back?"

"I'm done" Josh said as he grabbed his backpack and coat from the chair. He looked around the bullpen and saw the coast was clear so he grabbed Donna's hand and they snuck out, thinking no one saw them. From down the hall a sigh and a smile escaped from the lips of one Leo McGarry.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

| << back |send feedback | The National Library |