Part 5

 

A/N: This is for Jinni, because she's awesome both as a writer and as a webmistress, and she's been taking WAY to much crap for TTH being slow.

 

  "So, Donna's got a date tonight," Sam Seaborn commented as and Josh walked down the hallway toward the mess.

 

    Josh stopped in his tracts.  "What?"

 

    Sam turned to face his friend. "Donna.  She has a date tonight.  Didn't she mention anything to you?"

 

    "No, no, no. Donna doesn't have a date tonight.  She would have said something to me."  Josh tried to reassure himself.

 

    Sam shrugged. "Well, I overheard her talking about it with Ginger this morning."

 

    Josh suddenly began walking again, and Sam quickly followed after him.

 

    "Why wouldn't she mention to me if she had a date?"  Josh's voice was getting louder and louder.

 

    "Maybe she's afraid you'll sabotage it."

 

    "I don't' sabotage Donna's love life," Josh said defensively.

 

    Sam said nothing, just kept walking. The reached the mess and began walking through the food line.

 

    "Anyway, if I do it's because the guys she dates are losers."

 

    Sam grabbed two sandwiches, and handed one of them to Josh. "Do you think anyone is good enough for Donna" Sam, as well as everyone in the west wing who had a pulse, knew that there was something between Josh and Donna. He also knew that neither of them were willing to admit it.

 

    Josh thought about the question.  "Sure there are guys good enough for Donna.  I mean she could go out with...." He trailed off as he realized that he couldn't think of anyone that he would be okay with her dating.  He tossed his sandwich back, and turned to Sam. "I have to go talk to, Donna."  Before Sam could even respond, Josh was on his one.  Sam shrugged, finished getting his food, and headed back to his office.

 

A few minutes later.

 

    "DONNA!"

 

    Donna sighed as she saw Josh round the corner, and come charging toward her.  "Did we not talk about the yelling before?"

 

    Josh gave her a look.  "Hey, I need you to do something for me," he began, as he headed into his office.

 

    "What is it?" Donna asked, following him.

 

    "I need you to pick up Willow Rosenberg at the airport tonight."  Josh sat down, and began leafing through the papers on his desk.

 

    Donna sighed. "Josh, I have a date tonight."

 

    "Cancel it."

 

    "Joshua," Donna whined.  "Can't someone else do it?"

 

    Josh looked up at her. "Sorry. Willow's met you before. I want her to have a familiar face to look for. She's probably pretty scared."

 

    Donna threw up her hands, defeated. "Fine, fine. I will once again ignore my love life for the sake of my job. I just want you to know that I'm doing this for Willow and not for you."

 

    "Sure, Donna."

 

    Donna gave him one last glare and returned to her desk.  She didn't understand why he always did this to her. It was like he did it on purpose.  But, no. Donna wouldn't let herself think that way. She didn't want to get her hopes up.

 

    Once Donna was gone Josh smiled to himself. He didn't want to examine why he felt the need to ruin her dates, but he did. And part of him thought that maybe, just maybe, Donna didn't mind nearly as much as she seemed to.

 

TBC