A Friend in Deed:
A friend from Josh's past stirs up
trouble in the West Wing.
A friend from Josh's past stirs up
trouble in the West Wing.
Chapter 1
Title: A Friend in Deed
Author: Cathy
Rating: T
Category: Romance/Humor
Disclaimers: They're not mine, but since Aaron Sorkin isn't playing
with them anymore…
Timeline: right after "Celestial Navigation"
Donna looked up from her typing to see Chris Wick standing in front
of her.
"Hey, Donna. Has he got a minute?"
"He's just finishing up with Sam and Toby. He should be back in a few
minutes. Would you like to wait in his office?"
"That's perfect, thanks. Oh, Ben, this is Donna Moss. Donna keeps
Josh from being fired twice a day." Chris introduced them.
"It's nice to meet you Ben. Make yourselves comfortable, Josh should
be back soon. Can I get you anything?" Donna asked.
"I'd love some coffee if it's not too much trouble." Ben mentioned.
"Nothing for me, thanks." Chris added.
She had only been gone a couple minutes when Josh came into his
office; head buried in a report Toby had given him.
"Doonnnnaaa? I need the new budget numbers from transportation." he
said without looking up and almost ran into Ben.
"Man, are you loud." Ben observed causing Josh's head to snap up.
"Ben Abrahms? What the hell? How did you get in here?" he demanded as
he pulled Ben into a one armed hug.
"I got this guy to vouch for me." he answered; indicating Chris.
"Well, okay, but how did HE get in then." Josh replied smiling. Chris
had come a long way since the two of them had tussled about the
weapons ban. He'd matured into his position and was becoming one of
the Congressmen Josh could count on in a clinch.
Just then, Donna came back with the coffee for Ben.
"Here you are, sir." she said as she handed him his drink.
"You got him coffee?" Josh asked.
"Of course." She replied. "Now what was it you were bellowing for a
moment ago?"
"Coffee?" Josh tried.
"I think we both know what a waste of breath that would be."
"Well then, the new budget numbers from transportation would be a
close second." He answered.
"They're in your `in' box in the blue folder marked transportation
budget." She said without missing a beat. "Anything else?"
"If I think of anything, I'll be sure to call you."
"Do that." She sauntered back to her desk, smiling at them over her
shoulder.
"Are you sure she works for you? `Cause it looks pretty much like
SHE'S in charge to me." Ben teased him.
"And you are here in my office because...?" Josh shot back.
"I need a favor." Ben admitted.
"Of course you do. I think you should insult me a little more,
though, before you ask me."
"Man, is your hair line receding!" Ben responded. Josh growled.
"As much fun as it is to watch you two spar, I have a meeting with
the leadership. Ben, give me a call later and we'll meet for drinks.
Goodbye Donnatella!" Chris called as he left.
Ben took a seat in the visitor chair, but angled it slightly so he
could observe Donna in the bullpen. This move was not lost on Josh.
"What's going on Ben? I haven't seen you since Jeff's Wedding last
year."
"I'm in town for some interviews. I want to get back to D.C."
"I could have told you Philadelphia sucked. No, wait; I DID tell you
Philadelphia sucked."
"Yes, you were right again. You're always right. Is that what you
want to hear?"
"As a matter of fact that is exactly what I want to hear." Josh
smiled.
"Some things never change. Anyway, I have two interviews tomorrow and
another on Friday."
"And?" Josh prompted.
"And, while I have no shortage of job interviews, I don't actually
have anyplace to stay while I am in town, so I was wondering-"
"No. Absolutely not." Josh stood up and shook his head. "No."
"Oh come on, it's just for a few days and D.C. hotels are so
expensive."
"No." Josh refused again and started thinking. "What about Chris?
Stay with him."
"Give me a break. Jennifer just moved in with him and they can't keep
their hands off each other for five minutes."
"There's got to be another alternative…I could pay for your hotel.
That's it!" Josh exclaimed.
"Josh, it won't be like last time. Besides, last time wasn't that
bad."
"Wasn't that bad? I think I'm still paying the legal fees, and the
smells were so bad I had to move."
"You exaggerate so much, Lyman." Ben laughed. "We split the legal
fees, and I hear your new place is much nicer. I really did you a
favor getting you out of that rat infested hell hole."
"It wasn't rat infested before you came to stay with me." Josh
retorted.
"It's just three days, and I'll buy the meals while I'm here." Ben
negotiated.
"Meals and alcohol." Josh countered.
"Meals AND alcohol? I might as well rent a hotel room." Ben
complained.
"Fine, I'll have Donna get you the names and numbers of a few hotels
nearby." Josh smiled.
"Okay, you win; meals and alcohol." Ben capitulated as he glanced out
at Donna again. "Hey, what's the deal with you and her?"
"The deal? There isn't any deal. She's my assistant. Why would you
think there's a deal?" Josh got defensive.
"Just a vibe I got; like there's some spark between you."
"Well, there's no spark, no vibe, no deal. She's my assistant."
"Then I'd be clear to ask her to join us for dinner?"
"You want to ask my assistant to go to dinner with us?"
"Sure, why not? She's cute, she's funny…"
"She's my assistant!" Josh objected.
"She's not my assistant, and since I'm paying for dinner anyway, I'd
rather look at her face across the table than just yours. You could
bring someone too…Are you sure there's nothing going on?"
"There is absolutely nothing going on. Go ahead and ask her; doesn't
bother me."
"I will. What time for dinner?"
"Ask Donna, she knows what works for me."
"I'll bet." Ben laughed and walked out. Josh watched as Ben
approached Donna and she looked up and smiled at him. They chatted
for a minute then Donna's head turned around sharply to meet Josh's
eyes. He shrugged at her to indicate disinterest in her answer and
she turned back to Ben. After another minute of talking and
consulting Josh's schedule, Ben smiled, sent a jaunty wave to Josh
and headed out to the door.
`It looked like she said yes', Josh mused. That was fine; it was even
good. Ben was a great guy, a successful attorney, and a good friend.
At least she wouldn't be hanging out with some loser. Donna deserved
someone who'd be good to her and treat her well. Yeah, this would be
good for her…
Still, as he turned back to his work, he couldn't explain the itch at
the back of his neck or the aching pain in his chest. It just didn't
make sense.
Chapter 2
Title: A Friend in Deed
Author: Cathy
Rating: T
Category: Romance/Humor
Disclaimers: They're not mine, but since Aaron Sorkin isn't playing
with them anymore…
Timeline: right after "Celestial Navigation"
Donna looked up from her typing to see Chris Wick standing in front
of her.
"Hey, Donna. Has he got a minute?"
"He's just finishing up with Sam and Toby. He should be back in a few
minutes. Would you like to wait in his office?"
"That's perfect, thanks. Oh, Ben, this is Donna Moss. Donna keeps
Josh from being fired twice a day." Chris introduced them.
"It's nice to meet you Ben. Make yourselves comfortable, Josh should
be back soon. Can I get you anything?" Donna asked.
"I'd love some coffee if it's not too much trouble." Ben mentioned.
"Nothing for me, thanks." Chris added.
She had only been gone a couple minutes when Josh came into his
office; head buried in a report Toby had given him.
"Doonnnnaaa? I need the new budget numbers from transportation." he
said without looking up and almost ran into Ben.
"Man, are you loud." Ben observed causing Josh's head to snap up.
"Ben Abrahms? What the hell? How did you get in here?" he demanded as
he pulled Ben into a one armed hug.
"I got this guy to vouch for me." he answered; indicating Chris.
"Well, okay, but how did HE get in then." Josh replied smiling. Chris
had come a long way since the two of them had tussled about the
weapons ban. He'd matured into his position and was becoming one of
the Congressmen Josh could count on in a clinch.
Just then, Donna came back with the coffee for Ben.
"Here you are, sir." she said as she handed him his drink.
"You got him coffee?" Josh asked.
"Of course." She replied. "Now what was it you were bellowing for a
moment ago?"
"Coffee?" Josh tried.
"I think we both know what a waste of breath that would be."
"Well then, the new budget numbers from transportation would be a
close second." He answered.
"They're in your `in' box in the blue folder marked transportation
budget." She said without missing a beat. "Anything else?"
"If I think of anything, I'll be sure to call you."
"Do that." She sauntered back to her desk, smiling at them over her
shoulder.
"Are you sure she works for you? `Cause it looks pretty much like
SHE'S in charge to me." Ben teased him.
"And you are here in my office because...?" Josh shot back.
"I need a favor." Ben admitted.
"Of course you do. I think you should insult me a little more,
though, before you ask me."
"Man, is your hair line receding!" Ben responded. Josh growled.
"As much fun as it is to watch you two spar, I have a meeting with
the leadership. Ben, give me a call later and we'll meet for drinks.
Goodbye Donnatella!" Chris called as he left.
Ben took a seat in the visitor chair, but angled it slightly so he
could observe Donna in the bullpen. This move was not lost on Josh.
"What's going on Ben? I haven't seen you since Jeff's Wedding last
year."
"I'm in town for some interviews. I want to get back to D.C."
"I could have told you Philadelphia sucked. No, wait; I DID tell you
Philadelphia sucked."
"Yes, you were right again. You're always right. Is that what you
want to hear?"
"As a matter of fact that is exactly what I want to hear." Josh
smiled.
"Some things never change. Anyway, I have two interviews tomorrow and
another on Friday."
"And?" Josh prompted.
"And, while I have no shortage of job interviews, I don't actually
have anyplace to stay while I am in town, so I was wondering-"
"No. Absolutely not." Josh stood up and shook his head. "No."
"Oh come on, it's just for a few days and D.C. hotels are so
expensive."
"No." Josh refused again and started thinking. "What about Chris?
Stay with him."
"Give me a break. Jennifer just moved in with him and they can't keep
their hands off each other for five minutes."
"There's got to be another alternative…I could pay for your hotel.
That's it!" Josh exclaimed.
"Josh, it won't be like last time. Besides, last time wasn't that
bad."
"Wasn't that bad? I think I'm still paying the legal fees, and the
smells were so bad I had to move."
"You exaggerate so much, Lyman." Ben laughed. "We split the legal
fees, and I hear your new place is much nicer. I really did you a
favor getting you out of that rat infested hell hole."
"It wasn't rat infested before you came to stay with me." Josh
retorted.
"It's just three days, and I'll buy the meals while I'm here." Ben
negotiated.
"Meals and alcohol." Josh countered.
"Meals AND alcohol? I might as well rent a hotel room." Ben
complained.
"Fine, I'll have Donna get you the names and numbers of a few hotels
nearby." Josh smiled.
"Okay, you win; meals and alcohol." Ben capitulated as he glanced out
at Donna again. "Hey, what's the deal with you and her?"
"The deal? There isn't any deal. She's my assistant. Why would you
think there's a deal?" Josh got defensive.
"Just a vibe I got; like there's some spark between you."
"Well, there's no spark, no vibe, no deal. She's my assistant."
"Then I'd be clear to ask her to join us for dinner?"
"You want to ask my assistant to go to dinner with us?"
"Sure, why not? She's cute, she's funny…"
"She's my assistant!" Josh objected.
"She's not my assistant, and since I'm paying for dinner anyway, I'd
rather look at her face across the table than just yours. You could
bring someone too…Are you sure there's nothing going on?"
"There is absolutely nothing going on. Go ahead and ask her; doesn't
bother me."
"I will. What time for dinner?"
"Ask Donna, she knows what works for me."
"I'll bet." Ben laughed and walked out. Josh watched as Ben
approached Donna and she looked up and smiled at him. They chatted
for a minute then Donna's head turned around sharply to meet Josh's
eyes. He shrugged at her to indicate disinterest in her answer and
she turned back to Ben. After another minute of talking and
consulting Josh's schedule, Ben smiled, sent a jaunty wave to Josh
and headed out to the door.
`It looked like she said yes', Josh mused. That was fine; it was even
good. Ben was a great guy, a successful attorney, and a good friend.
At least she wouldn't be hanging out with some loser. Donna deserved
someone who'd be good to her and treat her well. Yeah, this would be
good for her…
Still, as he turned back to his work, he couldn't explain the itch at
the back of his neck or the aching pain in his chest. It just didn't
make sense.
Chapter 2
