Home Again

Donna checked into the hotel and felt a rush of relief. True she had even less money now than the last time she was here and she'd been given the same room. Although calling it a room was a compliment it didn't deserve, storage cupboard with a bed would be a better description. But she was back in Manchester and she knew now that she should never have left. 

When she'd arrived in Madison, Rob had been out with his friends, that should have told her something, should have given her some warning of what was to come. But she'd invested a lot of time and money in their relationship and she thought she owed it to herself to give it another try. Well she'd tried for three weeks and she wouldn't be going down that road again. He hadn't changed at all. He still wanted someone at home to cook his meals, to 'lend' him money, to wait up for him when he'd been out with his friends.

The entire three weeks in Madison she'd felt strangely homesick.  All the time she was there, whether with her parents, with Rob, even with her friends, all the time she kept wondering how the campaign was going. She'd watched the news everyday for any items on Bartlet For America and she had to fight the urge to call Margaret or Carol just to see how it was all going. 

Then she crashed her car and what did Rob do? He went for a drink with his friends instead of collecting her from the hospital.  She'd caught a cab home and called Margaret, who told her she was welcome to come back to Manchester. So she'd bought a plane ticket, said goodbye to Rob and her family and left.

So now here she was, back where she felt she belonged. She unlocked the door to her room and threw her bags on the bed. A quick shower and change and then she'd go down to the campaign headquarters. Margaret knew she was coming back, that she was arriving today, but no one else does. She'd asked Margaret not to say anything. 

When Donna entered the headquarters of Bartlet For America, she saw that it was as chaotic as she remembered.  She walked past the desks in the outer office and no one challenged her, just like before, they really did need some security in this place, she smiled to herself as she headed to see Margaret.

"Hey," Carol grinned, "When'd you get back?"

Donna smiled. "About an hour ago."

"You staying?"

"Yeah."

"Good. He's in his office scaring away the third volunteer this week who's been assigned to him."

"He's not changed then?"

Carol laughed, "No. What on earth has possessed you to do this?"

Donna grinned and decided to go straight to Josh's office. "Donna?" Leo called.

"Hi, Leo." Donna turned nervously to face the campaign manager, unsure how he was going to feel about her sudden return.

"Are you back or just visiting?"

"I'm back, if that's okay?"

"You're a gluten for punishment aren't you," Leo grinned. "What've you done to your leg?"

"Slipped on some ice."

"In April?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. He's in his office, unless you'd rather work for someone else?"

"Nah," Donna smiled. 

When she reached Josh's office she hesitated. The one person she had really wanted to see for the past three weeks was Josh. Now she was here and she was unsure of his reaction. She knocked on the door, "hey," she smiled.

Josh turned around briefly from the box he was riffling through. "Well thank God, there's a ton of work on the desk," he told her. Turning back to the box and eventually finding what he was looking for.

Donna stood in the doorway and felt strangely disappointed. She hadn't expected hugs and flowers, but she had expected more than that. "I'll get started then."

Josh stopped and stood still for a second, before turning slowly round. "Hey," he smiled. "Sorry, I didn't realize it was you. When'd you get back?"

"Just now."

"What have you done?" he asked, indicating her bandaged ankle. "Sit down."

"Late thaw. I slipped on some ice."

"But you're okay?"

"Yeah."

"You back for good?"

"If you want me, otherwise I'm sure Margaret can find......"

"Of course I want you."

"You're looking suspiciously happy," CJ commented to Josh.

"Donna's back," he told her.

"When?"

"Just now."

"Is she insane?" CJ asked.

"Who?" Leo asked as he joined them.

"Donna."

"Yeah, I think she probably is," Leo commented.

"Hey!" Josh protested. "I'm not that bad."

"Six volunteers in three weeks, Josh," Leo reminded him. "Six."

"It's not my fault if they can't take instructions."

"Donna's back," Sam smiled as he sat down.

"Yes," Josh beamed.

"Then we should go out and celebrate later."

Margaret couldn't help but join in, "You should put her on salary. Sorry," she said as she caught Leo's glare, "but you should."

Leo nodded. "Ask her to come and see me when we've finished."

Donna knocked nervously on Leo's office door. "Donna, come in."

"You wanted to see me?"

"Have a seat. Are you back for good?"

"Yes."

"And you're sure you can work with Josh, because he's been through six volunteers while you were away."

Donna smiled slightly. "I can handle him."

"Okay," Leo nodded. "Just as long as you know that you don't have to put up with any crap off of him."

At first Donna thought Leo was joking about Josh, but she saw he was completely serious.

Leo saw Donna's expression change, she looked like she was about to jump to Josh's defense. "I've known Josh a long time, Donna. He can be difficult when he's focused on something as completely as he is on this campaign."

"Everyone says that, but honestly I can handle him."

"Good," Leo smiled. "I'm going to put you on salary, it won't be much, so don't get too excited, but it should cover your expenses. And seeing as you're the only assistant who can stand to work for Josh you're probably going to be doing a lot of traveling over the next few months, but we'll pick up the tab from now on."

Donna was speechless. She'd been wondering how she was going to afford to stay with the campaign now that most of her savings have gone and her credit card is almost to it's limit.

"And you'll need this," Leo handed her a Bartlet For America security card.

Donna beamed."Thank you."

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END
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