Secrets and Lies

By Isabel

 

Sequel to “Building a Mystery”

Pairing: Sam/Donna

Rating: PG

Summary: Josh learns about the Wing’s most unexpected romance

Spoilers: “The Lame Duck Congress”

Feedback: Greatly appreciated

Archive: Sure, just drop me a line

Notes: The title is taken from a fabulous song by Jonatha Brooke.  Check it out

Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I owned these fantabulous characters.  I don’t.  I’m just borrowing them for recreational use

 

Josh walked to Leo’s office and ran a hand over his face.  It had not been a particularly good day.  The Post had written another editorial, and everyone was on edge.  Toby’s meeting with Tony Marino hadn’t yielded the results they hoped for.  And on top of that, Donna was pissed about OSHA regulations and being used as a dupe for a drunk Ukrainian parliamentary official.

 

She had a date tonight.  With Shane.  Shane.  Josh was still convinced that it was a stupid name.  At least, if Shane existed.  Donna wasn’t that desperate, was she?  She wouldn’t make up a boyfriend, would she?  He needed to get to the bottom of this.

 

Right now, though, he wanted to just go out and have a late dinner with someone.  Anyone.  Sam was busy, too.  He had to summarize something with Ainsley.  ‘Some friends,’ he thought.

 

He knocked on Leo’s door.  “Leo?”

 

“Oh, hey, Josh, haven’t you gone home yet?”

 

“I was wondering if you wanted to get some dinner?  Even takeout?  It’s been a long day.”

 

Leo looked at his deputy with a sympathetic expression.  “I already ate tonight.”

 

“Is Sam still here?  Maybe I can get him to chuck his plans.”

 

“He was just in here with Ainsley and a two-page summary.  He should still be around.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“Josh, you look distracted lately.”

 

“It’s Donna.”

 

“What’s Donna?” the Chief of Staff asked confusedly.

 

“She’s dating this guy, and she won’t tell me a damned thing about him!  All I know is that his name is Shane.”

 

“That’s her business, Josh.  You’re her boss.”

 

“I’m also her friend.”

 

“Yes, but since everybody in the West Wing knows who Dr. Freeride is thanks to your big mouth, I don’t blame her for keeping it a secret.”

 

“Okay, whatever.  I’ll see you tomorrow, Leo.”

 

“Good night, Josh.”

 

Josh walked into the outer room of Leo’s office and was turning into the hall when he spied Margaret.  Donna confided in Margaret.  Here was his way in.

 

“Margaret?”

 

“What do you need, Josh?”

 

“I need to talk to you.”

 

“To me?”

 

“It’s about Donna’s boyfriend.”  Josh took Margaret by her hand and dragged her down the hall and into his office

 

“Josh,” Margaret began once the door was shut.  “I promised her I wouldn’t tell anybody.”

 

“Oh, come on, Margaret, I already know all about this.”  Thank God he could bluff.

 

“You do?”  Margaret’s eyes widened and she sat down in a chair.  “Josh, I know that it’s a shock, but he’s really good for her.”

 

Okay, so this guy existed.  Margaret was a horrible liar – if there was no Shane, she would have broken by now.  Now he had to find out who Shane was.  And why did Margaret think it would be a shock?

 

“Do you think he really cares about her?  I don’t want Donna to get hurt.”

 

“She’s not going to get hurt.”

 

“So I shouldn’t worry about Donna and Shane?”

 

“Shane?  Who’s Shane?”  Margaret’s face showed her genuine confusion.

 

“Donna’s boyfriend,” Josh said in an uncertain voice.

 

Margaret gave him an odd look.  “You mean Sam.”  She forgot Donna had told her that Josh thought she was dating someone named Shane.

 

“No, I mean Shane.”

 

Realization sunk in as Margaret figured out Josh had tricked her.  “Joshua Lyman, that was positively devious.”

 

“Why would she lie to me about the name of this guy?”

 

“I’m leaving.”

 

“Wait, wait, Margaret.  I’m sorry for lying to you.  Just . . . tell me this guy’s last name.”

 

“That’s Donna’s business, not mine.”

 

“Why would it be a shock?”

 

“What?”

 

“You said that ‘it must be a shock.’  Who is this guy, and why would it shock me that she’s dating him?”  When she stayed silent, he sighed.  “I’m going to find out sooner or later, Margaret.  Just tell me.”

 

“It’s Sam.”

 

“You already said that his name is Sam.”

 

“No, I mean it’s Sam.  Donna’s dating Sam.”

 

“What?!”  Josh had to sit down.  “Sam Seaborn?  That Sam?”

 

“That Sam.”

 

“For how long?”

 

“Since late July.”

 

“That’s four months ago!” Josh yelped.  “How could they not tell me?  I thought I was their friend.”

 

“Donna was afraid of how you’d react.  I mean, Sam’s your best friend.”

 

“Not right now.  I am so angry at them.”

 

“Josh –”

 

“I’m going to go see him.”

 

“Josh!”

 

He ignored Margaret as he literally ran to the Communications bullpen.  “Ginger, where’s Sam?”

 

“He went home a few minutes ago.  I can page him if you want.”

 

Josh shook his head and stalked back to his office.

 

***

 

“So, Sam, I hear you got saddled with working with Ainsley last night,” CJ teased him.  “Did she convert you?”

 

“She reversed my position,” Sam said with a sheepish grin.

 

“I’m glad to see she’s fitting in,” the President commented as he sat down to begin their Staff meeting.  “I know it was a big shock.”

 

“Well, that’s an understatement, Sir,” Toby said with a small smile.

 

“Josh, are you okay?” CJ asked as her friend stared at the carpet.

 

“I’m fine,” he lied.

 

Ten minutes later, the Staff meeting ended and Toby, CJ, Josh, and Sam walked back through the halls.

 

“You sure you’re okay?” CJ asked him again.

 

“For the eighth time, CJ, yes!” Josh said angrily.

 

“Josh, you’re not okay,” Sam said, regarding his best friend with concern.

 

“Well, that’s your fault, Samuel.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“You can drop the charade, Sam.  I know.  Margaret told me.”

 

Sam winced.  “You know?”

 

“When were you planning on telling me?” he shouted, not caring that they were standing in the middle of the Communications bullpen?

 

“We were trying to find the right time.”

 

“How could you do this?  I thought we were friends.”

 

Donna picked that moment to stroll in with a memo for Bonnie.  “Bonnie, here’s . . .” her voice died as she saw Josh and Sam glaring at each other in the center of the room.  “Josh?  Is everything alright?”

 

“Just peachy,” he smirked.  “Why’d you come here?”

 

“I had to give something to Bonnie.”

 

“It wasn’t so you could see Sam, was it?”

 

“Why would I –”

 

“Donna,” Sam said softly.  “He knows.”

 

She opened her mouth but no sound came out.

 

“Margaret,” Sam said, answering her unasked question.

 

“Josh, don’t be mad.”

 

“You’ve been dating my best friend for four months behind my back and you don’t want me to be mad?”

 

CJ, Toby, Bonnie, and Ginger all stood there, shocked.

 

“Sam?” Toby asked.  “You and Donna?”

 

“Since July,” Josh said angrily.  He turned to Donna.  “You lied to me.  You were at Sam’s when I called two weeks ago.  I didn’t get the numbers mixed up.”

 

“Yes,” she admitted.

 

“And that weekend in October when you were both away – you were together?”

 

Donna’s alabaster skin flushed.  “Yes.”

 

“Wow.  I knew you were lonely, but Sam?”

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sam flashed.

 

“Sam, your track record with women stinks.  Not that Donna’s track record with guys is any better.”

 

“That’s our business, Josh!” Donna yelled, not paying attention to how loud she was being.  “Not yours!”

 

“It’ll be my business when Sam dumps you and you’ll be miserable!”

 

“Why would I dump Donna?” Sam asked, now furious.

 

“Because you’re using her until Mallory takes you back.”

 

“Josh,” CJ shouted, stopping the fight.  “Shut up.  Shut up right now.”

 

The silence was deafening as Josh and Sam glared at each other.

 

“I love Donna, Josh,” Sam said in a quiet voice.  “I really do.  I’m sorry we lied to you, but we didn’t do it to piss you off.  We did it because we wanted to get a relationship established before we opened it up for attacks from our so-called friends.  Believe me, you weren’t the only one in the dark.  Cathy, Margaret, and Donna’s roommate – they were the only other people who knew.”

 

“What the hell is going on here?” Leo snapped, walking into the bullpen.  “Why isn’t anybody doing any work?”

 

“Because Josh and Sam are in a catfight,” Toby volunteered.

 

Leo frowned at the two youngest Staffers.  “My office.  Now.”

 

They dutifully followed their boss.  Sam looked back to find Donna, but she had long since fled the scene.

 

Once they were in the office, Leo slammed the door.  “Sit!” he barked.  “Now, why were you having a fight that completely disrupted the entire office?  And this better be good.  I don’t need any extra petty aggravations today.  Who started this?”

 

“Josh,” Sam said.

 

“Sam,” Josh said.

 

“Okay, that doesn’t help,” Leo said bitingly.  “What the hell happened?”

 

“He’s sleeping with my assistant!” Josh yelped.

 

Sam turned beet red but managed to glare at Josh.  “I’m dating your assistant.”

 

“You’re dating Donna?” Leo asked incredulously.  “For how long?”

 

“A few months, apparently,” Josh grumbled.

 

“I asked Sam.”

 

“Since July,” Sam admitted.  “Believe me, neither of us expected this to happen.”

 

“Josh, why are you angry?” Leo asked his Deputy in a somewhat gentler tone.  “Is it because he’s dating Donna or because you just found out this morning?”

 

“I actually found out last night.”

 

“How?”

 

“Well, your assistant is not as tight-lipped as she could be.”

 

“Great.  So we’ve got an inter-office romance that’s throwing off the entire office?”

 

“It shouldn’t throw off anything,” Sam protested.  “This isn’t some sordid tryst, Leo.  As I tried to tell Josh, I really love Donna.”

 

“So, what’s the problem?” Leo asked Josh.

 

“Four months of lies!” Josh said indignantly.  “Sam is my best friend, and Donna’s also one of my closest friends.  If they had just said, ‘Josh, we’re dating’ back in August, I wouldn’t be so angry.”

 

“Yes, you would have,” Sam accused.

 

“No I wouldn’t have!”

 

“Josh, you have to admit –”

 

“Boys!” Leo shouted, silencing them both.  “Now, I am not the biggest fan of Sam’s past romantic endeavors.  Between hitting on Jenny, dating Mallory, and getting photographed with a call girl, he’s managed to piss me off in every way possible.  But there is no reason for you to be upset with this relationship, Josh.  They’re your friends.  They deserve some happiness.”

 

“I guess,” Josh admitted.

 

“Are you jealous?  Do you want to be dating Donna?”

 

“No.  She’s like my little sister, except she gets paid, and she frightens me.”  He looked at Sam and gave him a weak smile.  “But I love her.”

 

“Just not like that,” Leo confirmed.

 

“Yeah.”  He paused.  “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

 

“I won’t hurt her,” Sam vowed.  “I promise.”

 

“So can we come to a ceasefire?” Leo implored.

 

“Yes,” Sam said softly.  Josh just nodded.

 

“Good.  Now get back to work.”

 

Sam and Josh left Leo’s office and eyed each other warily.

 

“I’m sorry I went off like that,” Josh said finally.

 

“I’m sorry I lied to you.”

 

“Apology accepted.”

 

“Likewise.”

 

“C’mon.  Let’s tell Donna we’re all one big happy family again.  Oh, and Sam?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“You know, I’m not going to want juicy details of your dates like usual.”

 

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