Midway through tying his shoes there's a knock on the door; he opens it and she stands on the threshold of his hotel room, a garment bag on her shoulder. "I just wanted to say goodbye."

"You going back to DC?" He's running late for the nomination gala so he continues dressing as she talks.

"Yeah. Will and I are catching a plane in an hour. The volunteers are going to shut up shop here and meet us in a few days."

He's not really listening as he loops his bow tie through the collar of his dress shirt. "Right."

"Do you need-" she trails off limply, watching as his fingers quickly twist the ends of the tie into place.

"What?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing."

"You sure?"

She nods and hitches her garment bag higher on her shoulder. "I should go."

"Me too," he checks his watch. "Party's starting."

"Well... have a good time."

The quietness of her voice gives him pause and he stares at her. He's known her for nine years but standing here right now, dressed in jeans and a simple cotton shirt, ready to walk out of his life again - probably forever - he realizes he doesn't know her anymore.

"Donna..."

"Yes?"

"Is my tie straight?"

She looks at his neck and shrugs. "It's fine."

"Because if it's not straight then I can't pull it open at the end of the night," he shrugs. "And you know..."

A tiny smile flits across her face. "Well, um maybe... it needs a little fixing."

"Do you mind?"

She drops the garment bag to the floor and reaches forward; her hands brush gently at his throat as she plumps the silk into shape before she steps back. "There you go."

"Thanks."

"I need to go; my plane leaves in an hour."

He nods slowly. "So... I'll see you soon?"

"Maybe. I think I've still got a job with the VP until the end of the Administration. After that," she shrugs," who knows? Anyway, I've got to go now."

He nods again. "Okay. Well. Bye then."

"Bye." As she lifts her hand in a half wave he notices her fingernails are painted pale pink. Her hair, tied in a loose ponytail, brushes against her back as she walks down the hallway. He watches, mesmerized at the swing of blond as she rounds the corner, heading towards the elevator.

No, he thinks. Not again.

By the time he reaches her, she's already inside the elevator and he throws his arm forward to stop the door from closing, panting from his run down the hallway.

"Donna."

Her eyebrows raise in query. "Josh?"

"I don't suppose you've got a nice dress in that bag?"

"What?"

"Your bag. You have a dress there right? Something nice? I mean it's a garment bag. You wouldn't have jeans or t shirts in a garment bag, you'd have a dress right?" He's well aware that all of a sudden he's babbling.

She looks at him warily." Yes. I do actually."

"Put it on. Come to the party with me." He's still trying to catch his breath. Maybe he needs to start working out again.

"What?"

He leans against the door, holding it open. "Donna."

"I have a plane to catch, Josh," she sighs.

"Catch one tomorrow. Take the bus back with the other staff. Stay with-" he breaks off quickly. "I mean, stay a few more days. I'm allowed to bring a date."

She smiles softly. "A date?"

"Well yeah. A date... a guest. Whatever you want to call it." He blinks rapidly, "If you want to call it something. I mean you don't have to call it anything."

Her smile widens as she steps out of the elevator. "Do you want to call it anything?"

"Do we need to call it something?"

"No," she shakes her head. "Not tonight anyway. And to answer your question... yes I do have a dress in here. It's red."

He takes the bag from her shoulder and reaches for her hand. "Red's a good color on you."

"I know."

She walks with him back to his room.