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�Well, there haven�t been many rumours about you flying around the Capitol for a while so I guess your time has come. And it�s not like it�s a totally off the wall suggestion. You�ve always planned on running after we�re out of here, haven�t you?� Donna said.
Shrugging, Sam closed the door to Josh�s office and pulled the blinds shut. �It�s not something I�ve ruled out,� he admitted before sliding down the wall until he hit the floor. �Actually, I might have mentioned it� that I was planning on doing it for sure� last week when we all went out for drinks. Danny was there��
�And he found out about your flight to LA�� Donna said, making the connections. She sat down on the floor beside him, her back holding the door shut as she reached up and spun the lock into place. If anyone came around they were just assume that Josh had locked his office while he was on the Hill and that she was off on one of the million tasks Josh delegated down to her every day. �Is this going to be a thing?�
�Probably not. But I�m going to have to make a statement before I leave. I wanted to hold off on that until after I got back, but�� Sam trailed off, knowing Donna could gather the rest. �Can I hide from Toby for a little while? I know he doesn�t blame the situation on me but he�s been in a shitty mood for a few weeks and I would really like to avoid being in his line of fire for as long as possible. I don�t know that I could take it right now,� he admitted.
Realizing that her friend was going through hell and had yet to give in to what she was sure was probably an overpowering urge to break down and cry, Donna moved a little closer and draped her arm around Sam�s shoulders, pulling his head to rest on hers. �This is going to be tough for you, politically, but I don�t know if anyone�s thought about how all this is going to be for you, emotionally. Let me be that person, Sam. I�m here for you, no matter what. Okay?� Sam nodded slightly. �This has got to be so hard for you, and you�ve been so strong so far, but you don�t have to be strong around me. Just let it go. You�re safe here. I�m not going to let anything happen to you,� Donna said soothingly.
He turned so he was facing her and he buried his face in her chest, finally allowing his emotions the release they so desperately needed.
After several minutes Sam managed to pull himself together. �Sorry,� he said as he swiped at the tears that stained his cheeks.
�Don�t apologize. I�m here for you, remember? Let everyone else worry about the politics of this. You and me? We can deal with the emotional fallout,� Donna said as she tenderly dried his tears and smoothed his hair down. �Okay?�
�Okay,� Sam conceded. He had never really had anyone who went out of their way to make him feel as safe as he did with Donna and he wasn�t entirely sure what he was supposed to do. �I� I don�t know why this is hurting so much,� he admitted.
Donna, ever the perceptive one, had an answer ready for him. �You mentioned that you and your dad were trying to mend fences after you found out about his mistress� about Theresa,� she said calmly. �How good are things between the two of you?�