<P> Following Sorkin and Schlamme's departure from the series at the end of the fourth season, the relationship takes some new turns, with Donna attempting to broaden her horizons past Josh and pursue her own social life outside of the White House . In season 5, when Donna is badly injured in a terrorist attack in Gaza, Josh rushes to keep vigil at her bedside at a military hospital in Germany . In the sixth season episode "Impact Winter," Donna quits her job as assistant to Josh, seeing no chance of career advancement . She begins working for Vice President Bob Russell's presidential campaign . About the same time, Josh leaves his job to work on Matt Santos' campaign . This puts Donna and Josh in direct confrontation as their candidates battle each other for the Democratic nomination . Santos beats Russell for the nomination in the season 6 finale "2162 Votes ." Donna applies for a job in the Santos for President campaign in the Season 7 premiere "The Ticket," but Josh finds himself forced to reject her as she is on record trashing his candidate while she was working for the other team . During their conversation he reveals that he misses her "every day ." Later, Lou Thornton hires Donna to work on the Santos campaign with Lou corralling the two into a meeting room for a quick reconciliation . </P> <P> In the Season 7 episode "The Cold," Josh and Donna kiss passionately as she brings him the good news that Congressman Santos has caught up to Vinick and that they are tied in the national tracking polls . Josh later apologizes, saying the kiss was "inappropriate," but Donna says, "It was bound to happen sometime ." Donna talks to Will, who says pursuing a relationship with Josh wouldn't be inappropriate . Later in the episode, Donna discreetly leaves the key to her hotel room on the table for Josh, but Edith Ortega notices the key before Josh can retrieve it and returns the key to Donna . In "Election Day," Josh and Donna consummate their relationship, sleeping together twice, both times at her initiative . Donna gives Josh four weeks to figure out "what they want from each other ." She insists that if this cannot happen within four weeks, their relationship will remain in a constant state of ambiguity, which is not what Donna wants . After talking to Lou as well as his deputy - of - choice Sam Seaborn, Josh realizes that he desperately needs to take a break from work . At the end of the episode, Josh and Donna go on vacation together . </P> <P> In the series finale "Tomorrow," Josh and Donna wake up in bed together on the morning of Inauguration Day, ten weeks after Donna set the four - week deadline . </P> <P> Sam is Josh's friend, to the point that Sam considers him a brother . After Leo recruits Josh to the campaign, Josh's first stop is to recruit Sam (who is working, unhappily, at a law firm) to join him . Although from opposite coasts and possessing distinctly different personalities (Sam is polite, organized and awkward while Josh is more harried, aggressive and cocky) the two manage to be very much in sync and possess a common intellect, sense of humor and idealism . As two of the youngest members of the senior staff, they occasionally get themselves in trouble for various schemes and incidents, usually with the best intentions . Both of them share a very similar gap between their professional and personal competence--they are both portrayed as immature, simple - minded and lacking in common sense when it comes to unimportant issues, but in contrast, are extremely effective and brilliant at their jobs . Much like the relationship between Jed Bartlet and Leo McGarry, Josh and Sam's friendship extends far past their role as co-workers and the two are each other's confidants on personal matters and relationship troubles . They even spend some holidays together when not going home . </P>

Who does josh end up with on the west wing