<?php
if( is_category() ) :
$the_query = new WP_Query('tag=featured&showposts=2&cat='.get_query_var('cat'));
else : $the_query = new WP_Query('showposts=2&orderby=post_date&order=desc');
endif;
?>
<?php
if( $the_query->have_posts() ) : while( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post()
?>