It had been bitterly cold in Washington that January, and it was almost as if the weather mirrored the White House's mood. Everyone seemed to be snipping at each other, everyone was on edge and miserable. The dull grey morning dawned as the backlash of the republican Majority leader was ready to launch a take over of the floor. This in turn had caused a firestorm of negative press, and an avalanche of extra work. The president was beside himself, angry that nothing was getting passed. His senior staff were on double and in some cases triple duty. Everything seemed to be harder, and nothing seemed to get done on either side. Somehow, no matter what they did, they were always a few votes short of passing bills into laws. Everythign was dying in committee, and they were getting road blocked on everything from English as the ofical language to stem cell research.

Josh Lyman opened a bleary eye over the mound of papers and files, books, empty coffee cups, an empty bottle of cough syrup and several crumpled up tissues, Malox and a bottle of asprin, and dozens of briefing memos of information. He had been up all night working on new policy trade agreements, and a apparitions bill all the while trying to put out multiple fires at the same time. "Josh…" Said a soft voice

"mmpphh….Donawhatimizt?" He grunted and muttered

"Its… early."

Rubbing his eyes and stretching loudly he grunted and scratched as men tend to do in the morning. "Hmph.". When he reopened his eyes, he realized a familiar face was staring at him with a scathing look.

"Man…You look like shit J." Amy Gardener chuckled and strolled in well rested and holding a coffee smirking at him.

"Well that's good cause I that's exactly how I feel." He grunted back.

"Geezsus Josh whens the last time you went home? Or eaten?"

"Im fine." Josh grunted

"Or showered for that matter?"

Josh sniffed his armpit instinctively" He was a tad ripe…

"Go home and get some sleep. You're no good to anyone if you can't function."

"Im fine." He repeated, and continued to stretch, and coughed into his fist

Amy, for all her sharp wit and snide remarks, did truly respect him. Given their past history together, she couldn't help but worry about him.

"Have you even asked Sam?"

Josh looked up. "Uh…no why?"

"Well, Im sure hes going through some stuff as much as you are. What about Goldman or Johnson or even Bradford? Have you reached out any of them?"

"Yes, yes, and Bradford hates me." Josh mumbled.

"You cant get anything passed without him. He holds the money on the side of every pac form here to the west coast. Not to mention the ATFA and NIORW"

Josh couched. "Youre not telling me anything I don't already know…" He wiped his nose. "Besides – Sam got enough on his plate, hes battling the state legislation in California – hes" He mumbled.

Amy slapped her coffee cup down. "Dammit Josh you're only one person – you can't do this without help." She looked about at a vacant desk right outside Josh's office. "Wait - Wh-where is Donna?"

That was salt in an open wound.

"She uh…she left me – us." He quickly correctly himself. Josh's voice normally so cock sure and arrogant, softened and faded into a raspy whisper. "I mean – the White House"

Amy relented. "Im sorry to hear that. She was good –"

"I should make some calls for a replacement"

"—For you."

Josh looked up at her with meaning. "So were you, ya know."

"Yeah well…you need whats good for you right now, and whats good for you right now, is to go home and clean yourself up, get some rest. You're not going to single handedly save the Bartlet administration with your bare hands."

He stood up and found standing lightened his head. He wavered.

"Uh…maybe you're right." He ran his hand over his very tired face, when his cell phone rang. 'Wait – what are you doing here?"

"I need you in a meeting today for a budget approap' for the womens alliance."

Josh ran his hand over his unshaven jaw. "For a what exactly?"

"Didn't you read the brief? Education finance for equal pay differetianals."

"Oh yeah….Uh….yeah sure…ts never going to be approved but whatever you want. OK."

"Im serious Josh – this is an important piece of legislation." Amy glared at him. It annoyed her that he waived her off. "Don't ignore this! It could singulary bridge the gap in pay betwenn men and women."

"Im not ignoring you. As hard as it is for you to believe, I can do more than one thing at once." He countered.

"Josh –"

His phone jingled and he whipped out his phone. "Josh Lyman." He listened carefully as his fatigued brain would allow. His eyebrows popped at the voice on the other line. "No… no sir the hour is fine, Ive been in the office for hours"—Its -" He glanced at his watch crestfallen. "Not even 6:00 am". He cleared his throat as he spoke. "What can I do for you ?"

"Well Josh I have reason to believe you folks over there have the bill on H2-76 for your own selfish reasons." Bradford's voice was snide and accusatorial.

"Well … the California 47th is a tricky district sir. But I assure you Sam will…" He was quickly cut off by the Congressman and listened with increasing tension.

"Yeah…yes I know but….Sir…." He winced and pulled the phone away from his ear as Bradford screamed at him. Josh tried to calm him down. "Congressmen, I assure you…. " Josh's eyes widened. "...What?" He swallowed heavily and ran his hand across his face as he tended to do when he was stress.

"Seaborne has a lot of explaining to do." Bradford barked over the phone.

"W-What do you mean?" Josh asked befuddled

"You know damn well what I mean! You Goddamit liberals have already already been in trouble before… dosen tlook good for him if hes been at it again not to mention of I let it slip hes been misapproating funds to pay for his little habit."

"Youre not serious." Josh growled, bristling

"Im dead serious" Bradford said matching his tone . "You guys won't have a leg to stand on and if you try to take my gun bill away you know whats gunna happen then!"

"I would vouch for him with my life!"

"Well you're going to have to - because this time tonight it will be all over CNN and Fox"

"Sir… Im going to get to the bottom of this right away." Josh began "NO! I know…that you –" The phone cut him off again.

"John - you go to the press with this…and Ill…" Josh's nostrles flailed and his lip curled over his teeth.

"Dosent seem you have very much to bargin with right now Lyman. Now you either add my bill or this is going to press today so listen –"

"No! You listen! I've known him my entire life and the fact that you would suggest something like this is over the top! I don't care if I have to destroy my own career! You leak this to the press and I'm gunna come down there and tear your balls off with my bare hands! Do you understand me?! You want a fight ? You just got on pal!" Josh barked

"Okay tough guy… well just see what happens" The Congressmen fired back

"John – we will filibuster, we will road block you until we drop I will personaly stone wall every single word of legistlation you pen and –" He stopped and silenced himself as he listened to the Congressemen, Josh listened and finally relented. "He didn't do it!" He said softly

"John… Its Sam hes….youve known him for years hes ….." Joshs face turned towards anger "Yeah….yeah I know but…."

He slammed down the phone and grabbed his rumpled jacket off the back of his chair.

"What the hell just happened?" Amy was astonished.

Josh didn't answer, his mind was racing with possibilities of horrible outcomes. His fists balled and then relaxed. This was the absolute last thing they needed right now.

"Sam's in trouble" With a flourish he drew his jacket around his shoulders and strode out.

"What happened?" Amuy asked bewildered

"Youre people aren't going to like it." He already had his phone out. "Yeah, CJ its me – yeah - g'morning – get in here we have a serious problem." Josh strode through the corridor without a backward glance, leaving Amy alone in his office.