A/N: Thank you for the reviews, and your patience. I'm sorry this chapter is so short.
"What the hell happened?"
Sam jolted awake to see Judy standing angrily at the door, with most of the rest of his staff assembled around her. A file was stuck to the side of his face. He'd spent the night trying to put the files back in some sort of order. He had fallen asleep with his head on top of one of the many stacks he'd compiled.
"Whuh?" Sam sleepily looked around, then realized the file was still stuck to his face. He peeled it off.
"Sam, what happened?" Jim asked, concerned.
"Oh, uh, this. Yeah. I, uh, decided to rearrange things." Sam avoided their gazes. He knew the excuse was lame, but he couldn't handle admitting the truth. It had to be obvious from just seeing the disaster in the room. Several of his staff gave meaningful glances at each other, but thankfully chose to say nothing. Sam stood up and started picking up more files, continuing to try and organize them again.
Judy walked past him and surveyed the mess skeptically. "Well, I hope it helps."
Sam yawned and pondered the statement. "Y'know, I think maybe it will. I started putting them together for each of the punishers, since they're in charge of recovering their own escapees. It'll be easier for me to hand them out during the meetings if they're arranged beforehand. I also started making a pile of Mammon's and Azazel's recruits. According to our notes, we've been labeling them all as easy catches, so might as well just round them up now."
Kevin looked pleased. "I never argue when someone figures out a shortcut for actual work. Too bad Bob's not here. He'd bug you until you told him how you learned to do it so well. But as usual, he's late. Lazy ass."
Sam gave a half smile as he thought of Sock. Sam did learn shortcuts from the best. Sock would probably love to meet Bob. Two peas in a pod.
"I figured once I'm done sorting, we could each take a stack and go through it," Sam told them. "Obviously when the smaller stacks are done, those people can join the others. Leviathan's stacks are going to be a massive pain."
There was silence as they all looked at the files still on the floor, most of which they all knew would be Leviathan's.
Jim winced. "Yeah. That's gonna suck."
Sam was about to tell them all they might as well take off until he was done sorting, but before he could speak Edna gave a sour face.
"What is that smell?"
Everyone sniffed the air. Then they all turned to Sam.
"No offense, Sam, but you really need a shower." Edna smirked.
Embarrassed, Sam shook his head. "I can't. I have to sort the files."
Jim said, "No, we'll do that. Go. Get freshened up. Grab something to eat while you're at it." He turned to Kiwi. "We'll call him back when it's done." The dog wagged its tail in acknowledgement.
Sam shook his head again, this time more insistently. "No. I was told to clean up."
"Were you told to do it all by yourself?" Jim asked. Sam looked down. For the third time, he shook his head.
"Thought not. Sam, be realistic. It'll be faster if we do it. You've done enough for now."
"You don't understand - " Sam started to argue again.
Jim gave him a curious look. "Sam, I gave you an order and you know it."
"But - "
Then Jim turned stern. "Do as you're told. This is not worth getting punished for."
Sam flinched. It actually stung to acknowledge the command. "Right."
Jim tried to soften the order. "Thanks, Sam. Don't worry, we'll clean this up and then start going through the files when you return."
Sam gave a small smile in appreciation, then his stomach growled. Embarrassed, he said, "Yeah, uh, I'll just go now…See you, uh, later." He tried to act casual as he backed towards the door, and turned to follow Kiwi out.
After Sam was gone, Judy glared at Jim. "You weren't serious about doing this ourselves?"
Jim snorted. "Hell no. The souls'll do it. I was afraid Sam would actually help them though, and I don't want that. I think he feels sorry for the damned. He was pretty uncomfortable last night just watching them move the files."
Kevin whistled. "I have to say, I can't believe he kept arguing after you gave him that order. And even after you reminded him it was an order."
Jim looked grave. "Yes. He's showing a real loyalty to the Boss, isn't he? More so than one would expect, given his situation. I wonder how the Boss has achieved that. Sam was bound and determined to clean up this mess on his own."
"I've heard rumors about him. Do you suppose they're true?"
"Considering what he told us yesterday, Beatrice? Have you ever heard of the Boss subverting a human's free will? That's huge. Gladys has mentioned some odd things about him as well."
Judy raised an eyebrow. "Do tell."
Jim grinned. "How 'bout over breakfast. Anyone up for a trip to IHOP?"
