Leo was taking a call when Sam and Josh arrived but he gestured to them to come in. Josh went over to the sofa but Sam lingered by the door until Leo gestured again this time indicating he should take a seat. He ended the call and walked over to sit with Sam. Josh loitered, unwilling to leave. "I'll swing by to take you to the coffee thing," he told Sam, as anxious as a parent leaving a child for the first day at school.
When he had gone, Leo relaxed back in his seat, hoping Sam would do the same. "Josh can be one hell of a hoverer," he said of his Deputy. Sam smiled and nodded. Leo chatted about everyday things for a little while until he was sure Sam was as relaxed as he was going to get. He then steered the conversation towards work. He danced tentatively around the subject of Sam's return and what form it would take in a manner that was alien to his usual direct approach to conversation. By the end of the hour, Leo know that Sam wanted to return to work, he also knew a full return to anything like his old position would be out of the question. He looked at his watch and realised he had a few minutes before Josh arrived. Someone has to ask the question, he thought and even better if he asked it now, Josh could deal with the fallout.
"I hear Josh changed the schedule for you today."
Sam's head shot up and he stared at his boss, frowning. He wasn't sure where Leo was heading but he was sure he didn't want to join him. "It was a long day. Josh had planned a long day. I just thought, better keep it to the morning then next time, you know, maybe a day."
Leo nodded in a slow rhythm, you're lying, you're lying, you're lying.
"Also, I know Toby's busy with the State of the Union and probably doesn't really have the time and he's got the communication team having coffee with me so that's more time wasted." In an attempt to downplay the reasons for the change in schedule Sam realised he had unwittingly revealed them.
Leo stopped nodding and started playing dumb. "So your meeting with Toby's off the schedule?"
"Yeah, it was taken off. It was a long day."
"Are you catching up with him at the coffee thing?"
Sam shrugged. He honestly didn't know if Toby would be there or not. He hoped he wouldn't.
Leo heard Josh's knock on the door the same time he noticed Sam's leg jumping up and down and his hand worrying at his tie. He remembered his advice to Josh about not pushing Sam but consoled himself with the thought that he had meant pushing him about returning to work, not about his relationship with his Toby. He called for Josh to come in and did his best to hurry the two men out before Josh could ask him why Sam looked worse now than he had in the foyer earlier.
They walked to the next scheduled meeting in silence. Sam becoming more nervous the closer they got. Some of the communications team were waiting for him. Coffee cups were laid out on a table next to a tray of cakes. His colleagues were restrained in their greetings, not sure what might happen if they were too noisy or boisterous and keen not to find out. Sam shook hands and accepted gentle pats on the back. He was handed a coffee and a slice of chocolate cake. Josh watched as Sam helplessly looked for a surface to place one or the other and then rescued him by taking the plate, leading him to a chair a little way from the group of people and then placing it precariously on the arm of the chair. "You don't have to stay long," he reassured Sam who he thought was looking more anxious by the moment. "I'll swing by-"
"And get me at eleven. I know the drill."
After Josh had left, people came over to chat to him. They came alone and only stayed a few moments. Long enough to ask how he was, moan about Toby and tell him how much he was missed. Sam nodded politely, shook a hand when it was offered and laughed when it was clear he was meant to. He tried taking a bite of cake but it turned to cardboard in his mouth and he had to have several swigs of coffee to get it down. He realised he was tapping his foot and stopped the movement but when his leg wouldn't stop shaking he stood up and walked around. Sam was desperate to get out of the room. He was meant to be meeting Josh so he said a few goodbyes and hurried away up the stairs back to his office.
Once there, he heard a voice. He recognised it. He recognised its volume and acerbic tone.
"What is the point of having assistants if, when I need some assistance, they're unable to assist?" Toby had planned to stay out of Sam's way but he'd forgotten a file he needed and Ginger couldn't find it so he had returned to his office. His frustration was clear as he and Ginger ransacked his desk and filing cabinet. He glanced at the clock and knew time was running out. He pulled open a drawer for a second time and slammed it closed on not seeing the file magically appear. "How am I supposed to do my job when files don't stay put!" Another drawer was slammed shut.
Bonnie looked up from her desk. She'd had the good sense to duck under it on seeing Toby arrive. She looked furtively around her computer screen and was surprised to see Sam standing by the door to his office.
The Bullpen bustled with life around him as he stood in the middle of it desperately trying to see someone or something he recognised. He knew he was meant to be meeting Josh but now he had a nagging feeling that he should be in court. He couldn't understand why Shelly wasn't around. It wasn't like her to just disappear. Sam jumped as a hand was placed on his arm.
"Hey, Sam. I thought you were having coffee?" Bonnie said.
"Have you seen Shelly?" Sam asked.
"Shelly? You're meant to be meeting with CJ next. Josh was meant to come get you. Didn't he turn up?"
Sam relaxed slightly as he realised Josh must have arranged to meet him and forgotten the time. He asked Bonnie what the time was and when she told him it was ten to eleven he relaxed a little more. "I'm meeting Josh but I think I'm early."
He walked away from her and towards what he thought was the way out. He would give Josh a few more minutes then leave. He was sure he was due in court and he had to find Shelly. He hurried out of the Bullpen and down the corridor until he came to a reception area. He walked towards the man at the desk.
"Excuse me, could you please tell me how to get out of here?"
Charlie sighed. "Now Sam, we agreed we wouldn't discuss our secret escape plan in public."
Sam placed his hands on the desk and took a few deep breaths, his anxiety mounting. Everything's alright, he told himself. You just need to get outside then you'll know where you are.
The man behind the desk was frowning at him.
Sam tried again. "At the risk of appearing incredibly obtuse, I was just wondering if you have such a thing as an exit?"
"Sam, are you feeling okay? Do you need me to get someone?"
In reply, Sam simply stared at him, a look of anxious confusion on his face. His hands were now clenching the edge of the desk and he was pale and shaking.
Charlie was saved from saying or doing anything else as the President appeared from his office. He took one look at the scene and a second look at Charlie's concerned expression before taking action.
"Hey, Sam, come and sit in my office for a while will you." When his words prompted no response he walked around the desk and placed his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam batted it away and was immediately surrounded by three men in suits, two of them standing between him and Bartlet. These men didn't say 'hey Sam' in fact, they didn't seem friendly at all.
Bartlet waved them away, explaining something about Sam not being a threat, and they reluctantly stood aside.
"Sam, are you ill? Do you want me to get a doctor?"
Sam shook his head. "I just need to get out of here. I'm meant to be in court and then I'm meeting Josh."
The President turned around. "Go get him." But Charlie had already pre-empted the request.
"Sam, I think you need to sit down, just for a while, and then you can go to court when you feel better."
Sam suddenly felt threatened. Why would no one let him leave? The men in the grey suits were still staring at him as well, watching his every move with a concentration that unnerved him. He made towards the door but found his way blocked by CJ.
Sam frantically scanned the people surrounding him. The woman looked friendly enough. He decided to approach her. "Please, just show me the way out. I'm meant to be in court and I really don't think these-" Sam stopped talking at the sound of Josh's voice. He peered past her to see him hurrying towards him.
"Thank God! I think I'm early. I couldn't find Shelly and now I'm too late to meet you because I'm due in court, only I can't get out, they won't let me out." Sam gestured vaguely towards the agents.
In a steady tone that belied his true feelings Josh asked. "Where do you work, Sam?"
"Josh?" Sam shook his head, unable to work out why Josh would ask him what he already knew.
"Where are we now?" Josh interrupted.
"What?" Sam let a small nervous laugh escape.
"What city, Sam, what city are we in?"
Sam didn't know why Josh was asking these questions but he knew that he wasn't fooling around. He was about to answer he was in New York when he realised that he couldn't be. Josh didn't work in New York, he worked in the White House now, they both did. "DC?"
Josh just smiled and nodded at Sam, took him by the arm and led him into Leo's office.
Leo was sitting at his desk looking down at his work. "Sam, this is Leo. Leo, Sam's going to sit here for a while, okay?"
Leo didn't respond. This was the sort of nonsense he was used to hearing when Josh and Sam arrived in the room together. It was the tone of Sam's voice rather than the words that forced Leo's head up sharply.
"I don't need to sit down. I just need to get out of here," he insisted.
Leo rose quickly and walked over to Josh. "What the hell happened?"
"I have no idea." He led Leo away from the sofa. "He thought he was back at Gage. We should get a doctor. There's a doctor on call isn't there?" Josh's question was answered by the appearance of a smartly dressed man entering the room. He ignored the occupants and made his way straight to Sam.
"This is Doctor Meadows," Charlie explained as he followed behind.
"Hello, Sam, I hear you're having a bit of a bad day." The doctor's tone was casual but his actions were brisk and business-like as he began to check Sam's pulse.
Sam looked at Josh who was deep in conversation with Leo. He heard a shout from the room next door. "For God's sake, he can't remember where he is, he hasn't suddenly remembered that he's an assassin!" Bartlet burst into Leo's office leaving his bewildered agents staring at the closed door wondering which part of their training had dealt with senior staffers who appear to go insane.
Bartlet moved over to the couch and sat next to Sam. "How you doing, Sam? I called the doctor because you seemed a little confused back there."
"It's okay," Sam told him as if Bartlet was the one who needed reassuring.
"Sam, can you tell me where you live?" the doctor asked.
"DC." Sam was certain of this at least.
"What day is it Sam?"
"Tuesday."
Leo grimaced. "It was Friday."
Dr Meadows was well aware of Sam's medical situation and wasn't taking any chances, especially with the President standing over him anxiously awaiting his verdict. "Sam, I'd like you to go to the hospital."
His head was beginning to ache, so maybe the doctor was right, maybe he did need to go to hospital. Josh walked towards him and crouched down. "Come on, Sam, I'll go with you." He nodded and followed Josh to the door.
Once inside the ER he was led to an exam room and lay down. Josh stayed in the room nearby but out of the way. The doctor shone a torch into Sam's eyes and felt his head. She turned to Josh who filled her in on Sam's medical history then returned her attention to Sam.
"You're in a hospital. It's okay. How do you feel?"
"Tired."
"How else do you feel?"
Sam's eyes closed as he answered. "Just tired."
"I'll let you sleep in a minute, Sam, but you need to open your eyes for me." She gently shook Sam and repeated his name until he opened his eyes and turned towards her.
"What's your last name?"
"Seaborn."
Josh let out the breath he had been holding and walked closer to the bed.
"What day is this, Sam?" The doctor leaned nearer to him and spoke clearly. He wished she would go away and let him sleep.
"I will go away in a minute, Sam but I need you to tell me what day it is first."
"Friday."
"Good, now we're going to run a few tests and then I'll be back to talk with you, I'll also page the doctor who's been seeing you, ok?" Sam nodded and looked over at Josh who smiled encouragingly before catching the doctor's eye and following her out of the room.
"It's a little too early to say but I think Sam's experienced decompensation," she took in Josh's baffled expression, "A relapse if you will. They're quite common although Sam seems to have had quite the experience with his. Dr Graham will tell you more but it might help if you try to think about any triggers that might have caused this, where Sam was, what he was doing." She made her apologies and left Josh to wait for Sam's doctor, adding that he should let Sam sleep.
He sat down heavily in a chair that creaked in protest and then realised what he should be doing. "Excuse me," he asked a passing nurse who didn't stop, "Can I use-" he tried again with a doctor. Getting increasingly frustrated he stepped into the path of an oncoming nurse. "Can I use this in here?" She pointed wordlessly to a sign directly opposite that read, 'Cell Phones may not be used in this area'.
"Ah, okay, big sign, didn't see it. You need fluorescent letters or something," Josh mumbled as he walked quickly towards the exit.
He had phoned Leo, Sam's mother and Toby before returning to the room juggling a cup of coffee and a copy of the Post. As soon as he had sat down Dr Graham walked into the room and held out his hand. "Good to see you again, Josh. Not so sure I'm as happy to see Sam here though!"
He didn't wake Sam but asked Josh what he knew. He explained about decompensations and also applauded Sam's ability to top the scale with his first experience of one. He looked disappointed when he realised it had happened at the White House and shook his head.
"What? There's something else?"
"No, no, I just…it seems like you had the day pretty well organised. No crowds, not too much noise, just as we discussed."
"So the frown and head shaking means...?"
"Did anyone see what actually happened? Was there some kind of trigger? I don't know, a noise, smell, something that could have brought some memories back?"
"You can't hear any traffic or anything like that in the White House. He was near his office all he would have heard were printers, phones and talking."
"Okay, well, I'll let him sleep then check in on him. I would think he can go home today. I'd like to speak to him though. Have a think, Josh, ask around. There must have been something."
Josh was left standing by the bed. He pulled up a chair and leant forward, his elbows on his knees, head in hands. "When you wake up we've got some serious talking to do," he said to his sleeping friend.