"A Ride Home"

Written by: Melissa (Doc)

Part 1

"Okay, when I say staff in fifteen minutes, I mean fifteen minutes!"

Leo yelled as Sam hurried into the office and sat down.

"Sorry." Sam said in almost a whisper. He didn't look at anyone in the room. He was just staring at his hands.

"When is your meeting on the hill?" Leo asked Sam. Sam didn't reply.

He just sat on the couch staring at his hands. "Sam?" Leo said more loudly.

"Yeah?" Sam looked up with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry Leo." Sam said before running out of the office.

"What'd I say?" Leo asked, confused.

"Leo?" Toby pointed to the door.

"Yeah, go ahead. Have Josh or CJ brief you later."

"Thanks." Toby said before rushing out after his deputy.

"Ginger, have you seen Sam?" Toby asked after noticing Sam wasn't in his office.

"Yeah, he grabbed some things and said he was taking the rest of the day off."

"Did he say he was going home?"

"He didn't say where he was going."

"Did he say when he was going to be back?"

"I asked him, but he didn't answer. He just looked at me. He looked different."

"Different?"

"He looked like he was crying. I've never seen Sam cry before." Ginger said. "What did you do?" Ginger smiled shyly.

"I didn't do anything you brat. Find him!" Toby ordered.

"Yeah."

Toby went into his office and sat down. He couldn't help but be worried.

"Hey." Josh said coming into Toby's office. "Did you find him?"

"No, Ginger said he took off for the day." Toby slammed his fist on his desk. "What the hell is wrong with him?"

"You don't know?" Josh asked.

"Know what?"

"Sam's mom died this morning. Apparently she was battling with cancer. She never told him."

"God, the poor kid." Toby sat back in his chair stunned. "He was close with her, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, she didn't tell him because she didn't want to worry him."

"I should find him, he shouldn't be alone." Toby said while getting up and grabbing his jacket. Josh stood and put his hand on Toby's shoulder.

"He told me that he would be leaving tomorrow morning. He wanted to drive there."

"Where's there?"

"California."

"He's driving from DC to California? Why doesn't he just fly?"

"Because he wanted time to digest everything before he got there. He wanted to be strong for his sisters."

"Okay, I'll tell Leo. He's probably going to wonder where his Deputy Communications Director is."

"Toby?" Josh stopped him before Toby left.

"Yeah?" Toby turned to look at him.

"Do you think he should have to do this on his own? I mean." Josh stopped for a moment and looked down. "When my dad died, I hated having to go through it alone. I mean. I had my mom, but no friends to talk to. It hurt, and I don't think Sam should have to go through this alone."

"What do you think we should do?" Toby asked seriously.

"Maybe we could help him. We can be there for him to lean on." Josh looked up at Toby.

"I think that's a good idea." Toby smiled and patted Josh on the arm. "Let me go talk to Leo, and you tell Larry and Ed that they're going to be promoted for a week or two."

"Yeah. Should I call Sam and tell him?"

"No, let's make it a surprise. I think if we tell Sam, he'll tell us no and leave early without telling us. You know Sam, he thinks he can do it all." Toby joked.

"Yeah, he learned that from his mentor." Josh smiled and patted Toby on the back.

"I really hope Sam doesn't take after me. If he does, god help him." Toby smiled before heading to Leo's office.

"Are you kidding? This administration can't run without its communications director and his deputy, and without the deputy chief of staff! Why the hell are you three leaving anyway?" Leo bellowed.

"Something happened and Josh and I have to help Sam."

"I'm not agreeing until you tell me why!"

"Sam's mom died. He's going to drive home for the funeral and we didn't think he should go alone."

"We being you and Josh?" Leo calmed down.

"Yeah."

"Okay, get Larry and Ed. I'll have Bruno help me with Josh's stuff."

"Yeah."

"Give Sam my best." Leo said while opening the door for Toby. "You and Josh take care of that kid. He's got a good spirit."

"Yes sir."

"I'll tell the President. You go tell CJ."

"Yeah." Toby said while walking out and down to the pressroom.

"Okay, I'm calling a full lid before I kill all of you." CJ joked while walking out. "Toby, are you going to make it a habit on watching me handle the press everyday."

"What can I say, it turns me on. But that's not why I'm here." Toby said pulling CJ into her office and shut the door.

"What's up?" CJ asked.

"Josh and I are going on a little trip with Sam. I'm not sure how long we will be gone. Sam may be gone two or three weeks. Josh and I may be back in a week."

"What happened?"

"Sam's mom passed away and he is going to the funeral. Josh thought it would be a good idea if we were there to support him."

"You guys need me?" CJ asked.

"I think we'll be fine. Larry and Ed are moving up until I get back. I need you to keep me notified with everything going on."

"I can do that."

"Thanks."

"I think it's good what you guys are doing, Toby." CJ smiled.

"I don't know why, but I like the kid."

"He looks up to you, whatever you say, he's going to believe."

"Yeah." Toby smiled.

"Take care of him."

"I will. I'll call when I can. Keep Larry and Ed in line please. We all know how they can get."

"I will. Maybe they will watch me handle the press like you." CJ joked.

"That's my job, and my job only." Toby smirked.

"Go away now." CJ smiled.

"Thanks." Toby said while walking out.

"Hey, I'm thinking that we should meet at Sam's house around five."

"In the morning?" Toby groaned as Josh came in.

"He said he was leaving around six."

"Okay, I'll be there." Toby grabbed the rest of his things and got ready to leave.

"He might not like this at first." Josh mentioned.

"I'll talk to him. He needs us."

"Yeah." Josh smiled.

"I'm going home. You need a ride?"

"No thanks, Donna's taking me home."

"When is your car going to get fixed?"

"When I can afford it."

"Yeah." Toby laughed.

"I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah, goodnight." Toby said before leaving his office.

"Goodnight."

TBC