DISCLAIMER: Same as before, all non-West Wing characters are mine, and obviously the rest belongs to Sorkin.

NOTES: Short chapter this time. Been busy lately but hopefully I'll get back to writing on a more regular basis. Enjoy this for now, albeit choppy.

…

Monday morning

The clock on the desk ticked away quietly in the early morning hours. Sam watched as the second hand began another trip around the face of the small mechanical device. He had been sitting in his office since five in the morning. Sleep wouldn't come and Sam spent the night thinking about his conversation with Andree in the mess. The words he spoke echoed in Sam's mind.

Sitting there now and trying to work, Sam was unable to concentrate as he found himself reading and re-reading the same sentence over and over again. The paper fell slowly to the desk, landing lightly on top of a file folder. Seaborn ran the palm of his hand across his face. Standing from the desk, he walked out into the deserted bullpen. A couple of interns walked by the closed door and moments later Ginger walked into the office area.

"Morning Ginger." Sam muttered as he walked by her into the corridor. She returned the greeting and went to get things set up for the day's work. The amount of activity in the halls was slowly beginning to increase as staffers began showing up for work. Sam wove his way among the people, not going anywhere in particular. Without realizing how, he soon found himself standing in the lobby. A voice carrying through the air caught his attention. He turned to see Andree standing there, her expression blank as she walked passed the guard at the door. Yet, the voice wasn't hers, it belonged to…

"Josh." He smiled at the sight of his friend. The Deputy Chief of Staff had a wide grin on his face as he walked across the lobby and took Sam into a quick hug.

"Colonel." Sam just nodded toward Andree, his face was passive.

"Good morning, Mr. Seaborn." Andree kept a professional attitude toward the speechwriter.

"How are you feeling?" Sam asked Josh as they went back into the depths of the West Wing. Andree followed closely behind.

"A little groggy. If it weren't for the fact I was tired of being cooped up, I would have stayed home." Josh spoke to Sam as he nodded to others who were welcoming him back.

"Well, it's good to have you back." His voice was sincere. The trio stopped just outside the communications bullpen and Sam stepped just inside the doorway. "I'll see you at senior staff." He spoke to Josh, though his eyes wandered over to where Andree waited behind him.

"Yeah. I'll be in my office till then." Josh was completely oblivious to Sam's shifting concentration.

"Okay."

"See you later." Sam watched the two walk down the hall. Just as Josh disappeared around the corner, Andree stopped and glanced back at him. She quickly looked away and continued down the corridor. A call from Ginger brought Seaborn into the office and back to work.

…

Josh led the way to his office, stopping every few feet as yet more people welcomed him back to work. He let out a sigh of relief as he walked through the door of his office. McCallister was close on his heels and glanced around as Josh closed the door behind her. She turned and arched an eyebrow at the man, a confused look on her face.

"What?" he asked, in regards to the stare he was receiving. "You saw the hoards of people out there. I'm pumped about being back at work, but I can only stand so much from the welcome wagon."

"I see." Andy paused, than began to speak again, "Shall we get started then?"

Josh took a deep breath as he sat down. A moment passed before he reached over and pulled open a drawer, taking out a three-ring binder. Flipping open the cover, he turned it around and moved it closer toward the Colonel.

"There's a tentative schedule for the day. Count on it changing within the hour." He watched Andree for a reaction but got none.

"Very well. We'll just have to play it by ear. Lucky for you, I happen to be very good at that." She gave him a matter-of-fact look.

Josh felt intrigued at this information and just merely nodded his head. Rotating the binder back around to face him, Josh glanced at the first item on the list. Just as he did that, Donna knocked on her door and let herself in.