A week and a half later, not much had changed. Josh and Sam weren't talking to each other unless national security required it. CJ and Donna seemed to running interference between the two and Leo had given up hoping that either party would get over it. Josh cooled down the day after his altercation with Juliana. He had instantly begun to regret his actions at the time, but as the week went on he felt a dreadful pain of regret sinking in. Josh realized that he had lost his temper and taken it out on one of the only people he could lash out at. Donna wanted to send flowers to the Speaker to apologize. Josh had insisted that he call and apologize himself. Apologies went over much better with the Speaker than with Juliana. Josh tried calling. A lot. Juliana refused to pick up the phone. Finally, after Josh had called her cell phone 4 times in an hour, Juliana answered. Josh remembered being shocked by Juliana's indifferent tone.

"Don't say anything." Juliana instructed before Josh could tell her how happy he was she answered his call. "Please stop calling, Josh. It's becoming annoying."

"Jules, I want to apologize." Josh said, almost pleading.

"I don't need an apology. I needed you to respect me. Now, I need you to leave me alone. If you have a legitimate legislative concern, you can make an appointment with my office."

"I've tried that."

"You didn't have a legitimate concern."

Juliana had hung up after that sentence. Josh tried calling back, but she wouldn't answer. He attempted to make an appointment to apologize with flowers, candy, stuffed animals, anything it took, but Juliana's assistant wouldn't let him through the door. Finally, Josh gave up.

Things in the west wing were tense, but still working. CJ had just left Josh's office, where Josh was complaining about Sam's meeting with Congressman Granger. Of course, Josh wouldn't go complain to Sam in person, so CJ had volunteered to play the role of the go between,

"Sam?"

CJ stopped to look at Sam. He was sitting behind his desk, papers strewn everywhere, his cell phone was suspended from his hand in mid-air and he was staring off into space. CJ had called out his name two other times, once as she walked past Ginger's desk and once from Sam's doorway. Now as she stood physically in front of Sam, she still garnered no response.

"Sam!" CJ's voice was full of exasperation and uneasiness.

"Huh?" Sam mumbled.

"I've been calling your name for ages now. We need to talk about the meeting you had yesterday with Granger. I don't think…" CJ noticed that Sam was looking around aimlessly, his eyes blinking rapidly. He had clumsily put his cell phone down on his desk, but none of CJ's words registered. "Sam? What's going on?"

"I have to go." Sam shook his head as if trying to shake off a cloud of fog and stood up. Looking around, Sam grabbed his laptop and some files and stuffed them into his bag. CJ grew even more concerned when she noticed the haphazard way that Sam was shoving things into his bag. Sam was normally precise, well organized and bordering on obsessive compulsive about his things, but as his laptop and files entered his bag there were crumpled pages, folded corners and things totally askew.

"Sam. Talk to me." CJ implored. Sam stopped on the other side of his desk near CJ and brought his hands up to his face. Sam took off his glasses and then his arms fell limply beside him.

"There was…" Sam took a deep shaky breath. He started motioning with his hands, trying to help the words make sense. "There was…a thing…she…she was going…"

"Sam," CJ took a tentative step towards Sam and touched her hand to his arm. Sam jumped and recoiled as her hand touched him. It was as if he snapped back into consciousness. "Sam, you're worrying me."

"She was going to her pottery class, CJ."

"Who was? What's wrong?"

"She…my…my mom's died, CJ. She's had a heart attack. I, I have to go."

CJ could see the tears welling up in Sam's eyes and she could see how hard he was fighting to contain them. Sam picked up his bag and walked out of his office. On his way out of the bullpen, Sam plowed into Toby. Their shoulders hit so hard that it sent Toby's notepad flying. Sam didn't even seem to register the collision.

"Sam! What the…CJ! What's going on?" Toby yelled at CJ, seeing her standing in the door to Sam's office.

"Sam's mother is dead." CJ replied softly. She exhaled and shook her head slightly. "After everything that's been going on..." CJ didn't finish the thought. She collected herself and looked back to a shocked Toby, "We need to tell Leo."

CJ and Toby walked into Leo's office to find Leo and Margaret arguing over possible new letter head designs.

"Oh, thank God!" Leo exclaimed as CJ and Toby walked in. "I'll take anything that gets her off my case for five minutes." Margaret stood expectantly next to Leo's desk, holding a handful of papers. "Five minutes!" Leo bellowed at Margaret. It was enough to send her scurrying to her desk. "Alright. What's going on?"

"We should wait for Josh." CJ explained. Leo couldn't help noticing that Toby seemed a little less gruff than usual and CJ wouldn't meet his eyes. This couldn't be good.

"Leo, we've got to put a stop to this! They're refusing to char my burger for me in the mess!" Josh announced, full of good humor as he materialized in Leo's office. "What have I missed?"

Josh scanned the room, taking note of Sam's absence and the looks playing across CJ and Toby's face. Suddenly, Josh had the sinking feeling that his jovial mood was soon be dissipating.

Leo looked at his senior staff. "I don't know. CJ was about to tell us something."

"Sam's…" CJ paused, measuring her words. She wanted them to come out, as they should be. "Sam just rushed out of his office. His mother passed away." There was another long pause. CJ quickly gauged Leo and Josh's reaction. "She seems to have suffered a heart attack. Sam was a little sketchy on the details."

"The poor kid." Leo commented. "Do we know when things will be?"

"No. I'll check in with him later." Toby assured Leo. Leo couldn't help but notice the concern and protection in his voice.

Leo looked across the room to Josh. He looked like a racer waiting for the starting gun – like he wanted to dash out of the room at full speed. Leo wondered if Josh's thoughts were with Sam or Juliana at the moment.

"That's all. CJ, keep me updated. Someone…everyone…try to check in with Sam. I'll let the president know." Leo said,

"Thank you." CJ and Toby both said as they turned to leave.

"Thanks." Josh mumbled as he walked out.

"Josh?" CJ called out. Josh was walking in a daze and almost didn't hear CJ.

"Huh?"

"Have you talked to Juliana? Does someone need to tell her?"

"I haven't…Sam would…" Josh was speechless as he processed the news. His stomach felt hard and knotted. He was finding it hard to concentrate on CJ and not think about the pain that Jules must be experiencing. Momentarily, Josh flashed back to the moment when Donna told him about his own father. Josh wondered if it had been as abrupt for Jules. He wondered if a friend had told her or if had been some arbitrary assistant. "I should call her."

Josh disappeared down the corridor without talking more to CJ. CJ was left standing in his wake, her thoughts on Sam and Juliana's loss and Josh's troubled state of mind.