The President and I are just finishing our discussion of the troop movement in Kazahstan when Ronna buzzes in. "Mrs. Santos is on line one."

I start to get up but he waves me back down.

"Hi Honey."

"Yes, he's right here." Matt makes eye contact with me and I don't really like the look in his eyes.

"Are you sure?" This half of the converstion is giving me a bad feeling.

"We'll be right over." I start to get up again and this time he doesn't wave me back down.

"Yes, I'll try."

"What is it?" I ask as soon as he hangs up.

"Donna fainted."

"Where is she?"

"Her office."

I'm out the door without waiting for permission. Matt is right on my heels. When he calls out, "You don't have to run, she's okay!" I slow down to a brisk walk instead of a sprint.

"What happened?" I look at Matt and the agents. It seems like they should have heard something over their ear pieces.

"I'm not exactly sure. Helen asked if you were with me. Then she said "Donna "kinda fainted" but she's okay. When I asked if she was sure she said the Doctor was on his way to check her out."

So he doesn't know that she's okay! I start to jog again.

"I'm supposed to try to keep you calm!" He starts to jog with me.

"Is this normal?" I ask him.

"Well, no, I normally jog outside, in exercise clothes, not inside wearing a suit!"

I give an exasperated sigh. I'm trying not to freak out, but I'm freaking out and he's cracking jokes. Somewhere my brain is trying to tell me that if he's joking it's not a big deal, but it's a very small voice compared to the one screaming "HURRY! There's something wrong! FIX IT!"

When I burst into the room, Donna, the Doctor and Helen all look up at me with amused expressions. I am not amused.

"What happened?" I gasp out.

"We were on our way back to the office and I just started feeling kind of woozy. So I stopped and leaned against the wall. It was the strangest feeling, like being underwater, everything was muffled and then this blackness was coming from behind me and closing around me. But then Helen was in front of me and it all went away."

Donna takes a sip from a Gatorade bottle. I'm glad someone brought her something.

Helen takes over the story-
"She was as white as a sheet. I thought she was going to pass out, but she didn't. So the agents helped her into the office, and we got her on the couch and called the doctor and you guys."

"I just took her blood pressure. It's normal." The Doctor says.

"Maybe you should take his." Donna gestures to me. Then takes another sip. I kind of want to scream. None of this joking is making me feel any better.

"Now, what's the last thing you ate?" The Doctor asks Donna, who suddenly looks away from me.

"I had some tea and a piece of toast." My eyes narrow.

"That's what she had for breakfast. At 5 am. And she vomited when she got here." I inform the room. It's after 4 now. Please don't tell me she hasn't had anything else to eat today.

"Donna . . . what did you have for lunch?" Matt asks gently. Good question, Maybe I'm just misunderstanding, she knows she needs to eat. There was a buffet, surely she found something to eat.

"I was busy." She says in a very quiet voice.

"Donna!" Helen says sharply. Well good. I don't have to be the only bad guy.

"I was on my way in to get something from the buffet, but then they needed me to read and then the rest of the day just slipped by!" Donna says a little defensively.

"It's really no excuse." I tell her. "You have to take care of yourself and the baby."

Donna's eyes start to well up and now I feel like a jerk.

The Doctor gives Donna's hand a little squeeze. "Okay. I'm not too concerned here. Donna's not having any cramping. Feeling light-headed is not uncommon at this stage of pregnancy, especially if she's having a hard time keeping food and liquid down. Donna, I'd like you to try to drink at least 3 bottles of water before you go to bed tonight. We also need to get some nutrition in you. Are you keeping the multi-vitamin down?"

"Yes, when I take it before bed. But I forgot last night because I was sick when we got home. I just wanted to go right to bed."

"Do you get sick every time you travel?"

"Pretty much."

"Okay. Then, I'd like you to make sure you drink at least 2 bottles of water after you get home. I'd like you to try scrambled eggs, and some toast with peanut butter for dinner. That's protein that's pretty easy on the stomach. Then take the vitamin before bed. Follow up with your OB, but I think if you can keep that down, she'll probably be comfortable waiting until your next appointment to see you."

"Any questions?" The Doctor looks between Donna and me.

"Shouldn't she eat something right now?"

"Well, honestly, it kind of depends on when you are heading home. If you're leaving it the next half hour, I'd suggest just waiting. It sounds like she's not going to keep it down long if she eats now. I'd rather have her eat something when it will do more good. As long as she keeps drinking that Gatorade, she can go a little while longer without dinner.

"Anything else?" He asks.

Donna shakes her head no. He squeezes her hand again. "Call me anytime. I'm just down the hall." He heads out the door and I move closer to Donna.

"I think you should stay here tonight!" Helen announces. "You can use the COS room in the residence and I can have the chef fix dinner for you."

"I don't know . . ." Donna hesitates.

"Well, as your friend I'm asking you to stay. As your boss, I'm giving you a choice. You can either stay in the residence tonight and see how you feel tomorrow or if you go home you have to take all day off tomorrow."

"But, I wasn't in the office at all today." Donna starts to whine.

"It's up to you." Helen says firmly "but one way or the other, we are avoiding two car trips. I can tell you've been losing weight. You need to start keeping more food down or you're gonna end up in the hospital. I can't have that."

Helen Santos might be my new best friend! This is a great solution. Donna doesn't have to eat take out or smell any food cooking in the house. And she can sleep in tomorrow, and I can still check in on her. If she stays home it's going to be difficult. I don't want to leave her there with just her agent, but things are a little too fluid in Kazakhstan for me to take the day off.

Matt is smirking at Donna. I think he knows that his wife is going to get her way on this.

"Okay. We'll stay here." Donna finally says.

"Great. Let's get you up to the residence. Since you are staying, you can have something to eat now, and then with any luck you'll be able to eat again later." Helen's in full Mom-mode now. "I'm cancelling our 4pm meeting today. I'm going to send the rest of the staff home. They've had a long day too. I'm sure Ned's ready for a shower." Matt and Helen step out of the room to talk to the rest of the staff.

Ah ha! Ned. Thanks for that little piece of information Helen. I think I just won our bet.

"Do you want me to go with you?" I ask Donna. The truth is Matt and I do have a little business to finish up. Then I could run home and get us some clothes and things for tomorrow. If Helen and Susan are watching out for Donna and with a doctor in the building, I'm willing to let her out of my sight for a few hours.

"No. I really am fine Josh." She looks a little surprised, and actually kind of pleased that I'm willing to let her go on her own.

"Okay. I'll go finish up in the office, then I'm going to run by the house. I'll give you a call so you can give me a list of what you need."

"Okay. Just grab me some work clothes and bathroom supplies. Oh and some pajamas too. And maybe the baby name book. And my pillow. I'd like my own pillow."

I give her a grin. I'm definitely going to call when I get to the apartment. That was quite a list.

"I love you. If you start to feel sick again call the doctor right away and have someone call me, okay? I'll be there as quick as possible."

"Oh I know you will. That reminds me. Helen owes me $5."

"Why does Helen owe you $5?"

"I won the bet about how long it would take you to get to my office after she called Matt."

"Speaking of bets. . . Ned Carlson!"

She looks shocked. Her mouth drops open. She really didn't think I'd guess. I lift her chin gently and place a light kiss on her lips.

"Don't worry. I'll take a rain check on the costume."