"Go away, Charlie."President Jed Bartlet mumbled into
his pillow as his personal aide opened the door of the
bedroom.

The young black man sighed inwardly. "I'm sorry, Sir,
but Sam's here to see you."

Bartlet cracked one eye open and glanced at the clock
on the nightstand,three thirty five. Whatever it was
it had to be bad. "Send him in,Charlie."

"Sorry to wake you, Sir."Seaborn stated grimly as he
stood at the foot of the bed. "But I wanted you to be
aware of this before the early press briefing."

Bartlet frowned at the tone of Sam's voice. "What's
going on?"

Sam leaned against the bed post. "Donna was murdered
around one this morning."

Jed sat straight up. "What?"

"The cops think she interupted a robbery."Seaborn
replied sadly as he rubbed a weary hand along the back
of his neck.

"Dear God...."Bartlet replied quietly as he leaned
forward. "Does Josh know?"

Sam nodded. "He swung by her place on his way home
from the airport."

Bartlet did a double take. "He found her?"

Sam shook his head. "No, he got there just as the
police started their investigation."

The President tossed off the covers and got out of bed
grabbing a nearby robe. "I'll contact her family."

"Thank you."Sam replied as he headed toward the door.

Bartlet's question halted him. "How's Josh doing?"

Sam turned back to face his boss. "I've never seen him
like this.....it's almost like he's shut down."

"Keep an eye on him."Bartlet replied quietly.
"Something like this can shatter a man's soul."

********

It was nearly noon by the time Josh got to work the
next day. Sam had let him crash on his couch so he
wouldn't have had to go home and face
an empty apartment. Sam had called him around seven to
check in and tell him that he didn't have to be in to
work for a few days but Josh had gone stircrazy
sitting there watching tv. He had to keep busy otherwise his mind kept playing
these awful possiblities of what Donna had gone
through.

As Josh passed by the communications bullpen on the
way to his office he heard the buzz of activity come
to a dead halt. He could feel everyone's
gaze but he ignored them as he walked into his office.
Josh knew if he turned and looked into the familiar
bullpen he'd break down.....Donna's desk was
there....her things....

Josh shut the door firmly behind him and walked toward
his desk. Once seated he stared blankly at the stack
of files and unanswered mail.

There was a knock on his door but Josh ignored it not
looking up from the pile of paperwork. His gaze
traveled to the left of his desk as he spotted a message slip in Donna's handwriting....

Sam opened the door and stepped into the office
closing the door behind.

"Josh....we can cover things here. Go home."

Josh gaze never left the message slip. "I couldn't sit
still any longer,Sam, I had to do something."

"Okay."Seaborn replied quietly as he stood in front of
the desk.

Josh finally looked at his friend as he remembered
something. "I-I should contact Donna's family...."

Sam shook his head. "The President's taken care of
that."