Sam tentatively knocked on the Chief of Staff's office
door around two o'clock. After hearing a muffled reply
Seaborn stepped into the room.

Leo was muttering at his computer which obviously
wasn't doing what he wanted it to do.

"Leo?"Sam prompted as he came to stand in front of the
older man's desk,file in hand.

"Yeah?"McGarry replied distractedly.

"You realize what bill is next up?"Sam asked quietly.

"The gun safety act."Leo replied not looking up from
the computer screen. "Josh and Toby have been working
on that for weeks."

"Exactly."Sam stated as he placed the file on Leo's
desk. "We've gotta take Josh off of it."

McGarry finally met the younger man's gaze. "I'd think
if anything it'd help him deal with it. Make him feel
like he was doing something."

Sam shook his head. "I think it'd have the opposite
effect. He already blames himself for her death...."

Leo nodded sadly. "Tell Toby that you're taking over.
Want me to tell Josh?"

Seaborn shook his head as he walked toward the door.
"I'll do it."

********

C.J. paused outside of Josh's closed office door not
sure if she should disturb him. Everyone in the West
Wing was reeling from Donna's death
but C.J. knew that Josh was the hardest hit. She could
only imagine what he was feeling.

Making up her mind C.J. raised her hand and knocked
twice. After a long moment Josh's muffled 'Come in'
could be heard.

As she stepped into the small room C.J.'s heart broke.
Her friend was pale with large dark circles under his
eyes, his clothes rumpled as if he had slept in them.

"Josh....."The Press Secretary began softly as she
came to stand in front of his desk.

Lyman didn't look up from the pile of paperwork. "I'm
fine, C.J.."

C.J. didn't buy it for a minute. "You sure?"

Josh met her gaze as he set the pen down. "I should've
brought her on the England trip."

"Josh, there's no way you could've known."Cregg
replied quietly as she leaned on the left corner of
the desk.

Lyman felt the tears start to well up again and
angrily blinked them away as he stood. "I've been to
her apartment, C.J.. I knew what neighborhood it was
in. I knew she had to have a roommate to make ends
meet...."

C.J. moved to stand next to him. "Josh, listen to me.
There's no way you could've prevented this horrible
crime. Even if you had taken her to London this jerk
could've been waiting when she came home."

Lyman sat heavily down on his desk as he met his
friend's gaze not being able to keep the tears back
any longer. "I miss her."He replied in a
tortured whisper.

C.J. nodded as she drew him into a comforting embrace.
"I know, Josh. We all do."