"Are you sure?" Donna asked.

Bonnie nodded. "I'm sure. I'm also pretty sure he didn't want anyone to know about it. I don't think Kathy even knew."

"I'll bet Josh knows," Donna said.

"If he does, he's probably the only one on the staff – except for us – that knows about it," Bonnie said.

"So how did you find out about it?" Ginger asked.

Bonnie was about to answer when Sam's phone rang. She reached over and picked it up. "Sam Seaborn's office. Oh, hi Leo," Bonnie said. "Sam?" Her face twisted up. "Uh...he's sick. One too many drinks with the guys, I guess." She listened then said, "Yeah, Leo. I agree. He usually holds his liquor much better than Josh." She punched Donna in the arm to keep from laughing out loud. "Must have been some night." She crossed her fingers and silently prayed for forgiveness. "He's lying down in Toby's office right now. Leo, he looks awful. I really think I should take him home. Yeah, I'll tell him." She hung up the phone and turned to her friends. "Leo wanted to go over the pardon recommendations with Sam. But he's okay with Sam working from home today."

"That's good because he's in no condition to do anything," Ginger said.

Donna spoke up. "So how do we keep this from everyone? I mean CJ will be here in a while to get prepped for her briefing and Josh and Toby will be here in a few hours."

Bonnie thought for a minute, then said, "Sam can sleep in Toby's office for a couple of hours. I'll take him home before Toby gets here. As for the others, well I think it's safe to tell Josh what happened, if he asks," Bonnie replied.

"What about CJ and Toby?" Ginger asked.

"Tell them the same story we told Leo," Bonnie said.

10:30 a.m.

Ginger went into Sam's office to gather up his belongings, including his laptop, glasses and jacket. She also gathered the files on the pardon recommendations he had been working on and piled everything into a box. Then she called one of the guards to get Sam's car brought around to the south portico. In the meantime, Bonnie went into Toby's office to wake Sam up. He was still groggy, but he was coherent enough to understand that she was going to take him home to rest. She and Donna helped him to his feet. He still wasn't coordinated enough to walk unassisted, so they helped him out to his car. After they got him settled in the passenger's seat, Bonnie climbed in the driver's side and pulled out.

By the time Josh arrived, word had sufficiently spread about Sam's bout with a 'thing', although most suspected he was nursing a really bad hangover. Judging from Josh's semi-comatose state, the latter was easily believed.

Stumbling into his office, Josh collapsed into his chair, his face hidden behind his hands. Donna came in, her expression wickedly cheerful. "GOOD MOOOR-NINNNG!" Donna called out in a high-pitched sing-song voice.

Josh groaned loudly. "Oh for heaven's sake, Donna! Could you not be so damn loud! And bring me coffee, please," he moaned.

"I could be quieter," Donna said, "but what would be the fun in that? And to answer your question – not a chance."

"Donna please," he whined. "I'm begging you. In the name of all that's pure and holy, please, please, PLEASE bring me a cup of coffee."

"You're so cute when you beg," Donna said with a grin.

"DON-NA! OW!"

"JO-OSH!"

At that moment, CJ chose to enter the office. "Sadly enough, I know twelve year olds that can drink you under the table," she said.

"He has a delicate system," Donna said.

"I do not!" Josh yelled. "Stop telling people that!" He grabbed the sides of his head. "Ow, ow, ow."

"Three beers," Donna mock-whispered as she headed out the door.

CJ snickered. "Pobrecito. What can I do for you, mi amor?"

Josh looked at her queerly. "Didn't you mix two languages there?"

"I'm good with tongues," CJ replied. Noting his lopsided grin, CJ said, "Don't go there, Billy Madison." She turned to go but stopped at the door and looked back at him. "Leo wants to see us around noon. I ordered Thai food," she said grinning.

Josh groaned. "You tell Sam and Toby?"

"No can do. Toby hasn't arrived and Sam went home sick."

Josh stopped massaging his temples and looked at her. "Sam was here? He got sick? When? What happened?"

"I don't know. Carol said he looked terrible. Bonnie drove him home. You college boys really shouldn't drink if you can't hold your liquor."

"Very funny. Hey, do me a favor and bring me a cup of coffee. Please CJ?"

"Well, I would. But then you went and made fun of my lingual prowess. So you're out of luck." She turned on her heel and left.

Donna returned carrying a mug of coffee and set it on his desk. "Here, you big baby. Stop whining."

Josh accepted it gratefully. After a couple of sips, he asked, "What happened to Sam?"

"Sam? What did you hear?" she asked nervously.

He squinted at her. "CJ said he went home sick." He looked down at the mug in his hands. "You brought me coffee," he mumbled. He looked up at her. "What happened to Sam?"

"Nothing," Donna replied a bit too quickly.

Now Josh sat up straight. "In all the years we've known each other, you've only brought me coffee once, and that was when...I'm not getting fired, am I?"

"Well, Leo did mention something about your drinking," she said with a laugh. At Josh's stricken expression, she added, "I'm kidding, Josh!"

"Oh," he replied. He eyed her warily. "Sam's not getting fired, is he?"

"Oh for pity's sake, Josh! This is exactly why I never bring you coffee!"

"Then tell me what happened to Sam."

"It was nothing!" Donna exclaimed. "He got sick and Bonnie took him home, that's all."

He set the coffee on the desk and stood up. "What was 'nothing'?"

"What?"

"You said 'it was nothing'." What was 'nothing'?" When she ducked her head, he said, "Donna, what was 'nothing'? What happened to Sam?"

The blonde woman sighed, then looked up at her boss. "Sam had a seizure."

Josh grabbed his keys and bolted out of the office. "Tell Leo I'll be back," he called over his shoulder.