"No kidding," Bonnie said. "It's empty."

"It is?"

Josh tried to diffuse some of the tension. "You've got great investigative skills there, Bonnie. I hear there's an opening at the CIA."

She turned her glare to him. "For your information, Josh, I wasn't like I was rummaging through his medicine cabinet. It was sitting on the bathroom sink."

"Did you find the towels okay?" Sam asked quickly.

"Forget the stupid towels, Sam! Your prescription ran out nearly a week ago! Why haven't you refilled it?"

"I've been busy!" Sam protested.

"Busy?! You've been..." She swallowed hard in an effort to control her emotions. "You haven't taken your meds in nearly a week, you go out drinking with the guys, --"

"Hey, Donna was there," Josh interrupted.

Bonnie ignored him and continued. "And with the level of stress you've been under lately, you were just asking for a seizure. You were lucky it happened in your office, with people who knew what to do. What if you were walking down the street or driving your car? You could have been killed someone or been killed yourself! Don't you know how stupid that was?" She brushed away a tear that slipped down her cheek.

"I know," Sam replied sincerely. "It was stupid. I'm sorry, Bonnie. I really am."

"No, I'm sorry that I yelled at you. It's just that.."

"What?"

"Nothing. It's nothing." She turned to head back to the bathroom.

Josh jumped up and grabbed her arm. "Bonnie, what's wrong? I mean, I know seeing Sam have a seizure would freak anybody out, but there's more to this isn't there?"

She sighed softly. She looked up at Josh then at Sam. Both men could see the tears in her eyes. "My brother nearly died because he forgot to take his meds. One day he went swimming and had a seizure in the pool. No one knew he had epilepsy. His friends thought he was goofing around. Fortunately, there was a lifeguard around who pulled him out in time."

"Wow," Josh whispered.

"He's okay. And he's a lot more careful." She patted Josh's hand and he let her go. She went and sat next to Sam on the couch and Josh resumed his place on the coffee table. "Sam, I know how demanding this job is, especially with Toby breathing down your neck. But you can't let your guard down. You've got to take care of yourself."

"Please tell me you're not going to be mother-henning me about this," Sam said with a small grin.

She slapped him playfully on the arm. "No, I won't be 'mother-henning' you. But if you let this happen again, I'm going to pull out the big guns. I'll call Mrs. Bartlet." She laughed at Sam's stricken expression. "I'm kidding, Sam! Now, about this." She held up the empty bottle.

"I called it in, but I forgot to pick it up," he said.

"Fine. I'll pick it up and drop it by after work."

Josh cleared his throat. He looked at Bonnie. "What are you gonna tell Toby?"

At that moment, the phone rang. Sam glanced over at his Caller ID. "Speak of the devil," he said.

He reached over for the phone, but Bonnie took it from him. "Let me handle him," she whispered. She picked up the line and said, "Sam Seaborn's residence."

"Bonnie? Where's Sam?" Toby asked gruffly.

"He's resting."

"Resting?"

"Yeah, you know, resting. As in not doing anything, regaining his strength, recuperating." She heard him sigh. In the background she could hear the consistent thumping of one of his pink rubber balls against the wall. Finally, he said, "Is he okay?"

She cast a glance in Sam's direction. "Yeah. He'll be fine. Whatever it was in his system seems to be passing through. He should be fine by Monday."

"Yeah, well..." There was more thumping. "Tell Sam he should've stayed home in the first place. And tell Josh to get his ass back here ASAP. We've got staff in twenty."

"I'll relay the messages. See you at the office."

"Bonnie?"

"Yes, Toby?"

"Tell Sam...oh hell, just tell him he'd better have those recommendations done first thing Monday." She heard a click on the other end and she chuckled. "Toby sends his warmest wishes for your speedy recovery." Sam and Josh joined in her laughter.

Josh sobered quickly. "Seriously Sam. I know we talked about this once before, but don't you think you should tell --"

Sam cut him off. "No. This stays between us."

"But why?" Bonnie asked.

"Because it's none of their business, that's why!" he snapped. He was instantly contrite. "I'm sorry. It's just that...you wouldn't understand."

"Try me," she replied.

"When I started having seizures, I lost a lot of my friends. They started treating me like some kind of freak. So I didn't tell anybody. I worked hard, studied hard and eventually people began to treat me like a normal person. I don't want people looking at me and seeing the word 'epilepsy' written across my forehead. I've worked too hard just to be respected for who I am and what I can do. I don't want anyone questioning my abilities to do my job."

"I understand all that, Sam," Bonnie said. "but Toby, CJ, Leo – they're your friends. And so am I."

"She's right, Sam," Josh chimed in. "I'm your friend and I don't even think about the epilepsy. When I came to get you in New York, I knew what you were capable of. And it didn't matter to me if you had epilepsy. And you can bet it doesn't matter to the President."

"It matters to me," Sam said. "That's all that counts. I don't want anyone else to know."

"Fine," Bonnie said. "Your secret's safe with me."

"What about Donna and Ginger?"

"We work at the White House. You think we don't know how to keep secrets?"

"Thanks Bonnie," Sam said. "Thanks for, you know, everything."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You're welcome." She turned to Josh. "Let's go and let him get some rest. You've got staff in fifteen," she said, checking her watch.

Josh looked at his friend, clearly torn. "You sure you'll be okay?"

Sam nodded. "I'll be fine. I'll probably crash in a little while."

Josh nodded, satisfied with the response. "I'll stop by after work and we can do pizza."

"Sounds good."

They were almost out the door when Bonnie turned back to him. "Sam, epilepsy isn't something you have to hide. You should tell your friends. They do care about you. We all do."

"I know. Thanks." He smiled at his friends and watched them leave. He picked up his sandwich, grabbed the remote and settled back on the couch.