A/N: At the beginning of Take This Sabbath Day, Sam had plans to go sailing the following day. First Josh told him, "Sam, just stay in the boat this time, and I'm a happy guy," and later Leo said, "Hang onto a rope or something, would you?" I had that in mind when I included a conversation in Getting through the Twilight with CJ scolding him for not keeping his cell phone in his pocket while he's sailing. Ecri suggested that, if I hadn't already written the story of what happened, I should. I thought about it and, well, here's Chapter 1.

It was, Josh decided as he returned from a late lunch, one of the quietest Saturdays he could remember in the West Wing — in the White House, if the small crowd waiting patiently in the rain for the tour was any indication. With the President and First Lady spending the weekend at Camp David, both Sam and CJ had opted to take the day off. Sam had gone sailing on Chesapeake Bay with some friends and CJ planned on shopping and a manicure. Josh had come in hoping to finish a few things and leave, but one thing had led to another, and here he was four hours later. He glanced at his watch and promised himself that, in another hour, he would be out the door.

"Leo wants you in his office," Donna announced as he passed her desk.

"Did he say for what?"

"No, Margaret called —"

"She didn't say what he wanted?"

"No, she —"

"She didn't know, or she didn't say?" he asked, ducking into his office.

She followed him, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed as he weighed what he should take with him. "Josh, has it ever occurred to you that you'd find out that much sooner if you'd just stop asking questions I can't answer and get to Leo's office?"

He smirked at her. "Yeah, but it wouldn't be half as much fun."

"Well, I'm so happy I can spend my Saturday entertaining you."

"You coming?" Toby demanded from the hallway.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way." Grabbing a pad and the top three folders from the pile, he started to follow Toby, but stopped in the doorway, Donna nearly walking into him.

"Look, why don't you take off? Go shopping or something."

"You're not going to need me?"

"Nope."

"I'm not going to get a call in an hour telling me to come back?"

"After I see Leo, I'm taking off, too." He shook his head at the doubt on her face. "Donna, go! I'll see you on Monday." Hurrying to catch up with Toby, he asked, "You know what this is about?"

"No, and I was about ten seconds from walking out the door when I got the call."

"Yeah, I'm going to be out of here in an hour."

Margaret looked up as they approached, her expression serious. "He's waiting for you." Her phone rang, and she grabbed it. "Leo McGarry's office. Hold on, I'll transfer you in, Commander."

Josh looked at Toby who shrugged. "We'll know when we know."

Leo was on the phone when they walked in, barely glancing at them as he listened and scribbled on a pad. Josh dropped into one of the chairs as Toby sat down on the couch. They waited as Leo asked a few terse questions about the weather and then hung up.

"What's —" Josh started.

"Hold on," Leo said before yelling, "Margaret!"

She appeared in the doorway almost immediately.

"Did you get a hold of CJ?"

"She's on her way in. When do you want to call —"

"Give me five minutes, okay?"

"Leo, what's goin' on?" Josh demanded as she left.

"Here's the thing: the Coast Guard got a radio message an hour ago —"

"Sam," Toby mumbled, and Josh's stomach clenched.

Leo frowned. "Yeah. A squall blew up, and the boat Sam was on got caught in the middle of it."

"'The boat Sam was on'," Josh repeated. "He..." He swallowed and tried again, his voice thin. "He's… not on it any more?"

"There was an accident, and he was knocked overboard." Leo glanced at his notes. "The Coast Guard doesn't have any details yet. The boat radioed for help as soon as it happened."

"They didn't stop?" Josh demanded.

"Damn it, Josh, it's not like they have brakes on those things! They turned around — or whatever the hell it is they do — as soon as they could."

Toby cleared his throat. "The Coast Guard's on the way?"

"They dispatched a boat, and it just arrived. They know approximately where he went in, so both boats are looking for him, but the water's still pretty rough."

"Are they sure it's our Sam?" CJ asked from the doorway, her face pale.

"Yeah, they're certain."

She came in and sat beside Toby, so close their shoulders touched.

"I'm talking to Commander McManus of the Coast Guard, and he's on the radio to both boats. He also has a Medevac helicopter standing by." Leo leaned back in his chair. "Look, I know we're all worried, but we have jobs to do. As soon as I have news, I'll update you."

Toby made a few notes on his pad. "Does the President know?"

"I've already spoken to him and convinced him to stay at Camp David. The Coast Guard really doesn't need their Commander-in-Chief looking over their shoulders while they do this."

"Sam was really looking forward to this weekend," CJ murmured.

Leo took off his glasses and tossed them onto his desk. "Let's all remember he has a lot of experience on boats. He practically grew up on a sailboat."

"He knows what to do," Josh added, forcing himself to sound positive. "I mean, he's taught sailing, for God's sake."

The phone rang, and they all flinched at the sound. Leo reached for it, his face grim. "Leo McGarry. No, Mr. President, there's been no more news."

Josh released the breath he had been holding and took another deeper one, trying to calm down. Come on, Sam. Just hang on.

"I should... write something," Toby muttered, getting to his feet. His hand shook slightly as he closed his memo pad and put it in his shirt pocket. He looked at CJ. "Are you going to change?"

She looked at her jeans and nodded. "I've got a suit in my office."

"And I'll —" Josh began to stand up, but dropped back into the chair when Leo pointed at it. "— sit here." He dropped his head into his hands. Every ounce of him wanted to be out there, looking for Sam. It was ridiculous and he knew it, but anyone who expected him to wait patiently for news did not know him.

Leo hung up as Toby and CJ left. He looked at Josh, his sharp eyes missing nothing. "You okay?"

Josh shrugged. Was he? Was anyone? He had known Sam the longest, had brought him into the campaign. Toby and Sam worked together every day, defining and refining the President's message, sometimes at the top of their lungs. CJ looked on Sam as friend, younger brother and, occasionally, verbal sparring partner.

"The President wants to send someone —"

He was on his feet before Leo finished the sentence.

"Sit down, will ya?"

"But —"

"I don't need you running off half-cocked, Josh. The only reason I'm letting you anywhere near those people is that Margaret checked and you're listed as Sam's emergency contact." Leo shook his head. "God knows what he was thinking."

Josh studied his hands. "He decided that, you know, with his parents across the country, he might need somebody here making decisions if he, uh, couldn't." He looked at Leo. "The instructions he gave me are in my office. I've gotta take them with me."

Margaret appeared in the doorway, her eyes darting from one to the other. "Leo, there's a helicopter waiting."

Leo blinked. "A helicopter?"

"The President ordered it." She glanced down at her pad. "Do you want me to make that call now?"

"Yeah, do that," Leo agreed before returning his attention to Josh. "I don't want you charging in there like a bull in a china shop, do you hear me? These people are professionals; they know what they're doing."

He raked his hand through his hair. "I know, I know."

Jotting down a number on a piece of paper, Leo held it out. "The President wants a status report every fifteen minutes. If he has any questions, you will get the answers in the most diplomatic way possible. Is that understood?"

Slipping the paper into his wallet, Josh nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Y'know what your mother would say if she were here right now?" Leo asked. "'Don't go —'"

"— 'borrowing trouble,'" Josh finished. "Yeah, I'll try to remember that. Has anybody called Sam's parents?"

"That's the call Margaret's making. Damn! I hoped I'd have some news for them."

"Oh, I think you have enough right now," Josh said under his breath as he walked to the door. He knew David and Kate Seaborn. This would not be an easy conversation on either side.