Series: Snapshots of the Past
Series: Snapshots of the Past
Story: Changes
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this story belong to NBC, WB, and Aaron Sorkin. We're just borrowing them for some fun :)
Story Summary: The next two stories in this series will depict how the Bartlets adjust to a new era in their lives. In Changes, Jed and Abbey get a lesson in dirty politics when Jed's rival targets Abbey; when Leo falls off the wagon once again, Jed stops his game of denial and, along with Abbey and Jenny, finally intervenes
Author's Note: Thanks to Skye, Kalia, Lesley, and Kara for their suggestions, advice, and/or inspiration for portions of this story
Feedback is always appreciated!
By the fall of 1984, despite cultural and political changes that rippled through the country, Ronald Reagan was as popular as ever in his reelection bid for President against Democrat Walter Mondale and his running mate, Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to run for Vice-president on a major party ticket. Researchers claimed to have isolated the virus that caused AIDS after the deaths of more than four thousand Americans. Ghostbusters was a summer hit at the movies, Madonna was big on the pop music charts, and television viewers prepared for the series premiere of Miami Vice.
In early September, inside an old warehouse on the fringes of a strip mall on Elm Street in downtown Manchester, Jed Bartlet posters hung on the walls behind the candidate himself. It was the night of the 1984 New Hampshire congressional primary and amid the party decorations and the scores of campaign staff, contributors, volunteers, interns, and supporters, Jed stood with a crowd of journalists, reminding them that though he had gone through a crash course in political campaigning over the past few months, he was still in for the fight of his life.
"The is far from over. After these balloons come down tonight, it's back to work until we celebrate another victory on November 6th."
To the left side of one of the cameramen, Larry Tilton nodded to his candidate, signaling Jed to wrap up the interview. In addition to being deputy campaign director, Larry was Jed's chief speechwriter throughout primary season and by now, he had learned that Jed was a man of many words and there was only one way to pry him from a crowd eager to hear him speak - tell him that Abbey was waiting.
As the reporters filtered out, Larry ushered Jed out of the room. "That was perfect."
"What happened to nothing's ever perfect?" Jed teased.
"Tonight, everything's perfect."
"My wife will be the judge of that. Where is she?"
"She's in the field office, thrilled with our victory no doubt."
"She showed me just how thrilled she was at 11:33 on the dot, the precise moment that Johnson conceded." Jed was grinning from ear to ear, remembering the deep, passionate kiss that touched his lips before he even had a chance to hang up the phone. "Tell me someone got a picture of that."
"Since the press wasn't in your suite, I think it's safe to say, they didn't." Larry didn't have to glance over to know Jed was disappointed. "Don't worry. I'm sure you and Abbey will give them plenty of opportunities over the next seven weeks. She's awfully photogenic. The press loves her."
"Why wouldn't they? The woman's got an IQ of 150. She's sophisticated, articulate, and she looks like a million bucks every single day of her life."
"I still don't know how you got her to marry you."
"I'm not above bribes." Jed smirked.
"Keep your voice down! Taken out of context, you'll destroy your campaign before it even starts."
"Relax. We won. I don't think it's unreasonable to take a little break before we talk politics again."
Larry led him through a couple of double doors to a more intimate room where only campaign staff were permitted. "Yeah, right. Don't get cocky, Jed. You won the primary by three points. Latest polls have you down in the general by 17."
"Latest polls? When did anyone have time to poll?"
"We polled last week. If you were to win, what would your chances be against Elliot Roush?"
"And he wins by 17 points?"
"That's right."
"Any chance Roush isn't the Republican nominee?"
"Not in this lifetime. No concession yet and it's not official, but he's already bagged enough votes and latest wire reports say the Union Leader is calling it."
Jed made a beeline for Abbey when he saw her standing in the bullpen. "Thank God you're here. These people won't leave me alone."
"You love every minute of it." Abbey gave him a peck on the lip.
"Not when there's trouble."
"Trouble?" Abbey asked Larry.
"Yes, Ma'am. I was just explaining to Jed that he's going to have to step up his game if he expects to win in November."
"Step up my game?" Jed scoffed. "I've been practically living on the campaign trail for the past month. My youngest daughter has forgotten what I look like and has to count on family photographs to remind her. I've spent a fortune on ads and media buys..."
"None of which has been your money. It's all come from contributors...and we're running low. We need a new list."
"For crying out loud, Larry. I've given you dozens of lists."
"We need more. We've tapped out all our donors. Now that you've won the primary, we'll get a lot from the national party, but I'm afraid we might need more to win in November."
"Here we go."
"Write down every person you've ever known, every organization you've ever donated to, anyone who you think might donate to your campaign. I'm talking prep school classmates, college roommates, old professors, anyone and everyone. We need it...that's the only way to beat Roush."
"Roush is independently wealthy," Abbey chimed in. "Surely Jed's got a chance without all that money."
"It's been my experience the person who runs out of money first is usually on the losing side of election day."
"Without exception?"
"There are always exceptions, Abbey, but I don't think it's worth the risk."
"So what else are you suggesting?" Jed asked.
"Out-of-state fundraising events. We'll travel across the New England at the very least."
"Why in the world would people in Vermont donate to my campaign in New Hampshire?"
"Because in the House of Representatives, every vote counts to every citizen in this country and keeping a man like Elliot Roush from voting is appealing to some of our neighbors in Vermont. Not to mention, every effort to keep the Democratic majority in the House is in every Democrat's best interest."
"Okay. So I give you yet another list and we hop on board a bus to these fundraising events. If we do all this, you think we'll be set?"
"We might be. We'll see what comes of it."
Derek Reynolds stood behind the threesome. As Jed's campaign director, it was Derek's job to lay out the agenda, but personality conflicts had weakened his relationship with Jed and often, he delegated his duties to Larry.
Leaning against a desk in the field office, Derek scribbled furiously onto a yellow note pad, then hung up the phone and joined the group. "It's official. Elliot Roush just won by a landslide."
"And so it begins," Jed replied.
"Did Larry tell you about the multi-state tour?"
"Tour? Wait a minute. He said fundraising events. He didn't mention a tour."
"A tour of appearances. Don't worry, scheduling has an itinerary. We start right away."
"Not this week."
"Jed, we're losing valuable time."
"I don't care, Derek. Last week was Labor Day weekend. I promised my girls if they put up with me spending so much time on the campaign over the summer, we'd all go camping on Labor Day weekend, but you told me it would be political suicide to do such a thing a week before the primary."
"It would have been."
"All right. I listened and I'm glad I did because you were right. But now the campaign is over and I'm not backing out of my promise to my family."
"Postpone it for another weekend."
"I already postponed it for this weekend."
"Postpone it again."
"It's one lousy weekend! Friday through Sunday, that's all."
"That's a whole weekend of appearances wiped out..."
"Even if I wanted to postpone it, Derek, I can't. I've got my old friend from Chicago and his family flying down on Thursday. It's set. We're going camping. This is going to have to wait until Monday."
"Jed..." Abbey muttered softly. "You and I are supposed to meet with Zoey's preschool teacher Monday morning."
"Oh, right. So we'll start on Monday afternoon."
"You're taking Liz to get her license after school."
"Damn, that's Monday?" Abbey nodded. "Say, Derek...you wanna get me excited about this multi-state tour and whatever else you've got planned? Have Larry here write me a speech to propose new legislation raising the driving age to twenty-five."
"Yeah, I'll get right on it." Derek's sarcastic rebuttal as he turned away, dulled Jed's smile immediately.
"What in the world is his problem?"
"He doesn't like losing," Larry said flatly. "He thinks you're a long shot, Jed."
"Then I'll tell him to get out."
"You can't."
"Why the hell not?"
"Because it's a presidential election year. You need a campaign director and at this point in the game, anyone worth having is already taken. You need Derek just as much as he needs you."
"You'll have to remind me sometime why in the world I hired him."
"You're a masochist and he's not above bribes?" Larry joked.
A cool September breeze ruffled the gauzy curtains in Jed and Abbey's bedroom early the next morning. Abbey slept on her side with Jed directly behind her. His leg was thrown over hers and his arm draped around her waist, meeting her hand right at her belly. Though they were both starting to stir, neither wanted to disturb the comfort of the others embrace, so they stayed like that, quiet and motionless until the piercing sound of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" jerked them violently from their position.
"For God's sake!" Jed bellowed as he tried to recover from the jolt.
"I'll take care of it."
Still groggy, Abbey stood up to slip her nude form into her silk robe before making her way down the hall to Lizzie's room. Her eldest daughter was sixteen now and a summer of working as a waitress at Friendly's and a weekend party planner had made her a bit more independent. Of course, with that independence, that Bartlet stubborn streak of hers was even more apparent.
"Elizabeth?" Abbey knocked, but received no response. "Elizabeth?" She opened the door and peeked inside to see Liz dancing around her room. "ELIZABETH?"
Lizzie spun around. "MOM! What are you doing?"
"Turn your music down!"
Liz turned the knob on her tape player. "Why didn't you knock?"
"I did. If your music wasn't so loud..."
"Sorry. It's the only way I can wake myself up."
"You did a good job of waking us all up."
"I'll keep it down next time."
"Thank you."
Seeing Abbey turn to leave, Liz stepped in front of her. "Mom, may I drive to school this morning?"
"I don't know, Lizzie."
"Come on! Why did you bother to let me get my restricted license if you weren't going to let me use it? I'm taking my test next week. How am I supposed to pass if you won't ever let me drive?"
"We let you drive."
"Hardly ever, unless it's a driving lesson. I need to drive so I can practice what you taught me. Otherwise, I'll fail my test." She cocked her eyebrow and accused suspiciously, "Unless...that's part of your plan to keep me off the road for another year."
"Believe me, Baby Doll, if your father and I didn't want you to get your license, we'd be a lot more creative about it."
"Tell Dad he can't change the driving age." She knew her father too well.
"Smart girl." Abbey smiled. "Now get ready and I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast."
"I'm driving!" Liz called after her as Abbey left.
"We'll see," Abbey shouted back.
Smiling, Lizzie ejected her Cyndi Lauper tape and replaced it with Madonna's "Material Girl."
Walking into the kitchen, Jed hesitated as he saw Abbey standing at the stove scrambled some eggs. She was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a blue sweater that fell down one shoulder. With her hair pulled up into a clip, the soft smooth skin of her neck was exposed for his touch. He tiptoed behind her and without any warning, he left a trail of tender kisses from the flesh of her shoulder all the way up to her hairline.
"One of these days, I'm going to burn breakfast," she said as she closed her eyes at the first feel of his lips on her skin.
"One of these days, maybe I'll care if you burn breakfast."
"Jed?"
"Yeah?"
Abbey stepped out of his hold and released the clip from her hair. "What do you see?"
"I see a beautiful head of hair."
"What color hair?"
"Auburn. Is this a trick question?"
"Specifically."
"Specifically, it's brown with red highlights, making it a beautiful shade of dark auburn. Abbey, what the hell?"
"In that nest of brown and red, I found a gray strand this morning. Can you believe it? I'm in my 30s and already, I have gray hair." He chuckled. "JED! It's not funny."
"ONE gray hair, Abbey. Big deal."
"I'm getting old. And so are you."
"Hey, feel free to fret over yourself, but don't drag me into it. I'm not the one going gray."
"This is you being supportive?"
"No, this is me being amused," Jed replied. "Abbey, you look like you're twenty years old. So what if one single gray hair is tangled in your gorgeous mane?"
"I don't like it. It gives me the creeps..." Abbey paused when she heard a familiar girlish giggle echoing through the door of the corner pantry. She knew that giggle. She recognized the squeaky pitch, the light, playful tone. She turned a glance to her husband and he nodded in agreement.
Jed headed for the pantry, opening the door too swiftly for the little monster inside to have a chance to react before the light hit her face. "AHA!"
As he hoisted her into the air, Zoey looked at her father with a look of innocence she knew would melt his heart. "I was playing."
"Eavesdropping," Abbey corrected her youngest daughter. "What have we told you about eavesdropping, young lady?"
"To do it to Lizzie and Ellie and tell Daddy all about it."
Jed tried to hide the four-year-old's smile by pulling her into a tight hug against his chest. Over Zoey's light strawberry hair, he whispered to Abbey, "I have no idea where she gets these things."
Abbey knew better. She shook her head disapprovingly and turned to scoop the eggs out of the skillet. "Karma's a dangerous thing, Jethro."
"Not as dangerous as our three daughters conspiring together."
"They do not conspire."
"HA! You're so naive."
"Speaking of the girls, you wanna get them down here? We're going to be late."
"We're here, Mom," Lizzie said as she and Ellie turned the corner to head to the kitchen table. Liz wore a hot pink tanktop under a black lace sweater. Her skirt crept up just above her knee and sleek black leggings covered her legs. "What's up?"
Jed took a look at her get-up. She had teased and tamed her long chestnut hair behind a hot pink headband. The tips of her fingers peeked through a pair of fishnet gloves and a chain of beads hung around her neck. "What are you wearing?"
"Isn't it cool?"
"Elizabeth, what in the world are you wearing?" he asked again.
"It's my Material Girl outfit...my own version of it. I didn't want to look EXACTLY like everyone else, but I think I'm close enough."
"Please enlighten me because no one else in this house is wearing what you're wearing."
"We're living in a material world, Dad..."
"And you are a material girl. Spare me."
"You asked. Anyway, I like it."
Jed looked to Abbey for support. "You're not going to let her wear that to school, are you?" Abbey didn't respond right away. "Abbey? Are you?"
"She's not showing any skin and she's not wearing anything her friends aren't wearing."
"Abbey!"
"Jed, we agreed that if Lizzie worked this summer, the money would be hers to do what she wanted as long it was inside the scope of our rules."
"When we said that, I assumed she wanted to save up for a car." Lizzie reached across the table to hand her father a small note. Jed stared at it blankly. "What's this?"
"That's how much I earned this summer. You said you'd match it to buy a car."
"This is what you made? How did you make so much?"
"I know you didn't think I would make enough for a car, but I worked really hard and I saved all my money." She looked down at her outfit. "Well, most of my money."
"I like your clothes, Lizzie," Zoey offered.
"Me too!" Ellie added. "Will you tease my hair tomorrow?"
"Great," Jed grumbled. "Ellie, I love your hair exactly the way it is."
"I wanna look like Madonna."
He cringed at that name. "Madonna is a fad. She'll be gone before the end of next year."
"No she won't," Liz sneered. "She's huge. She'll be around forever. Won't she, Mom?"
Surrendering the conversation, Abbey put her hands up. "I'm staying out of this one."
"Chicken," Jed mumbled.
"Well, I think she'll be around forever," Liz repeated. "And I like my outfit."
"Me too," Ellie replied.
"Me too," Zoey added.
Seeing that he was outnumbered, Jed addressed Abbey once more. "Would you say something to your daughter please? She looks like a bag child."
"Short of dressing her myself, I'm not sure what you want me to do."
"Dressing her yourself might not be a bad idea."
"Dad, I'm sixteen! I know how to pick out my own clothes and as long as it's not too sexy, I don't know why you care."
"Because this isn't the Elizabeth I know. What happened to wearing normal, respectable clothes? This..." he pointed to her gloves. "This is the reason people toss around the phrase school uniforms."
"Don't bring up school uniforms. The idea is disgraceful and you know it."
"I know no such thing."
"You hate school uniforms, Dad. It takes away an individual's right to free expression. It clouds their individuality and undermines their choices, forcing them to conform to what school board members mandate is conducive to an appropriate learning environment."
"You're going to sit there in that outfit and talk to me about individuality?"
"Yes!" She took a sip of her juice.
Jed had to admit he was impressed by her strategy of quoting his words. He had given her the speech on school uniforms before and he had outlined his reasons for voting against the proposal in the state house. He just didn't realize that Liz had listened so attentively.
"Look, Lizzie, you're level-headed, smart, responsible...I just don't know why you want..."
As the sound of the doorbell rang through the house, Liz pushed out her seat. "I'll get it!"
"Because what I had to say wasn't important or anything," Jed finished.
Abbey laughed at his pout, then turned her attention to Ellie. "Hey, go get your homework if you want me to check it before I leave."
"Okay. Wanna help me get my books, Zo?"
"Yeah!" Zoey jumped from her seat and followed Ellie upstairs.
Still laughing, Abbey put a hand on Jed's shoulder. "It'll pass. She'll abandon the Material Girl thing soon enough."
"When she gets back, you explain to her the absurdity of arguing for individuality while she's sitting there dressed like thousands of other girls."
"I will."
"I'm not kidding, Abbey. I need you to step in from time to time. Otherwise, these girls...they're going to send me to an early grave."
"Spoken like the father of every teenage girl in America. Luck for you, you'll only have to go through this three times."
Jed shook his head. "It's Lizzie. She's the ringleader. All we have to do is control her and the other two will fall into step." Abbey laughed louder, provoking his stare. "You think I'm kidding."
"No, I don't. That's what makes it hilarious."
"Let's see how hilarious you think it is when you find your second gray hair." Abbey gave him an incredulous stare of her own. "Don't look at me like that. You'd still be gray-free if it wasn't for our daughters."
Liz gingerly approached her parents. "Mom, it's for you. It's some guy. It sounds important."
Abbey stood to walk out of the kitchen. "Jed?" He looked up from his plate. "You really think I look twenty?"
It took him a moment to remember his comment while she was cooking, but when he did, he rose to his feet to accompany her to the front door. "You look hotter than twenty, Babe."
On the front stoop, a man held an envelope in his hand and when Abbey opened the door, he turned to face her. "Dr. Abigail Bartlet?"
"Yes?" Abbey cautiously took the envelope he handed her as Jed watched him leave.
"What is it, Abbey?"
After skimming it, Abbey looked up at her husband. "I'm being sued for malpractice."
TBC