Chapter 10: Designated Driver

Married for 3 months and 2 week

End of August

Ainsley was about six weeks pregnant and was experiencing all of the common symptoms that came with expecting. The nausea and fatigue had kept her from coming into work on time. Because she missed so many hours of work, she had to stay extra late on the Friday night the senior staff was planning on going out for drinks. About an hour after the staff left for the bar, Ainsley met Sam at his office ready to go.

"Did you get enough done?" asked Sam.

Ainsley sighed. "Enough for today."

Sam closed his office and they began to walk. "So what excuse are you going to use to get out of drinking?"

"How about I'm the designated driver?" The Seaborns had to decided to keep the pregnancy a secret until the doctor told them that the baby was healthy and their chances of having a miscarriage decreased.

"I don't know if you talked to CJ today, but I think she is thinks something is up. Ouch!"

"Watch out for the curb, Sam. If CJ has a question, she can ask us. We're married, have a house, and haven't been in the gossip columns for a long time. I don't think we'll have a big problem with the press."

Sam nodded his head to show that he agreed. "But what are we going to say once your fake bug passes?"

"We have about a week to think of something new." Ainsley reached for Sam's hand as they walked through the abandoned parking lot. "That reminds me, in two weeks we have a doctor's appointment. It's at seven at night."

"You're going to have to remind me when the date comes near."

"I know. I can't believe my forgetful husband is going to be a dad," teased Ainsley.

"I still can't believe I'm married to a Republican." The two walked in silence. "So how's the Spud doing in there?"

"Just fine." The couple found their car and Ainsley leaned up against it.

"Is he growing strong? Is he going to be the greatest football player who ever lived?"

"So it's a boy? 'Cause I had my hopes on an adorable girl that would chase all the boys around the playground. And when she turned 15, she would give her daddy such a headache because she would still be chasing the boys."

Sam put his hand on her stomach. "We're having a boy. I can feel it." And before Ainsley could say something, Sam kissed her.

Josh was the first to see Sam and Ainsley enter the bar. He raised his beer and said, "Hey! You made it!"

Sam looked at Donna. "Are you watching his beer intake?"

Donna nodded her head. "That one is beer number two."

The couple sat down at the table. "What do you guys want?" asked CJ.

"I'll stick with water tonight," replied Ainsley.

CJ looked at Ainsley. "You came to the bar and you are just going to have water? I'm telling you Ainsley, a few beers will clear up the bug of yours."

Sam butted into the conversation. "She can't have any alcohol," he said being cautious of his wife and baby.

"I've been selected designated driver. And Sam here," she patted his arm, "doesn't want me to have anything that could impair my vision or reaction. What would you like, Sam?"

"A beer is good."

CJ said, "You should let Sam be the designated driver once in awhile."

"I've been designated driver plenty of times."

"When was the last time you were designated driver?" inquired CJ.

"Drop it CJ before people start thinking you are their mother," said Toby, who just wanted to enjoy his drink without any bickering around him.

CJ tried to defend herself. "I just think it is unfair for Sam to drink when Ainsley isn't allowed to."

Meanwhile, during the whole designated driver conversation, Donna and Josh were off talking about their own personal life on their side of the table. "Are you drunk?" asked Donna. "Quick, name all of the Bartlet daughters from oldest to youngest."

Josh closed his eyes really tight to think. "Liz, Ellie, and Zoey."

"Okay, you passed."

"I always pass," replied Josh.

"No you don't, but since you aren't drunk and might not do anything stupid, do you think we should tell them?"

"What?"

"Do you think we should tell them?"

"Donna, I know I'm not drunk, but I don't understand who 'them' is and what we have to tell?"

"Tell everyone tonight that we are dating."

"Yeah, except if we told them we were dating, that would be a lie because we haven't been on a date yet," said Josh smugly.

Donna sighed. "Are you going to ask me on a date or is this relationship going in a different direction that I didn't see coming?"

Josh took another sip of his drink. "I thought we were going to play it safe for awhile."

"It's been three months!" said Donna, trying to keep her voice down. "I mean- I thought-"

"Donna Moss, would you like to go on a date with me?" interrupted Josh.

Donna bashfully smiled, but tried to look upset. "I hate it when you act mean and then pull something like this."

"Is that a 'no'?"

"A date sounds nice," said Donna sweetly.

"Tomorrow?"

"We have work tomorrow," reminded Donna.

"Whose idea was it to work on Saturday?"

"Since when have we not worked on a Saturday?"

Josh and Donna were quietly squabbling at their corner of the table until Toby finally noticed them. "What are you two fighting about?"

Josh and Donna looked like they were caught stealing cookies. The whole table looked at them. "Nothing," said Josh casually.

Donna said, "We were just having a healthy debate."

"Come on, what were you talking about?" pushed Sam.

"Nothing," replied Josh. Donna kicked him under the table, which caused Josh to look at Donna and whisper, "No."

Now CJ was interested. "Spit it out!"

Donna kicked Josh again. He looked at his friends and then to Donna. While still looking at her, he said, "Okay. Donna and I are going to go on a date."

Ainsley and CJ cheered while Sam and Toby were just dumbfounded. "For some reason, I shouldn't be surprised," grumbled Toby.

Sam was taken aback. "When did… What… How did I…" He turned to CJ. "You aren't upset?"

CJ just laughed at Sam. "No. Donna talked to me the other day and I gave them permission."

Ainsley was delightfully squealing and her pitch was an octave or two higher than normal. "I'm so happy for you two!"

Sam looked at Ainsley. "You knew, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Sam was starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. "And Josh thought I knew so he tried to hide the fact that he was seeing Donna by telling me he was getting lunch by himself."

"I thought you knew!" assumed Josh.

Toby said, "Well I had no idea any of this was going on, but I'm telling you this, don't give us any trouble."

"I'm just glad that everything is out in the open now," said Donna.

The staff continued to sit around and chitchat. Before long, Ainsley pointed to her watch and said. "It's almost out bedtime."

CJ looked at Sam. "You only had one beer. Ainsley, you could have gotten drunk tonight."

"CJ," began Sam, "I promise Ainsley will get drunk and I'll be the designated driver the next time. Besides, we both have work tomorrow and I don't think it would look very good if we came in with hangovers."

That answer seemed to satisfy CJ enough to let the two leave. Once out of the bar and in the car, Sam said, "That was a close one."

"I think in the best interest of our kid, we should stay away from CJ and bars until she-or he- is born."