For a Scooby Snack?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to West Wing, Hamilton, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, or Scooby Doo.

This takes place in the context of The Manchester Part 1.

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*bbrRRIINNNNGGG…. bbrRRIINNNNGGG….* Ainsley's phone rang. "I have Ms. Cregg calling for you from Air Force One." The Air Force One Communications Service Officer informed her. "I have Ms. Hayes for you, Ms. Cregg. Go ahead."

*BEEEEEPPPP*.

"Hey, Ainsley." C.J. said.

"Oh hi! How's Sam hangin' in there?" Ainsley asked.

"Well, if anyone asks, the speech is almost done everyone's getting along great." C.J. spoke of the campaign strategists that Leo brought in.

"In other words, Toby and Sam want to throw Doug out the window." Ainsley said.

"Yeah."

"An' how are you hangin' there, C.J.?" Ainsley asked.

"Like I wanna hide in a hole."

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Ainsley comforted C.J. "Should I come up there, for moral support? Do you think that'll help?"

"That'd probably be a good idea, or at least talk him down when we're done talking." C.J. concurred. "But I was actually calling you 'cause I have a legal question for you."

"Oh." Ainsley said.

"The FDA's signing off on RU-486 on Monday." CJ said.

"Monday as in …. this Monday?" Ainsley inquired.

"Yeah."

"I wouldn't get within spittin' distance of that if I were you." Ainsley warned.

C.J scrunched her brow. "Huh?"

"It means that y'all don't want anything to do with that." Ainsley explained.

"Oh, then yea, that's what I think." C.J. agreed. "I told the reporter that I could get in trouble for even knowing that information, but the source insists that I'll be fine because it's 'non-proprietary information from a non-governmental source.' Is that true?"

"Yes, technically, you're allowed to know. Just don't do anything 'bout it. …. So they're announcing on Monday?" Ainsley asked.

"Yup." CJ said.

"The Monday that y'all are launching the campaign on?"

"Yeah." C.J. confirmed.

"Josh's goin' to be pissed." Ainsley said.

"Oh, he's already pissed."

"But nonetheless, right now's a time when y'all don't want any doubts regarding the legality of this administration's campaign practices." Ainsley reiterated.

"Josh says it'll look like the campaign screwed up." CJ said.

"If anyone says that, you just tell 'em that the Bartlet Administration respected the Constitution's restrictions on the Executive Branch. And tell Josh that the White House respecting the Constitution far outweighs our ability to control the news cycle, both for ethics and optics." Ainsley said. "Sam's havin' a hissy fit, you said?"

"Yeah. He screamed 'This thing reads like an Andy Williams special. We're starting all over again with a white piece of paper!' before he threw the papers in the air and stormed off."

"Oh, Good Lord, Sam. Always a flair for the melodrama and hyperbole. But what can I say, I love that man with all my heart. Can I talk to 'im, when he has a moment?" Ainsley asked.

"Sure. One sec, he just walked in." C.J. turned to Sam. "Sam, Ainsley's on the phone an' wants to talk to you." She handed Sam the phone and then stepped out of the room.

"Hey, Babe."

"Hey. How're you hangin' in there? Is Doug still in one piece?" Ainsley asked.

"Just barely. Depends on if Toby can bribe the Air Force One staff to let him throw Doug out the emergency exit door." Sam said.

"Sam." Ainsley said.

"Kidding." Sam said.

"Hmm. Are you goin' to at least try to mend the fences and work with 'im?"

"Yes. … I'll try." Sam grumbled. "I miss you. I mean I know I got on the plane an hour ago, but-"

"Yeah. I miss you, too." Ainsley said. "Should I come up, you know, for the campaign launch this weekend? … At the very least I can keep you from beating up Doug… I can beat you up if I need to, y'know."

"I have no doubt about that." Sam smiled.

"So…. it's okay wi' you if I come up?" Ainsley asked.

"Yes, I'd love that. …. I miss you."

"I miss you too, Babe." Ainsley smiled.

"Hey, Toby's calling for me to get back to work on the speech." Sam said.

"Promise to play nice?" Ainsley asked.

"For a Scooby Snack?" Sam asked.

"An' if you're a very good boy, I'll do you one better than a Scooby Snack." Ainsley said.

"Ainsley Hayes," Sam gasped. "are you talking dirty to me while I'm on Air Force One?"

"Sam…"

"You naughty-"

"Sam. The speech." Ainsley reminded him.

"Yeah. Okay, I'm done now. I'll call you tonight when we get to the hotel." Sam said.

"I love you." Ainsley said.

"I love you, too." They hung up the phones.