You Can't Always Get What You Want

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to West Wing, Hamilton, or the Rolling Stones.

Context: On The Day Before

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Sam and Ainsley interlocked their fingers as they strolled through the Lobby. "How'd it go wi' Buckland an' the Estate Tax Repeal?"

"As for Buckland, ... I dunno, 'cause I haven't talked to Josh yet. … As for the other thing, …. we jus' baarre-ly … got enough votes-tuh sustain."

"Very nice, Honey." Ainsley kissed his cheek.

"Even though we're tryin' to veto the Estate Tax Repeal?" He gasped. "What would the Gipper say?"

"Ha ha, … very funny." Ainsley side-eye glared at him as Toby passed through the Lobby. "I meant it as show a strength from the Office of the President."

"Can you explain to me why Republicans, who oppose handouts, are against the Estate Tax?" Toby interrupted.

"Fair." Ainsley said.

"Need I remind you, Oliver Wendell Holmes, a Republican, said-" Toby continued.

" 'Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.' " Ainsley finished his sentence.

"Taxes that fund the Military." Toby added.

"I'm not arguin' against all taxes, but they've already paid many, many taxes. Property taxes, Capital Gains, Corporate taxes, Payroll taxes, Income taxes, ... an' we want 'em to pay the Death tax too?"

"But these people're ... loaded!" Toby said.

"So because someone's loaded, they should be levied?" Ainsley asked.

"How about we spend millions of dollars on tax breaks … on people ... who, ….. you know, …. don't have ... millions of dollars?" Toby said.

"What 'bout the family that's forced to sell their farm that they've had for generations because they can't afford the Estate Tax? What happens to that family's livelihood and all of their employees?"

C.J. entered the Lobby as Josh followed her. "Sam, Toby. The President wants us in the Oval in 5."

"I'm gonna head out." Ainsley kissed Sam.

"Love you, I'll see ya tomorrow."

"Love you too." Ainsley replied.

XXXXXXX

Sam's POV

Sam tossed his tuxedo onto Bonnie's desk in the Bullpen. "How'd it go wi' Buckland?"

Josh leaned on Toby's office doorway. "He wants a seat at the table."

"How's-"

Josh cut him off. "Hey, didya let your girlfriend-"

"Y'know, she doesn't need a permission slip from me, right?" Sam slouched in Bonnie's chair. "A little thing called 'feminism'."

"And yet... her party would like ta dismantle feminism." Josh sulked. "Anyway, she set Donna up with some rich, Ivy League pretty boy."

"We're rich, Ivy League pretty boys." Sam reminded him.

"I'm notta rich, Ivy League pretty boy." Josh protested.

"You're not?" Sam grabbed a soda from the cooler.

"No, I'm a handsome, well-educated man-"

Sam opened his soda can. "Who went all the way up the Ivy League pipeline, from elite prep schools … tuh Harvard, … and then Yale Law while you summered at the family's vacation house on the Cape."

"I still don't like 'im." Josh grumbled. Sam looked at Josh. "Hey, don't gimme that look."

"What look?" Sam sipped his soda.

"I'm not jealous." Josh insisted.

"Jealous of whom?" Sam asked.

Josh grimaced. "Of Cliff."

'You tell yourself that.' "Okay."

"Seriously, … Sam, …. I'm not jealous of Cliff at all." Josh claimed.

"I never said you were." Sam assured him. 'But you are.' "But be happy for her. Cliff's a good guy, he'll treat 'er right."

"But he's a Republican." Josh grumbled.

Sam chuckled. "So? Ainsley's a Republican."

"Yeah, but-"

"Yeah, but what, ... Josh?" Sam challenged. "I'd watch my words veer-ry … carefully if I were you."

"But now he's a Republican who's been transferred to House Government Oversight." Josh said.

"Oh." Sam raised his forehead and eyebrows. "That's too bad. He'd be good for Donna."

" 'Oh' is right." Josh said.