Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to West Wing or the characters (I only own John, Kat, Kim, Cindy, Stephanie, and the snakes). I also don't own anything related to Lost in Space (the inspiration for the title). By the way, I made some edits in the previous chapters. Among these edits includes a typo in She's One of Us regarding the National Debt.
Ainsley's POV
Sam stood against Ainsley's office doorway in his long-sleeved polo and his windbreaker as he watched Ainsley work. "Hey, beautiful." He smiled at the sight of her wearing his Princeton sweatshirt.
Ainsley's face lit up at the sound of his voice. "Hey, handsome stranger! You're back! You must be so tired." She stood up to hug and kiss him.
"Hmmm… I missed that." Sam smiled, his lips pressed to her hair and his arms wrapped her.
"You, Josh, and Toby didn't do much kissin' in Helsinki?" Ainsley asked.
"Nah, just cuddling." Sam said. "How was your day?"
"It was good! I went to church, had a great Krav Maga class, and got Chinese. Right now, I'm just gettin' some work done." Ainsley said.
"Ah, so you're mastering even more ways to kick my ass?" Sam smiled.
Ainsley laughed. "I'd only use it if you needed it, Honey. How was your day? Was there anything on the menu that wasn't moose?" She sauntered over to her desk to remove her identification card from her computer.
"Mushrooms and salad." Sam nodded off.
"So not much for you to eat." Ainsley put away her files.
"Yeah." Sam stepped towards Ainsley to present her with a burnt pine box. "By the way, I got you a present."
Ainsley lit up. "You did?" Her delicate fingers touched the Lapland ribbon hinges and then opened up the box. Ainsley's jaw dropped at the sight of the Green Onyx and white pearl necklace and earrings, both set in solid gold.
Sam bit his lower lip. "You like it?"
"Oh yes, Sam. They're beautiful." Ainsley kissed him, her fingers in his hair and his hands at the small of her back. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. I got these 'cause they matched your eyes." Sam said.
"They're lovely." Ainsley put on the earrings and then handed the necklace to Sam. "Could you do the clasp?" She stood with her back to Sam.
"Hey, listen. Something strange happened." He draped the necklace around her dainty neck.
"Yeah?" Ainsley said.
"I received an unmarked package with an opposition spot and no return address." Sam fixed the clasp.
'I reckon Kevin sent it.' "An opposition spot wiith no return address?" Ainsley turned around.
"Oh that looks perfect." Sam said "Yea. I wanna talk-ta Kevin."
"Kevin Kahn?" Ainsley grabbed her purse.
"Yeah." Sam said as they stepped out of her office .
"Heavens, no." She closed the door.
"Why not?" Sam took her hand in his.
"I have a bad feelin' about this, like you're bein' led down the garden path." Ainsley said.
"What d'ya mean?" Sam asked.
"Now I know he's a friend of yours, but… I wouldn't be shocked if he sent that. " Ainsley said.
"He's my friend." Sam said.
"Darlin', I know. Y'all have been friends since Princeton, which is how he knows that you're as honest as the day is long." Ainsley said.
"Yeah, which is why I'm trying to do the honest thing." Sam said.
"Danger, Will Robinson! I know you're Mr. Honesty. I've seen the banner. But this is the type of honesty that'll get you snowed." Ainsley said.
"Isn't there only one kind of honesty?" Sam kissed her knuckles.
"Sam…" ' Pleasedon't do this.' Ainsley gave him a look. "Have you talked to anyone else about this?"
"Josh and CJ." Sam said. "Josh wants to talk to your office and we're meeting with Bruno."
"Y'all should definitely talk to Bruno." Ainsley said. "You know I'm just sayin' this 'cause I love you, right?"
"Yes. And I love you, too." Sam squeezed her hand as they approached the parking garage.
XXXXXX
The next morning, Sam slouched with his hands in his pockets as he breathed in the musty fumes of the White House basement. Ominous background music played as he watched the attack ad with Toby, Bruno, CJ, and Ainsley for the third time that morning. "Throwing mud to cover up his failure, refusing to sign a clean campaign pledge so he won't have to defend his broken promises. … Jed Bartlet - what's he hiding from us now?" Bruno stopped scratching his forehead to click pause.
CJ held a disposable styrofoam cup. "No 'paid for by' tagline." She said as Bruno rested his jaw on the fist that held the remote with his elbow on the table.
Toby fiddled with his fingers as he leaned forward. "We've looked at it three times now."
Bruno sighed. "If I wanted to sink the Bartlet campaign, this is exactly the ad I'd run."
"In May?" Toby asked.
"No." Bruno lowered his hand as he gestured. "But I would show it to the other side to let them know what happens if they hit me first. Every campaign has one in the drawer."
"We didn't." CJ said.
"Yes, we did." Sam and Toby said as CJ looked at them in surprise.
Bruno rest his jaw on his hand with his elbow. "Honor, truth, … morality." He gestured with his hand. "It's an ad about MS." Josh entered and closed the door behind him as CJ sipped her coffee.
Toby glanced at Josh. "Do we make up a counter or do we keep it inna drawer?"
"I'll take care of it." Bruno said.
"That's fine, but what about-" Sam said.
Bruno gestured to the TV as he addressed Josh. "Didya see this?"
"I saw it last night." Josh turned to Ainsley. "Whaddya think, Ainsley?" Josh asked.
"I can't speak for Babish, but I don't think it was stolen. I'd just leave it alone." Ainsley gave Sam a look.
'Babe, you know how I feel about this.' Sam thought.
"You think it goes to the FBI?" Bruno asked Josh.
Josh gestured with his hand that held his disposable coffee cup, a black file folder in the other. "If this was stolen, I don't want Sam to end up like the girlfriend of an indicted Senator."
"D'you have any reason to believe it was stolen?" CJ asked Sam.
"No." Sam said.
CJ turned to Josh. "How can he be an accomplice to a crime he had no reason to believe occurred?"
Josh creased his forehead. "You wanna find out?"
"No." CJ said.
"We shouldn't go to the FBI, yet." Sam said.
"More than likely it's multi-jurisdictional, the thing probably crossed state-" Toby said.
Sam shook his head. "No, I'm saying we shouldn't go to law enforcement. It's gonna seem like … we're … trying to suck the FBI into investigating Ritchie, ... and the FBI works for us." Sam raised his eyebrows.
"He's got a point." CJ said.
"Agreed. It's illegal to weaponize the FBI to investigate political opponents, so that would definitely backfire." Ainsley said.
"Plus we're all tainted." Sam shrugged.
"Just stick it inna drawer an' forget it." Bruno stood up.
Sam looked down and scrunched his brows. "No."
"What're you suggesting?" Josh asked.
Sam looked up at Josh. "... I sit down with Kevin Kahn."
"No." Josh shook his head.
"No." Toby said.
"Sam, no." Ainsley said.
"Bruno?" Sam asked.
Bruno looked up from searching for files. "I'm sorry?"
"What d'you think 'bout I sit down with Kevin Kahn?" Sam asked.
"Oh." Bruno returned to the box of files. "No."
"Sam…" Ainsley started.
"He's a friend of mine." Sam said.
Bruno looked up. "I don't care if he did your bris. I don't trust Kevin Kahn, and I don't know what this is yet."
"What is the danger? What is the danger, where is the danger in my sitting down with Kevin and saying someone sent this to us? If it's you, we've got our own inna drawer. If it's someone else, you've got a mole and we don't want anything to do with it. How do we lose, in court, in public, in the voting booth?" Sam asked.
"Sam, I think it's retaliation for the Open Mike." Ainsley said.
'Okay... you've got a point... but y'know what? So what if it is?' Sam looked at Ainsley for a moment. "And so what if it is? That doesn't mean Kevin's out to get us with an attack ad."
"That's exactly what it means." CJ said.
"There are only two things here." Bruno stepped forward. "Either someone's trying to hurt us, … or somebody's trying to help us. … Jus' so ya know." He sat down.
"… Would ya talk to Leo?" Sam asked.
Bruno looked at Sam. "…Yeah."
"I have a meeting." Toby said.
Bruno turned to Toby. "Apologize for the skyboxes."
"They weren't that bad." Toby stood up.
"I was there." Bruno turned to CJ. "How was Helsinki?"
"Good. Good. I accidentally ate a moose." CJ said.
Bruno stared at her for a moment. "Let me look at this again, okay?"
XXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
Ainsley's heels clicked through White House lobby as she and Sam held hands. "Who's gonna be there tonight?"
"Harriet, John, Stephanie, Paul, Cindy, and Kat." Ainsley said.
"And what time do we need to be there?" Sam asked.
"7:15 at Old Ebbitt." Ainsley's work clothes were draped over her arm.
Sam checked his watch as they passed the pillars. "Oh….. It's 7:05 now. Sorry for holding us up."
Ainsley waved it off. "It's okay. I let Steph know that we might run a little late."
Sam smiled. "Okay good." He lifted Ainsley's hand to kiss her knuckles. "So Kevin called."
Ainsley's large green eyes widened. "He did."
Sam nodded. "Uh-huh. We had lunch today."
"You had lunch." Ainsley said.
Sam held the door for Ainsley. "Yeah. Oh, and I apologized for the thing, but he said not to worry 'bout it."
"He did." Ainsley took a deep breath as they stepped into the humid evening air.
"And I'll tell you what else, he said that they all laughed about it." Sam said as they walked down the stairs. 'See? Nothing to worry about.'
Ainsley sighed. "Hon-ey… Of course he said that they all laughed about it."
"He also said that he wants us to be emissaries." Sam said as they stepped onto the sidewalk.
"He wants you to be emissaries." Ainsley's jersey knit, pink floral wrap dress and cream trench coat floated in the soft breeze.
"Yeah. I think it's a good idea." Sam said.
"Please,... tell me you didn't give 'im the tape. Lord, have mercy, please … tell me … you didn't give 'im the tape." Ainsley held her breath.
"I gave 'im the tape." Sam said.
Ainsley dropped his hand. "You gave 'im the tape."
"Yeah, I gave 'im the tape." Sam said.
Ainsley sighed. "Sam, he snowed you."
"You're just like him. You're cut from the same cloth. An' I love you an' I trust you. So why can't you see that I want to do the same for Kevin?" Sam asked as they reached the parking lot.
Ainsley's jaw dropped. "Excuse …me?... I have your back."
"I know you do, but so does he!" Sam raised his voice.
Ainsley's eyes rounded. "I reckon he doesn't, but I'll apologize if I'm wrong."
"He's not a bad guy. Don't you think Kevin and I getting lunch or coffee together once a month could help smooth things over? We could have a genuine dialogue." Sam said. 'I'd have thought that you of all people'd love that idea.'
Ainsley sighed. "Sam, why didn't you listen to the people who have your back?"
"So I'm just supposed to just do what everyone tells me to do, even if I disagree?" Sam's face grew hot.
"No, of course not, … but Sam…. your duty is to protect the President." Ainsley said.
Sam's heart sank. "I don't like disappointing you!"
Ainsley softened her voice. "You didn't disappoint me."
"It feels like I disappointed you." Sam said. 'And it feels awful.'
Ainsley bit her lower lip. "You didn't. .. I just… I don't want you to get bit."
Sam raised his eyebrows and creased his forehead. "You think I'm gonna get bit?"
Ainsley nodded. "I hope I'm wrong, but I reckon that I'm not."
Sam checked his watch. "Ainse, it's 7:15. We'd better get going."
"Listen, Sam… I reckon that I should go alone-" Ainsley said.
'Oh, shit.' Sam's face fell. "I'm-"
Ainsley reached out to touch Sam's forearm. "No, Sweetheart, it's okay. I just think we both need to cool off and we can talk about it later."
Sam bit his lip. "We're okay though, right?"
"Yes, we're okay." Ainsley kissed his cheek as she held his cheek in her hand.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley walked through the gold metal revolving doors before she approached the host stand in the restaurant lobby filled with cherry wood . "I'm meetin' a party under the name-"
Ainsley's friends waved from the long bar. "Ainsley!"
"Oh, I see them!" Ainsley walked towards them. "Hey! Sorry I'm late!" She stood underneath the ceiling mural framed in cherry wood.
"No Sam tonight?" John's arm was around Harriet.
"He got held up at work. Senior Staff got called to the Oval at the last minute." Ainsley said.
"Ah, that's too bad. He's always a kick." Harriet's forearm rested on the cherry wood bar as she sat on the barstool next to John.
"Paul's working tonight too. So is Bruce." Stephanie said.
John sighed. "Looks like I'm gonna be outnumbered tonight."
Stephanie's oval face smiled. "Sooo… I've been waiting for you to get here to share the news, bbbuuutttt …." She showed her engagement ring to the group. Excitement exploded amongst Ainsley, Stephanie, Harriet, Cindy, and Kat as John stood by.
A hostess appeared with menus in hand. "Stephanie, party of 7."
"When did this happen?!" Ainsley asked.
Stephanie smiled as she turned pink with excitement. "Last week." They slid into the jade velvet booth, with Ainsley in the seat closest to the outside.
Cindy examined Stephanie's ring. "Paul did good."
"Well it's about damn time. You've been dating, what, for 4 years now!" Kat said.
Stephanie's blue eyes sparkled. "We wanted to wait until we started our careers. With me getting promoted to Communications Director at the Independent Women's Forum recently and him getting a great job in the cardiac care unit at G.W., he's been waiting for the perfect moment."
"Which was….?" Ainsley asked.
Steph swooned. "A romantic picnic and then a walk through the National Arboretum where we had our first date." She let out a giggle.
"That does sound perfect!" Harriet said.
"And I was wondering if the four of you would be my bridesmaids." Stephanie said.
They all said "Absolutely!" and "Of course I'll be your bridesmaid!" at the same time.
Their waitress appeared. "May I take your drink orders?"
"French Havana for me please. A plate of mussels as well as Crab and Artichoke dip." Ainsley said and the waitress continued to take everyone's orders. Just then, she stiffened but maintained a fake smile as Kevin entered the restaurant with his friends.
"Ainsley?" Cindy pulled her black eyebrows up and together.
"Hmm?" Ainsley asked.
"Is everything okay?" Cindy asked.
Ainsley faked a yawn. "Yeah. Just tired."
"Ainsley." Cindy said.
"Seriously, I'm fine. I just got ridden hard an' put away wet." Ainsley said.
"I know that face. Everything is not fine." Cindy said.
'And it could get a lot worse if I tell y'all.' "Don't worry about me. It's fine." Ainsley said.
"Ainsley." Cindy said.
'Okay, fine.' Ainsley sighed. "Okay, but you've gotta promise me you won't do anything."
Kat raised her voice and her eyebrows. "Ainsley, what the hell-"
"Promise me that you won't do anything." Ainsley said.
"Okay, we promise." Everyone except Kat agreed.
Ainsley looked at Kat. "Kat?"
"Okay, fine. I promise." Kat grumbled.
"Okay, now don't look, but do you see the guy sitting at my 10 o'clock?" Ainsley asked.
Her friends glanced at Kevin without turning their heads. "The scrawny one? Brown hair?" John asked.
"Yea. Well, he's one of Sam's old 'friends' from Princeton and he works for Ritchie. Sam thinks that he has his back-" Ainsley said.
John furrowed his brows. "Wait, did something happen to make you suspicious?"
"Yes, but I can't give any details. All I can say is it's as if someone in the Ritchie camp knows just how honest Sam is and set the perfect trap for him." Ainsley said.
"Bastard. Can I put snakes in his car?" Kat asked.
'And that's why I wasn't goIn' to tell y'all.' Ainsley turned to Kat. "When I said 'Don't do anything', I meant don't put snakes in his car." She saw Kevin walking towards their table out of the corner of her eye. "Change the subject, quick. He's comin' over."
"Have you set a date?" Cindy asked Stephanie.
"Not yet, but we're thinking next May or early June." Steph said.
"Where are -" Harriet started.
Kevin arrived at their table with a fake smile. "Hey Ainsley!"
"Hi Kevin!" Ainsley introduced Kevin to her friends in a sweet tone. "These are my friends Kat, John, Harriet, Cindy, and Stephanie. Guys, this is Sam's friend from Princeton, Kevin. He works for Ritchie." She turned to Kevin. "How're you doin'?"
Kevin's downturned bug eyes bore into Ainsley's as he firmly put his hand over Ainsley's. She immediately removed her hand in response. "Great! It's funny I should run into you. I just had a great lunch with Sam today. In fact, he said you're a great asset to the campaign." His upper lip curled.
"I'm sure he did. Just like he told you what he thinks about the campaign?" Ainsley asked.
Kevin let out a nervous laugh. "Well… yeah, of course. So how're you doing?"
"We're actually here celebrating Steph's engagement." Ainsley gestured to Stephanie.
Kevin addressed Stephanie. "Oh, well congratulations!" He turned back "Ainsley, it was great seeing you, but I have to get back to my group. Kim and I would love to go on a double date with you and Sam some time."
"That sounds great. You'll call?" Ainsley asked.
"Yeah." Kevin said.
"See you then!" Ainsley said as Kevin walked away, her fake smile fading.
"Please let me put snakes in his car." Katherine said.
"How would you even get the snakes, to say nothin' of findin' his car? … You know what? I don't wanna know." Ainsley said.
"I'll help." Harriet said.
"No." Ainsley said.
"How does Sam not see him for who he is?" Kat asked.
Ainsley smiled. "Because he's Sam. He sees the best in everyone." She beamed.
"Look at that smile." Steph said. "I love how happy he makes you. When're you an' Sam getting engaged?"
Ainsley blushed as she pictured her walking down the aisle to Sam in tux and bow tie. "Well, we've talked about our future together, but we haven't talked about getting engaged just yet."
XXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
Sam pressed the buzzer with deep pink peonies and a bag with cookie dough cheesecake and ice cream in his other hand. "Hey Ainse. It's me. Can I come up?"
Ya, just one sec." Ainsley buzzed him in. He entered the apartment building, took the elevator to the fifth floor, turned the corner, and then knocked.
Ainsley open the door. "Hey, Darlin'." She kissed him. "You brought flowers and cheesecake?"
"Flowers, cookie dough cheesecake, and ice cream." Sam set the food down on the countertop.
"Flowers, cheesecake, and ice cream? You are the perfect man." Ainsley filled a blue and white vase with water and put the flowers in them. "I used to think it was Milton Freedman, but no. It's you."
Sam looked down. "Hey, about earlier-"
"It's al-'' Ainsley started.
"Nah, I was an ass." Sam said.
"You just see the best in people and you get protective of the people you care about. It's one of the reasons why I love you so much." Ainsley got out plates, fudge, bowls, and spoons.
"Oh, is that right?" Sam gave a soft smile.
Ainsley smiled back. "Yes." She kissed him.
"How was dinner?" Sam asked.
"Great! Steph's engaged and they were all sorry you couldn't be there." Ainsley scooped ice cream into the bowls, put the ice cream away, and microwaved the fudge before serving up the cheesecake.
Sam gazed at Ainsley with adoration as he imagined her in a wedding dress. "Steph's engaged? That's great! Paul's a great guy."
Ainsley put the cheesecake in the fridge. "How was your evening?" She took the fudge out of the microwave and put a dollop on each of their ice creams.
"Good! I played basketball with Charlie and then got some work done." Sam bit his lip. "About earlier-"
"Don't worry about it." Ainsley handed Sam his cheesecake and ice cream on their way to the leather couch.
"No, you were looking out for me and I was an asshole about it." Sam said as they sat down, Ainsley snuggled into Sam's side.
"Yes, you were. But I forgive you… Besides, you brought me flowers, cheesecake, and ice cream." Ainsley kissed him. They broke apart for a moment when Sam looked at her with intense adoration. "What?"
Sam beamed. "Oh, I'm just thinking about you…" He kissed her softly.
Ainsley raised her eyebrows. "You were thinking about me?"
He continued in between kisses. "Yes, you… a white dress…coming down the aisle on your dad's arm in some big church in North Carolina with all our friends and family there."
"Funny you should mention that, because earlier this evening, I was picturing myself walking down the aisle to you and how happy that makes me." Ainsley said. "When do you think we should get engaged?"
"After the election." Sam played with her hair.
"Can I have a hint?" Ainsley asked.
Sam laughed. "Absolutely not!" He kissed her cheek.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley's POV
Ainsley sat in Oliver Babish's office with its deep red walls. "Thank you, sir. I'll have that report to you by tomorrow." She stood up and walked to her office. She turned on the TV. "…refusing to sign a Clean Campaign pledge so he won't have to defend his broken promises." The attack ad played.
"Oh, no." She put down the documents and closed the door behind her. Once in the Communications Bullpen, she knocked on Sam's door. "Sam, it's me." The office door opened with Sam on the other side, who looked like a wounded puppy. "I came as soon as I heard." She stepped into his office and touched his forearm. "Honey, why don't we take a walk."
"Yeah." Sam grabbed his black coat and they left hand in hand for Lafayette Park.
They sat in silence on a bench near the statue of Lafayette with tulips and grape hyacinth blooming behind them. "Do you… wanna talk about it?"
Sam trembled as Ainsley held his hand. "He was my friend. … I just…. I dunno what to say….. I just can't believe I was so STUPID! How could I be so stupid, Ainse? Everyone tried to warn me, and I-"
Ainsley squeezed his hand as she pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "It's okay–"
"No, it's not. I need to say this." Sam said.
"Okay." Ainsley rubbed his forearm.
"How did I not see it? Of course it was a trap. I shoulda known…. With the Open Mike….. You tried to warn me…. How did I not see that they'd want revenge?"
Ainsley stroked his forearm. "Because he was your friend, and you, one of the most loyal people I've ever met, stand by your friends and me. You don't let ideological differences get in the way of that…. And Sweetheart, that's a good thing. You think that everyone's as honest and good as you are. It's one of the things that makes you so special."
Sam let out a hollow laugh. "Yeah, well look what it got me."
Ainsley stroked his hand. "Not for nothing, but it got me to fall in love with you."
Sam smiled. "I suppose that the one place it's paid off for me, huh?" He touched her cheek and kissed her before he took off his coat. "It's getting chilly. Take my coat."
Ainsley put on his coat. "I love you a bushel and a peck, Sweetheart. No matter what."
Sam gave her half smile. "A bushel and a peck, huh? I love you too, a bushel and a peck." He gave her a sweet, quick kiss.
After a few more moments, Ainsley broke the silence. "How're you feeling? Are you ready to go back?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah." They walked back hand in hand.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley's POV
"One slice of Everything pizza, one slice of Hawaiian pizza, and a Sprite, please. " Ainsley said as Carl rang her up.
Carl entered her order. "That'll be 10.95,... Your order number is 602."
Ainsley ran her card and then moved out the way for Donna. "Two slices of Pepperoni pizza and a coke please."
Carl rang her up. "Your total is 9.95, and your order is 603. Order 601 is up."
"I got your pizza, CJ!" Ainsley said as she and Donna walked to a table and sat down.
"Thanks." CJ sat down. "And I got your Cokes."
"Thanks." Donna and Ainsley said.
Donna examined Ainsley's jewelry. "Ainsley, where'd you get the earrings and the necklace?"
Ainsley smiled. "Aren't they lovely? Sam brought them back from Helsinki."
"Meanwhile Josh got me moose meat." Donna grumbled.
Ainsley gestured with her head towards CJ's bodyguard. "So how's it going with you and your silver fox?"
CJ's face turned deep red. "He's not my silver fox. More like my gnat."
Donna stifled a laugh."We've seen the way you look at him when you think no one's looking." She turned to Ainsley. "Can you pass the cheese?"
"Here you go." Ainsley handed it to her.
"Y'know he left my car with nothing but wiper fluid?" CJ said.
"A man who knows his way around cars? … oohhh la la." Ainsley waggled her eyebrows.
"I betcha that's not the only thing he knows his way around." Donna muttered with a laugh as her lips somewhat curled up.
"Did you not hear me?! He gutted my car!" CJ's volume escalated.
Ainsley laughed. "What're you talkin' about?"
"When we got back from Helsinki, I tried to lay down my ground rules, y'know to put 'im in his place-" CJ said.
"I'll bet you did." Donna stifled a laugh.
"With whips and handcuffs?" Ainsley asked.
"Would you both shut up? Anyway, … I told him to give me some space and to let me drive home, and then he tells me that he took pretty much everything except my wiper fluid."
"Why?" Ainsley asked.
"So I couldn't drive off on my own." CJ said.
Donna spoke in a high pitched voice. "Ah, he wants to protect you! He's your knight in shining armor."
"A knight who's shining armor you wanna rip off." Ainsley laughed.
"Oh, shuddup." CJ said.
"Hey, at least you've got a potential guy. And Ainsley, you've got Sam. Meanwhile, all I get moose meat that I have to pay 210 for." Donna grumbled.
CJ wore a bemused expression. "What?"
"Josh brought me back a case of moose sausage, so gave it to an intern. The intern put it up on eBay, so I had to pay 210 to get it off eBay. 210 for moose meat I didn't even want." Donna pouted.
The opposition spot news coverage played when CJ turned to Ainsley. "How's Sam been doing since the thing?"
"He seems to have calmed down a bit, but it's been nearly two days since it happened and he's still madder than a wet hen." Ainsley said.
"We all tried to warn him." CJ said.
Ainsley sighed. "Yeah, I know. But he's Sam."
"Yeah." CJ said.
"So I have to tell y'all somethin'. I was at dinner with some friends the other night, and … Kevin Kahn came up to our table. He acted like he was just bein' friendly and all, but … he tried to intimidate me." Ainsley said.
Donna's eyes popped. "What?"
CJ's eyes widened. "You didn't tell Sam, right?" She held her breath.
"Heavens, no. And I don't plan to." Ainsley said.
CJ breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, Thank God."
"He'd probably lose his ever-lovin' mind." Ainsley said.
Donna furrowed her brow. "What d'ya mean, he acted like he was being friendly, but he tried to intimidate you?"
"He got aggressive and he put his hand firmly over mine, but pretended like it was friendly." Ainsley said.
CJ's jaw dropped. "What the hell."
"Y'all will get a kick out of this. One of my friends, Kat, offered to put snakes in his car." Ainsley said.
CJ laughed. "You said no, right?"
"Oh, don't worry I made sure she won't do anythin'." Ainsley said.
"So there are good Republicans besides you." Donna said.
Ainsley smirked. "Oh, you're one to talk."
Donna blushed. "Oh, ha ha... How's he doing by the way?"
"He's doin' good. He's been seein' a girl who works for the Wall Street Journal. She's very nice, but… I don't think it's goin' to last." Ainsley said.
Donna quirked an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"He never lights up when he talks about her the way he did when talkin' about you." Ainsley said.
Donna's blush grew deeper. "Oh, stop."
"Where would she get the snakes? And how would she even find his car?" CJ laughed.
Ainsley laughed. "I've learned to let those questions go unanswered."
XXXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
Sam stewed in a blind rage as he sat in his car amidst the pouring rain outside. The keys jingled in his hands as he got out when he saw Kevin exit Dupont. He walked up to Kevin and put a hand on his shoulder from behind. "I can't believe you did that." Kevin turned around, his jaw squared. "I can't believe you did that!" Sam shoved Kevin.
Kevin tilted his head and scrunched his eyes. "Go to hell."
"What happened to...?" Sam bellowed.
"What happened with the open mic?" Kevin said.
"It was a mistake!" Sam shouted.
"Crap!" Kevin held a black umbrella.
"You said you laughed!" Sam yelled.
Kevin's forehead creased. "You think I laughed?"
"You said…" Sam started.
Kevin's eyes bulged. "YOU THINK I LAUGHED?!!"
"…So that's what this is about? The open... that's what this is ABOUT?!" Sam shouted.
Kevin's face looked as if a blood vessel were about to burst. "That was my candidate you made a punch line out of. Is it gonna happen again? I think it will."
"Yeah?" Sam asked.
Kevin nodded, his forehead creased. "Yeah."
Sam lowered his volume, his face clenched as he leaned forward. "…I think it will too." Sam turned around and walked away.
"I saw your little girlfriend the other night." Kevin smirked.
'What?' Sam turned around. "I'm sorry?"
"I said ... I saw your little girlfriend the other night, over at Old Ebbitt." Kevin said.
Sam stepped towards Kevin. "What the hell are ya talking 'bout?"
"I said … I saw… your little girlfriend at Old Ebbitt and I said hi. Y'know, … jus' to keep you in line." Kevin said.
Sam's face went slack with shock as he trembled with rage. "Excuse… me?"
Kevin's hands slung in his dress pant pockets. "You know, she definitely gets more attention for her pretty face than her brain. It'd be a shame if something were to happen to it."
'HA! As if you could take her in a fight.' Sam took a deep breath. "I'm warning you." 'Ainsley can kick your scrawny ass, Ainsley can kick your scrawny ass.'
"When you look like her, you don't have to be that bright." Kevin half shrugged.
Sam's jaw clenched as he took deep measured breaths. "Kevin…."
Kevin wore a smug expression. "Tell me, is she better in bed than she's on TV?"
Sam's fist shot at Kevin's nose like a canon and then he walked away. He called CJ and he rambled incoherently except for the phrase "I punched Kevin Kahn." He hung up and then flagged down a cab. Once en route to the White House, he left a similar message for Ainsley. The cab let Sam off at the White House security gate and Sam scanned his badge before he took the long walk up to the West Wing Lobby. He looked like a wet rat when entered the Lobby and scanned his badge at the security desk where CJ waited for him. Once inside, Leo shut the door and Sam and CJ both sat down.
"What the hell were you thinking, punching Kevin Kahn like that? All because you got played?" Leo shouted.
Sam's voice shook with fury as rainwater dripped onto the floor. "HE WENT AFTER AINSLEY, LEO! HE THREATENED HER AND STARTED TALKING CRAP ABOUT HER, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!" He bellowed.
Leo's eyes went wide as his jaw dropped. "Start from the beginning."
Sam took deep, calming breaths for a minute before he gave Leo and CJ a detailed account of what happened. By the end of it, Leo and CJ were stunned into shocked silence. "Is Ainsley alright?"
"I mean…. I haven't talked to her about it yet, but she didn't say anything about the other night, so I presume so. She may not look it, but she's tough. It'd take a lot more than that to get to her."
"Holy hell, I can't believe that this is what we're dealing with." Leo said.
"I'll have Bruno come in tomorrow." CJ said.
"For now, go home and get some sleep, Sam." Leo said.
"Thanks Leo." Sam and CJ exited Leo's office.
"Didya break his nose?" CJ asked.
Sam shrugged. "I dunno. I hope I did."
"I hope you did too. I just wish I got a turn. Goodnight." CJ said.
Sam gave a weak laugh. "G'night." He walked to Ainsley's office and knocked on her open door. "Hey, Ainse."
Ainsley rushed to his side, her eyes rounded. "Sam! Lord, have mercy, you're soaked. You're gonna catch a cold if you stay like that much longer. What happened? All I got from your message was something about punchin' Kevin."
"Yeah, but why don't we talk on our way out?" Sam asked.
Ainsley nodded as she took her identification badge out of her computer and grabbed her coat and purse. "Okay, we can do that." She closed the door behind her.
"So I went to confront Kevin about the ad. Now I know I shouldn't have gone, but I did. It got heated, but it was mostly just yelling at that point. I turned to walk away and then…" Sam trembled. "He brought you up."
"Oh, no."
He took a deep breath before he continued the story. He concluded with, "I know you'd win in a fight against Kevin …. and and and you can more than take care of yourself … I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have taken the bait, but-"
Ainsley squeezed his hand. "No, Sam. It's okay. I'm more concerned about you."
"About me?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. Are you in any trouble?" Ainsley asked.
"Nah, but I do have to come in tomorrow to discuss it with Leo, CJ, and Bruno." Sam said.
"And you know, for the record, I am incredible in bed." Ainsley said.
Sam laughed. "Oh I know that." He held her cheek as he kissed her before they got in Ainsley's car.
Ainsley spoke once they were inside Sam's apartment. "Honey, why don't you take a hot shower and get changed. I'll make some tea."
A little while later, Sam came out of his bathroom in dry clothes. He wrapped his arms around Ainsley from behind and pressed slow kisses to her creamy hair just as she spooned sugar into their teacups. Ainsley turned around to face him with her back to his black countertop and white cabinets. "Hey." She draped her arms around his neck. "Tea's ready. Why don't we go cuddle on the couch?"
He kissed her. "That sounds perfect." They took their teacups to Sam's living room where Ainsley snuggled into his side and Sam draped his throw blanket over the two of them. His arm was wrapped around her side as she played with his hair.
"I reckon we should talk about it." Ainsley said.
Sam furrowed his brows. "Hmm? Talk about what?"
"About Kevin comin' up to me at the restaurant, about me keepin' it from you." Ainsley said.
"Ainse, it's fine… I'm not mad. I'm fine." Sam said. 'I really don't wanna fight.'
"Sam." Ainsley gave him a look. "You're not fine, and that's okay. But let's talk about it."
"I … I just… I don't wanna fight." Sam said.
"You've gotta suck the poison out before it spreads." Ainsley said.
Sam sighed. "Yeah, you're right." He took a deep breath. "I was confused when he first brought you up, but when he said that he wanted 'to keep me in line', I just felt… I dunno how to explain it. Now I know in my head that you can more than take care of yourself… In fact, I kept repeating 'Ainsley can kick your scrawny ass.' over and over again, … y'know, like a mantra… Cause it's true. You could definitely take Kevin in a fight. But still … it was like a knife to my heart when the images of anything happening to you flashed in my mind. It was one of the worst moments of my life. And I know that you've got nerves of steel, but … when he said that "it'd be a shame if something were to happen to your pretty face", more horrible images raced across my mind. … I just lost it, you know?"
Ainsley kissed his cheek before she rested her chin on his shoulder. "It's okay, Honey. It really is."
"How bad was it, when he threatened you I mean?" Sam asked. "I'm gonna imagine the worst otherwise."
Ainsley shrugged. "He came up to our table and pretended to be friendly and all, but his body language was subtly… dominant. Like he put his hand firmly over mine at first, but I removed it quickly and he didn't do anything that overt again."
Sam stiffened. 'That's not toobad.' He made it sound like he came up to you in the parking lot after your friends had already left and tried to hurt you."
"Oh, it was nothing like that." Ainsley said.
"I was upset that you didn't tell me after it happened, but… you were right not to say anything." Sam pulled her closer to him. "I'm just glad that you're alright."
Ainsley rested her head on Sam's chest. "I bet this whole thing has you reconsidering your second amendment stance, huh?"
Sam chuckled. "Oh, very funny."
"You should know that Kat wanted to put snakes in his car." Ainsley said.
Sam laughed out loud. "How would she even find his car?"
"That's a very good question that I don't want answered." Ainsley said.
XXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
The sun shone through Leo's office window as Bruno paced. "What the hell is wrong with-" Bruno yelled.
Leo cut him off as he sat at his desk. "Bruno. Kevin threatened his girlfriend, Ainsley."
"Ainsley, the Republican on the campaign?" Bruno asked.
"Yeah." Leo said.
"What happened?" Bruno asked.
Sam recounted the previous night's events. "I'll take care of it." Bruno said. "If it happens again, you call CJ immediately. Talk to no one except the cops if the situation warrants it." He turned to CJ. "Call me right away if something happens. I'll be speaking to the rest of the campaign staff as well."
"What about Sam's Press Conference?" CJ asked.
"Sam, you're gonna read your prepared statement with Ainsley by your side." Bruno turned to CJ. "Make sure to include a succinct explanation of what happened to Ainsley and emphasize the fact that she's a Republican."
XXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
Sam sat at his cherry wood desk, his Gadsden Flag to the left hand side. "Hey Babe. You on your way in?"
"Yeah, I'm about to drive your car back from Dupont Circle and then I'll head over. Do you need anything?" Ainsley asked.
"I need you to bring some professional clothes for you to wear. Bruno wants you to be there when I read my statement during the White House Press Briefing."
"Ah, he wants the voters to put a face to the girl Kevin came after." Ainsley said.
"Yeah." Sam said.
"Then I'll be there in about an hour, hour and a half." Ainsley said. "Love you."
"I love you too." Sam hung up just as Josh appeared outside Sam's open door.
"Bruno just came to see me. What the hell happened?"Josh stepped inside. Sam told Josh what happened and Josh's jaw dropped. "He said that? Is Ainsley alright?"
"Ainsley's fine. She's got nerves of steel. ME ON THE OTHER HAND, I'm the one who's still pissed. I swear there was a moment, … for just half a second,… when I wanted to kill 'im wi' my bare hands."
"Well, yeah…. Dammit now I wish I could punch 'im." Josh said.
"You'll have-ta get in line behind CJ." Sam said. "One of Ainsley's friends from the other night offered to put snakes in his car." They both laughed out loud.
"Too bad we can't let 'er do it." Josh said. "I'm glad Ainsley's okay." He left.
A little while later, Toby came by. "I just talked to Bruno. What happened?"
Sam told Toby what had happened the night before. "How's Ainsley taking this?"
"Ainsley's fine. She may not look it, but she's tough. I'm the one who's having a full blown nutty." Sam said.
"I don't blame you." Toby said.
"You'll like this. One of Ainsley's friends wanted to put snakes in Kevin's car." Sam laughed.
Toby chuckled. "Can I ask … how… would she even do that?"
"That's what I wanted to know and Ainsley said that we don't ask those questions when it comes to Kay." Sam said.
That afternoon, Sam and Ainsley held hands as they waited outside the White House Press Briefing Room as CJ was hounded with questions about how Sam punched Kevin Kahn.
"Yes, speaking of that incident, I would like to present White House Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn, and Deputy White House Counsel and Advisor to the Bartlet Campaign Ainsley Hayes. Sam will address the issue in a short statement and then all questions may be directed to me." CJ said.
Sam squeezed Ainsley's hand as they entered the Press Briefing Room. He took the podium as Ainsley stood to the side. "I regret punching Ritchie campaign staffer Kevin Kahn in the face. That is not the politics we strive for in this White House. He made cracks about my Republican girlfriend, Ainsley Hayes, and how she gets by on her appearance and not her brains. He also threatened her safety. I told him to stop, but he didn't listen and I snapped." He stepped off the podium and they exited the Press Room.
A little while later, Sam worked at his desk when there was another knock on his door. Sam saw Bartlet in his office doorway in a Notre Dame sweatshirt with his hands in his pockets when he looked up. "Hello there, Mr. President. How are you?"
"I'm doing fine, I just wanted to check in because Leo told me about what happened. Is Ainsley okay?"
"Yes, sir. She's doing great. I'm the one who's having a hard time with it." Sam said.
Bartlet nodded. "Yeah, that sounds about right. That's how it usually goes with these things."
Sam chuckled. "This'll give you a laugh. One of Ainsley's friends wanted to put snakes in his car."
Bartlet laughed. "Ainsley said no, right?"
"Yes, sir. She took care of that." Sam said.
"You can do that? You can get a crate of snakes to put in someone's car?" Bartlet asked.
"Apparently." Sam said.
"We oughta try that on the Swiss." Bartlet said. "Anyway, I just wanted to check in."
"Thank you, Mr. President." Sam said.