Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to West Wing, Superman, or Hamilton.
This takes place in the context of We Killed Yamamoto and Posse Comatitus.
Note: I realized that Owen Lassiter is the Ronald Reagan stand in. Every Ronald Reagan reference should have been referring to Owen Lassiter and every future Owen Lassiter reference will mean a Ronald Reagan reference from here on out. Another thing- I realized that I said that Ainsley's dad is a retired admiral from World War 2. I did the math and he likely would have been a little kid during WW2. Since we know that Ainsley's paternal grandpa was state chair of the Republican Party, that means that Ainsley's maternal grandpa will be the WW2 Admiral, who I have named Admiral Kelly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Josh's POV
Josh knocked on Amy's apartment door as Van Morrison played in the background before she opened the door. "Hey." Josh leaned forward and kissed her, his arms stretched back behind him on the doorframe. "Something smells great." He breathed in the smell of garlic, rosemary, and the other herbs.
Amy strutted to her kitchen island, where she was set up with her computer and an open bottle of red wine. "There's going to be stew." Amy sat down in front of her computer.
"It's ready? We can eat it?" Josh walked across the apartment into Amy's bedroom.
Amy looked at Josh. "I'm cooking it for the fourth time."
"The beef is well done?" Josh asked.
Amy rubbed her nose. "Burnt." She made notes on her legal pad.
"The peas?" Josh asked.
Amy tucked her round chin under. "Baby peas."
"Carrots?" Josh sat his briefcase down in her bedroom.
"Soft." Amy said.
"Potatoes?" Josh asked.
"Cubed." Amy said.
"Gravy?" Josh took off his coat and tie, which revealed his wrinkled shirt.
Amy typed, her bangs hung in her face with her hair tied back. "Well spiced… much like myself."
'Well you're definitely well spiced.' Josh walked towards the kitchen island. "Oh, this is gonna be a good night." He passed the greco-roman style column. "My woman, a fine stew, … an' a Mets game on national TV. Y'see how I slipped that last one in?"
"I saw." Amy said.
Josh opened up the stainless steel fridge. "Ya listening tuh Van Morrison again?" He took out a beer.
"It's the radio… You never said how the meeting with Pintero went." Amy sipped her wine, the color of which closely matched her hair.
'Shit.' He turned around, closed the fridge, and opened up his beer. "Well... uh, good."
"They're gonna vote it out of committee?" Amy asked.
Josh took a step and then sipped his beer. "Yeah, … in fact we're getting … another… billion for childcare." Josh leaned with his back to Amy's countertop.
"Whaddya have to give Republicans for a billion dollars?" Amy asked.
'Please, no.' "300 million for marriage incentives." Josh let out a nervous laugh.
"You mean like subscriptions to 'Bride and Groom Magazine'?" Amy smiled.
'Oh, come on.' "No, the marriage incentives are a series…" Josh avoided eye contact as he played with his beer bottle.
Amy cut him off. "I know what the marriage incentives are."
'No shit.' Josh groaned. "Let's not do this now."
"Cash bonuses to moms on welfare who marry the child's father-- canceling out child support debt if the parents…" She said.
'I KNOW that.' Josh creased his large forehead... "Y'know what? Every single study … every… one … shows that kids do better in two-parent houses."
Amy's volume escalated. "Kids are better off if they're raised by parents who love them. Your solution is loveless."
'And I AGREE, but that's not how this thing works!' "It's not my solution!" Josh shouted.
"Does my government really believe that the law can create a family? … D'these old fat-ass men … really believe that if they just … pay people to act like 'Leave it to Beaver', everything'll be fine?" Amy threw her hands up and then slapped them down. "Didya really think the person in my job was gonna sit? This is about collecting votes from white men. This is what happens when you let Republicans on the inside."
'What?' Josh scrunched his eyebrows in bemusement. "You mean Ainsley Hayes? What does Ainsley have to do with this?"
"Your government-" Amy said.
'Woah, MY government?' "Hey, it's your government too." Josh said.
"Right now, it's your government. Your government put her on the campaign and the next thing I know, your government put the MARRIAGE INCENTIVES IN THE WELFARE REAUTHORIZATION BILL!" Amy shouted.
Josh then put his hand on his chest before stepping forward to lean over the counter, his forehead creased. "Amy, if we don't get elected, I promise you, … President… Ritchie… is gonna have a lot less sympathy for your agenda."
Amy grabbed her phone. "This bill isn't gonna pass."
"Yes it is. It's locked up. I have the American Children's Alliance behind it." Josh said.
"Not for long." Amy dialed her phone as she looked down. "It's me, Scott. Everyone who's in the office should stay there. I need Legislative Affairs tuh put together a meeting wi' Regina King."
'Oh, boy. Here we go.' Josh sighed. "And we're back ta work." He reached for his phone.
Amy grabbed his phone and popped it in the stock pot with the stew. "And I wanna start shooting calls tonight ta the Congressional Women's Caucus…"
Josh groaned as he looked at his ruined cellphone. 'Seriously?' He walked over to Amy's house phone.
"The CRA and all of Matty's people. … The marriage incentives are in the welfare reauthorization and it's committee." As Amy continued talking, Josh called Toby on her landline. She looked over at Josh. "Hold on." She picked up a pair of scissors. "Can you call Robison?" She walked towards Josh with scissors.
Josh rubbed his large forehead and then put his hand in his pocket. "Yeah, it's Josh. The Secretary of Labor's in Chicago…"
Amy cut the phone cord. "Tell 'im I'm calling in the … the I.O.U. on prenatal healthcare."
'You gotta be fucking kidding me.' Josh stretched out the severed phone cord.
"Hold on." She addressed Josh. "I'm sorry, honey. That was an accident." Amy said.
'Accident my ass.' Josh slammed the phone down.
"There's a payphone on the corner." Amy said as Josh grabbed his coat and briefcase from her room. "Although it's been outta order for a little while." She muttered before she returned to her call and sat down on her couch. "Let's get Kate Feldon with the Society of Business Women. She's spinning right now, so keep tryin'. I'm on my way. Let's get to work. Put Janeane on the phone. I'll hold." She leaned on the edge of the couch. "Janeane, it's me. Let's suit up." Josh slammed the door behind him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley's POV
Ainsley sang Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 as she dredged the buttermilk soaked chicken thighs in flour.
Sam entered his apartment. "Hey, Babe."He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek, his body sweaty from his workout close to hers.
"Hey, Handsome." She turned around to face Sam as she ran her fingers through his sweaty hair.
"Something smells great." Sam said.
"I'm usin' the last of the savory waffle batter and I'm fryin' up the last of the chicken thighs for me and mushrooms for you from the other night when we had your friends over. There's salad too." Ainsley gestured to the food.
"They let you eat salad? It thought it was just fried chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese, pie, cake, and liquid sugar." Sam flashed a cheeky grin.
Ainsley picked up her sweet tea. "You mean this?" She took a sip.
"Yes." Sam said.
Ainsley glared at him. "Aren't you precious for thinkin' you can go 'round disrespectin' sweet tea? Bless your heart."
"I would never disrespect sweet tea. I have the utmost respect for sweet tea. I just can't stand it… But… I love an' adore the people who do like it. … Well, one in particular." He kissed her.
"Nice save, Seaborn." Ainsley's thumb stroked the back of his neck.
"I have to say, even though I can't stand sweet tea, it does taste wonderful on your lips." Sam smiled.
"Which tells me that you secretly like it, but you're too much of a yankee to admit it." Ainsley teased.
Sam laughed. "No, I can't stand it. You can practically chew on it."
Ainsley raised her eyebrows. "Chew on it? It's not candy. Bless your heart."
Sam's hands rested on her hips. "It basically is candy. But seriously, Babe. The fried mushrooms, the waffles, and the salad all sound fantastic. I'm gonna go shower and then I'll be back to set the rest of the table and dress that salad." He gave her a quick kiss before he left. Ainsley returned to singing Dolly Parton as she fried up the chicken thighs.
Sam returned from his shower. "How was your day?" He set the table.
Ainsley fried up the chicken thighs. "Long. We had meetings and then I had an analysis on HR 537. Did y'all tell the President about cancelin' the play?" She plated up the chicken.
"No, not yet." Sam dressed the salad.
She turned off the music before she brought the chicken to the table and sat down.
Once they said Grace, they served up their food. Ainsley buttered her waffle and drizzled savory maple syrup over it before she passed it to Sam. "Honey... How're you feelin'?"
"Fine… Just tired." Sam cut into his waffle and took a bite.
'You're not fine.' "You don't look tired." Ainsley took a bite of her fried chicken.
Sam shrugged. "Well I am."
"Sam…." Ainsley took a bite of waffles.
Sam forced a smile. "Ainse, I'm fine."
"You're not fine, sweetheart." They sat in prolonged silence as Sam ate his mushrooms and Ainsley gave him a look with raised eyebrows. 'Sam, it's okay. You can talk to me.'
Sam sighed. "Everyone's been saying that. Charlie even came by to do magic."
'At least we're gettin' somewhere.' "Charlie can do magic?" Ainsley took a bite of her waffle.
"Apparently he can." Sam said.
"We can all tell that you've been havin' a rough time." Ainsley said with a note of concern in her voice. 'And it breaks my heart to see it.'
Sam made eye contact with her for a moment and then sighed. "I just …. I just can't believe I fell for it. It was so obvious to everyone else. Why wasn't it obvious to me?"
Ainsley reached to hold his hand. 'Oh, sweetheart. It's okay.' "He was your friend. Of course you trusted him."
"And that trust put the entire campaign in jeopardy." Sam said.
'Don't beat yourself up.' "Sam…" Ainsley sipped her sweet tea.
"And I lost my friend. I had no idea that he took the Open Mic personally." Sam said.
'That wasn't even your idea.' Ainsley swallowed a piece of fried chicken. "Honey, if he took the Open Mic personally, then he wasn't a true friend to begin with. You wanna know why?"
"Why?" Sam's eyes were downcast.
"Because anyone who knows you knows that you'd never do that to a friend." Ainsley said.
"You really think so?" Sam asked.
"I know so… But that's not what's really botherin' you, is it?" Ainsley asked.
Sam avoided eye contact with Ainsley. "… No, it's not."
"What's really botherin' you?" Ainsley asked, her voice soft.
His shoulders slumped as his voice trembled. "… He … he was my friend, and yet he came for you. It was one of the worst feelings of my life. In that moment, … all I could picture was him threatening you inna dark parking lot while you were all alone and how I wasn't there ta protect you and… and I shoulda been … to say nothing of the fact that it all happened because of me."
'That's not your fault either.' Ainsley squeezed his hand. "Oh, Sam…"
"You have no idea how relieved I was when I saw you sitting at your desk, safe and sound. I love that you can defend yourself -" Sam said.
"Even with guns?" 'Come on, Honey. Where's that smile that makes me melt.' Ainsley asked.
Sam gave a weak laugh. "I'm not gonna lie, guns still make me nervous, but y'know how to use them safely. So if it can bring you home alive, then who am I to complain? But anyway, I love that you can defend yourself... but I just don't want you to have to…. He obviously didn't know that it'd take a lot more than that to scare you, but that doesn't change the fact that he wanted to. … I … I just … I feel like I let you down."
Ainsley's large green eyes gazed at him. "You didn't let me down and you never have. Nothing you could ever do could ever let me down."
"Yeah, well." Sam said.
'Oh, Honey.' "I know. … So what else is goin' on?" Ainsley asked.
"You know that 8 Billion environmental proposal that Jane and Muriel brought to me on Sunday?" Sam took a bite of his salad.
"The one where you'd have to cut sugar subsidies to pay for it?" Ainsley ate her chicken.
"Yeah." Sam drank his water.
"What changed your mind?" Ainsley asked.
"If we do a better job selling it, it'll show that Richie's with Florida special interests. It'll force him to defend polluters, to say nothing of the fact that it's the right thing to do." Sam took a bite of salad.
'There's the Sam I love.' Ainsley smiled.
"What?" Sam took another bite of salad.
Ainsley's eyes sparkled. "Nothin'... I just love it when you light up about things like this."
Sam smiled. "Oh, is that right?"
Ainsley nodded. "Mmm hmm. I also don't think we should have subsidies. The same thing goes for all of the lobbies."
"Even the Gun Lobby?" Sam smiled.
Ainsley laughed. "Even the Gun Lobby."
"Don't they take your Republican Party membership for that, to say nothing of your Southern Card?" Sam teased.
'Oh haha, very funny.' Ainsley raised her eyebrows. "No…. Because I don't support … any… lobby. They waste taxpayer money that would be better spent by taxpayers, payin' down the deficit, or doin' somethin', not on meddlin' with the economy or fundin' the political machine."
Sam smiled. "Is this another part of your presidential platform? Operation Set The World On Fire and Piss Off The Establishment?"
Ainsley rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, stop. … But… IF… I ran, and that's a big … IF ... then yes."
"Damn, Hayes. You really are a maverick. D'you go through life looking for a fight?" Sam asked.
Ainsley laughed. "Darlin', why do you think I went to Smith?"
Sam laughed. "Good point. … So you know how we got the votes to move the welfare bill out of committee for 300 million in marriage incentives?"
"Yeah?" Ainsley asked.
"Well Josh told Amy-" Sam said.
Ainsley's eyes went wide. "Oh no."
"Yeah. He told Amy, so of course she mobilized immediately. Not only did she pop his cell phone in the stew, but she cut her house phone cord." Sam said.
"I'd never do that to you." Ainsley said with a touch of sweetness in her voice.
Sam smiled. "Hmmm."
"Because… I'd never need to do anythin' like that to get my way." Ainsley said.
Sam quirked an eyebrow with a devious smile. "Is that so? Why don't you show me."
'Oh, he's good.' Ainsley laughed out loud. "That one's easy. Watch."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Josh's POV
Josh waited in the WLC building's grand cathedral-style lobby. He looked over his shoulder at the sound of heels on the italian marble to see Amy's delicate frame in her fitted black pantsuit. He walked towards her, his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched. "It's gotta be costing you an awful lotta PAC money."
Amy turned to him. "You didn't wanna come up?"
"It's after midnight. They wouldn't let me up." Josh said.
Amy touched his upper arm. "We were working late."
"Yes, you are…. Y'know for every vote on the left you grab,... I gotta get one on the right. You know what that does to the bill?" Josh asked.
Amy shrugged. "Yeah, so we've been phone-banking the Bible Belt telling them how weak the abstinence provisions are."
"I've seen you level hotel ballrooms screaming about how ridiculous abstinence is." Josh said.
"I don't wanna sleep with these guys. I just want their vote." Amy said.
'Will you give it up already?' "Amy, when these things are over and we win, you know who's job it is to pay a visit to the people who weren't with us?" Josh opened the glass door with the metal frame.
"What happened?" Amy asked.
Josh turned around with his back to the street. "…Nothing."
"You just threatened me, Honey. What happened?" Amy asked.
The intensity in Josh's voice began to rise. "I'm sayin' ... that just 'cause you have… Sherry Lansing's platinum card ... doesn't mean you go toe-to toe wi' the people…"
"Josh." Amy said with a firm tone.
Josh's volume escalated. "...who are writing the federal budget when they need you."
"You gonna put the women's movement outta business?" Amy asked.
"There's a bigger picture. There's an election in November and you are a player in a political party." Josh said.
"If you win by selling out the Party, who cares who wins? 'Jed Bartlet: Not quite as mean-spirited as the other guy.' Doesn't really send me running to my polling place… Then again, you've already sold out the Party by bringing in Ainsley Hayes." Amy said.
'She's my friend.' "That's the second time you've brought up Ainsley, who has no part in this." Josh set his square jaw.
"The HELL she doesn't have a part in this!" Amy said. "Who else would get you to put marriage incentives and work requirements in the welfare bill?"
"First of all, the President values her input because he surrounds himself with smart-" Josh said.
"SMART?! How in the hell is SHE smart? She's a WOMAN who doesn't wanna empower women with control over their own lives!" Amy shouted.
"I forgot! All women have to agree with the all-knowing Amy Gardner!" Josh shouted.
"I'm not the one who wants to undo all of the progress women have made in the last 150 years!" Amy creased her forehead.
"You don't have any idea what she wants! You haven't even discussed any of this with her!" Josh shouted.
"I don't have to. I already know what she believes!" Amy yelled.
"No, you really don't!" Josh repeated.
"Really?" Amy asked with plenty of sarcasm.
"YES!" Josh turned to leave.
"Are you coming over?" Amy asked.
'Hell no.' He turned around. "I'm not in the mood to be around you right now. You jus' spent the last 5 minutes insulting my friend."
Amy's volume increased. "We oughta be able to talk about this."
Josh clenched his jaw. "Yeah."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
CJ's POV
Donna's kitchen counter was lined with half empty pizza boxes as well as the garlic knots, macaroni and cheese, alcohol, and banana pudding. CJ, Donna, Ginger, Carol, and Ainsley all danced and sang to 'You Can't Hurry Love' in the living room.
Once the music stopped, Ainsley raised her delicate eyebrows with a smile. "Speaking of love that you can't hurry… How's your man, CJ?"
CJ's face turned pink as she glared at Ainsley. "He is not my man."
Donna stifled a laugh as the outer corners of her mouth turned up. "Okay."
"Whatever you say." Carol said.
'Okay fine.' "Well actually-" CJ suppressed a smile.
Donna's round blue eyes widened. "WHAT."
Ginger's eyes popped. "Did something happen?! I knew it."
CJ bit her lip. "We almost kissed the other night."
Donna's jaw dropped. "No."
Carol's drink came out of her nose. "You WHAT?!"
"Technically I tried to kiss him, but he stopped it." CJ said.
"But he didn't want to." Ginger said.
"It was only a matter of time." Donna said.
"Look at you, breakin' all the Secret Service protocol." Ainsley said.
CJ rolled her large, protruding eyes. "Oh, shuddup."
Carol and Ginger sang in falsetto voices. "CJ and Simon, sitting in a tree…"
CJ's blue eyes popped. "Would you shut up?! He might hear you!"
Carol and Ginger stopped singing. "Okay fine." Carol, Ginger, Donna, and Ainsley suppressed their laughter.
"Anyway,... he walked me home after a party the other night and we flirted a bit and talked …. Well we were standing inches apart face to face when I told him I liked his smile and that's when I tried to kiss him." CJ said.
Ainsley creased her forehead and dropped her jaw. "Oh my LORD, CJ! You ARE a bad girl. He should punish you for that."
"Would you shut up?!" CJ hit Ainsley with a pillow.
"Why don't you take him a plate of food and something to drink?" Donna said.
CJ waved it off. "He'll probably say no."
Carol shrugged. "Maybe, but he won't wanna say no." She smirked.
"Besides... it's obvious that you want to." Ginger said.
"You really think I should?" CJ asked.
"YES!" Ainsley, Donna, Carol, and Ginger shouted.
"Okay fine." CJ stood up and made a plate of food before she stepped outside into the beige hallway. "I brought you some food." She chewed one side of her inner lower lip as her pupils dilated.
Simon raised his thick, sharp, and gray eyebrows. "You brought me food?"
"Yes- pizza, garlic knots, mac and cheese, and banana pudding." CJ set the food down before she left momentarily and then returned with a chair. "And a chair for you to sit in."
Simon remained stone-faced. "I'm fine. I'm not supposed to eat on duty."
'Come up with something quick.' "My friend Ainsley's from the South … She made the mac and cheese and the banana pudding-"
"She made it, like from scratch?" Simon asked.
"Yes, from scratch. …And she'll be offended if you refuse her Southern Hospitality." CJ said.
Simon raised his eyebrows. "Is that right? She'll be offended?"
"… Yes." CJ bit her lip as she stepped closer.
Simon shrugged. "Okay."
CJ raised her eyebrows. "You'll take the food?" She smiled.
"I don't wanna offend anyone. Refusing Southern Hospitality is rude… But take the chair." Simon handed her the chair.
CJ furrowed her brows. "How're you gonna eat standing up?" 'I'd really like to kiss you.'
Simon's eagle-like eyes lingered on her lips. "I'm a talented man. … Thank you for the food."
CJ smiled. "Your welcome." She stood close enough to kiss him.
"Thank Ainsley… for the Southern Hospitality." Simon licked his lips.
CJ smiled. "I will… I have to get back now."
"Yeah." Simon said as CJ picked up the chair and then stepped inside Donna's apartment.
Donna gave CJ a knowing smile. "You were gone a long time. How'd it go?"
"It went great. He tried not to take it, but he eventually did. He wouldn't take the chair though." CJ smiled as the girls stared at her. "What?"
"You're on cloud nine." Carol said.
CJ giggled. "I'm just thinking about how the other night when he took me to the Secret Service gym. Well after my workout, we were at the shooting range and we made a bet that if he could get three out of five bullets in the middle, then I had to say something nice to him."
Carol quirked an eyebrow. "And did he?" Her pear shaped face wore a smirk.
"Yes, all 5 in the middle and at least 1 dead center." CJ said.
"So what nice thing did you say?" Ainsley asked.
CJ blushed. "That I like that he's tall, cause it makes me feel more feminine."
"Ooohh la LA." Ginger's eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Y'know, I can't wait for this thing to be over. I'll be able to drive my car-" CJ said.
Carol cut her off. "Oh, come on. That's not why you want this to be over."
CJ sighed. "…Okay fine…. It would be nice to go out and get a drink with him or a cup of coffee."
"And do a lot more than drink coffee with him." Donna muttered with a laugh as her lips somewhat curled up.
CJ turned beet red. "…Yes." The girls giggled for a few moments.
"So you know how they added the marriage incentives to the welfare bill?" Donna asked.
CJ nodded. "Yeah."
"Josh told Amy-" Donna said.
Carol's hooded eyes widened. "Oh no."
"And Amy not only dropped his cellphone in the stew, but she cut the house phone cord." Donna said.
"To keep him from mobilizing?" CJ asked.
Donna nodded. "Yeah."
"That bitch." Ginger said.
Ainsley gestured with her hands and creased her forehead. "What does that even accomplish? It's not like it would stop him. Bless her heart."
"I know it's her job to raise a fuss over these things, but that wasn't necessary." Carol said.
"I've never liked her. She always expects us to drop whatever we're doing to track Josh down when she comes by, even if it's just for lunch." Ginger said.
"Really?? She does that?" Ainsley's eyes popped as she put a hand on her chest. "I hope I'm never a bother when I come by to see Sam."
Donna creased her forehead. "You're always polite an' patient an' you bring us coffee an' doughnuts-"
"And homemade cakes and pies." Carol added.
"Yea, the best homemade cakes an' pies." Ginger said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
"Hi, Simon." Sam stood outside Donna's apartment.
Simon nodded. "Hello."
Sam knocked on Donna's apartment door and she opened the door. "Hey Donna!"
"Hey! Come on in!" She let Sam inside when he saw Ainsley singing and dancing with Ginger, Carol, and CJ to 'Dancing Queen' by Abba.
Sam gazed at Ainsley. 'She's so beautiful.' He smiled. "It looks like you guys had fun!"
"Sam!" Ainsley said in a bright, cheery voice with a thick Southern accent, her creamy skin flushed. She sashayed towards him, her long blonde hair swaying behind her. "Dance with me, Sam!" She grabbed his hand and kissed his cheek. "I'm the Dancin' Queennn…… an' I order you to dance with meeee by royal decree!"
"By royal decree?" Sam smelled the alcohol on her breath. He took her hand as she continued to sing. "Babe, I'm gonna have to defy that decree, cause it's time to get you home."
Ainsley stopped dancing and pouted. "But I'm the Dancin' Queennn…. an' the party's not over until I… say so."
Sam chuckled. "It's not over?" He held her delicate frame secure in his hands.
Ainsley shook her head. "Nooooo, master."
'Oh my.' Sam spoke in a loving tone. "I'm afraid it is, Ainse."
Ainsley scrunched her face. "Says who? The governmen'? … Stupid government…. stupid democrats wi' their taxes… an' regulations... Taxes are theft, y'know. Y'all are thieves... No offense, Honey."
Sam suppressed a laugh. "None taken, Babe."
"Who are they ta tell me, the Dancin' Queenn, whadda do?" Ainsley ranted.
"I dunno, but let's get you home, Babe." Sam helped her to the door.
She stumbled as she turned around. "Byeeee! … See you Monday!"
"Bye Ainsley!" The girls shouted back.
"You know what, why don't I carry you?" He scooped her up in his arms once they were outside Donna's apartment. "Night, Simon."
"Goodnight." Simon said.
Ainsley's doll-like porcelain hands clung to the back of Sam's neck. "My very own ... sexy Superman… Your emblem should be under your ... shirts."
Sam raised his eyebrows. "My emblem?"
Ainsley played with his hair. "Yesssss silly, … for Superman… Sam Seaborn." She kissed his cheek. "I love youuu."
The outer corners of his bright blue eyes crinkled as he pressed the elevator button. "I love you, too." He held her close to him as he stepped onto the elevator and pressed the level one button.
Ainsley rested her head on Sam's upper chest. "Honey?" The elevator beeped as it descended.
"Yeah, Ainse?" The elevator doors opened.
"I don't feel so great." Ainsley said as Sam stepped off the elevator.
'I figured.' Sam pressed a kiss to her temple. "Let's get you home, my beautiful Dancing Queen." He walked through the lobby door and down the steps outside the apartment building. "Ainse, I'm gonna set you down for a minute while I unlock the car." He stood next to his car passenger door.
"Okay." Ainsley nodded.
Sam set her down on her feet. He unlocked the door and helped her in the car before he hopped in the driver's side. Once they arrived outside Sam's apartment building, he helped her out of the car and locked the car door. She stumbled and then puked all over Sam and the sidewalk.
Ainsley's large green eyes popped with embarrassment. "Oh… no… -" She dabbed at his shirt.
Sam took her hand in his. "It's okay, Babe. Let's just get you inside." He scooped her up.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
Sam woke up in the chair at Ainsley's bedside with a trash can at his feet. Ainsley slept on her side in his bed as Sam got the Sunday morning paper. He grabbed his paper and then crawled into bed beside Ainsley underneath his gray comforter. He turned on his bedside lamp to the lowest setting as he read the paper for an hour when Ainsley began to stir.
"Nuhhhhhh…." Sam glanced over at her as she groaned in her sleep. She rolled over to snuggle into Sam's side when he put an arm around her. He stroked her hair as she slept for another ten minutes.
Ainsley's eyes opened halfway. "Hey."
Sam kissed her forehead. "Hey, beautiful." He whispered as he stroked her long blonde hair, which was tied in a low ponytail. "How're you feeling?"
"Ehhhhh." Ainsley groaned.
"I'm gonna get you some water and toast to start, okay?" Sam spoke softly.
"Mmm… Thank you, Sam." Ainsley mumbled.
"Of course, sweetheart." 'Anything you need.' Sam kissed her forehead before he left for the kitchen. He popped two slices of bread in the toaster and then filled a glass with water. After that, he plated and buttered the toast and then he spread jam on it. He brought it to Ainsley who sat up in his bed. "I got you some water and toast for now. I'll be back with Gatorade and then breakfast in bed." He sat the glass on the nightstand and the plate on her lap.
"Sam, that sounds wonderful. Thank you." Ainsley squeezed his hand.
Sam brought her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles before he returned to the kitchen. He brought her the Gatorade and then went back to the kitchen to make her breakfast. He entered the bedroom with a breakfast tray that he set down on Ainsley's lap. "You got your cheesy grits, fried eggs topped with cubed avocado, sausage, and more toast with butter and jam. I'm gonna go back to the kitchen to get your orange juice." He spoke in a low volume.
Ainsley smiled. "You made me cheesy grits?"
"Just like you taught me." Sam said.
"Thank you." Ainsley said.
"Your welcome. I'll go get that juice." He left for the kitchen, poured her juice, and then returned. He went back out to the kitchen and came back with his breakfast tray.
"You even drew the blinds. You thought of everything." Ainsley took a bite of grits.
"Anything for you." Sam kissed her temple. He studied her downcast eyes that averted his gaze. "What's the matter?"
Ainsley's voice was small. "I … I just feel so bad."
"You mean you feel queasy? D'you want some ginger ale?" Sam furrowed his brows in concern.
Ainsley shook her head. "No, I feel bad because I puked on you and you had to get me cleaned up and…"
Sam waved it off. "Don't worry about it."
"But you've taken such good care of me, both last night and this morning. You even slept in that chair all night." Ainsley said.
Sam pulled her into his side. "That's what love is." He kissed her temple. 'And I love you very much.' "Besides, you've taken care of me before."
"Last night… Did I call you stupid?" Ainsley asked.
Sam laughed. "No, just Democrats. You made it very clear that you weren't talking about me."
Ainsley gave a weak laugh. "At least I did that. How did it come up?"
"You declared that you were the 'Dancing Queen and when I told you that I had to defy your Royal Decree-" Sam said. 'The most beautiful Dancing Queen.'
Ainsley raised her eyebrows. "My Royal Decree?"
Sam shrugged. "Well you were the Dancing Queen. I said that I had to defy your Royal Decree that the party wasn't over, so you asked 'Says who? The Government?' and then went on a spiel about how Taxation is Theft and you said the Government and Democrats were stupid and thieves." Sam said.
"I said all that?" Ainsley asked.
Sam chuckled as he kissed her temple. "Yes, and then you profusely apologized later on. You kept saying 'Y'all aren't stupid… y'all are just wrong.' You then kept talking about how Wilson sucked and how FDR and Hoover ruined all of the good work that Coolidge did, how they made the Great Depression last longer and how Coolidge is underrated."
Ainsley's head rested on Sam's shoulder. "Well they did ruin the good work he did, and Coolidge is underrated."
Sam stroked her hair. "You also talked about how you hate FDR for taking us off the Gold Standard and starting Social Security and you hate Wilson because he pushed for the income tax and a bunch of other reasons why they apparently sucked."
Ainsley gave a weak laugh. "So I'm right even when I'm that drunk?"
Sam laughed. "'Right' is a strong word."
"Honey, I'm always right." She kissed his cheek. "What else did I say? And why do I keep remembering Superman?"
Sam smiled. "… You kept telling me how much you love me,… many times… You also kept calling me Superman and you said something about how I should wear my emblem under my shirts."
"Well I do love you very much, and you basically were Superman last night." Ainsley said.
"I love you too, … and I'll … always… be your Superman." Sam held her cheek as he kissed her. "I'm gonna go get your ginger ale."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Josh's POV
Cars whirred by on the street and honked. Coffee brewed in the coffeemaker behind the counter. Josh and Amy sat at a small two person table in a cafe with yellow walls and daisies on each table. Amy sat back in her chair. "Can I get an egg-white omelet… and some toast that's badly burnt?" Amy placed her order with the waitress.
'Why would anyone want burnt toast?' "Just coffee, thanks." Josh said.
The blonde waitress with a pixie cut nodded. "Yes." The waitress left.
Josh furrowed his brow as he put his sunglasses in his dress shirt pocket. "…That doesn't give you cancer?"
"Burnt toast?" Amy wore a denim jacket with large lapels.
"Yeah." Josh said.
"They're not sure. That's why I have the egg-white omelet." Amy said.
'Okay.' "Welfare… is a core issue… with swing and independent voters. They use it as a barometer… to measure a President's values on work and responsibility." Josh said.
Amy nodded with her eyebrows raised. "Yeah."
"We're gonna win the vote." Josh said.
Amy nodded. "We'll see."
"We will... but we're gonna." Josh's dimples appeared on his cheeks. "I have a nine-point margin." 'Come on. D'ya really think you have a chance?'
Amy leaned forward as she looked to the side. "I think you're gonna lose Burnet, Bristol and Keith."
"They're on… the… fence?" Josh asked.
"Yeah." Amy leaned back.
'Okay I'll deal with that later.' "You understand… we have to authorize welfare one way or another. You gotta do it every six years." Josh said.
"Have I done something to make you think I'm dumb?" Amy asked.
"Amy…" Josh groaned. 'Oh, come on.'
"Doesn't the fact that you have to re-authorize it means that Republi-" Amy said.
Josh cut her off. "You have an extra… billion… in child care." 'That's a huge win.'
"Which is great, but the marriage incentives are terrible." Amy said.
'No shit.' "We don't like the marriage incentives, either! Don't be ridiculous, but independent voters…" Josh started.
Amy raised her voice. "INDEPENDENT VOTERS MY ASS!" She threw her hands up. "PLEASE … say 'white men' an' 'Republican bimbos'-"
Josh's square face hardened. "You know what?! I've HAD it with you talking about Ainsley like that. She's my FRIEND!!" His forehead creased.
Amy glanced at the other patrons staring. "Let's take this outside."
"Fine." Josh huffed. He ran his fingers through his curly red hair as they stepped outside the cafe. "Does the fact that she's my FRIEND mean NOTHING to you?!" His facial muscles strained.
Amy's long, lightweight brown and blue scarf swayed in the breeze. "Yeah, it means that you have terrible taste in friends and Sam likes bimbos."
Josh's eyes bulged and he raised his eyebrows. "SHE'S NOT A BIMBO FOR CRYIN' OU' LOUD! I don't agree with her either, but she's my FRIEND. I don't like it when people talk crap about my friends. I admit that it took me time to warm up to her, but you're not even TRYING!" Josh bellowed before he marched inside, paid for his coffee, and stormed off.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley's POV
"I looked up Calvin Coolidge today." Sam's fingers interlocked with Ainsley's as they sat next to each other in the black town car.
Ainsley smiled. "You looked it up?" Her hair was
"Yes, I looked it up. You didn't exaggerate about all the Civil Rights legislation he got passed." Sam said.
Ainsley laughed. "What, you didn't think a Republican would push for Civil Rights legislation?"
Sam suppressed a laugh. "Not really, no."
Ainsley laughed again, her hair in a chignon. "What d'you think the Republican Party was founded on?"
"Voting rights for big business and preserving family values." Sam kissed her knuckles.
'Oh haha, very funny.' Ainsley rolled her eyes and laughed. "You mean abolishing slavery an' polygamy."
"Yesss, but then the parties switched as a result of Nixon's Southern Strategy to make them competitive in the South." Sam said.
"Honey, no. Republicans became competitive in the South when Hoover ran for President. And then Eisenhower picked up more states each time he ran, even after he sent the National Guard to Little Rock. Many Republicans championed the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the democratic stronghold in the South lasted until the 90's. There were only a handful of Dixiecrats who became Republicans, such as Strom Thurmond. … Look, I know y'all are all about fightin' for the little guy, but all I'm sayin' is that the truth isn't as simple as only one side caring about Civil Rights." Ainsley said as the car came to a stop.
Sam nodded. "Yeah, I suppose that's true." He stepped out of the car.
Ainsley took his hand, hear pearl bracelet touching his wrist. "I will say that the Republican Party needs to do a better job at their messaging and explaining why our approach could help the little guy, even if it's with less government intervention."
Sam smiled. "It's funny you should say that."
Ainsley tilted her head, her pearl earrings and necklace glimmered in the dying light of the day. "Why?" Her hot pink taffeta a-line evening gown floated in the breeze.
"Cause I know the perfect candidate for that message." Sam grinned.
Ainsley rolled her eyes. "Oh, haha."
Sam studied her expression as she blushed and smiled. "What?"
"You looked him up." Ainsley kissed his cheek.
Once they boarded Air Force One and were settled in, Bartlet entered the room. He strode right over to Ainsley and held out his hand. "Ainsley Hayes, would you do us all the honor of singing The Patriot Song for us? I feel it would get us all in the spirit of the evening." His twinkling blue eyes glanced at a stone-faced Toby. "I'm hoping by the time we get there, we'll even have Toby singing along."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley's POV
Ainsley's cheek rested on Sam's upper arm. "I love it when you look like James Bond. Although I don't think I'd wanna be a Bond girl."
"Things don't usually end well for them, do they?" Sam said.
"I would say not, considering that they die by the end." Ainsley said when a giddy CJ joined them. "Hey, CJ. Well, don't you look plumb happy."
CJ grinned from ear to ear. "Can I borrow you for a sec?"
Ainsley nodded. "Yeah." They stepped to the side. "What's goin' on?" She adjusted her white fur wrap.
"So they caught the guy." CJ said.
"You mean the stalker? That's great!" Ainsley said.
"Yea. Apparently he was on his way here, but Simon said that he wasn't gonna do anything to me." CJ said.
"Cause your knight was gonna protect you." Ainsley suppressed a laugh.
"... Yes. Speaking of that … we kissed." CJ's face lit up.
Ainsley's jaw dropped and her eyes popped. "You WHAT?! You KISSED?!"
"Yes! He's on his way to the field office right now to file the paperwork and we're meeting after the play for a drink." Excitement exploded amongst CJ and Ainsley before they rejoined the group.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ainsley's POV
Sam and Ainsley sat hand in hand when Ron Butterfield tapped CJ's shoulder and signaled for him to follow her out into the hallway. Ten minutes later, Leo pulled Toby out of the audience as Ainsley's head leaned on Sam's shoulder.
Toby returned 15 minutes later and sat in his seat. "Simon Donovan walked in on an armed robbery of a corner grocery store and was shot and killed."
Sam's eyes widened. "Oh my God."
'Oh, no. Where's CJ?' Ainsley's face went white and her eyes widened as she gasped.
"So that's why Ron pulled her out?" Sam asked.
Toby nodded. "Yeah. And I spoke to Josh just now to let him know that we'll be back a bit later."
"Excuse me. I have to go find CJ." Ainsley squeezed Sam's hand before she left.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Josh's POV
Josh and Amy stood in her bedroom. "W-what'd you think I was gonna do?" Josh asked.
Amy picked up a glass. "I thought you were gonna do this." The ice in her glass clinked as she walked.
"And?" Josh followed Amy out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.
"And I didn't think it was gonna work." Amy said.
"Are you fired?" Josh asked, his sleeves rolled up.
Amy stood next to her countertops. "I'm … resigning on Monday." She poured herself a drink.
'I'm sorry, I really am.' Josh rested his forearms on the edge of her kitchen island next to her gas range stove. "Ya have to?"
"I had an entire policy initiative reversed in an hour." Amy opened her fridge and popped fresh ice in her glass. "Weren't you given the chance to get the votes you needed by setting up a meeting with Ritchie?"
"I'm not a dating service." Josh said.
Amy slammed her fridge and threw her hands up. "What is WRONG with you?!"
Josh raised his voice and creased his forehead. "Every serious Democrat is gonna unite behind this President, an' I'm not kiddin' around."
Amy stood with her back to Josh as she picked a pistachio from the overflowing bowl next to her sink. She she turned around and raised her eyebrows. "Every serious Democrat should be thinking about leading and not following."
He creased his forehead. "Yeah? How's it going so far?"
Amy tilted her head. "As a matter a fact, it's goin' all right, an' I'd do it again."
"That's what's scaring the hell outta me!" Josh said.
"Good." Amy turned around to eat more pistachios. "It's about time."
Josh stood up and gestured with one hand while the other rested on the counter. "You can't win the White House… while the middle class thinks you disdain work an' responsibility!"
Amy whipped around with one hand in her back pocket and her eyebrows raised. "I would hope not!" She pulled her eyebrows down and together at a sharp angle. She gestured with her free hand as her volume escalated. "An' I congratulate you for punishing poor women as the symbol of the strength of MAINSTREAM VALUES!" Her oblong face grew red.
Josh ran his hands through his red wavy hair. "That's not what we did." He gesticulated. "D'ya not consider it relevant… that it would be … worse… with Rob Ritchie … in the White House?! Why is that… not part a the equation?"
"Why not switch Parties while you're at it?!" Amy raised her eyebrows as the phone rang.
"Making compromises in Washington isn't switching Parties. They call it bipartisanship." Josh said. 'And how you get bills passed.'
Amy tucked her chin with her eyebrows raised. "Really?" She half-shrugged as her phone rang. "Because Ainsley Hayes seems to believe in switching Parties!"
'Would ya leave her alone already?' Josh creased his forehead. "She hasn't! Her job is to be the voice of the opposition!" The phone continued to ring.
Her eyebrows pulled down and together. "Great! Then why don't you go find her? I'd be very interested in her opinion."
The living room phone rang again. 'Hell no.' "She's at the play! An' I'm not gonna let you talk ta her when you're like this!"
Amy leaned forward. "Watch me!" She walked to her ringing living room phone.
Josh's facial muscles became taut as his face began to match the color of his hair. "YA DON'T EVEN HAVE HER NUMBER! AN' I'M NOT GONNA GIVE IT TA YA!"
Amy picked up the phone. Her face became slack and she turned to Josh. Her eyes widened and her voice softened. "Honey, Simon Donovan was shot and killed."
'What?' The tension left Josh's face when he took the phone to talk to Toby, who explained what happened and that they would be delayed getting back from New York City. Josh and Amy sat on the couch quietly for a few minutes.
"I shouldn't have called Ainsley a bimbo." Amy said.
'You're damn right you shouldn't have.' Josh creased his forehead. "You think?"
"It's just-" Amy said.
'She's like my sister, for crying out loud.' Josh cut her off. "No, there's no 'It's just' anything. There's 'I'm sorry, Josh.'… There's 'I was wrong, Josh.' … There's 'I'll never do it again, Josh.' ... But you don't give a half-assed apology."
Amy's dark eyes popped. "Look, I screwed up. What d'ya want from me?!"
"What do I want from you? ... What I want… is for you to actually… apologize."
Amy shook her head. "I'm not gonna apologize."
Josh stood up. "That's it. I'm done."
Amy furrowed her brows. "What?"
Josh gestured to Amy and himself. "You an' me. We're done." He stormed out of her apartment.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
CJ's mascara ran down her face as Ainsley stroked her hair. Ainsley walked over to where Sam sat with Toby. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah." He stood up and off to the side with Ainsley. "What's up?"
Ainsley touched his forearm. "Is there any way y'all could make it so CJ doesn't have to address the Press Pool tonight? This has been really rough on her." Ainsley gave him a piercing look. "Trust me."
'God, her eyes are beautiful… Focus, Sam! Focus!' Sam gazed at her large almond shaped green eyes as comprehension dawned over Sam. "Ooohhhh... I'll talk to Toby." He returned to his seat and Ainsley resumed comforting CJ. "Is there any way we could arrange for CJ to not address the Press Pool tonight?"
"I mean, yeah... We tell 'em that she's got laryngitis. ... The hard part is gonna be lying to Leo." Toby said.
CJ looked up. "No, you're not lying for me. I can handle it."
"We could do it. We just have to-" Sam said.
CJ's bloodshot eyes popped. "Are you CRAZY?! We'd never be able to pull that off. I appreciate you guys trying ta help, but I'll be fine." She wiped away the running mascara and left.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sam's POV
Daylight streamed through Josh's window. Sam stood in Josh's doorway with Josh's green chalkboard to his right. "How'd it go last night?"
Josh avoided eye contact with the daylight streaming through his window in the background. "… We ... we broke up."
Sam walked in. "What happened?" He sat down opposite Josh. 'You can fix this.'
Josh sighed. "We argued about the welfare vote and that's when I got the call about Simon Donovan. After that, Amy gave a half-assed apology about the way she had been talking about Ainsley-"
'Wait, Ainsley?' Sam furrowed his brows. "Wait what?"
"She's been blaming Ainsley for the marriage incentives and for the White House selling out to the Republicans. She even called her a bimbo the other day. Last night she even wanted to call Ainsley and ask her what she thinks. I told her absolutely not and that's when Toby called. After that, she gave that half-assed apology and that's when we broke up." Josh said.
'Woah.' "Sorry to hear that." Sam raised his eyebrows. "She really said all that?"
Josh nodded. "Unfortunately."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Josh's POV
Ainsley gently knocked on Josh's open office door. "Hi."The green onyx and pearl earring set that Sam gave her dangled from her ears.
Josh looked up. "Hey! Sam's in the Roosevelt Room with Ed and Larry. He should be out any second."
Her nude pumps clicked on the floor as she entered Josh's office. "Actually… I came to see you."
Josh furrowed his brows. "Oh?"
"Sam told me what happened with Amy, and I … I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the way things ended for you two." Ainsley's french pink suit and matching pencil skirt stood in contrast with the green chalkboard next to her.
Josh waved it off. "Naahh, it's okay."
"I also wanted to let you know that I was really touched that you stood up for me the way you did." Ainsley said.
Josh shrugged. "I just don't like people attacking my family."
Ainsley's eyes went big. "You think of me as ... as family?"
'You're like my sister.' Josh nodded. "Yeah."