Thanks Kim, for writing much of this for me since I know nothing about
Poker.
Part 6
After hours of play, the true poker players were revealed. Charlie sat tearing the label from his cola bottle, a few chips scattered before him. CJ sat, her face glowing, her chips crowding Toby's who sat next to her. Josh and Sam had long since gotten passed the point of playing sensibly as they sat drinking their third beers. Abbey and the President had a modest pile each and Leo had a few more than the two of them combined.
"I have to get home," said Abbey, looking around at her companions. "Unfortunately, the grass in my yard will have to be bailed if I don't get up early in the morning and cut it. I have to be at the hospital all evening."
"You could pay someone to do that, Abbey. I can recommend someone," said Toby.
"Now why would I pay someone when I have such a sweet brother-in-law who is just dying to do it for me," said Abbey with a sly smile. She leaned over and bumped shoulders with Leo. "I think you owe me for getting me here tonight, don't you, Leo?"
Leo looked at her pitifully. "Abbey."
"Don't you, Leo?" reiterated Abbey, fixing him with a look.
"Does the riding mower have gas?" asked Leo grumpily. "Because if it doesn't, I'm buying it some."
Abbey snorted. "It does and I'll even provide you with coffee and donuts, those raspberry jelly ones that the girls say you always eat before they get one."
The President watched the exchange with fear in his heart. She couldn't leave! Not yet! He had to do something to win her heart, something from which she could not return to a state where she could live without him. "One more hand!" The President blurted this out, drowning out Leo who was trying to convince Abbey that 6:00 a.m. was too early to be mowing one's lawn.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"I guess I could stay for another hand," said Toby, leaning back and stuffing three black olives in his mouth.
"Me, too," said Sam and Josh in unison which got them started giggling again.
"I need this hand to win back what I lost," lamented Charlie, taking a sip of his Cherry cola.
CJ sought to help Jed get Abbey to stay. "Another hand is a fabulous idea. You can stay for that, can't you, Abbey? I mean if your lawn boy is tired, he can rest on the couch while we play." CJ smiled sweetly at Leo who glared at her.
"The lawn boy is not tired," grumbled Leo, getting even grouchier when he realized he had referred to himself with that title. "I'm ready to take home some more of your money."
Abbey glanced at her watch. "I suppose one more hand wouldn't hurt. Jenny and the girls are probably sleeping anyway."
The President began to deal the cards. He dealt a card to each player, face down. "Now the fun starts." He dealt to Leo on his right first, turning up a seven of clubs. Suddenly an ingenious idea popped into his head. "What do you say we up the ante a little?"
"You mean like strip poker?" giggled Josh, waving his beer bottle back and forth.
"Josh, sshh!" CJ took the bottle from him and put her hand over his mouth.
The President reigned in his embarrassment.
Abbey had watched him get redder and redder. "Actually I think strip poker could be fun."
Toby, Sam and Josh all shot her a glance. The President was now fire engine red.
"I'm just kidding, you bunch of dopes, do you think I'd take my clothes off in The White House?" asked Abbey, rolling her eyes.
"You'd take them off somewhere else?" Josh's eyes got wide.
Abbey fixed him with a look. "You think I wouldn't. Just ask Leo. Lane and I once had people over." As Abbey mentioned Lane's name, she felt Leo wince beside her. She cut the story off mid-sentence and awkwardly stacked her poker chips.
The President took the silence as his opening. "I had something a little more tame in mind. It involves you, Abbey." Bartlet focused on Abbey like they were the only people in the room. "One hand, if I win, you marry me."
Abbey's eyebrows rose as she studied Jed Bartlet's face to see how much of him was kidding.
Josh and Sam sat there with their mouths open. CJ gave a content smile. Charlie took a long drink of his cola and Leo continued to stare at his poker chips. Only Toby seemed unfazed.
"You win, I marry you." Abbey repeated the dare. "What if I win?"
Bartlet contemplated this. It was all or nothing. "If you win, I'll stay out of your life forever."
"You don't want to do this." Leo spoke up, still looking at his chips. "Marriage is not something to joke about."
Abbey looked questioningly at the President. She knew she had started Leo thinking about the hell they had been through with Lane over the years and she wanted to bring him out of that if possible, but still she was intrigued by the President's proposition. She would never take him up on it, because what would happen if she lost, but she was overwhelmed at the gesture.
"Leo's right," said the President respectfully. "I'd like to change the bet." Bartlet had spoken seriously, but now the playful spirit invaded his voice. "New rules. I win, you go on a true date with me, no one else along, no poker, a true date. You win and I leave you alone. It's that simple. Do you have the nerve?"
Leo's head raised and he looked at the President. Abbey McGarry had more nerve than anyone he knew and the President had just called her into question. Now he was in trouble.
"You're on," exclaimed Abbey. Confidence was her middle name. She would win and then, she wouldn't have to feel guilty anymore for breaking his heart.
"Great," said the President, eager to continue dealing.
"You're going through with this.really.you are, aren't you?" A stunned Sam contemplated what this could mean.
"Yes, I'm going through with it and I'm going to win," said Abbey.
"What if someone besides the two of you wins?" asked Charlie.
"Won't happen," boasted the President, tapping Leo's seven of clubs.
"I bet two," said Leo shakily, still thrown by memories of Lane.
Next, the President dealt a ten of hearts to Abbey.
"Check," said Abbey, throwing in two chips.
Bartlet continued on around the table, finally giving himself a six of diamonds. Everyone remained in. Beginning with Leo again, he moved to the next card. It was a two of spades. "No help for the lawn boy." The President winked at Leo's glare before he dealt Abbey a ten of spades. "Two 10s for my future date."
After several more times around the table, the tension was growing. Everyone else had cards, too, but they were focused on the President and Abbey. Abbey had three tens and a two of diamonds showing with one card turned down while the President had the four, the five, the six and the seven of diamonds showing with one card turned down.
"Possible straight for the Prez," cheered Josh.
At the President's glare, CJ again put her hand over a slightly tipsy Josh's mouth.
"Leo," prompted the President.
"Check," said Leo, tossing in three chips.
The President glanced questioningly at Leo who had a terrible hand, but continued to bet anyway.
"I'm in," said Abbey, tossing in her chips.
"I fold," said Charlie dejectedly laying his cards face down. "Maybe next time."
Toby tossed his chips in the center of the table as did CJ. Josh and Sam both folded. The President raised.
At this, Leo folded. "Is there anymore pastrami?" He got up and headed for the cart that held the food.
Abbey looked at her hidden card. It was the other ten. She had won; she knew it. She had four of a kind, all that could beat that was a straight flush and what was the likelihood that Bartlet would be lucky enough to get that. The odds of a straight flush occurring in Five Card Stud were rare. Her confidence caused her to smile. "I want to see what you've got, Mr. President," said Abbey, tossing in more chips.
"I fold," said Toby, finishing the last of the olives.
"Me, too," said CJ. She had a good hand, but she wanted this to be between the President and Abbey.
The President tossed in the required amount of chips and smiled expectantly at Abbey. "Let's see what you got."
Abbey smiled back just as strongly and revealed her fourth 10. "Four of a kind! Sorry, Mr. President; looks like I won't be joining you on that date." Joking helped to ease the jumpiness in Abbey's stomach. She knew the President would be hurt and she regretted winning just the tiniest bit, but it was for the best.
Jed Bartlet sat there with a stunned look on his face. Man, this was close. He needed to turn his cards over quickly for verification that this was true. Very deliberately, he presented each card, speaking as he did. "The four, the five, the six, the seven and the eight of diamonds, a straight flush."
"The President wins!" announced Josh as everyone else had the sober sense to remain quiet and see what would happen.
Abbey stared at the cards for what seemed like a full minute before she raised her eyes to focus on the President who had allowed himself a smile. "A date with you," said Abbey soberly.
"Abbey." The President almost thought about letting her off the hook. He didn't like the look on her face. But before he got a chance to say anything, she bolted from the room.
Jed jumped to his feet, but before he could take even one step, he felt Leo's arm on his. He turned to look at Leo who shook his head.
This was turning out to be a bad evening. "Toby, why don't you go and keep Abbey company?" Leo turned back to Jed who he could see was clearly not comfortable at all.
Toby leaving combined with Leo's very serious face didn't stop Jed. He shook himself free and headed in the direction Abbey had gone.
Leo swore under his breath as he followed Jed into the Oval.
They left behind four people who didn't know what to do.
Once inside the Oval, Jed's anxiety still was not relieved. He didn't see anyone. "Where did they go?" He hurried over to the door leading into the outer office, but didn't get far.
Leo sprinted after him and this time really took a firm grip on Jed's left arm. "Don't!"
TBC.....
Part 6
After hours of play, the true poker players were revealed. Charlie sat tearing the label from his cola bottle, a few chips scattered before him. CJ sat, her face glowing, her chips crowding Toby's who sat next to her. Josh and Sam had long since gotten passed the point of playing sensibly as they sat drinking their third beers. Abbey and the President had a modest pile each and Leo had a few more than the two of them combined.
"I have to get home," said Abbey, looking around at her companions. "Unfortunately, the grass in my yard will have to be bailed if I don't get up early in the morning and cut it. I have to be at the hospital all evening."
"You could pay someone to do that, Abbey. I can recommend someone," said Toby.
"Now why would I pay someone when I have such a sweet brother-in-law who is just dying to do it for me," said Abbey with a sly smile. She leaned over and bumped shoulders with Leo. "I think you owe me for getting me here tonight, don't you, Leo?"
Leo looked at her pitifully. "Abbey."
"Don't you, Leo?" reiterated Abbey, fixing him with a look.
"Does the riding mower have gas?" asked Leo grumpily. "Because if it doesn't, I'm buying it some."
Abbey snorted. "It does and I'll even provide you with coffee and donuts, those raspberry jelly ones that the girls say you always eat before they get one."
The President watched the exchange with fear in his heart. She couldn't leave! Not yet! He had to do something to win her heart, something from which she could not return to a state where she could live without him. "One more hand!" The President blurted this out, drowning out Leo who was trying to convince Abbey that 6:00 a.m. was too early to be mowing one's lawn.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"I guess I could stay for another hand," said Toby, leaning back and stuffing three black olives in his mouth.
"Me, too," said Sam and Josh in unison which got them started giggling again.
"I need this hand to win back what I lost," lamented Charlie, taking a sip of his Cherry cola.
CJ sought to help Jed get Abbey to stay. "Another hand is a fabulous idea. You can stay for that, can't you, Abbey? I mean if your lawn boy is tired, he can rest on the couch while we play." CJ smiled sweetly at Leo who glared at her.
"The lawn boy is not tired," grumbled Leo, getting even grouchier when he realized he had referred to himself with that title. "I'm ready to take home some more of your money."
Abbey glanced at her watch. "I suppose one more hand wouldn't hurt. Jenny and the girls are probably sleeping anyway."
The President began to deal the cards. He dealt a card to each player, face down. "Now the fun starts." He dealt to Leo on his right first, turning up a seven of clubs. Suddenly an ingenious idea popped into his head. "What do you say we up the ante a little?"
"You mean like strip poker?" giggled Josh, waving his beer bottle back and forth.
"Josh, sshh!" CJ took the bottle from him and put her hand over his mouth.
The President reigned in his embarrassment.
Abbey had watched him get redder and redder. "Actually I think strip poker could be fun."
Toby, Sam and Josh all shot her a glance. The President was now fire engine red.
"I'm just kidding, you bunch of dopes, do you think I'd take my clothes off in The White House?" asked Abbey, rolling her eyes.
"You'd take them off somewhere else?" Josh's eyes got wide.
Abbey fixed him with a look. "You think I wouldn't. Just ask Leo. Lane and I once had people over." As Abbey mentioned Lane's name, she felt Leo wince beside her. She cut the story off mid-sentence and awkwardly stacked her poker chips.
The President took the silence as his opening. "I had something a little more tame in mind. It involves you, Abbey." Bartlet focused on Abbey like they were the only people in the room. "One hand, if I win, you marry me."
Abbey's eyebrows rose as she studied Jed Bartlet's face to see how much of him was kidding.
Josh and Sam sat there with their mouths open. CJ gave a content smile. Charlie took a long drink of his cola and Leo continued to stare at his poker chips. Only Toby seemed unfazed.
"You win, I marry you." Abbey repeated the dare. "What if I win?"
Bartlet contemplated this. It was all or nothing. "If you win, I'll stay out of your life forever."
"You don't want to do this." Leo spoke up, still looking at his chips. "Marriage is not something to joke about."
Abbey looked questioningly at the President. She knew she had started Leo thinking about the hell they had been through with Lane over the years and she wanted to bring him out of that if possible, but still she was intrigued by the President's proposition. She would never take him up on it, because what would happen if she lost, but she was overwhelmed at the gesture.
"Leo's right," said the President respectfully. "I'd like to change the bet." Bartlet had spoken seriously, but now the playful spirit invaded his voice. "New rules. I win, you go on a true date with me, no one else along, no poker, a true date. You win and I leave you alone. It's that simple. Do you have the nerve?"
Leo's head raised and he looked at the President. Abbey McGarry had more nerve than anyone he knew and the President had just called her into question. Now he was in trouble.
"You're on," exclaimed Abbey. Confidence was her middle name. She would win and then, she wouldn't have to feel guilty anymore for breaking his heart.
"Great," said the President, eager to continue dealing.
"You're going through with this.really.you are, aren't you?" A stunned Sam contemplated what this could mean.
"Yes, I'm going through with it and I'm going to win," said Abbey.
"What if someone besides the two of you wins?" asked Charlie.
"Won't happen," boasted the President, tapping Leo's seven of clubs.
"I bet two," said Leo shakily, still thrown by memories of Lane.
Next, the President dealt a ten of hearts to Abbey.
"Check," said Abbey, throwing in two chips.
Bartlet continued on around the table, finally giving himself a six of diamonds. Everyone remained in. Beginning with Leo again, he moved to the next card. It was a two of spades. "No help for the lawn boy." The President winked at Leo's glare before he dealt Abbey a ten of spades. "Two 10s for my future date."
After several more times around the table, the tension was growing. Everyone else had cards, too, but they were focused on the President and Abbey. Abbey had three tens and a two of diamonds showing with one card turned down while the President had the four, the five, the six and the seven of diamonds showing with one card turned down.
"Possible straight for the Prez," cheered Josh.
At the President's glare, CJ again put her hand over a slightly tipsy Josh's mouth.
"Leo," prompted the President.
"Check," said Leo, tossing in three chips.
The President glanced questioningly at Leo who had a terrible hand, but continued to bet anyway.
"I'm in," said Abbey, tossing in her chips.
"I fold," said Charlie dejectedly laying his cards face down. "Maybe next time."
Toby tossed his chips in the center of the table as did CJ. Josh and Sam both folded. The President raised.
At this, Leo folded. "Is there anymore pastrami?" He got up and headed for the cart that held the food.
Abbey looked at her hidden card. It was the other ten. She had won; she knew it. She had four of a kind, all that could beat that was a straight flush and what was the likelihood that Bartlet would be lucky enough to get that. The odds of a straight flush occurring in Five Card Stud were rare. Her confidence caused her to smile. "I want to see what you've got, Mr. President," said Abbey, tossing in more chips.
"I fold," said Toby, finishing the last of the olives.
"Me, too," said CJ. She had a good hand, but she wanted this to be between the President and Abbey.
The President tossed in the required amount of chips and smiled expectantly at Abbey. "Let's see what you got."
Abbey smiled back just as strongly and revealed her fourth 10. "Four of a kind! Sorry, Mr. President; looks like I won't be joining you on that date." Joking helped to ease the jumpiness in Abbey's stomach. She knew the President would be hurt and she regretted winning just the tiniest bit, but it was for the best.
Jed Bartlet sat there with a stunned look on his face. Man, this was close. He needed to turn his cards over quickly for verification that this was true. Very deliberately, he presented each card, speaking as he did. "The four, the five, the six, the seven and the eight of diamonds, a straight flush."
"The President wins!" announced Josh as everyone else had the sober sense to remain quiet and see what would happen.
Abbey stared at the cards for what seemed like a full minute before she raised her eyes to focus on the President who had allowed himself a smile. "A date with you," said Abbey soberly.
"Abbey." The President almost thought about letting her off the hook. He didn't like the look on her face. But before he got a chance to say anything, she bolted from the room.
Jed jumped to his feet, but before he could take even one step, he felt Leo's arm on his. He turned to look at Leo who shook his head.
This was turning out to be a bad evening. "Toby, why don't you go and keep Abbey company?" Leo turned back to Jed who he could see was clearly not comfortable at all.
Toby leaving combined with Leo's very serious face didn't stop Jed. He shook himself free and headed in the direction Abbey had gone.
Leo swore under his breath as he followed Jed into the Oval.
They left behind four people who didn't know what to do.
Once inside the Oval, Jed's anxiety still was not relieved. He didn't see anyone. "Where did they go?" He hurried over to the door leading into the outer office, but didn't get far.
Leo sprinted after him and this time really took a firm grip on Jed's left arm. "Don't!"
TBC.....