Sweet Revenge
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed and Abbey celebrated her six-months drug-free anniversary. Emma became excited at the thought of using Jed to destroy Abbey
Summary: Jed has a surprise for Abbey and Emma claims a news reporter is threatening to air a piece about Abbey's drug problem
Feedback is always appreciated!
After dinner, Jed and Abbey's celebration moved into the bedroom. He sat her down on the bed, then positioned himself just a few feet away. He put both hands on the edge of his wheelchair and slowly began to lift himself up.
"Jed, what are you doing?"
"It's okay," he said, easing her concern.
Abbey couldn't believe her eyes. Jed was able to stand up and walk towards her.
"Oh my god," she gasped as she stood up in front of him and began to touch him.
"I got the results back today. I've been feeling so much better. There's a reason. I'm in remission."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to until the doctor confirmed it. I was afraid of getting your hopes up, and I didn't want anything to ruin tonight."
Abbey cupped his face in her hands. With tears streaming down her face, she pushed her lips into his and released all her built-up emotions into one long, steamy kiss. Jed began to walk her backwards until the back of her legs hit the bed. He gently pushed her until she was laying back, with him on top of her.
"Jed, please make love to me."
It had been so long since they had made love. Part of him was afraid that he wouldn't be able to connect with her the way he did before the wheelchair. That fear soon passed their bodies were joined once again.
Meanwhile, in the press office, CJ had a crisis. Emma told her about rumors circulating around Manchester about the President's accident six months earlier. According to Emma, a reporter at Channel 9 was claiming that Abbey was unable to help her husband because she was high on pain killers. Obviousy, part of that was false. Abbey was never addicted to pain killers. Then again, there really wasn't even a reporter snooping around the story.
"Who's the reporter?" CJ wanted to know.
"Let me handle it," Emma begged.
"No way. This is my territory."
"CJ, I know him. I know him personally. If you get on the phone, he'll run the piece on the 6 o'clock news tonight. If I talk to him, I can get him to back off."
"It's not even true! If he runs it, we'll sue his ass for slander."
"He has sources," she replied. "CJ?"
"Yeah?"
"Do we know it's not true?"
CJ ignored her question. Of course she didn't know if it was true. She had heard the same rumors. Abbey was her friend, but she had never talked to her about this. She couldn't bring herself to ask if she had a drug problem. But now that the press was involved, she had to know. She headed to the Residence, shouting, "fix it," to Emma on the way out.
By the time CJ arrived at the Residence, Jed and Abbey were basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. They sighed in frustration as they got dressed when they discovered that their time alone was coming to an end.
"I'm sorry to disturb you tonight."
"It's okay, CJ. What's going on?" Jed asked.
"Sir, you're walking?" CJ was shocked to see the President on his feet.
"Yes, I am. I'm in remission."
"That's great!"
Abbey walked over to her husband, placing her arm around him and grinning at him with pride. "So what's this all about, Claudia Jean?"
"Ma'am..."
"CJ, we've talked about this before. When we're in the Residence, it's Abbey."
"Okay, Abbey, there's a story that's coming out regarding you and pain killers."
Abbey took small steps back towards the sofa. She didn't expect this. How did anyone find out? The only people who knew were Jed, Leo, and the other members of the AA group. She didn't even know that Charlie had seen her take her pills the day that Jed collapsed.
Jed approached her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder to let her know it was okay. Abbey realized that the only way CJ could help her now was if she was completely honest with her. CJ had to be told.
"They weren't pain killers," Abbey said.
"I'm sorry?"
"I said they weren't pain killers. They were anti-anxiety drugs."
And with that, Abbey sat CJ down and told her the whole story, except, of course, the part about the patient in Boston. That was something she wasn't ready to talk about with anyone but Jed. She hadn't even brought it up in therapy.
CJ didn't judge her. She came out of press secretary-mode and gave her friend a hug. She was glad that Abbey had sought help for the problem and was convinced that regardless of what the press threw at them, the courage the First Lady showed in getting off the drugs would outweigh all the negative publicity. Abbey wasn't so sure.
Jed was proud of his wife for finally getting to a point where she could talk about her addiction. But now that the press was aware of it, he wanted to protect her from the public scrutiny to which she'd be subjected. The three headed back to the press office to talk to Emma, not expecting her to have a surprise of her own.
"It's taken care of."
"What do you mean?" CJ asked.
"It's over. The reporter said he wasn't going to run the story."
"How on Earth did you do that?" Abbey asked.
"I have my ways," Emma replied with a coy smile.
"This is why I always said you were priceless," Jed remarked as he walked closer to the Deputy Press Secretary. "From the first day you interned for me in New Hampshire, I knew one day those wits of yours would get me out of trouble. I guess I should thank CJ for hiring you."
Jed gave Emma a fatherly hug, but Emma held on tight, knowing every second she spent in Jed's arms was another second Abbey was tormented by her presence.
"I only hired her with your blessing, Sir," a smiling CJ commented.
When Jed first told Abbey CJ had hired Emma, Abbey's old feelings of mistrust towards the woman came creeping back. Even in New Hampshire, there was something evil about her that Abbey couldn't quite put her finger on. She was good at her job, a little too good. Jed appreciated her work, but Abbey was always suspicious. At first, she thought it was simply jealousy. Emma was a statuesque young woman with flowing blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. It didn't hurt that she was also a well-read intellectual whom her husband sometimes referred to as brilliant.
But Abbey knew there was no reason to be jealous. She trusted Jed. He would never have an affair with another woman, much less someone young enough to be his daughter. After a while, she realized it wasn't her insecurities that made her hate Emma. It was Emma. She couldn't shake the feeling that that woman was just wired wrong. Something wasn't right about her and Abbey knew it.
And now, here she was again, after all these years. Emma was all grown up and this time, it was much worse. At least in New Hampshire, Abbey wasn't involved in the politics. Now, Abbey's drug problem presented a conflict for the President and Emma came riding to the rescue, trying to save the day. The worst part was, she did save the day. She was the hero in this little teleplay. She earned Jed's gratitude and she knew it. And what motivated her even more was that Abbey knew it too.
This was just the beginning.
TBC
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed and Abbey celebrated her six-months drug-free anniversary. Emma became excited at the thought of using Jed to destroy Abbey
Summary: Jed has a surprise for Abbey and Emma claims a news reporter is threatening to air a piece about Abbey's drug problem
Feedback is always appreciated!
After dinner, Jed and Abbey's celebration moved into the bedroom. He sat her down on the bed, then positioned himself just a few feet away. He put both hands on the edge of his wheelchair and slowly began to lift himself up.
"Jed, what are you doing?"
"It's okay," he said, easing her concern.
Abbey couldn't believe her eyes. Jed was able to stand up and walk towards her.
"Oh my god," she gasped as she stood up in front of him and began to touch him.
"I got the results back today. I've been feeling so much better. There's a reason. I'm in remission."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to until the doctor confirmed it. I was afraid of getting your hopes up, and I didn't want anything to ruin tonight."
Abbey cupped his face in her hands. With tears streaming down her face, she pushed her lips into his and released all her built-up emotions into one long, steamy kiss. Jed began to walk her backwards until the back of her legs hit the bed. He gently pushed her until she was laying back, with him on top of her.
"Jed, please make love to me."
It had been so long since they had made love. Part of him was afraid that he wouldn't be able to connect with her the way he did before the wheelchair. That fear soon passed their bodies were joined once again.
Meanwhile, in the press office, CJ had a crisis. Emma told her about rumors circulating around Manchester about the President's accident six months earlier. According to Emma, a reporter at Channel 9 was claiming that Abbey was unable to help her husband because she was high on pain killers. Obviousy, part of that was false. Abbey was never addicted to pain killers. Then again, there really wasn't even a reporter snooping around the story.
"Who's the reporter?" CJ wanted to know.
"Let me handle it," Emma begged.
"No way. This is my territory."
"CJ, I know him. I know him personally. If you get on the phone, he'll run the piece on the 6 o'clock news tonight. If I talk to him, I can get him to back off."
"It's not even true! If he runs it, we'll sue his ass for slander."
"He has sources," she replied. "CJ?"
"Yeah?"
"Do we know it's not true?"
CJ ignored her question. Of course she didn't know if it was true. She had heard the same rumors. Abbey was her friend, but she had never talked to her about this. She couldn't bring herself to ask if she had a drug problem. But now that the press was involved, she had to know. She headed to the Residence, shouting, "fix it," to Emma on the way out.
By the time CJ arrived at the Residence, Jed and Abbey were basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. They sighed in frustration as they got dressed when they discovered that their time alone was coming to an end.
"I'm sorry to disturb you tonight."
"It's okay, CJ. What's going on?" Jed asked.
"Sir, you're walking?" CJ was shocked to see the President on his feet.
"Yes, I am. I'm in remission."
"That's great!"
Abbey walked over to her husband, placing her arm around him and grinning at him with pride. "So what's this all about, Claudia Jean?"
"Ma'am..."
"CJ, we've talked about this before. When we're in the Residence, it's Abbey."
"Okay, Abbey, there's a story that's coming out regarding you and pain killers."
Abbey took small steps back towards the sofa. She didn't expect this. How did anyone find out? The only people who knew were Jed, Leo, and the other members of the AA group. She didn't even know that Charlie had seen her take her pills the day that Jed collapsed.
Jed approached her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder to let her know it was okay. Abbey realized that the only way CJ could help her now was if she was completely honest with her. CJ had to be told.
"They weren't pain killers," Abbey said.
"I'm sorry?"
"I said they weren't pain killers. They were anti-anxiety drugs."
And with that, Abbey sat CJ down and told her the whole story, except, of course, the part about the patient in Boston. That was something she wasn't ready to talk about with anyone but Jed. She hadn't even brought it up in therapy.
CJ didn't judge her. She came out of press secretary-mode and gave her friend a hug. She was glad that Abbey had sought help for the problem and was convinced that regardless of what the press threw at them, the courage the First Lady showed in getting off the drugs would outweigh all the negative publicity. Abbey wasn't so sure.
Jed was proud of his wife for finally getting to a point where she could talk about her addiction. But now that the press was aware of it, he wanted to protect her from the public scrutiny to which she'd be subjected. The three headed back to the press office to talk to Emma, not expecting her to have a surprise of her own.
"It's taken care of."
"What do you mean?" CJ asked.
"It's over. The reporter said he wasn't going to run the story."
"How on Earth did you do that?" Abbey asked.
"I have my ways," Emma replied with a coy smile.
"This is why I always said you were priceless," Jed remarked as he walked closer to the Deputy Press Secretary. "From the first day you interned for me in New Hampshire, I knew one day those wits of yours would get me out of trouble. I guess I should thank CJ for hiring you."
Jed gave Emma a fatherly hug, but Emma held on tight, knowing every second she spent in Jed's arms was another second Abbey was tormented by her presence.
"I only hired her with your blessing, Sir," a smiling CJ commented.
When Jed first told Abbey CJ had hired Emma, Abbey's old feelings of mistrust towards the woman came creeping back. Even in New Hampshire, there was something evil about her that Abbey couldn't quite put her finger on. She was good at her job, a little too good. Jed appreciated her work, but Abbey was always suspicious. At first, she thought it was simply jealousy. Emma was a statuesque young woman with flowing blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. It didn't hurt that she was also a well-read intellectual whom her husband sometimes referred to as brilliant.
But Abbey knew there was no reason to be jealous. She trusted Jed. He would never have an affair with another woman, much less someone young enough to be his daughter. After a while, she realized it wasn't her insecurities that made her hate Emma. It was Emma. She couldn't shake the feeling that that woman was just wired wrong. Something wasn't right about her and Abbey knew it.
And now, here she was again, after all these years. Emma was all grown up and this time, it was much worse. At least in New Hampshire, Abbey wasn't involved in the politics. Now, Abbey's drug problem presented a conflict for the President and Emma came riding to the rescue, trying to save the day. The worst part was, she did save the day. She was the hero in this little teleplay. She earned Jed's gratitude and she knew it. And what motivated her even more was that Abbey knew it too.
This was just the beginning.
TBC