Sweet Revenge
Chapter 11
Disclaimers: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed fired Emma after finally seeing through her manipulation. Abbey was still angry about Jed's recent behvaior and the fact that he told Emma about her past drug addiction.
Summary: It's a showdown between Emma and Abbey.
The next few weeks tested First Couple's devotion and love. Abbey felt betrayed by her husband. She listened to Jed's apologies over and over again, but she still felt anger towards Jed. She knew she'd get over it, eventually, now that Emma was finally out of the West Wing. What she didn't count on was being a target for the deranged young woman even after her departure.
It had been less than three weeks since Jed had fired her, and already, the Secret Service was intercepting messages from Emma to Abbey. They weren't threatening messages, but they were messages that Ron Butterfield felt Jed should know about.
In her letters, Emma wrote that she enjoyed her time at the White House and that she was sorry it was so brief. She told Abbey that Jed was a good man and that she shouldn't find comfort in the arms of Leo McGarry -- that Jed wouldn't forgive her if he knew the truth. It was obviously the writing of a delusional person, but it didn't come across as crazed and demented. Perhaps that was strangest part. She wrote to Abbey as if she was her best girlfriend, just giving her some advice.
Jed didn't tell Abbey about the letters. He didn't have to. Abbey had heard about them from her staff, some of whom had seen them. She didn't know what she had done to become Emma's target, other than never taking a liking to her. But she realized it had to be more than that. Was it really all about winning Jed's love, she wondered, or did Emma have some other motive for trying to separate her from her husband? She needed CJ's help to find out.
"I have a project for you, CJ," Abbey said to her as she walked in to her office. "I want to figure out a way to find out exactly what our dear friend Emma is up to."
"What do you have in mind?"
"I want to talk to her."
"Ma'am, I really don't think that's a good idea."
"CJ, she's been out of this place for three weeks and she's still harassing me. I need to know what she's after."
"What does it matter? She's gone. In a few weeks, she'll get bored with her little letter-writing campaign and that'll be the end of it."
"It matters, CJ. I have to know. And I have to be ready in case..."
"In case what?"
"In case she ever slithers back into our lives."
CJ saw the determination on her face and realized that that stubborn streak Jed always spoke about was very much visible. She knew Abbey would go see Emma with or without her, so she agreed to tag along. if for no other reason, to be there in case things turned ugly.
The two women left the White House and made their way to Emma's apartment, with Abbey's agent not too far behind. When Emma answered her door to see them standing in front her, her immediate reaction was to close it right away. CJ held it open and she and Abbey made their way inside. Abbey's agent stayed outside.
"What do you want?" Emma asked them.
"I want to know why," Abbey answered.
"Why what?"
Abbey circled around her, glaring at the posters and photos on her wall. "You're very good at this, Emma. You had my husband fooled for quite some time. Jed thinks you simply wanted to come between us so you could seduce him." She turned to look at Emma. "You and I both know there's more to it than that."
"Your husband's as delusional as you are," she answered, sparking anger in Abbey.
"Don't talk about him like that," she warned with coldness in her eyes.
"You've said worse."
"I'm allowed. He's my husband. You watch your mouth!"
Emma chuckled at her serious tone and expression. "Or what? Are you threatening me?"
Abbey ignored her question and continued with her own. "You're still sending me letters. Obviously, this isn't over. So tell us why."
Emma laughed hysterically. "And why would I want to do that?"
"Because you're not stupid. You put in all this time and energy and you're after something and we'll eventually find out what it is." CJ interjected.
Abbey contined to glance around the room. Her eyes were drawn to one framed photograph that lay among the momentos scattered all over Emma's apartment. It was a picture of Emma and a man, presumably her boyfriend. They made a very attractive-looking couple, her with the thin, yet tall frame and long, wavy blonde hair and him, the tall, dark, and handsome stranger, with chestnut brown hair and piercing green eyes. To Abbey, though, he was no stranger. She had seen that man before and she wouldn't soon forget him.
Emma followed Abbey's stare and realized what had grabbed her attention, she reached over and pulled the picture frame face-down. It was too late. Abbey already put the pieces together and Emma knew that.
"He was your boyfriend?" Abbey hesitantly asked.
"Who? What's going on?" CJ asked, completely oblivious to the revelation.
Emma's demeanor changed entirely. She immediately became defensive. "Try fiance."
Abbey nodded as she mentally began putting the pieces together. "Is that why?"
"Don't flatter yourself. I didn't come here because of you, though the thought of being here to watch you lie to everyone over and over again certainly was appealing."
As Emma approached Abbey, CJ stood in between. "You're getting too close," she said to Emma.
"You really need your bodyguard here for this?" Emma asked Abbey, referring to CJ.
CJ took a few steps closer to Emma to physically force her to back up. "Here for what?"
"The First Lady didn't tell you? She killed Michael."
Abbey cringed at the mention of his name. After all this time, she couldn't bring herself to ever say it. She never referred to him by name. It was always just her "patient."
"Who's Michael?"
"This is Michael!" Emma exclaimed shoving the picture in front of CJ, then in front of Abbey. "Take a good look! This is who you took from me!" she shouted as CJ pulled her arms back.
"Back off, Emma! There's an agent standing right outside the door, waiting for my signal. This isn't a line you want to cross!" CJ warned.
Abbey was paralyzed by shock. She couldn't talk or move. This is why Emma was in their lives. This is why she did all the things she did. She wanted to take Jed away, the same way Abbey had taken Michael away. Finally, it all made sense to her.
"Abbey, let's go," CJ whispered to Abbey.
Abbey turned to leave as Emma grabbed CJ's arm, pulling her back to face her.
"You keep her the hell away from me," Emma said.
CJ harshly shrugged her hand away. "You don't have to worry about that."
As the two exchanged words, Abbey stared down at a pink journal on the counter in front of her. She reached over and discreetly put it in her purse before CJ ushered her out.
Back in the West Wing, Jed was furiously trying to get his work done before he and Abbey left for Christmas in Manchester. It was a holiday they always looked forward to, but no year more than this. Last Christmas, they spent the day apart, marred by the trouble they were having after Zoey's death. None of the family felt like celebrating, so other than a few calls back and forth between Jed and his daughters, the day had come and gone without any recognition whatsoever. This year, they were going to make up for that.
Aside from the problems generated by Emma, Jed had something else on his plate. Leo had reminded him that morning that they still hadn't hired a new Press Secretary. In the meantime, another deputy from the Communications Department was handling the briefings, but he was out of his league in the press room. Josh, Sam, and Toby had too much on their plate, and the press was getting sick of all the changes. He knew what he should do -- ask CJ to come back, this time with a bigger, more sincere apology than before. But first, he'd have to talk to Abbey since CJ was her employee now.
Meanwhile, when CJ and Abbey arrived back at the White House, Abbey informed her staff she would be taking the rest of the day off. She invited CJ to the Residence, where she was sure they would be alone. CJ's curiosity wouldn't let her pass up the offer. She still hadn't fit all the pieces of the puzzle. She didn't know why Emma accused Abbey of killing her fiance, until she thought back to the conversation she had with Emma before Thanksgiving. Emma had said that her fiance died because the surgeon performing the operation was high.
Finally, it all came together. Abbey's drug problem, her time in Boston, and the timing of her trip back to the White House. Silence filled the room, but the words didn't need to be said. Abbey knew she had enough information to figure it out for herself. CJ looked up at the First Lady quizzically, as if waiting for confirmation that she was the surgeon Emma was talking about.
Abbey looked into her friend's eyes and simply nodded.
TBC
Chapter 11
Disclaimers: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed fired Emma after finally seeing through her manipulation. Abbey was still angry about Jed's recent behvaior and the fact that he told Emma about her past drug addiction.
Summary: It's a showdown between Emma and Abbey.
The next few weeks tested First Couple's devotion and love. Abbey felt betrayed by her husband. She listened to Jed's apologies over and over again, but she still felt anger towards Jed. She knew she'd get over it, eventually, now that Emma was finally out of the West Wing. What she didn't count on was being a target for the deranged young woman even after her departure.
It had been less than three weeks since Jed had fired her, and already, the Secret Service was intercepting messages from Emma to Abbey. They weren't threatening messages, but they were messages that Ron Butterfield felt Jed should know about.
In her letters, Emma wrote that she enjoyed her time at the White House and that she was sorry it was so brief. She told Abbey that Jed was a good man and that she shouldn't find comfort in the arms of Leo McGarry -- that Jed wouldn't forgive her if he knew the truth. It was obviously the writing of a delusional person, but it didn't come across as crazed and demented. Perhaps that was strangest part. She wrote to Abbey as if she was her best girlfriend, just giving her some advice.
Jed didn't tell Abbey about the letters. He didn't have to. Abbey had heard about them from her staff, some of whom had seen them. She didn't know what she had done to become Emma's target, other than never taking a liking to her. But she realized it had to be more than that. Was it really all about winning Jed's love, she wondered, or did Emma have some other motive for trying to separate her from her husband? She needed CJ's help to find out.
"I have a project for you, CJ," Abbey said to her as she walked in to her office. "I want to figure out a way to find out exactly what our dear friend Emma is up to."
"What do you have in mind?"
"I want to talk to her."
"Ma'am, I really don't think that's a good idea."
"CJ, she's been out of this place for three weeks and she's still harassing me. I need to know what she's after."
"What does it matter? She's gone. In a few weeks, she'll get bored with her little letter-writing campaign and that'll be the end of it."
"It matters, CJ. I have to know. And I have to be ready in case..."
"In case what?"
"In case she ever slithers back into our lives."
CJ saw the determination on her face and realized that that stubborn streak Jed always spoke about was very much visible. She knew Abbey would go see Emma with or without her, so she agreed to tag along. if for no other reason, to be there in case things turned ugly.
The two women left the White House and made their way to Emma's apartment, with Abbey's agent not too far behind. When Emma answered her door to see them standing in front her, her immediate reaction was to close it right away. CJ held it open and she and Abbey made their way inside. Abbey's agent stayed outside.
"What do you want?" Emma asked them.
"I want to know why," Abbey answered.
"Why what?"
Abbey circled around her, glaring at the posters and photos on her wall. "You're very good at this, Emma. You had my husband fooled for quite some time. Jed thinks you simply wanted to come between us so you could seduce him." She turned to look at Emma. "You and I both know there's more to it than that."
"Your husband's as delusional as you are," she answered, sparking anger in Abbey.
"Don't talk about him like that," she warned with coldness in her eyes.
"You've said worse."
"I'm allowed. He's my husband. You watch your mouth!"
Emma chuckled at her serious tone and expression. "Or what? Are you threatening me?"
Abbey ignored her question and continued with her own. "You're still sending me letters. Obviously, this isn't over. So tell us why."
Emma laughed hysterically. "And why would I want to do that?"
"Because you're not stupid. You put in all this time and energy and you're after something and we'll eventually find out what it is." CJ interjected.
Abbey contined to glance around the room. Her eyes were drawn to one framed photograph that lay among the momentos scattered all over Emma's apartment. It was a picture of Emma and a man, presumably her boyfriend. They made a very attractive-looking couple, her with the thin, yet tall frame and long, wavy blonde hair and him, the tall, dark, and handsome stranger, with chestnut brown hair and piercing green eyes. To Abbey, though, he was no stranger. She had seen that man before and she wouldn't soon forget him.
Emma followed Abbey's stare and realized what had grabbed her attention, she reached over and pulled the picture frame face-down. It was too late. Abbey already put the pieces together and Emma knew that.
"He was your boyfriend?" Abbey hesitantly asked.
"Who? What's going on?" CJ asked, completely oblivious to the revelation.
Emma's demeanor changed entirely. She immediately became defensive. "Try fiance."
Abbey nodded as she mentally began putting the pieces together. "Is that why?"
"Don't flatter yourself. I didn't come here because of you, though the thought of being here to watch you lie to everyone over and over again certainly was appealing."
As Emma approached Abbey, CJ stood in between. "You're getting too close," she said to Emma.
"You really need your bodyguard here for this?" Emma asked Abbey, referring to CJ.
CJ took a few steps closer to Emma to physically force her to back up. "Here for what?"
"The First Lady didn't tell you? She killed Michael."
Abbey cringed at the mention of his name. After all this time, she couldn't bring herself to ever say it. She never referred to him by name. It was always just her "patient."
"Who's Michael?"
"This is Michael!" Emma exclaimed shoving the picture in front of CJ, then in front of Abbey. "Take a good look! This is who you took from me!" she shouted as CJ pulled her arms back.
"Back off, Emma! There's an agent standing right outside the door, waiting for my signal. This isn't a line you want to cross!" CJ warned.
Abbey was paralyzed by shock. She couldn't talk or move. This is why Emma was in their lives. This is why she did all the things she did. She wanted to take Jed away, the same way Abbey had taken Michael away. Finally, it all made sense to her.
"Abbey, let's go," CJ whispered to Abbey.
Abbey turned to leave as Emma grabbed CJ's arm, pulling her back to face her.
"You keep her the hell away from me," Emma said.
CJ harshly shrugged her hand away. "You don't have to worry about that."
As the two exchanged words, Abbey stared down at a pink journal on the counter in front of her. She reached over and discreetly put it in her purse before CJ ushered her out.
Back in the West Wing, Jed was furiously trying to get his work done before he and Abbey left for Christmas in Manchester. It was a holiday they always looked forward to, but no year more than this. Last Christmas, they spent the day apart, marred by the trouble they were having after Zoey's death. None of the family felt like celebrating, so other than a few calls back and forth between Jed and his daughters, the day had come and gone without any recognition whatsoever. This year, they were going to make up for that.
Aside from the problems generated by Emma, Jed had something else on his plate. Leo had reminded him that morning that they still hadn't hired a new Press Secretary. In the meantime, another deputy from the Communications Department was handling the briefings, but he was out of his league in the press room. Josh, Sam, and Toby had too much on their plate, and the press was getting sick of all the changes. He knew what he should do -- ask CJ to come back, this time with a bigger, more sincere apology than before. But first, he'd have to talk to Abbey since CJ was her employee now.
Meanwhile, when CJ and Abbey arrived back at the White House, Abbey informed her staff she would be taking the rest of the day off. She invited CJ to the Residence, where she was sure they would be alone. CJ's curiosity wouldn't let her pass up the offer. She still hadn't fit all the pieces of the puzzle. She didn't know why Emma accused Abbey of killing her fiance, until she thought back to the conversation she had with Emma before Thanksgiving. Emma had said that her fiance died because the surgeon performing the operation was high.
Finally, it all came together. Abbey's drug problem, her time in Boston, and the timing of her trip back to the White House. Silence filled the room, but the words didn't need to be said. Abbey knew she had enough information to figure it out for herself. CJ looked up at the First Lady quizzically, as if waiting for confirmation that she was the surgeon Emma was talking about.
Abbey looked into her friend's eyes and simply nodded.
TBC