Title: Bipartisanship

Author: ScarlettMithruiel

Classification: R

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: If I had it my way, Toby would be my teddy bear and Josh could easily be stashed in my locker. But no. They're John Wells. Feh.

Author's Note: This chapter sucks. Sorry.

Dedicated: To M&M, for being in the chat, and babbling and helping.

It was pouring. The rain thumped heavily against the bus, creating a steady cadence. Sam was still awake, having been attacked by a bout of insomnia. He leaned against the window and felt the chill of the air and the rain. He had lived in New York City. He didn't mind the cold. Nor the smell of fish water. Another perk from living in that glorious city. He gazed around the bus. Toby was catching a quick nap, as was Josh. Ainsley, presumably, was in the back, still talking to a Republican senator. No, not talking. Arguing. He smiled.

Where were they headed? They were headed to North Carolina, as Ainsley had continually reminded him. Yes, he was somewhat apprehensive about meeting his fiancee's parents, but who wouldn't be apprehensive? He had never met them before. And if they were as staunchly Republican as he heard they were, he would definitely be hated. Banned from the Hayes' house. A condescending side of his brain smirked and imagined them living in a log cabin, but this was not the 1800s, and he was pretty sure Ainsley's father wasn't a lumberjack.

Ainsley stepped tentatively out from the back of the bus to where he sat by the window. She sat next to him and leaned against him, resting her head against his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head. She fluttered her eyes closed. Through the silence of the night, her rasping whisper cut the air sharply. "You nervous about your speech in Raleigh?" He chuckled.

"No. I read a speech, I shake hands, I ensorcell the people. It's what follows that worries me." She propped her head up to gaze at him better.

"You've been talking to Josh lately, haven't you?" He shook his head. "You used the word 'ensorcell.'"

"Are you suggesting that I have a less than stellar vocabulary?" She laughed.

"No." She kissed him on the cheek chastely. "Go to sleep. You should be well-rested for tomorrow." He nodded and watched her disappear into the back again. He missed her warm presence in the morning.

They arrived in Raleigh the following day. It was cold and rainy, but he embraced the climate. He spoke at a few universities, shaking hands and greeting people as he traveled from point A to point B. His heart was in his speeches but a part of it, taking with it some ventricles and some veins and arteries, was still uneasy about the meeting with Ainsley's parents. He, however, knew how to act and therefore, put all effort into his public speaking. Marc Antony didn't win the people of Rome over just because he had a large vocabulary.

Buttons were doled out, as were bumper stickers. Sam wondered where they had money to sponsor this kind of campaign. He didn't question. Usually, his questions were bad news. So he was silent. He felt like a figurehead. The President was supposed to have power, but really, it was his staff who assessed the damage and sorted through the rubble to discover what was important and what wasn't.

After the speech, he walked off the stage, and rolled his shoulders a bit, in an effort to relieve the tension. Ainsley walked over and greeted him with a kiss. Josh and Toby were standing off to the side arguing about something. He heard a rough chuckling and looked up. Ainsley turned around. Her mouth was agape for a few seconds. "I didn't know you'd be here," she whispered. She turned back around. With an apologetic grin, she said quickly, "Sam, these are my parents."