AN: I just want to take the time to thank all of you who have been
commenting and reading this. It definitely keeps me working on it (hard to
believe it's been a year since I started this one!). To those of you who
have felt that this story is a uneven in its depicted of the characters I'm
trying to work on evening it out a bit more, especially as I get into some
of the relationships between Staff and PC citizens. I know one of the big
questions on people's mind is how can these people not know who the West
Wingers are, but I'm trying to be realistic here, because the truth of the
matter is that most Americans don't know who the Senior Staffers of an
Administration are. True, Jax and Ned would probably be more likely to due
to their positions, but the fact is that this is Jax and Ned in protective/
'let's save the damsel in distress role.' Anyway, I just wanted to let you
know that your comments are taken into consideration.
Oh, on a side note, the blame for the song refs go to "Lady Cassidine," although it being after one in the morning and us having had a couple of cups of coffee when the ideas were being thrown around certainly didn't help(
Thanks,
MissDevon ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jax listened to Carly's ramblings, cutting her off: "Did you talk to Alexis or not?"
"She was busy, Jax," she sighed, knowing that she couldn't lie to him. He was, after all, one of three men who saw through it all.
"Carly we need her on this. We need to get that MPA overturned so that we can take care of Donna."
"I still don't agree with that."
"We need to present a united front on this, Carly," Ned reminded, halfheartedly.
"That doesn't mean I have to agree with this plan!" she shot back as she threw up her hands in frustration. "I reiterate that they're her friends too. They care about her."
"And they're certainly shown that haven't they?" Jax asked.
"You really think she told them anymore than she told us? How long did it take us to realize what was going on? To get her to admit she needed to do something to stop him? And it sure did a hell of a lot of good. Hell, I'm surprised they haven't tried to bar us!"
"Carly. . ."
"As much as I hate to admit this, she has a point, Jax. We're assuming that Donna wouldn't want them here. We'd have to prove that they wouldn't know her wishes. Maybe we can do that. But could we prove that we'd know them any better?" Ned reasoned.
"What about her mother?"
"NO!" Carly protested adamantly, surprising both men. "Oh, come on! I have a feeling that if anyone has a worse relationship with their mother than I do, it would be her."
"Drop the dramatics," Jax chided.
"So, maybe I'm overstating a bit, but I'm right. I was there when her mother called her one night. Donna's whole persona changed. She became withdrawn, quiet. . . her shoulders slumped. . . she didn't look anywhere but at the floor. . . you tell me, you really want to bring someone who can do that in on this?"
"It would make things easier."
"For who?'
Shaking his head, Ned broke in: "It's not like we even know how to get in touch with her."
"I don't like dealing with unknowns," Jax groused as he crossed his arms.
"First, if you felt that way you shouldn't have called them in the first place. Second, her mother would be just as much of a wild card, perhaps more so since Donna didn't even put her down as a contact person. I mean doesn't that even tell you something? Third, they won't be for long. I have Johnny running background checks as we speak," Carly babbled.
"And in the meantime, what are we supposed to do?"
"How about deal with them?"
"How about we focus on taking down my family?" Ned broke in as he leaned forward in his seat. "Especially since it might be easier than we thought."
"What does that mean?" Carly asked suspiciously.
"Just that Justus let it slip that AJ might not have all their support."
"Not that that means a whole hell of a lot, when they're backing him. Paying off DAs, judges, keeping this out of the press," Jax rebutted.
"You have any better ideas there, Blondie?"
"Actually, I do. . ." Jax smirked as he leaned forward in his seat, "and it goes a little something like this. . ." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dara sat in the boot of the hotel restaurant, phone to her ear, frown growing. "You have got to be kidding me! Marcus, we have to be able to do something on this one! I don't like the fact that we can't. . .I know, I know. . . So what did that contact of Mac's at that news organization say?. . . Meaning. . .Yeah, yeah. Was there any change in her condition?. . .Call me when you know something, all right?. . .Yeah, me too. . ." she finished as she pressed end and started to put her cell phone into her purse.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," a tall blonde said as she slipped into the seat across from Dara. "I ran into a friend of my father's who just had to talk."
"That's Ok. Gave me a chance to check in with the office anyway," Dara replied with a shrug as the waiter brought two drinks and placed them in front of them--- white wine for Dara, a Pink Squrriel for her friend. "You do still drink those, don't you?"
"Like that would ever change?" the woman asked with a laugh.
"Hey, I never would've thought you'd be the one working in the Bartlett White House!'
"It's not like I actually changed parties or anything," she shrugged as she took a sip of her drink.
"Please, next time you're going to tell me you're dating a Democrat. . ." Dara teased and then at her friend's blush started to laugh. "Ainsley!"
"What?"
"You're dating a Democrat?!?!?"
"Aren't I sitting her talking to one?"
"Considering how your father's never liked me in part because of my political views and how he thought I might corrupt you with them, I can only imagine how he reacted to you dating one! I mean, he didn't talk to you for how long after you took the job as Associate White House Counsel?"
"He got over it, well sort of. Liked the prestige of telling his cohorts that his daughter was wiping the Democratic White House into some sort of submission. Besides, my dating a democrat isn't his main complaint. It comes somewhere after the fact that my 'boyfriend'--- for a lack of a better term--- is more powerful within his party, older, divorced, and Catholic."
"Exactly who are you dating?"
"We met at the White House. . ." Ainsley started, as Dara started to laugh with the dawning of recognition.
"Please tell me you didn't date him when you were working there. . ."
"Think that Congress wouldn't have used that to their advantage during the hearings? Besides, I didn't want to ever be the 'blonde who got her job by sleeping with her boss.' Not that that wasn't rumored by someone else in the office. Most people thought I was more interested in another staff member, which was all right, I guess. He was younger, single, never been married, easy on the eyes, but just not enough of a challenge. More of a pesky sibling that you had to argue with. Anyway, we waited till after the administration to even have dinner alone together."
"What do people have to say?"
Ainsley shrugged, "I haven't really talked to anyone. I didn't grow that close to but one junior staffer and she. . . well she hasn't really kept in touch with anyone since she left DC. She's got school and work. Anyway, we haven't really told a lot of people. I'm sure more people know though. His daughter isn't happy about us being an 'us,' so to speak. But whatever happens happens, right?" she paused, wringing her hands together, as she glanced around the crowded room. "So where's the waiter? I'm hungry."
"When aren't you?" Dara asked with a good natured roll of her eyes.
"Whatever," Ainsley replied dryly. "So, how's your flirtation with interoffice dating treating you?'
"You act like it's the first time we've. . ." Dara started then shook her head. "It's working this time. Too bad the cases aren't working as well."
"Want to talk about it?"
"There's really nothing to say. We have our hands tied, and won't be able to prosecute unless a miracle happens. For a couple of minutes I thought we'd have a chance. . ." she sighed as a waiter walked by. Shaking her head, Dara, waved to get his attention. "Never mind. Let's order and then. . ." she shrugged.
"Yeah. Let's." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jed sighed as he leaned back in his chair and removed the glasses from his face, putting them and the papers he was grading aside as he took in the empty hotel room. Leo had left about half an hour before to take Josh to the hospital and get an update before meeting Mallory at the airport. Not long after that, Abbey had taken her leave, to go, he was quite certain, badger information out of Spencer. Now he was left alone with nothing to do but grade papers, and just the idea drove him crazy.
He had been the most powerful man in the country for four years, and now he couldn't even do anything to help one of the people who had put him in the office and helped him to do the job effectively. To most, that would seem an overstatement of Donna's importance to the administration, but not for those who had been inside. She had run more than Josh Lyman's office in her five years of service. She had gathered and stored as much information as she could, often doubling as assistant to the other senior staffers and himself on trips or late nights. Hell, she had even been the one to be able to remember the bit of parliamentary procedure that had helped to end a stalemate after being the only one to be able to figure out why they were at it in the first place. Even four years later he had to smile at the remembrance of how she had looked sitting meekly on the couch in the Oval Office and raising her hand to impart the information that would help them to end the filibuster.
Shaking his head he rose from the chair and crossed the room, staring out of the window and onto the lit city below. They had come up with a plan, and he knew his minor roll in it. To use the power of who he had been would be wrong. Perhaps not as wrong as the Quartermains wheeling their power in this town to prevent justice from being served, but wrong the same. They could not show even a hint of impropriety. To allow the chance for the young Quartermain heir to walk through some loophole, and yet he couldn't help but feel helpless.
Turning away from the window, he couldn't help but replay the conversations of the day in his mind. Replay the list of names which he had been unable to contribute to. His only real connections in this town, other than his goddaughter, were the Quartermains themselves. He had, after all, been friends with Alan while they had both attended school in London--- much to his father's pleasure. Had avoided Tracey, as Abbey had so aptly thrown in his face. . .
"Ashton," he muttered to himself as he started to make some connections that if he weren't so bad with names he would have made earlier. Smirking, he started to stalk across the room. There was someone he could get information from, just not directly. Reaching into the briefcase that was lying open on the table, he reached in and took out a well worn address book and started thumbing through it with one hand while putting his glasses back on with the other, glad he had something to focus on because waiting on the sidelines was never one of his strong suits. . .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron frowned as he took in the exterior of the closed club. "I'm still not sure about this," he muttered before sliding out of the car and scanning the area.
"Deal," Abbey shot back as he leaned in to give her a hand out.
Resignedly, he signaled for the detail to wrap around her before they continued on and into the club.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Claude looked up from the glass he was cleaning as the door opened about to inform whomever it was that they were closed, only to gape at who had entered. "Where's your boss?" Abbey asked as the agents fanned out and she crossed to the bar.
"In. . . in. . . in the back," he stammered.
"Thank you," Abbey smiled as some of the agents started to go towards the indicated area, catching sight of the look on Ron's face, she rolled her eyes. "We'll be out of here, quickly. Luke Spencer's a man who can only be taken in small dosages," she informed him as the first group of agents paused at the door and waited. As she closed the distance, they opened the door to Luke's "What the hell?!?!" Shrugging, one of the agents called: "It's clear, but. . ." as Abbey pushed past him, shaking her head when she walked into the office to see a woman who clearly wasn't Laura shrugging into a shirt and Luke hurrily tucking his own into his open trousers. "Lose the floozy," was all she said as she walked over to the chair opposite his desk and sat down.
"Hey!" the blonde protested indignantly, as she started towards the former First Lady.
Luke merely put a hand on her shoulder, "we'll finish later," he told her to a snort from Abbey, as he lead the blonde towards the door. "Go on up to the apartment," he commented as he finished adjusting his pants.
"But Luke. . ." she whined as she put her hands on his shoulders.
"I said later," he snapped as he pried her hands off of him and pushed her out of the door, closing it behind her before turning towards Abbey. "You should teach your guys what clear really means," he grumbled as he walked towards her, buttoning his shirt.
Abbey laughed at that, "What's your problem? That caught you with someone who wasn't your wife of with your pants partially down?" she shot back, then bulldozed over an answer he might have attempted to give: "Because either way it's a nonissue. I don't ruin marriages and I've seen you in less."
"Ahh that's right," he smirked as he rounded his desk and started to sing off key and out of tune: "Summer loving had me a blast. . ."
"Say it again, and I'll kick your ass," she picked up on key and in tune.
"Aww, come on. There are worse things I could do, you know," he shot back.
"Luke. . ."
"Come on, Riz, you ruined my evening, at least let me have some fun!"
"I'm not into your type of fun."
"Well, it's only when I care enough to sent the very best."
"That's what I have Jed for."
"That's way too much information about you and Former President Egghead."
"About the only part of our lives that weren't made public during the hearings."
"Care to share now, Riz?"
"Depends. You telling me who the floozy playing at playing Sandy is?"
Luke preened at that. "So I'm Danny, huh?"
"More like Putzy."
"Gee thanks," he laughed as he took out a cigar.
"Light it and have Treasury on your ass and assets," she warned.
Luke looked at the agent leaning against the wall and shrugged as he just chewed on the end. "How'd you know?" he asked around it.
"With you it wasn't much of a guess. Now, can we finish with the pleasantries and get on with this? My head of security's jumpy enough about being here, I don't need to be around if Laura decides to take on the bimbette."
"Figured this wasn't a social call. So what's up?" he asked as he put the cigar to the side.
"I need to call in that marker."
"Something you can talk about in front of. . ?" he paused indicating the agent with a tilt of his head.
"Try not to be a jackass for five minutes, would you?"
"Try, no promises," he shrugged. "So what do you want?"
"Information."
"Don't keep much on hand about Republicans," he said simply. "Or most politicians in general."
"If that's what I wanted I would've called this favor in many times over during the administration."
"Then what do you want?"
Abbey leaned forwards in the chair: "I want whatever you have on AJ Quartermain."
Luke's eyes widened slightly, "why the hell would you want something on Junior?"
"He messed with one of my kids."
"Didn't know he knew Liz, El, or Zo."
"He doesn't."
"Really? Some skeleton you have there, huh?" he remarked as he picked up his cigar.
"Get your mind out of the gutter. It's someone who worked for Jed during the administration."
"Do I get a name?"
"No."
"So what he do?"
"That's need to know, and you don't," she said stiffly as she straightened and recrossed her legs.
Luke chuckled slightly at that, "who saids I have anything?"
"From what little information I've gathered, he's made your niece's life a living hell on and off for a handful of years. You have something."
"Sweet Caroline isn't exactly a full fledged member of the Spencer Clan."
"Since when would that matter?" Abbey asked and then shrugged as she rose and crossed to the desk, leaning across it to get into his face. "Then again if you're sleeping around on Laura. . ."
"You're not going to let that go after all, are you?" he asked as he looked up at her.
"That depends on you. I want what you have," she admitted as she straightened.
"Never pegged you for a blackmailer."
"I prefer the term extortionist and it's amazing the things you pick up as the wife of a politician."
"What I have won't get you very far," he admitted grudgingly.
"I'll take what I can get."
"Let me talk to a few people. Sweet Caroline's ex probably has a few things in reserve. Although, he probably won't give it all to me. Custody issues involving the demon spawn and all."
"Tell him when we're finished with Quartermain there won't be a need for reserves. Oh and keep my name. . ."
"Out of it," Luke guessed. "Yeah, sure. I'll tell him a friend named Rizzo asked," he added on a smirk.
"I never should've allowed Laura to let you watch that damn movie while you heavily medicated."
"Only time I ever would," he shrugged. "So how do I get in touch with you?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll get in touch with you," she answered evenly as she turned and signaled Ron that she was ready to go.
As they walked through the club, she noticed the smile he was trying to hide. "What?"
He shrugged as he looked over at her, "Just thinking that we're going to have to change codenames soon," he commented, as he held the door open for her.
"Use it and die," was, predictably, her response as she passed him.
His only answer was a choked: "yes man," as he followed her to the awaiting car.
Oh, on a side note, the blame for the song refs go to "Lady Cassidine," although it being after one in the morning and us having had a couple of cups of coffee when the ideas were being thrown around certainly didn't help(
Thanks,
MissDevon ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jax listened to Carly's ramblings, cutting her off: "Did you talk to Alexis or not?"
"She was busy, Jax," she sighed, knowing that she couldn't lie to him. He was, after all, one of three men who saw through it all.
"Carly we need her on this. We need to get that MPA overturned so that we can take care of Donna."
"I still don't agree with that."
"We need to present a united front on this, Carly," Ned reminded, halfheartedly.
"That doesn't mean I have to agree with this plan!" she shot back as she threw up her hands in frustration. "I reiterate that they're her friends too. They care about her."
"And they're certainly shown that haven't they?" Jax asked.
"You really think she told them anymore than she told us? How long did it take us to realize what was going on? To get her to admit she needed to do something to stop him? And it sure did a hell of a lot of good. Hell, I'm surprised they haven't tried to bar us!"
"Carly. . ."
"As much as I hate to admit this, she has a point, Jax. We're assuming that Donna wouldn't want them here. We'd have to prove that they wouldn't know her wishes. Maybe we can do that. But could we prove that we'd know them any better?" Ned reasoned.
"What about her mother?"
"NO!" Carly protested adamantly, surprising both men. "Oh, come on! I have a feeling that if anyone has a worse relationship with their mother than I do, it would be her."
"Drop the dramatics," Jax chided.
"So, maybe I'm overstating a bit, but I'm right. I was there when her mother called her one night. Donna's whole persona changed. She became withdrawn, quiet. . . her shoulders slumped. . . she didn't look anywhere but at the floor. . . you tell me, you really want to bring someone who can do that in on this?"
"It would make things easier."
"For who?'
Shaking his head, Ned broke in: "It's not like we even know how to get in touch with her."
"I don't like dealing with unknowns," Jax groused as he crossed his arms.
"First, if you felt that way you shouldn't have called them in the first place. Second, her mother would be just as much of a wild card, perhaps more so since Donna didn't even put her down as a contact person. I mean doesn't that even tell you something? Third, they won't be for long. I have Johnny running background checks as we speak," Carly babbled.
"And in the meantime, what are we supposed to do?"
"How about deal with them?"
"How about we focus on taking down my family?" Ned broke in as he leaned forward in his seat. "Especially since it might be easier than we thought."
"What does that mean?" Carly asked suspiciously.
"Just that Justus let it slip that AJ might not have all their support."
"Not that that means a whole hell of a lot, when they're backing him. Paying off DAs, judges, keeping this out of the press," Jax rebutted.
"You have any better ideas there, Blondie?"
"Actually, I do. . ." Jax smirked as he leaned forward in his seat, "and it goes a little something like this. . ." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dara sat in the boot of the hotel restaurant, phone to her ear, frown growing. "You have got to be kidding me! Marcus, we have to be able to do something on this one! I don't like the fact that we can't. . .I know, I know. . . So what did that contact of Mac's at that news organization say?. . . Meaning. . .Yeah, yeah. Was there any change in her condition?. . .Call me when you know something, all right?. . .Yeah, me too. . ." she finished as she pressed end and started to put her cell phone into her purse.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," a tall blonde said as she slipped into the seat across from Dara. "I ran into a friend of my father's who just had to talk."
"That's Ok. Gave me a chance to check in with the office anyway," Dara replied with a shrug as the waiter brought two drinks and placed them in front of them--- white wine for Dara, a Pink Squrriel for her friend. "You do still drink those, don't you?"
"Like that would ever change?" the woman asked with a laugh.
"Hey, I never would've thought you'd be the one working in the Bartlett White House!'
"It's not like I actually changed parties or anything," she shrugged as she took a sip of her drink.
"Please, next time you're going to tell me you're dating a Democrat. . ." Dara teased and then at her friend's blush started to laugh. "Ainsley!"
"What?"
"You're dating a Democrat?!?!?"
"Aren't I sitting her talking to one?"
"Considering how your father's never liked me in part because of my political views and how he thought I might corrupt you with them, I can only imagine how he reacted to you dating one! I mean, he didn't talk to you for how long after you took the job as Associate White House Counsel?"
"He got over it, well sort of. Liked the prestige of telling his cohorts that his daughter was wiping the Democratic White House into some sort of submission. Besides, my dating a democrat isn't his main complaint. It comes somewhere after the fact that my 'boyfriend'--- for a lack of a better term--- is more powerful within his party, older, divorced, and Catholic."
"Exactly who are you dating?"
"We met at the White House. . ." Ainsley started, as Dara started to laugh with the dawning of recognition.
"Please tell me you didn't date him when you were working there. . ."
"Think that Congress wouldn't have used that to their advantage during the hearings? Besides, I didn't want to ever be the 'blonde who got her job by sleeping with her boss.' Not that that wasn't rumored by someone else in the office. Most people thought I was more interested in another staff member, which was all right, I guess. He was younger, single, never been married, easy on the eyes, but just not enough of a challenge. More of a pesky sibling that you had to argue with. Anyway, we waited till after the administration to even have dinner alone together."
"What do people have to say?"
Ainsley shrugged, "I haven't really talked to anyone. I didn't grow that close to but one junior staffer and she. . . well she hasn't really kept in touch with anyone since she left DC. She's got school and work. Anyway, we haven't really told a lot of people. I'm sure more people know though. His daughter isn't happy about us being an 'us,' so to speak. But whatever happens happens, right?" she paused, wringing her hands together, as she glanced around the crowded room. "So where's the waiter? I'm hungry."
"When aren't you?" Dara asked with a good natured roll of her eyes.
"Whatever," Ainsley replied dryly. "So, how's your flirtation with interoffice dating treating you?'
"You act like it's the first time we've. . ." Dara started then shook her head. "It's working this time. Too bad the cases aren't working as well."
"Want to talk about it?"
"There's really nothing to say. We have our hands tied, and won't be able to prosecute unless a miracle happens. For a couple of minutes I thought we'd have a chance. . ." she sighed as a waiter walked by. Shaking her head, Dara, waved to get his attention. "Never mind. Let's order and then. . ." she shrugged.
"Yeah. Let's." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jed sighed as he leaned back in his chair and removed the glasses from his face, putting them and the papers he was grading aside as he took in the empty hotel room. Leo had left about half an hour before to take Josh to the hospital and get an update before meeting Mallory at the airport. Not long after that, Abbey had taken her leave, to go, he was quite certain, badger information out of Spencer. Now he was left alone with nothing to do but grade papers, and just the idea drove him crazy.
He had been the most powerful man in the country for four years, and now he couldn't even do anything to help one of the people who had put him in the office and helped him to do the job effectively. To most, that would seem an overstatement of Donna's importance to the administration, but not for those who had been inside. She had run more than Josh Lyman's office in her five years of service. She had gathered and stored as much information as she could, often doubling as assistant to the other senior staffers and himself on trips or late nights. Hell, she had even been the one to be able to remember the bit of parliamentary procedure that had helped to end a stalemate after being the only one to be able to figure out why they were at it in the first place. Even four years later he had to smile at the remembrance of how she had looked sitting meekly on the couch in the Oval Office and raising her hand to impart the information that would help them to end the filibuster.
Shaking his head he rose from the chair and crossed the room, staring out of the window and onto the lit city below. They had come up with a plan, and he knew his minor roll in it. To use the power of who he had been would be wrong. Perhaps not as wrong as the Quartermains wheeling their power in this town to prevent justice from being served, but wrong the same. They could not show even a hint of impropriety. To allow the chance for the young Quartermain heir to walk through some loophole, and yet he couldn't help but feel helpless.
Turning away from the window, he couldn't help but replay the conversations of the day in his mind. Replay the list of names which he had been unable to contribute to. His only real connections in this town, other than his goddaughter, were the Quartermains themselves. He had, after all, been friends with Alan while they had both attended school in London--- much to his father's pleasure. Had avoided Tracey, as Abbey had so aptly thrown in his face. . .
"Ashton," he muttered to himself as he started to make some connections that if he weren't so bad with names he would have made earlier. Smirking, he started to stalk across the room. There was someone he could get information from, just not directly. Reaching into the briefcase that was lying open on the table, he reached in and took out a well worn address book and started thumbing through it with one hand while putting his glasses back on with the other, glad he had something to focus on because waiting on the sidelines was never one of his strong suits. . .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron frowned as he took in the exterior of the closed club. "I'm still not sure about this," he muttered before sliding out of the car and scanning the area.
"Deal," Abbey shot back as he leaned in to give her a hand out.
Resignedly, he signaled for the detail to wrap around her before they continued on and into the club.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Claude looked up from the glass he was cleaning as the door opened about to inform whomever it was that they were closed, only to gape at who had entered. "Where's your boss?" Abbey asked as the agents fanned out and she crossed to the bar.
"In. . . in. . . in the back," he stammered.
"Thank you," Abbey smiled as some of the agents started to go towards the indicated area, catching sight of the look on Ron's face, she rolled her eyes. "We'll be out of here, quickly. Luke Spencer's a man who can only be taken in small dosages," she informed him as the first group of agents paused at the door and waited. As she closed the distance, they opened the door to Luke's "What the hell?!?!" Shrugging, one of the agents called: "It's clear, but. . ." as Abbey pushed past him, shaking her head when she walked into the office to see a woman who clearly wasn't Laura shrugging into a shirt and Luke hurrily tucking his own into his open trousers. "Lose the floozy," was all she said as she walked over to the chair opposite his desk and sat down.
"Hey!" the blonde protested indignantly, as she started towards the former First Lady.
Luke merely put a hand on her shoulder, "we'll finish later," he told her to a snort from Abbey, as he lead the blonde towards the door. "Go on up to the apartment," he commented as he finished adjusting his pants.
"But Luke. . ." she whined as she put her hands on his shoulders.
"I said later," he snapped as he pried her hands off of him and pushed her out of the door, closing it behind her before turning towards Abbey. "You should teach your guys what clear really means," he grumbled as he walked towards her, buttoning his shirt.
Abbey laughed at that, "What's your problem? That caught you with someone who wasn't your wife of with your pants partially down?" she shot back, then bulldozed over an answer he might have attempted to give: "Because either way it's a nonissue. I don't ruin marriages and I've seen you in less."
"Ahh that's right," he smirked as he rounded his desk and started to sing off key and out of tune: "Summer loving had me a blast. . ."
"Say it again, and I'll kick your ass," she picked up on key and in tune.
"Aww, come on. There are worse things I could do, you know," he shot back.
"Luke. . ."
"Come on, Riz, you ruined my evening, at least let me have some fun!"
"I'm not into your type of fun."
"Well, it's only when I care enough to sent the very best."
"That's what I have Jed for."
"That's way too much information about you and Former President Egghead."
"About the only part of our lives that weren't made public during the hearings."
"Care to share now, Riz?"
"Depends. You telling me who the floozy playing at playing Sandy is?"
Luke preened at that. "So I'm Danny, huh?"
"More like Putzy."
"Gee thanks," he laughed as he took out a cigar.
"Light it and have Treasury on your ass and assets," she warned.
Luke looked at the agent leaning against the wall and shrugged as he just chewed on the end. "How'd you know?" he asked around it.
"With you it wasn't much of a guess. Now, can we finish with the pleasantries and get on with this? My head of security's jumpy enough about being here, I don't need to be around if Laura decides to take on the bimbette."
"Figured this wasn't a social call. So what's up?" he asked as he put the cigar to the side.
"I need to call in that marker."
"Something you can talk about in front of. . ?" he paused indicating the agent with a tilt of his head.
"Try not to be a jackass for five minutes, would you?"
"Try, no promises," he shrugged. "So what do you want?"
"Information."
"Don't keep much on hand about Republicans," he said simply. "Or most politicians in general."
"If that's what I wanted I would've called this favor in many times over during the administration."
"Then what do you want?"
Abbey leaned forwards in the chair: "I want whatever you have on AJ Quartermain."
Luke's eyes widened slightly, "why the hell would you want something on Junior?"
"He messed with one of my kids."
"Didn't know he knew Liz, El, or Zo."
"He doesn't."
"Really? Some skeleton you have there, huh?" he remarked as he picked up his cigar.
"Get your mind out of the gutter. It's someone who worked for Jed during the administration."
"Do I get a name?"
"No."
"So what he do?"
"That's need to know, and you don't," she said stiffly as she straightened and recrossed her legs.
Luke chuckled slightly at that, "who saids I have anything?"
"From what little information I've gathered, he's made your niece's life a living hell on and off for a handful of years. You have something."
"Sweet Caroline isn't exactly a full fledged member of the Spencer Clan."
"Since when would that matter?" Abbey asked and then shrugged as she rose and crossed to the desk, leaning across it to get into his face. "Then again if you're sleeping around on Laura. . ."
"You're not going to let that go after all, are you?" he asked as he looked up at her.
"That depends on you. I want what you have," she admitted as she straightened.
"Never pegged you for a blackmailer."
"I prefer the term extortionist and it's amazing the things you pick up as the wife of a politician."
"What I have won't get you very far," he admitted grudgingly.
"I'll take what I can get."
"Let me talk to a few people. Sweet Caroline's ex probably has a few things in reserve. Although, he probably won't give it all to me. Custody issues involving the demon spawn and all."
"Tell him when we're finished with Quartermain there won't be a need for reserves. Oh and keep my name. . ."
"Out of it," Luke guessed. "Yeah, sure. I'll tell him a friend named Rizzo asked," he added on a smirk.
"I never should've allowed Laura to let you watch that damn movie while you heavily medicated."
"Only time I ever would," he shrugged. "So how do I get in touch with you?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll get in touch with you," she answered evenly as she turned and signaled Ron that she was ready to go.
As they walked through the club, she noticed the smile he was trying to hide. "What?"
He shrugged as he looked over at her, "Just thinking that we're going to have to change codenames soon," he commented, as he held the door open for her.
"Use it and die," was, predictably, her response as she passed him.
His only answer was a choked: "yes man," as he followed her to the awaiting car.