"I'm so confused."
"Put the closed captioning on."
"I can't find the button. I'm seriously confused."
"Gracie, how many times have you seen this episode?"
"I've lost co— no don't push him out the window!" Gracie threw popcorn at the TV and Sam raised an eyebrow over his paperwork.
"Oh did the cute one get pushed out the window?" Ainsley asked, emerging from the bathroom.
"Nicky? Yes!"
"I thought I was the cute one." Sam said, tossing his work aside.
"You didn't get pushed out a window." Gracie said.
"I got shot. No one seems to care."
"I care." Ainsley smiled, sitting down in Sam's lap. She kissed him lightly and settled against his chest. "Why is CSI in Italian?"
"Probably because we're in Italy." Gracie muttered.
"Don't be a smart ass. Why don't you change it?"
"She can't find the button on the remote." Sam explained.
-------------------TWW---------------
"Agent Peterson?"
Jonathan looked up from a file and saw a rookie standing there.
"Yeah?"
"An Emma Welles was brought in. They said you were asking for her."
"Yes, thank you." Jonathan stood up and headed out to the lobby. "Ms. Welles?"
"You had the FBI hunt me down to question me?" she asked, an annoyed tone in her voice.
"It's rather important. Follow me." Jonathan led the way to his office and shut the door behind Emma. "Ms. Welles, it's been brought to my attention that you may have been the last person to see Ryan Greene."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Mr. Greene is a wanted criminal and was the one that put together a plan to shoot President Seaborn and kidnap his daughter."
Emma didn't say anything but stared down at the floor.
"You knew about it didn't you." Jonathan said, leaning against the front of his desk.
"I had a small idea that it was Ryan."
"Why?"
"He... he always talks about the First Lady and how they used to date and... Ryan's very possessive. He went insane when he heard I was seeing someone."
"Where is he?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know? I haven't seen him in months." Emma said.
"When was the last time you saw him then?"
"Oh God... probably June. He came down to my place in Miami."
"Why?"
"He said he needed to stay with me for a bit."
"Did you see the story on the news?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you report him? Ms. Welles, you may be charged with being an accessory in a kidnapping, not to mention you hid a convict."
"I didn't hide him. Jack came to the door and Ryan freaked. He started yelling and Jack told him he'd call the cops. Ryan bolted after that. I have no idea where he is." Emma said. "I can't help you."
Jonathan stared at Emma for a while, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth or not.
------------------TWW---------------
Sam tossed his jacket over a chair as he entered the suite, yawning loudly. He had spent another day in meetings and now he had to go to a state dinner in his honor. At least he had a couple of hours to relax and then get ready.
"I'm back." he called.
"I'm in here!"
Sam followed Ainsley's voice down the hallway to the suite's master bedroom and went into the adjoining bathroom. He stopped in the doorway, a smile crossing his face. Ainsley smiled up at him from the tub, which was filled with soapsuds. She was buried in them from the top of her chest, her hair twisted up into a banana clip.
"Having fun?"
"Yes. How was work?"
"Fantastic." Sam sat down next to the tub and loosened his tie. "Where's the kid?"
"She's out touring the city again."
"She's never this into a city when we go away."
"Maybe she's having a change of heart. Besides Rome is a pretty fun place." Ainsley replied. "Oh by the way, nice greeting. 'I'm back.'"
Sam leaned over and kissed her deeply, stroking her cheek softly.
"That better?" he grinned.
"Way better. It's a shame I'm getting out. You could've joined me."
"I still can."
"Yes but the water is cold."
"Ah." Sam stood up and grabbed the fluffy robe off the back of the door.
"What are you listening to?" he asked, noticing the music playing softly.
"Air on a G String." Ainsley replied. Sam grinned over his shoulder as the song ended. He leaned down and helped her out of the tub, then slid the robe onto her shoulders.
"Well how fitting." he smirked as the next song came on. "What is this CD?"
"I was bored one day so I thought of all the songs that we've had the pleasure of listening to together and combined them onto one CD." Ainsley tightened the belt of the robe. She turned around and slid her arms around Sam's neck.
"You're not gonna start singing again are ya?"
"I was in a drunken state when I last sang this song."
"Mhmm..."
"I saw you looking at my ass that night." Ainsley said.
"It wasn't like I wasn't dating you or anything." Sam grinned. "So I don't see the problem. Besides,"
His hands drifted off Ainsley's waist towards her behind.
"It's very nice."
"Yours isn't that bad either."
"Isn't that bad? I will have you know that..."
"...that when you were Congressman, a college poli-sci student asked in her newspaper how would her fellow colleagues rate your ass and a lot of them said a five. Yes Sam, I know. I was there as well. I don't know if you know or not but we've been married for sixteen years."
"That's a long time."
"Yes it is."
-------------------TWW----------------
"Will you two hurry up?" Sam paced the length of the sitting area, waiting for Ainsley and Gracie to get done. "We were supposed to leave ten minutes ago!"
"Sam, this dinner is in your honor. They're not going to start it without you!" Ainsley called. He rolled his eyes at the bedroom and Ainsley went on, "And I know you're rolling your eyes at me!"
"No you don't!"
"I see you in the mirror."
Sam sighed and tugged at his tie impatiently. He knew Ainsley would scold him when she came out but he was bored. His eyes landed on the coffee table, where a bunch of newspapers were scattered. Leaning down, Sam pushed some aside and grabbed a copy of that day's paper. He flipped through it until he stopped on an article that caught his attention.
The First Daughter of the United States has a couple wild days in Rome
Sam flopped onto the couch and began reading the article.
"Grace!"
She let out a yell as her brush got tangled in her raven locks.
"What?"
"Come out here now!" Sam exclaimed, jumping off the couch. Gracie came out, fighting with the brush that was now stuck in her hair.
"Mom!"
Ainsley walked into the room, putting her earrings in.
"Oh Gracie..." she sighed. "Sit down."
Gracie sat down on the couch and Ainsley sat down next to her, gently working the brush out of her hair. Sam looked at them in disbelief and shook the paper in their faces.
"What?" Ainsley asked. Sam held the paper out to her and she let go of Gracie's head to take it from him. She scanned it quickly and looked up at Sam, her eyes wide. "I did not know about this."
Gracie stared at her parents, a confused look on her face.
"When you said you were touring the city, did you forget to mention who you'd be with?" Sam asked.
"I was with my agents, Dad."
"I know you were. Forget to mention anyone else though?"
Gracie bit her lip and shook her head quickly. Sam looked at her and Gracie finally looked up at him. She looked back down immediately, feeling horrible as she saw the betrayed and hurt look in his eyes. Ainsley held back a sigh and finished untangling Gracie's hair.
"You're not going to the dinner." Sam finally said.
"Well that's a big punishment." Gracie muttered.
"And I want your laptop."
"WHAT? I didn't even do anything!"
"You lied to me. God, you know how much I hate that!"
"I didn't lie!"
"See, there you go again!" Sam exclaimed.
"I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because I knew you'd make a big deal about it! It's not though Dad!"
"It's not a big deal when your picture gets in the newspaper and you're kissing some guy?"
"No. The world should not be wondering about what I do in my free time. They should be worrying more about you. I don't see why I'm getting punished for keeping things to myself."
Sam pointed to the door that led into Gracie's room and she was more than happy to oblige.
"I'm glad you're not making me go. If I sit at one more of your stupid dinners I'll vomit."
"You can forget hanging around another day too. We're leaving in the morning."
"Good." Gracie slammed her door shut and Sam grabbed his coat.
"Come on." he said, pulling Ainsley off the couch.
"Don't start this." she pleaded.
"Start what?"
"Start acting like this doesn't phase you but the minute you're alone you'll lose it."
"You know me so well." Sam said sarcastically.
"Sam, I'm serious."
"Let's just go to this dinner."