Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the West Wing, Hamilton (the series title), or Top Gun.
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Sam's POV
Thu-dump!* Josh careened through Sam's office door like the Tasmanian Devil in a suit and tie as daylight faded. "HEY SAM! … Mallory's goin' to the Christmas party with her Caps player boyfriend!" Josh blurted out as Sam read over the rough draft of his memo.
"This needs to be in active voice." He adjusted his glasses.
"SAM!" Josh shouted as Sam continued to make edits.
"Mallory's bringin' her NHL player boyfriend to the Christmas Party." 'Why the hell isn't he bothered by that?' Josh thought. "SAM!"
Sam looked up. "Yes?"
"Did ya hear what I said?"
Sam looked back down. "Oh. ... Yeah…. I heard you." Sam traced his fingers along the lines as he read through the memo to mark his place. "And I figured as much."
Josh furrowed his eyebrows. "And you're okay with it?"
Sam put the memo on his desk. "Yup." Sam rolled up the cuff of his white button-down shirt to check his watch. "Hey sorry Josh, I gotta run." Sam got up from his chair. "I'm meeting Ainsley for dinner in the Mess." Josh stood bewildered in the doorway as he left.
"Click clack, clickety clack-clack." Donna typed at her computer. "You can't be that surprised." She pressed save before she looked up. 'Has he really not noticed?' "Are you really that oblivious?"
"Yes, he is." Toby walked through the Bullpen.
"HEY! I'm not clueless! … Sam's had a crush on Mallory forever. So why isn't he upset that Mallory's dating a hockey player?" Josh asked.
"Sam's not in love with Mallory anymore." Donna explained.
"Huh?"
"He loves Ainsley."
"Sam's in love with Ainsley?!" Josh shouted.
"Wouldya keep your voice down?" Donna hushed him.
"Sam's in love with Ainsley? … How d'ya know?" Donna glared at him. "What? I whispered that time."
"You really are that oblivious." Donna shook her head as Ginger and Bonnie exchanged looks.
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Donna's POV
Ainsley laid her wool jacket down on the chair in the dressing room. "So how many people do you think'll be at the party? Is Leo's daughter- Mallory I think?- gonna be there?" Ainsley asked through the closed door as she changed out of her hot pink sweater and blue jeans.
"I dunno. Probably. Leo and Bartlet have been friends for years, so Mallory'll probably be there." Donna searched the racks for dresses.
"Oh... no particular reason." Ainsley tried on a gown.
"Sam's not into her anymore ya know. And she's dating a Caps player."
"I have no problem with Sam bein' interested in her, or any other girl for that matter." She insisted. "He could get married for all I care."
'Whatever you say.' "Okay." Donna looked at a navy blue beaded a-line dress on the clearance rack.
"Seriously, Donna. …. Sam and I are just friends, nothing more. I have no feelings for him whatsoever and he has no feelings for me."
"Okay." 'If you say so.'
She stepped out of the dressing room in a pale pink gown. "How does it look?"
"It looks nice on you! It's sweet."
"Sweet? I want something that's more than just 'sweet'." Ainsley looked around and found a a red mermaid gown on a mannequin. "Something like this."
"Woah. That's definitely not gonna be sweet." Ainsley found the dress in her size on the rack and stepped into the dressing room and then stepped back out. "How does it look?"
"You're not bad, you're just drawn that way." Donna said.
"Perfect." Ainsley replied.
"You're gonna turn a lot of heads."
Ainsley glared at Donna. "I know what you're thinking, Donna. I just want a showstopper gown. It has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Sam."
'Yes, as you've stated many times.' "Hey, all I said is you're gonna turn heads. I never said anything about turning Sam's head." Donna said.
"So will you, Donna. You're gonna be absolutely stunning in that dress."
"You really think so?" Donna queried.
"Yes, Donna. … I really do."
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Sam's POV
The mindless political chatter that Sam was supposed to smile and nod his head to as part of his job description ceased as the delicate and fiery grace of Ainsley Hayes glided into the East Wing ballroom as she dazzled the best political minds as if she were Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. But what always amazed him was how much they enjoyed being bested by her. He himself enjoyed it, and he always felt this strange sensation of infuriation with something that he could not describe every time they argued. Not only did he enjoy it, but he craved it. Just then, her sparkling eyes and enchanting smile met his as her delicate, doll-like figure sashayed over to him in a skin-tight red dress that caught the attention of every man she passed. "Ainsley… you look …. amazing." He took in the finer details of her beauty, from her eyes to the loosely curled hair that cascaded down her back.
"Well, why thank you, kind sir." She blushed. "You don't look so bad yourself, James Bond." She batted her eyelashes. And he did look good. The James Bond look made her weak at the knees everytime, but not as much as his cornflower blue eyes with tiny sparks did. Everything about him, from the way his mind was always at work to the passion he has for the country, made her smile. Ainsley spotted a tall, buff blonde man standing with Peter the Schmuck, the one Sam named Larry from their Test Ban Treaty negotiations, walked over to them. "Sam, see that guy walking towards us? He's my ex-college boyfriend. Whatever you do, do not, and I repeat, do not let him bait you. Let me handle him. He's not worth your energy."
'He's not worth your energy either.' Sam muttered as he tensed his jaw.
Chad walked over. "Hey, Ainsley. So you've gone to the Dark Side."
"Hello, Chad." Ainsley infused the air with polite bitterness.
"Aren't you gonna introduce me to your 'little' friend?" He gestured towards Sam.
Ainsley glared at him. "Chad Grosso, you know exactly who he is. I know you had lots of head injuries from playing football, but you have a better memory than that." Ainsley said.
"Always sassy and spicy- that's my Ainsley." Chad smirked.
Sam clenched his fist. 'His Ainsley? Who does this douche monkey think he is?' Sam thought as the President and Leo walked towards them.
"Oh you didn't tell your little boyfriend that you used to date real men? So tell me, Ainsley. Are Democrats as good in bed as Republicans? Or are they too passive and wimpy, just like their military policy?" Chad antagonized.
"Excuse me?!" Sam asked.
"Sam, ignore him." Ainsley reminded under her breath.
From across the way, Leo nudged Bartlet and gestured towards Sam and Ainsley. "Jed."
Jed nodded and then he and Leo walked over as Donna, Josh, C.J., Toby, and Charlie followed behind them.
'There's no way I'm letting him talk to you like this.' Sam thought as Leo and Toby positioned themselves between Chad and Sam.
"Is there a problem?" Jed asked.
Leo gave Sam a death glare. "Don't you dare." He ordered Sam under his breath. "Let's take a walk."
"I'm fine." Sam said.
"No, you're not. You're 'bout to punch 'im in the face. Let's go." Leo insisted.
"But he deserves it." Sam protested.
"No shit." Leo said. "But we are men, an' he's a little boy."
"But-" Sam protested.
"Sam." Toby commanded.
"Josh, Charlie." Toby whispered as he gestured for them to come with him.
"Okay." Leo, Toby, Josh, and Charlie surrounded Sam on all sides as they headed over to the bar.
"It's alright, Bartlet. Some people can't carry a Big Stick because just they don't have a Big Stick, just like this Administration." Chad said.
"First of all, it's Mr. President or President Bartlet to you. Second of all, I respect any disapproval that you may have of my military policy, but don't you dare sexually harass my staff members. Which congressman or senator do you work for?"
"He works for Congressman Walken." Ainsley said.
"Congressman Walken, you say?" Jed asked. "Thank you. I'll be right back."
Donna, CJ, Toby, Josh, and Charlie walked over to see what was going on when Bartet momentarily returned with Congressman Walken, who was a big, beefy man. "Glen, this young man, if you can call him a man, here tells me that he works for you, is that correct?" He inquired.
"Yes, Mr. President, it is."
The President turned to Chad. "See, that's how you address the President, Mr. Grosso." He turned back to Walken. "I just thought you should know that he sexually harassed and insulted my staff members right in front of Leo and myself."
Walken turned to Chad. "You're fired. Leave now so you can clean out your desk. I want that done before tomorrow morning." Walken addressed the President. "Mr. President, I am so sorry about that."
"No worries, Congressman."
Donna walked over to Ainsley. "You still wanna claim there's nothing going on between you and Sam?"
"Who else knows?"
"Me, Toby, CJ, Carol, Margaret, Mrs. Landingham, Abbey, Zoey, Bartlet, Leo, Ginger, Bonnie, Charlie, and Josh."
"Josh knows?!" Ainsley exclaimed.
"Ok, Josh only knows because I explained it to him when he wouldn't shut up about Mallory coming to the party with her NHL boyfriend." She explained. "He's….. more oblivious than most."
Ainsley nodded as they stood there in awkward silence.
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What do you think? Are you surprised that Josh didn't pick up on Sam liking Ainsley until Donna explained it to him? Are you surprised that Sam almost lost his temper? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the review section!
