and so from time to time he opened his doors to those who wished an audience

[imnotrobin]

Sam spends much of his time actually drafting speeches on behalf of the president, especially considering there's a re-election to consider, but every once in a while he starts to go cross-eyed and it's time for a break. He doesn't really mean break in the sense of "temporary closing of eyes and/or inhaling of food in the White House" but, rather, means break in the sense of actually getting to see his girlfriend face to face and sleep in a real bed.

Today is one of those days.

Sam is up to his neck in spin control and he thinks the cure for what ails him is a nice little trip to the hotel. The last few times he's tried, he hasn't gotten through, but Sam thinks that's because he genuinely was just trying to avoid work and didn't actually need the break. This time, though, he's determined to make it work and he opens his office door and steps through several times with eyes closed. He runs into a very startled intern on turn three but on turn four, he steps into the hallway in front of the suite that he sometimes, occasionally, not-often-enough visits with Ainsley in tow.

"Obviously the door is a plot device from an opera," Sam says, not checking to see if Ainsley is here yet or not. Normally they time this pretty well but he wonders, just a little, if he shouldn't have warned her before coming through so she could make her way here.

Comments

[theirlawyer]

"And here I thought you were married to your job, and by extension, Toby," she dryly jokes, giving him a fond smile as she leans forward to rest her hand on top of his. "Speaking of, does he know about us? I would've thought I'd have heard much more sighing if he did. Or maybe my office genuinely is too far away."

[imnotrobin]

Sam shakes his head. "No, I figured I would let you take the lead on telling anyone. I know it doesn't matter, as I'm not your boss and you're not mine and in no way have you been hired because of your relationship to me - other than the fact that you thoroughly embarrassed me on national television and the administration thought that was a good thing - but I didn't want you to think I was undermining you in any way by mentioning we were involved. That being said, if you want to tell people, I am perfectly happy to tell people."

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley gives him a warm smile for being considerate of their relationship, tapping her nails a little on the table as she leans forward and rests her forearms there. "Sam, I want to start telling people. I can tell Leo," she says, because after the embarrassment of other events, this should be a walk in the park. "You can tell Toby, and we'll just arrange for Josh to find us in a compromising position."

[imnotrobin]

"The more compromising the better, for Josh, since he's going to lose his mind when he realizes we're together."

Sam takes a special pleasure in torturing Josh Lyman and he's really glad that Ainsley can share in that with him. Besides, it's about time he gets one up on Josh. He's overdue.

[theirlawyer]

"I vote we have a camera installed, because I really, really want to see what his face looks like when he finds us. Preferably right on his desk," Ainsley airs her want, seeing as she thinks it'd be most worth it if she got recorded evidence of Josh's face after finding that out. "God help him when he realizes it's not just a fling, either."

[imnotrobin]

"He'll want to know the exact breakdown of when it happened, step by step, so he can see where he failed to pick up on it," Sam agrees. "And we're going to have so much fun lording it over him."

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley's favorite hobby probably is getting one up on Democrats, especially the ones she works with, so the joy of getting to stick it to Josh Lyman is pretty much a birthday gift presented to her early. "Do you want to place bets on whether he tries to talk you out of it, before I infect you with my small government ways?"

[imnotrobin]

"Oh, I'm not taking that bet," Sam says. "Either way, I lose. Besides, I wouldn't leave you anyway. I have confidence that I'll convince you that my side is better eventually."

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley grins and thinks of how Sam will deal with Josh finding out. "I think, after the lifetime of close calls and embarrassing events, I'm going to just let the President find out about this through the grapevine," she says, not wanting another Pink Squirrel moment. "Unless you feel strongly about it?" she offers, just in case Sam had wanted to tell him personally.

[imnotrobin]

Sam's mouth curls up in a slow, soft smile and he shakes his head.

"No, I think it's pretty much fitting that he finds out through the White House rumor mill. It's just the kind of thing he might think he orchestrated."

[theirlawyer]

"There's no way that he could think that," she insists, dubious even though that little doubt is starting to creep into her mind. "I mean, he couldn't. He didn't..." She gives Sam a wary look. "He hasn't been giving you hints and nudging you towards me, has he?"

[imnotrobin]

"That would be a no," Sam assures her. "I came out of my own volition, I absolutely promise. I always like a woman who can put me in my place."

[theirlawyer]

"Isn't it handy that I did that to you within the first fifteen minutes of meeting you?" She isn't even bragging at this point so much as she's stating something factual. "Your buddy was so convinced that I was this meek little Republican who'd falter in the face of your handsome face," she accuses. "It made the victory that much sweeter."

[imnotrobin]

Sam sighs a little bit and gives Ainsley a sort of sheepish smile. "Well, there's that. I guess I deserved it."

He leans in and touches her hand a little, curling his fingers around hers. "And do I deserve this, too?"

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley smiles and takes hold of his hand, grinning as her heart speeds up a little. "Sam, you deserve everything you want," she promises, staring at him with adoration. "I haven't really had a serious relationship like this. I sort of stopped considering I would ever get one. Until you."

[imnotrobin]

"I was engaged, once, but it didn't work out. I wasn't what she was looking for. Soon afterward, I ended up with Bartlet's campaign and I got married to my work."

He lifts her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly. "I want to put a ring on your finger someday, Ainsley. You know that, don't you?"

[theirlawyer]

She searches his face, pleased to hear him say that, but also wary because he'd led with 'was engaged before', so she's not entirely sure what to take from it other than being pleased and worried. "I mean, we might have to talk and make sure that the things you're looking for are in this relationship," she points out pragmatically, "but I'd like to be with you permanently, too, Sam Seaborn."

[imnotrobin]

"It was because of her, not me, that we broke it off," Sam assures her. "I wanted to be married. I'm glad, though, because otherwise I wouldn't have met you and we wouldn't be together. It led me to you."

[theirlawyer]

"You know, it's almost like you have a way with words or something," Ainsley says with a coy, teasing smile, always enjoying when she gets to poke at Sam a little. "Just so you know, I very much am the traditional kind of person who wants to be married, so I'm glad we're on the same page."

[imnotrobin]

"Good. Otherwise, I would have had to take back that really impromptu and very bad proposal," Sam says.

"And possibly have pretended to choke on something in the process."

[theirlawyer]

She twirls the napkin ring with her fingers, giving him a pointed look, raising a brow. "You do know you didn't get out of the actual proposal," she points out, because she wants to make sure that he knows she's still expecting that. "Preferably without it ending in me performing the heimlich."

[imnotrobin]

"I don't think it's ever a good idea to combine food and small, metal objects," Sam says sagely.

"Believe me, Ainsley, when I propose, it will be after planning it to every intricate detail. I want it to be perfect."

[theirlawyer]

She won't be entirely surprised, now that he's brought it up, but she's not sure surprise is the best element for her given her unpredictability when it comes to certain events in her life. She ducks her head down, smiling privately, and when she looks back up at Sam, she's sure it shows in her eyes. "No pressure, but I will be telling my family this story again and again, when it happens."

[imnotrobin]

"Which is exactly why I'm going to make it spectacular," Sam assures her. "I want you to have the story to tell your family and I want you to be proud of it. I want you to be proud to be with me."

[theirlawyer]

"I am proud of you," she says, because no matter her politics, she loves hearing Sam's words coming out of the President's mouth. He's brilliant and influential and definitely something she loves to look at. "And speaking of that," she says, arranging her cutlery as she sets the menu aside, ready to order, "we should talk about our politicals futures, at some point."