Bouncing Back

by: Rhonda and Evelyn

Character(s): The Women of the West Wing
Pairing(s): Josh/Donna, CJ/Danny, Toby/Andi, Zoey/Charlie, Will/Ainsley
Category(s): Humor, Romance, Post Ep
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: They're not ours and never will be.
Summary: Post-episode story for Inauguration: Over There
Spoiler: Red Haven's On Fire
Feedback: Greatly Appreciated
Authors Note: This is a sequel to Bouncing Inaugural Balls. Thanks so much for all the wonderful feedback. We had such a good time with these characters that we couldn't resist bringing them back for a little more fun. Enjoy!

"Hello, please come in. You must be Mackenzie Sullivan. I'm Abigail Bartlett." Abbey shook hands with the tall, retired policeman turned cabby. "I'm happy you could join us for dinner."

"Thank you, Ma'am. But the choice wasn't exactly mine." He glared over his shoulder at Ron Butterfield who was standing against the wall in the lodge-style dining room. "This place has been closed up tighter than a bottle of rum in a teetotaler's parlor."

"Well, I trust we can make your stay memorable." Abbey smiled at the man who was obviously uncomfortable in the surroundings. "My husband held dinner for everyone. I hope you like chili?"

"Oh no." CJ joined them having heard the last few words of Abbey and Mac's conversation. "You didn't let him fix it did you?"

"I'm really sorry, CJ. Amy had me tied up in the conference room discussing battle plans and Jed was at loose ends in the kitchen."

"Just another reason why..."

"I know what you're gonna say," Abbey interrupted.

Mac looked startled. "Battle Plans? I didn't know the First Lady..."

"Oh, no. Political strategy not actual warfare. Although with Amy Gardner, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference."

Hooking her arm in his, Abbey added, "Come with me and I'll introduce you to my husband's executive assistant. She's going to make sure you have what you need during your stay with us."

"We're late for dinner. The First Lady said casual clothes tonight, didn't she?"

Josh was lying sprawled in the middle of the bed. They were in one of the two bedrooms of the cabin she was sharing with Ainsley. He was flat on his back with a can of cold beer held to his forehead. "Donna, you've got to help me out. I can't stand this situation any longer. Amy has made it her mission in life to drive me crazy - and Toby's gonna kill me if we don't get rid of her cause she's caused one public relations nightmare after another. And in the limo on the way here she kept waving around those scissors she always carries and I gotta tell you - they got dangerously close to some pretty personal equipment of mine," he whined. "Ron finally confiscated them in the interests of National Security and the ten dollars I gave him."

Donna looked sharply at the prone body on her bed, checking that said equipment was still intact.

She had plans for using all of it. Josh's jeans seemed to fit normally, but it would be just like Amy to do a little snipping on equipment she'd lost access to. Frowning, Donna hurriedly continued unpacking her bag, trying to hang up her clothes before the wrinkles set in. She glanced at her watch and grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater. Heading for the bathroom, she called over her shoulder, "It's your own fault. You played hardball with the First Lady."

"Who knew she'd hire Amy to crush mine? I didn't think the First Lady was that mad at me."

Donna shut the door and started the shower.

He heard her call out, "Well she is. But I don't think she's any happier than you are now that she's got her - and CJ's about ready to throttle her scrawny neck. That crack Amy made about redheads was just even more stupid than her budget switcheroo. You don't mess with CJ."

"Tell me about it," Josh muttered. He sat up and popped the top on the now lukewarm beer. It promptly spewed all over him and Donna's bed. "Shit." He looked upward. "Not funny."

Donna emerged from the bathroom, brushing her hair. She slipped on a pair of sneakers, and bent over to tie the laces. Josh caught a glimpse of alabaster skin as her red sweater hitched up her back. Staring at the form-fitting jeans hugging her body, all thoughts of misery-loving ex-girlfriends left his brain.

"I'm not hungry, are you?"

"Please everyone eat up. There's plenty more where that come from." Jed Bartlet beamed. He loved parties, especially informal ones where he got to play host.

His guests filled the dining room as they milled around the buffet table loaded with two kinds of chili, baked potatoes, salad, hot rolls, and several kinds of pie.

"That one's too hot for you to handle."

A surprised CJ whirled around, an empty chili bowl in one hand and a ladle in the other. "What are you doing here? The President said no press this weekend."

"None except for me. I'm special."

"A special pain in the..."

"Now, now, Claudia Jean," the President interrupted them, walking up and taking the ladle from her. "You're holding up the line. Hold out your bowl. You, too, Danny. Both of you deserve some of my special recipe - I got the peppers from Mexico. President Fox brought them to me during his last State visit. It's almost impossible to get them otherwise."

CJ stared in horror at the bowlful of the spicy mixture the President returned to her and then turned her glare on the man who was responsible for her upcoming heartburn.

"Hey, I like the President's chili." Danny grinned as the President handed him a filled bowl.

As they walked towards the long table and their assigned seats, both had to blink back the tears as the pungent steam from the pepper-laden chili rose.

"I heard there was a dog. Where is he?" Danny began scanning the room.

CJ coughed. "It's a she. And I'm hoping to sit next to Ainsley. I don't think the dog would eat this."

"I made arrangements for some personal items and some clothes to be put in your room.  You'll be sharing a two-bedroom cabin with Will Bailey, the President's Deputy Communications Director."

"You mean Goat Boy. That will make my dog happy. She's taken quite a shine to him."

The President's assistant gave him a withering glance. "And of course we've obtained the dog food you requested. What's the dog's name again?"

"Whiskey, the mother's milk of an Irishman. She's an Irish-Wolfhound. Do you have dogs, Ms. Fiderer?"

"No, and it's Debbie."

"That's a shame, Debbie. Dogs are great companions."

"Well, I've had two husbands and one alpaca. I much preferred living with the alpaca."

"What the hell's an alpaca? A camel?"

"Think small llama."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you want a llama? They're dirty and they spit."

"Somewhat like my ex-husbands. But what I had was an alpaca, not a llama."

"Whatever. Why would you want one?"

"Money. They're very profitable."

"If they're so profitable, what are you doing wasting your time coordinating the delivery of shaving cream and dog food for the people the President takes hostage every time some idiot jumps a fence?"

Debbie frowned. "You're a very rude man, no wonder your only companion is a dog."

"Don't knock dogs. They don't mind a man having a few beers after work and Whiskey never complains about where I leave my socks. And she sings to me."

Debbie smiled at the cabby. "Are you sure she's singing?"

"Ainsley, will you tell Mr. Zeigler that I'm still not talking to him?"

Ainsley swallowed another mouthful of chili and turned to Toby who was seated to her right.

"Congresswoman Wyatt says that she's still not talking to you."

"Well, you tell the Congresswoman that she better leave off the chili. I'm not available tonight to drive to a drugstore for antacids."

Ainsley managed another quick bite before turning to her left. "He says that. . ."

"I heard him. You can tell him that I wouldn't think of bothering his beauty sleep, just because I'm carrying around 30 pounds of his babies, I wouldn't want him inconvenienced in the slightest."

Ainsley didn't even get the spoon to her mouth. "The Congresswoman says that ..."

"Tell her that the babies only account for about 10 pounds of the extra weight she's carrying around."

Ainsley opened and closed her mouth a few times in shock. Pushing back her chair, she hurriedly stood. "I'm going back to the buffet table for more bread."

Ainsley made her escape just in time to miss the generous slice of cherry pie that landed on the front of Toby's white shirt.

"I know how much you like pie, dear." Andi smiled at him. "And of course I should watch my calories."

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9a | 9b

| << back | send feedback | The National Library |