‘You Did What’
Author: Anne

Rating: K+

Pairing: Sam/Ainsley, mentions of Josh/Donna

Summary: The press finds out about Sam and Ainsley’s engagement before C.J. does. C.J. is not going to be a happy camper.

Spoilers: None, really, I don’t think.

Series: Bossa Nova: 2

Author’s Note: Blame this totally on ‘Blame it on the Bossa Nova’…and also blame it on the fact that I love the Sam/Ainsley pairing.

Author’s Note 2: Prequel 1 to ‘Blame it on the Bossa Nova’

--

“…and that we hope to preserve this valuable land quickly so that no more will be damaged…”

“It sounds…I don’t know,” Ainsley Hayes pursed her lips and thought.

“…we hope to quickly pass legislation that will protect this priceless land from the damaging effects of its ambiance.” Sam Seabourn looked at his fiancé for approval on the speech he was in the middle of writing.

-Meanwhile…in CJ’s office…-

“Danny, you know the White House doesn’t comment on the President’s security! Now either ask me something that I can answer or get out,” CJ Cregg voiced to Danny.

“Fine,” the red headed reporter retorted, “How does the President feel of his Deputy Communication Director’s recent engagement to…”

“Sam isn’t engaged,” CJ laughed.

“Yes, he is, CJ, one of our reporters saw him and Ainsley Hayes at an upper-class restaurant. There was fairly large sized diamond ring sitting on Ainsley’s…”

CJ looked at Danny in shock, “Excuse me, for one moment would you?”

When she got closer to Sam’s office, CJ yelled, “SAMUEL NORMAN SEABOURN, GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE, RIGHT NOW!”

Sam’s head popped out of the doorway to his office, “You yelled?”

“Danny Concannon just asked me how the President felt on your recent engagement to Ainsley Hayes.”

“So?”

“Well, it’d be nice if you’d told me that you were engaged! To a Republican!”

“CJ, I really have to write the speech…”

“Sam, I don’t give a damn if you’re writing the greatest piece of legislation since the Declaration of Independence. What I want to know is if you’re engaged to Ainsley Hayes!”

“Yes, I am.”

“You are?” Sam nodded his head. CJ pulled him out of his office by his tie and saw Ainsley in there and said, “You come too.” Ainsley followed them back to CJ’s office, where Danny was sitting with a smug smile on his face.

“Out!” CJ barked to Danny. Danny’s eyebrows rose upwards in an ‘I-told-you-so’ sort of way. He left the office quietly smiling happily to himself. “You’re engaged.”

“Yes,” Sam and Ainsley both replied at the same time.

“Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“No!”

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”

“NO!”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me! Didn’t you think that maybe, you are in Washington D.C. both with prominent positions in the White House, from oh, let’s say DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES! The reporters are going to have a free circus day!”

“Oh, by the way you two,” Danny peeked his head into the room, “Congratulations!” Sam and Ainsley were both about to say thank you but CJ screamed, “OUT!”

“When did this happen?”

“What?”

“When did the President come up with a secret plan to fight inflation Samuel?” CJ asked sarcastically.

“Hey, you can’t use that…”

“WHEN DID YOU GET ENGAGED?”

“2 weeks ago,” Sam squeaked. CJ gave him a death glare before picking up the phone.

“Yea, Charlie, it’s CJ. Sam, Ainsley, and I need to meet with the President as soon as possible. Right now is excellent.”

“Come on, Spanky,” CJ motioned for Sam and Ainsley to follow her.

--

“Charlie, what’s next?”

“You’re now meeting with CJ, Sam, and Ainsley.”

“This wasn’t on the schedule this morning, Charlie.”

“I know that, sir. I just got a call from CJ’s office. They’re coming over right…”

“…let me tell you, buster, he is going to be pissed,” CJ said to Sam and Ainsley as they entered the President’s office.

“What happened this time?”

“Sam, I say you tell him,” CJ turned to Sam and gave him one of her evil smiles. Sam looked at Ainsley who looked nervous as heck.

“I don’t know why CJ is up in arms about this. It’s really not the big story she’s making it out to be and I’d like to say…”

“Just spit it out, Sam,” the President ordered.

“IproposedtoAinsleytwoweeksagoandshesaidyessowe’reengaged,” Sam said in one breath.

“I beg your pardon, but I don’t think you inhaled enough oxygen to say that fast enough, so let’s try that again.”

“Well, sir, I proposed to Ainsley two weeks ago. And she said yes,” Sam straightened up, spoke slower, and smiled and put his arm around Ainsley, “so we’re engaged, Mr. President.”

“Ainsley,” the President said gruffly.

“Yes, sir,” she squeaked back.

CJ was smirking in triumph, while Sam had a petrified look on his face. The President said to Ainsley, “I think you’ll make a wonderful First Lady.” CJ’s smirk quickly turned to an open-mouthed expression of shock. It was now Sam’s turn to smirk at CJ. “Congratulations, to both of you. When’s the big day?”

“We…h-haven’t decided on a day yet, s-sir,” Ainsley stuttered.

“Well, when you do, make sure I’m the first to know,” the President smiled.

“Yes, sir,” Ainsley nodded her head.

“Mr. President, I…”

“CJ, they’re getting married. It’s a happy occasion. The press can twist it any way they want, but it will still be a happy occasion.”

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Sam gave one of his fearful smiles to CJ, before grabbing Ainsley’s hand and quickly walking out of the Oval Office. “That wasn’t so bad now, was it?”

Ainsley stopped to think about it for a moment before smiling, “No, no it wasn’t.”

-Later that day-

“Ainsley Hayes?” Josh suddenly popped up in Sam’s doorway, “You’re engaged to…Ainsley Hayes.”

“Josh, if you’re here to talk about that I…”

“You’re engaged…to Ainsley Hayes,” Josh said for a second time.

“Oh, come on, it’s not…”

“You’re engaged to Ainsley Hayes,” Josh suddenly burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny about being engaged to Ainsley, Josh,” Sam said seriously, with a few iota of anger slipping into his voice.

“It’s just…Ainsley Hayes?” Josh sniggered somemore.

“If you have problem with our engagement, then I suggest you get out of my office, right now,” Sam threatened.

“Whoa, Sam, take it easy man,” Josh tried to calm him down.

“Everyone except the President seems to have a problem with us as a couple. I’m wondering why, Josh. Maybe you could explain it.”

“She’s…a Republican,” Josh said plainly, “And you’re a Democrat.”

“So?”

Josh scrunched up his face in thought to try to think of something to retort to Sam’s question, but could think of nothing.

“And, anyway, what’s going on between you and Donna?”

“Donna?” Josh cried out in exasperation, “Nothing! She’s my assistant…”

“Who has been complaining that you somehow ruin all of her dates before they even happen!”

“She has bad taste in men!”

“And when will the time come when you encourage her to go out with someone?”

“I…” Sam smirked at Josh, who knew he’d been outsmarted, “Fine…I like Donna”

“Couldn’t quite hear that, Josh, speak up!” Sam said sarcastically.

“I LIKE DONNA, ALRIGHT?”

“It’s about time you admitted it too,” Sam sat back down at his desk and began working with a refueled energy level.

“Sam, you’re…not an expert at these things, but you know how to get a girl,” Josh sat down in one of the visitor chairs and leaned his elbows on the desk, “How can I get her to like me back?”

“Well, I’d say she deserves a large present, or possibly a pay raise?”

“She’s not getting the latter,” Josh shot down immediately, “She’ll make more than me!”

“Or maybe a simple hug would work,” Sam told him.

“A what?”

“A hug. You know that thing where two people wrap their arms around each other in a loving embrace and…”

“I know what a hug is…but why a hug?”

“Because it would show your appreciation for her, make her happy…oh and maybe you should throw in dinner.”

“Dinner now too?”

“Well, if you really want her to like you,” Sam smiled.

“You know, there is really something freakish about you,” Josh commented before leaving Sam’s office.

“Josh!” Donna called out, but Josh was too busy thinking about something else to remember to answer her, “Josh! Josh, didn’t you hear me yelling?”

“What?” Josh finally realized that she was speaking to him, “Oh, sorry, just thinking for a moment.”

“Leo wants to see you about the thing,” Donna read off of the little pink memo slip in her hand.

“What thing?”

“I don’t know what the thing is. Margaret wouldn’t tell me,” Donna pouted. Suddenly Josh turned around in his doorway.

“Donna?” Josh stopped her as she turned away.

“You know, there is work to be done Joshua,” Donna began to rant but was suddenly shocked into silence by Josh giving her a hug,

“Thank you, Donna,” he said.

“Since when did you become so appreciative of me?” Donna asked, still somewhat freaked out.

“Have dinner with me tonight,” Josh smiled as he let go of her. He left her standing in the middle of the bullpen, stunned as he went to Leo’s office.

--

“…and the President will be commenting on the matter after he reads the legislation…next question…yes, Danny…” CJ trailed as she took questions in the briefing room.

“So, how are the newly engaged Ainsley Hayes and Sam Seaborn doing after your ass-kickin’ this morning?” Danny smiled smugly. CJ glanced up from her briefing papers and gave a right and proper glare to Danny, whom the whole briefing room was now looking at. They suddenly turned back to CJ and started shouting at the same time, “CJ! CJ!”

--

Open-mouthed Sam and a wide-eyed Ainsley watched as the press briefing room erupted into chaos over the question Danny had just asked.

“Can I hit him?” Ainsley was the first to speak, “He had no right to bring a private conversation that we had with CJ into the press room! This is a violation of…of…” Ainsley struggled to think.

“SAM!”

“Oh great,” Sam banged his head on the desk, “He’s just the voice I wanted to…”

“SAM!” Communications Director Toby Ziegler slammed into Sam’s office, “What the hell is Danny Concannon asking CJ about a conversation that she had with you and Ainsley? And why the hell does he think you’re engaged?”

“Because we are…”

“As a matter of fact, where the hell did he come up with the proof that…excuse me? Did the words ‘because we are’ just slip out of your mouth Sam?”

“Yes, they did.”

“Toby, I really don’t think this is a good time to…”

“I THINK NOW IS A PERFECTLY GOOD TIME FOR AN EXPLANATION!” Toby yelled.

“Why can’t anybody besides the President deal with this?”

“The President knows?”

“Yes, the President knows!” Ainsley snapped back, “And he is very accepting of our engagement, unlike you, or CJ, or for that matter Danny since he squealed on us!”

“…or Josh…just to say,” Sam said.

“I’m not hearing this.”

“Yes, you are, Toby.”

“I am not hearing that the Deputy Communications Director is engaged to an Associate on the White House Counsel!”

Ainsley sat in one of Sam’s office chairs and sighed, holding her head in her hands, “Can’t somebody just say congratulations? I thought engagements were good things.” Toby looked at Ainsley blankly for a moment before turning on his heel and walking out. Ainsley looked at Sam, whose face was now furious but determined. He got up, went out into the communications bullpen. “If any of you haven’t heard the latest news, here it is: I’m engaged to Ainsley Hayes. If any of you have a problem with that, get over it now, because it’s not going to change.” And on that note, Sam stepped back into his office, slamming the door behind him.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you’re not going to let public reaction have an effect on our relationship or our engagement.”

“I love you,” Sam said, embracing her, “I’m not letting anyone try to break us up.”

“I love you, too, Sam,” Ainsley said, closed her eyes, and leaned her head on his chest.

--

Toby watched Sam and Ainsley hugging from his office. Why did he go into Sam’s office, criticizing the engagement? Engagements were good things. Then why the hell was everyone else thinking it was bad? Why?

-Fin-

Isn’t it obvious that there’s going to be another ficlet? Reviews would be lovely!