Past Tense Rising
Author: Kathie
Category: AU; crossover (TWW, American President, Air Force One)
Previously: Last time, we discovered that Josie had an email friendship with
former First Daughter Alice Marshall.
**
"Hey, Leo." Josie said as she walked into his office. "Where's
Margaret?"
Leo, as usual, had to do a double take as she walked in. She was
wearing a dark blue blouse and skirt, the type of thing CJ, Margaret, Ginger,
Cathy, and Carol wore to work. In the aftermath of the Halloween tragedy,
Josie had grown up very quickly. So had George, who had discarded his usual
jeans and stained t-shirts for slightly nicer clothes. And Margaret...
Speaking of Margaret...
"I don't know." he replied, snapping out of his reverie. "She might be
in the mess with the others."
"Nope." Josie shook her head. "Toby went to Rita's for dinner. Sam and
Ainsley are out together, which you did not hear from me. CJ and Carol are
working on something in her office. Josh and Donna are in the mess, but I
didn't feel like being a third wheel. And Charlie and Zoey went out. Wanna
have dinner with me, Uncle Leo?"
"Beats this." Leo stood up and grabbed his jacket. He wrapped his arm
around her shoulders. "How are the RSVPs going?"
"About half the people I sent invitations to have replied and most of
them are coming. Congresswoman Bennett actually dropped by today and left me
a message with Lili. Can you believe it? A congresswoman taking time from her
schedule to drop by and see *me*."
Leo and Josie were halfway out the door when they ran into Margaret,
who was standing in front of her desk, her coat on, a file in her hand, and
tears dripping from her closed eyes.
"Margaret?" Leo was at her side instantly, leading her to a seat. "Sit
down, Margaret."
"I'll get a glass of water." Josie said, making for the nearest
bathroom.
**
"Sam, Andrew Shepard was a Republican president with a Republican
staff." Ainsley said as she took another sip of wine. "I can't wait to
witness you and Louis Rothchild butting heads. CJ told me about the first
time it happened."
"Look, could you shut up for a minute so I can actually figure out why
I keep asking you to dinner?" Sam asked jovially. "Besides which, I'm not the
one you need to worry about. And, though I hesitate to say it, neither is
Rothchild. President Bartlet's family is Democrat."
"The only thing I find offensive about the man personally." Ainsley
deadpanned.
"Well, you never made the connection between the Shepard
administration and the Bartlet administration, did you?" Sam asked smugly,
smirking.
"Connection?" Ainsley laid both hands on the table. "You've got my
attention, Seaborn."
"Shepard's chief of staff, AJ MacInerney?" At her blank stare, he
crossed his arms. "You really don't know the connection, do you? I can't
believe how anyone can miss it."
"Stop babbling and tell me!" Ainsley reached across the table and
grabbed his tie.
"What do I get if I tell you?" Sam asked.
Ainsley smiled devilishly, stood up, and kissed him on the cheek.
"He's Bartlet's cousin."
**
will be continued
Past Tense Rising - 4
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