What happens when a war brings two people, who are destined to have the greatest love story in history, together at the worst time of their lives. Can they survive their circumstances? Follow the story of love, loss and a Christmas miracle.
AN: Hi all, this was supposed to be a Christmas one-shot in response to a challenge from my good friend anonolitz, but it took on a life of its own . She and I were talking and I explained why I stopped writing. It really boils down to a few factors but the main one was that Shonda's determination to ruin Olitz in Canon, left such a bad taste in my mouth, that I just didn't have the desire to write about them anymore. So, because I value anonoliz very much, I will give it another shot. Here is the first chapter to this story. If you want me to continue, let me know and I promise I will. I am estimating it will be about 5 chapters.
Fitz
The whirring sound of the helicopter blades blared in the distance as the whistle of bullets, explosions and screaming men inundated Fitz's ears. "How did I get myself into this?" he thought, "I'm going to die". He looked over at his best friend Jake, and he could see the same thoughts mirrored on his face. They were Army surgeons and they were landing in a middle of a hot zone that was taking on heavy enemy fire.
Flashback
Fitz had it made. He was a brilliant Army Captain serving as a medical surgeon; all he had to do was join the Army Reserves, file for a waiver, and go into practice with his fiancé's father, and the military would have left him alone. He knew this and yet he let them get him anyway.
He could still hear his father's angry words in his head, "Fitz, you idiot! What have you done?! I knew this medical school nonsense would end badly! Why didn't you just listen to me and go to law school like we planned? Why do you always have to be so difficult? Why couldn't you just stick with the plan?"
Fitz's father, Fitzgerald Thomas Grant II, or Big Gerry as most people called him, was a very domineering man. From the time Fitz learned to crawl, his father had been steering his career towards politics. He had developed a "30-year plan" for Fitz's life. What schools he would attend, what sports he would play, types of girls he would date, colleges he would attend and what political offices he would hold before obtaining the ultimate prize: to become the President of the United States. Big Gerry's plan was foolproof. He felt anyone, even a trained gorilla, could execute it with great finesse…that is…anyone, except his son Fitzgerald.
Fitz rebelled every chance he got…after being kicked out of the best private schools in the nation, his father enrolled him in Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. Hargrave was the turning point for Fitz, he stopped fighting and worked his way through the ranks, until he finally became the battalion commander, his senior year.
As he sat down with his guidance counselor to discuss his college choices, he felt like he was suffocating; he knew he was just going through the motions and he felt himself drowning in despair. In a moment of clarity and impulsiveness, he took a deep breath and informed his counselor that he wanted to apply to Harvard's Pre-Med program instead of Pre-Law like his father wanted.
Present day
Fitz swallowed hard and put on a brave face as they ran up to the Sergeant Major who was screaming at soldiers as they hopped off the transport. "Alright men, head to that bunker through the tree lines, keep your head down! All I want to see is assholes and elbows! There's enemy action all over the damn place!" He finally turns to the two medical officers and says, "Stick close Captains, we'll get you to where you need to be sirs!"
Fitz and Jake look at each other and quickly decide they are no-one's fool; they would stick close to the man who seemed to know what he was doing. They grab their gear and quickly follow the Sergeant Major as he continues to yell "alright men, hit the ground running…move it, move it!"
"Sirs did you remember to stop by the armory and pick up extra ammo for your .45s?" the Sergeant Major asked. They nodded to let him know that they had. "Well damn, I'm impressed, you two might make it through this war after all! Keep your heads down I say!"
As the firefight continued, men were dropping like flies. Jake and Fitz dove in and began working on whatever soldier they could reach. They climbed into trenches and dragged the wounded into a makeshift battle aid station to patch them up.
Finally, after many hours, there was a break in the bombardment…enough for the choppers to pick up the seriously wounded and transport them along with the two surgeons to the in-theater combat support hospital.
"Give me some suction!" yelled Fitz, trying to get himself heard over the chaos in the operating tent. "I need better instruments, this is crazy!" Fitz mumbled to himself, while yelling out loud "I need an endotracheal tube STAT!"
"Look alive! Let's get them treated and get them out of here!" Colonel Beene yelled as he walked around the surgical ward checking on the progress of treatment"
"Hey! Colonel, Can I get a damn endotracheal tube before this man dies?!" Fitz yells.
Colonel Beene was a no-nonsense, ass-kicking career military man, and the commander of the 385th Combat Support Hospital; his word was law. His head snapped back around as he heard the doctor yell once again for an endotracheal tube. "The hell you say!" he exclaimed with a smirk…he liked a spunky take charge physician as long as he stayed in his lane. "Someone get that doctor what he needs!" he yelled and then proceeded to yell at someone else to get the biohazard bags off the ward and out of the way.
Fitz continued to work on the corporal that was laying on his table. He was determined that come hell or high water, this man wasn't going to die…not on his watch! He did everything he could, and while Corporal Jones survived the surgery, there was no way he would make it through the next 48 hours without the advanced surgery that could not be performed at the combat support hospital.
"I probably could have done more if I had one of those Rochard Systems" Fitz quietly explained to Jake as they sat on the stoop drinking a well-deserved glass of scotch.
"A what?" asked Jake, he was a plastic surgeon by trade and wasn't familiar with the instrument.
"A Rochard System. It's a retractor that gives me better access to the abdomen. If I had something like that, I could have done more for Corporal Jones."
"Well they probably have those on the Comfort hospital ship, but I don't know how you're going to be able to get there to get your hands on one" said Jake. "Yeah, well we will see about that" mumbled Fitz, a plan already forming in his head.
As the sun began to rise, Fitz began to put his plan in motion. During the evening, Corporal Jones's health took a turn for the worse and it became imperative that he be medically evacuated to the HSNS Comfort for more advanced care. Fitz had decided that he would break protocol and travel with the wounded soldier so that he could provide care, if needed, during the flight.
"Good morning sir, I have reserved the chopper to transport corporal Jones to the HSNS Comfort…it leaves on the hour…" Fitz began,
"I know when it leaves captain and who gave you permission to do that?" Colonel Beene demanded.
"Sir... I respectfully request…"
"Your request is denied" Colonel Beene promptly responded, with a deliberate tone of dismissal.
"Sir, I respectfully request to accompany Corporal Jones to the HSNS Comfort…"
"Fine, Fine! That soldier probably won't make it," Colonel Beene cut him off, "but mark my words, you are going to regret getting on my bad side, Captain. Dismissed!"
Hours later
Captain Grant had arrived, handed off his patient, and gone straight to the officer's quarters for a quick shower and change of clothes. Feeling refreshed, he followed the signs to the surgical ward to see how his patient was doing. As he stepped into the observation galley, he couldn't help but be impressed with the modern feel and the advanced instruments. He settled in to observe the operation.
"This is an impressive team" he thought. "They move and work together like a well-oiled machine".
During the surgery, the operating physician got called out to help assist with another incoming trauma, and it was then that Fitz really began to notice the number two surgeon. "Wow, she's really good" he thought as he looked on.
The longer he observed, the more enthralled he became with the methodical surgeon, and just when he didn't think he could be surprised any further, she lifted her head and their eyes met for the first time.
It was as if time stood still…he drew in a surprised breath and became flush with the heat from the instant attraction he felt for this total stranger. Her beautiful brown doe eyes shimmered with both a look of seriousness and surprise. Her long lashes framed her eyes like that of a porcelain doll, and her fine, smooth cocoa skin; a sharp contrast to her surgical whites.
He could feel a light sheen of sweat begin to form over his brow as they continued to stare at each other through the glass, and then as quickly as it began, their eye contact ended.
Fitz couldn't control his body's reaction to the surge of adrenalin he suddenly felt. His uniform suddenly felt very uncomfortable in his genital area and he felt like a schoolboy unable to control his bodily functions. "I have to meet her" he whispered to himself.
Olivia
Olivia could feel the sweat forming on her brow "swab me please" she said to an assisting nurse. She felt like someone was staring at her, and as she raised her head, her eyes met with the most beautiful cerulean blue eyes she had ever seen. She drew in a surprised gasp and continued to hold the stare they were sharing.
"Damn, that man is so fine!" she thought "No, that's not right…he is more than fine, he is magnificent and I would like to drink his bathwater" she laughed to herself. She lowered her eyes and continued to focus on the task at hand.
The corporal looked so young and fragile, and she wanted to do everything she could to save his life. As she finished and began to close, she couldn't help but think about the beautiful man on the other side of the glass. Her body yearned to leap through the glass and pounce on him but she knew that was not appropriate. She finished closing up the corporal and instructed her team to take him to recovery.
"Hey Liv, what's going on? You seem so distracted" her best friend Abby observed as they cleaned up and removed their dirty scrubs. "Does it have anything to do with that tall drink of water in the observation gallery?" She laughed.
"Girl, mind your business and focus on you" Olivia said laughingly as she continued saying, "I would love to know who he is, have you ever seen him before Abbs?"
"No, I think he came in with the corporal, but I'll find out for you…" Abby said as she shook her head. She chuckled to herself as she looked over at her best friend. Olivia's eyes had glazed over, and her skin was flushed as though she had run a ten-mile race. She could tell Olivia had gone into a dreamlike trance and there was nothing she could do to shake her from it.
Fitz, ran his hands up her smooth arms and gently cupped her breast. As he began to massage one nipple, then the other, he relished the little whimpering sounds coming from her full beautiful lips. She let out a small sigh and parted her lips slightly as she felt him lean forward to capture her lips in the most sensual kiss she has ever experienced…
"Liv, Liv…Olivia!" Abby's voice finally penetrated her mind. Olivia shook her head to clear her thoughts while leaning over to dry her hands. "Damn, that seemed so real" she thought.
"Yes Abby, what's up, why are you calling me" she asked, her back still turned. She turned around and immediately felt the earth shift, the planets align and all felt right…she couldn't help the big beautiful smile that appeared on her face…
"Olivia Pope…I'd like you to meet Dr. Fitzgerald Grant III" Abby announced with a little smirk on her face.
Fitz stuck his hand out to shake hers, never breaking eye contact, and as their skin touched, an electric current ran through their fingertips and sealed the connection. "Hi" he said as he felt his brain short-circuit… With wide eyes and a forever smile on her face, she looked deep into his eyes and said… "Hi".
TBC
So what do you think? Leave a review and let me know if you want me to keep going.
