My take on what happen between now and next week's episode. I've been waiting for Jake and Olivia since he first came on the show. Dammit Shonda, get it right!
I don't own SCANDAL.
This Takes place between episode 5x18 and 5x19.
The Dearly Departed…
The band could be heard, striking up music as everyone took their seats. Stragglers were rushing inside as the secret service ran another security sweep around the perimeter.
Olivia had barely made it past the last corridor when her legs gave out from beneath her. Her lungs constricted and expanded rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. She was falling, unable to stomach to the torment she'd just inflicted.
She didn't want to make a scene, but her body was knotted with physical pain, as she gasped. Arms came around and caught her before she hit the floor completely.
"It's okay. I've got you." Quinn soothed, pulling her up, dragging her to a car nearby.
"H-how?" was all Liv could manage to gasp out.
"Huck saw Rowan and you talking. Wasn't hard to piece together." She explained, as they made their way to a black Mercedes.
Liv didn't bother to ask any more questions as Quinn drove them away from the wedding of the century. In less than an hour, Jake and Vanessa would be married.
She closed her eyes, remembering the distress in his eyes, the pain in his voice.
"Why are you doing this?" he had asked.
Because she loved him. She finally knew he was the one, and she missed her chance.
All this time, Jake had asked her, begged her to admit her feelings for him, and now she would never take that next step with him. They'd never stand in the sun again.
She couldn't bear to see him in a casket or betrothed to another. So she did the only thing she knew how to do-destroy him. Destroy their love. And the things she said-there was no coming back from that. No repairing, no forgiving, no understanding. She went too far-cut too deep.
She'd cut them both too deep.
But he'd live. Even if he hated her forever, she could deal with that. She could accept his hatred of her-as long as he lived.
Because going to war with her father wasn't an option. She couldn't fight him. Her father would kill them all-Quinn, Huck, Jake, Fitz…just to show her who was in command. Just to show her, she'd never win.
Jake was right. She should have never gotten him released from prison. He was a monster. And you don't bargain with a monster, you don't try to outwit a monster, you don't reason with it. A monster has to be killed.
If she had let him die in prison, Jake wouldn't be marrying Vanessa. They wouldn't be on their way to political extortion, and presidential prestige. They wouldn't be having babies, and growing old together. He wouldn't grow to love her.
He wouldn't move on.
The thought of him moving on without her, almost made her choke out a sob. But she held it together. She sat in that car, pushing all emotions down, along with her happiness.
How foolish had she been, to think it would ever be as simple, as breathing.
By the time Quinn reached her house, she was numb. Quinn turned on the television, but it blurred into the background.
Liv decided on a shower. She felt cold, and dirty, and needed something that would help. Only then, under the hot pressured stream, did she let go. Full sobs erupted as she cried into the water. Her heart was broken, and somewhere deep down, she knew it would never beat the same again.
She stayed in until the water ran cold, her hair a mass of ringlets. Upon getting out, Liv heard the sound of her phone.
It was Papa Pope. She answered after the third ring.
"I warned you Olivia."
Liv felt bile arise in her throat. This man was disturbed and twisted and she couldn't conceive the notion that God made this man her father.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She whispered.
"Now, is not the time for games daughter. I'm sad it has to come to this. Jake was truly, like a son to me."
"What the hell?!" Liv snapped, tired of the riddles. "I did what you asked, and I was very damn convincing."
"Oh really? So you have the audacity to play ignorant with me?! This little stunt pulled wasn't your doing?"
Fear, panic, and hope sprang to Liv's chest. What the hell was he talking about? Did Jake leave Vanessa? "What….?"
"Uh, Liv…" Quinn called, watching the news. "You might wanna see this!"
Liv paused from her conversation with her father as Quinn turned up the volume on the television.
"A devastating turn of events as the shooting at St. Adler Church has caused panic. Some say it was another assassin attempt on President Grant. Although no one was hurt, the secret service and national guard has shut down the wedding. Vanessa and Jake are positively distraught…."
"So now you know," she heard Rowan's voice on the other end. "But ignorance is not the same as innocence. Trust this Olivia, if I find out you had anything to do with sabotaging this wedding, I will kill them ALL."
The line went dead. He didn't have to elaborate, she knew who all were.
Quinn turned to Olivia, obviously just as shocked. Then she immediately dialed her phone. "What the hell Huck?"
After a few moments, her eyes furrowed. "What do you mean it wasn't you?!"
Liv's head began to race. If her father thought that it was her, he'd kill Jake for sure. She needed to talk to him.
"We have to go." She told Quinn, running to her bedroom. " Get down to OPP and find out what you can. I'll meet you there!"
"On it." Quinn said, moving with precision.
Olivia was out the door 15 minutes later, dressed in her power color- gladiator white.
When she arrived in OPP, everyone was working. And by everyone, even Abby was there.
"The president wants to know what the hell happened at that wedding." She offered as an explanation.
Olivia just stared at her. She missed Abby, she missed her best friend, her gladiator. If there was ever a time she needed her, it was now. But that person was gone-that person died the moment she went to the White House.
Marcus, Huck, and Quinn waited patiently a sign. To throw her out, to feed her to the wolves, whatever their leader asked of them. And under any other circumstances, Liv wouldn't hesitate.
But they needed to be running on all four cylinders. And to do that, she needed to push her pride aside. They needed to find answers prove she hadn't set up the shooter-Jake's life depended on it.
"Okay." Liv finally agreed.
"Okay." Abby echoed, throwing her coat over a chair.
Liv turned to Quinn and nodded for her to proceed.
Quinn sighed, "So, there are only 3 points of access to the wedding…"
It had been two days, and no answers. Liv stared at all the information on the window, trying to see if she'd missed something, but she knew she hadn't.
Everyone else had left hours ago, but she remained. A glass of wine in her hair, wearing her favorite sundress. Her hair was a mass of curls. She hadn't bothered to straighten it since the wedding.
She folded her arms into each other as she sighed. Her brain was racked with too many angles but not enough to make solid connections.
The news wasn't any better. Conspiracy started to speculate, feeding into the fear that this would happen again. Which would cause her father to recalculate, and do something drastic.
The sound of the door slightly opening, caused her to sigh. "Quinn, I told you to-"
"Hello Liv."
She spun around to see Jake, standing there. His composure solid, his feet grounded, his heart guarded. He looked dammed good-perfect; for a man who's wedding was shot up 2 days ago, anyway.
He approached her calmly, staring at the information on the windows. "Anything?" he asked.
"I'm sorry." Liv told him, her tone low, but reassuring. "We haven't found the shooter, but we will."
"There's no need." Jake told her casually glancing out the window at Washington. "I'm the shooter."
She uncrossed her arms. "What?"
Jake took the glass of wine from her hands, and set it on the table. "I called in a favor. I needed a distraction, time to think."
If Huck and Quinn were clueless, there was only one other Jake trusted enough. The only one capable and unpredictable enough to make it look like chaos, while still showing immaculate skill.
"You called Charlie." Liv guessed after a while.
"I called Charlie." Jake confirmed, giving her his full attention.
"Why would you do that?" Despite everything, Liv found herself hoping. For what, she didn't know. Nothing she deserved, that's for sure.
"I was hoping you could tell me." He said quietly, waiting patiently.
He was good at that, she realized. Always willing to wait, to let her make the first move. To choose whether to tell him everything, or nothing at all.
"Jake… I meant what I said." Liv chose her words carefully. "And all you've done, is put your future wife in unnecessary danger."
"I had to see you again." Jake said, his eyes holding her intently. "I had to see the eyes of the woman I love so deeply, and remember what it looks like when she's lying to me."
She forced herself to speak in that condescending tone again, as if he were a toddler. "Jake…"
"NO," Jake's abrupt harshness silenced her. "You've said all you had to say to me back in that church. Now it's my turn.
"I would've taken on the world for you Liv, I would have never stopped fighting for us. I would've never given up on us-if you hadn't of lied to me. I would have died happily at the hands of your father-if you hadn't of lied to me. I would have waited for all eternity, if you hadn't of LIED TO ME!" he shouted from a place filled with anger, sorrow, and pain.
"And standing here in front of you again, seeing you lie to me again…" he let out a humorless chuckle. "Well, it's almost poetic, at the very least, insulting-that you think I don't know you, don't know when you're running."
Liv wanted to apologize, wanted to explain things. But there was more at stake than just her heart. She wouldn't have any more blood spilt at the expense of her selfishness-her friends, her love for Jake…she owed them more than she could ever repay.
"If I walk out that door Olivia, I will never see you again." Jake vowed. "I will never stand in the sun with you-you will be alone because you gave me up. You gave us up."
Olivia felt her knees weaken, but she managed to hold her ground. She could just tell him. Tell him that her father threatened her life, and everyone else's. Trust him, lean on him. Let him be her gladiator. She could easily let him take the weight of her decisions, like he always had before-risking his life, for hers.
She could let him love her-something she knew he'd do right. He'd worship her until the day one of them stopped breathing. A day that would come all too soon if she gave into her selfishness.
"Goodbye Jake."
Jake closed his eyes slowly, as if he'd just took a strong shot of liquor. He swallowed hard. When he reopened his eyes, Liv saw nothing-no love, no loss, no remnants of recognition. No sun.
"Goodbye Ms. Pope." He said stiffly, and made his way out of her office, out of her life.
She collapsed in the nearest chair, and grabbed her wine, trembling hands clutching the glass. She didn't know how long she'd stayed there-time stopped.
Liv sat, now polishing off some whiskey, becoming eternally lost in her thoughts. So this is what it's like to lose. To admit defeat.
"Why did you let him win?"
She didn't look up as Abby came to sit down next to her, pouring herself a glass. "Why did you let him win?" she repeated.
"Because, Jake's life was on the line. Everyone's life was on the line." Liv told her softly.
"Our lives are always on the line!" Abby snapped. "We are always at the mercy of your father's benevelance! Why did you let him win!?"
"Because I don't want to fight him!" Liv shouted through tears. "I am tired of fighting him! I've fought him for Huck, I fought him for Fitz, I avenged Harrison! And look where it got me!
"The man who has been everything for me, is marrying another woman…and it's ripping me apart Abby! But I'd rather lose him to Vanessa, than lose him altogether!"
Abby finished her glass in one gulp, tears in her eyes. "You don't get to give up Liv. Gladiators don't give up!"
"I won't risk Jake's life." Liv shook her head stubbornly.
"Sending him into a loveless marriage isn't risking his life?" She countered. "I was at the wedding. And the man I saw at that alter, looked like he was about to be convicted."
"He'll move on Abby." Liv assured her. "It'll hurt like hell, but he will move on, because Jake is a survivor. He's adaptable, he's anchored. He won't just abandon Vanessa. Once they're married, he'll commit…."
"And your father will win." Abby finished.
"He's already won Abby!" Liv sighed, sipping her drink.
"No," Abby objected snatching the liquor out her hand. "Your father only wins the day you stop fighting! You taught me how to go get what I want, to demand what is mine. Don't let him win. Wipe off the blood, stitch up the wounds, go get' em."
She stood, knowing there was nothing more she could do to persuade Liv. She just prayed her best friend wouldn't give up. Because Olivia Pope deserved to be loved.
Over the next few days, things moved pretty quickly. Huck, Quinn around Marcus were in position, while Abby doubled down security for the White House.
And all she had to do now, was face off with the devil himself. Which is why she was here, in her childhood home, facing off with Rowan Pope.
"Did you find the shooter?" Rowan asked calmly as they stood in the library of his home.
Liv didn't break eye contact, didn't falter as she lied. "No."
"And Jake is…" He inquired.
"Still with Vanessa." She answered immediately, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing that fact alone was killing her.
Rowan nodded, liking the answers. His whole demeanor suddenly changed as he walked down the hall towards the kitchen "Well then, I assume you're here for dinner?"
Olivia smirked. Dinner, like her entire world didn't hang in the balance. But it wasn't a request. Her father never requested anything from her. It was an order. One she wasn't quite ready to handle, but it was necessary. A show down of power.
Rowan set the table, in comfortable silence, as Liv picked a bottle of wine. Their movements in sync as if they hadn't just exchanged less than friendly conversation just minutes ago.
"Olivia," he started, placing the salad on the table. "I just want what's best for him. In time, you'll see I'm not the thing that goes bump in the night."
"Of course you're not." She agreed. "You're the worse than that. You're the plague."
Rowan paused in his task, glaring at her. Silence filled the space between them, tension so thick, you could hear the earth spinning.
But Liv stared back at him unwavering. "You're like that virus in zombie movies that turns good people into mindless drones, monster, and killers. Just a scratch from you and their infested-compromised."
"But let me make something perfectly clear to you..." Her voice was poised, and dangerous. "Jake is mine! You cannot have him, you cannot take him, you cannot infest him and you cannot kill him! He belongs TO ME!"
"Olivia…"
"And for every attempt on his life, there will be one on yours, because you have NO IDEA what I am capable of! I will bring the hell and high water; and so we're clear, I am the hell and the high water!" She barked his words back at him, her eyes wild, fierce, determined.
In a way, he was proud of her. She was finally becoming the daughter he always wanted. But Jake would be his protégé, even if it killed them both.
"Good luck." Was all Rowan managed to say with a slight smile, but the promise of retribution in his eyes.
The doorbell rang, before Jake entered with Vanessa, hand in hand. Jake paused, analyzing the situation, calculating. Rowan and Liv both put on their best poker faces, smiling brightly at the couple.
Liv took in a breath. Game on, she thought.
She grimaced as she held up a wine bottle. "Dad and I are arguing over which wine to serve at dinner. He insists on this new Spanish wine, while I…"
"Prefer Australian." Jake finished, raising a brow. However, his mild curiosity dissipated into even nonchalance. He entered after Vanessa, closing the front door.
"Well I was trying to explain to Olivia that something new never hurts." Rowan explained stepping into character.
Vanessa smiled coming in to hug Rowan. "I know right? I keep trying to get Jake to try my Sangria, but he insists on this crazy expensive red wine! I don't even know the name of it."
Liv caught Jake's eyes, and held them for a brief moment. She knew what kind of while he was talking about. It was a bottle of Châteauneuf du Pape. Their wine.
Jake walked into the kitchen past Liv. He didn't acknowledge her, didn't speak. "What the hell? Let's give it a shot." He smiled at Vanessa.
Vanessa brightened. "Really?"
Jake gave her a sound kiss and nodded. "Yeah. I'll try some."
"In fact, why don't you make it now?" Rowan suggested, guiding her further into the kitchen. "Dinner won't be served for another 30 minutes or so, we can have the Sangria with dessert."
Vanessa turned to Liv and smiled. "I know you're the wine expert, but I promise It's worth it."
Liv lifted a shoulder. "Sure, why not?" But inside, she felt a bit of her soul chip away.
All through dinner, Liv had to sit through torture of her father promising answers for the shooting of her wedding, and probing for dates as to when they would wed again.
She didn't listen to most of it, because she didn't care. She had to form a plan. Jake wasn't the only one she had to consider. Vanessa, what would happen to her?
She couldn't back out now. She had challenged her father, his authority, his wishes. There would be a cost. A cost she was finally, willing to pay.
"Olivia" Rowan called her out of her thoughts.
"Hmm?" she answered, turning to him, her most sincere fake smile ever.
"Vanessa asked you a question dear." Rowan nodded to Vanessa, who was laughing at something Jake had whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry, I was thinking about work." Liv smoothly apologized. "What was the question?"
Vanessa gave a wave of the hand. "Its fine. Jake already told me what a force of nature you are. I asked how was the Sangria?"
"I was great!" Liv admitted out loud, examining the white wine. "Perfect actually." Then she cut her gaze to Jake. "But it's not me."
Jake's jaw hardened a bit, before going completely lax. Vanessa, missing the underlying weight of her statement, pouted. "Well, I'm sorry. I know it's hard to impress a wine cynosure, but figured I'd give it a shot."
Liv smiled at her. And the dinner continued as normal. By the end of it, Liv had kissed her father goodbye and nodded towards Jake. She headed to her car, putting in a call. "Quinn? It's ago."
A/n: Thanks for reading! It's my first SCANDAL ff.
Tell me what you think!