AUTHOR'S NOTE: This starts off as an Olake fic, but Fitz will definitely make an appearance, and I haven't yet decided the endgame. It's partially scandalous, part domestic. The theme song for Olake in the first few chapters is "All That Matters", by Justin Bieber. Find the lyrics in the note after the story! (: I am not Shonda Rhimes, but I love messing with the Scandal characters just as much, maybe more.
"Hello?"
"Jake Ballard." It isn't a question.
"Yes," he answers, straightening up although the person on the other line cannot see him. "Who is this?"
The man chuckles heartily. It's almost worrisome. "That isn't important. Olivia's latest client is...interesting. I know where they are. I figure she's having trouble finding them. You can pick them up at the address I'm about to tell you, along with files related to their case. Read and analyze the documents before giving them to Olivia. If you can agree to that, I will have no hesitance in giving you their whereabouts."
"Okay."
Two hours, for two hours, they've driven thus far; nonetheless, Abby has no idea where they are going, despite her blatant questioning and pleading.
He won't budge, no matter how much she begs. So she's decided to go along for the ride, to assure that he isn't doing anything shady in Olivia's honor. She feels the stubbornness radiate off of him, and regardless finds the audacity to utter, "This is very rude. You not telling me where we're going."
Jake is swift to rebuttal. "What's rude is you hopping into my car when I left Olivia's apartment, claiming to be present on her behalf - which isn't true, if you didn't know."
Abby groans in frustration. "Smartass."
Another twenty minutes pass, Jake's vast playlist - including Aaliyah, Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z - vainly coughing life into the driver and passenger. Then, he pulls over near a brick house. He parks on the sidewalk, mentioning not a word to Abby as he removes himself from the driver's seat and wastes no time barging in through the front door. All the same, she follows.
An infant's whine erupts in her ears straightaway. "What the hell, Jake?" She bursts into the bare home, witnessing what most would consider kidnapping. Jake is carrying a tiny bundle, rocking it in an effort to keep the child within at peace. Suitcases, along with a crib and various loose papers, are spread throughout the empty living room. She watches Jake place the baby in their stroller prior to querying, "What is this? Who's the kid?"
"Someone called me with this address, said everything related to Olivia's latest client was located here. Looks like they were right." He buckles the child in and shoots her a look. "While you're ahead, I'd recommend not asking any additional questions you may not want to know the exact answers to."
Abby doesn't reply; she just frowns and narrows her eyes. "Do we need to take all of this to the office?"
"Yes. Do me a favor and hand me those papers on the coffee table, will you? I have a feeling they'll be crucial to whatever requires solving."
Even from the very beginning, Pope & Associates never proceeded with a case or issue until they obtained files, history, and other details pertaining directly to their client. Not once before had it been a problem - customers were usually open to sharing significant information and being checked should they desire for their dilemmas to be resolved in a timely fashion. Ambassadors, CEOs, regular everyday people: Olivia and her team were professionals at finding dirt on them all prior to becoming involved. And why wouldn't they, what with Huck and Harrison always at the ready, prepared to utilize certain skills if deemed necessary?
So this counts as the first time, the absolute first time in the record books when nothing links back to the client. "Are you sure, Huck?" Liv maintains a sigh. A clean slate usually meant shady business, and she's experienced enough so far, in the past two years especially. She won't dare permit her gladiators to waltz into this thing blindly. Yet, curiosity prods the cat.
Nothing...
Nothing...
"Yeah. Searched all over. No traceable personal bank account, just a trust fund. Barely anything on his father, but his mother recently died. A friend set her condolences in an e-mail, which hasn't been accessed since two months and four days ago. Other than that, we've got-."
"Nothing," she finished.
Nothing...
A beat.
Harrison cuts in to break the silence. "Could he be one of your guys, Huck?" Quickly rephrasing himself as to not seem accusatory, he clarifies, "Not your guy...someone like you? Maybe, any chance?"
Huck's eyes are trained on the computer screen; however, Harrison swears that if he glances his way, those dark, lifeless orbs will gladly set him ablaze. "If you're talking about B-613, then no. No, he's not. I'd remember.
"There's a birthdate here. It can't be right, late 2011."
"He's right," Quinn pipes up. The others stare at her with expressions as obvious as her statement. "What? It's true. Right? Two year olds don't have crises."
Liv is thrown glimpses for conformation. She merely nods. "All right. Then we move on to the next case. Like I said before, things will be easygoing around here for the next few weeks...months. We have to get back in the groove and I honestly appreciate your dedication."
Without warning, Quinn and Huck simultaneously rise from their respective seats. Harrison simply moves his pupils between Olivia and whatever - or whomever - has captured the trio's attention. Olivia exhales slowly, the air steadily rising in her throat. She begins at their feet. Dress shoes. Now she's worried. Up. Khakis. Less threatening, still suspicious.
And she finally has the courage to gaze at the man's face, affection and comfort enveloping her in a warm embrace. "Jake," Olivia murmurs, surprise dimly lacing her words. Naturally, the gladiators calm themselves after observing her reaction, relaxing as much as she wills herself to. Just noticeably, Liv's features tighten. He isn't supposed to be here, at her workplace. The rule remains the same, regardless of who it is being applied to.
"What do you want?" He's good at hiding his flinches. Jake allows his face to fall slightly, a platonic beam lingering. "I have something for you. A client, who wishes to see you. I presume he'll be comforted to be in your presence when he comes to."
Olivia's brow arches, interest piqued. She trusts Jake Ballard. He hasn't put her in harm's way in the past, and she suspects he isn't going to start now.
"You have our client?" Harrison snaps, the bemusement evident in his tone. "Don't just stand there. Bring him in."
Jake casts questioning looks at them all. He isn't upset - that much everyone can gauge.
"Abby was with me initially," he starts, heading behind the door. In the shade, they see him fiddle with a huge, basket-like object, creating a chorus of loud and soft noises in a clumsy order, if any.
Quinn loudly voices the majority's thoughts in what is meant to be a whisper to Harrison. "What's he doing?"
"...then David Rosen took her from us, so I believe I've been doing a good enough job keeping him satisfied on my own."
Olivia is now in the dark, too.
Jake makes his way back to them, cradling a loosely bundled infant in strong, careful arms. Liv blinks. She shakes her head. "Jake, what is this? Is this a joke?"
"I can handle him for you, Liv," Huck interjects huskily, not quite like himself. The thrill of the kill. Leftover B-613 bitterness.
"Whoa, whoa," Jake hisses, gesturing calloused hands in a manner that clearly says 'relax and quiet down'. "Meet Harley Stewart, unofficially. He'll be ready for formal introductions soon as he wakes up. Ms. Pope, Huck, associates...I believe this is your newest client, in more ways than one."
A/N:
"All That Matters"
Oh-oh, just as sure as the stars in the sky
I need you to show me the light
Not just for the meanwhile, for a long long time
Better believe it
Oh-oh, whenever you're not in my presence
It feels like I'm missin' my blessings, yeah
So I sleep through the daylight, stay awake all night
'Til you're back again, oh yeah, yeah
You think I'm biased
To my significant other
You hit it right on the head
Only been missin' my lover
Got a whole lotta texts on my phone and I don't reply
The next eight bars tell you why
You're all that matters to me
Yeah yeah, worried about nobody else
If it ain't you, I ain't myself
You make me complete
You're all that matters to me
Yeah yeah, what's a king bed without a queen
There ain't no "I" in team
You make me complete
You're all that matters to me
Take the gas out the car it won't drive
That's how I feel when you're not by my side
When I wake up in the morning up under you, and only you
Oh-oh, grateful for your existence
Faithful no matter the distance
You're the only girl I see
From the bottom of my heart, please believe
You're all that matters to me
Yeah yeah, worried about nobody else
If it ain't you, I ain't myself
You make me complete
You're all that matters to me
Yeah yeah, what's a king bed without a queen
There ain't no "I" in team
You make me complete
You're all that matters to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You're all that matters to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You're all that matters to me
