TITLE: A Few Days More
FANDOM: Guiding Light
PAIRING: Otalia
SUMMARY: Set mid-friendship, this will contain elements of hurt/comfort as I'm a hurt/comfort junkie. Olivia, Natalia and Emma have returned from their few days away and follows canon around the 'Decker days'...hopefully more interesting than the summary suggests. Please request before archiving.
RATING: PG for now
AUTHOR's NOTE: This was my second attempt at fanfic and at one time was eventually going to be the second in a trilogy, however fandoms move on as did my interest in this particular show. I hope you enjoy the formula used as personally I think the best Otalia story, and in particular 'hurt/comfort' story, was the one shown on TV.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: This does loosely follow on from my first story 'A Few Days Away', hence I have said it is a sequel but as I never fully intended to write this, it's been an interesting experience to find a way to make it fit within the time period I wanted to cover, therefore please gloss over any inconsistencies from one story to the next. It is not essential to have read the first story, but some things may make more sense if you do.
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own Guiding Light or any of the characters.
All constructive comments, opinions and suggestions are welcome so please read and review...
Chapter 1
Anyone looking at the woman sat at the desk, head resting on her left hand while her right jiggled a pen back and forth, would have thought this was a woman deep in concentration and focused on the multitude of reports and printouts in front of her. In truth, her mind was miles away.
They had returned from their brief few days away and although not exactly 'restive', Olivia had found a measure of peace and calm, primarily through the strengthening of her friendship with her once aggravating and perpetually persistent employee Natalia Rivera. While the majority of the physical injuries she had acquired had proceeded to heal and fade the reduction of her nightly and sometimes waking terrors had been the aspect she was most thankful for. Now if only she could shake this pervasive feeling of lethargy.
She smiled as in her mind she recalled how intuitively Natalia had known what she needed and had willingly provided, a haven, a place of refuge against the constant chatter of her thoughts, memories and relentless conscience.
Even though they had only been back a couple of days, work and other commitments had seen fit to keep them apart beyond the occasional consultation or meeting and Olivia was beginning to question whether it really happened, was her mind still playing tricks on her or worse, were her insecurities gaining the upper hand and Natalia was actively avoiding her.
Wondering where Natalia was at this moment in time and breaking from her reverie, Olivia started and looked at her watch. She had a meeting in five minutes and then another at half past to review some leaflet designs, originally part of a ruse by Natalia to throw Decker off the scent of Olivia's medical condition but actually such a good idea Olivia had tasked her marketing team to look into it and put something together.
There was also the possibility of drinks with Decker much later that afternoon after attending the fundraising event her staff should be putting the finishing touches to and somewhere in amongst those time commitments she knew she was going to have to work in a nap of some kind to regain a little of her strength or she would never make it through the evening. Thank heaven her socialite daughter had a sleepover planned.
Standing and pulling on her jacket to complete her business dress ensemble, she pushed her hands through her hair, pleased to note her shoulder was virtually healed, and grabbed her portfolio folder to head out the door.
~/\~
Natalia rejoiced at having full mobility again after her ankle had reduced to its normal size, especially as now they were back she had a lot of work to catch up on.
When she had suggested they take a few days away, Natalia had known that financially she could ill afford to take the time off but there was something about the way Olivia had continued to push herself and yet still try to remain discrete about her heart condition rather than play on it that Natalia couldn't help but admire, even as it bothered and concerned her. She could still recall Emma's worried face asking, 'Can you come over?', taking the child's hand and entering Olivia's room with a sense of dread at the dim lighting, the still form of Olivia lying in her dressing gown, the blankets barely up to her waist. She remembered her relief when Olivia managed to rouse herself briefly to engage in her conversation with a terrified looking Emma and her desperate need to rest her hand on the older woman's forehead to reassure herself as much as the sad faced child that her mommy was just 'tired'.
She acknowledged Olivia had become her 'project', her one constant when everything else in her life at the time seemed to be going belly up; her car had died again, her son's hearing had sent him to jail, she was struggling to pay for a lawyer even though the lawyer's all thought his case was a lost cause and in order to secure a safer place for her son she had had to agree to sell the house Gus had given her. Working practically every hour of the day God sent she was beyond exhausted but through all of this was Olivia; argumentative, pushy, infuriating, bolstering, well intentioned… kind, giving, vulnerable and needing without being needy. To be needed was something Natalia understood and she had responded.
Being impulsive for once Natalia had suggested some time away, surprised when Olivia not only agreed but also managed to convince her new boss, Lawrence Decker, it was actually a business retreat for her to formulate some plans and proposals for 'Galaxy Hotels' upcoming marketing schedule.
Having spent twenty-four hours a day constantly in each other's company for over, what was two very intense days, splitting off to their individual lives and homes upon their return to Springfield had felt like the sudden loss of a limb.
While Natalia was drawn to Olivia and felt her relationship with this fascinating woman appeared to have changed and deepened as a result of their time away together, she was unclear how Olivia felt now they were home. They had gone about their duties in their respective roles, occasionally crossing paths at the hotel but Olivia's free time had dwindled to virtually nothing due to her new commitments with 'Galaxy' and Natalia's multiple jobs meant chances to just be together were practically non-existent.
She desperately wanted to discuss what they went through, to unearth the 'hidden Olivia' and peel away the layers of mystery. She had been surprised to discover she liked being with her, the way the woman challenged her on so many levels even as she frustrated and infuriated her. She missed the quiet times they had talking over coffee and ice cream, their impromptu movie night, the closeness and the trust but with life conspiring against her and Olivia not making any efforts to find time in her busy schedule, Natalia dejectedly reasoned her life had far too much going on without the additional frustration of working out the inner mind of Olivia Spencer. If the opportunity arose, if Olivia made mention of their time away Natalia would be ready, until then she was an employee, nothing more.
As an employee Natalia would continue to do her job to the best of her ability, she would continue to help Olivia, remind her when to be at a meeting and when to 'slow down'; she would give one hundred percent because if there was one thing she respected it was a healthy work ethic, especially when she knew she had many debts to pay.
She was still working at both 'Company' and 'The Beacon', with the occasional shift at 'Cedars', but today she had taken most of the morning as a longer than usual lunch to allow her time to visit with Rafe. Having reviewed Olivia's schedule she was concerned the older woman was pushing herself too hard and she had a feeling she was going to be at Olivia's beck and call for the rest of the day. Not that she minded, she had come to enjoy the sureness with which Olivia would call and depend on her and, if she were honest with herself, she would acknowledge Olivia was probably the first and only person who had recognized her ability to handle things beyond her self-imposed comfort level and continued to actively push her to 'grow a backbone'. This newfound sense of spirit had the added benefit of leading her to some interesting discoveries.
She found herself once again reflecting back to their recent time together and how she had managed to convince Olivia to open up to her and allow herself to be held, how much Natalia had felt exhilarated by the experience and secretly craved the opportunity again. She could also admit to herself that she was more intrigued than ever about some of the glimpses she had seen of Olivia's past and almost desperate in her need to know more, to know everything about the person who had managed to become such a point of focus in her life.
Natalia hoped there wouldn't be a return of the strange malady Olivia experienced during their stay at the cabin; her greatest fear was that it was in some way related to her heart. Knowing how keen Olivia was to maintain the pretense of a healthy vitality where Decker was concerned, the younger woman was convinced Olivia would match him stride for stride, outpacing herself and then expecting her to somehow save the day.
It still amazed her even now how readily she had stepped up to save Olivia's reputation and career and more surprisingly, how readily Olivia had accepted it, even to the point of promoting her to personal assistant status. A far cry from the good, honest work she did as both a maid and a waitress for as many years as she cared to remember.
Tugging on her jacket to pull it into place and smoothing down her skirt, she twitched her handbag into place on her shoulder. Brushing her hair away from her face she took a steadying breath, pulled back her shoulders and held her head erect to enter The Beacon and see what minor miracles she could achieve today.
~/\~
"No! I am not happy with that. What in any way shape or form from the tone of my voice indicated to you that I would be happy with that? Seriously, what are you? An idiot?" Olivia puffed out an exasperated breath and held her hand to her head, rubbing her brow and doing little to dispel the headache building to epic proportions within her skull.
She dropped her hand to rest on the desk she stood behind, unable to sit through what had become both a circular and confrontational conversation with an apparent imbecile and wondered for the hundredth time that day where on earth Natalia had disappeared to, she had tried her cell earlier only to find it was switched off.
"Okay, listen. I thought I had made my position on this quite clear but apparently I hadn't factored in your inability to understand plain English. I expect to have all containers delivered by the beginning of next week with a fifteen percent discount or I will cease my contract with you and take my business elsewhere. Has that message filtered through?" There was a pause as the poor spokesperson on the other end of the line attempted to apologise and explain the delay once again. Olivia for her part rolled her eyes and considered how this day seemed to be gradually moving from bad to worse.
Sighing, Olivia shook her head, "If you are unable to provide the service I require then either put me onto someone higher up the chain who will or..." Looking up at that moment, she hadn't been aware of her office door opening fully, only of the presence of her up till then missing employee who was now looking at her with concerned and questioning eyes.
"Call me back in an hour. I trust you will have resolved your issues by then and have the right answer for me." Olivia hung up, braced both hands on the desk and regarded the woman before her.
"Hi," Natalia smiled. "Bad day?"
"Just got better. Where've you been?" Olivia's tone seemed put out.
"The prison? To visit Rafe?" Watching as Olivia raised her hand to rub her brow again Natalia edged further into the room, "You don't remember? I moved his visit to this morning so I'd be available later today for you."
"That was today?"
"Uh huh."
"I tried to call you."
Natalia's face pulled into an apologetic smile, "Battery died."
Olivia lowered her hand to brace herself again and then closed her eyes as her headache presented itself with full force.
"Hey, why don't you sit down?" Natalia worked her way around the desk to take Olivia's arm and guide her back to sit in her chair. As Olivia slouched back and tried to release the tension in her shoulders, Natalia crouched down and rested her hand on the suited thigh nearby, "You look beat. Can I get you anything? Aspirin?"
A smile tugged at the corners of Olivia's mouth, "I've told you before what a godsend you are haven't I?"
Dimples given free reign, Natalia stood from where she had crouched and patted Olivia's arm, "Not always your first description but yes, I believe you have. I've always thought there was something in God working in mysterious ways." She rooted around in her handbag to find a bottle of aspirin, opened it to pour onto Olivia's waiting hand and then retrieved some water for her from the tray of drinks which sat on one of the units lining the office walls.
As she watched Olivia take a drink of water to wash down the pills, Natalia looked at the paperwork covering the usually tidy desk and found an explanation for the nature of the call she had walked in on. Picking up the letter she asked, "This is their way of telling us they can't make the order?"
Olivia, having taken note of the paperwork Natalia held, nodded her head and closed her eyes to rest her head back against her office chair.
"But that would mean..."
"I know." Olivia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose again, perversely enjoying the indignation and outrage she could feel coming from the younger woman propped against her desk.
"Would you like me to call them back and see if we can come to some kind of arrangement? I mean, honestly Olivia, they promised they could deliver and that convention event was adamant..."
"I know." Olivia said again to stop Natalia in her tracks, unwilling to have yet another circular argument having already gone through the repercussions in her own mind. "Have at it, they've been told to call me back in an hour, I need to be at that fundraiser by 4:30 so if you could handle it..." Olivia was actually delighted Natalia seemed to really thrive at her new level of responsibilities and was actively volunteering to take things on that previously she would have shied away from.
Natalia looked back at Olivia as if evaluating her. "Are you sure you're up for that?"
"What? The fundraiser? I'll be fine. Besides, Decker is going to be there. I don't think he wanted to wait before we head over to Towers for dinner and drinks later and after all, it's publicity for him and 'Galaxy Hotels' right? And I am the face of 'Galaxy Hotels'." She smiled, opening her eyes wide and raising her eyebrows as if to convince she was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Natalia was not convinced and frowned to indicate as much.
Realising Natalia was not impressed and although annoyed that that annoyed her, Olivia did relent enough to promise, "Fine, I was going to lay down for a bit before then anyway. Okay? Happy?"
"Sure, why don't I come with you?"
"I beg your pardon?" Surely her headache was getting worse and distorting her thinking, had she heard right? Maybe she was wrong about Natalia avoiding her.
Arms folded, Natalia stood and tilted her head as if to say, 'really? You're going to argue with me on this?'
Knowing when she was on a losing streak and frankly too washed out to continue, Olivia acquiesced, pushed herself out of her chair and followed Natalia out of her office to the waiting elevator.
~/\~
The journey up to her suite was silent although Olivia was aware of the younger woman's glances towards her as if expecting her to keel over any moment. Considering this was one of the first times they had really had a chance to be together without a pressing work issue to discuss, the lack of conversation spoke volumes to Olivia's returning insecurities until she reasoned Natalia was being quiet in deference to her headache. Taking the initiative, as they reached her floor and the doors opened, Olivia remembered something and decided to start the conversational ball rolling by asking, "So how is Rafe?"
Following the taller woman down the hallway Natalia answered, "He's good. Good as he can be considering where he is but at least it's a lot better than where he was."
Natalia was still in awe of the way Olivia had wangled a meeting with the Governor to put him on the spot and negotiate a way to help Rafe's situation. Apart from the fact that she had initially been appalled with Olivia's behaviour in how she spoke with the warden of the prison, the prison where Rafe had been the victim of bullying on several occasions, her tenacity and insistence once she had made up her mind up to do something, and then doing it 'big', had only endeared her further in Natalia's heart and mind. More so as it had helped her son.
Her concern now was that Olivia was once again pushing herself to the point of collapse.
"I really can't thank you enough for all you've done to help him."
Olivia waved the comment off and focused on entering her keycard to open her door.
Unsurprised when Natalia followed her into her room, Olivia shucked off her shoes and removed her jacket.
Slipping into her PA role with ease Natalia said, "So I'll make sure your alarm goes off at 4:00 to give you some time to wake up and make it to the fundraiser. Will that be enough time?" Personally, having witnessed Olivia's morning routine she feared it wouldn't be.
Olivia nodded and sat on the bed rubbing her brow again, "Sure."
"You sure you're okay?"
Touched by the hesitancy she sensed coming from the woman before her and in part wishing she could just ask Natalia if she would stay for a bit until she fell asleep, Olivia put her legs up onto the bed and reclined, "I'm good. Let me know if that call comes in and they let us down and you better check in with Greg and be sure the ballroom's been set up to his satisfaction."
Natalia grinned, "I'll take care of it."
Head now on her pillow, Olivia smiled as she turned to watch Natalia leave and pull the door shut. She was still amazed at how much their relationship had changed in what seemed such a short amount of time, how much she relied on this seemingly diminutive woman who in reality had such strength and compassion.
She spied her case in the corner, still unpacked from their few days away and remembered…
She had to pack. Big tour, Asia and she had to pack.
Her case still sat on the end of her bed, empty and waiting, hungry for clothes while she was moving around her hotel room suite as if her oxygen supply had been depleted and her body was refusing to take orders from her brain anymore.
But she had to pack.
Removing a jacket from the rail in her closet and bending down to scoop up a pair of matching shoes, she was surprised to find herself suddenly sitting cross-legged on the floor, panting for breath and eyeing the suitcase now seemingly mocking her from its lofty vantage point above her.
Determined but realistic she pulled a face at the prospect of defeat and reached over to grab her cell phone thankfully on the bedside unit beside her.
Hitting speed dial, she waited impatiently for the call to connect, "I'm calling you as a last resort. Can you come to work?" Her voice had the faintest tremble to it.
"When?" Natalia's response made it sound as if this was the most bizarre request in the world to be asking.
"Right now. I need you here." She could hear herself trying to hold back her need, her desperation, too late though as Natalia instantly figured out something was wrong, "Why? What's going on?"
Breathing was an effort, she was tired, she was anxious and she still had to pack. Frustrated she said, "It's just work, you know? You know the concept; I pay you in exchange for a little time and effort. You should come on by, give it a try."
Disgusted, she hung up the call and threw the phone on the bed before raising her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose.
The case continued to mock.
It was a good ten minutes later and she had managed to pull herself out of the closet and continue with the job of packing, slow steady steps from the closet to the case and back again. As she made the journey one more time, clutching the door frame to steady herself as she leaned in for another article of clothing, this time a turquoise three-quarter sleeve t-shirt, a determined knocking on her hotel room door began.
"Olivia. It's me!"
Olivia regarded the t-shirt as she made her way to her case and the knocking continued.
"Olivia, are you in there?"
Even though she had called the woman to come over and help, she muttered under her breath as the events of the evening were really getting to her and her ability to remain standing was starting to be called into question. Unable to move any faster, she finally turned back around and as the knocks became more insistent she opened it to Natalia's, "Olivia!"
"Geez break the door already. Stop." The door flew wide open to bang on the adjacent wall as Olivia turned back to her packing and Natalia marched in, grabbing the door handle on its return journey and staring intently at Olivia's back, trying to determine what was going on.
"Olivia, listen, I just checked with Maria, and she said she doesn't need me to work today." She heard Natalia close the door behind her but Olivia still didn't turn around. She was seriously beginning to question why she had even thought asking for Natalia's help was a good idea. Then the uncomfortable, unsteady feeling of 'I'm either going to throw up or pass out' rolled over her and it was only by maintaining focus on the t-shirt in her hands she remained upright.
Still too embarrassed to look her in the eye, Olivia concentrated on the t-shirt as if evaluating it in a store and determining whether to make a purchase or not. In truth, she was buying some time to work up the nerve to admit the real reason for her summons.
"No, I didn't call you here to vacuum and clean. I called you because I'm in trouble."
It nearly stuck in her throat to say it out loud but what had seemed like a doable gamble, a relatively safe bet in signing on with Decker and Galaxy Hotels, had quickly spiraled out of control and her private nature had left her with very few avenues in which to turn.
She still couldn't look at her but she could sense Natalia's subtle movement, as if to move towards her but restraining herself to not move at all.
"Your heart?"
Olivia glanced at her and emphatically responded, "No." Is that all you care about? Why is it Gus' precious heart is always your first concern?
"You look a little pale."
"It's not my heart." Come on Olivia, be reasonable, you're not giving her anything here, just dragging her out in the middle of her evening. She probably has a hundred and one better things to do than watch you bitch and moan because you've possibly bitten off more than you can chew.
Natalia had remained patiently waiting, obviously not convinced as she took in the mass of clothing strewn about the bed, the open suitcase.
"Okay, I have to get on that plane to go to Asia for Galaxy tonight, and I…" Olivia's voice began to quaver as she motioned around at her recent activities, "I have things I have to do. I have to pack, I have to make arrangements, I have to pick up Emma." She was getting breathless again, the magnitude of what she was trying to do and the condition she was truly in beginning to overcome her.
"Are you alright?"
One had resting on her stomach, the other reaching again to pinch the bridge of her nose she confessed, "Yeah, I'm just a little overwhelmed. I have so much to do, I can't really…" Her head was starting to spin and she raised the back of her hand to press against her forehead, trying to focus, "…think straight. But if you're busy, then that's fine."
She could feel Natalia watching her again but she kept her eyes focused on the t-shirt, the admission of needing help and the silence that followed too much to bear.
"No I don't have... I'm not busy."
She thought she would cry, her relief was so great. She felt the t-shirt being taken from her hands and as the last of her currently stored strength gave out, she stepped unsteadily to the side and sank down to sit on her bed.
In her peripheral vision she saw Natalia's handbag placed next to the case and then she was sitting beside her.
Distraught, she found herself calming when a hand rested on her thigh and she heard, "What do you need me to do for you?"
For the first time since she entered the room, Olivia finally looked up and faced her savior.
"Always taking care of things… taking care of me," she spoke with wonder into the quiet room. Thankful for the relative darkness she considered, a nice nap and she would be good as new again.
To be continued...
Flashback scene taken from: 10th Oct 2008 (Full edited clip here .com/watch?v=UPMRXYMiiaU or HD Clips at.com/watch?v=hnNe0MmgcUE and .com/watch?v=f4pr8gah7IQ...feature=related - with grateful thanks to those who posted on youtube!)