Posted on October 8th, 2017

Author's Comment –

I am an Olitz fanfic writer under a different pen and will still continue on with my Olitz stories. However, I decided to break "mode" to start writing this fanfic about Fitz moving on without Olivia and finding love with someone else. I have always been partial to Fitz, probably because TG is my celebrity crush.

I know, I know, a Fitz without Olivia is sacrilegious for an Olitzer, hence I am writing under another pen name to avoid being blackballed by my fellow Olitzers.

I admit my breaking mode is largely due to losing hope about Olitz on TV given the direction of the show and comments made by cast members about Season 7. Since Ms. SR feels no inclination to "write to the fans", this realistically could mean there is no Olitz and Vermont at the end of the show. I regard this writing as therapy as a way to move on should there be no Olitz at the end.

For those choosing to read this first installment, I hope you enjoy it.

The fanfic title word – TornaBand is a combination of the words tornado and headband. This is in reference from 6x13 where Fitz and David have a tete-a-tete about the kind of women they were attracted to (the "tornadoes") while "headbands" bored them.

This fanfic incorporates elements from the show but doesn't follow canon; it builds upon 5x13, The Fish Rots From the Head minus the Secret Service hooker murder scandal and Olivia showing up at the Oval to lecture Fitz.

In real life, both the US State Department and Department of Health and Human Services have a global health diplomacy group but I took some artistic license for the purpose of this fanfic.

Dr. Cassandra "Cassie" Chang, Associate Director of the Health Diplomacy group at the US State Department, was sitting at her desk reviewing a final report on group's latest efforts addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Health Diplomacy Group was a joint effort between the State Department and Department of Health and Human Services, aka HHS, that used diplomacy and statecraft as means to interlink public health and foreign policy objectives, with the State Department and HHS each having its own unit. The group based at the State Department focused on using foreign policy as a means to improve public health while the HHS team utilized expert knowledge to support foreign countries' health programs and initiatives.

Cassie's concentration broke when Margo Filmore, Chief of Staff for Secretary of State Steven Connelly entered into her office. Seeing Margo come into her office didn't surprise Cassie since she was providing "director coverage" for her boss and friend, Sylvia Solange who was taking leave for a family medical situation. She was bracing for whatever Margo was about say to her. The Health Diplomacy group was one of the unit of the among the dozen that reported directly to the Secretary of State and as a group that reported directly to SecState, there was never a dull moment.

"What's up, Margo?" she asked preemptively.

"SecState has a meeting at the White House to talk about the African aid package, which includes funding support for the public health initiatives…"

"Does SecState need be to briefed before the meeting?"

"No. He wants you to go with him."

Cassie knew that occasionally Sylvia would be asked to "tag along" to a White House meeting so to be able to address the more intricate components of public health initiatives and how they related to foreign policy objectives.

"No problem. I'm presuming we are meeting with Abby Whelan." Cassie knew there had been a "power" shakeup at White House with Cyrus Beene out as White House Chief of Staff and Abby Whelan, former Press Secretary replacing him. She also knew that the Chief of Staff would oversee these kinds of meetings and information would filtered up to the President.

"Actually, no. It's an Oval meeting…"

"Oh, damn. Is there is problem of some kind?" Upon hearing the President was taking the meeting, Cassie knew it meant trouble. The President would only take part in the meeting if he had particular issues or concerns. Even under those circumstances, only SecState would meet with the President, and calling Sylvia, or if she wasn't available, then Cassie for a clarification on the phone. The fact a personal presence was "needed" at the meeting could only mean the President didn't agree with the proposed aid package and would need some convincing.

"Don't worry. As far as what Abby Whelan told SecState, the aid package is a go-ahead. The President just wants to sit in on the meeting on the final details."

"Really? I thought he would have more important things to do other than to take a low-level meeting reviewing an aid package."

Margo speaking in a low voice, "From what I've hearing concerning the White House, the President's attention has been focused elsewhere and having him take this meeting is a way of getting him back on track…"

Cassie knew about the infamous breakup that took place around Christmas between President Fitzgerald Grant III and his lady love, Olivia Pope, the world's greatest fixer. "So, he is still pretty devastated over losing Olivia Pope?"

"Well, I don't know about that. He has been busy on the rebound, if you know what I mean."

"I've haven't heard anything about him dating…"

"He hasn't been dating. More like doing some serious entertaining behind bedroom doors…"

Cassie then understood what Margo was telling her. "Oh, geez!" She paused a moment before saying, "Well, I hope he is using protection. The last thing we need is to have a president having a love child or worse, become HIV positive because of reckless sexual behavior."

"Well, I'm sure he is getting a supply of condoms. He is probably sending his Secret Service agents to get them for him."

Cassie wasn't so sure about Margo's statement. How would the President asked his agents to get condoms for him? It wasn't exactly the same thing as asking the agents to get him a cup of coffee. For one thing, a request for condoms was a highly private matter. Granted, his agents probably knew details of his sex life but still, he probably didn't want his agents know intimate details of his life down to the minutiae, such as his favorite brand of condoms. As Cassie pondered the issue of presidential access to condoms, Margo brought her back to attention when she said, "Cass, the meeting is at 1PM. I'll call you to let you know when SecState will be leaving."

"Ok."

After Margo left her office, Cassie checked the time on her desk clock and saw it almost 11AM. If she and SecState needed to be at the White House at 1PM, they would probably leave no later than 12:45 for the 10-minute drive from the State Department to the White House taking into account for busy DC traffic. She should probably have a snack before her meeting. Cassie grabbed her purse from her bottom drawer, removed her coat from the backdoor hanger, and locked her office door behind her. She had enough time to do some important shopping and review the notes on the aid package before her 1PM meeting with POTUS at the White House.

With clockwork precision, Cassie, SecState, and Abby Whelan entered into the Oval Office where President Fitzgerald Grant III was waiting for them. This was the first-time Cassie was having a proper sit-down meeting with the President. As a low-level associate director of a government department, she didn't have opportunities to hobnob with the president or be at the White House on a regular basis. She had met Abby and the President in the past for the odd social event hosted at the White House for which she got invited to, with the last time being a White House Christmas party with the President and Olivia as the hosts. In hindsight, she could see trouble brewing for the couple where Olivia looked like she wanted to be someplace else other than at the party.

Cassie always thought Fitzgerald Grant III was a handsome man with a certain level of sex appeal. She could definitely see why women were throwing themselves at him. She also knew he was in a vulnerable state after his breakup with Olivia Pope and was easy prey for a pretty face with a hot body. It was definitely a right set of factors for hooking up to take place. As a public health professional and academic, Cassie knew better not to judge but rather to accept behavior and do what she could to help people to minimize the risks of their behaviors.

After the four of them took a seat in the seating area with Fitz taking his seat in his chair, the meeting began underway with SecState Connelly starting off the meeting and turning to Cassie for clarifications of detailed points while Fitz and Abby asked questions. While Fitz held his attention for the meeting, he was also focused on the US State Department Associate Director of Health Diplomacy. Even though it was his first time having an at-work meeting with her, he knew about her from her personnel file. Dr. Cassandra Chang was probably the most educated person sitting in the Oval at that moment, beating his law and PhD degrees by having two doctoral degrees - one in public health and the other in international relations, plus two master degrees - public health and health psychology, respectively and a law degree. Yet, despite having as many degrees she did, she lacked the pretension that one would expect. She spoke simply but intelligently, avoided technical jargon, and answered questions without any equivocation.

From what Fitz knew, Cassandra preferred to be called Cassie because it was less pretentious and wanted people to consider her to be approachable. She was hard working and driven but wasn't power hungry or looking for next best gig. She was serving as "acting" Director while her boss was taking a leave of absence to address the health issues of seriously ill parents and wasn't making any power moves to have her boss displaced or removed, which some would do if given the opportunity especially at the US State Department powerhouse. Overall, Cassie had the reputation of being a "good egg" which was on some level was a derogatory term in a place like DC – a good egg lacked power. However, both he and Abby knew otherwise. Rather than inflicting wrath of God power upon people to make them do things, she had the ability of making things happen without ruffling feathers. Some say her secret was that she was secure about herself and didn't feel the need to throw her power around, hence making people feel they didn't need to throw their power to counter hers. While others say, she understood people and their motivations, and in a place like DC, understanding what made people ticked was crucial to survival.

As Fitz sat through the meeting, he found a new appreciation for Cassie Chang personally. He found her to be physically attractive with her shoulder length styled black hair, large round brown eyes, a button nose, and a sensual mouth. She didn't feel the need to compensate her petite height by wearing stiletto pumps and opted for business sensible kitten heel pumps.

Fitz then realized he needed to re-focus his attention on Cassie professionally. Indeed, he had let too much of his sex drive affect his behavior lately. He had to get his act together, especially after the incidence of Mellie bringing Teddy into his bedroom and to find a strange woman there. After breaking up with Olivia, he had gone without sex for a few months and then lapsed into hooking up starting with Lillian Forrester. He also knew he still had too much Olivia in his system. The combination of losing Olivia coupled with their epic breakup fight with Olivia saying he was mediocre and ineffective wounded his soul and spirit. Sex and scotch were his coping mechanisms.

He knew if he was a "regular" person, he should be sitting on some therapist couch talking but he wasn't. Him seeing a therapist was out of the question giving issues of confidentiality - there was no way records could ever be entirely secured. If he only had someone who he could trust to talk with and who didn't pass judgment, he would be in a much better place. While he was talking to Abby but she shouldn't be helping him to pick up the pieces of his life while running the White House at the same time. Perhaps, he should take up meditation, exercised more, and spend more time at Camp David being outdoors to replace the sex, as well as cut down on the scotch, as a place to start.

When the meeting ended, Fitz thanked SecState Connelly and Cassie for their hard work on the aid package and bid them good bye. Abby, SecState Connelly, and Cassie left the Oval through the door that lead out to Charlotte's office. They, plus the SecState's security detailed walked into the hallway, and in the hallway, Abby also thanked SecState Connelly and Cassie again for coming in for the meeting and she returned to her office.

Cassie, rather than leaving with SecState Connelly to head back to the State Department, she told him that she wanted to check out the White House gift shop and would make her way back to the State Department on her own. When SecState Connelly and his security detail walked away to exit out of the West Wing, Cassie, before heading to the gift shop to pick up an assortment of trinkets to send to her nieces and nephews, she headed back to the Oval.

Cassie asked if Fitz was available but Charlotte informed her that Fitz was on a call with the French Prime Minister which was then immediately followed by a meeting. "Would you like to schedule an appointment to meet with the President, Dr. Chang?"

"No, that's ok. I have something for him," replied Cassie as she pulled a sealed full 6"x9" envelop out of her shoulder bag that had "President Grant" written on top of it, with "Confidential" underneath his name. She handed the envelope to Charlotte.

As Charlotte took the envelope, she said, "I'll make sure he gets it."

"Thanks, Charlotte. Have a great day," said Cassie with slight smile before she left the Oval.

Normally, protocol dictated hand delivered mail and packages delivered to the President to be screened but Cassie was regarded as a trusted person in the US State Department and Charlotte seriously doubted Cassie had anything nefarious planned for the President, so she forgone having the package screened. She set the package aside on the desk and would give it to Fitz when he had a free moment.

It wasn't until the end of the day when Charlotte realized Cassie's package was still sitting on her desk. She was about to go home but Fitz was meeting with Abby inside the Oval. She had worked with Fitz long enough that she was allowed to interrupt them for something non-urgent. She picked up the package and the Secret Service agent guarding the door opened the door for her to enter.

After entering the Oval, Charlotte said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. President. I forgot to give this to you earlier," as she walked to the sitting area to hand the package to Fitz. "Dr. Chang left this for you after your meeting."

Fitz took the package and raised one eyebrow wondering what Cassie left for him. "Thanks, Charlotte."

"Your welcome. Have a good evening, sir."

"Same to you, Charlotte," said Fitz with Abby acknowledging the same.

After Charlotte left the Oval, Fitz went over to the Resolute Desk with the package and using a letter opener started to slide it underneath the multiple layers of tape that covered the seal. Abby also went over to the Resolute Desk to watch Fitz try to open the package. "Maybe you should use scissors to cut it from the top?" she suggested. "I wonder what Cassie left for you that she needed to tape it so securely."

Fitz finally managed to break the heavily taped seal and after setting down the letter opener, he lifted up the tape covered flap and looked inside the envelope. "Oh, I don't believe this…," he said incredulously as he saw the package contents.

"What?" asked Abby curiously.

Fitz handed the envelope to Abby for her to see the contents. When she saw the contents, she exclaimed, "Oh, my God!" Like Fitz, Abby couldn't believe that Dr. Cassie Chang, US State Department Associate Director of Health Diplomacy gave the President of the United States an envelope package filled with condoms.