Chapter 2

Oval Office

"Sir, you're not thinking clearly. We can figure this out..." Cyrus tries to tell Fitz as Mellie storms into the office, leaving an exasperated Lauren to close the door.

"What happened with Karen, Fitz? Why is she here? Where is Olivia Pope? Is she here? Karen is my daughter, Fitz. My daughter! I don't understand why I have to find out things about my own daughter from someone else. Where is she!"

Fitz grimaces, rubs his eyes and bridge of his nose with his hand, grabs his jacket from the chair and puts it on as he says, "We are under attack, Mellie. A bomb in our own backyard! I am not taking any more chances with the people I love."

"That has nothing to do with Karen. You can't just uproot her life every time a little bomb explodes, honey. Your fear should have nothing to do with our kids."

"Mellie, I don't have time to explain to you why I want Karen here and not there right now. I have to get to the sit room. Cyrus, can you explain to her why a little bomb in our backyard warrants Karen's removal from boarding school?"

"Sir, ...this is not... "

"Cyrus...," Fitz pleads with his eyes, asking Cyrus to tell her something, anything, a lie, the truth... okay, so maybe not the truth, but whatever works. He just can't deal with Mellie in this moment. He pats Cyrus on the shoulder, sending him silent gratitude.

"Fine. I'll see you in the sit room, Sir."

"Thank you, Cyrus."

Mellie is absolutely aggravated as she watches Fitz walk out of the Oval. All her aggravation visibly etched in her chin dimple.

/

As though he needed a little more misery to this precious day, Fitz finds Jake Ballard waiting for him outside the Oval Office door.

"Mr. President..." Jake starts.

"Jake, I know why you're here. I'm handling it."

"I don't think you understand. It's Liv... she's gone. Someone took her."

"I know. I said, I'm handling it."

"How did you...? Never mind, I should have known better than to ask you for help. I'll find her myself!"

Fitz stops walking and looks back at Jake. Really looks at him. Fitz moves closer to him and states, to his face,

"One of these days, you're going to die trying to be her hero. I'm only saying this because you and I were once friends. Move on. She'll never be yours. You want to stand in the sun? That'll never happen with Olivia Pope. She doesn't want normal. You don't know her like I do. Go find some nice girl, get her fat, make some babies. Go get your normal. B613 is dead; you don't have to be. Let. Her. Go."

Fitz looks at Jake with pity, pats his shoulder and leaves. With a look of indignation visible in his eyes, Jake snorts and watches Fitz leave.

/

In a hallway, somewhere in the White House

"Mr. President, I was just coming to your office. We have that meeting..."

"Change of plan, Abby. West Angola can't wait."

"Is everything okay, Sir...?"

"I don't have time to explain right now, Abby. I wish I could."

Confused, Abby watches as Fitz walks away; but is startled when Cyrus grabs her arm.

"Red..."

"What's going on, Cyrus?"

Cyrus furtively whispers, "I'm only telling you this because I think I can trust you and you are her friend."

"Whose friend? What are you talking about, Cyrus?"

"They have her. The Vice President, Lizzie... they have Olivia and they're blackmailing Fitz into taking us to war with West Angola. Red, you can not repeat this to anyone. Olivia's life depends on it."

Abby is astonished. The tears stinging her eyes threaten to spill down her face until she remembers where she is, she nods her head and clumsily wipes the tears from her eyes. The action did nothing to alleviate the lump in her throat though as Harrison's words echo in her mind.

/

Yet another White House hallway

Mellie encounters Andrew as she walks furiously through the corridor.

"Have you been avoiding me, Mellie?"

"And why would I be doing that, Andrew? ...You know when you screw a gal, you really screw her well."

"Did I do something?"

"You've done a lot for me, Andrew... for me, for Elizabeth, ...for a lot of women, I'm guessing."

Andrew pulls Mellie into the nearest room and pins her against the wall. He attempts to kiss her but she slaps him ...hard.

"It's not what it seems, Mellie." In a softer tone, "Nothing ever really is what it seems, is it? Lizzie and I ...we're nothing, she means nothing. I was doing what I had to do, for you, for us, Mellie. I have a plan."

"What plan is that exactly, ...hmm? Making me feel like shit?"

"Mellie, I love you. I want you to be in the White House with a man who loves you. Don't you want that too? Listen. I have Olivia Pope. My captive. I demanded Fitz declare war on West Angola if he wants her back. I don't think he's actually ballsy enough to do it though. I'm going to ask him to resign. You and I, Mellie. Can you imagine it? Running the White House... toghether? You, my First Lady?"

Not believing the words coming out of his mouth, "I can be a political monster, but what you are talking about is so far beyond... What you're telling me is ... it's treason. If your plan doesn't work, they'll crucify you. I can't do it."

"Come on Mel. Don't you want a little revenge? The things that man has put you through? We can do this together. I want you by my side. At least say you'll think about it."

She rubs her forehead and stares at him. Her face softens at the sight of his pleading eyes. "I should be so angry with you. But these feelings I have... I do want to watch him burn... so, okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay, I'll think about it."

/

As Jake walks along Pennsylvania Avenue a white van stops him in his path. Two large men in black, signal to him to come quietly. Inside the van Charlie and Rowan are waiting for him.

"Where is my daughter?!" Rowan asks in his usual calm but stern voice.

"I'm not sure, but I'll find her."

Rowan snorts.

"That night you came looking for me like a pet to his master... I am your God, Jake. You can't kill me. We had a deal: protect my daughter, keep her away from the President, and you get to live. That was the deal. I handed to you, my most precious treasure and you couldn't even keep her... CAN YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT, CAPTAIN JAKE BALLARD?"

Like a wounded deer on it's last leg, Jake supplicates.

"I will find her. Trust me. But I can't find her if I'm dead."

"Trust you? TRUST YOU? You've failed, Jake. You have failed at everything. YOU ARE OF NO USE to me. I'm here to take care of you myself. I don't enjoy killing. That's not who I am, but I am going to enjoy this."

Rowan attaches the silencer to his weapon and shoots Jake in the face. His brains splatter all over the van. No one flinches.

"Charlie, clean up this mess."

"Yes, boss." Charlie replies, dutifully.

"Ben, drive me out of here."