A/N-Thank you for all of the reviews and comments on the newest story. LoreneMichelle41-Thank you for your suggestion. I will work on that in all of my stories. I know that you will let me know your thoughts. To the guest reviewer who asked me to read other stories to make my writing more professional, thank you. I'll be honest Scandal is the only show I have interest in writing or reading at this time. I take into account my reviews which is why I changed my format and other small changes. I've received reviews on things that I should add. I love to write, but I am not a professional and not trying to be. I love these characters and I like to use them to get thoughts and ideas out. I have been reading stories for a couple of years, but just decided to write. I respect everyone won't like it. I also respect that I won't be as popular as others, but I enjoy writing. I'll continue to work on things, but this is a hobby. Thanks again for the support. It is nice to read the comments and encouragement
The next two months were filled with up and downs for Olivia. Her hair continued to shed, but she was grateful that it wasn't to the point that she had to shave her hair off. She had lost more weight so on a good day she weight 100 pounds soak and wet.
Olivia was a ball of emotions. She could go days and be happy and think the sky is blue, and then wake up and hate life and all that it had to offer. If it wasn't for the fact that she hadn't slept with Jake for three months before he broke up with her and the IUD that she had implanted she would have been scared that she was pregnant.
Fitz was always her punching bag because he was there. The scary part is that he took it. When she kicked him out of the room and wouldn't talk to him for days he would take it in stride. He never left her side. He would get Abby or Dr. Jackie and sometimes Dr. Bailey to talk to her.
When she went back to being happy Fitz never brought up her actions. Right now she was going through a bad spell. She had a couple of small bald spots. Fitz had taken her out one day when she was feeling good and let her get hats, scarves, and anything else to cover the top of her head. It ended up being a nice day.
When she got up to get ready for chemotherapy she was frustrated for some reason. It was an ordinary Monday morning. She couldn't decide what to put on her head. Once she was dressed Fitz brought her several choices. Nothing made her happy. She finally put on a pink hat and called it a day. Her clothes were baggy with the weight that she lost. She complained that people were going to think that she was a drug addict. When Fitz tried to assure her that she was still beautiful it pissed Olivia off.
Olivia had turned around and told him to shut the hell up. She was not in the mood for life will be okay speech. Fitz looked at her in shock. He nodded and walked out the room. When they got to the cancer center she got out and told him not to come in. She was not his charity case. She slammed the car door and went in before he could say anything. Her words stung. He tried not to take it personally, but it didn't work.
Fitz called Abby and asked if she could pick up Olivia from the cancer center. Something with a case had come up that he had to take care of. Fitz went by his home and packed some clothes and headed to his home in Montpelier. It was the first home he purchased. It was five bedrooms and five baths and was more than 4500 square feet. When his dad hinted that he was going to retire he had found his home in Burlington where he now lived full time.
Fitz needed a break. Olivia had eaten him up and spit him out a couple of times, but in the last couple of weeks it had gotten worse. No matter what he tried it seemed to only piss her off more. He wasn't angry. He was hurt. While he had no clue what she personally was going through this was not his first rodeo when it comes to dealing with breast cancer. He tried to convince himself that it wasn't Olivia talking, but the air was cold. He needed to step back.
Like he told his family that after the first month of two he had no problem with them stepping in to help Olivia and they gladly pitched in and helped. It didn't seem that she had any problems with anyone else. He couldn't turn off his love for her, so he decided to step aside.
He sent a message out to everyone letting them know that he was okay, but was taking a break. He asked that they take care of Olivia and make sure that she was okay.
Abby received the message and knew something had happened. When she got to the cancer center to pick up Olivia she looked tired. She was already petite so the weight loss had drastically affected her. She knew that Olivia hated what she seen in the mirror. There was nothing they could say that would change her feelings.
When Olivia seen Abby she smiled. Abby wondered did Olivia know that Fitz had left. She decided to play it by ear.
Abby said, 'Fitz sent me here to pick you up. He told me that something came up."
Olivia nodded. She thanked Abby for coming to pick her up. It was quiet. The air felt thick although nobody was talking. Olivia didn't have a problem with Abby so she was not sure why the tension was there.
Once her session was done Abby asked if she needed to go to the store for anything. Olivia shook her head.
Abby made sure that Olivia had plenty of food and personal items. She asked Olivia if she needed anything and she told her no.
Abby left and told Olivia that she would check in with her later. Abby knew at that moment that Olivia didn't know that Fitz had left. Whatever happened hit Fitz hard and Olivia didn't know it. Abby knew she would have to tell Olivia. She decided to wait until tonight. She could be wrong and didn't want to cause any problems where there wasn't one.
Olivia slept most of the afternoon. She got up and let Pransome out. While she was watching Pransome in the back yard her gut to her something was wrong. She had not heard from Fitz since she got out the car. She remembered the look on his face. It was like she had stabbed him in his heart.
Olivia ate something and watched TV. She kept checking her phone for a call or message from Fitz. Olivia couldn't stand it anymore and she called Abby to see if she heard from Fitz. Abby took a breath and told her that Fitz sent them a message shortly after he dropped you off saying that he needed a break. He let them know he was okay.
Olivia gasped in horror, "Abby where is he? Can you take him to me?"
Abby sighed, "I would if I could but he did not tell anyone where he was. Stephen tried to call him, but his phone went to voicemail. When he asked me to pick you up his voice was strained and sounded like he was in pain."
Olivia began to cry. She had ruin the best thing that ever happened to her. There was nothing she could do about. She deserved it. Olivia didn't know that she had hung up on Abby. Her mind flashed back to two weeks ago.
Flashback-2weeks ago
Cyrus had taken her to the cancer center for treatment today. They were all working on this one particular client that was hell on wheels. Cyrus had stepped out to take a call.
Olivia had her eyes closed but when she heard the door opened she open her eyes. She groaned when she seen who it was.
Olivia was pissed, "You don't take hints well."
Jake smiled, "Give me a few minutes with no one interrupting us"
Olivia huffed. Anger clearly in her eyes, "You get five minutes. Now you have four and a half minutes."
Jake nodded, "Olivia I know that you are angry with me and you have every right to be. I am really sorry for the way that I treated you. I sincerely want us to work things out."
Olivia shook her head. She looked at Jake like he lost his mind. Was this man serious? Anger was not the appropriate emotion at the moment. She wanted to rip out the IV so she could punch Jake in his throat.
With all the anger she could muster in her voice, "You are a pathetic excuse for a man. You act like I am a toy that has been stolen from you, and you are trying to get it back. It wasn't just how you broke up with me. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. You never treated me as your equal. You used my emotions against me. You knew I had no one so you felt like you had carte le blanc on how to treat me. You didn't figure it out. Someone had to tell you, and by sheer fate since we don't discuss our clients he happened to be either your biggest or one of your biggest clients."
Jake was beginning to get frustrated. He didn't understand why Olivia would not just come back to him. Sure he was the first to end it, but once she was gone he realized the mistake he made. Big Jerry just confirmed it.
Jake tried to stay calm, "I am really sorry Olivia for my actions. I promise that it was not intentional. I love you. You can't be comfortable with walking away from me after three years."
Olivia laughed making the tension in the room high, "You threw us away. You threw us away when you truly never got to know me. When you selected who you wanted me to be around. When you cheated on me and didn't think I noticed. Most of all you threw it away when the only thing that you could think about when I was diagnosed was me losing a breast. Not once were you worried about if I would live. I am not mad. I have myself to blame. I lowered my standards thinking you were the best I could have. I'm no idiot. I am brilliant. Just because I didn't address your actions didn't mean I wasn't aware of them."
Jake was livid and he didn't know why. Really it was because Olivia was no fool. He knew that but no woman had ever checked him and she did. All coolness went out the door.
Jake spoke with venom in his voice, "You think that you are somebody because the Grants like you. That's funny. You think I want a trophy wife. What do you expect from your precious Fitz? You think he wants you especially now looking a crack addict that could use a meal. You are a nobody trying to a somebody in their world and that will never happen. When you get off your high horse and come crawling back to me; I promise that I am going to make you beg."
Jake walked out the door and you could hear a pin drop. Jake had said and done a lot of hurtful things, but this cut her deep. More than that it made her question herself and her relationship with Fitz. How could he want her? She looked back. She brought nothing to the table. She had no legacy unlike him.
Eventually the words that he said hit her like a ton of bricks. She could only cry. When Cyrus came in and saw her he held her. He asked her several times what was wrong. She told him that toll of going through this battle had hit and caused a mini-breakdown. Cyrus didn't say a word. He didn't believe Olivia. He could have sworn he seen Jake walking out the door. He would get to the bottom of it.
Jake words ate at her more and more. She had begun to take it out on Fitz. He never lashed back out at her. He remained calm and allowed her to berate him.
Present Day
Olivia felt like the scum of the earth. As she lay on the bed crying she realized how she let Jake get to her. Her self-esteem was already in the dumps with all of the changes that had taken place since she started chemotherapy.
Her heart told her that Fitz was nothing like Jake, but as she looked in the mirror each day the only thing that played in a loop was his words. She had let Jake take away the only tangible thing that mattered.
Olivia never heard Abby come in. Abby took her shoes off and climbed in the bed with Olivia. She let Olivia cry. They would not be able to talk until she let it out.
Eventually Olivia calmed down enough to tell Abby what happened two weeks ago. She also told her how she had been acting.
Olivia was heart-broken as she talked, "Abby he never said one cross word. I have the last two weeks in my head on a loop. I treated him like a dog because I was in my feelings and he took it all like he deserved it. Like he was the one that was causing all the pain and anguish. I lost him. I'm sure I'll have to move because there is no way Jerry is going to let me stay after what I did to his son.
Abby shook her head. She hated that Olivia was beating herself up over this. She was pissed that Jake stooped so low. He was going to get his. She forced herself to focus on Olivia.
Abby said, "Liv, he is not going to leave you. Fitz doesn't do confrontation very well. I really think that he stepped away so that he didn't do or say that would hurt you. Give him time to work through this. He loves you, but he's human. I won't lie and say that the things you said don't sting because they do."
Olivia started crying all over again. She jumped up off the bed. Anger was beginning to take over.
"I know that Abby. I know I am an idiot. I don't need to be reminded. I know that Fitz & Jake are nothing alike, but when you already don't like what you see in the mirror and someone who claims they loved you reminds you that you look like a drug addict it plays with your head. The brilliant Olivia was not in the building. I know he is like family to you. You don't have to tell me how I screwed this up. You could have berated me over the phone."
Olivia left out the room. She went to the bathroom down the hall and locked herself in. She lay on the floor and cried. She heard Abby at the door, but she refused to let her in. Abby finally gave up and left.
When Abby got in her car all she seen was red. Mad, pissed, angry, no none of those even came close to summing up her emotions. She would not let this relationship end because that asshole didn't get his way.
Abby made a call to Huck and asked him to look up some information. She then placed a call to Cyrus & Jerry and asked to meet with them like now. She then called Stephen and brought him up to speed and asked Stephen to make that call. Abby hung up. She was on a mission. Jake had messed with the wrong ones. He had been given two warnings and he didn't heed them. Then to make matters worse he tore Olivia down. He would regret that day for the rest of his life.
Abby made it over to Big Jerry's house. She filled them in as to what was going on. Abby was a little reluctant to tell Jerry, but she needed him to make her plan work. She just hopes that he didn't take it out on Olivia. When Abby finished the room was dead silent. While no words were being spoken the faces told a lot. Abby was a little nervous since she wasn't sure whom and what made them the maddest.
Jerry jumped up out of his seat, "That son of a bitch. I am going to bury him. I told him I don't like to repeat myself. Abby I appreciate you filling me in. I promise I'm not upset with Olivia. I know that me going over there or calling is not going to help. No we have to fix them and Jake all at the same time. I like your plan, but I want you to tweak it a little please."
Once Stephen got to Jerry's house they spent several hours putting things in place. They decided to allow Fitz to stay away. He needed to work through this. As a couple they would have to work through this.
The rest of the week was somber. Abby took Olivia to her chemo sessions. Fitz had not called. Abby could see that the light was dimming in Olivia's eyes. She was glad that everything was now set. She didn't think her best friend could handle much more.
Fitz had called and checked in with Stephen a couple of times. Stephen never pressed him about what was going on. Fitz did ask how Olivia was doing. Stephen would let him know that Abby was taking care of her. Stephen had told Fitz that he needed him to meet with a client in the office Monday morning at ten. They would not consider their firm unless they met with Fitz. Fitz agreed.
Fitz had been away for a week and it did nothing but cause more pain. Fitz was never the man who yelled and screamed. He didn't like to fight. His head told him that Olivia was struggling with all of the changes. He accepted that, but for the last couple of weeks it was like night and day. It was like she wanted him to leave her. She wanted him to trash her. No matter how nice he was or how supportive he was it was like she wouldn't accept it. It was the way she said that she was not his charity case that hit him like a ton of bricks. His mind kept playing that statement in a loop. Is that all she thinks this is? He thought she thought more of them.
Fitz hoped that with him not bothering her that she was better. He loved her enough to step aside. It hurt because he thought he finally found the one.
Monday morning came and Fitz was forced to get dressed to head into the office. His hair was longer that normal. It was time for a haircut before he left, and he had not gotten one yet. He had not shaved. Fitz could not find it in him to care. He put on a suit and grabbed his stuff and drove in.
Abby went to pick up Olivia. Olivia looked like shit. There was no other way to describe it. Abby told her that she was needed at the firm. Abby would not give her any specifics, but confirmed that it had something to do with Fitz.
Olivia found some jeans and a t-shirt to put on. She cleaned her face and brushed her teeth. She found a hat, and headed out the door. She knew that she looked bad, but she didn't have it in her to care.
Jake arrived at the firm at 9:30 per the request of Jerry Grant. He told him that he needed to discuss a proposition with him. Jake jumped at the chance when he got the call over the weekend. Maybe Olivia wasn't so bad after all.
When Jake arrived at the office the air was thick. He felt like all eyes were on him and not in a good way. Fitz's secretary Lauren showed him to the conference room. Jerry, Cyrus, and Stephen were all siting beside each other looking at him. No one attempted to get up and shake his hand. They all nodded their head to acknowledge him.
Jake smiled to try to break the ice. He thanked Jerry for inviting him to discuss business. Jerry looked at his watch and seen that it was ten minutes until ten.
They made small talk until the grandfather clock let then know it was top of the hour. It was ten. Fitz walked through the door. He was shocked at who he was looking at in the room. They were equally as shocked to see how he looked. Fitz had always been a clean-cut person. It showed them how much this situation had affected him. It only pissed off Jerry more. Jerry didn't think they could get any madder until the door opened and Olivia walked in.
Olivia looked five years older than she had ever looked. Her eyes were sunken. The ends of her hair were dry. Her skin was dry. She looked like death. This wasn't the chemo. This was the pain of thinking she was losing everything.
Fitz & Olivia looked at each other. It was clear that time didn't help either one of them. They looked at each other. Each could see that the other wanted to fix it. It was a small victory that they would take. Fitz turned to ask his dad what was going on, but Abby took over.
Abby asked them to sit. Everything would become clear soon. Abby was a feisty person, but she was a beast when she was mad. Stephen knew she was mad. They let her start things out.
Abby looked at Jake, "I hate when people under-estimate women. I hate men who think that they rule the world, and when they don't get their way then they tear somebody down. Therefore Jake is it a pleasure to tell you that I hate you, and it has been my honor planning your demise for what you did three weeks ago."
Jake looked at Abby like a deer in headlights, "I am not sure what you are talking about."
Abby opened the door and Huck came in. He put a CD in and dimmed the lights. When he hit play Olivia gasped. So did Jake.
Everyone had seen and heard it except for Fitz. As Fitz listened and watch the video his blood began to boil. It all made sense. Olivia wouldn't get back with him so he hit her where it hurt. He played those two weeks in his head. He remembered how he thought she was fighting something. Now he knew. Fitz blood was boiling to the point he began to sweat.
When the video ended Huck turned the lights back up. Jake tried to come up with words, but he knew nothing could save him. He always had a problem with knowing when he had crossed a line. He jumped over a line. As he looked at Olivia & Fitz he could tell that he had caused problems for them, and now he was going to pay. He thought they were going to beat him up, force him to relocate, make him pay them for the pain and suffering he caused. He didn't like it, but he would have to accept it.
Jake looked up and was about to speak when Lauren came in with a group of people. The last person made him realize that his nightmare had just begun.
Jerry smiled at him but the venom was there, "I told you that I don't like to repeat myself. I asked Olivia when she was in the hospital did she want anything to do with you, and she said no. You told me you understood. I told you I wasn't going to give you my business back. So when Abby & Cyrus came to me with their concern I knew they had to have lost their mind, because you wouldn't be foolish enough to cross me."
Jake stuttered, "Sir I wasn't trying to get your business back as you can tell ."
Jerry nodded, "I know. Like Olivia said you wanted her back like she was a toy. You are scum. You took a fragile person and you broke her a little more. We have had to literally pick her up just to get her to chemo. She barely eats and drinks because she is mad that she allowed you to mess with her head. In return she took it out on the wrong person. Fitz has suffered because all he wants is for Olivia to be happy so he left. You are not God. You don't get to play with people lives, but it seems like you like to."
Stephen stood up, "Since you like to pretend you are God and can have anything you want and do whatever you want we decided to take a page out of your book. I know you know Harrison Wright. You hired him to work for your company, but it seems that you have shafted him. Abby spoke with Harrison who told you he was interested in branching out on his own. You kept promising to help him. Well this morning we took him on pro bono."
Abby smiled, "I read his contract. He is obligated to you for 12 months which he had fulfilled. If he decides to branch out on his own he can't contact any of your clients and solicit their business. That is why I have ten sworn affidavits that Harrison did not contact any of them. Jerry has signed a deal with Harrison and he suggested to his friends that they would be in better hands with Harrison. So you have no grounds to sue him for the business that you lost. You are being served noticed that none of these individuals are your clients anymore. Jerry has drafted a check to cover all remaining balances that you are owed. We will have a lawyer and police escort come to your business to collect everything that belongs to these clients"
Jake was stunned. Jerry Grant had pretty much put him out of business. These were all of his big name clients.
Abby was having so much fun, "I also want to put you on notice that if you attempt to cause any trouble with anyone in this room I will personally bury you. I would like to kill you, but they won't let me even though I told them I could get away with it. Therefore I will bury you legally."
Fitz & Olivia had looked on while this went down. It was clear that Jerry was not upset with her which gave her mixed feelings. She looked up and Fitz and he looked up at the same time. It was so much pain in their eyes, but at the same time it was so much love. Fitz couldn't help himself. He had to reach out and touch her. He hadn't physically touched her in over a week.
When Fitz caressed her face Olivia began to sob. It didn't matter who was in the room. The pain of being without him was hard on her. Chemo was nothing in comparison to Fitz not being in her life. Jake had never caused these feelings. Fitz held her. He let her know they would be okay and he still loved her. They would talk, but he needed her to know that he still loved her.
As Fitz was holding Olivia it all hit him at once what Jake did to her. His anger had boiled over. Fitz gave Abby a look. She came over and sat down beside Olivia. Fitz got up and made his way towards Jake. Everyone stopped to watch and see what Fitz was going to say.
Jake sensed him coming and turned to face him. Jake began a half-ass apologize.
Fitz put his hand could see that Fitz was angry. His ears were beet red.
Fitz shook his head, 'You are scum. Hate is such a strong word, but in this moment I hate you. You had something so precious. She was never on my radar. She wouldn't have been if you were a real man. You would have marriage her, had two kids, a house, and a dog. Both of your careers would have continued to flourish. She would have had your back no matter what, but you gave it up. Now its mine to earn. I promise I won't make the same mistake as you. The part that sickens me the most is that you always talk about her physical looks. She is beautiful to me. Yes she is physically beautiful even now although she can't see it, but it is the beauty of her heart that captured me. When she loves she loves with everything that is in her. I will treasure it always."
Jake was smug, "Oh come on man. You want a dime piece at your side like I do like any man does. That sounds good...
Jake never finished his statement. Fitz had punched him hard enough for him to fall out of his chair. Fitz jumped on top of him and began to pound him. Fitz had lost his mind. It took his dad, Cyrus, Stephen, and Huck to get him off of Jake.
Harrison had pushed Jake back.
Fitz didn't care about his reputation at the moment. He didn't care about going to jail. He was going to make sure that Jake never said another cross word without thinking about consequences.
Fitz was yelling, "Let me go. I am going to do exactly what Abby suggested. I am going to bury you. You will never say another cross word about Olivia again. You want to tear down an innocent woman. Be a man. Go toe to toe with me."
Fitz felt like the Incredible Huck at the moment. His adrenaline had taken over and nothing could calm him down except her, and that is what she did.
Olivia stepped around the men and came face to face with Fitz. She looked him in the eye and said, "One Minute"
Fitz looked at her and finally nodded, "One Minute"
Everything disappeared around them. It was just the two of them. This has been a painful week for the both of them, but at the end of the day they would be okay.
After the minute Olivia turned around to face Jake, "I guess you never banked on my family. The ones who don't care about me to have my back. Guess you were wrong. Oh, and you are going to leave out of here thankful that I didn't let him kill you."
Jake cackled, "What makes you think I would do that for your precious boyfriend. I have nothing to lose."
Olivia laughed, "Sure you do. I think the FBI would love to investigate some of your under the table dealings. I can even provide them with access to that Swiss bank account you now just realized I know about. So yes you will pack up and leave. Never come back. If anyone in this room even breaths you I will finish tearing your life apart, and make sure you rot in prison for the next 30 years. Good luck wherever you go. I am sure you will find some idiots to deal with."
Olivia heard a thud and everyone in the room gasped. Olivia turned around and Fitz was on the floor passed out.
Olivia got down in front of him. She was yelling for them to call 911. He was breathing, but he looked so pale. He had sweated through her shirt.
Olivia jumped up and jumped on Jake, "I will kill you. I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth if something happens to him. You think Jerry can pack a punch, but I will throw a bomb. I swear on my grandmother's grave you will not be safe if he is okay. She slapped him and began to beat his chest."
Jerry grabbed her, "Take care of Fitz honey. The ambulance is here. Go with him. He needs you. I'll take out the garbage."
Olivia nodded. She hugged him, "I'm sorry Jerry. I didn't mean to cause Fitz or you any pain. You have done nothing but be kind to me and take care of me."
Jerry stopped her, "This is not on you. You and FItz will talk and sort it out, but I know him. He not only wants you, but needs you. I've never seen him look that way. He is always put together. That tells me that he can't do life without you. You don't look great either. I know it is not the chemo. You are more put together than this even in pajamas so I know being without him and hurting him was not what you wanted. I love you. I consider you my daughter. Go I got this."
Olivia kissed his cheek and grabbed her purse. She turned around and looked at Jake in disgust one last time and walked out with the ambulance.
A/N-Jake is officially gone. They had their first real test in their relationship. Fitz is on the way to the hospital. Thank you again for the love and support. Happy Holidays to everyone