Chapter 6

Dr. Kendrick had been a practicing psychiatrist for years. This wasn't his first rodeo but it was his most important one. His patient was the President of the United States of America and the man had literally broken down. He had known Fitzgerald Grant for years. He was one of the strongest men he knew in terms of character and stamina. In his awe of the President the doctor had forgotten a true and unimpeachable truth, the President was still just a man.

He had to choose his words carefully so he had hesitated just a moment. "Mr. President I haven't seen Tom this morning which leads me to believe he is still working on the task of finding Miss Pope. She could possibly be as distraught as you Mr. President and though to just get herself out of the mix for a couple of days. Given the nature of your relationship with Miss Pope I am sure it will be only a matter of time before she contacts you. I don't want you to worry about that right now Sir. You have been through so much. I know you are worried for and about her. But for right now could we concentrate on your health and well being? Sir to put it bluntly, you have been out of your mind these last few days. You need to do Fitzgerald Grant today Sir and put everyone else on a back burner."

The President was just staring at him saying nothing. It was not a blank unknowing stare but it was very intense. Finally he said, "Dr. Kendrick you are the mental health profession here and I respect that so I am going to be blunt as well. I need Olivia Pope. It is all very simple. I love her. She is my life and without her my life doesn't mean shit. I am more than willing to work with you but I need Olivia by my side where she belongs."

The President jumped up and began to pace back and forth. He was passing his hand back and forth through his hair as well. He knew the doctor was playing him trying to keep him calm, well it was not working. "How many days have I been out of my mind doctor? Exactly how long have I been shackled to that bed? Don't lie to me doctor, I need to know what the hell is going on. I need to see Tom soon rather than later," he said forcefully.

Lying wasn't going to work with the President so Dr. Kendrick decided to shoot from the hip. He took a deep breath and said, "Mr. President you had a breakdown almost a week ago. At first you were catatonic and unresponsive. Then you went through a manic faze. It was then that I sedated you and have been monitoring you every since. As for Olivia Pope she seems to disappeared from the face of the earth. Your agents have been searching everywhere and they can't find her. The country is not at all surprised that you have dropped out of sight for a while. The Vice-President has been carrying on in your absence. It is not the information I am sure you wanted to hear, but I assure you it is the truth."

The President had paled when the doctor spoke of Olivia. It was obvious that his breathing and heart rate had increased. He had closed his eyes and just stood there. Suddenly he spoke startling the doctor.

"Olivia speak to me. Where the hell are you? Don't do this. Don't leave me again. Olivia talk to me! I can't go through this shit without you please, Livvie please," he pleaded his eyes welled with tears.

The doctor was stunned. The President seemed to be actually talking to someone. He was seriously engaged in the conversation because obviously he had just received an answer. The President was upset by whatever he was hearing. You could see the disbelief on his face.

"What do you mean you had to leave? This is not the best thing for us. No! No! No! This is not your fault. You are going away where? Livvie I need you here with me. Please I am begging you, don't do this. Please come to me and we will talk this out! Liv? Liv? Oliviaaaaa, he screamed!

"Mr. President calm down. Have a seat." The doctor had decided to intervene. He was watching a bizarre series of events. The President was again slipping into madness.

The President turned to face the doctor and his face mirrored profound sorrow. "She has left me yet again. I don't know if I can bear it. Why would she do this? We are soul mates. She belongs with me. Doctor I am not crazy. Olivia Pope and I share telepathy. We can talk to each other without uttering a word. That is how close we really are. That wasn't a one way conversation I assure you. I just connected with her. I have no idea where she is though so how in the hell do I convince her she is wrong?" His question was rhetorical and meaningless. He had no way at all to physically reach her.

"Doctor whether you believe me or not I will not take any more mind altering medication. It is why I could not reach her until now. It is why my life has gone down the tubes. So don't come at me with it, I refuse to be drugged again."

The doctor stood there watching the most powerful man in the world struggle with the fact he couldn't find his woman. He knew the saying "men don't cry" was meaningless farce, real men often shed tears. He had seen it for years in his practice. Crying cleanses the soul, if you have one. And he believed the President had one, a downright rarity with politicians.

"Mr. President I believe you. I believe every word you have said. You are devastated right now and you are on the edge. But I can help you through this. I can understand why you wish to remain drug-free since as you say, right now your telepathy is your only lifeline to Miss Pope. I can help you without drugs if I must. But you must trust me with your issues Mr. President. You must not let them overwhelm you as they did a week ago. I have the capacity to help you back to your own reality but you must trust me."

Finally the President spoke again, "I am not a foolish man doctor I can imagine where I was, because I remember that day up to a certain point and I know I lost it. As long as I know that someone is looking for her. I will be alright. I love her doctor with all my heart. I need her back here with me. But I will accept your help. I have to I have a country to run."

The President extended his hand and Dr. Kendrick took it. He was in this on the President's terms for the moment, but that would change. He was a psychiatrist after all.