Hey gladiators ! I have been really busy so once again I am trying to feed our lack of Olitz by updating my stories. Tonight, we return to the drama of "America's Hero"
The capsule hit the water after it entered the earth's atmosphere. Divers swam to the entrance of the capsule and brought a stretcher so they could load Fitz onto it. His eyes remained closed as the sailors took him from the water to the dock. Cameras recorded every move as the astronaut was transferred to the waiting ambulance. Sirens roared as it sped through the streets of Honolulu. Arriving at the hospital, the doctors immediately placed wires on his chest and started an iv.
Military guards were placed at the door. The main reason for this was to keep the press at bay and allow the astronaut to rest . The only sound that could be heard was the beeping of the electrocardiogram . The glass bottles clanked together when the nurse came to change the medicine.
Olivia had joined Cyrus by flying to Hawaii. She was a nervous wreck as the jet landed at the airport. She actually held Cyrus's hand as she braced herself . She had always pictured going to Hawaii on her honeymoon, not anything like this. Olivia began to realize that her life was going to change drastically. This is what loving this man had become, an adventure. She would never know where life would take her.
Big Jerry had arrived with Mellie in tow on their private jet. He had decided that he would be able to walk into his room because of being Fitz's father. He was confident that he could convince his son that space was the last place he was there to comfort him and let him know that she cared deeply about him. She did care about him and she had been told that she would grow into loving him. Mellie did have ambition, but she had to keep quiet about it. She had studied hard in law school, but she knew that the only way that a woman could get into politics was to marry a politician. She was convinced that she could make history, but only as a First Lady like Eleanor Roosevelt . She seemed more like the Jackie Kennedy model than her. It was something that her parents had drilled into her head ever since she was a child. She had attended Radcliffe , since Harvard was a man's school. She had studied hard and graduated with honors.
"No one can go in there." The guard announced when the two came to the door of the hospital room.
"I am Governor Fitzgerald T Grant the second, my son is in that room." He bellowed. "This is his fiancé." He said as he introduced Mellie.
"Capt Grant has been sedated, but you may go in." the guard said .
The two entered the room cautiously. The only sound that they heard was the beeping of the EKG. His usually coiffed hair was mussed on the pillow. Mellie looked down at him like she was looking at a stranger. Essentially, she was.
"Fitz, fitz?" his father said.
"I know you are asleep right now, but I just wanted to let you know that we are here now. You don't have to worry because you will be taken care of . Everything is going to be fine. No more risking your life or floating adrift in space. You will finally have some direction."
Fitz continued to sleep as Big Jerry and Mellie left the room.
At the same time, Olivia and Cyrus arrived at the hospital. Cyrus had a piece of paper . He handed it to the guard and looked at him. As his manager, he had connections at NASA. He had explained also that the woman with him was the special woman in the Captain's life. .
Olivia slowly entered the room. Her hand went up to her mouth as she began to sob. He was laying there unconscious . She ran to the side of the bed and took his hand . She brought it up to her lips and whispered. "You made it back, there's still a chance for us."
Slowly his eyes opened and he saw her standing there. "Livie." He whispered.
Tears of joy came down her face. He was going to be alright.
Cyrus came to the side of the bed as well. "Fitz, you did it. Next stop is the moon."
Olivia said ,"Let's let him get better first, before he blasts off again."
Fitz slowly lifted his head and looked toward Olivia. "It was you that kept me strong. I just kept picturing you and you pulled me back to that ship. You reached out and took my hand and then I knew I would see you again. I knew we were destined to be together forever."
"I knew you'd come back to me." She sobbed .
"I promise you forever. When I am better, we are going to California. I am taking you to my father's and introducing you as the woman I love. I don't care what he says. I had a lot of time to think while I was in space. I want to do what I want. I am not his puppet . I am my own man and I will do what I want. I am going to the moon and then I will decide what I want to do. It ends right now." Fitz declared solemnly.
"I thought I heard you. Son, I am so glad you are alright." Jerry pushed Olivia out of the way and went to the side of the bed. "Look who came with me, it's Mellie."
"Hi Fitz." Mellie meekly said.
Fitz couldn't get over the nerve of his father. He had to tell him that the jig was up. Mellie immediately walked over to the bed and took his hand. "Oh my poor baby. I am so glad are you going to be alright. I was so worried when I saw on television . I knew that you would make it back and we could plan our future." Mellie sighed.
Fitz pulled his hand away. "What the hell are you talking about?" He knew his father was up to something
Olivia knew that Fitz needed to talk to his father about some things. She also didn't want to make the wrong impression on his father. Her skin would be enough of a deterrent to him. She went to the bed and then smiled . "Fitz, Cyrus and I are going to get something to eat. I will be back later." Then the two of them left the room and closed the door.
Big Jerry was glad that they were left alone. He put his arm around Mellie and then grinned. "So I am glad you're back son. Now you can see you weren't cut out for all this space shit. You were meant for much bigger things. I figure you can take the vacant California senate seat and that will set you on a course for governor. After governor, that should get you ready for the Presidency. "
"Wrong dad." Fitz said firmly.
"Excuse me?" he said puzzled.
"I said wrong dad. That was your plan. You hated the fact that I joined the Navy and then when I went to MIT. It wasn't my fault I excelled in science . I think this is how I am supposed to make my mark on history. You made your mark by serving as a politician. You could have gotten farther, if you wouldn't have gotten caught with that hooker." Fitz said sarcastically.
"That's not fair." His father declared.
"I am not you. I am not someone who has no respect for women or is told who to love. It is a new groovy world where we are free to love. I am in love with an incredible woman and I don't care if you like her or not. I don't even give a damn if America likes her or not. I love her." Fitz declared.
"That girl that was in here before? Mellie is a purebred Southern belle from the old South. She has been educated at the finest schools and is a debutante. Top of her class at Radcliffe. She is the perfect wife to stand by you as you make your way to the White House." Big Jerry argued.
Fitz saw things clearer than ever before. "Something happened up there. I almost thought I could see Mom as I was drifting in space. She told me that she was proud of me and that I had someone special to come back to Earth to. That was Olivia. This is what I was meant to do. I will be bigger than any politician ever was. Kids will read about me in their schoolbooks. I will do something that has never been done before and that is to walk on the surface of the moon. " he then turned to Mellie. "I am so sorry that I have led you on for so long. I tried , but I never loved you. Life is groovy and far out Mellie, you should do your own thing. Find yourself. Maybe leave Santa Barbara and hang out in Haite Ashbury. Might do you a world of good. You are a dynamite girl and I think you can do anything you want. "
"Really?" Mellie blinked away the tears.
"Yeah, you don't need me. Women are coming into their own. Before too long, you might even be able to go to law school or medical school. You are too smart to just be a secretary or worse yet, a trophy wife." Fitz took her hand and smiled.
"I have always wanted to go to Harvard.' She admitted.
"it's a great school and I think you should apply there. You 'll see Mellie, you will be fine. You don't need me." Fitz said.
He then turned back to his father and said. "You can still count on me coming to the annual Grant Gala. I only missed it when I was in the Navy. And I want you to meet and get to know Olivia. She is an amazing woman. "
"Okay son. " Big Jerry let him have this round. "I look forward to getting to know your girlfriend. Just get better so you can come home for a while." He leaned down and hugged his son. Then Mellie and him left the room.
"Well that's that." Mellie stated. "I guess we go home now."
"We go home, but he is going to see that life is going to be rough for him if he stays with her. Do you think that America is going to love the fact that a blue eyed , all American astronaut is in love with a Negro woman? No Mellie, you are still in the race. " Big Jerry smiled as he put his arm around Mellie. He was always right.
Olivia saw that the coast was clear and walked in the room. "Cyrus let us have a little alone time." She smiled.
Fitz patted his hand and had her sit on the bed. "Good for him. He gets a raise." He smiled and gave her a long kiss.
"Olivia?" he asked coyly.
"Yes, baby."she answered
"How would you like to go to a party in California?" Fitz asked. Olivia jumped into his arms.
