A/N-Thanks for all the reviews. They were a big help to me. A guest review said that we give Mellie too much power. In some instances I agree, but at the end of the day she is a powerful woman just like Olivia it is just that she uses her power for bad. I however intend to hold her accountable. Please continue to send me reviews. I did some research to try to make this chapter as realistic as possible. Sorry for any grammar errors that I missed. All characters belong to Shonda...
Everything had happened in slow motion. Karen was headed towards Olivia when she noticed her mother look like she was going to fall and then suddenly she had a gun in her hand. No one had an opportunity to say anything before they heard the gun shots. Olivia was down.
Karen screamed, "Oh my God Mom. Mom. Please be okay. Oh my God"
The police had swarmed Mellie and she was just staring. It was like she could not believe what she had just done.
Karen jumped up and ran to jump on Mellie. Huck grabbed her before she could reach Mellie.
Karen started to scream at her, "I hate you. You ruin anything good. I will never forgive you. I am going to make sure that daddy makes you suffer although we both know that once he finds out what you have done you he is coming for you. I will make sure that you suffer slowly in private and then we air all your dirty laundry for the public to see. I want them to give you the death penalty so you get to sit in a cell and wonder when the day will come that you will die. Orange was never your color but it will be."
Mellie looked at her daughter with a blank face. For the first time she knew that she went too far. She knew that life as she knew it was over. When she looked up again she seen Karen screaming at them to save her mom.
Mellie and Edison were taken away. Per the instructions of the President they were being held under the Patriot Act. He had them both transferred to Supermax for the time being.
Everyone stood around as the paramedics worked on Olivia. They were trying to stabilize her. One of the shots was to the head. Abby came over to try to get Karen to come with her but she refused to be far from Olivia. She looked at Abby, "Mom would never leave me if that was me down there. I am not leaving her side." Abby nodded and held her as they cried and looked on.
Rowan had stepped aside to place a call he never thought he would make. He called the President.
Fitz picked up the phone, "Rowan please tell me that you have my baby?"
Rowan paused, "Fitz, we do have Karen and she is fine other than some bruising from where Mellie hit her with the butt of her gun."
Fitz was relieved to know they found Karen. It was out the window when he realized that Rowan called him Fitz instead of Mr. President which meant something was wrong.
Fitz spoke, "Rowan, what is it that you are not telling me. You are speaking informally so there is something else isn't there?"
Rowan paused. He could not stop the pain that was about to come Fitz way. He knew he needed to tell him so they could make arrangements for Olivia.
"Fitz, Mellie was being taken away and apparently the cuffs were not tightened around her wrists. She pretended to fall but instead she grabbed another policeman's gun and she shot Olivia twice. One of those shots was to her head. They are working on her but we need to make arrangements to bring her closer to you."
Rowan was not aware but Fitz had dropped the phone. He was on his knees in shock. Cyrus was near Fitz and picked up the phone and heard the tail end of the conversation.
"Rowan it is Cyrus. Fitz dropped the phone. I heard part of what you said. Did I hear correctly that Olivia has been shot?
"Yes Cyrus Olivia has been shot. We need to have her brought closer to us so that we can all be with her. It looks bad now." Rowan was trying to keep his emotions in check. It was after all his daughter fighting for her life. Now was not the time to break down.
"Rowan, have them to fly her to George Washington University Hospital. I will make arrangements to have a section closed off for her."
"Will do I will see you in a bit and Cyrus..."
"Yeah Rowan..."
"Take care of him. Be by his side. He needs all the friends he can get now. I know everyone sees me as the bad man and I am but not when it comes to my family. Fitz and Karen along with Olivia are my family. We have to take care of them."
Cyrus sighed.
I agree and ended the call...
Cyrus looked down and Fitz and thought this man can not take much more. He knew that that the next couple of days were going to be hard. He need to make sure that Fitz was able to concentrate on his family.
Cyrus leaned down to Fitz, "I got you. We are going to have Olivia flown to George Washington University Hospital. A section is being set up for her care and for you and her team. Once we are there and get an update we need to release a statement and I think it should come from you. From there leave everything to me and I only want you to worry about your family. Your job is going nowhere."
Fitz looked up at Cyrus, "I can not lose her Cy. Other than my kids she is the only thing that I have ever done right in my life. I need her."
Cyrus responded, "You have her. Let's get ready to head over. They should be arriving to the hospital within the next hour."
Fitz got up and stopped and turned around and picked up the phone and placed a call. Cyrus was trying to figure out what was going on.
Fitz put the phone on speaker as he was getting himself together when he heard someone pick up and say, "Hello Dr. Derek Shepherd speaking."
"Derek, hi it is Fitz Grant calling."
"Mr. President"
"That is my title Derek but I am calling as a friend that needs a favor so it is Fitz."
"Fitz we have been friends for years. You have helped me over the years. I will try and help you any way I can."
"You know that the public just found out that I am interested in Olivia Pope. Well the truth is that she is the love of my life. We have loved each other since my first campaign. She has been more of a mother to my kids than Mellie ever was. I am about to tell you something that has not been released to the press yet. Mellie kidnapped Karen. Olivia went to be with Karen once they rescued her. Mellie shot her in the head. I need you to take her case. You are her best hope. Can you and Meredith take her case?"
Derek was quiet for a moment. He had kept up with Fitz through the news. He never cared for Mellie but they all dealt with her because that was Fitz's woman. To know that she not only kidnapped her own daughter but then shot the woman who was taking care of her child that she was not was just beyond imagination. He had to help Fitz.
Derek spoke, "Fitz, Meredith is already at the hospital. I will call her and have her be on the look out for Olivia's arrival. Let me get Baily situated and then I will be there."
"Thanks Derek I will see you soon"
Fitz and Cyrus left the White House and headed to the hospital. When they arrived to the hospital they were met by Dr. Owen Hunt who was the Chief of Surgery.
Dr. Hunt, "Mr. President, I am glad to meet you but I am sorry for the circumstances. We have worked with your team and have a section that will be used to treat Ms. Pope. We are told that she is ten minutes out. Dr. Grey is already up there waiting for her arrival. Derek called me and informed me of your request. They are at your disposal for as long as needed. The floor you are on also has a conference room as I am sure you will need that at some point. Please let me know if you need anything else."
Fitz looked at Dr. Hunt, "You have done more than enough. Please call me Fitz. I am here to make sure that the woman I love gets the help she needs. I know that we have to make security allowances but you don't have to walk around on egg shells with me. I am pretty normal. Just ask Derek."
They all laughed a little.
Owen spoke, "Okay then Fitz why don't you get as comfortable as possible. I am going to go help Meredith until Derek gets here and then one of us will come out and give you an update."
Fitz nodded. They went into the room. Fitz called Tom in the room.
"Tom could you send someone back over to the White House and grab me several sets of clothes. I will also need my toiletries. Also do the same for Karen because I know that she is not going to leave the hospital. Can you also have them to have Marta to bring Teddy over sometime tomorrow for us to visit with him?"
Tom nodded, "Anything else sir?"
Fitz thought, "One more thing. Could you have them to bring Daniel up here to this secured area. I will be taking care of his bill. I want to be able to check on him and I know that he does not have any family left since his mother passed away and he was an only child."
"Sure thing" Tom responded
Cyrus and Fitz sat in the room for about 30 minutes when Tom opened the door and Karen and Rowan walked in. Karen ran and jumped into Fitz arms. She looked so small to him in that moment. Karen just cried like there was no tomorrow. Her tears sounded like she was in pain. Really she was in pain. He could not tell if it was more physical or emotional. All he could do was hold her.
The scene had everyone around them a little emotional. Fitz had not noticed that Olivia's team was now in the room. Once Karen calmed down a little the next words out of her mouth shocked Fitz.
Karen looked him in the eye, "I saw Mellie shoot her. I saw my mom being shot. She was coming for me and instead Mellie shot her. I hate Mellie. I told her that you were going to make her suffer slowly. I then told her that you would make sure that her dirty laundry was spilled and her good name was tainted. Then she was going to trial and I want her to get the death penalty so she can lay awake wondering when she was going to take her last breath. I will never forgive her and I need you to make this happen."
Fitz had never seen Karen so cold. The tone in her voice sounded like ice. He had no problems carrying it out. He had not really thought about Mellie. His concern was initially Karen and then it jumped to Olivia.
He looked at Karen. She was broken. He could tell that while the kidnapping had scared her she would have been able to overcome it with his and Olivia's help. Seeing Olivia shot in front of her. Seeing her mom being shot not knowing whether they would get anymore time together had shattered Karen. Her innocence was gone. The only chance to save any of it was if Olivia somehow pulled through.
Fitz looked at Karen, "Ladybug how about we worry about mom now. I promise that Mellie will be taken care of. (He looked up at Rowan as he finished his sentenced and nodded) Uncle Cy is here but he is going to be doing a lot of my duties so I can concentrate on you and mom now. I have a couple of my friends who are going to work on her and try and make sure she comes back to us healthy."
Karen looked at him and nodded. She never let go of him. She was no longer the teenage Karen. She was a little girl who was lost. He hated Mellie all the more in that moment.
Everyone sat around making small talk while waiting to get an update on Olivia. About one hour after Olivia first arrived to the hospital Derek and Meredith walked in the room. They greeted Fitz and Fitz introduced them to everyone in the room. He informed them that they were Olivia's family so they needed to hear everything that was going on with Olivia.
They all sat down and Derek spoke to the group.
"Right now we have stabilized Olivia. We are going to be taking her to surgery soon and try to relieve some of the pressure on her brain. She was shot in the temporal lobes. The next 72 hours are going to be the most critical for her. She will be in an induced coma which will allow her body to start to heal. The other bullet went in her shoulder and that is also going to be removed during surgery also. If it is okay with you and I think it would be easier that when you release your first statement just indicate that she was shot twice. We can make arrangements for either myself, Meredith, or Owen to do a more detailed news conference once we have her stabilized. She is young and healthy at 36 so that works in her favor. We are going to take care of her. I will do my best to give you back the woman you love and the mom to your children. The boss to her team. A daughter back to her father."
Fitz heard his last sentence and he broke down. He was trying to be strong for Karen but he failed. The sob that was coming from him was breaking everyone apart in the room even Huck. No one knew what to do. Abby had taken Karen who was falling apart in her arms. Fitz was lost. He had never thought about his future without Olivia. This was why. The thought of his future without her shattered him. Nothing was helping.
Rowan stepped over to Fitz. Cyrus moved to allow him room.
Rowan leaned down, "Fitz I need you to be strong now. Olivia needs you. Karen needs you. We all need you. I need you. My daughter had all but walked away from me. I had ruined her but you came into her life and saved her even from herself. As much as I have done to keep you two apart you never demanded that she cut me off. You would have supported her if she did, but never was that your way to be done with me. She stood up for you on that plane. She gave me the choice. I could have a family or the both of you would be my enemy but the key word was together. Now I have a family. I have a daughter, and two grandchildren, and a son."
Fitz looked up at Rowan. Rowan continued to speak...
"Everyone in this room means something to Olivia, but we all know that any chance she has to make it out of this is with you by her side. We will be here for you. All of you. I just need you to fight for her. We will take care of everything else."
Fitz nodded. He knew what he meant by everything else. Fitz looked up at Derek.
"Can Karen and I see her for a moment before you take up for surgery?"
Derek responded, "She is being prepped now as time is critical but you can see her for a quick second as we are wheeling her up."
Fitz stood up and Karen walked into his arms. They followed Derek and Meredith. When they turned the corner and seen Olivia Fitz gasped.
He could see the blood all over her. Some of it dried. You could barely recognize her as she looked swollen. She had bandages everywhere.
He grabbed Karen's hand and stepped over to her, "Livvie its me. I am not sure if you can hear me but I have Karen with me. We need you to get better. You are the glue that holds this family together. We need you. I need you. I am not going anywhere. I love you baby and I can't wait to see those beautiful brown eyes again soon. I love you so much."
Derek stepped up to Fitz. We have to take her.
Fitz nodded. They took Olivia away. As Fitz was walking away he noticed something on the floor. Somehow in trying to stabilize Olivia her infinity ring that he had bought her years ago had fallen off. He grabbed it and stuffed it in his pocket.
Fitz and Karen were taken back to the waiting area. Tom had brought in the bags that he requested. He told him that Dr. Hunt had transferred Daniel to a private room on the other side but on the same floor. They had also turned four of the rooms into regular rooms. The rooms were already suite rooms so they had larger TVs, Blu-Ray, a small couch and full bathrooms in each room. They had regular beds moved into the rooms. They had gotten them for the sleep rooms that the doctor's use.
Fitz thanked him and asked him to put his stuff in one and Karen in the other and the other two could be use by whomever.
Fitz turned to Cyrus. "Can you set up for me to give a press conference in one hour? It will be live. There will be no questions."
Cyrus nodded and asked, "Did you need me to bring a suit over? I can get Abby to write you a statement."
Fitz shook his head. "I am not going to wear a suit. I am going to shower and change. I will draft my statement."
He knew not to argue with Fitz. His tone told him that he was not to be messed with now. Cyrus left the room to go and get everything set up.
Fitz called Olivia team in the room. Once everyone was in the room he began to speak.
"I am going to make a statement in a hour. Once the statement is released I will not be making another one. Cyrus is going to handle things for a while. I need you guys to handle any fallout. I am not denying Olivia. I will not give a specific timeline but they are going to know she is the love of my life in an hour. They are going to know about what Mellie did. Handle it however you see fit."
Fitz turned and walked out to the room to get ready. He seen Rowan in the hallway. He looked at Rowan. For the first time Rowan did not see Fitz the dad or Fitz the lover. He seen Fitz the President. The look he gave let you know that you messed with the wrong person.
Fitz stated, "I agree with Karen. How you handle Edison and Hal I could care less. I do however want Mellie to be questioned slowly and I am sure that some pain will have to be inflicted to get some answers. I then wanted her charged with treason, kidnapping, and attempted murder. I will make sure that David Rosen handles the case himself. I want this to be a death penalty case. You taking care of her behind close doors is too good for her. I know you want to, but if you do that her name and dirty laundry is not aired out. I agree with Karen. I want Mellie to suffer long and hard. She will regret the day that she crossed me. She hurt my child and my woman and now I hurt her. I need you to make arrangements for me to see her, but it has to wait until I know that Livvie is out the woods."
Rowan normally would have disagreed but in this instance he agreed with them. Mellie needed to be embarrassed. She needed to suffer. She had never suffered but she was going to. Rowan had Mellie set up in a secure area away from others. Outside of her cell was a TV. He wanted her till the day she died to have to watch Fitz thrive. He felt in time his daughter was going to make it through this. He regretted the comment he made to her about becoming First Lady.
Rowan knew that Fitz would never have Olivia as an ornament just planning parties. He knew that Olivia was going to have a say in this administration. It is why his stance had changed. Fitz loved Olivia for who she was. He always loved that she was smart. He was not threatened by it but embraced it and used it as a way to better himself. He was going to be there behind the scenes making sure that his family remained safe.
Rowan placed a call to make sure that Mellie was near the TV. He was going to visit her after Fitz spoke to the press.
Meanwhile Fitz had went into what was now his temporary room. He took a shower and decided to wear a pair of jeans and a nice button down shirt. He was not going on TV to make a fashion statement. The love of his life was fighting for her life. His daughter was traumatized beyond words. He needed America to know the truth. He was almost ready when he heard a knock at the door. He told them to come in and it was Karen. She was dressed in an outfit that Olivia had recently purchased for her. She was forever ordering clothes and sending them all of them or when they came to visit she would give it to them while they were in Vermont.
Fitz asked, "Honey why are you dressed so nicely? I want to take a picture so your mom can see it when she wakes up."
Karen responded, "Dad I want to stand beside you when you give your statement. Beside they are going to want to know how I am. We can answer that question."
Fitz agreed.
They walked to the podium that was set up for him to speak. He looked out at the media that was there. He took a moment to compose his emotions before he spoke:
"Good evening. I am sure that you are all curious about why we are speaking from a hospital and not from the White House. Less than 24 hours ago my daughter Karen was kidnapped. The reason that you are just hearing about this is that it is normally customary to wait 24 hours to report it to the police. Therefore I used resources within my control that found out my daughter had been kidnapped by her biological mother Mellie Grant with the help of Senator Edison Davis and my former SSA Hal Rambert. We were able to rescue her as you can see and she had minor injuries."
Fitz paused and continued:
"As you are aware per a leak that I have struck up a romance with my former Communications Director Olivia Pope. Honestly Olivia and I have been in love for some time. She left the White House to allow me time to work on my marriage. I was unable to save my marriage. I wanted to be with the woman who I love. Also the only woman who has taken great interest in my kids. Mellie & I have not been in love for some time. Our marriage was arranged by our families and I accepted that for many years until I found out what true love feels like. Much of what you seen of us was done for the sake of appearance. For that I am sorry to the America people. I am standing in my truth from now on. When Mellie was arrested today for kidnapping Karen she was able to get a gun from a police officer and she shot Olivia Pope twice. Once in the head and the other in the shoulder. She is in surgery now. The team that is treating her will schedule a time to speak with you once they have stabilized Olivia. Mellie Grant has no immunity and will be charged and held accountable for her actions. I ask that you respect now that my children and I need privacy now as we stay by Olivia' side. All other statements & questions can be sent to my office and we will respond to those we see fit."
Fitz stepped down and walked out the room with Karen. They held each other as they waited to hear an update on Olivia.
It was almost eight hours later before they seen Derek again. When Derek walked in the room everyone stopped what they were doing. He could tell that everyone was holding their breath. Although he knew that everyone was listening he turned and faced Fitz and Karen.
Derek began to speak, "It was touch and go for a minute. We lost her twice on the table."
Fitz and Karen began to sob. Derek continued, "We were able to save her and get both bullets out. She is in critical condition and she is in a coma now. I will say that we for sure will keep her in an induced medical coma for at least a week to allow her brain some time to heal. We will re-evaluate her at that time and go from there. Owen has assigned a group of highly trained nurses to aid in Olivia's care. All of her treatment will come from myself, Meredith, or Owen."
Derek grabbed Fitz's hand, "She made it through surgery and that is the hardest part. Now we let her heal and pray that she wakes up and the damage is not too bad."
Karen had been quiet the whole time. Derek was about to get up when he heard Karen ask him, "When mom wakes up will she be the same?"
Derek looked at Karen. He decided to be honest with her. He sat back down beside her and took her hand. She held on like it was what was keeping her alive.
"Your mom could wake up like her normal self. I do think that she will need some rehab especially for her shoulder. The bullet shattered a bone so she will need some help to get full use back. As far as her brain is concerned she could wake up with minimal problems. She could also have major problems with her memory which could include long and short-term memory. She could have problems with her vision. She could have trouble hearing and possibly even writing. Let's just worry about getting her brain healed and then we will worry about whatever problems might come about."
Karen thanked him for being honest with her and hugged him. Although Olivia was in a private area he thought that they should lower having a lot of people in there at one time.
Once Derek left he made sure that Olivia was set up in her room. He made sure that her vitals were okay.
Fitz had informed everyone to go and spend time with Olivia. He knew that he was not leaving. He would go last. After Rowan came out he informed Fitz he would be back tomorrow. Fitz knew that Rowan had finally broke down. He decided not to bring it up. He informed him that Karen was still in the room with Liv. He thanked him and went towards Olivia's room
When he got to the door his heart broke at the sight before him. You could barely recognize Olivia. They had shaved off one side of her hair so she only had hair on her left side. That did not matter to him. She could be bald for all he cared. On the bed lay Karen rubbing the side of Olivia's face. He heard her speak.
"Mommy we are here. I know that this is going to sound selfish but please don't go with Gerry. I need you here. I am not as strong as Gerry and I will not survive without you. Neither would dad. He is trying to be strong but I know him. He is lost. He needs his other half. I am surprised he has not asked for a drink. I use to worry that he drank too much. He only did it to cope. When you came around it became just something he did socially so please come back so he does not go back to drinking. I love you mommy. I need you to help me pick out a college, be there to help me get dad to see I should date, plan my wedding, plan your wedding to dad, give me siblings that are from the two of you. Please come back."
Fitz turned and ran into Tom. Tom brought him over to sit down. Fitz just held him while he sobbed.
Tom decided to speak, "Sir both you and Olivia have always treated us with respect. It is the reason I never had a problem helping you two out. I always knew what you had was real. This is going to be a battle but it will be one that you both win. Mellie does not get a say in this family anyone. Anytime you need to breakdown come to me I am here but then you get back up and fight for your family. Fight for her to come back so you can marry her and live the life you wanted with the woman you love. Today was the last day that Mellie has a say in this family. Her voice no longer counts."
Fitz was comforted by what Tom said. He composed himself and went in the room. Karen had just got out the bed. Honey why don't you head to your room. Elliot will take you over. Tomorrow we will walk down and check on Daniel I had him moved closer to us okay.
Karen hugged him and headed out.
Fitz went over to Olivia. He tried to touch her but for some reason he could not. He just went to the sofa and laid down and looked at her and at the machines that were keeping her alive. For once he had no idea what the future was and that was a scary thought for a man whose whole life had been planned for him.
A/N-This chapter was hard to write at times. As you can see a plan has been laid out for Mellie. You will see if they decide to carry it out or not. Olivia was seriously injured. I borrowed some more of Shonda's characters to help out for a bit. The big question is will she make it? What will she be like when she wakes up? What do you think America will feel out what Fitz had to say? Next up you will get an update on Olivia. Do you think that she will make it through. Also you will see a showdown of Rowan and Mellie and Fitz heads to see Mellie. Leave me your thoughts and suggestions. I have an outline of where I am going with this but I look at the reviews to see if your thoughts are better than mine.