Title 7A WF 92135
Author: GEM
Date: 2-8-13
Pairing: Olivia/Fitz
Rating: T
Summary: Every decision we make influences our lives. Fitzgerald Grant never thought one of the most important people in this life would ever become a number. Someone close to the President has been kidnapped. Will they be found before it's too late? Will Olivia be able to save Fitz from himself? Warning: Dark and Angsty Fic ahead. Read and Review
Disclaimer: Scandal is Property of Shonda Rimes and ABC et al.
Disclaimer 2: As this seems to come up every chapter in the reviews. I don't own any of this. I do this for fun. While this may seem to be similar to an episode of Aaron Sorkin's West Wing. I don't own anything.
A/N: This story has nothing to do with House of Cards. This is a completely different ball game. For the purposes of this story we shall say the last night's episode of Scandal while brilliant hasn't happened yet. America's baby will be mentioned but not central to the story. This story has turned into a father daughter story. Mellie will make appearances but I when I watch this show I feel like Fitz was/is the primary parent. We will be exploring the relationship between Father and Daughter. Please remember to review, follow, and fav. reviews keep me writing. This chapter took some time to put together. I hope you will all enjoy it.
A/N: OLITZ WILL LIVE ON. We will not discuss the finale.
Chapter 11
Mellie woke up and felt like a new person. She discovered her life wasn't coming to an end. Karen had been missing for forty-three hours. There was no sign of her but Mellie need to think about the future. The country still needed there First Lady and she needed to focus on that. The United States of America would expect her to focus on America's Baby.
She walked from the bedroom area of the suite to the bathroom and started the shower. Mellie's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the bedroom door. "Mellie, we need to talk about the voice mail." Peter voice was calm and even.
Mellie had received another voice message from Jeff Johnson. The FBI was confident that Johnson was giving them Karen's location but the First Lady was the last piece of the puzzle.
"Peter Dear I'm just getting in the shower. Can it wait." Mellie voice had a political sweetness to it. Peter knew all too well what that meant."
He leaned against the door and slid down to the floor. He could hear the water in shower running on the other side. "Mel, she's been gone forty three hours our time is short. I could really use your help. He's contacted you ever time. Johnson is comfortable with you Mel. You're the only one that can help us figure out what this message means. "Peter wasn't certain if he believed his own words but he hoped it would help pull Mellie from her own world.
"She's dead Peter. I have think of the baby now. I have to protect America's Baby so that this doesn't happen again. I loved my daughter but Fitz and I killed her. " Mellie collapsed against her side of the door.
Peter was certain she was in her own world now. "Mellie, Karen is not dead. You have to hold onto that. You can help her. You have to help her. We are still stuck up here in this snowy hell but no one has given up on her. You can't give up on her." Peter stood up and attempted to open the door. "Move away from the door, Mel. " He heard the slightest movement and opened the door.
When he entered the bathroom Mellie was sitting on the floor next to the door and the water was running in the shower. He knelt down next to her. "Help us, Mellie, don't give up." Peter felt tears fall against his shirt. He held on to Mellie as she sobbed in his chest.
"I still think it's too late."
Peter brought her face to meet his eyes. "It's not. Your daughter needs you."
"What do you want to know?"
OOO
Lesley walked down the hallway toward the Oval Office. Lesley looked at the secretary. "Are they in there?"
"Yes, Ma'am they are waiting for you?" Lesley stepped in.
"What did you find out?"
"The girl they found this morning is not Karen Grant. Olivia's team and the medical examiner are working on an ID." Lesley said as she sat next to Cyrus.
"While Thank the Lord for small favors." Sally said looking around the room at her gathered advisors. "What should be our next step?"
"We may have a led on Karen? The First Lady got another voicemail. The service is working the angle and Liv's people have something on our Jane Doe."
Lesley looked at her watch." Forty-Eight hours. Time is short."
"All we can do is pray that something comes of these leads."
OOO
Olivia enjoyed the feeling of Fitz's strong arms around her. She didn't want this minute to end. She knew that once it did his world would be shattered again. There minute was over. Fitz moved first. "Olivia, is she dead?
Olivia stood up and walked over to the window. She didn't answer him right away. "I didn't want to worry you. I told Tom I would be back and to let you know I was safe."
Fitz stood up and walked toward Olivia. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck. "I was so worried. When I woke up I thought someone had taken you away from me Livvie. The air in this building changes when there is a crisis. I took one look at Tom this morning and knew he wasn't telling me the truth. They were keeping information from me. I knew it probably had something to do with Karen, logically that would make sense; but I haven't been thinking logically for days. I couldn't get the image of you, lying in ditch somewhere hurt and alone out of my head."
Olivia turned around in his embrace and wiped the tears from his eyes. She kissed him lovingly. "I didn't what to alarm you. I didn't know anything. You haven't slept in days and I could bring myself to add to your misery. You look so peaceful when I left this morning. "
" Livvie, I know that sometime you job forces you to do unbelievable and unspeakable things. I just need you to answer this question. Is my daughter...is she dead?"
OOO
"Got it I have a name. Rachael Ellis. Terre Haute, Indiana." Abby, Harrison and Mike looked on. She went missing after a School Music Competition in Alexandria a week ago. Parent Lynn and Scott Ellis. Lynn is a Nurse at a local hospital. Scott is a corrections officer..." Huck's voice trailed off.
"Where?" Harrison asked.
"Federal Correction in Terre Haute."
"That can't be a coincidence." Abby said.
"I agree. Mike looked over the background. "We need to find out what section of the facility he was assigned to and talk to the family."
"I am on it."
"I'll let Liv know." Harrison said walking away to call her.
OOO
"No, it wasn't her. We found another victim along the Catoctin Trail. " Olivia led Fitz back to sit on the couch. "We haven't been able to identify her yet. She is approximately fourteen to sixteen and she has similar injuries to those we've been able to identify from the ransom tape. " Olivia heard her phone vibrate. "It's Harrison." Liv said as she picked it up. "Harrison."
"Liv. We've got an ID. Rachael Ellis. The FBI field office in Terre Haute is sending agents to talk to her family."
Fitz grabbed on to Liv's hand. She squeezed back. "Is there a connection?"
"Yeah, Liv, her father, is a corrections officer assigned to death row. "
"Stay on it Harrison. Do we have anything else?"
"Secret Service is working with the First Lady on the Johnson voicemail but they aren't getting far. Do you think the President might be able to shed so light there."
Olivia looked up at Fitz. I don't know I'll ask him. Call me if you get anything else." Liv hung up the phone and leaned into Fitz's warm and welcome embrace. "I need to ask you something. I need you to not flip about it.
OOO
Peter slid down against the door. "You can't run from you past Mel. You're one of the only people that can help us decipher this.
"I don't believe it. I don't. I don't remember much. He's talking about the summer of my Junior year in college."
"What happened that Summer?"
OOO
Mellie ran ahead of Jeff on the trail. It was a beautiful, warm, starlit night.
"Mellie, wait!" Jeff ran after her. She climbed the hill and stopped to look out over the distance. " Jeff came up behind her and took in the vista. "Our dreams start a few miles in that direction, my love." Jeff pointed out at the horizon."
"I love it up here. My dreams are so close I can almost touch them. To think that Camp David is only a hand full of miles away from where we are standing now. One day it could all be ours."
"It will be yours Mel, not mine, but I'll stay close I promise."
OOO
We used to spend weekend in Thurmont, Maryland. Jeff's aunt own a Bed and Breakfast there. I used to tease him that someday I would live in the White House. That was my dream. That's all it is Peter. That's all we ever used to do. Now will you please help me into the shower.
"Sure." Peter picked her up and carried her across the bathroom. He put her down outside of the shower stall and adjusted the water. He slid her robe off and ran his newly wet hands down her arms. "Does it feel, Okay?"
Mellie smiled and stepped in. "It feels fine. I feel numb anyway."
"Mel, I'll be right here."
"No, Peter you need to let them know where to look. Regardless of the outcome I need to have my daughter home."
Peter kiss her lightly "I'll be back in a few."
OOO
Abby ran into the conference room they had taken over in the EEOB. "I just spoke with Rachael Ellis' father. He told me the night of the Stanton execution. Max Stanton was running his mouth about his family getting revenge on everyone involved in the injustice brought upon him."
"Well so far they have pulled Margaret Hansen out of the Supreme Court, they are making Jeff Johnson be part of this lovely game, They've tortured and killed Rachael Ellis and they have Kidnapped Karen Grant. That means they have exacted revenge on every person or institution responsible for executing Max Stanton." Harrison said
"I don't think they are done exacting their revenge quite yet." Abby said, watching Huck at the computer working his magic. "Do you have anything yet?"
"No, but I'm not done yet."
OOO
Jeff walked back to the cabin with bag of supplies. "Here he said to Marcus throwing the smokes his way. He also place a six pack of glass bottles on the table.
"Lawyer boy, comes through. It took you long enough."
Jeff put the bags down in the kitchen and began putting things away. "I had to make two stops and make sure I wasn't followed back here. The Rangers seem to be out more today.
"Did you get all the things on the list?"
"Yes." Jeff answered.
"What about the things on the special list."
"I got everything you asked for. What are you going to do next?"
"I'm a little board. You and the guys have been having most of the fun lately. I think it's time I had so too. I also think it's time to show the President that he needs to act. He needs to get his ass back in his chair and boot out that bitch Langston." Marcus said as his lit a cigarette.
"I don't think that going to happen, Marcus. You've demoralized Grant by taking his daughter away. I don't see him back in the Oval Office until after she returns home."
"If she returns home." Marcus said taking a drag of the cigarette. "I need you to knock on her door, clear her up, and get her dressed in the item from my special list. Ask Ricco to heat up our special weapon and get Ed to set us up for our close ups.
OOO
Fitz look at Liv in shock. "You're sure it was Jeff Johnson who left the voicemail."
"We're positive. Peter has been working with the Service, FBI and our team to get her to talk but he hasn't gotten much. Liv picked up her phone from the table and hit a button. They were wondering if you listened to it, whether you could come up with anything."
Fitz nodded as Liv hit the play button. The message filled the room at the end
Fitz stood up and began pacing. "She always wanted to be First Lady, but if they had Karen somewhere in D.C. I think we would have found them by now.
"I agree with you. I don't know Livvie." Fitz walked back over to the couch and collapsed next to Olivia again. "I don' t know and she won't take my calls now. She mad at me for invoking the twenty-fifth."
Olivia moved closed and wrapped her arms around him. "You did the right thing. You're doing everything you can to bring your daughter home.
"I need you to do something for me."
Olivia looked up at Fitz and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Anything."
"I need to talk to Lesley and Cyrus. I have a couple of requests if and when the rescue plans go into action.
"I'll go down and set it up."
OOO
Paul hung up with Peter Newman and turned to the team the Secret Service and FBI had trusted over the last two days. "Peter Newman talked to the First Lady. We need to start looking around the town of Thurmont for a fishing cabin in a remote location. Start with anything connected with the Stanton or Johnson families. "
Huck turned around and started to work as fast as he could. Hal looked on. The phone in the EEOB office rang and Hal picked it up. "Director it's Agent Morris, we've got a tip."
OOO
There was a knock on Cyrus' door. "Come in."
Olivia walked through for the first time since this ordeal started Cyrus noticed how exhausted she looked. "I see it's starting to take its toll on you too."
"I'm fine. A gladiator in a suit, Cy."
"Well, Miss gladiator in a suit. Sit down before you fall down." Cy led her to the couch and sat next to her. "How is he?"
"Thank you." Olivia didn't truly realize how much this was taking out of her.
"How is he?"
"Going in circles. He's blaming himself. This needs this to end Cyrus and soon."
Olivia put a hand on his knee. "He wants to see you."
"I'll be up after the meeting with Sally." Cyrus stood up and walked behind his desk. He picked up his folder for the meeting when someone else knocked on his door. "Come in." Olivia stood up by the couch as Cy looked up from his desk to the door. Lesley was standing in front of them holding and envelope and another disk looking white as a ghost. Cyrus collapsed in his chair. "Not another one."
Lesley walked forward holding the tape. Her hand were shaking. "I am really getting fed up with these sick bastards."
Olivia spank into action and began calling her team. Cyrus called over to Sally and Lesley made it clear she had called Paul and Michael. They were on their was with a tech team and ERT.
"Do you know what's on it?" Olivia asked.
"No, but I think our time just ran out. Look at this." Lesley show them the note attached to the front of the case.It's time to act like a real man."
The FBI and Secret Service Directors, and Mike Lawrence, had joined Cy, Olivia, Lesley, Acting President Langston and her advisors in the Oval Office.
"It's clear that Ms. McGarry is correct we are running out of time. Mike began before they played the message. Karen Grant appeared in a white t-shirt. It appeared that she had be tortured but some of her injuries were tended to in some small way. The man from the first tape yelled at her again this time to read their new message.
"Daddy," Karen's voice was a ghost of whisper. They say you have to take office again. Sally is too weak to do what they've asked. Daddy Please, if you do this they will send me home. Daddy I want to come home. They want to see the man on this list." Karen held up a paper in her shaky hands." Please Daddy
All of the sudden a forceful came over the audio. "If you aren't man enough to do this Grant maybe your Acting President Precious Sally is...either way if you don't release them in the next six hours...this is what will happen to what's left of your precious little girl. The man that was speaking held up a piece of hot metal and stuck it right in the side of Karen's exposed neck. " The room filled with blood curdling screams. Liv looked away and hid her face in Cyrus shoulder.
"Sweet Mother of God, Turn it off." Sally said. The tech agent shut of the video.
Lesley have you been working with BNC?"
Lesley looked up. "Yes, ma'am. and Cyrus has been taking with ICE."
"Are we any closer to locating this poor girl?"
"We are working as fast as we can."
"We received a tip from a store own in Thurmont and the First Lady has been helping us with the latest voicemail. "
Olivia felt her phone buzz. Paul and Michael looked at their phones as well. Olivia shared the text with Cyrus as Paul shared with the group. "We have a possible location. A cabin outside of Thurmont. I'll start putting together a team.
"How long?"
"A couple of hours. It might be beneficial to use the release as a diversion.
"ICE is ready to tape the release of the prisoners. BNC has their cameras and on-air reporter ready to go. They will tape the release and pass it off as Live. It will air first during the six o'clock hour and then again once every our until eleven." Cyrus said at the end of the meeting.
Lesley looked up from her notes. "We better make sure we time this right or they might killer her or inflect more injuries looking at the last tape they sent.
"That would not be good."
"I agree with Lesley. This needs to be perfectly timed or it could turn disastrous."
"We are all in agreement then. We film the release and air it before we raid the location."
"Stanton will be expecting it. We've already given into his first demand, or so he thinks. There is no reason for him to think that we wouldn't fulfill the second. Olivia added.
Okay, I want to see a plan for the rescue team on my desk in a hour. Cyrus do you want to tell President Grant?"
Cyrus stood. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you." Cyrus, Liv and Lesley followed everyone out of the room.
Olivia stopped in the office area. "Lesley, he asked to see you after Cyrus. Louise I think he's going to want to talk with Sally before things get busy."
"I'll leave time."
OOO
Lesley walked down the hallway toward the living room in the residence. She watched as Cyrus came out. "He's doing as well as he can at this point. " Lesley nodded and watched Cyrus walk away before knocking on the door.
Fitz was staring out the window when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in."
Lesley took in the sense in front of her as she walked into the room."You wanted to see me Mr. President." Lesley stepped in.
Fitz walked over to her. "Lesley thank you for coming up." Fitz led her to the sitting area and they sat down together. I was wondering if you would be willing to do something for m?"
Lesley looked at Fitz. "I would do anything, you know that. I serve at you Pleasure, Sir."
"I think you better hear what it is before you jump so fast." Lesley smiled it was nice to see his sense of humor even at a time like this.
"Yes, Sir."
"I flew a lot of missions in my time in the Navy. A large number of them combat but a fair number of rescues as well. I was even rescued a time or two myself."
"I may know something about one of those rescues. Lesley said.
"I know you do. It was always nice to see a familiar face. Karen is going to need a familiar face. She is also no doubt going to need a doctor. The quicker the better I would think. Am I right?"
"I would agree Sir."
"Would you mind being that doctor. I would like to ask Sally to activate your reserve status for the rescue mission."
"I wrote my temporary resignation letters two days ago. They are locked in my desk drawer." Lesley leaned forward and focused on Fitz. "The head of the Secret Service stopped by my office with BDU's before I came up. We are moving soon.
"I'll take that as a yes then."
"Yes, Sir."
OOO
"That's all we have Huck?"
"That's it the park rangers found the cabin. It's in Jeff Johnson's uncle's name and it's pretty well hidden but they've been watching it for a few hours now."
Mike came up to the group. "The team is ready to move."
"Okay, so what's the plan? How does this work?"
"I can't tell you Miss. Pope. Everyone of these is different."
"I have to sit with the President and wait until someone calls me right?"
"Yes." Mike said as he fastened his vest.
"What will that person tell me."
"They will tell if we have her and where we are taking her. In all likelihood it will be one of two locations that are ready at a moment's notice to receive the President or any member of his family in a situation like this."
"We will keep you updated and the President's detail will have all information as well."
Olivia nodded. "Okay, I'm going to go back to the residence. Abby, you and Harrison might as well head back to the office after you pack up here. " Olivia turned to Huck. "Stay and help as long as you can."
Huck nodded. "You sure you're okay, Liv?"
"I'll be fine." Olivia said as she walked out the room and head back toward the West Wing Entrance.
OOO
Karen could hear the cheer from the other room. She took a deep breath, could it be that something finally happened? Could she make it out of here alive? She heard the door open and she did her best to stay as still as possible. After the last tape was made the group had more fun with her and she lost conscience for sure. When she woke up Her vision had become blurry, her headaches had become worse and she was tired all the time now. It was too difficult to try and fight them anymore.
Her mother's friend still visited but after the last time. There was much he could do to help with the wounds. She just hoped that someone, anyone would come save her and soon.
OOO
By the time the team was in place around the cabin the newscast had started and the clock had reached 72 hours. Lesley waited behind the swat team with the rest of the NAVY medics. She watched as the first team moved forward. They all could her cheering inside the cabin. Then Lesley so the smoke come pouring out the windows and she could hear gun fire. The Secret Service and FBI were in the middle of a fire fight that would no doubt end in a blood bath.
OOO
Oliiva walked into the bedroom and found Fitz staring out the window. "Fitz?" Olivia voice was soft as she said his name. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Come sit with me." Olivia guided him away from the window and they sat down on the couch.
Olivia wrapped herself up in his arms and laid her head on his chest. She could hear his heart racing but she could feel his breathing even out and they were soon breathing together in sync.
"Anything yet?" Fitz asked after a few minutes as he placed a light kiss against her temple.
Olivia snuggled closer, holding him tighter. "Not yet." Olivia answered as they sat in silence waiting, just waiting for what felt like an eternity.
Fitz held her close. He wasn't letting go. Right now in this moment she was all he had.
OOO
Karen could her fighting, yelling and gunfire. All of the sudden the door to the room opened with a loud bang . Three of the men with the group came in Jeff ran in front of them yelling at the other men. "If you want to get to her. You'll have to go through me."
"That can be arranged." Ricco lifted the gun to Jeff's back and fired. Jeff felt over Karen but before Ricco or the others could get to her, gunfire rang out and the man were on the ground.
The SWAT team and medics, along with Lesley rushed into the room. The scene before them was horrific .
Lesley rushed forward and pulled Jeff off of Karen. She checked for a pulse. "He's dead. Lesley looked down at Karen Grant. She was still breathing but Lesley took in the scene and a sense of dread filled her. "Let's get a move on people. Time is not on our side."