Disclaimer: I do not own Scandal


I was all but lost, I was nowhere bound


"No." Huck shook his head, "Absolutely not, it's too dangerous, Olivia." He followed her around the her apartment. "I thought we'd already discussed this."

Olivia picked up her phone and tucked it into her new purse. "Now what did I do with my wallet?" She asked absently. "What were you saying, oh, no, you don't get to dictate what I can and can't do."

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do." Huck argued, "I'm trying to protect you. It's part of my job."

Rolling her eyes, Olivia finished settling into her new bag, "I don't need protection, Huck. Whoever was bothering me has stopped. They're obviously fine with my life as it is, or dead in a ditch somewhere, so whoever hired Jim"

"Jake." Huck corrected, "His name is Jake Ballard, and he was involved with the same organization I was in."

Olivia dropped her bag, "What?" She asked, spinning to face him.

"Just don't do anything stupid." Huck requested. "And please check in with me."

Swallowing hard, Olivia leaned down and picked up her bag, "Of course." She finally agreed.

When she was in her car a few minutes later, heading towards the White House, she was trying to reason through why someone from there would've wanted her out of New York and away from Edison.

Turning sharply, she picked up her phone and dialed the White House human resource office to call in sick for the day. When she was confirmed out, she shut her phone off and tapped on the screen of her car, turning off the GPS.

Upper East Side - Manhattan, New York

Olivia rocked up and down on the balls of her feet in her heeled boots as she debated whether or not to knock or simply flee before Edison found her outside. The heavy wooden door that led to an apartment where she'd been so happy for so long was in front of her and she didn't want to go inside. Going inside was the scariest thing she'd faced in a while. When Huck managed to track her down he was going to kill her, and then handcuff her to his wrist so that she was under his protection. She needed answers. Fitz needed answers.

And she was hellbent on getting them for him.

Steeling herself, she rapped sharply. The door swung open a few moments later, revealing Edison leaning heavily on a cane. "Olivia?" His voice was raspy as he looked her over.

She tried for a smile and failed miserably, "Hi Edison. We need to talk."

He studied her, "Come in." He finally opened the door all the way, leading her slowly into the living room. When they were both seated, he asked, "So, are you here to finally tell me why you left?"

She chewed on her lip and stared down at her boots, "I have a question and I need you to answer it honestly."

"Of course you do. I answer your question honestly and then you walk out and leave." He surmised.

"It's about Defiance, Ohio and Cytron in the city." She cut in before he could continue.

He leaned back, "You should drop it." He advised. "Whatever it is, Olivia, you need to drop it right now."

She shook her head, "I can't, Edison. I need to know now."

Edison sighed and leaned forward, resting his cane against his chair, he rested his head in hands. "Okay, here's what I know," he paused, "I received a letter, anonymous of course, about voter fraud in Defiance, Ohio." He leaned back, "At first I thought it was nothing, but then I got something else. It was a tape of voicemails between a man named Hollis Doyle and and Jesse Tyler who worked at Cytron. So, I decided that maybe I should look into it. And I did." He sighed, "I gathered enough evidence to realize that Fitzgerald Grant," he spat out the president's name, "did not win by honest means. Maybe he would have won by himself, but he didn't chance it, apparently."

Olivia shook her head, "I don't think he knew about this."

Edison shrugged, "I never could confirm that. I had a few leads that went cold that indicated Mellie Grant, Cyrus Beene and Justice Verna Thornton were involved with Doyle and Tyler. I never got to confirm them."

"Because of the explosion?" She asked quietly.

"That was the final straw. Before I received a couple of messages and a couple of phone calls saying that if I didn't drop this you would get hurt. I didn't believe it until the explosion." He dropped his head. "When you left, I was so heartbroken." He admitted, "But at the same time, relieved you were alright."

Olivia leaned over and rested her hand on his knee, "Edison, after your accident I started getting phone calls that threatened your life if I stayed." She withdrew her hand, "After I was sure you were going to be okay, I packed up everything and left. I stopped getting the calls once I was settled into life in DC."

Edison held up his hands, "Wait, I'm confused, are you saying that someone blew me up because they didn't like us together?" He shook his head, "That makes no sense, Olivia."

"I need you to give me everything you have on Defiance." Olivia stood up, "Now, we're working on this and I will handle it. You just focus on getting better." She told him, her demeanor softening slightly.

He stood up, "I'll do what you say, but I wonder, if you do handle this, does that mean you'll come back to New York?"

Olivia averted her gaze and cleared her throat, "I prefer DC." She finally stated.

"And if I were to move to DC?" He ventured.

"Edison," she hesitated.

"I understand." He turned, "Let me get the files."

SCANDAL

Washington, DC

Olivia dropped a box on her dining room table, "Don't ask and you won't get mad at me."

Huck stared at the box on the table. "You went to see Edison?" He asked, snapping, "I told you not to. Olivia, if you do something this stupid, you will wind up with a target on your back and"

"Just sift through this stuff." She sighed, "I have to get to work." She tugged on her blazer.

Huck sighed, "I'll go through everything, but first I'm taking you to work. You're not going anywhere alone anymore because they probably know you're poking now and that makes me nervous." He grabbed his coat, "Give me your keys."

Olivia sighed, "Fine. James can take me home."

"Nope, it's either me or a Secret Service Agent." Huck bartered, holding her keys hostage. "I don't trust that James knows how to even hold a gun, let alone aim one. And he sure as hell can't protect you if he needs to. So, what will it be, Olivia?"

She scowled, "You're ridiculous, but the best. Let's go." She turned to the drawer.

SCANDAL

Fitz tapped on the edge of Olivia's desk, "Up for a walk?"

She glanced up, her glasses sliding down her face at the sudden movement. "Huh?"

He chuckled and walked behind her desk, picking up her coat from the coat rack, "We're going for a walk."

"Oh," she stood, "sorry, I guess I was immersed in the transcribing." She admitted.

He shook his head and adjusted the collar on her coat, "Come on, I want an update."

They were silent until they reached the Rose Gardens. They meandered slowly, her hand tucked in the crook of his elbow. "I haven't seen Mrs. Grant lately." It had been nearly a week since she last laid into Olivia about her relationship with the President.

"She moved into the Blair House." Fitz murmured.

Olivia arched an eyebrow at him, "You never said anything."

He shrugged, "Well, I was trying to get my ducks in a row." He stopped her, running his hands down her arms to twine their fingers together. "I told you, Livie, I want to do this right. I'm not going to make a move until I'm divorced." He sighed, "That doesn't mean I don't want you. You're the most amazing woman I've ever met. And I don't want any baggage when we try this. I want a clean slate. So, until then, tell me, how goes the research?"

"We have a few leads." She told him honestly, "It looks like Thornton, Cyrus and Mellie might have been involved."

"Anything concrete?" He asked. Olivia shook her head, and Fitz just sighed, "Well, if I can help" she hesitated and he raised a brow, "can I help?"

She grinned, "Well, Huck, James and I were talking, and we think we need a few sets of extra eyes. We're bringing in a friend of mine named Harrison, but one more set may be good. Care to be those eyes? Tomorrow night, barring any national or international incidents? Popcorn and wine for dinner."

He chuckled, "Popcorn and wine?"

She shrugged, "James will probably bring Chinese and Harrison will bring something green."

"I think I'll share with James." Fitz chuckled.

Olivia grinned, "That sounds wonderful to me."

SCANDAL

XOXO

MAS