A/N: Brace yourself. Abuse is a big part of this story and we get a glimpse into Fitz's past that makes him so passionate about helping abused women. I lost a good friend to domestic abuse (her boyfriend ran her over with his car) so it bothers me to hear or read about it as well. But this story is a life of its own so … yeah. I hope I don't make you guys leave me all alone. Enjoy, Review, & Follow : )

The whole way home Fitz's mind was racing. Things just didn't seem right. He knew he was to blame but he couldn't help himself. Sure it would've been much better if Olivia had been single when he met her but she wasn't. He regretted turning her life upside down and if after everything she didn't want anything to do with him he would understand but he hoped she would allow him in her life. She was the love of his life, of that fact he was convinced. Mentally he was chastising himself for not being able to control his sexual urges that day but then again, if he hadn't would he have ever known about the abuse? Probably not, and that was something he just couldn't accept. Even if he wasn't attracted to her no woman deserved to be hit. He had seen enough of that with his own mother. He vowed that he would do whatever it took to protect women from men like Jake. He may not be a saint but some things he just knew you should not do.

When he pulled up he helped Olivia out of the car and into the guest bedroom that she had been occupying. She was still quiet. This unnerved him but he was afraid to push. She sat down on the bed and just stared at him, or more like into space. It's like she was looking at him but she wasn't, like he wasn't even standing there.

"Liv," he said softly. Slowly, she came back from wherever her mind had gone to stare at him. She raised her eyebrows as if to say "What?" but she still made no sound.

"Do you need anything right now?" he asked. When she shook her head no he continued. "The person I have been working with, she's coming by tonight. She has some news and if I'm right, it has something to do with whatever prompted Mellie to speak with you. If you want, you can be a part of this meeting but I'd prefer it if you kept your hands as clean as possible. You've been through enough but you do deserve the right to choose which is why I'm telling you. And look, I feel really bad…about everything. I'm not a monster but I'm not a good guy. My hormones got you into this so I want to help you get out in any way I can."

"I understand and Fitz, don't…don't blame yourself. It takes two to tango. And you gave me an out. Without you, I'd still be in a toxic marriage. I don't blame you. I blame Jake. And no, I think I want to sit this out. Mellie's digging so I need to be able to deny any knowledge and not be lying, for my sake. Do what you need to do. Maybe after everything is done, then you could tell me what happened but for now don't," said Olivia.

"Okay," said Fitz. He left the room then and went upstairs to his bedroom. Taking off his suit jacket, he plopped down on the bed and laid back. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to go back to a time he swore he'd never revisit.

Flashback:

"Big Jerry, No!" yelled Margaret. Just then Fitz Jr. heard a slap permeate down the hall. Then another, and another, and another. Big Jerry was drunk and angry and his wife, Margaret was his current target. Fitz rushed into the room as quickly as his 15-year-old legs would take him.

"DAD! What are you doing? Stop it, you're hurting her!" yelled Fitz. But that didn't stop him. Every time she would stumble to the ground he would pick her up and knock her back down again.

When she noticed him in the room she turned to him with tears in her eyes and a bruised face. "Sweetie, it's okay. We're just having a disagreement. Go back to your room, it will all be over soon."

"What? NO!" he yelled. He rushed and tackled his dad but this did nothing but anger him more. He turned and raised his hand to slap Fitz. Fitz just stood there defiantly. He can hit me as much as he wants but he will not hit my mom, he thought. But something stopped him. Big Jerry was staring over his shoulder and Fitz turned. There was his little sister. Something about the thought of hitting her and causing his wife even more pain caused him to shove Fitz to the side and he went towards her, smiling menacingly.

She was only 10. She was too confused to register his movement until he grabbed her arm.

"You see this? Our daughter, what will she think if she knows her mother is a whore? Hmm? You're setting a bad example. Maybe I should beat her mother's whorish ways out of her now," said Big Jerry.

With more force than necessary he sent her flying across the room. She looked like a rag doll. Helpless. They all knew by the way she landed that something was seriously wrong. The angle of her neck made them fear the worst. She was dead.

At that moment, Fitz rushed to her side mumbling, "No" in rapid succession. "Look what you did dad!"

But Big Jerry just stood there. He ended up going to jail but his mother couldn't take it. She tried to take her life several times until they finally put her into a mental institution. She had never cheated. Big Jerry was just taking his guilt out on her for his philandering ways.

Fitz never hated anyone like he hated his dad. From that moment on, he vowed to protect women from men like him.

Present Day:

A lone tear rolled down Fitz's cheek. He didn't bother to wipe it away. He just let the guilt wash over him until he was actually crying. He knew he was better than his father but the nature of how Olivia got into this predicament ate at him and he thought he might just be on the same level as Big Jerry. He felt like a monster. You should have just let her be but no.

He couldn't dwell on his thoughts for much longer as his cell phone started to ring. He picked it up without looking.

"Where the hell are you? I've been ringing the doorbell for the past five minutes?" inquired Quinn.

"Sorry, I was preoccupied. I'm coming now." He figured Olivia must have fallen asleep. When he opened the door Quinn gave him a quick hug then walked into his kitchen.

"So what's the bad news?" he asked. He was anxious. He needed to be busy or his thoughts would go back to their dark place from earlier.

"Mellie," was all Quinn said. Fitz felt his insides drop. Quinn continued, "She stopped by their house. The neighbor tipped her off to the fact that both of them have been missing. I'm willing to bet she's going to try and reach out to Jake if she hasn't already."

"And what will she find?" he asked.

"Nothing. I'm working with contacts to keep a tight lid on his "disappearance" and make sure no one comes snooping around. It shouldn't be too hard because Olivia was his only family. We could stage a suicide if you want. That might be the easiest thing. It's common knowledge that his time in the Navy changed him. Maybe he couldn't deal with what he saw anymore and decided it was time to end his suffering. In fact, that may just work."

"Yeah, I think that's our best option right now. What about Mellie? She could still be a problem. She has connections too I'm sure and those connections might make her a threat to Olivia's safety. Especially if she questions the suicide which I'm sure she will," he said. He chose to ignore her reference to Jake's disappearance. He didn't want to know the details. He felt guilty enough already. Everything was starting to catch up to him.

"I'll look into her, I'm sure there's something in her past that we can use."

"Do it," said Fitz. "And Quinn, thank you, for helping Olivia and I."

"No problem. You saved me from a bastard like Jake before too. I owe you."

Quinn left shortly after and Fitz went back up to his bedroom.