Fitz stood in the middle of his bedroom and pulled off his sweatshirt. The morning wasn't even over yet, and he was already exhausted. As he folded his sweater neatly, he thought of Olivia. She had called him 'Mr. President' – most likely on purpose, knowing Olivia – so despite her cool exterior earlier, she was still upset with him. His own anger, on the other hand, had long abated, and all he wanted now was to hold her and explain to her that he was sorry. The door to the bedroom opened, and Mellie walked in. Fitz pulled off his t-shirt – Mellie disappeared from view behind the white cotton, and then reappeared.

"Whatever it is," Fitz said wearily, throwing his shirt into the hamper nearby, "can it wait until after I take a shower?"

"You have your meeting with Congress liaison, Patrick Collins at one."

"It's not even eleven yet, and I'm very aware, but thank you," Fitz groaned.

"The press is going to want statements regarding the supplemental spending measure."

"Well the press is going to have wait just like they always do. Are you done playing President now?"

Mellie walked towards Fitz and pulled her blue cardigan closed. Now that she was closer to him, he could see that her nose and eyes were red – a clear indication that she had been crying. He watched her carefully, feeling worried; Mellie was never the one to cry.

"You know," Mellie began, "for a while I thought that perhaps this was just some normal Olivia-induced funk. I assumed that you two had had one of your normal disagreements that occur, I suppose as they normally would in extra-marital affairs, and that eventually you two would find your way back to paradise, and it would be all smiles and well-rested nights. But now I'm thinking that isn't even it at all."

"What are you even saying Mellie? Get on with it," Fitz moaned.

"I'm saying that no, this can't be your usual post-argument state, it has to be something more. And instead of feeling frustrated at you with your pathetic moping, now I'm just disappointed in you Fitz. I'm expecting you to take your presidency more seriously, and now I'm feeling like you're not even in it anymore. I need you to still be on your game Fitz, because if I didn't know better – and I hope I still do – I would have said that a month ago, you were upset that you were well enough to return to office. But I'm telling you now to get it together because I can't be the only one trying to keep you in it for another term."

Fitz's mouth fell open.

"The next time you plan to run for President, let me know. Otherwise, don't tell me how to do my job, and don't offend the American people who trust me by questioning my seriousness," Fitz said angrily. "I mean where do you get off telling me you're disappointed in me? The last time I checked, you weren't hired for an opinion."

Fitz grabbed a towel and headed towards the bathroom.

"I came in here to speak with you," Mellie said quickly.

"I've been up since dawn, and –,"

"I need to speak to you. There's something you need to know."

x X x

Briskly, Olivia stepped out of the elevator and opened up the door to Pope & Associates. Abby, Quinn, and Harrison were sitting around the conference table watching the news on television. Styrofoam coffee cups and mugs sat before all three of them.

"Good morning. Huck isn't here yet?" Olivia asked, setting down her purse.

After finally getting Mellie to agree to giving Edison the story in hopes that he would take the offer, Olivia needed to get in touch with Huck. With Monday morning hovering on the horizon, she wasn't taking any chances and banking on the hope that her presence alone would convince Edison to take the bait.

"He went to get us bagels," Quinn said. "And Governor Warren, father of Georgetown hotel girl Elizabeth Margaret Warren, was hiring prostitutes."

"What?" Olivia was mildly surprised.

"He has multiple hotel visits to a Virginia Hyatt booked under a pseudonym that go back to August – two years ago."

"No wonder she's afraid to talk to us."

"You think his daughter knew about his prostitutes?" Quinn asked, clearly disgusted.

"You would be surprised at how much everyone in Washington knows," Olivia said knowingly. "Talk to Elizabeth about them, let her know you know. Don't skirt around the issue and give her room to squirm out of it. Governor Warren can't expect us to help her if he's not going to be completely honest."

Olivia pulled her cell phone out of her jacket breast pocket – 11:02am. She dialed Huck's cell phone, but it rang until it hit voicemail. Olivia walked into her office and pulled out the Elizabeth Warren background information Harrison had given her, and picked through it distractedly. Her mind was on The White House, and Mellie, and Fitz. She wondered whether or not Mellie had come clean to him already, and what his reaction was if she did. Was he angry? Hurt? Did he yell? Olivia looked at her cell phone – would he call her to confirm? Or would he be too angry with her again to bother calling? In the middle of her thoughts, Olivia heard an audible gasp from the conference room and then Abby's voice rung out, high-pitched "Oh no!"

Olivia hurried back into the conference room and looked around – astonishment was painted on everyone's faces, and all eyes were glued to the television, where a news anchor was speaking in the newsroom studio. Underneath him rolled the foreboding red marquee – 'BREAKING NEWS':

"…Medical team that arrived to the scene did confirm that Senator of Intelligence Committee and Senate Majority Leader Edison Davis was found without any distinguishable pulse upon their arrival. And again, just seconds ago, we were told that Senator Davis was found sometime mid-morning at Seneca Creek State Park near his Darnestown, Maryland home, and that he was pronounced dead by hospital officials at Montgomery General Hospital. Cause of death has yet to be reported, but unconfirmed reports have suggested his injuries were consistent with a tragic fall in the woodsy area. Details surrounding the circumstances of this tragedy are quiet. We're not getting a lot of information here, but they are asking that public speculation and media intrusion be kept to the absolute barest minimum so as to protect and respect the privacy of the Davis family at this time."

"Oh wow," Abby said slowly, breaking the silence. "This is too sad. Senate Majority Leader? Does he have kids?"

"I don't think so…" Quinn mused.

Their conversation became muffled and unimportant noise to Olivia, who watched the television screen cloud in front of her eyes as she registered what was happening. Mere hours before Defiance threatened to become public knowledge, the man behind it suddenly dies from what must be a tragic fall? Mere hours before Olivia, and everyone else involved, had everything ripped from their bare hands? It was much too easy. Olivia took a deep breathe and held onto the back of a chair to steady herself. No, no, this isn't happening. This can't be happening, she thought frantically. The simplicity and convenience of it all was beginning to frighten her, and she looked at the time again – 11:17am. She looked at the door to Pope & Associates, but Huck hadn't yet returned from the bagel shop that was only right around the corner. Olivia quickly walked back into her office, closed the door behind her, and called Huck again. She listened to it ring and then for the second time, it went to voicemail. Quickly she tried again and still – no response. "Dammit, Huck! Where are you? Answer me!" She yelled.

She tried again and again and both times, she got nothing. Hot, scared tears sprang to Olivia's eyes, and she blinked them back and pressed 'SEND' for the fourth time. "Please, please don't do this, Huck," she whispered to herself. The automated voicemail sounded again and Olivia closed her phone and sank into her couch, holding her face in her knees. Fear and guilt raked against her insides. She brought Huck into this, and with her urgency she pushed had him there and now there was a chance she wouldn't be able to save him again. Olivia took a deep breath and opened up her phone again to call The First Lady. She needed to cover her bases. Mellie answered on the first ring.

"Olivia. I heard," Mellie said as soon as she picked up. "What does this mean? It is an awful tragedy, but what does it mean for us now?"

Olivia cleared her throat, "It means that you do not, under any circumstances, breath word of what we talked about to Verna or Hollis. And let me deal with Cyrus."

"Okay, okay," Mellie sounded apprehensive.

Olivia stood up and shifted the phone to her other ear, "What did he say when you told him?" she asked.

Mellie was silent for a moment before speaking, "Olivia, I understand that you're concerned, but –,"

But Olivia wasn't listening anymore. She had just peered through the blinds in her office, and saw him standing there standing in the conference room with a large brown paper bag, which Abby was rifling through gleefully. Immediately, Olivia hung up the phone and opened up her office door. Huck looked over at her, and without a single word being exchanged between the two of them, he walked inside of her office. As soon as he stepped in, Olivia shut and locked the door. He looked the same as he always did – solemn and pensive – but knowing Huck, that meant nothing. Nothing was said in that office for a few moments, and when Olivia spoke next, her words were carefully chosen:

"Don't say a word. Don't speak, don't even blink. I am telling you right now don't say a word."

Huck opened his mouth to say something, but Olivia stopped him.

"I mean it, Huck! Don't put me in a place where I can't defend you, don't say anything I'm not allowed –,"

"It wasn't me," Huck said.

Olivia blinked.

"'It wasn't me' is the answer to whatever question it is that you can't ask," Huck continued, "and if there was someone who could answer that question, I might know who they are. But if there were someone who deleted every evidence of any pictures, or of voting machines; if there were someone somewhere out there who did out that, then that someone might be me."

Olivia watched him closely for a moment. Relief surged through her – she understood what Huck was saying, but she didn't dare question him further. Amidst the silence and reprieve, Edison's death was not lost on Olivia. In the past couple of days, Edison Davis had proven to be nothing like the person she thought she knew – he had blackmailed her and threatened to destroy the person she loved. And so whether it was sadness that she felt, or emptiness, or guilt at the relief he brought in his passing, Olivia was not sure. But what mattered most in that moment was that whomever it was that did this, whoever Huck had gotten to do the job was probably far away from Washington, D.C. by now. Huck was far from trouble, and Olivia would not forgive herself if he had been. She sat down in the couch again. The past couple of days had thrown her from left to right and in this moment, she felt as though she could finally breathe again. The story of Defiance was gone – it no longer existed and as far as Huck was concerned, it never did. And Fitz, who knew everything by now, was saved from what she knew would have been one of the worst moments of his presidency. She knew that they could hardly call it a day until the autopsy report came in and was free of foul play suspicions, but for the moment, things were better.