Hey there gladiators. So busy and everything. Finally getting a chance to get another chapter. But there are a couple things to acknowledge tonight. It has been great to read some of the other Finale fics as I see each of us had a different vision of how that ended. I think my favorite is The Redeemed. Though cloudy and dark, it has the most beautiful ending of Olitz . Together and leaving the lives they formerly led to start anew. Congrats to Joe Morton for his Emmy and also a very Happy Birthday to our own Cyrus, Jeff. And now our story continues.

He had such a splitting headache. Was it alcohol? No , it was a drug induced headache. The last thing that Cyrus remembered was sitting at his desk in the White House. He also could recall that Tom was standing next to him and speaking to him. Now he was in a room, where it was he didn't know. The images were fuzzy and he opened and shut his eyes , trying to focus on where he was.

He just sat there. He didn't say a word. They told him about the meeting, no actually the reunion was more like it. James had been party to a lot of things where he was. If he could have gone back, it would have been a story to explode Washington. But he also knew that he would be putting his daughter and husband 's life in jeopardy. He had to be silent .

Jake knew what he was doing. He was the villain. He had taken this man from his family. He had taken her away, well at least that it was the way that Rowan had planned it. His job was to keep her from him. Olivia and the President were to be history. He had failed , but Jake had to make it right again. This sinister cloak and dagger stuff just wasn't him. He could make it all good again. This would prove it and then he could do the job he wanted to do again.

Opening his eyes, Cyrus held his head. The images were still fuzzy. Now he could make out the dark figure that sat across from him. No, not quite yet. The figure continued to just look at him with tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe that he was going to see the love of his life again. Jake had left the room , so they could be alone . Then he would put the next part of his plan into action. It would be a tall order because it would require the help of the White House.

Finally Cyrus could see and then he saw him.

It was the same impish grin he always had. The dark hair was spiked and it looked like he had lost some weight. But the eyes were his. Now he was wearing contacts , the glasses were gone. He had nothing but love in his eyes.

"James?" Cyrus said with disbelief.

"Honey." He whispered softly.

Cyrus lifted himself from the chair and walked slowly over to the other man. He took his hand out and felt his face to see if he was really real. Maybe it was the drugs, it might be a hallucination. He then backed away and then stared at him to make sure. His eyes glazed over at the sight before him.

He then walked over to James and slapped him in the face. James took his hand to his face and then felt the sting.

"This really isn't the reunion that I expected. " James admitted with his droning voice.

Cyrus couldn't believe the gall of this man. He had buried him and made peace with him being gone. Now here he was again.

"YOU LEFT ME! " Cyrus railed with tears in his voice. "I thought you were dead and I was ready to move on. I had a funeral and buried you. I planted flowers and wrote thank you notes. Everything that a good widow does for their spouse. I took care of our child and told her that you were in heaven, watching over her. I abandoned every belief I had for the sake of our daughter. My friends helped me mourn you and eased me through the lonely nights I spent crying for you. And now….

You have the gall to reappear like the Christ, thinking that I am going to welcome you with open arms. That I am going to just pretend that it is all a dream. Like some sad plot from a show from the eighties. I step into the bathroom and there you are in the shower. No this is not a dream, it's a nightmare."

James didn't expect any of this. He just stood with tears in his eyes. With his weakest voice he said, "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Cyrus took his silk handkerchief and wiped his own eyes, "Well you did." He said softly.

"He couldn't come back. He had to stay dead." A voice said from the other side of the room. Slowly Jake walked over to the two men. Cyrus began to see red when he saw the other man. Mostly for the pain he had caused his friend.

"Captain Ballard." Cyrus said cooly. "You were behind this?"

"I took care of him . I couldn't let anything happen to your daughter and I also know what it ls like when you are apart from someone you love." Jake admitted. "I am not a monster. I feel and I hurt despite what everyone thinks of me. I had orders and I was told to keep them apart, no matter what."

Cyrus began to soften a little with this admission.

"I know how you must feel about me." Jake said.

"How I feel is mild compared to how Fitz would feel about you. I think he would have you shot on sight." Cyrus said.

Jake knew that this was going to be hard. Maybe even impossible. He did still have a nagging question in his mind.

"How is she?" Jake wondered.

Cyrus saw this as his opportunity to drive in the knife. "Olivia, yes Olivia is doing fine. She is pregnant and living in the White House. Mellie left months ago and divorced Fitz. When the divorce was final, he proposed to Olivia and then she accepted. They are engaged to be married. She is going to be the First Lady."

Jake 's face melted . He did truly love her. He also knew that she had returned to Washington and she was headed right back to him. He had let his heart get involved when he was just supposed to guard to her. He couldn't help it, she was beautiful, and smart and funny. He was doing this favor for his Navy buddy. His Navy buddy who just so happened to be the President.

She had taken him to a dinner at the White House. She looked like one of those glamorous old movie stars and he felt like her leading man in his dashing Navy uniform. He was special enough to bring him as her date. It wasn't anything to notice until his friend, The President asked to dance with her. Then he could tell there was something. They may have argued, but there was something there.

He had to know , he had to find out . "How deep are you with the President?" She didn't say anything but turned to him and then kissed him. He didn't know if this is was an answer or what . She broke the kiss by saying "I don't KNOW what you are talking about." Shortly after, he and Secret Service showed up and entered Olivia's apartment. He had been dismissed from guarding her and he had his answer.

He even begged her to save him. He knew she loved him, he sacrificed himself to be with a woman in love with another man. He convinced her that he was saving them both. They were leaving it all. She couldn't though.

"I can't explain it, but something is in the wind. Rowan has voiced revenge on Fitz. He wants to take down the Republic to save it. He won't live to see another term. Thousands of people will be hurt as a result. I need to see the President, maybe this time we can stop him." Jake said.

Cyrus just stood and looked at James again. He walked over slowly and put his arms around him. He then looked deep into his eyes. He pushed his hand through his dark hair and moved it slowly as he pressed his lips to the younger man. The kiss grew deeper as the men gave into their passion and longing for each other. James grabbed Cyrus ' ass as they grinded together. Cyrus pulled himself away long enough to say.

"You'll get your meeting, Captain." He then got back to reconciling with James.