Hello everyone, sorry for the delay in posting. But I am back, and hopefully my return will bring you joy in reading this update. Thanks again to all of those who've in boxed me and instant messaged me; I appreciate your support and kind words, and I hope this update makes you happy.
After several minutes Liv manages to calm Karen down long enough to find out some details of what's going on, but not everything. While listening to her disclose the details of the situation. Olivia understands her panic and fear. It's apparent she needs to get her some help, but she also needs to make sure she develops the best plan to help her without alerting the press.
Fully understanding the circumstances, but also needing to get an assessment of what's happening this instant. With great empathy she says, "Karen, I know you're scared honey. But I need you to take a breath, and try to remain calm while you survey Ericka's condition. Can you do that for me?" Karen's anxiety increases slightly as she looks over at her friend riling in pain, as she lies on the bed.
Olivia can sense by her breathing that she's getting more anxious. So she calls out, "Karen, listen to me. Can you hear me?" Karen pauses and then says, "Yes." Olivia can hear the fear rising in her voice and it's breaking her heart. Fitz looks on in horror as he sees Olivia slip past fixer mode and more so into parent mode. Talking his baby girl through what appears is a very serious and fearful moment.
She calmly and measuredly says, "Kare, you're not in this alone. I'm here with you, and I am going to talk you through this. We're going to get through this together, okay?" Karen's voice steadies as she says, "Okay." Olivia hears the difference in her voice, she's calmer now and more likely to take instruction. Seeing Fitz staring at her, she puts her hand up and mouths, "Don't worry. I've got this." He nods, but comes closer to her; hoping to provide moral support and also bracing himself for what's to come next.
Olivia sees him come closer. She looks into his eyes. She knows he's worried, and he's trusting her with this delicate task. Knowing she has his full support, she checks back into the conversation with Karen as she asks, "Are you there Karen?" She replies, "Yes. I'm here." Olivia responds, "Good. Now look at Ericka and tell me how she's doing." Karen braves the moment and looks at her friend. She sits next to her on the bed, and Olivia can hear her groaning and moaning in pain. She then says, "Livy, she doesn't look good. She's sweating and crying, and there's blood. She's bleeding. You have to hurry Livy. Please hurry. I don't know what to do. She might die! I'm so scared Livy!"
Liv hears the fear in her voice increase and it pains her to hear her so afraid. She wants to go to her herself, but she knows that isn't an option. In that moment they're interrupted by secret service. An agent advises there's a matter unfolding that needs his attention, per Cyrus. Fitz is incredibly torn in the moment and Olivia can see it in his eyes. Before he can respond she mutes the phone and says, "Go. I'll come find you when I'm done." Begrudgingly he leaves, knowing that Olivia has this handled. But worried still about his daughter.
As she watches him walk away, she takes a breath and gives herself a quick pep talk. She's now happier than ever she didn't put her phone on speaker when Karen called. Fitz would've never left had he heard Karen's last statement about Ericka potentially dying. After watching the door close behind him. Olivia stays the course of keeping Karen calm as she says, "Nobody's going to die Karen. Just relax, and tell me where you are." Karen replies, "We're at the Biltmore Hotel downtown." Olivia quickly says, "Okay, hold on for me one moment okay? I need to make a call. Can you do that for me?" Karen is speaking through tears that have begun to fall as she says, "Yes, I can do that." Olivia responds, "Good. Hold on okay?" Karen replies, "Okay."
Olivia calls Huck, and advises him of the situation. Upon relaying her location to him. Olivia clicks back over to Karen and remains on the phone until they arrive. Immediately Olivia can tell in Karen's voice that she's feeling better seeing Huck and Quinn come into the room. Olivia asks Karen to give Quinn the phone, and she assesses the situation. While talking to Quinn she shakes her head in disbelief; she can't believe this is happening. But they're in this now, and there's no turning back.
Quinn quickly gives her the basics of the situation, which calms Olivia's nerves. She gives Karen back the phone, and Olivia gets some more of the details from her so she can talk to Fitz before Karen arrives. With help being by Karen's side. Olivia now has confirmation that they will survive this situation after all.
Their call prepares to end as Olivia tells her she'll see her soon, and Karen replies, "Okay. Thank you Liv." Olivia smiles as she responds, "You're welcome sweet heart, thanks for calling me. You did very well." Karen takes a breath as she replies, "Thank you. I knew you'd help. You always do. Thank you so much Livy." Her grateful tone warms Olivia's heart as she responds, "No problem Kare. We'll talk more when you get home, okay?" Karen smiles, loving Olivia's pet name for her as she replies, "Okay. Bye." Olivia takes a breath as she says, "Bye."
When she hangs up, she's relieved to see that Fitz is still out of the room due to Cyrus calling him. She knows he's there in body, but not in mind, because she's gotten three text messages while on the phone from secret service, asking her to come to the oval when she's done.
Nervously, she takes a breath and heads down to the oval, thinking of how she's going to break the news to him. She didn't like being the bearer of bad news, but in her business it's par for the course.
Armed with the information she needs to inform him; she makes her way to the oval. As she walks she thinks to herself this incident will undoubtedly end the peace bargain between them and Mellie for a while. All just before Christmas, she says out loud as she steps off the elevator.
Olivia shakes her head as she wonders what Mellie was thinking letting Karen be without her security detail, while walking around the city. Lord knows if something unthinkable had happened to Karen, Fitz would've needed to be sedated to prevent him from hurting Mellie physically.
As she rounds the corner heading toward the Oval; she hears a familiar voice. As she gets closer Abby is in her view, and she says, "Hey Abby. Have you talked to Fitz yet?" She replies, "No, not in detail. I just know something is going on with Karen, and I couldn't reach Mellie. But her detail says she's on her way here."
Olivia rolls her eyes as she angrily sighs, and she says, "I bet you can't reach her, typical." Abby curiously inquires, "What's going on Liv?" She takes a breath and says, "I'm only telling you this ahead of me talking to Fitz first, because I need you to keep Mellie away from Fitz until he calms down. He can't see her yet." Abby worriedly replies, "Oh my God. What did she do?"
Olivia takes a breath and explains what happened, as they continue their walk to the Oval. When they arrive at the doors Abby responds, "Holy shit Liv. He's going to lose his mind on her." Olivia nods as she responds, "That's an understatement Abs. Now you see why you need to keep Mellie away from him for a moment, right?"
Abby nods as she replies, "Of course Liv. I get it." Just after her reply, Abby's phone buzzes, it's the front gate. Mellie's car is pulling up. Liv and Abby share a glance and Abby says, "Well, it's go time. She just arrived. Good luck in there." Olivia says, "Thanks, I am going to need it. Give me about 30 minutes before you let her come to the oval, and go ahead and brief her on Karen's situation in advance. Okay?" Abby nods as she replies, "You got it. Let's keep this between us to avoid any leaks." Olivia smiles as she says, "Spoken like a true communications director." Abby smiles in return as she says, "Yep, that's me."
Ready to do their respective parts in handling this situation. They part ways, and suddenly the door leading to the Oval swings open, with Lauren on the other side. She smiles at her as she says, "Hello Liv. The president and Mr. Bean are expecting you." Olivia nods as she says, "Thank you Lauren."
Olivia takes another breath and says a small quick prayer, as she enters the office. She sees Fitz sitting on the couch with Cyrus sitting across from him. As soon as her eyes meets his, worry fills his eyes; his furrowed brow gives him away. It bothers her to see him so stressed and concerned. Before she can say anything Fitz worriedly asks, "Liv, what's going on?"
She readies herself as she prefaces her statement and says, "First let me say, Karen is on her way here. I sent Huck and Quinn to get her, and they'll be dropping her off in the next half hour." Cyrus inquisitively asks, "Where was she Liv? And why wasn't she with Mellie?" She takes a breath, and explains the situation as she says, "According to Karen, Mellie allowed her to go out without her security detail. It's something she lets her do sometimes."
Fitz instantly, angrily interjects, "She what! What in the hell is wrong with her? Why is this the first I've heard about this?" She knew he'd lose it. But she was hoping he'd at least let her finish what she had to say, before he expressed his feelings about what he was hearing. She understands his anger, it's warranted. But still she sighs out of frustration as she replies, "Fitz, please let me finish! There's more. And you need to hear this."
While the anger in his eyes is unrelenting, he manages to sit back down and let her finish talking. He knows it's not her fault and she's on his side. Seeing he's ready to listen. She continues as she says, "Earlier today Karen was supposed to be going on a shopping trip with a friend of hers named Ericka. But she really went with her friend, who was scheduled to have an abortion. And apparently afterwards there were complications, which is why Karen called me. She and the young lady were scared, so she called me for help."