"Of course you can't find anything! You haven't been able to find anything all this time- Cole St. John waltzes into a hospital, convinces the nurses he's me and nearly kills my wife!" Gregory didn't care that a crowd was forming, even television cameras would have done little to dissuade him. "But he still gets away? Maybe Olivia should have killed him while she had the chance."
Olivia's stifled gasp as Roger peeled the shredded fabric of her shirt from the wounds in her back stopped Gregory's ranting. While Gregory was listening, Paula tried to rescue the situation. "We have forensic evidence, eyewitnesses who can pick him out of a line-up. Ricardo's just started the biggest manhunt in Sunset Beach history, we're going to find him."
Though he lowered his hand, letting Olivia squeeze her pain into his palm, Gregory's eyes blazed at Paula. "See that you do." Turning away was his dismissal of her and Paula left the examination room.
Ricardo was waiting for her, arms folded thoughtfully over her chest. "Laura Fitzgerald is here."
Paula's mouth opened slightly in surprise and Ricardo inclined his head towards the group at the end of the hall. The petite white-haired figure of the District Attorney was flanked by two neatly dressed bodyguards, and the recognizable figure of Judge Carl Henley. She looked back at Ricardo, waiting for his clarification.
"She's resigning her position, as soon as Gregory Richards takes the oath of office, he's going to be District Attorney. Those two with her are bodyguards from the Justice Department, threatening the immediate family of federal servants isn't taken lightly." He crossed the hall and ducked under the bight yellow tape of the crime scene.
"But Gregory can't expect to prosecute St. John, even if we catch him, he's much too involved in the case." Paula argued softly as they watched the forensics team finished up with the fingerprints.
As he looked down at the brown spots of blood Cole had left on the floor, Ricardo smiled grimly. "He knows that. Mrs. Fitzgerald knows that. This is about making Cole's actions a federal crime, not about revenge."
Both of them watched the entourage troop past the doorway. Laura Fitzgerald nodded to them serenely as she passed. "I'm going to need witnesses. If you'll be so kind detectives, I'd be much obliged."
"There you are, didn't even need any stitches." Roger stripped off his gloves and dropped them into the trash. "We'll have you back in backless gowns in no time."
Gregory thanked him with a quick glance over Olivia's shoulder before he returned his eyes to her face. "Everything is all right now."
Though she made the attempt to stop the trembling of her shoulders, Olivia couldn't stop the cascade of tears down her face. The horror of what had happened to her had sunk into her mind. Everything she'd pushed to the back of her mind in that room wanted to be dealt with now. She knew Gregory was concerned. He was driving himself mad with guilt and he wasn't the one who had risked their baby's life for a stranger.
That was her. It was her choice to attack Cole, to risk everything for that helpless child. Gregory was careful to keep his hands off the welts on her back. When he let her hide her sobbing in his chest, his hands stayed on her shoulders.
"I could have killed our baby." She choked out into his shirt.
His strong hand rubbed her head. "You didn't."
"I didn't think. I just hit him, what if he had gotten up?" Olivia started to shake again. Death had been far too close. "Gregory- Gregory he could have murdered us both."
This was why Cole was going to die. He'd forfeited his right to life each time he'd touched her back, every moment he lorded his power over her. Every tear, every shaking breath, every scream she didn't let him hear- all of it was waiting to be avenged.
Gregory lifted her chin, forcing her to look right into his eyes. "But you won. You beat him, you kept yourself safe, you saved our baby and you saved that little girl. You saved three lives. Liv, you're a hero."
Olivia caught his hand with both of hers and held it to her face. "I'm not a hero."
His reply was so soft that she nearly didn't hear it. "You've always been mine Olivia." His free hand brushed across her cheek, collecting tears as it went. He raised his voice above a whisper after he was sure she had heard his admission. "And I get to take you home, healthy and pregnant with our child. I don't think I can ask for anything more than that."
Laura Fitzgerald cleared her throat in the doorway. "What about public office?" Shutting the door behind her, she gave Olivia an apologetic nod. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I need to steal your husband for a bit."
Gregory's eyebrows narrowed dangerously, but Laura's quiet expression calmed him. "I'm discharging my office, Judge Henley's here for the details."
"Now?" He kept his hands in Olivia's, mind racing to put together the pieces of Laura's thoughts.
"Right now." Laura waved a hand to Olivia. "With your permission of course."
Olivia took Gregory's handkerchief, suddenly aware of how awful she must look. Not trusting her voice, she nodded weakly. Gregory's hand slipped beneath her hair to hold her neck, he wasn't letting go. "It's for the best sweetheart."
She started to whisper and he leaned closer to hear her. "Why right now?"
"Under the statues of the state of California Cole St. John's attack on you becomes a Federal crime once Gregory's sworn in." Laura pointed to the guards outside the doorway. "That allows the Justice department to protect you."
Olivia looked up at her husband, and Gregory forced a small smile. "It's complicated, but it's a good idea Liv."
Laura opened the door and ushered Judge Henley and the two detectives inside. "Let's get this done."
At Laura's request the Judge held out his bible and cleared his throat. "Do you, Laura Ethel Fitzgerald discharge the office of District Attorney and all the rights and privileges thereof?"
Her hand was tiny on the back of the bible. "I, Laura Ethel Fitzgerald, do solemnly and without prejudice, discharge the office of District Attorney to my successor." She twitched her fingers as she removed her hand, as if she had felt the burden leave her.
Judge Henley turned to Gregory, waiting for him to release his grip on his wife. "Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I-"
Gregory kissed her forehead as he removed his hand from the back of her neck. "I, Gregory Alan Richards, do solemnly affirm that I will support the constitution and laws of the United States-"
He was young, his hands were shaking as the minister droned on behind him. All that mattered was Olivia standing across from him. Remarkably, her hands were steady as she handed her bouquet to Bette. She extended her left hand towards him, holding steady as he fumbled with the ring.
Infinitely gentle, Olivia smiled and it lit up her face behind the veil. Trusting him with her hand and everything that went with it, she kept that smile even with the tear escaped from her eye. She loved him, she would live and die for him and she knew he would for her. No one had ever looked at him that way before. No one had known his soul and loved it. No one but her. Her life, and their life together was in his hands as he slipped the ring on her finger.
"-And the constitution and laws of this state-"
Kneeling in a dark room, he felt the hand of the Don on his head. Lucio Ricciardi was the grandfather he had never known. Ricciardi was his true name and the men around him were his family. They would do what his father would not. Teach him respect by example instead of a fist.
Another stab of hatred for the beast who had conceived him ran through his heart as his grandfather made the mark of blessing on his forehead with oil. His grandfather was happy to take him into the fold, pleased to send him to Law School. He had cousins to talk with, a grandmother reminisce about love with, and he only had it now because of his father.
It wasn't enough for his father to destroy his mother's confidence and rip his sense of self away year after year. Nicholas had taken tried to take away Gregory's past. Tried to erase his history. When Gregory stood to kiss the ruby ring on his grandfather's hand, he took that history back. He swore to be a part of his family. To live and die for his family, to be what his father wasn't.
"-And that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me-"
He lay awake in bed next to her, Olivia curled into him with the innocence of a child. She didn't know the promise he'd just made. The cut on his finger throbbed to remind him of the blood he had given. Gregory wondered what he'd say to his son when the boy was old enough to ask about the family. He had no regrets, the family would take care of his son. His son would have a chance to be something extraordinary because he'd have all the right connections.
Olivia would learn to understand. Giving his son to the family was a gift to his son, not a hinderance. Killing Cole was his responsibility to her. Love meant keeping her safe. Love meant giving her the same peace of mind she gave him.
"-As District Attorney for the 56th District of the State of California according to the best of my ability and understanding, so help me God."