AN: I've been battling COVID the last few days. I finally feel okay enough to look at a computer screen again. I'm feeling bad still but well enough to start doing some of the bare minimum. I definitely don't want to stay away from this long again.

Despite the gauze wrapped around Fitz's fist, blood still dripped from his hand. He couldn't recall whether it was one of the several blows he landed against Jake that drew blood or the blows he'd missed that did. Either way, angry bright blue veins and puckered flesh greeted him each time he lifted the bandage. Around him, the jailhouse buzzed with life. Across from him, an old drunk mumbled about a cab ride to Disney World. Fitz sat sheathed in disbelief. How the hell had he ended up here? The last few weeks – hell the last twenty-four hours – were a whirlwind. Now here he was, behind bars when he should've been picking up his daughter.

"Don't I get a phone call?" Fitz shouted. He stood, walking over to the bars and propping himself upon them. On the other side sat a somewhat burly cop with a closed cropped afro. He reminded Fitz of Moses Highwater from the Police Academy series. "I need to call my daughter's daycare to tell them I'm running late."

Maybe then he could ask someone to call his sister to get him out of here. The fact that he'd been arrested at all was ridiculous. Whichever neighbor of his that'd called the police, he would need to speak with and explain the situation. Though he wasn't sure what he'd even say; I let my best friend rape my girlfriend. It wasn't exactly a conversation starter.

"Phone line's long. I'll let you go in a sec."

Fitz closed his eyes and pressed his head against the bars.

"That you Grant?"

At the sound of his surname, Fitz lifted his head. Standing in front of him was Marcus Walker. Luck surely wasn't a lady tonight. The last time Fitz saw Marcus, it was on the other end of a conference table; before then, a punching bag.

"You know him?" The cop asked.

"Work with him," Marcus answered. "Leon, Fitz. Fitz, this is my brother Leon."

Leon stood and Fitz took in his size. The man was a mountain. "Tell your friend he shouldn't be fighting in apartment buildings."

"Fighting?" Marcus repeated. He turned his attention toward Fitz who bristled. "You hit things a lot?"

Fitz couldn't help the immediate eye roll. "When they deserve it. Speaking of, where did you stick Ballard?" His attention was on Leon.

Leon looked to Marcus who nodded. "He's in the ER for stitches."

A slight smile threatened to creep across Fitz's face. He managed to stop it before he stretched wide. "I take it he'll be joining me when he's done?"

"Nope. From the way your neighbor tells it, you were the one to blame."

An ugly cackle tore from Fitz's throat. "No."

Marcus took several steps towards the bars. "Who's Ballard?"

Fitz took in Marcus's appearance. He studied the man from head to toe, jeans, and sneakers. Polished. He remembered Marcus's concern for Olivia all those weeks back at the gym. Would is bode well to tell some of the truth? Fitz took in a deep breath. "Someone who might hurt Olivia."

Marcus's body went rigid. "What?"

"It's why she's been so pissed off at me. Help me out here," Fitz nearly pleaded as Marcus pivoted on toes, towards his brother. The conversation was hushed. Every other second, they'd turn and stare at Fitz. Finally, Leon stood. The ring of keys attached to his belt ended up on his hand and he walked towards the cell.

Leon slipped the skeleton key into its lock and the bars made a low, reverberating clink. "My brother's usually a good job of character," Leon said, "don't make me regret it."

Fitz nodded, slipping past Leon. "I appreciate this," he said. Fitz takes off, ready to get to Olivia but was stopped by an arm on his shoulder. Marcus.

"Why don't you fill me in here," Marcus said. "What's this got to do with Olivia."

Pushing forward, ready to grab his shoelaces from the front desk, he pivots at Marcus's words. They hold each other's gazes. "I thought you said you weren't interested in Olivia?"

"I'm not. I'm married."

"Then why do you care?" Fitz shot back, eyes passing over the gold band on Marcus's left hand. He couldn't help but think Marcus was lying. He cared for Olivia. "You know she has a boyfriend?" Fitz quipped. Despite the fact that he didn't know what was between Olivia and Curtis. Even the mention of Curtis irked Fitz's nerves. Sure, Olivia was well within her right to move on after everything – he had – but did she have to with such a dickhead?

"Because I consider her a friend and your world will eat her in half."

Fitz narrowed his eyes. "The hell is that supposed to mean; my world?"

"Just what it meant last time we were here. What did you do to her? What happened between you two?" Marcus pushed.

Against, Fitz turned. He took several steps forward, ready to find the exit and return home to Karen. He needed to regroup. Figure this shit out. But faltered. He listened as Marcus's footsteps followed his. "Olivia and I started law school together," he started, weighing how much information he wanted to share, "I was in love with her, and I accidentally hurt her. I can't say much more It isn't for me to say. I'm just trying to figure out how to best help her through."

"Here's an insane idea, ask her."

It was a simple suggestion, but Fitz found himself faltering. He was so hell-bent on fixing this that he didn't know what Olivia needed nor wanted from him. Maybe he needed to ask. After he tipped Jake's hospital bed over first. "You're right."

Marcus smiled. "I know."

"Can I bum a ride to get my daughter?"

"Yeah, man. Let me grab the money my brother owes me. How old is your daughter?"

"Two."

"My son's three. Maybe they can play together one day."

/

She couldn't breathe. Her lungs ached and her arms were tired, yet her brain wouldn't quit. Usually, the back and forth of swimming laps quieted her mind. It gave her something physical to focus on. Today she was on lap 93 and still…nothing. Each time she sank beneath the water and came back up again, she could hear the women from the group. Their stories hung in her head. Each worse than the next. They made her thankful that her brain was hell-bent on blocking out most of what'd happened to her. Of course, she could still recall the feel of Jake's hands holding her down. Any time she became dizzy, it was like being back in Penelope's bedroom.

Olivia pushed herself over to the pool edge and onto her hands. Water sloshed against the concrete. Her chest heaved. Exhaustion set into her bones. Maybe she'd actually sleep tonight. Then again, did she ever sleep? She tugged off her swim cap and grabbed her towel sitting on a lounge chair and made her way to the locker room. Once inside, she made her way over to her locker. She could hear her phone buzzing against the metal locker. Sighing, Olivia went to work on the combination lock. Seconds later her phone was in her hand. She didn't recognize the number but saw that she had a missed call from Fitz.

Cautious, Olivia answered. "Pope."

"Olivia?" A voice responded.

She wasn't sure who or what to expect, but the voice that greeted her was immediately recognizable. It made her stomach curdle. "I don't know how you got my number and I frankly don't care. I'll be changing it tomorrow."

"Now don't be that way, little Livvie."

"Mellie, I don't know what you want, and I don't care to know. Leave me alone." Olivia hung up. A scream curled around her throat. Her brain split in several different directions as she tried to calm herself. Her phone rang again. Hot anger pooled in her veins as she picked it up once more, ready to let her scream loose. "Fuck you!" Olivia hissed.

"That's one way to answer the phone," Curtis said.

"I thought you were someone else," Olivia responded. A droplet of water rolled down her lips.

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Are you staying with me tonight?" Curtis asked. "I wanted to talk about what we're…"

Curtis's voice faded away as Olivia's attention moved back to Mellie.