Bang! Bang! {Part VIII}

The President of the United States ordered the Marine guards to strip Rowan of his non-descript black suit to remind him that the cloak of anonymity he used to his advantage is gone. He is shackled to a basic industrial chair in the bowels of the Pentagon waiting for sentencing by the ultimate judge, jury and executioner.

The sharp footsteps of the President and his agents echo against the marble floor as Fitz enters the room. "Rowan, we meet again. I prefer this setting better. How are things for you?" This is World War III.

Rowan laughs, "I will allow you this moment. I know you do not get many given your inability to accomplish anything worthy of discussion or that history will take note of after your departure from office." I can return to Command.

Fitz leans over him, "This conversation will not take long. I have a beautiful, brilliant exceedingly sexy fiancé waiting for my return. I believe you knew her once…Olivia Pope."

The shackles jangle and cut into his wrist and ankles when his body betrays him and he physically responds to the introduction of the sole source of the putrid hatred between the two men. "I have a daughter who has lost her way. Given time and the right circumstances she will be all that I decided. I know not of the common whore that spreads her legs for your sexual deviant, white boy fetish. That bed wench is of your making,"

Fitz forces himself to sit clenching his fist. "This is a difficult time for you. I understand…hurt people; hurt people. I cannot begin to imagine the level of impotence this moment is for you." Closing B6-13 allowed him access to all the non-redacted files. The horrors inflicted domestically and on the world stage were difficult to fathom but he and Olivia were determined to return the Republic to the People. "First, your wife is a terrorist and you miss all the signs. You are not good at your job at all. Next you realize you are not even getting Dominic's sloppy seconds. She is giving you the scraps meant for a mangy mutt. How long did she have you chained to the tree in the backyard grateful for any amount of attention?"

Rowan squints, rolls his head and slaps a shit eating smile on his face. The laughter that leaps from his throat is cynical, sarcastic and maniacal. "You are dead-boy! I have the body bag, I know the when, where and the how. This is pointless. Excuse yourself. The stench of your failure is suffocating."

Fitz reaches into the inside pocket of his suit and retrieves the vile holding it up between his index finger and thumb. "This rare strain of meningitis is deadly but it will not kill me or anyone else for that matter. Tom…" He studies the man before him as Rowan pieces together the unraveling of his well orchestrated scheme.

"Mr. President," the agent responds entering the room keeping his eyes fixed on Rowan. You did not break me.

"Agent Stanton, please return this to the lab before taking post outside the Oval for your standard shift."

"Yes Sir," he responds.

"Thank you for your service. You are a true Patriot."

Rowan struggles frantically in the chair. The shackles clang and scrape. "Your family will not survive the night. You will be in the Hole before you reach the sidewalk," Rowan spews.

"Agent Russell," Fitz bellows. Rowan head snaps violently. An unnoticed door on the back wall opens and the ultimate soldier enters the room.

"Yes Mr. President." Oh yeah…you got got Player.

"Please make sure that Agent Stanton completes his mission unharmed before taking post outside the Oval for your standard shift."

"Yes Sir," he replies.

Fitz continues to watch Rowan. He leans back, laces his fingers together against his lap and rest his right ankle against his left knee. "What to do with you. You will be my father-in-law…however absent. Family should be together and you did take vows…'til death do us part is usually the last one. Hmm," the sinister smile delights his eyes. "Huck and Charlie," he calls.

"What up Boss," Charlie greets after removing his signature red blow pop.

Huck nods in acknowledgement.

"Please deliver Rowan to the cell directly across from his wife. If you are still interested in scraps I will consider conjugal visits-simply submit a formal request through normal channels to my office."

Rowan's restraint snaps, "I am Command. You have no idea the wrath you have unleashed. I will lay waste to any and everything you have ever touched. Your nightmare will never end!"

"I am the Leader of the Free World…the President of the United States…the Commander-in-Chief. I closed B6-13 with a simple signature weeks ago. Huck sent the signal weeks ago. You have no army. Your militia is neutered," he rises from his seat and makes his way down the hall. He cannot hear the crisp steps of he and his agents over the crazed shouts of the defeated opponent. Checkmate.


Season 5 Episode 1 re-purposed for the Bang! Bang! Universe

Olivia adjust Fitz's bow tie, "What is our goal tonight?"

"To not start an international incident by sneaking away to the exceeding convenient small office ten feet from the State Dinner for Caledonia," he flirts shamelessly.

"Tempting Mister…Please focus," she presses her hands against his firm chest grateful for the strong steady heartbeat under her hand. I will wait to tell him I never found my panties after the last sex-a-thon.

He clears his throat and smiles devilishly, "Rose Garden Press Conference to announce our agreement for the military base before the royal jet leaves our airspace on Friday."

They enter the elevator hand and hand and prepare for a night filled with pomp, circumstance and rigid protocol. Fitz and Olivia descend the staircase and the international press pools leaps into action. The camera flashes are blinding. The couple represents everything American can be and the world cannot get enough of their every interaction.

The charming couple welcomes the Royal Family to the White House before taking their place in the receiving line to greet the more than two hundred guests. The enter the elegant dining room and Fitz places a tender kiss to Olivia's cheek and whispers in her ear, "Ready."

"Consider it handled," she replies through a dazzling smile. They mingle among the attendees and charm the decision makers consciously aware of each other. They share loving smiles, flirty winks, and longing gazes. By the time they take their seats next to each other they have half the yes votes they need. Fitz stands to make the toast, "To new beginnings," the room responds in kind.

Olivia leans into him, "You need to have a one-on-one with the Prince away from his mother."

He turns his head and studies her face,"What is your gut telling you?"

"I am not sure yet. Think about it. He chose an American wife despite his mother's preference. Give him an opportunity to further distinguish himself and exercise his own power. Ultimately he will rule far longer and you need to build the rapport necessary for mutual success. He has leverage we cannot have."

"You are brilliant and bossy and I love every inch of you," he states before taking his baritone down an octave, "Make sure you get enough to eat because I plan on thanking you all night long."


"She is asking for another six months. You're right…I need to get the Prince alone but visible to keep her off his trail. A sporting event maybe-Abby can come up with something."

Olivia enters dressed in only his Navy t-shirt. He pulls her into bed, "Now where shall I start with you," he starts a trail of kisses down her neck. Her phone interrupts their phone. He groans and she giggles.

"Quinn what's up?" she interlocks their fingers and plays with his hand a smile of contentment on her face. She listens intently and freezes. Fitz sits up. Something is wrong. "What kind of back-up does Huck suggest to stop this from happening," she eyes Fitz.

He grabs his phone, "Get the Joint Chiefs to the Situation Room and scramble the next SEAL Team in rotation I want them on standby."

Olivia repeats the intelligence and resource request from Huck, "The royal motorcade cannot enter the tunnel. Re-route or return to White House. I owe you," she hangs up and turns to the closet to transform to the Chief of Staff.

Fitz barks orders to his military staff "Re-route the royal motorcade. Do not let them enter the tunnel. We will see you in 20 and I want answers to why I got this threat assessment from an outside source."


Friday Morning

Abby doubles checks the table assembled in the Rose Garden. The center piece is in place, each area has a box of signing pens and the official portfolio for the military base agreement. The chairs for the press pool are aligned and starting to fill. Hopefully the family drama playing out behind closed doors in the Treaty Room finishes on time.

"Mother you will do as they ask without any deviation. We will return home where we will have an elaborate, peaceful transfer of power. The treachery will end today are we clear?"

"Exceedingly," she grits out through clenched teeth and a strained jaw.

"Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality, generosity and the opportunity for the beginning of a long, strong and mutually beneficial partnership on the world stage for our countries.

"Likewise…shall we," Fitz gestures toward the door.

Breaking News…

President Grant pulls off greatness-again. In a surprise to analyst both foreign and domestic; the United States of America and Caledonia signed an agreement to complete a military base.

This is a historic win for the Grant Administration and will secure his foreign policy legacy long past his current tenure in office.

In international news the Queen of Caledonia renounced the thrown and transferred power to her son. The world anticipates a strong alliance with the United States given the time the two men spent together while he was in the states and his wife's American roots.


Maya sneers and taunts Eli through the bars, "Seems to me baby girl picked a winner. Despite your prediction the Republic is better than ever. He was definitely right about you-impotent," she laughs and rolls her eyes.

"I am glad you are enjoying my demise but once again your short sighted, transactional nature betrays you. He has the non-redacted files. How long before he trades you to a hostile foreign adversary in exchange for hostages or intelligence?" he snaps back.

Rowan's words cut Maya's laughter short. She eyes him quickly. "Oh yeah baby…please spend tonight thinking of all the combatants you crossed; the countries willing to pay a Saudi King's ransom for your head on a pike…Taliban got your tongue or maybe ISIS.

"You do not have to worry about me. Unlike you a mother knows her child. Livvie will not allow harm to come to her mama," she states. I can play the 12 year old girl still longing for her mother's love.

AN: I love Joe Morton and Khandi Alexander. Their Scandal monologues have been epic. However it terms of story-telling they should have been contained or killed seasons ago or IMO never existed.