Olivia woke up the next day much to the joy and relieve of her family...and Chad.

Her parents and sister, Talia, have practically been by her side day and night. Chad would visit but never stayed for more than an hour, or two max.

He was still in deep shit and was trying to figure out a way to get his hands on the money he promised the men whom he made a bad deal with but it would save their company so he felt like he didn't really have a choice.

"When can I get out of this place?" Liv asked. It's been two days since she regained consciousness.

"Babe how about you just relax and wait until the doctors give you the okay to get out of here." He said kissing her head.

"I'll recover better in my own bed."

Her mom spoke up. "Livvie, sweetheart.. Once you get discharged why don't you come and stay with us for a few days? You'll need someone to help you get around and Chad will be at work most of the time.."

Chad knew their apartment wasn't a safe zone for her right now.

"I think your mother's right Liv."

Olivia was actually surprised that he agreed to this.

"Um, okay mom."

"Then it's settled. You're coming home with us baby." Caroline Pope smiled warmly at her daughter.

Liv tried to push herself up against the pillows but an unsuccessful attempt had her winching in pain.

Chad jumped up. "Careful baby.. Wait, let me help you."

"Thanks." She thanked her fiancé with a half smile. "Shouldn't you get back to work?"

"Yeah, will you be okay though?"

"Of course. My parents are here, how can I not be okay?"

"True. Okay then." Chad kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Chad was barely out the door when Richard, Liv's dad, got out of his seat and stood at the foot of her bed.

"Couldn't he have taken a couple days off from work? You went through a terrible ordeal for pete's sake."

"Daddd.."

"Sorry."

"I wouldn't want him around 24/7 anyways.."

Her mother took her hand and caressed it with her thumb. "Sweetie are you two still having problems?"

"Yes.." Liv answered quietly.

And before they could continue on the topic they heard Talia's voice coming through thw door.

"Hello family! Good day today isn't it?" She was so vibrant and full of energy.

Her parents and sister looked at her with pure amusement etched on their faces.

"Okay what's with the morbid vibe in here? Liv I thought you'd be up with a glass of red wine getting your life!"

"Talia! Your sister is still recovering from a terrible accident." Her mother scolded.

"Momma lighten up. Anyway, Liv I have a visitor for you outside. After begging him to come, I then practically had to drag him up here. I don't get why he's acting so shy all of a sudden."

Liv was perplexed. "Tali what are you talking about?"

The youngest Pope signalled for the visitor to step inside.

Fitz wasn't exactly eager to walk into the room. Slow and cautiously he made his appearance.

"Is this some kind of a joke!?" Liv was stunned with surprise.

The shock at the sight of him came off as anger.

She just couldn't understand why she had never seen him before and now suddenly he's..everywhere!

Olivia glared at him before shooting a question look Talia's way.

"Olivia what the hell?" Talia could not even comprehend why her sister was acting this way. This was Fitz. Her friend. A really nice guy.

"Why is he here? How do you know him? What is this?" Liv got worked up.

Caroline soothed her daughter by stroking her back. "Livvie calm down.."

Turning to Fitz she asked, in the nicest way possible..

"Sorry but who are you and why is your presence upsetting my daughter?"

Instead of getting an answer from Fitz, Talia spoke up. "Liv, I don't get it. . He's your friend. He's a friend of hers mommy. He was also very supportive during your accident."

Olivia didn't say anything.

Fitz did not prepare for this but Talia begged him to come here and he was supposedly Liv's friend so he had to agree to come and see her.

Caroline and Richard didn't know what to make of this exchange but they sure was left wondering who this strange man was.

"Mom, dad.. Can you give us a minute please?"

"Okay Livvie. Come on Richard." Caroline and her husband hesitantly left the room.

They waited until the door clicked shut then Talia turned to her sister.

"Liv, why are you being weird?"

"I'm not being anything. He's just not my friend. I don't even know him. I don't know his name, nothing."

Talia laughed thinking it was a joke but soon realised it wasn't by the stern expression on her sister's face and Fitz's silence.

"Okay I'm confused. What is going on? Fitz?"

"So that's your name? Fitz?" Liv asked locking eyes with him.

Fitz perched his lips together nodding for confirmation.

"Nah uh uh, hold up. Fitz why the hell would you make me believe that you two are friends? What about the story of how you met and how she introduced you to Chad?? The fuck man.. Are you some kind of stalker!?"

Talia moved away from him and stood at Liv's bedside.

Finally he decided to speak up for himself. "Look okay.. We're not friends but we're not exactly strangers."

"Uhh yes we are. I only recognise your face because we had two accidental encounters, that's it." Liv argued.

Fitz looked at the younger Pope. "I didn't totally lie to you Talia. Okay I'm not friends with your sister but we did meet at that restaurant I told you about."

"Look whatever.. Just tell us why."

"Yes. Fitz.. Why??" Liv asked dryly.

She was just puzzled. There was no other way to describe it.

She was puzzled as fuck because she had no idea what the hell this man wanted from her.

"Why would you tell Talia that you're my friend?"

"I was at the scene of your accident. She was a mess and needed someone, I offered to bring her to the hospital under the pretence of being your friend. She probably wouldn't have accepted my help otherwise."

"How the hell did you even know the person in the car was me? I never gave you my name.."

"You and my sister know each other, that's where I learned your name. She's the co-owner of Food and Chill."

"Julia? Julia is your sister?"

"Yes."

Talia finally broke her silence. "This is all too much.. Like I genuinely believed you man."

She sounded disappointed.

"I don't have any ulterior motives or anything like that. I really just wanted to help.. And I'm no stalker."

"But you even came to check up on her. Who does that if they don't even know the person?"

Liv looked from Talia to Fitz. "You came to check on me?"

"You looked pretty bad when they cut you out of that vehicle... When I was here, part of your face was swollen, your bruises and cuts looked-- Uhm you uh, you look better now." He stuck his hands in his pants pockets.

Fitz was trying to be honest but for now everyone just needed to calm down.

This was going to be difficult. Olivia doesn't trust him. How is he even going to be able to tell her the truth about her accident and her fiancé.

"Why do you care??" Liv sighed loudly.

"Was I wrong to help out your sister when she was alone there behind that barricade tape watching emergency services frantically working to get you out of that wrecked car with police on the other hand refusing to believe that she's your sister..? I brought her to the hospital because it was one less thing for her to worry about."

"So why didn't you stop there? Why did you keep up this act of being my best friend?"

Fitz shrugged. "I don't know. ."

"You don't know? Really, that's all you got? You don't know!?"

"Do you know why there's guards outside your door?" He asked completely ignoring her question.

"No, because apparently no one is at liberty to say shit. I'm being protected by two guards and I don't even get to know why. Ugh..why am I even telling you this!" She was irritated.

Olivia suddenly felt a shock wave shoot through her side. She doubled over in pain, grimacing.

Talia immediately reached out. "Liv what's wrong?"

In a flash Fitz was also by her side.

"Just my ribs. The doctors told me to be more relaxed." She answered breathing heavily.

Talia glanced at Fitz.

"Can you pour her a glass of water?" She was too busy soothing her sister, easing the pain away.

Fitz nodded and got her the water.

"Here you go."

Liv took it but didn't thank him.

"Fitz I think you should go. You're stressing her out and it's not good for her right now." Talia said while helping her sister lay back comfortably.

"Wait." Olivia stopped him. "Why did you ask about the guards?"

"I. .was just. .intrigued."

"I don't believe you."

"You don't?"

"No, I don't and I'd appreciate it if you would stay away from me and my sister."

"I'm not a threat you know.."

"You're shady as hell. Are you even really related to Julia?" Liv scoffed.

"I'm sorry for stressing you out. I'll leave, I can see that you're tired. Bye Talia."

Fitz turned and left.

Talia sat on Liv's bed once Fitz was gone. "I'm so sorry Liv."

"No Talia please, it's okay."

"I think you should take a nap. I'll keep the parents entertained."

"Okay, I do feel a little drained."

xxx

"Hey mom." Fitz strolled into her house. "What's for lunch"

"Hello baby, sorry we already had lunch." Sheila said giving her son a hug.

"Aw man, I'm starving."

"I can fix you a sandwich?"

"Sure. Where's dad?"

"Out on the golf course with his buddies."

Fitz hopped onto the bar stool and watched his mother fix him lunch.

"Is everything okay son?"

"Yeah.."

"Julia and Ryan seem to think otherwise."

Fitz groaned inwardly. "Of course."

"So.. Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, you'll feel better afterwards c'mon."

"It's just this new client that we took on. She's not aware of the fact that she's under our protection which is not how we operate."

"So, someone close to her hired you to protect her?"

"No. I made the call. I wasn't thinking straight but her life was in danger and knowing this I couldn't just do nothing, right?"

"She must've been in real danger if you're protecting her free of charge." Sheila said with a bit of humour and placed his sandwich in front of him.

"Thanks mom."

"I understand why you did it I mean that's just the kind of person you are but I don't see how this is bothering you, you're saving a life.."

"This client.. There's something about her that's drawing me in. I went to the freaking hospital to check on her, I'm breaking rules here."

"So you feel bad for her, that's normal isn't it?"

"Protect the client. Keep the client alive. Do not let emotions cloud your judgement. The client is not your friend. Don't get too close. Do your job and get out."

He locks eyes with his mother.

"Code of conduct. Those are the rules which my agents live by." He sighed. "I'm breaking the rules."

"Sweetie. . Do you know this woman?"

"No, not personally. We've exchanged a few words before, oh and I got into an argument with her fiancé last week. He ended up unconscious on the ground."

"I'm confused."

Fitz laughed quietly. "It's confusing mom."

"Anyway, what was her reaction to your visitation? "

"She thinks I'm a weird stalker dude." He chuckled humourlessly.

"Then step back Fitz. Do your job, protect her and get out."

"You think so?"

"Yes. You owe it to your agents to live by your own rules. Besides, what's your endgame here?"

He took a bite of his sandwich.

"You're right. I'm the man in charge. If I don't follow the rules how can I expect them to? And honestly I really don't know about an endgame."

"So are you going to tell this person that she's your client?"

"I have to, she'll be discharged soon then my agents will have to stay with her wherever she goes."

"Well good luck with that."

Fitz finished his lunch and stayed for another hour or so before taking off.

He ordered his agents to inform him when Olivia's family leaves the hospital.

They needed to have that talk. She needed to know what's going on.

So here he was, at 9pm, entering Olivia's hospital room with a big brown envelope in his hand.

She was sitting up right in her bed, scrolling on her phone when his presence grabbed her attention.

"Hi." Fitz figured that would do.

"Am I dreaming? I can't be dreaming I'm not asleep.. And if I were asleep and this was a dream, why would I be dreaming of you??"

"Olivia.. you're very much awake, okay."

"If you didn't annoy me so much I would've actually been afraid of you at this point. How did you even get in here?"

"Visitor's pass."

"Of course since you're my friend and all."

"Can I talk to you?"

"What could we possibly have to talk about?"

"Your accident for starters."

"Did you have something to do with it? Is that why you're doing the most, because you feel guilty?"

"I had nothing to do with your accident." Fitz moved further into the room and stood in front of her bed.

"Are you a cop?"

"No, not exactly."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look, I have information but I need you to listen and to remain calm. Can you do that?"

Olivia was befuddled. It took her a minute to respond.

"Okay.." Her voice just above a whisper.

"Are you aware of the corruption and fraud allegations against your fiancé's company?"

"Of course I am."

"Has he discussed any of that with you?"

"No he hasn't, he just assured me he wasn't part of it."

"And you believed him?"

"He's my fiancé..."

"So you did believe him?"

"I didn't say that."

"He's very deeply involved Olivia."

"What!? No.. He wouldn't be that stupid."

"You just said you didn't believe that he wasn't apart of this though."

"I mean I can understand that he would've been tempted but..."

"I get it. He's the love of your life. You're giving him the benefit of the doubt."

"How do I know you're not making this shit up?"

"I'm not."

"You're Julia's brother?"

"Uh, yes." Fitz frowned at the random question.

"I just don't understand what's your place here. Where do you fit in? What is all of this?"

"Like I said, I have information. Here." He handed her the envelope.

Inside of it were printouts of the emails and texts between Chad and the FBI Agnet Drew Martin, transcripts of their phone calls and surveillance photo's of their meet ups.

She read through everything, getting angrier as she went on.

"How did you even get this? Are you FBI? CIA?"

"I run a company providing protection services."

"Protection services.. The guards?"

"They're my agents assigned to protect you from any possible danger."

"Did Chad hire you after my accident?"

"No.. Chad doesn't even know me. Well apart from me being the douchebag from that night."

"So, who then?"

"I told you this morning, I was there at the scene and I wanted to help."

"Oh okay so you just decided to put me on your client list? Why would you help a complete stranger?"

Fitz chuckled. "All of our clients initially are complete strangers and well I wouldn't say you're complete stranger."

"No, you just nearly walked me into the ground and headbutted my fiancé into a deep sleep. Totally not strangers." She was being sarcastic.

"You're being so extra. Look, I did it because you didn't deserve to get caught in this mess."

"Again, you don't know me.."

"I know you on paper. We do research on all of our clients."

"On paper.. Still doesn't mean you know me."

"Well that's all I need to know. We don't exactly set out to form friendships with our clients, getting to know them is not what's important. The main goal is to keep them safe."

Liv decided to change the subject and ask more questions.

"So this whole investigation will lead to nothing once Chad pays this guy?"

"I don't know, I mean this guy could be playing him and maybe Chad is aware of that which is why he only gave him half the original amount."

"No wonder he's been acting so weird lately. He's been tense and just not the Chad I know."

"Didn't he find it odd that there are guards outside your room?"

"He did. He was freaking out. Maybe he was worried that whoever got these guards will be onto him soon."

"We don't normally do this but I'm going to give the police a similar envelope which a gave you."

"What? You can't do that, Chad will end up in jail!"

"Their company has been stealing people's money Olivia. Those weren't just allegations, it's the truth."

"You don't get to just expose them, it's not your job. They're already under investigation. Let the SEC or FBI or whoever handle this."

"There'll be nothing to handle if Agent Drew Martin actually holds up to his end of the deal and make everything go away."

"What is it that you have against my fiancé? Do you really hate him that much after eavesdropping on our argument? Couples argue, that's normal!"

"I can't hate the guy if I don't even know him. I'm just doing what's right."

"No, you're getting involved in something that has nothing to do with you."

"You almost died because of him."

"Do you have some kind of sick infatuation with me?"

"No I fucking don't." Fitz said sternly and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Your actions say otherwise. I have a fiancé! We're getting married! Whatever issues we have? That's our shit to work through!"

"Are you getting married? I'm pretty sure I heard you accusing him of cheating. You smell like vanilla scented perfume, that ring a bell?"

"Oh my godd what is wrong with you!?"

Fitz sighed. "Look I'm sorry. I just came here to tell you the truth, I promise you'll never have to see my face again after tonight. My agents will escort you from the hospital once you get discharged. Wherever you go, they go. Only once we know for sure that your life is no longer at risk then we'll terminate our services. Obviously we will not be charging you. Please don't give my agents any difficulties, they won't be in your way. Their number one priority is to protect you. If you work with them this whole thing will be a lot easier."

Fitz did what he had to do. He stepped back. He was doing his job. He was following the rules.

"And what about you tipping off the authorities?"

"You're a lawyer, you know that the truth is all that matters. Goodbye Olivia."

Then Fitz left, leaving Olivia with a lot to think about.

xxx

2 Days Later

"Livvie who are these people? I thought once you left the hospital we wouldn't be seeing them again." Her mother was referring to the guards surrounding their premises.

Olivia and her parents were having lunch in their kitchen.

"I'll tell you guys soon enough."

"Now you're worrying me.." Her dad said.

"Don't dad, really.. Everything's just fine, I promise."

Fitz on the other hand was mostly back to being his normal self.

"Hey fool, I hear you're waiting on somebody.. Is it a girl? Are you finally putting yourself out there again?" Ryan asked sitting down across from Fitz.

"Damn Julia can't keep anything to herself. Although I am meeting up with a girl, this isn't a date, it's work related."

"Oh come on Fitzy, we won't embarrass you."

"Ryan seriously this is a work related meeting and you gotta get your ass up because she'll be here any minute. You do realise I'd never bring a girl here on a date right?"

"Why the hell not? You love this place."

"Yeah but you and Jules are way too nosy."

"Whatever, I'm going but I'll be watching."

"Please don't.. This person probably have eyes all over this place, if they see you watching on from a distance they'll think you're up to something." Fitz knew that would scare him off.

"Okay okay."

Ryan went back to the kitchen while Fitz chuckled quietly to himself.

He waited another 10 minutes until this mystery person finally showed up.

"Hey, have a seat. I must say I was kinda surprised when you called."

"My sister told me everything." Talia said once she was seated.

"Okay..?"

"I wanted to slap you so hard when I found out you lied about being her friend."

"Would you like to do that now?"

"Don't be silly, no actually.. I came here to thank you."

"Why didn't you just do it over the phone?"

"No, you deserve a personal thank you. You went out of your way to protect my sister when you didn't have to."

Fitz wanted to ask how Olivia was doing but he kept hearing his mother's voice saying "Step back Fitz"

This meeting with Talia sort of contradicts to that but he figured he owed her an apology as well.

"I appreciate that Talia and I would really like to apologize for lying to you. I mean you started to trust me. What I did was wrong and I'm sorry."

"You did what you had to. I get that now."

"Yeah.."

"So uh, anyway Liv is good. She's getting better by the day."

"I didn't ask.." Fitz said with a humorous undertone.

"You care about her, I can see that. Even though I really don't understand why. ."

"There is no why." He answered quickly.

"Okay." Talia laughed. "Well I should be on my way. It was good to see you Agent Fitz."

"Funny." He chuckled. "We probably won't be seeing each other again, so it was good seeing you too."

Talia was barely out the door when Ryan came over to Fitz.

"Eyes all over this place? You made that whole thing up to scare me didn't you?"

"And how did you come to that conclusion dear brother?"

"She looks way too young for all that."

"Don't judge a book by it's cover Ryan."

"So who is she?"

"I told you it's work related."

"Do you want me to get Jules?"

"You're being stupid, I'm leaving."

"You're just a sensitive little boy aren't you?"

"That's why mom loves me more than you and Julia combined." He smirked.

"She loves you because you don't have anyone in your life. Julia and I are both married. We receive enough love."

"That's low."

"No it isn't. You're kind of a nice dude, go get yourself someone to spend your time with."

"I go on dates Ryan."

"You haven't in a while though and that doesn't count. You do that for fun."

"So you want me to settle down?"

"Yes! And don't give me that I-don't-believe-in-marriage crap."

"You don't need to be married to show someone how much you love 'em."

"I could always put your number on our menu."

"As long as it falls under the main course I don't have a problem."

"I was thinking more towards a beverage."

"Why? Because I can quench any woman's thirst, ha!"

The two brothers cracked up at their own silliness.

"I gotta go, I have work to do. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah man, see you." Ryan pulled him in for a hug.