Tri-Olitz Chapter 10
McGowan
Bu…zz…zz. Bu…zz…zz.
The buzz and whine of the lobby area badge reader alerts those nearest the reception area in the Cyber Security Division of the CIA a visitor is on site. The buzz is quickly followed by the clunk of the lock release and wisp of the heavy security door swinging opening. Two men in uniform enter unescorted. Chatty groups of two and three standing near the doorway go silent surprised by the unannounced visit of a high ranking military official. General McGowan, accompanied by his adjutant, Percy Haines, ask the office assistant at the reception desk for directions to Olivia's office. Neither the general nor the adjutant feels the need to identify themselves or provide an explanation for their visit. The scrawny young man with red hair, coke-bottle glasses and a slight facial tick behind the desk directs them to the closest aisle leading to Olivia's workstation. They give a nod of thanks then march briskly to their target destination. The assistant sends a quick email to alert Olivia two uniformed military officers are headed her way, their purpose unknown.
McGowan and Haines step with deliberateness through the aisles, the rustling sound from the fabric of their shifting uniforms works like a dinner bell calling the hungry. As the two imposing strangers make their way through the rows of padded cubicles, heads poke out of from behind wall, chairs slide across the carpet floors and the static hum of enquiring voices disrupts the usual office quiet. Ringing phones go unanswered and the truly curious quietly follow at a distance determined to learn the two visitor's ultimate destination.
McGowan reaches Olivia's cubicle and finds her engaged in an animated whisper-voice conversation with Cyrus, Reese and Fitz. The conversation is so intense the focused four are unaware McGowan and Haines are standing in front of Olivia's cubicle. At first, McGowan decides to wait for a pause in the conversation but upon hearing it mentioned two military officers are expected to show up in any second, he forsakes waiting for a lull and clears his throat. All heads turn to see the person letting his presence be known.
Olivia POV
Is he here to make sure I'm leaving the building, geez? No, he's probably here to gloat or to add insult to injury?
"Ms. Pope, Captain Grant, gentlemen", McGowan addresses in the typical direct military tone.
"General", we all reply in unison, with looks of confusion.
"Director Beene, is there some place private we all can talk?"
"Is there something wrong General", Reese asks standing concerned.
"No, just something I need to speak to Ms. Pope about that I think all of you should hear".
"We can use the conference room next to my office."
As a group we quickly make our way to Cyrus' private conference room and take a seat at the large mahogany table. Cyrus, Reese, Fitz and I sit together on one side, McGowan and Haines on the opposite side.
"Ms. Pope there is no honor or award to truly reflect the amount a bravery, loyalty or sacrifice you showed in rescuing Captain Grant. This nation sleeps safer because you dealt a crippling blow to a major terrorist's organization. You retrieved a major military asset in the person of Captain Grant and your determination and ingenuity have all branches of the military feeling quite proud".
"General I appreciate how you went to bat for me, however, if you recall the other branches found my action rogue, unstable and unfit for intelligence work". "In fact, I laugh, they've gone on the official record formally reprimanding and dismissing me for my actions, so forgive me if I find your assessment of my hearing somewhat disingenuous".
"Ms. Pope the official record of the proceeding will never see the light of day. The entire hearing was strictly to afford the other branches the opportunity to dress you down. Let's be frank Ms. Pope, although you are not enlisted, you did serve within purview of the military and as such were subject to military disciplinary action".
"I don't understand, am I fired or not, if everything was merely for show?"
"Oh yes, your employment is definitely terminated. Rogue behavior cannot exist in a military environment where chain of command is essential to order, function and continuity".
"O...kay General, thank you for clearing up the reason for my hearing and confirming my unemployed status".
"General, will the official record continue to attribute credit for the mission to others rather than Olivia? After all it was her op", Fitz reminds.
"Fitz, it's okay", I say patting his chest to calm him.
"I understand your frustration Captain and Ms. Pope's disappointment in not receiving recognition for her part in the mission, however, the op was unsanctioned and could have turned into a disaster."
Fitz is about to say more when Cyrus cuts in.
"This is where I'll have to disagree with you General."
"Cyrus, I know you have great respect and confidence in Ms. Pope but…".
"It's not confidence General, it is total and complete trust in her judgment and ability. She has uncovered more coded messages involving western targets than any other analyst since coming to the CIA. She never theorizes, she sticks to the irrefutable facts. If an attack or assassination is imminent, she confirms that the intel is accurate, verifiable and most importantly current. We have not lost one comprised asset under her watch. Olivia Pope is a protector of those in the field, under deep cover and serving in any sort of diplomatic capacity. Olivia is a true patriot. The stuff shirts at the hearing this morning are poor examples of the ideal and motto for their military branch. Pope was not willing to leave a man behind and she executed a dangerous extraction with surgical precision. Please don't insult the intelligence of those here by implying it was merely dumb luck the rescue didn't turn into a clusterfuck".
Reese adds, "Today the intelligence community suffered a great loss. Olivia is an exceptionally rare breed of analyst. I've never encountered anyone like her in all my years of serving. She is one of the unsung heroes behind the scenes who make it possible for the military to execute successful missions and pat themselves on the back for a job well-done. Men with ribbons and shiny brass stars always forget to thank the civilian men and women hunched over their desks combing through endless amounts of data to provide reliable intel to the boots on the ground. Military command thinks team and brotherhood only extends to those in uniform. Well General, without the Olivia Popes of this world, you and your khaki camouflaged brethren would be fighting the good fight with Stone Age technics".
"Gentlemen I did not come here gloat or give a lecture. Me and my khaki brethren recognize the incredible job Ms. Pope did in rescuing Captain Grant".
"What…really…is that a fact"…, we all smirk one after the other.
"You certainly have a strange way of showing it", Fitz bites.
"Captain, if you'll indulge me a few more minutes and allow me to state my purpose in being here I think all of you will find my assessment far from disingenuous".
"General I'm not the one that was fired. It's up to Olivia if she wants to hear what you have to say".
I'm angry, curious and feed-up all at the same time. What more can McGowan possibly have to say to me?
"General…", I hesitate, debating whether to send him packing or listening to his explanation.
"Go ahead Liv, let's hear him out", Cyrus votes.
"Yes, I think we're all curious", Reese concurs.
"Fine, please continue General", I relent.
"Is it ready, McGowan asks Haines?" Haines nods rotating a laptop he's placed on the table to face McGowan.
"General, nice to see again. I take it you are with Ms. Pope".
"Yes sir, I'm with her now".
"Ms. Pope someone would like to speak to you".
I try to place the voice coming from the laptop, it's familiar but I draw a blank. I look over at Fitz who is smiling from ear to ear. Apparently, he recognizes the voice. McGowan places the laptop in front me. I look down and see the face of the voice and for a second I can't breathe.
"Ms. Pope this is President Vargas". I gasp, cover my mouth and turn to Fitz pointing at the screen. Completely unnerved, I clumsily push my chair away from the table out of sight of the camera.
"Ms. Pope are you there, are you there Ms. Pope?" Fitz rubs my back encouraging me to move forward.
"Yes, Mr. President I'm here. My voice a little shaky. I'm here with my fiancé Captain Grant, Director Beene and Chief Reese.
"Excellent, they should hear this too".
"Thank you, sir, for including us", Cyrus says on behalf of he and Reese.
"First let me apologize for not being able to bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon you. Manipulating that record would be somewhat trickier. But both the Congressional and Presidential medal are equal in stature and convey the highest degree of honor available to a civilian, although from what I read of your mission, I think you have some navy seal training in you". Everyone laughs.
"Thank you sir, but I don't understand".
"General did you tell her why she's here?"
"No sir, I thought the element of surprise was more befitting of the ceremony".
"I see, well Ms. Pope, the general is there to present you with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the highest civilian award of recognition". Haines takes a box out of his attaché case, opens the box containing the medal and hands it to McGowan.
Everyone's mouth drops open, we're speechless. Fitz hugs me and kisses me several times. Reese and Cyrus smile brightly like proud parents and I cry softly into Fitz's shoulder, releasing weeks of stress.
"Ms. Pope please stand", I hear McGowan say.
Fitz helps me to my feet, he wipes the tears from my eyes with his pocket hanky. Holding hands, we face the President together. Cyrus and Reese also stand.
"Olivia, may I call you Olivia?"
"Of course, Mr. President".
"We've been searching for that particular munitions deport for months with no success. That depot had been the source untold numbers of weapons and explosive devices used in actions across the globe. Olivia, you and your team delivered a major setback to the militant extremists' network".
"I want you to understand, the decision not to go public with your role in the mission is not so much a reprimand as it is decision to keep you safe. If word got out about your part in the operation, you would immediate become a target for every low-ranking jihadist looking for glory and a quick trip paradise".
"I understand sir. Thank you". Fitz comforts me with a hug.
"Olivia although no one outside the upper echelons of military intelligence will ever know of your exemplary service and heroic exploit, no one, even the military officers who sat in judgment at your dismissal hearing, want your role in this historic mission to go unrecognized. Please accept this honor from a grateful military, Congress and nation".
McGowan hands me the medal in its silk lined box. The medal, engraved with my CIA file photo, god I hate that picture, it's right up there with a hideous DMV or booking photo. The words "Olivia Pope defender of freedom and supporter of the armed forces" are also engraved around the edge of the medal. I rub my finger across the face of the medal, then look up at a beaming Fitz, his face full of love and pride.
My legs feel like jello and my heart is racing. I swear if Fitz wasn't holding on to me I'd be a crumpled mess on the floor.
"Mr. President…I…I…I'm honored…humbled…grateful. I don't know to say. This is truly an honor". Damn I sound like a blithering idiot…uh…uh…uh. Where's my Ivy League education when I need it? Shit!
"Mark this day down gentlemen because we will probably never see it again in our lifetime, a speechless Olivia Pope", Cyrus jabs.
"I'm so proud of you Livvie".
Fitz pecks me on the lips and whispers in my ear how he plans to show me how proud he is over and over again tonight. I cannot believe his crazy ass is stoking my honeypot in front of the POTUS. I'm going to kill him later; sexually that is.
Haines snaps a few photos with his Fuji instamatic camera.
Curious, Cyrus asks McGowan "how will this appear in the congressional record?"
"Officially, Ms. Pope is receiving this honor for her tireless work with and on the behalf of veterans".
"Captain I have to say I hope you know a lot of men envy you. You have one amazing woman there. People always say they'll move heaven and earth for the one they love but Captain your fiancé is the only person I've known to actually do it. You better hold onto her for dear life, she is rare and absolutely priceless".
"Mr. President, with all due respect you, don't have tell me of Olivia's incalculable worth for I've known it since the moment we met as children. I count myself the luckiest man on earth because she gave me the incomparable honor and treasured gift of her love".
"I must say Captain Grant your eloquent heartfelt words best any award or medal I can give Ms. Pope. I wish you two peace, prosperity and great success as you journey forth in life together".
"Thank you sir", Fitz and I say together.
"Before I go, not be presumptuous but I expect an invitation to your wedding", President Vargas grins.
"Wow, it would be our honor sir. Thank you."
"No Olivia, the honor would truly be mine. I'm sorry I have to cut this short, duty calls. Olivia, Captain, General, Reese, Beene, it's been a pleasure, good-bye". The screen fades to black and silence fills the room.
"Ms. Pope it has indeed been honor. Please keep in touch with Director Beene, I'm sure there will be contractual opportunities in the future where your skills can be utilized". McGowan extends his for me to shake.
"I will General. However, as I will be a for-profit concern in private life my services will not come cheap. After all I won't have the same degree of resources at my disposal".
"I'm sure a fair and equitable price can be negotiated. Cyrus will be in touch".
"Until then General".
"Until then Ms. Pope. Gentlemen", McGowan nods and leaves with Haines following right behind him.
Fitz POV
I shake McGowan and Haines' hands before they leave and thank them. While I appreciate McGowan's support and the president's recognition, I'm still ticked Olivia will never be given rightful acknowledgment for the mission. My Livvie deserves the credit for planning and executing a brilliant strategic operation. Olivia's congressional medal is absolutely deserved; however, it is tainted by the white-washing of her heroic actions.
Olivia seems fine with everything, says it's the kick in the pants she needs to finally step out and do what she wants, crisis management. I have to take her at her word, at least for now. I think she's okay because she doesn't know half a dozen analysts in Briggs' group received promotions because of her op. Huck found out a few days ago and let me know. Fucking Briggs, his team searched two years for that depot and never found it. Olivia found it in 24 hours. Briggs is a total brown-nosers who willing takes credit for other's work. The guy has no shame or honor. Huck says he'll take care of Briggs. I was so pissed when he told about the promotions I forgot to ask how he planned to address the Briggs issue. I don't think he plans to kill him but I won't lose any sleep if Briggs' lying tail gets roughed up.
"Ms. Pope, Congressional Medal recipient, will you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you home?"
"I guess, you are my ride". I love it when she's snarky. We can take the freight elevator in the back. I want to bypass all the looks of pity".
"Okay babe whatever you want. Let's go pick up your stuff".
"Liv, your colleagues want to say good-bye, can you spare a few minutes?"
"Director, I appreciate the sentiment, I really do. I've just never been good at saying good-bye".
"I understand your reluctance. Remember I have access to your profile. We're not talking cake and speeches, only handshakes and nods. Olivia at one point or another you've helped everyone on the other side that door. Let them express their appreciation, this is only time they'll have the opportunity".
Olivia hems and haws for a bit but eventually agrees. After I grab her two boxes of belongings, we exit walking down the aisles leading to the division entrance instead of the freight elevator. One by one every person she's worked with stands in front of their cubicle waiting to shake my Livvie's hand. The restrained decorum of a simple handshake is observed by some but most choose to express their gratitude with a tearful hug. Everybody claps when she turns to wave goodbye because they all know what she did and for Olivia the fact that her co-workers know the truth it is enough for her.
We stop at HR to turn in her badge, sign some paperwork, including the CIA's version of a non-disclosure agreement which basically promises to lock her up in federal for a billion years if she so much as speaks one word about the work she was involved in.
Cyrus and Reese walk us out to avoid the embarrassment of being escorted by security.
"Olivia I'll be in touch", Cyrus promises.
"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call", Reese adds.
"Thank you both for everything". Olivia hugs Cyrus and Reese at the same time.
All I can do is nod to both men because I'm carrying the boxes.
"Ready to go handsome?"
"Absolutely gorgeous." And with nothing else left to be said, we head for home.
Olivia POV
Lost in my thoughts I don't immediately hear Fitz calling my name.
"Liv…Livvie…are you okay?"
"Hm, I'm sorry babe did you say something?"
"I asked if you were okay".
"Yes, I'm fine, just thinking about the future.
"And what do you see the future holding?"
"Actually, it looks quite bright. Being fired is the kick in the pants I need to move forward with opening Olivia Pope and Associates. I've been working on my business plan on and off since grad school and while you were recuperating I really fleshed it out".
"McGowan sounds as if he has definite plans for you?'
"I honestly have no idea. The CIA employs dozens of off the books contractors. I doubt they offer me a black op. More than likely it will have something to do with analyzing the strategy of a black op in play for its' viability before it's actually executed. But…
"But what..."
"Working off the books will be fine at the beginning. It will allow me to build up savings and secure office space. Generating income from crisis management has to my main source of cashflow. Politics has an ebb and flow. Relying on anything said to today beyond the Vargas administration would be unwise. Reese, Beene and McGowan are three party steamers, a dry chicken breast and a cheap gold watch away from retirement. I have to keep my focus on crisis management even in the midst of working on whatever bone they throw my way".
"Livvie, I'm confident whatever you set your mind to will be a success. You can count on me to support your dream and lend a hand whenever you need me to".
"Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, have I told you how much I love you lately?" I ask coyly massaging the nape of his neck.
"Every single day babe, even if you're mad at me".
He pulls down my hand to kiss it. I do tell him I love him every day because we've been through more than our fair share of close calls. I always want the last words we speak to one another to be "I love you". With Fitz, I never want to experience,"woulda…coulda…shoulda".
"I think I'll invite the gang over for dinner to discuss opening Oliva Pope and Associates".
"Not tonight sweet baby. Tonight, I want you in bed wearing nothing except your medal".
"Ooh, will you be wearing your medal too?"
"I think that can be arranged Ms. Pope". I lean over to kiss his cheek and my phone rings.
"It's Jake. Perfect it saves me the phone call about dinner".
"Hey Jake, what's up?"
"Come on Olivia, did actually expect me not call. How did it go?"
"They graciously released me to pursue alternative employment options. And I got an exit bonus".
"A bonus? What kind of bonus? I've never heard of a termination bonus. Is it like severance pay?"
"Liv", Fitz checks me.
"I'll explain everything tomorrow night over dinner. Round up the troops and be at our place at seven".
'You're not going to spend your first day of freedom trying to cook, are you? I'm more than willing to bring pizza or Chinese".
"Screw you Ballard!"
"Thank you for the offer but I think Fitzgerald would object. Anyway, I have another reason for calling".
"Spill".
"I guess news of Fitz's honorable discharge is out. Guess who was spotted coming out of Sweetzer & Cavanaugh PR this morning?"
"Shit, Big Gerry", Fitz groans.
"And the cauldron stirrer"
My turn to groan, "Mellie".
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AN – Yes, my dear readers two updates in two days. Can you believe it? I'm on a roll and we have a holiday coming up. No telling what's in store next.
So, Olivia has been fired; well kind of. McGowan has something up his sleeve. I wonder what it be.
Did you like a living President Vargas? Too much killing on the show so I plan to keep alive the worthier characters in some of my stories.
Can you believe it, the ink isn't even dry on Fitz's DD214 (discharge form) and Big Gerry is swooping in uninvited with Mellie the Menace? Will Fitz be Olivia's first client? Possibly?
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time. Be well and take care.