Author´s note: Wow, I was really overwhelmed with the numbers of reviews I got till my last update. Thank you very much all of you, reviewers but also the people who just drop in here to read. I am glad so many are enjoying this little story. :)

ShaunV76: Sorry to disappoint. ;) We shall see how that turns out.

LoreneMichelle41: Hehe, I guessed people wouldn´t have a problem with this. ;) But it was also a nice idea to toy around with and logical to me. Jake´s return to the States was maybe a bit foolish, seeing what chaos he left there.

Clio1792: Wow, thank you so much for all your reviews. :) I liked your remarks on power, hammers and nails. Very true that. And I would imagine it´s not easy being in that position, especially if there are people pressing a more militarist agenda, to try and keep a cool head. Which Fitz is not doing for other reasons but I think it makes the situation quite clear, at least I hope it does. On love: I always saw Olivia as someone scared to reveal all about herself as well and I think that has partly stood in the way of her relationship with Fitz, because both of them tend to be closed up at times, her more so than him even. On Eli as the schemer behind it all: I think sooner or later she will have to realize that. And we´ll see what comes of that… ;)

Jennkyle: Thanks. :) Well, there were a few options, I liked the idea of Fitz still trusting Eli, it would make Jake´s capture all the more purposeful because it´s not just Fitz he has against him, he also pretty much ratted on B613

Apollonialust: Thanks and never apologize for long reviews, I really like reading your thoughts on the chapters. There is quite some emotional wreackage that Liv and Fitz have to work through, yes. Great take on Cy there, absolutely true,he knows what it means to have to hide a relationship… And on the reviews. I like to answer to them,g ive back a little something to the reviewers. Also, it often leads to an interesting exchange of ideas. :)

Umusarah: Good to see I could surprise you with that twist. ;) And yes, they definitely need to talk. Thanks for the review. :)

DayDreamLover: Sorry to hear I am causing you that kind of disress but I´ll take it as a compliment, the way you wrote it. :) Glad you liked the Eli / Jake interaction, I was trying to convey a feeling of hostility there that has to remain somewhat subtle for starters because none of these two would back down.

Chapter 11 - Visitors

It was strange to not have a home in Washington DC. She had used to have two, now there was none. Her old apartment gone, and OPA was not exactly a place she felt comfortable going right now, mostly because she believed that the place would probably be mostly deserted. People showing up infrequently Abby had said, Harrison seemed to have vanished for the moment and Olivia wondered whether this once more was her doing. That this was just a friend deciding it would be good to withdraw from her altogether. Harrison was a smart guy after all, but still, the thought hurt and she could not bring herself to driving to the office, scared of the emptiness she might find there.

Therefore, back to the hotel it was. A fancy place, nice enough, a large bed, but the room to her seemed sterile, loudly screaming ´not home´. Not her apartment. Not the OPA. Not the White House. She would not allow herself to think of the place like that, but it felt like home, too. Had felt. Some rooms more familiar and bound to memories than others but still, far from a sterile, unpersonal hotel room.

She had made it through about roughly an hour that conversation with Cy still on her mind, before she came too restless to focus. She had to come up with a plan to see Fitz, would see him, Cy be damned. The problem was, however, that Fitz was probably hurt, would deny to see her and damn his job that was what he very well could do. If he didn´t want to see her, there were literally troops to keep her from him. As she thought that, she noticed her own bitterness directed at herself. They had to work things out. Somehow. But it certainly wasn´t the best of possible starts. She had wanted to call him again and noticed that she was merely waiting for the sun to set, knowing he´d be occupied during the day, his schedule usually letting up some after dinner.

Another hour later and she had decided she would not call yet but try again the next morning. Give him time to calm down. Appear reasonable, as little of that reason as she felt right now. As she wanted to feel right now. But right now, sitting alone in that hotel room, she felt lonely, deserted, in need for a friend. She had tried to make contact with one today who had understandable thrown himself between her and Fitz…but she had other friends as well. Friends she had disappointed and left alone. But once more, for the second time within a day she dialed the number of her best friend.

"Abby?"

This time there was no accusation. Whether it was the better connection of the call or just her tone of voice or intuition, Abby did not argue, but connected the dots.

"You will tell me where you are right now, Olivia Pope." Olivia could tell her friend was trying to sound more reproachful than she managed. "I´ll be right there."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Olivia was sure her friend had been holding a grudge and rightfully so, but still when Abby arrived about 45 minutes later she proved once more to be a true friend, bringing a bottle of wine and the offer to pay for some pizza. "You have some nerves, my friend," she told her as Olivia opened the door, apparently trying to show that she was not entirely okay with her taking off and then showing up again. But Olivia could tell the other woman was far too glad to see her to be able to keep up her anger. A moment later and she felt herself pulled into a hug that was maybe a bit too forceful, then Abby gave her a small push back into the hotel room and closed the door. "Seriously, tell me everything. Where were you? Why? And why are you back now?"

"That´s many questions at once, Abs" Olivia gave back with a faint smile as she took the wine bottle and placed it down. "I don´t think this place has glasses…"

"I brought paper cups." Abby almost interrupted. "Where ever have you been, Liv?"

"Europe."

"That´s like saying ´America´. That´s an entire continent to pick from, care for some details, honey?"

"Vienna."

Abby paused to purse her lips in a mix of surprise and endorsement. "Not that I appreciate your bolting head over heels on the rest of us, but..nice. What did you do there? Left us for another team?"

She could tell Abby was trying to lighten the mood some, but Olivia knew her friend well enough that sarcasm was the other woman´s way of expressing anger, despite the rather light tone. Also, her mentioning of another team almost made her wince. Never, she thought. Could never form another team like this. Yet, she had tried.

"I just…had to get away from all this", she tried, somewhat helplessly.

"Well, and far away you went."

Olivia just gave a sigh. "I guess."

"Was it anything I did?"

"What?"

"Well, why did you leave?"

"It´s complicated, Abs, I wouldn´t even know where to start."

"I guess. I mean. You had a pretty okay life here, dashingly handsome and incredibly smart friends, a slightly messed up job and …well, let´s forget about the men." She made a face and grabbed the wine bottle to open it.

"Abs…"

She turned to make another probably somewhat snarky, humorous remark about men no doubt and one in particular, when she stopped in her tracks, her mouth falling open. "Oh my God!"

"What?" Olivia felt somewhat suspicious.

"It´s because of him!"

"Who?"

"Grant!"

She tried to raise an eyebrow in confusion, but even though she knew the topic would have to come up earlier or later, she had certainly hoped for later. Maybe after wine had had time to dull the effects of the sting this conversation could hold.

"The freaking president?" Abby clarified, obviously misinterpreting her confused face or attempt thereof. "Did they make you leave, Liv? After… you know…all the things that… "

"Abs…"

"I knew it. You know, really, what good can come of a Republican. And a married one at that."

"Abs. Nobody made me leave. It was my decision."

Abby opened her mouth, then closed it again. "You were working for him again. And once he wins the election, you disappear? Sounds strange to me."

"He lost his son, Abby…"

Her friend finally poured the wine, handed her a cup and sat down on the edge of the small sofa in the corner of the hotel room. "How about we don´t talk about these things right?" she suggested with a sympathetic smile which however told her that Abby had never understood what it was between her and Fitz. "Just two girls hanging out tonight, talking, how about that?"

After a moment, Olivia nodded. "Sounds like the best thing I´ve heard in days," she said, trying a smile, then sat down as well, kicking her shoes off. She hadn´t done that all day and it felt good. She looked at her paper cup. "Anything we should toast to?" she asked.

"New beginnings," Abby said at once. "because you´re off the hook tonight tomorrow I´ll so be dragging you back to what´s left of OPA. We don´t function without you, you know that." And with that she took a big gulp.

Whatever else Olivia could have said to that to what..talk her out of that? Agree? She hadn´t thought beyond seeing Fitz yet…was lost when there was a knock on the door.

"Expecting a visitor?" Abby asked, somewhat alert while Olivia suddenly felt what little security her friend´s presence and the anonymity of the hotel room had built up vanish, plummeting somewhere into unknown depths. Her heart beat increased almost painfully, her first thought almost petrifying her: Jake. Had he followed her so quickly? So easily? For a brief instance she called herself a fool. She should have acted; she had been talking to Huck after all. Why had she not acted right then and had Jake put on a no fly list? Stupid!

"Don´t you…want to get that?" Abby asked and she noticed she had indeed just been staring at the door. She got up, slowly, her mouth suddenly feeling dry. Jake. She thought. It was surely Jake. But what if not? A sudden spark of hope. What if it was…

The door had no peephole so she slowed down again, tried to listen. Another knock. Then. "Olivia?"

The incredible relief that came with realizing it wasn´t Jake on the other end of the door mixed with the gut wrenching confusion the voice evoked inside her. What?

She didn´t wait, but opened the door, staring in disbelief at the woman who was outside on the corridor, a suit clad agent waiting a little down the hall.

"Mellie?!"