Part 5
The NOW team had been pulling an all-nighter, the girls were working on a time sensitive case that involved a recently widowed mother of three, Marisa Thomas; whose husband, the only breadwinner of the household- was killed, during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest two months ago. Without her husband's income, she had been struggling to pay the taxes on the house and now the state was looking to evict her and her family within 10 working days. Between the grief of losing her husband and struggling to cope financially on her own, she had allowed the entire situation to consume her whole. Until her Aunt intervened and encouraged her to contact NOW for advice. Much to Marisa's relief, it seemed not all hope was lost- as long as the laddies brought all their resources together, and worked fervently to find a viable solution; one that would hopefully result in Marisa keeping her house.
It was 1.50 am when Quinn and Abby finally decided to throw the towel in and head off home, because truly no amount of coffee was going to keep their eyes open for a second longer. "Come on Liv, time to go you're exhausted… you won't be good for anything in the morning, if you keep this up…"
"Abby's right Liv, come on… I've called Gideon, he'll come and pick us up… Let us drop you home."
"I'm good, besides I think I'm onto something…"
Abby shakes her head. When Liv decided to dig her heals in, there was no winning with her. "Liv, don't be ridiculous- besides it's too late for you walk back on your own- it won't be safe."
"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON IN HERE?"
All three girls jump out of their skin, startled. They had not heard him enter.
"Mr Grant? What are you doing here?" Abby exclaims.
"I should be asking you ladies the same thing." He looks over at Olivia, making sure she's alright. He hadn't meant to spook anyone, but when his taxi drove past the building and he noticed that the lights were on, he asked the driver to pull over so he could investigate. Jet lag or no jet lag, he wasn't going to ignore a possible break in. However much to his relief, it happened to be the ladies still at work. Except, he now finds himself growing increasingly concerned as to why they were still here.
"Is everything alright?" He queries.
"Yes everything is fine…" Quinn quickly fills him in on the case, and tells him that they were just in the process of trying to get Olivia to leave with them too when he walked in.
"I told you guys already, go home… I'm fine."
"Miss Pope, its nearly 2 o'clock in the morning, surely whatever you are doing can wait for a few hours; at least until you can return from a little shut eye?" Like the others, Fitz tries to encourage her to leave her post but it's to no avail- she won't budge. Even the sudden honking from outside, signalling Gideon's arrival- doesn't seem to have any effect on her- as she bids them all goodnight.
Realising he's fighting a losing battle, he silently admits defeat and sees the other ladies out instead. Once outside he also sees to his cab driver, grabbing his luggage from the boot and paying for the fare, before returning to Liv inside. She's a little surprised to see him re-enter; as for a moment she assumed he had left with the others.
Realising that they're the only ones left in the building now, she can't help but notice that her pulse has quickened in pace… What was going on with her? Recently, it was as if her body had a mind of it's on when he was around; his presence alone causing it to sing in response... Pull it together Liv, this is not the time or place to figure this out… you have work to do. He needs to go. She clears her throat, and dropping the formality says… "Fitz, you didn't have to stay, really- I'm a big girl- and you have a family to get back to." As much as she appreciated the gesture, she didn't want him to stay with her, he was too much of a distraction.
"Liv, Mellie and the kids are fast asleep right now, so it won't make a blind bit of difference whether I'm here or there right now- they won't even notice. If anything I'm more concerned about you… Does your father know that you're still here, burning the midnight oil?"
"He told me that he'll be out tonight, so I guess he won't notice either." She replies curtly, keeping her head trained to her work… Hoping that her tone and body language will deter him from staying.
Not a chance.
God she was beautiful, even when she was stressing and tired-she was simply breath taking.
It went without saying, something about this case had her all fired up and determined to finish it;, but there was something else, only Fitz couldn't quite put his finger on it- a sort of nervous energy about her. But one thing was painfully obvious, Liv wasn't going anywhere tonight, well, not unless he stayed and helped her out. So resolutely, he takes off his blazers, rolls up his sleeves and heads to the coffee stand, switching on the kettle.
Her eyes follow him every step, every movement, as she watches him pour too mugs of coffee- God help her, he was staying- and now she could no longer deny it- part of her was excited at the prospect of working so closely with him – This was wrong, she shouldn't be feeling like this.
He walks back over to her, "Here you go…"
Despite her rational self she doesn't protest and takes the offered mug of coffee, her fingers accidently brushing his… "Thanks".
"Right then, scoot over… Let's get this finished!" He states, taking a seat beside her and grinning at her warmly.
As charming as ever she can't help but think, just as she can't seem to hide the unbidden smile that graces her lips too. The last shred of her resistance lifting… "Fine, seeing as you're here, you might as well make yourself useful…"
Looking at her intently, he asks… "So, where would you have me start?"
She swallows. His sexy baritone still hanging in the air, as suddenly the atmosphere between them shifts… Blue cobalt now meeting brown; bodies so close she can feel his heat radiating through his shirt, her every nerve on end, alert and aware of him… All thoughts of work abandoned.
Start by kissing me...
But if she dared to answer him truthfully, would he? Or would he be firing her?
Was she really alone in this?
Mouth dry, she involuntary wets her lips; causing his eyes to cast downwards, staring at them. When he eventually looks back up at her, the desire hidden in their depths can no longer be denied. He wants her.
He bridges closer. "Liv…"
Her heart begins to race, as she realises she doesn't have the power to resist him- not anymore. And when his lips finally meet hers, it takes very little coaxing for her to fully open up to him, allowing him to venture further. A moan escaping her, as his tongue gently begins to massage her, caressing her into a state of bliss. Soft at first and then increasingly demanding, he devours her and she happily lets him, until the need for air becomes too great to ignore, and they breathlessly break apart.
However, the loss of contact soon breaks the spell, as the realisation of what they've done starts to sink in. She backs off- placing her hand over her mouth… Wanting to ease her guilt, Fitz reaches for her, but she shakes her head…
"No… I, we can't do this…"
"Liv…"He reaches for her again.
"No stop", she pushes him away, as if burned by his touch… "Why, why did you kiss me… why did I let you…?" She's trembling, she has never looked more frightened, and he wants nothing more than to hold her and tell her it's going to be okay. But he knows he would be lying. She was right, this shouldn't have happened.
"You're married…"
"I know…"
"And I'm… I'm…" She doesn't want to say it, but as much as they would like to deny it, it was staring them both in the face… "I'm black and you're white… and this…" She motions between them… "This could never work…"
"Liv, I've never cared about skin colour…"
Angered, she yells… "Who cares what you think Fitz, it's what everyone else will think… And they'd blame me, they'd curse me out… Label me as a nothing but a black whore…"
"Don't say things like that Liv…"
"Why, because it's true? You and I both know they'd think it- say it… Why else would you do it Fitz, you tell me!? Unless of course that's what this is about…" She looks at him accusingly, overrun with emotion as Edison's words of warning comes to the forefront of her mind.
However he's horrified that she could even think such a thing… "No Liv, NEVER… Never think that, do you hear me?! And you're right, of course you are, I should have never kissed you like that… but I couldn't stop myself… because I've wanted to, so badly, for weeks now- because the more time I spend with you; the more I get to know you, is the more I can't seem to get you off my mind…"
She shakes her head… "This can't happen Fitz… It can't…"
He slowly starts to move towards her… "Don't you think I know that… but I can't help how I feel, and clearly neither can you, otherwise you wouldn't have kissed me back." He bridges even closer, "this whole time I wondered if you felt the same, but now I know you feel it too; this connection we have- it's real Liv…"
Tears fill her eyes… "Maybe so, but it's wrong… You have a wife, a family… We can't do this Fitz… We need to see it for what is was… a mistake, nothing more and put it behind us, before things get out of hand."
Now standing directly in front of her, he stares into her eyes as he questions heavily… "And do you think you can do that Liv… Just ignore whatever this is between us- and pretend like it never happened? Because honestly, I don't think I can…"
