To my readers, I'll apologise if the turn of events are not as some of you wished for, or hoped for... Although I'd like to point out, that nothing is actually set in stone at this time. However, I have to stay true to my plans, and the era that it is set in, which is a very dark backdrop to this love story. Which, may I add is my main objective here, to tell a love story, in all it's wonder and turbulence that comes along with it being set in a time that racism and violence was very much prevalent.
I never once promised that it would be pretty ride for Olitz in this fic.
It's up to you if you wish to read on, although to be honest, I believed I had you all well primed leading up to these recent events, and the direction it was going in, and if you made that conscientious decision to read on, knowing there was a possibility I would take it there, and you now find it upsetting, or displeasing then maybe you shouldn't have read on.
But to all those, who have read on and are still happy to remain on the journey with me, thank you for your continued encouragement and responses, as it has always been, and will continue to be appreciated.
Thank you.
Part 38
Urgently, "How is she? Can I see her?!" Fitz asks the nurse coming out of Liv's room. He and Abby had been waiting over an hour with no news of her condition, whilst the doctors worked tirelessly.
When he turned up at the scene, the image of her lying there, her broken body, exposed, bruised and bloody, now haunts his every single thought... He had run to her side, ignoring the others who were bleeding out around her. One of them, much to his surprise being her father, another- whom he did not recognise, leaning up against the wall, coughing and spluttering up blood as he bleed profusely from his mid-section and the last; the very worst, still lying on top of her his brains splatted out on the ground. But he did not care about any them; for Liv was all he cared about, as callously he pushed her attacker's lifeless body off of hers, no longer trapping her beneath his crushing weight.
"Liv?" She was barely conscious… "What have they done to you?" he had wept brokenly, unable to comprehend that this was happening, that the woman he loved had just been attacked in ways that he did not want to imagine… Against his better judgement, he had swooped her up into his arms… knowing that he probably shouldn't have moved her, but yet unable to stop himself from holding her, shielding her, comforting her as best he could. "Just hold on my sweet… please hold on… ABBY CALL AN AMBULANCE!"
Faintly, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" were the only words that fell from her lips, before she closed her eyes and finally gave into the pull of the abyss that been threatening to engulf her...
"Sorry, but are you Next of Kin?" The nurse looks at him sceptically. Abby answers instead, "We're Olivia's friends."
"Is the baby okay?" Fitz asks impatiently, desperately needing to know answers.
"I'm sorry, but I can only speak to her Next of Kin at this stage." The nurse replies apologetically.
"But her only Next of Kin is in surgery… We are all she has right now, please, at least tell us how she is doing? Is she awake?" Fitz persist.
The nurse can tell he is genuinely concerned and worried, and briefly wonders what was his connection to the patient. She had been beaten pretty badly, no doubt a racist, thuggish attack, sadly she had seen a number of them in her time. And like many of them, Miss Pope had a number of tell-tell signs, indicating that her attacker had not stopped at simply beating her. Although, at this time nothing was conclusive until they gained her consent to examine her, which at this time she could not give. "No, Miss Pope is still unconscious… however due to the extent of her injuries, the doctor is deciding whether or not it would be in her best interest to keep her sedated…"
"Was she, was she…" He can't even say it, as if saying it would confirm his deepest fears and turn them into reality. Abby puts her arm around him.
"I'm sorry, Mr….?"
"Mr Grant," he finishes off, looking at the nurse expectantly.
"Mr Grant," she scrunches up her brow, "I'm sorry, but until Miss Pope awakes, I can't say much more, not without her permission."
Abby steps in, sensing Fitz's complete and utter desolation; it was simply killing him having to wait out here, not knowing how she was, whilst also being powerless to make it all better. Trying to sound hopeful, Abby turns to the nurse and pleads to her kinder nature, "Please Nurse…" she reads her name off of her badge… "Nurse Griffin, as soon as she wakes, can you tell her we're here and that Fitz wants to see her."
She agrees, "Sure, I can do that… but for now you must try and sit tight… I'll let you know as soon as there's a change."
"Thank you". They both respond gratefully.
Fitz slumps back into his seat, holding his head in his hands. Abby lacks the words to console him, for she also took stock of Liv's injuries, and the way in which they found her; and it didn't take an expert to work out what had happened, or for Liv's sake what was about to take place. Those animals, she was glad that they were dead, as much as she disliked Eli, she was thankful he had been there. With the future so uncertain, and Fitz and Liv's world presently falling apart, Abby did not know what to do with herself, but she did feel the inexplicable need to keep busy. She had spotted a coffee machine on the way in, thinking they could both do with some caffeine; it was going to be a very long night ahead… Fitz nods in agreement to her suggestion, needing something to take the edge off, although he suspected he needed something stronger. However, when Abby turns to go and get the coffee, she is faced with two Police Officers… "Excuse me… Miss Whelan and Mr Grant… We have a few question for you, can you please follow us."
Xxxxxx
They spoke to them separately…
"Mr Grant, can you explain to us as to how you came across the scene that took place between Miss Pope, her father and her attackers?
How did he even begin to explain the last few months, the build-up that had led to these regrettable circumstances, for it had begun the very first moment he realised he had fallen in love a woman, whom by every definition was forbidden to him, but yet somehow perfect in his eyes… However, with Liv and their baby lives still hanging in the balance, he had nothing to hide, not any more, not if it could help the police track down who was responsible. Because deep down he knew this wasn't just some random, ill-fated encounter… this was a deliberate attempt to destroy them and their future lives together.
From what he could gain from the scene he walked into, it appeared that Eli had interrupted the attackers, with a round of gunfire, but it seemed one was carrying too, and Eli took two shots in his chest. The shots that Eli delivered however were fatal… One of the perpetrators was killed instantly, and the other dead by the time the paramedics turned up.
The Police officer's face became a myriad of expression, as Fitz relayed every single detail about his affair with Liv, about the surveillance and photos that had been taken of them without their knowledge, and her father's threats and attempt to break them apart. The police man was flabbergasted, he couldn't believe this was the same upstanding, forthright, supposedly "married" Fitzgerald Grant III, who was planning to run for State governor… Had the world gone crazy? Although, he could not deny it, from the evidence it clearly appeared to be a deliberate and calculated attack upon Miss Pope, in an attempt to sabotage their relationship.
"Thank you Mr Grant… That will be all for now, although I'm sure my Superior would like to speak with you too, once I have reported this back to him."
"That's fine with me, just as long as you find those responsible and make them pay for what they've done… Because God help me, if you don't, then I will. And that's not a threat, that's a promise. Now if you don't mind, I would like to return to the waiting room, and see if there is an update on my love and my child."
Xxxxx
Nurse Griffin was there waiting; greeting him upon his return. "Ah, there you are..." She gives him a wan smile… "Olivia's awake, and she's asked for you…"
