Part 40
When Fitz eventually exits her room, he looks as though he's aged 10 years.
Abby immediately thinks the worst, and is almost too afraid to ask… "How is she?"
"She's okay, she's sleeping…" He pauses. "It seems Eli got her in just the nick of time…" he tells her with an obvious catch in his voice.
Abby reads in-between the lines… "You mean she wasn't…?"
"No, she wasn't raped." he exhales; as does Abby in sheer relief. "Thank God for that… And the baby?" She asks; dare she hope for more good news?
"According to Liv, he is fine, the doctor ran an ultrasound and they were able to detect a foetal heartbeat."
"Oh my God Fitz, that's wonderful news… I was so worried… there was so much blood… I thought…"
"I know, I thought the exact same thing." He runs his hands through his hair, frustrated and entirely exhaustedly. He sighs heavily. "She's taken a severe beating though, she's in a great deal of pain and discomfort. Including 3 broken ribs, a nasty bump at the back of her head, a split lip, and a horrible contusion beside her left eye. And due to the extensive bruising on her abdomen, the nurses are monitoring her closely for signs for internal bleeding, although as of yet there are none."
"Have they given her something for the pain?" Abby asks concerned, her eyes welling up, at the mere thought of her friend being subjected to such brutality.
"They want to, but she's refusing all pain relief… she doesn't want it to harm the baby… But at least she's sleeping now…" He can feel that he's just about holding it together, but he knows he must remain strong for both of them, therefore selflessly he swallows down his grief, in order to remain focused on the much bigger picture… for example, where do they go from here?
"Any news on Eli?" He asks.
"He's still in surgery, that's all I know."
"And Huck? Did you manage to reach him?"
"No not yet?"
"That's not like him?"
"Do you think he's found out? And has gone to hunt down those responsible?"
"God knows? But in a way I hope he hasn't- because I want to be the one to end those bastard's lives!"
Abby reaches out to him. "Fitz, you need to leave this one to the police, don't go getting yourself killed over this… You just need to focus on getting Liv strong enough to travel, and get her to Vermont as soon as possible. As long as she remains here in Washington DC she's in danger, and so are you for that matter!"
"I want to kill them Abby! They tried to take her from me, our baby too… I don't know if I can let that go?"
"You might have to, if it means choosing between keeping your family safe or exacting revenge."
He knows Abby's right, but he's so angry, he's actually finding it hard to think straight.
"Look, why don't you come back to the flat, try and get some sleep."
"I'm not leaving her Abby, I can't…"
"There's a policeman outside her door, and you said so yourself, she's sleeping and quite frankly by the looks of it- you could do with a couple of hours kip as well- Trust me, you won't be doing anyone any favours by staying up…" However, sensing he's not about to give in on the matter, she changes her angle... "Okay, well if you won't go back to the flat, then at least see if the hospital can put you up in a bed for the night."
He mulls it over for a bit. "Okay fine, but only if I can stay in her room- I don't want to let her out of my sight…"
"Good, I'll go speak to the nurse, in the meantime I grabbed you some potato chips… Please eat something, if not for me, then for Liv- you need to keep your strength up…"
10 minutes later, after having a word with Nurse Griffin, Abby returns, glad to see he has followed her instructions, as she watches him place a couple of chips in his mouth. She takes a seat beside him. "All sorted," she tells him, giving him a friendly nudge.
He turns and looks at her meaningfully. "Abby, I need to thank you; thank you for everything… Honestly, you have been a tower of strength throughout all this, and not just tonight either, you're constantly there for Liv, and you've been there for me too..." Thoughtfully, he adds... "Not many people would be so excepting of a man who leaves his wife for another woman, especially under these circumstances; but you never judged me, nor Liv for that matter; but then again not many white women would happily open their home to a person of colour either... You're a rarity Miss Whelan, and it's refreshing to pay witness to it, and to call you a friend. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin to repay you for your kindness, but above all your understanding?"
She's touched. And despite all the bad things that have happened along the way, she knows she would do the same again in a heartbeat. Because when it came to true love, she would always champion it, especially for a friend... She smiles; there was no repayment necessary, but to be a sport she replies candidly... "I tell you what, you promise that you'll name your first kid after me, and buy me a new hat for your wedding… and I'll call it even."
Fitz smiles, his first genuine smile of the day… "You're one in a million Abby... Deal!"
Xxxxx
"What do you mean it went wrong?" Jerry yells at him, spitting with rage.
"The men I sent after Miss Pope are dead!" Jake reveals.
"And Miss Pope? Please tell me she's dead too?!"
"I'm not certain, she was rushed to the hospital, as was her dad?"
"Elijah?! What on earth was he doing there?!" Jerry exclaims.
"It appears he was the one who intervened, followed closely by your son…"
"Is Fitz hurt?"
"No, he appears to be fine…"
Jerry begins to pace the ground, his once seamless plan was starting to unravel, fast. "You told me that you had it sorted Jake! But this is FAR from sorted!"
"I know, and I'm sorry, but obviously I entrusted the wrong people to carry out the job".
"You're right, it should have been you! Well, I tell you what, for your own sake YOU better get on this right away, and clean this mess up once and for all- including Miss Pope while you're at it, otherwise I have no qualms about throwing you under the bus for this, and you know I have the man power to do it!"
"Yes Sir!"
"Go and do what I pay you for Ballard, go handle it, GO HANDLE IT NOW!"
Although, unbeknownst to them all, a certain police officer, looking for a neat and tidy pay out, was currently leaking the story to the press.
"Grant and his new political stance on the Civil Rights Act… Take it to bed!"
It seems Jake was going to have a near impossible task of keeping this situation contained, whilst Jerry and Mellie were about to loose their minds.
