Thanks for all the comments guys, and staying with me for the long haul.

Part 49

With some help from Quinn and Abby and their expertise in finding loop holes in the law, they finally manage to find a way for Olivia to speak with her Father... By making her Eli's attorney, she then had every right to meet with her client; it was sheer genius. And now, thanks to them, Liv is sitting in a wheel chair outside her father's room waiting to go inside and see him.

After verifying with Eli, that his daughter was in fact his attorney, the officer guarding his room returns and permits her entry into his room, albeit grudgingly. "You may come in Miss Pope." She looks at his badge, "Thank you Officer Towner and if you don't mind, I will need to you remain outside the door, as my client and I will require a private council."

Unfortunately for the Officer he knows he can't argue with her, nor can he refuse her request and therefore reluctantly steps outside.

Finally alone, Eli simply stares at his daughter, almost in disbelief- he honestly thought he would never see her again… "Olivia" he eventually strains out, his chest heaving with the effort of speech.

"Dad…" She has to bite her lip to stop herself from crying, after taking good stock of his appearance not only does he look awful, he sounds awful too. Hold it together, she says to herself, because now was not the time to fall apart.

He senses her unease. "I'm going to be okay Pumpkin," he tells her, knowing that's the kind of reassurance she needs to hear right now. "Please sweetheart, come closer, I won't break- I promise you."

She's not so sure, he has so many wires and tubes attached to him that she's finding it extremely difficult to see her father like this. In fact, she cannot recall a time when her father ever looked so fragile. From as far back as she can remember, Eli hardly ever got sick; her father was built like an Ox, strong and robust- although right now, he was anything but that; instead, the expression weak as a kitten would be a more fitting description to describe his current status. However, acutely aware that she's only got a short amount of time with him, she realises that she must push aside her apprehension; he's got over the worse, she tells herself, as she takes a slow deep breath to compose and steady her nerves, before gingerly wheeling herself forward.

"I can't tell you how good it is to see you," he confesses, because the last time he saw her, her prone tiny body was being crushed beneath the weight of man trying to viciously force his way inside her. Blinded by an indescribable instinct to protect and save his daughter, Eli's only response was to fire a bullet into the back of the villain's skull. But after it all goes hazy, he can't remember a thing.

However, now that's she's closer, he carefully begins to scans her face, as well as her body, taking detailed notes of all her fading bruises and healing cuts, and the fact that she's in a wheel chair doesn't go amiss either… Slowly placing all the pieces of the puzzle together, his brow furrows with growing concern, for he can see that those men had done quite a number on her; he makes a silent prayer to God, that for her sake, he got to her before that monster had the chance to cause the sort of damage that took years, sometimes a lifetime to heal from…

"Are you okay?"

She knows that his question stretches beyond the physical injuries she's sustained. "I'm alright Daddy, you managed to stop him before he... before he could... " she can't seem to get the rest of the words out." But he understands perfectly well and nods his head in affirmation; thankful... "Good" he sighs with relief.

For a brief moment silence falls over them. When the past is too awful to touch upon and the future is so uncertain, words are hard to come by. Although, there is one thing that Olivia knows she must do, and that's thank him for saving her life. "Daddy..." she begins shakily, for the gravity of his sacrifice still leaves a huge lump in her throat. "If you hadn't turned up when you did, I know for a fact that I wouldn't be here now, and I don't know how we can even begin to repay you, but let me start by saying thank you."

The last thing he is looking for is gratitude; because as far as he's concerned protecting his child by any means necessary, is all part and parcel of being a father... Instead, being true to form, and not missing a beat he immediately calls her out on her use of the word we... "We...?"

"Yes... We..." She replies cautiously, completely aware of where he's going with this.

"So he's still around then?" To her ears he sounds shocked more than disappointed.

"Fitz hasn't left my side," she informs with conviction and pride. "And he's not going anywhere Dad, neither am I... I love him, and what I have with him, is more real than anything I have ever felt before. Especially now." Slowly and deliberately she places her hand on her belly.

"You're pregnant?!" It's not so much of a question, but a statement!" But she answer him anyway, "yes".

He shakes his head, almost in defeat... Have you not learnt anything from this whole ordeal, staying with this man will only bring you more misery and pain; and now you're bringing a child into this mess too. Have you completely lost your mind?! Apart from the fact that you are from two different worlds, he can't even protect you Olivia; and if he can't protect you, how on earth is he going to protect this baby from a world and society that vehemently opposes the very idea of its existence. I mean, you tell me, where was he when these men attacked you?"

"He was right behind you Daddy; after you saved me, he was he one who saved you... Fitz found us both, and immediately called for an ambulance, the paramedics resuscitated you right where you fell, and if they had not, you would have died."

He wasn't expecting to hear that, and to an extent this revelation sobers him, as he thinks back to a time when he counted Fitz as a confidant, when he trusted his integrity, enough to let his daughter work with him, but that feels like such a life time ago. Too much had happened; too much water under the bridge... "I suppose you think I should be grateful?" He croaks out.

"I have no expectations dad, I just thought you should know."

If he had the energy to laugh he would, at the sheer irony of it all, Fitz had saved his life, only to have it stripped away again by the corrupt justice system, that the two of them had spent almost a decade trying to oppose and fight for real justice. "Well Olivia, unfortunately his efforts were in vain, because we all know that killing those white boys, means I'm as good as dead already."

"Daddy, you must not give up, please..." Then she pauses, unsure of how open her father will be to this idea, there's a high chance that he'll say no, but she's got to try regardless... "Fitz had already found someone to defend you..."

"No, no, no... Forget it!" He immediately dismisses. Just as she suspected. "Fitz has done me enough favours at it is..." He adds sarcastically. "I want to be represented by my own people in court, so you can forget that idea all together. If you really want to help me you will call Edison for me, as he and his family will have all the contacts I need".

"Edison?" She looks doubtful.

"Yes, Edison... The man you should have stayed with".

"Daddy, we were never together in the first place."

"And that was your first mistake, because he's the type of man that would have looked after you, he would have protected you at all cost, and more importantly he would have been the perfect father to your children, instead your having a child with a white man, who is still married and already has WHITE kids of his own... How can you not see how wrong this is?!"

"Dad, it's really not as it seems"

"No Olivia, it's exactly as it seems, only you chose to not see it that way- but one day you will... Only I'm afraid that by the time you do it will be too late... But's it's not too late now Olivia, we can still fix this... Please, I implore you listen to me, for the sake of this unborn child, my grandchild, it's time to think with your head and not your heart..."

"But Dad..."

He halts her in her protest, reaching over to her and taking her hand in his... "Olivia I'm your father, and I will always love you, and I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life for yours... And when you have this baby, you will understand exactly what it feels like to love unconditionally- you'll only ever want what is best for your child... And I am no different... Olivia, I didn't save your life to watch it go up in flames... Let me help you baby... I've got an idea, let me talk with Edison- just leave it with me..."