Part 50

Huck was waiting for her outside.

"Everything alright?" He asks tentatively, for she looks more pensive now than before she went in; like her mind was running on overtime. And to be fair it was- because her father's words were churning over and over in her head. "You need to do what's best for your child... Use your head Olivia..."

"I'm fine." She eventually answers.

Huck's not completely convinced, but he doesn't want to push her, instead, wordlessly he positions himself behind her wheelchair, preparing to wheel her back up to maternity.

"Huck, wait, I need to make a phone call first. Do you think you can sneak me into the lobby?"

"It's not going to be as easy to evade the press downstairs Olivia, but I will do my best."

"Thanks Huck, I appreciate it."

Huck, being Huck, he had already mentally mapped out the hospital's schematics. And by doing so, he had devised the route in which Fitz and Olivia would leave the hospital, today; hopefully undetected. It would be via a series of stairwells, no longer in use by public domain which leads out to the staff car park that was situated at the very back of the hospital. Therefore, in order for them to bypass the press on the lobby level, he reckons it would be wise for them to use the same set of stairs now, and then work out the rest from there.

And so they head in that direction.

10 minutes later they're approaching the lobby area. Huck had skilfully manoeuvred her around the hospital unnoticed; and Olivia finds herself wondering, as she often finds herself doing these days… Where on earth did this man come from?

But thank God he came into her life when he did.

He sets her up in a well sheltered booth, towards the back of the room. "Olivia, I'm going to leave you here, whilst I watch guard from the other side... Try and be as quick as you can, okay?" He has no idea who she's calling, but he suspects it must be important, therefore he doesn't question her.

"I will, and thank you Huck". He simply nods his head in acceptance and then leaves to take up his post.

From memory she dials his number, it was almost half past 6 in the evening, so in theory he should be at home.

"Hello."

She immediately recognises his voice... "Edison?"

"Olivia? Oh my God, are you alright?!" He exclaims; considering all that's going on he's extremely surprised to hear from her.

"I'm as good as can be expected," she tells him in honesty.

"I've been following the story on the news," he admits, "I've been very worried about you Olivia. We all have."

"It's not been easy". She confesses.

"I can see that for myself," he replies knowingly, she has been through alot. "So, you and Fitzgerald Grant, huh? Or as I prefer to call him, "Mr Whiskey." His reference to whiskey taking her right back to the day when she argued with him at her father's house, after finding out that she bought a flask of malt whiskey for Fitz to say thank you… At the time, she had no preconceived idea of what would eventually transpire between them; but in hind sight she realises that she had been so naïve back then. Much to her relief however, the words "I told you so", do not pass Edison's lips. If anything, he remains nothing but supportive. "What can I do for you Olivia?"

"It's Dad, he needs your help- he's in quite a bind and he requires your council."

"And you Olivia? Do you need my help?"

Although she can tell that his offer is "catch free", she gratefully declines. Despite what her father may think, she doesn't need Edison to save her, and staying with him was definitely not in the best interest for her child… "No, I'm alright- I have all I need right here, but thank you Edison."

She's conscious of the time, so she quickly wraps up the conversation, by giving him all the necessary details regarding her father and making him promise to look after him, before finally saying goodbye and genuinely wishing him all the best for the future.

With a small sigh, she hangs up the phone on the receiver, knowing that was probably the last time she will ever speak to him. Edison was a good guy, but unfortunately for him (and her father too), he wasn't the guy for her.

Ready to head back, she signals to Huck and he immediately rushes over… "You good?"

"I'm good," she reassures him with a smile. And now he believes her, because her whole countenance has changed. "Great, in that case lets go." And without a further word, he escorts her back up to her room.

Back at her room, Fitz eagerly awaits for her return. She's gone longer than he thought she'd be, and faced with a string of what ifs he's starting to worry.

"What if Eli changes her mind?"

He knew he should have gone with her, but she had insisted otherwise; because she felt she needed to face her father alone. So, in the end they came to a compromise that Huck would at least follow her down. He knows Huck won't let anything bad happen to her, after all he's done for them already, he trust Huck implicitly with Liv's life, however when it comes to Eli's words of persuasion- all were powerless to protect her. It was solely down to her.

He's begun to pace the floor, checking the time on the clock intermittently, when eventually he hears the turning of the door handle. His heart nearly flips out of his chest as he stands still and looks expectantly towards the door. All it will take is one look at her face, and meeting her eyes and he will know all is well and not lost.

For the first time in days her smile reaches her eyes, as she's wheeled into the room… Despite the bruising that mars her once perfect face, she has never looked more beautiful. "Hi."

"Hi"

With that one word, she had given him all the assurance he could possible need. His girl was back, and they were going home.

Huck takes his queue well- "I'll give you two a minute, and then we need to make a move…"