So every time I see some BS about the current season of Scandal it makes me want to rewrite history. I had planned to put some of the conversations in this chapter off for a bit, but hey, why not? Let's just jump right in to the truth-telling, shall we? It's a rude awakening for Olivia, but she needs it, doesn't she? Also, warning, there is a Jake scene in this chapter. It's not a love scene, but he's here and he's got some stuff to say. Thanks again to everyone for reviewing—please do keep letting me know how you feel! Also this one's a bit longer because I heard that request from one of you for longer chapters, and because I just had so much to say!
Chapter 4
From her hotel room Olivia Pope was useless. She'd showered and dressed and re-watched Fitz's interview several times. She had devoured the dozens of articles written about the first Presidential divorce, and though she was mentioned once or twice in some of the lengthier gossip blogs and one print story, there were really no mentions of the Fixer—at least in comparison to the names of Amanda Tanner and Jeanine Locke.
Olivia replayed Fitz's statements over and over in her mind. What did he mean, there was no one waiting in the wings? She had always been in the wings! She was on the sidelines waiting for this day and now it had finally happened and he wasn't expecting her to be there? It made her angry and so incredibly sad to realize that he wasn't waiting for her. She closed her eyes in frustration and stood still. Where the hell were Abby and the others? She had to get out of this room but before she did, she needed to talk to them. She needed to make a plan.
Another day had gone past and she still hadn't heard from Fitz. She was beginning to realize that she wasn't going to—not for a while. So she would have to go to him. Her mind turned to how she could get into the White House. Just then, Abby knocked on the door briskly before using her key to let herself and Quinn inside.
"Abby," Olivia began, "I need the President's schedule."
"He's not going to let you into the Oval, Liv," Abby persisted. She handed Olivia an envelope with said schedule included. Olivia perused it immediately.
"I know he won't," Olivia said. "But he has a window here, this evening, you set this up?" She looked to Abby.
"Yes, I convinced him that it would do his image good to be seen out and about enjoying a few hours before he heads to the Summit in Denver for the gun conference."
"You're sending him to Ronnie's?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, he mentioned it used to be a favorite of his when he was in the Navy."
"Yeah, Jake loves that place," Olivia said more to herself than anyone else in the room.
"They have a great two for one special there," Quinn supplied helpfully. Both Olivia and Abby looked at her quizzically before she amended her statement. "I mean, uh, what do you have for me? For Huck?"
Olivia let the comment pass. "I need to get in to see my father."
"Command? Why don't you just go to his house?" Quinn tried to keep her opinion out of her tone. "That's what you two do, right? You have dinner?"
"I don't want to see him at home," Olivia replied as she gathered her things. "I want to see him in his element, and I don't want him to know I'm coming. Just tell Huck to find me a window."
"What are you going to do now?" Abby asked.
"I'm going home."
Once in her apartment Olivia tried Fitz's burner phone once more. It rang instead of going straight to voicemail. That gave her some small hope that he kept it on, that it was charged, and not dead. Thank goodness for small mercies, she thought to herself. She spent the afternoon thinking of what she would say when she met up with him at Ronnie's, "by accident." She would pretend to be there casually, as surprised by his arrival as anyone else. He wouldn't be able to deny her in public. She could ask him for a word in one of the private rooms in the back—she just needed a minute, she was sure she could convince him to hear her out. It was too late to stop him from filing for divorce, that deed was done, but he needed more than these public outings and brief television interviews to repair his image. He needed strategy and policy change, and he needed to make specific speeches and appearances and push certain legislation while his Party still had the House.
Olivia's mind buzzed with excitement and anticipation at how things would be once she was alone with Fitz and Cyrus. How they would be a team again, brain storm and without the influence of Mellie, Hollis, or Verna; it would be the three of them again, the best minds in the room, all working towards the greatest goals for the American people. She picked out something casual instead of a business suit. She settled for a dark blouse and white sport jacket with dark jeans. She'd keep the heels. Her hair would remain down, the natural wave of her locks starting to come through. Fitz had always liked her hair that way.
She had almost finished and was about to touch up her make up when she heard a knock at her door. At first completely bewildered by who it could be, her heart sank when she realized it was probably Jake. Unable to put him off any longer, she was surprised he'd shown the restraint that he had by not coming to her hotel suite. Knowing that she had Abby, Huck, and Quinn coming in and out of there at all hours probably deterred him slightly, and her responses to his text messages had been enough to satisfy him for the moment. Now she knew he wouldn't back off until he saw her.
Part of Olivia was glad that he still cared enough to check on her at all. But she didn't want to have this conversation right now. What would be the point? There wasn't anything different she could tell him. She knew she needed to end it, to say goodbye, to put a period on things, and she wanted to be brave enough to do it. She didn't know what was stopping her anymore, and that scared her more than anything else. She had never thought herself a coward, but telling Jake it was over would mean that he wouldn't be there anymore, just in case she needed him. How selfish could she get, keeping Jake on ice while she worked things out with Fitz? Though he'd told her verbally that he wouldn't play second fiddle in her heart, everything that he'd done had suggested that he was entirely happy to do so. And she was letting him.
She took a deep breath and opened the door, waving him inside while she stepped into her shoes and walked back to the vanity in her bathroom. He followed her in, comfortable and familiar in her space, leaning against the door while she primped.
"You look good," he said, admiring her figure in the mirror.
"Thank you."
"Want to have dinner?"
"I have a meeting," she replied.
He arched an eyebrow in doubt. When had she ever gone to a meeting dressed so casually? She winced internally at the lie and hoped he wouldn't press her on it.
"A meeting? With this elusive client?"
"I'm sorry about that," she said referring to her earlier excuse to get him out of her apartment. "I just needed some time alone to work a few things out."
"You mean to react privately to the news that the President is finally getting divorced?"
"What do you want, Jake?" she asked in exasperation.
"You," his tone matched hers in annoyance and fatigue. "When I was being held I told you that I knew you wouldn't choose me. You didn't deny it then, but after that I was released. I've been working to prove my innocence, and you've been with me. We've been together. Liv, I thought you made a choice."
She'd finished with her make up but she didn't want to turn around and face him. "Jake, I don't have anything to say that you'd want to hear right now," Olivia chose her words carefully. "I'm sorry I disappeared for a week, but I'm back now and I don't know where anything stands. I don't mean to hurt you, but I just—I have to go."
"Oh, I see. This has something to do with him," Jake motioned at her body and the way she was dressed. "He'll like that." His lecherous glance was never attractive to her.
"Ugh," she said with a wave of her hand. "Don't do that."
"What?" He followed her out of the bedroom. "Remind you that I'm the man who pleases you most? That I'm the one who makes you scream-"
"My GOD do you think you're the only person I've ever enjoyed sex with?" She whirled on her heels and advanced on him. "The sex is good, Jake. Is that what you want to hear? It was fun, it was great, and I want you all the time. There, do you feel better?" Her words dripped with venom.
He stood his ground. "The way it is with us is not in my imagination, Liv."
She rolled her eyes. "You know what, Jake, you have a really big EGO, is what you have." She recalled a comment she'd made to him on the island about his endowment and now he wouldn't let her forget it.
"So what are you saying?" he asked.
God, she wanted this conversation over. She had let it go on too long. She saw that now. "I'm saying don't believe everything a woman tells you in bed, Jake."
"Olivia, you told me that I was-"
"Not every woman likes that thrown back in their face. Just drop it. There is no point in comparing yourself with Fitz—in any way." She walked away from him then and opened the front door. She stood there patiently while he walked towards the opening but didn't walk through it.
"Oh that's right, I'm not the President."
"If you think that's why I was with him, you don't know me at all."
"I don't like being dismissed, Olivia. This person that you are right now is someone I don't recognize. Someone who is desperate, who is falling all over herself to get back to a man who is telling her that he doesn't want her."
Olivia stood looking at Jake, hoping he would realize the weight of his own words. She was doing the same thing to him, telling him in a million different ways that this had to end. She wasn't brave enough to say it, though. "I'm late," she said, ushering him out.
Olivia knew she couldn't order a glass of wine at Ronnie's so she had to settle for a light apple pear cider. It reminded her enough of white wine that she could distract herself. She glanced at her watch and waited. She could hear as the sirens wailed through the streets, while the police gave an escort to the President's motorcade. The sirens got louder, and then abruptly stopped as the motorcade turned left one block shy of the restaurant. Confused, Olivia texted Abby, 'Was there a change of plans?'
'I'm looking into it,' was the immediate reply. Olivia let out a huff and downed her cider.
"You've never tried that before," Jake said. Olivia didn't bother to hide her shock. "I didn't follow you here if that's what you're thinking," he went on. "I was going to come here for dinner anyway. It's just a bonus that you're here."
Oh god, her mind raced. This was going to be a disaster. When Fitz got here and saw the two of them together—but before she could reply the room filled with raucous cheers. The bartender turned up the volume as the live newsfeed played.
"I'm Angela Erickson and this is Eye Witness News at 7:00. If you think the line here at Union Mack's is usually long on a Saturday night, the wait just got even longer because of one of the patrons inside. Our Commander in Chief is blowing off some steam and playing a game or two of pool."
Olivia couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Oh yeah, Union Mack's! Man, it's been years since I've been to that place. The President used to love to go there after a burger here," Jake said. "Guess he had a change in plans." Jake held his own beer up to the screen in a mock salute and tipped it back to take a swig.
Later that night in her apartment Olivia watched the news piece on the President enjoying a game of pool with the local patrons of Union Mack's. There were still photos and a few minutes of B footage that showed him starting a game, laughing and joking with a few college kids, and rolling up his sleeves to challenge someone to a game. No one had been brave enough to take up the challenge except Madeline Anderson. Olivia put the woman's name into her phone and sent Huck a quick text message asking him to pull everything he could.
Maddie Anderson was a Harvard Law professor who had practiced for nearly twenty years in the Nation's capital before choosing the quiet life of New England. She also happened to be a champion pool player who was in town to judge a collegiate tournament. The news reporter speculated that Maddie could have easily bested the President, and though she held the lead for most of the game, she had ultimately "let" him win.
Olivia scoffed. Fitz was excellent at pool. He could have won tournaments too. It annoyed her to see the two of them so chummy, but she put it out of her mind. Fitz was a flirt and Maddie Anderson was a gorgeous woman. She had elegant and refined features, dark blonde hair which fell just to her shoulders, was slim and tall at 5 foot 7 inches without her heels. Olivia knew that particular detail because of the constant loop of footage in which Maddie had kicked off her expensive heels to concentrate on the game when the score really got close.
She had begun to tune the broadcast out as she scoured her newsfeed for updated information and critiques on the divorce when she heard some different. She turned up the volume and ignored her ringing cell phone.
"Sources say that the newly single President Grant took such a liking to attorney, and apparent pool shark, Madeline Anderson that he has invited her to be his guest at the upcoming Clinton Foundation soiree honoring women in the arts. No word yet on whether or not Ms. Anderson has accepted."
Shocked, Olivia declined the incoming call again and immediately dialed Cyrus' home line. He answered on the first ring.
"Hello Olivia," Cyrus replied.
"I need to see him."
"I'm sure you do, but that's not going to happen, Liv. He doesn't listen to me anymore. If he did, he'd still be married! I think both you and I are well past the point of influence."
"Did he revoke my hard pass?"
"No," Cyrus sighed.
"Good, then I want to see him—right now."
"Olivia, I'm home with my daughter. Your goddaughter, remember Ella? Her father was murdered by your boyfriend. The time of me doing Olivia Pope favors is definitely OVER."
Olivia gasped and pushed back tears. "Cyrus, I need this." She ignored the jab, she had completely lost control and if she didn't see Fitz and find her center in the next thirty seconds she was going to implode.
She relaxed a little when she heard Cyrus huff. "You can have five minutes tomorrow morning at 11:00. He's making an appearance at an event for the Daughters of the American Revolution, no longer giving the keynote because alliances with sitting Presidents who get divorced aren't good for any organization's reputation. I will not put you on the calendar, you have a meeting with ME—that will take place in my office, not the Oval." Cyrus hung up.
From the moment Olivia set foot on the White House lawn and moved past the security check points she could feel all eyes on her. The expressions were one of welcome for the most part-had she come back to rescue the President once again? Olivia felt pride as she moved through the halls, but once she started down the hall to Cyrus' office, an agent stepped into her path, whispered something to one of her other escorts, and suddenly,
"Please follow me, ma'am."
Olivia thought to protest for a moment—she recognized one of the men as one of the agents who'd asked her to come to the Oval Office at midnight to receive her—Mellie's—divorce papers. She wondered if this agent was going to try to send her out without seeing Fitz. Panic flooded through her but then Olivia realized she wasn't being led away from the Oval office but rather towards it, just on a less public and direct route.
When the door opened in front of her, Fitz stood and addressed her.
"Ms. Pope."
"Mr. President."
Once they were alone it didn't take long for the conversation to turn. "You haven't been taking my calls," Olivia said.
"That's because we don't have anything to say to each other, Olivia."
His refusal to use her nickname was starting to grate on her nerves.
"I think you could use my help. Who is handling this for you?"
"I don't need help."
"You're the first President in American history to divorce his wife while in office. You definitely need some help."
"And what would your strategy be? Hmm? Get Mellie back here and have us reconcile and remarry?" He laughed loudly. "Go home, Olivia."
She was getting to him, she smiled in satisfaction. Maybe now he could pull down some of those walls and let her in. She had to find a way.
"Have you decided what to do about my father?" she ventured. Maybe changing the subject completely for a little while would do the trick.
"He's Command, Olivia. You don't just 'do something about him' he has to be managed in a very specific way—I'm handling it."
"But he-"
"I know all too well what and who your father is and what he's done."
"You can't let him get away with this, Fitz."
"Right, and I'll be the man who killed your father."
"He deserves to be held accountable," Olivia hedged. Can I help somehow?" She thought of her meeting with her father that Huck was still trying to arrange. It was taking him longer than usual to get back to her. She would have to check on him in person instead of trusting Quinn to relay messages, she realized.
"You're going to help take down your father?" Fitz asked. "Help him into the grave?" he asked in disbelief.
"I want to help bring my father to justice," Olivia countered, "and that does not mean ending his life, but it does mean that he doesn't see the light of day again. He hurt you, he hurt Jake, and he hurt all of us." She realized her mistake in mentioning Jake all too late. Fitz's countenance turned stormy.
"Olivia, I asked you not to come back here. Now I'm telling you. Leave."
She ignored his warning and sat. "You don't think very much of me anymore, do you?" Her voice was quiet, trying to calm him.
"I told you how I felt last week. Nothing has changed." He walked past her to pour himself a drink and she moved to the bar cart looking at him expectantly. He had always poured her one, too. This time he didn't. He downed the first drink and poured himself another before moving away from her and back towards the Resolute desk. Olivia stamped her foot in frustration and her voice came out in a whine that almost shocked her own ears. She moved after him, as close as she dared.
"What do you want, Olivia? Why are you here?" His shoulders slumped and she sensed an opening when he turned around. She rushed to him, her hands sweeping up his chest and squeezing his shoulders. His hands fell naturally at her waist.
"I want to touch you," her voice let out in a heady whisper. His forehead fell against hers and her breathing quickened. She closed her eyes briefly as he squeezed and rubbed her sides, her hips, her ass. It was a reflex, to touch each other. He felt so good. "Fitz, please—I don't understand why we can't-"
He stepped away from her immediately as if he had been doused in cold water. "You broke my heart, Olivia! You left me again. You chose him. You slept with him over and over. Every time I look at you, I see him. I see the two of you on that fucking beach. My son is dead. My wife is gone-that's fine, I sent her away-but she's gone. You're gone. My daughter's innocence is gone. All I have left are the walls of this White House and whatever remains of the trust of the American People. I don't have you," he put up a finger when she started to protest.
Olivia found no words for long moments. "You had a wife. You had another baby with her; you had every right whenever you wanted to choose other partners."
Fitz looked at Olivia like she had two heads. "You had other partners, Liv." She attributed the use of her nickname to the alcohol. "You almost married Edison Davis. I didn't have the right to police your love life then. I still don't. But you asked me why—why can't I have you in here working with me. Why can't you be in my world in any way? I'll tell you. Jake Ballard was my friend. I trusted him. And now I hate the sight of him, because he has you."
"Fitz-"
"He's had you on the beach, in the ocean, in bed for hours, for weeks on end—Olivia, I can't work with you. I can't even look at you. We just don't have any reason anymore to have anything else to do with each other."
Hot tears fell down Olivia's cheeks as she brushed them quickly away, turned on her heels, and walked out.
A/N: That was pretty emotional for me to write. I wanted to work more on the transitions between the scenes but then I just realized, this is what I need Fitz to say to Olivia, and this is what I need her to try to hear. The only other comment I have after that gamut of emotions is, picture Maddie Anderson as a reimagined mix of Diane Lane in looks and attitude, and Lily Raab in fun and spirit. I like her. I hope you'll like her, too.