CHAPTER 4: THE HOUSE THAT WE BUILT: THE CONGRESSIONAL CLOSET
So here is chapter 4! Once again thanks to everyone who is reading/reviewing/fav and following me and/or this story! It truly does mean a lot! As with all chapters this one is dedicated to #Gladiators everywhere, living the life, dreaming the dream and looking for that house that's somewhere in Vermont on Google maps!
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Abby was furious with Olivia.
Not in a I am so mad at you because you hurt me way but the why won't you let me help you kind of way. It was like Liv enjoyed the torture. Everyone around her knew that if it wasn't for Liv, they would either be dead, in prison or sitting in a hole slowly going insane; they wanted to return the favor… save her from whatever demons she was battling.
She tried to shake it off as she walked up the stairs of the justice department; David Rosen was not going to like this at all. Abby smiled sweetly at David's secretary, who frowned intently as Abby strolled right into the office without and appointment; AGAIN! David looked up as Abby walked into his office. She smiled at him. He could never tell if it was genuine or if she just wanted something from him. The sickly sweet "David" that accompanied the smile told him everything; Abby wanted a favor.
"Abby…. What can I do for Olivia Pope & Associates today?" Abby feigned a look of hurt, "why do you always assume that I want something?" David raised his eyebrows and folded his arms in front of him, "well do you?" Abby bit her bottom lip playfully, "yes… but that's not the point! Can't I just come and see you because its what friends do?" David laughed; they were more than friends…. Once. "We're not friends Abby… I on several occasions put my body parts inside yours and told you I loved you…. But there was always a price… So I ask you again…. What do you want?"
Abby sighed and decided it was easier to just come out and ask for what she needed, "I need you to drop this thing involving Congressman Jackson; its not what you think." David lent back on his chair, a look of Olivia Pope is at it again plastered across his face. "It never is when you boss is involved…. She likes to pretend to wear the white hat but really all she does is circumvent the law to her needs. How many times does she think she can do this and expect me to play along?… hmmm… I am the law Abby and no matter what my feelings for you may be, I have a duty to up hold the law." Abby sat down in one of the chairs opposite the large mahogany desk David sat behind; she was slightly taken aback by his rawness. "No law has been broken, nothing happened." David almost laughed in Abby's face, "and… what I'm supposed to just take your word for it?"
Abby could tell she wasn't going to be able to convince him to drop the case; fine… he could investigate, find nothing and once again be the laughing stock of the district attorney's office. She stood up and looked directly at him, "fine! Just know that when you come up short, that I asked nicely." With that she walked out of the office, leaving David to ponder the ramifications of her last statement.
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Olivia closed her eyes and massaged her neck; she was waiting for the elevator. He whole upper body ached; her shoulders weighed down with the invisible baggage she carried with her. A soft ping from the elevator arriving at the lobby pulled her back into reality. She pulled open the door to the old freight style elevator; it rattled along its roller both while opening and as she closed it. It took less time for it to reach the floor of OPA than it had coming down to get her. As it came to a stop she noticed that Quinn was waiting for her. She stepped off and strode through the door to OPA. "What is it Quinn?"
Quinn hurried along beside her, "the congressman is here." Olivia frowned, "you didn't put him in the conference room with Scott did you?" Quinn shook her head, "No… we put him in your office… but Olivia there's something else." Olivia stopped walking and turned to Quinn, waiting for her to continue, "well? What is it Quinn?" She handed Olivia the folder she had in her hands. Olivia opened it; her mouth falling open slightly, shocked, at what she was reading. "This can't be right Quinn… We looked into this…" Quinn nodded, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth, "Huck managed to hack into some encrypted government files and this is what we found." Olivia closed the folder and looked through the glass panel in her door to where congressman Jackson sat. After a few moments she opened the door and walked in. "Congressman! Nice to see you again." The congressman stood up as she entered the room, "Ms. Pope, lets get this over with." Olivia removed her jacket and hung it on the coat rack; she sat at her desk and looked at the congressman closely. He shifted under gaze. "I know congressman…" It took a few moments for the statement to register with him, "you know what Ms. Pope… that the love of my life is trying to take me down… destroy everything I've worked so hard to build." Olivia lent forward, elbows on the edge of the desk, "so your aware that Mr. Williams accused you?" Trey smiled, "Scott couldn't just be happy with the lot he has been given; he is strong willed and doesn't hide who he is, he came out of his closet years ago." Olivia listened intently, "no… he's not happy… but from what I know of Mr. Williams, he didn't do this to hurt you or try and destroy you… he just wants what everyone else wants… A life out of the shadows with the person they love. Its not unreasonable or spiteful…. Its human."
Trey stood up and ran his hands through his hair, "I'm a United States Congressman who is on the short list for a senate seat… he's trying to drag me out of the closet! Well I'm sorry but I've worked to hard and sacrificed to much to let him take it all away; do you know how many gay men hold a congressional seat?... none and that's how its going to stay." Liv could feel her own heart breaking; she hated living in a world where people weren't equal or were judged by their sexual orientation. She knew how it felt both being a woman of color and with having to hide who she loved. She was going to help both these men; she needed to.
She flipped open the folder Quinn had handed her. "Trey, I know this seems like an impossible situation…" He cut her off, "It's not an impossible situation! It's a nightmare… created by someone who I thought loved me." Olivia nodded, "he does love you… he's loved you since he saved your life as a part of a rescue operation to free 5 Americans from Afghan forces back in 2002." The congressman turned as white as a sheet and sat back down, "his…. His military record and my involvement in that is classified, how do you have it?" It was now Olivia's turn to get up out of her seat; she moved around the desk and sat down in the chair next to him, "why is it classified? I understand Scott's involvement being redacted but why is your involvement and his entire military career classified?"
The congressman stayed silent, looking at the shelf behind Olivia's desk. Liv reached out and placed a tentative hand on his leg, "if I don't know everything I can't help you, and at this point I really do think that I'm the only one who able to." Trey turned his head and looked at Olivia through tear flooded eyes; he took a shuddering breath in, "it's classified because if anyone was to find out that a man, who is now a United States congressman, was a drug mule for Al-Qaida and that the U.S government gave him immunity and then a congressional seat, it would bring into question too many other choices and decisions made at the time." Olivia's eyes widened; this was about to get messy.
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"Lauren! Get Cyrus in my office now!" Tom had just told him that he had seen Cyrus talking to Olivia; he wanted to know why. A few minutes passed until Cyrus arrived. Lauren poked her head around the door, "sir, Mr. Beene." Fitz nodded and she let Cyrus in.
"How is she?" Cyrus knew right away that his little rendezvous with Olivia hadn't gone unnoticed, "busy… she's handling the Jackson thing… which I'm guessing you already know". Fitz frowned; why would Olivia be handling Trey Jackson? "What do you mean handling?" It was now Cyrus's turn to be confused, "sir? ... One of his aide's accused him of sexual assault. He's her client." Fitz swiped his arm across his desk sending papers flying. "Why can't a senate short list or confirmation ever just be easy? Why does everyone have skeleton's in their closet?" Cyrus shifted on his feet; he could feel Fitz's rage from where he stood, "so I'm guessing Jackson is the pick to replace Wills?"
Fitz ran a hand down his face, "he seemed like the right pick but just like everything else it never works out." Cyrus shook his head and bent down to retrieve one of the loose papers from the desk. "Liv's on it… I'm sure we can still push his nomination through; we've still got time." He looked at his President. He looked defeated, sad almost. There was a few moments of silence before Cyrus spoke again.
"Sir, normally I would be the last person to advise this but you need to call her… air whatever grievances… feelings… whatever you need to say to each other to make this better. I've said it before and I'll say it again now... your ticking…. Like a bomb, that I…. as your chief of staff, can't disarm. We all know there is only one thing that can stop the meltdown… ironically the exact same thing that caused it… caused you to start ticking. So call Olivia Pope…. Have long conversations about your hopes and your dreams. JUST. DISARM. THE. BOMB. Cyrus slammed his hand down on the desk following each word to accentuate his point.
Fitz's steely glare burrowed into Cyrus, "are you done?" Cyrus laughed and ran a hand through his hair. "No!... but you will be. This country will be if you can't keep your mind in the game. I know you say you love her and want to be with her…. But you can't!... you weren't born to he happy…. You were born to be President of these United States and this doe eyed, hopelessly idiotic fantasy you keep playing over and over again, in your head, is killing any chance you have of doing anything important. Olivia Pope is destroying you and in turn endangering the republic… and that CAN NOT happen! So fix it!"
Fitz's gaze hadn't left Cyrus the whole time he was talking; he smiled slightly, "it must really eat at you that the girl you brought in to save the day, has more power over me than you do. It must kill you that she is the one I answer to!" Cyrus scoffed and began to walk away but turned back suddenly, "YOU answer to the America People. I. AM. THE PEOPLE, you answer to me. She may have molded you into something the people like but don't ever think you answer to anyone BUT ME. I'm your political equivalent to whatever happily ever after fantasy you want with her. It's my herrion- hallelujah, my reason for being and the sole reason you exist. I don't' want to have to break the chain you keep me on Mr. President, but if you don't fix this yourself, I will…. To save you from yourself… I will." With that Cyrus turned and walked out the door; leaving Fitz to stew.
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Quinn who had come bursting into her office startled Olivia. "liv, we've got a problem." She frowned and followed Quinn out of her office; the congressman close behind. At the same time Huck had come out of his office with Scott following. Trey and Scott share a momentary glance at one another; Scott losing the ability to hold the gaze, feeling a little ashamed of what he was putting the love of his life through. "What is it Quinn?" Quinn didn't have time to answer before echoing thuds ruminated from the main office door. Huck strode towards the door; more thuds echoing around the space. Liv frowned. It could only be two people; Cyrus Beene or David Rosen. "Ok congressman… Mr. Williams… I need you both to go into the conference room and wait for us there." A fleeting moment passed between the pair before Olivia spoke again, "I can get you both through this but whatever we're doing it starts now!" Scott moved first, heading towards the conference room; Trey threw his hands up in surrender and followed suit. Olivia nodded in Huck's direction, signaling for him to open the door. He did so, stepping to the side as David Rosen pushed past him.
"Olivia Carolyn Pope! Do you ever get tired of thwarting the justice system or has it become a hobby for you? I really wanna know… is it the thrill of breaking the law or is it that you like seeing me fall on my face?" Olivia smiled and eyed David curiously, "David! What can I do for the justice department today?" David stepped up to Olivia; barely a nose length between them, "you can start by surrendering Congressman Trey Jackson…." Liv smiled, "and what makes you think we have him?" David's eyes narrowed at this; he knew she was stalling, "well for one, sending Abby to warn me off was a dead giveaway and two, his office said he was here, so produce him NOW!" Huck stepped towards the pair and placed a hand on David's chest as he began to close the small gap between them, "you need to step back… now." Liv put a hand on Huck's shoulder, "it's ok Huck" Huck glanced at Liv, moving back to where he was.
"What does the Justice department want with Congressman Jackson?" David sighed, "this must be a sport for you; pretending to not know what's going on, while secretly pulling the strings to make things go your way." Liv knew she was getting on David's nerves but she decided to push him a little further.
"Let's just say, hypothetically, that the congressman is here and he is my client… what exactly are the charges, because, and this is just hypothetically, from the facts at hand, the district attorney would never sign off on you investigating a United States Congressman with out solid proof, so this is all just one big fishing expedition, where like every other time you have tried to build a case on nothing but your disdain for me and how I conduct business, you will come up empty. You can't think I'm above calling in a few favors from your bosses and their bosses to get you put on some nice vacation time and we all know how that turned out last time don't we? You may think your on the right side of this David but I'm sorry my white hat will always over shadow yours. So unless you have proof and/ or a subpoena for the congressman, and again, this is all just hypothetical, you should leave this office and go back to fighting the real monsters, instead of wasting my time."
David gritted his teeth; she of course was right. He had no proof and had not gotten the nod from the D.A to start any sort of investigation. "Can you at least pretend not to enjoy watching me fall on my face?" He turned on his heel and walked towards the door, bumping into Abby as she entered. She could tell something had gone down between him and Olivia and once again he had come off second best. He pushed past her and out into the elevator. Abby offered a sympathetic smiled but knew it would do little to sway his feelings towards all those serving under the shield of Olivia Pope.
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Fitz sat, scotch in hand, staring at the photo of him and Olivia. It had been a long day; mainly consisting of being screamed at by Cyrus. All his meetings and appearances were done for the day so there he sat, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep in Olivia's arms. For all of Cyrus's bullying he was right about one thing; he need to see her, talk to her, tell her he loved her.
He downed the last of the scotch and pulled out his burner phone from the desk draw; Falcon code. He let the weight of it caress his hand for a few moments before dialing. He leant back in his chair, placing his feet up on the desk. It rang a few times before she answered.
"Hi"
Fitz couldn't help but let a smile slip onto his lips.
"Hi"
Olivia sighed.
"You're calling me?"
Fitz nodded; a reflex, even though no- one was there to see it.
"Yes… Isn't that what you wanted?"
A heavy silence hung over the line; Olivia broke it.
"What you saw today… it wasn't.."
Fitz cut her off.
"I know… I'm sorry."
Olivia was taken aback by this; Cyrus must have told him what had happened. Before she could say anything he continued.
"I need to see you…"
He could tell her mind was screaming no; it always did. He decided that he wouldn't give her a choice.
"There is a car coming for you… I need to see you and you can't say no…. I need one minute."
Olivia's breath caught in her throat; one minute.
"Fine and where exactly is this car taking me?"
Fitz smiled to himself.
"Its bringing you to me… to where I can be with you… now hang up."
Without a second though Olivia obeyed, hanging up the phone. Looks like it was a trip to the White House.
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NOTE: Chapter 4 done! YASSS #Olitz phone call… and possible rendezvous? Hope you guys liked it. I know a few of you hate Cyrus rants… and would prefer that he note be in this story much but he is so easy to write for and he pushes the story along. Please don't be afraid to tell me what you thought of this chapter. Much love XX MEL XX