A/N: I hate to get all in my feelings but I'd be lying if I said my confidence didn't take a hit from a guest reviewer on one of my other stories. I'm in no way going to stop writing but I do worry about my ability to actually tell a story well and the review kind of hit it right on the nail. I can respect you commenting on my fanfic stories, but to attack my desire to write an actual book one day was beyond a low blow and just rude as hell. That's what I can't accept.
So I pray that I do write a book one day and by some miracle it's a best-seller, because I want you to remember what you said to me. If you happen to read this story next, save your ridiculous comments boo.
"Mr. President, sir, stop!" his agents yelled behind him. "Slow down!"
Fitz slowed down only a little, allowing one to catch up. "Take me to Olivia Pope's apartment, NOW!" he yelled, out of breath.
Fitz barely gave anyone time to assemble the necessary people for his impromptu excursion and the head of his security detail knew he'd be getting an earful later, if he even still had a job. But Fitz's primary concern was Olivia. He'd realize just before he heard her being taken what Andrew and Elizabeth were going to do. That's why he walked outside the Oval and told his men to send Olivia's agents to check on her. He regretted giving them the night off now. He should've known better.
Fitz was about to try and drive, but he knew there's no way anyone would let him behind the wheel, especially not in his frantic state. His mind kept racing with thoughts of Olivia the whole ride there. Due to the time of night, it didn't take long to get to Olivia's apartment but in that time he thought about the way she stormed into his strategy meeting on the campaign trail and blew him away. He thought about the first time he looked into her eyes up close and how he just knew, then and there, he was looking into his future. He thought about the first time he admitted he loved her at a debate, or their first one minute in the hallway. He thought about their first time making love, and how shortly before he finally got her to call him Fitz instead of her customary Governor Grant. He thought about Doux Bébé, and his flag pin. He thought about the Rose Garden and the Constitution. They had so many memories together and he refused to believe that they'd all end now, in such a cruel manner.
The suburban had barely stopped when Fitz hopped out of the door. He didn't stop even as his agents continued to curse and call his name, chasing after him yet again. He didn't care that he was putting his life in danger by going into an unknown situation where possibly more than one person could be armed. He only cared about Olivia, his Livvie. His beautiful Livvie.
He wasn't a praying man, but as he took the stairwell two steps at a time, he prayed that what he'd find when he got to Liv's floor wouldn't drive him to the level of depression he felt when she left with Jake. He couldn't handle that level of emotional pain again. He didn't want to live. He couldn't live without Liv. How one man's mere existence depended so much on one woman, he'd never know.
Before Fitz could open the door and exit the stairwell on her floor, his agents came barreling up the stairs behind him. Two different pairs of hands grabbed him; he didn't know whose they were but once he found out he'd be sure to fire them.
"Sir, you cannot go through that door yet. We don't know who is on the other side, or what we'll find. Can you please just let us do our job and protect you?" asked John. John was one of Fitz's best agents besides Tom, and since Tom was no longer with them, he knew he had to listen to and trust John to do his job. Well, that's what he should do but he'd never been good at doing what others wanted him to.
"But John…"
"No buts, sir. You need to stand down." John's tone was commanding. He wasn't asking Fitz to stand down, he was telling him.
Fitz was looking at John but he didn't really see him. All he could think about was Livvie. He had to get to his Livvie. He knew then what he had to do.
"John, I'm sorry."
What happened next was so quick that most of his agents hadn't even realized what was happening until they found themselves flat on their ass, clutching their nose or throat. Fitz freed himself from the two agents who were holding him, elbowing them both in the nose, one after the other. Blood squirted from their broken noses. He punched the rest of the agents in the throat, effectively knocking the wind out of them. He didn't hit them hard enough to do any permanent damage; he'd been trained on the proper ways to do so while he was doing black ops.
Reaching down, Fitz grabbed John's SIG Sauer from his holster, as well as his semi-automatic pistol. Tucking the SIG Sauer in the back of his waistband, Fitz placed his hand on the knob and closed his eyes. He counted to ten, took a deep breath, and flung the door open. Keeping his weapon aimed, he surveyed his surroundings. Olivia's door was still wide open. He was slowly making his way towards it when he heard a muffled scream coming from across the hall.
Fitz stood in the middle of the hallway, torn between whether to check out the noise across the hall or whether to make sure Liv's apartment was empty. He decided that he needed to make sure her apartment was empty first so that no one could sneak up behind him while he checked out the apartment across the hall.
He quickly ran through each room in her apartment, checking closets and under her bed. Once he was satisfied that it was empty, he ran out of her apartment, closing the door behind him. In his haste, he slammed the door and as soon as he did so he heard the muffled scream from across the hall again. He knew he needed to act quickly. It had been almost 30 minutes since Liv had been taken and he needed to find her sooner rather than later.
Making his way over to the door, Fitz placed his ear against it. He heard muffled voices. His heart rate sped up. He didn't know how, and he could be very wrong, but he just knew that his Livvie was on the other side of the door. He could feel her presence.
Okay, focus Grant, he thought.
Just like in the stairwell, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and counted to ten. Fitz kicked the door in and ran blindly into the room. In a matter of minutes, he focused on and shot every man in the forehead except for the one who was holding Olivia. He almost cried out in joy when he saw her face. She looked so scared though, and that's what caused him to focus. He had to get her out of there safely, at all costs.
Olivia's eyes were focused on Fitz as she tried to remain calm. He came for her. She couldn't believe it. Tears started to fall down her face. As soon as an anguished sob escaped her mouth her captor harshly told her to shut up. He had his gun pointed at her head as he tried to back farther into the apartment and away from Fitz. Fitz took slow, measured steps towards them.
"Let her go," Fitz said.
The man just laughed. They both knew it wasn't going to be that simple. Fitz heard footsteps behind him, but he didn't turn. He was only focused on Olivia.
"Let her go," Fitz repeated.
"Or what? You gonna shoot me?" said the man.
Fitz focused in on his target. "That's exactly what I'm going to do," he said.
There were several loud pops and the man fell to the ground. He never knew what hit him. Olivia shrieked, clasping her hand over her mouth. Fitz dropped his gun, running over to Liv's side. She was starting to shake uncontrollably as she clutched his shirt in her fists, crying into his chest. He tried to sooth her, rubbing her back as he assured her that everything was okay.
Olivia refused to leave Fitz's side as he spoke to his now conscience Secret Service Agents. To say they were pissed would be an understatement. Fitz stood there as John yelled at him, calling him every name under the sun for being "so goddamned stupid." He didn't care. He was just glad that he was able to get to Olivia in time. While John was ripping him a new one, the agents he had sent to check on Olivia showed up. Fitz glared at them.
"I hope all of you know that you're fired. What the hell took you so long?!" he yelled. "You know what, I don't even want to hear it right now. I'll deal with you all later."
The agents all knew better than to try and argue their case with Fitz. They had messed up, majorly, and they'd all be paying for it.
Fitz had his agents call ahead to James Madison Hospital to secure a doctor for Liv. She looked fine, but he still wanted her to get checked out. For his peace of mind he needed a doctor to assure him that she was fine. She still refused to let him go so he went with her to the hospital. Not that he'd ever planned to let her leave his sight in the near future, though. The whole time John was giving him evil glares through the rearview mirror.
Just as they pulled up to the emergency drop off, his cellphone started to ring. He knew without looking who it would be.
"Fitzgerald!" Mellie yelled.
"Mellie," Fitz calmly stated. Mellie started yelling, going on and on in her usual fashion but he cut her off. "Now is not the time Mellie." Before she could respond he hung up the phone.
Fitz got out of the car first then scooped Olivia up into his arms, carrying her into the hospital. He didn't put her down until they got to her private room. But Olivia started to protest, clutching his shirt tighter,when he tried to put her down so he just sat on her bed with her on his lap.
"I've got you," he whispered, kissing her hair.
As soon as the doctor showed up, Fitz convinced Liv to get checked out on her own. Honestly, he really just needed a moment to himself, to really absorb everything that had just happened. Someone had tried to hurt his Livvie. And not just anyone, but people he knew. People that he thought he could trust. But he should've known better once he found out that Andrew was screwing Mellie. Why hadn't he listened to Liv when she said Andrew was wrong? He shook his head in disbelief.
He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
"Sir," John said.
"I just need a minute, John. Just one minute," Fitz said.
Five minutes later, Liv's doctor stepped out, introducing herself to Fitz.
"Mr. President, sir," she cleared her throat, "Miss Pope is fine. She's a bit shaken up, but she's fine. I prescribed her some mild sedatives in case she ever has problems sleeping. Everyone deals with experiences differently, so what may not seem detrimental to some can be to others. I'd recommend keeping an eye on her to see how she's faring."
"Thank you so much Dr. Adams," Fitz said, shaking her hand.
"My pleasure Mr. President." Dr. Adams walked off. Because it was pretty late, she wasn't on call. She'd just been called in to attend to Olivia since she was the best doctor they had.
When Fitz walked back into Liv's hospital room she was lying on the bed, on her side. She looked over at him when she heard the door open and close.
"Fitz."
He rushed over to her, getting in bed with her and wrapping his arms around her. He exhaled loudly. It felt so good to have her back in his arms and safe.
"I was so scared," she whispered.
"I know, Livvie, I know."
"I knew you'd find a way to save me, though. I knew…" her voice broke. Fitz hated to hear or see her cry. She deserved to be happy at all times. His heart felt like it was breaking to think that because of him someone was willing to try and hurt her. Sadly, they knew just how to get to him. Anything else he could deal with, but when it came to his kids and Liv, he'd move heaven and Earth.
"I'd never let anything happen to you. Even if there weren't any hope for us, I'd still find a way to make sure you were safe. Always."
They lay there as Liv tried to calm down. 10 minutes passed by before she spoke again.
"I kept thinking about Vermont. From the moment they first grabbed me, up until I saw you burst through the door, I thought about Vermont and jam." She paused. "I kept picturing you saving me, and then us running away to Vermont. Can't you see it?"
"I can see it," he answered. And he could. The picture was so vivid in his mind he almost thought that the life he was living now was just a nightmare that he was having while lying in bed with Liv in Vermont.
She continued. "I still want that, Fitz. I want it so bad that I can taste it; you, as Mayor, and me making jam. We could wake up in the mornings and share a shower, because if we don't I'll use up all of the hot water and you'll be mad that you're forced to take a cold shower."
Fitz smiled wistfully. "And what else?"
"You'll complain about having to throw the first pitch at a nationals game because that's not the same as throwing the first pitch for the Vermont Lake Monsters. I'll tell you it's fine, because everyone loves you. You're a great mayor just like you're a great president. And before you leave, I'll ask what your day looks like and you'll tell me about your meetings and I'll tell you I'm making boysenberry jam because we know how much you love boysenberry jam."
"Oh Livvie," he said. Why couldn't that be their reality? It should be their reality. "I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure that that is no longer just a dream, but our everyday life."
Olivia smiled. "There's hope," she whispered.
"There's hope," he repeated.
After a nurse brought back Olivia's discharge papers, Fitz picked her up, holding her in his arms again. He was taking her home, with him. Where she belongs.
So I'm very aware that Livvie is spelled with an "ie" and not a "y" but for some reason I always type a "y", or at least most times. I apologize for that. I'll try to catch myself but if you ever notice that in one chapter it's spelled differently than the next then that's why. Sorry!