Chapter 12

The Breach, Part I

"So why did you quit the sculpting class? There were 12 classes. You've only had 3 or 4." Fitz said, as he took a bite of his omelet. He was eating the breakfast Olivia had insisted on making before he left for the day. She was beginning to enjoy and improve at cooking. She felt that the act had a way of slowing her down and calming her restlessness.

How did he know that? She thought. In lieu of answering, she took a big bite of toast and a gulp of coffee. Feeling the full weight of his interrogation stare, she focused on her finger's tracing of the rim of her coffee mug.

"Livy. Livy, look at me," he requested. She met his eyes. "Why did you quit?"

"How do you know I quit the class?" she stalled.

"That's a question with a question, and you shouldn't be surprised that I know. I need to know everything where you are concerned. There's too much at stake to have secrets between us." Fitz reached for her hand. He entwined his fingers with hers and leaned forward. "Secrets build walls. I don't want anything between us."

"It has to go both ways then. You can't keep secrets either. You and Timmy regularly keep things from me as if I am a child. I should be involved in fixing my own problems, but when—" she explained.

"Come here," he mouthed to her, maneuvering her with their entwined hands. He pulled her onto his lap. His smile was inexplicable to her, but she couldn't help but smile back.

"Fitz, why are you smiling? We are having a serious conversation." She settled on his lap.

"Why are you smiling, Livy?" She didn't respond, but straightened her lips.

"I'm smiling because I adore you," he said. He grasped her face and traced the contours of her cheeks bones.

A little chuckle escaped her lips. "You adore me. Who says that? I think you are trying to charm me into talking."

"I'll keep saying it until you believe me. I adore you," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I adore you," he whispered over and over again, punctuating this repeated declaration with light kisses across her face. He finally kissed her lips slowly and passionately. After a few minutes she broke away. They rested their foreheads together, to slow their breath.

Olivia lifted her head. "I quit the class because the agent from the sting showed up their last week. I didn't know it then, but he had been following me. I tried to ignore him and—"

"Wait. The sting you jogged through?" Fitz asked. His facial expression and demeanor changed instantly. "Lee, my agent, was in your sculpting class?

"Yes. The one who was with me in the hospital room when you arrived."

"Tell me everything," he said.

"He had just joined the class or that's what he told me. I was sitting in class. He got my attention so—"

"How did he get your attention?" Fitz asked.

Olivia felt the urge to pace, but his arms tightened around her when she tried to rise. She stayed put and continued her explanation. "He tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he knew me. He asked me if I was Alissa Green. I denied it and ignored him. At the end of class, he approached me again insisting that he knew me."

"What did he say he wanted because I can only think of one thing?" His lips were held in a severe line, and his expression was strained. That tell-tale muscle on his temple flickered back and forth. He was grinding his teeth. Not a good sign.

Olivia was apprehensive about telling him what Isaac said when she'd asked him the same question, "What do you want?" She felt as if she was confessing an indiscretion. She felt a little guilty and somewhat responsible for this since she had interrupted the sting operation. Then upon first meeting him at the hospital, she had admired his looks for their resemblance to one of her favorite actors.

"Fitz…I can feel you getting angry about this. I handled it. I dropped the class. End of problem, except that—" Olivia assured him.

"What did he say he wanted? It's an easy question, Olivia!" He said forcefully.

"He asked me out. I mean it's a normal thing, probably the most normal thing that's happened since I retired. It's not a cause for alarm. I turned him down. Women do it all the time. A guy asks a girl out. She says yea or nay. Life goes on. I told him I was and I quote, 'totally and completely unavailable.' He guessed our connection, that we're involved," Olivia said.

"And you weren't going to tell me about this. I could just shake you right now," Fitz said.

Olivia moved off his lap and this time he allowed her. She grabbed their plates and emptied the half eaten contents into the disposal. There was just the noise of the grinder. Her back was to him, but she could feel him behind her.

"I was going to tell you, but I wanted to handle it first," she said, turning around. "He got the message."

"Just like I got the message after the first time we met?" Fitz said icily. As soon as he uttered the words, he regretted it. Her expression fell and she looked surprised and wounded.

"Yeah I fucked him right there in front of everyone," she said raggedly, trying not to cry. That's what he really thinks of me, she thought. She swung back around and turned on the faucet to rinse the dishes.

"Oh, Livy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm an ass," he said softly. He turned off the faucet and turned her around. "Please forgive me, baby."

Olivia stepped away from him and wiped her eyes, willing herself to stop crying. She faced him with a shaky smile. "It's okay. I understand. I should have told you," she said. "I haven't been thinking straight for awhile now. This is just another example. I should be apologizing, not you." She again smiled reassuringly.

He looked at her skeptically, not quite believing her. He took her hand and pulled her to the sofa. "Livy, I just don't want us to have secrets. I know this is difficult for you. For ten years, you called all the shots. You had a certain direction, a planned path to lead you. Now, all that has been turned on its head. And then there's me constantly telling you what you can and cannot do. I mean it. I really do lov—" Fitz was interrupted by his cell phone's ring. He knew it was Tim by the ring.

"I have to get this, honey." He left her on the couch to get the phone. Olivia went back to cleaning up their breakfast dishes.

"Grant, here."

"Hey, you need to tell my sister bye for now and come in. I have some intel on Nash. I think he's going to attempt to breach the storage bunker tonight, or tomorrow. You need to get in ASAP. Oh and Abby is back in with Harrison. She'll have some information soon, I'm sure. That's all," Tim reported.

"Okay, I'm headed in," Fitz said before hanging up.

Fitz turned to see Olivia at the sink again. She looked so small to him. He circled his arms around her. "Despite your…how should I characterize it...your diplomatic response. I know you are mad at me." He turned her to face him again. "And most of all you are still hurt so I have more work to do when I get home tonight. I'm going to make it up to you." He pressed his lips to hers for a quick peck, but she deepened the kiss.

She pulled back. "Goodbye, Fitz."

"You're right. I need to tell you what's going on with Harrison and Abby. I'll tell you tonight," he promised. He grabbed his leather satchel and left.

"Good morning, Tom, Hal. "Fitz greeted them as he passed their SUV on the way to his car.

"Good morning, sir," they answered, simultaneously.

"I'll be sending you the picture of a man, one of the bureau's agents, Isaac Lee. He poses a threat to Ms. Pope. If you see him in any proximity to her, please apprehend him and call me immediately."

"Yes, sir. Mr. Grant. We will call you."

"Also, please let me know if Ms. Pope changes her itinerary for today. I have the one you sent me this morning. If she decides not to go out today, I want to know that also."

"Okay, sir. We will," said Tom.

"Have a seat, Agent Lee," Fitz said. He had reigned in his anger and jealousy knowing there was no reason to feel that way anymore. It had all been taken care of. The time was edging towards 5, and Fitz was eager to get home to see Olivia. Tom had called to say she hadn't gone out today. She had signed up for a 2D art class that started today. Obviously she was still hurt by his comment from this morning. He was planning to get home earlier tonight so he could find a way to make it up to her, though he hadn't quite figured out how.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Isaac said. Fitz detected a little bit of an edge in his voice.

Fitz passed a file to him across the desk. Isaac opened it slowly and read the contents.

"With all due respect, sir, this is bullshit. You can't transfer me! I've been working at this office for 6 years. I can't move to D.C. My family is here," Isaac pleaded.

"This is the nature of your job, Lee. You serve at the pleasure of the bureau and the bureau needs you in D.C.," Fitz reiterated.

"We both know this is not about what the bureau needs. I didn't know she was yours. I don't know what she told you, but I didn't do anything to her," Isaac said.

"I don't believe you, Lee. I think you knew about us or at least had suspicions when I visited the hospital. Yet, you still followed, Alissa. You aren't married. You don't have any children so you can leave easily. The bureau needs you in DC. You have 7 days to pack your things and go. The file contains all the information you need. You can leave my office now." Fitz turned his gaze to his computer screen.

Isaac snatched the folder up from the desk and stormed out of the office.

"Hey little brother," Olivia said breathlessly. "To what do I owe this honor? Lately, you've been too busy to return my calls and texts.

"Fitz keeps me well informed. I'm working overtime to save your ass so excuse me if I don't call you every five minutes. How is the sculpting class going?"

"Great. I've learned a lot from that class. I finally know why I love that Sleeping Eros sculpture so much. I think it reminded me of myself. I've been asleep for the last 10 years. When the accident happened I fell asleep. Now I'm awake. You're fine, Tim. In fact, you are doing better than me. You don't need your big sister to take care of you. Likewise, I don't need you to take care of me."

"Liv, where are you?" Tim asked. "Did something happen? You and Fitz have an argument?"

"I'm at home, and no we did not."

"I'm coming over for dinner," Tim informed her.

"Not tonight, Tim. Fitz and I have plans."

"I am crashing your plans. I'll see you soon," Tim said. He heard voices in the background.

"I have to go, Tim. I will be in touch," Olivia said.

When she hung up, Tim redialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail.

"Tim, I'm headed out," Fitz said. He walked into Tim's office and plopped in the chair. "I'm glad Nash isn't doing the break in until tomorrow. I can't afford to go home late tonight. I'm in the dog house with Olivia."

"What in the hell did you do, Grant?"

Fitz game him a run down of what happened.

"I think she is going to run again. Actually, I think she's already gone. We shouldn't have kept so much from her. We have to go, Fitz."

Without a word, he left the office with Tim following behind him.

"Tom, Hal have you seen Olivia?" Fitz asked them at their posts outside the door

"No, she hasn't come out all day," said Tom.

"Livy? Livy?" Fitz called out. He could tell that the apartment was empty. He checked each room and found nothing that provided a clue. She hadn't taken any of her belongings including the earrings her mom had given her. These were the earrings she wore everyday. They contained the tracking device he had relied on to know her whereabouts, especially when she used to breach his 2-mile radius barrier.

With each step, he felt like he was loosing his grip on reality. He couldn't believe she was gone until he looked out the window. He surmised that she had scaled the building to the sidewalk below.

He turned and noticed the phone he had given her resting on the center of the bed. There was a note to watch the video. He sat down and pressed play.

Olivia's face appeared on the screen. Her hair was pulled back. Fitz realized she shad created the video on the sofa in the living room. He watched intently.

Fitz, I considered writing a letter to you, but I think this video is more fitting. You can hear my voice and truly know that what I'm about to say comes from my heart. If you are viewing this video, then you know I am gone. Yes, I was hurt and angry about your comment this morning. But it revealed a truth. One we already knew: I'm a mess. My judgment is so out of whack that I haven't been making the right decisions. But today I realized that my judgment has been screwed up to say the least for a long time, starting when I lifted my first piece of art. Who is Olivia Pope? I don't know so I can't be with you. It is only a matter of time before you come to the same conclusion. You can thank me for helping you get the nerve to call off your wedding. I'll take credit for helping you dodge that bullet. Please choose better in the future. Don't try to find me, please. I no longer need protecting from the authorities or myself. Tell Tim that I am finally awake. Fitz, thank you for all you've done for me. I am the most thankful for how you took Tim in. I'll always appreciate you for believing in him enough to hire him. I'm not one for long goodbyes so…Goodbye.

Fitz looked over at Tim who sat in the doorway. They were both dumfounded.