Chapter 4
8:55 P.M. Press Conference Room
Fitz walks gravely to the podium with speech in hand as Abby and Cyrus watch from the side, both are ill at ease with the words that their President is about to utter. They had both seen the speech and really, it was nothing out of the ordinary for a declarative speech. What truly pierced their hearts was the reason behind the declaration. Fitz opens the leather binder and begins.
"Tonight I stand before you a heartbroken man. The life of my Vice President was threatened right here on American soil. Thankfully he did not suffer any fatal injuries. Whenever we can find diplomatic solutions, it is always our preferred method of handling such issues. But America does not and will not negotiate with terrorists. We need to show these radicals that America will not tolerate violence and blackmail in the name of country. So, tonight I stand before you declaring..."
At this precise moment Abby receives a phone call, she nods to Fitz, and a moment of silence ensues. Not even a breath can be heard in the room at this moment. Fitz continues in a more languid manner.
"...So, tonight, I stand before you declaring..." Fitz swiftly closes the leather binder and boldly looks out at the press crops, "The truth is I am supposed to either declare war on West Angola or resign the Office of the President of the United States at this moment. That's what I'm supposed to do, because the people who do not agree with the way that I am running this country tell me that is what I need to say. I am not going to do that."
At once the room is filled with questions being shouted from reporters scrambling to have their question answered. Abby and Cyrus are in shock, pleased but unsure of what is to come next. Mellie, watching on a television somewhere in the White House, smiles surreptitiously. From her home, Andrew and Lizzie are aghast, as they watch the broadcast.
/
Earlier that same day. Residence, closet.
A hand touches his shoulder, "Fitz." He looks up, tears clouding his eyes,
"Livvie?" A tear drops and he realizes it is not his Livvie. It is Mellie. Staring down at him with one of the most pained looks he has ever seen on her face in all of their 20 something years of marriage.
Almost tenderly, "Fitz? It's the middle of the afternoon, what are you doing here?"
Quickly composing himself, Fitz goes back to his tie collection.
"Nothing, just picking out a tie for tonight's press conference."
"Really? ... Are you going to declare war on West Angola?"
"I can't discuss that with you. You know that."
"You would if I were Olivia Pope."
With exasperation, "Mellie... I really don't want to fight with you, especially right now."
Silence. Concentrating on his ties he can not see the inner turmoil with which Mellie struggles. She is making tough decisions and it's tearing away at her very core.
"Don't do it." She states.
"What?"
"Don't invade West Angola. We both know that attack was staged."
"How did you...?"
"Andrew. hmph... he wants me by his side you know. I thought about it. For all of five seconds. He wants me by his side, Fitz. By his SIDE. Like I'm some kind of pet. He says it'll be different with him. We'll be a team. Run the country together. Big kids table. But he's just like you, honey. He will never love just me."
A little offended and not quite comprehending what is going on, Fitz turns to Mellie.
"Why are you telling me all this, Mellie? It'd be so easy for you to destroy me. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Laughing hysterically, "What I've always wanted? Really..., Honey? No, what I've always wanted is... (shaking her head and wiping the imaginary slate in front of her, Mellie style) ...it doesn't matter what I've always wanted. I think I gave up on what I thought I had always wanted, this morning. I want something else now."
Agitated, Fitz begins to feel suffocated. He just wants to escape, be somewhere, anywhere but here... with her.
"Mellie, either say what you mean or..."
"You know what she'd say to you? Olivia Pope? That you have to put the country first. (she scoffs) Olivia and I are the same in a lot of ways, you know. It's a shame you never saw that. Yes, I'm colder, and a villainous bitch, and a political monster... la de dah... While Saint Olivia is always trying to prance around in her white hat that gets blown off every time she tries to stay away from you."
"What are you saying, Mellie?"
"I'm saying, I want to be the next President of the United States of America. I'm saying, I am tired, Fitz. You win. You would sacrifice an entire nation for that woman, (laughing) who left you when you needed a shoulder to cry on. That was my shoulder, Honey. Even though I'm sure you'd like to pretend it was hers. Fine. I'm done. You, my idiotic, idealistic husband will always choose love over power. I used to think that was a weakness. In a lot of ways it is. (tearfully) Gerry dying... losing a child? It changes you. Perspective, life goals, everything hits you. And I will be damned if that bitch Elizabeth North or any of her right-wing crazy gun people, as you call them, get to run this country. They're not right. They shouldn't be in power. Because that's all it will ever be about with them. POWER. And more power. They know your weakness now. They'll never stop exploiting it. I was a young lawyer once, with ambitions and aspirations for what this nation could be, what it can be. I need to find that girl, she's buried somewhere inside of this cold shell. ... I'm saying, I can't do that if I'm constantly fiiiiiiighting a war I know I'll never win. So go, go find Olivia. But don't declare war on West Angola. She wouldn't want that. You don't want that either."
Coldly. "What do you suggest I do, Mellie? Let them kill her? I almost di... Did Andrew tell you where she is? Why he is doing this?"
Laughing hysterically again, "That's always been your problem, Fiiitz! You don't see the evil in other people because you just can not conceive it. You're not built for the dirty political games, the body-burying, dancing on graves."
"ha..., That's just another way of calling me an idiot."
"Perhaps. ... (with a smirk) But I'm the only one who should have the specific honor of inflicting misery on you and Olivia Pope. God, I loathe that woman. But I need her to stay alive. At least until your Presidency is over."
"You've never been one to mince words, Mel."
"I am sooo done pretending. At least with you. The three of us, we can help each other. Invade West Angola, don't invade West Angola, I'm telling you if you find her, things will be different this time. I need for things to be different this time." She walks to the collection of ties; selects one. "Wear this one. It's strong, Presidential. Patriotic."
She glances towards him one last time before leaving the closet. Fitz stares in the direction of her departure, unsure of what just happened. Was he to believe everything his lying, manipulative wife had just told him? She IS the mother of his children. She had seemed so sincere when she mentioned Gerry's name. His head is spinning. Everything he thought he knew has just gone out the window.
/
At the podium, Fitz continues....
I am not going to stand here and lie to the people who elected me. I can not permit terrorism to occur in my own backyard, whether the perpetrators are foreign or domestic. Terrorism is terrorism. Last night, Vice President Andrew Nichols told me that he had kidnapped, and threatened to hurt my most trusted advisor, Miss Olivia Pope, if I did not declare war on West Angola. Too many lies have been told. Too many lives have been sacrificed in the name of country and President. It is time to put an end to this corruption. It is time for a more transparent government, the American public deserves this. So, with the help of Attorney General Rosen, Vice President Andrew Nichols and all those involved in this plot are being apprehended as we speak. They will be charged with and tried for kidnapping and treason... to start."
Visualize camera photo shots of Rosen/Fitz in the Oval office discussion, & Rosen/FBI invading Lizzie's home cuffing her and Andrew.
"To the people who have Miss Pope, we know who you are and we know where you are. We have men surrounding you. If you touch one hair on her head, you will be eliminated."
The room explodes with reporter's questions.
"Mr. President, why did they kidnap Miss Pope?"
"Mr. President, why did they think you'd risk going to war if they took Miss Pope?"
"Mr. President, would you have gone to war?"
"Mr. President..." "Mr. President..." "Mr. President..."
"That's all the time I have. Thank you." Hastily leaving the podium, he motions for Cyrus to take over as Fitz and Abby rush off to, God knows where.
/
8 P.M. Olivia is still tied up, looking more distraught than ever. The menacing man glances down at his watch. His phone rings and he goes into the other room before answering. Olivia can't hear what he's saying. She starts to fidget again, attempting to free her hands, but to no avail. She grazes the ring on her index finger. She stops moving. More tears begin to fall as memories flood ...
/
5 years ago. DC hotel room. After having visited the National Archives
He kisses her shoulders as Fitz snuggles as close as he can get to Olivia's back.
"We shouldn't have come here. It's too risky."
Fitz continues to kiss her shoulder, sensually moving his mouth to her back. His warm tongue touches her skin, she shudders and nuzzles closer to him. He ignores her protests about the risks and he declares, "I think I have loved you for ever."
Smiling, Olivia turns to face him. With her thumb on his chin, she chides, "Don't be silly. No one knows what forever is."
He stares into her eyes with all the love that a forever can hold.
"Then all of my life. I have loved you my whole life and I wanted to tell you from that first moment I saw you. Telling me things no one ever dared, not even Cyrus." He grazes his nose with hers and speaking in his deep baritone, "Be honest, you knew it, didn't you? You ripped open my soul and you knew? That I love you. Didn't you?"
Olivia has no words. Her heart is beyond overwhelmed. Her chin quivers, as she tries to hold back the feelings of understanding just how Fitz feels. She reaches out and holds his cheek and gently kisses him. He deepens the kiss. She digs her hands into his curls and slides her leg between his. But before they're both too heated to stop, Fitz halts the kiss and reaches down to his jacket that has been carelessly thrown to the floor.
"I have something for you. The truth is I've had it for a while now but I just couldn't find the right time to give it to you." Teasingly, "Now that I know you love me, can't live without me, can't breathe without me, wait for me, watch for me, are in this with me..."
With equal amusement in her voice, "Shut up... What did you get me?"
"It's a ring." Seeing the expression on her face, "Not that kind of ring! I was thinking about what you said and did at Camp David the last time we were there." He winks, she blushes. "We don't know what curveballs life is going to throw at us. I want you to have this so you too know that my heart can never belong to anyone else. It never has. I will always be with you. Don't think I don't feel you doubting this, us... I just want it to be clear to you that I'm not ever going to let you go or give up hope that one day I'll be able to hold your hand whenever I want to. I will always find you Olivia. Because I know you. I know the life you want. And it's with me. I know that things are difficult right now but as long as we're together, we'll be okay. Don't leave me, Livvie."
She bats her eyes and takes the ring from him. Inside the ring are the inscribed words: Love is all that matters. She places the ring back in the box and kisses him again. This time there is no stopping. Neither one wants to.
/
Somewhere in Olivia's memory.
Vermont. Mid night.
Beside the fireplace, Olivia is on top of Fitz. Their moans and grunts culminating into a tandem climax of passions. Olivia collapses to the floor beside him, pure pleasure written all over her face. Fitz kisses her forehead as she snuggles into him. She looks up at him,
"Hi."
"Hi." He replies as he looks down at her.
She kisses his bare chest and snuggles even deeper into him, their legs intertwined. Olivia strokes his leg with her foot while he caresses her arm.
"This is not where I imagined my day would have ended."
"Is that a complaint?"
"You're being silly again. I just can't believe you built this house. How? When did you do all this?"
"I think I've been building this house forever." Olivia side eyes Fitz. "Okay, since your marriage. Literally? When I almost died. When your life flashes before you , you see everything so clearly. I saw you trying to make jam by those marble countertops and failing miserably. Our kids running around causing mayhem. Us taking long walks through that 30-acre orchard and getting lost in there." Olivia smiles as she listens to him. She extends warm tiny kisses on his chest. Fitz continues, "Watching that amazing skyline together after putting our kids to bed. I saw our whole lives passing by and I knew, I just knew that if I didn't take the necessary steps, if I didn't build this house, everything would vanish. And I just couldn't let that happen."
"I think I've always been weary of dreaming..."
"I know." Fitz shifts slightly. "We need to talk about that."
Olivia tries to change the subject. She slides her hand underneath the sheet.
"Mmmm... it looks like something else is talking right now."
Fitz slides his hands under the sheet and grabs hold of her hands. They stare at each other in a sort of stalemate. She insists on stroking, he attempting to stop her, even though his body is tingling to let her get away with it.
"Olivia, stop."
"Why?"
"This is more important to me. So much has happened. So much I feel guilty about. But I'm not a monster. I'm only a man. A man who make mistakes. Don't I deserve some peaceful love? I have told you so many times how much you mean to me. What happens to you, Livvie?"
Olivia hesitates.
"We separated because we love each other too much. Because I love you too much. I can never let you sacrifice for me."
"I don't think that's entirely true. I think it's that you didn't trust me or my love. You're afraid. You've always been afraid that I'd stop loving you."
"Should I be? Scared. That you'll stop loving me?"
"The fact that you'd even ask... I couldn't stop if I tried. And I've tried!"
"Thanks!"
"What else am I supposed to do? You just won't let me love you sometimes."
A moment of silence passes.
"The truth is, I HAVE always been very scared of losing you. When you almost died...I...I am scared. Everything that has happened to you, Defiance, my father...it's all my fault. Loving you is terrifying. That terror doesn't go away."
Fitz lifts her up and grabs her by the arms.
"I want you to listen to me. I wouldn't change anything that's happened if it meant not ever knowing you. The clock turns, life goes on...isn't that what you once told me? We can't keep running from the truth. We're not going to wake up one day and have everything be the way we want it to be. It's on us. It's always on us. If we don't start taking control of our lives, it'll destroy us. We can not let these circumstances ruin us. Are you listening to me, Olivia?"
With gentle laughter through tears, Olivia replies, "Yes...okay."
"No more lying to each other. About anything but especially about how we feel...our emotions."
"Alright...okay."
"I love you, Olivia Carolyn Pope. Don't you ever forget that. You need to stop fighting it."
All she can do is kiss him, in order to show him just how much he means to her. On their knees now, they kiss passionately. Fitz lifts her up and drives her to the wall. For the 7th, maybe 8th or 9th time that night they make deep passionate love.
/
Olivia's reality
The menacing man comes back in to the room where she is being held captive. He callously removes the white cloth from her mouth again.
"Looks like I was right sweetheart. Your...what is he to you?...is speaking in 2 minutes. We both know he's going to declare war on West Angola."
"What?!" Olivia asks.
"That's right. You must be very important to him. If all goes as planned, you'll be free."
"You're never going to let me go."
He laughs maniacally, tormenting her. She knows that they have Fitz exactly where they want him. A deep sadness settles in.
"Hey, I'm kind of thirsty, do you think I could have some of that wine?"
"No."
"Please? I'll be good."
Uncertain if he should oblige, "...fine, but no funny tricks!"
He grabs the wine glass on the table and places it to her mouth. Olivia pretends to drink. As soon as he removes the glass from her mouth, she aims for his eyes. Perfect hit! He is blinded. Yelling, he launches for her chair. But Olivia Pope has released herself. All that fidgeting and wriggling had paid off though her hands are bloody. The man trips and hits his head on a pillar close by. He tumbles to the floor with a heavy thud. Instead of immediately running for the exit she goes to him and flips him over. Blood is trickling down the side of his face. Olivia elbows him but nothing.
"Are you dead? Are you dead?"
She scans the room in a frenzied state. Upon seeing what looks like car keys on a large table, she rapidly removes the loose rope from her hands, grabs the keys and runs for the door. Unfortunately, she is met by an even more menacing looking man. He ruthlessly clutches her hair and throws her to the ground.
"And where do you think you're going?!" He is irate. He drags Olivia to where the other man lies dead, blood dripping all over the floor. He nudges him with his leg several times then presses two fingers against his neck, no pulse. He freaks.
"You little bitch. Did you kill him? FUCK! You killed him. You fucking killed him! Fuck Fuck. I did not sign up for this. Shit...shit...shit...!
Beads of sweat are visibly noticeable on his forehead. He vigorously chafes his head, takes out his gun and points it at Olivia. He takes out his phone and seems disappointed that no one has called.
"Sit!" He directs her to the couch and turns on the television. Kimberly Mitchell appears to be wrapping up a special on James and Lisa Elliot.
"While they say they'll remain the best of friends, James and Lisa Elliot have declared that their marriage is over. They have received support for their decision from all blocks. 'Life is too short to spend it fighting,' they say. That's all from me, i'm Kimberly Mitchell. Stay tuned to our broadcast as we review President Fitzgerald Grant's earlier address that left the nation in shock. His words have left many questions unanswered and many people uncertain as to the stability of this nation."
The television picture switches to President Grant standing at the podium. Olivia takes a sharp breath. Through her mind a mesh of god, he is sexy; Is he really going to declare war for me; and why are these fuckers doing this to my bae, he looks so miserable.
President Grant begins, "Tonight I stand before you a heartbroken man..." The next few minutes are a web of mixed emotions. Fear, sadness, pride, confusion, anger, and acceptance. "We know who you are, we know where you are..." No sooner had they started watching then the television is off again. Olivia's captor really begins to panic now. Pacing back and forth, he gawks at his phone again willing it to ring. Nothing. What should he do?
"Dammit! Looks like you and me are going to take a little ride Miss Pope. If they want you alive, they're gonna have to give me some kind of deal. GET UP!"
He grips her by the arm and forces her to walk with him. Olivia screams in protest and violently thrashes about. They struggle until the man can't take anymore. He throws her to the ground and points the gun at her.
"I didn't want to have to do this..." Surrendering to her fate, Olivia closes her eyes. She flinches.
BANG. BANG. BANG. A moment passes. She opens her eyes and is surprised to note that she hasn't been shot. She is fully intact. But the menacing man is down. She doesn't understand what has happened. She scrambles to where he is lying face down. Not wanting to touch him, she just stands there, paralyzed and crying, her bloody hands marring her face. She is unaware that a sniper across the street is the shooter of the menacing man now lying dead at her feet. Moments pass, Olivia is on her knees like a wounded animal, with two dead bodies now in the room. Suddenly, the door swings and in the opening is Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III. He sees her there on the floor, dejected. His eyes begin to water, he runs to her.
"Livvie...Liv...hey...hey...look at me...look at me...you're alright...it's okay...it's okay...everything is going to be alright. I've got you. I've got you. Come here." He cradles her in his arms until she's not numb anymore. She looks into his eyes and immediately scolds,
"What did you do?"
"I started living, Livvie." She can't help but smile at his brazenness.
"I'm sorry... For running. I'm sorry I've made you wait."
"Don't EVER do it again."
At that moment Huck, Quinn, and Abby show up. They're standing by the doorway smiling with relief. Olivia fixes her eyes on them. She doesn't need to say anything to any of them. They know how grateful she is to them. She knows that they moved heaven and earth to find her. She looks at Fitz again and takes hold of his face with her bloody hands.
"NEVER again, my love." Looking back at her Gladiators once more. "We're all in this together. There's no looking back."
Olivia kisses Fitz. What a sight the smiling Gladiators behold; two dead bodies, and the moon shining light on the President of the United States of America on his knees kissing their boss as if life began and ended with her.
Publisher Note: This is the final chapter of this story. It was RedHot Scandal's intention that this 'story' be read/seen as if it were an actual episode of Scandal (no copyright infringement intended, just fun). This concludes The Clock Turns.
Look for RedHot Scandal2.0 on Twitter scandal_redhot