Chapter 37

6:30 pm.

Olivia drove past the San Diego city limits. She drove in a daze, just thinking...wondering what was being said at the press conference.

In a way, she felt a sense of relief.

Yet, she was also angry at herself for taking the easy way out.

When she realized she'd missed the exit for her condo on Clairemont Mesa Blvd, she kept on driving on Interstate 5 south, bypassing I- 805.

Before long, there was a sign that read:

International border 2 miles.

To the right of the sign there was exit 18 marked via San Ysidro.

As though on autopilot, Olivia passed the exit clearly marked: Camino de la Plaza. The sign was green (like every other freeway sign in America) Except the lower half of the sign highlighted the following words in neon yellow in contrasting dark black letters: Last USA exit.

Instead of veering to the right, she bypassed the off ramp, heading straight under the sigh that read: MEXICO ONLY.

Her cell phone kept ringing and ringing...She had to answer.

There was no turning back now.

Up ahead, a white sign with black letters read: GUNS ILLEGAL IN MEXICO.

Thankfully, she did not carry any weapons, she chuckled a little to herself.

Then, the reality of the situation dawn on her and slapped her in the face. There was no turning around now, there was no room for "Oh, gosh, I guess kinda made a mistake!"

No U turns allowed. She needed to cross the border AND then later see about crossing back to the USA.

At once she recalled the case of the US Marine who had crossed the border in a similar situation to hers about a year ago and had found himself arrested an thrown into a Mexican prison just because he'd crossed the border with a weapon in his possession. As far as she knew, he'd spent months in prison while the US government negotiated his release.

Up ahead she saw the toll booth. $2.60.

Of course, I'm not carrying a weapon, she said to herself but then she remembered that she was not in possession of her passport either.

And she knew enough about Mexico to know that their policy was to hold you in custody first for who knows how long and then ask questions later. This was true even in cases where there was a traffic accident (no matter how minor) and one party was clearly at fault, both parties were usually held in custody and vehicles impounded.

Finally, she answered the phone and put it on speakerphone. She did not have a blue tooth; she hated those devices that always tended to malfunction when you needed it the most.

"Olivia? Are you there?"

Olivia swallowed hard. "Fitz?" She heaved a sign of relief. It felt so great to hear his voice.

Up ahead at the toll booth, there were about 6 cars up ahead of her.

"Thank God! Why the heck didn't you answer the damn phone!" He yelled. Then, suddenly he seemed remorseful and added in a worried tone, "Did something happen, Liv, are you okay?"

"I can't explain right now...well, there was traffic up to L.A...I turned around thinking I would go by place and grab a few things but then I went on driving, I knew I wouldn't make it to the conference... I don't know how, I just missed the last exit...I'm about to cross the Mexican border now." She took a deep breath. She felt like an idiot. One thing was to take a couple of hours off to think things through and recharge her batteries and quite another to take a detour to a different country.

It seemed like forever before he spoke again, but it couldn't have been more than a second or two in real time. "You need a passport to get back ..." he murmured in a slow, inquisitive tone.

"I know...I'll..." Dammit, her passport and most of her personal effects had been lost in the crash of flight 815. "Can you call Quinn? Remember I told you she lives here in Mexico? Her phone number is in my address book on my nightstand. Can't call right now, need to concentrate on my driving," she said. There were only 2 cars ahead of her now. Olivia cursed loud and clear when she realized wasn't thinking straight. "Wait, no...I mean my nightstand at my place in San Diego...the address is ah...1872 McFlorence, Clairemont Mesa. Can you remember that..? The keys are under the mat."

"I got it. Olivia...listen, I won't be able to get down to San Diego right away..." he paused. "huh...Quinn lives in Ensenada, right?

"Yes, Yes..." One car ahead of her now. "Gotta go, I'm at the toll booth now. It's my turn. I"ll stop somewhere and call Quinn. I have her number on my contact list." Almost as soon as she hung up, Olivia realized she should have stayed on the phone with Fitz. Darn-it, there would have been nothing wrong with that.

The guards at the toll booth nodded slightly after casting a quick glance inside the her vehicle. They gave her the go-ahead signal.

Olivia kept on driving following the signs to Ensenada which was about 90 miles inland.

She had to keep her wits about her, driving in Mexico was the closest she would ever come to witnessing a stampede of madness. It was as though every driver believed THEY had the right of way. Although she felt fortunate to have gained some experience driving in Baja California back in her high school days.

Maybe she should make a pit stop before heading further south. There was this restaurant Called Sotano, she could grab a bite to eat, freshen up and stretch her legs.

The phone rang again as Olivia made her decision to stop.

It was Fitz. She answered and turned on the speakerphone.

"Liv? Hey, I talked to Quinn. Abby, she gave me the number. Listen, once you get to Ensenada, stop where it's safe and call her and she'll give you directions... " His voice sounded stressed.

"Fitz...I'm stopping at this restaurant. I can't keep going I have to stop..."

"No...if you can, you need to keep going," he said in a grave tone. "It's almost dark now...and you'll be driving in a foreign country at night..."

"By that same reasoning I should just stop here and stay put. It will be getting dark no matter what and I still have an hour and half drive to go," she shook her head, it was hard to find a parking spot. She would have to park on a street somewhere. Maybe walk several blocks? Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of a sign that read "Tijuana, the most visited city in the world."

Of the entire world? Yeah, right, she scoffed.

Right then she found a parking spot not too far from the restaurant and she let out a little cheer.

"I'm stopping now, Fitz. While I'm here, I'll call Quinn and get directions to her place," she said turning off the ignition and feeling a little more confident. "

There was silence on the other line. She heard a little girl's voice in the background.

"Is that Karen? Fitz, are you home?"

"Yes, I just got home." he paused for a second. She heard him say something to Karen.

A cloak of guilt suddenly engulfed her. She wished she was home with Fitz and the kids. A lump formed in her throat as she thought of Aaron. She had not seen him since this morning.

If only she had been paying attention, right now she would be in San Diego and getting ready to drive back to Santa Monica.

"Oh, Fitz," she sighed regretfully. "Tell Karen I'm sorry I won't be home tonight to read..." she nearly choked on the words, remembering that it was her turn to tuck her in tonight."And Aaron...give him a kiss for me," she added remembering the press conference, feeling like a million questions were being held prisoner in her throat. "Fitz...I'll call you when I'm getting ready to get back on the road," she mumbled this last part with a heavy heart.

She needed some time to unwind.

Plus right now, she didn't even want to know all the details.

"We'll, talk later, Ok?"

"Okay" she heard him grumble. "Just don't leave your purse unattended not even for a second."

Olivia shook her head as she exited the silver BMW. Relax, she felt like saying to him. "Fitz...I've been here many times before...I can even speak a little Spanish."

It was clear that at this point, neither one wanted to end the call.

"Have you been there in the last 3 years?"

She pushed the alarm to lock the doors and started walking toward a little plaza that led to the restaurant. "No, not in the last 3 years."

"Liv, it's not safe there anymore, not like it used to be. Heck, that may even be the reason why military service-members are not even allowed in Tijuana anymore..."

"Well, I'll tell you one thing," Olivia said surveying her surroundings as she walked, holding he phone close to her ear. "I shouldn't even be on the phone. Too distracting..."

She heard him take a deep breath. It was now after 7:30 p.m and dusk had settled in.

"Okay, I'll let you go..." he stated begrudgingly. "But listen, before you think I'm over-reacting... I've heard too many stories, that's all. Although I'm sure you do remember the guys with the machine guns, the ones that charge a passage fee to Ensenada."

Olivia knew exactly what he was talking about. "Fitz...it's gonna be okay. Stop worrying. There's nothing I can't handle." she said even though deep down she felt some uneasiness settling down in the pit of her stomach.

If she could survive a plane crash and nearly 3 months on a deserted island, she reasoned, for sure she could handle a couple of 18 year olds with machine guns. All she had to do was be cooperative and provide the required payment. Never mind that the kids with the machine guns in question appeared as though they just barely got weaned off their mama's breast.

Speaking of weaning and breasts...Oh, gosh, she was so full she felt as she was about to explode into oblivion. "Gotta go," she mumbled, her long legs picking up the pace. Instinctively, she clutched her Prada purse- large enough to carry a portable breast pump-as she passed a group of teenage boys who seemed to be checking her out.

"I love you, Liv. listen, I'm heading for San Diego in the morning only because I can't leave the children...also, I have to apply for an emergency passport for you and me...then I'll come and get you."

Never miss an opportunity to say 'I love you'. "I love you too, Fitz" she mumbled hurrying inside the restaurant and ending the call.

Fifteen minutes later

Olivia emerged from the ladies room, feeling like new. She had washed her face and applied fresh make-up.

Although she had not wound up in Mexico purposely, she was determined to make the best of it. She was seated at a small table soon afterwards, the lone diner among others-namely couples and families.

"Una quesadilla con frijoles pintos, por favor y un vaso de jugo de manzana," she said to the waiter, trying her best to speak like a native. But in her experience, people here were shrewd and could spot a tourist/foreigner miles away, long before they opened their mouth.

The young waiter -handsome, attentive- nodded and smiled in that way Mexican men sometimes smile, designed to make a woman feel as though she's the only woman left on earth.

Olivia smiled back in a polite, apologetic way.

While she waited for her meal, Olivia sipped a glass of water and scanned her text messages. There were so many from Fitz, she felt guilty again. Most of them it seemed had been while she was driving.

Then, she came upon a message from Sayid.

"Can we meet tomorrow around 10 am? I can come to your house or we can meet somewhere if you want."

Now she was truly intrigued by the man's insistence. What did Sayid have to say that was so important?

"Can't meet with you, I'm in Mexico. Don't know when I'll be back."

In the meantime, Fitz got ready to put the kids to bed. Maria had retired for the night, so now he was completely in in charge.

"Daddy! That's not it...he wears these other ones for bed!" Karen spoke up while she watched Fitz pull out a pair of pajamas (or so he thought) from underneath the changing table in the nursery.

"Aren't these P.J"s too?"

Karen giggled. "No, no, those are the fancy going-out pj's." She then pulled out the right pair and set it on the changing table next to Aaron-clad in only his diaper. He lay kicking his arms and feet in different directions.

"Well, thank goodness I got you here to rectify the situation," Fitz commented in a playful tone.

"I'll dress him, Daddy, let me," she chimed, happy to help.

Fitz mumbled, "Ok," proud to see how much his little girl had grown. She's the perfect big sister, he thought. He nearly said the words out loud. But it just didn't seem right with everything that was happening with Aaron. Moreover, they had yet to tell Karen about the new baby; they had decided to wait a little longer and make sure Karen was okay with all the changes in her life.

"When is Olivia coming back?"

He sighed. He had already explained that Olivia had to leave to see a friend but that she was coming back as soon as possible.

"She didn't even say good-bye," Karen mumbled while getting Aaron into his footed P.J's with minimum assistance from Fitz who wanted to give her a chance to feel competent and all grown up. "Well, she'll better get back soon. Aaron misses her I'm sure... when she gets back we can go the puppy. And then it will be five of us, Olivia, Aaron, you, our new puppy and me," she concluded in a singsong voice.

Fitz gazed back at his daughter in awe. In such a short time, Karen had grown to love Aaron and Olivia as part of their family.

And now, things seemed to be falling apart.

Right after the press conference, someone called him from the department of social services (apparently they worked after hours) and had asked for an appointment to visit his home.

He ran his hand over the back of his neck, bewildered.

Olivia didn't even know about this new development yet.

Yet, he was certain she had to know what was coming next.

She knew better than anybody how the system worked.