Full Circle

Chapter 8 – Taking Charge

AN: This is probably more of a filler chapter than anything. In this story Olivia does get help for her PTSD my original idea was to do a time jump and have some flashbacks of her time away but should I do the next few chapters focusing on Olivia's recovery? let me know what you guys think!

They were back up in the residence Olivia still had her head in Fitz's chest partly due to all the stares she was feeling being burned into her head and the other part due to the fact that she was finding her strength from Fitz.

Once he placed her back on the bed he said 'I'm going to go back down to the oval and come up with a plan. We'll get through this Liv I promise'.

She thought about what he said, staring at this man before her, the man that would give everything up for her, the man who couldn't give a damn about optics and would still be proud to have her after everything. She starts to think about all the times that she walked away, all the times she thought this wouldn't work, and that what they once shared would just be stolen moments, hopes and dreams of the future that would never amount to anything.

'Wait will you bring them up here and we can work together?' she asks him they were always better as a team something that they lost along the way.

'Are you sure Livvie?'

She smiles at him 'I'm sure Fitz'

He kisses her forehead and goes to retrieve her team and Abby, she moves to the living room thinking that would be better than the bedroom. It was only a matter of minute before fitz was returning again. As they entered Quinn and Marcus had a bewildered expression on their face, Huck had remained neutral and of course Abby had already been up here so this was nothing new for her.

'Ok where are we?'

'We've started tracing all the information and its all pointing back to Jake, the images would have been easy to get hold off if you knew what you were looking for but we are trying to figure out how he was able to get hold of your medical records' Quinn said.

'Could there be any other people involved helping him'? Fitz asked.

Olivia looked over at Huck and knew what he was thinking

'My father' Liv simply stated

'He would have the connections and the dirt to be able to obtain this kind of information and in his mind anything that could potentially destroy Fitz he would do even if it meant hurting me'.

Olivia looked over at him and couldn't quite read what he was thinking, knowing him he was probably taking some of the guilt for this.

'Ok Quinn, Huck we need you to watch Jake and Rowan keep looking for anything that could link them together and to this, Marcus head down to the clinic where Liv went ask how her medical records got accessed, find anyone and get them to talk, Abby prepare a press release stating we are launching a full investigation into this, we need to reassure the American people that there medical records are safe and that their privacy is not being violated.'

Everyone looked at Fitz including Olivia, shocked and surprised that he was the one gladiating.

'What I did learn from the best' and he looked over at Olivia.

Olivia looked at her team and they were looking at her

'You heard him but guys just be careful. Oh Abby will you head to my apartment and pick up some clothes for me if Jake or Rowan are waiting tell them they best be prepared '.

'I'm going to head back down to the oval, will you be ok?' he asks whilst walking over to me.

Unusual for Olivia she pulls his arms around her and takes comfort in his embrace

'I'll be fine Fitz, go be President I've caused you more than enough problems today'

She chuckles lightly and he pulls her into him tighter

'I won't be too long' he kisses her head and leaves.

A couple of hours later Abby comes back with some clothes and toiletries

'Thanks Abby'

'No problem Liv erm I'm getting a few questions asking about the status of your relationship with The President'.

She thought about it for a second, part of her wanted to scream that they were friends just to take the heat of Fitz but in actual fact she doesn't know the status of their relationship.

'Tell them that at this moment we are friends and working through everything that has happened.. Confirm with Fitz before it goes out and see if he wants to add or change anything'.

'Sure thing. I think it was really brave what you did Liv standing out there and saying what you did, I know it meant a lot to him, he never stopped loving you, whenever you would come up in conversation you could see the pain and love that he had for you. I hope you guys can make it work'.

She smiles at Abby before she leaves. Liv heads to the bathroom and runs herself a bath needing to soak and unwind. After spending far too long in the bath she dries herself off and gets dressed, she looks around the residence but its empty, deciding to head onto the balcony she remembers when there were rose petals spread across the bedroom leading to the balcony candles lit everywhere and Fitz waiting for her, the kiss they shared before Abby came in with the news that they were out, her waiting for him and 'whatever we want'.

She gets so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Fitz calling for her; it was only when he came onto the balcony that she broke out of her thoughts and turned to him. The look of relief on his face when he saw her didn't go unnoticed she knows he must have thought she had left again. She made a vow to herself to help erase those fears. She pats the space next to her and curls up into him.

'So much has happened Fitz, I don't know how to be free, I want to be better, I don't want to live in fear, I want to escape the nightmares, I want to be worthy of your love again, I want you to be proud to have me by your side if that's what you still want. I want to be all in with you but I'm afraid that I'm not ready because I'm in a place that I haven't been able to get out of since the kidnapping, I can't keep putting tape over it, I'm afraid of what will happen if I don't do something. I mean I've already killed someone and I've been so destructive for a long time I just can't do it anymore Fitz'.

'Liv what are you saying'

'I need to leave Fitz'

She turns to look at him and sees the devastation on his face and realise what he must think but before she can correct him he jumps in

'No Liv please don't leave me again, I don't want you to hide, it won't help, I'll do whatever it takes to help you but please don't leave' he gets out with tears building in his eyes.

She cups his face and stares deep into his eyes

'Fitz I didn't mean leave leave I meant I need to go away to a facilty rehab or someplace similar. I need help, I need to be able to understand my emotions, I need to be able to cope with the PTSD, I want to be free for you, I want to come back and be better for you'.

The relief washes over him he puts his hands over hers

'I'll help you find the best place for you Liv you've been trying to cope for too long, I just want to see you happy again but do it for you, get better for you, for us not just for me'.

She nods her head at him and gives him a quick peck on the lips. They stay cuddled up on the balcony watching the DC skyline. For the first time since the kidnapping she started to feel free. This was the second step in getting her life back.