Fitz watched as Liv paced in circles just outside the waiting room. He wanted to give her the space she needed and deserved. He was no longer privy to her moments of weakness and. Olivia's pacing stopped as she picked up her phone. He watched as a smile crept up on her face, unconsciously she turned so all he could see was her back. Once upon a time he used to illicit such a smile from her. It seemed a lifetime ago as she now looked at him distrust and uncertainty. As the Doctor came out Liv said her goodbyes and followed him into the room where Fitz and James were waiting. Liv stood beside James and slipped her hand in his giving it a small reassuringly squeeze. Grateful James draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Whatever the news she would take it just as bad if not worse than he would.

It was like a blur. An out of body experience. As the doctor spoke Olivia could hear his words but she felt frozen in place.

"So what are you saying?" Fitz asked not only for himself but for all of them. The doctor took a deep breath,

"The operation took its toll on him. He crashed twice, we were able to bring him back but he slipped into a coma. We're hopeful that the coma is his body's way of healing itself."

"How long will he be in a coma?" Olivia asked in a small voice.

"It could be hours, days, possibly longer." The doctor placed a hand on Liv's arm.

"His body just needs the time to heal. It was a very extensive surgery Liv." The gesture and familiarity did not go unnoticed by Fitz. Liv nodded and took a step forward and gave him a brief but meaningful hug.

"Thank you Dr H."

"You're welcome kiddo. I realise it would be pointless to send any of you home. He'll be in a private room, there's a cot there and a couple of chairs. I'll have the nurse come and get you once he's in his room." James thanked Doctor Hunter before Liv walked out with him leaving James and Fitz.

"Doctor H was her Dad's best friend." James answered the unasked question.

"Uncle H?" Fitz asked putting the pieces together as James nodded.

"I thought he was based in Australia."

"He was till about a year ago. I think he played a part in Liv picking London in the end."

Fitz knew about Heathcliff Hunter. In the rare times that Olivia spoke of her childhood, she spoke fondly of her Uncle H. Heathcliff and Eli Pope were in college and med school together. Much of Olivia's childhood was spent with Cliff and his family. When her parents died when she was barely eighteen and they had offered to take her in. Liv had just started college and Cliff had taken on an offer in Australia. Liv flew to Sydney to visit them once a year for the first few years but as time passed she saw them less and less. To Olivia Cliff and his family were the closest to family she had with the exception of her gladiators and in her world of chaos he helped her feel grounded.

"So that's him?" Olivia looked up at her 6"4 godfather and chuckled.

"Yes Uncle H, that's Fitz."

"Can I give him a good slap over the head?"

"Thank you for asking, but no you may not. I'm sure it's some form of treason inflicting bodily harm on the leader of the free world."

"It would be worth it." He replied not at all kidding. Though Liv never went into specifics, it didn't take a genius to figure out just how badly Liv was hurt. He wasn't exactly thrilled to learn of her relationship with a married man, even more so when he realised it was the president of the United States but Olivia loved him. Knowing how hard it was for Liv to let anyone in, he knew that Fitz had to be exceptional and for that he got a pass. Till he broke her heart and then it was all bets off. Liv placed a hand over his arm.

"I wasn't innocent in this debacle Unc. I broke his heart first." She said softly.

"Maybe so, but nobody breaks my lady bug's heart and gets away with it." Liv smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Well as long as you have a legitimate reason...but seriously Uncle H it's okay. I'm a big girl. I can exorcise my own demons. Not to say he's one of my demons...but you know what I mean."

"I do. Should you change your mind I am happy to break his knees."

"Get in line. Between you and Huck..."

"I've always had a soft spot for Huck."

"Could it be that he's almost as protective as you and Dad? If not more."

"Maybe..." Cliff answered dropping his lips to her head and giving her a brief squeeze.

"I need to finish up. Seeing as you're not leaving the hospital what do you say you and I do dinner at the Cafeteria tonight. Glamorous I know but unless you're open to leaving hospital grounds that's all I can offer you."

"Cafeteria is fine. I don't want to leave him till he's woken up and I want to be there when he was. Cyrus may be a pain in my ass but he's family." Cliff nodded. He knew that Cyrus had taken Liv under his wing and filled the gap when he was relocated.

When Liv returned she took a seat beside James and took his hand in hers and held it on her lap. A few minutes later the nurse had come in to take them to Cyrus' room. Her breath was caught in her throat at the sight of him looking so helpless. She could feel her legs threaten to give way and before they could buckle she felt Fitz hands resting on each shoulder as if to steady her. She closed her eyes and told herself to pull it together. He felt her stiffen at his tpuch and he remembered the last time his hands on her was when he handled her so roughly. Shamed filled him immediately, he removed his hands reluctantly and shoved them in his pocket opting to just walk closely behind her. She and James stood opposite each other as they took a hand each. Fitz stood by the foot of Cyrus' bed not knowing where to place himself.

"James, why don't you head off for the night. I'll take the first shift. I know you must be anxious to see Ella." Liv said after a little while. James looked up and reluctantly nodded. Not necessarily wanting to leave Cyrus but also pining for their daughter.

"I will call you as soon as he wakes up." She promised.

"I'll be here too James. He won't be alone." James looked at Olivia as of asking for permission to leave her with him. She gave him a small nod. He walked over to her and gave her a hug before heading out. Olivia and Fitz sat in Cyrus' room in silence. It was far from comfortable but it was bearable. When Cliff came to pick up Olivia for their dinner Fitz didn't miss the look that Cliff had given him. It didn't take a genius to guess that he knew who he was in Olivia's life. Liv gave him a small apologetic smile before heading out with Cliff. He watched as Liv playfully elbowed Cliff on his side. Cliff just smiled at her and draped an arm around her shoulder. Fitz brought the chair close to Cy's bed and sat down just watching his friend's lifeless body.

"I screwed up Cy. Big time. I am so sorry. I need you to wakeup. I can't run this country without you. I don't know how to do this without you. You and Liv believed in me like no one else. You believed in me enough that I never had to believe in myself and now that you're both gone, I just...I need you Cy. For all of our arguments you are one of two people who believed in me. Despite what you had to gain from it you believed in me." Fitz ran his hand through his hair.

"You were right. I had to want it. I thought I wanted it. It wasn't until you and Liv came along that I truly wanted it. You both made me want it more tham I ever thought I could want it. You believed in me so much that I believed in myself. Defiance hurt as much as did. It made me question..."

"Whether we really believed in you." Olivia finished as she stood by the door holding his dinner in her hands. Fitz looked up surprised and nodded.

"It was never that Fitz. If anything it was because we believed in you so much. We saw the greatness that only you could bring. That was our downfall. All we saw was your greatness. Your potential. The change that you could have on the world. I don't think I've ever believed in anyone the way I believed in you." Her voice trailed as though lost in a memory.

"Believed Livvie?" Liv shook the cobwebs out of her head.

"I don't know what I believe in anymore." She confessed somewhat brokenly. Liv placed his dinner on the table and slipped out of the room.