This was Dr. Malford's third time asking if I was alright. The first two times I simply nodded, but this time I spoke trying to reassure him and myself. I feel the sweat beads collecting on my forehead, I didn't expect all that went into today's visit: blood tests, invasive body examinations. And not to mention all that it took to get me here this morning, the secret routes, the hacking so my father doesn't see me on hospital security footage. It's exhausting hiding all of the time. But my stomach churns at the prospect of my father finding out what I'm. It's been weeks since I heard from him and a small part of me wants to believe he's given up and decided maybe it's not a good idea to force his child into a corner of hate and resentment. But that would be too much like doing right, so I know he's planning something. And Huck still hasn't found any traces of bugs or hidden cameras in my apartment.
Dr. Malford comes back with his chart, checking off the series of tests he did on me, I assume. I take a couple of deep breaths hoping he's going to say we're done here. Instead, he leads me to another room, that's darker and colder than the first room.
"Let's take a look at your baby." He says. And a warmth shoots up my spine and my eyes get hot and wet. The reality of our situation hits me. All I can think about is how he's gonna miss this. I lay on the thin paper covering the table. Dr. Malford spreads the gel on my stomach and it's the warmest thing in this hospital so far. I can't quite make out the tiny spect on the monitor, but the doctor assures me it's there. My internal complaining stops when a sudden thump thump bounced off the walls and pierced my ears. My eyes burst like an angry cloud in a rainstorm.
"Ms. Bailey?" He must've been trying to get my attention because he seemed exasperated when he finally got it. "Would you like a copy?"
"No," I say. He hands me a small white towel and starts toward the door. "Wait- Just one copy. Thank you."
"Your baby is shy. I didn't see anything alarming but if something isn't right. The blood work will show. And hopefully, the baby will become more social in the coming weeks." Malford says and I take the printout. "I'll see you in two weeks, Ms. Bailey"
I don't go home after I leave the doctor's office because the weight of the truth settles on me. I never had a mother, a best friend who I could confidently say I knew everything about. I had an image of what a mother should look like, should feel like, and what the warmth of her love could shield me from. My baby deserves more than that, I deserved more than that. But I can't change the past any more than I can shape the future. All I can do is love and care for her the way I yearned for. The worst part isn't learning that your mom died, it's learning that she chose something else over the tiny human she carried.
It worries me how familiar I am with pain and grief. It's almost comfortable.
His figure shades the sun from me, though I don't have to look up to know he's there. Five seconds before he walked up to me here, there was a major shift in the air and I felt like vomiting. He stands there unmoving, waiting for me to acknowledge his presence but I don't for a while. I quickly fold the sonogram and slip it into my bag. For the first time, there isn't a wrenching in my stomach when he sits down. It isn't even fear that I feel right now it's indifference.
"Hello, Olivia." My father says. "You know why I'm here because you're here. If you had stayed put, kept your eyes straight. But you changed the rules."
"I-"
He turns to me and looks me directly in the eyes. "This is how it will go, Olivia. If you try to go public with President Grant's baby, I'll see to it that he's impeached and jailed for his war crimes. If you try to wait until the end of his term, there will be worse charges than war crimes against him." He cracks a smile, then faces forward. "I was unreasonable about the island, you don't want to raise a child there, Canada is beautiful in the summer and a child-friendly environment. If you tell your team or anyone in the white house where you're going there will be consequences."
"I'm not going," I say.
"If you stay, I'll kill Huck's son next." Rowan starts reaching into his pocket and I flinch away. He chuckles and pulls out a piece of paper. "If I wanted to hurt you, Olivia, I would have done it already. But you're my child. Whatever you may think of me, I'm still your father and whether you choose to believe it or not, I'm doing what's best for you."
I laugh absurdly loud, my father stares at me a moment. And then I compose myself. "Sorry, but that almost sounded like what a father would say. It's funny." He shoves the paper into my hands and stands.
"You're leaving Washington, I wasn't asking, that is an order"
As my father stalks away, I see Huck in the distance watching, and when my father is gone. He walks up to the bench where I'm sitting. "Are you following my father?" I ask.
"No. I'm following you" Huck says "He knows you're scared so he'll say anything to get under your skin. Don't let him."
"Huck we can't take that chance, because we both know what he's capable of." I'm scared to admit that I'm scared because he just got his family back and my father isn't known for kindness in the face of defiance. The temptation to keep those I care for safe is strong. But he would never forgive me if I disappeared again. And I couldn't live with myself if I denied him a chance to be a father to our baby.
"I'm not worried," He says.
"Can you do something for me?" I start unfolding the sonogram. "I need to get this to him, and if I go near him, I don't know what my father will do."
"Okay"
The first thing that gets through to me is the roaring laughter of kids. Not a doubt in my mind that Cyrus didn't have anything to do with the First Lady's latest stunt. During Fitz's first campaign every photo op had children involved. It's his signature. So I'm not surprised to see Mellie huddled with a group of kids at the YMCA. First, it was the school, and now this. I see my mother in Mellie- using children as a stepping ladder to power. She doesn't see me yet, but I notice when the cameras stop flashing how she slyly shoves that kid off her lap and how she uses extra hand sanitizer when she thinks no one is looking. Cyrus likes to take credit for building Fitz up into the President he is today, but I don't think he'll get half as far with Mellie. Cyrus has a skill for making good people better candidates, it's safe to say Mellie doesn't fall in that category.
I cross the auditorium and she turns her nose up at me. Whatever's happened in the past I'm here in her best interest.
"Olivia." she smiles that fake smile "I didn't know you were back. When did this happen?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm here about your campaign." I say. And she plays dumb, but moves closer and tells me to lower my voice because listening reporters are still around. "My guy ran the probable numbers. I know you bought land in Virginia, and I also know you're bidding for a junior senate seat. This will not work."
"What are you talking about? Liv you advise Fitz, but you're not running this show I am."
"No, Cyrus is. And I'm telling you it won't work." I say.
"Are you sleeping with my husband again, I thought after this time he would have washed his hands of you. But looks like I was the dumb kid on Christmas eve waiting for Santa to come down the chimney." she sighs, folding her arm as she titters on her heels. "Are you?"
"No. I haven't seen Fitz since I got back."
"But you know he was sitting in your apartment like a lost puppy, waiting for master Olivia to come and give him a treat." I can see she won't listen to me because she's decided her hatred of me is greater than her future. I pull out the file Quinn gathered for me. Potential poll numbers on if the First lady could be president. I can only hope she'll listen to the facts in front of her. "What's this?"
"Numbers, what the party would think of it unless you're thinking of jumping ship. These numbers aren't in your favor. Voters won't even see your name on the ballot, they'll see an image of you standing next to the president smiling and waving. And when they do they won't fill in your bubble it'll be whatever man is running against you."
"Olivia let me make myself clear, I am not listening to some back alley, made-up poll numbers. The junior senate seat is mine and when Fitz's term is up the oval is mine."
"This country isn't ready for a female President who was married to the previous President," I say.
"Well, they better get ready because here I come."
First Lady denies allegations of her and President Grant no longer sharing a bed-
First Family stronger than ever says the First lady-
First lady-
First-
Every channel is replaying Mellies "family is the greatest weapon" speech. There's a soft but pointed knock at the door.
"Abby, what are you doing here?" She glides past me, kicking her heels off and brandishing the biggest bottle of wine I've seen in a while.
"You didn't tell me working with Cyrus would be more stressful than actually leading press briefs." She calls from the kitchen as she gathers glasses and snacks from the fridge. "Seriously, Liv, if I have to listen to Cyrus rant about his hold on power one more time, my brain might explode. What's with him?" Her face scrunched as she looked further into my fridge. "Since when did you start eating plain yogurt?" Abby sits the glasses down and I pick up the one that was meant for me and store it back in the cabinet.
"You're not drinking?"
"No, because I have work to do," I say.
"You always drink and work. Besides, we need a night off." She retrieves the glass and pours a healthy amount. I clamp my lips together because the smell is making me ill. I wonder if it always smelled that foul. But Abby is relentless, she won't shut up until I sit down and listen to her rant about Cyrus.
As the night progresses her glass gets lower and lower until she's passed out on my sofa, snoring. Abby ate up what night I had to myself, so I started getting ready for bed. Dr. Malford was adamant about me getting enough sleep, which I doubt I'll be able to maintain for six more months, but it won't hurt to try. I pull the duvet back and close my eyes, an annoying ringing hinders my sleep. I Walk to the living room- where the noise is coming from. It's Abby's phone.
"Hello?"
"Livvie?" I can hear him shifting around "Why are you answering Abby's phone?"
"She passed out on my sofa. Why are you calling so late?"
"I'll talk to her tomorrow." There's a long beat before either of us says anything. "You visited Mellie, today," he says.
"Yeah, I wanted her to know what she's up against."
"She's stubborn, and because you told her it's not possible right now, she's gonna make it her mission." I can hear him smiling, and it makes me smile. I don't know what to call this phenomenon, we're both happy or at least we sound that way.
"I miss you," I say.
"I got your message. Thank you for the photo. But what made you choose Bailey as an alias?" Fitz asks
"It was your mother's maiden name I knew if I used that, you would know what's going on."
"She would be honored." he sighs "But I still don't understand what's going on. Huck was…um cryptic. He said your father-"
"Shush, not over the phone. I have to go, but when I need to hear from you, Huck will be in touch."
"I love you," He says quickly before the line cuts out.
I put Abby's phone inside of her shoe and covered her with a blanket.
The next morning I arrived at OPA bright and early. Quinn was sitting at her laptop. These past few weeks I've started to wonder if she's sleeping here overnight. And as much as I appreciate the effort, it isn't going to earn my trust back.
"Good morning, Liv. What's wrong?"
"Call Charlie." I turn off to go into my office and she's stomping in behind me.
"What happened, Liv, and what does it have to do with Charlie?" She demands, but I don't check her because I could hear the fear laced in her tone. Worried that she's betrayed me again by still being in cahoots with a b6-13 agent. Or worried that she might have to betray that agent for me.
"My father is having him watch me. How long has he been coming to the office? Before or after I got back?"
"What?- Before. Liv, Charlie isn't with b6-13 anymore."
"Agents don't just get to leave, it isn't a cubicle job it's a spy organization. The only way they get out is through death."
"Huck got out, you got your father to free him," Quinn says, gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles are pure white. "Get Charlie out."
"He's been watching me for my father, he's not loyal to you so I don't have high expectations for myself. Call him."
"Huck will kill him, Liv." she pleaded, gesturing toward Huck who was now standing on the threshold of my office.
"I don't kill anymore," Huck says, in defense.
Quinn's eyes fill with tears as she dials Charlie's number. She puts it on speaker and it rings twice before he picks up. Her voice is calm despite tears trailing down her face. Charlie promises he'll be on his way then hangs up. Not even thirty minutes later, he's smiling coming off the elevator not knowing he's walked into a spider's web. Huck jumps him before he makes it to the conference room. Quinn locks up OPA while Huck drags an unconscious Charlie into a chair and starts duct-taping him to it. He gain consciousness faster than I expected.
He winches as he opens his eyes and then he tries to move his arms. "Cmon, is this necessary?" He looks at Quinn, with hurt in his eyes and she looks at me with the same expression. "I haven't done anything."
"Except spy on me and report back to my father," I say.
"What?"
"Charlie, just answer her questions, nobody here is going to hurt you. The tape is reinforcements for Liv's safety."
"I don't do missions for command anymore."
"Huck, I don't think Charlie needs his index finger anymore." I don't really want Huck to hurt anyone in front of me but I hope to God he's scary enough to make him talk. He advances toward Charlie with a pair of pliers.
"Wait, man wait." he pleads as Huck puts the tool around his finger, I look away just in case he has to do it.
"Are you gonna tell me what my father is up to?" I say.
"He's not gonna cut anything off me this time right? Even if you don't like what I'm about to say." I make the promise and Charlie sings like a church choir.
"Cyrus Beene paid me to steal a blood sample I don't know what for. But that's all I did." Beads of sweat drip down Charlie's face. "I swear to you, I haven't been in contact with your father."
"Quinn, you can untie him."
"Wait where are you going?" Quinn asks as I march to the elevator.
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