Chapter Seven
The Band Is Back Together
Cyrus opened another folder from his stack, handing out copies of a three page report. "On the idea of a Summit of the Americas, we're getting mostly good feedback."
"Mostly?" Fitz asked, zeroing in on Cyrus' focus. A quick look in Olivia's direction told him that she'd caught it as well.
"It seemed some of our colleagues may be a little miffed that America - meaning 'our' America - didn't think of it first."
"The majority of which belong to our Republican base, I'm sure." Fitz said.
Cyrus answered first. "Surprisingly, there are more for you than you - or your opposition - might imagine."
"Care to share any details?" Fitz asked.
Cyrus proceeded to do exactly that. With satisfaction. "There's large areas of the west that are producing concrete grass-root support for the Summit."
Fitz nodded slowly, taking the information in. "This is good news. There's nothing like support from those who have to live with the day to day consequences of life on the borders. Whoever got this started has my thanks."
"And if we can, a personal thank you call is definitely in order, whoever it is." Olivia said, reading Fitz's mind. "Whether it's a group or an individual, it would be a good and positive thing for the president to thank them - at the appropriate time."
"Well then, you'll be doubly pleased to know that your old friend Andrew Nichols seems to be shaping up to be a major player in the movement." Cyrus said.
"Still the maverick." Fitz said with a grin. "Can I just state for the record that I'm pleased to hear it?"
His happiness was real; he and Andrew had a long-term friendship that went back to their college days. Their fathers had had a political alliance and understanding, but that hadn't stopped the two of them from forming their own friendship. And even though they had followed their own paths for a time, when Fitz had run for Governor, it had been Andrew who had come back to his side to become his Lt. Governor.
"I'm glad that you're glad, Mr. President."
Fitz was puzzled by Cyrus' tone. "But you're not necessarily pleased."
"I'm necessarily concerned, Mr. President - and that's more important." Cyrus said. "Before we start making phone calls and offering congratulations, we have to ask ourselves if this work for us or against us in the long term? The immigration issue is enough of a challenge, adding this summit is another."
Fitz frowned a little as he thought over Cyrus' words, trying to evaluate Andrew from his chief of staff's point of view.
He glanced over at Olivia to gauge her reaction and found himself somewhat surprised to see the quietly thoughtful look on her face.
"On the plus side," she said at last, "Andrew Nichols has been your voice crying out in the wilderness. There are no ties other than your shared families' relationships and the Californian governorship - and neither of them have ever been a secret."
"Just like everyone knows that a comprehensive path to citizenship immigration program is something I've made my thoughts clear on from the beginning." Fitz said.
"Spoken like a true Californian." Olivia said, smiling.
"So says the East Coaster." Fitz said. It was something that the two of them had teased each other about more than once.
"But what's almost equally important is stabilizing South America so that so many people stop believing that their own chance to live and thrive is to flee to the U.S. This is one of the major goals of this General Ramos and one I feel that I can throw my full support behind."
His smile faded a little. "Our country can't continue to behave as though ours is the only voice that counts on the continent. First among, equals - that's fine. I will proudly lead the people of the Americas into a bold brave future if I'm allowed. But there has to be some emphasis on the equals part."
"And that means acknowledging General Luis Ramos and his role in all of this." Cyrus finished Fitz's words for him.
"That's a part of it, yes." Fitz said. "He did all the heavy lifting."
The news had surprised the world. There had been a sudden military coup in the small but strategically located country in the northern region of South America, San Collondias. A true people's revolution for a change, where the leader had not replaced one authoritarian junta with another, but had instead declared his intention of creating a democratic republic instead.
In a move that shocked everyone even more, General Ramos had then first privately and then publicly reached out to the US government, and through ambassadors -and eventually to Fitz personally - asking for his aid and counsel in arranging a meeting with the leading heads-of state of any country on the continent that would agree to come.
How could Fitz say no to that? He couldn't.
"Immigration was one thing." Cyrus said, hating to be the voice of reason. "But what General Ramos has done changes the entire game - and I don't have to tell you that there are some who are not pleased."
"No you don't." Fitz said. Events of the recent past only reminded Fitz of what opposition might be out there, just waiting for the chance to sabotage General Ramos' attempts to forge a new alliance, one that could create a new world.
Both Olivia and Cyrus knew Fitz well enough to know what he was thinking - of Hollis Doyle and his covert acts against a sovereign nation, one that had apparently had gone on for years unnoticed. One that had been part of a secretive war that had left far too many people hurt both mentally and physically, one that could have led to an entirely unnecessary war, based on nothing more than greed.
"How many others in our country have been playing the same games that Hollis played - only they've never been caught?" Fitz's anger changed his voice to something close to a growl. "And we can't even speak on it to warn others away."
"Eventually, some form of what happened to Hollis will get out." Olivia knew all too well that there was a part of Fitz that would forever relive the hurt and the knowledge that so many people had been touched by what Hollis' greed and thirst for power had engineered, by what destructive forces he'd then aided and abetted.
Looking into his face, in this moment, all Olivia wanted was to reassure him that his feelings were valid and true. It was all a part of the man she loved.
Her heart overflowed with love for Fitz in that moment, even as it ached for him. Olivia found herself trying her best to ease some portion of his pain with her words. "If it were just Hollis, we'd all want nothing more than to air his dirty laundry, all of his treachery and criminal acts for all the world to see, Fitz. But we can't. It would bury your presidency permanently in political quicksand - and the world as we know it, as you and this General Ramos might re-shape it - the world needs you."
Fitz gave Olivia a quick smile of understanding; he knew exactly what she was doing and why. Her care, her concern and her love washed over him and lent him some measure of peace.
They both knew the truth, Fitz thought to himself. It had only been a matter of luck and fate - along with the help of Olivia and her OPA team - that had uncovered the plan so long in place. And Hollis, the puppet-master pulling the strings, had been secretly tried and sentenced under the Patriot Act to a series of terms that would more than likely keep in imprisoned for the rest of his natural life.
"I don't like it." He admitted. "It feels too much like a cheat."
"It's not, Mr. President." In this moment, Cyrus was as clued in to Fitz's state of mind as Olivia was. "It is, however, the right thing to do."
Cyrus might be right, Fitz thought, but that didn't mean that he had to like it - or more importantly, in front of Olivia and Cyrus, he didn't have to pretend to like it.
But maybe it was time to at least try to move on. To move forward. That was what Olivia and Cyrus were telling him and he knew that was the best choice.
"You're both right and I know I needed to be reminded." Fitz said. "What's equally - even more important is this offer for a meeting of the Americas."
"You'll just want to be careful in how you frame the argument." Cyrus said. "That could be a very tricky thing.
"Let me guess at what I think what you're carefully not saying." Fitz said. "The days of manifest destiny are over and done with - if they ever existed outside of the bigoted minds who invented that justification to begin with."
Cyrus nodded, he wasn't that far off the mark.
"Be careful who hears you say that out loud - I don't have to tell you that there are far too many of your fellow republicans - and not a few Dems either - who would see no harm in what Hollis had done for that very same reasons he did it - honestly, the only fault that they'd find was that he'd gotten caught." Cyrus frowned. "Who knows who else has tried?"
"I'll be very careful with what I say and to whom - and more importantly - when." Fitz's eyes glinted with the challenge. "In fact, I'll let my actions speak for me. That's why this Summit of the Americas is a go."
"Eventually, some form of what actually happened to Hollis will get out one way or the other." Olivia said. "If not publicly, then it's something that can be done in private and that will suit us almost just as well. The point is, Hollis' story in any form serves as a cautionary tale. And as far as making sure the story is spread - it's something that my people can assist in - if that's what you want."
"If it will help prevent any kind of this idiocy in the future, I'm all for it." Fitz said.
"I think the idea is a great deterrent." Cyrus said, putting his own two cents in. His voice unexpectedly gentled. "The world is getting more and more volatile, more polarized - the world needs you, Mr. President - a strong, steady and - if I may so - compassionate hand to guide us into the future."
Fitz's eyebrows raised in surprise at that bit of unexpected praise.
Cyrus caught his glance and looked back at him, with more than a hint of annoyance at being caught at exhibiting actual emotion.
"It makes a good tag-line." Cyrus muttered. He looked away and made a show of scribbling a note into one of his folders.
Fitz grinned but resisted the urge to make a comment. Catching Cyrus in a rare moment of being human was its own reward.
Olivia showed no such restraint, laughing out loud even after Cyrus gave her what was meant to be a quelling look. "A compassionate hand to guide us into the future? Such warmth coming from the one and only Cyrus Rutherford Beene? Not only Cyrus-approved, but Cyrus-created?"
Her answer was a sly look and an offer. "Any time you think that you need a change of pace in your workload, come see me in my Communications Director's office. I'm sure we can put you to good use…"
She turned to Fitz. "As unexpected as Cyrus's words are -"
"Unexpected and amusing -" Fitz said.
"- Definitely amusing." Olivia agreed mischievously as she watched Cyrus' frown.
"Am I ever going to hear the end of this?" he asked grumpily.
"Probably not, Cy." Olivia said.
"Definitely not." Fitz promised.
"But -" Olivia gave Cyrus a small smile that spoke to the intent to give him a little respite. "What he said was one thousand percent accurate - there's no one more qualified than you to lead this country forward."
"So what's next?" Fitz asked.
Cyrus' answer said what they all knew. "That means the games start now."
A/N ~ After watching Fitzless episode last night, looks like my update is right on time! Thank you so much for all the reviews, everybody. I asked and y'all sure did answer. Any writer will tell you, it's things like this that help one to stay inspired and writing. thx again!