Relaying Messages.

X

Since his breakup, sleep has become a foreign concept to Ryan, so when he can catch a few hours of rest, he cherishes the time he can drift off. Dreams of his relationship with Danny plague his thoughts, sending the man on an emotional spiral, prompting him to toss and turn in bed. These dreams are why he avoids sleep if he can, but sometimes, he fails.

As Ryan falls deeper into that hole, a knock on his apartment door wakes him from his slumber gasping for air. He combs a hand through his disheveled hair, and the other lands on his chest, hoping to calm his rapidly beating heart. However, the knock on the door is becoming annoying, so Ryan drags himself out of bed with haste and departs to the living room.

The knocking ceases for a second, giving him a chance to look through the peephole, and who he sees on the other side prompts a disgusted look to take over Ryan's expression. Eli Pope is not who he expected to see in any capacity, but he decides to see what the man wants, curious to know what brings him all this way. With a sigh, Ryan unlocks and opens the door.

"What?"

Eli's surprised. "I didn't think you would answer."

"Well, I did. So, what do you want?"

Ryan's demeanor is uninviting, and rightfully so, but Eli notices something else as he analyzes the man. He's unsure of what to call the look in Ryan's eyes, and though it seems vaguely familiar, it isn't anger.

"I came all this way to ask you to extend me an olive branch." He tells him. "I know I'm the last person you want to see right now, but you're my only option."

Ryan folds his arms. "Olivia doesn't want anything to do with you."

"I know that."

"Do you? Because if you did, you wouldn't have wasted time coming here."

"She's my daughter, Ryan." He retorts calmly, not once raising his voice.

"And you put your daughter through the wringer."

"I know what I did." The retort is quick. "I didn't come here to rehash the past. I'm asking if you can tell Olivia I want to talk. Please."

Ryan doesn't respond immediately, for he's not thrilled to be in such a position. However, he decides to use this spontaneous moment to his advantage and lay some boundaries.

"I'll relay the message to Olivia, but you have o do something for me."

Unexpected. "Anything."

"Never come to my apartment again, or you'll find a bullet between your eyes." A smile.

"Are we clear?"

Eli swallows hard, knowing Ryan is one of the few who means every word he says. So, with his newfound sense of attempting to rekindle his relationship with Olivia in mind, Eli nods.

"Crystal."

"You have a good day, Eli." Ryan shuts the door in the man's face and returns to his bedroom to get ready for work.

xxx

It's yet another busy day at the foundation for Fitz, and though he's surrounded by paperwork regarding various issues that require attention, the man is all smiles. With his conversation with Olivia still fresh in mind, nothing can ruin Fitz's day. As he sorts through the case files, a knock on his office door attracts his attention, and Abby enters looking gorgeous in all pink.

Fitz smiles. "You look nice. I'm not used to seeing you in pink."

"Thank you. So do you." She replies with a smile, occupying a seat at the desk.

"I wanted to try something different."

"It works with the aesthetic of the place." A chuckle, "and thank you. I don't wear brown often, so I figured I'd try it."

"It compliments you." She tells him, admiring the all-brown Polo Ralph Lauren suit.

"How are you today? What's on the agenda?"

"I'm good. We have quite a few cases to pull from, a few meetings, but it's nothing we can't handle." He informs her.

"As far as how I am — I'm good. I spoke to Liv last night, so my spirits are high. How are you?"

Abby smiles. "Good. I'm here to help, and am glad you're in good spirits. It's nice to see you happy. It's very contagious." She admits with a chuckle.

"I, on the other hand, am doing good. No complaints. How's Liv holding up in Vermont?"

Her comment makes him smile. "Good. Liv is doing better than I thought she would. She's not quite ready to return to Washington yet but keeping busy."

"Is she working again?"

"No. Liv's tending to her garden, and her mother's visiting the house."

Abby's surprised. "A garden? Since when did she get a green thumb?"

A laugh. "Since we planted roots in Vermont. If I remember correctly, it was two months after we settled in, which was our first therapy session. She's good at it. You'll have to visit and see for yourself."

"I would love to." A smile. "But I have to ask, now that therapy is in the rearview and she's had time to heal, how is she holding up after losing the baby?"

Fitz leans back against his chair. "I must admit, she's in a good place — on her feet again after taking the necessary time to deal with those emotions." He tells her.

"The feeling of loss will never go away, but in her words, life didn't stop when she lost the baby. Life gave her another chance to have everything she's ever hoped for, and right now, she has everything she needs." A smile.

"She has hope she'll be a mother again, and I'm doing everything I can to ensure she knows I'm with her every step. Baby or not."

Abby is beyond elated. Fitz and Olivia have been through a lot as a couple and as individuals, so seeing them in a good space is a relief. As they continue to talk about the situation, Fitz expressing how the loss made him feel and how he overcame it, Mellie arrives unannounced.

With Jonah away, Mellie ventures toward the office but stops right before the door when she overhears the ongoing conversation between Fitz and Abby. Something clicks inside her mind, and before anyone notices her presence, she quickly departs from the foundation.

Not even a moment later, Leon arrives looking dapper in an all-black causal ensemble and knocks on the office door before entering, attracting Fitz and Abby's attention.

"Right on time," Fitz says with a smile, rising from his seat and greeting Leon with a handshake.

"It's nice to see you."

Leon smiles. "Likewise. I hope I'm not interrupting."

"No. We were finishing up."

Abby approaches the two. "Hi, Leon." Her gaze then falls on Fitz. "I'll get on the phone and see if we can get a meeting with the president. What should I do if he says no?"

"Try again." Fitz smiles.

Abby nods and departs from the office with a smile, and Fitz motions Leon to sit on the couch, which he does while Fitz sits on the edge of his desk.

"I wanted to touch base with you and see how you're settling in after everything you've been a part of since joining QPA."

"I'm settling in pretty well." He tells him. "It's similar to what I used to do minus the endless restrictions. I feel like a perfect fit."

"You are, and had you not spoken up, we wouldn't have gotten justice, so I applaud you for being good at what you do."

A smile. "Appreciated." His gaze wanders around the office, "so, this is your foundation? It's nice."

"Thanks. Building took a while, but it was worth the wait."

"Would you say you prefer this over being the President of the United States?"

Good question. "While I don't regret my terms as president, I love the freedom to help anyone who walks through those doors."

"The walls of power no longer surround you, as people call them."

"Exactly." A chuckle, curious. "Did you vote for me?"

Silence ensues before Leon falls into a spell of laughter. The question was unexpected, but he was honest and bound to tell the truth.

"For your first term, I didn't. Your second term, I did."

"What changed between the terms that made you vote for me the second time?"

"I felt you were more engaged with issues outside of the bubble you lived in at the time. Though introduced after the election, the Brandon Parker bill was when I realized I made the right decision." The truth.

"Well, not that it means anything now, but I'm glad I earned your vote." A smile. "I wasn't the best, but I always hoped my heart was right."

"It was, and it showed."

Fitz appreciates the honesty and the compliment. Leon's a standup guy, so it seems based on their brief interactions.

"Thank you. Is it okay to ask what you did before joining QPA?"

"Of course." A nod. "I graduated top of my class at Harvard University and became a powerhouse in the field. I was a beast until I resigned."

Oh? "Why did you resign?"

A sigh. "I lost someone significant to me, and it left a void. The cops never found the culprit who committed the crime, so I spent a few years training to join the FBI, where I was accepted with open arms within six months." A pause.

"I found the guy, having had the resources, killed him and lied under oath."

Surprise consumes Fitz's expression. "Did this blow back on you?"

"Of course not. I used my skills and contacts to hide all evidence leading back to me. I wasn't going down for exacting justice."

"I don't blame you." His words bring a sense of relief to Leon's expression. "You did what you had to do, and that's all that matters."

Leon's surprised. "I admitted to lying under oath to a once president, and you're not throwing me to the wolves. Why?"

"We've all bent the rules to exact whatever justice means to us, so I can't point the finger. I won't." A smile.

"You did the right thing, and knowing that, could you say you're at peace with the situation?"

"Absolutely."

"Good." That's all that matters. "It was nice talking to you, Leon. QPA is lucky to have you."

Leon smiles. "I appreciate the compliment."

xxx

On his way to his office to meet with Edison Davis to discuss the vice presidency, Ryan saunters through the hall. The man isn't particularly thrilled about the choice his boss made. Still, he's hoping that everything works out, especially after the morning he had dealing with Eli's unexpected arrival at his apartment.

He looks the part, draped in an all-black Saint Laurent leather-trimmed wool safari jacket with a white button-up underneath, black chalk-stripe wool-twill trousers, and dark orange Christian Louboutin Greggo Orlato velvet dress shoes. He has a lot on his plate, but there is one important thing he can take off his list.

Before he gets to his office, he steps to the side and dials up Olivia to relay the message from Eli. The phone rings a few times before she picks up. The woman sounds delighted to hear from her brother, but it's a shame this call will be far from pleasant given the context and where Olivia is currently in her life.

"Ryan. Hi." Olivia smiles. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. Busy." He replies with a small smile of his own. "How are you?"

"I'm good." A truth. "I finished therapy a little while ago, my garden is looking great, and Mom is here visiting."

He's proud. "I'm happy for you. I know that we haven't spoken much, but I am."

"Thank you." She appreciates it. "So, what's going on? Is everything okay?"

A sigh. "Your father showed up on my doorstep and wants me to relay a message to you."

Figures. "What's the message?"

"He wants to talk. That's it." A pause. "I told him I'd relay the message and that if he shows up to my apartment again, I will put a bullet between his eyes."

"I don't blame you." A soft chuckle. "How was he? His demeanor."

That's easy. "Lonely. Remorseful."

"Good. That man deserves to feel the cold air."

"Agreed. Is there anything you want me to do regarding him?"

"No. You've done enough already." A smile. "I miss you."

Silence ensues, and Ryan shifts to lean against the wall, a slight hint of pain on his expression. Avoiding his sister isn't something he planned, but because of his current state of emotions, it's how he's handling being okay. For now, at least.

"I miss you, too. And I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry about." She tells him. "Though we haven't spoken or seen each other much since Vermont, you were there for me when I lost the baby, and you texted me throughout my time in therapy." A smile.

"So, don't be sorry. Whatever you're going through, tell me when you're ready."

Olivia's words mean a lot to Ryan, bringing tears to his eyes. The last thing he wants is for Olivia to feel ostracized by him, and he's glad she doesn't. Expelling a sigh, he pulls himself together.

"Okay. I have to go. I'm meeting with your ex-fiancé to see if he'll fit well as Vice President."

"Who? Edison?"

"Courtesy of my boss."

"Well, good luck with that." A chuckle.

A smile. "I'll need it."

"Bye."

"Bye."

The phone call ends and Ryan proceeds to his office. When he enters, Edison stands up to greet him with a handshake, which he reciprocates along the way to sit behind his desk.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting, Mr. Davis."

Edition sits. "No, you didn't. I have to say it's nice to meet you finally. I've heard good things."

"I appreciate that." A smile. "So, my boss thinks you'll be a good fit for the vice presidency, but I'm a bit pressed for time, so I want you to tell me why you think you're fit for the position." He leans forward over the desk.

"You think you can do that?"

"Absolutely." He's confident.

"Good. Let's get started."

xxx

After Olivia shunned him in Vermont, Eli feels the cold air now that his daughter wants nothing to do with him. He regrets how he raised her, and after their impromptu meeting, he's sure Olivia's gone forever. In his hand is a picture of his daughter from childhood. Eli can't shake the overwhelming emotions and finds tears trickling down his cheeks as he sits on the couch.

The man is in a rut. Olivia's a memory he can't shake, and he failed to acquire Ryan's assistance. Eli's dealing with the repercussions of his actions, and for once, he's shut out. This situation isn't something he can pull a few strings for to bypass measures those he wronged have in place. This situation can't be fixed. Not by him or B613. It's a hard pill to swallow, and Eli's struggle will worsen.

As Eli descends deeper into his pit of despair, brought on by his actions alone, surprise washes over him when he hears a knock at the front door. He's not expecting anyone, but for once, he doesn't reach for his gun. Instead, he sets the picture on the coffee table, wipes his eyes with an arm, and opens the front door. This surprise is pleasant — hopefully.

"Mellie? What a pleasant surprise." He folds his arms across his chest. "Last we spoke, you clearly stated that you wanted nothing to do with me."

"I still don't, but I overheard something, and I thought you should be the first to know."

His gaze wanders over Mellie, but she doesn't falter. The woman's confident, a bit too sure in herself. So, he decides to pull on that string.

"Do tell."

"Your daughter had a miscarriage." She spills without hesitation. "I overheard Fitz talking to Abby this morning when I was going to visit him."

The look on Eli's face tells her he didn't know.

"Oh. You still haven't spoken to her?" Referring to Olivia.

"Olivia wants nothing to do with me. Her stance is clear, but why are you here telling me she had a miscarriage? What business is that of yours?"

"Olivia doesn't know that I know, and she sure as hell wouldn't think that I'd tell you of all people, which means you can use this to get your daughter back."

Mellie's already thought this through, and Eli's tempted, but he knows this isn't the way. Using Olivia's miscarriage in hopes of wheeling her back in will ruin whatever can be salvaged of their relationship. And that's one thing he can't risk. Not now. Not ever, but he plays along.

"And what do you want, Mellie?"

"I want my life back. I want power. I want — Fitz." She steps closer to Eli, lips to his ear. "And I will do whatever it takes to get what's rightfully mine. And if your daugh —"

In a fluid motion, Eli grabs Mellie's arms and slams her into the door. Mellie loses her breath for a second, seeing the anger in Eli's eyes. This predicament scares her. Eli's grip tightens, prompting Mellie's breathing to quicken and her heart to palpitate erratically.

"You will do no such thing!" He sneers.

"Fitz is the love of my daughter's life. The two have suffered enough, and your only concern is yourself? Pathetic. I thought you needed a friend when you were crucified, but you enjoy the attention."

"A spotlight is a spotlight." She swats his hands off her, straightening her red blazer.

"And the holier than thou, I'm still her father act is played, Eli. She will never come back around. And trust me when I say this, I will get what I want, and your daughter won't be able to stop me." A chuckle.

"One mention of her little incident will send her into cardiac arrest." Her hands grace Eli's tie, tightening it. "Just wait."

Without another word, Mellie proceeds to her car as Eli watches her.

"You won't win this war, Mellie; not against me, not against Olivia! I assure you that you will lose everything if you continue showing ignorance. Olivia will make sure of that!"

xxx

"I spoke to Ryan today," Olivia informs Maya as she enters the living room with her laptop, attracting her mother's attention. The look on Maya's expression is priceless.

Olivia stuns in a black Alessandra Rich patch-pocket wool-blend bouclé jacket, a matching mini skirt with a black shirt underneath, and silver Mach & Mach double bow 110 crystal and silk-satin pumps. The woman's glowing, and to add gasoline to her fire, Olivia completes the look with her signature ponytail from years ago.

"Now, you look good." Maya compliments. "What's the occasion?"

Olivia smiles, occupying her chair and crossing her legs.

"I thought we could go out for brunch, and then after, I could show you around Vermont. I want you to see what this place offers outside this house." A chuckle.

"Count me in." She notices Olivia's fingers typing on the keyboard. "What are you researching?"

"The last time Fitz and I spoke, he mentioned that Quinn had hired a new guy named Leon Armani, so being the curious cat I am, I wanted to see if he had an online presence."

"I'm not going to ask how that pertains to you." A laugh. "But since you're already in the process, does he?"

Olivia turns the laptop toward Maya to show her Leon Armani's appearance. The silence tells Olivia everything she needs to know.

"My thoughts exactly." A chuckle. "He's good-looking, smart —"

"Strong. Don't forget that." Maya hums, leaning in for a better look. There's a picture of Leon in the gym. It has Maya seeing stars.

"Why do they need this much man at QPA?"

Olivia chuckles. "Mom, please."

"I'm just saying." She wipes the imaginary sweat from her forehead. "He's very handsome."

"He is." She agrees.

"So, now what? You're not going down some rabbit hole, are you?"

"Not." She closes the laptop and sets it on the table. "We're about to go have brunch. I only wanted a face to go with the name."

"That's what I like to hear." A smile as she rises to her feet. "Oh, what did Ryan say? Is he okay?"

"He's okay. Your ex-husband wants to talk. He showed up at Ryan's doorstep unannounced asking him to relay the message." She informs Maya.

"I received it but never intended to cross that line again. I think I've moved past the point of needing a father."

Maya takes hold of Olivia's hands. "I'm proud of you. That man will do whatever it takes to weasel back in, and with you on this new path of life, it makes it much harder for him to reach you."

"The distance between him and I will only increase as the days pass." She smiles, rising to her feet. "Now, grab your coat so we can go."

With a smile, Maya departs to grab her coat and purse while Olivia grabs her purse off the kitchen counter. When Maya returns, they head toward the front door only to hear an unexpected commotion, like people tussling.

"What the hell is going on out there?" Maya wonders.

"Only one way to find out."

Olivia speeds to open the door, only to see her security guard holding a struggling man in a headlock.

"Are you Olivia Pope?" The man inquires. "Please, I need your help!"

Although Olivia has more questions than answers, she can see the franticness in the man's eyes and motions a hand for the guard to let the man go, which he does.

"I'm not even going to ask how you got past security and go straight to why you need help."

"My wife. She's been missing for forty-eight hours, and the police won't don't anything about it." He tells her.

"I filed a report within the proper timeframe, and there's no sense of urgency. Please. I need your help."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Parker McNeil, and my wife's name is Jenna." He quickly wipes the tears forming in his eyes.

Olivia looks at her mom, who nods in response without a word said.

"Okay, Parker. I'll help you find your wife, but I need your full cooperation to do that, okay?"

He understands. "I'll do whatever you need me to do."

"Good." A smile. "Let's find your wife."

xxx

After meeting with Edison, Ryan makes his way to the president's office with an update on Edison. The conversation went well, and Ryan is impressed by the man's moral standing and dedication to doing what's suitable for the nation. With a smile, Ryan nods to Kennedy and knocks on the door before entering the Oval Office. Surprise, surprise.

Fitz, Abby, Cyrus, Marcus, and President Briggs move to their feet when they see Ryan. Seeing them wasn't on Ryan's list of things to do, but he's a bit warmer in response to their visit. The man closes the door behind him, says hi, and joins the others around the table. Something is wrong, judging by the look on their faces, so Ryan starts.

"Edison is a go, Mr. President." He informs him first. "He checks out and wants the same things we do. I told him to come back tomorrow to speak to you directly."

"Perfect. Thanks, Ryan." A smile. "I know this is a bit unexpected, but we have a situation."

"Okay." He casts his gaze on everyone and then Fitz. Considering the circumstances, they look happy to see him, but he keeps his guard up for personal reasons. He cannot break.

"The President's daughter's friend Danika Reed was drugged and raped at a party they attended." Fitz retrieves the black folder from the table and passes it to Ryan. He opens it and examines the contents.

"No one knows the reason yet, but we need to bring the person or persons who did this to light."

"It's too close to home for me to get involved, Ryan," Briggs tells him. "I know I've been asking too much of you these past few months, but we could use your help."

"If you help us, the president can focus on his job knowing he has someone from the inside — someone he trusts exacting justice," Cyrus adds.

Ryan closes the folder. "I don't need to be sold on this case. I'll help. Just tell me what you need."

"We're reconvening at the foundation," Abby tells him. "We'll be going over the details there."

"Sounds good." He returns the folder to the table, focusing his gaze on the president.

"I'm sorry this happened, Mr. President. If Danika's family needs anything, don't hesitate to call."

"Thanks, Ryan. I won't."

With nothing else to say, Ryan departs from the office while the rest of the group collects their belongings and heads toward the door. Everyone leaves aside from Fitz, who turns to face Briggs.

"We will get the son of a bitch who did this."

Briggs nods. "I know you will."

Fitz departs from the office after a brief moment of silence and understanding.