xoxo
X
With Ryan back, Danny wanted to make sure he spent as much time as possible with him, whether planned or spontaneous, due to a slight, looming fear that he might lose him again. After his public stunt in the White House, somewhat professing his unspoken feelings for him, he decides to pay him a surprise visit to take him out on a date.
Entering Ryan's apartment building dressed in a dark grey pinstripe Tom Ford suit and leopard Wilton chain loafers from the same designer, Danny makes his way to the elevator. He's carrying a few dozen roses in hand while humming a tune, smiling at those who smile at him. He's excited, and nothing or no one can ruin this for him, so he thinks.
He reaches to press the button to call the elevator, but the doors open. A few people walk off before he walks on, pressing the button to Ryan's floor. With his foot tapping a cadence upon the metal, he takes a whiff of the roses relishing in their mesmerizing scent as the elevator stops. He's proud of his decision hoping that Ryan will feel the same.
The doors finally open, and he walks off the elevator towards Ryan's apartment, heart beating out of his chest. Although they'd been dating for a short while, he couldn't help the nerves. Because to him, moments like this don't happen often, and he doesn't want to squander them. He's the happiest he's ever been.
Knocking on the apartment door, hands jittering with excitement, he patiently waits for Ryan to answer. A few moments pass, and there's no answer. He's not home. He turns around to leave with a somewhat defeated sigh, only to be met by Jake aiming a gun at his face.
"Nice to see you again, Danny." His vibe is creepy. "Sucks it has to be under such dire circumstances."
Danny chuckles. "Dire for who? You or me?"
"We both know the answer to that question."
"So, what, you came here and waited for me to show up in hopes of accomplishing what exactly?" He raises a brow. "How did you even know I would be here?"
"When you're in a good position of power, you tend to know things that others don't. However, it doesn't matter because you'll be seeing nothing but darkness soon."
"You lack the will to implement fear." He huffs. "I've come across countless others like you, and I know this whole tough guy act stems from a lack of love in your life. Are you loved, Jake?"
He cocks the gun. "Shut up."
"Or is this your desperate attempt at acquiring that?"
"I said shut up!" He exclaims, pressing the barrel against Danny's head.
"Why are you here?"
"Without you, your boyfriend will suffer."
With a soft hum, Danny nods, anger rushing through his veins at the mention of Ryan. To think that someone would stoop so low for some inexplicable agenda baffles him, but he's not going to allow this poor excuse for a man to continue to be a danger to everyone around him, nor will he allow this man to threaten him or Ryan.
"Funny thing is, Admiral Ballard, you don't have the guts."
Before Jake can speak, Danny effortlessly moves out of the way of the gun, grabbing Jake's arm and flipping him over his shoulder. As they hit the ground, Danny disarms him, swatting the weapon to the side and tossing the flowers on the chair to keep them intact for Ryan.
When he reverts his attention to Jake, Danny's kneed in the face, prompting him to fall back to the floor, holding his nose to subdue the pain. Moving to his feet, Jake spots the gun and darts to it, only to be tripped by Danny, who hastily mounts him, delivering many unavoidable blows to the face.
With a feeble attempt at blocking, blood spilling from his now busted lip, Jake musters up all the strength he can and delivers a gut-rattling punch to Danny's ribs causing him to lose his breath and fall off Jake to catch steady his breathing.
Seeing this as his moment, Jake pushes himself to his feet, grabbing the gun. He wipes the blood from his mouth while aiming the gun at Danny. He's still trying to recover from the blow to his ribs, hands shaking with trepidation as he shakes off the slight grogginess.
"First, I'm going to kill you." Jake slurs, stumbling a bit to the right. "Then I'm going to kill your beloved boyfriend."
With an inaudible groan, Danny slowly moves to his feet, a hand upon his bruising ribs and another holding his bloody nose as he turns to face Jake.
"Then do it." He antagonizes. "You don't have anything to lose."
With a shaky hand and a disturbing smile on his face, Jake puts his finger on the trigger. His vision is blurred, but adrenaline races through his veins as a sense of accomplishment blooms from within. He will kill this man so the woman he loves will accept him as a reward for his hard work.
As he pulls the trigger, Danny takes a risk and charges him, tackling him to the hardwood floor. The gun goes off, missing its desired target. A vigorous struggle for the firearm ensues, Danny trying to disarm and Jake trying to shoot, both trying to overpower one another as strained grunts rumble from their chest.
Their fingers on the trigger, the gun moving between them, a bullet sounds from the chamber, echoing throughout the hallway.
X
"What do you want, Mellie?" Olivia asks through her car speakers as she pulls into her reserved parking space, turning the engine off. "Because I have work to do, and the last thing I need to be doing is rehashing what was said."
"I wasn't calling you to rehash anything because you were right." She admits, heaving a soft sigh.
"My ignorance, my blatant disregard for anyone other than myself. You're right. I'm an insecure, oblivious, silver-spoon fed, stick up my ass woman, but I want to change Olivia. I need to change because I can't continue like this if I'm going to be the next President of the United States."
Some of what Mellie says sends a frightening chill down Olivia's spine. The admittance is unexpected and what she said to Mellie prior was to get herself out of a sticky situation. However, to hear Mellie speak without fear and hesitation regarding her willingness to want change makes Olivia wonder if she'll ever be able to admit her faults.
"So, what are you saying?" She grabs her red Prada bag from the passenger seat and gets out of the car.
"I'm saying that I want to win. I'm saying that I want to win with you. As we planned."
"And what about B613?" She inquires, closing the car door and making her way to the elevators, heels tapping quickly over the concrete. "You seemed to be pretty agitated."
"You of all people know I have a valid reason for not wanting my campaign to be a victim of some secret agency that takes and takes and takes until you're a withering corpse with functional arms and legs." She states with a light chuckle causing Olivia to smile.
"So, you want to continue doing good work?"
"I do, but I want you to communicate with me. We're a team." She doesn't waver. "Whatever you do falls on me in the end. I'm sure you know that already. And to clarify, B613 is fine, but only if you're using it because we need it, not to cheat, Liv. Understood?"
"Understood."
"So, when can you come into the office? I have a lot to do, and I could use your help."
"I'm almost at the elevators now, so I'll see you in a few."
"Okay, and Liv?"
"Y-"
Before Olivia can answer, a familiar figure steps out from behind a support beam in her sight, stopping her in her tracks. She's not ready for this, but she pretends to be.
"I'll call you back." She ends the call, heaving a shaky sigh. "Huck? What are you - how did you know I was here?"
"I know what you did."
She chuckles, oblivious to what he's insinuating.
"What are you talking about?"
"I know what you did." He repeats, this time with urgency.
She folds her arms across her chest, taking a step toward him. "Huck, I'm not sure what you're insinuating right now, but I didn't do anything."
"You tried to kill him. You made the call to have Ryan shot." He takes a step back. "Who are you, and what have you done with Liv?"
The question throws her off balance. She tenses up, folding her arms even tighter to keep her composure in front of Huck, but she can't because he sees her for everything she is.
A monster.
"Huck . . . I'm me." She nods, feeling the tears welling in her eyes. "I'm still the same-"
"No, you're not."
"Huck, I am still the same Olivia that saved you years ago." She tries to appeal to his senses, using that moment in hopes of reeling him back in.
"I am that same woman that put clothes on your back, food in your stomach, and a roof over your head."
"None of that matters anymore because you're not Liv." He doesn't falter. "I've seen so many dark things - people, but you are the worst I've encountered. You are who you're meant to be."
She blinks to keep her tears from falling, scoffing at his remarks, although she knows they're true.
"You're blaming me for doing what I had to do?" Her brows furrow, gaze darkening. "That's funny, seeing as you have done much worse. You want to talk about what I've done when we should discuss how broken you are. You constantly need someone to fix you because you're too pathetic to do it yourself." She steps closer to him, her words mirroring her feelings.
"I'm not the issue here, Huck! You are. You and the rest of the people complaining about what I'm doing." Jabbing a finger at him. "So, if you have any common sense, you will leave before you end up where you started."
Huck doesn't utter a word. He stares at her, knowing he's right. The Olivia Huck once knew, the Olivia he fell in love with, was now a distant memory replaced by a fragment of Rowan. She's lost, and he can see through the smoke and mirrors because he was once in the same predicament, so he plays her game.
"It's exhilarating, isn't it? That rush of anger coursing through your veins, turning you on in ways you never imagined."
"Huck." She's confused. "Did you hear what I said?"
He continues. "The thing about that very peculiar feeling is that once the anger subsides, you'll have to pick up the glass you shattered due to your negligence and inability to take accountability. I'm not a monster anymore. I mean, I can be but not like you. I've changed. I realized my faults and fixed them on my own because you haven't been around." He doesn't stop there.
"On the other hand, you are falling deeper into the abyss, and you only have yourself to blame. Ryan is good. I like him, as does everyone else. He has people that care about him, and you tried to take his life away for selfish reasons. Good people don't deserve to die."
"He's not a good person, Huck."
"He is good, but you can't see that because you're too busy being whatever Rowan wants you to be."
She's momentarily stunned and quite exhausted. Who is she kidding? She's been fighting her downward spiral for some time now, and she doesn't plan on stopping because if this fails and she falls, what will she have left?
Unable to respond to him, afraid that she'll admit to becoming the man she loathes, she rolls her eyes and continues to the elevator, distressed, finally letting her tears fall.
X
"So, what do you think? Is it up to par with your standards?" Fitz asks Ryan jokingly as they walk around the almost finished Grant Foundation.
"We could work in a cardboard box, and I would be okay." He chuckles, inspecting the place in detail. "It feels very modern here, although a few things still need to be done. Is that what you were going for?"
"Yes, actually." A nod, chuckling at Ryan's remark. "I told Cyrus and Abby I was going for transparency hence all the glass."
"Why transparency?" He inquires.
"We'll be in the light, and our motives will be clear." He answers the same as when Abby asked him, not once straying from his dedication to assert his push for positive change.
"As ridiculous as it-"
"It's not ridiculous. I think it makes a lot of sense. Matches who you are as a person."
He glances over at him, brows raised. "You think so?"
"I do." A smile. "You should too."
"I do." A snicker. "I just wanted to hear you agree."
Ryan chuckles. "Never try to be intentionally funny. It doesn't work for you."
"Why does no one think I'm funny? I think I'm hilarious."
"Questionable."
Fitz bursts into laughter, as does Ryan, as they walk into what will be Fitz's office. There are sealed and unsealed boxes everywhere, a desk placed perfectly in the center and a lone chair sitting behind it. It's not much, but it's a start.
"I would say we could share the chair, but Danny..."
"Fitz, please." Ryan laughs, casting his gaze on him as he takes a seat on the corner of the desk while Fitz takes the chair. "See, that was funny."
"Guess it has to be unintentional." He chuckles, slightly shrugging as he leans over the desk. "Speaking of Danny, how are you two doing?"
"We're good." His answer is vague. "He's nice."
He smiles. "You like him."
"What makes you think that?"
"Your answers lack depth, but you allow me to bring him up during our talks. I've been around you long enough to know that. And you remind me of Olivia in that aspect – not to be weird."
A chuckle. "Continue."
"You show it through your actions more so than your words. You know you've met the person you can see a future with, but falling for them is scary." He smiles. "I've been where you are, as you know. I still am. The only difference is that Olivia and I were dysfunctional."
"But through that dysfunction, you could find solace in each other."
"Yeah." A nod. "I couldn't have said it any better."
Ryan smiles. There's something so raw about Fitz being transparent with him. It was nice. It was real. Ryan folds his arms across his chest, casting his gaze on an unopened box, deciding to be transparent himself.
"I've never experienced heartbreak." He pauses, letting Fitz in. "And I'm afraid I will get broken if I get too close to him. I never believed in fairytales, but when I met Danny, that changed before my eyes." He casts his gaze on Fitz.
"He makes me happy, Fitz. It's scary because I haven't experienced this with anyone before him, and knowing how people operate, I have to be careful because it will get ruined. My answers are vague because of that. Everyone doesn't share your intention, and the last thing I want to do is lose someone who sees me for me." A sigh. "So, now you know a fear of mine."
Fitz was happy to Hear Ryan share his feelings. He could relate to his words in some facet, so he locks them away in his mind. Knowing that loving someone aloud can cause so much turmoil in this town is sad, and Ryan should never have to hide.
"What you told me will never leave this room unless you decide to bring it up on your own accord." He assures. "Just promise me something."
"Anything."
"Don't hide those feelings you feel." He smiles. "Love makes everything better, and if you see a future with him, you deserve to explore that without the fear of losing him."
"I don't know about the love part." He winces, laughing.
He chuckles. "You know what I meant."
"I do, and I promise." He smiles. "Thank you for listening."
"Anytime. Whenever you need a friend, I won't hesitate to be there for you."
"I appreciate that." He exhales. "Anything on your mind?"
"Just one thing."
"And what's that?"
"After everything that's happened, are you still interested in working here? I know getting shot wasn't on your memo when you arrived, and I just-"
Ryan raises a hand to stop him. "Of course, I'm still interested. If I weren't, you'd be the first to know. On top of that, I don't think it would be as fun without me."
Fitz smiles, pleased to hear that Ryan still wants to be a part of the initiative regarding positive change.
"I agree. It wouldn't be." He laughs in agreement. "Plus, I don't think t-"
Ryan's phone ringing interrupts Fitz. Mouthing sorry, Ryan reaches into his pocket and answers it when he sees it's Dr. Harding calling.
"Dr. Harding. How may I help you?"
"I'm sorry to call under such pretenses, Ryan, but you need to come to the hospital immediately."
"What? Why?" He asks, moving to his feet.
"There was a shooting incident at your apartment. Jake Ballard and Danny Ford were-"
"I'll be there soon." He ends the call, turning to Fitz, who moves to his feet, concerned.
The room is spinning, and there's an escalating static in his mind. He's assuming the worst, and his heart won't survive the domino effect that comes with losing someone.
A nightmare of his has come true.
"What happened?" Fitz inquires.
"Exactly what I'm afraid of."
X
After meeting with Ryan and briefly discussing the ongoing issue, Maya decides it's time to pay the man pulling the strings a visit. Eli Pope. With Donovan by her side, he and Maya approach the red door unannounced, anticipating the showdown. To Maya, this isn't some game. This is her life, her son's life, and as a mother, it is her job to protect him.
Maya moves her hair over her shoulder, glancing up at Donovan, who knocks on the door. They wait in silence, hands intertwined together, showing that nothing or no one can come between them. Suddenly, the door unlocking attracts their attention, and when it opens, Eli steps out, and his chipper demeanor fades. Their presence is not what Eli expected.
"To whom do I owe this unexpected appearance?" He asks, casting his gaze on Donovan.
Maya chuckles. "You know damn well why we're here. So, cut the coyness, and let's talk."
Though Eli would prefer to talk to Maya alone, he moves aside and allows them entry to his home.
"I see things haven't changed." She says, taking in the details of her old home. "Still living in the past."
"It's called being comfortable." He closes the door and trails behind them to the living room.
She scoffs, sitting in the lone chair by the fireplace while Donovan stands beside her. Eli sits on the couch further away. A moment of silence ensues as she gauges Eli's temperament. For her, he's always been so easy to read, and although he's trying his best to be unaffected by her, she can see that he is.
"Being comfortable doesn't allow change."
"Being comfortable means I'm in control." He retorts.
"Which is why you could never be the man I needed you to be."
He raises a brow. "And what kind of man would that be? The kind of man that I am?" He asks, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his thighs.
"A coward." She doesn't hesitate. "A man who constantly needs to be in control is a man suffering from a lack of real love in his life. I left you to be happy with Donovan. That was the knife in your heart. And now, you're surrounded by a silence that can't fill the void I created."
He laughs, shaking his head. "You didn't affect me as much as you think. You are the past, my past. You're here because you want to appeal to my conscious, make me see that how I am or am not living and what I am or am not doing is wrong."
"Chile, you wouldn't be wearing the ring if I was in the past." She chuckles, watching his face turn sour. "You try so hard to deny my impact, but we both know I exist whether you like it or not, and in no way, shape or form am I trying to appeal to your rotten conscious." She scoffs.
"You're toxic, and that same behavior is rubbing off on the child we conceived together."
"My toxic behavior got her to see her true potential." He sneers.
"Your toxic behavior only turned her into a replica of you, but your ego is too damn big to see it. That girl isn't seeing her true potential. She sees the fallacies you constantly preach about." She huffs. "She doesn't know a damn thing, only that she has to make your sorry ass proud."
Eli jumps up from his seat in anger, but Maya doesn't flinch, and Donovan moves in front of her.
"You weren't even here to be her mother, so what the hell do you know?!" He exclaims.
"Oh baby, stop the huffing and puffing because you are not the big bad wolf in this instance. In this instance, the fish is rotting from the head, and just like you, she'll end up with nothing if you keep pushing her."
He couldn't find the right words, so he switched gears. "So, all of this because what? You feel bad for abandoning Olivia. You feel bad for abandoning me."
"Oh, please." She dismisses him with a wave of her hand. "You wanted me to leave because I go against everything you stand for. You have no idea what love is. Your ideologies are still very twisted and corrupt, and you are ruining both yourself and Olivia." She leans forward.
"You have manipulated her into thinking I was the bad guy when it's been you all along, so no, I don't feel bad. You have trapped her, ostracized her from everything and everyone she's ever cared about, including herself. Olivia doesn't know the real world; she doesn't know the truth. She only knows you." Jabbing a finger at him.
"But it's okay because all monsters have their reign and their inevitable fall."
Eli ponders her words. A growing feeling of guilt, anger, and sadness creeping through his veins, but he shows no weakness. He can't.
"You preach a good game, Maya. I'll give you that, but do you think you can undermine me? You're not the same woman you were when we met. You're weak, soft, dependent." His gaze shifts to Donovan, then to her.
"And that is why you will lose this battle."
Maya laughs, as does Donovan. "You talk about losing the battle when I'm focused on winning the war, baby." She corrects, crossing her legs.
"I'm sorry?"
"Let me put it this way, Eli. You will regret your chosen path because it doesn't end well for you or our darling Olivia. Your reign over her is ending, as is your quest for power."
"And who's going to stop me? You two?" He raises a brow, a smug smile appearing.
"We never said anything about getting involved," Donovan states, stepping closer to Eli.
"You have your daughter so far gone that she made a call that could've killed Maya and I's son. She did it to please you because you put the bug in her ear the moment he arrived, making it seem like he's a threat to society when he's only a threat to you." His jaw clenches.
"You're a novice player gunning for the final boss, Eli, but the only difference is your chance of winning against our son is slim."
"And why would Ryan be a threat to me? I am not afraid of him. He is minuscule compared to the countless others I've faced. So, I ask you again. Why would he be a threat to me?" He questions, feeling the nerves kicking in.
"I have everything in the palm of my hand."
"Poor baby," Maya rises to her feet, placing a hand on Eli's face. He's trembling.
"You have nothing, and you have had nothing. And since you refuse to let up, you're going see just how much of a bitch karma truly is because the lid is coming off, baby, and when it does, you'll see what resentment means."
Before Eli could speak, Maya and Donovan were already making their way to the front door, but he didn't want to let it go.
"You didn't answer my question, Maya." His voice wavers, stopping her in her tracks as Donovan opens the door. She doesn't turn to face him.
"Just like myself, Ryan is a threat because you can't control him. You are not his chewy center. You're not even in his orbit. It bothers you that your power doesn't affect him; otherwise, why would you go through this? It couldn't be to hurt me because, as you said, I'm just the past." She smiles.
"The day of reckoning is here, Eli, and I hope you're ready."
With nothing left to say, Maya departs from his home. The final nail in Eli's coffin is coming, and she takes pride knowing that.
"And please finalize the divorce. There's no point holding onto Maya when she has me." Donovan says, leaving Eli's home.
With Maya and Donovan gone, Eli snaps, flipping over the coffee table in a fit of rage.
"Fuck!" He screams.
X
She drowns her sorrows with a bottle of her favorite wine, staring hopelessly out of her apartment window. Aside from Mellie's speech about wanting to change, Huck affected her most. How could someone once so irreversibly damaged see the light that she couldn't? Why can't Olivia take ownership of her actions and stop this never-ending crusade for power? Why did she no longer care about who she's become? Why can't she see that Ryan is good?
There's only one answer, but she doesn't want to admit it. She can't. Her rose-colored glasses won't allow her to.
As she sips from the almost empty bottle, her phone rings, attracting her attention. She turns to her bag sitting perfectly in the chair but doesn't rush to answer it, wanting to be alone. The ringing continues, taking over the quiet, so she speeds to her bag and retrieves her phone, answering it.
"Olivia Pope." She tries her best not to sound inebriated.
"Hi, Miss Pope. This is Dr. Harding from George Washington University Hospital, and I was calling to see if you knew a Jake Ballard?"
Her brows furrow. "Yeah. Why?"
"You're his emergency contact, and I'm sorry to tell you this, but he's been shot and is now in critical condition. The paramedics brought Jake here with Danny Ford, but Jake was transferred to another hospital for their safety. He's on life support. We did all we could here."
The room begins to spin upon hearing the news. Jake failed, which means she did too. Their plan to eradicate Danny in hopes of knocking Ryan off some nonexistent white horse so they could slither their way up to unimaginable power and Eli's good graces was now nothing more than a nightmare.
"Miss Pope?" He calls out.
She hadn't realized she was still on the phone, so by clearing her throat, she emitted a soft sigh and focused on the information presented.
"I'm sorry. Do you know what happened?"
"Mr. Ford's statement says he was visiting his boyfriend when Jake threatened to kill him."
The guilt is eating her up. "How do you know that's true? Is there any evidence?" She inquires.
"There's video evidence courtesy of Danny, but that's not my job to discuss."
Her heart sinks into her stomach. There's nothing she could do. With substantial evidence of Jake's actions, there was no way to get him out of it. Still, she feels for him. He's in critical condition because of the twisted game they're playing. His willingness will be his demise, and her inability to say enough is enough will be hers.
"Where is he located?" She asks in a whisper, grabbing her bag from the chair and making her way to the door.
"MedStar Washington Hospital Center."
"Thank you." She ends the call and opens the door, but before she can leave, her phone rings again, and this time it's her father. She hesitates for a moment but decides to answer it.
"Dad? Is something wrong?"
"I need to see you. It's an emergency."
X
"Mr. President, you have a Quinn Perkins here to see you," Charlotte announces from the doorway of the Oval Office, attracting his attention.
"She says it's an emergency."
From his desk, Fitz looks up at her. Quinn Perkins? How unexpected.
"Quinn?" They haven't spoken since he and Olivia broke up. "Send her in."
With a firm nod, Charlotte informs Quinn he wants to see her while he finishes signing off on a few documents regarding his foundation, setting his plan in motion.
"Mr. President." Quinn walks into his office with purpose holding a manila envelope. "Thank you for seeing me on such short n-"
"Please, call me Fitz." He smiles, setting his signed documents aside. He walks over to the couches, motioning her to take a seat. "Charlotte said it was an emergency."
"Yes . . . Fitz." She confirms with a nod, taking a seat on the couch as does he. "This isn't some worldwide issue yet, but our client came to us saying her children went missing." She hands him a folder which he opens.
"Young, not a care in the world, taken from her while they were at the playground, and get this, this isn't the first occurrence. You'll see over a dozen cases reported in the folder, but no one did anything."
As he examines the folder's contents, his eyes widen at the number of reported cases. There're over twenty-five.
"I'm glad you brought this to me."
"You are?"
"I am." He assures, glancing over at her with a smile. "This has meaning, and if there's a chance we can bring back these missing children, then it's worth a shot, right?"
"Right." A nod, "but question, who are you, and what have you done with Fitz?"
He chuckles at her question, knowing he wasn't in his best mindset the last time they saw one another.
"I've grown a lot since Olivia. Crazy, right?"
She laughs. "No surprise there."
"Still not speaking?" He inquires.
"Nothing to say." She shrugs it off. "I don't know if you've been living under a rock, but she's high key obsessed with Ryan Lewis, and I mean obsessed. Basic Instinct can't even touch her. Not to mention, she fucked everyone over to be Mellie's sidekick."
Something clicks in Fitz's brain. The last time he spoke to Olivia, she mentioned doing something terrible. Did she have something to do with Ryan getting shot? She couldn't have, right?
"What do you-?"
"Mr. President," Charlotte speaks from the doorway, "Your afternoon meeting has arrived."
"Send them in." He nods, reverting his gaze to Quinn. "We'll take care of this, but we do this on your turf. You're the boss of this case."
"Roger that." She moves to her feet, as does he, shaking his hand. "Thank you for actually taking this case on."
"I'll help in any way I can." He smiles, "but before you go, your comment about Olivia . . . what did she do?"
"I think you should hear it straight from the horse's mouth." She pats him gently on his shoulder. "See you soon, Fitz."
And just like that, she leaves him with one burning question. What did Olivia do?
X
Entering the George Washington University Hospital posthaste, time seems to slow as Ryan approaches Dr. Harding standing by the receptionist's desk and conversing with a colleague. Fear is consuming Ryan as he expects the worst to have come true, a genuinely happy place of his destroyed by demoralized and corrupted-minded people.
He didn't see this coming, and the fact that he should have gutted him because throughout all the chaos he's been intertwined with since his arrival, Danny has been a focal point of good, and he didn't want to lose him. He couldn't, not without the chance to voice how he truly feels. Ryan's not ready for them to be over. He doesn't want this to be their end.
As he closes in on Dr. Harding, who takes a quick gander at him, his entirety shakes as he emits a sigh, folding his arms securely across his chest in hopes that'll soften the blow.
"Ryan." Dr. Harding acknowledges him, cutting the conversation with his colleague short. "I-"
"Please tell me he's okay." He's frantic. "I don't care about anything else."
Dr. Harding gives a small yet reassuring smile. He can see Ryan's obvious distress, but he has news that can help alleviate those feelings he's experiencing.
"You hung up before I could explain that Danny is alive. Some minor scrapes and bruising, nothing too serious." He informs. "He's in room three twelve, straight down the hall and to the left. You should probably hear the story from him."
Although relief washes over him, the tides are still ravaging. He needs to see Danny face to face. With a nod, silently thanking Dr. Harding, he makes his way to Danny's room as quickly as possible.
Everything is a blur. Every room number and person he passed by added to the static that had consumed his mind since he got the call. When Ryan turns the corner, he bumps into a janitor's cart knocking it over, but continues, not even bothering to help pick it back up. However, he did mouth the words I'm sorry.
Upon reaching the room, he stops outside the cracked door, mentally chastising himself to get it together. Once he feels calm enough, he emits a sigh before entering, a feeling of reassurance and relaxation washing over him. There he is, Danny, lying in bed eating a pudding cup while watching Steven Universe.
"You're okay." It's almost like he can't believe it.
Danny focuses his attention on the doorway. He came; Ryan came. Danny sets his pudding cup aside, sorrow consuming his expression. He didn't want Ryan to see him in this predicament, and the look on his face pains him, but he smiled in hopes of alleviating any worry Ryan may have looming over him.
"I am." He assures, patting the spot next to him on the bed. "Come here."
With a nod, Ryan makes his way over to the bed. When he sits down, his head falls to Danny's right shoulder. Without delay, Danny's chin rests atop Ryan's head, and with as much energy as Danny can muster, he wraps Ryan in his arms. He can feel the weight on Ryan's shoulders lifting the longer he holds him, bringing him some peace of mind.
"I should've expected this," Ryan murmurs, curling up in the bed. "I could've lost you."
"There's no way you could've known this would happen."
"There is. Situations like this don't happen to me. I'm usually always ahead of the curve, but I was consumed by it."
"People are unpredictable, Ry, and your lack of fear when dealing with these people keeps you from thinking of all possible contingencies. Trust me, I know." And he does, but he also understands Ryan's perspective.
"How?" He lifts his head, finding Danny's eyes.
He smiles. "I was like you once."
His brows furrow. "And then what happened?"
"I met you." He places a hand on Ryan's face, his thumb brushing his cheek.
"There's nothing wrong with being afraid because fear can is a tool to help us conquer anything. I know you feel unprepared for this circumstance, but know that you have more options available to move forward and more precise decisions."
Something clicks in Ryan's mind, and the light in his eyes returns. Danny's right. People are unpredictable, and being prepared for everything can be difficult. However, it's not the end of the road because now he knows what he must do to nip this ongoing situation in the bud. The lid is coming off, and nothing is stopping it now.
"Thank you."
"For what?" He's curious.
"For coming into my life when you did. I know I don't say much, but I want you to know that I don't regret taking your arm that night." His hand finds Danny's face, stroking his cheek. "You are the one good thing in my life, and I don't want to squander it anymore."
He peels back to get a good look at Ryan, falling into his browns. "So, what are you saying?"
'I'm saying that I want you."
Danny never expects Ryan to do anything he doesn't feel regarding their brewing relationship, but to hear Ryan admit that he wants him is everything. With both hands holding Ryan's face, Danny leans in and kisses him as if his life depends on it, and Ryan's arms snake around Danny's waist, careful to avoid the bruised ribs.
The kiss is succulent, slow yet sweet, as they find solace beyond the normal means within each other. Sparks fly, fireworks cloud their minds, and the need for more washes over them like waves crashing to the beach. And before their want for each other consumes them, they peel back from each other, though their noses still touch.
Danny smiles, "I want you, too."
As Ryan speaks, his phone rings, interrupting the moment.
"They couldn't have waited just one more minute?" Danny chuckles.
Ryan smiles, hands gliding down Danny's side. "I'm sorry." He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his phone and answering it when he sees it's Fitz.
"Ryan here. Is this a President Grant call or a Fitz call?"
Fitz laughs. "A little of both. I heard the news. How is he?"
"He's good." He leans into Danny. "Minor bruising, nothing too serious."
"Good. I'm glad. You sound relieved. You should be, but you know what I mean." He chuckles.
"I am, but remind me that we have to work on your speech." He chuckles, feeling Danny's lips pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"Good, uh, I hate to pull you away, but I need you to meet me at QPA. They need our help on a case."
"Say no more. I'll be there soon."
The call ends, and Ryan focuses his attention on Danny smiling back at him.
He's blushing. "What?"
"You're cute when you're in your element."
"Yeah? And how does that make you feel, Mr. Ford?"
Instead of telling him how it makes him feel, Danny does Ryan one better. He leans in, taking hold of Ryan's face in his hands. He admires his features, from his eyes to his lips, and kisses him again. There's a sense of urgency within the kiss, the heat rising between their colliding bodies. He needs Ryan like water, but he peels away though his hands remain.
"What do you think, Mr. Lewis?" His voice was a whisper, thumbs caressing Ryan's cheeks.
"I think there's a continuation to this that doesn't occur in a hospital bed." He chuckles, allowing his thumb to brush across Danny's lips. He admires the man a little longer before leaving the hospital bed.
"You'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine." He assures with a smile. "They want to keep me overnight just to be on the safe side, so you go. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Okay." He smiles, making his way to the exit. "Try not to miss me so much."
Danny laughs. "That's going to be a difficult task for me."
"You'll find a way to deal with that."
X
"Why do you keep calling me about this?" Olivia asks, brushing past Eli and entering his home, stopping when she sees the flipped-over table. "What happened?"
He closes the door and walks into the living room. "Your mother and her sidekick of a husband happened."
"My mot - she's back?" She asks, folding her arms across her chest. The curiosity is evident.
"I don't know, and frankly, I do not care. I care about Ryan Lewis and why he's still alive." He turns to face her. "I thought you were keeping a close eye on the situation and assuring that he wouldn't be a problem."
"I was . . . I am, but-"
"But nothing!" He exclaims, causing her to shudder with fear. "This man is a threat to everything you stand for, everything we stand for, and you're doing nothing? Goddamnit, Olivia!" He throws his hands up.
"The one thing I didn't raise you to be was simple-minded, and yet, here you are at every turn being bested by some mediocre black man putting on a facade that he is, in fact, power when that power doesn't exist. You are power. You are the seed of power. So, why the hell are you playing with your food when you should be devouring it?"
She scowls at him. "Because I don't know what you want from me!" She exclaims, her words venomous.
"You keep spewing all of these convoluted inconsistencies as if they're supposed to make any sense to me. One minute, I'm the leader of B613, and I'm to ensure that I get to the White House I desperately want. And the next, I'm supposed to obey your wishes because you still think you're in control in your makeshift mind."
"I am in control!" He steps towards her, but she doesn't flinch nor falter.
"You're not." She retorts, unwavering. "You're afraid. So, instead of taking the initiative and handling whatever issue you have with Ryan Lewis, you're hiding behind me because I have all the power. I am command, and you are a very lost and confused old man clinging onto his daughter. It's pathetic."
Her white hat is back on for a moment, and to her, it feels good. However, Eli doesn't need her to have any moments of clarity, so he does what he does best and manipulates the situation in his favor.
"What's pathetic is that you can't see the bigger picture." He places his hands on her shoulders. "You're right, I am powerless, and this is pathetic hell. I might even be afraid, but the reality is that you will lose. Avoiding this issue, pretending not to care when you do, pretending that Ryan doesn't have what you want isn't going to go over well with you in the end." And he's not done.
"There will be no White House for you as long as that man still breathes, Olivia. Can't you see? He has taken everything away from you. He's now the love of your life's right-hand man. He's working with your ex-friends and standing on the White House's seal daily. He's calling the shots. All things you should be doing."
Some of what he says resonates within her, and the white hat is gone just like that. She doesn't want to fail. She can't. She's come this far, and it's up to her to put a stop to Ryan. The White House belongs to her. Fitz belongs to her. Her friends belong to her, and she refuses to let anyone waltz in and take what's hers.
"I'll take care of it." She assures him, leaving his home.
Once she was gone, a smug smile appeared on Eli's face as he plopped down on the couch. He restores his faith in Olivia, knowing he can let the truth come out because if it does, it'll be a cold day in hell for them both.
Let the showdown begin.
X
"What do you have?" Fitz asks, sitting on the edge of the conference room table inside QPA.
"Nothing," Quinn answers, staring at the pictures on the wall. "We have nothing. Dozens of pictures and locations, but ultimately nothing."
"There can't just be nothing," Fitz says.
"He's right," Abby adds, standing next to Fitz, arms folded. "There's always something in nothing."
"What exactly have you tried to do?" Cyrus asks. "Because we're grasping at straws trying to figure this out right now."
"We have video footage." Marcus answers.
"Is that all?" Cyrus asks, brows furrowing.
"On such short notice, yes." Huck answers. "I tried to find the white van, but it's not registered. The license plate is a complete fake."
"We also have a map." Quinn points to the right, shifting everyone's attention to the map plastered on the wall. There're tons of thumbtacks stuck in it, signifying the locations of the taken children.
"It's a jumbled-up mess right now."
Cyrus chuckles. "So, let me get this straight. You have an unclear map, no license plate because it doesn't exist, pictures of dozens of children hanging on the wall with their last known location, but no possible way of finding them? How have you stayed open for business this long?"
"Now is not the time to be petty, Cyrus," Fitz speaks.
"Petty? No, no, no. I'm the only one thinking here." He retorts. "This is a serious issue, and because we don't have the White House, we need to buckle down and figure this out. Everyone in this room is good for something so let's do whatever that is and find these children."
"He's right," Huck murmurs.
"Huck!" Quinn, Abby, and Fitz exclaim in unison while he and Marcus exchange looks.
"He is." He stands by his words. "We've gotten cases done before with less information than this."
Quinn sighs. "Then what are we not seeing?"
They began debating what they were missing—not listening to each other but talking over one another. It's a chaotic battle to see who comes up with answers to the question dangling over their heads, and that's not how a team should work. It's back to being White House versus QPA, and no one was backing down except for Fitz, who sits in silence.
Dressed in an all-white Balenciaga leather belted trench coat, black zip-detail cotton bike trousers, and camel-colored wrap-around suede boots, Ryan walks off the elevator. He carries a camel-colored surplus canvas tote from the same designer, smiling when he hears the ongoing disagreements from the conference room.
"This argument is going to solve anything." Fitz finally speaks up, attracting everyone's attention. "This is a mess. We have different ways of doing things."
"That's not surprising coming from you." Quinn retorts.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The look on Fitz's face says it all.
"What it means is that-"
"It means there are bigger issues at stake here, and if we don't stop this frivolous conversation, nothing will get solved," Ryan enters the conference room, setting his bag on the table and proceeding to the map.
"Neither side is wrong." He begins rearranging the thumbtacks on the map as everyone watches. "You just have to weed out the bullshit and see the common area." He smiles, turning to face everyone. "When you look at the map now, tell me what you see."
Everyone fixates their gaze on the map, trying to decipher the shape of the thumbtacks. It takes a few moments, but Huck figures it out.
"A star."
"Exactly, Huck. A star." He confirms with a nod, making his way over to the table. "Each star has four points before making it to the fifth. However, in this case, the fifth point has already been reached dozens of times which means what?"
"They must go through all four points to make another complete star." Marcus answers.
"Precisely. Thanks to Huck sending me the information, I figured out the missing piece to the puzzle, and the answer is nothing. Nothing is missing, which explains the screaming match." He chuckles.
"Everything you have is a clue. A clue that can help us bring these kids back home."
That's when it becomes more evident to everyone.
"Each kid represents a star." Fitz realizes.
"Which means that the process never changes. It's the same every time." Quinn adds.
"Which means that the people taking the kids always have the same approach." Abby reckons.
"And that approach happens to be them learning these parents' everyday routine with their children, studying them down to a science to know exactly when to strike," Cyrus says, rising to his feet.
"Exactly." Ryan nods, folding his arms across his chest. "There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. Huck, instead of searching for the truck's license plate number, try searching for the truck's previous locations. It doesn't matter if it was reported or whispered in the wind. Marcus, Abby, and Quinn need to talk to the parents on this list." He reaches into his bag, pulls out a black folder, and slides it over to Quinn.
"There are specific questions on this list to ask them because frantic people tend to get off topic at times. Cyrus, Fitz, and I will stay with Huck if anyone comes looking. Everyone got it?"
They nod in unison.
"Then let's get to work."
With a pep in their step, everyone gathers everything they need before proceeding to their assigned tasks. They have one shot, so they have to play their cards right; otherwise, these children might not make it back home. Turning his attention to the map, Ryan emits a soft sigh as Fitz gets up from his seat and walks over to him.
"I'm glad you could make it, Ryan." He's sincere. "I'm sorry for taking you away from Danny."
He appreciates it. "This is more important. He knows that."
Fitz smiles. "We needed you, that's for sure."
"You did." He smiles. "I told you, it's like a soap opera that pays well."
"You're right about that." He tucks his hands into his pockets. "You think we'll be able to bring these children home?"
"One hundred percent."
"I like him," Huck announces, smiling as he works on his task.
Ryan smiles. "I like you too, Huck."
X
Dress in an all-red Giorgio Armani crewneck pleated cady jacket, red Dolce & Gabbana ornamental-jacquard side-stripe cuffed pants, and black Prada Saffiano textured patent leather pumps, Olivia walks down the hallway to Fitz's office with purpose.
She carries a matching, all-black Prada Sidonie leather shoulder bag from the same designer, and to top it off, there's an untamable fire in her eyes. She's dedicating herself to her father's plan from start to finish because it's what she wants in some twisted way.
Or so she thinks.
She turns into Fitz's office, heading straight for the door. Charlotte calls out to try and stop her because not only is Fitz gone, Olivia can't access White House grounds, but she keeps walking, opening the door to an empty Oval Office. The emptiness is displeasing.
"Where is he?" She slams the door close, approaching Charlotte's desk.
"You aren't supposed to be here, Miss Pope. You are-"
"Save the scolding for someone else." She sneers. "What matters is that you tell me where President Fitzgerald Grant is, or I'll see that this happy little existence you're living comes crashing down within seconds because that's what I am good at."
"If you don't leave, I will have to call security to escort you out, Miss Pope. Per President Grant's request, you are no longer wanted here, so you need to leave now."
"Such a shame. I didn't think someone as sweet as you would lack common sense." She sets her bag down on the desk. "Do you know how easy it would be to-?"
"Listen, Miss Pope. I'm doing my job, and you are not allowed to be here." She puts her foot down. "I'm sorry. You're not above the rules. So, you should just g-"
"Tell me where he is!" She exclaims, smashing her hands down upon the desk. She's boiling with rage, evident by her shoulders rising and falling with every breath she takes.
Charlotte sighs, pushing the button under her desk, alerting security.
"If he wanted you to know, he would've left me a message."
"I-" her phone rings, interrupting her. She retrieves her phone, and there's a message from her father. Bingo. Fitz's location - courtesy of Eli.
"You have a good day." She grabs her bag off the desk and proceeds to the exit, but security stops her.
"Everything okay here?" The tall gentleman asks, gauging both women's demeanor.
"Everything is perfect," Olivia answers before Charlotte.
"I was leaving. I sometimes forget I'm no longer welcome here." She brushes past him, making her way out of the White House, an accomplished smile appearing.
X
"Every parent we spoke to on this list admitted to being negligent," Quinn informs Ryan, Cyrus, Fitz, and Huck, walking into the conference room alongside Abby and Marcus.
"And get this, they also heard whispers of there being a kidnapper years before today but didn't think it was a big deal because they were just whispers. Neighborhood gossip. Stories meant to scare children into behaving." Marcus adds.
"That's not comforting," Fitz says.
"And to make matters worse, everyone on this list is friends or has had some form of communication with one another." Abby reckons.
Cyrus massages his temples. "How does all this help us?"
"It narrows it down." Huck answers.
"Exactly." Ryan agrees, focused on the map, "but it's still not enough. Were you able to pinpoint where the truck appeared more than once at any location?"
"Still working on it. There's a lot of traffic to sort through."
"So, what do we do?" Quinn asks.
"We're missing something right in our faces. What are we not seeing?" Fitz asks, emitting a heavy sigh.
And that's when it clicks for Ryan. "It's a cover-up." He turns to face the others, arms folded across his chest. "We're looking at this the wrong way."
"What? What do you mean?" Marcus asks.
"That doesn't make any sense." Quinn states. "I mean, these parents were in shambles about their children."
"Exactly," Ryan responds. "To sell something, you have to give your best performance; otherwise, the world will see through the cracks."
"Happens in politics all the time," Fitz adds. "If you don't stand by something you believe in, the wolves won't hesitate to make you their next meal."
"You think they planned this?" Abby asks. "Dozens of children missing, and you think they planned this?"
Ryan shoots her a look. "You do not see the bigger picture here. Why hasn't anyone been able to find these children?"
Quinn scoffs. "That's easy. There were reports made, but-"
"Bingo." He smiles, walking around the table. "No one did anything about the reports because the reports don't exist in the system."
"Huck?" Fitz asks, wanting confirmation.
Everyone aside from Ryan cast their gaze on Huck as he begins a check on the police database. Within seconds, he saw that the information appeared to be true. No one reported any cases.
"He's right," Huck assures.
"So, what does this mean?" Abby asks.
"It means we're wearing the clown masks," Cyrus says, irritated. "I do believe the children are missing, but not because some random person driving a white van took them but because-"
"The parents," Fitz says, rising to his feet. "They staged this entire thing."
"With our attention focused on the kids, none of us suspected them," Quinn says.
"Precisely." Ryan moves beside Huck. "Each parent you interviewed had the same answer, behavioral pattern, and emotional response, but none answered the how or why, only that they were negligent, right?"
"Right." Marcus answers. "But we don't have enough evidence to put them away."
"Everything here is evidence," Quinn responds.
"So, we shift our efforts to the parents," Abby says. "We only need one."
"We already have her," Ryan assures. "The woman brought the case to QPA in the first place. Malory Klein." He grabs her picture off the table and tapes it to the wall.
"And you're sure?" Fitz asks, brows raised.
Ryan's confident. "I am. Put the fire under her and watch her dance."
Olivia walks off the elevator, heels tapping quickly over the linoleum floors, preparing herself to face Ryan. Though her father manipulated her into hating him, she's too far gone to stop herself from venturing further into the rabbit hole. Olivia can hear Ryan and the others discussing something not relevant to her. With an exhale, she bursts into the conference room full of anger and frustration, attracting everyone's attention aside from Ryan and Huck. They're busy trying to track down Mallory Klein.
"Liv?" Fitz wasn't expecting her. "What are y-?"
"You take everything from me!" She yells. "I am so sick and tired of you interfering with everything I do! Your constant need to be around the people I know and love, your constant need to undermine me at every step of the way, your constant need to replace me. Why are you so gung-ho about making everyone hate me? What did I ever do to you?" She's breathing heavily, itching for a fight.
"You're a coward playing dress-up. You're hiding behind a false sense of entitlement and power when you're nothing but a leech feeding on the people around you. Do you think they care about you? Do you think you'll win the game you're playing in the end?"
It's time to pry the lid off the pot.
"Olivia Pope, give me one second, and I'll give you the time you've wanted," Ryan says, still focused on Huck. "Let me know when you get something, okay?"
"On it." He answers, already knowing what's coming.
"What's this about?" Fitz inquires.
"Yeah, because I'm confused," Cyrus adds.
Huck, Quinn, Abby, and Marcus remain quiet.
"Ryan Lewis is a monster, and I'm trying to protect you," Olivia explains, although her words mirror how she feels.
"Can't you see? He's manipulating you to think that he's someone he's not, making you all paint me to be the bad guy when it's him. He isn't the guy he portrays himself to be. My father warned me about him. Jake warned me about him. I-"
"Playing the victim won't stop the truth from coming out, Olivia." Ryan turns to face her. He's calm and stoic in his demeanor.
"You had it out for me the moment I arrived in D.C., and for some strange reason, you still feel like you're the victim. I'm sure this approach may work in your favor sometimes, but it won't work with me, and it won't stop the truth from coming out." He takes a seat on the edge of the corner.
"I came here courtesy of Cyrus needing me. Since then, I've done nothing but my job, which you can't seem to stop interrupting. I've kept my head down, focusing on helping the President of the United States and anyone else who may need me. I made that extremely clear, and you were never a factor in that. I'm no tyrant, and you'll be convincing no one that I am." He smiles.
"The people in this room know my intentions. I've always been transparent with them and those I come across. I know it burns you inside to see me in this position with them, but you'll learn to overcome it with time because I'm not your enemy; I'm your hero."
Everyone aside from Olivia smiles at the word choice. She notices this and steps closer to Ryan with a scowl on her face.
"Hero? Transparent?" She chuckles. "You are a serpent using the people I love to climb up the ladder to political power."
"Ladder? Political power?" He chuckles. "Do you hear yourself? You don't even believe that. All this is, is projection. I don't need you or them to get ahead in life."
"You don't know anything about me." She retorts.
"I know enough, but please," he holds out a hand, "why don't you tell me something about you."
"I am Olivia Pope. I've built one President from the ground up, and I plan on building another. I am the best damn Crisis Management Consultant, and I'll be an even better Chief of Staff. I am the pinnacle of power. This world is mine. This family is mine." She points around at everyone else.
"You are not welcome. My father and Jake were right about you. You've done some unspeakable things, and I don't trust you around them."
Ryan chuckles. "That's your jealousy and insecurity talking. Come on, Olivia. You can't back up any of these claims outside of the ones regarding your career." He rises to his feet, folding his arms.
"Let's be honest." Steps in her direction. "The people in this room aren't your toys to use and dispose of, and claiming ownership over them is on the opposite side of sane. You come in here throwing blame, trying to bring the horrible things I've done to the light that you've discussed with your friend who's not your friend, but your boyfriend who's not and will never be your boyfriend, instead of admitting you're wrong."
"I don't have a damn thing to be wrong about!" She sneers. "I've made everyone in this room besides Marcus so I can do and say and act how I feel to protect them from who you are."
"Cut the holier than thou bullshit, Olivia. You may have cheated to get the president elected, but you didn't make him the man he is today, nor did you make anyone else in this room. You are the only person they need to be saved from, and I'm sure they would agree. If anything, you made them want to change, which is something you lack the will to do yourself." There's more.
"You walk around here as if you're untouchable; you create havoc so you can play the hero; you build people up to your liking and then tear them down when it's beneficial, not to mention your inability to be yourself. None of what we're doing is to spite you, and this being in your thought process, let me know how far you've fallen from grace." And it's sad to witness.
"The people in this room didn't befriend me because they dislike the woman you've become. They're drawn to me because I'm a human being capable of having healthy relationships, normal conversations, living a life without self-sabotage, and owning who the hell I am without needing a crutch." He spews calmy. "I can go on and on, but I'm sure you get the point." A huff.
"I'm not afraid of you, Olivia. You don't control me. You don't own me. You have no power over me. You're grasping at straws, foaming at the mouth because the attention isn't on you, but why would it be? You're the definition of a monster."
She's stunned, unable to believe the venom that comes out of his mouth, not because they're wrong, but because they're truthful. She can say nothing to make this look good for her, nothing she can say to get under his skin, except for one thing.
"You know you're why Danny's in the hospital, right?" She can play this game.
"Everything bad that's happened is because of you." Jabbing a finger at him. "You're the villain, not me. An innocent man could've died because of you, and here you are pretending that you're not a parasite." Her words mirror her father's.
Fitz rises to his feet. "That's enough, O-"
Ryan raises a hand to stop him. "You have no real issue with me, Olivia, and this conversation proves that. You've been scrambling the moment you opened your mouth, and honestly, I've had enough, so let me put the bad guy on for you today." He steps closer to her, his stare wandering over her.
"Let's talk about what you've done. You started by making me a target. That was your biggest mistake because we both know your father put you up to it. You allowed him to manipulate you into having a vendetta against me when your sole focus should've been getting Mellie into the White House. Do you even know why he has you gunning for me, Olivia? Do you know why he's so scared of me?"
"My father isn't scared of you. Who are you for him to be afraid of you're-?"
"I'm unafraid. I'm uncontrollable. I'm freedom, in human form, and I can break everything Eli is." He smiles, walking around the table, all eyes on him. "You see, Olivia, your inability to see without rose-colored glasses makes you weak and an easy target for snakes like Eli."
"What are you saying? That my father caused this?"
"Oh no, I'm saying that your father has led you to your inevitable downfall. To start, I know it was you who made the call to have me killed. Luckily I escaped with a minor wound. You're also why Danny's in the hospital, but you weren't alone. Your puppy Jake helped you every time, and now he's on his death bed." He smiles.
"Your father wanted me gone the moment I arrived. He threatened me, attempted to bribe Abby to fire me, and according to him, I will destroy the president's legacy. He says I'm a parasite to the American people, a substandard version of you, and a vindictive, manipulative, poisonous man who needs to be terminated. Funny, right?" He huffs, stopping in front of her.
"He gave you every order, and you followed him off the cliff since your daddy's little girl."
Her heart's racing, and fear courses through her veins as she steps back from him. She looks around, and staring back at her are dead eyes. Her once confident demeanor shatters into a million pieces. She's broken, has been for some time, and he is her dead end.
"I- I-" She stammers, lips quivering, tears welling in her eyes.
"There's nothing you can say." He grabs his bag off the table. "And to think, you and I could've been great together."
"What do you mean?" Fitz inquires, brows furrowed.
Ryan's gaze drifts to Fitz. "Eli wanted me dead and out of the picture because Olivia is my sister. We share a mother but not the same father. That's why he's afraid. I'm everything Olivia should be." This news shocks everyone.
"I am free from all hindrances, free from all darkness, confident in myself and my abilities, powerful without some spy organization or big White House backing me. I can live how I choose to live, and I am the only one that can get Olivia to see that." He reverts his attention to her.
"I hope you learn from this conversation, Olivia because living your life in a cage isn't life. It's a prison."
The secret's out, and before anyone can say anything, Ryan exits, utterly exhausted from the conversation, followed by a defeated Olivia moments later. Everyone else is left with more questions than answers, although Huck is surprisingly calm.
With Olivia's monster no more, what will she do next?