A/N: I have the next chapter ready, I am just proofreading it. I wanted my readers to get this one processed because a lot happens. Thank you for all the reviews. I will answer your questions as they come into the reviews, but please remember if you leave a review as a guest, I cannot answer it. Thank you all for continuing to read. Hope you enjoy. Happy reading.

Chapter 8-Danger Lurking

Putneys

"You're saying Gerry Grant just told you this, that Olivia Pope would be in Oakland at the Ritz Carlton on these days?" Chip looked stunned at the paper his father had handed him. "This is too good to be true, I've been looking for that bitch for 3 months. I've used every resource. Now we have her right where we want her right before the trial."

"Don't fuck this up Chip. You never should have gone after her that night, you got that concussion, her guard got a good look at you, never mind knocked you out. Play this one smart. Any word if she had the baby yet?"

"No, not like I have means to find out, for all I know she isn't even in the state anymore, I mean why is she even going to California? What's her connection to Grant?"

Jax shook his head. "From what I gather there is no connection. She's working on a case that Gerry wants Fitz to win. It's his first big trial as Governor and this would be a win for him. Ironically enough, a win for domestic abuse victims. Maybe if you do this favor and you get a guilty verdict to stick here, you're back in the trenches for the Grant family."

"First things first, dad, how do I go about getting this Pope? I mean if she's popping pregnant, I can't just attack her, and if she has a baby, unless I take the kid down with her. Maybe I can make it look like the baby daddy did it." Chip was thinking.

Jax whacked him on the head. "Don't be stupid. You don't go after kids, especially babies, ever. You don't even know who the baby daddy is."

"Check into the hotel as an A's fan. There's a special game that weekend in honor of Rickey Henderson. Bring your bat. You always said your attacker used a bat, working for Olivia. Give her back some of her own, like I did with Abby's mother. Send another message to the attacker. Unless you use the knife, like the attacker did to Boozer. I'm still not convinced Olivia Pope is innocent in all that either."

Chip shook his head smiling. "Sounds good." He looked again at the paper. "I can't believe you even got the room number. I'll request the room adjacent, this way it'll be a clean hit, easy, same floor. Bye Olivia Pope." He hit the wall with his hand like a victory. "Damn I have been waiting for this for a long time."

"Remember do what you have to do. You keep her away from that trial for Monday. I don't even think you should be going; you're chancing your bail. You shouldn't be leaving the state. We have enough people on payroll."

"Relax dad, I get this done for the Grants, no way Fitz sends me back to New York a criminal, even if I am caught. We got this. I'll be free from this bitch and finally free from that mistake of that redhead Abby." He shook his head. "Over a year dealing with all of this. All she had to do was drop that restraining order. Not my fault she fell down the damn steps."

"Don't cheer yourself just yet, kid. And falling and being tripped from behind are not the same. You just better pray there's nothing out there that further incriminates you. I'm not helping you out of anymore messes. I'm holding on to Gerry's friendship by a nail. Get this done, get it done clean, and get your ass back here."

"Yes sir." He tossed his knife to the wall, landing it right between the eyes on the picture of Olivia Pope. "Bullseye."

Fitz

"Governor Grant, the President is on line one, wishing to speak to you." Lauren had used the intercom on the phone to alert Fitz.

Fitz was ten minutes out from addressing the crowd outside on the mansion lawn about his gun control bill. His father was sitting in his office with him, lecturing and congratulating him at the same time.

His eyebrows crossed in confusion, and he looked at Big Gerry. "The president?" He repeated in the form of a question back to Lauren's voice, "as in the United States?"

"Yes, sir, line one."

"What's that son of a bitch want? Don't let him say anything that…"

"Dad, I'll handle this, thank you. Thank you, Lauren."

"Mr. President, Good Morning, yes, here it's still morning. To what do I owe the honor of such a phone call?"

"First, son, my congratulations to you on your election to Governor and to the success you've shown already in such a short time. Second, I admire this gun bill you're pushing through, I know you're about to speak on it to your constituents, so I won't hold you up, and third, an apology."

"An apology? For what?"

Big Gerry now stood up and walked closer to Fitz's desk. He was thoroughly intrigued now, and as if walking closer would have him hear any better.

"Is your father there, son?"

"Yes, he is, in fact he's standing right in front of me." Fitz pointed to Big Gerry and mouthed he's asking for you.

"Could you put me on speaker phone, if you don't mind."

"Not at all sir. Go on, you're on speaker."

"Senator. Can you hear me?"

"If I say no, will you still talk. What the hell you bothering me for on a Saturday?"

"Well, first off, I wanted to apologize to Fitz. Fitz I am going to have to take your father away from your speech today and for the rest of the week. Senator, I am calling an emergency session of Congress, as the current Majority Leader you are required to be here. The plane is ready, and a car is outside the mansion awaiting you. Son, Governor Grant, that is the reason for my apology, that your father will not be there for your gun control bill speech and for the rest of the week."

"Thank you, Mr. President, no apology needed, and I understand completely."

The phone clicked off and Fitz looked at Big Gerry. "Only the president has the power to call an emergency session of Congress."

"Damn Democrats, what the hell could be going on?" Big Gerry looked to the door as there was a knock.

"Sir, I was sent here by."

Gerry waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah, by the President. Aren't you special?"

"Sir, the car is out back, away from the crowds. We'll give you ten minutes."

Big Gerry looked at Fitz. Fitz was tight lipped. "Have a safe trip dad. You'll see the recording of the speech on the news." Fitz picked up some papers, shook his father's hand, and headed with his detail out to the lawn.

"Are we set?" Fitz asked his two agents as they walked down the hall.

"Yes sir, the plane is waiting, the car will be northeast. After you shake hands of the people outside, pose for some pictures, you'll be taken right to the car, then to the private airport. Your plane awaits."

"Nice, job Tom, thank you."

"Yes sir."

The door to the lawn opened and the size of the crowd was overwhelming. Signs swung in the air by the dozens, and the cheers were a bit louder than the boos. The person at the podium stopped speaking with the roar of the crowd and turned her head to peer over her shoulder.

"My humble Californians I give the microphone and podium over to our newly elected, gun sense, Governor of our great state of California, Fitzgerald Thomas Grant the Third."

Fitz smiled, a smile that can be seen from far and wide. The big screens echoed his words of introduction and before he began speaking, he just took in the crowd. He was made for this. He took a deep breath, waved to all sides, as chants of NRA and Gun reform now could be heard.

He looked quickly at the time. He would give a ten-minute speech, another ten minutes greeting the people in the crowd, and head to the car. His Livvie was in California, and he didn't want to spend another moment away from her. He couldn't wait for the look of surprise on her face when he shows up a day early.

Olivia

With minimal crying and frequent feedings, Grant was a perfect little baby on the flight. He slept most of the way with his tiny earphones on his ears, to minimize the ear pressure pain. Liv was ready with bottles so she wouldn't have to move him in and out of the seat.

She didn't sleep at all on the plane, too nervous with anticipation. How would she introduce Grant to his father? Would Fitz hate her? Would he forgive her?

Staring endlessly at Grant during the flight, there was no denying he was Fitz's baby. His facial features all belonged to his father. Shaking all the bad thoughts away, Olivia said "One look at you little Mister, Daddy is going to be looking in the mirror. It will be like I had with him, love at first sight."

Liv looked over at Huck. She didn't remember a moment when he was awake during the flight. She figured he was going to spend the next two days and night wide awake waiting for a move from Putney. He still didn't feel that phone call went unrecorded. He had a bad feeling.

When Huck has a bad feeling, it's not a good thing. All Olivia wanted was time with Fitz. She wanted time with Fitz and Grant. She longed for Grant to be in his father's arms, for Fitz to hold his baby boy. Olivia put her head down, thinking now of Abby, "I made the right decision," she whispered.

Shaking her head, looking at Grant again, she remembered she never wanted to be a mother. She never wanted children. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears at bay. She felt a nudge on her knee and looked up.

"We're about to land." Davis had come from the front of the plane to let Olivia know. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, Davis, thank you. I'll wake Huck." Davis nodded his head and walked back to his seat up front.

Liv was crazy to think all this secrecy would end with Fitz meeting Grant. She still needed protection through Putney's trial. Once Putney and his family knew she had a baby, she would need to keep Grant safe. Fitz would be sure of her safety, of his child's safety, but to what knowledge to the people he was elected to serve? How would he explain Grant to the people of California without tarnishing his image?

Big Gerry

To use the word angry would be a gross description of how Senator Fitzgerald Grant was feeling right about now. He wasn't even unpacked from his arrival at the mansion late last night. It took all his temper control to not throw his luggage at the agent waiting for him.

He followed the black suit through the hallway down to the garages and out the back to a black town car waiting for him. Once inside the driver sped away. Big Gerry briefly saw his son's face on the big screen, looking like a natural up at the podium.

Big Gerry looked at the lawn, and he couldn't remember once in his eight years as governor the lawn being that filled with people. The crowd, the screen, and the echo of Fitz's muffled voice through the car, his son was doing what he was raised to do: Lead.

As proud as Gerry was for his son, he now had no way of keeping him from the Oakland area. He didn't know for certain that Fitz had any plans to get there before Monday's trial began, but knowing his son, he would not put it past him. Olivia Pope was in the state, and that alone would magnetize Fitz to Oakland.

Calling any of his own agents in, as he had when Fitz was running for Governor, would be useless. Fitz had jurisdiction over his own secret service now. There was nothing he could do for Fitz to be watched. He had more control over him before he was Governor. Gerry's hand pounded the seat and the agent sitting across from him looked at him.

"Sir, you alright?"

"Just fine." He said through grinded teeth. He also had to cancel the events scheduled for tomorrow. They were to only act on his orders and since he would be in emergency session there would be no orders to give.

Big Gerry closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. The only other option he had was to rely on Jax. He hoped Jax had a sure-fire plan in place to get Olivia out of that hotel, away from the Oakland area by sundown tomorrow.

"I'm listening." The voice on the other end picked up Gerry's call.

"Abort the mission."

"Bur sir."

"You heard me."

"We're in place. We're set to go."

"Abort the mission, I'm not saying it again." Gerry hung up the phone. He didn't want Fitz to run right into the mayhem, at least if he was there as originally planned, Gerry could steer Fitz away from the chaos. Gerry still had no idea it would be Linda Marshall on the waterfront.

Had Gerry not aborted the mission, Linda would come out looking like a hero. Not that Fitz would mind in any way, but that would be a terrible look for Fitz. The Los Angeles waterfront and its surrounding areas would be safe, thanks to the emergency session called to order by the President and Fitz wouldn't be facing his first crisis after all.

Looking out the car window, Gerry saw they were approaching the airport. Soon he would be in the air on a plane with no communication. Upon landing he would be whisked to the Senate building and in meetings most likely through the night into mid-afternoon tomorrow.

The only thing Gerry could do now was wait. He had to wait and hope Jax would come through and Fitz would not meet up with Olivia. That baby, that woman, would do nothing but tarnish the image Gerry worked so hard for Fitz to get.

Fitz and Liv's planes, although separated, both landed at the same time. Fitz had some protocols he still had to follow, regardless if he was in charge now. There were still safety measures he had to take into effect.

Olivia

Huck practically threw Liv and Grant into the car waiting for them, getting them out of sight.

"Huck, will you calm down, Geez, you're going to hurt me." Liv shook her head.

"Sorry, Liv, I don't want to…"

She waved it off. "It's fine, just be careful."

Huck nodded.

The driver was instructed upon arrival at the Ritz Carlton to use the back entrance in the alley. Vivian would be awaiting their arrival and they would use the service elevators to get to their rooms.

As the car rolled up, Liv saw Vivian's face. Her face, so comforting, as she remembered how she helped her during her drunken state that night, how she came through with delivering food, and how this meeting was possible because of her.

Liv jumped out of the car to the waiting Vivian and gobbled her in a tight bear hug. "Vivian, it's so good to see you again, thank you for everything." Liv said as tears filled her eyes.

Vivian waved her hand. "It was nothing, I meant it when I said you have a friend in Oakland, I'm always here for you. No one should be as sad and alone as you were that night, and I am so happy for you and the Governor. You stopped his wedding, I am certain." Vivian looked over and saw Huck and Davis get out of the car. She looked confusingly at Liv.

Liv smiled and looked back at Vivian. "Those are my new bats." Liv laughed. "Huck, this is Vivian. Huck is my best friend and protector. This is Davis, Davis this is Vivian. Davis protects me basically 24/7."

"Pleased to meet you." Viv shook both their hands. Huck held on to her hand and she looked at him. "Thank you for helping Liv and for doing all this."

Liv turned towards the car. "One more thing Vivian."

Vivian's eyes widened and she covered her mouth in pure delight as Liv pulled the car seat out. "I would like you to be the first to meet Grant Thomas. Besides the three of us, he has never met anyone else. Grant, meet your aunt Vivian."

"OH. MY. GOD. OLIVIA!" She stroked Grant's cheek with her finger as he gave a small fidget to the touch.

"He doesn't know, Vivian, Governor Grant, he doesn't know, that's why getting a hold of him, getting a meeting with him was so important."

Vivian rubbed her forehead, realizing how important those messages actually were. She looked down at Grant. "My God Liv, he is gorgeous and the spitting image of…."

"Of the Governor, I know. I look at him and see Fitz all the time." Her eyes filled with tears again. Damn hormones. "I just hope he doesn't resent me or hate in me in any way for keeping him a secret."

"Liv that man loves you, his love has no boundaries, I could tell. There was something different about him after that weekend, you have nothing to worry about." Vivian looked up and saw Davis and Huck just standing there. "My new bats." The words made Vivian remember.

She pointed to the two of them. "You know Liv, thinking about it now, there was someone yesterday who checked into the hotel. He was all decked out in Oakland A's gear, and he was carrying a bat. I thought of you. Like, is that the new travel necessity?" Vivian laughed.

Liv's face got as serious as it could and she looked over at Huck and Davis. "Uh, what time did he check in?" Huck could check the cameras in the hotel lobby. If it's who they were thinking it was, they could find out.

"Start of my shift, so around 4 in the afternoon." Vivian saw how serious all their faces got. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, all good. Let's go inside. Grant needs a bottle, and Huck needs to get the keys, take the bags, and check into his room."

Vivian pulled two keys out of her pocket. "These are for room 882. I asked Shaun at the front desk to give them to me so you could avoid the lobby."

Liv smiled. "You are truly a God sent Vivian. Just like my Abby was." She handed one of the keys to Huck.

Vivian led Liv over to a table. She had three shots of Jack waiting for Liv and she immediately removed them from the table. "Sorry, that was when I didn't know you were a mom."

Liv laughed as Vivian dumped the liquid out behind the empty bar and came back. "A mom. I would never have imagined this would be me. But I am so in love with him."

"I can see why. Do you mind if I hold him?"

The love Liv felt handing him over to someone other than Huck gave her emotions a tailspin. She just began crying when she saw the love Vivian had for Grant. She watched as Vivian patted his chin with her finger.

"You have two of the best parents in the whole world. You are one lucky little guy." Vivian looked adoringly at Grant. She shook her head. "He looks just like him Olivia."

She nodded in agreement. She put her head down. "So, I have some explaining to do. I am sure you are curious and have been humble enough not to ask. I am in danger, and that puts him in danger. Ever since you saw that bat in my room, you must think I'm nuts."

Vivian rocked Grant. "No, not nuts, just overly cautious. I'm sure it has to do with your best friend."

"Abby. Yes. She was murdered by her husband. He's a big donor in political campaigns all around the country. When you mentioned you saw a guy with a bat, we think it's him. Even though he should be in New York, pending trial, he is breaking the law being here in California. He jumped bail. After he beat my Abby, I busted his kneecaps, and he's been out to get me ever since."

"Jesus, Liv. You said he murdered her?"

"Yeah, a few months later, after he beat her. Broke her neck before pushing her down her concrete stairs. He made it look like an accident. I had charges pressed and after months of fighting in courts, he was finally arrested. He will stop at nothing to get to me, and now, Grant."

Vivian squinted at Liv's mouth. "You have a scar on your lip. You didn't have that when I saw you last. What happened?" Then, Vivian realized. "Don't tell me this guy…."

"Yeah, he attacked me while I was pregnant with Grant. His ring slit my lip. I needed stitches. Then, he pointed a knife down to my pregnant stomach before Davis took him out. Death is too good for this guy. I want him to suffer in prison."

Vivian pulled Grant closer to him to protect him herself from this monster Olivia was describing. "Once you tell the Governor…"

"I know." Olivia shook her head. "But he's a state leader, I can't have him avenging anything. Besides I don't even know how he would explain us to the people of this state."

Vivian's face grew very serious. She handed Grant back to Oliva, he was sleeping, not having the urge to eat. Vivian grabbed Liv's free hand. "Olivia one of the reasons Fitz didn't marry Mellie is she couldn't have kids. It's rumored that anyway, we won't know for sure because medical records are." She shrugged, "well private."

"Mellie spent three months in North Carolina and Fitz found out she couldn't bear children. I think that was it for him. You introduce him to a son he never thought he'd have. You, the woman he loves, he'll find a way with the people of this state. They love him, Olivia, and he does so much for the regulars, the low income, he's different, and he loves you." Vivian's lips tightened and she looked up as Huck walked in.

Huck held up a picture from the lobby's camera. Clear as day, Chip had looked right into it. Despite the hat, Liv would recognize that face anywhere, she can still smell his breath of alcohol as he choked the breath out of her.

"It's him, I just wish I could find out the room number he is in. Told you that call wasn't safe."

Vivian took the picture and headed towards the lobby.

"You'll have to check in to get one for 782." Liv nodded towards the lobby. Then, she watched as Vivian came back in.

"He's in 784 and," Vivian handed another two keys to Huck. "These are for 782. My brother, Shaun works the front desk." Vivian shrugged as if just making their lives a thousand times easier was nothing.

"Go." Liv said to Huck. "Go up to 782. I'm not expecting Fitz until tomorrow anyway. Let me finish talking here with Vivian, check 784, even if Chip is there, do what you need to do. I'll be up to your room in a little bit."

"Ok, but if you're not to my room in a half hour." Huck warned.

"I know, I know, you'll come after me. Ask Davis to go get some snacks for the room. We are one step ahead of Chip, so everything should be fine." Liv reached for her bag to get Grant a bottle.

"Damn it, I forgot his bottle in the car. Liv was looking through the bag. "I took the wrong bag." She slammed the diaper back down to the bag. "Although he could use a change."

"I'll change, you get the bottle." Huck said. "Davis. Liv's going to the car." Davis turned from the doorway and in that very moment, Chip saw Davis standing in the doorway of the bar.

Chip dipped his head and headed out the lobby door. Taking quick steps, and passing the alley, he looked down it. It could be a shortcut to get far away from the hotel for now. When he saw Olivia Pope walking out, by herself, he knew it was his lucky day.

Fitz

Fitz wanted to jump into the driver's seat himself and drive the damn car. "Could you go any slower Randy?"

"Would you like me to sir?" Randy had no idea the Governor was being sarcastic.

"Sir, we're five minutes out from the Ritz, it shouldn't be that much longer." Tom gave a slight laugh.

Fitz closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. All he could see was Olivia. He just couldn't wait a minute longer. "Remember Randy, around the back into the alley."

"Yes, sir. Although." Randy stopped.

"Although what?" Fitz squinted out the windshield.

"There's a car already in the alley, is that alright."

Fitz smiled. Liv must be here already. "Yeah, it's…." and he stopped.

He saw Liv reaching into the car for something, but he also saw Chip coming full force at her, and Liv had no idea, as her back was to him.

"Turn in Randy, why aren't you turning in?"

Randy pointed to a family crossing the alley. Fitz jumped out of the car, ignoring Tom screaming at him to get back in.

Vivian opened the door with Grant in her arms. Liv turned to look at the door and caught a glimpse of Chip. She bolted towards the door, grabbing Grant from Vivian who saw Chip running full force towards them both. "Go to Huck's room." Vivian screamed, "he's on his way up."

Vivian tried to close the door, but Chip was too fast. He grabbed her arm. "Oh no you don't." He pulled Vivian out backing her away from the door.

She screamed, "Davis", just as Chip took her hair and hit her headfirst into the door as it closed and Chip was able to duck in. Seeing Davis coming his way, Chip ducked behind a wall, and headed to the service elevator, that was just closing with Olivia inside.

Chip pounded the doors as they closed and saw Davis open the alley door, tending to an unconscious Vivian. He saw the elevator had stopped at seven, and he was pushing the button over again for it to return. "Come on, come on" he kept turning to make sure Davis wasn't coming back inside.

Fitz joined Davis on the ground tending to Vivian. Her forehead was split, blood coming out and she was not conscious, breathing but not conscious. Davis had taken his shirt off and used it to pressure the wound to stop the bleeding. Tom came running up behind the Governor.

"Governor Grant, we need to get you out of here, STAT."

"I'm not going anywhere." He looked around. Where had Liv gone? He looked at Davis. "Are you Huck?"

Davis shook his head, "no, I'm Davis. Huck is upstairs, Governor. I'm hoping Olivia got to him before Chip got to her." He was at a loss. He didn't want to leave Vivian, but he didn't see Chip, and hoped Liv got to the room with Grant.

"Stay here." Fitz looked at Tom. "You, call 911, and you stay here too."

"No!" Davis yelled. "No paramedics. We'll get her inside and take care of her."

"Sir, I can't let you." …Tom began.

"The hell you can't." Fitz ran into the bar area. He looked around. Seeing the elevator, he ran towards it. The light was stuck on 7, and he pushed the button for it to return to the bar floor. He turned towards the alley door. Tom and Davis had Vivian in their arms and put her on the table. Her legs began moving, and Fitz was certain she would be ok. He had to get to Olivia.

Huck just completed his search of room 784. He saw the picture of Olivia, with the knife rip between her eyes. He also saw Chip's bat sitting in the corner. Huck grabbed it. "Time for some baseball, Chip." Huck looked at the time.

Liv had five minutes to get up there, or he was going back down to get her. He opened the drawer and noticed some of Chip's shirts. He only had about three, signaling to Huck this was going to be a brief trip. Huck shrugged. He picked up the shirt with the bat handle, and used his own knife, to slit it down the front.

He did the same to his other shirts, and his shorts. If Huck didn't get to him, he wouldn't have any clothes to wear. He also smashed two glasses. "May as well pay for damages Chippy boy."

He left 784 and saw Liv holding Grant for dear life walking, almost running up the hallway. Grant was crying, a shrieking scream.

"Huck! He's downstairs, coming up. He saw me. I think he got Vivian. Huck, the baby, Grant." Liv's breaths were deep. She was out of breath, gasping, and Huck told her to use the stairs, pointing to the door.

"Go up to your room. I got this Liv. GO! GO WITH GRANT, NOW!"

With the little adrenaline she had left, Liv took off towards the stairs. It was only one more flight up, she could do this. She closed her eyes and got to the stairwell just in time.

Chip rounded the corner and saw the door 782 just about to close. He held it. "Oh no you don't little lady, I have you now you psycho bitch." He pushed the door open and walked in.

Huck was waiting behind the door, and when it closed, he took the hardest swing ever, even better than when he had the game winning double in high school. He felt at least three ribs crack, easily as Chip keeled over, gasping for air, and fell flat on his stomach.

Huck heard banging on the door. "Liv! Livvie! It's Fitz. Liv, open the door."

Huck kicked Chip's limp body. He rolled him so he would be behind the door when it opened. He couldn't let the bat go, just in case Chip had some strength left. He cautiously opened the door. "Um, Liv went up to her room."

Fitz crossed his eyebrows. "You are?"

"Huck." He reached in his pocket, trying to hide the bat, but to no avail.

"Is that a bat?"

Huck stepped out to the hallway. He looked up, saw no one. "Where's your detail?"

"I kept them downstairs. It's secure, don't worry."

Huck pulled the key Liv gave him out of his pocket. "This is to 882, but don't just open the door. You have to knock, three times, like this." Huck did the pattern. "Got it, Liv will think it's me, otherwise, you'll scare her."

"Ok, is Chip…."

"Just go Governor. Take the stairs. Remember, three knocks."

"Got it." Fitz took off to the stairs just as Tom rounded the corner and looked curiously down the empty hallway.

A/N: Once again, I am proofreading the next chapter. It will be up tomorrow, I promise.