Executive Orders

CH 61 | Episode 16: Connections

Harrison couldn't figure out what had woken him up so early - the sun was barely over the horizon - never mind why he was out running in the crisp, cold November pre-dawn.

A part of him was mocking himself about it. What was he thinking to put himself through this early morning torture when he was currently living in the land of no-holds barred five star room service?

That was something he let his mind ponder as the rhythm of his run beat itself into his body.

Maybe it was inspiration from yesterday's event at the Caldwells, the heady anticipation of knowing that something big was about to go down, something with a historical impact and something he was going to have a hand in. Even if ultimately few people would know about it, he'd know - and that was more than good enough for him.

This was what working for Olivia Pope gave him. They were more than lawyers; they were gladiators that not only changed lives, their actions often changed the course of history.

One thing that he could be certain of was that all of this was going to tie into the president's presidential race. Olivia was going to be deep in that, which meant OPA was going to be deep in that and this may be one of the last times of peace and quiet that Harrison was going to get the chance to enjoy.

And meanwhile, he was wasting perfectly good room service because of it. So, who was the smart guy?

Mocking himself was nothing new to Harrison, and using his morning runs to tell himself the truth was more of the same. In this case, laugh all he'd like at his missing the luxury of his five-star hotel suite, but the truth was that he was feeling invigorated by the fresh mountain air and the sense of silence surrounding him. It was as if he was blowing out the cobwebs from the corners of his mind that he hadn't even realized were there. Harrison was thinking that he should be grateful for the sensation because something was telling him that he was going to need it in the days and weeks and probably months ahead.

He shrugged internally; room service was something that he could get anywhere, but while his insides were telling him that there were worse ways of spending his time, they were also telling him that something major was coming his way - their way - and his head was telling him to get ready for it every way that he could.

And that was probably the reason his guts had him out here running at the break of dawn.

So he listened to that inner voice the way that he knew Olivia would want him to. Thinking of her approval brought a smile even as he let himself fall into the rhythm of his body, feeling the rush of power flow through his veins, his heart pumping and his mind totally woke and operating on all pistons.

Harrison's mind leapt ahead, looking to find every and any possible scenario that might get in the president's way. He knew this would be one of Olivia's priorities - which made it one of his priorities. The cast of characters that this might involve was staggering, including not only their present hosts but any of their allies or opponents. There might be more indulgent ways of spending his morning, but in the moment, he couldn't think of anything better of being the gladiator in a suit that he was.

His mind caught up in the whirlwind of his thoughts, Harrison didn't see the person ahead of him on his path until he was almost on top of them - or should he say before he almost knocked them over as they collided and Harrison found himself suddenly and unexpectedly with an armful of female as he grabbed at her in a struggle to keep them both on their feet.

He was surprised to find himself greeted with a familiar voice. "Harrison?"

From her expression, Harrison saw that Shireen Davis was just as surprised to see him as he was to see her.