Executive Orders

CH 45 | Blue Skies

"The Caldwells." Olivia said. "Cyrus, have you had any update on them?"

"Not yet. Peter Caldwell was more than polite after the president left - so polite, that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I'm getting the feeling there's something going on there that I don't know enough about... "

"Fitz got an invitation to their family pre-holiday event." Olivia said. "We all know that the Caldwells, of course - are very much their own political dynasty - but they do political on their terms - which don't necessarily match up with the normal way of doing things."

"Those terms are usually meant to benefit themselves." Fitz pointed out.

"How is that different from anyone else in DC - ourselves included?" Olivia corrected him. "They're no angels, but without breaching any client confidentially, I can tell you this much - as much as the Caldwells want to exert any political influence possible - their goal is also to serve the country."

"On their terms." Cyrus pointed out.

"Again, how are they unlike anyone else - including ourselves."

"Be careful, Liv." Cyrus said. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were still working for them."

"Not since I came to work for the White House, Cy." Olivia knew she was walking a fine line between her belief in client confidentiality and sharing the information she knew Fitz needed. "But from my past association with them, one thing I can vouch for is that if they want to speak with you on their ground, it's for a good reason."

Fitz studied Olivia's face, trying to figure out what it was she wasn't saying, but since he couldn't, he turned his attention back to Cyrus. "Do we have anything recent that might be relevant for us to know?"

"Olivia's right in that the Caldwells tend to play politics their way but what can we say when do the same?" Cyrus said. "I'll definitely be looking into them and see if there's anything new my sources can tell me." Cyrus said. "I think that's the wisest thing to do at this point"

Fitz nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like a plan, Cyrus - and I think that means that we're pretty much caught up, at least for now."

"The Caldwells, along with Elizabeth and Sally are plenty enough for our pre-election plate at the moment." Cyrus said, agreeing with them. His voice filled with a fierce resolve. "I look forward to checking them."

"I don't doubt it, Cy." Fitz found his mood rising to meet Cyrus's. He hadn't forgotten the rest of the evening's conversations and confrontations. He knew that it wasn't going to be easy moving forward, but if any one of the people he'd interacted with tonight thought that they were ready to do battle with them - in making America a better place for all of its citizens, not any pre-selected groups, but for all of them - then let them come. "So do I. This campaign may turn out to be one for the history books."

"And it's going to be great." Olivia was tuned in to Fitz's feelings and when her eyes turned to his, it was clear that she was feeling every bit of the fire and determination fueling him that he was. "We're going to make history - in more ways than one."

"In every way that counts." Fitz's grin was fierce. "They want a fight? I look forward to it."

"So do I." Olivia said.

"So say we all." They heard Cyrus add.

Fitz wrapped his arms around Olivia, snatching a brief kiss from her in the process. In the moment, he felt invincible. As Cyrus was fond of saying, the band was back together, but most importantly, this was the fresh restart he and Olivia needed. The last time around, circumstances beyond their control had interfered with them and the election campaign they had wanted to wage.