Executive Orders

CH 52 | EPISODE 14: Being Everything

Olivia and Fitz weren't the only ones having a late night conversation; Elizabeth was having one of her own - but it was nowhere near as pleasant.

The smile on her face was not necessary a pleasant one, but she was doing her best to inject the right tone into her voice. She was assuring her caller on the other end of the conversation that she had things under control. Mostly.

"Mostly?" There was a chuckle that held very little humor in it. "Then you have an invite to the Caldwells?"

She felt her teeth grit in spite of her smile. "Not yet."

"Pity." The word was meaningless; there was no pity in the familiar voice in her ear and she'd expected none. "Do I need to point out that if Nathaniel Caldwell hasn't called you by now - and make no mistake - even though it might be said that it's Peter Caldwell's birthday bash, the only invitations that go out, go out under his word and no one else's -"

"I'm very much aware of that fact." Elizabeth said.

"I'm sure you are."

Time to remind someone that they were partners in this. "I'm also aware that the old man is eccentric and always has been. I'm sure that you are also aware of the fact that there are always last minute invitations. Everyone knows that and I'm sure that it has nothing to do with any eccentricities; he does it on purpose just because he can."

Her caller laughed before agreeing with her and there was something in the sound of that laughter that escalated Elizabeth's tone in the direction of something close to a rant.

"Nathaniel may have changed his party affiliation - I doubt if that's changed his ambitions. There's something he wants, and I'm in a position to help him get it. He'll deal with me one way or the other."

"Maybe. You may be in a position to help him get it."

"Do you doubt me?"

Again, the chuckle that was annoying the hell out of her. "I would never make the mistake of doubting your ambition, Ms. North."

She accepted the scant apology implicit in the words; she knew it was probably all that she would get, but Elizabeth didn't mind - she was a woman who had always enjoyed a challenge and in her mind, she restructured the conversation into such a mode. "Ms. North? I would think that we were past formalities at this point."

"I would think that that would depend on your continuing value."

"I have something you want as well." She reminded him.

"That you most certainly do." There was a pause. "I can think of several things that I want."

His words restored some of her good humor. "See that you remember that."

"You've made yourself unforgettable."

"See that you remember that too."

***

She glances at the pad and pen that lay close at hand, but Olivia knew that she'd need no written notes to remember their current conversation. This is them at their best, minds sharp, incisive - in sync in the best of ways, finishing each other's words and thoughts. The only thing better than this would have been to have Fitz here with her in the flesh, but then they wouldn't be talking, would they? The thought made her smile.

Other than that, she was happy - more than happy; something undefinable in her was content beyond imagining.

"Enough." Fitz was saying, breaking her out of her little reverie, having mistaken her silence for sleepiness. "You need to get some sleep."