The lab was quiet tonight - Walter had long since gone home - Astrid too. Walking around the space, Olivia shut off the lights and made sure everything was locked up tight for the night. she took in a deep breath as she reached the main entrance, about to leave herself. the old basement smelled faintly of mold and......spring rain. Looking around, she spotted the window that was left open. Astrid probably trying to air out the place, she thought. walking back through the softly glowing, quietly humming machines, Olivia walked over the sunken window and reached up a hand to shut it. She stopped as she looked out over the lawn in front of her. The dim light from the streetlamp made the pavement shimmer and the grass look like emeralds. The rain smelled like life itself - after all the death she had seen, the rain was a pungent reminder of cycles, of life going on. Inside herself, she felt something calm and a sense of quiet take over her body. It's the little things, she thought to herself as she shut the latch on the window and turned to leave.
"I always liked the rain myself," Peter said from three feet behind her.
"You startled me, Peter. What are you doing here this late?"
"Well, I tucked in Walter for the night but he forgot his favorite molecular model," he said, holding up the plastic piece, "and, in the interest of actually sleeping tonight, I came back for it." He looked around the basement and then back at her. "Just finishing up?"
"Yes," she said as she moved away from the window and back towards the entrance. As she passed him, she couldn't help but smell the rain on his damp peacoat. The droplets clung to it and his hair, making the blue from the monitors highlight him. Underneath it, the scent of musk came at her and she took a deep breath without thought. For some reason, being reminded of life was important tonight. It made something tense inside her relax that she didn't realize had been tense to begin with.
Turning back to him, she saw he had not followed her but was also looking out the window, staring at the rain pattering down on it.
"Well, good night, Peter. I will see you in the morning."
"Good night, Liv," he said and she reached out for the handle on the door. She shut the door quietly behind her, her heels clacking down the cement corridor as she headed for the exit. Reaching her car, she fumbled in her pocket for her keys. Tired fingers let them slip from her grasp and fall to the ground. Crouching down, she reached out for them but a larger hand got them first.
"Here you go," Peter said quietly from next to her. Standing up, water slid down the nape of her neck and under her coat, causing her to shiver slightly. "Tired?" he asked, his warm hand putting the cold wet metal keys in her waiting palm.
"A bit," she responded, looking down and then skyward. Why lie to him? "Ok, more than tired - very tired, bone weary even." she chuckled softly as she shut her eyes in the rain. "A little punchy actually."
"Punchy tired?" he cracked a smile she couldn't see. "I know that feeling very well." he watched as the rain made her face softly glow. He wanted to wipe the moisture from her face, smooth her hair back. That long cascade of blonde that was starting to become darker under the spill of water in it. "You know what the best cure for punchy is?"
"No but I take it you do?" she said, her face tilting back down, eyes open and staring at him with a slight smirk on her face.
"There are two cures for punchy. One - a good stiff drink and two - a good conversation. Fortunately for you, I just happen to be able to facilitate both." he proclaimed, a hand to his chest. "Among other things, Walter had a craving for a double malt scotch which just happens to be in my car."
Considering him with a tilt of her head, Olivia could detect the hint of a slight come-on in Peter's words. Both suggestions sounded very good right now - just the thing to continue this sensation of peace which seemed to be high on her list of priorities right now. Protocol be damned - she'd had drinks with Charlie and other co-workers before. How would this be any different? Because, underneath it all, you are glad for that slight come-on, her mind chided.
"Won't Walter miss his scotch?"
"If he remembers it which is highly doubtful," he said. Please let her say yes....
"Okay," she said. "You know where I live - I'll see you there in twenty."
"Yes ma'am," and he headed off to his own car in the parking lot with a salute.
Shaking her head, Liv unlocked her car and slid inside.