Disclaimer: Fringe is not mine.


Nothing could describe the moment when Peter answered the door and she saw the same glimmer over him. In that moment, the ability that had seemed so much a gift just the previous day felt more like some kind of horrible disease she'd caught when she was a little girl in Jacksonville and being experimented on, the other symptoms of which included extreme anger and complete and utter heartbreak.

She heard Walter say something, but it was just white noise to her. She had to get out of the house. Turning quickly on her heel, she left as fast as she could, ignoring Walter cries of, "Olivia!" Hugging herself, she just kept walking, not really knowing where she was going.

She heard running footsteps behind her, and figured Peter was following her. She upped her speed, all the while knowing it wouldn't really do her any good. She was right; he caught up to her moments later.

"Olivia, what's wrong?" He tried to make eye contact with her, and to tilt her face around towards his when that failed, but she refused. She couldn't face seeing the glimmer again.

"Peter, please... I need to be alone."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

Hesitantly, she turned to face him, tears in her eyes. The glimmer was still there, of course, and she quickly squeezed her eyes shut again. She felt Peter's hands on her shoulders, pulling her close to him. She suddenly found herself without the strength to resist. Even now, he made her feel safe.

She knew their pasts were going to catch up with them eventually. But maybe, if she kept her eyes closed, she could put it off for a while.