Hi guys! I'm alive and inclined to continue the story! This is the second chapter and hopefully soon you'll see the third one!!!! Im' fully open to you critique and suggestions, so please leave your reviews!
Warehouse District
Peter Bishop parked their old car near the Federal black and shining Subaru. The place looked really creepy even in the bright morning light. It was that district in Boston that held a number of hangars and warehouses. Peter knew very well that such places were popular with the serious guys like Eddy and the gangs usually took it as a meeting place - certainly not a place to wander. The FBI teams have already taped the whole place, forensic experts swamping over the site, carrying metal crime lab suitcases. Everyone was too preoccupied, too energetic for such an unholy hour. Peter's observations were interrupted by the grunting Walter, as he tried to get out of the car with a large metal case tightly clasped in his hands. The case, it seemed, didn't want to yield, only provoking Walter into tugging it harder. Peter rolled his eyes at the old man's antics.
"Walter, we are here just to take a peek at the scene. You shouldn't have brought half of the lab with you, you know."
"Nonsense, son," Walter grumbled, finally taking over the offensive case. "I like to always be prepared. Which I cannot say about you."
Peter only shook his head helplessly and moved towards Olivia Dunham, who was waiting for them patiently behind the yellow crime scene tape.
"Hi, how's life? Nice place to start ones morning, isn't it?" He said sarcastically, sending her his trademark grin.
"Nice to see you both in good disposition," she smiled back, wrapping her scarf closer to her throat. It was early morning and the icy wind was chilling her to the bone as well as the sight of the body she had to examine. "Hello, Walter," Olivia sent a small smile to the scientist who was already deep into conversation with some forensic expert.
"Ah, Olivia," whatever he was discussing previously was immediately forgotten as the older Bishop turned to regard the blond agent. "May I remark that you look absolutely charming today and I…"
"Walter!" Peter cut his father off before he could say anything embarrassing enough. "Let's get straight to the business, shall we?" Olivia nodded solemnly and made her way to where Charlie Francis was giving his instructions to the junior agents. The two Bishops followed, with Peter wondering just why it seemed like the whole weight of the world was on their shoulders.
"One of the hangar owners saw the body and called 911 at around 5 a.m.," Olivia rushed into explanations, guiding them towards the front line. The brigade of M.E. and forensic experts parted as soon as they saw . "He was close to hysterics, saying something about the terrible state the body was in, but we weren't quiet prepared to see exactly that." They came closer so that Peter could take a look at what got the FBI agents so bewildered. It took all his self control not to throw up just there. In his long enough life Peter could boast that he had seen enough of crap: bodies, disfigured so that it was impossible to recognize and so on. But never before he had seen such a mess of flesh and blood and bones. For a moment it seemed it wasn't even a human being, just a hip of meat, but then he caught a glimpse of red long locks and black coat that was now soaked with blood. With dread he realized that it was a woman.
"That is the most interesting!" Walter exclaimed before kneeling to the ground next to the body. He poked and prodded the flesh, until Peter felt truly sick and turned away to look anywhere but his father doing the job. He gave Olivia a side glance – she too was looking away, more pale then usually. Peter felt a pang of guilt – after what happened to Nick Lane and the discovery of Cortexiphan she wasn't exactly given the time to come to her senses. And now, what a perfect way to go back to work!
Charlie strode up to them, curtly nodding to Peter and the older Bishop. Even he did look worn out.
"The victim didn't have any ID with her, so the forensics say only DNA analyses could help to identify the body, then again if she's in the database," Charlie looked closely to Olivia, who was standing strangely aloof, but he knew very well that this very time thousands of thoughts were rushing in her mind. "Liv, you ok?" He asked concern clearly written on his face. She seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was in and gave him a half smile.
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine, don't worry. Do you have the time of the death?"
"The M.E. supposed it happened somewhere between two and three a.m. The closer examination will show…"
"WELL," Walter turned from the victim to glance at the three of them. "I'd say it's the most peculiar. The wounds, if only we could call them so, were no doubt self inflicted." Peter looked at his father incredulously.
"Wait, you mean to say that she did that to herself, like, willingly?"
"Yes, son!" Walter answered smugly, as if he just won the Noble Prize. "And she was a strong girl, I might add. Most would've died much earlier with all the loss of blood."
"Why would anyone do that to oneself?" Olivia asked skeptically.
"Ah, that is a very good question, agent Dunham. And I could answer it only if you'll send the body to the lab, that is." Olivia nodded and gave the sign to the M.E. assistants to pack the body. While they all moved in to the cars, Charlie grabbed Olivia's hand and walked her aside. His eyes burned deeply into hers as he tried to read her mind.
"Hey, Broyles wanted to see us as soon as possible. If that's about Nick Lane's database…"
"Don't worry, Charlie, I'll got it all covered," Olivia replied confidently, sensing his uneasiness. Agent Francis gave her a skeptical look, but didn't say anything as he moved to his own SUV.
Federal Building.
The Bureau was busting with agents, who were already alerted to the new case. As Olivia strode to the atrium she could see that everyone from senior officer to the computer men didn't have enough sleep if any. She suddenly wondered how they were keeping up, when she was ready to collapse with both physical and emotional exhaustion. The agents were bustling in and out, making phone calls, typing away on computers, trying to wring out any information they could get.
She glanced to her right only to find Charlie standing with the group of junior agents, giving orders to check through the police reports, missing people, fixing up the DNA analyses and identifying procedure. He also looked warn out, but then again weren't they all? After they'd faced something they were not prepared to, they only tried to keep the calm appearance, but Olivia knew better then others that everyone was as baffled and lost as she was. God, how she wanted to go back to the times when she knew nothing of that, where there was no Fringe division, no Cortexiphan, no unexplainable and surrealistic deaths….
She shook her head stubbornly, trying to get all those depressing thoughts out of her mind and concentrate on the case at hand. After all that was her job. In the corner of her eye she noticed agent Broyles pacing restlessly in his office. He strolled to his computer, a deep frown creased his forehead. After scanning some data he grabbed his phone and dialed the unknown number his fingers drumming on the panel in pure agitation.
Secretly wishing that was the best time to approach, Olivia made up her mind and went straight to his office.
As she entered Broyles was all but screaming into the receiver, by the look of him he was ready but murder whoever was on the other end. His eyes flicked over to her, making a haste sign to wait and turned to the window, the receiver clasped in his hand so tight, Olivia thought it might snap in two pieces.
"I don't think it's your greatest idea, sir! Considering her past experience…. I don't need more troubles that we already have." He paused listening to the voice on the other end.
"This doesn't suggest anything at all! After all we are talking about the high level of security." Another pause. Broyles looked exasperated and angered beyond words.
"Fine. But you seriously suppose she would take the proposal? Now it's really going to be a mad house! Two psychos in the team? Why not to just go and dig ourselves five feet under? That would save us time….Yes…Yes, ok…I suppose I don't have to remind you that in case something would go wrong I don't want to take the responsibility of that?" Another pause, during which Olivia battled with the strong desire to slip out of the office, not wanting to confront the pissed off boss.
"I need to get an interview with her then, see if she's able to behave at least semi normal. I still think that's the worst idea ever." He hung up the phone not waiting for the answer and turned to Olivia, letting out a deep breath.
"Rough day?" She asked softly, feeling some kind of sympathy towards her boss. After all, it was he who received all the kicks from the government for everything that they did.
"As usual. Some bureaucratic dispute," Agent Broyles turned his full attention to her then, "What do you have?"
"We are trying to id the victim, Charlie's on it. I'm going to the lab to see if Doctor Bishop has any progress." She paused, once again reminded why did she came here in the first place. However she wasn't entirely sure she should bring the subject just now. Broyles raised a brow at her hesitation, internally feeling her faltering.
"Anything else, Dunham?"
She took a deep breath, gathering all her thoughts together: it's now or never.
"Yes…I wanted to ask, sir… All those cases that Nick Lane was collecting…We need to check on them. We need to find people who were treated with Cortexiphan before something like that will happen again."
"Dunham," Agent Broyles held up a hand to stop her from further arguments. Heaving a long suffering sigh, as if already expecting something like that, he continued ignoring her silent protest. "Dunham…How do you imagine that possible? Are you suggesting us going and checking all the children who lived in both Massachusetts and Jacksonville? It's practically impossible, not talking about it would blow off our cover," he sighed again, seeing her frustrated face, before continuing in much softer father-like voice. "I understand what you want, and believe me, I also wish to stop those things, but the only person who can spread light on this is currently suffering from the memory loss or so he says. And until he remembers anything, I suggest you get down to the case at hand." He turned his back on her, showing that the conversation was over. Olivia was furious at how simply he dismissed her, but at the same time she couldn't but admit that there was truth behind his words. Trying to suppress her frustration she uttered a quiet "Yes sir", and walked out of the door, leaving her boss alone. Going downstairs, Olivia Dunham couldn't suppress the feeling that something was bound to happen, something worse than the case of the current victim.