A/N: K, so I couldn't not continue this and I blame all you reviewers who put the idea in my head, haha. So I hope you enjoy this! I'm thinking one more chapter after this one and then maybe this'll be done.

Much to Peter's surprise, after two weeks of absolutely nothing from Olivia, she was the first to call him. His heart raced as he saw the caller ID and he thought of the hundreds of things he'd wanted to say t her but when he answered her voice was flat and emotionless.

"We've got a case. Bring Walter and go to 23 Haverton Dr. on the south side," and then there was a dial tone.

Peter's stomach dropped to the floor and his heart clenched. He should've known better then to expect her to want to see him. He got Walter up and moving and he too got ready and they headed out to the address Olivia had given them. There was a virtual sea of agents and forensics wondering around the dusty warehouse when they got there and Peter automatically went to his tippy toes to search for the glimmer of blonde that would give her location away but he couldn't find her. He did see Broyles though and he dragged Walter behind him toward the tall agent in charge.

"Good, you're here." Broyles said. "Agent Dunham is already in there."

"Are we getting any hints before we see it?" Peter asked dryly.

"No, but you'll need level five hazmat suits," Broyles pointed nearby where three suits hung waiting.

"It's going to be one of those days, is it?" Peter groaned while Walter nearly bounced in excitement at the idea of needing the suits. It meant they were about to get knee deep in grossness.

When they were finally suited up, Peter and Walter navigated the several barriers to get into the intended room where two other suits were; one crouching down low looking at what remained of someone and the other overlooking the other person. They both turned to stare at the new comers and it was Olivia that was crouching down low, though he could tell from the little peaking from inside the suit that her hair was still the light red/brown from the other side. Their eyes caught for just a moment and he saw the weight of the world had shifted back into her eyes before she looked back down at the body.

"Would you excuse us, agent Matthews?" Olivia asked, not looking up at the man hovering over her shoulder.

"Sure, call if you need me," he said gruffly before making his rather quick escape.

Walter moved to kneel beside her and inspect the gelatinous substance at their feet.

"Fascinating!" Walter exclaimed already reaching for his pocket sample carriers.

"I know what this is already," Olivia murmured distractedly.

"What? How? We've never seen anything like this before," Peter said pointedly.

"I know, but she has." Olivia deadpanned. She got to her feet and turned to leave the room. "Let me know when you've confirmed what's already in my head."

"Mind telling us what exactly is in your head?" Peter asked sarcastically.

Olivia only glared daggers at him. "No." And then she was out the door, sparing them not even another glance.

Sighing, Peter knelt down beside his father and got to work. It really was going to be one of those days.

Another surprise came in the form of Olivia actually visiting the lab just a couple days later and even if she didn't look the greatest it was still a relief to Peter that she was indeed alive.

"Peter, can we talk?" Olivia asked, looking like she'd rather die than talk to him.

"Uh… yeah – sure." He stumbled from his seat in his haste to lead them back into her old office that now mostly laid dormant. When the door was shut she dove right in.

"I'm taking her back tomorrow."

"Wait – what?" Peter asked in absolute confusion.

"She's got people over there that will miss her – that love her and they don't deserve that." Olivia sighed, looking more tired than he'd ever seen her.

"Why are you telling me then?"

"Because I talked to Broyles and convinced him to let you have some time alone with her to say goodbye," Olivia said, staring at the floor.

Peter stared at her with his mouth gaping open in shock and horror.

"Peter… I," She paused and finally did look into his eyes. "I could probably take you both back if you wanted to go with her; back to your own world." When he still stared at her in shock she continued. "We've got enough of the machine pieces over here that he can't finish it and destroy our universe, so we'll be safe enough."

"No!" Peter bit out. "Are we really going to do this, Livia?"

When she looked at him as if he'd grown another head he began to pace.

"THIS is my home! I belong with you!" Peter ranted loudly. "Or did you forget?"

Olivia narrowed her eyes at him and straightened her shoulders. "I didn't exactly have a choice there for awhile – but you always did and you still forgot."

"Forgot? I thought I was with you!" Peter snapped.

"Shows just how much you really knew me then," Olivia said coldly. "Look, you've got tonight to talk to her, but tomorrow at noon she's going back."

"I don't want to talk to her – I want to talk to you." Peter said, his voice growing soft in emotional turmoil.

Olivia's face fell and her eyes welled with tears looking like she was finally going to cave for the first time since she'd gotten here but then she shook her head and nearly ran out the door.

Peter's knees gave out as he collapsed onto the couch and pillowed his face in his hands. The tears that had threatened to fall for the last two weeks finally traced down his cheeks silently. She'd never speak to him again at this rate.

**************

The first week back that Broyles wouldn't let her work during was spent doing a complete overhaul on her apartment. Her savings account couldn't take all new things, but she had washed everything a dozen times over and threw out all of the clothes she didn't remember adding to her closet. And because even after she'd gotten the smell of Peter and sex off her bed she still couldn't stand to be near it she'd been sleeping on the couch. Sleep however wasn't even the right word to use since she barely did any of that these days either. She was just settling in with some case files and her third glass of whiskey when she heard a knock on her door.

Picking her gun up from the coffee table she padded to the door dressed in only underwear and singlet; two items she'd just bought and knew the other her hadn't worn. Cracking the door open she saw Peter and before she could chicken out and slam the door in his face she grudgingly opened the door.

"What?" Olivia asked flatly, making it a point to set her gun down on the end table.

Peter's eyes were just slightly wide as he tried to focus on her face and not what was beneath it.

"If you're just going to stand there, do me a favor and relocate yourself somewhere that isn't here." Olivia said dryly.

"I – can I come in?" Peter asked, looking very nervous.

"Why the hell not?" Olivia rolled her eyes opening the door further for him and when he stepped through she shut the door behind him. "I'll be back." She left for the bedroom to grab something additional to wear.

Peter's eyes were glued to her backside despite his best efforts not to and when she turned to look at him she caught where his gaze was and she glared at him. Turning her body back toward him she crossed her arms over chest and shifted her weight to one hip.

"You know – you've seen me absolutely naked and yet I've seen you – what? Shirtless?" Olivia quipped sarcastically.

Peter blushed and had to fight not to back down. "I've already apologized for that, Livia… do you want me to strip down to nothing to make it even?" He asked sarcastically.

"Actually, yeah. That'd be a good start." Olivia said, straightening up and looking at him expectantly.

"What? No… Livia, me naked is not the answer." Peter sputtered.

"I know that – but it might make this less awkward since you probably know every inch of my body, while I know nothing about yours. So… strip." Olivia nodded her head toward him and gave him an evil looking grin.

"Ugh, fine!" Peter growled and tore the shirt he was wearing up and over his head. Olivia's eyes widened for a second that he would actually be doing this but she didn't have the nerve to stop him. Once his chest was bare he began to work at the button on his jeans before kicking those off too; standing before her in nothing but socks and boxers.

"Peter…" Olivia started, her brow knitting in concentration.

"You wanted naked – so you're getting naked." Peter snapped and then tugged the last remaining article of clothing down and stepped forward.

Olivia's hands jumped to cover her eyes but her fingers slowly dropped to drag her eyes over his entire body. When her eyes met his very satisfied and mocking ones she quickly covered her eyes again.

"I was joking…" Olivia said dryly, using every ounce of self restraint to keep her eyes screwed up tight.

"If you're mouth weren't hanging open, I might believe that." Peter said, his voice reflecting the laughter he wasn't letting escape.

Her lips screwed up in denial and disgust, but to both of their surprise, she laughed. Laughed so hard her head tipped back and she snorted – something Peter had never heard come from her and found absolutely endearing.

"For the love of all things weird in this world," laughter bubbled up again from her. "Put your damn clothes back on!"

Peter moved to obey her, chuckling while he snatched up his boxers.

"Wait!" Olivia laughed and dropped her hands to really look at him. Straightening the smile from her face she approached him and then walked a circle around him, making sure to stare at all of him until he squirmed.

"Livia!" Peter whined.

Olivia laughed before tracing a finger at her eye level around his body as she did another round. A shiver ran up and down his body and only then was Olivia satisfied.

"K, now you can get dressed."

"Gee thanks," Peter mumbled as he fumbled to put his clothes back on.

"Peter… I can't promise that we'll ever be best friends or anything more, but we did make a kick ass team and there is a world to save." Olivia said. "So maybe we can be partners again?"

"I'd like that," Peter said as he finished dressing.

"Good – now get out." Olivia said, opening her front door for him.

"But – "

"I'm not joking this time, Bishop." Olivia said with a raised eyebrow.

"Ugh, fine…" Peter grumbled as he grabbed his keys and left.