Chapter 2:
"You still talking to me?" Peter asked carrying a box of files for her from the car. She had several boxes to bring in from the office and he'd seen her carrying the first load into the lab, he took the opportunity to offer and help. He figured it gave them a few minutes alone to work things out. After she ran out when Walter had interrupted them, it hadn't sat well with him.
"Yeah, sure," she smiled faintly glancing at him as she maneuvered one box in her arm and pulled at the campus doors. "No reason not to," she wasn't going to make a big deal of it. She had gone over to really see that he was okay—and he was. The rest, she would forget about. It was best that way.
"Oh good," Peter breathed a sigh of relief, "because for a moment last night, I thought you might have regretted it."
Olivia grimaced hearing those words. It had crossed her mind, that it was a mistake. It was what she intended on telling him today, if he brought it up. The problem was, the mistake felt good and it was one she wanted to make again. Did that mean it was wrong? "We can't let it happen again." She breathed stopping once inside the corridor, putting the box down on the ground, her arms sore and her eyes on him. "We can't mix work and sex, Peter. What feelings we may or may not have, need to be kept under control." She was adamant.
"What if I was looking for more than just sex with you?" Peter breathed, shifting the weight of the box in his arms but not putting it down. Did she not realize he wanted more than just her body? He tried not to show the fact he was hurt in her accusation. He liked her! He wanted to date her, not just sleep with her!
"I can't go there, Peter. It's not a good idea," she bent down lifting the box as she walked ahead of him, carrying it into the lab. She put the box down in the office within the lab, Peter following behind her and doing the same thing. With a sigh she glanced at him, "I've got a few more boxes to get," she gestured towards the door. Broyles had given her tons of old case files to go over. He wanted her take on any additional connections to The Pattern.
"Go right ahead, I'm not stopping you." Peter answered letting her walk out ahead. He waited a minute then two before finally walking outside. He didn't really want to leave it up to her to carry everything inside, he just wanted her to realize what she said---hurt him. He squinted as he stepped outside, the bright afternoon son practically blinding as he walked towards the car, seeing the trunk open.
Olivia reached for one of the heavier boxes her eyes catching sight as Peter headed for the car. "You really don't need to go out of your way to help me," she muttered watching as he grabbed a box and shut the trunk for her.
"Yeah well if I don't, you'll just be more pissed at me," he answered following beside her as they carried the boxes into the lab. Putting them down she walked out first, briskly to get ahead of Peter and rather away from him. She unlocked the trunk, opening the door and grabbing another box. Peter watched her practically racing to the car, he took his time and when she was holding a box he blocked her from walking anywhere.
"Peter, what are you doing?" She frowned, growing irritatingly frustrated at him! She put the box down, seeing as he wouldn't move.
"Probably going to annoy you some more," he breathed stepping closer. "Why can't you just admit you enjoyed last night?" He wanted to hear it from her lips before he gave up pursuing an endless feat.
"I never said I didn't," she breathed feeling his eyes on her, she stared back at him. "What I said was I can't do this, not again." She shook her head, averting her stare. It was hard to look at him and not feel her insides warming, her heart melting.
"What do you mean, not again, Livia?" He shook his head, not understanding. "We haven't done anything, yet."
"I mean I was in love with John and look where it got me." She finally glanced up at him.
Peter frowned, "you think I'm going to betray you?" He'd seen how devastated she'd been, what she'd gone through. Never would he do that to her. Not even if his own life depended on it.
"I trust you," she breathed realizing how it sounded. She didn't want him thinking different.
"No, you don't," Peter shook his head. "Clearly you don't if you think I'm going to hurt you." He took a step back.
"Peter, wait." She sighed, her hand reached out for his arm. "Please, I don't want to fight with you."
His eyes fell down to her hand on his arm. "What is it that you want, Olivia? I'm beginning to wonder why I'm even still here."
"Peter, no," she frowned, "I need you, we need you here." Her grip tightened on his arm. The thought of him leaving terrified her.
"You've never needed me," Peter reminded her. "You've needed my father for his work and his research." He paused staring at her. "I'm just his son."
Olivia sighed stepping closer, "you are so much more than that."
His eyes were trained on the ground and her other hand moved into his hair, shifting her body closer, willing to do anything to keep him here. The realization of losing him was worse than she imagined. "It's not worth it, Livia." He breathed fighting the feelings he had for her. She knew how he felt, she chose to ignore it.
"Please don't make me choose," she whispered, "I like things simple, us as friends. I like you working here and things like they've been."
"Well I want more." Peter stared at her. "I thought last night, we had established we both want more." He couldn't stop thinking about his lips on her mouth, his hands against her skin. He knew it was going to be trouble when she rushed out after Walter interrupted them. He just hadn't realized how bad things could get. His hand rested on her arm as her fingers were tangled in his hair. He could feel her breath against his face. "You're nervous."
"What?" She dropped her hold on him, doing her best to take a step back, his grip on her arm tightened. He wasn't being forceful but direct.
"You're afraid," he breathed stepping closer. "Your heart is racing," his thumb found her pulse.
"It's just a natural reaction to being upset," she insisted trying to shrug out of his grasp but he didn't let up.
"Your skin is flushed," Peter answered, "that's a natural reaction too?" He saw her eyes avert to the car.
"I've got work to do, Peter." She felt his hold on her drop. "I could use a hand with the boxes, please." She glanced at him, giving him a faint smile.
Sighing he stepped towards the car grabbing a box, "I'm not going to be here forever, Livia." He told her watching her carry a box and shut the trunk, together they headed back into the lab.