A/N: Here's the first chapter! I've decided to take the chapter names from songs that helped inspire me to write them. It might sound kind of stupid, but I thought it'd be fun. Keep in mind the fact that it's been quite a while since I've watched the episodes that play a part in this story so forgive me if I don't get the facts absolutely right.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed the prologue!

Once again, I do not own Fringe or Chris Cagle's song 'I Breathe In, I Breathe Out'.

Smoke Screen

Chapter 1

Breathe In and Breathe Out

"I breathe in and breathe out. Put one foot in front of the other. Take one day at a time until you find I'm that someone you can't live without, but until then I breathe in and breathe out."

-Chris Cagle

The days dragged on for the entire fringe team without Olivia Dunham. For the first few days everyone was silent, everyone except for Walter. He voiced his opinions loud and clear and urged Peter to at least attempt to make contact with the disappearing blonde. However, Peter knew she wouldn't want to talk to him. Astrid had found a note Olivia had left for her. In it she said she would be gone for a while. She didn't say why or where she had gone. She simply said not to worry and she'd be back, but she didn't say how long she'd be gone. And she clearly stated in the nicest way possible to leave her alone.

Astrid, Walter, and Peter were all at a loss. They just wanted to know where she was. They wanted to know if she was ok and they had no idea what they would do if a big case came up. Olivia was an important part of their team and they knew that without her they wouldn't have even become a team. They needed her.

It was even worse for Peter. He was sure he knew exactly why she had left. He hadn't noticed the differences between his Olivia and the one who took her place. The woman he had started a relationship with wasn't the person he thought she was. He was with the alternate Olivia while the real Olivia was being held captive in the other universe by his father, the alternate Walter. He hated himself for not being able to tell the difference, but he thought she had changed. He thought he had made her happier. He couldn't blame her for being angry when she returned, but he had tried to explain himself. He knew she needed time but, he had no idea how long it would take. He just wanted it to all be over. He wanted to move past it with Olivia. He didn't like being reminded of his time with her alternate any more than she did, but every day without her was another reminder of how badly he had screwed up.

Eventually, Walter quieted down. He realized no one was going to bring Olivia back. He knew he would just have to be patient like Astrid and Peter seemed to be doing. His understanding came as both a shock and a surprise to the younger members of the team.

They all went about their work sullenly and it became a rare occurrence for Peter to strike up a conversation. Astrid knew he was terribly upset so she took it upon herself to keep Walter busy. They ran some of his crazier experiments and she often took him out for one of his favorite snacks. Peter, however, never wanted to join them. He spent his days alone in his corner of the lab or locked away in Olivia's office. Astrid decided it would be best to leave him alone for the time being which was nice because she had no idea what she could do or say to make him feel better.

Peter kept himself busy, though even he would admit the tasks he busied himself with were ones he should have left alone. Each day he only made himself feel worse, more depressed and more angry at the events that had caused his Olivia to leave and at the people who caused them, including himself. He went over every report and anything else he could get his hands on about their alternate selves and the world they lived in. He was determined to find out as much as he could. He wanted to find a way to close the connection between the two universes before they caused any more pain and heartache on his side.

Peter had thought he had despised his true father before he learned of Olivia's kidnapping, but the hatred he felt for him now was immeasurable. He wanted nothing to do with the universe he had been born in or the people who lived in it.

A week later Broyles showed up at the lab. He found Astrid taking care of Gene while Walter stood by eating a strawberry smoothie, giving the younger agent orders on how to properly care for a cow. Peter was nowhere in sight.

"Astro, you must talk to her while you brush her." Walter informed between slurps of his smoothie. "She really enjoys it. How do you expect to bond with her if you don't carry on conversations with her?"

"Walter," Astrid started, exasperated. "How do you expect me to have a conversation with an animal who can't talk back to me?"

Walter paused taking a large gulp of his smoothie. "Just because she can't talk doesn't mean she can't listen." He said before patting Gene on the head. "Isn't that right, my dear?" He added towards the animal.

Astrid simply shook her head.

"Where's Bishop?" Broyles asked, announcing his presence.

Without hesitation Walter replied "I'm right here!" He looked at Broyles and paused a moment before adding "Oh, you mean Peter! I'll go get him." And he took off for Olivia's office.

Broyles looked to Astrid who gave a faint smile and shrugged.

Walter reappeared with Peter. Astrid took one look at the younger Bishop and could tell he was not handling Olivia's absence well. He looked depressed, like he hadn't slept for days and there was a hint of intense anger in his eyes. She wished there was something she could do to help him. She hoped Olivia would return soon.

Broyles wasted no time with small talk and got straight to the point. "I know Agent Dunham's absence must be hard for all of you, but there is still work to be done. I've assigned a new agent to work with your team until she returns."

Olivia Dunham was driving. She didn't know where she was going and she wasn't even sure where she was. All she knew was that she had to get away. She had to leave all of the reminders of her alternate self taking over her life. She couldn't stand being in her apartment knowing that the other woman had lived there even if was for a brief amount of time. She could hardly stand to drive her car knowing her alternate had used that too. Most of all she couldn't stand to look at Peter. He was the one thing that deep down she absolutely refused to share with any other woman. He was supposed to be hers. He left his own universe to be with her, but she hadn't made it back with him, her alternate did. In her heart she knew he wasn't to blame, but her head told her he should have noticed the differences.

Olivia didn't know what she was going to do. She just knew she had to get away.