Chapter 2: Sarcasm

Rated: T

"No, this is ok – we're making progress – "

"Why don't you tell her that everything is going to be ok?" Olivia interrupted Peter with a look of derision. Olivia turned, and stormed out of the lab with out looking back. Neither of them understood! Walter just wanted to play with his newest subject of fascination and Peter just plain didn't care what happened in these cases.

Peter watched her go; his feet frozen in place. Did she really think he didn't know that there were lives at stake? This was just how he related to danger and the unknown; sarcasm, witty arguments, mindless babbling at times.

"I thought you had a way with women?" Walter asked.

Ignoring his clearly confused father, Peter jogged after Olivia. He had to make her understand. He turned the corner outside the lab so fast he almost ran into her. She was leaning forward with her forehead against the cool block wall. Her eyes were shut in a look that held false peacefulness. Her shoulders were still, but tense in her agitated state. Peter was almost positive she hadn't even noticed him yet, until her voice broke the silence.

"Yes, Peter?" Her voice was slightly pained, but otherwise had an edge of steel to it. She hadn't even opened her eyes to look at him.

His hand rose slightly as if to rest it on her shoulder to absorb some of her burdens, but he didn't know her that well. "I didn't want you to think that I d- we, don't care about what happens to who ever he goes after next. As much as my father's mind may wander – he is trying and working is fastest. And I, well this is just how I act under stress." Peter grinned morosely.

Olivia opened her eyes finally to appraise his honesty and could tell he wasn't lying to her. She slowly smiled, letting the tension leave her body. Seeing this Peter's grin turned from grim to happiness that she trusted him this much. He knew he was pushing his luck, but he really couldn't help himself and he opened his arms wide towards her in the international sign of "give me a hug" and waited. Her brow creased minutely, wondering what his motive could possibly be. As far as she knew, he was not the "hugging" type and she most definitely was not either. But she found herself cautiously approaching him until his arms gently enveloped her. When she adjusted to the heat of his body and her stomach's flip flops settled she slowly circled her arms around his waist. At first it was just awkward and when Peter pulled away, Olivia wrapped her arms around him closer and tried to rest her head on his chest causing them to fall clumsily to the ground with Peter beneath Olivia.

Olivia blushed madly and tried to scramble up off him, but Peter held his hands firmly on her hips keeping her close. Confused, she finally summed up the guts to look him in the eye and saw a calm smile on his face – not what she had expected to see at all.

"Let me up, Peter." She asked nicely, hoping he would take the hint so she wouldn't have to get her gun out. She was already embarrassed from trying to hug him when he pulled away and now it looked as if a light bruise was beginning to form on his forehead from where her own had hit. A wonderful reminder to her of what they had done.

He actually had the nerve to shake his head 'no' at her. Her embarrassment was quickly being replaced by annoyance when he rolled her over onto her back and pinned her to the floor with his body. His face was now just inches from her own. She could just make out the smell of him; antibacterial sanitizer and wood. She assumed the first was from being in the lab so much, but the second must be all Peter. Why was she allowing him to keep her this way, again? Oh yeah, because her stomach was still doing flip flops and his lips looked so soft.

Wait – his LIPS?!

They were just a breath away. So close she could taste his morning coffee on his breath. She would only have to tilt her jaw up for them to be kissing, but did she want to? It seemed some part of her had made up her mind for her and her chin tilted up the short distance so their lips were pressed ever so softly together. It was such a cautious kiss, a brush of lips, that could lead to so much more but remained innocent until then. But then her lips moved and she angled her head and parted her lips so she could taste more of him.

She tasted of blueberries from her breakfast with a hint of something else that must have belonged solely to her. Peter had once had a dream of kissing Olivia and he had brushed it off the next day as too much time spent with the agent working on cases. But this was so much better than that dream. She was amazing. Always so fastidious over every detail during an investigation and now she was being just as thorough with those devilishly soft lips. Her tongue slowly dragged against his lips, begging for entrance and without any hesitation he opened his mouth. Their tongues tasted and teased the other.

A low moan escaped Olivia's mouth as his lips expertly feasted on her mouth. Her body seemed to be melting into his and the only thing she could think of was how she wanted more; much more. She was beginning to feel his body's response to their impromptu make out session when the need for air became prevalent and very much required.

Gasping, they each pulled back an inch, their chests heaving and eyes dilated in lust. Neither could think straight after what happened and words only eluded them as they continued to stare into each other's eyes and then that girl's dead eyes staring at Olivia came back to her and her face showed it.

Comprehending what just probably went through her brain; Peter drew himself off her and offered her a hand up. Olivia looked at the hand a moment before taking it firmly and letting him help her up; something she rarely let anyone do. A little help every once in a while wouldn't kill her and she was beginning to trust Peter, against her better judgment. They shared a brief smile and released the other's hand.

"Same time tomorrow?" Peter asked.

"Don't hold your breath Bishop." Olivia scoffed.

"Anything you say 'Livvie," Peter joked.

"Call me that again and you won't have a choice about holding your breath." She smiled sweetly, but deep down Peter was pretty sure she meant it and only nodded in response.

A/N: Thanks everyone for the great reviews! If anyone has any suggestions for what scenes they'd like to see a "what if" scenario formed from, just let me know in a review or a pm. I'm generally just watching the episode I'm writing about once or twice and then just hitting the road with it and suggestions are always welcome.