I was sitting on the bed waiting for the doctor to finish with his instructions so that I could sign the discharge papers. For once I didn't have to fight to be released from a hospital, although the doctor hadn't been too subtle with his suggestion of seeing a therapist, which I duly ignored.
Olivia was standing leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front of her, observing the proceedings. I looked at her and smiled slightly to which she responded. I wasn't surprised that there hadn't been any awkwardness when we woke up in the morning wrapped around each other. We had already become close and good friends before all this weirdness hitting the fan and now the fact that the two of us were not normal in the most common sense, brought us even closer. I had been sure of my feelings for a long time and I'm sure Olivia had picked it up as she wasn't hesitant at all responding to me. The kiss we shared that morning had been gentle and affirmative, like sealing our fates together by sharing our breath. We were now joined much deeper than I had ever been and it felt right. Of course I was looking forward to sharing a bit more physically, but I was already gloriously happy.
"Are you listening to me Mr. Bishop?", the doctor interrupted my musings and I saw Olivia smirking.
"Yes, yes, I'll follow your orders and so on. Can I sign the papers now?", I replied a bit too impatiently as the doctor raised his eyebrows, but he did give me the papers, which I signed and then was ready to go.
Olivia felt into step with me as I strode out of the room. I was so grateful of her presence that when we passed a corridor with a little window bench I took her hand and led here there, to wrap my arms around her just to feel that I was still real.
She seemed to know what I needed and returned the embrace and letting her head fall into the crook of my neck. I inhaled her scent feeling that I had returned home. Olivia was my family, my life and no matter where I had originated from, it had brought me to her.
I pulled away a little to be able to look at her and to kiss her, trying to pour all my feelings into it.
"Thank you", I whispered to her, to which she responded by stroking my cheek and seeking my lips to let me know that she understood what I was trying to say. This was a different side of Olivia, but I rather liked all her sides. I could only hope that she was comfortable with all of me too.
I could have stood there with her in my arms for all eternity, but there was still some business to be dealt with.
"Let's go and see Walter", I said and we took off walking side by side, hands occasionally brushing against each other.
XXX
I had had enough time to think and had come to the conclusion that although a part of me wanted to hurt Walter as he had hurt me and get him admitted to St. Claire's again and this time to lock the door behind me and throw away the key, but a bigger part of me considered him family now. Even though technically he wasn't my father, I had become close to this insanely brilliant man, who seemed to care about me. If everything that I knew now had come to light earlier when I just had started working with Olivia, I would have left, taken my bag and disappeared as so many times before.
However, I had changed. I now had a sense of a family albeit a dysfunctional one and even though I still felt restless and that I should be somewhere else, but never knowing where, I had put down roots. Not in a place, but with people. Through knowing Walter, I had learned so much and I respected his intelligence as he was one of the few people who were smarter than me. And then there was Olivia, who had shown me this freak show that we call the world and had awaken in me the need to know and understand. And of course her presence had brought me a new sense of belonging and purpose.
XXX
We walked in to the psychiatric ward and managed to get hold of the doctor who was treating Walter. They had started weaning him off of the sedatives, but he was still restrained.
"I'm glad that you are here Mr. Bishop as Dr. Bishop seemed to very upset and worried that he would never see you again", the doctor said while taking us to see Walter.
"He wasn't very coherent and I haven't been able to talk to him yet, but it seems that he did something that he is sure that has upset you greatly and he is afraid that he will be alone again", the doctor continued.
"He did hurt me, but he's my father and now I know why he did what he did", I responded and could practically see the doctor's ears pricking up with interest.
"But I'm not willing to discuss it with anyone", I continued and saw the doctor's disappointed face, but to his credit he accepted my answer and showed us into a room, where Walter was lying in a bed.
"I'll leave you to it. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do", the doctor said and closed the door after us.
We stood with Olivia side by side just inside of the door and I hesitated to go closer regardless of what I had been thinking. Olivia nudged me and I took a step closer until I was sitting down next to Walter's bed. Olivia remained standing where she was as this was something I had to do alone.
Walter wasn't resting peacefully, probably due to the sedation wearing off. He was also tugging the restrains even though he wasn't awake. I laid my hand on his arm and he seemed to calm down. He opened his eyes groggily and when he saw me, his eyes widened.
"Peter! Oh, Peter. I'm so sorry, I' sorry, I'm sorry. You died. I couldn't help, I was helpless, I could only watch. Then I found a way to bring you back. I missed you so much. So much. I couldn't live without trying to bring you back" Walter launched into a rambling mode and started to struggle against the restrains.
"Please, don't make me go back to St. Claire's. Please, I love you son. Please forgive me." Walter was becoming more agitated by the minute.
I moved to grab him by shoulders and looked him straight into the eyes. This seemed to calm him although he still looked terrified and had tears forming in his eyes.
"I understand why you did what you did, even though it was wrong" I said and he seemed to cling to my every word.
"I don't know how long it will take me to forgive you, if I ever can, but you are the only father I know and you have shown with your own faltering way that you care about me", I continued.
"And we need you if the war is coming", I added. Walter seemed to be relieved and fully lucid now and whispered, "I'm truly sorry son. I love you."
At this point I could feel Olivia's presence hovering behind me and she put a hand against my back for support. I turned and tried to smile, but it was rather watery twist of my lips. Walter also looked at Olivia and seemed to pick up that something had changed and he smiled through his tears. Olivia patted him also on the shoulder and I couldn't help but think how pathetic sight we must be if any of the medical staff were watching.
"I'm going to go and find the doctor to see to your discharge" I said clearing my throat. Both Olivia and Walter nodded and I left Olivia sitting on the bed talking with Walter about what type of sundae he was going to have once he got home. Back to normal business then I see, I though to myself.
The doctor wasn't entirely happy to let Walter go, but after he talked with him and with us assuring that Walter was also normally a bit off kilter, he agreed to let him go. He removed the restrains and Walter bolted out of bed like it was in fire. He grabbed Olivia who was standing next to him and gave her a big bear hug, to which Olivia responded smiling and patting him on the back.
"You can let go now, Walter, I need to breathe", she said smiling and Walter let go apologising profusely. Then he looked at me and took a hesitant step closer and I couldn't help myself after looking at his remorseful face and stepped closer to hug him.
"Thank you son. Thank you" he whispered to my ear before letting me go. The doctor had watched all the proceedings and seemed to be positively surprised.
"Take care of yourself Dr. Bishop. You too Mr. Bishop, Agent Dunham", he nodded at us and walked back to to nurses station.
We left the hospital to find that it was still raining, but the weather couldn't dampen my mood and judging by the faces of Olivia and Walter, they also felt the same way. I took hold of Olivia's hand and put my other arm around Walter's shoulders and for now I felt content.
XXX