FRINGE

Shades of Gray – chapter 3

No in FRiNGEment intended.

Note: okay, now that you put the idea in my head that I should continue, I can't stop. So, here it is, a third short chapter. Olivia/Rachel

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The cab pulled over but Olivia kept glaring absently at the street ahead through the windshield. Finally acknowledging that the car had stopped, she glanced to the stairs and to her door and sheepishly back to Peter, her thoughts fogged by alcohol. He was gazing at her and being serious, not exactly what she needed most at the moment.

"I had a lovely evening Peter," she said reluctant to make a move that he could misinterpret.

"Yes, it was nice. Come on, I'll see you to your door Liv," he said, and with a gentle nudge signalling her to get off the cab.

"You sure?" her eyes crossed the cab driver's eyes and she blushed in the dark. "Okay," she nodded and opened the car door.

They walked slowly to her apartment. She followed the railing with a light hand, observing him out of the corner of her eye. He was looking at his feet and watching his steps. She stopped at the top of the stairs and searched her bag for her keys.

"So… I'll see you tomorrow I guess," he said with a smile when she was done.

"Yes, thank you."

"No sweat, I can still walk you to your door, I'm wasted but I'm not that wasted you know."

She smiled back. "I know. Tomorrow then."

He brushed her hand with his and turned around abruptly. He jogged down the stairs and she watched his cab drive off. She went in and leaned on the door for a minute, with her left hand still on the doorknob and the other flat on the wood. Rachel had let a side lamp on. She threw her bag on the console near the door. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror above, rubbed her face with both hands and sighed, half expecting John to show up behind her shoulder from the shadows.

"Hi Liv."

She gasped and faced her sister. "Rach? Why are you up? You weren't waiting for me, were you?"

"Dream on sis!" Rachel laughed. "I was just trying to find the optimal dosage that will put me back to sleep. Ella had a bad dream," she shrugged. She took a deep breath. "I was in the kitchen and I heard Peter's voice. So, what is it about, round two of your I-have-no-intention-of-having-a-handsome-man-inside-my-lonely-home-after-midnight routine?"

"Rach! He's just a colleague!"

"So you say. What has it got to do with anything?" she said, her voice rising dangerously. She glanced upstairs and continued. "If he's just-Peter, --and Liv, I hate to tell you but you seem to be the one with the problem since you insist on repeatedly calling him "just" that, there's no rule that says you cannot invite him in for a last night cap especially if you don't have any agenda or hidden motive. That's what we grown-ups do. And I know you like him," she pushed, "and he obviously likes you, and Liv… he's a guy. He's not going to wait forever. And John died. "

Olivia stared blandly and made a show at untying her hair and appearing unconcerned. Rachel apparently had time to give Peter some thought. And she was interested.

"Unless you want to make me think that you're envisioning some Harry met Sally nonsense…" Rachel smirked.

"No, I am not!" Olivia protested with a grin while heading to the kitchen with Rachel in her wake. She opened a cupboard.

"Because if you are Liv, you're on for a long ride," Rachel stated matter-of-factly sipping on her drink. "You shouldn't take for granted that your life has been written off because of John… I'm sure there's much more left in store for you. And Liv? Seize the day, blah blah blah, that kind of stuff, you know, it works if you give it a chance. Life can surprise you..."

Yes, life is surprising, Olivia thought, mulling over her latest out of body experience and her evening with Peter. "What's your poison?" she asked. She could not make out what was most surreal, talking to a dead man or getting close to someone she knew nothing about. To be perfectly honest, she did not seem to know anything about John either. Logic dictates that she was merely trying to fill in the blanks and make him the good guy despite all evidence against it.

"A lot of gin, but with a twist."

"I'll stick to whiskey then."

She poured the liquid in a large glass and stayed silent for a while, nursing her drink. "I should not have told you about my relationship with John. It was a mistake."

"Why?"

You can count on Rachel to go right to the point. She never lets you down.

"It was. That's all you have to know."

"I'm your sister!" she pushed.

"Exactly."

"And?"

"And nothing. Try to get some sleep. I'm gonna take Jack Daniel to my room and hit the sack."

"Don't get your hopes up. I doubt that he will lay you down and ravish you."

"Rach," she grinned again, fighting against confusing flashes of John and Peter intertwined faces.

"At least, wear your best Victoria's Secret lingerie just in case firemen would show up when Ella sets your house on fire."

"Night Rach."

"Night Liv. Sweet dreams."

-o-

Once in her room, she felt wide awake and began to feel guilty about Peter. He did not have a second thought and rushed up to her side to help her and still, she was unable to open up to him. Sure, they drank –a lot, and they had a great time together tonight but she knew she was keeping her guard up every single minute she was with him. She went to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, comb her hair. It looked wilder that her usual do since she had not had the time to use a hairdryer and a brush after her tank stint. It gave her a fierce look and for the first time in weeks she liked her reflection.

Was it the Peter effect Rach was so adamant about?

She sat on her bed, mesmerized by the clock on her bedside table. She should call him and apologize. Three a.m. that was not an unusual hour in their book. Her mouth twitched. Yes, it was perfect timing indeed. She was alone in her bedroom, with her sister and her tot in the next room swooning about her colleague. That was proof enough hat she was trying too hard to exonerate John.

She took a sip of her drink and reached out to her phone. Now that Rachel put that insidious seed in her head, calling him was the only way to get rid of the little voice that was growing insistent in her head.

-o-

Next some Peter and Walter talk…