A/N: Well this is a flashback chapter, to show you a little bit more about Walternate, to help you understand a bit more about his past, and to introduce a new character, Alt-Nina. I have to thank Vlada for all the valuable help and for pointing me in the right direction, as always. Without you I couldn't have possibly built this character. Thank you so much!
Well, one more thing to keep in mind: this one, just like all the others takes place in the Red Universe, so when I say Walter I mean Walternate, when I say Nina I mean Alt-Nina, and when I say Bell I mean...well Bell; so let it not confuse you. Also note that unlike Nina from the Blue Universe, Alt-Nina still has her arm, and never had a relationship with Bell so he probablty didn't share the secrets of the universe with her, so she doesn't have understanding on that.
THE MAN FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Chapter IV
The Relationship That Never Was
"Was a cold day in December, the coldest one yet
Do I want to remember? Do I want to forget?"
The silence embraced her as she let the memories take over.
December 14th, 1985
It was one of those cold days the air alone would chill you to the bone, but there was something colder, it was despair, it was fear. The days and nights seemed not to be enough and the clock was ticking; he knew he did not have much time, for his son was closer to his death every minute. Walter Bishop was the head of a 20 billion corporation, Bishop Dynamic, dedicated to the development of the most innovative technologies; yet he was not brilliant enough –or so he thought- ; and Nina Sharp was, just like him, the head of another international company, Intrepus, also extremely prestigious in their business which was chemicals and experimental drugs. Both these companies were founded almost at the same time, and Walter and Nina became partners shortly after.
Though their relationship had always been strictly professional, for the past couple of months that Peter got worse it grew bigger on both of them. Walter would use every chance he got to free his chest, to shift the weight on his shoulders to throw off the pain; he would open up his heart and break in front of her, and she would listen, pleased. That is how every business meeting turned into a session of long talks and confessions, and they passed from seeing each other once a month, to seeing each other once a week, and so on. Some evenings, Nina would even go visit him after work, and spend long hours listening to him, talking, giving him some advice, or just watching him work ever so carefully. It amazed her how devoted to his family he was, even when he was spending more time with her than them; she admired him and had learnt to appreciate every side of him. And tonight was one of those afternoons.
It had been snowing all day and the blizzard was making it impossible to even look out the window and not feel cold or sorry for the people outside, not that Walter would even worry to take a peek; he was completely and irrevocably focused on his task. The only thing he would pay attention to, but his Petri dishes and the board where he had written all possible elements and combinations; was her, his one and only friend, the one who knew more about him than he knew about himself, the one who knew exactly what was behind that mask he would wear to conceal the pain and the frustration, to show some strength he was sure he did not have. And that feeling of impotence was killing him, the feeling that his 196 IQ was not enough. Sometimes he would even throw everything on his counter away, metal trays echoing through the lab, but she would always be there for him, to calm him down, and encourage him to start fresh; and he would listen, just as if her words had some kind of divine influence on him.
That was how, once again, the night fell down and they found themselves alone, in the cold, yet warm and familiar lab, sharing some glances and some silences, but unlike every other day, this time, when the clock struck twelve and as usual she leaned over to hug him tight and say goodbye, he would not let go of her embrace; he grasped for her wrists, his face still buried in her. And it was undeniable; everything they needed was there, at the reach of their hands. Nina pulled back slightly, still not sure about what caused his reaction, if it was fear, or if it was truly worship and the need to have her in his arms, to leave everything behind and for once in a long time, forget, forget about all and let loose.
She looked deep into his eyes, and saw the man she always knew existed behind that hard rock cover, the devastated, emotional, broken man she started to love; and she knew there was no turning back when he softly placed his hands on her cheeks, a soft caress that weakened her every limb, and the tears that had begun to form in the corners of his eyes streamed down his face. She closed the gap between them and kissed him passionately; that moment he vaguely let his arms fall to the sides, and gave in completely to this new found comfort.
December 28th, 1985
In the dark of a fancy hotel suite, both their silhouettes would meet and become one. The clandestine of their relationship was legitimate there; in the dark of the night the pain in his eyes, the different kind of pain that began to inhabit his eyes the minute he got home and found out that his son had been abducted, would vanish, and only then she would be able to love him for who he was.
April 2nd, 1986
She was lain on the bed, crying incessantly, heart-broken, his screams pounding in her head.
"Walter you need to let him go! This is not working for you, you…you are not the one I used to know…"
The tears were falling down her face like a cascade, and she was sobbing desperately. His face transformed; the only person he would feel comfortable talking about this with was treating him as if he wasn't making sense, as if he was insane; he felt let down and couldn't help but to scream furiously at her, blaming her for not being with him in this.
"No, no you don't understand. He's in the other universe…I-I have to find a way…he needs me and I know where he is!"
He sounded paranoid, the blue of his eyes was almost dark, some eagerness taking over them; it was something evil, something that was consuming him. He shouted at the room, throwing a lamp or whatever object he found getting on his way, and it scared her; his words were senseless. Another universe? She knew the sorrow was consuming him and ruling his mind, driving him insane; she had to talk him out of it before it was too late. He stormed out of the hotel room, slamming the door behind him ever so furiously.
June 16th, 1993
"This is it Walter, I can't take this anymore!
You're not the man I fell in love with! You're just… you say they are monsters…but you know what, you're no different from that!
I dealed with the fact that your politic career was more important to you than anything, even me, I dealed with the fact that you were never going to leave your wife even we you said you loved me, but this?... I can't take it anymore! You have changed and I don't want this man in front of me.
Walter grabbed his coat and left the room, left her behind. She stood there in silence. The words came out before she could realize and once they were out she knew how much harm they were going to cause. Those were the last words and that was going to be the last time.
September 22nd, 1999
The Ambassador's Ball, was as every year, the occasion to bring every socialite and business and political personality together. The salon was crowded, and this year they counted with the special presence of Ms. Nina Sharp.
After their break-up Nina had decided to keep a low profile and stay away from the public spot; she resigned her position as CEO of Intrepus and named William Bell in her place, to avoid the necessary business meetings and the possibility of seeing Walter there. It was hurtful to see what he had become. She continued being part of the company, but only as a silent partner, and moved to D.C.
The same way, Walter had fully dedicated his life to his political career, and trusted his company to an old friend, Nicholas Boone, and to a young, brilliant-to-his-eyes scientist named Brandon Fayette.
He descried her figure across the room; chatting and laughing gracefully, holding a glass of champagne in her hand, which she raised at him when she felt somebody's eyes on her and turned her head to see that it was him.
It was the first time in years she saw him. She was never over him, that's for a fact, but not seeing him all this time had definitely helped, although, being him a public figure and the Secretary Of Defense, she would always read some story in the papers, never giving much credibility to it but yet hearing or reading his name more than she would have wanted to in order to forget.
And later that night, under the covers lay Nina and Walter, their bodies and souls naked, giving it another try for old times' sake.
Two days before Bell's conversation on the phone with Walter
Going back down to Earth, Nina saw Bell still standing in front of her, demanding his answer. Nina was a big part of his plan and he needed her approval.
"William, I know, and like you said, I once had some influence on him, but he's not the man I used to know. I've tried to bring that man back, I tried and talked him out of every dark thought he had countless times, none of which he listened. And it's been years I don't have a real conversation with him. Our relationship is strictly professional."
"But this time it's worse. You're the only one, the only person in this world, who's uniquely qualified to get to him. And it's his son and the future of our world that's at stake."
"William what am I supposed to do? There's nothing in my power. He's lost now, and a few words won't cause him to step back and abandon his plan"
"Don't worry about that Nina, I have thought of everything.
Now, we still have time, you still can save him. But tell me can I count on you?" Bell's low husky voice was calm but demanding as he touched her soft spot. She wanted to save him. That's all one had to say to convince her, and a long silence told Bell more than a word could say.
A/N: Can't help my WINA shippery :D
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