PETER willed himself to calm down. He had been breathing deeply for almost quarter of an hour already. The migraine wasn't leaving.
He felt as though thousand hammers were banging inside his head, determined to squeeze his brain out. He couldn't think coherently.
At least I'm not hungry anymore. But… I shouldn't drive right now. Even if it's only a 15-minute drive to the hotel… It could be risky.
Peter waited in the car until the nausea and the headache slightly released their grip on him. He sighed in relief.
The drive back to the hotel was short but he needed every ounce of concentration in order not to sway his vehicle off of a road.
He barely climbed the stairs. He was incredibly tired. He turned the door handle and switched on the lamp.
The pain passed. The after effects were probably just temporary, like with the lab rat I tried the serum on.
Then Peter yelped in surprise.
Walter was sitting in the chair next to the bed, completely naked and looking at him with worry and relief.
-Walter, what the hell? What are you doing sitting there in the middle of the night, naked?
-Waiting for you-the mad scientist dangled a torn piece of paper in front of Peter's face, standing up and Peter raised his palm defensively.
-Okay, I really don't need a full shot of your genitalia right now, get it? Go put something on.
-I prefer the breeze. You said you'd be back home by midnight.
Peter got a sudden desire to hit him.
He is so irritating. As if I were the one who needs babysitting, not him. And why does he care where I've been anyway? My life, my business.
-Yeah, so it's quarter past midnight. Let me explain something to you, Walter. I didn't accept to stay here with you and agreed to our living arrangements just so that you could control my life. This afternoon, since there were no new cases, I went for a stroll and you started panicking and bugging Astrid, only to jump on me as a happy pet when I returned to the hotel room.
-Where I've been for the past 17 years is a mental institution.
-Well I'm the one who got you out of there, remember?
-I know, son. Sometimes I still wake up and think… That you'll leave me and that I'll have to come back to that dreadful place. My mind would then start playing tricks on me again-Walter said ominously, staring at the wall, pensive.
Peter swallowed.
Okay, so maybe I was a little harsh on him.
-Look, Walter… Let's just forget about that. I'm here now and…-he stifled a yawn. –I really wanna get some sleep. So hop into bed, I'll take a quick shower, lie on the sofa, you'll get your nightly dosage of "Row, row, row your boat" and everyone is happy.
-You don't look too good.
-Partying for the win-his reply was short.
-And you smell of sperm.
-Okay, that's enough. Mind your own business. It's late. Would you please stand up and go to bed?
-Did you have sex tonight, Peter?
-No, I did not have sex tonight, Walter-he practically growled at his father.
That pulsating in my head again. I can't…I wish he would just shut up. I should have never stayed in Boston in the first place. Walter was never my responsibility to begin with. He is a goddamned parasite.
His cell phone rang loudly.
-What now?-he swore out loud and took the call. –This is Peter Bishop.
-Peter-Olivia's voice was on the other end of the line.
-Hey-he replied in a gentle tone, as he willed himself to actually sound normal. –What's up?
Finished masturbating, didn't you, sweetheart? It's a good thing she didn't call me while I was at her apartment. What a mess that would be. I must be careful from now on, to put my cell phone on silent when I visit her place as an Inviso-man.
-I need you to come to Boston General. And bring your father with you.
Every limb in Peter's body ached for sleep.
-Right now?
-Yeah. You need to be here as fast as you can.
-Fine-he barked into the phone.
-Is there something wrong?
No, doll, it's just the sound of my head exploding.
-I was just gonna go to bed but… Whatever.
-This is really urgent. You know I wouldn't have called you if that hadn't been the case.
Always so damned polite, aren't you, Olivia? So good, kind, full of understanding and overall perfect. Man can't even get angry with you.
Everyone and everything irritated him. He just wanted the renewed buzzing in his head to stop and to… To shut down his operational system.
-I get it. We'll be there in thirty-he hung up and groaned. –Walter. Get dressed. Apparently, there's something you need to see. And I need to drive you to that something. I'm gonna take a quick shower and change.
-Your pants aren't dry yet. I've done the laundry just this morning.
Fuck.
-I'll just put a tracksuit on, then. Whatever.
OLIVIA suppressed a smile at the sight of disoriented but excited Walter and sleepy, annoyed Peter in a light grey tracksuit. Broyles merely lifted his eyebrows.
Peter, on the other hand, sizing her up leisurely as usual, took in her slightly flushed cheeks and parted lips and thought she looked like she'd just had sex.
Which she technically did, only with herself. A bonus point for me. I've learned to recognize "that look" in Olivia Dunham. Now I guess I'll always know when she has played a little game with her lower regions.
-Yes, in case you were wondering, I was just jogging in the park at 1 a.m.-he sourly spoke first before they could ask him anything about his unusual work outfit. -So where is this newest horrific horror Walter needs to see?
He was barely focusing on Broyles's explanation but he did understand the essence. His BFF Michel Loeb collapsed on his office floor in the middle of conversation about the guy's undercover operation in Frankfurt and when they opened him up, they found a tiny hungry monster merrily squeezing his heart. And that organism, apparently, whatever it was, it had already made itself comfortable in Michel Loeb's chest and it didn't seem all too keen on leaving.
Peter was more than happy to let Walter draw his typical insane adoring conclusions about the imposter, and to simply nod his head.
He noticed Olivia was watching him with a mixture of puzzlement and worry and he frowned.
What? Can't a guy have a lousy day? It's like a bad hair day for girls. I am having an equivalent over here: a bad head day.
To make matters worse for Peter, Samantha Loeb, Loeb's wife, was there as well and she was either sobbing loudly or squealing with that high-pitched annoying tone of her voice.
Peter longed to be back in the laboratory, alone with Loeb's body, to joke around with Astrid and even to handle Walter's weird comments.
Anything but standing there in the hospital lobby and being exposed to all that infernal noise.
He swayed a little and then leaned against the wall for the support, closing his eyes.
Uh-oh. Not good. Damn it, I hope these side effects will stop soon. I… I made thirty dosages of the serum… I'd hate to see it all go to waste before I can fulfill my plan.
-Peter-Olivia's tender voice filled in the space around him and he found it strangely soothing. –Are you all right?
-I'm good, I'm just… A little sluggish, that's all. And there is that weird migraine coming up my way. Hey, I'm not complaining. I could have a lovely little pet in my chest trying to devour my heart, like that poor Loeb guy on the operation table-he tried to shrug her off with a casual comment.
Olivia gave him an apprehensive look and then she nodded briefly, acknowledging his explanation.
-Do you want an aspirin?
-No, Olivia, I… I told you already, I'm gonna be fine. Just… I need some time to myself and… I'll be good as new in an hour or so.
Wish she would stop doting on me. I can take perfect care of myself. Always have. Always will. Rover, wanderer, call me what you will. "Don't know that I will, but until, I can find me, the girl who'll stay, and won't play games behind me. I'll be what I am, a solitary man, a solitary man" Johnny Cash for the win-he managed a small smile.
-Did I hear mention of my good faithful helper Aspirin? Too bad she hasn't come with us to the hospital… She would have learned a lot about this marvelous organism. And she could have brought me come mints-Walter came over to them.
Trotting like an excited horse before the big run on the hippodrome. Waiting for his sugar cubes… Of all the possible choices in the world, I was precisely the one to get stuck with a guy like this for my father.
Peter rolled his eyes without bothering to reply to that question.
-Ok. Fun time's over. Walter, let's go to the lab. Aspirin will be waiting for us there and you can play with her as much as you want.
ONCE Loeb's body was safely transported to their working space, Walter started to analyze the molecular structure of the parasite, in order to determine whether it had been natural or man-made, although it was obvious it was artificial, at least to Peter.
Luckily, the pain had subsided and he was just fumbling through Walter's old records in order to find something by Barry White and play it on his ancient turntable when he heard Olivia talking to Samantha Loeb.
He glanced in Olivia's general direction, getting a perfect view of her graceful elongated neck.
To have the right to come behind her and… Bite that neckline… Leave hickeys all over it… And make her sigh when she feels me near…
Peter finally found the record he was looking for and the song "Playing Your Game" was heard just as Samantha Loeb was leaving in tears.
Would have been too untactful of me to start playing it while she was still here, wouldn't it?
His eyes widened when he saw the image of perfectly shaped breasts among Walter's old records.
Would you look at that. Hiding a porn collection between the music records. And a good one at that.
Peter pulled out some magazines and stared at them.
These are quite recent, actually. When did he have time to buy all these?
-Peter, Walter says he needs you to help him with the transfusion-Astrid approached him from behind and he jumped up, caught unawares. Her tone of voice was civil and cold and Peter understood she was still angry at him for leaving her alone with his crazy parent yesterday morning.
She blushed after having seen what he was holding in his hands.
-Okay, I'm just gonna pretend I haven't seen those.
-You do that.
-Peter, no!-Walter screamed, approaching him at the speed of light. –You'll ruin them! I had them all perfectly lined up and now I won't know which one to take next when I go to the bathroom.
-Relax. I pulled out Jesse Jane. She was just next to Jenna Jameson. See? I'll return her there and…No harm done. Good choice, by the way. Hot blonds. My kind of gals.-Peter smirked.
-Men-Astrid went to stand next to Loeb's body, thoroughly disgusted.
-Leave it to my son to wreck everything I order-Walter was mumbling, now browsing through the rest of the magazines when Olivia approached them.
-I thought you said you were supposed to give transfusion to Michel Loeb-she stopped in mid-sentence when her eyes fell on the photos of explicitly nude female bodies. –I'm sorry. What exactly do you think you're doing, both of you?
-Agent Dunham… My son here… Has ruined the perfect alphabetical order of my compilation…
-Walter, I…-Peter saw Olivia didn't know where to look. –I need you focused immediately. This man's life is in terrible danger and you know that.
-Come on, Agent Dunham. Don't be shy. Don't tell me you've never seen Jesse Jane's breasts. I've found her quite alluring since I came out from the mental institution and since I had some time to catch up. Porn culture is an important part of young adult's life. Well, of everyone's lives, really.
Olivia didn't say a word, she simply sighed deeply and moved over to stand by Astrid. Peter went to her immediately, and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, enjoying the smell of her skin:
-What did Samantha Loeb say?
-She's devastated.
-I can imagine-Peter was playing a role of sympathetic character, nodding vigorously.
-She would do anything to help him but she feels frustrated she actually doesn't have a say. She… She can't contribute in any way. It was different for me when… When John's life was endangered-Peter bit on his upper lip and fidgeted at the mention of John Scott's name.
-I could actively participate in his rescue along with Walter and you. But Samantha… The only thing she can do is wait. And you know when you can just see it in her eyes…. She would die for him. God, such love-Olivia sighed.
We are feeling romantic and sentimental today, aren't we Olivia?-Peter thought. Maybe you should start looking for that special guy who would love and cherish you and please you in all ways instead of relating every situation with damnable Agent John Scott…
I swear it, if… If… Like we were just crossing the street now, Olivia would say: Oh… I remember that time when John and I were crossing the street and talking about this and that… It's like everything reminds her of him. Not healthy, honey. Not healthy at all.
Then Peter gave her his best apologetic smile, changing the subject.
-About Walter. It's actually my fault. We'll be back to work in no time. The funny thing was… I was looking through some records. I wanted to play a song in particular and I stumbled upon this nest of debauchery. Walter let out a cry of protest and… Well… You know what happened next.
-A song?-that was when Olivia became aware of the music that resounded around the laboratory. –What kind of person are you, Peter? A man is dying and… You want to listen to music?
-Music is actually very beneficial, Agent Dunham-Walter defended Peter, coming from behind. –It helps me focus and process information faster.
-What is it, Olivia? Don't you like Barry White?-Peter leaned towards her again, this time with a seductive smirk, expecting a praise for his musical choice.
-Whether I like the song or the singer has nothing to do with it, Peter! Please focus on the work you have to do-he could see Olivia's cheeks reddened.
So she got angry and turned into the Incredible Hulk-livia. Crap. She didn't even notice I played the song from her favorite singer. And that is how you waste a wooing chance.
Peter started towards Loeb's body wordlessly, fuming inside.
I'll see how you'll react when I throw you under me and take you hard… Will you be so uppity then, Olivia Dunham? Maybe a good fuck would make you stop bitching around. Penis bonus pax in domus… A payback time will come, darling… And I am a patient man.
COUPLE of hardworking hours later, when Walter ultimately discovered the strange repeating pattern in the parasite's DNA and as soon as Olivia related it to the name of the ZFT organization she previously heard of while going through the John Scott's old files she found in the basement, Peter frowned after having realized she was urgently flying for Germany next morning.
He leaned on the doorframe just before she was leaving the lab thus stopping her from exiting immediately.
-Peter, I… I really don't have time right now. I have to pack my bag and…
-When will you be back?
She squirmed under that questioning, inspecting, intense stare.
-I… I don't know, I truly can't tell. When I find the information I need about the antidote from David Robert Jones, I suppose. We'll be in touch. I'll call you when I make some progress.
-Where are you going to stay?
Ok, Bishop. Why do I care about this so much? Maybe because I was hoping I would be able to make more progress with her… She's interrupting my wooing pattern by leaving so unexpectedly and abruptly for an undetermined period of time.
-At the hotel… Or… Maybe at my friend's place.
-You have a friend in Frankfurt?
-Yeah… He is going to help me to get into Jones's prison cell-she replied shortly, still politely but persistently trying to push her way past him.
Peter realized, observing her body language and the way her eyes avoided his, that the person she was talking about was or used to be probably more than just a friend.
I need to find out who that is.
-Okay. Have a good night then.
-You too. And… Peter?
-Yeah?-he replied with a casual question.
Peter was rooted on the spot when Olivia's hand found his and squeezed it amicably. A small jolt of electricity ran through both of them, startling Olivia a bit and making her cheeks redden.
Law of the universe at work, Dunham… Chemical reaction. A fatal attraction. And I know you felt it too. Some guys, like me, are just saucy and exude sexual energy.
-I hope you are feeling better. I am sorry about today. I was just so nervous… Simply… Seeing that much pain and suffering… And… People's lives in an imminent danger… It kind of made me irritated. I know Walter and you always do a great job. We discovered the DNA pattern and its connection to the ZFT organization only thanks to the two of you… And not to mention how you managed to make the parasite constrict less around Loeb's heart. That was a really clever idea. The case wouldn't have progressed without you two. Thank you so much.
Peter sensed warmth around his heart and he mocked himself inwardly.
Awww what's the matter, Bishop? You're gonna blush now? Is tiger gonna become a little kitty cat because of one praise of your iron maiden lady boss?
-Please tell Walter that as well, when you get the chance.
-Will do.
-Bye-she smiled a bit nervously, running her fingers through her hair and Peter caught himself subconsciously following her every move.
-Hasta luego-he grinned at her. –Or shall I say: Bis Gleich.
Olivia threw him a casual smile over her shoulder and went out through the door.
Actually, see you in a bit, Dunham. Another visit to your place is in order. I wanna say proper goodbye to you.
AFTER he made sure Walter was sound asleep, Peter repeated his last night's actions, though he had to wait longer before he could sneak out of their hotel room.
I just don't want him to ask me any unpleasant questions later. Or to wait for me stark naked, for that matter. As for the side effects… They last an hour anyway. I'll manage it. Or I just might start taking aspirins like Olivia suggested in the first place. It should neutralize the headache.
It was already midnight when he found himself in Olivia's kitchen. The only sound in the entire apartment was coming from her bedroom. He realized she was on the phone. He opened her fridge and cast a quick curious glance inside.
I was right about her eating habits. A liter of milk? Really? So cornflakes are all she eats? I wonder how come she hasn't turned into a bony skeleton at this rate.
His eyes idly wandered towards the bird in the cage, which was wide awake now and staring frightened at the open refrigerator door, not seeing anyone there.
Peter chuckled quietly.
I freaked the bird out.
-Hello, Lemondrop-he whispered eerily as he went to stand next to the cage. The budgie started thrashing and flying about the cage nervously, now positively terrified.
Ok. I better stop doing this. Olivia's feathery friend might just have a heart attack and we wouldn't want that, would we, my precious?-Peter joked with himself alternating Golum's and Smeagol's voice in his head.
He headed over to her room, eager to eavesdrop on her conversation.
Olivia was sitting in bed half-naked, wearing nothing but black panties and holding her cell phone in her hand. Her hair was still somewhat wet, and Peter licked his lips at the sight of her bare breasts.
Bummer. I missed the bathroom part tonight. Would have liked to see her having a shower again. Oh well. Next time, I guess. But maybe… The fun is about to begin. If she is one of those ladies who double-click their mouse every night before they fall asleep instead of simply having a nice glass of warm milk… I'll be in luck.
Olivia was thanking Astrid for agreeing to come once a day to feed Lemondrop while she was away, Peter understood that much.
The next part of their banter was proportionally more interesting to him since she was actually talking about him. Well, not just about him, about him and Walter, to be precise, but… Peter pricked up his ears.
-I know. I am sorry… This definitely wasn't what I had in mind when I brought you to the lab to work with Walter and Peter. I understand that they can both be a handful and that it is difficult to be patient with them.
Astrid is complaining about us. Oh well, it's only fair.
-But Walter is a good person, no matter what we might think of his strange behavior. And Peter is good with him even though he won't admit it most of the times. Yes…-Olivia nibbled on her lip. –He can be quite selfish and arrogant. But I think that's mostly due to the fact that he got used to living alone during for so long that it's simply difficult for him to adapt to this new life he has now… But he'll come around. He's a good guy at heart-a small smile escaped her lips and Peter could have sworn she looked straight at the doorway where he was standing even though he positively knew she couldn't see him.
You can't be more wrong, Olivia. And there you were saying you were the good judge of character the other day. Me? A good guy?-Peter snorted. If you knew where I am now and what I am doing… You most definitely wouldn't praise me so much. Well, now that I know what she thinks of me, I have to be extra careful and look to my laurels. Maintain the good boy image.
His eyes widened appraisingly when Olivia stood up and started walking around the room.
Yeah, Dunham. Deliver all your goods to me.
Peter actually entered her bedroom in the precise moment when she was just ending a conversation with their co-worker and after a minute or two she was already dialing a different number.
Listening carefully, Peter realized that she was talking to her sister and niece, who apparently, as much as he could gather from their interaction, weren't locals. Olivia informed her sister she was travelling abroad and that she wouldn't be at home for couple of days.
An involuntary smile escaped his lips after hearing the tenderness in her voice and the way she teased the little girl whose name was Ella, as it turned out.
Cute. Who would have known she's that good with children? She doesn't seem the type at all.
When that conversation was over as well, Olivia yawned and turned off the lamp on her bedside table.
Peter stood alone in the dark for some time, disappointed she didn't pleasure herself that night.
She probably wants to save energy since she has to get up early tomorrow morning.
Then he opted to come closer to Olivia.
Peter sat on the rug next to her bed, watching her intently, taking in every small sigh, every move she was making before her breathing eventually slowed down quarter of an hour later.
Her plump lips were slightly parted, her hair running wild about her pillow, and her eyelids fluttered when she finally sank in the dream phase.
Her arm twitched unawarely, removing the blanket from her breasts and her shy nipples protruded in his direction, exposed to the cool night air of her bedroom.
Peter's mouth abandoned all self-control at that sight and even though his brain was panickedly screaming all kind of sensible warnings at him, his lower head was the boss at this meeting, whether Peter liked it or not.
Blindly following his hungry instincts, Peter leaned over her in the dark and tenderly, carefully licked the area between her breasts, tasting her skin for the first time with the tip of his tongue and feeling his stomach pulsate with anticipation and lust.
Female body exploration adventure, here I come.
She didn't even stir and Peter happily went on lightly lapping at her breasts, alternately hardening his tongue and letting it relax and moving ever so slowly towards the center of her desire.
After a minute or two, he used his saliva-filled tongue to go over one of her hardened nipples, making it pointy and attacking it a bit more aggressively, enjoying her sweet taste. Peter then suckled on it with his lips and bit gently, only to later nibble on it with his teeth, certain that it was driving her wild down there.
He grinned after having quickly slipped his left hand forefinger between her legs and after having found her deliciously wet.
The tip of the finger of his right hand tenderly and cautiously pleased the other jutting bud at the same time, never increasing the pressure, not wanting her to wake up.
We don't want the other one to become lonely and intensely jealous, do we now?
Just giving you the taste of what you could have if you would just give in and be my lover. This is what I meant when I said "proper" goodbye, sweetheart. I want to make you all hot and bothered.
Olivia let out tiny moan, now half-awake, instinctively moving closer towards the unexpected source of pleasure and parting her lips.
Enjoying this, aren't you? Probably thinking you're dreaming.-the sight of Olivia's now slightly pink cheeks and the way she stirred in bed made Peter extremely hard. He stopped with his ministrations for a while, and moved away a bit, wanting her to sink into deeper sleep once again before he went on.
He did it on time too, since precisely at that moment, her phone rang surprisingly loudly and Olivia jumped up, turning the light on.