Peter is alone now. Truly alone, for once. Since he'd gotten here, (Alter)Olivia had been controlling him. She told him almost a week ago how she had kept him confused while she wasn't there so he couldn't think of leaving. She told him about Fringe division, about the widespread Cortexiphan trials, about her and about him. Not his life as he had lived it, but his life on 'Missing!' posters and on the sides of milk cartons. The way his disappearances had been used as a catalyst for Walter(nate)'s career.
Peter looks at the clock. He can't remember if he's been in bed for two or three days. He doesn't dream anymore if he falls asleep (and he's not sure he has), and he's only hungry if he thinks about it.
Mostly, his chest itches. Once, he tried to watch the repair work of the nanites. He peeled back the bandages and watched the scar tissue being eaten away, leaving the dermis exposed in its wake. Following was a blanket of healthy skin, appearing like snow on a sidewalk.
Peter almost throws up. He thinks (his father) Walter would get a kick out of watching, though. Peter hopes the nanites will be done with him when he sees Walter again so he can avoid being a human test subject (again.)
Peter frowns. Thinking about Walter just brings him back to the question that has him bedridden:
Here or there.
He feels his decision is already made, but isn't exactly trusting his feelings at the moment.
It should be a simple choice, really. Except the definitions keep getting confused. First, here is here. Where is he physically. Second, there is here because it's what he's always know as here.
Here is where Walter is.
Peter's mind is already made up when it comes to which Walter he would rather save from any sort of cataclysm. Walternate doesn't deserve to be saved, even if he is the innocent party in this whole mess. Peter's father (he realizes now that biological descent doesn't matter) might have started the war, but it was to save a small boy. To save him.
There is where Olivia is.
Peter wants to make this decision about the Olivias, instead of whole universes. Then the choice would be easy. Even if he could never have any semblance of a relationship with (his) Olivia, she would help him make this decision. He knows this as sure as he knows that Alterlivia would beg him to stay (powers and all.) Olivia is his friend, his partner. Alterlivia is just a sympathetic kidnapper.
He's starting to think the only difference between here and there is where Peter is.
Olivia recovers from the time slips much faster than she had during her last visit. It might have to do with the protein bars. Or that she is actually allowed to stay still this time. But she recovers.
When Olivia storms into Massive Dynamic, expecting to have to demand they call Nina Sharp in at this ungodly hour, she is surprised to see Nina waiting patiently at her desk. Nina only says that Sam had called ahead and informs Olivia that she is late. Olivia just nods and apologizes. She is so far past confused.
Thus begins the late night pact between Sam, Nina and herself.
Olivia sees herself in passing. They're in a tea shop near the Fringe Division's headquarters. Her Other is with Peter. Olivia pulls her hood further over her eyes. She notes the exact red of Alterlivia's hair and leaves soon after they do. She buys dye and a muti-tool.
Olivia expects injections of Cortexiphan. Instead she gets convoluted speeches from Sam and suspiciously helpful lessons on the Alterverse from Nina.
Sam lectures her on bees. Now, whenever she thinks of the hum of a beehive, she hears anything within a mile.
Nina explains the accuracy of the facial recognition software which is prevalent there. There are around 300 points of interest on a face. These points help us distinguish between people. Their technology uses a mesh made of 1000 individual points. This makes the programs hyper-aware of differences. So much as a freckle of difference will be enough to trick the cameras. Sam advises Olivia to get a tattoo.
Olivia has an appointment with Bell because he's had his finger in this pie since the beginning.
"Olive!" he greets her warmly, taking her arm, "Would you like some tea, my dear?"
"That would be great, thanks," she smiles professionally,
Bell places a saucer and cup in front of her. She takes a pastry because she hasn't eaten since the protein bars.
"I'm sorry you had to come back, Olive," Bell sighs,
"I'm not," Olivia takes another pastry,
Bell nods solemnly,
"Nina says 'Hello,'" Olivia hears Bell's heart speed up,
He nods again, taking the oxygen mask to his face. Olivia knows a tell when she sees (hears) one.
"She also says you'd be willing to help me again,"
"Of course, Olive. What do you need from me?" Bell replies earnestly,
Olivia smiles to herself. She suddenly understands why Bell and Walter once got along. She hands over the list from Nina.
Sam has to spend more time cultivating Olivia's (inevitable) next ability. Olivia goes through multiple cycles of hypnosis and hallucinogenics.
In the end, it sneaks up on her. She thinks she's having a time slip in her own universe before realizing what happened.
Olivia's next stop is to Broyles. He gives her the time off she asks for because he knows what is at stake. He's sure Olivia doesn't.
Olivia returns to Nina. Sam is already there. Olivia wonders if they have been having these mid-day meetings about her this whole time.
"Are you sure you're ready?" they ask,
Olivia nods, she's spent too long away from Peter and some well-neglected part of her tells her she needs Peter to protect her universe.
Sam drives them to the lake where Walter first joined two universes. Nina produces a neatly folded paper from the folds of her suit and tells Olivia what to do with it.
Nina indulges Olivia's curiosity by telling her who the list is for. Nina dodges the question about what the list is for. Olivia has long since learned to take what information she can get from Nina and stops asking questions.
Nina gives Olivia a few dates and times for the meeting. Time slips are anticipated and planned for.
Bell had provided Olivia with a sandwich and more tea when she nearly fainted from hunger. Though, Olivia never admits to feeling faint. Bell uses the excuse that he needs time to procure what Nina had asked for. Olivia is way past being polite. She eats wolfishly and Bell orders another sandwich.
It takes three sandwiches and as many hours before Bell hands her a metallic backpack which clinks when she walks out of his office.
Olivia returns to her hole-in-he-wall motel, chosen for its lack of security. She locks the door and shoves the heavy dresser against the door.
Sam pulls up to the edge of the forest. It's still chilly despite being late spring. They trek through the forest and Sam rattles on about climbing trees and ladders. Olivia clears her throat uncomfortably, signaling Sam to stop. She can feel how think the barrier between universes is here, and when Sam starts talking, she can feel herself slipping already.
The trio reaches the edge of the lake. The surface is frozen, but a quick rock throw confirms it isn't safe to walk on. Olivia turns to Nina and hands her a slightly battered envelope addressed to Walter. Olivia asks Nina to give it to him when he's over threatening toaster pastries (loudly) in the store. Nina chuckles and holds the note in her artificial hand. Nina holds out her other hand to shake. Olivia hugs her instead. She hugs Sam and he is more gracious about it. He slips a few protein bars into her pockets and says she'll need them. Olivia nods at both of them and steps away, towards the weak point she can sense at the middle of the lake. She wishes she could get there, now, but it will be easy enough from here.
Olivia does a last minute weapons check. She has a knife on her thigh and her sidearm in its normal ankle holster. She pats the extremely light bullet-proof vest, courtesy of Massive Dynamic and Nina, for show. Her sweatshirt and thermal keep the vest concealed, though a T-shirt probably would have done the job. Under the vest is another knife, longer than the first.
Olivia begins the speech where Sam had left off. Ladders in a forest. She closes her eyes and moves.
She slides between the barrier like falling out of a tree. She lands, winded and bleary-eyed. Her ears buzz. She blinks a few times to clear her sight and tries to sit up. She feels like she hasn't eaten in days. Olivia reaches into her pockets and pulls out the protein bars from Sam. She whispers her thanks to him and shakily tears open the first bar. She chews carefully, one small mouthful at a time, stopping every few seconds to keep down the bile. Chocolate and peanut butter. Olivia thinks she's never been more grateful or nervous about eating food.
A half hour later and Olivia feels like she can move. She walks the five minutes to the lake house. She breaks in silently and makes a short call. Another half hour and there's a black (probably) town car waiting for her in front of the house. Olivia thanks the driver and promptly falls asleep. He drops her off, several hours later, near the Fringe Division headquarters. Olivia spots what looks like a coffee shop and practically runs inside.
Oh my goodness, that took FOREVER to post/edit. Finals week is over, so now all I have is time to write new chapters :D
PS: Belated disclaimer that I do not own Fringe or Fox or a TV...