Chapter Nine - Between Nightmares And Shadows

"I know someone"

Peter handed Olivia a cup of coffee.

"Sorry?"

Peter sipped his coffee.

"She needs a lawyer and I know someone."

"Is it someone that actually obeys the law?"

Peter snorted and offered her a smile.

"Yes, she does."

The conversation was cut short as the social worker came out of Marlina's room, her heels loud and disruptive in the quiet.

"Agent Dunham?"

"Yes?"

The social worker offered her hand and they shook.

"Monica James. I was told that you were the person that I needed to update on Marlina's situation."

"Correct. How is this all going to happen?"

Monica glanced at the file in her hand.

"We could not track down any relatives. And due to her age and mental instability, we only have one option."

"Which is?"

"Celandine Institute."

Olivia felt the slight rise of panic with the surge of anger. She knew what places like that were like, what it had done to Walter.

"No. She can't go there. Look at what she's been through, she needs somewhere safe."

"Agent Dunham, The Celandine Institute is perfectly safe. She will get the help she needs in an appropriate environment."

"She's not going. That's unacceptable."

"Agent Dunham, you don't have-"

Olivia glanced at Peter, the words tumbling from her mouth.

"Release her to me."

Monica frowned.

"I can't-

"I am the only person she trusts. Let me take her home, at least for a few weeks until the court case is over and her step-father formally charged. After that, we can re-evaluate."

"I will need to pass it by my boss."

"Call him. Give him this number."

Olivia handed Monica her card and watched as she walked away, the phone already to her ear. Peter frowned.

"Are you sure?"

Olivia ran her hands through her hair.

"No but I won't leave her at some institute while she's examined like a bug. She's been through so much already and I'm scared for her. Anything else, one more thing and she'll break, Peter. I can't let that happen."

She didn't even realize that she had started crying until Peter pulled her into his arms.

"It's ok, Olivia."

"Please tell me you understand."

Peter pulled back and examined her, brushing the tears from her cheeks. He nodded and gave her a small smile.

"As long as you are sure."

"I'm sure that I could not live with myself if something else happened to her."

"Then that's enough for me."

Peter pulled her back into his arms and they remained like that as the world continued to move past them.


Olivia waited anxiously outside of the hospital room as she waited for the next FBI agent to take over. Broyles had kept his promise and there was a frequent rotation of agents playing guard duty for Marlina. The only annoying part was the fact that each time, she had to ensure that they knew who could and could not be let into the room with Marlina. When the agent finally appeared, Olivia sighed. It must be busier then she had expected considering the agent barely looked old enough to shave let alone handle a weapon.

"Agent Dunham?"

"Yes."

"I'm Agent Simmons."

They shook hands and Olivia gave him the same rundown that she had been giving for the last few days. Agent Simmons nodded along and when she glanced behind her on her way to the nurses' station, he was standing by her door, hands on front of him, eyes straight ahead. At least he looked the part.

"Hey Amanda?"

Amanda looked up from her paperwork, offering her a smile.

"Hi Olivia. What's up?"

"There's a new agent on guard duty. He seems a little green. Can you give me a call if you need anything?"

Amanda laughed lightly.

"I'm fairly certain you say that about every agent."

Olivia sighed and smiled slightly.

"Ok, you caught me."

"I have your number, I have Peter's number and I'm fairly certain that I even have your boss's number. Anymore connections and I'll be able to get into the FBI building."

Olivia nodded as she pulled on her coat.

"It just might come to that. I'll see you tomorrow, coffee on me."

"It's a deal. Have a good night."

"You too."

Olivia slipped her hands into her pockets and headed out the entrance, looking forward to a hot meal and time with Peter.


"So how was Marlina?"

"Yeah, she's ok. Still having trouble talking about everything."

"I understand that."

Peter slid the steaks onto the plates before serving up creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli. Olivia settled herself in a seat, sprinkling on some salt before slicing into the steak, which of course was cooked perfectly.

"Have you told her about living with you?"

Olivia sighed, taking a small sip of wine before shaking her head.

"Not yet. I don't know how. She doesn't know me."

"But she trusts you."

"She trusts some superwoman who saved her from a mad man."

"But it was enough for her to make that connection. And need I remind you, that if she hadn't, she would have gone right back to where she was to start with."

"I know."

Peter reached over and covered her hand with his own.

"It will work out, you'll see."

"How can you be so optimistic?"

"It part of living with Walter. He's very enthusiastic about things. Every cloud seems to have a silver lining with that man."

"Like father, like son, huh?"

"Something like that."

They ate the rest of their dinner, the conversation light and easy, edging away from the topic of Marlina for a little while. Dinner and dishes done, they curled up in front of the TV, watching a nature documentary about penguins.

"You know what I've noticed?"

"What?"

"That penguins look like little men in suits."

Olivia snorted.

"I think they are cute. I like how the males look after the eggs while the females go and eat."

Olivia snuggled closer to Peter and closed her eyes, the beating of his heart and the soothing tones of David Attenborough helping her drift off. Peter woke her up some time later and tugged her off to bed and she fell asleep easily, Peter's arms around her, a small smile on her face.


When her phone went off, she was certain that merely five minutes had passed. It was still dark outside and as she fumbled for her phone, she half prayed it was a wrong number.

"Dunham."

"It Broyles. You need to get to the hospital."

Olivia sat up in bed, all traces of sleepiness gone. She pushed Peter's shoulder, not stopping till he stirred.

"What's wrong?"

"Marlina's gone."


When they arrived, there was a small circle of nurses at the station, seemingly blind to the FBI agents that buzzed around them. Broyles was nearby, pacing the floor as he yelled down the phone. He hung up when he caught sight of them.

"What happened?"

"Festal escaped custody."

"How?"

"Still trying to figure that out."

There was finally a break in the gathering of nurses and that's when Olivia saw Amanda, a large graze on her head. Olivia felt the guilt and anger at the pit of her stomach. More innocent people were getting hurt. She moved closer.

"Amanda, are you ok?"

Amanda offered her a weak smile, rolling the mug of tea between her palms. She was shaking and pale, the smile not reaching her eyes.

"Yeah. No stitches required."

Olivia took a seat across from her, placing a hand on her arm.

"What happened?"

Amanda shook her head, frowning deeply.

"I was changing Marlina's dressings when the door burst open. Festal clipped me with a gun. The last thing I remember is Marlina screaming."

Olivia sighed and took a moment to gather her thoughts. She didn't know where to begin. Festal could have taken her anywhere. He could be doing anything to her.

"Where was Agent Simmons?"

"I think he went to get coffee."

Olivia often prided herself on keeping calm, being able to focus and move on, even when something rattled her. But this was too much, even for her. She turned her to look at Agent Simmons, sitting in a chair, not seeming to be aware of just what he had done. Broyles would give him a dressing down but it didn't seem like enough. He didn't understand what he had done.

"Excuse me."

She pushed back her seat and strode over to Agent Simmons, the edge of her vision taking on a red hue. She had never been so angry. She moved swiftly, gathering him by the collar and pulling him from his seat, pressing him against the wall.

"Do you know what you have done?"

Agent Simmons struggled against her grip but she held firm, her heart pounding in her chest. His foot caught the edge of the seat he had been sitting on and she felt it catch her shin, to angry to feel the pain that it should have caused.

"You never leave your post. Do you hear me? YOU NEVER LEAVE YOUR POST!"

She felt hands pulling at her but she ignored them.

"HE RAPED HER OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR YEARS AND YOU LET HIM WALK IN AND TAKE HER!"

Her voice cracked and she could feel the tickle of tears in her eyes as she continued to scream in his face.

"YOU LET HIM TAKE HER AWAY!"

"Dunham! Let him go. Now!"

She ignored the order from Broyles but couldn't ignore the hands that had gained purchase on her, pulling her away. She struggled against them, even as her grip was lost on Agent Simmons.

"IF HE HURTS HER, I WILL RUIN YOU. DO YOU HERE ME? THERE WILL NOT BE A ROCK BIG ENOUGH TO HIDE YOU FROM ME!"

Finally, they pulled her completely away. She struggled against the arms that held her, pulling with all her strength to get back to Agent Simmons. She wasn't done. Not by a long shot.

"Olivia, stop."

Peter's voice was hot in her ear, breaking through the red haze of anger. She leaned slightly into him, letting him wrap his arms completely around her, pulling her into a corner, away from Agent Simmons, away from the crowd of agents. He waited until she was completely still before he released her, turning her to face him.

"Listen Olivia. I know you're pissed, I am too. I would love to join you in pounding that bastard into the ground but we need to focus ok? Losing it is not going to help Marlina."

Olivia nodded and took a deep breath, waiting for the anger to slide away. Peter studied her for a moment before his hand found her cheek, cupping her face.

"You back?"

She nodded and Peter offered her a light smile.

"I'm impressed by the way. Miss Cool and Collected has a red button."

"I literally saw red."

Peter nodded.

"I noticed."

Olivia sighed and ran her hands through her hair, which she had failed to put into a ponytail in her rush to get out the door.

"We don't know where he's taken her. He could be anywhere."

"We will find her."

Olivia nodded slight struggling to figure out what their next move should be. And that's when she felt it, an odd tugging in her stomach. Before she could say anything thing, she was overcome with an immense dizzy spell. She felt Peter's arms catch her before she fell into a black abyss.


It was cold. She could feel the sharpness of the chill on her arms. She could smell the sea, the salt surrounding her. She could feel the gentle lapping of the water beneath her feet, the gently sloping of the boards. She was somewhere near the water. A marina of some sort.

"We will be gone soon. We will be free."

She knew that voice. She followed the sound as it carried on the night air. She saw Marlina first, could feel her desperation. And her hopelessness. She was sitting on the edge of the marina, near a boat, her knees curled under her chin, rocking slightly. Olivia moved closer, wondering for a moment if Marlina would see her, the way Olivia could when she came into the office. Marlina rocked slightly, speaking softly to herself, words that Olivia could not distinguish. She didn't look up as Olivia got closer.

"You'll see my dear. No one will find us."

Festal was loading a boat. Olivia focused on the letters on the hull, committing them to memory before looking around, taking in the details that surrounded her. Numbers, names, anything that could help when Marlina finally released her. Festal, seemingly frustrated by her silence, climbed off the boat and grabbed her arm, hard.

"Answer me. Aren't you happy?"

Marlina kept her eyes closed, the words moving silently over her lips. Festal yanked her arm again and Olivia could see the fresh blood. She had torn her stitches. He swung his arm back and slapped her. Olivia felt the horrible tug in her stomach again and the caress of the darkness


"Olivia, wake up."

Peter's hands were gentle on her face as she felt herself return to her body. He smiled down at her.

"Welcome back."

Olivia sat up, her head still spinning slightly.

"I know where she is. We have to hurry."