FRINGE

Lab, Take 2

(I'm Scared, part 9)

No inFRiNGEment intended.

Note: I'm sorry if I got some of you guys confused. Obviously "blurred" was about the date taking place right after the end of the episode JACKSONVILLE. "flight", "fight", "kiss and tell" & "the morning after", the day, evening and morning after from Liv's POV. "the morning before" goes back to the end of the episode from Walter's (and Astrid) POV. "the in between" is from Peter's POV and set right after the date.

this new chapter finds Liv going back to the lab and follows "the morning after"... I'm only hoping I didn't make it any more confusing

The whole thing being totally A/U and pure speculation on my part…. I want to thank you again for the great support.

-o-

The day dries in a haze. I can't even recall the last time I was happy or sad or angry. I feel nothing. All my senses have been numbed. Everything I've been told for the last 25 years or so was a blatant lie covering more lies, revelation zeroing in on the only possible conclusion: I'm dead.

And right this minute, even a couple of days after Walter finally came clean, not only am I technically dead in this world, but I'm dead inside.

*

TWO DAYS BEFORE

Her cell rang the minute she reached Harvard. "Agent Dunham, Astrid. Peter called, he's all right. I wanted you to know as soon as possible. I'm not sure I can't control Walter. He's in a…"

She cut her off. "I'm coming in Astrid. I'm parking right now. Did Peter say anything else?"

"He said he's got a thing or two to take care of and he'll be here."

Olivia killed the ignition, looked at her reflexion in the courtesy mirror and decided that if they were going to be found out, there was nothing she could do to prevent it. She grabbed her things on the back seat, locked the car and took her time to get to the lab. She unravelled the last 24 hours in the back of her mind, gradually erasing the silly smile gracing her face. She wasn't even bothered any more by the fact he was not from this world. When she was certain she'd pulled herself together, she entered the lab.

Greeted by the familiar humming of various electronic appliances and a loud moo, she glanced at Gene's stall to discover Walter having breakfast and watching TV two feet away from the big pied ruminant. Astrid jumped up the stairs.

"Good morning Astrid."

"When Peter called I didn't ask anything, I didn't want to spook him before we got a chance to debrief him."

Olivia simply nodded and slowly walked up to Walter.

"Oh, agent Dunham, have you had breakfast yet? Peter is not with you?" He winced and his face melted but he recovered instantly, apparently dismissing whatever confusing thoughts that might have crossed his mind. He held out his bowl with a candid smile. "This is a new brand, it's especially tasty. Would you like to try it? I can ask Agent Farnsworth to fix you another bowl. She supervises my diet. She says I don't take enough care of my health." He munched on a spoonful of multicoloured cereals, glanced at the TV and chuckled.

She pretended she couldn't see the giant flying elephant hovering over their heads. "What are you watching Walter? Is it Spongebob again?"

"Yes, yes, I'm multitasking." He breathed in with a whiz. Milk ran from the corner of his mouth, dripping on his plaid shirt. "How is Peter agent Dunham?"

"I wouldn't know Walter."

"Right, right," he winked with a conniving smile, "don't worry, I won't tell anyone." He turned his attention back to his series and burst out laughing. "See, Gene, I told you he'd say that!"

"Walter, pay attention please. Do you remember what I asked you?"

"…"

"You know you'll have to talk to him eventually."

Walter glanced and sat his bowl at his feet. He stood up but didn't seem able to stand straight, his back oddly hunched, his face pleading. "Can't it wait till Monday?" he whined, patting Gene absently. "I have to think of the good way. These matters simply cannot be rushed agent Dunham."

"You don't think you waited long enough?" she lowered her voice to a whisper. But Astrid was busy at her desk. "You tell him today. No more stalling."

Walter shuffled slightly and tucked his hands in his lab coat, glancing from Gene to Astrid and back to her.

"Walter, will you promise me?"

Now he was looking stubbornly at his feet, and mumbling quietly to himself, his face inscrutable.

"Walter!" She insisted, raising her voice. "There is no point to keeping it from him. I don't want to lie to Peter and I don't want to keep your secret for you." She had the funny feeling she had already waited way too long. She should have told Peter right the minute she knew. Or confront Walter. Or both. "Walter, listen to me. If you don't, I will." And then she knew with absolute clarity that something was bound to happen, and that she'll be a casualty in this war Walter started years ago. She might even lose Peter.

"You will? What did I miss?" Peter's voice startled them all. She flushed, Walter gazed absently, and Astrid jumped again. "The door was open. Isn't this place supposed to be top secret of something? Maybe we could ask the Bureau for some state of the art equipment to protect us from the candid mob."

He seemed in a very happy mood and she hated it. She wanted them back to before when she was pretending she didn't care for him in that way, when he was just a genius and a pain in the ass and Walter's caretaker and translator. She glared, anger flowing in her veins.

"What did I say? Did someone die?" he joked.

And she simply hated the fact that she'll be the bearer of the truth. Eventually.

Peter placed gently the four cup cardboard tray on his desk, along with a bag of greasy doughnuts, got back to the door to hang his things. He handed out one cup to Astrid with a spring in his step, took another cup to Walter, "It's okay, Walter, you didn't have to wait for me, I know I've been missing. I should have called, I'm sorry," and turned to Olivia, leaving Walter in shock. "And here's your espresso macchiato Livia." He took the lid of his cup and swallowed with a smile.

She smiled back mechanically. It was going to be a very long day. But the one day she was willing to give Walter. One day.

*

She looked up to see Walter quietly closing the door of her office behind him.

"What are you doing Walter?"

"I have to tell you how it happened."

"I'm not interested Walter. I'm not the one you should tell. Peter must know the truth."

"I know, I know, just bear with me agent Dunham. May I?" he gestured to the couch facing her desk. "I'd better be comfortable. It's going to take à while."

"Where is Peter?" she asked feebly. "Can't he join us and enjoy the show?"

Walter flinched but didn't throw a fit. He simply dropped his chin to his chest and waited, with his hands folded on his lap.

"You may sit down," she finally gave up. "Where is Peter?" she said again watching him arrange the cushions behind his back and crossing his legs.

He laced his fingers. "I sent him fetch me some files."

"We should wait for him."

"Well, in that case, I'll take my leave." He sighed and stood up, already reaching to the door knob without a look back. He stopped, having second thoughts. "You know I sent him to Vermont to search an old warehouse I used for storage years ago. Obsolete stuff, nothing I won't need anytime soon," he explained with an absent smile.

She sighed. "Okay Walter. Come back and sit. I'm listening."

-o-

Thanks again for reading :)