Title: The Warning by Americanchick

She sat on one of the chairs outside their apartment building and stared out at the privacy bushes, her knees held closely to her chest where she rested her chin. She was still freaked out about being jumped by that man and it bothered her immensely. Normally she could control her fear, hide it, and tuck it away in the least explored parts of her being. She was always able to hide her emotions behind a thick wall of false control and strength. But for whatever reason, she just couldn't do that this time. Maybe it was because she wasn't in the safety of the federal buildings walls or the lab, maybe it was because her relationship with Peter was more than just friends and partners now and she knew that losing him would cut more deeply than anything else. She knew he was in just as much danger as she was and she also knew that the man that jumped her could have killed her and gone after Peter. She looked down at the bruising on her arms and could feel the large one on her back from the guy's knees and all she could think about was just how fragile she really was. And also thinking about everything that happened made her question Peter's proposal to move in together after this case was over with. Was his offer made to just keep her safe or was he afraid too?

"Hi." Peter said walking up behind her and sitting on the arm of the chair.

"Hi." She responded not looking at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked knowing the answer he would get and sighing when he got it.

"I'm fine."

"Come here." He instructed standing and offering his hand which she took. He led them back inside where it was warm and the October wind couldn't reach them, before bringing them to the couch and lying down with her pressed against his front. "I know that you're scared, and that you're not fine." He said, twining the fingers on his left hand with the ones on her right.

"He could have killed me and then you." She sighed deeply.

"We're surrounded by agents that watch us all the time, they are here to keep us safe and they kept you safe from that man."

"But what if they hadn't have been there or they didn't notice anything off? Would I be glass right now, would you?" She asked, unable to keep the fear and sadness from her voice.

"We keep each other safe. I would have been there with you if you had let me know that Shumba needed to go." He explained, rubbing her arm soothingly.

"Is that why you asked me to move in with you after this case if over, to keep me safe?" She asked slowly.

"No, well yes that plays a role. But no, that's not why I asked you."

"Why?"

"For the same reason I agreed to marry you." He said lowly in her ear, sending a shiver down her body. "I could have backed out and let another agent do this with you, hell I'm not even an agent. I want to live with you because I love you."

"Peter." She said, slowly rolling over so that she was facing him where she could see the sincerity in his eyes before she kissed him deeply, running her hand over the stubble on his cheek and kissing him until they both ran out of breath.

"I'm taking that as you don't hate me." Peter said his lips quirked up in a smirk.

"If I hated you, I wouldn't be here with you." She pointed out and curled into him tightly, her head resting in the crook of his neck. "I can't say those words right now Peter."

"Okay." He said a little confused.

"It's not because I don't feel the same for you, because I do, trust me I do. It's just…Growing up the way that I did…Those words are not always safe and they tend to just lead to hurt."

"I can understand that." Peter said, holding her tightly, ever aware of her injuries. "And I don't need you to say that you love me. I know and you know and that's all that matters.

"Mmhmm." She murmured into his neck, the pain meds that she had taken moments before, now setting in.

"Get some sleep Livia." He said softly, his own eyes drooping as he too fell asleep.

A loud bark jumped them hours later, making them look around and see both Sherlock and Shumba standing at attention, their hair up and low, lethal growls where coming from both of them. They pulled away from each other and slowly stood up, scanning the living room and kitchen from their positions. Their senses were on high alert as they listened for any noise that would alert them to the dog's discomfort. The silence stretched on for a while before the sound of something breaking caught their attention and had them running in the direction of the bedroom where they both skidded to a halt when they saw the broken window and the one object that didn't belong and had both of their stomachs churning. Lying on the bed was a glass hand, blood running from it onto the sheets, a note stuck to it with the words "you're next" written on it.

"I want to move them from the apartment." Broyles said to an agent standing nearby.

"Sir, how are we supposed to explain that to our families?" Olivia asked. "We just moved in there and now you want us to move again."

"It's not that I want to Dunham, I have to in order to keep you safe. "Broyles stated. "The hand you found in your apartment last night belongs to one of your neighbors, a Mr. Kale Braley. He and his wife were both found dead in their living room."

"We met him." Peter said feeling more uneasy than before.

"All the more reason to move you." Broyles said.

"You are the one that made us targets so that we could catch this guy but now you want to move us away from the apartment where he knows we live?" Olivia asked in slight disbelief. "We are targets for him now."

"He will kill you Dunham."

"Well what other choice do we have to catch him if we don't stick around?"

"Fine, but I'm putting more guards around." Broyles huffed. "I'll see to it that you get a new bed."

"That would be great." Peter nodded not wanting to sleep on a blood stained bed.

"The two of you are to stay here for the time being." Broyles instructed and walked away.

"You really want to stay there?" Peter asked knowing that she didn't.

"What choice do we have? I want to get this guy and soon." Olivia shrugged, trying to look braver than she felt.

"I do too, but I'm not willing to lose you." He said in a voice just loud enough for her to hear.

"Then help keep me safe." She said sharing a look with him as Broyles walked back in.

"Everything has been arranged, the old bed is being taken out while a new one is going in now. The window has also been replaced; in fact all of them have been replaced by thick re-enforced panes." He explained. "The lock on the door had been picked so I had the locks changed and deadbolts put in."

"Okay." Olivia nodded, taking the keys that Broyles handed to her. "But do we really need that much protection?"

"I'm not taking any chances." Broyles said. "There is an agent down stairs that will drive you home."

"Thank you." Olivia said as she and Peter headed to the car.

"We need to at least inform Astrid that we are working the case. Maybe she can get Walter in gear to try and find a cure because I don't know about you but I'd much rather not become a glass figurine on a couch." Peter pointed out once they got back home.

"We can't."

"Walter won't think about making a cure without a good shove in the back." Peter pointed out. "And Astrid will keep our secret."

"Fine, but she has to keep this to her." Olivia sighed, flopping down on the couch.

"She will Livia, you know Astrid." Peter pointed out and took a seat across from her, pulling out his phone and dialing Astrid's number while watching Olivia fall back asleep.

"Hello?" Astrid answered.

"Hey, it's Peter."

"Peter what's going on?" Astrid asked concerned on why he was calling so late in the afternoon.

"Look Astrid please don't be angry with us." Peter said.

"Okay." Astrid responded slowly.

"Olivia and I…We were put on this case." He explained slowly, standing up and pacing the living room, not willing to leave Olivia alone for any length of time.

"I thought you two were supposed to be relaxing not working."

"No Astrid ah…"

"You've been on it the whole time?" Astrid guessed with an edge to her voice.

"Yes."

"Please just tell me that you didn't get married for the case and to make yourselves targets." She said and heard him sigh. "Oh Peter, you guys are putting yourselves in danger?"

"It's to catch this guy and it seems to be working." Peter explained.

"What do you mean?" She asked sharply.

"We're fine."

"Please at least tell me that you've been truthful with her about your feelings for her."

"What?"

"Oh come on Peter everyone can see that you love her except maybe her." Astrid sighed.

"She knows."

"You told her?" Astrid excitedly asked.

"Yes, now look Astrid I called to see if you could get Walter in gear with finding a cure for the glass turning thing."

"I can try."

"Just tell him that two of our neighbors were killed that way and that we could be in danger as well."

"But that's not true right?"

"Just tell him please? We might need it."

"You take care of yourself and your wife." She emphasized.

"I will." He promised and hung up; going over to the couch and picking Olivia up before carrying her to the new bed and calling the dogs over whom happily joined them.

A/N: Four more chapters to go after this one! I won't post tomorrow since most of you peeps will be consumed with the Fringe premiere! Not sure if I'll be going back to the hospital for the remainder of my time before my surgery on October 4th (yes, got pushed back yet again!) but I'll bring my lap top with me so I can still post regularly. Thank goodness for free wireless at the hospital! Hope you liked this chapter and thanks for all the wonderful reviews : )