A/N - Hey guys...I decided to post this after finding out that my little darling niece just giggled for the first time. Not even three month old and she can hold her own head up, smile and giggle and hold her own bottle. Proud Aunty moment!
Chapter Eleven – The Concept Of Reality
Peter had a hard time leaving the house. Olivia kept giving him a list of tasks, including what their next step was going to be. Extracting a promise from her to text or call every hour to give him an update, he finally managed to leave. He didn't like it one bit. He would rather stay with her but Olivia would have been deeply annoyed by him turning babysitter. She had everything that she needed. He wondered how he would break the news to Walter without sending him into a full blown panic attack. Walter had always held affection for Olivia but since the announcement of the pregnancy and their wedding, Walter openly adored her. She could do no wrong in his eyes. Peter made a detour before heading to the lab. He needed to talk to Broyles. When he arrived at the headquarters, he flicked a quick smile to Cathy, one of the regular receptionists, who let him through without question. He knocked on Broyles door before entering.
"Morning Bishop."
"Morning."
"It's odd seeing you here. What's wrong?"
Peter frowned and took a seat across from Olivia's boss.
"I am here to ask you to not call Olivia for the next two days."
Broyles cocked his head slightly.
"And why is that?"
"She's been put on strict bed rest for the next two days."
"What happened?"
"We thought she had lost the baby."
Broyles swallowed.
"Are they both ok?"
"Thankfully, yes."
Broyles nodded before sighing.
"This is what we were concerned about."
Peter stood, putting his hands in his pockets.
"She's fine. It has nothing to do with the job."
"What did the doctor say?"
Peter remained silent, confirming what Broyles was saying.
"Peter, you need to talk-"
Peter held up his hand.
"You need to stop that. I am supporting Olivia in this, she'll know when it is time to stop and stay home."
"This is a pretty good sign."
Peter sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"I can't force her into this. You should know better than anyone that forcing her into anything is not a good move."
Broyles nodded.
"I know. But this job isn't the best with a baby on board."
"The doctor is checking her again in forty-eight hours. We'll talk again after that."
He turned to leave but paused when Broyles started speaking again.
"I care for her too you know. I am just concerned for her and the baby."
Peter turned back to Broyles.
"I know. But I am her husband and I am not going to make her unhappy when I don't have too. She'll make the right choice. She always does."
Broyles offered him a nod and Peter left, heading back to the truck.
When he got to the lab, Walter frowned when he realised that his son was alone.
"Where is Olivia?"
Peter sighed.
"She woke up last night and found blood in the bed."
He saw the moment that both Walter and Astrid understood what that meant. They opened their mouths to question him but he bet them too it.
"She's fine. So is the baby. She just needs to rest for a couple of days."
Walter nodded slightly.
"Ok."
"Walter, she's fine. Really."
Walter nodded again, playing with the scalpel.
"Very well."
Peter moved closer, pulling up the home phone number before handing it to Walter.
"Give her a call if you don't believe me."
Walter snatched the phone from him, hitting the call button before wondering into his office. Astrid offered Peter a small smile.
"He's going to worry for the next two days, you know that right?"
"He won't be alone."
Peter sighed, sliding into a seat across from Astrid.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
Peter watched her closely as she moved around the lab. There was something off in the way she moved. When she was close to him again, he looked at her neck, the scratches still red and swollen.
"It should have gone down by now."
Astrid shook her head.
"I'm fine. We took apart those cigarettes."
"Did you find anything?"
"Walter seems to think that there is something added to them but he's not sure what. He wants to run a few more tests."
Walter came out of his office, his smile tight.
"She's fine."
"I told you."
"Yes but you could have lied to protect me. Olivia would not lie."
Peter offered him a smile.
"True. How was she?"
"Watching the news."
Walter moved back to his work.
"So son, did Astrid tell you what we found?"
"That there is something in the cigarettes."
Walter nodded.
"But it might help if I had a live sample from someone who is infected."
Peter glanced Astrid.
"You could take a sample from Astrid."
Astrid frowned.
"No."
Her voice was hard, her face angry and everything about it was out of character. It only lasted a second but it was long enough to confirm their fears. Astrid was infected. Whatever was making its way through her system was working slowly enough for her to not be turned into a monster but fast enough to already change her behaviour. Walter glanced at Peter before turning back to Astrid, his voice soft.
"Astro, something isn't right here. I would like to take a blood sample."
Astrid sighed.
"Fine. But nothing is wrong."
Her voice shook as she took a seat and yanked up her sleeve.
"Peter, would you mind?"
Peter moved, getting everything he needed before he wiped down Astrid's inner arm with alcohol. He gently inserted the needle and extracted the blood, watching her face. She was pale, Peter could see it now. She seemed dazed.
"Astrid, we'll fix this. I promise."
She nodded, pressing a small piece of gauze against the needle entry. He handed Walter the blood before glancing at the scratches again.
"Have they been itchy?"
"No."
Pete sighed.
"I need to check out Freelancer's home. Are you going to be ok?"
Astrid gave him a tight smile.
"Of course."
"Call me if anything changes."
Astrid nodded and Peter moved out of the lab, his stomach feeling hollow. They need to fix this before Astrid became one of the monsters that had turned the city upside down.