My Son, My Son

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Four

Táoyì

Standing on the ice covered Reiden lake, Peter slowly looked around. It was night, the lake was dark. On the shoreline, he could make out a small boy. As he walked to him, he realized that the boy was him. The boy turned and walked away. Peter followed him. The boy led him to the lake house. Walking into the house, Peter stopped. He was on the landing of Walter's lab.

He saw his younger version standing in front of him. "We're dying again," the boy sadly said.

"Why am I here?" Peter asked the boy. "Why do I keep coming back to Reiden lake?"

"Because that's where it all started," young Peter said. "You should have died that day, when the ice cracked. But a mistake was made that needed fixing. You were rescued because you had to live. You needed to grow up so you could save both worlds. Walter made you important. But when you try to cheat time, bad things happen."

He turned his head and looked behind him. Peter saw another boy lying on a gurney. A younger Walter was standing next to the boy, he was checking a bag filled with a blue liquid.

"That's me. That's when I was cured," Peter said. He stepped down the landing and closer to Walter. "This is my timeline." Peter pointed to Walter. "That's the Walter from my timeline."

"The before Walter would remember," the boy said. "But not the now Walter. It was taken away from him. He can't help you." The boy walked up to the younger Walter. "I loved my father, and he loved me." He sadly looked at Peter. His eyes were full of tears. "And now he loves you." He looked up at Peter. "And you love him."

"You need to remember this day," young Peter said. "My father can help you remember. One of us has to live, for him. You have to live, so you can take care of him and he can love us again."

The boy pointed behind Walter. Peter saw a white board. He faintly saw something drawn on the board. "Remember," the boy said. "And BREATHE!" he shouted.

Peter gasped for air, he tried to sit up, someone was holding him down.

"Oh, thank god," Elizabeth cried. He looked confused, he had no idea what happened.

"Peter, you stopped breathing," Elizabeth told him. He saw her brows knitted with concern. She touched her chest. "I was so frightened."

A male nurse placed an oxygen tube on his face. Peter could hear beeping. He was attached to a patient monitor.

"His oxygen and heart rate are normal now, Mrs. Bishop," the nurse told her. "I've given him another shot, he should be better soon. He'll be fine." He quickly left the room.

"I'm sorry," Peter said. He could see how upset she was. "Please, I don't want you to have to go through this again."

"No," she said. She reached out and grasped his hand. "I have to be here, I could not live with myself if I stayed away. I'm not leaving your side, Peter. I am here for you."

Peter squeezed her hand. Her voice, her concern for him, it flooded him with memories of not only his alternate mother, but his real mother. He remembered the love they each had for him. And now it seemed he had another mother that was worried for him. "Thank you," he tenderly said.

She squeezed back, "You're welcome."

She sat with him and they talked. It was mostly about his life, she wanted to know everything about him. He told her the good and bad things that he did in his life. As she listened to every word he said, she imagined what it would have been like, if she was a part of that life.

It was nearly an hour later that Walternate walked into the room, Walter was right behind him. Walter slowly walked to a chair in the room and sat down. He avoided looking at Peter.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Peter," Walternate said. "The test results indicate that the disease is progressing at a faster rate than when you were a boy. We really don't know the specific reason why, your age could be a factor. We can't even predict how long you may have."

"It's all my fault," Walter dejectedly whispered. "If we found my notes for the cure, you'd be well by now."

"My notes may not be enough to help find a cure in time," Walternate admitted. "Regardless of the test results, my people will continue to work on finding a cure. You are young and strong, Peter. Our only hope is that you are able to fight this disease long enough until we can create the formula that will cure you."

Peter seemed to stare at nothing. "If you don't mind," Peter said. "I'd like to be alone right now."

"I understand," Walternate said. "Elizabeth."

Elizabeth lovingly placed her hand on the side of his face. "Don't give up hope, Peter." She painted on a smile. It was a smile that she wore before, to hide the fear she felt for her dying son. She quickly left with Walternate.

"I'm sorry, Peter." Walter's voice was thick with sadness and guilt. "I'm so sorry I can't help you." He slowly stood up. "I wish I could remember the day I saw Walternate's positive results. I…I know I made the cure, I just can't see it, it's not in here." He began pounding his fist on his leg. "I know I would have written it on my board in the lab."

Peter recalled the dream he had. "Walter, when I crossed over, the Walter in my timeline brought me to his lab. There was a board there. I remember seeing a white board with writing on it. I think I saw the formula."

Walter immediately stopped hitting his leg. "Peter, what are you saying?"

"I know this is going to sound crazy."

"All we have left is crazy," Walter madly sung.

"You said you think that Bell took the memory of finding the cure from your brain. That path is closed, but I think we may have another path. Can you help me recall the board with the formula from my timeline? Can you get the image of the board from my memory?"

"Peter, I really don't know if I can. You're so sick now."

"Walter, it's my only hope. We've gone into memories of dead people before. I know you can do it." He saw Walter's eyes focusing on nothing. That meant he was thinking.

"We'll have to go back to my lab," Walter muttered. "All my equipment is there. It would be very risky, Peter. Very risky. I cannot guarantee if it would even work."

"Walter, right now my odds are not looking good. After what I've seen you do, I have more trust searching for the formula in my mind than finding a cure here. Can you do it?"

Walter nodded his head with determination. For the first time he had a glimmer of hope that he could help Peter. "Yes, Peter. I believe I can, but we'll need to go back to my lab."

Peter pulled the oxygen tube and the BP cuff off. "Let's go, Walter. According to Walternate, I don't have much time left."

Peter stood up, he felt lightheaded but thanks to the shot, he felt better. Putting his shoes on, he left the room with Walter. He saw Walternate speaking to several lab technicians. Elizabeth was standing near the doorway.

"Peter, what are you doing up?" Elizabeth asked him. "You should be resting."

"I may have a way to get the formula," Peter said. "I just need to go back to Walter's lab."

Seeing Peter standing in the hallway, Walternate quickly walked to him. He heard what Peter said. "Why do you need to go back there?"

"Peter says he saw the board with the formula as a boy," Walter said. "But he doesn't remember what was on it. If I can take him back to my lab, I can use my equipment to bring that memory back. I can then get an image of the board that is in his mind."

Walternate couldn't believe what Walter was saying. "Peter, you're staking your life on the inventions of an eccentric mad man?"

"My procedures work. I've done it many times before," Walter said in defense. "This could be his only hope. With my eccentric inventions, he'll be able to see the board with the cure. It is the only way to save him in time."

Walternate motioned to several men down the hall. "I'm sorry, Peter. But you leave me no other choice."

"What are you going to do?" Peter said.

"This man has already been proven to be insane. This confirms it, I am sending him back to his world."

"Then I'm going with," Peter said with determination.

"I anticipated that you would say that. Peter, you were born on this world. As defense secretary I am invoking involuntary treatment. You are very ill and are not thinking clearly. You are to remain on this side."

Two men grabbed him and pulled him back into his room. Peter fought their hold. "No, you can't make me stay here."

"It's for your own good, Peter," Walternate said, as Peter's door closed. He motioned to Walter. "Take him to the bridge."

"You're going to kill him!" Walter angrily shouted, as two men pulled him away. "If you don't let me take him back, then it won't be by my hand that he dies, this time it will be yours!"

"Walter," Elizabeth said. "Was that necessary?"

"You heard him, Elizabeth. Using some crazy procedure to take a picture of a memory of when he was a child. God knows what that mad man was going to do to him. It's the stuff of nightmares and lunatics. No, Peter is better off here. Don't worry, Elizabeth. We'll find the cure."

Elizabeth didn't know what to do. She saw one of the guards leave Peter's room. He was nursing his stomach. She stepped into the room. The other guard stood over Peter with his arms crossed. Peter was sitting on a chair. She could clearly see how upset he was.

"Elizabeth," Peter said. His jaw was clenched tight. "I'm not a child. I have rights. He can't keep me here."

Elizabeth hated seeing him so distressed. "I'm sorry, Peter. He's only thinking of you."

Peter started standing up, "I…" he was pushed down by the guard.

"Please stay down, Mr. Bishop," the guard said. "I've been given orders not to hurt you, don't force my hand."

Peter's brows furrowed with anger. "If I stay here, I'll die. I need to go back before it's too late."

"Peter," Elizabeth pleaded with him. "Your father…Walter. He doesn't want to see you die. We are only doing this to save you."

"Don't I have a say?" He looked up at her. She saw a look of anger and fear. A look that she knew all too well. "Please, Elizabeth," Peter begged her. "Can you talk to him? I know the cure is somewhere inside my head. I just need to go back and let Walter find it. Please, talk to him. For me, talk to him."

She slowly nodded her head. "I'll see what I can do." She quickly left the room.

Peter sat back, he cheerfully smiled at the guard. "Not bad for a sick guy." He saw a bruise blossoming over the guard's right eye.

The guard touched his eye. "No," he quietly said.

Peter let out a deep breath. "Look, you don't have to stand over me like that. Where am I going to go?"

Unfolding his arms, the man stepped back. "There you go," Peter said. "Why don't you sit down. It appears I'm going to be here for a while. Just thinking of your feet."

Right now, Peter was alone. He'd been alone most of his adult life. He knew that when in a situation like this, he had to make friends, fast. Smiling at the man, he worked on making friends.

Walter was furious. He was practically dragged across the bridge. He wasn't surprised to see Broyles was waiting for him on the other side.

"Walter, I was just informed that you were being expelled from the other side. What happened? Where's Peter?"

"That megalomaniac is going to kill him, Phillip," Walter said. "I need to find a way to bring him back. Have you been able to get in touch with Olivia yet?"

"Yes, she's on her way now. She'll be here later tonight."

"Tonight," Walter mumbled. "I have some things to do first."

"What are you going to do, Walter?"

"Do? I'm bringing my son back, that's what I'm going to do."

Broyles realized that was the first time he heard him refer to Peter as his son. "I'll do whatever I can to help you."

"Good," Walter said. "Then let's get started. Peter doesn't have much time left. First, I must call Astrid, she needs to get things ready for Peter. And I'm going to need you to get in touch with agent Jacobson."

Peter made it quickly known just how unhappy he was with his new situation. Other than the shot to keep his fever down, he refused food and any other medication.

He only slept a few hours during the night. His new bodyguard stayed with him the entire time.

Peter happily grinned, he pulled a pile of tongue depressors towards him. "I thought you said you were good in poker, Humphrey." So far, he managed to get a name and start a friendly game of poker with the man guarding him. They had been playing poker since six o'clock in the morning.

Humphrey sat back. At first, he was winning a few games. But now Peter was winning every hand.

"Don't feel bad, Humphrey. Piece of advice. Never bet big until you get to know who you're playing against."

Peter looked at the clock on the wall. It was Eight A.M. He'd been in the alternate universe for nearly twenty hours. People had been coming in and out taking blood or checking his vitals all night. The last visit they gave him another shot of the medicine that helped keep his fever back.

He began shuffling the cards. "You know, I've always been a loner, Humphrey. I've never been in one place for more than a week." He started dealing the cards. "It's not going to take long being here before I start getting itchy feet."

Humphrey was getting to like Peter. He had a friendly smile. Knowing he was supposed to be deathly ill made him feel uneasy. "I've lived in this city my whole life."

"Really," Peter said. Finished dealing, he picked up his hand. "You need to get out more, Humphrey. Traveling broadens the mind, you know."

"I read your dossier," Humphrey said. "Do you really have an IQ of one hundred and ninety?"

Peter laughed. "Yeah, but you'll find I'm the dumbest smart guy you'll ever know."

Peter heard a knock on the door. The door slowly opened, he saw Olivia walk into the room. He was surprised to see Agent Jacobson was with her. What surprised him was Jacobson had blonde hair. He knew he was sick, but he remembered him with black hair.

"Olivia," Peter said. She ran to him. He tightly hugged her, she was better medicine for him than the shot in the arm. "I'm so glad they let you come."

"Peter," she sighed. "I got here as fast as I could."

They broke their embrace. Olivia looked into his eyes, "Walter told me that you have the genetic disease Táoyì again."

"Táoyì," Peter said. A large grin grew. "Yes, Walternate is trying to find a cure for me."

Olivia patted Jacobson on the back. "They let me bring my brother. He insisted on coming."

"Aloysius," Peter said. "It's always good to see you." He saw Brian Jacobson frowning.

"Yes, Peter," Jacobson said, with clenched teeth. "It's good to see you too."

"Peter," Olivia said. "How are you feeling? Walter wanted to know."

"I'm feeling fine, Olivia. They just gave me a shot that helps keep the fever away." He looked back. "I was playing a game of poker with Humphrey here."

Peter leaned over, "Humphrey, can I have some time alone with my girlfriend and her brother?"

Humphrey stood up. "I'm not supposed to leave the room."

"Come on, Humphrey. Where am I going to go? The air conditioner vent is a tad too small for us to use to escape."

Humphrey laughed. "I guess it won't hurt." He started walking out of the room. "I'll be just outside, Peter."

Peter waved at him. "Good, can't wait to win more of your tongue depressors. If I win enough, I'll make you a bird house."

Once he left, Peter said, "Táoyì?"

"Walter said you would know what it means."

"Yeah, it's Chinese for escape. What's the plan?"

Jacobson pulled off a blonde wig. "We need to change," he told Peter. Walter chose Jacobson for a reason. He was the same height and build as Peter. They even had the same beard stubble. They quickly changed clothes. Olivia handed Peter the glasses Jacobson wore. They were as thick as the bottom of a glass bottle.

"Aloysius, you're blind as a bat," Peter said.

"Call me that again," Jacobson said in a threatening tone. "I dare you."

Grinning, Peter said, "Okay, Aloysius."

"Let's go, Peter," Olivia said. "Jacobson is going to be in the restroom when we leave. I hope it will give us enough time to get across the bridge before they realize that you're gone. Walter is waiting on the other side."

Peter checked his watch. "The shots only last about six hours. I have five left before it wears off."

Olivia checked to make sure the wig was on straight. "Let's go, dear brother."

He gave her a peck on the cheek. "You've always been my favorite sister."

Opening the door, Olivia left the room first. She stood in front of Humphrey as Peter quickly walked out. "Peter said he wasn't feeling well. He's in the restroom right now. We're going to the cafeteria, we'll be back to see him again."

Humphrey nodded his head. He quickly entered the room. He listened at the door, he heard someone breathing. "You all right, Peter?"

He heard someone cough, "Fine," through the door. "Just checking." Sitting down, he waited for Peter to come out.

~~~~~ Finger bone Butterfly, Left dot ~~~~~