A/N - And let the games begin :)
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Chapter Five – My Love Has Concrete Feet
Two days later, Olivia was in the living room, playing with Etta when there was a knock on the front door. She frowned at Etta.
"Who could that be, baby girl?"
Etta frowned back at her mother.
"Da?"
Olivia shook her head.
"No yet. Let's go see. Come on."
She scooped Etta up and pulled open the door. Broyles cast an impressive shadow standing the doorway. Etta squirmed in her mother's arms as she smiled as Broyles.
"Hi."
Olivia grinned at Broyles.
"That's the first time she's said that."
Broyles shook Etta's tiny hand.
"Well, she's a clever girl, aren't you Etta? You take after you Mummy in that way."
Etta squealed, clearly delighted with herself. She extended her tiny arms towards Broyles. Olivia handed Etta to Broyles, who shifted her to his hip with ease.
"Come in."
Broyles moved inside, smiling as Etta started tapping his head.
"So, do you want something to drink?"
"Sure."
He followed her into the kitchen, waiting as she made him a coffee. Olivia leaned against the counter, her arms across her chest.
"So, what's up?"
Broyles sat down, Etta squirming out of his lap. Olivia leaned over and closed the door.
"Just pop her on the floor."
Broyles did as she suggested and Etta settled herself by Broyles, playing with his shoelaces. Broyles glanced at Olivia, who shrugged.
"Don't ask me. She had an entire conversation with the chair leg the other day."
Broyles smiled again. Olivia loved Etta's ability to make everyone smile. Broyles wasn't the kind of man who made the action with ease and so far, Olivia had seen him smile more in the last five minutes then she had in as many years.
"How many words is she up to now?"
"Six or seven. Eight if you count the 'Hi' she just whipped put."
Broyles seemed to realize that something was missing.
"Where's your husband?"
"Oh he's doing some shopping. Etta needs some more formula and diapers."
"He's well trained."
"He loves it."
Olivia poured out two mugs of coffee and handed one to Broyles.
"So, what is going on?"
Etta had started hitting Broyles on the leg, demanding his attention again, her face serious.
"Hi."
Broyles scooped her up and started bouncing her on his lap.
"She look like you when she frowns."
"I know. Thankfully, her smile is all Peter."
There was a pause before Broyles spoke again.
"There is a very good reason I'm here."
"What?"
"Did you have coffee with an A.J Oliver the other day?"
Olivia took a seat next to Broyles, nodding slightly.
"Yes. She's on old friend. Why?"
"You were one of the last people to see her."
Olivia frowned as she thought about A.J's behaviour during their coffee.
"She was acting strange."
"How so?"
Olivia shrugged.
"Hard to describe. She was restless, asked some odd questions."
Broyles nodded.
"Did she tell you what she did?"
"Of course. She's a writer."
"It's not as simple as that. She's made some enemies over the years."
"Yeah she told me she had gotten some death threats."
Broyles frowned.
"I know that you have a full plate but I was hoping that you would take the case."
Olivia glanced at Etta. Ever since she had been born, work had taken a back seat. If she did take the case, it would be the first one since she had given birth to her daughter.
"Philip-"
"It's not a Fringe case, I know that. But it's a bit of a delicate situation and I need someone who can tread carefully. Someone I trust."
Olivia didn't know how to respond. She knew that she couldn't say no. Saying no would mean letting something far darker win over the world that she fought so hard to save. She didn't move when she heard Peter come through the front door.
"Liv, I couldn't find those diapers you were talking about so I got-"
Peter paused in the kitchen entrance, his arms full of bags, taking in Olivia and Broyles. Olivia moved forward, taking the bags and put them on the counter. Peter offered Broyles a small smile.
"Hi Broyles."
Etta wriggled in Broyles embrace.
"Hi! Da! Hi!"
Peter blinked.
"Did she just say 'Hi'?"
Olivia nodded as Peter grinned, pulling Etta into his arms.
"Hi."
Etta grinned.
"Hi!"
"Hi."
"Hi."
Peter laughed and Etta clapped. Olivia sat down and glanced at Broyles.
"Can you give us a minute?"
Broyles nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. Peter frowned, taking the seat across from her.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a case."
Peter's frowned deepened.
"I see."
"A.J is gone."
Peter nodded, pressing a kiss to Etta's cheek.
"Do you want to take it?"
Olivia found herself nodding. Even though they weren't close, A.J was still a friend. And Olivia wasn't sure if she would be able to forgive herself if the case went cold simply because Olivia wasn't willing to step up.
"It's not a Fringe case apparently. It's a delicate situation and Broyles needs someone he can trust."
"Ok."
Olivia shook her head.
"Peter, I don't have to-"
"Yes you do."
Peter balanced Etta on his lap as he leaned forward, taking Olivia's hand.
"Becoming a mother and a wife does not change who you are, Liv. Being an agent, that's part of who you are too."
Olivia glanced at Etta.
"But Etta-"
"Will be fine. Unless you plan to take her into the field with you."
Olivia managed a small smile. Peter traced her knuckles with his thumb.
"Why is it a delicate situation?"
Olivia shrugged.
"You arrived before Broyles could say."
Peter stood and poked his head out of the kitchen, beckoning Broyles back. Etta grinned.
"Hi"
Broyles smiled back.
"You know you're going to get that every time you enter room don't you?"
Peter glanced at Etta.
"Best greeting I'll ever hear. Now fill us in."
Broyles took another seat, leaning forward.
"Did A.J tell you what she was working on?"
"Yes. Something about the prison system and sentencing."
Broyles shook his head.
"She lied."
"Why would she do that?"
"Because she had too. A.J was working on something that was extremely dangerous."
"Ma."
Olivia glanced at Etta again before noticing the time. No wonder she was restless it was time for her lunch.
"Keep talking."
"She is well known within the prison system. The prisoners like her. No one else does."
Olivia frowned as she mixed Etta's formula with hot water. She tested the temperature on her wrist before handing the bottle to Peter. Etta took it eagerly watching the adults around her as she had her lunch.
"Why?"
Broyles sighed.
"You ever hear of a guy called Quinton Miller?"
Olivia and Peter both nodded. Quinton Miller was a suspected serial rapist that had toyed with the city of Boston for many years. He mocked the police and left a trail of victims everywhere. The police, under pressure from the public, caught Miller claiming that there was plenty of evidence against him. He was placed on death row. The day that he was meant to be put down, more evidence was pushed forward and he was released. But he didn't have a completely clean history. Though cleared of the series of rapes, he had done time for sexual assault on more than one occasion.
"That was A.J?"
"Yes. Prisoners love her because it means that she might find something that could set them free. Or buy them more time before they die."
"But Miller was innocent. She saved his life."
"But he wasn't completely innocent. He did those other rapes and you need to see it from the victims and the families' point of view. Not only that, but in bringing that hidden evidence to light, she made a fool of plenty of people."
"But she did the right thing."
Broyles sighed.
"We know better than anyone the right thing is not always agreed upon."
Peter took the bottle off Etta as she finished, slipping her onto his shoulder, making small circles on her back.
"Could one of those people have something to do with it?"
"It's possible. But that's why I need you two. I need people who can tread carefully, not go in guns blazing."
Broyles stood.
"I need to get back to the office. But I will get those files to you. It's not much but it will be a start."
Olivia glanced at Peter before shaking her head.
"No. Get them sent to the lab."