A/N - I am so sorry for the delay! I moved and then started a war with my internet company. Now, I just wanted to explain something before you read this. I have been through my share of trauma and as much as I would like to say that if confronted, my reaction would be one of violence, I think that in all honesty, I would freeze.

So let me know what you think.

I will be posting three chapters tonight.

Sorry again - But remember...

Read, enjoy and review!

Chapter Twelve – Feel It In The Hollows Of My Eyelids

Olivia dragged Mike Cullen from the truck and into the FBI building. She wanted answers. And she wanted them now. She dragged him down into the depths of the building, pushing him into the interview room. She left him in there, heading to the staff room. She needed something cold for her face. She grabbed some ice from the freezer, wrapping it in a few paper towels and pressing it to her face with a sigh.

"What the hell did he do to you?"

Peter stood in the door way, eyes blazing, his body stiff.

"I'm fine."

Peter huffed and moved closer, moving the makeshift icepack from her face. She hadn't had a chance to see the damage yet but judging by Peter's face, it wasn't too good.

"Who called you?"

"Broyles. As soon as you checked in with him, he checked in with me."

Olivia sighed and pressed the ice back to her cheek.

"If it helps, A.J's dog, Charles, tore into his arm again trying to protect me."

"Remind me to get that dog a steak."

"I dodged the brunt of it."

"Why was he at the house?"

"He was trying to get in. I think he was trying to get A.J's Will. He's under the delusion that A.J is dead and she left everything to him."

"What does your gut say?"

"She's not dead. And because I refuse to believe otherwise. Now, I want to go and talk to that bastard."

Peter trailed her as she moved back to the room where Mike was sitting, nursing his bitten arm. It was the blood that triggered something for Olivia. She remembered how her step-father had insisted on painting the cream walls in the house a different colour to hide the blood. It was just another mask for the abuse. The years spent hearing flesh being hit through the thin walls accompanied by the quiet wails from her mother. Years of fearing her step-fathers shadow. Of going home and never knowing what she was walking into. Would he be in a good mood or a bad one? When she was a little older, she figured that if she glanced into the bin before she got into the house, she would know if he was drunk or not. She found herself frozen, her blood stiff in her veins.

"Liv?"

She was so lost in thought that she flinched when Peter touched her shoulder. He instantly dropped his hand.

"Liv? Are you ok?"

She felt her heart start that frightened hammer, something she hadn't felt since she was a child. And it made her angry. The fear was still thick in her throat and on her tongue when she spoke.

"I need to talk to Heather Fogleigh."

"Who?"

She ignored his question, already moving away from the room.

"Can you question him? About everything."

She ignored Peter's protests, pushing her way out of the corridor. She headed straight for the bathroom. She didn't know what was wrong but she needed to get herself together. She went in and stood over the sink, her knuckles white as she gripped the porcelain. Her cheek had gone from the red she had been expecting to the beginning of a bruise the started beneath her eye and faded as it travelled to the edge of her mouth. It must have been more than a glance. It had to be for that kind of result. She splashed cold water on her face, drying it off with rough paper towel and leaned against the wall, trying to steady herself. With a shaky hand, she took out her phone and started going through the pictures of Etta. Her daughter had a steadying effect on her, somehow pulling everything into focus. It had worked before and it worked again. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she was Agent Olivia Dunham again, no trace of the scared child she had felt like five minutes ago.

"Agent Dunham! How nice to see you. How is married life?"

Agent Reece Burgess was an agent who had adopted Olivia when he had first joined the bureau. She didn't invite it but she had to admit, it was hard not to like the enthusiastic, friendly and oddly charming Burgess. She had taken him under her wing, taught him a few of the ropes, giving him hints and clues as to how to make his mark. And he had. He had gone from whipping boy, a standard position for the new guy, to a trusted member of the specialty unit that focused on missing kids. He had a knack for getting suspects to talk and had the ability to put people at ease. When Olivia had first met Burgess, she didn't think he would last. She had never been happier to be proven wrong. Olivia forced a smile.

"Hey Reece, how are you?"

They exchanged a quick hug before Reece stepped back.

"You look stunning. Clearly marriage and motherhood agree with you."

"Flattery, Reece, will get you everywhere. How have you been?"

"Great. I've been going out with a brilliant woman for the last six months and we solved three cold cases in the last four months."

"I'm impressed."

"What brings you to the gallows?"

"I've just brought a suspect in. And I need to find someone on the database."

"Who?"

Olivia paused before she answered. She trusted Reece. He had proved his worth more than once.

"Heather Fogleigh."

The colour drained from Reece's face.

"Why?"

"Oh, she was mentioned as a consultant to a writer that I'm trying to find."

"Is that all?"

Olivia frowned.

"Yes. Why?"

Reece took her elbow, tugging her into a quiet corner.

"Heather, she's the woman who has been tolerating me for the last six months."

"She works here?"

Reece nodded slightly.

"We're trying to keep things quiet. Not for much longer though."

"Why?"

"Because I want to propose to her."

Olivia smiled and pulled Reece into a hug.

"That's incredible. Congratulations."

Reece shook his head.

"She hasn't said yes yet. Come on, her office is this way."

Olivia wasn't surprised that she hadn't heard of Heather Fogleigh before. The FBI being the large network that it is, some people just flew under the radar. She followed Reece to the elevator.

"What does she do?"

"Profiler and criminologist. She knows everything there is to know about criminals. She get requests from all over the world."

"Impressive."

Reece smiled slightly.

"She certainly is."

They stepped out of the elevator and made their way down to the end of a hallway and Reece knocked loudly before entering the office.

"Hi Babe. I'll be ready for-"

The words died on Heather's lips as Olivia followed Reece in. Heather Fogleigh, much like any of the women who worked for the FBI, defied the stereotype. Olivia didn't know what she expected, but it wasn't this. Heather was tall and willowy with sharp features, almond shaped eyes and red hair that brushed her delicate shoulders. She was stunning, a woman that would stand out wherever she went.

"Agent Dunham, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Olivia extended her hand with a smile.

"Nice to meet you too."

Reece offered them both a smile as he slipped from the room.

"I'll leave you ladies to it."

Heather indicated a seat and Olivia sunk into it, watching as Heather closed some files, stacking them neatly on the corner of her desk.

"Reece speaks highly of you."

Olivia smiled.

"I was about to say the same about you. He's a good man."

The slight blush on Heather's high cheeks made Olivia fairly certain that when Reece got around to proposing, Heather would be saying yes.

"That, he is. It really is nice to finally meet you. Even before I met Reece, the stories the circulated the office were fairly incredible."

"I can happily say, take it all with a grain of salt."

Heather laughed softly.

"Good to know. So, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Do you know an author by the name of A.J Olivier?"

Heather nodded.

"I've been assisting A.J for almost two years now. In fact, I was meant to see her this afternoon. Why?"

"A.J is missing."

Heather sunk back in her seat slightly.

"Do you know what happened?"

"Not yet."

"Could it be to do with her writing? She was always dealing with some very suspicious characters."

"We're not one hundred percent sure yet. But your name came up in one of her recordings."

"In what context?"

"She wanted to talk to you about Alfonso Culter."

Heather frowned.

"She's never mentioned him to me before."

"He's in prison. He's the Barbie Doll Killer."

Heather nodded slightly.

"That name I know. He was all over the papers for a while there."

"A.J said that she was suspicious about something to do with his interview. Perhaps that was what she wanted to discuss with you."

"Possibly. Is there any way that I could get a copy of that tape?"

"Sure. Are you in the office for the rest of the day?"

Heather nodded.

"Of course. I have lunch plans with Reece but otherwise, I'll be here. You're welcome to join us if you like."

Olivia shook off the invitation.

"Thank you for the offer but I'm in the middle of a case and I'm afraid that I will not be the best company. In what way did you assist A.J?"

"Just with the men that she would speak to, profiles and such, helping her dissect the minds of mad men."

"Just men? No women?"

Heather shook her head.

"No. A.J had a particular passion for dissecting the crimes of men. I'm not sure why but she impressed me with her research and passion."

"How did she contact you?"

"Simply left me a message. At first, I thought that she was a reporter so ignored it. She kept calling and I finally relented. We met for coffee and we started talking."

"How often did you see her?"

"Two or three times for each book."

"For free?"

Heather smiled.

"She gave me credit and even got me a car last Christmas. I have enough paid work here. This was more fun than anything else."

Olivia was about to comment when her phone rang. She wrangled it from her pocket and glanced at the screen. It was Peter. She glanced at Heather.

"Excuse me."

She ducked from the room, sighing before she answered.

"Dunham."

She could hear the frown in Peter's voice.

"We need to talk."

"Peter-"

"No arguments."

"I'm in the middle of questioning Heather Fogleigh."

"Well, when you're finished, I'll be at the lab. Cullen's in custody."

"Peter, please don't be angry."

The plea came from the dark place in her memories, the same one where there was never any light. She didn't expect him to understand, because no matter how hard he tried, he never could. But she needed him to not be upset with her, to know that she could no more understand her reaction to Mike Cullen then she could the working of Walter's brain. Peter's sigh was deep and sad.

"I'm not angry. I just….I simply need to talk to you."

"Ok."

"Liv?"

"Yeah?"

"Try to stay out of trouble."

Olivia smiled as she put her phone back into her pocket and headed back into Heather's office.