Chapter Twenty-Eight – Hand In Your Pocket

Olivia released her huff of breath. She didn't like this at all. The house was too quite without Etta. With a few more hours before they could start the sting, Olivia had headed home. She had been thinking that she might have a nap but now that she was actually home, she knew that it wasn't going to happen. She had been running things over in her head over and over again. She had to tell Peter. She thought she could wait but she had been wrong. She felt all bolstered by what Heather had said, that Peter hadn't seen anything that had scared him off yet. And she was right. She stayed on the bed when she heard Peter come home.

"Liv?"

"Upstairs."

She gave him a small smile when he came into the room. He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, sitting across from her.

"So, why did you need me home?"

"I want to tell you something."

"Ok."

Olivia sighed and did as Heather had instructed, thinking about Etta. Despite the seriousness, she could feel the small smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth. She took Peter's hands.

"I told Heather some things that I never told you."

"Liv, you don't-"

"Yes I do. If you were keeping something from me, I would never let it go. It's not your fault that you are too patient with me."

Peter smiled softly.

"You're one of those creatures that likes to take her time with things."

"Well times up. I'm ready to tell you. And it has to be now."

Peter shifted on the bed, crossing his legs and facing her completely. He squeezed her hands gently.

"Ok."

"When I spoke to Heather, it was by accident. It really was. I never meant to leave you out of the loop."

"I know."

"I told Heather….I told her how I walked in on my step-father raping my mother."

Peter stiffened. She saw the flash of anger and hatred in his eyes, saw the pain he held for her.

"So when you shot him…"

"It wasn't just about being over it. It was about what he was doing to my mother. And I was scared of what he would do to Rachel and me. When I saw Mike Cullen, I knew his history and it reminded me of my step-father. I got scared. I look at A.J and I see my mother. I look at A.J and I know I have to save her too."

"She's not you mother, Liv."

"I know but their stories are the same. And I feel just as responsible for their welfare."

When Heather had said that telling Peter would be a cleansing, a release, Olivia hadn't believed her. But she had been right. It was only part of the story but Olivia felt better already. It helped that all she could see on Peter's face was his trademark patience and support. There was no fear there.

"And there's something else."

Peter remained silent, cocking his eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

"Before I shot him and ended all of this, I called the police. When you're a kid, you have drilled into you that if you feel scared or someone is hurt, you call the police. They are supposed to fix it, right? Well not this time. My step-father charmed his way out of it. And my Mom helped him. And then the police officer told me off for wasting police time."

"Assholes."

"And I hate public speaking. It makes me want to throw up, Exorcist style. And I don't want Etta to be like me. I want her to be able to walk into a room and not think twice about speaking. I want her to be safe, confident and happy. I don't want her to have demons like me."

Olivia felt better, the information coming out of her thick and fast. It surprised her that Peter actually chuckled.

"You amaze me."

Olivia frowned.

"That's not really the reaction I was expecting."

"Sorry but you do. How the hell are you not in a mental hospital right now? Or a criminal?"

Olivia shrugged, still not sure where he was going with his point. Peter leaned forward slightly, capturing her face in his hands.

"You amaze me Liv because of how strong you are. Most people would have snapped after going through everything you have. But you? You just keep going. You amaze me and you can't understand how blessed I feel that I came back with you to America when I first met you. I am blessed that you married me and had our wonderful daughter. I am blessed because you, Olivia Bishop, are the best thing that I have ever had in my life. You and Etta are by far the most amazing things that have ever happened to me. I couldn't have dreamed you both up or our lives together."

Olivia searched his eyes.

"It doesn't scare you?"

"No. I told you, your demons don't scare me. And I know that it took courage for you to tell me those things. So thank you Liv."

Olivia pulled away from his hands, seizing one and kissing his palm.

"No, it's me who's blessed. I love you."

Peter offered her a smile, leaning forward and kissing her gently.

"I love you too. You want to know something?"

"What's that?"

"If Etta has one iota of your courage, she'll be fine. No force in the Verse, this one or any other, will be able to stop her."

"We're having an intimate moment and you're quoting Firefly?"

Peter smiled.

"Seemed appropriate and true. Plus, if she's like you, she will kick ass in a very literal fashion."

"I like that idea."

"Me too. And just so you know, you're demons? They have nothing on us."

Olivia smiled.

"Good to know."

Peter leaned back, examining her with a slight frown.

"Unless you are gay. In that case, I think I'll be on the losing end of that demon."

Olivia shook her head.

"Not gay. Already tried that stuff in college. Not good."

Peter raised his eyebrows.

"Oh really. Now that's some detail that I could live with."

Olivia smiled, moving over the bed and closer to him. She put her head on his lap with a sigh.

"Tonight is going to be huge."

"You should have a nap before you go."

"House is far too quiet without Etta and I can't get my head to shut-up."

Olivia closed her eyes as Peter worked his way through her hair and onto her scalp, his fingers gentle as he messaged her scalp. She felt her body slowly start to relax, the tension falling from her body with every stroke of Peter's fingers. Sleep never came but Peter's careful touch certainly made her mind stop buzzing with the events that would be coming later in the evening.

Olivia made sure each person was fitted with the microphone/camera that Nina had given her. She drilled every member of the team on the plan again. And with a parting glance at Peter, she headed out the door. Her section of the plan would be with Trigger and his girls, the same five that she had met when they first interviewed Trigger. She was parked well away, watching with a set of binoculars, a small earpiece in her ear and the screen filled with images of the street before the girls. As a favour to Reece, she had kept Victoria on her team and she watched the small women as she moved as if she had been raised on the street corners. She heard the soft buzz of voices as each team checked in with her.

"Alpha One, this is Echo One."

Olivia smiled as Peter's voice, warm and serious entered her ear. He was posted a few blocks away in Plush's corner. He was also having far too much fun with the codenames that were often used on stakeouts.

"Echo One, how's it going on your end?"

"Fine thanks Alpha One. You?"

Olivia glanced at the screen before checking through her binoculars again.

"All quiet on the western front thanks for asking Echo One."

Silence fell again, the only voices being those from the girls as they worked the street. One by one cars pulled up and drove away. None of the John's were even a remote fit for Jeremiah Brookes. They had been there for four hours already without the slightest hint that anything was about to change.

"So, how long does this normally take?"

Heather smothered a yawn. Olivia smiled slightly.

"I keep forgetting that you've never been on a stake out."

Heather shook her head.

"No way was I going to miss out on this."

"I still can't believe Reece let you come."

Heather shrugged.

"To be fair, it was only because I would be riding with you."

"Silly man, trusting crazy women."

Heather nodded slightly.

"I know. So…topic jump, did you tell Peter?"

Olivia kept her eyes on the screen as another shot of interior of a car was fed through. Still nothing.

"Yes."

"And?"

"Nothing. He told me I amazed him and that he loved me. The only kind of reaction I got was him hating on my step-father and the police who failed to help us."

"You know, I like Peter. He's a keeper."

"So is Reece. He's randomly sweet. He got me coffee and doughnuts the other day."

"I have nothing to do with that."

"It's just Reece. His mother raised him correctly."

Olivia's eyes swept over the license plate of the car that had just paused to talk to Victoria. She frowned.

"That's Cullen's car."

"What.?"

Heather leaned forward, finally taking in the screen in front of her.

"Why the hell is he here?"

Olivia shook her head.

"No idea. But I am going to be talking to him after this."

"Don't let Peter near him."

"But what if I want a coffee?"

Heather chuckled and they both watched as Cullen slipped away. She paused before speaking to the rest of the team.

"This is Alpha One. A grey sedan, license plate 380-VEX needs to be kept in sight. Not suspect, I repeat, not suspect but is of interest to this case. I repeat grey sedan plate 380-VEX is to be watched. Alpha One out."

She waited and a few seconds later each team checked in, confirming her command.

"Liv, was that Cullen?"

Olivia frowned. Peter's voice sounded far too confident.

"Yeah, it was him. I recognised the plates. How did you know?"

There was a stiff crackle before Peter responded.

"I got the feeling he's not done yet. Not by a long shot."

"How so?"

"I just do."

The silence was heavy and Olivia suddenly felt relieved that she had Etta bundled off to Rachel's house. He would have no idea where she lived. But she decided not to leave anything to chance.

"Heather, could you call Reece for me?"

Heather frowned.

"Sure. Is everything ok?"

"It will be."

Heather dialled Reece's number, putting the phone on speaker.

"Hey babe. What's up?"

"Hey. I'm with Olivia, she wanted to talk to you."

"Oh sure. Hey Olivia. What can I do for you?"

"What are you doing for the rest of the night?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"Can you do me a favour?"

"Sure."

"The man who assaulted me just popped up in the middle of the stake out. But I'm still concerned. He had not issue finding out where I lived previously. I'm concerned about my family."

"No problem. Call ahead, let her know. What's the address?"

Olivia let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

"Thanks Reece."

She prattled off the address and then paused.

"Um, I need to tell you something so she knows I sent you."

"Really?"

"I have her well trained on the drill. I made sure of it. Your name won't be enough. Oh, I know."

"What?"

"Medusa."

She heard the frown in Reece's voice.

"Medusa?"

"Yup. Then she'll know. Thanks Reece."

Heather moved the phone closer to her.

"Yeah thanks babe. Talk soon."

"Be careful. Both of you."

Olivia smiled to herself as she thought of that old nickname. When they were young, before the hormones, make up and skin care , Rachel had the worst hair in the mornings. It would stick up at all angles. Olivia started calling her Medusa. Rachel hated it, which made it ever the more entertaining.

"So Medusa?"

Olivia smiled again as she watched the screen.

"Long, funny story."

She gave Rachel a quick call, telling her the code with a small chuckle. Just after she finished her call to Rachel, Olivia frowned at hard scratching in her ear, broken up by the occasional voice. The microphone wasn't working properly. But they still had picture.

"Olivia, she's seen something."

"How do you know?"

"Look."

Heather handed Olivia back her binoculars.

"Look how stiff she's gone. She went from relaxed to that the second that car pulled up. First time all night. She's seen something."