Thanks to everyone who reviewed my last chapter and thanks to Charlie who noticed my bugger-up with the years…life saver! Haha Enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 6 – Conversations
It was already 8.30 in the morning when Peter, Olivia and Tash arrived at the lab. Walter had made point about ambushing Peter for not coming home last night, Astrid had taken over making sure Tash was ok. Which left Peter and Olivia to do their work.
"Son, where were you last night? And who is the girl?" Walter had cornered Peter and was bombarding him with questions.
"Walter please relax. I didn't mean to not come home. It just happened that way and that girl is Tash. Someone's daughter I used to know. I was hoping it'd make you feel better if I told you she was the one who caused the rink to collapse the other day. She gets angry and causes earthquakes and I also think when she's sad it rains." Peter glanced out the lab window at the rain and then back at Tash who looked like a heart broken teenager.
Walter's eyes lit up at this theory, "Really son? Does that mean I can run some tests?" To Peter, Walter looked like a kid in a candy store when Peter nodded. Walter almost ran off to find his equipment.
"Walter, promise me you won't do anything until Astrid and I get back. Olivia will be here but please don't do anything yet." Peter glared at his father waiting for a reply.
"Oh fine. But please hurry back, we have work to do!" And with that Walter had turned back to his work bench muttering to himself.
Smiling and shaking his head Peter walked over to Olivia who was sitting at another table just watching Tash as she sat at the piano.
"Hey Liv," Peter placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. Olivia's head snapped up and looked him in the eyes and almost melted at his smile. "I'm going to go with Astrid to grab some coffee. Will you be ok here with Walter and Tash?"
Olivia hesitated a moment, not wanting him to remove his hand from her shoulder but she nodded anyway. With one last smile she watched as he and Astrid left the lab. Olivia's eyes fell to Tash once more, getting enough courage, Olivia walked over to the piano and sat down next to the girl.
"Do you play?" Tash's question was innocent and Olivia laughed her reply, "Yea a bit, but don't tell Peter or else he will want to hear me play." Glancing at Tash she began to play a song that had been stuck in her head all day. The words followed without hesitation.
This is the place where I sit
This is the part where
I love you too much
Is this as hard as it gets?
'Cause I'm getting tired
Of pretending I'm tough
I'm here if you want me
I'm yours, you can hold me
I'm empty and aching and
Tumbling and breakin'
'Cause you don't see me
And you don't need me
And you don't love me
The way I wish you would
The way I know you could
I dream of fire when
You're touching my hand
But it twists into smoke
When I turn on the light
I'm speechless and faded
It's too complicated
Is this how the book ends,
Nothing but good friends?
I wish I was lonely
Instead of just only
Crystal and see-through
And not enough to you
The last few words came from her mouth and she turned to Tash, "See, don't tell Peter." She smiled at Tash who smiled back knowingly.
"You like him don't you?"
Olivia wasn't going to be able to give an answer because Peter and Astrid had walked back into the lab carrying coffee and doughnuts for all.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. Tash and Liv started to talk a bit more and Walter had insisted on starting the tests.
"Now, my dear, did you tell my son here that Agent Scott injected you with something?" Walter looked between Tash and Olivia.
"Yes." She said weakly.
"Well then Agent Dunham, I would like a sample of you're blood to compare the childs to." Walter turned with his back to them.
"Walter why would you want my blood to?" Olivia was nervous now and she wanted answers.
"We'll because if Peter's theory is correct, she must have cortexiphan in her system and I need someone who has the drug in them to compare it to. Why else?"
Glancing up at Peter, Olivia watched as he gave her a small nod and the walked over to with a syringe. Placing the needle in her arm, he watched as she winced slightly at the sudden pressure. Once he was done, Peter's phone rang, turning his back to Olivia she heard him talking in hushed tones. She could tell his face had dropped because his shoulders did as well. Something was going on and she knew he would never tell her.
Hanging up the phone Peter turned to Astrid and Olivia, "I have to go out for a moment. Please make sure Walter doesn't do anything stupid." Olivia reached up for his hand and he looked down at her. A fake smile played on his lips and he squeezed her hand before leaving. Olivia was worried.
"Ok, dears. You're blood work matches. I'm sorry Tash." Olivia's head dropped and Walter looked sad.
"What does that mean?" Tash didn't know what to think and so she asked.
"It means, John had access to Cortexiphan." Sighing Olivia placed her head in her hands.
"What does cortexiphan do?" Tash was still confused.
"It's a drug that helps unlock parts of the human brain that was shut off when we are young. I myself can start fires, although I have never actually harnessed it, and it seems you can control the weather," Turning to Walter Olivia spoke again, "Where could he have gotten it? Bell told me after the Jacksonville trials you both stopped."
"I don't know Agent Dunham, but I hope we find out soon." Walter walked over to the rectangular table that both Olivia and Tash were already seated at.
"I would really like to see your ability child. Do you think you can show me something?" Walter watched Tash bite her bottom lip in hesitation. Closing her eyes she concentrated and in a instant wind whipped through the lab sending papers flying everywhere.
Olivia and Walter watched as the wind died down and Tash opened her eyes. "Huh." They both agreed in unison.
Tash blushed as she took a seat back at the piano and let her fingers brush over the keys. She began to play and sing as Peter walked into the lab, face red from anger and cold weather.
Tash's voice echoed throughout the lab.
Once upon a time there was a girl
In her early years she had to learn
How to grow up living in a war that she called home
Never know just where to turn for shelter from the storm
Hurt me to see the pain across my mother's face
Everytime my father's fist would put her in her place
Hearing all the yelling I would cry up in my room
Hoping it would be over soon
Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
And I'm OK
I often wonder why I carry all this guilt
When it's you that helped me put up all these walls I've built
Shadows stir at night through a crack in the door
The echo of a broken child screaming "please no more"
Daddy, don't you understand the damage you have done
To you it's just a memory, but for me it still lives on
Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so, so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
It's not so easy to forget
All the lines you left along her neck
When I was thrown against cold stairs
And every day I'm afraid to come home
In fear of what I might see there
Bruises fade father but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
And I'm OK
I'm OK
Peter smiled down at Olivia, who he had taken a seat next to. Bringing her eyes to meet his, Peter could see the un-shed tears behind her green eyes. One tear made it's way down her cheek and she wiped it away before locking herself in her office.
Tash smiled apologetically at Peter but he just smiled back, "Don't worry about it honey. She'll be ok, she is strong."
"Yea I wish I was like her." Tash hugged Peter back as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She felt safe in his arms, she knew that's exactly how Olivia felt being in his arms as well.
Hope it was ok, and not to much. Please let me know…the next chapter will be mostly case, I promise!
Liv plays You Don't See Me by Josie and the Pussycats
Tash plays I'm Ok by Christina Aguilera.
Ash :D