Chapter 18 – Influence
Peter sat at the side of Olivia's bed. She had been asleep for about 2 hours since Walter arrived. Astrid had driven Walter and was now sitting with him in the lounge room. Running a tired hand over his face, Peter exhaled a long breath. As much as he wanted to go and see Walter, there was no way he would leave Olivia. Bringing her hand to his lips, he placed a small kiss on the top of it and just held onto it.
The pain had become so intense at one point that Olivia had passed out from it. She was still out at this moment, they had not been able to wake her.
Walter cleared his throat from the doorway and Peter looked up, "Son, how is she?" Walter's voice was barely a whisper and he watched as Peter just shook his head.
"Do you know what is doing this to her?" Peter couldn't bring himself to look at his father, knowing that if he did, he would probably find out the answer before he was ready.
"I'm not sure. I am about to take a blood sample and Astro said she will take me back o the lab to examine it. I'll find it Peter." A shaking hand found its way on to Peter's shoulder after giving it a quick squeeze Walter made his way over to Olivia's side.
Bringing a syringe to her arm, Walter began to remove a vile of her blood. Olivia's face began to tighten as if in pain and with a sudden jerk of her arm, the needle broke off. Peter had jumped up to try and calm her down but when she opened her eyes it was as if there was no Olivia left.
Peter's green eyes were met with complete black ones and a hundred yard stare.
Then in a moment the black drained from her eyes and she blinked. "Peter?" and then with one short breath Olivia closed her eyes again and was out like a light.
Peter waited for a moment and realized that she wasn't going to wake up any time soon and so he took the opportunity to go and see Walter. Walking towards her bedroom door, Peter took one final look at Olivia, certain she wasn't going to suddenly wake up, he softly opened the door and stepped out. Closing it just as softly he looked over to the couch where Astrid and Walter sat, searching through files and papers.
"Walter…please tell me you found something." Peter's voice was hopeful. He needed to hope there was something or else he would go crazy.
"Well, Peter. When you called me, I re-ran Agent Dunham's blood work, after she was injected before the fire and I found something very interesting. It seems that substance that was injected into her not only counteracted with the cortexiphan it has now affected the influence of the cortexiphan. If I am not mistaken, which I rarely am. It is as if she is now a receiver." Walter's voice didn't falter the entire speech and yet, Peter felt tears coming to his eyes and a lump forming in his throat.
"A receiver for what, Walter?" Astrid's voice broke the sudden silence with the question Peter wasn't even sure he wanted to know the answer to.
"Well anything. Transmissions, instructions. Im not entirely sure what exactly but I do know the pain she was suffering is from the drug. It is beginning to affect the rest of her body. She is starting to feel the drug running through her body."
Peter lifted his eyes to meet Walter's, "She opened her eyes for a moment, they were black. Completely."
"Yes that sounds like an effect I would hypothisis. With the drug running through her system, she could be forced to do anything." This was when Walter's voice became grim.
Peter stood again and moved back towards Olivia's room without another word. Opening the door, he let his eyes fall on the empty bed. Panicking for a moment, he scanned the rest of the darkened room until he found her standing in front of the large side window. The dooner wrapped around her shoulders and body protectively. Peter took a small step inside her room and without a warning Olivia's voice rang out.
"I had a nightmare and when I woke up you were gone…" turning towards Peter, he saw her red eyes glistening in the moonlight, "…I heard what Walter said. Peter…what is happening to me?"
In a small stride, Peter had made his way to Olivia and had brought his left hand up to her face, "I don't know, but I promise I will find the person who is doing this and I will stop them." Peter's right arm had come around her back and pulled to close to him in a protective hug. Letting his left hand rise from her cheek to her hair, he tangled his fingers around the golden locks and rested his cheek on the top of her head. "You're gonna be fine."
As Olivia cried her mind was clicking over with the memories of her nightmare. Images she wished she could erase or understand. She could feel power running through her body and it scared her.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed and all. Makes my day :D
Hope it was enjoyable and sorry it took so long.
Ash