Chapter Three:

Broyles nodded at Olivia and Peter as they rifled through the file, Olivia handed it to Broyles, 'This shows all the experiments he's done in the USA that are related to controlling metabolisms and manipulating them to produce high levels of heat within humans.'

Broyles had his usual look of doubt as he glanced over the files, 'Surely a man this smart wouldn't be so obvious and brash about his work.'

'That's the thing,' Peter interrupted, 'He's untouchable, the CIA promised him immunity from the American Law in exchange for him to work for them on areas that aren't exactly legal or safe.'

This seemed to irritate Broyles. After a moment of thought he glanced at Olivia, 'I'll have Langley send me an agent.'

Peter raised an eyebrow at Broyles, the man must have been pretty powerful if he could just snap his fingers and get himself an agent from another Intelligence Agency.

'Is that all?' Broyles asked both of them expectantly.

'Yes-' Olivia started to say, but Peter cut her off.

'Actually...I wanted to talk to you about something...'

Olivia glanced at Peter and Broyles who gave her a look that implied they were waiting for her to leave, furrowing her brow at Peter, she turned and headed out of the door.

'What's the matter M r Bishop? '

'I want a gun.'

'Excuse me?'

'You've read my file, you know I'm capable of handling weapons...You know I'm smart. Therefore you know I know just how risky these cases are, and if I'm protecting Walter and Olivia? I need a gun...Just in case.'

Broyles nodded at the young man, 'You're protecting Walter. Olivia isn't your responsibility.'

'Olivia has no idea just how risky her job is.' Peter said firmly, 'Just because she's in the dark, does not mean I am.'

'With all due respect Mr Bishop. I trust your intentions are good, but what's the real reason you want the gun?'

Peter stared at him, how did Broyles' just read me?? He wondered to himself.

'Do they know where you are?'

'It's not the mob I'm worried about.'

This seemed to get Broyles' attention, he wasn't used to not knowing things.

'Then what are you worried about?'

'Will you grant me the authority to get a gun or do I have to forge my own license for a weapon?' Peter asked shortly.

'You will have the right to carry a weapon, but you can only use it in an emergency and any bullets fired WILL be recorded. Understood?'

'Why have a weapon if you won't allow me to use it??'

'Until I get a clear view of your loyalties, that's the best I can offer.'

Peter let out a sigh, something was better than nothing.

'Fair enough.' Peter nodded.

'Is there anything else?'

'I want to find someone...'

'And you want access to more files?'

Peter nodded, 'Something like that.'

'Which files do you want access to?'

'Civilian files.'

Broyles paused, 'I don't think that whoever you're looking for is relevant to your work with us-'

'I never said it was.'

Broyles studied Peter carefully, 'is this about New Orleans?'

Peter watched him carefully, 'How do you know about New Orleans?'

'I have more than just your file Peter.'

Peter shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

'I don't think you should pursue her.' Peter glanced at the door.

'Who?' he asked without looking back at Broyles.

Broyles leant forwards across his desk, drawing Peter's gaze to his.

'You know who.'

Outside the office, Olivia did her best not to feel guilty for eavesdropping, she began walking hurriedly along the corridor on hearing Peter climb to his feet.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly paced down the corridor.

'Olivia...' Peter's voice called from the office door as he emerged into the hallway.

Olivia flinched, damn it.

Opening her eyes, she turned around and gave him a polite smile, 'You done?'

'Yeah...' he said with a bemused expression. They began walking shoulder to shoulder, 'Let's go question Rosenbaum.'

Olivia felt relief wash over her, he hadn't figured out she was eavesdropping. She smiled sincerely at him, 'Sounds like a plan.'

He slowed down, falling a few steps back, 'Oh and Olivia...?'

'Yeah?'

'Next time you eavesdrop...' she flinched again, 'you might not wanna stand so close to the door.'

'I can explain...' she mumbled.

'No, it's okay...you're curious about me...'

Olivia scoffed as she stopped in her steps, she was not curious about him!

'I have that effect on women.' He smirked as he walked past her, now he was leading the way. Olivia stared after him for a moment, he threw her a smug grin, she laughed out of exasperation as she shook her head.

Peter Bishop, she thought to herself, whilst fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

Her smile slowly faded as she stood still for a moment, watching him turn away. How did he manage to make her smile so much?

Langley Pharmaceutical Research Lab:

'Doctor Eric Rosenbaum?'

Eric Rosenbaum turned on his heel allowing his eyes to land on the attractive young woman who stood in his lab.

'Can I help you?'

'I'm Agent Dunhem with the FBI.'

Eric felt his interest in the beauty suddenly wane.

'Maybe you should arrange an appointment to see me Miss Dunhem.'

'It's Agent Dunhem.' She said with an offended expression.

'Look Agent Dunhem...' he clenched his jaw, the agent clearly had no idea of who he was, 'I will not be corrected by an expendable resource that belongs to the government.'

Olivia glared at the patronising pompous Doctor.

She grabbed his collar and slammed him into the wall, 'And you would know all about expendable things...like the people you've been using for your research into spontaneous combustion??'

Peter entered the room, 'What's going on??'

'I will have my lawyer contact your boss's boss!' he said to her angrily. 'How dare you even set foot in this place without a warrant?!'

Peter rolled open the warrant, 'you mean without one of these?'

Olivia smirked at Rosenbaum, he reached behind him and quickly pulled out a gun.

Olivia pulled out hers, aiming it straight at his forehead.

'Miss Dunhem...you are aware that there are no cameras in my office.' He taunted as he aimed his gun at her.

Peter glanced around, he was telling the truth, Olivia didn't move, she held her aim stubbornly.

'Put down your weapon Rosenbaum.'

Rosenbaum scoffed, he carefully pushed a button on his phone, 'Lance get in here.'

Moments later a burley man entered the room from behind Peter, holding a stun gun.

'Woah, okay...everyone just stay calm.' Peter said, his eyes drifted over to Rosenbaum, Peter calmly walked towards Eric with his hands raised in the air.

'What are you doing?' Rosenbaum demanded.

Peter smiled at him, 'There are cameras every where else in your building. Cameras that the CIA are monitoring...and they've seen one of the FBI's agents walk into your office.' Peter said as Rosenbaum stepped back, Olivia watched Peter, what the hell was he doing?? Peter didn't even have a weapon. On hearing Lance move, Olivia turned and pointed her gun at Lance. Rosenbaum pointed his at Peter.

Peter didn't seem phased by the threat, 'I'm sure they'll wonder why she never walked out.' Peter tried not to smile, he could read people very well, and Rosenbaum was buying into his words, which meant he was dropping his guard. Peter's eyes drifted to the filing cabinet besides Rosenbaum.

In one swift move, Peter disarmed Rosenbaum, slamming the hand with the weapon into the metal filing cabinet.

'Peter?!' yelled angrily.

Peter punched Rosenbaum in the face, sending him collapsing backwards into a heap.

Lance grabbed Olivia, holding the stun gun to her temple.

Peter grabbed the gun and aimed it at Lance, his eyes drifted to Olivia as Lance used her as a shield.

'Lower your gun.' Lance ordered him, Olivia stared at Peter, who was surprised to find himself lowering his weapon.

Olivia sensed Lance loosen his hold on her for a split-second, in which she elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to buckle, and then stunned him with his own stun gun.

Peter let out a shocked laugh, 'THAT was impressive-'

Olivia turned to face him, she was absolutely furious.

'What the hell was that?!'

'What?' he asked sheepishly.

'THAT-' she said as she nodded at Rosenbaum's body.

'I was just-'

'You could have been shot! You are not an agent-You had no right to disarm him-'

'Right, because you had it all under control.' He mocked her.

'What if he had shot you?!'

'What if he had shot you??' Peter asked in return.

Olivia glared at him, 'He wouldn't have-'

'You don't know that.'

She ran her hands through her hair as she assessed the damage, her eyes drifted from an unconscious Lance to a groaning Rosenbaum.

'Broyles is gonna be pissed.'

'Why?' Peter scoffed, 'Because you pissed off a rich man?'

Olivia shot him a look.

Outside the building:

Peter followed Olivia as she headed towards the car.

'What?' he called, 'Do you want me to apologise or something??'

Olivia turned on her heel, looking him straight in the eye, 'If you wanna come into the field with me. Then you do as I say. I don't want heroics Peter. I want you alive. I just lost someone I worked with. I will not lose someone else.'

The weight of her words landed on his shoulders as he lowered his gaze, for a moment he felt guilty.

Olivia took in a deep breath, she hated it when she had no choice but to be vulnerable with someone. She hated letting herself feel weak like this, but she really couldn't take another death right now.

'I'm driving.' Olivia said bluntly as she climbed into the driver seat.

Without arguing, Peter climbed into the passenger side.

A heavy silence sat between them for the next two minutes.

Olivia finally managed to glance at him, but he was staring straight ahead of him, she wondered what he was thinking about as he peered out at the grey buildings.

'You're not expendable you know.' He said after a moment, Olivia's eyes drifted to his, she turned back to the road.

'What do you mean?' she asked.

'Rosenbaum, he said you were expendable. He's wrong. I think you're smart enough to see the difference in being a replacement for someone and being just expendable.'

Olivia frowned as she began to understand what he meant. He thought she was John's replacement for Broyles.

'I am not his replacement.'

'Ask Broyles.'

'Why me?'

'Who else would your partner have trusted with his life?' Peter asked the beautiful blonde.

Olivia turned her attention back to the road, the thought of being John's replacement played on her mind. Was that really what she was? A replacement? Did Broyles know the truth about John's betrayal? Had John been working for Broyles all along?? Hundreds of questions flooded her mind within seconds. One question made her pause.

How much more did Peter know about John?

She glanced at the man who had saved her life.

'Peter?'

Peter looked at her.

'Is there anything I should know about Agent John Scott that I don't know already?'

Peter stared at her for a long moment before speaking. Letting her feel exposed under his gaze.

'Ask Broyles.' He said in a low voice.

Olivia studied him for a second more before turning her eyes back to the road.

She would ask Broyles as soon as the case was over.

Laboratory:

Walter stared at the television, 'Want popcorn?' He asked Astrid from the couch, 'No thanks.' Astrid said from her desk. She had been rifling through Walter's findings. Some were incredibly lucid and others were either a complex shorthand or just random ramblings.

'Walter...is that who I think it is?' she asked as she picked up a photograph of Walter and a boy.

Walter blinked at it, 'That depends Astri...-' he had forgotten her name again.

'Astrid.' She said with a smile.

'That depends Astrid.' He said with a smile, 'If you think it's Peter, then yes. It is who you think it is.'

Astrid grinned at the photograph, 'Peter was a damn cute child.'

'He was stubborn though. You should have seen the tantrums he'd throw when I broke a promise.'

Astrid laughed as Walter turned back to the T.V. and chewed popcorn.

Her smile faded as she read the file that the photograph was in.

'Extensive ability to solve puzzles at age 8.' She read quietly, 'Telepathy succeeded on 4 out of 6 occasions.' In that instant Astrid momentarily lost all respect for Walter Bishop, who had apparently used his own son to experiment on in relation to telepathy. It would explain Peter's ability to read people so well, and the high I.Q., according to the report his sense of ration was highly developed, but more dangerously, so was his sense of imagination. This would profile Peter Bishop as impressively intelligent, but just as passionate and impulsive. Explaining his commitophobic behaviour.

Astrid closed the file quickly, she decided to give it to Agent Dunhem when she had the chance. She wondered how Walter had access to the file, she glanced at the date, 'Updated 7th, November, 2008. W.B.' She glanced at Walter, who was intently watching Spongebob Square pants. Walter had re-written it from memory. Her jaw hung open in awe for a moment.

FBI building:

Broyles slammed the phone down on his desk and stared at Olivia and Peter.

'That was Rosenbaum's lawyers from Langley. They want to know why exactly Rosenbaum was left beaten in his own office without cause.'

'He held Agent Dunhem at gunpoint!' Peter argued.

'That's not your concern.' Olivia glanced at Peter to see his reaction, 'Agent Dunhem is highly trained and was the one who should have been calling the shots.' He turned to Olivia now, 'If you can't handle him-' he nodded at Peter. 'Then don't take him out into the field.'

'I'm right here-' Peter exclaimed.

'I can handle him. He won't be a problem again.'

'You agree to take complete responsibility of his actions?'

Peter turned to Olivia, 'you don't have to agree to that-' he said firmly, 'he can't force you to-'

'Yes sir. I agree.'

Peter scowled at Olivia. The last thing he needed was a babysitter.

'By law...' Broyles said with a smile, 'That makes you his...' he turned to Peter, so he could watch the word hit him, 'Babysitter.'

'I don't need a babysitter-' he argued helplessly.

'I wasn't asking if you did.'

Peter folded his arms, Olivia tried not to smile at his unimpressed expression. Peter shook his head at her as she broke into a grin.

Broyles' eyes drifted from Olivia to Peter and then back to Olivia. And what he saw brewing between them unsettled him.

Peter's cellphone rang suddenly, flipping it open, Peter answered, 'Yes Walter. I'll be there twenty five minutes...' a pause, 'no...not thirty four. Twenty five.' He sighed, 'No, don't save me any popcorn. See ya...' he hung up and turned to Olivia and Broyles, 'I gotta go...'

Broyles nodded, dismissing him. Olivia gave Peter a smile, he returned the small gesture with a half-hearted wave.

Olivia waited for the door to close before speaking to Broyles.

'I thought you learnt from your mistakes Agent Dunhem.' Broyles said coolly.

She turned around to face him, 'What?'

Broyles nodded at the doorway, 'You and Walter's son...'

Olivia scowled at him, 'You better not suggesting what I think you are.'

'Then don't give me reason to.' he said simply, 'you know how hard it was for you to lose Agent Scott, I wouldn't want you to go through something similar with Bishop.'

Olivia stared at Broyles, 'I do not have romantic feelings for Bishop. He just helps with solving cases and dealing with Walter-which he's very good at. Trust me.'

Broyles gave her a look that suggested he didn't trust her. Not on this.

Olivia frowned at him, 'Broyles, Peter and I are two professionals.'

'So were you and Agent Scott.' Broyles said calmly.

Olivia stared at him relentlessly, her voice was more adamant than ever.

'The only thing that Peter and I have between us...is WORK.'

Broyles nodded and then fell silent.

Olivia studied him, she did her best not to look flustered. She told herself she wasn't attracted to Peter. End of topic.

'Am I Agent Scott's replacement?'

Broyles smiled slightly as she spoke, 'My special assignment, was it his...?'

'Agent Dunhem, don't ask me questions you already know the answer to.'

'Then tell me this much...' Tears stung her eyes, '...Was he a traitor to the FBI?'

Broyles took in a deep breath, this was the first time Olivia had seen him look hesitant.

'He didn't only betray us, he betrayed you.'

Olivia took the hit straight on her heart. She blinked back tears, John had played her, she had told him she loved him, and he had played her.

Clenching her jaw, she picked her car keys up from the desk, 'I'll report to you tomorrow if I make any progress.' Broyles watched the woman closely as she headed for the door.

'About Peter Bishop....' He said, causing her to stop in her steps.

'You smile more around him.' He said distantly, not saying a word, Olivia walked out of the office.

Peter's place, at 3Am:

A knock at Peter's door made him reluctantly roll off the couch. He climbed to his feet as he stifled a yawn. Stretching as he approached the door, 'I'm comin...' he mumbled groggily.

He pulled open the door to see a heartbroken looking Olivia staring up at him, 'Hi...' she whispered as her voice caught in her throat.

'Hi...' he said, his tiredness had been replaced by concern, 'You okay?'

'I couldn't sleep.' She said softly, as the man dressed in only a pair of slacks stepped back and ushered her into the apartment.

'Come on in,' he said softly, 'coffee?' he asked as he wandered over to the kitchen.

'No thanks.'

'I'm making you some anyway.' He said simply, this bought a smile to her lips.

'Thanks Peter.' She said, Peter smiled at her from the kitchen counter, in return she gave him a melancholy smile. Pouring coffee in for both of them, he walked over to her, handing her the cup, he sad opposite her as he ran a hand through his short but wavy hair. Olivia smiled at him, 'I'm sorry I woke you...I just...Now that I'm on special assignment...you're the only person I can really talk to.'

Peter studied her, 'what happened?'

'Agent Scott was a traitor to the FBI...but you already knew that.' She said, a hint of regret in her tone. She lifted her eyes, that felt heavier than usual, to meet his, but he looked away.

'When I asked you in the car about John... why didn't you say anything?'

Peter smiled sadly, 'Do you honestly think you would have believed me?'

Olivia watched him as he spoke, 'Look...' he said with a soft smile, 'You wanted so much for him to be the kind of guy a woman like you could love...and...knowing you lost him the way you did...' he looked down, 'I just didn't wanna be the one to ruin your image of him. In my experience I've found that, when you really get to know someone...when the layers fall away, the truth is never what you want it to be or need it to be.'

He didn't know how to tell her he wanted to protect her from her own hopes for as long as he could have. He knew how it felt to be let down by someone you loved.

Unbeknownst to Peter, Olivia didn't need him to say it, she already understood what he had been trying to do.

'Thankyou.'

'For what?' he asked with a slight frown.

Instead of speaking, she gave him a slight smile as she wiped tears from her eyes.

'In the month and two weeks I've known you...I've confided in you more about who I am than I ever did with John...why is that?'

Peter shrugged slightly, a sincere look on his face as he spoke, 'Sometimes, Its hard to love someone and trust them with who you really are...' He noticed how her eyes glistened in the dim lighting. His eyes drifted to her lips, and for a split second, Olivia found herself lean closer to him, a knock at the door made Peter snap out of his gaze, and Olivia's rational state of mind returned to her. What the hell was she thinking just then?? She had been about to kiss Peter!

She silently scolded herself, and was glad the someone had knocked at the door.

'It's 3AM...' Peter said grumpily. 'Do people in Boston just not sleep?' He quipped to Olivia as he pulled the door open.

Olivia smiled at him, secretly relieved he hadn't noticed her small lapse in judgement moments earlier. What if she had kissed him?? Thankgod someone knocked on the door. She was just upset and emotional. It was nothing. What she had felt just then was nothing. They were colleagues and that was it.

She suddenly realised that Peter hadn't spoken a word since answering the door. She turned around to see that Peter was no longer there. She heard somebody grunt in the hallway and then two sets of footsteps.

'Peter??' She called, there was no response.

'Peter...?'

She headed for the hallway to see two men carrying an unconscious Peter towards the elevator. 'HEY!' she called after them, completely unaware that her yelling awoke Walter, who was now anxious to know where Peter was.

'Agent Dunhem?' he asked with a confused expression, she turned to Walter.

'You stay here.' She said firmly to the rarely lucid genius.

'But where's Peter...?' he mumbled. 'Have they taken him?' he asked with a terrified expression, he looked to Olivia for an answer, but Olivia was already sprinting down the hallway after the two men who had Peter. One of them was in the elevator, the other was heading towards the elevator, but turned around to shoot at Olivia, missing her by an inch, she ducked quickly.

Who the hell were they and why had they taken Peter??

Olivia glared at the man with the gun who smiled coldly as the elevator doors shut, separating her from Peter and the two men. It was in times like these when she wished she was carrying her gun.

She ran down the hallway that now seemed longer than before, the sound of her feet pounding against the ground only urged her to run faster than before. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest. Where were they taking him? What were they planning on doing to him? Several questions flashed through her mind, but the only rationalisation she could reach was this; She needed to save Peter.

She ran down the stairs, leaping over the banister.

Walter was wracked with terror, they had taken his boy, they had taken his son. He ran after Olivia, unable to keep up due to his old age he stumbled down the stairs.

'Agent Dunhem! Help Peter!' he yelled as he tried to regain his footing.

Olivia reluctantly stopped in her steps on seeing Walter fall, she knew Peter wouldn't forgive her if she left Walter laying there and went after Peter.

She turned around and ran over to Walter, 'Walter! Are you okay?'

He wheezed as he struggled to breathe, 'My son...help him,' he pleaded as he fell out of consciousness. Olivia stared down at Walter and then turned to the empty stairwell, she flipped open her cellphone, '911, I need an Ambulance-this is Agent Dunhem, I'm with the FBI, send a back up team too, I'm at the Clarendon Apartment Block, on West Street...hurry.'

She decided that the instant the paramedics got there she would go after Peter. She heard a van speed away outside. Walter lay limp in her arms, 'It'll be okay...' she lied to the injured father. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, her legs throbbed from the sudden sprinting she had broken into. Closing her eyes, she tried to gain control of her emotions. Fear, panic, adrenaline, shock, and anger were merely a taste of what she was feeling.

End Chapter three: