Author Note: I just want to say thank you to you all for all your comments and feedback, I really appreciate it, do let me know how you continue to find it, happy reading guys ;)

Chapter Four:

Flashback:

Two years ago: A warehouse in New Orleans

Isabella Markus studied the three test subjects who were all strapped into metal chairs. Her father and professor entered the room.

'Isabella, have you made any progress?'

'Subject number 3 has shown the highest amount of telepathic accuracy.'

Professor Robert Markus cast a glance at subject number 3, 'Bishop's boy...' he raised an intrigued eyebrow, 'Ofcourse.'

Isabella glanced at Peter, a pang of guilt hit her when he met her gaze. His green eyes didn't even accuse her, they simply studied her, as if he was asking himself why he hadn't seen this coming.

Isabella had selected Peter as a target for her project, thanks to her father's help. But in order to get close to him, she wound up dating him, it was the only way she could win his trust. He was incredibly smart to say the least, and it set him apart from all the other men she had known. Not to mention he was the only man who wasn't smitten with her when they were dating.

'Have him transported to the research holding cells in the Lake Hollow District.'

Isabella turned to her father, 'I thought you said the last subjects we transferred there died?'

'It was unsuccessful, not all of them were capable of handling the extreme conditions they were placed in for long periods of time. However Bishop's high results suggest he is capable of handling them.'

'But you don't know that for certain.' She said, doing her best to hide any non-professional feelings she had developed for Walter's son along the way.

'Isabella, trust me. Can you imagine how invaluable he'd be to the world if we successfully unlocked his abilities...? Do you know how rare it is to find someone with such accurate readings?? Or have you forgotten how hard your mother and I worked on this project?'

Isabella turned back to peter, he simply looked away, an unsettling sensation began to brew in the pit of her stomach.

'I think we should test some other subjects first...see if they survive it.'

'We have already lost so much time, I for one am tired of waiting for the next individual who is as gifted as Bishop's son to be found. He's our subject Isabella, we can finally unlock the mind pathways between two separate minds...imagine the good that can come of it? Imagine the power and control you'd have over situations if you knew what was going to happen-'

'He can't predict the future yet-it's too risky, his brain could get fried.'

'Isabella, think rationally. I will not pass up this opportunity.' He said firmly, 'I have spent my life studying the possibilities of what could happen if we found someone like test-subject number 3.'

'His name is Peter.'

'If Walter hadn't carried out those experiments on Peter as a child, this probably wouldn't have happened, do you truly think it's coincidence that Walter and I wound up working together? Out of all the psychologists in the world, our employers selected us to work together? Only to discover the research he had covertly been carrying out on his own son?'

'You're not listening to me-it could KILL him!'

'It could make him invaluable!'

Isabella shook her head, 'No.' There was no way in hell she would let her father sabotage their project by putting Peter in a sensory deprivation chamber for long periods of time, it could drive Peter insane-it could even kill him. It was just too risky. The possibilities of it completely unlocking the regions of Peter's brain that hadn't been properly developed or adapted to be used, could easily fry his brain under the experiment conditions. She refused to take part in murder.

End Flashback:

Present day: Research facility in Boston:

Peter slowly came to his senses, he was tied to a chair and blindfolded. His forehead stung, he assumed he had some kind of a wound.

He listened intently to the surroundings, water poured into what sounded like a drain, then he heard footsteps. Turning his head quickly to the direction of the footsteps, his neck strained against the chair.

'Where am I!?' He demanded.

'How nice of you to join me for breakfast Subject Number 3.'

On recognising the deep voice, a chill ran along Peter's spine.

'Now, you must forgive me for the thuggish style in which my men apprehended you.' The man said, Peter tensed himself as he became aware of how close the man was standing to him.

'Why have you blindfolded me??' Peter asked, trying not to sound alarmed, 'I know it's you.'

'Its part of the research...It's taken me a while to track you down.' Robert Markus said as Peter heard him bite into something.

'Would you like an apple?' He asked Peter.

Peter grunted with effort as he tried to break the bonds that tied him to the chair so tightly.

Robert sighed, calmly, he pulled out an injection and jabbed it into Peter's neck.

'Urgh!' Peter yelled, 'you son of a bitch!'

Peter felt his head feel heavy, 'what's h...happening to me...?' he mumbled weakly as his head fell limp. He felt a sensation of numbness spreading throughout his body, his mind was alert but he couldn't lift a finger. He yelled-but the words didn't come out. He could hear himself in his mind, but his ears met a cold chuckle from Markus.

'Don't panic, I've merely sedated your limbs and your body. Your brain is perfectly active, The first stage of the experiment. I will now attach sensors to your temples and your parietal lobe,' he said, touching the top of Peter's head. 'To allow me to monitor which areas your nervous system substitutes for the lack of vision. If the initial research your father did you on you was correct, combined with my findings, your brain shall at some point begin to emit an exceptional amount of electrical impulses. Not strong enough to fry your brain, don't worry...' He then chuckled for an instant, 'The impulses will simply intensify your magnetic field.' Peter felt a cold piece of metal pressed against his temples.

'You see, Peter...because your capacity was unlocked at a young age by your father, its there...waiting to be used. And that's what I'm here for. To make use of it. Hold still...' he said, knowing full well Peter couldn't move even if he wanted to. 'I won't lie to you. It won't be easy.'

Robert turned on the generator, sending electrical currents steadily through Peter's temples, What the hell is wrong with you?! Peter screamed in his mind at the professor.

Laboratory:

Walter sat in silence as Olivia paced. Astrid pressed a bandage on his cheek, he had cut himself when he fell down the stairs earlier that morning.

'Agent Dunhem, can I get you some coffee?' Astrid asked, she was worried about her superior, but didn't know how to tell her that. Olivia hadn't rested since Astrid had entered the lab, and from what she heard Walter say, Olivia had been like this all morning. Restless.

'Walter...' Olivia said, 'When you said 'they'...who did you mean?'

'Them.' Walter replied casually.

Olivia took in a deep breath, losing her temper would be easy, she needed to stay in control. Her mind dared not wonder what they were doing to Peter.

Astrid shifted uncomfortably, she considered showing Peter's file to Olivia, the one Walter had re-written, but didn't know if it had anything to do with what had happened to him.

'They've taken my son!' Astrid and Olivia looked at Walter who was suddenly upset and anxious, as though the reality of the event had just sunk in.

'I'll find him Walter. It's okay...'

'No, no! You don't understand-He knows!' Walter exclaimed whilst gesticulating his hands wildly.

'Who knows??' Olivia asked, forcing eye contact with Walter.

'Walter. WHO KNOWS??' she demanded loudly as she held his shoulders.

Walter shook his head, 'Peter's special...he's-he's special...You can't know. They can't know!'

Olivia turned to Astrid, 'I found a file Walter had written...I think you should read it.'

Olivia stared at her for a long pause, 'why didn't you tell me earlier?'

'I didn't think it was relevant.'

'Next time Walter does something like write a file from memory? It's very relevant.' She said bluntly, Astrid nodded as she handed the file to Olivia.

Walter watched the blonde as she leafed through a file, 'Why aren't you helping him?' He prompted.

'Agent Dunhem-I think you should listen to Walter...' Astrid said, noticing Walter's behaviour become aggressive.

Olivia was reading the file too intently to pay notice to Walter until he slammed his fist on the table, 'Help Peter! Or I'll have myself incarcerated!'

Olivia climbed to her feet and stormed over to him, she stared down at him, 'what the HELL is this?!' She demanded, tossing the open file infront of Walter. 'You experimented on your OWN son!?'

Walter looked panicked as he tried to gather all the pieces of paper back together, 'No, no, no...don't-don't-lose them. Peter will never forgive me-he won't.' He mumbled erratically.

'Peter doesn't know?' Olivia asked, she didn't think she could be as disgusted as she was at that moment. She felt an unexplained possessiveness of Peter at that point. How could a father do that to his own son? How could he do it to someone as great as Peter...

Olivia shook her head at Walter.

'Olivia...' Walter whispered now, 'Robbie's taken him...Izzie knows.'

'Wait-who? Robbie? Would that be Robert???'

Walter nodded, 'who else?!' he exclaimed, as though Olivia should be familiar with the two names.

She turned to Astrid, who was already searching the psychology database.

'I worked with Robbie, Robbie Markus, his daughter Isabella...beautiful girl, she was. In love with Peter.' He said with a nostalgic smile, Olivia straightened as she watched Walter.

Isabella Markus, an old girlfriend...? She wondered, 'Astrid...Markus, look them up.'

'I'm on it Agent Dunhem.'

'Robbie found my file...' Walter said as he clutched Peter's file closely to his chest. 'He found my file and took my boy...' Tears filled his eyes, 'Find my son. Find him.'

From he state he was in, Olivia decided it was better to leave Walter alone.

'I need the file Walter. I need everything you have on Peter.'

'I-I received these from Br-Broyles when I enquired as to the whereabouts my son had been for the past few years.' Walter said as he walked over to the filing cabinet, he pulled out a large pile of papers, setting them down in front of Olivia, he proudly said, 'He's been busy.'

Olivia raised an exhausted eyebrow at the pile of paper.

Research Laboratory:

Peter writhed in panic, he had been in the dark for 14 hours now. As a child, he had suffered from night terrors, logically darkness was not his most favourite place.

He let his thoughts drift him in and out of reality, he thought of Walter, and his childhood, he thought of the laughter, the tears, his mother, his father...the beatings. He quickly changed route and began to imagine a more recent memory. Seeing a man as strong as his father, in such a messed up state disturbed him greatly, it even tugged at his heart strings, the same heart he swore never to care for his father again with. Seeing him at the asylum that day with Olivia had left him somewhat torn and confused. He hated loving his father, he simply hated it. He couldn't deny that on some level, he enjoyed caring for him. But every now and then, a memory would linger on his mind, and he'd forget how to feel around Walter.

He hoped Olivia was okay. When the men had knocked him out, he remember her voice calling his name, he even remembered the desperation his mind was in to reply. But he was unable to move, they had stunned him.

The image of a man flashed before his eyes. He wouldn't have recognised Agent Scott if it wasn't for the strong jawline and small eyes that remained unaffected despite his infection before he died.

'Peter...' he whispered, then vanished, Peter jolted upright, he flinched, trying to feel himself, but he couldn't feel anything. He could only hear his heart thumping in his chest.

A door swung open and a pair of footsteps approached Peter, 'Bishop...You have 6 more hours of darkness. Then I will now escort you to a room where you will not eat for 48hours. I'm sure you understand why, if I don't put you in these sensory deprivation situations, your brain will not act out of desperation to activate all functioning areas in your brain and subconscious. Including the areas I need to unlock. Then you will be immersed into a tub of ice. Similar to the experiment involving the tank and synchronising brainwaves. This will lower your body temperature to a point where you're barely alive.'

I'm gonna die. Shit. Shit. Not like this...I can't die yet. I have to stay strong. Walter needs me. Olivia... amongst the panic arises a pause, why am I thinking of Olivia??

That night:

Olivia finally put down Peter's file, she had read it over and over again. There was so much pain in his past that he had never told her of, he had kept so much from her about who he was. She knew Walter was abusive, but she had no idea Peter was admitted to the hospital several times as a child when defending his mother from Walter's outbursts. She couldn't bring herself to imagine the brave yet terrified child that Peter would have been. It spoke volumes to her about who she was. Even though they were from two completely different worlds, they were so similar. She would find Peter, She simply had to, she owed it to him and to Walter.

She stared at Walter's version of Peter's file, unlike the FBI's version, it contained details of shocks and other treatments Walter had given Peter. The only consistency between the FBI files and Walter's was that Peter couldn't remember much from before he was 10. And Olivia had a horrible feeling that it had alot to do with Walter experimenting on the young boy.

She stared at the countless numbers of women he had been reported being seen with in the FBI files, with none of which was it recorded that he had actually pursued a relationship. The only woman in his files he had pursued a relationship with was Isabella Markus. She needed to find Isabella.

The sound of her phone ringing made her jump, she hadn't slept in over a night, she just couldn't. She knew if she slept, she risked seeing John, and the last thing she needed was to lose her mind during her search for Peter.

There was no way she could calmly drift off to sleep. Not with Peter missing, who knew what they were doing to him. She flipped open her cellphone.

'Agent Dunhem.' She said, her husky voice revealing how tired she was.

'I've got a location on Robert Markus...'

'I need one for Isabella first, I can't barge in there without some more information on who Markus is and how he operates. It's too risky, I can't lose Peter-'

Did I really just say that??

'WE can't lose Peter,' she corrected herself over the phone to Astrid.

'Agent Dunhem, can I give you some advice?'

Her silence prompted Astrid to continue.

'Get some rest. Your no good to Peter...or the investigation,' Astrid added, knowing Olivia would be defensive of that topic, 'if you're exhausted.'

'You're right. But I can't sleep, not until we find him.'

' But Agent Dunhem-'

'He would do the same for any of us...'

'Would he...?' Astrid asked rhetorically.

Olivia didn't answer, she believed he would do the same for her. And she wasn't in the mood to defend herself or her thoughts. Not tonight.

'Let me know when you find more on Isabella Markus.'

'Okay Agent Dunhem.'

'And Astrid? The moment you find something-Ring me.'

Astrid sighed over the phone, 'Yes Agent Dunhem.'

She hung up.

Satisfied Astrid would contact her the instant she found anything, Olivia set the phone down on her desk, she put her elbows on top of Peter's file, as she leant on the desk, she closed her eyes and rested her head.

I'll just rest my eyes for a minute...

'Research Facility Boston...' a pair of lips grazed her ear, Olivia replied as she leaned in to his touch, 'John...' on realising what she just said, she jolted awake. What the hell just happened??

She quickly wrote down what John had said, 'Research facility Boston.' She stared at it, why was John helping her? She turned to the engagement ring in the navy box that sat on her desk, reminding her of what yesterday could have been, had he not died. Her heat pounded in her chest, why did she feel so guilty about working so hard to find Peter all of a sudden?? She closed her eyes and ran her hands over her face.

Keep it together. Keep it together. She ordered herself, He's not really here...you're just losing your mind.

She shook her head as she climbed to her feet. Walking into the bathroom, she came to a halt infront of the mirrored cabinet on the wall. She took a moment to stare at herself, her eyes searching her expression, hoping she'd find a clue to what she was thinking and feeling. Taking in a deep breath, she opened the cold tap, and dabbed her face with cool water. Her eyes closed, she reached for a towel, pressing it against her face, she lowered the towel.

Her eyes stared at the mirror, only it wasn't her own reflection that stared back at her sadly, it was John's.

'Don't lose me Olivia...' he said softly, Olivia frowned at him as tears stung her eyes.

'I didn't. You lost me.' she said, her voice catching in her throat.

On seeing him in the mirror, the anger and betrayal she felt did their best to escape her, but it was no use. Olivia read his expression clearly, she knew exactly what he was realising; he had lost her, her heart was no longer his. With one last lingering look, John dissolved into thin air.

Olivia stared at her familiar reflection. A wave of relief washed over her. Was he really gone?

End chapter four: