Chapter Six:

Later that night at Olivia's apartment:

Olivia sat besides Peter on the couch, he gave her an impressed look as he took a swig of water.

'You're a surprisingly good cook.' He said as he set the bottle of water down on the coffee table.

Olivia fought back an amused smile, 'Surprisingly?'

'Well you know...you don't exactly seem like the cooking type...'

'I don't seem like the cooking type? I'll try not to be offended.' She said with a small laugh.

Peter's eyes landed on hers, 'No, it was nice...but why make me dinner? I wasn't exactly on my best behaviour today...'

'You also refused to stop at home and grab a shirt. So it kinda narrowed our eating options down to my place...unless you wanted to get some unwanted attention, which I doubt.'

'I just...I don't wanna see or have anything to do with Walter tonight, I've had a long and painful few days, and its all thanks to him.'

Olivia's heart sank in her chest, she understood how it felt to be betrayed by someone who was supposed to love you.

'I saw the memory of Walter beating you-'

'I don't wanna talk about it.' He said quickly, changing the subject, he nodded at the jumper he was wearing, 'But I would like to thank one of your ex's for this...' Olivia smiled as she looked away.

'It's just a jumper I bought for someone a while back...I didn't get round to giving it him.'

Peter frowned slightly, if this belonged to John this is gonna get beyond awkward.

It was as if she read his mind when she added, 'Don't worry, it wasn't John's.' She gave him a small smile, for the first time in weeks since his death, she didn't feel an ounce of guilt when saying his name.

She glanced at Peter, she found herself feeling exposed under his gaze and he was very aware of the effect he was having on her.

'So...you and Isabella?' She asked, knowingly turning the tables on him, she knew that he hated being in the spotlight as much as her.

'It was... what it was.' He said simply.

Olivia blinked, 'that's all I'm gonna get?' she asked playfully, her eyes never leaving his.

'We uh...it was more of a physical thing...than an actual...relationship...'

Olivia raised an eyebrow at him, a bemused grin spread over her lips.

'What?' Peter said defensively.

'Nothing...' she said, she had to admit, she didn't think Peter had it in him to be the hot and heavy type. He had always seemed more of a closet-romantic to her.

'Don't get me wrong. I'm not unromantic...it's just...when I find someone who's worth the romance...I'll be romantic then. I get by just fine without love and heartache.'

Olivia nodded, a glint in her eye. Peter studied her expression, she looked like she had just solved a puzzle.

'You're one of those guys...' she said, nodding gently.

'One of what guys?'

'You know...the whole 'I don't need love, I get by just fine, no harm, no foul'...The kind that you have a one night stand with and doesn't call back...'

Peter laughed, 'do you honestly think I'm that soul-less?'

'I don't know what to think when it comes to you...'

'Right back at ya...' he said with a smile.

Olivia glanced at the coffee table, something was eating at her and she had to say it.

'Isabella's still in love with you.'

Peter looked at her as she straightened, 'if it wasn't for her help-I wouldn't have gotten into the facility on time.'

'Like I said,' his voice was hoarse, 'It was what it was.'

Peter's cellphone rang, causing both of them become aware of how close they were sitting, Peter leaned over and picked it up, Olivia caught a glimpse of the screen. It was Walter. Peter pressed the red button without any thought, hanging up on his father.

Olivia knew it wasn't her place to tell Peter how to behave with his father, but after seeing how worried Walter had been about Peter...she felt like she needed to.

'He was so anxious to find you...'

'Ofcourse he was. I'm one of his research experiments remember??' he said bitterly.

'No, Peter... he fell down the stairs when trying to catchup with the men who took you...I rushed to his side to help him, but all he did was tell me to find you. He loves you enough not to care about himself.' She watched as Peter glanced at his cellphone, she knew her words had effected him, she just didn't know to what extent.

'Peter?'

'He beat me with a text book when I was 11 because I dropped it when he was working on an experiment and distracted him. He blamed me for his forgetful memory...he couldn't remember what the result was, so he picked up that text book...' Peter turned to face Olivia, 'and pretty much beat me till I was blue.' He nodded, a tenderness in his eyes.

Olivia stared at him, 'I'm sorry-'

'Don't apologise.' He said, 'People always apologise, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened.'

He climbed to his feet, Olivia followed his lead.

'where you goin?' She asked out of concern.

'I'm a big boy sweetheart, don't worry about me.' He winked at her with a melancholy smile, 'Oh and for the record...?' he said with a glint in his eyes, 'I'm not a one-night-stand kinda guy...' Olivia smiled slightly, secretly relieved she wasn't working with a womaniser. Peter headed out the door, leaving her standing alone in the apartment.

Olivia looked away from her door as it slammed shut, leaning her elbows on the table, she ran her hands over her face. There was something about endearing about Peter, that drew her to him, but he was too reluctant to let anyone get close to him. Just like she was, and she appreciated that, not ever wanting to go down that road with a colleague again. She had learnt her lesson two times over.

She wondered where he was going, maybe he went to see Isabella, or Walter...? Her mind drifted to the time she had shared the memory of her stepfather with him, he had listened so graciously, and now she had returned the favour. She wondered whether the friendship between her and Peter was only a friendship... Olivia took in a deep breath and gathered herself, I gotta get outta my head. She thought, tonight she was giving up trying to understand herself and heading straight to bed.

A car honked at Peter as he nearly walked infront of it as it sped down the road, I gotta get outta my head...! He told himself as he stepped back onto the pavement, too many issues had been bought to the surface, issues about his childhood, about his past love, about why he could only think of Olivia when he thought he was about to die, he would have loved to have stayed at hers alittle longer, but he couldn't sit so close to her without certain feelings buried at the bottom of his heart trying to resurface...This is ridiculous, I'm not falling for Olivia...I need to get a grip.

He let out a sigh as he remembered how much she had learnt about him. It left him feeling uneasy around her. She knew things he had never told anyone. Somehow, by simply making eyecontact with him, she could read him like an open book. The quality he both loved and hated about her.

He shook his head, No, you're not falling for her, she's just the only person you can trust...that's all it is. Its a matter of trust.

And he was right to some extent, Olivia and Peter were eachother's only confidants, since they'd been thrown into the world of conspiracy theories, betrayal and general craziness. It was normal for his attachment to this woman grow. Perfectly normal.

I need a drink...Old habits die hard. He decided as he headed for the bar.

Olivia's apartment:

Olivia tossed and turned in bed, trying to put her mind to rest, she picked up her cell phone, in hopes that someone had contacted her, but it looked as bored as she felt, tossing it aside, she climbed out of bed and headed for the shower.

I'm gonna shower and then head to the lab, see if there's another loophole in Langley's contract to get access to Rosenbaum...she decided.

The bar:

Peter glanced at the bottled water he had ordered, his eyes drifted to the drunken people around him, they were all so intoxicated, so unaware of reality. He wished he could be one of them, but he wouldn't drink. He knew how dangerous he could be if he lost control.

'Sitting at the bar and ordering water? That's an odd combination...' a woman's voice teased.

Peter turned around, his eyes landed on a fiery red head, her soft brown eyes seemed to peer into his. She cast him a smile, 'I'm Rachel...'

Peter looked her up and down for a moment before shaking her hand, 'Peter.'

'Peter.' She said, as if she was tasting the name.

'Let me guess Rachel, you're drunk...'

'Not yet...' she said playfully.

'Can I change that for you?'

'That depends...will you be drinking too?'

'What kind of a man would I be if I didn't get myself drunk in the company of a beautiful woman?' He said gently.

Rachel smiled, enjoying the flirting, on getting her consent, Peter turned to the bartender, 'Hey, a drink for this beautiful woman?' he called as he ordered her a drink.

The bar tender approached Rachel, 'what can I get you miss?'

Peter felt Rachel's eyes on him as she ordered her vodka.

'Same for me...' Peter added, he touched her elbow, getting her attention, 'Want to make some quick money?'

She threw him an apprehensive look, but much to her relief, he nodded at the Poker table, 'How well can you deceive people?' he asked softly, Rachel found herself drawn to his charm.

'I've won my fair share of games...'

Peter's eyes drifted to the poker table as he broke into a smile.

'Wanna see a smart way to make alot of money?'

'That depends, are you a lucky guy?' Rachel asked curiously, Peter broke into a grin, an edge in his eyes.

'I am when I want to be.' He said, leading the way to the poker table.

The next morning at the lab:

Walter and Astrid entered the lab at 10am, Astrid paused as she saw Agent Dunhem asleep at the desk.

She turned off the lights, it was broad daylight now, lights weren't needed.

'Agent Dunhem?'

Olivia stirred in her sleep.

'If you're here...then where's Peter?' Astrid asked, doing her best not to sound curious.

Olivia frowned at her, 'why would me being here effect Peter's location?'

Astrid had to bite her tongue in order to stop herself from saying what she thought.

But it was no use, Olivia read her like an open book.

'Peter and I did not spend the night together...' she said with indignation. Astrid winced, that probably wasn't the best note to start the day with. Olivia stifled a yawn and ran her hands over her face as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

'I couldn't sleep, so I came over here,' she explained, 'I did some groundwork on Rosenbaum's deal with Langley.'

'Find anything new?'

'No...' she turned to her apprentice, 'you've done a brilliant job on writing up the leads Astrid.'

'Thanks,' Astrid said, the elation she felt was short lived thanks to Walter's addition to the compliment.

'She can do better.' The genius said casually, Olivia smiled apologetically at Astrid. Then she paused as she realised something, 'wait...why did you bring Walter? Where's Peter?'

'Pete didn't come home last night,' Walter said with a sad expression, 'I slept in the closet...'

Astrid tried not to smile, 'I was kinda worried when I got there...but found him eventually.'

'I rang Astrix...'

'Astrid,' Olivia corrected.

-'To collect me.' he finished.

'He rang from the closet.' Astrid said, doing her best to hide her amusement.

'Atleast I keep you on your toes...' he said with a grin.

Olivia didn't care to take part in the smalltalk, she was a woman of a few words unless it was work related. Besides, she couldn't help but feel annoyed at Astrid's assumption about her and Peter.

'Where's Peter?'

Astrid shrugged, Walter looked Olivia up and down, 'I assumed he was with you.'

Olivia frowned, her arms were now folded infront of her defensively, 'What made you think that?'

'You remember the 'If-then' formula don't you?' He asked, not really waiting for an answer, '...If you observed the behaviour both of you exhibited towards eachother on being reunited by the tank, then you too would assume that when alone...' he turned to his experiment, 'then Nature would take it's course-'

Olivia heard Astrid splutter as she drank her coffee, Olivia shot her a glare making Astrid gulp as she fought the urge to let her mouth hang open.

'That's not ...' Olivia searched for words, 'That's not-what Peter and I are...we're just colleagues.' She said firmly, not caring how defensive she sounded.

'Based on my observations, you're at the least, friends...at the least.' He mumbled more to himself than to Olivia.

Olivia dialled Peter's number, it rang three times and then she got the answer phone.

Walter and Astrid both blinked at her expectantly as she frowned, 'he hung up on me...' she said, her voice low, she wondered why she felt so out of place as she stared at her phone.

It wasn't like Peter to hang up on her. Maybe Walter, even Astrid, but he never hung up on her.

Moments later Peter clambered into the lab, 'Morning...' he said gruffly.

Olivia studied him, he looked exhausted, and it was safe to say he was probably hung over.

'Have you been drinking?' Olivia asked Peter firmly, the question seemed to grab Walter's attention.

'You shouldn't...' he paused mid-sentence as he lost the word and found it again, 'Drink. Peter. No.'

Peter frowned at Walter and Olivia, 'I'm here aren't I? Let's solve this case and go home, how does that sound to everyone?'

Astrid cast a glance at Olivia to see how she was handling Peter's bitter attitude.

'Shall I get you some water and aspirin?'Astrid offered him.

Olivia turned to Astrid, 'No, Agent Farnsworth, that's not your job.' She felt Peter's glare on her, she stubbornly returned it. If he thought he could stroll in half hung-over and half drunk, he could forget about it.

'You have a history of drink-drinking problems son...'

Olivia was glad Walter was present, it meant there was someone else who knew about Peter's past. Peter ignored Walter and turned to Olivia, 'can I talk to you outside for a second?'

Olivia glanced at the other two observant minds in the room, she folded her arms, 'whatever you wanna say, you can say it infront of our team.'

Peter glanced at Walter and Astrid, he turned back to Olivia, studying her carefully. Olivia was serious, she wasn't about to budge.

'Alright. How is it that my mentally unstable father-'

'I prefer the term 'mentally distinguished'-' Walter chimed in.

'How is that my 'mentally distinguished' father has access to my files??' He demanded.

'He requested them-' she said with a shrug.

'Why did you say yes?'

'Why would I say No?' Olivia replied. Walter was an important asset, not fulfilling his wishes wasn't wise. But from the look on Peter's face, Olivia didn't think he'd buy that explanation.

Peter scoffed out of exasperation, taking his silence as defeat Olivia put her foot down, letting everyone know who was in charge.

'And if you wake up one morning hung over? Don't bother coming in.'

This seemed to push Peter over the edge as he turned on his heel and stormed straight upto her. Walter and Astrid observed silently, not knowing what to do or where to look.

Olivia stared up into his eyes, a look of defiance on her face.

'What?' she asked shortly.

'What I do in my time is none of your business.'

'Then don't bring it to work with you.' Peter scoffed incredulously, she was giving him advice on how to be professional??

'Right-because the fact that you were sleeping with your partner was totally professional...' He retorted, waiting for her to rise to the bait, but she didn't.

Peter clenched his jaw as he studied her, he wanted to know why she was being so edgy, he held her stare, he wouldn't be the one to look away. Not today.

Is he actually challenging me?? Olivia pondered as she refused to break eyecontact with him.

'Uhm Peter? Olivia?'

The angst ridden pair turned to Astrid who nodded at Walter whom was currently writing rapidly on a piece of paper.

A nod from Olivia let Peter know they'd continue this later, both of them jogged over to Walter's side.

'I've perfected it-the formula for the combustion of a human being-however it is not as spontaneous as we initially thought so-'

'What are we gonna do with the formula?' Peter asked Olivia. 'Are you planning on giving Rosenbaum a taste of his own medicine?' he quipped.

Olivia's silence answered his question.

'Wait-you're not serious-please tell me you're not serious...'

Off Olivia's stare, Peter turned to Walter.

End chapter six: