Chapter Seven:

Peter shifted uncomfortably as Olivia and Walter stood over Rosenbaum, whom six hours earlier, Olivia and her extraction team had kidnapped and was now strapped to a chair as Walter poured a mixture of liquid into a glass beaker.

Olivia walked over to Rosenbaum, 'I wish I didn't have to do it this way. But we need a confession from you.'

Rosenbaum grunted, his mouth gagged, he threw a burning glare in Olivia's direction.

'Scowl all you want. I know what you did to all those people...and I wanna hear you admit it. Even if it means giving you a taste of your own medicine.'

Rosenbaum's eyes widened, he began shaking his head, pleading with his eyes alone.

'Walter... Are you ready?'

Walter smiled as he tapped the injection. 'Always...'

Olivia walked over to Peter, who stood apart from Walter and Rosenbaum, his arms were folded. Olivia knew he disproved of her method, but in her line of work, sometimes this was the only way.

'I know you don't like this technique of extracting information.'

'What I think doesn't actually matter.' Peter shot back, he had been real with her long enough, he needed to put space between the two of them, and if that meant letting her think her was an asshole, so be it.

Olivia simply didn't know what to say, his opinion did matter to her, but that didn't mean his was the only one that counted when solving cases. Peter watched Walter inject Rosenbaum with the compound, he felt Olivia's eyes on him but didn't give her the satisfaction of glancing in her direction. After giving him one last look, Olivia turned and watched Rosenbaum as he began to sweat.

Walter removed the gag to place a thermometer in Rosenbaum's mouth.

'Don't do this-! You don't understand-I didn't want to do those experiments-'

'Hold STILL.' Walter said firmly. Is it just me, or do subjects just not know how to behave when one is experimenting on them?! The slightest variable could be altered by a simple action, leading to lethal consequences...honestly, some humans are so ignorant sometimes.

Watching Rosenbaum get tortured bought back a few painful memories of Peter's own. Memories that took him back to his days of gambling excessively, and then paying the price when he had no money to offer. The mere thought of being strapped to a chair was enough to spook him.

'I'll be outside, give me a call when you've got what you need.'

Olivia nodded at him, his pale complexion worried her, but she didn't feel comfortable with caring. Not when it came to Peter. Whenever they'd hold eachother's gaze, it always felt as though it was for a moment too long, and yet a moment too short. There was something between them that she had pushed aside whenever they worked on cases together. It was the same thing that made her worry about him so often, she glanced at him as he walked out of the room. Peter however, had made it very clear that worrying about him wasn't her place. And yet, she still did.

'Hmmm...that's wonderful. Rapidly spreading...' Walter's odd words got her attention.

'What is?'

'Oh, hello Olivia...his temperature...its risen profusely...much quicker than I expected it to...'

Rosenbaum spluttered, sending the thermometer to the ground, his breathing was shallow now, his pupils constricted then dilated.

'Increased levels of aggression under stress, pupil dilation-linked to vasodilation...' Walter notated besides Rosenbaum.

Olivia studied him, 'Give me the confession Rosenbaum, or I'll let you explode, killing us all.'

Rosenbaum studied the determination in her eyes, she was unrelenting, he felt as though his insides were on fire now.

'You don't understand-They'll kill me-they'll-' he said breathlessly, straining to get oxygen to his lungs.

'Do you really think I won't??' Olivia threatened, doing her best not to show the concern she had over his increasingly unstable condition. She was bluffing, but he didn't need to know that. Nor did he need to know that she secretly hoped Walter had used the right amount of mixture, so not to kill Rosenbaum. She may have been committed to her work, but she was no murderer.

Walter approached Rosenbaum with another thermometer, 'Uhm, Olivia...?' He said sheepishly.

The look on his face filled her with dread, something was wrong.

'What is it? What's wrong??'

'The-the- my memory isn't what it used to be you see- now that I looked over my formula and compared it to the symptoms he's exhibiting-there's something amiss....' he touched his forehead as he thought.

'Wait what do you mean?' Olivia prompted. Please tell me you didn't put in the wrong amount Walter...I was counting on you! If he explodes we have to answer to Broyles AND the CIA!

'Too hot.' Walter said simply.

She dreaded to think what Broyles would do if he found out Rosenbaum died during investigation.

Rosenbaum suddenly began to yell in agony, 'Walter-What's happening to him?! What do you mean by 'too hot'?'

'Olivia, we should leave this room-' he grabbed her wrist.

'Get off've me!' she yelled at him-

'Olivia-now-we must go! RIGHT NOW!' he yelled, a furious look in his eye.

'Wh-!?'

The sound of an explosion followed by the sound of splatter made them both duck, Walter held the young agent close as he peered in horror as to what had just happened.

'Oh.' Walter said, distress spreading over him, 'oh no...no-no-no-no!' He yelled, almost in tears, 'NO-I calculated it! I calculated everything correctly-'

Peter burst into the room, 'What the hell just happened?!' he demanded, on seeing Olivia climbing to her feet, he ran over to her, 'are you okay?'

Olivia was too stunned to speak, 'what just happened?' He prompted again, on not getting a response, he grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly, 'Olivia..?' Her eyes were on the exploded remains of Rosenbaum.

Olivia turned to Peter, 'I don't uh...' she began to say, her face looked pale, 'I don't feel too-' She threw up to her right on the ground, Peter swiftly swept her hair back, placing one arm around her supportively. Peter glared a his father, 'did you just kill a man?'

'No-no-son, you see I-I think, he had a timer placed in him-and when I inserted the formula-it prematurely detonated-they're going to put me away!' Walter said, this was the first time Peter had seen terror in his eyes.

'No, no they're not. I won't let that happen. It wasn't your fault.'

'No!' the old man said angrily as his slammed his fist against a metal locker, 'They're going to put me away until they discover it-I can't go back-'

Peter felt torn, on one hand he had Olivia in his arms, who needless to say wasn't handling the explosion well, and then there was his senile father who also needed attention.

'Walter, just relax. I'll take care of it...' Peter said, much to his surprise Olivia pushed Peter away, not saying a word, she ran her hands over her face and walked out of the room, leaving Peter standing there with empty arms.

'Tell her I'm sorry.' Walter said sadly.

'It wasn't your fault.' Peter said shortly.

Walter's eyes stung with tears, Peter felt exceptionally uncomfortable, 'Walter...' he said firmly, 'Don't. Cry.' But it was no use, much to Peter's discomfort, Walter sobbed, terrified of what his fate may become.

'I can't go back-'

'Alright,' Peter said comfortingly as he reluctantly patted shoulder on the back, Walter mistook the pat for a welcome to hug Peter. Which he did and did so tightly. 'Oookay,' Peter said as his father clung to him dearly, 'great. Walter, brilliant.' After a pause, he reluctantly wrapped his arms around his distraught father.

I hate Boston. He thought to himself with a defeated sigh.

FBI Building:

The locker room:

Peter lingered in the doorway of the locker room, his emerald gaze on Olivia as she cried, unaware of his presence.

For a moment he wondered if it was better for Olivia if he left her alone in here, he knew how much they both hated being seen as vulnerable by other people. It was one of the few things he knew and cherished about her. He hated seeing her like this, she was a good person, she didn't deserve to go through all of this.

Without further hesitation, Peter walked towards her, 'Broyles and Langley have decided it wasn't your fault and you won't be reprimanded for what happened.'

He noticed her pause as she composed herself before facing him, her tear stained cheeks glistened in the dimly lit locker room.

She didn't say a word, she simply looked at him.

Peter pulled his hands out of his jean pockets, 'but they wanna put Walter into incarceration whilst their forensics find evidence that it wasn't his fault...probably afew days at best.'

Olivia studied him, he tried to hide it, but she knew he loved his father deep down.

'I'm sorry.'

'It wasn't your fault.' Peter said simply as stood opposite her.

Olivia did her best to keep her defences up, she never let anyone see her cry, it wasn't something she did. She was usually in control of her emotions around people.

'Mind if I join you?' He asked gently.

Olivia looked up at him, after considering him, she turned her eyes to the ground, nodding slightly.

Peter sat besides her, 'How're you holding up?'

Olivia smiled sadly, 'Not good.' She admitted softly.

Peter watched her, waiting for her to meet his gaze. But Olivia couldn't bring herself to, she knew that if she saw any sympathy in his eyes or even a hint of worry in them, it would crumble her defences and she would breakdown.

He knew she was avoiding eye contact purposely, but he wouldn't let her escape her own emotions. In the world she worked in, it was vital to feel what she was feeling so she could let go of it and move in. Peter did something neither he or Olivia expected, he reached out and grazed her cheek with his hand, leaving her no choice but to react, 'hey,' he whispered gently.

Her green eyes met his, she shook her head as tears began to stream down her cheeks, 'I killed him...' she said weakly. 'I killed a man-'

'No. Someone else put that timer in him.' Peter said firmly, 'it wasn't your fault...he was a ticking bomb waiting to go off-'

Olivia shook her head and turned away from Peter, she needed more persuasion Peter decided.

Peter touched her chin, 'look at me,' his eyes were on hers, 'Olivia, he was gonna die sooner or later-if anything, by having him in the lab when he exploded, you saved the lives of whoever he was meant to kill-'

For a moment, Olivia found herself drowning in his eyes, the shades of green and flecks of what seemed to be blue and brown seemed to have an endless depth that drew her closer to him.

It was then that Agent Olivia Dunham realised her attraction to Peter Bishop.

'C'mere,' he said soothingly, pulling her into an embrace. He held her firmly as she buried her face in his shoulder, right now she needed support, she needed a friend. Screw all of his rules about not letting people close. Olivia wasn't like all the other people he had come across in life, she deserved a shoulder to lean on, and by letting her in, Peter was setting her apart.

'You're not a murderer Olivia...this wasn't your fault.' He whispered gently, somehow answering all of the questions she hadn't had the courage to ask even herself. 'Trust me.'

Olivia felt safe in his warm but firm hold, she let him hold her for a moment longer as she closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder.

Peter held her close, observing the way his heart leapt in his chest at the feeling of her breath against his neck, he let go of his hold on her, for a moment, he let irrational thought take over his feelings.

Why can't I think about anything but kissing her? He marvelled, rarely the one to be besotted in a relationship, Peter was mesmerized.

Olivia lifted her head, curious to find why the comfort he was offering had suddenly pulled away from her.

What she saw in his eyes set off a series of sparks in her heart.

The locker room door swung open as Agent Charlie Francis walked in, Olivia quickly turned to face Charlie, as did Peter.

Charlie stared at the two of them, he'd walked in on Olivia and John sitting closely before and seen her look slightly caught off guard, but right now, she looked completely flustered. He looked from Olivia to the Bishop boy, Olivia's cheeks were red and Peter Bishop's eyes were on the floor.

'Liv...you okay?' he asked protectively, Olivia nodded.

'I'm fine Charlie...' she nodded, glancing at Peter, who didn't dare to meet her gaze.

He was too busy trying to understand where the wave of passion in his chest had come from...

Peter noticed Charlie fold his arms, he was marking his territory, and for tonight, Peter would let him.

Olivia turned to Peter as he climbed to his feet, 'where are you going?'

She asked, a part of her didn't want him to leave just yet.

'I should probably uh...' he nodded at the door behind Agent Francis, 'See Walter...he's pretty upset about the incarceration thing...' he said with a smile.

Olivia nodded, not taking her eyes off Peter as he walked out, leaving her and Charlie alone.

'Should I be worried?' Charlie asked.

'About what?' Olivia asked, her eyes were on the door as in swung shut.

'About the fact that you didn't take your eyes off him, not even once, as he left the room?'

Olivia looked at Charlie, she climbed to her feet, 'Drop it Charlie.'

She knew he wouldn't understand, because she wasn't sure if she understood what her and Peter had either.

'No I won't drop it-What happened with John hurt you Liv-' he said, holding her arm to get her attention, 'I'm just looking out for you.'

'You don't have to, not with Peter.' She said, 'he isn't like John.'

'And John wasn't like the others...' Charlie shot back, 'right?'

Olivia frowned at him, 'There is nothing going on between Peter and I. And even if there was-It's not your business. It never has been.' She said bluntly.

'Look, Liv-'

'Charlie, I appreciate that you kept your mouth shut about John and I...I do. But that's over. He betrayed me-'

'He broke your heart-is that what Peter should get? A broken heart in exchange for his?'

'You're getting way ahead of yourself-me and Peter? We're just friends.'

'That's not how it looked to me when I walked in...'

'I'm not discussing this with you.' She said as she brushed past him.

'Will you discuss it with Broyles then?' Charlie retorted.

Olivia met his stare full on, 'Don't threaten me Charlie.'

Charlie watched Olivia leave, he shook his head in exasperation.

'This isn't good Olivia...' he said, desperately trying to get her attention.

Olivia turned on her heel and faced him, 'Who are you to decide who I see and who I don't?'

This silenced him for a moment.

'So you admit you're seeing him then?'

'No.' Olivia said simply, before walking away.

Charlie let out a defeated sigh, his boss would not be happy about the latest piece of information.

End chapter seven: