Substitute
A/N: See? I told you the other chapter wasn't the end :) shout-outs are at the bottom. Also, I just want to let ya'll know, I'm a HUGE Peter/Olivia fan :D but then Lincoln showed up and stole my heart... so now there's a tie... oh, also also, I don't know how protocols related to pregnancies in hospitals work so please bear with my ignorance for a bit, okay? Enjoy?
I managed to write this chapter pretty fast but that doesn't mean every chapter will be this quick! Still, even though I have the tendancy to get writer's block, I intend to update rather regularly.
The next day found Olivia relatively rested. She had no doubt been woken up several times during the night, partly due to Mr-High-Maintenance-Henry, but also due to the odd nightmare here or there. Since when did she have nightmares? Then again... her dreams were about evil doctors doing awful things to her... her or her and her baby. But... most of them ended pretty pleasantly now that she thought of it. She was startled suddenly to realize how much Lincoln had been there to save her in her dreams... where it once had been Frank. But then, how many times had he been there to save her in real life? A lot... she could have died so many times if it weren't for him. Maybe her dreams were just reflecting that?
Olivia's thoughts were interrupted. "Ms Dunham? Good morning! How are we feeling today?" Olivia's nurse, Janet, asked kindly. The middle-aged woman smiled warmly at her charge and walked over, curiously peeking over at the snoozing babe in the young woman's arms. "How's the little one?" Normally they would have discharged a new mother if she was feeling up to it the next day, but with how unnatural her situation was, they wanted to keep her over-night to monitor her, make sure there were no complications.
"Good morning, I'm doing just fine and so is Henry," Olivia explained, smiling down again at her little boy, her miracle.
"Aww, what a nice name. Oh, looks like he knows we're talking about him!" The nurse laughed as Henry stirred and began to fuss. "Do you still need help?" she asked. Janet had been graciously assisting Olivia with feeding Henry and teaching her a few things about motherhood from her own experience. She was very grateful for her.
"No, I think I got it," Olivia said, accepting the small feeding blanket from the older woman. Just as the baby settled down and began to feed, there was a knock on the door. Again, before anyone could answer, it opened a crack... but this time, two heads popped into view. Charlie and Lincoln took one look at their partner, blushed, and pulled right back out. Olivia laughed at the sight and called them in, promising they weren't going to see anything and that it was no problem.
"How are you doing, 'Liv?" Charlie asked in an almost brotherly concern.
"Oh I'm just peachy, right as rain," Olivia answered with a wide smile. She did look better that morning.
"I'll check on you again later sweetie," Janet said and winked at the two men. "I'll leave these two strapping men with you," she grinned before leaving. Lincoln and Charlie blinked at the comment, unsure what to make of it, which just made Olivia laugh at their expense once again.
"Glad you're doing better, 'Liv," Lincoln smiled at her. He truly felt relief, hating having to see Olivia so weary, so anxious, it made him want to grab her and never let her go. There he went again, being all sappy. Even though his thoughts were relatively serious, his eyes twinkled with mischief. Olivia studied him and wondered what was on his mind. She had seen that look from him many times. Then again, Charlie didn't look much better... what was up? Before she could question them though, it seemed little Henry had had enough and was not sitting on her lap looking up at her.
"Well mister, I guess you've had enough, hm?" Olivia spoke to Henry, who gazed up at her with big wide blue eyes. Peter's eyes...
"That's one cute kid, 'Liv," Charlie mentioned, thankfully stopping Olivia from treading down a gloomy path in her mind.
"He is, isn't he?" Olivia agreed with a wide smile, returning to the here and now. Charlie and Lincoln were both used to Olivia's normally chirpy self but she almost seemed to radiate happiness in waves now. A stark opposite of what she had been only yesterday. It gave her two best friends much relief that she was back to normal. Or as back to normal as she could be under the circumstances. "So tell me, why do you both look so suspicious?" she asked them out of the blue.
"Us? Suspicious? No... never!" Lincoln countered in mock-offense, placing a fist over his heart dramatically.
"Nope, not us, 'Liv!" Charlie agreed, crossing his arms and giving Olivia his most serious look... which looked fake to begin with.
"Uh huh, spill," Olivia ordered.
"It's not much. You've officially been put on maternity-leave," Lincoln answered. He knew how much Olivia enjoyed her work but knew she'd be feeling conflicted with the birth of her child and all. It was always fun to tease her though.
"For how long?" She asked with a rather defeated look. At least she wasn't going to argue.
"Well... normally it would take some time, but knowing you, you'd probably want to jump right back into work with the baby strapped to a carrier on your back..." Lincoln said playfully.
"Now come on, you know I wouldn't..." Olivia protested but received three incredulous looks.
"Hahaha! Look! The kid agrees with us! Look at his face!" Charlie laughed.
"Aww, see? The squirt's probably gunna be just like us when he gets older!" Lincoln chipped in, grinning cheekily and puffing up pridefully.
"Oh God, I hope not," Olivia said in mock-alarm. Lincoln deflated visibly and there was a round of chuckles.
"So yeah, if by two weeks time you're all settled and have someone that can watch him, you'll be allowed back to work... part-time." Lincoln answered a bit more seriously.
"Part-time?" The new mother questioned, her voice tinged with a tiny bit of exasperation.
"Yes, I – we don't want you to over-work yourself and not get enough sleep. It could make you sick," Lincoln explained. He hoped to God neither of them caught his little slip-up. Fortunately, it didn't seem like Olivia did. If she did, she gave no indication that she did. Unfortunately, it seemed like Charlie did - if that smug smirk he was throwing at him was any clue. Lincoln lifted a hand to quiet the two down as his communicator chimed. "This is Agent Lee," he spoke.
"Good morning Sir, there has been a Fringe Event," Astrid spoke.
"Alright, we'll be right there," Lincoln answered. "Well, we've gotta go now," Lincoln informed them.
"Yeah, we have mission to go to," Charlie chimed in with a smug smile.
"Oh, rub it in why don'tcha?" Olivia huffed.
"Sorry kiddo," Charlie chuckled.
"No you're not," Olivia smiled back.
"We'll come visit again, okay?" Lincoln promised.
"Well, I get discharged later today so stop by my apartment after work and tell me how the mission went, okay?" Olivia offered. The men agreed and with another goodbye to baby Henry, they left.
On their way down the hall, Charlie couldn't help himself from bullying his friend. "So... you don't want her to get over-worked and not get enough rest, huh?" Charlie questioned teasingly. "Hmm, that's odd... I would have thought it was the department that felt that..."
"It is the department that thinks that," Lincoln threw back.
"Right right..." Charlie agreed offhandedly, "and you," he added with a grin.
"Well... of course I also don't want her to get overwhelmed..." Lincoln bristled slightly.
"Ah just admit you have a thing for her and get it over-with," Charlie sighed. Honestly, why couldn't Lincoln just be man enough to admit it?
"You're being an unusual pest today..." Lincoln said, refusing to tell Charlie anything.
"Oh, ouch, defensive are we? Sounds like denial to me..." Thankfully, both men had their own cars so Lincoln was able to take a breather, however, Charlie picked it up as soon as they began to walk toward the main Fringe Division building. "You know the first step to denial is talking about it right? You have a problem..."
"Charlie, I love you like a brother but if you don't shut up about absurd things like this, I might have to have you taken away!" He tried to look serious, he really did.
"See! There you go again! So defensive!" Charlie threw his hands up. At least the topic wasn't his little room-mates bunking in his veins... not worms, mind you.
"Sirs? Am I interrupting?" Astrid asked as she walked up to her commanding officer.
Charlie calmly turned to her. "Yes you-" but he couldn't finish.
"NO you're not! Have a Fringe event for us? Fire away!" Lincoln cut Charlie off, enthusiastically taking the gracious opportunity to change the subject.
"Pfft, denial..." Charlie muttered to himself. He was promptly ignored.
"Oh-kay. There is a Fringe Event, yes..." Astrid affirmed, blinking in confusion at the odd display.
"So? What is it?" Charlie gave in, dropping the subject about the lack of romance between his two friends temporarily.
"There are reports of a large animal attacking people in a small town in Utah and..." she paused, uncertain about this latest bit of information, "melting cars," the dedicated Agent explained.
"Melting cars you say? You don't hear that everyday, sounds interesting," Lincoln nodded.
"So long as it isn't bugs..."
"Aw come now, I bet you can't wait for another mission that has bugs in it," Lincoln smiled cheekily. It was Lincoln's turn to bully him. Charlie gave him a sour look.
"We found reports that a Dr. Abe Franklin had been experimenting on animals in the a research lab on the outskirts of the town before he was discovered doing illegal tests and fired," Astrid went on.
"Abe?" Charlie grinned, "Abe, huh? What about that, huh Lincoln?"
Lincoln ignored him. "Experiments?" What was with Charlie today? Olivia is temporarily out of commission so he decides to dump all his taunting on his boss? Maybe it was pay-back for how many times he and Olivia made fun of him concerning his worms... sorry, Arachnids.
"Yes Sir, according to sources, he was trying to create the perfect pet," she told them.
"Is he still living there?" Lincoln rolled his eyes at a still grinning Charlie.
"Yes Sir, he has a small house on the edge of town,"
"Alright, we'll look into it, thank you Agent,"
"Sirs," Astrid nodded and walked back to her station.
As the two men walked toward the garage, Charlie rubbed his hands together. "Alright Lincoln, let's go see Abe..." he said with a snicker.
Lincoln gave his friend a half-serious mock-annoyed look. "Man, shut up already, don't sass your boss," he said, though his tone was light-hearted.
"Yes Sir!" Charlie mock-saluted him.
"Now that I know is insubordination..." the new Chief of Fringe Division scoffed as they got into the car. They wouldn't need a squad just yet since right now they were going to investigate reports and talk to Dr. Franklin. Lincoln hoped Charlie or Olivia wouldn't notice how concerned Lincoln felt about everything that was going on lately. While he and Charlie were both troubled by recent news and had more questions than answers, it was nice to fall back to their old ways. Soon, though, those issues would have to be addressed...
TBC...
End A/N: I seriously love the interactions between Fauxlivia, Scarlie and Alt!Lincoln :D it is made of awesome. Also, why doesn't anyone like "our" Lincoln? He just needs to get exposed a little more to the world of Fringe and relax a little, maybe stay up a few nights in a row and let his beard grow out a little. After all, he is still Lincoln :D he just has that sexy smarty-pants way to him right now... XD "Why yes Agent Lee, you can handcuff and search me any day :D" LOL j/k.
Shout-Outs:
ClaraBella1988: Thanks! I've been wanting something like my story too so I understand your feelings :P hopefully others will follow in my footsteps lol. Glad you enjoyed it!
AnneRG: Thank you! Don't worry, I won't abandon it XD it could be better grammatically but it was three in the morning when I wrote it so... yeah, thanks lol.
UPDATE: Lol I like your name XD. Thanks! I doubt Peter will go to Fauxlivia, they just need to get William Bell outta "our" Olivia XD that's what the season finale is about, in a little under two weeks D: I'm not sure what'll happen but I hope Lincoln and Fauxlivia find a way to each other too!