Substitute

A/N: Here we go! Covert-ops tiemz! Yes?

The early morning light washed away the overwhelming darkness of the night, as it always did, but this morning didn't seem all that brighter. They hadn't moved from their spot on the couch, all night. While Lincoln had intended to go help Charlie as soon as he could, he hadn't wanted to leave Olivia in the state she was in. So, he had stayed, stayed with her the whole night. Lincoln was the first to awake that morning. He was a bit confused for a moment, wondering why his room looked so strange, until he remembered the events of the day before.

Lincoln craned his head slightly to look down at the still sleeping woman in his arms and couldn't help but smile. How often was it that he dreamed of waking up just like this? With Olivia curled up against him? His musing was cut short when a rather sharp knock on the door made him jump and spurred Olivia awake. "Lincoln?" Olivia questioned, still half-asleep. Reality seemed to rush back to her in a second after the realization that he really was there. "I'm sorry," she said, blushing in embarrassment.

Lincoln thought it was the cutest damn look he had ever seen from her.

"It's no problem, I told you I'd be here for you, hadn't I?" He reminded her. Olivia smiled, unsure of how to respond. She did remember him saying that, several times, and felt her awareness of him deepen each time. Why was she fighting it again? "Come on, maybe that's Charlie with some good news," Lincoln reluctantly let Olivia go and they stood to answer the door. "Hey! It's easier to walk today!" he realized with a lighter smile. While his body would be encouraged to heal on its own, the treatment sped up the process as any of their healing procedures did.

"What happened to you exactly?" Olivia asked.

"I'll tell you about it when this is all over," Lincoln promised and opened the door. The two agents were a little surprised to find the Secretary standing there, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"I just recently became aware of the sad news," Bishop said with a "sad" expression. "Agent Francis informed me that my grandson hasn't been found yet, I had no idea he was mission. How are you doing, my dear?" he asked in "concern".

Olivia tilted her head to the side a fraction in guarded curiously. Something seemed... off about the man. "I'm doing better than I was yesterday, sir, thank you" Olivia confessed anyway. Even if she smelled something fishy, she didn't exactly want the Secretary to know about it. She had been starting to doubt the man ever since he recommended her for her mission... but the seed of doubt just began to spread the more she thought of how much of a wreck she had caused the other Olivia and betrayed everyone's trust... they hadn't seemed like monsters at all, they had seemed just like the people she knew, just that they had made a few different choices, that's all.

"Here, I know this isn't much, but I hope you accept my deepest condolences," the Secretary handed her the flowers.

"He's not gone for good, sir, we'll find him," Lincoln told him firmly.

Bishop turned to the young man and frowned inwardly, noticing the confidence and determination in his eyes... this wouldn't do. "Yes, I'm sure you will," he nodded at him anyway, then smiled fleetingly. "Well, I best be going, I wish you agents luck finding my dear grandson," he finally said, turning sharply and heading out. When Lincoln closed the door Olivia turned to him.

"I don't trust him," she said bluntly.

"To tell you the truth, neither do I," Lincoln agreed.

"Something isn't right here, Lincoln, something about the Secretary doesn't seem sincere, at all, he's hiding something... and I think it has something to do with Henry," she clarified. Lincoln nodded solemnly, he understood what she meant. What was more distressing though was that Olivia was usually spot on when it came to a person's character, and if she sensed that the Secretary wasn't being sincere, hiding something, and was involved with Henry's disappearance, he'd be damned if he didn't try to see what was up.

"'Liv, I need to join the search, I have to find him, okay? I have to see about the Secretary. If what you say is true..." he trailed off. If the Secretary was lying, if he wasn't the benevolent man he made himself appear to be, thing could get really ugly really quickly. "Anyway, I don't think Charlie can hold the fort together for too long," he added, making Olivia grin weakly and nod in agreement. "Are you feeling better? I mean, I know you told the Secretary you were okay, but this is me here..."

"I know," Olivia nodded. "I won't lie, I'm still incredibly worried for Henry, I want him back, badly, but my head feels a little clearer now," she assured him. "Thank you, Lincoln," she smiled.

Lincoln smiled happily. "It was nothing," he shrugged.

"You're wrong, you don't know how much it means to me that you're always here for me. If you hadn't been here for me... I don't know what I would have done," she shook her head. She was caught off guard when she was suddenly pulled into his arms again. She couldn't help but relax in his embrace, wrapping her own arms around him and resting her head on his chest, right under his jaw.

"I'll be back," he whispered, again surprising her by kissing her forehead. However, when he started to pull away again, Olivia found the idea unbearable, at least, without letting him know just how much she felt about this, felt about him being there for her, helping her, loving her... she felt like something bad was about to happen and she just couldn't bear the thought of him risking his life for her and Henry without... something. When he started to walk away, she found herself catching his wrist. He paused and turned back to look at her questioningly. "'Liv?" he asked but stopped.

In fact, he stopped breathing altogether.

Lincoln held very still as Olivia moved forward, too afraid that the slightest movement would break whatever type of mood they were locked in. The look she was giving him was a look she had given Frank when they first started dating, when she wasn't sure about giving the guy a chance. Hope sneaked into him. While his heart hammered in his chest, Olivia's wasn't much better. She reached up, tentatively moving her fingers along his rough jaw, glancing down to his tempting lips. It was a sudden impulse that made her do it, it was the sudden need to feel him all around her, take in his scent and get lost in it, feel his protection, comfort, and love, that made her reach forward and close the gap, placing her lips over his.

Lincoln was hesitant, afraid she'd reject him, but leaned in further, kissing her back. Lincoln could tell Olivia was holding back but didn't push her. The kiss was short and chaste but it left them breathless as they pulled apart. Their foreheads touched for a moment, their eyes locked on each other. "I'll find him," Lincoln promised once more, reaching forward to take her cheek in his hand, caressing it lovingly. Olivia shut her eyes, leaning into the loving touch and feeling the raw sincerity and affection for her pouring out of him. Lincoln stood there a moment longer before he reluctantly pulled away, his fingers slipping from her cheek slowly as he backed up. "I promise," he vowed softly, turning and heading off.

Olivia watched him go, certain that she had done the right thing and thinking that maybe there was room for another in her life... but... maybe this wasn't the right time to think about that. 'Be safe,' she thought as she shut the door and locked it. She turned and began to clean her apartment up before settling in front of her computer and making her own effort to find her son. She wanted to go off and join the investigation as well, give her two-cents and all, but she knew if she were there, she'd just make a fool out of herself and let her emotions toward her son get the better of her. She couldn't allow that. Instead, she conducted her own investigation and contacted those she trusted around her apartment to see if they had any information about strangers in the night.

Meanwhile, Lincoln rushed to Fringe HQ and limped his way inside. People scurried out of his way as he made his way purposefully to the main hall, where all the action was usually. "Give me some good news," he said loudly, making his presence known. People seemed to sit straighter. That would usually make his ego dance a little, but right now, he wasn't in the mood to indulge in that kind of foolishness, even if the kiss he shared with Olivia still made him feel giddy on the inside. He had business to take care of.

"Sir, good to see you," Charlie said as he walked up to him and handing him a cup of "coffee". "We spent all night on the case but even with our vast sources, we..." he clenched his teeth, trailing off, seeing the severe look Lincoln's face morphed into. The taller man placed the cup down and stared at his friend.

"You didn't find anything?" he finished in a clipped tone. He could just imagine Henry scared, cold, hunry, alone... everything bad rushed into his mind. No, not Henry! He cared too much about the boy, more than he should maybe... he just had to get him back!

"No, sir, we didn't" Charlie confirmed. He would probably pay later for calling his buddy "sir" so much recently but right now was no time to be disrespectful, especially when things were so serious.

"Nothing? Nothing at all?" Lincoln balled his hands into tight fists. Charlie took a nervous step back. While Lincoln would normally never do something like beat someone up for failing him – he wasn't that type of guy and he didn't know many people who were – Charlie just didn't want to have to take the brunt of the younger man's rage and possibly get punched. Luckily, Lincoln seemed to get a hold of himself and let out a breath. "Sorry," he smiled, though it looked more like a grimace than anything else. "I know it isn't your fault, you did good Charlie," he praised.

"Thanks man," Charlie smiled back. Lincoln glanced around at the other agents, busy at work still trying to find something and then gestured for Charlie to follow him into his office. "What's up?" the scarred man asked.

"The Secretary paid 'Liv a visit this morning," Lincoln began.

"He did?" Charlie wasn't too surprised.

"Yeah. I thought that maybe he was truly worried for 'Liv but..." he shook his head. "Even I thought he didn't seem to care too much, but 'Liv doesn't trust him, at all. She's suspicious of him, and if Olivia Dunham is suspicious of someone, I am suspicious of someone," Lincoln folded his arms.

"You two and your Vulcan Mind-meld..." Charlie shook his head. "But in all honesty, I agree. What do you want to do? I think the Secretary mentioned something about having an important meeting to attend to today and to not bother him... we can't exactly question him," he explained.

"It wouldn't be a good idea to make wild, unfounded accusations to one of the most powerful men in America either," Lincoln reminded him. "But if he's not going to be in his office..."

"You're going to make me put all my training to work, aren't you?" Charlie smirked.

"I am. I know you can handle it. We're going to sneak into the Secretary's office and find evidence," Lincoln instructed.

"Lead the way, boss," Charlie gestured, trying to lighten the mood a bit. Lincoln didn't comment on it, didn't even smile, he was completely focused. Maybe there was more than one reason why Lincoln was the one that got promoted and not him. The two decided against bringing anyone else into their plan, though they let Astrid know a little of what was going on so she could pull some strings if things got too dicey.

The men decided the best way to sneak into Liberty Tower was to go through the front door with everyone else. They got there quickly, unsure of how much time they had to complete their mission. While Lincoln turned on his charms to dazzle the Secretary's assistant, Charlie "borrowed" the Secretary's office key. After bidding her a good day, they back-tracked, side-tracked, and snuck their way into the man's office. Lincoln quickly walked over to the man's desk, sitting on the seat.

"This guy has more passwords and mixed up codes than I bet the President does..." Lincoln muttered as he worked.

"Can you crack them?" Charlie asked curiously, peeking out of the cracked door.

"Of course I can," Lincoln muttered. Soon enough, the Fringe Division Chief did just that. "Here we go... let's see," he opened various files, letters, searched through calls he made, conversations he had, messages he took, every bit of information he could find. The more he searched, the more he was horrified with what he found. There was a lot of messed up stuff here, including plans for Henry... plans to use him on the machine, plans to destroy the other universe! And also old conversations and notes he took on the other Olivia and how the other Walter was the one that took Peter Bishop... it was all for revenge, nothing else. He didn't intend to help them, he intended to help himself!

Lincoln was just finishing explaining all of this to Charlie, who had walked over to get a look at the information for himself, and had just called Olivia when the door opened suddenly and in walked the man in question.

"Linc? Lincoln are you there?" Olivia asked curiously. Had he found him? Was her baby okay? Was he okay?

"Crap," he muttered to himself, and to Olivia as well. "Mr. Secretary," Lincoln said instead of acknowledging her question, hoping to catch Olivia's attention. Luckily, it did. At least, she became quiet but didn't hang up.

"Agents? What are you-" Bishop paused when he noticed that Lincoln was searching through all his personal files. "I see..." he frowned deeply. "So you have discovered my plans, hm? You must now understand that I can't possibly let you go now with you knowing the truth. If people were to discover the truth, of my plans, of the universes, there would be mass-chaos. I can not allow that. As far as anyone else will know, you have violated my trust, sneaked into my office, and illegally made an investigation on me without my know-how," he shook his head, glaring and tapped his phone. "I want security to my position, immediately," he said, and turned back to the determined looking men. "You are no longer to be associated with Fringe or anything related to it, you're to be tried for treason and arrested immediately," he finished, just on time for the security detail to walk in. "Take them away," he ordered.

Lincoln and Charlie didn't fight it, they knew if they did they would be shot. Lincoln just hoped Olivia heard all of that. On the other side of the call, Olivia had heard it all... she knew the Secretary was up to no good and now she had her proof. Lincoln and Charlie must have found something, something severe enough to get them stripped of their positions and arrested... and she planned to finish what they started.

Olivia Dunham was back in action.

TBC...

End A/N: Olivia to the rescue? Woo! Guh, they finally kissed! (Again?) Yay! Damnit, it took them seven chapters to get that far!

Shout-Outs:

Fallen Heart: You forgot the ending? I guess I'll have to work harder and make them more memorable then :P. I think I'm more fond of the Red!Universe now lol... damn that last episode... I'm glad you liked it!

katiekayx: Are you happeh with this chapter? Lol... I certainly am! Lol, thanks! I'm worried about Henry too D: hurray for Lincoln and his awesomeness?