A/N - Hey folk, thanks for all the reviews! I'll post this next chaper because it might be a few days before the next. I am home right now, cramming in as much baby time as I can. She's so tiny...she's like a little doll. I fed her for the first time yesterday and then rocked her to sleep, singing softly, her tiny hand wrapped around my finger. I am completely in love with the little darling
I talked to my sister about her daughter's nickname too. I explained to her that with so few rights as an Aunty, I'm giving her a nickname, even if it is just for her and I. So little Selena becomes my sweet little Lenny. Even her Daddy has picked it up now! So maybe, I have more influence than I first thought!
But I promise you won't have to wait long - I will keep working on the story tonight once I get home from more baby time!
This chapter is slightly shorter than the other's but I promise you, it is worth the effort.
So keep reading and reviewing folks!
I'll try to get the next chapter up in the next couple of days.
Chapter Eight – Fear Is For The Long Night
It was never a question of what Broyles would do. And she expected nothing less. Broyles instantly arranged for an agent to be on their home. Olivia didn't feel all that comforted by the presence of the man, sleep now a long lost idea. She settled in the rocking chair in Etta's room instead, her gun across her lap, her ears open for any sign of intrusion. She could hear Peter in the kitchen, doing goodness knows what, his normal cheerful humming absent. She waited until the sun had risen before calling Kathleen, unsure of what to say. She opted for the truth, explaining to Kathleen the situation. For her credit, Kathleen didn't seem shaken, and despite Olivia's insistence, still insisted on coming and caring for Etta. When she was done with the call, she headed downstairs, grabbed a coffee and went outside to the black car that sat in the driveway. She knocked on the window and waited for it to slide open.
"Good morning Agent Dunham."
"Morning Agent Pritchard. I have a coffee for you."
Agent Pritchard took the coffee with a smile.
"How are you this morning?"
"Fine. Peter and Broyles were the ones that insisted on this detail."
"And fair enough too. It's not just you and Peter, its little Etta too."
She had forgotten that when she had Etta, a month or so after, she had taken Etta into the office. She had wrapped the entire office around her little finger. Every time she went into the office, there were always enquires about Etta, people eager for the update of the little girl.
"Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. Etta's nanny is going to be taking her out today. I want you or whoever is on the detail to go with them."
Agent Pritchard frowned slightly but Olivia continued talking.
"You can clear it with Broyles. I want someone with them today. And I want hourly updates."
Pritchard nodded and Olivia offered him a small smile before moving back into the house. Etta was up and in her high chair, smearing every available surface with banana and soggy cereal. Peter was talking to her but Olivia wasn't listening, her focus on Etta. When a threat came for her and Peter, they could handle it. They were used to it, an almost regular occurrence on their cases. But a threat to Etta was something else entirely. She could feel that protective streak burn her chest. It was hotter than the one that came with protecting Peter or anyone else that she loved. This was endless and consumed her slowly and steadily. Etta burped and it broke Olivia's thoughts, floating back down in time to catch the last of Peter's words.
"…will be in this afternoon to fix it."
Olivia frowned, her gaze finally focusing on her husband.
"Sorry?"
"I said that the glass repairers will be in this afternoon to fix the window. At least it's not too cold today."
"I suppose."
Peter shook his head.
"Did you call Kathleen?"
"Yes. She wants to come anyway. Said that it was important that we finish the case. I just talked to Pritchard. I told him that whoever is on detail today is to go wherever they do. I know that Kathleen wanted to get her car fixed today."
"It can wait."
"No it can't. I'm not going to have it on my conscience if she gets hurt or stranded in the middle of nowhere because her car's transmission finally fails. I would feel better if she gets it fixed."
Peter sighed and sat down at the breakfast bar, a bowl of cereal in front of him.
"Liv, someone knows where we live."
"I am well aware of that. But I refuse to let whoever it is dictate how we live our lives. They will be perfectly safe with whoever Broyles puts on the detail."
"Perhaps we should ask him to reassign the case."
"No. Someone threatened my family and I'm going to find out who it is."
She took the coffee that Peter offered, ignoring the burn as she gripped the side of the mug.
"With or without you."
Olivia ignored his protests and headed back upstairs, planning to shower and get changed. She was angry and she knew that she was taking it out on Peter but she didn't care. She ran the water as hot as possible, allowing it to burn her skin as she gave herself a rough shower. She was getting dressed, shadows of steam still coming off her body, when Peter stepped into the room.
"Kathleen's here. And so is Agent Malcolm."
"He's a good guy. He's covered my back more than once. He's the one that gave us that giant teddy bear for Etta."
Peter nodded and Olivia kept dressing, tugging on her shirt and pants before running a hairbrush through her hair. She never liked it went they argued. It seemed to change the very air around them. And because it didn't happen all that often, it made her feel worse. Debates, yes, heated discussion, all the time but arguments were an entirely different beast.
"You know that everything you do will be with me right?"
Olivia paused and lowered her hairbrush, watching Peter in the mirror. She was the one that snapped at him but it was his face that held the apology.
"I didn't mean it like that Peter."
Peter moved closer, sitting on the edge of the dresser. He leaned forward and pushed a strand of hair off her face, securing it behind her ear.
"We will meet the families of those other kids today. We will find a lead."
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do. Because there is always a lead."
Olivia stood, putting her arms around Peter's neck, stooping down to capture his lips. She rested her forehead against his.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"I know. I only apologized because, frankly, you scare me once you get going."
Olivia laughed.
"No one's scared of me."
"Then they are all idiots. You are a force to be reckoned with."
Olivia sighed and leaned into Peter's embrace, closing her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his body and the sound of Etta's giggles from downstairs. Olivia pulled back with a frown.
"What are those two doing down there?"
"Kathleen brought over Operation. And Etta's hitting the sides on purpose. She gets a kick out of it evidently."
"Maybe we'll get home tonight and Etta could give us an anatomy lesson."
Peter laughed and pressed a kiss to her exposed collarbone, sighing as she moved away. He watched her while she did up the last of her buttons. His eyes left sparks on her skin and he didn't know the will power it took to do up those buttons. She had read somewhere that some marriages lost their spark when a child came into the mix. And Olivia had to admit that when Etta was first born, the focus was on her and not their relationship. She thought that that was meant to be that way. Then Etta settled into a routine and they found each other again. And every day, when he looked at her that way, she could remember every touch and every word, her fingers itching to touch him. Even when faced with the darkness of the world, he managed to make her forget. She smiled to herself as Peter pushed himself off the dresser and started getting himself ready, ducking into the bathroom to brush his teeth. When they moved their way back downstairs, Kathleen and Etta were sprawled on the floor, playing Operation. Kathleen, Etta master that she was, had gotten her cleaned up and dressed after the adventures of breakfast. Peter took Kathleen's place on the floor as Olivia indicated the kitchen, Kathleen following her.
"Kathleen, I want to make sure-"
Kathleen smiled.
"It's fine Olivia."
Olivia frowned.
"This isn't your problem Kathleen."
Kathleen shook her head.
"We will be fine. All we are doing to going to get my car fixed, Nick is meeting us at the carnival, and we'll play a few games and then come back here. I'll call you every hour and if at any point there is something to worry about, I will let you know."
Olivia sighed.
"Fine. Every hour, ok?"
"Will do."
Olivia turned on her heel, pausing in the door way.
"There's leftover Italian in the fridge if you get hungry."
Kathleen smiled walked out of the kitchen. Olivia watched as Kathleen returned to her place with Etta on the floor. Olivia leant down and pressed a kiss to the top of Etta's head, running a hand through her soft hair. Etta's laughter was still ringing in her ears as they locked the door behind them.