A/N - Thanks once again for all the positive things you guys have been sending out. It makes my life far easier. And even though this story is coming to a close, I am working on another as we speak.
So read, enjoy and review
:)
Chapter Nineteen – It Beats For You So Listen Close
Olivia stared at the steam the swirled out of her coffee. She had gone through two mugs now, each forgotten and cooled. Peter constantly filled the mug, reappearing every few minutes before fading out again. She could hear the games that Etta, Walter and Peter were playing, wishing for a moment that she could join them. But she couldn't. She didn't think she would be good company for one thing, and for another she was far too distracted. Marion had fallen into silence again and Olivia admitted a strange default. When her phone rang, she stared at it for a few moments before answering, her voice sounding hollow.
"Dunham."
"Olivia, its Astrid. I found something."
Olivia sat up straighter, alert now.
"What?"
"Marion Chessler was once Marion James right?"
"Correct."
"Well, as Marion James, she renovated a cabin in the woods on the outskirts of the city."
"Why do you think that's relevant?"
She heard Astrid's smile over the phone.
"Because just before the first child was taken, she abruptly evicted the people who were renting the cabin. And according to a few of her credit card statements, she made a few purchases at the local store."
"Bingo."
"Exactly what I was thinking."
Astrid rattled off the address and Olivia hung up, half running, half sliding in her bare feet into the living room.
"Peter, we have to go."
Peter paused mid-spin, Etta squealing happily in his arms.
"What's wrong?"
"We have a lead on Michael."
Peter gave Etta a quick kiss before handing her off to Walter and tugging on his coat. He paused as he watched Olivia do the same.
"Liv?"
"Yeah?"
"You might need your shoes for this one."
"OK guys, listen up. Our one and only goal is to get these kids home safe, ok? Be smart, be careful and then we can all go home happy. Got it?"
Each of the agents nodded at Olivia's instruction, putting on their vests and preparing their guns. Olivia handed a gun to Peter with a small smile.
"Stay close."
Peter nodded and put a vest on as well. He didn't think he would need them but it was a matter of discourse now. Where there were guns, he wore a vest and so did Olivia. He didn't need Etta growing up without them just because of stupidity. They flanked the cabin, agents moving in from the back while Olivia, Peter, Carter and Featherston took the front. Olivia knew they were in the right place the second that she saw the dented Grey Sedan sitting out front. They moved through, clearing the rooms one by one before finding themselves all in the living room. Olivia moved into the kitchen, opening and closing cupboards. Peter was just behind her, she could feel him watching her.
"They were here. No adult could ever want to eat this kind of junk food."
"Clearly, you've never met Walter."
Olivia turned on her heel and moved back into the living room, where the other agents were waiting for her orders. She paced slightly, pausing at the soft creak beneath her feet. She moved back and forth again, glancing at Peter.
"Did you hear that?"
"The creak?"
She moved again before kicking away an old looking rug. It was a trap door. Peter knelt beside her and together they yanked the stiff door open. Pushing her head through the opening slowly, she could see a soft light and dim noises coming from below. She raised her head again, glancing at Carter.
"Call the paramedics."
"Yes Ma'am."
Olivia slipped her gun into it's holster before she swung herself down the trapdoor, her feet finding the wooden ladder. It was rough beneath her hands, her cast making scraping noises as she worked her way down. The dim sounds she heard before stopped, and she only started speaking when Peter was down the ladder and behind her. He kept his gun out, trained over Olivia' shoulder, waiting.
"FBI"
She heard the rapid steps before she saw the small shadow and the thin arms that wrapped around her waist.
"Michael."
She felt the nod against her stomach as his body started to shake. She knelt down and pulled him into a proper hug, smelling the dirt in his hair. Peter moved around them, deeper into the room. A moment later, she released Michael, taking his hand in her own and moving into the room, following the sound of Peter's voice. Michael released her hand, his voice loud.
"I told you that they would find us."
They all seemed fine, talking in animated voices, excited to see them. Except for little Emily, who remained on the bed, curled against the wall. Olivia moved closer, taking out her badge.
"Hi Emily. I'm Olivia. I've been wondering where you were."
Emily glanced at the badge, her lower lips starting to shake.
"Is the bad woman coming back?"
"No Sweetie. She's not coming back. I'm here to take you home."
"Really?"
"Yup. Are you ok? Did she hurt you?"
"No. But I want my Mommy and my Daddy."
This is what Marion failed to see. Emily was a smart girl but like all children, she just wanted comfort and safety. Olivia carefully removed her vest, placing it on the floor beside the bed.
"That's why I'm here."
Olivia moved closer again, sitting on the end of the bed. Emily unfolded herself and crawled over the short distance, coiling herself into Olivia. She was crying now and Olivia held her close, stroking her hair. One by one agents came into the room, each child demanding I.D, which made Olivia smile. Michael refused to leave Peter's side and Emily rebuffed all attempts for the paramedics to remove her from Olivia's arms. She clung to her clothes like Etta did, small fists clutching at fabric, surprisingly strong. Olivia glanced around the bunker that had been the children's prison. Marion had made it into a home of sorts but it never would have lasted. At some point, the kids would have had to leave and they would have been discovered. But if Astrid hadn't found that lead, they could have been lost for a while longer. For all her talk of giving them a normal childhood, this wasn't it. There were colouring in books and toys scattered everywhere but it didn't matter. Each child looked shell-shocked and drained, as if being in this room sucked the very life from them.
"Hey Liv, you ready to go?"
Olivia glanced down at Emily, who had cried herself to sleep, her hands still tight on Olivia's shirt.
"Yeah but I seem to have gained a little weight recently."
Peter cocked his head slightly.
"Yeah I noticed but I didn't want to say anything."
"Is Emily ok?"
Michael, Peter's new shadow, moved closer to examine the little girl.
"Yeah, she's just scared and tired. What about you?"
Michael sighed and sat on the bed beside her.
"I was concerned that you wouldn't get my message."
"It wasn't easy."
"But you succeeded."
"Yes, we did."
"Good."
With practised ease, Olivia handed the sleeping Emily over to Peter before taking Michael's hand.
"Let's get you home, shall we?"
Olivia called Broyles on the way back to headquarters and by the time they got there, concerned parents were lining the walls. One by the one the children were reunited with their parents. Michael paused in from of his Aunt, his face pulled into a frown.
"You've been smoking again."
Angela smiled slightly.
"Guilty."
She opened her arms and Michael's fell into them. Angela gave Peter and Olivia a watery smile over the top of Michael's head. Olivia and Peter left the room, letting the families have a moment before the interviews would start and the case could finally be closed.
Six interviews and six hours later, Olivia relaxed in her chair, the soft glow of a closed case making her skin tingle. The kids were all fine but were shuttled off to the hospital just in case. She was fairly certain that there would be nightmares in the future and she hoped that everything would be fine. They had also discovered what had happened to Cassie. She had tumbled down the ladder when Marion had first taken her and Marion had enlisted Clifton Jordon to help her with the surgery. He had claimed that he had tried to explain to her that he had little experience in that area but she hadn't listened.
"The hospital called. The kids have the all clear."
Peter settled himself in the seat opposite her, a small smile on his face.
"That's good news. Where are Michael and Angela?"
"I sent them home. Michael wanted to stay but he started falling asleep. He refused to go to the hospital."
"Sounds about right."
Peter reached over, catching her hand.
"Are you ok?"
"Of course I am. I just need to get through this mountain of paperwork. And find out what Broyles wants to do with Marion. Oh, did you call Astrid?"
"Yes. I told her we owe her one."
"We must owe her a million by now."
"Think of how rich she would be if she charged a dollar each time we asked for a favour."
"We would be living in a box on the street."
"It's ok, Etta's cute. We could have her begging on the corner."
Peter pressed a kiss to her knuckle.
"I'm guessing you're not coming home with me, are you?"
"Like I said, paperwork and Broyles need tending to."
"Want some company?"
Olivia shook her head.
"Go home. Etta needs her Daddy."
"She's got her Pop. She won't even notice I'm there."
Olivia chuckled.
"True. And thank you."
Peter cocked his head slightly.
"For what?"
"For having so much damn confidence."
"In the case? Never. In you? Always. What more do I need?"
Peter stood and bent down, giving Olivia a quick kiss.
"Call me when you are on your way home, ok?"
"Ok. Love you."
"Love you too."
Olivia watched as he walked out of the room, sighing before returning to her paperwork.