Wow, thanks for the reviews guys! This was a lot of fun to write. As promised, this chapter is heavy with Bolivia! I swear!!!
A small knock on the bathroom door startled Olivia. "'Livy, it's me. Can I come in for a second?" Peter asked, the despair evident in his voice.
Blame enraptured Peter. He knew he shouldn't have fallen asleep or at least have been more careful. He only prayed that Olivia hadn't done anything stupid while he was asleep.
"Okay," she whispered so soft he wasn't sure if he actually heard her or if his mind was playing tricks on him again. He thanked his lucky stars that he wasn't still noticeably excited.
X
Olivia looked up from where she lay in the bathtub, sans the water. Watching Peter closely, she quickly noticed the fear and worry evident in his face and body language. She was surprised when he settled on the cold bathroom floor right next to her.
This was it; he was going to give it to her. How foolish could she be? Experimenting with drugs! When seconds passed and Peter just sat there looking at her expressionless, she spoke up.
"Why am I sleeping in a bathtub?" she asked meekly.
Oh, God, how could he stay mad at her? Peter broke out in a chuckle. He just shook his head.
"What did I do?" Olivia asked apprehensively. She had to know. So much of the night was a blur. The last thing she remembered was taking the LSD sprawled out on the couch, and waiting for the drugs to take affect. Bits and pieces of the night flashed in and out like a light bulb flickering on and off, but it was all too murky to fully construe.
"What didn't you try to do?" Peter laughed. She just stared at him, her eye widening in shock.
"Well, you started to strip and kiss Walter while I was out of the room," Peter laughed.
Olivia was embarrassed to say the least. She turned her gaze away from Peter's in shame.
"Hey…hey. Look, it's okay. We all do stupid things. Just don't do it again, okay? I mean, what would possess you to do such a thing? You know you could have just called me. I told you I'm here for you—whenever you need me. I mean why--"
She cut him off.
"I feel like I'm going to be sick." Peter dodged out of the way fast enough for Olivia to reach the toilet and heave.
Must I be a dick all the time? He silently cursed himself—again, and edged over to where she leaned, her head leaning in the toilet and her hair spilling over her pale, clammy arms.
He reached out and brushed the hair that spilled over her view--if she were to look up from the toilet.
"Well, your body is starting to detox," he said as he gently raked back more hair and ran his hands over her shuddering arms.
"When will it be over?" she asked weakly, her head never lifting from the toilet.
Peter had to catch himself before he chuckled at the scene playing out. He felt sorry for her, honestly, but she just looked so adorable. It must be the vulnerable side of Kick-Ass-Agent Olivia Dunham that he's never truly seen.
"About 8-12 hours," he replied.
"Oh, God!" she cried, heaving once more. As quick and unseeing as the vomit, a sudden rush of embarrassment and resentment for her own actions elicited. She pushed back Peter's caressing hands.
Baffled, he froze.
"Please, just give me a few minutes. Please, Peter," she stressed.
Peter accepted her request and rose from the cold linoleum floor. Stopping at the door, he turned around and reminded her he'd "just be in the next room if…"
"If I need you. I know," Olivia spoke, finishing his sentence for him. She exhaled the breath she had been holding when she heard his bare feet pitter patter across the floor and the bathroom door creak closed.
Hot tears rolled down her flushed cheeks. Why did things have to be so complicated? She knew he was only trying the best he could to help her and yet she pushed him away. Why was she pushing him away?
Because you're afraid he'll end up another 'John'. A traitor to your love. She knew it wasn't fair to judge him in the same dark light she now held John in. Why does this happen to me?
Silent sobs turned louder to the listening ear and Peter was listening, wishing he would he had the balls to just stomp in there and pull her in an embrace. Instead, he lay in the dark, eyes closed, waiting for her to come out—waiting for her to need him.
X
When he felt two small arms snake around him and a cold body press gently against his back he remembered. He must have fallen asleep while waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. He felt her nuzzle her nose into the back of his neck; small hot puffs of breath teasing him. Memories of his dream just an hour or so prior threatened his body, but he repressed that urge. Instead, he rolled over to get a good look at her. He was surprised to see two ethereal green eyes stare back at him.
"I need you."
There it was. Reading her gaze, he accepted her apology with a nod. Growing bolder, he reached out, his thumbs grazing her delicate cheeks. She smiled a small sad smile.
"Thank you Peter," she spoke, her eyes never leaving his. Pulling her into his arms and closer to his chest, he whispered into her ear.
"Anytime, Sweetheart."
A few moments passed and when he thought she was fast asleep, her voice broke through the still night.
"Did I really kiss your father?" she asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
Peter chortled. "Yeah; you should have seen his face. I told him to enjoy it."
Olivia snuggled closer to him and murmured against his chest, "What else did I do?" Noticing sleep was about to capture her, he started to comb her hair like he had done in his dream.
"Well, for starters, you took LSD. I had to coax you out of the car when we arrived at the hotel. You mistook Walter for an attractive man and gave him a private show, and then you fell asleep in the bathtub. Maybe you and Walter are a match made in heaven after all…Although, I am a little jealous that Walter got a kiss and I didn't."
Olivia, a few seconds away from sleep, left him with these last few words.
"I thought he was you."
Smiling, Peter closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
Should I continue? I was thinking of leaving it at this and starting something new. Reviews are like snack food: self-indulgent.