Chapter 7:
The day seemed to go on forever and Olivia was grateful when she finally could go home. She wanted to sleep for the next twenty-four hours. Though in her defense, she hadn't slept much the past week. Getting called in case after case was mainly to blame and so she put it on Broyles.
She didn't feel like cooking and ordered Chinese food. She knew it wouldn't take long and the best part was it always tasted the same. It was a small source of comfort in such a crazy world she had found herself in.
Though it wasn't quite bedtime yet, Olivia changed out of her work clothes, slipping into her Northwestern shirt and a pair of sweats. She wanted to be comfortable tonight. Curling up on the sofa she sighed the moment she heard the buzzer. She didn't want to get up but she knew she needed to answer the door. It was probably dinner.
She stood up, grabbing some cash before opening the front door with a frown. "You're not Chinese."
Peter laughed, seeing her peculiar expression. "No and I'm not going to comment on that." He glanced her over, "mind if I come in?"
"Sure," Olivia stepped aside, swaggering a little.
"You okay?" Peter frowned noticing she wasn't walking like she usually did.
Olivia locked up the door and shook her head. "Just tired." It had been a long several days with little to no sleep. "I was waiting for dinner and going to call it a night. What are you doing here?" She didn't mean to ask so harshly but she wasn't used to Peter just dropping by.
Peter smiled, "mind if I sit down?" He asked gesturing to the sofa. More importantly he wanted her to sit and rest though he was pretty tired himself.
"Knock yourself out," Olivia gestured to the sofa, sitting down herself with a sigh.
He watched her attentively before coming to sit down beside her, his leg brushing against hers as he dipped down onto the sofa. "How's the head?"
Olivia laughed, "I had almost forgotten about it. Thanks." She knocked his shoulder with a smile. "What are you really doing here, Peter?"
He stared at her seriously, "I was worried about you. Your head," he gestured towards her forehead, "you took a pretty good hit this morning at the lab and I know you didn't get it checked out. So I thought I'd take a look at it."
Olivia rolled her eyes, "suddenly you're playing doctor? I assure you I'm fine. Just a little bump on the head."
Peter frowned and his fingers reached out lightly brushing her hair away from her face, getting a better look. Her eyes closed as she enjoyed the feeling of his gentle touch. Peter leaned closer, kissing her head gently. "You should let me stay over."
"Excuse me?"Her eyes flashed open.
Peter laughed seeing her expression, "I'm worried you might have a concussion. Someone has to watch over you tonight."
"Peter it was a light bulb that blew. It's just a scratch, we both know that." Olivia yawned again.
Peter nodded slowly, "maybe it was but you staggered at the front door. Plus I know what happened on your way home from work." He stared at her, seeing her face grow pale.
"What are you talking about?" She stammered.
"Come on, Olivia," he really hoped she would have confided in him by now. "You didn't really expect using your FBI credentials that no one would find out?"
"I'm just tired. I'll eat dinner and go to bed. Tomorrow I won't be falling asleep at the wheel."
Peter stared at her seriously, "from the police report you were drifting into oncoming traffic."
Olivia glanced away, not really wanting to talk about it. "I may have been." Her answer was a mere whisper, as much as a confession she would give him.
"If you were that tired or feeling unwell, I would have been happy to drive you home." Peter reached out, gently guiding her face up to meet his stare. "Are you okay, Olivia?" He was truly worried about her.
She nodded faintly, "I haven't slept well in awhile and being called into work yesterday after several full days of work-I think a good night's sleep is just what the doctor ordered." She smiled weakly leaning her forehead into the crook of his neck. "Right doc?" She teased.
Peter laughed softly, "yeah, sleep would be good, if it's not a concussion."
"It's not, Peter." She finally pulled back, only now realizing how close she was, in his arms. "You can stay over though, if that would make you feel better."
Peter smiled, "it would. I mean if Rachel were here I'd worry less but there's no sense in calling her." He knew Olivia hated worrying her sister. "I'll just take the couch again."
"Peter," Olivia breathed hearing the door. "Do you mind?" She asked pulling the twenty from her pants pocket.
"I got it." Peter shook his head not taking her money as he headed towards the door. He paid for dinner and locked up the apartment, bringing the food into the kitchen. "Do you want to eat in the living room or kitchen?" He called out to her.
With a sigh she stood up, gently grasping the couch as she walked around the living room towards the kitchen. "We can eat in the living room but we should grab some drinks."
Peter laughed, "you don't let me do anything for you, do you?" He couldn't believe she got up from the sofa to get drinks. He would have gladly done that for her.
"I let you buy me dinner," Olivia smiled, heading into the kitchen and opened the fridge. She grimaced as she bent down to grab two sodas and stood back up.
Peter noticed and put the food down right away, rushing over towards her side, his hand at her waist. "Olivia?"
She sighed knowing if she said anything it would be a pointless argument. "Can you help me back to the sofa?"
Peter nodded, "of course. Leave the sodas. I'll bring them in with dinner." He noticed her hands were still on the cans. He waited until she put them on the counter before he walked with her back towards the sofa. As much as he wanted to suggest she get checked out by a doctor, he knew she wouldn't agree to it. "Now sit, okay?"
Olivia rolled her eyes, sitting down on the sofa, "I'm not a dog."
"Of course not, dogs take orders better." He smirked teasing her as he headed back into the kitchen.
Olivia shook her head, "if I wasn't actually sitting here I'd be tackling your ass for that comment, Peter."
Peter smiled bringing dinner into the living room, "I will take a rain check on your idea of foreplay." Peter quipped waiting for her reaction.
Her eyes widened, "Peter Bishop!" She couldn't believe he said that to her.
Peter smiled and merely shrugged, "you were the one suggesting you wanted to tackle my ass." He reminded her. "The way I see it, you want to straddle me and pin me to the ground." He laughed walking back into the kitchen bringing back their drinks before sitting down beside her. "Agent Dunham speechless?" He grinned.
"I am choosing my words before you twist them around on me." Olivia answered matter of fact. She reached for the chopsticks and the carton of food. "By the way, you can have some too, there's plenty."
Peter wiggled the chopsticks in his hand. "Thank you but I was helping myself anyhow. Besides I paid I would like to think I can eat dinner over." He smiled glancing at her, glad she seemed to be doing better.
"I won't argue semantics," she grinned reaching on the table for an egg roll. "You didn't notice I ordered your favorite dish." She gestured towards the carton he was holding.
Peter nodded taking a bite of his Kung Pao Chicken. "So I'm finally rubbing off on you?" He asked offering her a bite.
Olivia shook her head no, "I thought you might come by."
"What would you have done if I hadn't?" Peter asked.
Olivia shrugged, "I knew you'd come by. If I was wrong I'd have brought it to work for lunch tomorrow. I would have been your hero come noon."
Peter laughed, "yeah, except it'd be cold and leftovers." He pointed out teasing her.
"No appreciation," Olivia shook her head with a smile. "I'll remember that next time."
Peter smiled, "I don't know. I think you should remember instead how I came over, worried about you, bought you dinner, even drew you a bath so you could relax before bed."
Olivia gave him a strange look, "you haven't drawn me a bath."
Peter shrugged, "no but I could. Remember I could be appreciated, I suppose if I did the right things." He laughed putting his near empty carton down on the coffee table. "Guess you're right," he nudged her with a growing smile, "all I deserve is the cold leftovers."
Olivia laughed rolling her eyes, "fine. Make me feel bad." She shook her head. "I—"
"You what?" Peter smiled, his eyes bright and staring intently at her. He wondered what she was thinking, what she had almost said.
"I think you are a major pain in the ass." Olivia smirked putting her empty carton on the table. "Since you mentioned that bath, I think I'll draw it for myself." She gave him a seductive look and he tried not to squirm under her stare.
He didn't answer right away and so she smiled and stood up, thinking in fact victory was hers. He watched her sway a bit and felt his stomach tighten. Immediately he stood up following after Olivia, "maybe I should join you in there."
Olivia's eyes widened. That stopped her dead in her tracks. "Excuse me?"He H
She turned around to face him.
"You're not walking straight, Olivia." It was the truth. Though as much as watching her in the bath would have turned him on, it wasn't his intention tonight. It was the furthest thing on his mind—well almost.
She sighed trying not to look defeated, "maybe I'll just call it a night. Crawl into bed." She shifted on her feet, feeling herself not quite steady but not wanting to bring attention to it either.
"I'll clean up the living room." Peter nodded. "Will you be all right?" He already knew the answer, it was after all Olivia Dunham he was asking.
"I'll be fine but after you're done, you can come join me in the bedroom," she stared at him. "If you're up for it."
He nodded slowly, trying to wipe the huge growing smile off his face. He knew her offer was nothing more than friendship extended towards him, he would just keep her company and yet his heart was screaming with joy. "I'll be in there in a few minutes."