This if for those who reviewed! :D

Reference: "…forgive my son, he has been in a mood all day…" (Unleashed), Peter/Olivia/Dr. Sumner conversation (The Equation), "…danger to himself or others…" (Subject 9), "…may have found your(his) true calling at last…" (In Which We Meet Mr. Jones), "…Dad…" (Man From the Other Side), A drug that targets certain people (The Bishop Revival)

Chapter 35 – Count Down

Two hours and thirty seven minutes…that's was how long they still had the moment they arrived back at the lab, Olivia agreeing to Peter's request to go back to the lab and work out a plan before diving headfirst into the concrete. She was constantly glancing at the clock, feeling the slight fear and adrenaline kicking in, sending her nerves crazy. "Ok so here is the target area…" Peter had appeared next to Olivia, placing down a map of the Boston area so they could get a grip on what sort of building they were heading to. She watched as he leaned over the table, his ass sticking out over the side, if it were any other situation, she would probably had said something to him about his current state but things were about to hit the fan so she chose not too.

"So, what sort of area is it? I mean, whatever it is that he has planned, I doubt it would be in a unpopulated area." Olivia kicked back into FBI fairly quickly, taking the marker from Peter's hand and beginning to scribble all over the map, marking down the major areas that might have been affected by whatever was going on. They may not have known exactly what was there but they knew that it was going to be bad. "This…" Peter thumped his finger on a point on the map, moving it just enough for Olivia to mark it with a circle and take a note of it, "…is the exact address that Loeb told us about, although as far as I can tell all that is there is an office building and residential housing. A high danger area for something to be dispersed or…" he trailed off, feeling Olivia tense next to him at his words.

There wasn't much they could do at that moment, Broyles had Charlie already at the scene assessing the area and sending through a report, Broyles had also agreed with Peter about going back to the lab and coming up with a plan of attack, this was not just chasing a suspect, Loeb had sent them on many paths to get to where they were and so he knew that whatever happens next, it must be big. "Why don't you graph out the other points of contact? Buildings that match the same height…it might help to determine what it is that is there…" Walter's voice only set fuel on the fire; Peter straightened suddenly and turned towards his father, "Thank you Walter. Because I don't know how to do this myself. Just go and play with your toys would you?" Peter turned back to Olivia, not wanting to hear the words that left Walter's mouth after that, "Oh forgive my son, he has been in a mood all day!" Olivia smirked as he turned away in a huff, knowing that there was no one else in the room to hear him whinge about Peter.

"Come on, Peter. He is just trying to help…" Olivia leaned closer to Peter, her lips not far from his ear as she spoke, their bodies touching shoulder to shoulder, if anyone had walked in and saw them together like that, they would seriously wonder what Broyles was letting them get away with, considering he was letting them get away with a lot, they just didn't need to know that. Peter turned his head towards Olivia, their faces inches apart, his voice low, "Sweetheart…can we please just on with this…?" his words were bitter sweat and so was his smile, his father was not something he wanted to discuss right then. "Alright, fine." Olivia through her arms up in defeat, there was no pushing Peter if he didn't want to talk. "I'm going to call Charlie, have him set up a perimeter around the building, work out exactly what is in there and get him to call when he is ready, we will head down, will equipped for the situation and somewhat safe…how does that sound?" Peter just nodded with a smile, knowing that she was thinking a little more clearly now.

They had both just gone off on their own, Olivia on the phone, discussing details with Charlie while Peter stood off to the side, glancing from his computer to the map, making notes on the paper in front of him. Walter was sitting one of the desks in the corner of the room, he was still a little broken up from Peter's outburst earlier in the day, he worried that his son would leave one day and not come back to him. All three were so caught up in their own worlds that they didn't hear the sound of the lab doors opening up and two men standing on the landing, watching the three move around the lab with ease. Walter looked up at something across the lab but his eyes landed on the two men and he jumped, his chair clanging to the ground and catching Peter and Olivia's attention. "Jesus Walter, could you be more careful!" Peter was already on his feet but stopped when he noticed the other people in the room, Olivia had already come to his side, a small flash of worry across her face.

"Sir, what's going on?" She tried to keep her voice strong, not letting it waver at the sight of the other man. "Agent Dunham, I have speaking to Dr. Sumner here…" Broyles turned to the man who was standing next to him, although the doctors eyes never leaving the sight of Walter, almost cowering in the corner, Peter didn't miss Walter reaction either, his hands crosses over his chest. "…and he has informed me that he has not been able to get into contact with you over the last few weeks, said that you have not been returning his phone calls or emails…" Broyles raised his eyebrow at Olivia, confused as to why she would have acted in such a way. Peter glanced towards Walter who was now standing a little closer to him, almost like a frightened child reaching for a parent. "I have been a little busy sir, as you would know, I just haven't had the time to get back to Dr. Sumner but considering it is now…" She glanced at the time and sighed, they would have to be leaving soon to help Charlie out, "…1.15am and you have come here, how about we discuss this in my office…" she motioned towards the back room but Sumner didn't judge,

"No Agent Dunham it's fine, I think I will just have this conversation here, now. I sent you an email regarding some information on Dr. Bishop's mental state, I required it to be filled out and emailed back to me. It was required that you inform me of how is fairing in the world. Obviously you haven't done so, so I thought I would come down here and see for myself and clearly…" he looked around at the jars of dead animals, the bloody equipment in the sink and sighed, "…exposing him to the pressures of criminal investigations, is not helping his mental stability and his recovery. I put it to Agent Broyles tonight that you have Dr. Bishop readmitted to St. Claire's as so he can continue to get the care that he needs." Olivia looked down, she was worried that that's what he was after when he continued to call and email her, she just hoped that she had a little more time to inform both Peter and Walter that Dr, Sumner was contacting her again.

Walter whimpered behind Peter, his hands at his mouth and the look of a terrified infant in his eyes, Peter honestly felt sorry for him. "Dr. Sumner, Walter is legally in my custody and you have no right to take him anywhere. He is not a danger to himself or others. He has been nothing but a help to the FBI and he continues to prove information that has helped us stop many criminals." Peter stepped a little closer to Sumner, Olivia sitting back watching as a son stood up for his father, she smiled inside, it was a huge turn around from the 14 hours before hand when he had told her that if Walter was put back into St. Claire's he wouldn't care. Walter and Broyles watched on as Peter's feelings for his father came to light for the first time in a long time.

"Mr. Bishop, it is my opinion that your father is not mentally fit to continued to be away from the hospital. And you yourself are not a fit guardian for him…I know all about you Mr. Bishop…" Sumner had now come to stand only feet away from Peter, both straight backed and giving an inch, "…he caused the death of his assistant many years ago, he was and always be a danger to himself and others." Sumner using the same words as Peter had used moments before. Broyles stepped forward, deciding that if he didn't step in now, Peter would probably do something he would regret, he hoped the man would see reason, "Dr. Sumner, how about when this case is over Agent Dunham, sends you a full report on Dr. Bishop?" But Sumner didn't move, trying to intimidate Peter by staring him down, "No Agent Broyles, I may be the only one in this room who has Dr. Bishop's best interest in mind."

Dr. Sumner stepped around Peter and reached for Walter who then suddenly grabbed onto Olivia's hand, as if holding on for dear life. "Actually Dr. Sumner, Walter isn't going anywhere. He has been an asset to the FBI and that is where he is staying…with his family." Olivia spoke up for the first time, knowing that Peter was fuming inside she knew he would probably just make the situation worse. "As far as I can tell, you have no grounds to request him back to St. Claire's and so he is not going. Should the need arise for an assessment of his abilities, I will be the on to perform that assessment and I will deal with the issues at hand. He will not be returning to St. Claire's now or even." Olivia had taken a step in front of Walter, shielding him from Sumner's sight's, she could feel his hand trembling in hers.

Sumner stopped in between the group, looking around at the defiant people in this way, silence filled the lab until Olivia spoke again, "I'm sorry I have not been able to reply or return any of your phone calls and I am sorry that you had to travel here in the middle of the night but Walter is staying right here." Sumner turned to Broyles, hoping the senior agent would have a say but he just stared at Sumner, showing him that he never really had an intention of letting Walter go. Peter stepped forward, "My father is under my guardianship and it will remain that way…now we have a case which you are currently obstructing, which mind you is a federal offence…" Olivia smirked to herself at Peter's words, he sounded so much like an FBI agent, she was beginning to think he had finally found his true calling at last. Sumner just watched Peter for a moment before huffing and stalking out of the room, slamming the lab door as he went. Glancing up at Broyles, Olivia noticed the small smile on his face before he nodded once and followed Sumner, no doubt to control the situation.

"Does this mean I can stay?" Walter's childlike voice found Peter and Olivia's ears and they turned to face him, smiling gently. "Yes Walter, it does. You aren't going anywhere…" She placed her hands on his shoulder and watched as he nodded and blubbered for a few moments, neither of the noticing Peter coming to their side. "Walter…" Walter turned to face Peter, dropping his face as Olivia dropped her hands from his shoulders. "I want to thank you son…" Walter stopped short as Peter placed a hand on his arm, thinking that Peter was going to hurt him again. "…Dad…" Walter's face snapped up at the word that had fallen from Peter's mouth, his eyes filling with tears as Peter pulled Walter into his arms for a hug, obviously the chance of actually having Walter taken away overrode Peter's anger towards his father. Olivia smiled as she watched on only to be interrupted by her phone buzzing loudly in the quiet lab.

Sending an apologetic smile in Peter's direction, she reached for her phone, answering it quickly, "Dunham…Charlie what have you got?...are you sure? Ok we are on our way, make sure you set up a perimeter…we wont be long…" clicking her phone to end the call she turned back to Peter, who had pulled away from Walter and was now watching for her. "Charlie said that we need to get down there…he said that we need to see what he has found…" She didn't even bother waiting for Peter to ask any questions before she was making a bee line for the lab doors and out towards the car park, as Peter yelled out to Walter to stay where he was and not go anywhere.

"Charlie! What have we got!" Olivia was out of the car and calling out to Charlie before Peter even had a chance to unbuckle his seat belt, she was in full FBI swing, he just hoped he would be able to keep up with her. Charlie nodded towards the elevator that he was standing in front of, pressing the button and leading them both inside, all the while being completely silent, his anxiousness coming off him in waves. Once the elevator binged at the right level Charlie stepped out and stopped short of the office in front of him. "I hope you guys know what you're doing…" He pushed open the door to the office and as they walked in both Peter and Olivia got chills down their spines.

The room was bare, save for the floor to roof wall of glass windows, the single desk in the middle of the room and the 12 drums the lined the windows base. Olivia's eyes never left the windows, covering them was enough C4 to demolition the building they were standing in, as well as wires that connected the C4 to the drums. "This has your name on it Livy…" Charlie handed Olivia another note, written in the same hand as the one from the light box, taking a breath she turned it over and read it out loud, "Agent Dunham, by now you should know that you are capable of many different things, things that normal people are not capable off and so as you were able to pass the first test you must now do the same to save the lives of you two closest friends…" She looked up suddenly to see a small amount of dust like mist in the air, Peter and Charlie suddenly coughing, their breathing laboured as they tired to take in air.

She glanced towards Peter who just nodded for her to continue to read the note, needing her to concentrate on the bigger picture, Charlie had already hit the ground unconscious and quiet. Peter could tell by the look in her eyes that she was struggling not to go to his side, not to hold him close and not to pull him and Charlie away from whatever it was that was affecting them. Taking a deep breath Olivia continued, "Each of the drums connected to the C4 will target particular groups of people and as you have no ability to tell which types of people will be affected your only choice will be to stop the count down clock. It will also be the only way to save you boyfriend and your best friend." She dropped the note to the floor and glanced up at the count down clock in the middle of the windows, the red numbers counting down one by one.

Concentrating on the numbers Olivia willed them to stop, will them to allow her to save Boston and save Peter and Charlie, but her confidence was slipping, knowing that Peter was behind her, choking and in pain, Charlie already unconscious on the floor, it was enough to send her crazy, her mind running a mile a minute on the two different things going on in the room. She glanced down, noticing that Peter had become silent and found him lying on his back, his face pale, if not a close shade of grey and her heart dropped, fear for his safety kicked in her emotions exploded, her face heated as her eyes continued to stare at Peter, tears streaking down her face, knowing there was nothing she could to save him, she had failed.

Slumping to her knees Olivia dropped her head into her hands, her mind still split between her dying boyfriend and the knowledge that she wasn't going to be able to save Boston either. Over the walkie-talkie on Charlie's belt she could hear the distant calling of Broyles, her name echoing through the room as he tried to find out what was going on, the panic rising in his voice when no one was replying to him. Lifting her slowly, she looked at Peter again, his chest had stopped moving all together, he was dead, she had lost him, she was the reason that he was gone and Charlie…oh Charlie, her best friend of the last eight or so years, father of her goddaughter was dead because of her as well, a little girl who would grow up without a father because of her. Her thoughts fell back to Peter and her sudden understand that she was going to have to live her life without him.

Looking back up at the countdown clock, watching the numbers tick away slowly until they were less than ten seconds now, she also realised that Loeb had lied, they had had less then three hours but that didn't matter now, Boston was going to suffer, Charlie was dead and Peter- -

The only sound that was heard in the office room was the sound of the count down clock ticking away, drawing them closer and closer to the end of their lives. Olivia just couldn't take her eyes off the numbers as they decreased slowly, now less the five seconds left, she was scared, terrified and helpless. The sudden silence in the room became deafening, the robotic ticking had stopped abruptly and as Olivia blinked at the countdown clock, 0.02, was the only thing that was seen on the dial and it didn't move any further from there. Letting out a heartfelt sob, Olivia hung her head before she crawled over to Peter's side, resting her head on his chest before falling into the darkness, feeling his breathing picking back up again.

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