Chapter 1: Alive
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It had been day since Hoffman was caught and brought to justice. A day since Lindsey learned Peter wasn’t an apprentice to jigsaw. A day since she learned that Peter was dead.
And now here she was, raiding Hoffman’s lair, clinging onto hope that she’ll find any trace of Peter in here, any at all. “Perez!” Erickson runs out of a room breathless, his eyes wide in shock. “You need to see this…” she’s reluctant, afraid of what she might find, but she walks in anyways. Then she sees him. It’s Peter. He’s alive. He looks old and skinnier than she’s ever seen him, he’s trembling and in dirty old clothes. He looks like he’s still be shaven to keep up appearances. He’s in glorified dog cage with a collar around his neck. There’s a wet spot on his pants. His eyes are hollow and fear filled.
Lindsey waits for him in the hospital, waits until he’s in a stable condition. When she finally gets a good look at him she starts to cry. He looks weak. When he opens his eyes and sees her he’s shocked, he sobs. He sobs hard. Harder than he ever has.
”I’ll take you home, Pete” she cries, holding him tight. She’s never letting him go again
Chapter 2: And well(ish)
Summary:
Peter goes home with Lindsey and readjust to the real world
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His first day back was hard. Harder than Lindsey thought it would be. Peter wasn’t himself, he had changed in the four months he’d been gone. Lindsey had expected that much, but she hadn’t been prepared for just how much he would’ve changed.
Peter was shy and quiet. He was skittish, jolting at every little noise he heard. Lindsey had tried to adjust the apartment to his needs, but nothing worked. She was afraid that he would never be the same again, that her Peter was lost forever. She pushed those thoughts aside, the fact that he was alive and safe was good enough for her.
That day she had gone out grocery shopping, she had planned on getting Peter all of his favorites snacks to celebrate his return home. She couldn’t stop smiling as she shopped, imagining the smile on Peters face when she got home, the joy in his eyes. When she got him she was greeted with a different sight.
Peter was huddled up in the corner of the living room, hugging himself with all the lights turned off, trying to stay as small and unseen as possible. It broke her heart to see him like this, so broken and weak.
”Peter, let’s get you off the ground-“ Peter pushed himself further into the corner in response, shaking his head rapidly and his breathing shallow. “No! No I like the corner…” Lindsey frowns but lets him stay, kneeling down next to him. She won’t make him leave, but she won’t leave him alone either. If he’s struggling, then she is too.
They stayed like that for awhile, silent, not even looking at each other until Peter starts to put his head on her shoulder. She smiles, she doesn’t move or say anything, knowing better by this point. Maybe her Peters still in there after all
Chapter 3: Nightmares
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It was late in the night when Lindsey had woken up. Peter had taken to sleeping in the guest bedroom, he insisted that he wanted to sleep alone and that Lindsey not enter the room ever. But when she heard a scream coming from his room she ignored his requested and barged in.
She entered the room and found Peter sleeping on the floor, curled up and crying in his sleep. She sighed deeply, knowing why he insisted she never enter the room and that he sleep alone.
She walks over and shakes him awake. He jumps, confused and disoriented as he whimpers softly and trembles, curling in on himself. It breaks her heart to see him so lost and scared
”Shh… It’s just me, Peter… It’s just me”
He slowly comes too and realize he’s safe. He starts to sob into his hands. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me…” his voice is weak and broken as he sobs.
Lindsey crawls over next to him and holds him until he falls asleep. Once he’s asleep she takes him to her bedroom and places him in her bed.
He’ll be mad in the morning, but for now he looks so content and peaceful. She leans over and kisses his cheek, and she swears that she can see him smile softly in his sleep.