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She was hurt, that's all he could think about. It was his job to protect her, to have her back and he'd fucked up. It all had happened so fast, one second they were running through the streets chasing after a perp. The next, Olivia was down groaning in pain before he'd even registered the sound of the gun. Then there was blood. Too much blood.
She'd been a terrible patient the whole time, fighting with the nurses and doctors trying to help her. He'd stood there as close as he was allowed to get trying to convince her with his eyes to just shut up and let them help. He felt sick to his stomach, how could he have let this happen? After what felt like endless tests and scans it was decided that surgery was not needed, it had been a clean shot in and out, she just needed closing up. The news did nothing to make him feel better. Especially as she laid there, pale, trying to get comfortable and failing miserably, his fists tightened at his sides. Of course as a stubborn but sound of mind adult Olivia insisted on discharging herself, promising to come straight back if she felt any nausea, started up with a fever or reopened her stitches; obviously there was no world in which he was leaving her alone.
“Liv, if you won't use the chair, at least let me help you.”
“I was shot in the shoulder, Elliot. Surprisingly, I think I can walk.”
“I'm not saying you can't, but it would make me feel better.”
Olivia sighed, handing him her bag, “Elliot, this wasn't your fault.”
“Can we not, Liv? Not tonight. Let me take you home.”
Humming her agreement, Olivia let him pick up the rest of her belongings and lead her out towards where his car was parked.
Once at the car he couldn't help but notice her wincing at every other slight movement, she was trying her best to play it off but he noticed. Of course he did, he always did.
“You're hovering,” she said just as he opened his mouth to ask “Can I help with the seatbelt?”
“I'm perfectly capable of buckling my own seatbelt El.”
“I know you are… I wasn't trying to imply otherwise but it hurts, I can tell. Just… Just let me help?”
He saw the exact moment she decided she was too tired to argue. She let herself sag into the car seat nodding her permission. He felt his neck flush as he reached over her, the smell of her shampoo tinged with gunpowder and sweat invading his senses. Gross? Maybe. But in that moment it let him know that she was alive, breathing, and next to him. The sound of her clearing her throat snapped him out of his reverie.
“Sorry,” he grumbled, finally hearing the click of the belt.
Jogging around to the drivers side after closing her door he climbed in. The drive wasn't long and was spent mostly in comfortable silence, Liv’s eyes heavy as she was rocked by the car.
“Liv?” he asked, trying to get her attention and getting no response.
“Livvy?” he tried again.
“Humpf,” she mumbled slowly, turning her head towards him.
“You hungry? I know it's late but you have to eat something when you take your meds.”
“I'm really not that hungry, I just want to go to sleep.”
“I know, but the doctor said that you should take them every four hours, which means that you're due for one in…” he looked down at his watch. “An hour and forty-three minutes to be exact!”
“El, I'm fine. I'll take one if I need it and I'm sure I have enough at my place to make at least eggs and some toast.” She said, watching his knuckles go white as he gripped the wheel at her words.
“Olivia, I know you feel fine now but I don't want to risk it. I can stop at that Thai place you like, not far from your building, it's on the way.”
“Elliot.”
His jaw tightened.
“What?”
“You look worse than I do.” She tried to joke. He let out a humorless laugh.
“Yeah, well, one of us got shot.”
“And one of us is driving like the world's about to end.” His fingers flexed against the steering wheel before settling again.
“I thought you were going to die.” The words landed heavily between them. Olivia's breath caught in her throat. He had said it. Said the thing she'd seen written across his face in the hospital.
“El…”
“Just let me get you some food, okay?” His voice was rough. “That's all I'm asking.”
“Yeah, yeah okay, Thai sounds good.”
After picking up their food and driving the little way left to Olivia's apartment, they slowly made their way to the door. Elliot insisting on carrying almost everything as Olivia tried to fish her keys out of her bag. She struggled for a while, distracted by how close Elliot was standing behind her, both shuffling inside once the door was open.
“I'm going to start dishing this up, you want water?”
“Yeah, that'd be great!” Liv replied as she started to try and take her coat off.
From the corner of his eye he could see her struggling, attempting to wiggle her arm out of the sleeve. Trying his best to give her space and not make her feel crowded, he kept himself busy with the food. That was until he started hearing her breathing get heavier with the effort.
“Liv, you're clearly fighting a losing battle. Let me help.” he said carefully.
“I've got it!” She called back, her irritation clear.
He went back to putting the plates on the coffee table, making sure to put her medicine next to her glass. The WWE match going on in the background seemingly still not having reached an end. Her quiet whimper of pain was the final straw, quickly spinning around, he marched his way over to where she was standing.
“Turn around for me.”
“El, I almost had it!”
“And I don't doubt that, but you're not alone so let me help you”
“No, seriously El, I'm not a baby, I can take off my own coat.”
“Again, I know all of this, Olivia. I'm not trying to tell you you can't. I'm trying to make sure you don't hurt yourself again! I've already fucked up once today, Via. I'm truly not trying to have a repeat performance!”
Taking a deep breath, Olivia slowly turned, offering her stuck arm to him, whatever argument she had prepared dying on her lips. For a moment neither of them moved. Then Elliot stepped forward.
"Okay," he said softly. "Easy." His fingers brushed the collar of her coat.
The anger he'd been carrying all evening was gone now, replaced by something far more fragile. Guilt and fear, heavy and impossible to ignore. Carefully, he slid the fabric down her good arm first. Olivia hissed as the coat shifted against her injured shoulder. Immediately he froze.
“Sorry.”
“Not you, you didn't do anything.”
“Still.” His jaw tightened.
Using slow, delicate movements, he eased the sleeve down the injured side. He constantly glanced up at her face to make sure he wasn't hurting her. The whole process took less than a minute at most yet it felt like forever. Finally the coat slipped free.
“There,” he murmured.
Neither of them stepped back. Olivia looked exhausted, not just tired but drained. Her skin was pale beneath her apartment lights, dark circles beneath her eyes.
Elliot swallowed hard, choking down yet another apology.
“You should sit.”
A small smile tugged at one corner of her mouth.
“Bossy.”
“Shot.”
“Fine… I'll let you win this round.”
That earned the smallest huff of laughter from him and for the first time since this whole ordeal, it almost sounded real.
Finally they settled on the sofa. After making sure Olivia was comfortable he handed her her plate, before moving back to the opposite side and tucking into his own food. They ate quietly chatting about anything and everything, Elliot gently reminding Olivia to take her pills at the appropriate time. After they were done with their meal he made a point of cleaning everything up and packing and putting any leftovers in the fridge.
“You want to watch something?”
“Sounds good, I'll be right back,” she said heading towards the bathroom.
By the time she got back he'd found some nonsense film for them to watch and had filled up their waters. About halfway through the film he noticed that the medication had taken full effect, her eyes drowsy. Elliot was sat beside her on the couch, one arm stretched along the back cushions, keeping watch even though the danger had passed hours ago.
“You should go home, before it get's super late,” Olivia murmured.
“Not happening.”
“You have work tomorrow.”
“Doesn't matter.”
“I'm not going anywhere, I'm shot.”
“Exactly.”
She huffed out a tired laugh, the apartment fell quiet again. At some point she lost her fight with sleep, her head tipped sideways. She expected to find the couch cushion, as per usual. Instead she found Elliot, his shoulder solid under her temple. Neither of them moved away. Olivia opened her eyes long enough to find him already watching her, the film long forgotten.
Exhaustion had worn down all their sharp edges. There was no room left for awkwardness or explanations. All they felt was relief.
Slowly, Elliot leaned forward. Olivia didn't pull away. Their foreheads met, and for a moment neither of them moved.
Too tired to speak. Not a kiss. Just the steady reassurance of her. Here, with him.
Elliot stayed there, warm against her. After a while, he whispered, "You scared me."
Olivia nudged her forehead against his. "I'm still here."
"I know." His voice still cracked. The film played on, forgotten.
A sleepy smile tugged at her mouth. "El?"
"Mhm?"
"I think you're falling asleep."
A low chuckle rumbled through his chest. "maybe but you definitely beat me to it."
"Barely."
"Debatable Benson."
She laughed softly, and his nose brushed hers. The sound eased the tight knot in his chest.
She was alive.
That's all that mattered.
“Let's get you to bed.”
“Hum… Comfortable here,” she whispered, unwilling to move.
“Yeah?” He smiled. Hours ago she'd been bleeding out in a dirty alleyway, now she was warm and safe against his shoulder. He could have sat there all night. “I can do another five minutes.”
“kay…” She hummed happily burrowing back into the crook of his shoulder.
It was much longer than five minutes, neither one mentioned it.
“It's late.”
“I know, I should let you rest.”
“It's two in the morning and you're exhausted.”
“I'll be fine.”
“The guest room is made up… It'd be stupid to drive.”
“Yeah?”
“Just until morning.”
Sighing his surrender with an easy smile, he rose, reaching his hands out to help pull her up.
“Come on, Via, let's go to bed.”
Grabbing on to his hands with her good arm, she let him help her stand, ignoring the butterflies his words had stirred up. Both walked slowly together towards the guest room.
“You come get me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will, I promise.”
He smiled sleepily at her. “Goodnight, Liv, sleep well.”
“You too, El… and Elliot, thank you… for everything.”
“Hey, what are partners for?”
The next morning Olivia woke to an empty apartment, Elliot having left for work hours ago. Shuffling into her kitchen, a piece of paper stuck to the coffee machine caught her eye. Reaching over to get a better look she read:
Medicine.
Water.
Eat something.
Call me.
—E
“Bossy.” She huffed out loud to herself, a soft smile pulling at her lips.
Turning her head she was met with a bottle of water and her pills lined up next to some fruit that definitely wasn't in her apartment yesterday. Olivia folded the note carefully and slipped it into her pocket before reaching for the water.
The apartment was empty.
She was alone but somehow, it didn't feel that way.