Amanda, who sat in the rocker folding her laundry, smiled at the sight of her almost three year old daughter bouncing around on the bed. "Emery, calm down a little bit punkin', okay?" Amanda said, her southern drawl creating a lilt to her voice.
"Otay mommy." she said. The rambunctious toddler fell back dramatically, her arm across her face. The blond couldn't help but laugh. Emery looked up at her mommy with wide, green eyes, and pursed her lips. "Mommy, when's daddy coming home?" she asked.
Amanda sighed, knowing she didn't mean Declan. Declan had never met his daughter with the exception of the pictures Amanda sent him. Which was just as well. He wasn't meant for the father set anyway. Nick had always been her daddy, which Amanda appreciated. Even though he left the precinct, he had kept in touch with her, but it had been quiet. They started going out soon after Emery's birth, and had hit it off. They had been engaged for a year now, but weren't in any rush. As for Emery's biological father, no one knew it was Declan. Not even Olivia. Nick straightened up after Amanda had Emery, swearing not to be the type of man his father was. "Soon punkin', I promise." When Amanda had quit her job to stay home with Emery, Nick picked up an office job at a training base 25 minutes away.
"Otay. I miss him." came the trembling little voice.
"I know baby, me too." Amanda crawled up on the bed next her daughter who snuggled against her. Amanda hadn't been sleeping well for about three weeks now. She was waking up every couple of hours to pee, and just generally felt crappy. Right now she felt tired. So she closed her eyes, and they both fell asleep.
Amanda woke up to her phone ringing. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. 3 o'clock. Nick wasn't home. Her heart sped up as she noticed the est. on the phone number. "Hello?" she asked.
"Hello. Is this Amanda Rollins?" asked a female voice.
"Yes, this is she." the worried blond replied.
"Your fiance, Nick Amaro, was in an...accident. He's at Mercy Hospital.I'm not sure what his injuries are at this time, but.." replied the woman on the other end of the line. Amanda choked back tears.
"I'm on my way." she managed to say before hanging up. She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry in front of her daughter. "Em, sweetie, come on. We have to get up."
"Why?" she whined.
"Daddy got a boo-boo." she explained as best she could. The toddler screwed up her face and started to cry.
"Daddy!" Amanda took her daughter in her arms and consoled her. Amanda quickly found her coat and shoes, zipped Emery up in a footy sleeper, and grabbed her bag, before heading out to the car. She buckled Emery in her carseat, and drove down the road to Mercy. Oh God, please let him be okay. she silently prayed as she pulled into the parking lot. She grabbed Emery who then clung to her like a Koala, and headed inside.
"Hello, can I help you" asked the secretary.
Amanda nodded. "Yes, I'm here about my fiance, Nick Amaro." she stated.
"Daddy.." came a whimpered reply from the quiet three year old. Amanda rubbed her back.
"Yes. He was.." Amanda covered her daughter's ears. "Shot twice in the shoulder, an accident at the base, it appears." she said. Amanda gasped, but managed to nod. "He's out of surgery, but stable, considering the circumstances." she said. Amanda nodded again.
"Let me.. Call my best friends. I need them here for my daughter,"she explained. The secretary nodded sympathetically. Amanda pulled out her phone, and dialed Olivia's number.
" Lt. Olivia Benson." she answered.
"Hey, Liv. It's Amanda. Nick was shot. He's at mercy."
"Oh Rollins, I'm so sorry!" said the Lt. Olivia had always been like an older sister her, and Amanda looked up to her. "Anything I can do?" she asked.
"Yeah. Could you and Fin come on down?" asked the blond. She didn't want Carisi to come because..well..it'd be awkward. Before she and Nick got together, there had been something with Carisi. But it was gone, and she just didn't want to see him.
"Sure, anything else?" asked the brunette.
"No, that's it." she said before hanging up.
When Fin and Olivia showed up, Emery jumped out of Amanda's arms and reached for the older detective.
"Fwin, uppy." she said. Fin laughed and picked her up. He distracted her by telling her a story. Amanda rushed into her mentor's arms, the tears she had been holding back spilled over.
"Hey, hey. It'll be okay. You'll see. He'll get through this." the brunette tried to console her friend, and stroked her long blond hair. Amanda sniffled, and brushed at her eyes. She looked up at Olivia, who also had tears on her cheeks, and felt a twist of guilt. She knew that Olivia and Nick had a history, small that it was, and felt responsible for their "break up." But the older woman squeezed her shoulder in understanding. Olivia felt a tug on her pants leg. She looked down, and saw a concerned face looking up at her.
"Owivia, whewe is my daddy?" she asked impatiently. Olivia's heart wrenched.
"Daddy got a boo boo. He'll be okay soon."she said.
"You pwomise?" asked the three year old.
"I promise, sweetie." Olivia picked up the little girl, praying that Nick would be okay, at least because of what she'd just promised this sweet child. Emery nodded, and planted a kiss on her god mother's cheek. Olivia smiled tearily. She had left Noah with Lucy for a few hours, promising the girl a little extra, today. Fin, having finished with Emery came up behind Amanda and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned around a fell into his embrace. He chuckled a little, despite the situation.
"Ms. Rollins?" Amanda turned toward the sound of an unfamiliar voice, and saw a young female nurse in green scrubs.
"That's me," she replied nervously.
"Your fiance is awake, and is asking to see you. He's rather adamant about it."
Amanda smiled. It was just like him, she thought , as she followed the nurse down a corridor giving Olivia and Fin a nod. Leaving Emery with them, she walked slowly into the room. Seeing Nick lying there, hooked up to oxygen, and bandaged at the shoulder, broke her heart. "Amanda, hey." he said quietly.
"Oh Nick she gasped, and rushed over to his bedside. Oh baby." she started crying.
"Hey, Amanda. I'm fine. The doctor says I'm great. I'm here, baby look." he said.
"I know. But you scared me damn near to death." she said. He hugged her to him. Amanda inhaled her fiance's scent.
"Amanda, Emery wants to see her daddy." Liv's voice came through the door.
"Oh, come in." Amanda picked up her daughter, and sat her on the bed. "Be careful baby. Daddy hurts." said the mother.
"Otay." said the concerned little girl.
"Hey, punkin'" Nick said, giving the girl a squish.(Which is what Emery called a hug.)
"Daddy! You otay?" she asked.
"Yeah. Daddy was hurt, that's all," Amanda smiled watching her fiance interact their daughter. She was their daughter. Last year's Christmas present to Nick was the signed adoption papers for Emery. "When you come home Daddy?" she asked.
"Soon baby. I just need to get better." he said. Emery nodded.
"Whewe is da booboo?" she asked. Nick smiled, and pointed to his shoulder.
"Em," Amanda started to warn. But Nick stopped her with a finger to his lips. Emery placed a very gentle kiss on his shoulder. And he smiled. His family. His little family.