A/N: Thanks for the reviews/faves/follows! This was going to be a one-shot, but Rollins is very persistent and I can't say no to her. Changing the rating to M in preparation for chapter 3.
Also, I totally forgot about Rollins' dog in chapter 1 and have chosen to leave her out for logistical reasons.
It took Olivia a moment to remember who she'd crashed with that night, after so many nights on sofas and in guest rooms. When she turned over, Amanda was there, still asleep in a patch of sunlight from the window.
Olivia leaned over to see the clock, surprised to see that it was almost ten. She hadn't slept more than three hours at a time since the attack, but she'd made it through the whole night. From the looks of it, Amanda had, too.
She sank back into the pillow, reaching over to smooth out Amanda's bangs, not seeing any reason to get up.
Amanda was sitting cross-legged on the floor of Olivia's apartment, wrapping glasses in newspaper and nesting them in a cardboard box. She glanced up to see the older detective stop in the midst of her own packing and slump into herself, leaning her head into her hands. "Liv?" she asked, putting down a glass and making her way over to the sofa. She didn't sit down, waiting for some indication of what Olivia needed.
"I can't move," Olivia said, lifting her head from her hands but not looking at the blonde. "I should be stronger than this. I can't let him keep screwing up my life."
"Nobody thinks that." Amanda sat down but didn't touch Olivia, knowing that she usually needed space. "And you're not letting him screw up your life. You're moving on. To an apartment that's not just a little more secure but really cute."
Olivia shook her head but didn't say anything.
"Want to go get some fresh air?" Amanda tried again. "I could really use a coffee." She got up and headed to the door, waiting to see if Olivia wanted to follow or have some time alone. She stopped just before she stepped on the pink spot on the carpet, stained with blood that just wouldn't come out.
She suddenly felt a hand in hers, and looked up to see Olivia offering her a faint smile. "As much as I want you to get back to work as soon as possible, it's nice, spending time with you."
Amanda leaned in to kiss her before opening the door.
"I don't think we should tell anyone."
Amanda looked up from the box she was taping closed, just a hint of hurt in her blue eyes. "Okay."
Olivia crouched down next to her and ran her fingertips down Amanda's arm until she reached her hand. "It's not that I don't want to, Amanda. You're just already under investigation. I don't want to get in the way of you getting back to work."
"Oh." A slow smile spread on Amanda's face. "Thanks, Liv."
"As soon as you've been back for a little bit, I promise to make out with you in front of everyone."
Amanda snorted, leaning in to touch her forehead to Olivia's. "Cute. I'll hold you to that."
"Good." Olivia tangled a hand in Amanda's hair, smiling into their kiss. She busied herself exploring the blonde's mouth, every touch of Amanda's tongue sending a buzz through her. The doorbell sounded several times before she noticed it, reluctantly pulling back. "Sounds like the crew's here."
Amanda stood up and watched Olivia go to the door, trying to figure out a way to get the giddy smile off her face. She busied herself tallying the boxes again.
"Don't do that to us again," Fin scolded as he and Nick came in. "Not answering your phone or your doorbell after everything that happened."
Amanda kept making work for herself as the other three detectives stood in the entryway, Olivia apologizing and answering their questions about how she was doing. Nick was the first to notice the blonde, and he stepped into the living room. "Rollins," he called with a grin. "What are you doing here?"
Amanda rolled her eyes. All of her anger from that last day at work flooded back. Amaro, as always, had doubted her on the Lewis case. "I just missed you too damn much, Amaro," she teased, knowing that getting into it with Nick wasn't going to make this day any easier for Olivia.
Fin, on the other hand, genuinely looked happy to see her, and Amanda returned the sentiment.
"She knows she's not allowed to lift things," Olivia told them, nodding towards Amanda's still-mending shoulder.
"I'm a really good mover," the blonde said with a sigh.
"The next time I move, I will let you personally carry everything," Olivia promised.
"Good, I'm getting too old for this." Fin picked up a box and nodded to Amanda. "Walk with me?"
"Yeah." Amanda followed him out the door and down the stairs.
"We miss you," he said, glancing back at her from time to time as they descended. "You doing okay?"
She'd had to lie to Olivia the week before when asked the same question, but Amanda could actually smile this time. "Yeah. Liv's been keeping me busy."
"Well, if you get bored once she's done moving, we're drowning in paperwork. I'll gladly sneak you some."
Amanda laughed, holding the door for Fin as they left the building and put the box in the moving truck. "We've actually been doing normal people stuff, too. We took a break from packing and went to the Statue of Liberty yesterday."
Fin rolled his eyes, and Amanda shoved him playfully as they made their way back upstairs. "Hey, Liv," he called up as soon as they could see her on the landing above them. "You're letting Rollins turn you into a tourist?"
Olivia paused on the stairs just above them. "She's the tourist. I'm mostly the photographer. Besides, she'd never been."
The two women shared a smile, and Olivia shifted her box. Amanda stepped up to her instantly, reaching to take the box. "Let me."
"Shoulder," Olivia replied firmly. "I've got it." She adjusted her position and Fin stepped aside to let her continue downstairs.
Fin waited until they'd also passed Nick and left the stairwell before talking. "So, how long has that been going on?"
"What?" Amanda led the way into the apartment.
He grinned. "Now I know how you lost so much money, Amanda," he teased. "You have no poker face."
"Hey." She glared at him. "That was low, even for you." She kicked a box lightly. "Take that one. It's the heaviest."
"I'm just glad to see you smiling." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing her gently so not to hurt her. "Both of you."
Amanda couldn't help smiling to herself at that. "Get back to work."
Nick left after they finished bringing everything into the new apartment, but Olivia insisted on taking her other two helpers out for drinks in a bar down the street. Fin winked at Amanda as he took a seat across the table, allowing the two women to sit together on the booth. Amanda sought out Olivia's hand almost immediately, and Olivia fought not to smile at her.
"It's cool, Liv." Fin told her. "I know."
Now Olivia turned to look at Amanda, shocked. "You told him?"
The blonde shook her head. "He figured it out. You can't keep anything from those sex detectives, you know?"
Fin got up to get them drinks, and Amanda moved closer on the bench. Olivia leaned her head against Amanda's, exhausted from all the trips up and down the stairs.
They'd started holding hands in public the day they started packing, and it was nice to know that nobody seemed to notice or care. "Can I kiss you?" Amanda asked quietly, wondering if another step would be too far.
"Please." Olivia turned to press a kiss to the blonde's cheek, eyes glittering when Amanda turned to meet her lips.