As Elliot stepped off the elevator into the third floor waiting room he heard a nurse calling, "Family of OliviaBenson."

"That's me," Elliot replied, approaching the young nurse.

"Miss Benson is in her room now and resting comfortably. If you want to sit with her you can follow me."

"I do."

"Alright, this way," the young woman told him as she turned and walked away. Elliot followed the nurse to Liv's room. They stopped just outside of the door, "This is her room, try not to disturb her, she needs her rest."

Elliot nodded and entered his partner's room. He walked to the foot of the bed before stopping and staring at the sleeping woman lying before him. She was beautiful he realized, though not for the first time. She looked so peaceful, especially considering that she'd been shot just hours before. He walked around to the side of the bed and pulled the chair closer before sitting down and taking her hand in both of his. Within minutes he had rested his head on the edge of the bed and fallen asleep still clasping her hand.

It was a few minutes before 8:30 when Olivia finally woke up. The events of the previous evening all came rushing back and at the same time she felt the searing pain in her chest where she'd been shot. Then, she noticed Elliot holding her hand, asleep on the edge of the bed. She gently pulled her hand free and ran it through her best friend's hair, before letting it rest on the back of his neck. She watched as the man she had secretly loved for years slowly began to stir.

As he woke up, Elliot sat up, causing Olivia's hand to fall back to the bed. It was quickly replaced by his own as he attempted to work out the kinks in his neck. "How do you feel? Are you in a lot of pain?" he asked her, concern filling his voice.

"It's not too bad, considering I was shot," she answered with a smirk.

He frowned back at her.

"Hey, El, I'm going to be okay," she told him as she covered his hand with hers, offering him a reassuring smile.

"I know that, but you scared the hell out of me Liv."

"Sorry," she said turning to look away.

Elliot sighed, grabbed her hand in one of his and used his other to turn her face back to his, "I wasn't blaming you, in fact, I'm kind of glad it happened."

"You're glad I got shot? Gee, thanks."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"So what did you mean?"

"Nothing, forget about it." He stood up and started to pace.

"El, would please sit back down and explain to me why you're so freaking happy that I got shot."

He sat down, put his head in his hands, not saying a word. Liv watched him, waiting. After a while she started to get impatient, "El…talk to me, please. What's going on?"

"It's just…"

"It's just what?"

"When you go shot, I realized…," he paused, she waited, knowing he'd finish when he was ready. He finally looked up at her, "how awful it would be to lose you, I couldn't stand it if you just…weren't there anymore. When you got shot I was afraid that I'd never get a chance to tell you how I feel, but then I realized it was really just giving me the chance to tell you. I love you Olivia, I have for a while."

She turned her head away again, but not before he saw the tears in her eyes and heard the soft, "Oh, El…"

He reached out and smoothed her hair back away from her face, "Liv? Please don't tell me you don't feel it too."

She turned to face him, tears still in her eyes, she cupped his cheek, "Of course I feel it, I've just been hanging on, waiting for you."

"Well, you can stop waiting Livvie, I'm here now," he brought his forehead down to hers. "I love you."

She smiled, "Livvie, huh? I like it El."

"And…?

"And I love you too."

"Good."

He kissed her, running his tongue over her bottom lip seeking entrance. She opened her mouth for him, deepening the kiss as she placed her hand on the back of his neck. Elliot moaned as his tongue delved into her mouth, this kiss being better than anything he could've ever imagined. When they finally broke apart they were both smiling.