New chapter! I own nobody and nothing.
Elliot sighed. It had grown even colder, and they were still curled up in the backseat of the car. Olivia sneezed. Elliot pressed down more firmly on her side, causing her to let out a soft whimper of pain. He felt guilty.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. Olivia nodded weakly. She felt like she was about to fall asleep. She coughed and dug her head deeper into Elliot's chest.
"It's alright," she murmured, fighting against sleep. "I'm tired..."
"I know, Liv, but try to stay awake for me," Elliot said gently.
"I'll try." Olivia forced her eyelids open and shivered violently before sneezing and clutching her side in pain.
Elliot quickly unbuttoned his jacket and peeled it off. Olivia shook her head. "El, you keep it." He ignored her protest and draped it around her. He shuddered at the cold, but pulled the blanket more tightly around himself.
Olivia started to pull the jacket off, but Elliot shook his head and tightened it around her. Olivia sighed softly and coughed.
"Liv, you need to stay warm."
"So do you."
"But you're sick. And injured."
Olivia grumbled, but kept the jacket on. Elliot helped her button it. "El, you really need to put it back on."
Elliot shook his head. "You need it more." Olivia closed her eyes again, but stopped herself from falling asleep.
"I need to sleep," she murmured. "So tired." Her eyes slid shut.
Elliot gently shook her shoulder. She didn't open her eyes. "Liv, wake up," he called gently. She mumbled something incoherent and forced her eyes open.
"Sorry..."
"Just try really hard, okay? If you fall asleep, you may freeze to death," he coaxed. Olivia blinked and yawned.
"I'll try."
"Good," Elliot said, pulling her even closer. He was alarmed when Olivia suddenly moaned. "Liv?"
"Oww..."
He gently ran a hand through her hair. "Shh. I know it hurts, but just hang in there, okay?"
Olivia clung to his hand as she sat upright and coughed loudly. It scared both her and Elliot. It sounded like it came from deep in her chest. Elliot rested his hand on her back and rubbed small circles on it.
"Shh..." he whispered. "Just take deep breaths." Olivia nodded shakily and forced herself to inhale and exhale slowly until her coughing ceased.
She shuddered. Her head was heavy, her chest and ears were bothering her, and her side pulsed with a throbbing pain. She was shivering violently, and she felt a pang of guilt when she saw Elliot without his jacket on. "El," she coughed. "T-take your jacket."
"No, Liv, you need it," he insisted.
"Please, El," Olivia begged. "Take it, I'll be okay."
Elliot sighed. "Don't be so stubborn," he said. "You're sick. You need warmth more than I need it." His voice was firm, but gentle at the same time.
Olivia huffed a breath, causing her to cough again. She sneezed again, and closed her eyes. She felt Elliot pressing his hand to her forehead again.
"Damn," he mumbled. "You're burning up." He grabbed Olivia and pulled her against his chest again, placing his hands over her injury.
"I'm f-freezing," Olivia stammered, her voice trembling. "You have to be colder. Just take the damn jacket."
Elliot had to smirk slightly. She still had her Benson stubbornness inside of her, and that alone brought a glint of hope in the fact that they would be rescued before it was too late.
Time continued to pass. Again, nightfall was drawing nearer and nearer, bringing forth even colder temperatures and more snow. "Liv, you still awake?"
Olivia nodded weakly. "Your poor, sick, injured partner wants to sleep." Elliot smiled slightly and tucked a strand of Olivia's hair behind her ear.
"I know, but my poor, sick, injured partner needs to try to stay awake."
Olivia snuggled into his chest. "I'm trying." Elliot rested his chin on top of her head. Olivia shuddered from the cold and the pain. She could feel Elliot shivering against her. "We really need out of here," she mumbled.
"I know we do," Elliot said. "It's getting too cold for us to survive."
Olivia flinched. "Yeah."
"I'm getting worried about you," Elliot admitted. "That wound still hasn't stopped bleeding, and you're sick."
"I kind of noticed," Olivia scoffed. She winced. "It wasn't that hard to tell." Elliot kept one hand over Olivia's side, and gently ran his other hand through her hair.
"You're gonna be okay," he said softly. Olivia closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer. Elliot gently shook her shoulder.
"I can't stay awake," she murmured, not opening her eyes. "Please, El." Elliot sighed.
"I'll wake you up every few minutes," he reluctantly said. He watched as Olivia fell into a deep sleep, and kicked himself, knowing how dangerous it was. But either way, he felt guilty.
After a few minutes went by, he softly shook Olivia. She murmured something incoherent and fell asleep again.
Eight minutes later, he was about to wake her again when she suddenly whimpered. "Liv?" he whispered. "You alright?"
"No.." she mumbled. "Don't..." she clutched Elliot's shirt tightly and buried her face into his chest. Elliot felt something wet touch his shirt, and he realized that Olivia was crying.
"Liv, wake up," he said softly. He shook her lightly.
"El..." she murmured.
"I'm right here," Elliot said soothingly, stroking her back. "Wake up for me, okay?" Olivia slowly opened her eyes. They were filled with tears.
Elliot continued to stroke her back. "What's the matter, honey?" he asked gently. Olivia blinked and shook her head.
"N-nothing..."
"Liv, talk to me," Elliot pleaded. "What were you dreaming about?"
Olivia closed her eyes and shuddered. "Gitano," she finally said. Elliot furrowed his brow.
"He's dead, Liv," he whispered. Olivia nodded shakily.
"I know. I haven't dreamed about him in years." Her voice was faint and shaky. "I-I dreamed that he killed you when he had that gun to your head." Elliot pulled her against his chest and hugged her, stroking her hair affectionately.
Olivia rested her head on his chest. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
"For what?" Elliot placed his left hand over Olivia's injury again and stroked her hair with his free one. Olivia shrugged.
"For being so weak."
"You're not weak, Liv," he said. Olivia sighed and wrapped Elliot's jacket more tightly around her body, feeling guilty once again.
"El, please wear your coat," she begged. Elliot shook his head in response.
"Liv, you need to keep warm."
"You can't freeze your ass off just to help me," Olivia insisted. She started to unbutton the wool jacket, but Elliot grabbed her hand and shook his head again.
"No," he said firmly. "You're keeping it on." Olivia groaned but let go of the button.
"Fine," she groaned. Elliot nodded, satisfied. Both of them trembled from the cold and snuggled closer to each other.
Olivia felt weak all over, and she could feel herself falling asleep. She was too exhausted to fight it, and she let darkness take over.
Elliot felt her go limp in his arms. "Liv, wake up." He shook her slightly. No response. He shook her more firmly, and her arm dangled limply at her side. Panic rose in him when he realized that she was unconscious.
He pulled her close, hoping to keep her warm. He closed his eyes and prayed that help would come. And soon. He didn't want them to die in the ice cold blizzard.
I know, a short one. I think two more chapters are to come! Since chapter one got 15 reviews and chapter two got 17, think you guys can give me 19 this time?
