"I don't really want to talk about it Alex," Olivia says, coming back to the present. "I just want to get the hell out of this hospital and go home," she tells her friend.
"It's okay," Alex tells her. "You were just held hostage and assaulted by a psychopath and I'm grilling you like a hostile witness on the stand," she adds. "I'm sorry."
"Its fine," says Olivia releasing her hand to pull her knees up to her chest before realizing how painful the new position would be and wincing.
"Do you need me to get a nurse," Alex asks, watching as Olivia looks passed uncomfortable.
"No I'm fine," she says quickly. "I just need to remember that I have three broken ribs."
Alex cringes hearing the extent of her friend's injuries.
"I hope he's burning in hell right now," seethes the ADA as her ice blue eyes darken a shade.
"You and me both," adds Olivia.
"How's Elliot," asks Alex calming.
"Um, fine I guess, "Olivia answers noncommittally. "I haven't seen him since they brought us in."
Alex doesn't miss that the woman she's known for over a decade is immediately uneasy at the mentioning of her partner's name but decides to give her a pass. She's always known about the bond the two detectives share. It's like a club you need a secret decoder ring for and only Elliot and Olivia are allowed at the meetings. Alex doubts if she'd tell her the entire story anyway.
"Well I'll let you get some rest," says Alex. "You look like you could use it," she adds.
"Gee thanks," Olivia replies, giving the blonde a small smile but not protesting.
"I'll check on you later," she adds, giving her friend's hand a squeeze before leaving Olivia alone with her thoughts.
"Shit," Olivia says to herself. She stares blankly at the ceiling trying to get the image of Elliot's expression out of her head after she admitted the truth.
If she knows her partner as well as she thinks she does, he'll leave it up to her to address it. And if she does bring it up, he'll probably say how he knows she was just saying whatever she needed to pacify Knight. Unspoken feelings blew them apart a few years ago. But these spoken feelings…she doesn't know if she'll be able to ignore what she said even if he's able to. Not having the benefit of hearing how he feels is killing her.
Next door Elliot is staring at his own ceiling. To his credit he's actually stayed in the hospital per doctor's orders. He has a broken nose that's been reset, a concussion from the two by four to the head, his neck is bandaged from the cut and he has his own cracked ribs but nothing he wouldn't normally have talked his way out of by now.
The truth is he knows Olivia's still in the next room and he likes the idea of being near his partner. Elliot's genuinely floored at her admission. He's not surprised, just shocked she actually admitted it even under threat of his death. Needless to say he's conflicted about the situation he's found himself in.
Should he tell her how he feels or does he let so much time pass with neither of them bringing it up, that things get back to normal between them? But what kind of normal is going to happen with Olivia having said she's in love with him?
Elliot knows she didn't have a choice but if there was ever an instance where he wishes he could unhear something, this is most certainly one of those times.
With Munch, Fin and the SWAT team busting in, Elliot didn't have to spill his guts about how he feels about Olivia. It's not fair to her but because of that, he has the power. But, as the saying goes, with power comes responsibility. So he has to decide what he's going to do with the knowledge he has.
His thoughts are interrupted by two soft knocks on the door. Elliot is surprised to find his ex-wife entering with his youngest in tow along with the twins and Kathleen. He knows Maureen would be there if she could, she's away at grad school out of state and has already called.
"Daddy," Eli screams running to jump into his father's outstretched arms.
"Hey buddy," Elliot says, wincing.
"Careful Eli," warns Kathy. "Daddy's got boo boos," she tells the blonde curly haired little boy.
"How ya doin' Dad," asks Liz giving him a peck on the cheek.
"I'm better now sweetie," he answers honestly, eying most of his brood.
"Maybe you should think of retiring," says Richard shaking his father's hand. "You're getting too old to be chasing nut jobs."
"Chasing psychopaths helps pay for that college whose parties you enjoy so much," advises Elliot.
"Yeah Dick," says Kathleen enunciating his old nickname before planting her own kiss on Elliot's cheek. "It also pays for those classes you decide to attend when you're not chasing girls."
"Hey I'm a freshman," he explains. "I'm supposed to be having fun."
"This fun better not be reflected in your grades," chimes in Kathy. "Or else you can take out student loans to pay your own tuition next year," she warns.
"So when do we get to spring you from this place Dad," asks Liz.
"Tomorrow I'm hoping," Elliot offers, hoping he's right. He doesn't enjoy hospitals any more than his partner lying in the next room.
"Well at least you didn't get shot this time," notices Kathleen. "They should give you some type of frequent visitor card or something for this place," she adds giving everyone a chuckle.
"I want pizza," demands Eli, interrupting the conversation.
"How do we ask for things son," admonishes Kathy.
"Can I have pizza please," repeats Eli in a nicer tone.
"I guess I should feed them," Kathy recognizes. "We came here straight from picking up Liz and Richard."
"Can't we choose something healthier," questions Liz.
"Why? Does Andrew think you're getting fat," asks Richard, taunting his sister.
"No he doesn't," she quickly responds, eying her twin for having obviously revealed something she hadn't told her parents about.
"Who's this Andrew," asks Elliot. "And when do I get to meet him?"
"After he's been around long enough for me to warrant putting him through that kind of scrutiny," the teenager answers maturely. Elizabeth has always been the wiser one of his younger children.
"Good answer," Kathleen tells her. "I'm gonna have to use that myself one day."
"What's up with the double standard anyway Dad," asks Liz. "You didn't ask Richard to introduce you to any of his little girlfriends."
"That'd take too long," says Richard, smiling and garnering a slap to the back of the head from Kathleen.
"Yeah because my son's such a player," Kathy jabs. "Why don't you guys head to the van and I'll meet you down there."
All the children say their goodbyes leaving the adults alone.
"He's a lot more sentimental than he wants anyone to believe," Kathy says about her eldest son. "There's a girl named Amanda whose name I've heard more than once."
"Good to know," acknowledges Elliot. "I want him to enjoy being away from home for the first time but not enough to make us grandparents."
"You've taught him to respect himself and any girl he's with enough to use protection," she admits. "I think he'll be fine."
"What about Lizzie," he asks, using her childhood nickname. "Has anyone met this Andrew guy?"
"She and Richard go to the same school El," she begins. "I'm pretty sure your son has inherited enough of your personality to have threatened the boy properly already."
"Good," he says simply then smiles. Even if their marriage didn't work out, he's happy to know they got it right with the kids.
"So how are you really Elliot," questions his ex. "And don't give me the party line, tell me what the people in the white lab coats told you."
"They reset my broken nose, I have a few stitches under this bandage and a couple of broken ribs," he informs her. "But hopefully I can go home tomorrow," he tells her, even though it still feels awkward to refer to his two bedroom apartment as home.
"Well like Kathleen said," she starts. "At least you didn't get shot again," she continues, kissing him on the forehead. "Call if you need a ride," she says before heading for the door.
"Thanks Kath, for bringing the kids by," he tells her with a grateful tone.
"You're welcome," she tells him. "Let me know when you're feeling well enough to handle picking up Eli for your time with him."
He nods and Kathy leaves him alone with his thoughts, which turn swiftly to his partner in the next room.
They can just try to ignore what she said but he doubts it'll work. The glances and subtle touches that can mean anything he's used to. They've been flirting with one another off and on for years. It was nothing. This. Olivia's confession, whether it was under duress or not, it's not nothing.
As he lays in his bed beneath the cold, white impersonal sheets he tries to close his eyes hoping he'll succumb to a blissful sleep. But his brain won't allow him that rest. Images of his partner's face continue to flash past his mind's eye. The conversation from the last moments they were in that room continue to resonate in his head.
"Are you in love with your partner detective?"
"Yes."