A/N: Setting up some things for where we'll be when Olivia comes home from the hospital. It's the next day.


THE NOAH SERIES: TIME

"I want you all to go home with Aunt Becca," Alex said after the kids had been allowed to go back and see that Olivia was okay.

"Mama!" Maggie whined. "We want to stay."

"I know you do," Alex said. "But she's sleeping and needs rest. You won't even be able to see her again tonight. Becca will bring you back first thing tomorrow, right Becca?"

"Yeah," Rebecca said. She had immediately come to the hospital when Alex called her. "We'll get some ice cream and watch some movies when we get home. Okay?"

Addie and Maggie nodded.

"I'm not leaving," Noah said.

"Noah.."

"I said, I'm not leaving," Noah said again, more firmly. It was the same tone he used when the doctor tried to talk to Alex in private. Alex sighed and nodded. She knew that being there and seeing Olivia being shot was a traumatic experience for him, and he was old enough to be there and understand most of what was happening.

"Why does Noah get to stay?" Addie said. "That's not fair."

"Because I saw Mom get shot and I want to stay," Noah growled back.

"Look, girls, Noah is older, so he can stay," Alex said. "But you're not spending the night, Noah. I'll get someone to take you home later."

"Fine," Noah said. He pulled out his phone and went back to the corner where he had been sitting quietly most of the afternoon. Alex watched him, concerned about how he was feeling.

"I'll take him later, Alex," Fin said. "Don't worry about him. Just let him deal with this his own way. He's like Liv like that."

Alex nodded and sighed, tilting her head back.

Rebecca took the girls home, stopping to get ice cream and junk food that Rebecca knew Alex would never allow in the house under normal circumstances. This wasn't normal circumstances, though.

Fin waited a while and walked over to where Noah was. Alex had insisted the rest of the squad leave earlier, that she would call if something came up, but he didn't want to leave her alone...and he didn't want to leave Noah alone. Alex had spent much of the evening on the phone with her mom and Casey.

"Hey, man, you okay?" Fin said, taking a seat by Noah.

"Yeah, I just wish everyone would stop asking me that," Noah said.

"I get it, man," Fin said. "But at some point, you're gonna have to talk about it and deal with that shit. You can't keep it all bottled up."

"Yeah, and who do you talk to?" Noah said, looking at Fin suspiciously.

"I got people," Fin said, giving him a rare smile.

Noah nodded. "I just...I think if I hadn't been there and distracted her, none of this would have happened."

"Don't do that," Fin said. "There's always things we could do differently. The important thing is everyone but the son of a bitch that did this is still alive. I'm just glad Liv killed his ass and saved us all a trial."

Noah chuckled just a little. He liked how Fin talked to him like he would anyone else and didn't treat him like a kid.

"Look, I don't care what you do, but don't blame yourself," Fin said. "Your mom would do everything all over again. That's just Liv. She's a good cop...one of the best, and also one of the most badass."

Noah nodded and then looked up to see Sam come into the waiting room.

"That your girl?" Fin said.

"Yeah," Noah said.

"Alright, we'll I'll let you be," Fin said. "Just let me know when you want to go home."

Fin got up and left, and Sam came over to sit down next to Noah.

"Noah, are you okay?" Sam said. "I'm sorry it took so long to get here. I had to wait for my mom to get back."

"I'm fine," Noah said.

"You're not fine," Sam said. "Your mom got shot in front of you. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, I don't," Noah said.

"Noah..." Sam said.

"I said I don't want to talk about it," Noah snapped. Alex heard him and looked up from across the room. "If that's all you came for, you can just leave. I don't need you here to take care of me. I'm fine."

Alex got up and walked over. "Hey, Samantha. Thanks for coming."

"Hi, Alex," Sam said. "I'm sorry about Olivia. Is she okay?"

"She will be," Alex said. "I was about to go to the snack machines to get some food and could use some company. Do you want to come along?"

"Sure," Sam said.

"Noah, do you want anything?" Alex said.

"No."

Alex took a breath and put her arm around Sam to lead her down the hall, leaving Noah to himself.

#

The following morning Rebecca brought all the kids back to the hospital. Alex was already up and waiting for visiting hours to open so she could see Olivia.

"You look like hell," Rebecca said. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Not much, but there is unlimited coffee here, so that helps," Alex said.

When visiting hours opened, Alex agreed to let the kids go back first while she stayed with Rebecca.

"Good morning," Olivia said when she saw the kids come in.

"Good morning, Mom," they said. "How are you feeling?"

"A lot better today," Olivia said. "Don't worry. I'm going to be fine. Where is Alex?"

"She's with Becca," Addie said. "They would only let three of us back here at once."

Olivia nodded and picked up her water for a drink.

"Why did that man shoot you?" Maggie asked.

"Maggie," Noah said. "That's a dumb question. He shot her because he's a criminal. That's what criminal do. They shoot people."

"Not all of them, Noah," Olivia said. "He was upset with some people in the store, Maggie. And he got desperate."

"And you killed him?" Maggie said.

"He did die, yes," Olivia said. "At least, that's what your Mama told me."

"Good," Noah mumbled.

Olivia talked with the kids a bit longer, with what energy she had. Noah stayed mostly in the corner and she knew something was on his mind.

"Why don't you girls go tell your Mama to come back?" Olivia said. "But tell her to give Noah and me a few minutes."

Maggie and Addie hugged Olivia and gave her a kiss before leaving.

"Come here," Olivia said to Noah. He walked over and sat next to her bed. She reached out for his hand to hold.

"The nurse told me you helped saved my life," Olivia said.

"What?" Noah said.

"She said you put pressure on my wound and kept me from losing even more blood than I did," Olivia said.

"I just did what you taught us if we ever had a cut or wound," Noah said.

"Well, not everyone could have done that, in that situation," Olivia said. "I've even seen cops who had trouble with it."

Noah just shrugged.

"Noah, this isn't your fault," Olivia said.

Noah looked away.

"Your Mama told me what you said, and I want you to know that's not true," Olivia said.

"I distracted you," Noah said. "Why didn't you just let him shoot me?"

"Because I'm your mother and it's my job to protect you," Olivia said. "I would do anything in my power to protect all of you."

"I know, but..."

"But nothing," Olivia said. "I'm going to be okay. You're going to be okay. And the son of a bitch that pointed a gun at my son and tried to shoot him is dead."

"I guess," Noah said.

"Look, when I get out of here, I think it will be a good idea if we both go see someone," Olivia said.

"You mean like a shrink?" Noah asked, with a disgusted look on his face.

"Noah, you're like me," Olivia said. "I see you over there, keeping to yourself, snapping at your sisters. Don't take things out on them. You had a gun pointed at you. You saw your mother get shot. And you saw me kill someone in front of you. That's things that most people don't experience."

"I'm just tired of everyone asking how I am," Noah said. "I'm not the one that got hurt. You did."

"That doesn't mean people can't be concerned about you," Olivia said.

Noah just sat in silence. Olivia squeezed his hand and didn't push any further. She understood more than anyone.

"I love you, Noah," Olivia said.

"I love you, too, Mom," Noah said.

Alex arrived at the door as they were finishing up and just waited. When Noah saw her, he gave Olivia a hug and left.

"Hi," Alex said.

"Hi," Olivia said.

"How are you feeling?" Alex said.

"Like I want to go home," Olivia said.

"Yeah, well, you have a few more days before that happens," Alex said.

Olivia rolled her eyes.

"What did you and Noah talk about?" Alex said. "I'm worried about him."

"He feels guilty," Olivia said. "I told him not to, though. He's just gotta deal with it his own way."

"You mean like you," Alex said with a soft smile.

"Yeah," Olivia said. "I suggested he talk to someone soon. Well, both of us, actually."

"I think that is a good idea," Alex said. "He's not talking to anyone right now. Fin a little. He even bit Sam's head off last night when she stopped by."

"Give him some time," Olivia said.

#

Out in the lobby, Maggie pulled out her phone and read a text from Haley.

Haley: How is your Mom?

Maggie: She's better today.

Haley: I'm sorry if I made things weird the other night.

Maggie: You didn't...I ... I like you, too.

Haley: :-) Good.

"How's Haley?" Addie teased her sister.

"Fine," Maggie said. "Wait, how did you know I was texting her?"

"You have that goofy smile on your face you did yesterday morning," Addie said.

"Shut up," Maggie said.

"You kissed, didn't you?" Addie said.

"That's none of your business," Maggie said.

"Well, that's a yes," Addie said. "Is that all?

"Yes! Of course!" Maggie said.

"Okay, no need to yell," Addie said. "And you just answered my question."

"I hate you," Maggie said.

"I know," Addie said, smirking.