NOTE: Good news and bad news. Bad news: I'm back to college tomorrow so I can no longer promise regular updates. Good news: It's finally time to throw canon in the trash! Sorry it's so short but anything more would've been too much. As always, I am open to any feedback, I hope you enjoy :)
"Do it." The gun was heavy in her shaking hand. "Do it, Olivia."
"I have to warn you, she's in shock. She hasn't been very responsive."
"It's your turn."
"But she's okay? He didn't..."
"No."
A click, a smirk, and—"Game over. Say goodbye—"
"Olivia?"
She blinked. Fluorescent lighting, feet dangling in the air, uncomfortable padded surface underneath her... Hospital. She was in a hospital.
"Liv?" That familiar voice again. "Liv, it's Rafael, I'm here."
Rafael? The effort took to turn toward the sound of his voice was draining. She kept her eyes trained on the floor.
"Amaro called me, Liv. Said you asked for me."
I don't remember that. "I...I did?" Everything was blurry.
In a quieter tone, "Why is this blood still on her?"
"We still need to take photos, take bloodwork—"
"Then do it!"
Olivia flinched.
"Olivia?"
She looked up. Rafael was there. She sucked in a shaky breath.
"Hey, Liv."
"H-Hi." Her voice cracked.
"Amaro told me you saved that little girl," he said softly.
"Amelia. Is she okay?"
"Physically. she's unharmed. She's with her family now."
"Look away, Amelia."
"He didn't..."
Rafael shook his head. "No. He didn't."
Relief overwhelmed the numbness in her chest for just a moment, "Good. Good..." Her eyes fluttered shut.
"Olivia?" Her eyes cracked open. Rafael's forehead was wrinkled with worry, "Is there anything I can do? Right now?"
"Stay with me," she whispered, "Just... Stay."
Olivia had no conception of time anymore. Hours, minutes, seconds... Meaningless. All she knew was that the adrenaline that had kept her alert up until now was beginning to fade and her eyelids had turned to lead. But she kept her eyes open and her grip on Rafael's hand firm.
The nurse unwrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm. "We're all set now Sergeant," she said to Olivia's dulled relief, "We'll just need to keep you here under observation for a little longer, okay?"
She barely managed a nod, too tired to even protest.
The nurse gathered up her clipboard and made to move but was stopped when Rafael spoke, "Before you go, can we at least get something more than paper towels and handsoap for her face?"
Her face... Even now she could feel every drop; the dried splattered blood tightened her skin wherever it touched her. Olivia's stomach squirmed as she fought the urge to scratch at her face until she bled. But she didn't.
The nurse nodded at Rafael, "I'll get you a washcloth and some soap and I'll be right back."
He let out a sigh as the nurse closed the door behind her, absentmindedly running his thumb along the top of her hand. It was so soothing. "It's almost over Liv," he murmured, "Almost done."
Some of the tension in her body drained away as she hummed in agreement, "I know."
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and she looked at him. When their eyes met, her lips twitched into a thin smile.
"Thank you, Rafael."
He waved her thanks away just as his phone buzzed. She reluctantly let go of his hand.
His forehead crinkled as he read the text, "It's Amaro again. The others, your squad, they've been asking to see you," he said cautiously.
Her eyes squeezed shut as she shook her head, "I can't see them. Not yet."
To his credit, he didn't ask why.
They lapsed into a comforting quiet that was broken moments later by the return of the nurse.
"I got you a washcloth and some soap," she announced, placing the two by the sink, "Again, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call."
Olivia gave her a nod of thanks as Rafael spoke. "Thank you, we will."
The door closed once more.
After a pause, Olivia spoke, "Could you...?" she gestured to the sink, "I just... I can't get up right now."
"Of course." He made his way over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and stuck his fingers under the stream of water. Once it was warm enough he began to wet the washcloth.
"Rafael?" she asked hesitantly.
"Mhmm?" He squirted some soap onto the cloth.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. When you asked me not to go after him."
Rafael sighed and turned off the faucet. "No, you're not," he said, not unkindly, "You'd do it again if it meant saving that little girl."
She couldn't argue with that. "I know. But I am sorry for how it affected you."
He rang out the cloth before turning to her. "You don't have to be," he said sincerely, making his way over to her. "You did what you had to do to save Amelia and you're here now. Here," he handed her the dampened cloth, "Let's get you cleaned up."
The blood on her face felt wet and hot again as Olivia stared down at the rapidly cooling cloth in her hand. Without thinking she shoved it back in Rafael's hands.
"You do it. Please."
Rafael just stared at her.
"Please, Rafael."
He nodded slowly. "Okay."
His Adam's apple bobbed as Rafael swallowed heavily, his eyes never leaving hers as he brought the cloth up to her cheek, hovering millimeters from her skin until she nodded. She shivered, flinching as the slightly chilly cloth barely touched her skin. He murmured an apology but she shushed him and he slowly began to wipe off Lewis's dried blood, his eyes now focused on her skin rather than on her gaze. After a moment, Rafael shifted closer and brought his other hand up to tip her head to the side a little. Surprisingly, his closeness felt not invasive but rather comforting and Olivia found herself reaching out and gripping his shirt. His hands froze.
"Olivia?" he breathed, his voice rough, "What...?"
She immediately let him go, her cheeks flushed. "Sorry."
He cleared his throat a little, "It's okay. I'll, uh, I'll rinse this out and continue?"
"Okay."
The sound of running water filled the silence until he was back and his hands were on her again, gently cleaning her face with a look of intense concentration. His gentle touches felt so alien, so intimate after the violence she'd faced. It was her undoing. Her face crumpled and tears poured down her cheeks until she was gasping for air, reaching for him. The bloodstained cloth dropped onto the floor, forgotten.
His whispered words fell on deaf ears as she sobbed into his shoulder and when she gripped his shirt this time, he didn't comment.
He just held her.