weHrkfjwfjphfdjnm,nmn,mnnbHe was running even before Joe hit the ground, Carisi and Tucker were right behind him. The shot rang out and Joe fell to the ground lifelessly. Olivia was there in shock, her hands up and head down, she was crouched forward a bit.
His arms were around her the second he reached her, before she realized all that had happened, he heard Tucker yell at the guys to secure the weapon, but he didn't care about it.
"It's me, you're safe," he whispered against her ear. "You're safe, I've got you," he repeated.
"Elliot," she breathed out in relief, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"It's me, I've got you," he repeated, he kept whispering how she's safe in her ear.
She didn't need to see him to know it was really him, she knew the way he'd slid his arms around her, the way his muscular torso felt against her, the way his cologne smelt and the subtle hint of her own – she'd recognize him from anywhere. She'd spent better part of past decade in his arms, and that's where she has always felt the safest.
He didn't drag her away instantly, he waited for her to catch her bearing and her breath to even out, while his hands were on her back. She transferred some of the partially dried blood into his light grey shirt.
"Oh, Liv, I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered, his lips touched her hair.
"I'm okay," she confirmed.
Elliot moved his lips against her temple, and she winced. "Ow," she whispered.
Instantly he pulled away and looked at her for the first time. He noticed the red patch and bruising around her eye and the dried blood on her cheek.
"I'm okay," she repeated.
Elliot looked her up and down, he shook his head.
"No, you're not," he decided.
He kissed her forehead, Olivia closed her eyes at the contact. It felt always good to have his lips against her forehead, somehow it was that kiss, which made her feel the safest and most cared for. Elliot has always had the ability to make her feel better with a kiss.
Elliot moved her hair away from her eye tenderly. He winced – it looked painful. He kissed her forehead again like it could take away the pain. Her breath had slowed down significantly, she was coming out of the shock and getting control back over the situation.
"It's okay. Looks worse than it is," she tried.
Elliot ignored her and kissed her fully on the lips with desperation. She returned it. He didn't even care that half of her team saw it, he didn't give crap about the ESU team either, but he cared that Tucker got a good look at their kiss. He didn't trust him around Olivia. She didn't seemingly care about any of her coworkers seeing it.
"I was scared," he admitted.
"I was too," she replied.
Carisi, Fin and Tucker were still behind them, they were slowly getting uncomfortable, but they didn't seem willing to break the moment between them.
"Lieutenant?" Carisi asked shyly at last.
Olivia turned to her coworker, she let go of Elliot, but stood by his side. She shivered. Elliot took his jacket off and wrapped it around Olivia's shoulders, then wrapped his left hand around her midsection.
"I'm okay Carisi," she said before the younger detective could ask and snuggled into Elliot's jacket. It smelt like him which was a comfort after a day like this.
Elliot reached out his free hand for Tucker, who took it instantly.
"Thank you," Elliot said sincerely.
"Don't thank me, your girl did great," Ed said with a hint of smile.
"I owe you one, Ed," Olivia said sincerely.
Tucker smiled.
"Hope we never have to do it again," he made an attempt to lighten the mood.
Elliot and Olivia chuckled, then agreed.
"Let's get you checked out," Elliot suggested.
Olivia didn't protest, she let Elliot pull her towards the ambulance.
"Did he hit you anywhere else?" Elliot asked carefully. Olivia shook her head and he knew she wasn't lying.
"Where are the boys?" she asked suddenly.
They reached an ambulance, where Olivia took a seat and paramedic tended to her.
Elliot smiled. "Lucy took them to the movies," he said. He stood by her side, but he'd released her hand.
Paramedic was flashing light at Olivia's eyes.
"Don't worry, they don't know anything," he assured her.
The young guy lifted Olivia's chin to have a proper look at her eye. He reached for some ointment to rub on it.
"They'll know something happened, when they see me," she said.
Elliot nodded.
He walked to the other side of the paramedic. It reminded him a bit the time when she got back after Lewis, bruised and hurt. Luckily she wasn't nearly as traumatized. Didn't help that she had used William Lewis's name to send out a warning.
"I'm okay," she said once more as if she'd been reading his mind.
"Let me be the judge of that," he replied.
The paramedic finished with the ointment and had moved to clean the cut she had on her cheek.
Elliot's phone rang – Lizzie, when he got back Olivia was standing up next to the ambulance. He rushed to her side.
"They cleared you?" he asked.
Olivia nodded.
He pulled her back into his arms, not as desperately as he did before, but desperately enough for Olivia to pick up on it. His fingers on her hips pulled her closer to him.
"I'm okay, babe," she whispered against his lips.
"Say that to your eye," he said and gave her reddish eye a look.
Olivia shrugged her shoulders. "Comes with the job," she joked.
"I don't see anyone else walking around with an eye like yours," he shot back.
Olivia rolled her eyes. "You should've seen the other guy, he had a bullet size hole in his head," she retorted.
"I would've strangled him if he was still alive," Elliot said with clenched teeth.
Olivia caressed his cheek tenderly. "I know," she whispered, then kissed his cheek.
"Will you take me home?" she asked sweetly.
Elliot nodded, he kissed her quickly. "Let's go," he said.
He dropped his arm around her, pulled her tight against him and swore again to never let her go.