This one is quite different from what I usually write. But enjoy! I'm not sure what to do next. Maybe, I'll write the same part from Amanda's perspective, or maybe a sequel… it's also possible I just leave it there. Time will tell.
WARNING: death is a thematic of the story. If you feel like this is not appropriate for you, don't read.
They had been short-staffed for two months now. Everyone had been working harder than usual so that victims didn't suffer from the situation at the precinct. Olivia was so stressed up that every second now, something could get out of hand. Fin and Amanda just tried to make her life easier, avoiding complaining. That night though, Amanda couldn't wait to go home. She'd already put a double shift and skipped lunch. The man she arrested a few hours ago was in the interrogation room. She just needed to get over with him, and then, she'd finally be able to rest.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" The blonde asked, since Olivia didn't find the time yet to come help her.
"Ok Fin, wait 'till the girl regains consciousness and call me back", said Olivia on the phone. "All right, I'm ready", the captain quickly smiled to her detective, aware that she so much deserved a break.
But as they were about to enter the interrogation room, a middle-aged woman came in. She was a mess, and you could instantly tell that something happened to her. An officer had been trying to welcome her, but she avoided any eyed-contact with him. She needed Olivia, of course.
"Go, I've got this!" Rollins didn't mind interrogating the suspect by herself. Rollins never objected working alone, to be honest. Did she feel invincible or was she just never thinking about her own safety?
Olivia hesitated for a few seconds. It was against protocol.
"Liv, gooo, that woman needs you" Amanda insisted.
"Ok" Olivia whispered before directing her attention to the now crying woman.
Everything seemed to be under control, and the precinct was quiet. Almost too quiet, Olivia thought to herself. Careful to give the woman in front of her the attention she deserved, Olivia shook her head a little.
"I know this is hard, but can you start from the very first thing you do remember?", she asked the still crying woman in front of her. And here was the silence again. The awkwardness of silence that most people can't stand was usually well appreciated by the captain. She never understood why people would always feel the need to fill up the blanks in a conversation as if the density of nothingness would prevent them from existing. But this time, her gut told her that something wasn't right. Once again, Olivia focused on her task, until she heard an officer shouting for help.
In no time, Olivia was out of her office and following the crowd movement in the direction were Amanda was interrogating a suspect. When she realised her detective, her friend might be the one actually needing support, she started running.
Olivia froze in terror at the scene unfolding in front of her eyes. Two cops were trying to restrain the man Amanda was interrogating. As for her friend, she was laying on the ground, motionless.
No wonder why people despise silence. It reminds them that we are nothing, or so little. Life and death depend on silence.
Olivia needed to get out of her trance and start to take action. Every second mattered.
"Someone call a bus" she screamed in intense fear as she kneeled next to the unconscious shape of her friend.
"Amanda" she screamed, as she desperately tried to shake the woman.
With her right hand, Olivia felt for a pulse, while she pressed her head closed to the woman's heart.
Silence.
She could only hear the outrageous silence.
Olivia didn't even feel the tears cascading on her face.
"I can't feel a pulse" Olivia half shouted as one cop unbuttoned Amanda's blazer to have better access to her heart in order to perform cpr.
"She's not breathing" she heard another officer exclaim.
Blue marks were already forming around Amanda's neck, letting everyone know she had been strangled. Should she tilt Amanda's head back or would she do more damages? Olivia was usually so reliable under stressed situations, but this time, it was different and she couldn't fight the feeling that she was about to die herself. Another man took the decision for her as he carefully applied pressure on the woman's forehead and opened her airway.
"Move" Olivia managed to order as she pinched Amanda's nose and pressed her lips against Amanda's. She needed to get a hold of her emotions otherwise she would never forgive herself.
As she blew through Amanda's mouth, she could see the woman's abdomen raise and fall.
Another breath, another up and down. As long as Olivia would breathe for the unconscious woman, she would be embraced by the rhythm of life.
"Still nothing" The muscular policeman who was pumping Amanda's chest was getting out of breath, and another officer was getting ready to replace him but Olivia pushed him away.
"I've got her" she assured. Until Amanda's body was ready to assure its function, Olivia would be her connection to life.
"I may have broken her ribs" the policeman confessed, as he felt Amanda's ribcage crack under the strong compressions, but the captain didn't answer. She was already in position, her two hands pressed against Amanda's static chest, making sure nobody gave up on the detective. The occasional jolt of a body part, caused by the compressions made Amanda look like she was already too far gone. Did she abandon the battle?
"Don't you die on me! Don't you dare die on me!" Olivia screamed as she pumped the woman's heart. "You have to fight!"
It felt like an eternity before the paramedics finally arrived.
"How long had she been in arrest?" They asked
"A little over five minutes" One of the cop answered
"We kept her alive! She's alive" Olivia certified. "You keep her alive", she ordered.
"We need to intubate" The paramedics tore apart Amanda's white shirt, exposing her bruised ribcage. Her bouncing stomach every time her heart was pushed made it seemed like she was still in her body.
"Amanda" Olivia whispered, still trying to stay close to the woman.
"She needs a c-collar"
"Continue CPR"
"M'aam you need to move" The paramedics had the situation under control. There wasn't much Olivia could do now, but she refused to let go of Amanda's hand. It didn't matter what they said. Amanda needed to know that she wasn't alone and that Olivia was fighting for her, with her.
After they pushed numerous needles into the unconscious woman, one of the paramedics finally affirmed that they could go ahead and shock her.
They used the defibrillator once, and Olivia couldn't help but scream in terror as she saw the detective convulsing.
Everyone was holding their breath, hoping to hear Amanda's, but there was only silence.
"One more time"
"Everyone clear"
"Come on Amanda, you can do this" Olivia implored.
That's when the time stopped. Everyone's heart forgot to beat for a second, and just like nothing ever happened, the silence was finally broken.
"We've got a rhythm", they affirmed and every cop in the room started to applaud.
For half a second, Amanda opened her eyes, and even though she didn't give any sign that she was aware of her surrounding, Olivia placed her hand on the woman's cheek.
"You're gonna be okay, my love", she whispered more to herself.
Silence hadn't won, not this time.
Amanda hated silence anyway.