Title: My best friend, my brother

Author: viol8dbyalizzard

Summary: Fin gets a late night call from his partner. What's wrong?

Disclaimers: not mine

Notes: NO FLAMES

"Tutuola," Fin said as he answered his cell. He muted the TV and listened for a response after a long pause.

"Fin. . .help. . .please," he heard and jumped up, instantly recognizing the pain-filled voice.

"John, where are you?" Fin asked as he grabbed his keys and ran out the door.

"H-Home."

"Okay, I'll be there in five." So, Fin raced to John's house and saw that the glass on the door was broken. He pulled out his gun and crept in. "John? John, where are you?"

He heard a groan come from the bedroom and hurried in that direction, making his way around the broken glass and torn up furniture. When he got to the bedroom, he gasped. Overturned furniture, shattered glass, blood, and John, lying on his stomach with blood all over and around him.

"John!" Fin exclaimed and tucked his gun away as he knelt beside him. He gently turned him over and opened his shirt to the source of the blood, just under his right ribs. Then he removed his own t-shirt to press against the wound to stop the blood flow while calling for a bus. He still had his wife beater on, so he wasn't completely topless. John groaned and winced at the pain.

"S-So cold. . .hurts," Munch choked out and opened tear-and-agony-filled eyes. Fin stroked the blood-matted hair from John's eyes and then grabbed his hand.

"I know, John, but you gotta hang in there for me, okay? The bus'll be here soon." Just as he said this, a group of paramedics rushed in and loaded John onto the gurney. "I'm right behind you, John."

Once they got to the hospital, John went into surgery while Fin sat in a daze in the waiting room after calling the rest of the unit. It wasn't until an hour later that Olivia, Elliot, and Don showed up.

"How is he?" Olivia asked. She had always been the closest to the two of them, next to their partners. Fin just sat there, staring straight ahead. Olivia sat next to him and laced her fingers with his. "Fin? Have you heard anything?"

"There was so much blood," was all Fin said before allowing Olivia to pull him into a hug. He shuddered against her and closed his eyes as the scene replayed in his mind. "Why, Liv? Why him?"

"I don't know, Baby. I don't know." Cragen sat on the other side of Fin and Olivia pulled away, keeping an arm around his shoulders.

"What went down in there, Fin?" he asked. The younger man thought about it, but just shrugged.

"I-I don't know. He called me, said for me to help, and I found him at his house. Bloody d semi-conscious. He. . .He wasn't moving," Fin replied softly. Cragen sighed and nodded, running a gently hand up and down his back before getting up and talking to a nurse about John's status.

"You gonna be okay, Fin?" Elliot asked. The man nodded and laid his head on Olivia's shoulder. Elliot leaned up against the wall, crossed his arms, and stared at the ground, worried for his friends.

About three hours later, John was out of surgery and wheeled to a recovery room. The doctor who worked on him walked out while taking off his mask. The second the detectives saw him, the jumped up and hurried to him.

"How is he?" Fin asked quickly while gripping Olivia's hand.

"Well, the bullet lodged itself right next to his spine, but we got it. We lost him once, but he'll be fine. With time and therapy, he'll be walking normally again."

"What do you mean, 'walking normally again'?"

"His legs are paralyzed as of right now. We'll need to keep him here for a while, but you can visit him when you like."

"Can we see him now?"

"Don't stay too long. He needs to rest." So, they walked up to John's room and went in. When Fin saw him, however, his legs buckled beneath him and his colleagues had to catch him.

"Whoa, easy, Fin. Just take it easy," Elliot soothed and held on until he was stable again. Fin closed his eyes and shook his head. Olivia noticed that he trembled every time he looked at John after that.

"Come on, Fin. You're staying at my place tonight," she said. "He'll be fine. We'll come back tomorrow."

Fin shook his head weakly, but didn't resist as Olivia gently pulled him out of the room. Elliot followed and laid a strong hand on his shoulder.

"Go on, Fin. I'll call if there's any change," he told him.

"I can't. I have to be here," Fin replied.

"Being exhausted isn't going to help him, Fin. So go with Liv and get some sleep. You need it." Olivia took his hand and led him to his car.

"Gimme your keys."

He did so and got in on the passenger side. Olivia stopped by his apartment, gathered some of his clothes, and drove to her apartment. After making up the sofa bed, Olivia waited for Fin to get back into his pajamas before sitting next to him.

"I'm scared, Olivia. I mean, I know he's okay, but. . .you know?" Fin said and Olivia hugged him.

"Yeah, but we're all gong to take care of him." Fin nodded and laid back onto the pillows, pulling Olivia with him. "I'm guessing you want me to stay."

"Yeah." So, Olivia laid her head on his chest and he tightened his grip.

"Night, Fin. Love you."

"Love you, too, Liv."

TBC

Part 1 of ?

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A.N. BTW, no this is not a Fin/Liv romance. I mean, it might be one later on, but that whole 'love you, too, liv' thing was completely friendly.