Chapter Four
"And now you're waking up," Elliot finished. He had finished telling Olivia what had happened. She still had not spoken a word. He knew that she shouldn't, but it was a little eerie. Olivia had something to say about all their cases.
Olivia looked up at him. Elliot could see the concern in her eyes. The cases involving children always affected her. "We got the girl now, Liv," he assured her. "She's going to be fine."
A small smile fell onto Olivia's face. Elliot breathed a sigh of relief as he just looked at her. He needed her. She was the only thing keeping him going right now. She had to know. He looked into her eyes. "Liv, there's something I have to make clear," he started. "You scared the shit out of me earlier. Ever since the divorce, life's been really hard. You are the one good thing in my life. I value and cherish that. The doctors weren't predicting that you would survive," he said. "It was the scariest moment of my life."
Olivia still did not say anything. She eyed Elliot curiously, wondering if he had anything else to add. He sounded as though he was not yet through.
"Liv, I'm in love with you. Powerfully, passionately, even painfully," he continued. "I get excited when I'm about to see you. No matter what happens in the day, I know it will be ok because you're still here." He sighed. "I just had to tell you."
Olivia looked at Elliot. She opened her mouth slowly. The words did not form right away. Elliot could tell she was trying. He waited.
"I know," Olivia rasped. It hurt. Just speaking now was the most painful thing she had ever done in her life. "I've always known," she continued. "And I love you, too."
Elliot moved onto the bed and pulled her in closer. "Don't say anything else, Liv," he said gently as he kissed her forehead. "I can see the pain you're in. I don't want to."
Olivia moved her hand down until it joined with Elliot's. Their fingers intertwined and for a moment Elliot could not tell whose were whose. Olivia crawled up to him and rested her head on his chest. It felt natural. Everything about their relationship was just right.
