***Hi guys! Thanks for reading, for reviewing and for following. So, I'm curious should this be the end or do you want to see more of Olivia's recovery as she goes to stay with Amanda? Let me know and please review...thank you!***
Chapter 5
As soon as the guys left the room Amanda helped Olivia to the bathroom, she gently helped her clean herself up. "I'll leave you to change into a clean hospital gown Liv," Amanda uttered softly as she turned to leave the room. "No!" Olivia called out, more forcefully than intended. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. Do you...do you think you could help me change my clothes? I can't move this arm," she said, gesturing to her right arm in a sling. "It hurts too much." Amanda smiled softly at her, "of course Liv". Amanda undid the tie on Olivia's gown, Olivia winced as the gown was pulled over her injured shoulder. As Amanda helped Olivia into a clean gown she couldn't help the pangs of hate, or horror, of sorrow she felt when she saw that the entirety of Olivia's body, covered in burns, bruises and other wounds.
"Amanda," Olivia called softly, suddenly looking urgently around the small bathroom. "I'm right behind you Liv tying your gown, do you need something?" Olivia nodded weakly, "I'm tired...I'm dizzy...I need to lay down...right now." Amanda quickly put her arms around Olivia as she helped her stumble back into the room. Amanda breathed a sigh of relief when she saw someone had already changed the bedding for her. She slowly helped Olivia down onto the bed, careful not to hurt her. "Liv, you're really pale, are you sure you're okay? Can I get you anything?" She was going to ask if she could get her something to drink but quickly remembered the flashback that had gotten them into this predicament, and she decided not to say anything more. "I'm scared." Is all Olivia said back to Amanda, those two words broke Amanda's heart. Olivia was strong, she never admitted to her fear or her pain. "What can I do Liv? How can I make you feel safe?" Olivia blinked back the tears threatening to come yet again, "Please, just sit with me and hold my hand. I'm tired but I am scared to sleep, he comes to me in my nightmares." Amanda nodded, knowing exactly who he was, she sat next to Olivia, taking her hand into hers. Minutes later Amanda smiled to herself, seeing that Olivia had fallen fast asleep.
A few hours later Olivia awoke and smiled, still feeling Amanda holding her hand tightly. "Thank you for staying, for keeping me safe," Olivia said softly to Amanda. Amanda smiled, "you're welcome, anything I can do to help, I want to do. I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I would've done…." she trailed off, shuddering at her thoughts. Olivia looked at Amanda with compassion, realizing the toll these past few days have taken on her friends and colleagues, "Amanda, you look exhausted, you should go home and get some sleep, I'll be okay, I promise." But Amanda wasn't budging, "as long as you're here, I'm here, okay Liv? No discussion." Olivia chuckled quietly, "you've always been a stubborn one. I'll make sure they let me out of here today so you don't keep doing this to yourself." she said with a wink.
Amanda's phone buzzed, it was Nick, he and Fin wanted to know if they could stop by, if Olivia was feeling up to it. Olivia smiled, and nodded her approval and a few minutes later they walked in. Fin smiled softly at Olivia, "I really am sorry about earlier…," Olivia cut him off before he could even finish, "Look, let's just drop it, it's not your fault and I really don't wanna talk about it." She looked up at Nick eyeing a delicious looking sandwich, "is that for me?" Fin and Nick chuckled, "we figured you'd be hungry," Nick said as he gave Olivia the sandwich. The crew chatted quietly together with Olivia as she ate her sandwich, she smiled to herself, this was the first time she had felt normal, like herself, in days.
A knock on the door hushed the conversation and one of Olivia's many doctors walked in. Before he could get a word out Olivia was eagerly asking him when she could go home. The doctor laughed, "somebody's feeling better I see." The doctor continued to inform Olivia and her friends that he was here to discharge her if and only if she had someone she could stay with. Olivia looked to her friends, worried about putting this on any of them. It's almost like Amanda knew what she was thinking, "it's not a burden Liv, you could stay with me and I'm sure Nick or Fin wouldn't mind either." Fin and Nick nodded back at her smiling agreeing with Amanda. The doctor smiled to Liv, "looks like you'll have someone to stay with. I'll be back in a couple hours to discharge you once that last IV is finished." Olivia nodded, a grateful smile on her lips. "So Liv, who would you like to stay with?" questioned Fin softly, "whoever you're the most comfortable with right now," he added. She looked between her three friends, not wanting to make any of them feel obligated, she whispered, "I can take care of myself." Amanda sighed, "Nobody is doubting that, but you don't have to. What kind of team would we be if we left you to deal with this all by yourself? Olivia sat quietly for a few moments, unsure of how to respond. Finally, in a barely audible voice Olivia asked, "Amanda, is it okay if I stay with you?" Amanda smiled back at her, "of course Liv, you can stay for as long as you need."