Twenty-eight.

Ed's face went from happy to hear from his wife to a pained grimace in less than a second.

"Shit, Liv, where? Are you okay? Where are they taking you?"

Sarah, Brooke, and Caroline gaped at him with wide, concerned eyes. Noah looked up from the floor where he was playing with the twins and Sofia. Seeing his father's distress, he rushed to Ed's side and was close enough to hear Olivia's voice.

"Mommy's at da hopital," he reported.

Ed hugged Noah to his side, putting his arm around his head, trying to ward off any more details being inadvertently leaked to his son.

"I'm on my way," Ed said softly, "No, no, we're still here. Okay." He paused and stared at the floor.

Sarah jumped up and planted herself next to Ed; the anguish on his face frightened her.

"I love you, Liv. I'll be right there."

He ended the call and made eye contact with his mother and Brooke. He watched the twins and Sofia. He kissed Noah's head. Then, abruptly, he shot to his feet.

"Dad, what happened?" Brooke asked.

"Eddie, what in the hell's goin on?"

Ed took a deep breath. It was all he could do to maintain a steady voice. "Liv got a little dinged up at work. I'm goin' to get her. Sarah, Brooke, can you, can one of you stay here 'til I come back? I gotta take the car...car seats…"

"Sure, no problem," Brooke said. She eyed her speechless sister. Sarah was completely befuddled, worried, and probably annoyed at the lack of information. "Call us, okay Dad?"

Ed was in the middle of kissing the twins goodbye. After he coaxed smiley "bye byes" from them, he crouched in front of Noah. "I'll be back in a little bit to getcha bud. I just gotta go pick up Mommy."

"From da hopital?" Noah crinkled his nose. "Mommy had those babies at da hopital! And da hopital for when ya sick!"

"Yeah, bud. Mommy got a little sick at work. I'mma go get her."

"Kay, Daddy."

"Love you, bud."

"Love you!"

Without another word, Ed dashed out the door.

….

Ed and Olivia hunched over the kitchen island and gulped water. They joked about being inexperienced bikers-neither one of them thought about hydration until they were on a stretch of the Hudson River greenway barren of any type of snack bar or concession stand. When they crossed over to the park and found a cart, they chugged a bottle each.

"How many miles was that?" Olivia asked.

Ed estimated it had been at least ten. "And not exactly at a leisurely pace," he added.

Oliva squatted a bit. "I already feel it."

Ed raised his eyebrows and shot her a naughty look. "Massage later."

"Shower now?" Olivia wiped her brow. "I'm gross."`

"You, my dear," Ed rounded the island, "are very far from gross." He planted a sloppy smooch on her lips and started kissing her cheeks and neck. "Never, ever have I thought to describe you as gross."

"Can we shower anyway?" Olivia held the back of his head with one hand and scratched his back with the other. His shirt and hair were damp.

"Hell yes."

Under the warm, pulsating water, they kissed, touched, and swayed together. Ed told her they could do this every day-walk the kids to school, get coffee and breakfast, exercise, shower, and, by the time they were done, it would be time for pickup. Olivia conceded the plan was one of the best she'd ever heard.

"Some days, though," she said, "I'm going to have to be one set, at the studio, at the center."

"While you're there, I'll clean."

Olivia laughed. Retirement had changed her life in many ways, but Ed still shouldered most of the home maintenance duties. Olivia hated the chores, and Ed, oddly enough, liked the work.

"But right now, c'mere." Ed leaned back against the corner shelf which was large enough to serve as a seat. He lifted one of Olivia's legs over his shoulder.

"Oh, God…"

He squeezed her thighs, "How you feelin?"

"Ed!"

"I'm not even close to gettin' started."

Despite the steamy confines, Olivia shivered. Ed smirked and kissed up and down each thigh, below her belly button-teasing her until her hips bucked. Before his face disappeared between her legs, he looked up, water droplets fell across his face and pooled at the ends of his close-cropped hair.

"I love you so much, Liv."

She gazed back at him lovingly. "I know you do."

….

On the way to the hospital Ed broke at least five traffic laws. He was speeding, checking his phone, changing lanes without a turn signal, and following too closely. After a near-miss during a lane change, he forced himself to calm down.

You're not a doctor, he thought, she has doctors, you talked to her. She's okay. She's okay. She's alive."

But so many things could go wrong even when a person survived a gunshot wound. There were no minor injuries when it came to bullets. Infection, physician error, shock, undetected internal damage-there were a hundred possible complications, and he needed to be there to make sure all those possibilities were being taken into consideration and planned for.

He gripped the steering wheel until he was sure he felt it bend. A fucking bullet had pierced his wife's body. Her arm, apparently. But maybe she was just telling him it was her arm? Maybe it was worse. Of course she wouldn't want to upset him or anyone else when they weren't right there with her.

Goddam it Liv. Always thinking about everyone else.

He parked the car, forgetting to lock it, and jogged into the emergency room. Expecting a horde of officers and reporters, he was stunned to find the waiting room deserted save for a few people sitting on the hard plastic chairs paging through magazines. Brow furrowed, he searched for a familiar face, and, finding none, went to the desk.

"Tucker," he said before remembering she used Benson on the job, "Olivia Benson? The Lieutenant?"

"Oh, sure, she's-"

"Tucker!" Fin burst through the double doors, "Sorry, man, I meant to meet you out here. She's okay, docs just stitched her up but she's a little out of it from the meds."

"I gotta see her."

"C'mon."

They walked through a maze of curtain-divided treatment bays. Ed's mouth was dry and his throat scratchy. The sterile confines, muted beeps, and crying children made his head spin. It seemed like an eternity before they turned down a corridor with actual rooms. Carisi, Rollins, and Fletcher were huddled outside of one of the doorways. All three of them greeted Ed, but he ignored them.

A nurse had just finished placing Olivia's arm in a sling. "Oh, hello," she said, "You must be-"

"Ed." Olivia reached for him with her good arm. Her eyes were dazed and droopy, Instead of the shirt and blazer she'd left home in earlier, she wore a hospital gown. Her pants and boots were still on.

The nurse mumbled something about going to get the doctor and discharge papers. She scurried from the room and closed the door.

Ed took her hand and sat down. He steeled his jaw and glared at the sling. He had a million questions-what happened? Was she in pain? Did the bullet lodge or not? What was the recovery time? What were the other risks?

"God, Liv." He kissed her forehead, cheeks, and her lips. Then, overwhelmed, he put his head on her chest. The bandage was wrapped around her bicep. Another six inches and it could've been her head. He could have lost her.

"I'm alright," she whispered, slurring her words a bit, "I'm right here, baby. It was...just a ricochet, flesh wound, it's okay." She disentangled her fingers from his and stroked the back of his head.

Ed didn't want to talk. He wanted to stay right there listening to her heartbeat.

…

When Ed leaned over to pluck an extra pillow from the floor, Olivia licked her lips at the view of his bare back and hips. He sat up a little, propped against the headboard, and looked inquisitively at Olivia.

"Whatcha thinkin?"

How should she reply? The truth? That he was sexier than she'd ever dreamed? That he was so good in bed she was sure she'd spend a second day at work daydreaming about it?

"Ed, I…"

Her expression said it all, but she struggled for the right words. Ed hated to see her struggle with anything-even afterglow sweet talk. Using his position to his advantage, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her repeatedly.

"I had a good night, too," he whispered.

"Good" was an understatement. From the moment he and Olivia picked Noah up from day care, the evening unfolded perfectly. They had dinner at a cozy neighborhood restaurant. Noah colored on the placemat and occasionally handed over the crayons, suggesting the adults give it a try. He had food of his own, but Olivia and Ed took turns giving him bites of their dishes. Noah smiled and said "yum!" Later, he gave Ed an unsolicited hug before Olivia put him to bed.

She returned from Noah's room to find Ed in the kitchen rinsing glasses. The foreplay started there. Olivia backed him against the sink and things heated up quickly. She pushed her hips against his; she'd been craving the feel of him getting hard for almost twenty-four hours and the wait was maddening.

Ed didn't have a routine. He guessed and tested erogenous zones and either moved forward or moved on depending on Olivia's reactions. The previous night he'd stuck to convention, and it had been perfect. However, Ed was determined to give her more.

Her breasts were amazing, supple, and difficult to leave, but he kissed down her body, lower and lower, until he was gently biting at her thighs. Propped on his hands, he made eye contact with Olivia as he slowly ran his tongue along her inner leg. She moaned, arched her back, and told him it felt so good. He did the same thing to the other leg. This time, the moan was more of a whimper. He looked up at her again, seeking permission to go further.

"Yes," she murmured.

Minutes later, she was crying out a chorus of "yesses." Encouraged, proud, and turned on by her abject pleasure, he did not disappoint. He would never, ever leave her unsatisfied.

"Don't go yet," Olivia said softly. She had settled in against his chest and held his wrists.

"Wasn't even thinkin' about it."

"You know what I was thinking about?" Her tone was tinged with a hint of jest.

"What's that?"

"When you said to me-I know you live to make my life miserable."

Ed chuckled, but he wondered where she was going with this. It brought back memories of the hostage standoff, at least it did for him.

"I hope you're not miserable now…"

He laughed again and gently turned her head so he could look into her eyes. "I'm not," he replied sincerely. "And when I said that, I...well, part of what I meant by it was that I wanna be there for you, Liv. I…" he paused, for what he was about to say could potentially backfire, "I wanna take care of you. Even when it's bad."

"I want that, too," Olivia replied without hesitation. "I really do."

"I believe you." Ed kissed her and she opened her mouth wide, inviting a more passionate kiss than he'd planned. The tingle of arousal fluttered in his lower extremities again and he flipped Olivia onto her back. "I can't get enough of you," he rasped.

She grinned. "I'm glad we're on the same page."

…

The doctor and two nurses briefed Ed and Olivia on care of the wound before sending the patient on her way. Ed asked a few questions and once he was satisfied nobody was underestimating the seriousness of the situation, he was intent on getting Olivia home. He did not want her to be alone, but she insisted she would be fine while he went to get the kids. He helped her out of her clothes and arranged pillows around her so she was as comfortable as possible. Before leaving, he placed a glass of water on the nightstand and made her practice reaching for it to make sure it wasn't too taxing.

"Ed, I'm...I'm going to sleep." Her eyelids were already half-closed. The pain medicine she'd taken before leaving the hospital was kicking in.

He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. "I love you."

"Love you."

In the elevator, he concentrated on breathing. He felt like he'd been holding air in his lungs since the initial phone call. The doorman asked about Olivia and Ed muttered a polite yet terse reply. He was so out of sorts, he turned the wrong way and was a block from their building before he realized he'd parked in the opposite direction. He turned the key in the ignition, but before he put the SUV in drive, he braced himself against the steering wheel and started sobbing.

It was more a series of deep, anguished heaves. He beat his fist against the dashboard and gnashed his teeth. "GODDAMMIT," he bellowed. "Fuck." He wanted her to be done. To hell with the July 1 retirement date. Leave now, Liv. It's a sign.

But he couldn't do that to her. All along he'd insisted the timing of retirement was entirely her decision, and he meant it. He would stand by his word, even with this new, near-tragic twist. She'd be on desk duty for the next few weeks anyway. The doctor said it would take about a month and a half before the arm was completely healed.

After a few minutes, Ed rubbed his face, collected himself, and started the drive to the Bronx to go collect the rest of his family.

…

"Hi Mama! Hi Daddy!"

Olivia crouched and the twins piled into her arms. "Hi my sweet twins! How was your day?"

Maggie launched into a fast-paced, detailed description of the first day of Kindergarten. They began with "ductions," then they did some counting and reading followed by art, lunch, some playground time, story time, an ex-per-i-ment, then, finally, music.

"How about you, sweetheart?" Olivia asked Wyatt as she smoothed his hair. "Did you have a good day?"

"Uh-huh!" Wyatt said enthusiastically. "I helped da teacher read the story 'cause I knew it."

"Which story?"

"Noon Balloon!"

Olivia and Ed both broke into smiles. The book was one of Wyatt's favorites and he knew it by heart. There was no doubt in their minds Wyatt narrated the story along with the teacher.

"Anything else fun happen?" Ed asked.

"Noah comed!" Maggie exclaimed. She bounced from foot to foot and her backpack nearly flipped over her head.

"He did?"

"Yep," Wyatt said, "He said he was jus' comin' to check on us when he was s'posed to be in the bathroom!" The last couple of words were jumbled a little because Wyatt started giggling.

"He came in to the classroom?" Olivia asked.

"Yep!" Maggie replied, "Then da teacher said 'you better go back to class' so Noah went back to third grade."

"He's in fifth grade, sweet girl."

Maggie shrugged, unbothered by her mistake. "We gonna go get ice cream? Daddy said after da first day you always get ice cream."

"When did Daddy say that?"

"Yesterday."

Ed grinned. "So I did."

"Okay," Olivia said, "Let's go get Noah and we'll get ice cream."

Maggie grabbed Olivia's hand and skipped down the hallway. "What you and Daddy do when we were at school?"

Olivia grinned and imagined Ed's face. He and Wyatt were following them and surely he heard their daughter's question. "We went for a bike ride."

"A FAST ride?"

"Yes, it was pretty fast."

"C'we go for a bike ride t'day?"

"Hmmm, we'll see. Maybe after dinner if it's still light enough. And we have to make sure you finish your homework. And take a bath. We may not have time."

Maggie twisted her body around and looked back at Ed. "Daddy? We have time for a bike ride?"

"We'll have to see," Ed replied, "We may not have time."

"That's what Mommy said!" Maggie pointed out with a frown.

Wyatt chimed in, "Daddy always say what Mommy say!"

Maggie nodded and quipped, "That's for sure."

Olivia could help but laugh. One day of school under their belts and her five-year-olds were already sounding like teenagers.

…..

Noah demanded to see Olivia. Ed thought he'd soothed the little boy's worries on the drive back to Manhattan, but Noah was not going to rest until he made sure his mother was truly alive and as well as could be expected. Ed didn't go into detail about the gunshot; he merely said Olivia got hurt at work and her arm was in a sling. Noah equated this to his cast and knowingly remarked that they would have to help her since she would only be able to use one hand.

"You gotta change all da diapers, Daddy," Noah said.

"No problem, bud."

As soon as they were inside, Noah left Ed with the twins and went directly to his parents' room. Olivia was sound asleep. Noah stood at the side of the bed and watched his mother's chest move and up and down with each breath. He stood on his tiptoes to get a glimpse of the sling. Finally, he wedged a foot between the mattress and boxspring and boosted himself enough to give Olivia a kiss on the cheek.

Noah returned to the living room in much better spirits.

"Mommy's sleepin," he reported, "She needs more water, though, Daddy."

"On it, bud."

"Babies," Noah said, "When Mommy gets up you can't baby pile on her! She's gotta boo boo on her arm so it's like dis!" He bent his elbow as if his own arm were in a sling, "So if ya wanna baby pile, you gotta do it with me or Daddy!"

Maggie and Wyatt toddled to Noah and hugged his legs.

"Pie!" Maggie bellowed. "Baby pie!"

"Okay," Noah sighed, pretending to be reluctant. He flung himself backward into the bean bag and Maggie and Wyatt crashed onto him.

"Gosha!" Wyatt said. "Gosha, No!"

"Ahhhhh!"

In the bedroom, Ed placed a fresh glass of water on the nightstand and, like Noah had done, inspected Olivia. Her breathing was even and her coloring normal. Ed lovingly played with her hair and kissed her forehead. She was knocked out from the meds and didn't stir at all. Before leaving, he took a quick peek at the bandage, looking for blood, but the sutures were holding and the gauze was so pristine it glowed in the darkness.

She's okay, she's okay, she's okay.

Sounds of the kids' play filtered in from the living room. Ed heard Wyatt's soft "choo choos" and the clangs of the toy locomotives hitting the wooden track. "Choo choo, No! Tain! Boo Tain! Go Fass!" Noah instructed Maggie to bring the plastic animals to the train table. The passengers were going on a safari. Ed smiled at his son's imagination and at Maggie's imitation of a lion's roar.

The twins would be two years old next week.

Ed tried not to be dramatic. He tried not to exaggerate. But he couldn't shake it. He kept thinking about the miniscule distance between the gunshot and Olivia' temple. Six inches. He was sure of it. Six inches was the difference between his wife being right here sleeping off pain meds and his wife lying in a hospital bed with a traumatic brain injury...or worse.

He could still hear the kids playing. They were fine for the moment, so Ed crawled into bed next to her. He couldn't snuggle at her side because of the sling, but he laid his head on the pillows and watched her sleep until it was time to get the kids cleaned up and into their pajamas.

….

#Tuckson