The final chapter. Rated F for FLUFF N STUFF!! You have been warned... Please review!
Disclaimer: Not mine!
EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO
It was dark in the room when Elliot stirred again. He had fallen asleep during his eldest child's visit, and he felt guilty for that. There was a strange, gravelly noise beside him, and he tensed visibly.
Olivia stirred in her chair beside his bed, her head lolled to the side. She was snoring quietly, and occasionally she muttered something and twitched in her sleep.
He smirked and watched her sleep. For nearly a decade she had stood by him, and even now, she was here with him. Grunting softly, he rolled onto his side, toward her. Then he studied her face. Gone was the stress of work and everyday life, replaced by a soft, angelic expression that he rarely was privileged to see. But when she turned her head, he gasped softly. Her left eye was swollen and purple, and he winced. Someone had hit her. His heart rate picked up noticeably, and a soft growl escaped his throat. Someone had hit his Liv.
Under his intense scrutiny, Olivia stirred and opened her right eye. A smirk appeared on her beautiful face as she rasped, "Staring at me again, Stabler?"
His amusement was overridden with worry. "Liv, what happened to your eye?"
Her smile disappeared quickly. Her left eye was throbbing, reminding her of her earlier argument with his former wife. Not wanting to upset him, she lied. "A suspect nailed me earlier. But you should see him." She sat up in the chair and stretched.
His expression was dubious. "Really?"
She nodded reassuringly, absently resting her hand on his arm. "Really."
His arm burned where she touched it, but it was a welcomed pain. For a moment he closed his eyes. "Liv...?"
She leaned forward, studying him carefully. "Yeah, Elliot?"
A soft sigh escaped him. The meds were fogging his mind, and all he could think was how beautiful she looked. Even with the bruises and her obvious exhaustion, she looked exquisite. "That chair can't be comfortable," he finally mumbled.
She shrugged halfheartedly. It was enough for her just to be close to him. "It's more comfortable than it looks," she assured him, absently caressing his arm with her thumb.
"Liv..."
She sighed under his intense scrutiny. "It's the only one they could find," she finally confessed.
"Come over here."
"What?"
His eyes narrowed. "You heard me, Liv. Just come over here." He patted the mattress to cement his point. "Please?"
She studied him for several long moments before she finally nodded. Standing up, she exercised great care as she sat down on the edge of his bed. Just being this close to him was enough to send her over the edge, but somehow she managed to keep hold of her emotions.
Satisfied, he reached out and rested his hand on her thigh. The drugs had lowered his inhibitions, allowing him to act freely without worrying about the repercussions. He slowly turned onto his back, so that he could get a better view of her.
Knowing that they were alone in the room and wouldn't be bothered, Olivia allowed herself the pleasure of taking his hand and squeezing it gently. "They're talking about releasing you tomorrow."
He lit up. "Really?" He had always hated hospitals, and the prospect of being able to sleep in his own bed again thrilled him. But the more he thought about it, the more he worried. He would be going home to an empty apartment, and Olivia would be going back to her own home. An irrational fear seized his heart, and he squeezed her hand.
She nodded. "Really."
Her expression turned to one of thoughtfulness. "The only catch is that they don't want you going home alone."
His brow furrowed. "Well, I do live alone. I don't know what they're going to say about it."
She looked almost hesitant. "Well... I..."
He raised an eyebrow. "You what, Liv?"
"I... sort of volunteered to stay with you." More like stated that and dared anyone to challenge her.
"You did?"
"I did, but if you would rather get someone else-"
He shook his head, immediately regretting the action. His entire being filled with agony, and he felt a red haze envelope him.
"El?" Worried, Olivia turned in the bed and gently took his face in her hands. His expression was filled with obvious pain, and she didn't think. She simply acted.
Elliot heard her voice, and when he became a little more aware, he realized that her forehead was resting against his, and that she was holding his head in her gentle hands. He sighed shakily, willing the pain to retreat. She was there, and he forced himself to focus on her. On her soft, loving voice, and the tender touch of her hands as she cradled his head. Little by little the pain began to retreat.
Her fingers threaded through his hair as she whispered nonsense to him. The words weren't important, it was the tone of her voice, and she knew that. She continued to rub his scalp reassuringly with the pads of her fingertips. "It's okay, El. Just breathe..."
When he could finally open his eyes, he came face to face with his worried partner. Her brow was knitted in concern, and she was chewing on her lower lip. He loved when she did that.
She finally saw his eyes, and a small smile appeared. "Welcome back," she whispered.
He reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair, almost smirking at her surprised expression.
She inhaled deeply. "Are you okay...?"
He was definitely okay... now. "Yeah..." His fingers traced over her neck, then moved back to her cheek.
She smiled softly, touching her nose to his. "So... Are you okay with me staying with you?" she murmured, running her hand up and down his arm. She wasn't sure just when it had become okay to touch like this, but he wasn't objecting.
He smiled softly. "Of course I am, Liv." He gently brushed back a thick strand of hair that fell into her eyes.
Her mouth was just inches from him, and their breaths mingled as she found his hand with hers and squeezed gently. She was dying to kiss him, but something was holding her back. What that was, she suddenly wasn't sure.
He gently cupped the back of her head on his large hand. "Livia..."
No one else had this effect on her, and she doubted that anyone else ever would. He was drawing her closer without saying anything, and she was tired of fighting it.
Her lips were so soft, so enticing, and suddenly he just wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to take his next breath. He just wanted her, but he had no idea of how to say it. The drugs had a hold on him, and he watched as his hand cupped her cheek. Then he ran his thumb ran over her lips.
She swore softly, then kissed his thumb and ran her hand down his arm. Her self control was nearly gone, but she did not care. This was just what she had wanted all along, and she was finally getting it.
Her lips were so soft, so enticing, and suddenly he just wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to take his next breath. He just wanted her, but he had no idea of how to say it. The drugs had a hold on him, and he watched as his hand cupped her cheek. Then his thumb ran over her lips.
She swore softly, then kissed his thumb and ran her hand down his arm. Her self control was nearly gone.
"Soft..." he rumbled absently.
She smiled and moved her head slightly, kissing his palm. "Is this what you want...?" she whispered.
"Of course..."
She smiled and came face to face with him again, entranced by his eyes. His beautiful eyes had always captivated her, from the day that Cragen had brought her into his office and introduced her to him. Right now their cerulean depths were filled with something, and her heart suddenly leapt as she finally identified it. Love.
He closed his eyes for a moment as he summoned his courage. "I... want to kiss you..."
That surprised her. "You do?"
"I do." His bad boy smirk reappeared. "But I can't move my head."
She thought about it. "I could help with that..." She leaned forward slightly.
"You were always good with helping..." He felt her breath on his skin, and it ignited something deep inside of him. Something that he thought he could never feel.
She touched her nose to his, absently running her tongue over her lips in anticipation.
The door opened, and audible gasps had Olivia pulling back in embarrassment.
"Whoa, baby girl! You couldn't even wait until you got him home?" Fin teased, grinning wickedly.
Olivia sighed heavily, grinning when Elliot pulled her into his arms and held her firmly to his chest. "No, I couldn't, Fin," she shot back.
Munch peered over the tops of his dark sunglasses. "Why doesn't that surprise me? As soon as they figure it out, they can't wait to get into each other's pants."
Elliot nuzzled the side of Olivia's head with his nose, gently squeezing her. "Exactly. So get the hell out so I can get her pants off."
The other set of partners headed back to the door. As Fin followed Munch out, he looked back at them and winked. "It's about damn time, too," he muttered teasingly before walking out the door.
The door closed, and Elliot and Olivia looked at each other before dissolving into unbridled laughter.
But the laughter soon gave way to something deeper, something more desperate. And when the sun rose again and a nurse began her rounds, she smiled. Olivia was curled up on the bed with Elliot, her head tucked under his chin and her arm draped over his chest. His arms were wrapped protectively around her, possessively clasping her to his chest. Both had content grins on their faces, and even though it was against hospital regulations, the nurse didn't have the heart to move them.
She knew love when she saw it.
The End.
A/N: I sorta lost my muse on this one, but I felt that there was nowhere else to go with it. So I ended it on a note we all can enjoy! LOL. Thanks for reading, and please remember to review!