Noah sat on the bed next to Olivia. He had already shown her the TikTok he and his friends made, she checked his homework and now they were watching a movie on her phone.
"Oh, hey, Eli's here. I'm going to walk him back."
"Okay," she brushed her fingers through Noah's curls, "we're good here." She smiled.
After Elliot shut the door, Noah turned his face up towards Olivia's, "Eli's coming over?"
"Yeah, is that okay?"
Noah grinned, "Yeah I really like Eli. He likes video games and he's really smart."
"Have you liked hanging out with him this week?"
"Yeah. It's cool. I don't know a lot of people his age. Most people I know are your friends and their kids and I'm the oldest kid around." He shrugged his shoulders, "it's cool to know someone who is older than me, but not that much older than me."
"I can understand that." She realized her son might actually know Eli better than she did. "I know he likes soccer, but I actually don't know Eli that well."
"You don't?" He asked as if it was a strange idea.
"No."
"Huh. Well he's cool." Noah turned his attention back to the movie, and snuggled up a little closer. She savored the snuggles. She knew he wouldn't want mom cuddles for much longer. Time moved too quickly.
Just then, the door opened and Eli stepped in with Elliot trailing behind him.
Eli noticed Noah sitting with Olivia and his face brightened some. "Hey, Noah." He stuck his fist out for a fist bump. He leaned over Noah's shoulder, "What ya watching?"
Noah and Eli talked about the particulars of the movie that Olivia wasn't paying any attention to. Noah suddenly asked, "Do you have any snacks mom? I ate with uncle Fin, but that was forever ago."
"Aunt Amanda brought a few things. I think there's an apple, a granola bar and some fruit snacks."
Noah sighed. "I'll just wait."
Liv rolled her eyes, she knew he was trolling for sugar or something. He'd be fine for a little longer, but then Elliot weighed in.
"I saw a couple vending machines down the hall. Want to grab a couple things with me Noah? Eli, mind hanging here with Liv?"
"Nah that's cool." Eli was clearly more relaxed than the last time he was here.
Noah scurried off the bed and bounced out the door with Elliot. "Not too much sugar!" Liv called, but Elliot just gave her his mischievous grin before shutting the door.
Eli scrolled through his phone aimlessly, "You know he'll probably buy the entire vending machine for him, right?"
Liv chuckled lightly. "I figured. At least I'm not the one who will have to tame the sugar rush." She shook her head, "Poor Amanda."
"Yeah, leave it to Dad to send the kid all sugared up for the next person," he grinned, but then his eyes darted back to his phone, like he remembered something.
"Something wrong, Eli?" Olivia watched his body language and she knew something was up.
"I dunno. You know I fly out tomorrow right?" He still nervously scrolled through his phone.
"Yeah, your dad said something about that earlier." She leaned down a bit, trying to catch his eyes.
"I just want to stay here." His eyes lifted to hers, "I hate that you're still stuck in here and I'm just going to fly home like nothing ever happened."
"Oh Eli, it's okay. Life goes on, and I'll be fine before too long."
"I know, but I hate being so far from everyone, and I know I shouldn't feel guilty about all of this, but for some reason I do. It's stupid."
"If it's what you feel, then it's not stupid."
"I guess. I just kinda hoped you'd at least be out of the hospital before I left. I don't know. I wanted to know you were okay, so dad could be okay before I left. I don't like leaving, and being so far away, and not knowing what's happening." He ran his fingers through his hair, "Remember how I said I always felt like I was on the outside of everything with my family?"
"Yes. I remember that."
"Well, that feeling is even worse when I'm in Colorado. I'm on the outside looking in, like I have been my whole life."
"I know how that feels. I really do, but we can keep in contact better," she smiled slyly, "I can make sure your dad checks in with you more often." She leaned back into the bed a little. Sitting up had gotten exhausting. "And really, don't worry about me. I'm okay. I'll make sure you know everything that's going on. In fact, toss me your phone." He handed it over. "I'm putting my number in here so that you can text or call whenever you want. I'll text you if or when anything changes with me so you know exactly what's going on all the time." She handed his phone back, "I don't want you to ever feel like you are on the outside looking in when it comes to your family," she hesitated, "and me." She bit her lip, hoping she didn't overstep with that one.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Noah bursted through the door with an entire bag of what she assumed was candy. "MOM! Elliot let me buy one of everything!"
She gave an exaggerated sigh, "I guess that's okay for tonight, but Elliot is going to have to learn that kids can't live on candy." She met his eyes over Noah's head, "Amanda is going to kill you."
He shrugged as if to say, 'not my problem.' She shook her head while trying to hold back a smile. Damn, he made her crazy, but that made her love him all the more.
-000-
Elliot changed into some joggers, and returned to his favorite space, right next to Olivia. The hospital bed wasn't huge so it ensured she was always pressed close to him, no matter what position they laid in. Right as he sat Liv asked, "Wait! Can you grab that new blanket Amanda bought? I'm getting pretty tired of these hospital sheets."
"Yeah. Is it in this bag?" He motioned towards a bag on the other side of the armchair.
"Should be."
He found it easily, and pulled it out of its packaging. "Hey, this is nice. I might steal it when you finally make it out of here." He grinned at her and she knew he was teasing.
"Hey! I worked hard for that blanket! I'm the one who's been stuck here for God knows how long."
"Hate to tell ya Liv, but I have been here nearly as long as you." He smiled wryly, and she wacked him in the arm as he sat down next to her.
"Well, I'm the one who got smashed by a car so I get to decide who keeps the blanket."
"Fair enough." He chuckled as he pulled the blanket over them both. "How about split custody?"
"El!"
"Just asking!"
"How about any time you visit my place it can be your blanket."
"Ooo I like the sound of that." His lips were in her hair, and then on her cheek, eventually they found her lips. "My own blanket huh?"
Her heart still pounded from the breathtaking kiss, "Maybe if you are really good, I'll throw in a drawer." She kissed him deeply, with meaning.
"Yeah?" His voice was breathy and deep.
"Yeah," she affirmed before kissing him again.
-000-
You'd think after the third abdominal exam of the day she would be desensitized to the whole process, but every exam sucked almost as much as the first one.
She and Elliot found a comfortable routine. She'd lay back into his chest, his chin snuggled in the space above her shoulder, one of his hands gripped her available hand while the other settled on her hip, steadying her. After they were situated he told her the most absurd stories. They usually revolved around the dramatics of his kids, but occasionally he'd sneak in work mishaps.
"Are you serious?" She asked incredibly. "How did 1-P-P not have your ass after that one?"
"Ayanna made Reyes take the fall for that one."
Olivia shook her head. "Your poor team, how do they even put up with you?" She laughed. "If you were on my squad I would have fired your ass a long time ago."
"Pretty sure Cragen felt like that every day."
"Probably," she laughed.
"So I need a real number," she swallowed back some anxiety as the doctor began pressing against some scar tissue. She tried to regain focus, "How many department vehicles have you actually totaled?"
"Not sure I should tell an NYPD captain that…" he grinned.
She returned his mischievous expression, "I promise I won't tell."
He whispered the number in her ear as the doctor dropped her gown. "You're kidding!"
"No," he laughed.
"Just since you've been back!?"
"Yeah."
"I'm surprised Ayanna let's you drive anymore."
"Me too, honestly."
The doctor cleared his throat and they gave him their attention. "Looking good Captain." She sighed in relief, "if your kidney holds well after another day on blood thinners we can talk about going home." She nearly cried in relief. She wanted to go home so badly. "Now, we have a little bit of a checklist to go through before then. We need you to get up and walking before we can discharge you. The more the better, but try not to over do it. Small walks, several times a day. We need to get your circulation moving to avoid any more clotting."
She leaned more deeply into Elliot's chest and she could feel his own sighs of relief. The doctor headed for the door and added, "I'll check in again tonight, but I think we can do it without a full exam." She watched Elliot give him a grateful smile before he shut the door.
She continued to lay against him, letting him support her weight. His hand lightly stroked her arm and she felt his lips in her hair and then behind her ear, "You know I love you right."
Her stomach filled with those all too familiar butterflies before she turned her face to his, kissing him lightly.
She winced a little as she shifted her weight to better accommodate the kiss. He pulled back in concern, but she pulled him right back into her before he could say a word. She loved him, and damn it, her physical limitations were killing her right now. She couldn't take things as far as she wished she could, but she could settle for kissing him thoroughly.
Her lips were hungry in his and his response, while tempered back, mirrored that hunger. Her good arm wrapped around his neck and his hands sat gently on her hips. Her tongue found his and she groaned at this incredible kiss. He pulled back, probably to make sure he hadn't hurt her, but she wanted none of that. She wanted this. Her lips were on his jaw then down his neck. He tilted his head back, and she heard his breath quicken. She sucked at a tender spot behind his ear, and she could feel him responding to her overture.
His lips grabbed hers again, and his hands softly drifted up her back. He reluctantly pulled back, keeping his forehead pressed to hers, both of them trying to regain composure and even breathing.
"You're killing me," he whispered.
"Yeah," she smiled in return.
"Yeah." He affirmed. Then his voice was low and gravelly, "I don't think you understand how much I want you Liv."
So much for breathing evenly. "Yeah?" Her face rested against his. She gasped when planted kisses down her neck and sucked at her collarbone. She let out a breathy chuckle, "You realize I have a doctor checking nearly every inch of my body right?"
"So?" He breathed, continuing his adoring assault of her neck and chest.
Her breathing was ragged, "I think he'll notice a love bite."
He lifted his face back to hers, "Pretty sure he already knows we are pretty involved." He kissed her deeply. "I think he might expect a few new marks."
She laughed again, "Problem is," she brought her lips to his ear, "You have me so wound up," she smiled at the hitching of his breath, "and I'm not sure I can handle starting something we can't finish."
"Damn it woman," he teased, "we need to get you feeling better so we can finish what we started."
She kissed him deeply and pulled back breathless, "I agree." She leaned into his chest, relaxing her body, and listening to his pounding heart. "I love you too," she whispered.