Release
"I get to go home." Olivia smiled. Nothing that happened could possibly be wrong today, unless she didn't get to leave the hospital. If anyone tried to step in her way though, they would have to have a death wish. She was going home, and she was more excited than she had been in a long time.
"I know babe." Alex said, smiling. She was happy to see Olivia so happy. Their relationship had been strange over the last few days. Olivia's mood ran from between euphoria to depression and switched on a moment by moment basis. Alex had decided it was because of how badly she wanted to be out of the hospital, and she was relieved that they would get some kind of semblance of normalcy.
"I get to go home, I get to go home, I get to go home," Olivia said, nearly bouncing on her bed.
"Yeah, sweetheart, you may have mentioned that." Alex said, laughing.
Olivia continued happily bouncing while Alex pulled together the last of Olivia's cards off the wall.
"Hey Alex," Olivia called.
"Hmm?"
"I get to go home."
Alex laughed. "It's going to be a long day with you, isn't it?"
"Yep!" Olivia smiled.
"What do you want to do first?"
"Go home."
"Yeah, besides that." Alex smiled.
"I want to watch you cook." Olivia said with a smile.
"Okay," Alex said with a smile.
"And I want to lay on our bed together."
"Okay," Alex said, walking over to her. Olivia grabbed Alex around the waist and pulled her close.
"I love you Allie." She said quietly.
"Love you too, sweetie." Alex smiled back. "I'm glad I get to take you home with me."
"I'm glad I get to go home."
"Really," Alex laughed. "I didn't really think you wanted to go. You've barely said anything about it." Alex leaned her head in and touched her forehead to Olivia's.
"I do," Olivia said, tilting her head and kissing Alex on the lips.
Alex pulled herself back and smiled.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked.
"Nothing," Alex asked, turning back to the wall behind her.
"Yeah there is Alex."
"No, there's not."
"You don't want to kiss me." Olivia said, quietly.
"Liv, that's not true."
"Yeah it is. You pull away."
"Liv, I," Alex said, quietly. Slowly, she turned. She took a deep breath and looked at Olivia. "I love you so much. You have to understand though. I'm so scared."
"Of what?"
"That, we'll, that I'll, I'll, that, we'll get, involved, and I'll hurt you."
"For the love of God Alex," Olivia sighed, immediately hearing her own words and trying to adjust her anger.
"See, every time I try to talk to you about this, you act like this." Alex said. Her frustration was bubbling to the surface even as she tried hard to push it back down.
"I, I don't mean to Alex. I don't like of you thinking of me as weak." Olivia said, looking away from her.
"I don't think of you as weak." Alex said, "I think you're the strongest bravest woman I know. I see you, every day, how much you fight, and I don't want to add to that, Liv." Alex whispered to her, reaching down and holding both her hands.
"You don't, Allie." Olivia said, reaching for her again, pulling her into a tight hug. "You make it better."
"Thanks," she whispered. Alex smiled a wistful smile. She could hear the words, but after being pushed away one too many times she couldn't believe their meaning.
To Be Continued…