The nurse eyed Elliot carefully as if expecting him to leave as well but as he settled in the chair next to Olivia and grasped her hand, she decided not to fight it. Olivia was in for a long night and she just might need him by her side.

Olivia and Elliot were alone once again. The air had changed in the room as soon as the nurse had left and Elliot was suddenly nervous. He had never been in a situation where Olivia was not as strong as she usually was. Elliot worried that she would push him away and try to do everything herself in an attempt to put her wall back up and create distance between them. Elliot was not about to let that happen. He held her hand and moved his thumb over her knuckles tenderly and waited for her to speak. She had been staring at the door since the nurse had closed it behind her.

"How are you feeling, Liv?" Elliot broke the silence finally and cautiously.

"Tired." Olivia answered, not breaking her gaze.

"Go to sleep. I'll be right here."

"Why?" Olivia turned her head now to face Elliot. Her gaze was so intense that he felt she was trying to see the answer for herself in his eyes.

"What do you mean, why?" Elliot asked, thoroughly confused. How could she even ask that? "You're my partner. You were shot. I'm not leaving you."

"Is that all it is? Because I'm pretty sure Munch would leave Fin here and not give it a second thought. I'm also pretty convinced that Fin wouldn't let Munch hold his hand."

"So why are you letting me hold your hand, Liv?" Elliot asked, a little more forcefully than he intended.

Tears suddenly appeared in the corners of Olivia's bright brown eyes and Elliot's heart immediately dropped to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Liv. I didn't mean it like that. I know you're in pain and I'll hold your hand all night if that's what you want."

Olivia wanted to scream. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks now. Her fears of being his rebound were overtaking her and the fact that he had challenged her instead of answering her question when she had so boldly confronted the very large pink elephant in the room killed her. She didn't want him to hold her hand because of the pain. She wanted him to be there because he couldn't imagine being anywhere else. She wanted him to be there because his heart physically hurt without her, like hers did when he wasn't with her. She wanted him to feel what she felt everyday – the longing, the insatiable need for touch, for contact and hidden glances, and reassurance, but she couldn't force him to feel and the tears kept flowing.

Elliot, unbelievably alarmed now, got up from his chair and sat next to her on the bed. She tried to push him away, tried to turn her head to hide her tears but she was exhausted and he wasn't having any of it. Suddenly, Elliot saw her emotion for what it was. He only saw her like this when she was scared, petrified, and like a cloud had been lifted from over his eyes, Elliot understood. Olivia was afraid, terrified even of something.

Slowly, Elliot brought his hands to her cheeks and ever so tenderly wiped away her tears with his thumbs. He stroked her hair over and over again until her breathing became steady again and then whispered gently "What are you afraid of, Liv?"

"You." Her singular, quiet reply broke his heart.

Elliot pressed a kiss tender kiss to her forehead. "I'm sorry, Liv. I've been pushing you into something that you weren't ready for. We don't have to talk about it. We can pretend the touches, the kiss in the elevator, all of it never happened."

Olivia closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and asked the last question she could think of that would bring her peace. "Is any of it real, Elliot?"

Elliot was stunned. He looked her directly in the eyes and said: "Every touch, every whisper, every time I feel inextricably drawn to be at your side is real. Every time my heart beats faster, or I lose concentration, or I get lost in your eyes is real. Every goosebump, every smile, every rush of heat or excitement at your presence is real. The cold, emptiness I feel when you're not with me is real. The pain when you're hurt, the joy in my heart when you're happy, the complete fulfillment I feel when I see you with my kids is real. The peace that washes over me when it's just you and me is real. You, Olivia. You have been my everything since the moment I met you. You are my sun and my stars, my slow jazz when the mood is right, you're in every breath I've taken since the moment I laid eyes on you. You are my foundation, my home, my perfect and I can't live without you anymore."

Elliot was crying now, staring into Olivia's eyes. He had laid it all out on the line and if she wanted him to leave, he would leave. If she wanted to punch him, she could do that too. He didn't care anymore. He was tired of hiding. Tired of forcing emotions deep inside. He didn't care what happened next because all he cared about was her.

Olivia's heart was so full that it ached. She slowly lifted her hand and brought it to Elliot's face. "El, I didn't know. I didn't know. I'm so sorry." She shook her head gently. "I had no idea that you felt the same." With that she slowly brought his face down to hers. They were both breathless and he rested his forehead against hers momentarily.

"Are you sure?" He breathed.

"I'm more sure about us than I've ever been about anything before in my whole life." She gently put more pressure on the back of his head, fingers curling in his hair. His lips were feather light over hers momentarily until she raised her head slightly and finally connected with him. His lips fit hers perfectly and neither Olivia or Elliot had ever been so overwhelmed by just a kiss before. Her lips slid easily over his, gently nipping and sucking and pulling until he opened his mouth and eagerly let her in. They explored each other thoroughly; tongues dancing, massaging, and playing back and forth. Olivia was in heaven and Elliot was pretty sure he would never recover. The power of their connection was so intense that this kiss felt to each detective like the fulfillment of everything they had been through together. They knew immediately that this was where they were supposed to be: in each other's arms for the rest of their lives.

Elliot was the first to break the kiss. Though reluctant, he was desperate to see Olivia's eyes. He needed to know that she felt it too. Her gaze was hazy, clouded with emotion and desire. Their eyes connected and they smiled shyly at each other. Elliot pressed his forehead to hers again and whispered "Liv, that was amazing. I've never felt like this before."

Olivia smiled deeply and wrapped both of her arms around his neck. "Me either." With that, Elliot pulled back and kissed her forehead.

"Get some sleep, love. I'll be here when you wake."

"K. Sweet dreams, El."

"You too." Elliot climbed up next to Olivia in the small hospital bed and laid on his side facing her. He draped his arm on her upper chest and curved his forearm so his hand rested on the side of her head. He stroked her hair until she fell asleep and then he drifted off himself feeling more alive than he had ever felt before.