While Elliot slept, Olivia made some calls. She needed to call Kathleen to give her an update on the plan for the next little while, and she felt like she should update Amanda since she had been so supportive through this whole thing. She also called Dr. Lindstrom's office to reschedule her appointment for this afternoon. Luckily he had a time slot available for the next day. She knew after this hell of a week she needed to see him, but not today. There was too much on her plate today.
After she finished up her calls, she dug around in a couple drawers until she found her old cell phone. It wasn't pretty but it would work. She popped out Elliot's SIM card from his broken phone and clicked it into her old phone. After she had it plugged in she glanced at the clock. It was about time for lunch, but Elliot was still asleep. She crept to her bedroom door and sure enough he was completely out, tucked deeply beneath her comforter.
Figuring he'd wake up eventually she ordered them both some lunch. Delivery pizza seemed the easiest and he could heat his up once he woke up.
Once the pizza arrived she walked it over to the counter and popped the box open. After tracking down a plate she dug through her kitchen drawer for a notebook and pen. They needed a plan, and Elliot seemed too much of an overwhelmed mess to figure out what his next steps needed to be. He took care of her this past week and she felt like it was her turn to carry him a little. She knew how much his family meant to him, and how much he sacrificed to keep it intact, and this whole process would be tough. However, helping him with this gave her something else to think about beyond her own life drama.
They obviously needed to get him a new phone. She glanced over to her old phone that was still pinging from all his missed messages. That was an easy thing. That could go to the top of the list. He needed to get work figured out, which she realized may take him back to Italy for a while. She didn't love that idea, but work was important to him, both of them. His job absolutely needed to get sorted out.
Her stomach turned at the next items on the list. Divorce papers. Custody arrangements. Calls to the kids. Potential lawyer. Calls to Kathy. She knew those interpersonal things would be tough. For both of them. She loved his family, his kids, like her own. This experience was going to painful for all of them, and she worried how much strain it would put on Elliot.
She added finding him an apartment at the bottom of the list. He obviously needed to find his own place eventually but all the other things could come first. She didn't want him to worry about his living situation until everything else was more stable. And selfishly, she wanted him with her as long as possible. He was her best friend and God knew she needed her best friend right now.
The list felt pretty complete and she knew they would need to add things as they went along, but now they had some steps to move forward.
She glanced at the clock again, noting it was already late afternoon. With all the drama and planning, the day flew by. She quietly toed down the hall and peeked into her room again. Elliot hadn't even moved in the hours since she last checked on him. She suspected he hadn't slept for the entire two days he had been alone. She kept the door cracked and dropped herself on the couch. She could watch some TV, but she wasn't really interested in anything that would be on right now. She could nap, which was probably a good idea, but she still hated sleeping. Everytime her head hit her pillow her chest tightened and an onslaught of terrible memories consumed her. Still, Elliot was just down the hall and she knew for the first time in a long time she was safe.
She let out a nervous breath, but snagged the blanket from the corner of the couch where she'd dropped it earlier. She snuggled in, and attempted to relax both her breathing, and the rest of her body. After only of minutes of focused breathing, she fell asleep.
-000-
She knew she was having a nightmare, but that consciousness didn't pull her away from it. She felt her chest tightening, and even in sleep she felt gripped with terror. She couldn't breathe. She could feel herself mumbling, but she was caught between sleep and wakefulness and she couldn't stop.
She felt a pair of warm arms encircle her, but the sensation only made her cry. When she woke up she knew it would be Brian, and not who she really wanted it to be.
"Liv, hey, I'm here. Your okay." She felt a calloused hand brush her hair away from her sweaty forehead. That voice. It sound like him, but she knew it wasn't. It never was.
Still she couldn't help mumbling, "Elliot," with an accompanying sob. He wasn't there. He never came for her. Still, there was something inherently comforting about the feeling of those arms lifting her before settling her against a warm chest. The rise and fall of his breath anchored her back to whatever reality this was. Whether it was Brian or dream Elliot, the feeling of comfort slowed her frantically pounding heart. Wherever she was, she was safe, she was comfortable, and she could finally sleep.
-000-
Elliot felt like he'd been hit by a freight train. All his limbs felt weighted by sandbags, and he felt disoriented by his surroundings. It took a moment, but he remembered the events of the day, realizing he now slept in Olivia's bed.
The room was completely dark, and he had no sense of the time. Even in his groggy state he remembered that something had woken him from his deep sleep. It was then he heard the sound, the mumble mixed with cry coming from the other side of the door.
He peeled himself off the mattress to investigate the noise. He silently shuffled to the living room to find Olivia tossing in a fitful sleep, tears streaming down her cheeks. He lightly gripped her arm before saying her name in an attempt to wake her, but she seemed stuck in whatever hellish nightmare kept her captive.
His heart broke when a soft devastated voice spoke his name, "Elliot.." His name, desperately spoken, nearly broke him.
His next actions were 100% instinctual. He wrapped her in his arms, but that wasn't enough to stop the fearful whimpers. Without thinking, he lifted her up and laid on the couch, situating her body on his he slipped his arms under hers and pressed her deeply against him. Her panicked breathing slowed until it settled into the restful rhythm sleep.
He threaded his fingers into her beautiful hair and savored the feeling of her body agaisnt his. Sometime amongst this beautifully peaceful moment he drifted asleep.
-000-
Sunlight streamed through the windows when Olivia stirred awake. She felt a little sticky when she lifted her face away from what looked like Elliot's bare chest. She only vaguely remembered how they got into this position, but her heart nearly burst. He came for her. She laid her head back into its position against his chest.
She couldn't help the smile creeping across her face. He was here for her. He showed up, and for once her nightmares were chased away by the one man she truly wanted.
Just then, he shifted his weight beneath her, he lifted his head so he could see her face. His hand brushed away her hair, now a little crunchy from sweat. She felt disgusting, but he didn't seem to mind. He left his hand on her cheek before asking, "Are you okay?"
Obviously she wasn't okay, but laying here, on his chest, made her the most okay she'd been in years. "Yeah. It's been a tough week," she admitted.
"Yeah, I know, he gripped her tighter, hugging her and providing the silent support she needed.
They laid there for a moment and she became acutely aware that every part of him was pressed into her in a very non-platonic way. She rolled off of him. If this was the situation they found themselves on day one of living with each other, they were screwed.
She sat on the floor next to the couch, allowing some space between them. He rolled onto his side and reached his hand out to her, palming her cheek and rubbing his thumb behind her ear. "What's your plan today?" He asked, keeping his eyes glued to hers.
"Well, we probably need to get you a new phone," she gave him a faux glare.
He laughed and sat up, "Yeah that would be good."
She hesitated before adding, "I have a therapy appointment today…" she dropped her eyes to the floor, not knowing how he would react to that.
"Want me to go with you? I mean I can just wait in the waiting room or whatever, but then you wouldn't be by yourself."
"You'd come with me?" Her eyes darted to his. She was well aware of his aversion to therapy.
"Of course Liv. You need this. I want to support you in whatever helps you feel better. Part of helping each other right now is giving you what you need."
She couldn't stop the tears from spilling from her eyes. Damn, she felt like all she did was cry lately. She impulsively got off the floor and hugged him. "Thank you. I would love for you to come with me." Before he could return her embrace she pulled away. They had more than enough physical contact today.
She got up and made her way into the kitchen. "Coffee?" She called over to him.
"Yeah," he smiled. "That would be great thanks."
She returned his smile. In this little domestic moment, she felt hopeful this could all work out eventually.
