Elliot felt the door shut behind him and he immediately wished he stayed. He knew she didn't want him to protect her but the compulsion was there all the same. He pulled his phone from his pocket and typed out a text.
Hey. Do you need me to stay tonight? I want you to be safe.
He kept the text window up, but he couldn't push send. She needed space. Would this be pushing to hard? Did she need him as much as he needed her to need him?
Elliot let out a frustrated sigh. When did everything in his life become so damn complicated? He locked his phone screen, shoved it in his pocket and started for the elevator. She didn't need his protection. She had made that perfectly clear.
He pushed the down button for the elevator and waited for the doors to slide open. Before the elevator reached his floor he heard his phone ping. He didn't dare get his hopes up. It was probably work related. His heart jumped when the alert read 'BENSON'.
He quickly slid it open.
Hey. Did you leave yet?
His phone pinged again.
Can you come back?
He stuffed his phone in his pocket and practically jogged back down the hall to her apartment. His heart rate picked up, even though he knew she was fine. Nothing could have happened in the two minutes he was gone. He knocked softly so not to wake Noah. At the second tap Liv pulled the door open. She had been waiting at the door for him.
"You okay?" He asked. Of course she isn't okay. She almost died. Her son almost died. The captain she was working closely with DID die.
Her arms folded across her chest and she stared at her feet. Her hair was clipped back but several tendrils fell around her face. She seemed nervous, but he patiently waited for her response. Finally she looked up at him. He felt himself getting lost in her beautiful brown eyes. Even like this, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Can you stay El?" He knew this was a hard request for her to make.
"Yeah. Of course." He tried not to sound too eager. He could sleep easier knowing that she would be safely sleeping in the next room.
"Thanks." She didn't explain her reasons but her eyes said it all. She was tired, and scared even if she could never admit it. He didn't push her by asking more questions. He just slipped his shoes off and hung his coat. He noticed Noah's coat laying haphazardly on the floor. He picked it up and hung it next to his.
Olivia led the way to her linen closet and pulled out some spare bedding for him. "The couch kinda sucks to sleep on. Sorry." Her voice sounded more than tired. She sounded worn completely down. It was the deep tired. They kind you feel in your bones.
"I'm sure I have slept in worse places." Honestly, he would sleep on a concrete floor if it meant he could sleep close to her.
With that, she gave a weary smile. "Night El."
His eyes followed her retreating form, "Goodnight Liv."
He wandered over to the couch. It was beautiful and functional, but probably not comfortable. He removed his shirt and slipped beneath the blankets. He breathed easier knowing Liv was sleeping on the other side of the wall. He put his arm behind his head and stared at the ceiling. For the past couple years they had been dancing around the thought of becoming more than friends. He felt ready for this, but Liv, for whatever reason, couldn't make that leap. He knew he missed so much. He had chosen his family, and in doing so he abandoned his best friend. He prayed that she would find a way to forvgive him. He rolled onto his side. She would forgive him. With time. He knew they could be everything they wanted to be.