Noah bounded into her room around 8. "Mom, when can we visit Elliot?"
She could barely open her eyes. Sleep evaded her most of the night. "In a little bit Noah. I need to get ready and then we can go over."
"K. Come on mom, get up!"
The bouncing ball of energy wasn't going to leave her alone until she pulled herself from this bed. She sat up and tossed her comforter off of her. "Noah, why don't you make Elliot a card or something while I get ready."
"Oh good idea," Noah bounced out of her room, and she heard the sound of him digging through his art stuff in the kitchen.
She stared at the ceiling and tried to shake the images of last night's nightmare out of her mind, but the image of Elliot bleeding out on the ground continued haunting her. That all too familiar pain crept in, and that fear, the fear of living life without him.
She heard Noah puttering around the kitchen and she knew she needed to shower, and get going. She pushed away the anxiety building in her chest, and readied herself for the day ahead.
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Elliot's mood immediately brightened when Noah bounded through the hospital room door. "Hey!"
"Hey Elliot." He skidded to a stop before he bumped into the hospital bed. "I made you something!" He handed him the handmade card.
Damn. This kid was a good artist. Elliot tan his fingers across the detailed colored pencil drawing of a police badge with the numbers 6313. The inside of the card had a sweet message about feeling better and not getting shot again. "Thanks Noah, this is really cool." He lifted the card to look at the police badge closer. "You are really talented."
Noah blushed under his praise, and it reminded him of Olivia. Elliot held out the card to Noah and asked, "Will you set this up on that table over there? I want to be able to see it."
Noah smiled and happily complied, placing the card upright next to the flowers Kathleen brought.
"Noah hop up here. I want you to tell me how school and dance are going."
Noah seemed hesitant. "You aren't going to hurt me," Elliot smiled. "I'm pretty tough."
That seemed to be permission enough for Noah, he carefully climbed on the hospital bed, obviously trying not to bump Elliot around too much. Elliot smiled to himself. This kid was so much like his mom, always conscious of other people and how they feel. He glanced up at Liv to see her smiling at the interaction. He felt privileged to have her trust with Noah, and hopefully soon she would trust him with her heart as well.
Noah told him all about dance and how he has a spotlight with his friend Bella in the next recital. He told him about school and the art show they were preparing for. Elliot listened, but felt a little concerned with Olivia tucked back towards the corner of the room. She seemed distant, and that made him nervous.
"Could you Elliot?" He just realized Noah asked him something.
"Oh sorry Noah, what did you ask?" He tried not to worry about Liv and focus on Noah.
"Could you come to the art show? It's in a few weeks. Will you be better by then?"
"I better be." Elliot grinned, "I can't handle laying around here all day."
Noah smiled in return, "Good. The show goes for a few days so you should be able to come even if work is busy for you and mom." Life for a cop's kid. Elliot thought. Schedules always revolves around the unpredictable nature of 'the job'.
"I wouldn't miss it," Elliot promised.
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Liv's heart warmed watching Elliot interact with Noah. It reminded her of when his kids would visit the precinct when they were little, and it made her smile.
Elliot kept glancing up at her, and she knew he worried about last night's call. He could obviously see her distancing herself, but she couldn't help it.
Noah prattled on about the happenings of the last week or so. Off and on he asked questions about Elliot's work. They chatted for another ten minutes before Noah pulled out his phone to show Elliot a new game he just downloaded.
Liv leaned against the wall, watching the interaction. Noah had men in his life. Both Fin and Sonny were great with him, but they had their own lives and families. Noah seemed to instantly click with Elliot in a way he hadn't with anyone else. It was clear the feeling was reciprocal.
If she thought about it, it made sense. Noah was like her in so many ways. It made sense he would connect with the person she always felt drawn to.
Noah leaned his head against Elliot's shoulder, and Elliot quietly watched her son play. People who didn't know them probably assumed he was Elliot's. Their matching blue eyes probably already set the 1-P-P rumor mill in motion.
Elliot leaned his head against Noah's bouncing curls and caught her eyes watching them. He looked tired, and concerned. She forced a weak smile, hoping to alleviate some of that worry. She would call him later.
Elliot's eyes started to close and she knew the meds probably made him drowsy.
"Hey Noah, it's probably time to go." He looked up from his phone with a frown.
"Mommmmm," he whined.
Elliot lifted his head, clearly sleepy. "You guys don't have to leave yet if you don't want."
"El, you're practically falling asleep." He frowned. "You need to rest up so they will eventually let you out of here."
He sighed, knowing she was right. "Hey bud," he turned to Noah, "They should let me go home soon. Will you visit my house? They are going to make me lay around for a while. You can bring your PlayStation and keep me company."
Noah's eyes lit up and a smile grew across his face, "Yeah that would be fun!"
Elliot caught her gaze and added, "Ask your mom to call me and we'll make it happen."
"Okay," he agreed as he scooted from the bed.
"Noah, wait in the hall for a sec. I need to talk to Elliot."
"Yeah okay," he agreed and bounced out the door.
She looked at him silently for a moment before she tentatively stepped to his bedside. He grabbed her hand right when she was in reach.
"You okay?" His voice was low and comforting.
"I'm fine," she sighed. She forced a smile, but he obviously wasn't buying it.
"Liv." Her name came out as a caring scold.
"I'm okay enough," she admitted.
He still wasn't convinced but he seemed to be willing to let it drop for now. His fingers threaded through hers. "Call me later?"
She forced another smile, "yeah."
Concern and worry laced his brow, but he remained silent.
She leaned down and gave his lips a quick peck, but his hand caught the back of her head pulling her back towards him. He kissed her with adoration, leaving her completely breathless.
"Mommmmm!" Noah whined from the hallway.
Liv chuckled, "Call you later."
He let her go, but his eyes watched her with hesitation.
As she walked away she turned, "I'll call," trying to reassure him, but not really believing herself after she said it.