A wash of relief flooded his body when he heard the sound of the shooter's body hitting the ground. Olivia's hands stayed gripped to his for a moment while they caught their breath. He felt her hand drop, and he suddenly remembered she had stood before the shot rang out, " Are you hit ?" He hoped to God the answer was no, but he knew the answer was yes."
" I'm hit, " she winced. His eyes burned, and he wished he could see how bad it was. He immediately sat up and leaned over her. Trying to assess her in spite of his temporary blindness. Even the slightest attempts at opening his eyes resulted in scorching pain.
" Where ?"
She was talking, and she didn't seem too panicked or strained. Still, he couldn't slow his racing heart. He couldn't see how bad it was, and that terrified him.
"My left hip," her voice strained and he knew she was trying to mask the pain. His stomach turned. He stood. They had to get out of here.
" Can you walk?" It felt like a stupid question, but he wasn't sure how they would get out of here if she couldn't walk and he couldn't see.
Her voice shook a little, " Not really ," she admitted. Damn it. He would have to carry her because he was absolutely not leaving her to bleed on the floor while he got help.
" Come on , up, up. " She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her off her feet. She tensed and let out a groan, and he knew she had to be in a lot of pain.
She guided them out of the diner. He was her legs and she was his eyes. Both their lungs gasped in relief when they made it through the door and were greeted with untainted air.
He only made it partially down the wheelchair accessibility ramp before they were met with paramedics who all but tore her from his arms. The panic returned because he sure as hell wasn't leaving her.
"Sir! Sir!" He felt a medic's hands pulling him in a different direction.
He pushed the grasping hands away. "I'm fine!" He growled, but the paramedic continued to insist.
"We need to flush your eyes. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can you back to her." The paramedic must have accurately interpreted the reasons for his panic and resistance. She tugged on his arm and this time he complied with her request.
They flushed his eyes with some sort of solution, and while his vision remained blurry the blinding pain had receded. Once they finished with him, he forcefully asked, "Where is she?"
He must have asked a different medic because he was met with, "Who?"
He had zero patience right now and it took all his self-control to keep himself from beating down every person within arms reach. Luckily, the other paramedic heard his question and answered more gracefully. "He means Captain Benson." His vision was beginning to improve and he could now make out blurred silhouettes of the paramedics. He watched the paramedic cock her head toward what looked like an ambulance. "I think they are still running vitals…" he didn't listen to the rest of her answer. He plowed somewhat recklessly through the mass of people.
The paramedics were in the process of loading her into the ambulance when he finally arrived at the ambulance's open doors. His vision, while still blurry, had improved enough for him to see her face. His heart leapt when a soft, "Elliot," lofted through the air.
The medics turned and he knew the we're going to bar him from riding with her, but that was not happening.
He pushed past the paramedics and ignored their protests when he settled down beside her. "I'm riding with her." It was a command not a request, and the medic must have understood that and let him stay.
The doors slammed shut and the ambulance started forward towards whatever medical institution was closest to the diner.
He had to pry his eyes away from the mass of shotgun pellets gathered at her hip in order to view her face. He could see mostly normal at this point, but his eyes still felt tender.
Her face was contorted in a painful grimace. He reached one hand for hers and the other brushed her face. Her face relaxed at his touch and she opened her eyes. Luckily his eyes were still red and water from the tear gas so his tears of relief were effectively disguised.
They said nothing, and that was fine. This was enough for now. She was okay. They were okay. He kept his hand pressed lightly to her cheek to reassure himself that she was right here and not bleeding out on the diner floor. Her eyes remained intensely gripped on his, and he swore he could read the same relief in her eyes.
After determining the injury was not life threatening the ambulance pulled up to a small urgent care adjacent to the larger hospital. He followed the medics into the building but they stopped him before he pushed through the double doors that separated the exam rooms from the waiting room.
He opened his mouth to protest, but Liv cut him off, "It's okay El, I'm okay." She gave him a mischievous smirk, "I'm not sure I want you in there while they fish pellets out of my hip and ass."
He smiled in return and felt a wave of relief. "Fine," he agreed gently, but more gruffly he added, "but I need updates after every procedure, and I will be in the room whenever she's ready."
The medics nodded but he sensed their irritation at his overt overprotectiveness.
As they wheeled her back he heard one of the paramedics as, "That your husband or something?"
He grinned at her light laugh, "No. He's my partner." He swallowed back some emotion. Even after everything she considered him her partner. And that meant the world to him.
-000-
After what felt like an eternity a nurse brought him back to where Olivia laid on her right side. From the look on her face he read her desire to get the hell out of here.
He couldn't help teasing her, " How's your ass feeling?"
"Well, I won't be sitting anytime soon. Get me out of here?" She reached out for him to help her up. Her arm draped around him and his arm supported her waist as he helped her off the table. They should have broken apart. She was supposed to recoil from such an intimate touch, but she didn't. Instead she froze and caught his gaze.
"You okay?" The emotion of the day caught up with him and he realized how close he had been to losing her. The thought made his stomach sink.
"No." He shook his head, and he was surprised at his honest answer. Maybe he was just tired of dancing around all the complicated emotions surrounding her. Maybe he just needed her to realize how much she meant to him. "Couldn't see anything. Heard that shot. I thought I'd lost you."
He wanted to brush away the tears he felt stinging the corners of his eyes, but that would require him to let her go, and couldn't do that.
"I can't imagine what that brings up for you." She rested her hand lightly on his chest, and he knew she could feel the rapid pounding of his adoring heart. He wanted to tell her that she was wrong. In the moment those shots fired he hadn't thought of Kathy and her untimely loss. He hadn't thought of the trauma of witnessing the explosion that ultimately took her life. The only thing he felt was crippling fear that he lost her . Not Kathy. Olivia . His late wife was the last thing on his mind when Liv went down. The panic had nothing to do with Kathy, and everything to do with Olivia.
Before he could express any of his thoughts, his phone rang. He cursed the timing. Unfortunately he had to answer. He kept his eyes on hers while Bell updated him.
He hung up and begrudgingly gave her the news. "Kyle wilkies mom just gave him up." It was good news. Great news, but he hated that it came at this moment.
Her hand dropped from his chest, and he resisted the urge to pull it back to its previous perch. Her eyes were understanding. "You need to go?" There was something about her tone of voice that made him wonder if she felt the same unwillingness to let this moment end.
"Yeah." The conflicting emotions of relief and disappointment.
"I'm glad." He read her sincerity, but her eyes communicated something more.
She pulled in his shoulders for a hug, but as their faces moved closer he realized he was going to kiss her. His eyes dropped to her lips and she didn't withdraw. He saw the same desire radiating from her gaze, and as his arms tightened their embrace his lips lightly met hers. He felt her sigh and melt into him and he kissed her again. His heart pounded with elation when her mouth moved against his. God, he loved her . He wished it could go on and on, but he had to go. His team was headed into an extremely dangerous situation and he needed to be there.
He pulled away and she seemed to sense his conflicting emotions. Her fingers lightly brushed his face. "Go," she dropped her hands and he took a step towards the door. He gave her one more longing look before he hurried out the door.