Back at her office, she stepped past Fin's desk on the way to her office. Without looking up he said, "How much Hell did Ayanna give you?" He shot her a smirking smile.

She couldn't help her grin, "You knew he was there didn't you?" She shook her head in disbelief.

"Ayanna may have let it slip when I talked to her last week." He shrugged. "You miss him. Figured a sneak visit wouldn't hurt."

"She'll probably figure out it was you who told me." She leaned against his desk with her arms folded.

"Yeah probably. I'm not real worried about it. She owes me one."

"For what?" Olivia asked, genuinely curious.

"See, that's part of the deal. She won't owe me if I tell anyone."

"Ah. Okay then. Well thanks Fin." She tapped his desk, "for you know, using your favor for me."

"Anytime baby girl."

-000-

Ayanna—-Fin

A: It was you wasn't it.

F: What are we talking about?

A: Seriously?

F: What?

A: Olivia showed up at the office today while Elliot was there. They swore it was a coincidence, but I'm thinking they had help.

F: Hey, I'm the one who told you to bring him home…

A: I will when I can. Distracting him isn't helping Fin!

F: Hey, you figure out how to control your man and I'll do what's best for my girl.

A: Fine. About that thing? I think that makes us even.

F: Fair enough.

-000-

It was finally Friday.

I love you.

The text came at the normal time on the following day. She texted him back.

I love you too. Still on for tonight?

She waited for his response, but felt nervous when he didn't immediately reply. Every part of his UC case made her worry. She resisted the urge to text him again. There was a distinct possibility there was a reason for his silence. So she waited, and waited. Her work day came to a close, and she was a bundle of nerves. She wanted to call, but calling at an inopportune time could be deadly. so she waited.

She made it home, and made dinner for Noah. Still Nothing. She pushed Noah through his bedtime routine, and had him settled into bed by nine. Still nothing. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat on her sofa, while she continually resisted the urge to pick up the phone. She was beginning to stress so much she thought she might call Ayanna. But that would be really stupid, and she knew it. She just needed to wait.

She finished her wine and sighed. He wasn't coming tonight, and it didn't look like he was calling either. She didn't want to feel hurt. She didn't, but the feeling came all the same. He didn't have control over his hours, and she knew the nature of the job. He couldn't always be on her schedule. She decided to give up on the hope of a call and climbed into the shower.

She stood in the shower so long the steam from the shower began to fog up her mirror, but she still sat under the warm spray. The water saturated her hair, but she just stood there, hoping the hot water could dispel the disappointment of the day. She sighed, and reached for her shampoo, but it slipped through her hands when she heard, "Hey Liv."

"Oh my God! Elliot! You scared the shit outta me!" Her heart pounded and her hand pressed into her chest. she tried to get her body to recognize she wasn't in any danger, but damn it, he should have at least made some noise. "God El! You know better to sneak up on me!" She was practically yelling at him through the shower glass.

All he could do was smile, and she wanted to smack him. She also wanted to kiss him. It was then that she realized she was naked…in the shower…yelling at him…in the middle of the night. It was funny, but God, her heart wouldn't slow down.

"Sorry sorry." He said as he peeled his shirt off. "I texted you when I was on my way…" He dropped his pants, and stepped out of them. Her heart was pounding, but now it was for a completely different reason.

She pried her eyes away from his perfectly toned chest. "I waited for your text all damn day!" she shook her head with annoyance, "And you decide to text me while i'm away from my phone? Seriously, I had it with me all day!?" Her voice was incredulous.

He dropped his watch and his boxers into the pile of clothes, and her breath caught. "It appears that's what happened…" he smirked as he pulled the shower door open to join her. In an instant his hands were on her slick hips, and his mouth close to hers. "I'm sorry. I wasn't sure I could get away tonight, and I was brokering a couple deals so my phone had to stay in the console." He continued rambling off his excuses, "And Ayanna basically handed me my ass yesterday, and made me promise to back off, and so that made me stupid…"

She cut him off, sealing her mouth over his. He responded, and pulled her wet body against his. His hands trailed down her back, sliding over her ass. He tongue teased his bottom lip and he opened his mouth, tongue seeking hers. She stepped back until he had her pushed into the shower glass.

She broke away long enough to whisper, "I'm glad you're here."

He smiled against her lips, and cupped her face, kissing her deeply. "Nowhere else I'd rather be."

-000-

Elliot laid next to her as she began to drift to sleep. His fingers aimlessly toyed with her wet hair. He let on lock drop and trailed his fingers down her bare back, relishing the chills that ran behind his touch.

She had her arms wrapped around a pillow in front of her, and her eyes closed. "I wish you could stay," she mumbled.

"I want to," he admitted. God he wanted to. "I told Ayanna I couldn't do this much longer." He continued his delicate strokes down her spine.

She rolled over in surprise. "You did?"

He smiled at her reaction. "Yeah. I did."

"What did she say?" Olivia scooted closer to him, snaking her arms around his torso.

"Oh you know, the usual things you tell a UC. Hang in there. Just a little bit longer. It will be over soon. You know, all that bullshit." He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

She sat silently for a moment before asking, "how much longer do you think it will be?"

God. He wished he knew. He wished he could give her a timeframe because this distance between them was killing him. He made up an arbitrary answer. "A few weeks maybe. I'm hoping I can wrap it up sooner, it's just…"

"Don't rush it El." She tightened her hold on him. "I can wait. I can. This can be enough for now. If you rush and get hurt I…"

"I won't get hurt." He reassured her.

"El. You are the luckiest son-of-a-bitch on the force. How many more times do you think you can cheat death?" She pressed a kiss onto his chest.

"I'll be careful." He promised.

She pulled back a little and raised an eyebrow. "Careful is not a word I'd use to describe you…ever."

"What if I promise to be more careful? Knock back the expectations a little."

She chuckled and shook her head. She kissed him quickly. "I'll believe it when I see it," she teased.

His mouth came over hers, and the kiss was filled with meaning. It was an unspoken promise. A promise to come home.

-000-

Olivia had to park a little further away from Amanda's building than she would have liked. It was starting to get dark, and while she had always felt like she could take car of herself, the BX9 attack still made her wary once the sun set.

She breathed and settled her pounding anxious heart. It was a couple blocks, and she was in a low crime area. She would be okay.

She felt a little bad that she hadn't visited Amanda and baby Carisi yet. Between her normal workload and the added stress of Elliot's assignment she'd been struggling to stay afloat.

However, tonight Noah had a late rehearsal so it felt like a perfect time to visit Amanda and the baby. She carried two bags. One gift bag was filled with baby gifts, and the other was filled with things for Amanda. Just some simple things, because self-care with a newborn was practically impossible.

She had half a block left to walk when she heard the pop. Her head flipped around because she knew the sound of a gunshot. She braced herself against the nearby brick wall, and suddenly she felt a sharp burning feeling in her abdomen. Damn it. How the hell did she spend most of her career GSW free, only to be hit two different times within months?

She felt herself slipping down that cool brick wall, and she realized this one was bad. As she felt her consciousness fading, she could only think about Elliot and how only hours ago told him to be careful. Apparently it didn't matter how careful you were…you could still get gunned down in the streets.