"Are you well? Do you need a doctor?" He asked with her still in his arms. She pulled away and confirmed that she did indeed need a doctor and for her, that meant she was in a lot of pain.

She greeted Fin and Cragen, happy to see her squad.

"I refused treatment, I just wanted to get home. Porter - Porter didn't survive, he got the worst of the explosion," she said, getting emotional again.

"Come on, I'm going to take you to the hospital and then we're going home, where you won't leave my sight for at least 3 months," Elliot said, putting his arm over her shoulders.

He drove her straight to the hospital, sneaking glances at her whenever he could, just to make sure she was really there. Just seeing her was still breathing.

"I'm okay," she said around the fourth time he looked over.

"I'm not," he said, grabbing her hand.

"Well, you were very lucky. Your ribs aren't broken, but they're pretty bruised, you'll be in pain for a few more days," the doctor explained.

"Yeah, lucky girl," she rolled her eyes.

She felt guilty, if she had paid more attention to T-Bone's words, she could have prevented Porter's death. But now it was too late.

The doctor immobilized her ribs and gave her pain medication, recommending that she rest for a few days. Her face was cleaned and disinfected and finally she was free to go home.

The moment they got into the car, their hands met, like two magnets that got too close.

He opened the door quietly, hoping not to wake anyone up. But as soon as they crossed the threshold they saw four pairs of eyes looking expectantly at them. Dickie's eyes filled with tears as soon as he saw her face. He jumped from the couch running towards her.

Elliot scooped him up just as he was about to collide with her.

"Careful, Bud, Liv is a little sore, ok? you have to be gentle," the boy's eyes widened and he nodded. Elliot put him back down and he carefully hugged Olivia.

"Hi, my sweet boy, I missed you," she ran her hands through his hair.

The other three reached them, hugging Olivia just as carefully. The rest of the evening was spent sitting on the couch and no one could get Dickie out of her side.

After a while they put the kids to bed and finally went to their own bed. He pulled as close as possible without hurting her.

"Please, never do this again. For one moment I imagine my whole life without you, and I can honestly say I couldn't do that," he said into her hair.

"Don't say that," she protested, looking up at him. "Your life can't depend on mine, El," she completed.

"Too late for that."

She sighed, the weight of the day feeling like too much for her now. "His funeral is tomorrow, he didn't have any family, they just wanted it over with," she told him. She paused for a moment. "I want to go, will you come with me?"

"We'll all go, he saved your life, I'd like to pay my respects." She snuggled against him and they finally fell asleep together after 6 weeks.

She woke up in excruciating pain. A heavy weight pressing on her ribs. She looked down to see that Dickie had come into the room during the night and probably forgot his father's warning. She could move him the way he was sprawled above her. Taking an embarrassing amount of force, she poked Elliot but he just grunted in his sleep.

She sighed frustrated, and tried again. This time he woke up, confused. She looked down at Dickie and a silly smile came to his face until he saw her grimacing. He remembered her ribs and quickly moved the boy laying them between them. She felt immediate relief.

Someone knocked on the door and Maureen put her head inside. She shook her head when she saw her brother and gave them a little smile.

"We made breakfast," she announced. "Come out whenever you are ready." And she backed out.

Today was going to be a long day, but she wasn't alone anymore. She had a whole village now, and they would all stand by her side.