"Damn it, Elliot!" Olivia threw her bag into the chair next to the hospital bed. "How many times do I have to get the call that you are in the hospital?"

He knew her anger was masking fear and frustration. Still, he let her keep her rant. "Your timing is impeccable, by the way. I had one hour with Noah. ONE HOUR. You seriously couldn't get shot at a better time. Seriously." She let out a frustrating groan. "Can we schedule this next time? It would help a lot." He tried not to laugh at her irrationality right now. God, he loved her.

She huffed as she sat down on the edge of the hospital bed. Her ire seemed to ebb, as she turned to actually look at him. Her eyes immediately flitted to his bandaged thigh. She let out a long breath. "Are you okay?"

Elliot chuckled a little. Her apparent concern humorously juxtaposed her earlier tirade. "I'm okay." He shrugged. "Just a stray bullet from a firefight. No biggie."

Her face indicated it was, in fact, a big deal. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She turned away, but Elliot grasped her arm, turning her back towards him. "I'm okay." He reassured her, but she still fought back her rising emotions.

She motioned toward his leg. "I saw the scans. Do you have any idea how close that bullet was to your femoral artery? Damn it, El." She choked back another cry, opting for anger again. "Do you want to destroy me? Because damn it, I love you, and if you die," tears threatened her eyes again, "If you died, it would be like you left me all over again."

He found himself inexplicably grinning. Olivia felt furious. "What the hell?" She started to get up so she could leave, but he kept his hold on her arm.

His eyes held hers intensely. "You love me?" he asked.

A pink flush rushed to her cheeks. "Elliot. I'm fairly certain you already knew that."

He pulled her towards him, guiding her head toward his shoulder. "I might know it, but you have never said it." His words came out as a husky whisper.

She turned her face so their noses were practically touching. "Well," she said, placing her delicate hand on his stubbled cheek. "I love you, Elliot. I always have, and I'm sure I always will."

He closed his eyes, inhaling her closeness, "Is that so, huh?" His lips were a whisper away from hers, "In that case..." He brought his lips to hers, communicating all the decades of love and adoration in one kiss.