"Fin!" She was sure that bellow shook the hospital. Again, "Fin!" She didn't have to see that face. She already knew who'd be bursting through that door any second now.
"Ah shit." Fin muttered.
Olivia closed her eyes. Maybe if she feigned sleep this inevitable confrontation could blow over at a hushed volume.
"Are you faking sleep?" Fin asked with exasperation.
"Hell yeah. I'm keeping that anger far away from me."
"Damn it Liv." She heard his footsteps. She knew the sound anywhere. "All he'd do to you is kiss ya. Imma get punched in the face," he muttered.
As expected the hospital room door flew open. Almost instantly she felt his hand grip hers and his fingers brush the stray hair away from her face. "Liv, babe, you okay?" She could throttle him for using any pet name for her, particularly in front of anyone else. However, she was supposed to be sleepy or groggy or something.
"I'm fine, El." She made sure she played up her tired voice. She nearly broke cover when Fin gave her an ungrateful side eye.
Satisfied she wasn't dying he turned his ire on Fin. She felt a little bad, but Fin could hold his own with Elliot. "What the actual hell, Fin?" The angry tirade began. It was almost easier to let it run its course rather than feeding the fire. "What was she doing in the field? That's what you have detectives for! She doesn't need to be running around as a moving target! Did you even think about Noah? He has ONE parent!"
To Fin's credit, he just sat and let Elliot blow off steam. They had all worked together so long they were very familiar with their dynamic. Olivia would throw herself into an iffy situation, Fin would try to stop her, she'd pull rank and he'd be screwed. She would get hurt in some way, usually mild, Elliot would lose his shit over it and freak out at Fin who usually tolerated it pretty well. They all knew to let him yell out all the anger (due to fear of losing her). He would eventually stop the yelling, coddle her, and apologize to Fin. It was all fairly predictable.
Still, she now felt a little bad for letting Fin take the brunt of this. "El it wasn't his fault."
His attention flew back to her. Here comes the coddling. "I can't have your back all the time anymore, and the only way I deal with that is knowing you're safe at the precinct. If Fin can't keep you in your office he damn well better have your back in the field." As expected his voice started to soften. He brushed her hair back again, inspecting the small face laceration that was held together with five stitches. He cupped her cheek tenderly and she could feel his intensity lowering. The juxtaposition of her Elliot and everyone else's Elliot was never more evident than when she got hurt.
"I really am fine. I caught a ricochet in the leg. The stitches were from not catching myself before I fell, its actually a little embarrassing. I wasn't even really close to any action. It was bad luck. And honestly it was more of a graze than an actual gunshot wound." She tried to reassure him.
"Let me see," he was completely serious.
"Come on Elliot. It's not that bad and they have it all taped up."
He stood with his arms folded. Obstinate as always.
"Fine," Olivia conceded. She hiked up her hospital gown a little. Luckily she'd shaved her legs this morning or pulling the tape would suck.
He inspected the wound and seemed to acknowledge that she was in fact, not dying. She pressed the tape back into place and gave him an 'I told you so look'.
Now time for the apology, "Hey man, sorry. I know you always have her back and…" the thought tapered off.
Fin patted Elliot's shoulder firmly. "It's fine man. We all know you lose your mind when it comes to Liv," he looked like he was holding back a laugh. He turned back to Olivia, "Imma check in with everyone, you okay with this guy?" He tilted his head towards Elliot. His stupid face filled with mischief.
She rolled her eyes, "Yeah Fin get out of here. I'll be fine."
Fin grinned and turned towards the door, mumbling, "you'll probably be more than fine," under his breath.
Once Fin made his exit, the intensity of Elliot's gaze seemed even more heavy. She dropped her gaze, unable to sustain the weight of it all. "I really am fine."
He sauntered back towards her hospital bed, planting himself in the neighboring chair. She read the worry, fear, and concern all over his face. "You need to be more careful."
She sighed, "I know I know."
He grabbed her hand effectively garnering her attention, "No Liv." She watched him struggle with a build of emotion. "You have to think of Noah." His eyes told her he wasn't only concerned for Noah. He toyed with her fingers before adding, "Do you know what losing you would do to me?" Those blue eyes bore into hers, and she suddenly felt breathless.
He stood and reached his hand up to her cheek. "It would kill me, Liv. I couldn't survive that." She felt her own eyes filling with tears, and she didn't even try holding them back. He brushed them away, continuing to keep his eyes on her.
The fear and anxiety that always accompanied any serious conversation with this man seemed to have disappeared, and she could see what they could be. And she wanted it all. She cupped his face with her hands and with a pounding heart, pulled his face to hers.
His lips were soft against hers, full of intention and meaning. It was perfect. It was everything.
