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Olivia wasn’t sure why her phone was ringing from an unrecognized number in the middle of the afternoon, but she only hesitated two rings before answering it.
The chances of it being important were probably slim to none, but normally her phone took care of the spam callers for her, so her interest was definitely peaked.
“This is Captain Benson.” She held her breath for a quick second and waited.
“Uh, hi, yes, this Ms. Duncan, I’m a teacher at Regis High School.” Olivia started wracking her brain trying to remember if she had ever been there before, or if she knew of anyone who would have even gone there.
She was drawing a complete blank when the name the voice on the other end sent a wave of panic through her chest.
“I’m calling about Eli Stabler…” Oh no, this couldn’t be good. “His father has you listed as an emergency contact.”
“Me?” She was suddenly very thankful that she had decided to close her office door earlier and therefore wasn’t receiving any curious looks based off the way her voice just cracked with the question.
“He has a two sisters listed as well, a Kathleen and a Maureen.” That certainly made more sense than her name being on the list. “But we have been unable to get in touch with either one of them.”
“Is Eli okay?” Because frankly, that was all she cared. “He is in trouble?”
“He was brought into the nurse’s office a few minutes ago, we believe he may have broken his wrist.” Oh Elliot was going to love this. “We know that his father is in court all day, so we were instructed to call someone else. When we weren’t able to get a hold of his sisters, Eli asked for you.”
“I’ll be right there.” She didn’t need to hear anymore.
If he was asking for her, then she would be there.
She ignored the looks from her team as she brushed past them and toward the elevator, digging her phone from her pocket to text Ayana quickly, knowing that she was her best shot at getting through to Elliot.
Eli’s been hurt at school. Taking him to Mercy. Call Elliot please.
And then she made the quick ride in silence, a soft sigh leaving her lips when she exited the car and headed up front.
The teen was waiting for her in the lobby, his left arm cradled in his lap, his head back and resting against the wall, eyes closed.
“Eli…” She approached slowly, offering the boy a smile as he stood. “Let’s get you checked out.”
She could tell just by looking at him that he was over today and she totally understood.
This whole week had just been too much.
So she grabbed his bag without another word, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and escorted him to the car.
He didn’t speak the whole way to the hospital, but when the doctor asked him if he wanted to go back alone he had spat out a ‘no’, his eyes locking with hers until she fell into step with them.
Which was how she found herself sitting next to his bed in the ER, the boy having succumbed to the pain meds they have given him only a few minutes ago.
Though, if Olivia had to hazard a guess, he was more mentally and emotionally exhausted than anything else.
“Hey.” She snapped her head up to see Elliot stepping into the small space, his suit wrinkled and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. “Everyone okay?”
“Broken in two places.” Olivia whispered, watching as he stopped beside his son and ran a hand over his hair. “They gave him some pain meds before they did the cast. He was asleep in minutes.”
“Thank you.” She found herself being yanked into Elliot’s arms before she knew what was happening and she let out a soft sigh. “I felt so bad…”
“Elliot, it’s fine.” She understood his guilt, because there had more times than not that it had been Lucy or Fin or Amanda, or hell, even Sonny, that had picked her son up from school when it should have been her. “He’s okay. I was happy to help.”
Elliot pulled back then, offering her a soft smile as he chuckled.
“You know, Kathy always did call you his guardian angel.” The term was heavy on her heart, as was the mention of the late Kathy Stabler, but she felt a special connection to the boy and there was denying it.
Sure she was close with the other Stabler kids, some more than others, but her and Eli had had a bond from the beginning that no one else could compare with.
“Well, anytime he needs looking out for…” The words sat heavy in the room for a minute and she expected Elliot to say something rude or obtrusive, but he simply smiled, his hands reaching down to take hers.
“There’s a reason I put you on the list.” He whispered. “I knew you’d be there for him. Just like you always have been for the others.”
“Well, he’s a good kid, I can’t exactly help myself…” He chuckled again before tugging her close, the words that he had once uttered about Noah being echoed now by her. “Besides, I can think of worse titles to have.”
“Than guardian angel?” She nodded her head and he raised an eyebrow, curious as to what her response could possibly be.
“I mean, I could be the evil step mother…” The look of shock on his face didn’t last long, but it was enough to make her laugh, her head falling to his chest as he wrapped her up tightly once more.
“You’re not even close to evil.” She’d leave the fact that he didn’t say anything in regards to being the step mother for another day, because now wasn’t the time and the place, but she would take it as a win, for now.