Chapter Text
Olivia almost buckles under Elliot's weight. He's mostly kept himself upright and walking since they left the bar. A few bad cases in a row had led to him drinking one too many. He'd just drained his last glass when she had found him.
She'd somehow gotten him out of there and now, they're at his apartment, stopped to unlock the door which has left Elliot swaying on the spot before deciding that standing is too hard and he collapses against the wall. Olivia luckily gets the door open and grabs him before he can slide down to the floor but he's relying on her steadiness more than ever now.
She gets them both inside and somehow manages to kick the door shut without completely losing balance. Slowly, they move in the direction of his bedroom with his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist. Occasionally, Olivia shifts their positions as they go. Elliot switches between stumbling and shuffling but stays on his feet.
When they're inside his room and by his bed, she turns him around to face her. His head rolls to the side and he gives her a lopsided grin. Shaking her head, a soft smile on her own face, she helps him shrug off his jacket and tosses it aside. After that, she lets gravity do the work as she lets go of him completely, he falls back onto the bed with a soft ooft and Olivia chuckles before dropping down to tug off his shoes.
"You're a mess, partner."
He huffs, muttering "rude" under his breath which earns another chuckle from Olivia who manages to get his legs into the bed. Carefully, she shuffles him towards the middle of the bed — thankful he's alert enough to help her — and then she rolls him onto his side.
"Elliot." She leans down and taps his cheek gently. "El."
He blinks up at her and smiles softly. "Hmm?"
"Gonna get you some water and painkillers and leave them on your nightstand." She waits and he nods slowly. "I’m also going to put that bucket from under your sink down here on the floor beside your bed in case you need it."
When he nods again, his eyes fluttering shut, she straightens up and turns to leave. Only, as she does, he reaches out and grasps her wrist. When she looks back down at him, his eyes are still closed but his grip is firm.
"Stay?"
"I'm just going to the kitchen."
He makes a noise of agreement but doesn't let go. With a gentle huff, she sits on the edge of the bed. Peering over at her, he loosens his grip enough to shift and hold her hand instead.
"Liv."
"Yeah?"
He swallows, smacks his lips. "Olivia."
Her mouth quirks up in a half smile. "Yes, Elliot?"
"I love you."
Instantly, her face drops. The blip of a smile no longer there, the colour draining from her face. She clears her throat as her heart rate spikes. "You, uh, you-"
"Love you." He hums. "Yeah."
"You've gone soft on me," she manages to choke out. "Better be careful. If Munch finds out he'll expect you to say 'I love you' every time we say goodbye at work."
Elliot laughs at that, his eyes opening fully to watch her carefully. They're a little hazy but very much focused on her. "Different kinda love."
Her heart thunders in her chest. "Oh?"
"Not in love with Munch," he mumbles.
"But you're in love with…"
"You." He squeezes her hand before raising a finger to point at her. "You."
"You're drunk."
He shrugs one shoulder like it doesn't matter and christ, she wishes it didn't. She feels like her heart is about to beat right out of her chest. These words are something she'd never thought she'd hear from him but always wished she would. It's too much for her to get her hopes up when she practically had to carry him into his apartment.
"Mean it," he says.
With a sigh, Olivia squeezes his hand. "Well, I'll tell you what… I'm not in tomorrow, remember?"
"Yeah. Got court."
"Right, so, you've got time. If you still think you love me by the time I see you again and you're sober, I might believe you."
He grins. "Don't think, know."
"Then I guess you're gonna tell me soon."
"Soon."
With that, she eases her hand out of his grasp and stands. He drags the pillow down so his head is still resting on it but he can also wrap his arms around it. His eyes are closed and his whole face is starting to relax and Olivia knows it won't be long before he's truly asleep. Quietly as she can, she eases out of the room to get the things she said she would, her heart thundering in her chest the entire time as her mind wills her not to get ahead of herself.