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This scene takes place at the end of the Thursday, May 14, 2026 episode.
DUN DUN
The harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway felt heavy against Olivia’s exhaustion. Around Griffin’s bed, the team was finally breathing a sigh of relief. The worst was over. Olivia felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She stepped away, her fingers numb from the cold and the adrenaline.
Olivia : The chief is done. Griffin is out of the woods. I’m freezing, El. I just want to come home.
Elliot : Come home. I’ve got everything under control. Take a hot shower as soon as you get here to warm up. Want me to cook something ?
Olivia : Just your arms. That’s all I need.
She tucked her phone away, a small smile tugging at her lips. She turned back to Griffin, who was already looking a bit better. She placed a comforting hand on his arm.
— « Alright, everyone go home and get some rest. Don’t show your faces before tomorrow afternoon, that’s an order, » she said, her voice soft but firm.
Fin, with his usual sharp intuition, gave her a knowing look.
— « Tell him I said hello, » he whispered with a playful wink.
Olivia squeezed his hand, her eyes sparkling.
— « I will, Fin. See you tomorrow. »
The drive home was a blur of city lights. Manhattan rushed past, but Olivia only had one image in mind : Elliot. When she finally pushed open the door to the loft, the silence was absolute. It was nearly one in the morning.
Elliot was waiting for her in the entryway. The moment he saw her, he stepped forward. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he framed her face with his large hands. His thumbs brushed over her cheekbones, studying every line of fatigue with almost religious devotion.
— « You’re here, » he breathed.
Olivia didn’t answer with words. She practically threw herself against him, burying her face in the crook of his neck, her hands gripping his t-shirt.
— « I’m cold, Elliot. I’m cold all the way to my bones. »
He didn’t let go. He guided her to the couch, sat her down, and immediately wrapped her in a massive, plush fleece blanket. He spent a minute preparing a steaming cup of tea, his calm and precise movements acting like a balm on her frayed nerves.
— « Noah ? » she asked, her voice muffled by the blanket.
— « Sleeping soundly for hours, » Elliot replied, sitting down beside her. « He didn’t even stir when I went to check on him right before you got back. »
Olivia took a few sips of tea, feeling the heat slowly seep back into her chest. She closed her eyes, leaning into Elliot’s massive, reassuring presence.
— « Thank you for staying, » she whispered.
— « There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Liv. Ever. »
Following his lead, she eventually headed to the bathroom. The shower was long and scorching. Under the water, she let the last traces of Griffin’s blood, the fear for her team, and the anger toward her boss wash away. She then slipped into her softest pajamas—a silk flannel set that felt like a caress against her tired skin.
When she walked into the bedroom, the only light came from a small bedside lamp. Elliot was waiting for her, settled under the duvet, leaning against the pillows. He pulled back the covers for her.
She sought refuge against him, her head finding its natural place in the hollow of his shoulder. Elliot’s scent—that mix of soap, sandalwood, and him—was the final shield against the outside world.
She felt Elliot’s fingers stroking her hair, a slow, hypnotic rhythm.
— « Fin says hi, » she murmured, her voice fading as sleep finally claimed her.
Elliot smiled in the darkness. He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering on the softness of her hair.
— « Sleep, Liv. I’ve got you. »
He stayed awake for a few more minutes, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing, feeling her body completely relax against his. It wasn’t just a season finale ; it was the beginning of their peace. Once he was certain she was lost in a dreamless sleep, he closed his eyes, one protective hand resting on her shoulder, and fell asleep, his heart finally at rest.
End