Undercover

Chapter 52

As she steps into the bedroom he slips his shirt on and takes a seat on the toilet. He can't help but think about how he wishes he at least had his phone to pass the time. When he's left with nothing but his thoughts, despite his best efforts not to his mind wanders to earlier. When he had told Liv to let it go when she was pressuring him to talk.

Both of them know that he hadn't meant it, that he hadn't meant to sound harsh, he tried to make that evident with the words and actions that followed but he still couldn't help but feel guilty for it. One thing he had always prided himself on was the fact that he was never like his father. He never took to violence when his kids had done something wrong, he tried his best to refrain from harsh words he didn't mean in moments of anger.

When he got angry though he had still felt an intense fear that deep down maybe he was like his father. Maybe it had been passed down to him, had he inevitably passed it onto his own kids? Every time dickey acted out, got angry, threw a tantrum, every time Maureen blew up about something he didn't think warranted the reaction she had, every time Eli got mad at a game, every time Kathleen or Elizabeth got into am argument and screamed at whoever they were talking to, he worried he'd passed on the thing he hated the most about his father

He learned to let go of the fear he had of his dad a very long time ago. He no longer feared the actions of his father, he simply feared that his father had passed on the same genes, not only to himself but subsequently his own children. It was hardly the worst fight him and Liv had ever had, it was hardly the worst thing he's ever said to Olivia, but he felt incredibly guilty for it, and all he could think about was how he was going to show her how sorry he was when they return from Rome. 

After what feels like a lifetime Olivia finally comes in and lets Elliot know he can come out. When he finds Noah tucked under the covers cuddling the teddy bear he had given him, his body craned towards Elliots side of the the bed he couldn't help but smile and think about how much that little boy has touched his heart. How he's beginning to grow attached to him and misses him anytime hes away. How he's starting to imagine himself always being a part of Noah's life, regardless of what the future holds.

When he steps out of the room he makes his way to his suitcase and pulls out a pair of pajama pants. With Noah asleep he just walks to the corner of the room, out of the line of vision from the bed and slips his jeans off to replace them with his pajama pants. He slips his shirt off and lays it across the suitcase and Olivia studies his tight toned back and abs as he makes his way to his side of the bed.

They both roll onto their sides and look into each other's eyes. The locks of Noah's curly hair just below their line of vision. Olivia drapes an arm across Noah's body cuddling him slightly as she circles the skin of Elliot's chest. She thinks about how his ribs still need a couple weeks to heal completely but he clearly has a high pain tolerance, seemingly, completely unaffected but the events that had taken place in the shower. After a while they fall asleep while looking into each other's eyes.

It can't be more than 5-6 hours later than Noah wakes up somehow full of energy and ready to start the day. Granted he has gotten a little bit more sleep than then due to their extracurriculars but surely he should have been more tired from the long flight.

He begins bouncing on the bed, jumping up and down trying to get them to wake up. "Wake up!" He shouts with a laugh as he continues jumping. His thick curls bobbing up and down on his scalp. "Time to get up." They both groan tiredly as they squint up at him. The sun is shining in from outside straight into their eyes. It's still early-way too early for them to even be awake after staying up so late but they can't help but laugh in awe of how cute Noah is. How full of life and excitement he is.

Elliot surprises him by grabbing him by the arm and playfully pulling him down on the bed. "Nope. It's bedtime." He chuckles draping an arm across Noah and not allowing him to get up. "What do you think Liv?" She yawns and stretches out her arms. "I'd have to agree." She jokes draping her arm across him as they chuckle and watch him struggle to get up. "Guuyyys." He pleads, the word drawn out and full of anticipation. Olivia sits up in the bed. "We're up sweetheart. Just gotta give us a few minutes we're old." She jokes, skimming a thumb across his cheek.