Escape A Barson story

Chapter 15

As soon as Rafael parked in the parking lot of the nearest hospital, he called Christian Garland. Lamai took the phone from her husband a moment later. "Is Olivia OK?" She asked."I'm fine" Olivia said, loud enough for Lamai to hear her as she winced in pain."We're at the hospital. Please, take care of Noah", Rafael said."No problem, Noah is always welcome", Lamai answered."I'll get him as soon as I can!" Olivia replied."Don't worry, Olivia. Just take care of yourself, and keep us posted", Lamai said."Please, tell Noah I'm fine, Lamai. I don't want him to worry". Olivia said."Keep us posted", Lamai repeated. The call ended. Rafael exited the car, stode over to the passenger side door, and opened it."I don't need a hospital", Olivia said."Can you take your seatbelt off", Rafael asked."Yes, but I don't need a hos[ital. Let's get outta here. OK?""No, not OK. Do you need me to get the belt off?""No." Olivia answered, undoing the belt herself. She moved, and her ankle throbbed. Rafael reached for her, and next thing Olivia knew she was being carried out of the car, and into the hospital."I don't need to be carried", she said, there was a hint of nervousness in her voice, she cleared her throat, hoping he didn't notice. She felt her face heat up.Rafael lowered Olivia into a chair in the waiting room, spoke to some staff members, and walked back to Olivia. He sat in the chair next to her. How are you feeling?" He asked,"I'm OK, Olivia said. It doesn't hurt that bad.""Don't lie.""I can take it, and you don't have to carry me." A staff member nodded to Rafael, he stood up, lifted Olivia out of the chair, and carried her over to a doctor."Hi Liliana." Rafael said, as he placed Olivia down on an exam table."Hi, good to see you." Olivia looked at the doctor, Rafael called Liliana, the woman was beautiful, and Olivia wanted to bolt from the room. She was sure Rafael dated this woman. How else was Olivia able to see a doctor so quickly in the ER? Olivia tried to smile, instead she sneezed . It was the kind of sneeze that shook her entire body. She felt terrible, and on top of that trapped."Hello, you must be Captain Olivia Benson." Liliana said."I am, you can call me Olivia.""Olivia, I'm so happy to meet you, I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances. I'm Dr. Liliana Diaz. I'm Rafael's cousin. Lucia and my mother are sisters.""Nice to meet you." Olivia said, embarrassment flooded her. She was sure both Liliana , and Rafael saw her exhale in relief the second Liliana said she was Rafael's cousin. Liliana carefully examined Olivia, and found that she was bruised from her fall, and had a very swollen ankle, she hoped the ankle wasn't broken. Olivia was silent despite the pain. Rafael stepped closer to Olivia. Liliana sent her for an X-ray.When the X-ray came back, Liliana studied it carefully. "You almost broke your ankle again, Olivia", she said.Almost? But she didn't." Rafael said, relief evident in his voice."No, she didn't, Liliana reassured her cousin. She looked Olivia in the eye and continued speaking. "You did sprain it very badly." Liliana braced Olivia's ankle, and gave her elastic bandages.. She gave her self-care instructions. She smiled at her cousin. "Take care of her", she said before Rafael left The ER with Olivia.

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Olivia sneezed 8 times during he ride from the hospital to her cabin, other than that she was silent, Rafael could tell she was trying to hide her pain. He stopped the car, and turned off the engine."Thank-you for your help, Barba", she said, wincing, as she moved her bruised body. She reached for the passenger side door, and managed to open it."What are you doing?" Rafael asked, seeing her door open wide.
"I'm exiting the car by myself."
Rafael rolled his eyes. "Don't do that."
"I'm doing it." she answered, just before a violent sneeze shook her body."Liv.that's ridiculous. ""No, it's not. What's ridiculous is you killing your back carrying me around!"
Rafael opened his door, exited the car, slammed it behind him, and ran to the passenger side. He bent slightly at the knees, and locked his green eyes with her brown ones. "You're light as a feather. Stop being stubborn and let me help you."OK but you're not carrying me, I'll lean on you." Slowly, and painfully Olivia managed to move out of the car, she leaned on Rafael, and moved to the cabin door. "Dammit", she mumbled under her breath."Are you OK? I got you, Liv, you're not gonna fall."I'm OK, but I can't reach my key. It's in one of my coast pockets""The coat pocket closest to me.""Yes."May I get it for you., Liv?""Yes, Olivia answered, shifting her body a little. Rafael quickly lifted the key from her pocket. He unlocked the door. When it opened, a gust of freezing air hit them. "I'm gonna fall, Rafa""No, you're not." He answered, tightening his hold on her. They entered the cabin, and Rafael helped Olivia sit on the couch.'Thank-you. I got it from here, you can go, I've taken up enough of your time today. Go snowboarding, have fun", Olivia said.
"You don't think I'm leaving you like this?" Rafael replied, walking over to the thermostat. 'Liv, how long have you been here without heat?" He asked a moment later. Olivia sighed loudly, but didn't answer the question. "Liv, how long have you been here without heat?" He repeated."It hasn't worked right since Noah, and I got here. Last night when Noah was sleeping at the Garlands, I heard it turn off entirely. I tried to get it to turn back on, but I couldn't.""So you just stayed here all night without heat? Did you tell the Garlands?""No, I'll tell them today, because they're responsible for this place, I'm giving them money when Noah, and I leave here, even though they already refused to take it from me."Rafael huffed, and then spoke. "You and I are concerned about 2 separate issues. If you want to tell them about the heat because they are responsible for this place, fine, if you want to pay them rent, fine—""I'm glad I have your approval. Olivia cut in sarcastically."I'm concerned that you were here all night with zero heat, and I think you should have told the Garlands for that reason." Rafael answered, rolling his eyes despite the fact that Olivia couldn't see it."It wasn't that bad, Rafael."Rafael turned away from the thermostat, and strode toward her. "It wasn't that bad? Liv, it snowed last night. You've been sneezing, you look exhausted. Did you sleep at all?""I slept enough.""You just said that heat wasn't working right since you, and Noah got here. How much heat could you have gotten when it was working?""Noah spends most of his time at the Garlands, and when he did sleep here, he slept with a ton of blankets, and 2 winter coats.""And that's all that matters?" I love Noah! You matter too!" Where were your blankets?""I have one", she answered.Rafael stopped walking, and stood in front of the couch where Olivia was sitting. He looked her directly in the eye. "This is an icebox. It's going to be even colder tonight."
"If it's too cold for you, you can leave. I'm OK, Barba, really.Go snowboarding, get a hot chocolate at the ski lodge." "Do I have your permission to go into your bedroom? If I see anything of an intimate nature I'll shut my eyes.""Why do you want a tour of the cabin?" Olivia asked nervously. "You can go, but don't expect to get any great decorating ideas, the room is not your style." Rafael turned and walked slowly to the room, smiling at the thought that Olivia knew his style. Olivia shivered, and closed her eyes."Liv, are you OK?" Rafael asked when he walked out of Olivia's bedroom 45 minutes later.She opened her eyes. "Yeah", she said, groggily.
"Good', he said, gently, right before she heard his retreating footsteps. She felt tears spring to her eyes. She had no right to ask or expect him to stay. She spent months pushing him away."Rafa", she whispered so softly that she could barely hear herself say her nickname for him. She closed her eyes again."Liv?" She heard suddenly. "Liv, open your eyes. Olivia opened her eyes as Rafael requested."What... What are you doing here?""You didn't think I left, did you? Rafael asked. "Your stuff is packed, and in the car, we'll come back for Noah's stuff.""What?" Olivia asked, trying to get up. Rafael managed to get her to her feet. Her ankle was not happy, she winced in pain, and held in her tears, hoping Rafael didn't notice. A few moments later she was in his arms, and he was carrying her to the car.