Soulmates

Chapter 2

We sat in comfortable silence for a while longer, the city buzzing around us as though it were worlds away. Velasco's arm remained steady around me, grounding me as my thoughts slowly settled. My breathing evened out, and my hands, which had been shaking moments ago, felt a little more still.

After a few minutes, Velasco spoke quietly. "You don't have to talk about it, but... I'm here if you want to."

I didn't look up, but I felt his sincerity in every word. I knew he was giving me the space to let it out, to unburden myself if I needed to. Maybe he sensed that I hadn't had someone to do that with in a long time. Part of me wanted to keep it all locked away. I'd spent years telling myself that my past was behind me, that I could handle it alone. But with Velasco sitting beside me, his quiet patience unyielding, I felt myself begin to unravel just a bit.

"I thought I'd buried it all," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "All those years undercover, I never let it get to me. But now, being here in SVU... it's different. Sometimes these cases, they hit a nerve I thought I'd numbed."

He nodded, his hand never leaving my shoulder. "You're not alone. I get it. Some things stay with us, no matter how deep we try to bury them."

There was something raw and honest in his voice that told me he understood better than he let on. Maybe he had his own ghosts too.

I let out a shaky breath. "I never thought I'd have to feel it all again. But being here... it's like facing it head-on, over and over."

Velasco shifted slightly, giving me his full attention. "You're stronger than you know. You're here, pushing through, fighting for others who can't. That takes guts."

His words were simple, but they settled something in me—a reminder that I wasn't defined by my past, that I was stronger because of it.

We sat quietly again, the weight of his arm around my shoulders like an anchor in a storm. I felt the tension in my body slowly unwind, like I was finally allowing myself to breathe again.

Eventually, I lifted my head and looked at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Thank you, Velasco. I needed this."

He smiled back, soft and genuine. "Anytime."

We stayed there a bit longer, just two people with pasts we couldn't fully escape, sitting together in the calm before we'd have to step back into the chaos. And in that moment, I knew I'd found someone who would be there when I needed him—someone who understood the weight we both carried and would help me carry it when it got too heavy.

After a few more minutes on the staircase, I felt steadier. My breathing had returned to normal, and while the weight of the case still lingered, it felt lighter somehow, manageable. Velasco stayed close by my side as we walked back to the precinct, his quiet presence grounding me.

As soon as we stepped inside, Olivia's gaze met mine. She wore that familiar expression of quiet concern, her brow slightly furrowed. Fin stood nearby, his arms crossed as he watched us carefully, and Bruno straightened in his chair, giving me a concerned, questioning look. The worry from each of them was palpable, but they held back, letting me decide how much I wanted to share.

I managed a small, reassuring smile and cleared my throat. "I'm okay," I said softly but firmly. "Just... needed a moment. But I'm here. I want to be here."

Olivia studied my face, searching for any sign that I might still need time. "You're sure?" she asked gently.

I nodded. "Yes, I'd rather stay. Being here helps."

Fin gave me a supportive nod, his voice gentle. "Just know we've got your back, no matter what."

I looked around at them all, my team, and felt a deep sense of gratitude. "Thank you, all of you," I murmured.

Velasco guided me to my desk, his hand at my elbow in a quiet, steadying gesture that I felt all the way to my core. As I sat down, he gave my shoulder one last reassuring squeeze, his silent way of letting me know he was right there if I needed him.

He moved to his own desk across from mine, his eyes briefly meeting mine before he settled into his chair. I glanced around and saw Fin watching us, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he noticed the quiet understanding between Velasco and me. He didn't say anything, just gave me a nod that was both encouraging and knowing.

As I settled into my desk, the buzz of the precinct slowly enveloped me. I felt the team's steady presence around me, a reminder that I wasn't alone in any of this. And as I looked up one last time at Velasco, he gave me a small, reassuring nod, as if to say, I'm here.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like I'd found my place, surrounded by people who understood, people who would stand by me even on the hardest days. And with Velasco's quiet strength anchoring me, I knew I could face whatever lay ahead.