The drive to my apartment was quiet, the gentle hum of the engine and the rhythm of the city passing by outside acting as a kind of balm for my frayed nerves. Velasco's hands rested firmly on the wheel, his eyes flicking between the road and me, his quiet concern evident in every glance.
I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, the events of the day replaying in my mind. Though the panic had subsided, a heaviness lingered in its place—questions unanswered, emotions unspoken. But through it all, Velasco's presence remained my anchor.
As we pulled up in front of my building, he turned the car off and shifted in his seat to face me. "You sure you're okay?" he asked softly, his voice steady but filled with worry. "I can stay parked here for a bit if you need."
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the door handle as I looked back at him. His eyes were steady, warm, and patient, giving me the space to speak without pressure. The thought of being alone in my apartment tonight, of facing the quiet with only my racing thoughts, felt overwhelming.
"Velasco," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "could you... stay? Just for tonight?"
He blinked, surprise flickering across his face for a brief moment before it softened into something that made my chest ache—a quiet understanding. His lips quirked into a small, reassuring smile as he nodded without hesitation.
"Of course," he said, his voice low but certain. "I'll stay as long as you need."
Relief washed over me as he parked the car and stepped out, coming around to open my door. I climbed out slowly, and without thinking, my hand brushed against his. He didn't pull away; instead, he gently closed his fingers around mine, grounding me as we walked toward the entrance of my building.
The elevator ride was silent but not uncomfortable. I could feel his steady presence beside me, a quiet strength that seemed to fill the small space. When we reached my apartment, I fumbled with the keys, the weight of the day catching up to me. Velasco took them from my trembling hand, unlocking the door with ease before stepping aside to let me in first.
Inside, the familiar surroundings of my home felt different with him there—safer, somehow. I turned to him, my voice soft. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me," he replied, his tone earnest. "I'm here because I want to be."
As he slipped off his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair, I realized just how much I needed this—his presence, his quiet support. Without another word, I moved to the couch, sinking into the cushions. Velasco followed, sitting beside me but giving me enough space to breathe.
For a while, we just sat there in silence. The weight of the day lingered, but with him beside me, it didn't feel so crushing. I leaned into him slightly, and he responded by wrapping an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. The steady rise and fall of his breathing lulled me into a rare sense of calm.
"Get some rest," he murmured after a while, his voice soft and warm. "I'll be right here."
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I believed him.
The hours slipped by as Velasco and I sat on my couch, his arm wrapped protectively around me while I leaned into his steady warmth. The chaos of the day felt like a distant memory in his presence, replaced by a quiet, grounding sense of peace. His breathing was slow and even, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder, fingers brushing against my arm in an unconscious rhythm. I'd never felt so safe, so anchored, as I did in that moment.
As evening fell, the apartment was lit only by the soft glow of the lamp in the corner. Neither of us had moved much, and now we were lying on the couch together, tangled in a quiet embrace. Velasco had shifted to make room for me, his body curving protectively around mine as I rested my head on his chest. The steady rise and fall of his breathing lulled me into a rare sense of calm, and for the first time in what felt like forever, my mind was quiet.
The peace was broken only by the soft buzzing of his phone vibrating against the coffee table. I stirred, reluctant to move, but reached for it when he didn't. As I picked it up, the screen lit up, displaying Olivia's name. I hesitated for a moment before answering, careful not to disturb Velasco, who had started to snore lightly, his face nestled against my shoulder.
"Hello?" I said softly, keeping my voice low.
There was a brief pause on the other end before Olivia's surprised voice came through. "Detective? I didn't expect you to answer Velasco's phone."
I could hear the subtle shift in her tone, a mixture of curiosity and something close to amusement. In the background, there was a faint murmur of voices—Fin and Bruno, no doubt—and what sounded like a muffled gasp of surprise. It wasn't hard to imagine them exchanging looks, their expressions filled with knowing smirks.
"Uh, yeah," I said, glancing down at Velasco as he shifted slightly in his sleep, tightening his hold on me. "He's... asleep on my couch. I didn't want the call to wake him."
Olivia let out a quiet, unintentional sound of surprise, and I could almost picture her raising an eyebrow. "Asleep? On your couch?"
I winced slightly at her tone, knowing exactly how it sounded. "Yeah, he stayed with me tonight. I asked him to. It's been... a long day."
There was a beat of silence before Olivia's voice softened, the concern in her words genuine. "We were just a little worried when he didn't come back to the precinct. Let him know it's fine, though. Sounds like he's right where he needs to be."
In the background, Fin's voice was unmistakable. "On her couch, huh?" followed by an exaggerated gasp. Bruno's chuckle followed close behind, and I could imagine Olivia shooting them a look to keep them quiet, though her own amusement was evident in the slight uptick of her voice.
I smiled despite myself, glancing down at Velasco as he let out a soft sigh in his sleep. My free hand moved almost instinctively to his hair, my fingers threading through the soft strands as he leaned into the touch, his hold on me tightening. "I'll let him know," I murmured, keeping my tone light.
"Alright," Olivia said, her voice holding a note of finality. "Take care of yourself, Detective. And Velasco, too."
"Will do," I replied, ending the call before setting the phone back on the table.
As I placed it down, Velasco stirred slightly, his arms pulling me closer as he buried his face against me, his soft snoring resuming almost immediately. I couldn't help but smile, the sound bringing a surprising sense of comfort. Running my fingers through his hair once more, I leaned back into the cushions, letting the quiet of the apartment settle around us again.
In that moment, wrapped in his arms and surrounded by the warmth of his presence, I realized something I hadn't allowed myself to feel in a long time: I wasn't alone anymore. Whatever came next, I didn't have to face it on my own. Velasco was here, and for now, that was enough.
