Soulmates

Chapter 8

At the hospital, the paramedics moved quickly, transferring Lily to a treatment room. A kind-looking nurse met us, explaining gently that they would need some privacy to begin the examination. I nodded, glancing at Lily. "I'll be right outside, okay? If you need me, just call."

She gave me a small, hesitant nod before the doors closed behind her and Carisi. He reappeared moments later, looking like he was holding himself together with sheer force of will. His jaw was clenched, his eyes dark with fury.

"Carisi," I said softly, stepping closer. "She's in good hands. They'll take care of her, and we'll make sure she gets justice."

He let out a slow, uneven breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's just a kid," he murmured. "She called me because she was scared. I'm her uncle—I'm supposed to protect her."

"None of this is your fault," I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "The person who hurt her? That's on them. And we'll make damn sure they answer for it."

He nodded, though his expression didn't lighten. Before I could say more, Bruno appeared, walking down the hallway toward us. His usual easy demeanor was tempered with a more serious edge as he stopped a few feet away.

"Detective," he said, addressing me with an air of formality that felt out of place. "Can we talk? Just you and me."

I crossed my arms, my patience wearing thin. "Whatever you have to say, you can say here, in front of Carisi."

Bruno frowned, his jaw tightening as he glanced at Carisi, then back at me. He exhaled slowly, clearly trying to keep his frustration in check. "Fine," Carisi said after a beat, holding up a hand. "You two talk. I'll check on Lily."

I didn't love the idea of Carisi walking away, but I nodded as he left, disappearing into Lily's room. Bruno motioned for me to follow him to a more private corner of the hospital.

"What is it, Bruno?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

He turned to face me, his expression conflicted. "Look, about earlier. When you questioned Carisi—I wasn't trying to undermine you."

"You could've fooled me," I shot back, folding my arms.

He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "You're new to SVU. I get it—you're still figuring things out. But part of this job is trust. I need to be able to trust my partner, and that means knowing you'll back me up without second-guessing everything."

I bristled at his words, my frustration boiling over. "Maybe you should be thankful I'm not your permanent partner, then," I snapped. "Because clearly, I'm not up to your standards."

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, Bruno grabbed my wrist—not harshly, but firm enough to stop me.

The reaction was immediate. My body tensed, and my breath hitched as memories I had buried deep surged to the surface. A hand gripping my wrist. The inability to move. The overwhelming sense of helplessness.

I froze, unable to speak or even meet his eyes. Bruno must have realized something was wrong because he let go instantly, his face a mix of confusion and concern.

"Cherry" he said softly. "Are you okay?"

I swallowed hard, trying to push past the wave of panic threatening to consume me. "Don't," I managed to say, my voice trembling. 

Bruno's expression shifted to one of deep regret. "I didn't mean to—"

"I need a minute," I said quickly, backing away before he could say more.

I turned and walked down the hallway, my mind racing. The professional tension between us was one thing, but this moment had stirred something much more personal—and I wasn't ready to unpack it. Not here. Not now.

I found a quiet corner and leaned against the wall, taking deep, measured breaths to steady myself. Whatever unresolved issues lingered between me and Bruno, they would have to wait. Right now, Lily needed me—and that was the only thing that mattered.

I found a quiet corner near the end of the hallway, far enough from the bustle of the hospital but still within reach if Lily needed me. My legs gave out, and I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold floor, trying to ground myself. My breathing was uneven, and the sting of tears burned my eyes despite my best efforts to hold them back.

I pulled out my phone, staring at the screen as I debated what to do. The first name that came to mind was Velasco's. He had this uncanny way of keeping me steady, even when everything around me felt like it was falling apart. But did I really want to bother him with this?

As if the universe had read my mind, my phone lit up with his name. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly wiped my face, trying to compose myself. I hesitated for a moment before answering, but the second I heard his voice, steady and concerned, my resolve crumbled.

"Hey," he said. "I was just thinking about you. How's it going over there?"

I tried to answer, but my voice cracked, betraying the emotions I was desperately trying to suppress. "Velasco..." I managed to choke out before the tears came.

"Whoa, hey," he said, his tone immediately shifting to alarmed. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

I took a shaky breath, trying to explain. "It's... it's Bruno. We had an argument. He grabbed my wrist, and it—" My voice broke again, and I pressed my hand over my mouth to stifle a sob.

There was a pause on the other end, and when Velasco spoke again, his voice was low and measured. "He what?"

"It wasn't aggressive," I said quickly, not wanting to escalate things unnecessarily. "He was trying to stop me from walking away, but it—it brought back memories. Things I thought I had buried."

Velasco let out a slow breath, his anger carefully controlled but unmistakable. "I don't care if it wasn't aggressive. He had no right to put his hands on you."

"I froze," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "And I hate that I did. It's like I'm right back in that place, and I—"

"Don't," Velasco cut in gently but firmly. "Don't do that to yourself. You didn't do anything wrong. Do you hear me?"

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. His words were grounding, pulling me back from the whirlwind of self-doubt.

"Where are you now?" he asked.

"At the hospital," I said. "Lily's with the doctors. Carisi's with her. I stepped away for a minute because I needed to get my head straight."

"Okay," he said. "Do you want me to come down there?"

I hesitated. Part of me wanted nothing more than to see him, to feel the reassurance of his presence. But another part of me didn't want to admit how much I needed that right now.

"I don't want to pull you away from anything," I said.

"You're not," he replied firmly. "You're important, and if you need me, I'm there. Just say the word."

His certainty was like a lifeline, and I found myself nodding again. "Okay," I whispered. "If you can."

"I'm on my way," he said. "Stay where you are. I'll be there soon."

As the call ended, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The tension in my chest eased slightly, replaced by a fragile sense of relief. Velasco always had a way of making me feel like I wasn't carrying everything alone—and right now, that was exactly what I needed.