Velasco sat at his desk in the precinct, the faint hum of conversations and the clatter of keyboards filling the air. A half-empty cup of coffee sat forgotten beside him as he pored over notes from their case, the details swimming in his mind. Across from him, Olivia worked silently, her expression as focused as ever.
He paused, running a hand through his hair, his gut telling him to check in. The hospital. He hadn't heard anything since Lily was taken in, and the silence gnawed at him.
"Just going to make a quick call," he said to Olivia, already reaching for his phone. She gave a small nod, glancing up briefly.
He dialed, leaning back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly when the call connected. The other end was quiet at first, except for the faint sound of someone breathing.
"Hey," he started casually, keeping his tone light. "Just wanted to see how things are going over there. Any updates on Lily?"
The response wasn't immediate. When it came, the crack in the voice on the other end immediately put him on edge.
"Joe..." The name was barely audible, choked out through what sounded like a stifled sob.
He sat up straighter, the change in his posture catching Olivia's attention. She turned her chair slightly, her brows knitting together in concern as she observed him.
"Cherry. What's wrong?" Velasco asked, his voice dropping into a more serious register. "Talk to me. Are you okay?"
There was a shaky breath before the response came. "It's... it's Bruno," the voice said. "We got into it, and he grabbed my wrist. It wasn't aggressive, but—" Another breath, then a crack in the voice. "It just brought back some things I wasn't ready to deal with."
Velasco's jaw tightened. He leaned forward, resting his elbow on his desk, his fingers pressing into his temple as he absorbed the words. "He what?" The edge in his tone made Olivia shift in her seat.
"It wasn't like that," the voice on the other end rushed to explain. "He was trying to stop me from walking away, but it hit a nerve. I froze, Joe. I couldn't—"
"You don't have to explain," Velasco interrupted softly but firmly, his voice a steady anchor. "He shouldn't have touched you. Period."
He glanced up at Olivia, whose eyes were fixed on him now, her concern deepening as she listened to his words. He waved a hand at her slightly, signaling he had it under control, but his expression told a different story.
"Where are you now?" Velasco pressed.
"Hospital," came the reply. "I stepped away for a minute. Lily's with the doctors, and Carisi's with Bruno. I just needed... a moment."
Velasco nodded as if I could see him. "Okay," he said. "Do you need me to come down there?"
There was hesitation on the other end, and when the response finally came, it was so soft he almost missed it. "If you can."
"I'm already on my way," he assured, his voice steady. "I'll be there soon."
The call ended, and Velasco stood, grabbing his coat. Olivia raised a brow at him, clearly expecting an explanation.
"I need to head out for a bit," he said, his tone clipped but not curt. "Something came up at the hospital."
Olivia studied him for a beat, her sharp instincts no doubt picking up on the shift in his demeanor. "Anything I should know?"
Velasco hesitated, but only for a moment. "Not yet," he said. "But I'll keep you posted."
With that, he was out the door, his focus now entirely on getting there and being the steady presence he knew they needed.
I stayed in that corner, my knees pulled up to my chest as I tried to collect myself. The sound of muffled footsteps and distant conversations echoed down the hallway, but it all felt far away. My mind was too consumed with replaying the events of the day. Bruno's words. The grab. The memories it had dragged up. And now, the steady promise of Velasco's presence. I didn't realize how much time had passed until I heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. I looked up, and there he was—Velasco, his expression a mix of concern and determination. His eyes found mine instantly, and the tightness in my chest eased just a little. "You okay?" he asked, crouching down in front of me without hesitation.
I nodded but didn't trust myself to speak. His gaze searched mine, as if trying to assess the damage, and I knew I couldn't hide from him.
"You don't look okay," he said softly, his voice low and even.
That did it. The floodgates opened, and I found myself blurting out everything—the argument, the tension with Bruno, and how the simple act of him grabbing my wrist had sent me spiraling. Velasco listened without interrupting, his expression darkening with every word but his focus never wavering.
When I finished, he let out a slow, deliberate breath. "First of all, you're not weak for reacting the way you did. That's your body protecting you, reminding you that you've been through something no one should ever have to deal with. And second, Bruno needs to know boundaries—whether he meant harm or not."
"I don't want to make it a bigger deal than it is," I said, my voice shaky. "It is, a big deal," Velasco countered gently. "But it's also something you don't have to deal with alone."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. It wasn't just his reassurance that calmed me—it was the way he made it clear I wasn't a burden to him.
"Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely audible. He shook his head. "You don't need to thank me for having your back."
Velasco sat down beside me, his shoulder just barely brushing mine. We stayed like that for a moment, silent but not uncomfortable. Just the steady presence of him next to me was enough to help me breathe a little easier.
Eventually, I straightened up, brushing off my pants as I stood. "I should check on Lily," I said. Velasco stood too, his gaze steady. "I'll walk with you. And if Bruno tries to pull anything else, you let me know."
I managed a small smile at his protective tone. "I think he's learned his lesson." Velasco didn't look convinced, but he nodded anyway, falling into step beside me as we made our way back toward Lily's room.
