As I stood up with Velasco by my side, I couldn't help but feel a little steadier, despite the chaos still lingering in the air. His presence was a quiet anchor, and I found it hard to push back the thoughts of everything that had gone wrong earlier. Together, we walked back toward Lily's treatment room, the weight of the situation pressing down on me with each step.
Carisi was standing just outside, his hands jammed in his pockets, but he didn't seem as calm as before. His brow was furrowed, and his gaze flicked nervously between us as we approached. He gave me a quick once-over, as if assessing whether I was still okay, but I just nodded at him.
"I'm gonna check on her," I said quietly. "Yeah, go ahead," Carisi responded, though his voice was tight with the undertone of something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
As I stepped into Lily's room, Velasco turned to face Bruno, his posture rigid and his expression hardening with every passing moment. Bruno was leaning against the wall, arms crossed in a defensive posture, and the tension between them was palpable.
"I need a word with you, Bruno," Velasco said, his tone calm but carrying a weight that made it clear there would be no negotiating.
Bruno's gaze snapped to Velasco, and for a moment, I wondered if he might try to brush him off. But Velasco's stance was unyielding. Bruno exhaled slowly, looking toward Carisi, who gave a half-shrug and stepped a little closer to the doorway, his attention split between Velasco and the situation that was unfolding.
"I didn't know it would affect her like that," Bruno started, his voice defensive as he faced Velasco. "I barely touched her, and you're making it sound like I did something intentional."
Velasco's jaw clenched, but his voice stayed low, controlled. "Intentional or not, you violated her space, Bruno. It triggered something for her, and that's not something you can just dismiss."
Carisi stood a little further off, still listening but trying to make sense of the situation. I could tell he was confused by the sudden shift in dynamics. One moment, everything seemed like a normal case, and the next, it had turned into something personal.
Bruno ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I didn't even know what she was going through—what she'd been through, for that matter. How was I supposed to know it would trigger something like that? She didn't tell me anything."
Velasco took a step closer, his voice firm. "That's the thing, Bruno. This job is about trust. We're supposed to have each other's backs. If you don't know what she's been through, then it's your job to respect her boundaries until she's ready to share. You can't just assume everyone reacts the same way you would."
Bruno opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted when Velasco leaned in, his voice cutting through the space between them like a blade. "And you need a hell of a lot more trust if you're going to work with me and Cherry. Trust doesn't just come from backing someone up on a case—it's about backing them up everywhere."
The silence stretched, thick and heavy, as Bruno's defensive posture wavered. He opened his mouth again, his voice lower, almost frustrated, but before he could speak, Carisi stepped in, his voice a mix of confusion and concern.
"Guys, what's going on?" he asked, looking between Velasco and Bruno. "I mean, what is all this?"
It was clear that Carisi was struggling to make sense of the sudden shift. He'd seen tension between Velasco and Bruno before, but not like this. Not like it had suddenly become about something personal.
Velasco didn't take his eyes off Bruno as he responded. "This isn't just about the job anymore. It's about respect. And if Bruno wants to keep working with us, especially with Cherry, he needs to understand that. There can't be any more missteps."
Bruno's frustration peaked, and his voice came out sharper than before. "Oh how you have been taking care of her lately, huh? Is that it?"
Velasco's eyes narrowed, his stance stiffening. The challenge in Bruno's voice had hit a nerve, but he took a deep breath, managing to hold his composure. Carisi saw the flash of anger in his eyes, but before it could escalate, he stepped forward quickly, his hand resting on Velasco's shoulder to stop him from saying more.
"Velasco," Carisi said, his voice low, trying to deescalate the situation. "Let's just... let's figure this out calmly, okay? We need to understand what happened, not throw blame around."
Velasco shot a quick, almost imperceptible glance at Carisi, as if weighing whether to say anything more. The tension was thick, but after a long moment, he exhaled slowly and turned his attention back to Bruno.
"I'm done here," Velasco said quietly. "You know where I stand." With that, he stepped back, his jaw still tight but his posture no longer confrontational. Carisi and Bruno stood in the silence that followed, each of them processing the exchange in their own way.
I returned to the group after checking on Lily, feeling the thick air of unresolved tension hanging between them. I gave Carisi a quick nod, trying to show him that Lily was okay for now. But the look on his face told me he was still processing the situation.
"Let's just take care of Lily right now," Carisi said, rubbing a hand over his face. "We'll deal with all this later." I nodded in agreement, knowing that whatever had just transpired would need to be addressed—but for now, I had to focus on Lily and making sure she felt supported.
As Carisi turned his gaze to Bruno and Velasco, I could see his mind working, trying to find a way to defuse the powder keg forming between them. Bruno's defensive stance had hardened again, his arms crossed tightly, while Velasco stood with an unyielding calm that somehow felt even more intimidating.
"Okay," Carisi started, his tone laced with authority, "we're not getting anywhere like this. Let's split up and handle things from different angles for now. Velasco, why don't you take [Your Name] back to the precinct? Get a head start on the paperwork and check in with Benson."
Velasco's jaw twitched, his eyes briefly flicking toward me before nodding. "Fine," he said curtly, his voice low but steady.
"And I'll stay here with Bruno," Carisi continued, his tone firm as he turned to face the other detective. "We'll finish coordinating with the doctors and Lily's family. We can regroup later when things cool down."
Bruno opened his mouth to object, but Carisi held up a hand, cutting him off. "This isn't a debate, Bruno. This is me making sure this case stays about Lily, not whatever this... thing between you two is."
Velasco didn't wait for a response. He stepped closer to me, placing a hand lightly on my back as if guiding me forward. "Let's go," he said simply.
I glanced back at Carisi, who gave me a reassuring nod, though his expression was still clouded with concern. "We've got this," he said, his voice quieter now.
As Velasco and I walked away, I couldn't help but steal one last glance over my shoulder. Bruno was staring at the ground, his frustration evident, while Carisi stood with his arms crossed, watching him carefully.
The ride back to the precinct was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Velasco's presence filled the silence, solid and grounding. Every so often, he'd glance over at me, his expression softening in a way that told me he was still worried, even if he wasn't saying it outright.
When we arrived, he pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine, sitting for a moment before turning to me. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentler than it had been all day.
I nodded slowly, looking down at my hands. "I think so. It's just... a lot."
He reached over, placing his hand lightly over mine. "You don't have to carry it alone," he said quietly. "Not with me."
The weight of his words settled over me, and for the first time since the hospital, I felt a small piece of the tension ease. "Thanks," I murmured, looking up at him.
He gave a small, reassuring smile before stepping out of the car. "Come on," he said. "Let's get to work."
As we walked into the precinct, I realized that despite everything—the chaos, the tension, the unresolved mess with Bruno—Velasco's steady presence was enough to keep me moving forward. For now, that was all I needed.
