Chapter Twenty One - Gunshots & Babies

Roman ignores my anger before leaning down and kissing me fiercely. The frustration, annoyance and pain I'm feeling fades away as he pours all his feelings into the kiss. I melt completely and kiss him back with equal passion before pulling away, mindful of the fact that we have an audience.

"What happened? You got shot!" He asks in a panicked voice as the paramedics work on me.

"Yes! Rome, if I die, I want you to know that I love you and I really wanted to have your babies. I'll wait for you in the afterlife." I reply dramatically.

"Dan Schmidt, the serial killer, shot Elena first as we saw from the security footage. Elena fired after in self-defense when he was about to shoot her a second time. His wound is fatal and we're taking him to the hospital first." An officer comes up behind us and explains. "There's another ambulance on the way for Elena. Thankfully the bullet only grazed her shoulder."

"Well, it still feels like I got shot instead of grazed!" I hiss in pain when pressure is applied. Roman frowns worriedly and holds my hand tightly in response.

"So how did you get out of this?" Mac asks me once the officer leaves and a smug smirk blooms across my lips.

I tell them everything, from how I got myself out of the ropes to how I managed to get Cody in the chair and fight off the others. Dan didn't take my threat of shooting him seriously and fired at me. I didn't hesitate to shoot back but he moved at the last second and the bullet entered his chest. As we fell to the floor the police finally arrived otherwise I'm pretty sure he would've fired another bullet at me. By the time I'm done they're all chuckling in amusement except for Roman who looks serious as always.

"Can she join the FCAA?" Dakota begs and he shakes his head in disbelief.

"Yes! I would love to!" I gasp both from excitement and the pain.

"Great, you've given her something else to nag me about." Roman mutters and I glare at him with pursed lips.

The others laugh before giving me some space as the ambulance arrives and a stretcher is brought in for me. I groan in pain as I'm lifted onto it and Roman hovers by my side worriedly. But just as they're about to take me I catch his hand and pull him towards me.

I bite my lip as his dark green eyes meet mine. "Can I still have your babies?"

"Just shut up and let them work. We'll talk later." He grunts with a shake of his head but I don't miss the small smile he lets slip.

I grin widely as he walks away before looking up at the chuckling paramedic above me. "That wasn't a no, right?"

"Trust me, you are one hundred percent having babies with him." She laughs before I'm taken inside the ambulance.

By the time I'm settled in and Roman climbs inside I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. Suddenly the adrenaline leaves me with just exhaustion and the only thing I want to do is sleep. I feel him cup my cheek and caress my skin with a relieved yet worried smile. I smile back sleepily and he leans over to brush his lips against mine softly before taking my hand in his.

"I love you too Elena." He whispers as he tucks away a strand of hair behind my ear.

I drift off to sleep with a happy smile, content that the man I'm in love with feels the same way and that he'll be waiting for me when I wake up.

I wake up to the sound of incessant beeping and blink drowsily as I open my eyes and look around. The first thing that greets me is the sight of the white ceiling before my gaze drifts to the blank walls with a lone picture on one of them, as if to bring a pop of color to the room which it doesn't. What does though are the beautiful flowers in the vase on the table across from me. I smile at the sight before feeling someone lift my hand and brush something soft across my knuckles.

I look over to see Roman sitting in a chair beside my bed with a handsome yet worried smile on his lips. It all comes rushing back to me and my eyes widen at the flood of memories. God, how lucky am I to have gotten out safe from that situation? I think to myself in relief.

"Hey..." He murmurs gently as he takes a seat beside me on the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck." I mumble with a small smile.

"I'm so sorry I didn't get there in time." He whispers and his emerald eyes flicker with sorrow and guilt.

"It's okay. I did pretty good on my own huh?" I chuckle which makes him smile thankfully. "Besides, Dan told me that he was planning to kill you so that you couldn't get to me."

"Yeah that prick really gave us hell." He huffs with an annoyed roll of his eyes. "Along with his men trying to kill us he had an oil tanker truck drive up and explode to take us out."

My eyes widen in alarm and the heartbeat monitor goes crazy. "What?!"

"Whoa! It's okay, calm down! I'm right here Lena." He soothes as he cups my face and peppers kisses all over my skin.

"Oh my god, he's insane!" I whisper in horror as I will myself to calm down. "Wait! What about Navy and Remi? And I saw Payton and Cleo too, are they all okay?"

"Payton and Remi were shot. Navy and Cleo were wounded badly but they're all recovering nicely. They're fine." He explains as he caresses my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.

"If it wasn't for that idiot targeting me they would be okay." I sniffle as tears well up in my eyes.

"Lena, they've gone through worse. They don't blame you, okay?" He presses his lips to mine in a sweet yet reassuring kiss.

"I love you." I sigh when he pulls away slightly but I tug him back to me. "I missed you."

He smiles beautifully and my breath hitches in response. "I love you too."

"When did you realize?" I ask as I intertwine our hands.

"When you left with my parents to go the ranch. I came back home and couldn't find you, I was scared out of my mind thinking Dan had gotten to you until I saw the security footage." He pecks my cheek as if unable to resist. "And when you started crying in the car it hurt so much. I knew then that I would do anything and everything to keep you happy and safe. I wasn't fully sure but that's the first time I felt so strongly and it grew into love over the next few weeks."

I smile up at him as butterflies flutter excitedly in my tummy. "I realized at Thanksgiving. Everything caught up with me...how much you care for me, how you always have my back, how content I am when you're around. I knew then that you were all I wanted and more."

We grin at each other like goofballs before he frowns thoughtfully. "But...now that Dan has been caught what about that job in Canada?"

"I...I want to be with you and I can just find a job here. I know you can't leave your team." I breathe, knowing that I myself don't want to leave him. "So, wherever you are that's where I'll be."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." I smile widely as I wrap my good arm around his neck. "Maybe that offer to join the FCAA still stands?"

"Fuck no! I've had enough of you running into trouble to last me a lifetime!" He shakes his vehemently which makes me burst into laughter.

Before I can reply the door opens and Michelle's eyes widen at the sight of me awake. "Oh, my goodness! Guys, Elena's awake!"

Everyone piles in and I feel my heart swell when I see that they came up to see me. Even some of Roman's team comes in and I greet them happily. But eventually the doctor and nurses make their rounds and find out that I'm up as well as being crowded. They shoo everyone out except for Roman who looked like he would put up one hell of a fight if they so much as told him to leave.

My vitals are checked along with my wounds, bruises and cuts. The doctor says I'm healing quite nicely but will have to be kept in the hospital for little while longer just so that they can avoid an infection happening. When the doctor leaves with a promise to check up on me tomorrow the nurses follow him to get me my medication and some food.

Roman calls my family from the number I know by heart and I do a group call with everyone. My parents almost have a heart attack when they hear about what happened and it takes me some time to convince them that they don't need to get on the next flight to Texas. They do tell me that I need to visit them in Italy when I've healed and I promise them that I will. The boys push for Roman to come too and he happily agrees after little convincing.

Soon the food arrives and Roman helps me as I sit up. My shoulder still hurts quite badly even though I'm on painkillers so it takes me a while to get comfortable. Because it's my right shoulder and it hurts to move Roman feeds me the bland food while ignoring my pleas to sneak some fast food into the hospital next time. But when Mac brings me some tea later he silently agrees to do it for me and I grin cheekily when Roman's not looking.

Everyone else piles back into the room again once I've eaten and we talk for a long while. I learn more about Morgan, Dakota and Devon as well as Mac and Roman's time as partners. We even Facetime with Quincy and Frankie who let us talk to Navy, Remi, Payton and Briar. I start to feel guilty again but it's quickly chased away by the group as they reassure me that they don't blame me.

Roman's family is the last to leave because Michelle can't stop fawning over me. I secretly enjoy it as it's been a while since I last felt some motherly affection. But eventually I become sleepy again due to the medication and can't stay awake anymore. I wave goodbye to everyone before Roman closes the door and sits by my side on the bed again.

"Can't you lay in bed with me? On my good side?" I mumble through a yawn.

"No Lena." He chuckles in amusement as he caresses the skin under the bruise on my cheekbone. "I don't want to accidentally put pressure on your wound."

"You won't, I promise." I stop fighting and let my eyes close.

"Sweet dreams baby." He whispers as he pecks my lips softly. "I'll be right here when you wake up."

"I love you." I sigh in content.

"I love you so much more."

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- R.W. ♡