Disclaimer: Characters belong to Mr Wolf and I'm just playing.

This story was inspired by a review MrsLee made last year, it's just taken me a while to get it done…so that being the case, Laura, this one's for you.

I'm sure the Aussies amongst us will notice many of the name choices – yes I was watching the cricket at the time :D

-------------------Songbird--------------------

It was late on a cold and frosty Thursday afternoon in October when Olivia walked slowly across the empty bullpen and knocked on her boss' door. She willed her hand to steady and her heart to slow as she waited for him to call out.

"Enter!" She took a deep breath and eased opened his door.

"Remember me?" she said quietly, taking Don by complete surprise.

"Olivia!" He was on his feet in an instant and taking her in a warm embrace before she knew it.

"Hey Don," she said when he let go, allowing her to breathe.

"Sit, sit, sit!" He said, pulling up a chair for her. He sat himself on the front of his desk, her hand still in his. "Are you supposed to be getting around by yourself?"

"I'm doing well, Don, the doctor says I'm well on the road to recovery," she said, her smile slightly dimming. "How are things here?"

"Flat out, as always. Everyone's out on calls but I'm expecting Fin and Lake back soon. El and Munch will probably be another hour," he explained. "You look tired, Liv, should you really be up and about?"

Olivia couldn't help but smile at the expression on her boss' face; she knew this was the paternal side of him. He was the closest thing she had to a father and she appreciated his concern. "I think it's taken more out of me than I expected," she smiled wearily. "I just really wanted to come in. You know it's been three months and a week since I was here last."

"I know," Don nodded, he knew. He knew, to be exact, it was ninety seven days since she last sat at her desk. Ninety seven days since he'd gotten the call to say Olivia and Elliot had been caught in an explosion. Ninety three days since Elliot left hospital, eighty three since he returned to work and eleven days since Olivia was discharged, the explosion damaging her back, causing temporary paraplegia. For the first month she couldn't move at all, then as the swelling and bruising diminished her movement increased, the night Don visited and saw her walk again for the first time he cried himself to sleep.

"I wanted to talk about returning to work and …" she began.

"It's a bit soon, Liv," Don interrupted, concerned she was rushing things.

"Yeah, I know," she agreed. "I guess it's more of a not returning to work discussion."

"You don't want to come back?" he asked more concerned about the turn in conversation.

"Oh, I do, but I can't see that happening for awhile. The guys have been great and everything but they have started asking about coming back and when I say not yet, they think I'm worse than I am…" she admitted.

"What do you want from me?" he asked, knowing there was something.

"You know how you said in the hospital I just needed to ask if I needed anything?" He nodded. "I need you to play the big, bad boss and tell them," she gestured towards the door, "that you won't let me return yet."

"I can do that," Don agreed, a smile on his face. "Do you have a return date in mind?"

"Probably another couple of months…I have a big rehab program and then it'll be desk duty for a while…" she paused. "Don, is this going to be a problem? I mean will there still be a place for me when I get back?"

"Olivia, there will always be a place here for you, for as long as you want it. Never doubt that!" Slowly Olivia stood and hugged her boss; those were the words she wanted to hear. They would keep her going through the arduous rehabilitation she knew was ahead.

Someone knocked briefly on the door before opening it. "Yo, Don…" Fin began before spying Olivia. "Livvy, girl, come here." Fin moved to wrap his arms around her before Don spoke.

"Just go easy with her, Fin, she's not completely healed yet," Don warned.

Fin hugged her gently, mindful of his boss' words. "You coming back soon?" he asked, kissing her cheek.

"Well, I…" she began slowly.

"She came in to ask but I said no," Don interrupted. "She needs more time to recover before we discuss that."

"Oh okay," Fin answered. Chester Lake rapped the door briefly before

"Did you…" he began. "Olivia, welcome back," he said, patting her arm briefly.

"She not back," Don said, gruffly, "just visiting."

"Well, it's good to see you here anyway," Chester said.

"Thanks," replied Olivia. "It looks like you guys have work to do…I might just get going and leave you to it."

"You need a lift, Livvy?" Fin offered, knowing she wasn't driving yet.

"No, it's fine, I'll get a cab." She farewelled her colleagues and slowly walked into the bullpen, listening to the door close behind her.

She stopped by her desk and couldn't resist sitting in her chair, smiling when it seemed to remember her shape. Fiddling with some things in her top draw she was startled by a hand on her shoulder.

"I know the owner of this desk; she'll kick your ass for that," John Munch whispered in her ear.

"She's a friend, I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Olivia pressed her hands down firmly on the desk and eased her weary body out of the chair. It was a painful effort and it didn't go unnoticed by Munch.

"How are you doing, Liv?" he asked quietly as she moved to hug him. He wasn't one normally for public displays of affection but with Olivia he made the exception. When he and Fin arrived on the scene only moments after the explosion, it was he who held her in his arms and tried to keep her conscious. It was he she begged to help her and it was he who she first told she couldn't feel her legs and couldn't move. Their relationship changed that day and they both knew it.

"Not as good as I thought I was," she answered, still in his embrace. "I guess coming in was a bit too much for me. Still, it was nice being able to walk in here."

"It was very nice." He kissed her head.

She tensed when she heard the approaching footsteps; she knew them as well as she knew her own.

"Hey El," she said, as Munch released her.

"Liv!" he said in surprise. "I didn't think we'd be seeing you here for a while."

"You won't be, came to talk to Don about returning and he said no," Olivia explained.

"Good," Elliot said.

"Good? You don't want me back?" Olivia asked, noting he was the only member of the squad not to touch her,

"Of course I do, I just think you need more recovery time," he quickly explained and although she knew he was right, and although she knew she shouldn't tears filled her eyes. She dropped her head but it was too late.

"Liv? Olivia?" He moved towards her. "Hey?"

"Sorry," she mumbled, "I've got to go." She grabbed her purse and took a few unsteady steps across the bullpen. Munch glared at Elliot and nodded towards Olivia.

"I'll take you home, Liv," he said, his hand holding onto her elbow.

"You don't have to, I'll be fine," she said.

"I'll take you home," he repeated and was relieved when she nodded. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and felt her lean into him, the act of walking enormously tiring for her.