Olivia

Olivia Benson had been in the middle of her self-defense class when her phone rang. She didn't hear it of course seeing as how it was safely locked away within the confines of her temporary locker at the time, but a surprise voicemail awaited her regardless.

Unaware of this fact, Olivia carried on with her class just as she would any other day. Sweat poured profusely down her body as she challenged herself to keep going. She felt some pain of course, but she didn't care. In fact, she hardly even noticed it because right now she was in control. She was safe, and felt even safer at the end of each lesson. She was learning, she was progressing, she was healing; finally, six months after that psycho had kidnapped her.

Eventually the instructor dismissed class for the day and Olivia smiled as a sense of satisfaction flooded her system. The tension from her long days at work always managed to disappear after her lessons and today was no different.

Olivia sighed happily and wiped the sweat off her face with a clean towel before making her way back into the women's locker room. She twisted off her lock and opened the metal door with ease. She then reached inside her bag and checked her phone to see if anyone from work had tried to reach her, apparently they had.

Three missed calls.

Great.

Olivia unlocked her phone and replayed the voicemails with one hand, while her other hand held a black sports bottle to her lips so she could chug down the cold water from within.

The first message was from Nick.

"Hey Liv, give me a call okay? It's important, bye."

The next was a message from a random ad agency that was trying to sell her solar panels for whatever reason.

Then there was the last message. It was from…from…

"Hey Olivia, it's Kathleen" her voice remained at a whisper as she carried on, "listen I'm really not supposed to be talking to you right now, because my mom would flip, but I just can't do this anymore. Listen it's about my dad, okay?

I know you guys were more than just partners, you were best friends and I know he would want you to know about this, so here it goes…My dad didn't just drop off of the face of the earth. He didn't forget about you, I'm pretty sure that would be an impossible thing for him to do at this point.

My Dad has been in a coma for the past year and…well…my mom didn't want you to know about it because we believe that he was on his way to see you when he was hit. She kind of hates you right now, but I know my dad doesn't. He couldn't. But uh anyways he just woke up this morning and really wants to see you. So if you could please just stop by…? Possibly? Please? Heh. We're at Mercy Hospital room 178. Thanks, bye."

Olivia was frozen. She couldn't believe it, she just couldn't believe it. Elliot had been in a coma?! Why didn't anyone tell her? Why hadn't the Stabler family told anyone? Wait a minute, he was on his way to see her when he was hit? Hit by who? With that? And why didn't Kathy want Olivia to see Elliot? Was she jealous or something?

None of it made sense, not really. Yet, it had to of been the truth. Kathleen wouldn't just make up a story like that!

It was strange. A year ago she would have given anything to talk to just one member of the Stabler family, but now? Now the thought made her palms sweat and her heart race. The thought of him made her both nervous and furious all at once.

Only now that fury was replaced with an entirely different emotion. One she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it made her heart flutter and her face break out into a genuine smile without her even noticing.

Elliot was o-kay. Not only was he okay, but he also wanted to see her. Now.

With that thought Olivia grabbed her stuff and practically ran out the door.

She needed to see him. She needed the reassurance that this was real. She needed it like she needed oxygen.

She needed her best friend back.


A/N: Thoughts?

Thanks for reading.