(Disclaimer: Law and Order : SVU and the characters are owned by Dick Wolf, NBC, ECT.. No infringement intended.)
The Very Thought Of You
1:35 A. M.
St. Catherine's Hospital
Emergency Room
Elliot Stabler walked the familiar path to the ER. The desk Sargent at the precinct had called him at home an hour ago informing him that his partner was here with a rape victim. So much for a night off. He approached the nurses station. "I'm Detective Elliot Stabler." He produced his badge. The nurse dropped what she was doing and came around the desk. "This way please." He followed her down the hall listening as they went. "It looks to be a blitz attack. She was walking home, some guy came up behind her hit her over the head. Put a rope around her neck and dragged her into the ally. Rape kit was positive for fluids. But we also have his blood and skin. She fought hard. Took her pound of flesh, so to speak." They stopped just outside of an examination room. "She was very adamant about not notifying next of kin. I have to say I'm glad that the officer that brought her in recognized her and called you anyway." Elliot looked at her with a puzzled expression. "You are Olivia Benson's next of kin right?" "Yeah, I don't understand got a call from the prescient telling me that my partner was here with a rape victim." " Oh dear, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm so sorry." Elliot was shaking his head . Unwilling to hear the warning bells going off in his head. "Your partner isn't with a victim she is the victim." Elliot couldn't breath. "What?" " Detective Benson was raped two blocks from her apartment building. One of the officers recognized her despite the damage to her face..." Elliot turned away from her. He opened the exam room door in time to see Olivia trying to put on a shirt .It was obviously painful and he cringed at the sight of her bare back. Which once had been flawless now was bruised and scared. This wasn't really happening. He opened his mouth to speak but she beat him to it. "I thought I asked you not to call him." she asked the nurse coldly. "We didn't the officer.." but Elliot interrupted her. "Why did you make me your emergency contact if your not going to let them call me in an emergency?" her back was still to him as she tried to button up her shirt. This isn't an emergency. I was raped. It happens every day." Elliot couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Not to you." She said nothing more as she continued to fumble with the buttons. She gave up leaving the top 3 undone when she realized that she had missed one and the shirt was uneven. She looked around for her coat. Elliot picked it up off the back of a chair and held it open for her to slip into. remembering how much difficulty she had with the shirt. She accepted his help. She turned to look at him. It was the first time he had seen her face and it broke his heart. Her face was already starting to turn black and blue. There was a bandage on her right cheek covering what he assumed was a pretty bad cut. Her throat had rope burn and bruising as well. He wanted to hold her to tell her that when they found this guy he would ripe him apart with his bare hands, but the look in her eyes told him she couldn't handle anything like that now. He saw her uneven shirt and began to fix it for her. He adjusted one button at a time so as not to expose her or make her feel like he was taking her shirt off. He left the top 2 undone as she usually did when she wore shirts like this and adjusted the collar so it wouldn't brush against her tender throat. She had been watching him intently the whole time. First his hands then his face. She was about to speak when they heard a voice from the door call her name. "Olivia." Their Captain was standing at the door with Munch and Fin behind him. "Can we come in?" He asked tenderly. She nodded. They entered .concern obvious on their faces. " I'm alright. Really." she said trying to reassure them. They weren't buying it. "Do you guys mind if I make my statement tomorrow. I'm really tired." "Sure, whenever you're ready." Cragen said. The nurse knocked on the doorframe and entered. She had a dozen red roses in her hand. "These just came for you ." She handed Olivia the roses and left. She gave them to Elliot to hold as she opened the card. As she read the card her hands started to shake. Munch was standing next to her and took it. He read it aloud. "Your blood is red, Your body black and blue, Kiss you partner goodbye, Because I'm going to kill you." Elliot remembered the flowers in his hand. He flung them across the room. They hit the wall above the bed, showering the sheets with petals.