Okay, this was originally supposed to be a oneshot, but the first part screamed to be an individual chapter. And what the muse wants, it gets. The song I used for this was Rufus Wainright's Hallelujah, an absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking song. I suggest you listen to it while reading. Enjoy, and please review!
For Michelle, my junior grasshopper who inspired this story. EO FOREVER!
Disclaimer: Not mine!
SVUSVUSVUSVUSVUSVUSVU
Olivia Benson had never seen herself as invincible. She had gotten out of a lot of dangerous situations without so much as a scratch, but it didn't mean that she was infallible. Far from it. And now, there was a gun pointed at her, and all she could think about was her partner beside her.
One bullet.
A piece of metal with a deadly trajectory, intending to mortally wound.
She froze. One second she and Elliot were standing side by side, trying to reason with the suspect who was growing more and more unstable by the minute. The next, there was a flash of light, a deafening crack, and Elliot. She screamed as he stepped in front of her, taking the bullet that was intended to take her life.
"Elliot!"
He fell backward, against her, and she didn't hesitate to empty her clip into their suspect.
Two shots. Non lethal. Legs, shoulders, arms. Avoid vital organs if possible. Bring them down.
Fuck that. She shot to kill, and she didn't give a damn what the consequences to her would be. He had shot her partner, the man she was supposed to protect at any cost. And he had taken the bullet for her.
She continued to pull the trigger even after the man was on the ground, and she only stopped when she felt Elliot's heavy weight against her chest. Her arm had wound itself around him, holding him to her.
The gun fell from her hand, and she sank to the floor, gently cradling his head in her hand. "Elliot." Gently she pushed his jacket back, groaning softly at the sight of the crimson that stained his shirt. Fumbling for her radio, she finally brought it to her mouth and screamed into it for a bus to aide her wounded partner. Then she discarded it. She had never been more afraid in her life than she was at that moment. Her worst fears were coming true as she held Elliot in her trembling arms, and all she could do was pray that help would get there in time. She couldn't lose him.
Elliot stirred against her, trembling.
Uncurling her legs from under herself, she cradled him to her, holding the heel of her left hand against the gushing wound. With her right hand she gently supported his head, just as she had done once before. "Come on, El," she whispered, shaking him gently. "Open your eyes. Look at me."
He finally forced his eyes open and looked up at her, his cerulean eyes clouded. "You okay...?"
She held him tighter, shaking her head vigorously. "I'm fine, Elliot. You're the one who's hurt." Of course he would be worried about her when he was the one who was hurt and bleeding in her arms.
He reached up and slid his fingers into her hair, studying her intently. His entire body was in agony, and he just wanted to sleep. His eyes drifted shut.
She shook her head, smoothing her hand over his cheek. "Elliot, stay awake for me, please. Please..." Her heart was racing against her chest, and all she could see was the injured man cradled in her arms, her partner. Her life. The very breath she took. "You have to stay with me..."
He groaned softly when she pressed her palm harder against his chest. He had gotten by too many times, and something told him that this time, he wouldn't be so lucky. His hand drifted from her hair to the back of her neck. She sounded so afraid, so lost, and he wanted nothing more than to hold her and promise her it was all going to be okay. But he knew different.
"Where the hell is the bus?" she muttered angrily to herself.
His eyes opened slowly. "It's okay, Liv..." He hated the fear that was in the chocolate depths of her eyes. And even more, he hated that it was there because of him.
She looked at him, then nodded slowly. "You're right. You're going to be okay." She leaned forward, gently caressing his forehead. "You just have to stay awake for me, El."
He inhaled shallowly, letting his fingers caress the back of her neck. He had put her through hell for years, but he loved her so much. And if he wasn't going to make it, he would rather be in her arms than anywhere else. "Liv..."
She nodded immediately. "I'm right here, El. What is it?"
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
"I..." A sudden, harsh coughing fit erupted in his chest.
Panicked, Olivia gently helped him sit upright and patted his back. "Breathe, El," she urged.
Finally he collapsed heavily against her, laying his head on her shoulder.
She cradled his head against her shoulder. "Just hang on, Elliot. The ambulance is coming."
His eyes closed. "I don't... think..." He suddenly grasped her shirt in his fingers, needing to be closer to her.
Her arms tightened around him as she kissed his head. "Elliot, you have to stay awake for me." Faintly she could hear a bus in the distance, and her shoulders slumped in relief. "Can you hear that? They're almost here."
He wheezed softly. He could taste copper in his mouth, and each breath he took was weaker than the previous one. His grip loosened on her shirt.
She reached down and gently cupped his face in her hand, meeting his faded eyes. "Elliot," she said firmly, gently patting his cheek. "Come on, Elliot. You just have to stay awake a little longer." The sirens were getting louder; they would be there in just a minute or two.
He placed his hand against her cheek, gently caressing her skin with his thumb. "Tell my kids... I love them..." He closed his eyes.
She squeezed him gently. "You can tell them yourself, El," she whispered. "You'll see them again soon. I promise." She only prayed to God that she would be able to keep that promise to him.
He cupped her cheek in his hand for a moment. "I love you, Olivia." His hand slipped away from her cheek.
Shaking her head, she gently slapped his cheek, willing him to open his eyes again. "Elliot! Elliot, look at me, now!"
There was a crash as paramedics rushed into the room, but Olivia didn't notice.
Elliot took a ragged breath, then went completely limp in his partner's arms.
"Elliot!"
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
TBC...
A/N: *hides* Don't kill me! LOL. The muse is inspired, and the story is almost finished. Yay! I hope everyone enjoyed this, and please review!