A/N: Hey everyone! So this is a small idea i got on a plane a couple of days ago and just had to write. It was going to be a simple one-shot but then one thing lead to another and it's going to be multi-chapter but only a couple of chapters. I've taken down 'Starting Over' as I'm re-writing it and making some rather significant changes. I will re-post it when I am happy with it. As a writer, i am always wanting to improve and I know i can make that story much better than it is and I only want the best for all of you lovely readers.

But for now, please enjoy this chapter of my new story and let me know exactly what you think in your reviews.

Chapter 1

2:30AM, the numbers on the alarm clock dimly lighting the already dark room as Elliot sat up in bed. He leant against the backboard and stared off into space, trying to shake the feeling like his whole world was ending. He felt a slight shiver go down his spine again as he remembered the call he received a short time ago that he never thought he would get. At least he hoped he'd never have to pick it up. The monotone voice of a doctor on the other end of the telephone line, informing him that there had been an incident earlier that night and he should get to New York as soon as possible. There wasn't a confirmation on how long there was left, but Elliot knew that this call was one of those "prepare to say goodbye" calls that doctors make when things are bleak, and he needed to get to New York as soon as possible. Part of him was surprised though, even after 5 years he was still the emergency contact for his partner and he'd been the first call made with the horrible news of the incident tonight.

It had been 5 years since he'd last seen her, 5 years since that horrible day of the shooting at the precinct and his world had stopped. It had been 5 years since he'd had his whole world instantly shifted and had to leave everything he'd known and loved without a single goodbye – well almost everything. He'd been lucky enough to organise for his family to come with him in the big change for the past 5 years. But he hated that he'd not been able to tell the one person that he wanted to come with him more than anything, he hated he didn't even get the chance to tell her where he was going or to say a proper goodbye.
Elliot would have thought that by now, she would have changed her emergency contact to someone else. He never expected to be the first call in this situation. But he was touched that she had kept him as her main person to contact from the hospital. He did wonder how they had managed to get him though considering he was supposed to be in witness protection, where he had been the past 5 years, living under another name. But when he really thought about it, there could have been strings pulled by the feds to get the message to him, considering the nature of the call. But either way, Elliot was grateful that the call did come through though as he couldn't imagine if something happened to the woman who held the key to his heart and he never even knew about it.

One thing was for sure though, he had to get on the earliest plane to New York that he was able to as he had to get to her as fast as possible. He set about organising his things and his flight now that sleep was no longer wanting to consume him. However, he just hoped that he would be there soon enough, she couldn't die without him getting to say his peace. I'm coming Liv, just hold on that little bit longer for me and I'll be there Elliot thought, sending a silent prayer that things would be ok and that he could get to her in time.

Don stood outside of the small room, looking into the room through the glass window where machines were attached and beeping to the lifeless figure in the bed. Things had not been meant to go this way, he'd been at her place looking after Noah for Lucy and he never thought he would get the call that he did. He never thought he'd pick up his phone to hear Finn saying that Olivia had been shot and was now on life support with a uncertain length of life left. Olivia had told him that she'd be home by 11pm at the latest and here they were at the hospital at 3am, after Olivia had been in surgery over for over 4 hours. Doctors had spent a long time trying to repair the serious damage that had been done to her and keep her alive. Don had heard that Olivia wasn't even supposed to be at the scene of the operation as Finn had been there, but she'd ignored that and gone anyway. Olivia had been shot twice in the stomach and chest, losing a lot of blood through this. One bullet had hit a major artery, leading to the heart, which had been the main cause of such large blood loss and cause the large about of concern over her life left. Olivia died twice on the table and the second time, they had trouble trying to get her heart to start again, due to the damage which had been done by the bullet.

Don looked over to the row of seats where Finn was sitting with Amanda and Carisi, Amanda had a sleeping Noah in her lap and he couldn't help but feel his heart breaking for that little boy right now. Noah had made Olivia so happy and he honestly gave her everything she had wanted in terms of being a mother. Olivia was an amazing mother to Noah and the little boy honestly adored her. Don hated the thought that maybe he would never get to see his mother again, but he couldn't let Noah leave at the moment, he wanted Olivia to know that everyone who loved her was around. Don looked at the entire squad and Finn took it as time to get up and talk.
"She's not supposed to be lying here...she wasn't supposed to be at the scene" Finn commented as he walked over to Don and the pair looked in through the window.
"Her passion brought her there"
"If she dies..."
"She's not going to, we have to hold onto the hope she's strong and she can get through this" Don remarked, and Finn knew the older man was right, but he had a hard time believing it right now.
"It should have been me"
"And if you were in the bed then I guarantee that Olivia would be standing here staying the same thing...It was a mistake and mistakes happen" Don said trying to console the other man who was obviously feeling very guilty over the whole situation. Don had to admit, seeing Olivia like this was very scary and he could easily see where Finn was coming from but there was no guarantee that if Olivia hadn't been there that this wouldn't have happened to someone else.
"But she could die and leave Noah all alone"
"She's strong, she's a fighter and we need to believe that things will be ok" Don said, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder and both were silently praying Olivia would make it through this.

9am, Elliot finally made it to the hospital. He wasn't entirely sure where he would find Olivia as no one on the phone had told him where it was in the hospital that he had to go. He hadn't got any further updates on her condition since the call early this morning, but Elliot just prayed that he wasn't too late. Elliot rushed out to the reception desk and was pointed in the direction of the ICU, he was only allowed through as he was listed at the emergency contact and next of kin. The nurse at the reception desk had said that the doctor would be doing rounds in the ICU shortly and would come to find him with an update of Olivia's situation. But from the way she was speaking, it definitely didn't sound too good for Olivia.

Elliot turned the corner towards Olivia's room and spotted familiar faces in the seats outside where he assumed the room would be, as well as some unfamiliar faces. He spotted the tall figure standing outside of the room and looking in, his old captain, Donald Cragen. The man looked older and a little slimmer than he remembered him but apart from that, very little had changed. He slowly approached the group and braced for a mixed reaction to his arrival. He spotted two unfamiliar figures and a little boy, on the chairs outside of the room. New detectives Elliot assumed as he made his approach. Don turned to him and Elliot watched as his face went as white as a sheet, he looked like he'd seen a ghost and in someways he really had.
"Elliot?" Don said as he approached the younger man.
"Captain Cragen" Elliot said, unsure exactly how to greet a man who had been like a father to him for over a decade, after disappearing with little explanation 5 years ago.
"Wh-"Don started to ask.
"I was called this morning, she hasn't changed her emergency contact...What happened?" Elliot explained, knowing that his old boss was probably curious about his presence right now. He looked in through the glass window and felt like he had been kicked in the gut with what he saw. Olivia looked so small and lifeless in the bed and all the different machines and wires that were going in and out of her, scared him a little. He saw Finn sitting in with Olivia but his back to where Elliot and Don were standing, Elliot was glad to see that someone else in the squad was still around beside Don. But he knew that when Finn saw him, it probably wouldn't be a warm welcome back.
"There was a hostage situation with young children relating to a child abuse case that the team were working on. My understanding from Finn is that Olivia wasn't supposed to be there as Finn was there but when the children were involved, Olivia had to go. She tried to conference with the shooter who was happy to let one kid go but not the other and when Olivia continued to bargain with him, there were bullets shot and she was hit twice. One bullet hit one of the major arteries leading to the heart which caused the majority of the blood loss. The doctor is due back soon, but he says that if she makes it through the night, then things are looking good. Frankly, it's a miracle she's still alive right now" Don explained, and Elliot felt his heart breaking for her. Olivia had been following her heart and her dedication to the job and now it might take everything away.
"She's a fighter, she'll get through this" Elliot said, more to himself than to anyone else but it was still true to everyone.
"That she is, and she has more to fight for now though" Don commented before the pair fell into a silence.

Olivia felt fuzzy, her chest hurt, and she wasn't sure what was going on. She couldn't move, and she couldn't speak, and she felt like someone had collapsed on her chest. She wasn't sure how she ended up like this or where she even was right now. The last thing she remembered was covering the small child inside the house and her thoughts going to Noah. Noah Olivia thought and worried about her little boy, was he ok? Who was still looking after him and was she ever going to get back to him. Olivia focused in on her hearing and could hear some light beeping going on. She listened a little longer and figured that she must be in a hospital or something with that beeping. It was regular and rather high pitch, making her think that it was some kind of monitor. Hospital? Olivia thought, wondering if she had been taken to hospital and if she had been shot when she covered the child. She wasn't sure what had happened after that but if she had got to the hospital then someone must be looking out for her. She continued to listen in to her surrounding and could hear breathing in the room and some muffled sobs. Someone was here with her right now, she didn't know who it was but all she wanted was to comfort them from crying. She could feel a weight on her hand and figured that whoever this is, must be holding her hand. All she wanted to do now was somehow give it a squeeze, let them know that she's still in here and she's doing everything she can to come back.

"Hi Liv" the voice said and instantly Olivia felt a little bit shocked, it was voice she'd not heard for a while. Elliot? Olivia thought, trying to focus more on the voice that was filling her room. She didn't know what the man whom she had not seen in years was suddenly doing here or how he got here. He had walked away from her and broke her heart over 5 years ago now, she had tried to keep in touch but he never returned her calls, texts, visits and so she stopped trying after a while. She would do anything right now to be able to see him and whilst it hurt to know he was here and she was still hurt from the fact he walked away, she was glad he was apparently back. You're imagining it Benson, he's not really here Olivia's mind started to tell her. It was the medicine that she was clearly on, he wasn't really here and she couldn't really hear him, she was just dreaming.
"I don't know if you can hear me or really if you're still in there but I have to believe that you are. If you are hearing me right now, then I want you to know that I'm here. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. There is so much I want to tell you and want to do to make things right with us again but you have to make it first" Elliot started to explain and Olivia was almost confused. You want to tell me things? I'm here Elliot, explain it! I'm so glad you're back but you leaving hurt Olivia thought, wishing she could see him right now and talk with him. She wanted to know why he left, why he didn't even say goodbye and why he's back now.
"I know you're probably cursing at me right now and I'm sorry I caused you so much pain. Finn wants to beat my face in and Don explained everything I put you through and I'm so so sorry for that. I want to make everything right again but for that you have to wake up. I'm back now for you and I'm going to help you get through this, Liv I know you're a fighter and I know that you can beat this so when you're ready, I'll be here and you need to open your eyes for us" Elliot said and Olivia felt him placed a kiss on her forehead. She honestly didn't know what to think right now but she knew that she just had to try fight this harder. I'm trying, I want to come back but not for you. You and I need to talk but I'm not coming back for you...I'm glad you're here though Olivia thought as she continued to listen to Elliot explain everything and basically plead with her to wake up.

A/N: Thoughts? Opinions? Is Olivia going to wake up? Are Benson and Stabler still going to share the same connection? I guess you'll have to wait and see with the next chapter. I promise you won't have to wait long. But please let me know what you thought in your reviews.
Until Next time ;)