Ever wonder what happens when you wistfully watch an episode of your favorite show over and over until you're crosseyed? This! I am actually toying with an AU story line in which I rewrite s8, 9 and 10, starting with the ep where Elliot goes to the house and sleeps with Kathy. But it probably won't be an actual story. Knowing me, it'll be a group of oneshots following that plotline. I've already started on one for Paternity. It's really fun rewriting them and bringing EO to it. Hehehe. Also, this is my 275th story! Yay! Or who knows? Maybe this is all just a byproduct of my poor demented mind. (makes ghost noises) Enjoy, and please remember to reviiiiiieeeeeewwwwwwww... (continues making ghost noises)

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"Officer down! Call a bus!"

There was strength and power in her voice as she commanded nearby officers to act, but God, she didn't feel any of that. All that played over and over in her head was the sight of her partner's head going through that window, and the sounds of shattering glass as it sprayed over him. She couldn't move fast enough.

Behind her she heard someone shout, but the sound only registered as a garbled mess in her mind. Her focus was solely on Elliot, on getting to his side and making sure that he was okay.

Finally she reached the other side of the car, and the wind was suddenly knocked out of her as she focused on Elliot's crumpled form. Shouting again for help, she dropped to her knees beside him. His head lolled to the side, and she quickly glanced over him with worried eyes. The back of his head was covered in blood, and the possibility of brain damage nagged at the corner of her mind. But right then, that didn't matter. She would take him damaged and alive over a wooden box and a twenty one gun salute. She would do it and thank her lucky stars that she still had him.

Her training kicked in, and she reached out to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Then she used her free hand to cradle his head securely against her chest, effectively immobilizing him.

The words slipped out before she even realized her lips were moving. "You're okay, Elliot. You're okay." She looked down at him, stifling a soft groan. "You're okay." Her fingers started to sift through his thinning hair, taking great care not to cause him further pain. "You're okay."

Just who those words were meant to reassure, she hadn't the faintest idea. But somehow just saying them made her feel fractionally better. As though by saying them, they would be true. They had to be true. He was going to be okay.

Somewhere in the distance she faintly heard sirens, and she closed her eyes in relief. Other cops were starting to gather around them, but she didn't care. The only person that meant anything, that ever had, was in her arms. She held him closer, keeping her head against his.

The sirens got louder and louder, until finally a paramedic crouched down in front of Olivia. "What happened?"

"A perp sent his head through the window." She reflexively held him closer.

A neck brace was produced, and Olivia moved her arm just enough for them to slip it around her partner's neck.

"Has he been conscious?"

Olivia shook her head, nearly vomiting when the medics carefully took Elliot out of her protective embrace, then moved him gently to the stretcher nearby. She scrambled to her feet. "I'm riding with him."

Not waiting for an answer, she trotted after the medics as they carried Elliot to the bus and loaded him into the back. Careful to stay out of the way, she sat down on the bench beside Elliot's head and watched him carefully. "I'm here, El." She reached down and ran her hand over his arm, then slid her hand into his.

She just wanted something, anything, to show he was still with her. She studied his face as she squeezed his hand.

But there was nothing, and the fear that had gripped her heart squeezed harder. She closed her eyes.

She couldn't lose him.

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The pain was the first thing that registered in his sluggish mind. The entire back of his skull felt as though someone had taken a jackhammer to it, and vaguely he wondered how far from the truth it was. He cracked his eyes open, but there was nothing. He repeated it as fear gripped him. Same thing. "What's going on?" he whispered, his voice low and partially slurred.

Olivia had been sitting by his bed the entire night, and as soon as she heard his voice, she got to her feet. "Elliot..." She reached down and took his hand, thankful when he squeezed it in return. "How do you feel?"

He clung to her hand. "What's going on?"

"You're in the hospital," she said softly, reassuring him. "You're okay."

"I'm not okay. Where are you?"

She tipped her head to the side. "What do you mean? I'm standing right next to you." Something was very, very wrong.

"I can't see you," he rasped. "I can't see anything." Lights danced around in his line of vision. "It's all a blur. I can't see anything." His grip tightened on her hand, and he lifted his right hand and grabbed her wrist, desperate for a lifeline. "Olivia...?" His breathing grew considerably labored and frightened.

She brought their entangled hands up to her chest and held them there, using her free hand to gently smooth his hair back. "I'm right here, Elliot. It's okay."

He inhaled sharply, moving his hand from her wrist, up her arm, then finally rested it against the back of her neck. Just feeling her, knowing that she was right there... His fingertips pressed lightly into her neck, and he was relieved when she moved with him. "Olivia..."

She kissed his hand before gently setting it on his chest. Then she moved her hands to his face and cradled his face in her gentle hands. He was still breathing hard, and she brought her forehead to rest against his, close enough to smell him, to taste him. "I'm here, Elliot." She wouldn't tell him that everything was going to be okay. She didn't know that. But she knew that nothing, absolutely nothing, would pull her away from his side. She moved her hand from his cheek to the back of his neck.

He nodded shakily, leaning closer to her.

"I'm here, El," she repeated softly, cautiously sitting down beside his waist. His breathing was starting to ease, and for that she was grateful. She ran her hand over his stubbled cheek with great care, silently reassuring him that she was still there, and herself that he was alive. They both needed the contact desperately.

"Detective Stabler hit his head so hard his brain bounced back off the front and back of his skull."

Cragen's eyes widened. "How bad?"

"His CAT scan shows contusions to the frontal and occipital lobes."

"He's bleeding?"

"It's not life threatening," she assured him. "They're like bruises."

"Then why can't he see?"

"The occipital lobe controls vision. It's not uncommon with an injury like this for there to be some temporary blindness."

He cut her off. "How temporary?"

"Don't panic. His brain should heal in a couple of days, and his vision should return. He's seeing bright lights, shadows. This is good news."

Cragen looked at her skeptically. "His vision should return? So you're saying that there's a chance that it won't?"

"His MRI showed swelling in the optic nerve. We'll know more in a few days." She gave Cragen a small nod, then turned and walked away.

He watched her leave, and when she was gone, he turned to the glass that gave him a glimpse into Elliot's room. Olivia had moved from the chair to a delicate perch beside Elliot on the bed, and she was holding him close to her.

He sighed, letting his head rest lightly against the glass. It was obvious how panicked Elliot was, but something told him Olivia was doing everything in her power to change that. He smiled. "Good girl, Liv," he whispered as Fin approached him.

"Captain, we've got a problem," Fin informed him, and Cragen slowly pulled away from the window and followed Fin down the hall.

She wanted so badly to say something, anything, to reassure him. But all she could do was hold him tighter and nestle her head against his. She could feel his heart beating rapidly against her chest, reminding her that he was right there. She sighed and brushed her lips softly against the top of his head.

He held onto her tighter, clutching the fabric of her shirt in his rough fingers. He couldn't see, but he could tell that she was afraid by the rapid beating of her heart. He knew that she was trying to soothe him by the way she held him tighter, and he knew that he loved her when she kissed his head. He closed his eyes, not that it helped anything, and buried his face in the soft curve of her neck.

Her fingers absently stroked the back of his neck as she softly rumbled, "I'm here, Elliot."

He didn't have to see her to know that she was telling the truth. She had stayed by him through ten years, countless meltdowns, a failed marriage, and more tears than any person should ever cry. And she had never abandoned him, or for that matter, done anything other than be a tower of strength for him. She was never more than a phone call or fifteen minute drive away, and he hadn't done a damn thing to deserve any of it. He nuzzled her neck with his nose.

She slowly ran her hand up and down his back as she kissed his head again. God, she wished that she could take his pain away and return his sight. She touched her nose to his forehead. "El..."

His grip tightened on her. "Yeah...?"

Any words she had evaporated, so she settled for kissing his head again and holding him tighter.

He sensed that she had decided against whatever she had considered saying, and he was fine with that. Right now, he just needed her. She calmed the fiery rage deep inside of him that burned out of control. He pressed his face deeper into the silky skin of her neck.

She settled closer to him, refusing to relinquish her hold on him. At least right now she could keep him safe and protected.

"Elliot?"

Olivia's head swiveled in the direction of the familiar voice in the hopes that she was wrong. But she wasn't. There was no mistaking the walk, the hair... She ran her hand soothingly over Elliot's back, reminding him that she was there for him.

Kathy came up to the bed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Seeing her ex husband wrapped in the arms of his partner... "Elliot?"

Elliot finally raised his head. "Kathy?"

She nodded. "I got a call that you were in the hospital. Are you okay?"

His grip became noticeably tighter on Olivia. Of course he wasn't okay, but as always, he only allowed Olivia to know his weaknesses. "I'm fine, Kathy."

Olivia kissed his head, unsure of whether the act was to reassure Elliot or antagonize Kathy. She was pretty sure it was a little of each.

Kathy frowned at her, then looked at Elliot. His eyes were closed, and it annoyed her. Why wouldn't he look at her? Was twenty years of her life not good enough for him?

Elliot trembled against Olivia. "I can't do this right now," he said quietly, not really directing it at anyone.

Olivia nodded. If he couldn't handle it, he couldn't handle it. She looked at Kathy. "Kathy, I know you just want to see how he's doing, but-"

"Are you kicking me out of here?" Kathy asked incredulously.

"No, I'm asking you to respect his wishes and go back home. He's tired and needs to sleep." She didn't feel like getting into a pissing match with Kathy, especially when Elliot needed her to take care of him.

Kathy stared at Olivia, then looked at Elliot. Finally she said, "Get better, Elliot." She left the room.

When she was gone, Olivia sighed heavily and rested her head against his again. She was well aware of what she was getting herself into when she got involved with him, and she had long accepted that. But it was worth it. He was worth it.

He had always been worth it.

TBC...

A/N: I hope that last little part with Kathy didn't feel too forced. At first, I wasn't going to include her at all. But then I realized that to get rid of her and the kids would be to get rid of the man El is. And we can't have that. There is a second chapter to this, but it's three in the morning, and my poor sick mind needs rest to continue with this evil plot for WORLD DOMINATION! HAHAHAHAHA! (wanders away)