Elliot and Fin sat around their desks tossing a small foam football back and forth to each other discussing music. Elliot was concerned that his older son was receiving bad influences from the rap music he listened two. Fin was trying to convince him that wasn't true and that rap and hip hop helped to shape the culture we live in today.
"Hey man all I'm saying is the language isn't appropriate. Grown men that young boys look up to talking about banging chicks, spending money and doing drugs. It's very subjective to a thirteen year old." Elliot explained.
"It's a form of expression. If you don't like it don't let him listen to it." Fin responded. Elliot snorted at this comment.
"That would only make him want to listen to the harder stuff. At least what he is listening to is clean. Two days ago he came down stairs with his pants sagging off his butt, boxers hanging out, do rag under a backwards hat. Not the look I want my kid going around wearing." Elliot shook his head than cracked an evil smile. "He reminded me of you on your first day here. Looking like a hood rat." Fin dropped the football Elliot had thrown at him.
"Wha'd you call me?" he asked coming up out of his chair.
"Easy I was just playin with you!" Elliot said still smirking. Fin remained standing deciding between jumping Elliot or letting it go.
"Seriously man. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just joking."
"Yeah alright." Fin lost the urge to beat Elliot down. "The do rag was a little much." Fin admitted sitting back down. He retrieved the football preparing to toss it back when Elliot's desk phone rang.
"So much for being board." Elliot grumbled. He sat up letting his feet hit the ground than reached across his desk retrieving the phone.
"Special victims unit, Stabler…WHAT!?...When?...It she ok?...No don't try…yeah I'm on my way with Fin." Elliot was on his feet retrieving his weapon, shield, keys and coat with one hand still holding the phone receiver with the other.
"Don't worry I'll call him… yeah thanks." He quickly replaced the receiver on the base before retrieving is cellphone from his belt.
"Fill me in." Fin stated grabbing his own weapon and coat.
"Uniforms responded to a possible assault in progress in front of Olivia's building but before they reached the scene Olivia called 911 to report a body." Elliot rattled off moving towards the door dialing a number.
"Was she the one assaulted?" Fin asked slightly panicked following him.
"The uni's said there were no apparent injuries. I'm calling Cragen. Call Munch tell him to meet us at Liv's."
The ride to Olivia's was quick aided in part by Elliot driving twenty miles over the speed limit. Fin had to hang on with one hand while he called Munch with the other. Once on scene they made their way through the gathered crowd, uniformed officers, and CSU techs finding Olivia sitting on the front steps.
"Liv. Hey Liv!" Elliot called as he approached. She did not respond but just stared straight ahead, blank and emotionless.
"Liv. Liv its Elliot and Fin. Are you ok?" He reached out touching her forearm. The contact made her jump slightly.
"Wha…ah…hey." She stammered before flinching in pain caused by the sudden movement. Both Fin and Elliot took notice of her flinch.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Elliot's voice was full of panicked worry.
"No it's nothing. Just moved to fast." She quickly dismissed his concern. She also truly believed that the pain was nothing and didn't want him getting all protective on her.
"Did you get attacked?" he asked still concerned.
"Attacked? No. Jumped is more like it." She answered.
"Liv what happened?" Cragen had arrived along with Munch. "And how did Derricks end up dead?" As much as she didn't feel like discussing everything she couldn't say no to her captain. She took in a deep breath only to shiver and gasp as pain ripped through her left side. Every member of the squad took notice of this each moving towards her all at once.
"I'm fine guys. Just bruised. Maybe a little cold." The fall night was cool with the occasional gust of wind making it chilly. The black camisole, thin jogging pants, and running shoes were not really appropriate for the weather.
"Why don't we move this inside to your apartment Liv." Cragen suggested. She looked up at everyone as they stood around her protectively than beyond them to the other side of the street. Beyond the yellow tape reporters, news camera's, and photographers were starting to gather.
"Yeah that's a good idea." She agreed. As she stood up she staggered slightly over come by dizziness. Elliot and Cragen each managed to grab a part of her to keep her from falling.
"Liv you sure your ok?" With her now standing the light from the street and the entrance hall illuminated her normally olive tanned skin, only it was deathly pale.
"I'm fine. Just worked up." She answered. "Let's go inside. I'm feeling really cold." Cragen's concern for his detective was growing as she walked slowly up the front steps. Once inside the guys took the stairs first leaving Olivia at the back. As they climbed past the first landing Elliot glanced behind him to check on Olivia. She was holding her left chest and appeared to be gasping for air. She attempted to climb the next step only to stumble sending her falling backwards. Elliot watched in horror as Olivia tumbled backwards past the landing, down the first set of stairs coming to a stopped sprawled out in the entrance way.
"OLIVIA!" he screamed running after her. Cragen, Munch and Fin followed suit.
"Munch call a bus!" Cragen instructed. Elliot and Fin were first to reach her lifeless form.
"Liv! Come on Liv talk to me." Despite his efforts Olivia never moved but she continued to gasp for air.
"What's wrong with her?" Fin asked panic evident in every word.
"I don't know. I looked back at her, she stumbled than fell. She looked unstable and she was holding her chest." Elliot answered.
"Bus is on the way." Munch stated joining the others.
"Come on Liv." Elliot pleaded. He held her hand squeezing periodically preying for a response. Fin was positioned at her head holding it stable till the paramedics arrived.
"Ambulance is here." Munch finally announced. The ambulance crew came bursting through the door carrying equipment and pulling their stretcher.
"What'd we got." The first medic asked dropping his bags and pulling out equipment.
"She fell down the stairs." Elliot answered.
"It that all?" the medic asked skeptically. He placed several sticky circles on her chest before connecting them to multicolored wires.
"She was assaulted two. As far as we know she took several several blows to her right side." Fin added when Elliot did not.
"Are you ok holding her head?" Fin nodded yes. Satisfied the medic turned to the machine next to him revealing Olivia's vital signs.
"We need to expose her chest." He instructed. His partner quickly moved to her abdomen with a pair of trauma shears. With no difficulty he cut straight down her thin top exposing everything above the waist. As he reached the top and the fabric fell away the first medic returned his attention to her.
"DAM IT! Neil I need trauma pads NOW! She's bleeding heavily." Fin, Munch, Cragen, and Elliot wanted to look away to preserve Olivia's decency but when her shirt feel away they were stunned to see a large amount of blood covering her side from armpit to the waist band of her pants.
"Where's it coming from?" Elliot asked.
"I'm not sure. You said she was attacked so most likely a stab wound or gunshot wound. Neil lets get her on 02." He answered taking the large white pads his partner was handing him and pressed them against Olivia's chest. "I doubt I'm going to get you to move so why don't you help me." He said looking at Elliot. "Give me your hands." Elliot released the hand he had been holding allowing the medic to place them on the white pads on Olivia's side. "Hold pressure on these ok? Don't release them. We need to control the bleeding." Once he had Elliot positioned he went to another bag and began removing IV starting equipment.
"Neil I'm goanna get this line started then we need to move." The EMT named Neil nodded as he finished placing a blue tinted oxygen mask over Olivia's mouth and nose.
"I'll get the c-collar. Do you want full immobilization?" he asked his partner.
"Yeah lets go ahead. I don't want to chance it." Neil quickly left the building leaving the medic to start the IV. Just as he was sliding the needle in Olivia started gasping desperately for air. The machine showing her vitals started to alarm as the once steady wave was now erratic.
"She's not getting any oxygen!" the medic announced to the room. "Release the pressure on the upper pad. There must be a puncture wound to her lung." Elliot did as instructed. Olivia immediately started to cough gulping in fresh oxygen. He reached over with tape securing the pad on three sides.
"O2 stats are still low. We need to move her. Neil bring that board in here." Neil reentered the building carrying a long, hard, plastic board. With Elliot and Fin's assistance the medics had Olivia strapped down and loaded onto the ambulance within minutes.
"Does someone want to ride with?" BJ, the medic, called out from his seat in the back of the ambulance. Elliot started to step forward but Fin got there first.
"I'll ride." He stepped up into the back of the ambulance but before closing the door he turned to Elliot . "I know you want to be with her but you know more about this guy. His habits, hangouts, acquaintances, family. Hunt him down like the animal he is and give him one for me and Liv." Elliot nodded his acknowledgement without taking his eyes off of Olivia. As much as he didn't want to admit it he knew Fin was right. The man responsible deserved to die and he was going to make sure it happened. Fin pulled the back doors shut and the ambulance pulled away with the lights and sirens piercing the night.