Little Eli was not born

Disclaimer: This is not mine, because if it was, well everything would have turned out very differently.

In Just A Few Short Moments

I was holding tight to the bloody badge in my hand, and I couldn't believe how just a few short moments ago I was listening to my partner rave on about how he was finally free. Free from his loveless marriage, because he had caught Kathy in a lie, he found a naked man in his closet, in his clothes nonetheless. This conversation though, had changed our partnership, forever.

Flashback ~3 hours ago~

"Hey Liv," Elliot hollered, running to catch up with me, on my apartment steps.

"Yeah," I said, turning around to meet him. He was closer than I thought. His sky blue eyes were a deeper color than I was used to, usually only associated with passion, and anger. But they also had this back tone, like a lighter shade, how he manages to pull that off I have no I idea. I do know one thing though, something happened; something big.

"Wanna grab a coffee?" He asked his tone light, obviously trying, and failing, to hide his excitement from me.

"Sure," I gave him a smile and pulled my key out of the lock. 'Whatever happened between the ten minutes we got out of work and now, had better be good,' I thought as we walked down the street.

We went to the nearest coffee place, and grabbed a cup and as we walked he smiled, stopped and turned towards me,

"Kathy and I are getting a divorce," he put it so simply I didn't know what to think.

"So are we happy about this, or what because I can-" he cut me off.

"Liv, I asked for it?"

"What? Why, El?" I looked confused.

"Yesterday, when I got home, she was if a fuss, mainly because I'm usually not home on time, there were clothes on the floor, men's clothes, that weren't mine, and I heard the closet door slam as I was walking up the stairs. I went in and she was sweaty and out of breath covered with a sheet, I then walked over and opened the closet and this guy, probably only a student in collage, in there in one of my shirts and scared out of his wits. I just walked out and stayed at a motel for the night, to cool off."

"Oh, El," I bit my lip unsure of what to do, "was that why you were acting strange today, sorta like a jerk?" I said, hinting at the way he told my to shut up and stop writing so loudly. "You know, Cragen thought you had a hangover."

"I did," he smiled a bit, "I had a lot to drink" He leaned over towards me and soon I was hyper-aware of the minimal to almost nonexistent distance between us. I closed my eyes and opened them again, and it seemed like everything was going in slow motion. His lips found mine and we kissed, it was passionate with need, and also what felt like an almost religious prayer, filled with all the love, and hope in the world. We pulled away.

It wasn't anything, like an opened mouth, tongue wrestling kind of kiss, but a sweet, trusting, 'I would do this everyday for the rest of our lives' routine kiss. But no matter what it was the perfect first kiss for us, and our complications, whatever they were. It was still intimate nonetheless.

His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me in for another kiss. This one turned into a kiss of dominance and perseverance. After what felt like eternity, and longer, we pulled apart. It was really the best kiss I have ever had. We started walking again, like nothing happened, but without words we knew everything had changed. That's when it happened and, we happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. A crazy guy, who had obviously just robbed a bank, seemed to come out of nowhere, he started shoot and before Elliot and I could grab our guns, Elliot was on the ground bleeding. Before I knew what was happening though, I had my gun out and shot, almost blindly, mechanically. Then I collapsed down next to him and put pressure on the wound with one hand and checked his pulse with the other. It was slow, and steady but there. I tilted his head back, still keeping even pressure on his bullet wound, and made sure that nothing was constricting his airway. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone phoning for the police, I thanked the Lord that I didn't need to ask, as I also prayed for the first time that I could remember, I prayed that Elliot would be okay.

End of Flashback

I sighed as I looked once again into my hands.

"How is he?" I voice said startling me. I looked up and saw Cragen staring a me with his hard but nurturing eyes. Had I called him? I must've since he's here.

"We won't know until he's out of surgery." I muttered looking down once again, this time to fight the tears, that were finally threating to fall.

Cragen walked over and sat next to me, "It'll be okay, Olivia."

"How can you be sure?" I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the flow of tears.

"I dunno, I just -" he broke of thinking for a second.

"My p-" he cut me off.

"He's a fighter, he's strong, and he has a lot to live for." he gave me a look that basically said, 'Don't give up hope'.

I was about to respond, when Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie, and Dickie burst through the door.

"How is he?" "Is Dad gonna be okay" "What happened" "I'm scared!" They all started shouting at the same time.

I looked up at their faces.

"Katie, Dickie, he's going to be fine," I said mustering up the strength to hold them up, "Mo, well actually all of you, I was just acknowledging who asked the question," I rambled, "he was shot. Lizzie, honey, come here." I wrapped my arms around her then, nodded my head for the rest of them to come over. They quickly converged holding onto each other.

Ten minutes later Kathy came in and flopped into a chair unfazed, she glared for a second towards me, like it was my fault. She is right though, if I just hadn't agreed to go for coffee, or if I just paid the slightest bit more attention maybe we wouldn't be in this position.

I felt my shoulder dampen as Lizzie cried into it, and Kathleen looked to me for more reassurance, but I couldn't say anything anymore, with full out lying. I wasn't sure.

"Family of Elliot Stabler," a voice called breaking the silence. We all stood up, me still holding onto Lizzie.

"H-how is he?" I took a deep breath, for some reason I was expecting the worse.

"He's stable, and awake, you can see him, but only two at a time though, we don't want to cause too much stress." She walked to help someone else.

"Mo, Lizzie, you two go first, then Kat and Dickie, and Cragen and Kathy."

Maureen's Point Of View

When Lizzie and I went in, I was sort of shocked to see the amount of wires attached to him.

"Dad," I went over and gave him a hug, followed by Lizzie, "how do you feel?" I asked nervously.

"It's hurt, but I'll be okay." He sat up a bit, "where are the others?"

"In the waiting room, the nurse said only two at a time." I explained.

"Daddy?" Lizzie spoke up.

"Yes, pumpkin" He pushed some of the hair out of her face, like he did when we were little.

"Are you going to be okay?" The question was innocent enough, but coming from Lizzie she wanted an honest answer, she wasn't a kid anymore, she was 16 and she felt she needed the truth, I could see it in her eyes.

"Yes, I'll be fine" He pulled us both down and gave us both a kiss on the forehead. Sadly, it was stuff like that, being the reason I regret stay at a dorm on campus.

"Dad, we should go, Kat and Dickwad are next." Lizzie said Dickwad so casually I thought Dad might not catch it. Wrong!

"Lizzie," he warned.

"Sorry, sorry, Dickie." She smiled and gave him a wave, leaving.

"Bye, Dad." I leaned down giving him a kiss on the cheek before sweeping out of the room as Dickie and Katie were going in.

Dickie's Point of View

Okay, I'll admit it, I was scared, but all guys get scared at some moment right. Being the fact that, they were about to die, or in my case, I thought my dad would. As I walked into that room, I felt relieved, I feared worse, maybe he hit his head in the fall and couldn't remember us, or maybe he had a bunch of tubes hooked to him. Weirdly enough he looked like Dad, except with a heart monitor attached to him, and an I.V bag. It was a reassurance that maybe my dad was unstoppable, or maybe it was only that way because of Olivia, but whatever the case, I am truly thankful.

I walked over and gave Dad a tight hug and looked between him and Katie and said, "That never happened, understood."

"Yessir," Dad laughed.

Katie on the other hand, just held up the picture she took. "Dickie, has a weak moment and hugs Daddy," she mocked.

"It's Dick, and Kat, please." I gave her the hardest look I knew, but all she did was save the picture and put the phone in her pocket.

"Kat," Dad said,while shaking his head.

She looked at him innocently and said in a sing-song voice, "Whaaat"

He smiled and said, "I think it's time for the next two."

"Okay" we both said and each gave him a hug before leaving.

Kathy's Point of View

I don't know why I am here, all I know is that I was hoping he would be okay. Dickie and Kat walked out so his boss and I walked in.

"Hey, Stabler how ya holding up?" He asked walking over, he put his hand in his jacket and pulled out a grinder.

"Well enough, what's that?" his head inclined towards the sandwich.

"Your partner, called me in hysterics saying you got yourself shot, well not those words, but through the whole think I remember her saying that when you woke up, that you wouldn't like the hospital food and to bring you a ham and provolone cheese grinder, with pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and honey mustard."

"Why?" I asked from the corner.

"It's my favorite grinder," he responded, "We've been married how long, and you don't know that."

"How would she?" I just retaliated.

"Because, every time they order a grinder, that is what he asks for, and after over 12 years, you just remember." Cragen responded before Elliot could.

"I'm surprised she didn't tell you to get Chinese." Elliot commented.

"I think she knew that I wouldn't get it passed." Cragen smiled at him and moved to the side so I could talk.

"Elliot," I said softly, he looked up at me. "Look please, I don't want to do this, I won't sleep around anymore."

"Kathy, look," he took a deep breath. "Last night when I saw that guy I realized that I have wanted out for a while, I guess that just gave me the motivation I needed. I'm sorry, but I'm not coming back. I am fight for Lizzie and Dickie though."

I looked down "I understand," I muttered, "Goodbye Elliot."

"Goodbye Kathy," he replied and I walked out of the room followed by Cragen who squeezed Elliot's hand as he left.

Olivia's Point of View

When Kathy came out, I got up to go in, and once again she glared at me, I felt that glare as I walked into Elliot's room.

"Hey partner, how do you feel?" I asked leaning against the frame. His head shot up and a smile crept onto his face.

"Like, I've been shot, but it could be worse." He responded, the arrogant tone, that I have now grown fond of, creeping into his voice.

I pushed my body off of the door frame and walked over. "I think you might want this," I pulled my hand out of my pocket, his badge still in it. It also was still covered with blood. I held my hand out to him and he not only grabbed the badge but also my hand, and didn't let go.

"Liv," my eyes locked with his, "I – I-"

"El, you should probably get some sleep" I cut him off. Maybe I wasn't ready to here what he had to say, but I knew one thing I could do. I leaned down and gave him a kiss. I knew I loved him him. I finally realized that I may not be able to live without him. I pulled away from the kiss and sat in the chair next to his bed. He was still holding onto my hand and wouldn't let go. Not that I minded. "Go to sleep El."

"Okay, Livvie." He said, "I love you." He closed his eyes. I squeaked nervously, clearly not read for that. He opened his eyes.

"Too fast?" he asked, his eyes locking with mine. His eyes were so full of warmth and love that I couldn't deny it anymore.

"I love you too," I breathed out and brought our hands up to my forehead, "I really truly do."

I think this is a good ending, if you want more just tell me in a review. And please review.