Chapter 2

Elliot sat in the back of Cragen's car and held a shaking Olivia. He never thought that he'd see her like that, so scared and broken. He regretted leaving now more than ever. As he held her trembling form in his arms he could still barely comprehend what had happened to her. Olivia, his Liv, had been kidnapped, tortured, and raped.

When they finally arrived at the hospital, Cragen opened the door on Olivia's side and she looked up at Elliot with a blank expression before attempting to get out of the car. She stood up on shaky legs and almost collapsed but Cragen was there to help her stay standing. He held on to the senior detective as Elliot to stepped out of the car and then closed the door behind him.

He immediately went to Olivia's side. "Do you want me to carry you in?" he asked and gave her a sympathetic look without thinking. Olivia Benson didn't take well to people sympathizing her.

"N-no, I can do it." she said before slowly taking two shaky steps. Elliot went back to her side, into her field of vision, and slowly slipped his arm around her waist.

"We'll do it together." he told her with a small, closed mouth smile. "Put your arm around my neck." he said and she did. He slowly helped her into the hospital with Cragen walking just a little ways ahead of them.

They got to the lobby and Cragen went to tell a nurse what had happened while Elliot lead Olivia to the waiting room, which was empty. He helped her onto a small uncomfortable couch and then took a seat beside her. He put his arm around her so that she could rest against him because he could see it all over her face, she was exhausted and wanted to be close to someone.

Olivia leaned into him and he stroked her hair gently while staring down at her battered body. "I missed you El." she said quietly, just barely loud enough for him to hear.

"I missed you too, Liv, so much." he said into her hair. They sat there in a comfortable silence waiting for Cragen to return. Olivia had closed her eyes and Elliot was taking in her features, she'd changed a lot since the last time he saw her. Elliot had closed his eyes to rest them also when someone came into the room.

"Olivia!" said Brian Cassidy as he knelt down in front of her and, before Elliot could stop him, grabbed Olivia's leg. Her eyes shot open and she screamed while a look of terror spread across her face. She buried her face into Elliot's shoulder and cried, not looking up at who had grabbed her and not wanting to.

Elliot stroked her hair and looked down at her. "Shh, baby, it's okay. Calm down." he said and rocked her until she was done crying and had cuddled into his side, holding on to his hand as tightly as possible. "What are you doing here?" he asked, glaring at Cassidy.

"I'm kind of dating her." she said, putting a hand on Olivia's knee and making her flinch again. "Come on, Liv. Sit with me and tell me what happened."

"N-no. I wanna stay here. Please don't make me go." she said with teary eyes.

"I'm not gonna make you do anything baby... but really? He left and you were broken and cried for a year. How are you just gonna go back to him?" Cassidy stood up and said.

"El, make him stop. I want him to leave." Olivia said quietly.

"Get out of here, Cassidy." Elliot said, grip tightening his grip on Olivia. "She was just raped and you come in here acting like an idiot. What is wrong with you?" he asked with gritted teeth.

"She is my girlfriend. I think that I know her a little better than you do." Brain said and walked out.

"Olivia Benson?" a nurse said walking over to them after an angry Cassidy had stormed out.

"That's me." she said, her grip on Elliot never loosening. "I-is it time?"

"Yes it is. Come on and I'll show you to the examination room." the nurse said and watched as the man gently removed himself from her grasp and stood up. He helped her to stand and then wrapped an arm gently around her waist to help her walk. She led them to the room and handed Olivia a hospital gown to change in to before she exited to give Olivia privacy.

"Do you need help or should I leave?" Elliot asked awkwardly, eying the hospital gown that she held in her hands.

Olivia teared up because she knew good and well that she would freak at one little noise if he left and she didn't want him to see her crying like a weak woman anymore. She was Olivia Benson and this wasn't her. "Do you mind... I can do it but.. will you stay in here with me?"

"Of coarse I will." he said with a small smile and turned around so that she could change in private.

With shaky hands, Olivia slowly removed her clothes, wincing when she disturbed the burns that Lewis had put on her body. She held in her tears and put on the hospital gown, trying her best not to touch any of her injuries. "E-El?" she said timidly, finding out that it would cause her a lot of pain to get the gown tied herself.

"What is it?" he asked without turning around.

"Can you help me tie this...?" she asked while staring at the ground. Elliot turned around and immediately realized that she was ashamed to be asking for his help. Walking over, he stood in front of her and took her hands.

"Look at me, Liv." he said and she slowly lifts her head to look him in the eyes. "Don't be ashamed to ask me for help, I'm not gonna run because you need to depend on me for a little while. You were seriously assaulted and it's okay to need someone."

"I-I'm sorry... it's just that..." Olivia started but trailed off.

"I know, Livvy. Everybody leaves, I even left, but I'm back to stay. Let me help you." he cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes.

"Okay." she whispered and he slowly pulled back and turned her around. Just looking at her back made him cringe. There were more than a dozen cigarette burns and too many cuts and scratches for him to count. He carefully pulled the paper gown closed and tied it loosely enough that it wouldn't hurt her but tightly enough that it covered her.

"I'm so sorry, Liv." he said, dropping a kiss onto the back of her head and before he could say anything more the doctor knocked on the door and slowly opened it.

She began the exam and Elliot stood there, holding her hand and comforting her. When the doctor notified them that it was time for the internal examination Olivia looked up at him with terrified eyes and teared up. "It's okay, Olivia, I'm right here." he said and she calmed down a little.

"Let's get this over with." she said to the doctor, giving her best friends hand a squeeze.