Yay! Update! I tried to stay in character as possible, but I have to admit, I did enjoy writing the Olivia Kathy scene. Hehehe. Enjoy, and please remember to review!

This chapter is for Sarah, for the help, and CelineTheMagnanimous, for the idea that she gave me! Thanks, ladies!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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The next morning, before Elliot even stirred, Olivia awoke and got out of the chair, stumbling out of the room. She still couldn't bring herself to face him, even though it would probably do wonders for both of them.

Ignoring curious looks, she made her way down to the cafeteria for the sludge like stuff that passed as coffee around there. Getting a cup, she grabbed a muffin, then paid for the items. As she turned around to leave, she locked eyes with a familiar face.

Maureen Stabler smiled at Olivia uncertainly. "Hi, Olivia."

Olivia returned her smile. "Hey, Maureen. How are you?"

"I'm okay. I was just coming to check on my dad."

"I just left the room. He's still asleep, but he'll probably be waking up soon." Olivia took a sip of the sludge and grimaced.

"Good. I'm glad." She shifted uncomfortably. "Can I ask you something, Liv?"

Olivia nodded quickly. "Of course you can, Maureen. What is it?"

"My mom and dad are divorced. I'm a big girl, I know that. But I've been talking with his doctor, and they said that he can't go home by himself." Maureen looked down at the floor. "He won't go home with Mom, and I'm never at my apartment..."

Olivia nodded. "And he needs someone there full time..."

"Exactly."

Sighing softly, Olivia reached out and rested her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Maureen, don't worry. When your dad gets discharged, I'll take him with me to my apartment and keep an eye on him."

"And you'll let us see him, right?" Maureen suddenly felt as though she were six years old again.

Setting her coffee down, Olivia suddenly pulled the young woman into her arms and hugged her tightly. "Maureen," she murmured, rubbing her back. "Maureen, I would never keep you, or your siblings, from your dad. I promise. You four mean everything to him, and I know that's a fact. If any of you want to see him at any time, you know where my apartment is. All you have to do is come."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." She met the young woman's eyes. "You are important to your dad, so you're important to me."

Maureen nodded shakily. "Thank you, Olivia."

"You don't have to thank me, Maureen." She gently pushed Maureen's thick blond hair back. "Do you want to come with me to your dad's room?"

She nodded, slowly pulling out of Olivia's arms. "I'm just going to grab something to eat first."

"Of course." She followed the younger woman, and after she picked out her food and headed to the cashier, Olivia pulled out her wallet and paid for Maureen's food and drink.

Maureen looked at her, surprised. "Olivia, you didn't have to do that."

Olivia waved a dismissive hand and grabbed her own food and coffee substance. "It's fine, Maureen. Now, let's go see your dad."

The two women made their way upstairs, and Olivia let Maureen into the room first. But as she started to go in herself, a cold voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Olivia."

Olivia winced and turned around, coming face to face with her partner's ex wife. "Hi, Kathy."

Kathy took a step toward the brunette woman. "What did you say to my daughter?"

Olivia's brow furrowed. "What?"

"What did you say to my daughter?" she repeated slowly.

"What does it matter, Kathy?"

Kathy took another step, and Olivia frowned when she smelled the whiskey on the other woman's breath. "It matters when you're trying to destroy the life I spent the last twenty years building!"

"Kathy, I'm not trying to destroy anything." Olivia took a step backward, holding her hands out.

"The hell you're not!"

Kathy took a menacing step forward, and Olivia took another step back. "Kathy, I'm really not trying to do anything. You're drunk. You should go home and sleep it off."

Reaching out, Kathy grabbed the door handle. "I'm not going anywhere, except to see my husband."

Olivia's hand shot out, closing tightly over Kathy's wrist. "You're not going in there, Kathy," Olivia said quietly but firmly.

Kathy jerked her hand away and pulled back, hitting Olivia in the face.

Olivia stumbled back, stunned as blood dripped from her nose.

Taking advantage of Olivia's surprise, Kathy stepped closer and hit her again, this time in the eye.

Finally regaining her bearings as Kathy moved to strike again, Olivia grabbed the other woman's wrist in an iron grip. Kathy struggled, and Olivia jerked Kathy's arm behind her back, shoving her against the wall. The alcohol in Kathy's system provided an air of invincibility, and she struggled harder against the brunette woman.

Growling, Olivia held her against the wall, applying a rough pressure against Kathy's struggling form. This was the woman who had caused her partner immeasurable pain through the years, and it took all of her self control to not beat the shit out of her. "I'm sick of you, Kathy," she finally hissed. "I want you to get out, and don't come back."

"You can't make me leave. I'm taking my husband with me!"

"No, you're not," Olivia snarled. "I'm taking your ex husband with me when he's released."

"You can't do that!"

Olivia shoved her harder against the wall. "I can, and I am!" She was so sick of this woman, and if it weren't for the fact that Maureen was in the room a few feet away, she might have done something she would have regretted. "I'm sick of how you treat him and your kids, and if it was up to me, I'd never let you see any of them again."

"But it's not up to you."

"Maybe. But whose care he's released into is up to me. And I'm not about to let you hurt him again." Olivia suddenly pulled back and shoved the other woman away.

Kathy stumbled, then straightened up, glaring at the woman whom she perceived had taken her entire family away. "I never hurt him!"

Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. "Just leave, Kathy, or I swear to God, I'll arrest you for assaulting a police officer."

"I didn't assault anyone, you bitch!"

Olivia tapped her rapidly swelling eye, and some of the color drained from Kathy's face. "Leave."

Kathy finally turned around and started to walk away. "Tell Elliot I'll be back later," she called over her shoulder before she disappeared around the corner.

Once she was gone, Olivia slumped back against the wall and slid to the ground, just as Cragen came around the corner.

Seeing his detective hit the floor, Cragen jogged over to her. "Liv?" He knelt down beside her, checking her over. "Olivia, are you okay?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose, flinching as she tried to staunch the flow of blood. "I'm fine," she insisted.

Cragen watched her. "You're bleeding. Who did this to you?"

Olivia waved a dismissive hand. "It's fine. Forget it."

"Olivia..."

Slowly she stood up, and Cragen stood with her, gently grasping her elbow.

"Come on, Olivia. At least get some ice for that eye." He gently held her face in his hands, studying her injuries.

Olivia sighed heavily, allowing Cragen to check her over. Ever since the day she had come to work for him, he had taken on a father like attitude toward her, and right now was no exception. "Really. I'm fine, Don."

He sighed heavily, slowly releasing her face. Then he turned around and headed to the nurse's station to get some ice.

Olivia leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes.

Cragen returned a few minutes later with two ice packs and a nurse. "Olivia, move your hand," he instructed, gently moving her hand so the nurse could get a look at her nose.

She slowly dropped her hands to her sides, flinching as the nurse gently touched her nose. "Ouch..."

The nurse nodded. "Well, it's not broken, but it's going to hurt for a while."

Olivia sighed as Cragen gently pressed one of the ice packs to her eye. "Thank you."

Cragen nodded as the nurse left. "You're going to have a nice shiner, Liv."

"I know." She took the ice pack and held it tightly to her eye. "I'll be fine."

"Liv, who hit you?" he asked again.

"Don, forget it." She pushed herself off of the wall, gently patting his arm. "I'm fine." She started toward Elliot's door.

"Olivia..."

She turned and looked at him.

He sighed heavily. "Tell Elliot I said hello." He had an idea of exactly who had done it, and he was going to take care of it.

She nodded. "I will." She disappeared into Elliot's room.

He watched her walk into her partner's room, and when the door closed, he turned around and stormed down the hall with a dark expression on his face.

TBC...

A/N: Yeah, Olivia is too classy to actually hit Kathy back. Even though I am actually considering writing something where she does... Hehehe. Thanks for reading, and please remember to review!