Thanks for the reviews guys, I didn't think they would mean so much but they do so thanks :) However, sorry to disappoint, but this is purely friendship. I don't think Nick and Olivia have the right chemistry for that. I mean yeah, sure, they have chemistry but as friends and partners, there's no sexual tension like there was with Elliot and Olivia. And I don't really like writing that, I can have alot more fun when they're just friends and what they say doesn't have a deeper meaning. Despite the addition of Mr Clarke (whom you find out abit more about this chap) I do like to keep things fairly canon, sorry.

But don't give up on me! I'm writing this as I go but things are going to start moving along verrry soon. Elliot returns to the 1-6 in the next chapter and we find out more about the elusive Mr Clarke. But before that, here is chapter 3, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: All SVU characters belong to Dick Wolf.

She can hear shuffling and a scrawling pen. Groaning as she returns from yet another seemingly exhausting sleep, Olivia opened her eyes to a dimly lit room and a blonde nurse checking her charts.

"Oh I'm terribly sorry Mrs Clarke; I didn't mean to wake you. I was trying to be as quiet as possible."

"It's okay, I was waking up anyway. What time is it?"

"Half past eleven." Olivia groaned. Now fully awake, she knew she wasn't going to fall back to sleep naturally tonight. Silence fell again as Olivia propped herself up and the nurse finished checking her pulse and blood pressure. "Dr Beadle will be in tomorrow morning and they'll take blood and urine samples for testing and then she wants to take you for physio. When would you like breakfast?"

Olivia shifted and reached across to grab the paper menu she had been given earlier in the day.

"Errr half past nine please. Can I have the cornflakes and a fruit salad? If I'm asleep you can just leave it on the table."

"Sure," replied the nurse. She paused, fiddling with a dial on one of the machines. "I saw a guy in here the other night…" Olivia smiled knowingly. Nick always had that effect on women. "Is he Mr Clarke?" At this Olivia turned, slightly shocked, to look at the nurse. She had been expecting the nurse to ask for his number or if he was available.

"Errr… no. He's my partner. My work partner." She quickly clarified at the nurses' despondent look. Olivia could barely suppress a giggle as the nurse perked back up again after the clarification.

"I hope you don't think I'm prying but what about Mr Clarke? I've seen all your visitors come and go and none of them have that last name." Olivia sighed and looked down at her hands.

"No, they are all just work colleagues. My husband's been away on a business trip in Philadelphia the past few weeks. I didn't want to worry him." The nurse frowned slightly. She had seen her fair share of marriages in practically every shape and form and this wasn't new. However, knowing her place, and her manners, she didn't question Olivia any further, nodded, and bade her goodnight, clicking the door shut quietly on her way out.

Olivia leant her head back and looked up at the ceiling. She didn't know why she had told the nurse that. A complete stranger, when she didn't even mention John to the rest of the squad. They knew about him, they had all attended her wedding a year earlier but she had made sure not to mix her work with the rest of her life. At the beginning it had been pure marital bliss. By successfully segregating her life, Olivia had leant to somewhat switch off from the job when she was around John. She could never fully forget the victims but they were a faint hum in the background of her private life now rather than a stark and constant reminder always haunting her and following her. But that was then and this was now. Now it was probably best that John was in Philadelphia and none the wiser. It meant she could truly relax here and try to recover as much as possible before his return.

She reached across to the small side table and grabbed the TV remote. The only thing on at this time of night was reruns. Settling down for a chat show marathon, Olivia gave herself another dose of morphine and waited for the twinges of pain to disappear.


It had been just over a week since the shooting and subsequent transplant and Olivia couldn't wait to leave these four walls behind and be able to collapse into her own bed. Dr Beadle had discharged her that morning with a new diet, physio exercises for her recovering abdominal muscle tissue and strict instructions regarding her medication. Beadle had noticed how quickly Olivia had weaned herself off the morphine and was worried she would try to do the same with her immuno-suppressants. However she had nothing to worry about as Olivia whole-heartedly promised to take her tablets twice a day until her next appointment.

"That's everything sorted Mrs Clarke. If you'll just sign the discharge sheet here and you'll be free to go." Olivia took the pen and signed on the dotted line at the end of the form. "Is there anyone you want to call to let them know you're leaving?" Olivia nodded and the nurse led her to a private phone booth halfway down the ward corridor. Olivia thanked the nurse and typed in the 16th precinct contact number. The desk sergeant answered.

"Hi Mark, can you patch me through to Nick's desk?" Olivia cut straight to the chase, not wanting to hang around with pleasantries. She would have plenty of time for that later but for now she just wanted to get home and lie on her own bed. She was relatively surprised when Amanda picked up. "Hey, I was wondering if Nick was around?"

"Hey Liv, err no he's just gone actually. He and Fin got a DV case come through and I get stuck with the paperwork. Why?" Olivia considered how to answer Amanda,

"Oh I just wanted to see how things were going, y'know; I'm going crazy in here." Amanda chuckled but stopped suddenly as she realised the date and the real reason Olivia was calling.

"Do you need a lift home Liv? Cos I can come and pick you up, I could take an early lunch?"

"At ten-thirty in the morning? No Amanda it's okay, I'll just get a cab. I wouldn't want to keep you from your paperwork." They both chuckled before Olivia thanked Amada anyway and hung up. Resting her forehead on the side of the phone booth, Olivia considered who else to call. She didn't fancy calling the squad room again and disturbing Cragen and there was no Casey or Alex around either. Deciding it would have to be a cab, Olivia reached for the phone again but before she could type in a number she remembered where she was and the fact that she had no money or form of ID on her. Nick had thrown some clothes into a bag for her but hadn't thought about anything else.

Almost crying with frustration, Olivia picked the phone up once again and typed the number she still knew from memory.

"Stabler residence, Elliot speaking." All Olivia could do was laugh.

"Stabler residence?" she spluttered down the line. "How posh does that make you sound?"

"Hello Olivia, how can I help?" sobering up, Olivia cleared her throat.

"I'm at the hospital and have absolutely no way to get home. I have no money or ID and there isn't anybody free at the house to come get me." Although that wasn't entirely true, she didn't think she could sit through a silence with any of the squad apart from Nick. Who was out.

"So I suppose I'm your saviour then? Your knight in shining armour? Your Prince Charming?" Olivia stifled another laugh. She knew she was pissed with him still, deep down, but she hadn't been able to laugh this easily and this freely with someone for quite some time. In the background she heard Kathy shouting and more clearly, Elliot's reply.

"It's Olivia Kath, says she needs a lift from the hospital because nobody else would come get her." Olivia swore down the phone at Elliot at the same time as Kathy swore as she remembered Olivia was leaving the hospital today and she hadn't offered her a lift. Elliot chuckled at both women before replying to Olivia's original question. "I'll be over in about half an hour Liv, see you then."

"Thanks El, bye." Olivia replied.


Half an hour later Elliot arrived holding a large bunch of purple tulips.

"These are from Kathy. She insisted I pick them up for you."

"Thankyou El, they're beautiful." Olivia took the bouquet from Elliot and made a beeline for the exit. "But can we please go? I just want to be back home again so I can make my own coffee and lie in my own bed."

They pulled up outside Olivia's apartment block.

"Thanks Elliot, I appreciate it."

"Not a problem Liv, you okay to get up those steps by yourself?" Olivia nodded and opened her car door. However, as she stepped out and tried to straighten up, she winced as a streak of pain twinged across her abdomen. It didn't go unnoticed. "Liv?! Liv what's wrong?"

"Nothing El, it's just the stitches stretching slightly. I'm fine." Before her age old mantra had passed her lips, Elliot had already rounded the car and reached out to support Olivia. She tried to resist but as she stepped back, her legs began to shake and she realised she wasn't going to make the stairs alone. Reluctantly, Olivia stepped forward again and allowed Elliot to encircle her waist with one hand and hold the arm draped across his shoulders with the other. Slowly, the pair made their way into Olivia's building and up the stairs.

"How come you aren't in this much pain? They cut you up the same as me didn't they?" Olivia asked, frustrated at the ease at which Elliot could move.

"They used a less invasive method to get my kidney out because I didn't have a hole in my side or a torn vein. I got my stitches out earlier this week and it still aches but my doc says I can start on the weights again next week. Here we go, this is us." Olivia released herself from Elliot's soft grasp and rummaged through the back pocket of her bag until she located her keys. Letting herself in, Olivia chucked the bag at the door before making her way into the kitchen and grabbing a glass of water and two Paracetamol. Elliot cautiously followed her and carried on into the lounge.

"This is a nice place you've got here Liv, you've redecorated." Olivia returned from the kitchen, rolling her eyes, and carefully sat down on the couch. Elliot walked over a propped a couple of cushions up to support her before perching on the edge himself. "It was John's idea; he wanted to brighten it up a bit." Elliot gazed around the lounge, taking in the new furnishings. Noticing a shelf of photographs, he stood and picked up the nearest one.

"So this is the elusive John then?" Olivia, realising the hole she had just dug herself, sat up straight.

"Thanks for the lift El but I'm fine now. You can go." Elliot turned back to his old partner and sat back down on the couch.

"Don't I get a cup of coffee?" Elliot tried to joke but Olivia was glaring across at him.

"Please Elliot, I'm tired. Just go." Elliot frowned. Twelve years meant she couldn't get anything past him.

"Olivia? What's wrong?" Olivia just shook her head. "Please, Liv, tell me? Who is this guy?" he motioned toward the man in the photograph. Olivia sighed and slumped back into the cushions. She knew this conversation was going to happen sooner or later but she had kind of hoped it would be the latter.

"You've probably already guessed I'm married, he's the lucky guy who caught me." Elliot nodded. "John Clarke, business manager for a pharmaceuticals company."

"How did you meet?"

"A mutual friend in the DA's office. I was over clearing up a case with Barba and he was sorting lunch with one of the ADAs. We just hit it off. He was really sweet, took me on proper dates and never complained when I had to leave halfway through for a case. I just couldn't believe my luck, he was Mr Right." Olivia smiled at the memory.

"Olivia Benson, I never thought I would see the day you would be getting married." Olivia punched him gently in the shoulder but winced as her stitches twinged again.

"I can't wait to get these bloody things out of me." She checked to make sure the wounds hadn't opened before leaning back further into the couch.

"Why aren't they out yet?"

"Dr Beadle was slightly worried the surface tissue was taking longer to heal. She says I can get them out at my next appointment on Friday." Elliot nodded and paused. Olivia seemed to have relaxed again so he took his opportunity.

"Liv? Where's John now? Shouldn't he be here while you recover?" Olivia immediately tensed and stood up, ignoring another, slightly softer, stab of pain. Elliot could see the walls rebuilding behind her eyes. It had been worth a try.

"He's away El but he comes back Wednesday. It was a really important trip and I didn't want to disturb him." She walked over to the door and held it open. Elliot followed.

"But Liv, you were shot and had major surgery. I think that's slightly more important than a business trip-"

"How would you know Elliot? What do you know about me? Or him? Or our lives? I haven't seen you in over two years and you waltz back in and think that donating a kidney gives you the right to question my relationship?" Elliot was shocked by her outburst. He stepped toward her in order to placate her but she immediately stepped back and knocked into the side table.

"Liv I'm sorry, I-"

"Go Elliot, get out. I only wanted a ride home cos Nick wasn't at the house." Elliot stepped back, her words jarring into him. He never thought he would be second fiddle to her but the reality was painful. When he didn't move, she shouted at him. "I said GET OUT!" Elliot was on the threshold of her apartment, he turned again to try and calm her but was met by a resounding slam and the bare, green wood of her front door. He rubbed his face, and tried to think what to do next. Finally, he walked back down the stairs and out to his car. His explanation could wait for another day.

On the other side of the door, Olivia swiped a hand quickly under her eye. She wasn't going to waste a single tear on that bastard. Aching into her bag, she grabbed the waterproof bandage she had been given and went to run a hot bath. She had two days before John got home and she planned to spend every minute of it relaxing.


It was nearly twelve when Elliot arrived back home. He walked through the lounge and into the kitchen and found his wife stood at the sink washing salad leaves whilst Elizabeth cut the bread.

"Hi Dad, turkey sandwich?" Elliot nodded and sank into a chair. Elizabeth quickly made his sandwich, adding the washed leaves as Kathy brought them over. Handing the plate and a glass of squash to her father, Elizabeth looked up and locked eyes with Kathy. "I'll go get Dickie and Eli." Kathy nodded as Elizabeth walked off and sat down next to her husband.

"What's up Elliot? You look like a wet Monday morning."

"Liv chucked me out of her apartment. She's really pissed with me, more than I thought. I thought she would understand my need to stay away, my need to distance myself and us from that world, that department." Kathy squeezed her husband's forearm.

"She's just upset. She's been through major surgery and her world is gonna be pretty chaotic the next few months while she tries to recover. Seeing you was probably a shock to her system that's probably just catching up to her now. Call her in a few days, she'll have calmed down by then." Elliot shook his head and replied to Kathy's questioning frown.

"It wasn't just me Kath. I started asking her about her husband and she tensed up, I got a name and a job but when I asked where he was and why he wasn't here, that's when she threw me out. Something's wrong Kathy, she point blank refused to talk anymore about them." Kathy paused; she had no idea what to say. She knew Elliot cared very deeply for his old partner, even now. But she also knew what he was like on even the tiniest fragments of evidence: a bull in a bloody china shop. Choosing her words carefully, she replied,

"Well why don't you check him out? Google his name, the company he works for. See what people say about him." She sighed and looked across at her husband. "Y'know you're probably making a big deal out of nothing. Olivia has always been a private person. Maybe she just didn't want you to know." This hurt him as much as Olivia's jab but he could see the truth in it. Maybe two years was too long. Nodding, Elliot grabbed his sandwich and made his way over to the computer to get started. Sighing Kathy walked around the table and finished off the sandwiches. She had seen Elliot go through this countless times with Olivia's dates and although it irritated her to hell, she was happy Olivia always had somebody looking out for her, even if it was her husband. Once Elliot saw Olivia's husband was a decent, normal guy this would all blow over and he could perhaps start mending what he had broken.

"Liz, Dickie, Eli, lunch is ready."

Hope you liked it. Don't worry, El and Liv will talk properly later on. The next chapter is going to be pretty long and I don't know how long it'll take to write but be patient my lovelies, I won't leave you. Please review, thankyouuuuu.