A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I'm so sorry for the delay in updating, guys; as the ones of you who also read It's A Love Story already know, my mommy went through a surgery two weeks ago and since I'm on vacation I was assigned as her "home nurse" during her license from work. Good news is, next week everything will be back to normal!

Don was the first to enter the room, quickly followed by Fin, Munch and George. Olivia kept staring at the blanket covering her legs as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. She was terribly ashamed of being so weak and didn't feel like facing her friends or her captain.

- Hello, Liv – Don said very softly and gave her a small smile.

- Hi, Cap – she tilted her head slightly so she could look at all of them only by moving her eyes.

- Hey, Baby Girl.

- Fin – she couldn't help letting out a weak smile. – Can't believe you really are still here.

- I promised you I would, didn't I?

- Hi, Liv – George greeted her.

- Hi, George. John – Munch nodded in answer.

And then they fell silent. After a few minutes, Don opened his mouth to tell Liv they were going to take her out of the hospital temporarily for the funeral, but John was faster.

- We're right here, Liv – he said. – We're right here, and we're not going anywhere.

- Yeah, we got you – Fin added.

That was enough. Olivia let out cracked sobs, crying very hard.

- I-I-I t-tried s-s-so hard... To be strong... B-but I can't... I can't!

- Liv, it's okay – George said trying to calm her down. – Everything happened very recently. You're not weak.

- T-t-then why...

- You're suffering, Liv. You've been through a lot – Don said softly. – All of us have, but not only Elliot was your partner, he was also your best friend and boyfriend. It's normal that things get hard.

- B-but you didn't...

- You love him – George said. – We all do, but we could never feel the same as you. Not for Elliot.

- W-w-what are you s-s-s-saying? – Her voice sounded rather dangerous.

- He is yours, Liv. We love him because he was our friend, he has been for a long time, but you are the one who could make him leave everything he knew and follow you into the unknown, and still be the happiest man ever. He could also make you put everything you ever knew behind yourself and follow him wherever he headed, and you'd still be happy as long as you were together. He was your north, and you were his as well. With him... – he hesitated. – Gone... You probably feel lost.

Olivia got quiet, George's words sinking into her. She was still crying a lot, but she seemed like she started to understand what the doctor was saying. He was right – she would go to Hell with and for Elliot and she would still be happy they were together, and now she felt so goddamn lost. But she knew she was not alone and she was not the only one suffering around here.

- Liv, I know this is hard, but... – Don sighed. – I'm going to talk to your doctor, see if you can leave the hospital for a few hours tomorrow... So you can go to the funeral.

- The funeral?

- Yes. As his partner, as a police officer, and as his... Girlfriend.

Don had hesitated, as if he knew something the other detectives didn't, and the fact didn't escape from Huang, but the shrink pushed it aside – he had other concerns at this moment. Olivia sighed.

- I can't.

- How come? – Don thought of a reason, but he prayed he was wrong.

- I can't... The kids, I haven't... I can't.

- Do you think his kids will blame you? – George asked.

- Maybe. Who knows? I found someone to blame when my mother died.

- You had someone to blame, Olivia. You had someone and something to carry the guilt of your mother's death and you knew you were right – Don said. – Elliot's kids know you would do everything in your power to save him and they also know the risks of being a cop.

- It was my duty to protect him. He saved me when I was at my worst and I just...

- Liv, Jenna was shooting in random directions – Munch said softly. – There was no way you could ever predict her movements.

Nobody showed it, but all of them were slightly surprised that John was actually letting his feelings come to surface. Huang, Fin and Cragen did know, however, that he was doing it to give Liv solace in whatever way he managed to.

Before Olivia could answer, someone knocked on the door and opened it.

- Olivia, hello. My name is Jessica Crais, I'm your doctor – she said getting inside the room. – How are you feeling?

- Terrible.

As soon as she heard the classic three words, "how are you feeling?", Olivia knew doctor Crais was a shrink and decided not to lie. Maybe she could get to go home as a bonus for being honest.

- Physically?

- No, I guess physically I'm okay.

- Uh, doctor – the captain interrupted the conversation. – We unfortunately have a funeral to attend tomorrow and it's really important that Olivia is also there... I don't want to force her but we're cops and it's procedure – he added, more as an explanation to Olivia than to the doctor. – If you could let her go only for a few hours, I promise we will bring her back safe and sound.

"Yeah, and all the more traumatized", Olivia thought. Funeral procedures sucked; she was going to be extremely shaken and not because Elliot and her were together in a way that wasn't allowed. Seeing your fallen partner was hard on any cop.

- Actually, Mr. Cragen, her cuts are not life-threatening and she feels physically fine so I'm gonna let her go for good – she turned to face Olivia. – But you have an appointment on Friday, and I have to ask you not to miss it.

- Check-up?

- Sort of. You're gonna see a friend of mine, specialized on PTSD.

- I'm not...

- I didn't say you were, Olivia – the doctor said softly. – But I'd really like to avoid it. Here, sign these papers and you're free to go – she handed Olivia a pen and a clipboard.