Thanks for all the great feed back on this story. It seems a few people are a little confused. If people are still confused after this chapter I will do a quick summery. Please enjoy.

Chapter 4

Christmas Day 2010-San Antonio Military Medical Centre.

Elliot glared at Cragen who was still just stood in front of him looking down at him.

"What the fuck are you doin here?"

Cragen looked at him trying to hold back the tears that were building, seeing his former Detective who he thought was dead, sitting in front of him, alive.

"I have come to take you home, it's over Elliot."

Elliot looked round the table at everyone looking at him confused by what was going on. He pushed his wheel chair away from the table without a word and left the room. Cragen sighed and followed out and down to his room. Elliot spun his chair around looked up at him.

"What the hell is goin on, who else knows I'm still alive."

"Out of all the people who know you personally….. Just me. I was told everything by the Commissioner and the FEDS 2 days ago. They were going to send an Agent to bring you home but I told them I would."

"Why now, what's changed?" he yelled.

Cragen just stood looking at him "Elliot…"

"Just tell me!" he yelled.

"The FBI fucked up….."

"What? What do you mean they fucked up? Fucked up how? I let everyone I loved…. My kids, Olivia…Kathy think I was dead, and now you tell me they fucked up and I can come home. How can I do that, how can I just suddenly turn up and say Hey kids Daddy's home, it's okay it was just one big fucking joke."

"I'm sorry Elliot…"

"You're sorry…..look at me, do you know what I have been through the last 2 years, and I'm having to learn to walk again." Cragen just looked at him he didn't know what to say, he didn't know how to make it better.

"Just leave me alone," said Elliot dropping his head and spinning his wheelchair away from him. "Just leave me alone."

Cragen walked over to a chair in the corner of the room. "I'm not going anywhere son, I know your angry, you have a right to be. This has been hard on everyone. I can't even imagine how it has been for you, so I won't lie and say I know how you feel."

Elliot sat with his back to Cragen so he couldn't see the tears. "The FEDS came to me; they said a hit had been put out on me. They had an agent in Rikers who had infiltrated the Aryan Brotherhood he told them. Apparently it was some guy I put away years ago, for child porn and murder by the name of Paul Conner, he was made a member of the brotherhood. He decided it was time for pay back, he had been moved to death row and decided he had nothing to lose by having me killed. He started bragging saying he had someone on the outside ready to kill me, and if they didn't get me they were to go for my kids or Olivia. Apparently it was another member of the brotherhood. I laughed it off at first, thought they were crazy until I started getting calls and threats through the post. At first they were going to put me into protective custody for a while till it blew over, but it got more serious when the Aryans found out about the Agent on the inside and killed him. They also killed his Mother, Father and Sister. I realised then how dangerous it was for my family and friends."

"Why didn't you come to me? Tell me what was going on?"

Elliot shrugged his shoulders. "I just guessed the least people knew, the less danger they were in. The Feds had agents watching my family but they couldn't protect them for ever, the best way would be for me to die and word to get back to the Aryans I was out of the picture." He turned his wheel chair round to finally face Cragen. "I had to save my kids, Olivia and everyone else from getting hurt. I knew my death would cause them pain but at least they would be able to move on and be happy, I didn't have a choice."

Elliot wiped his eyes and looked at Cragen "How are my kids and Liv?"

Cragen smiled at him, "I wondered how long it would be before you finally asked," he reached into his Jacket pocket and pulled out some photos handing them to Elliot. "They're all doing great."

Elliot looked at the photos of his kids at some sort of party in a restaurant. He flipped through the photos and stopped at one of Liv; he ran his thumb over the photo and smiled. He stopped at the next one it was of all his kids, Olivia and Kathy all stood with their arms around each other. He looked at Cragen who was smiling.

"It may come as shock to you but Olivia and Kathy get on great. They helped each other and the kids after your death. After your funeral they all took a road trip for 6 weeks in an RV back to Florida."

"Really," he said the first smile appearing on his face since Cragen had turned up.

"Yeah, really," he smiled back at him. He sat in silence as Elliot looked at the photos again, before he spoke again.

"Elliot why out of all the lives you could of chosen when you went into witness protection did you choose to go back to the Marines?"

"It was something I could slip back into easily; I knew about it, I could basically be myself. I kept my head down worked hard it helped me to take my mind off what I had left behind. I was actually happy to go to Afghan."

"I guess I can understand that," he looked at Elliot and nodded to his legs. "So what happened there is it permanent?"

Elliot reached over and showed him the photo of Aria. "We were out doin surveillance. I saw her being raped, I couldn't just leave her. I got her away and was shot in the back as I ran with her in my arms. But she is safe now and that's all that matters. As for this being permanent….. I hope not. I'm having physio which is going well, I actually stood up by myself for a few seconds the other day. It may take a while but I will get there."

"That's good Son, really good." They both went silent for a while.

"Cap….. You said the Feds fucked up…. What did you mean by that? And why have you come here? I can't go home, not after all this time."

"Well from what I was told the guy who took the hit out on you was killed in prison 7 days after your supposed death. The Feds didn't bother investigating any more as they thought it was the Aryans who were after you. It seems the leader of the Aryans never actually knew much about Conner and what he was actually in for. They recruited him because he was white and crazy and they needed the muscle, they knew he was in for a sex offences and porn, but they didn't know it was against kids. So when he asked them for help to take out the Cop who had put him inside they said yes, they didn't care, you would have been just another dead cop….. Elliot do you remember the Hannah Wethers case?"

Elliot sat thinking for a while, "The 8 yr. old who was kidnapped, raped over and over. Me and Liv arrested a guy for it. Casey said without my testimony they would have a tough time putting him away for it because of the lack of evidence. It was only because I actually caught him on top of her when I charged into the room, that they had me as an eye witness. I never got the chance to go to court though cause I had disappeared by this time."

"Yeah that's the one, it turns out the little girl was the niece of Arnold Wethers, the leader of the Aryans who had the hit out on you. His sister came to see him three weeks before the court date and two weeks before your death. She explained how everything depended on your testimony to get him put away for her daughter's rape. Apparently she mentioned you by name and how good you had been with Hannah. It was then he realised he had ordered a hit on you and cancelled it. However the Feds never heard the hit was cancelled and put you into witness protection. You couldn't testify, the guy walked and Conner's was found dead the day after."

Elliot sat looking at him in disbelieve. "So your telling me, there was no hit out on me, it had been called off…. And the Feds did Fuck all about it…. what about all the hate mail and threats I was getting up to the point of me leaving."

"It turns out it was all the work of Conner's girlfriend, nothing to do with the Aryans. The Feds didn't have anyone in the prison, they never heard the hit had been cancelled, and as you were still getting the threats they thought the hit was still on."

"I don't believe this, my kids, Olivia everyone thinks I'm dead, and for what, I didn't need to leave….. How did the they finally realise."

"Wethers was in a group therapy session in prison, 2 months ago, which an undercover agent was also in. He talked about his Niece and how he was to blame for all the problems she had because he screwed up. How he tried to stop everything but couldn't and her rapist had walked free. He had felt the guilt ever since even leaving the brotherhood. The agent mentioned it in his report and the Feds investigated. After a series of interviews they realised the truth and what had happened. I'm so sorry Elliot."

Elliot looked at his former Captain, "Why it's not your fault you knew nothing about It." he sighed and dropped his head. "So now what?" he asked.

"You come home."

"And what? What the hell do I say to me kids, Olivia and Kathy. Hi there has been a slight Fuck up I'm not dead, who wants pizza," he snapped.

"I'm not saying it will be easy, but I will be there with you. I will go and tell your kids and I will take George with me. The same as Olivia and the guys, I will explain everything to them."

"So when do I leave?"

"Whenever you're ready. The Feds just need to know where you want to settle so they can sort out a house for you. Believe me after what they have put you through, they owe you."

I don't know if I can do this Cap, what if my kids can't accept what happened, the fact I lied to them, what if they hate me?"

"Elliot they may be hurt, shocked angry at first but I think the fact you are still alive will override all of that."

"And Olivia?" he asked.

"Well I think Afghanistan might be safer," he smiled at him. Elliot smiled back.

"I have thought about her every day since I have been away….. I love her Don, and I should of told her before all this happened, that was my one of my biggest regrets. "

"Well now you will have all the time in the world to let her know how you feel."

"What's the point, look at me? What good am I to her, I'm useless."

"Hey! Fucking stop that!" yelled Cragen. "If you think she would turn her back on you cause you're in that fucking chair, then you don't know her at all. You're in that chair cause you done what you always do. You put a kid before your own safety, so I don't want to hear how useless you are, do you hear me?"

Elliot looked up at Cragen who was stood over him his face red from yelling, but he could see the tears in his eyes.

"Nothing that has happened or what is going to happen is your fault in anyway Elliot. You done what you had to do at the time to save you family and those you care about. Now all these people love and miss you so much, and they won't care that your legs don't work right now, they will just be glad your home and alive….. Do you hear me Stabler?"

Elliot smiled "Yeah Cap, I hear you. Do you know how good it is to hear you call me Stabler, I hated that name Shaw?" Cragen smiled at him and sat back in the chair.

"So I guess I should start packing." Said Elliot. "Not that I have much anyway."

"The Feds are sorting all the paperwork out for me and getting in touch with whoever they need to. I will come back in the morning and let you know what is happening and when I can get you out of here."

Thanks Cap," said Elliot holding his hand out for Cragen. Cragen ignored his hand and bent slightly giving Elliot a hug.

"You don't know how good it felt when they told me you were still alive Elliot, and its Don not Captain, well not just yet anyhow."

They broke apart and Cragen headed to the door "Merry Christmas Elliot," he said as he left.

Elliot picked up the photos and looked at them again; he couldn't believe he was going to see his Kids and Olivia very soon. He never thought he would see them again, and he couldn't quite get his head around it.

"Knock, Knock." He looked up and saw Mickey in the doorway. "Just thought I would come and check on you."

"Hey, I'm good thanks, really good," smiled Elliot. Mickey rolled over to him.

"What you got there?" he asked looking at the photos.

"You still got some of that drink left?" Mickey nodded. "Well go and grab it you may need it when I tell you what's happened.

Half an hour later Mickey just sat and stared at Elliot.

"Fuck me," he laughed downing his drink. "That is one total fucked up story Man."

"Yeah, but I'm going home and that's all I care about, I get to see my kids and loved ones."

"You nervous about that?"

"Scared as hell," he laughed. "But my Captain will be there, so I'm sure everything will be okay."

"I'm gonna miss you around here."

"Yeah well once I'm settled you will have to come and visit, plus we still have that bet for one year from now."

"Well here's to you Elliot Stabler," he said raising his mug. "Good Luck, man."

Christmas day 2010 – New York.

Olivia fell onto her couch and laughed as she heard Casey throwing up in her bathroom. She closed her eyes to stop the room spinning. She heard her phone beep and fished it out her bag squinting her eyes to read the message from Cragen.

Hope you had a good day, sorry I let you down and wasn't there, Don.

Olivia smiled and text back.

Day was good, Casey being sick in my toilet, I missed you though

"God I feel like shit," groaned Casey as she came out the bathroom and slumped next to Olivia. "You okay?"

Olivia nodded and looked at the photo of her and Elliot on the table in front of her. Her hands went to the necklace the kids had gave her. "I miss him so much Casey."

"I know you do," she said putting her arm around her. "We all miss the hot headed, grumpy ass." Olivia laughed a little between the sobs.

"I loved him so much, I just want him back." She sobbed.

"I know you do sweetheart, but that isn't going to happen, I know it's hard but you need to try and let him go."

Olivia looked over at her "That's just it I cant. I have tried."

"Then you need to try harder, I know you loved him but he isn't coming back, it's not like he got transferred to another unit…" Olivia stood up. "He is dead Olivia, dead, he can't come back."

Olivia glared at her through the tears, "I think it's time you left."

"Liv don't do this."

"Don't. Liv me, just leave. Now!" Casey stood up and headed for the door.

"I'm sorry Olivia I just hate seeing you like this…."

"Just leave….please." Casey left leaving Olivia alone looking out the window. She looked up to the sky and wiped her tears away.

"I love El…..Always" she cried.

Aaah poor Olivia never mind she will see him soon. I'm enjoying this story it seems so easy to write. I haven't forgot my other story I will be completing that hopefully this week. Keep the reviews coming.