Outside, Munch and Fin were still in a state of shock. But, like protective big brothers, they knew that they had to be strong for Olivia's sake.

"She knows him better than anyone else." Fin shook his head.

"Probably better than his ex-wife ever did. And believe me, I know about …" John started. Humor was the only way he knew to try to comprehend what had happened. He knew that was Fin's style too. That's one reason they were a great team.

"I know, I know…you know all about ex-wives. What a shock, what, with all that charm."

"I haven't seen an invitation you your wedding." Munch adjusted his glasses.

"My excuse is my job. Besides, who said I would invite you anyways?"

"El…El…it's me. Liv. El, can you hear me." She sat on the side of his bed, careful not to disturb any of the tubes or machines that were keeping her partner alive.

"El…wake up… it's okay…I'm here…" By this time she had allowed only a few tears to fall. "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere." She took hold of his hand and kissed it softly. "Come back to me…I need you..We need you….your kids need you…"

He looked awful. He couldn't die like this. He just couldn't. She would never get a chance to tell him goodbye. She could never tell him how she really felt about him.

"Don't leave me, El. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You fought for me so many times. I'm going to fight for you." She touched his face. "Nothing's going to happen to you. You will be fine. I'll make sure of that. I'm not going to leave you. Not now….please just talk to me. Open your eyes. Just look at me, that's all I'm asking. Please. Please. Please."

No response.

"Just squeeze my hand. That's all I'm asking of you. Please, El…for me…please…"

Finally Kathy showed up. She didn't look too pleased to see Olivia in the room. Even though she and Elliot were divorced she couldn't help but be a little jealous of the bond those two shared. The doctor was right behind her.

"I'm sorry, Detective, but it's family only…"

Olivia furiously stood up. "I am family."

The doctor looked at Kathy. She shook her head no. She didn't want her kids to see another woman at their father's beside. "I'm sorry Olivia. I just think it's best…"

"No you don't! Besides you are not family anymore." She glared. "You are his ex wife. Elliot and I are together every day. If you think I'm leaving you are crazy. And don't even think about having me escorted out. I have too many friends in high places. So the way I see it, Kathy, you don't have much of a choice."

Oliva had fallen asleep by his beside. For a minute she forgot where she was, that everything was just a bad dream. Then she looked around the room.

"El…I'm going to find out who did this to you. I'm not going to let that asshole get away with this." She touched his cheek. "I'll be back tonight. You're going to get through this. Then you can go back to being the pain in the butt you always were." She teased. If she didn't know better she swore he blinked at that comment. "You're going to be okay, I promise. "

Before she left, Olivia kissed his cheek. At first that felt awkward, but she didn't care. She would kiss his lips if that meant he would be okay.

Later that night, after Olivia visited Elliot, she finally went home. As soon as she shut and locked her door, she slid down, with her back against the door. That's when it sank in. The tears finally started flowing. And just like the dam when it finally burst, the tears just poured out. Her chest tightened, to where she could have sworn it was a heart attack; she knew it was a panic attack. She couldn't breathe.

It was a time like this she could have really used a man around to hold her. Suddenly the memory of Elliot hugging her came to mind. After all they'd been through, she couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

There was a nagging feeling though, that it was much more than the job. All she could think about was being in his arms. No one in the world gave her that feeling of security the way Elliot did. And she never really appreciated it until now, when it might be too late.

All those quarrels, all those sarcastic comments, all those times he seemed to be pushing her away…. It made sense. He was pushing her away for a reason, and not because he felt he needed to babysit her.

Now she knew exactly how he felt when he was mad at her for getting hurt on the day the little boy was killed at the bus station. He wasn't angry with her- he was angry at himself for having feelings for her. He told her that the best things in his life were his job- and her.

For the first time Olivia allowed herself to rethink her relationship with her partner. He was more than a partner. The picture she'd taken of him, in the frame he bought her for her birthday one year, was facing her from where she sat. All she wanted was to see him smile again.

Never had she wanted so badly to be with someone.