Chapter 6 - Donor

SVU Squad Room

Sunday, January 20, 8:15 a.m.

Captain Cragen gathered the crew for an update on Liv's condition and to hear the findings and share what other information they had about the investigation.

"Okay, people. Listen up. Detective Benson's condition is stable. There has not been much change since yesterday when she was first brought in. She remains unconscious. For those of you who pray, I suggest you make full use of it. Liv needs every bit of help we or Someone else can give her. CSU has finished their investigation at Detective Benson's residence as well as her desk and locker here. Nothing has been found to indicate that the arsenic is or was present in these locations. The ME is working in conjunction with Detective Benson's doctors and their findings so far are inconclusive as well. So, we are back to square one. Any ideas, theories, suggestions?" His voice was strong and commanding, but his eyes betrayed his fragile emotions. Liv was like a daughter to him and he was worried sick about her.

He looked around at his crew. They were quieter than usual, upset that their friend, a sister in blue was the target of some sick s.o.b. and they did not have the slightest clue who it could be. He saw the concern, the worry on each and every face.

Lake was the first to speak up. "Captain, as much as I hate to say it...the people closest to her...well...you know in most cases like this...it's someone close..." He shifted uneasily in his chair as his fellow comrades looked at him in disbelief, since Olivia had no family they figured he must mean them.

"Just who would you be thinking of, Lake?" Munch asked, his head tilted back in disgust, peering down his nose at him.

"Nah, man...I know you ain't thinking one of us!" Fin was frowning and pacing.

"No. No...but she has been dating someone and they have had some fights...that's why I didn't call him to tell him Liv was in the hospital this time..they had a bad fight Friday night and..." He trailed off, not wanting to betray Liv's confidences.

"And you know this how?" Captain Cragen asked, suddenly interested in Lake's idea.

"Liv. We talk...about things...and she...uh...talks to me sometimes...about...you know...things with guys she's dating and all..."

Elliot had gone home early this morning and caught about three hours of sleep. He had showered, shaved, changed and even managed to eat some toast and drink some juice. He entered the squad room just as the Captain had asked for ideas or suggestions as to where to start their investigations. Cragen did not see him come in because he stood by the row of file cabinets behind him. His blood began to boil when he heard Lake say that Olivia confided him. She had told Lake about the fight Friday night? He could not get her say anything about it. Was this why she didn't talk to him anymore? She had a new friend, a new confidant. Why would she need him anymore if she could talk to Lake like they used to be able to do? When had they become such tight friends? Without him even suspecting it?

"All right. All right. You and Fin get all the information you can on Pierce Kent. Interview friends, family, neighbors, co-workers...he's NYPD, right? I'll get his jacket pulled and review it as soon as possible." He looked from Lake to Fin.

The captain then turned to Munch. "John, I want you to start looking into any perp that has threatened Olivia in the past six months. If you don't come up with anything, then check every perp she's collared for anything in the last six months even if they didn't threaten her. Elliot said he was coming in this morning, when he gets here I want him working with you on this." Cragen dismissed everyone and was heading to his office when he heard Elliot.

"I'm here, Captain. Listen, something just came to my mind. Marty Stanford. Friday night when Liv and I had to go to his parents' home...he was pretty upset...screaming that she was the one that got his kids taken away...that he was gonna find her and make her pay for what she had done. He threatened to kill her, Don." He watched as everything he said registered with his captain.

"Then you and Munch need to start with Stanford." He nodded his head and turned to leave, but stopped.

"He's been locked up since Friday night...how could he have done anything?" Lake asked.

"Liv's been sick for a couple of weeks...so someone has been doing this for a while..." Munch pointed out.

"Who said he had to do it...coulda paid someone...or it could be someone close to him." Fin replied.

"I still want the two of you to check out Kent." He looked at Lake and Fin. "Get going! All of you! I want to know what you know as soon as you find something, anything. Whether or not you think it is significant. Get on out of here!" He barked, smiling slightly as they all jumped up grabbing coats, keys and cell phones.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Olivia Benson's Hospital Room

Sunday, January 20, 8:55 a.m.

Maureen had been sitting with Olivia for nearly an hour. She was studying for her psych test coming up on Tuesday and she would read bits and pieces out loud and then repeat them. Then she would take a break from studying and just talk to Olivia for a while. She kept talking to her even though it was a one-sided conversation. She remembered reading or hearing somewhere that people who were in comas or unconscious could still hear what was being said.

"I really like my psych classes. They are so interesting. Of course, Daddy hates that I have decided I want to be a criminal psychologist. Guess I don't have to tell you that." She pushed Olivia's hair back from her forehead. "I'm sure he has told you. You know how he hates shrinks...and now one of his daughters aspires to that profession."

"Of course, when I told him that the other thing I thought of being was a criminal defense attorney...well, he nearly freaked out and then he decided that me being a shrink would not be so bad." She laughed, remembering the look on Elliot's face during that conversation, when he thought she was serious. He hated anyone and everyone who defended criminals because he simply could not understand how someone could take up for a pedophile, rapist or murderer.

"You know, Liv...you really scared us. When we found you, I thought...you...you were dead. And then to see how Dad was with you...he was so gentle...so...wow...Liv...I hope someone loves me like that someday..." Her words trailed off as another voice interrupted.

"You hope someone loves you like what?" Elliot asked her coming up beside her and embracing her in a tight hug.

"Oh...hey, Dad." She smiled nervously at Elliot and hugged him back.

"How's she doing?" He gently rubbed Liv's face with the backs of his fingers.

"The same...I wish she would wake up." She stared at Olivia. Elliot nodded.

"Me, too." He stared at Liv along with Maureen for a minute. "Sooo...? Tell me...you hope someone loves you like what?" His eyes held hers and she knew he wanted an answer.

"Nothing, Dad. It was private...between me and Liv." She looked away and adjusted the sheet around Olivia.

"I see." He reached to rub a strand of Maureen's long blond hair between his fingers. It was so silky. "You know what I think?" He said softly. "I think you were talking to Liv about when we found her...and about how I...uh...reacted." He took her hand in his. "Maureen, baby, I don't know if I can...explain this to you...I don't even know if...if I should try. But after what...what I know that you saw...I...I..."

"Dad. Don't. You don't have to explain. I know. I think I have known for a long time." She tightened her grip on his hand and pulled his arm close to her wrapping her other hand around it.

"Known what?" He wasn't sure what she meant, but thought he had an idea and was afraid of what she would say.

"That you're in love with Olivia." Her gaze found his and held it. He was surprised that he found no anger, no resentment, no hatred in it.

There were no words. He just looked at this beautiful young woman standing before him, his daughter. She hugged him and then left the room, giving him time alone with Olivia. His eyes followed her as she walked out the door, so many thoughts running through his head, none of them making much sense.

Turning his attention back to Liv, he kissed her on the cheek. "Hey, baby. Did you hear that?" He ran his fingers through her hair. "When did my little girl get so grown? So perceptive? You know what she said is true, don't you? I am in love with you, Liv."

He watched her face for any reaction. There was none. "I don't know when it happened. For all I know it might have been the first day when Cragen introduced us. I know I felt an immediate connection with you then. Or maybe it just happened slowly over the years...I don't know." He smoothed her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. "I can't stay right now...Cragen's got the whole squad looking for whoever did this to you. Munch and I are re-interviewing the Stanfords...all of them...checking them out again. I wish you would wake up, Liv...I need to see your eyes...hear your voice..." He sighed deeply. "Maybe there is something we are missing...something that you would remember..." He was playing with her fingers, holding her hand in both of his. "Well, I got to go. Get well, Liv...and come back...to me."

Leaving her room, Elliot saw Dr. Bonsall walking down the hallway and ran to catch up with him.

"Hey, Doc! Wait up!" He called out.

Dr. Bonsall stopped and turned. "What can I do for you, Elliot?" He asked kindly.

"I want you to know that if it comes to it, I will give Liv one of my kidneys and I want to know what I need to do to get that in order ahead of time so if she does need one, it will all be in place." He looked the doctor straight in the eye, with no hesitancy whatsoever in his voice.

"Well, now...that is quite noble of you, but you..."

"It has nothing to do with being noble. That woman in there means everything to me. She's been my partner for almost nine years and she is my best friend. I would do anything for her." His steady gaze did not waiver.

"Come with me, then. We'll talk in my office." He smiled, taking Elliot by the arm and continuing down the hall.

Just a few minutes later, Elliot was sitting in Dr. Bonsall's office. He chewed the inside of the side of his mouth, one of his nervous habits. He wanted to get everything in place so they would not waste anytime, just in case Liv needed this from him.

"Have a seat." The doctor looked at him closely. "So you think you want to be a living donor. Have you given this a lot of thought?"

"I don't have to think about. I told you I would do anything for Olivia." His eyes did not leave the doctor's. "A while back we had this case where the husband gave a kidney to his wife...who he had tried to kill. And when Liv and I were leaving the hospital, I told her I would give her a kidney and you know what she told me?" He looked at the doctor.

"What?" The doctor asked.

He chuckled and smiled. "She told me 'not if I give you mine first'. Looks like I get to go first. I want to do this for her, doc."

He smiled. "You know donors are usually a close relative...but you said she does not have any close family. However, individuals who are not related but have an established emotional relationship with the recipient are being used more often. It seems you and Detective Benson have a very unique relationship. She is fortunate to have someone like you in her life."

"No, doc. I'm the one who's fortunate." He grinned.

"The first line of business will be some testing...first of all, your blood and tissue will be typed to see if you are even compatible with each other..." The doctor began explaining the procedure.

"Trust me...we are not compatible...we fight like cats and dogs." They both laughed. "But we both have the same blood type...A positive." Elliot informed him.

"That's good. If we find that Olivia does need a transplant, other preliminary testing such as a chest x-ray, EKG, and a CT scan of your kidneys to check the blood vessels will need to be done. These things assure that you, as a donor, will not be at any unnecessary risk. There are several forms that you can go ahead and fill out. I will need a copy of your medical records and your latest physical report from your doctor." The doctor was going through his bottom file drawer.

He pulled out a stack of forms and placed them on the desk in front of Elliot along with a pen. "You are married, right?"

"Yea...why?" Elliot picked up the pen and frowned as he glanced at the doctor.

"There's a form that will have to be signed by your wife stating that she gives her permission for you to be a donor." Dr. Bonsall flipped through the papers and pulled one out, handing it to Elliot.

"What?" He frowned as he looked up from the papers.

"In cases of live married donors, the spouse must give permission as well. Is that going to be a problem?" The doctor's eyes narrowed as he looked at Elliot.

"No. No problem. Just wonder why I have to have her permission to donate my kidney, but if she wanted to abort our child, I would get no say. Make sense to you?" He started filling out the forms.

"No, it does not." He agreed.

- - - - - - - - - -

Kent Residence

Sunday, January 20, 9:25 a.m.

"Are you serious?" The anger emanating from him filled the room. His emotions were on a wild roller coaster ride. Still in shock over the news about Liv and extremely worried about her, he was now incredulous that his friend could ask something like this. Feeling betrayed that he could even think there was a chance he was responsible, he was hurt as well as furious. Chester was his friend.

"I'm sorry, Pierce. You know as well as we do that it's usually someone close to the victim in cases like this..." Lake put a hand on Pierce's shoulder, only to have it knocked off.

"Cases like this? Like what? What? You think I abused her?! How long have you known me, Ches? Do you really think I would hurt Olivia?" He was pacing and running his hands over his head and face. "A woman I care deeply about is lying in a hospital...poisoned...and you think I did it?"

"Hey, man...this has nothing to do with how long you've been friends...heard you and Liv have been fighting. I have to ask...how bad and 'bout what?" Fin asked, frowning at him, his arms crossed, not at all sure he was innocent.

Pierce glared at Lake, knowing he had to have been the one Liv talked to about their fights. He wondered if she'd had time to tell him about their last one and what exactly she would have told him. Surely she would not have mentioned what he said about her and Stabler. He did not want to make things more difficult for Liv by telling someone else about their argument.

"What if I don't want to say?" He turned his glare on Fin.

"You know the drill, man...we arrest you for obstruction and haul your butt down to the station. Talk to us here or talk to us there. Your choice, man. Makes no difference to me." Fin's cold, hard eyes returned his glare.

He looked away from Fin and sat down on the couch. "We've had a couple of fights about her being called out on a case." He looked at the floor as he spoke. He did not want to do this.

"That's our job. Be more specific, please." Lake told him. He glanced up at Lake before continuing.

"Okay...okay...the first time we fought, she had to leave just as we had finished making dinner and put it on the table. She had already missed an entire date that week...I didn't even see her that night...and then she had to leave in the middle of movie two nights before that...so I was pretty upset...you know...three times in a week...I just wanted to spend some time with her, you know." He was leaning back on the couch with his eyes closed.

"So...how'd it go down? You argue? It gets louder...you holler? Shove her around?" If he laid a hand on Liv, I'll take him apart right here, Fin thought as he watched for Pierce's reaction.

He sat straight up. "No! No! I would never do that to a woman! We just fought...hollered. I told her I wanted her to transfer back to CCSU so she would have a more regular schedule. She did not want to...we argued, I left. Two days later I sent her flowers and apologized and we got back together." He sighed.

Fin remembered those flowers. Liv had been really happy when they came and they all teased her about them. She never would say who they came from or why and she slipped the card in her pants pocket, away from their prying eyes.

"Any other arguments you need to tell us about?" Lake asked, his eyes intense in their scrutiny of Pierce.

Crap. She must have told him about that last fight. "We had two more arguments about the same thing." He admitted

"Details..." Lake demanded.

"Same thing...she missed going out for dinner last week because of a report she had to have in by morning...we argued that night over the phone. I hung up on her, then called her back and told her to meet me if she got done by eight. She did. Then this past Friday, we were at her place, eating pizza and watching a movie. Stabler called. She had to go. I told her again to transfer to CCSU. That if we were going to keep seeing each other she was going to have make a choice eventually between me and SVU." He paused.

"How did Liv react to that?" Fin asked, already knowing the answer.

"She was pretty mad. Said that SVU was her life. I accused her of some other things and left. It was a pretty bad fight. I guess you could say we broke up over it." He looked really sad and depressed.

"I gotta ask...what did you accuse her of and exactly what do you mean when you say it was a pretty bad fight?" Lake leaned forward, elbows on his knees, writing in a notepad.

Pierce looked back and forth between the two detectives and hated what he was about to say. He hated himself that he had said those things to Liv, even if he did think there may be some truth in them. "I asked her was she...was she sure it wasn't that...that...Stabler was her life? Not SVU." He hung his head, unable to meet their accusatory stares.

Lake tried not to show any reaction. Liv had called him when she got in early Saturday morning and told him about their fight...but she left out the part about Elliot. Every one at SVU knew there was some kind of bond between Liv and Elliot. You could not be around them without knowing, sensing this incredible connection, even when they were at odds. Maybe more so when they were at odds. He did not know either of them well enough yet to be certain, but he was pretty sure they had not crossed any lines as far as a physical relationship.

Fin, on the other hand, was defensive. "What are you talking about, man? Liv and Elliot are best friends...been partners nearly nine years! Sure they care about each other! Stabler finds out you said that to her, you goin' have to be watchin' yo' back for the rest of yo' life...at least until he beats the crap out of you! You accusin' her of being with him and you her boyfriend? You don't know Liv at all! She ain't that kinda woman! Man, I can't believe she ain't kick yo' butt to the road a long time ago!" He looked at Pierce in disgust.

Fin knew all the rumors and knew they had feelings that were more than partners or best friends. But that didn't mean this outsider, even if he was Liv's self-proclaimed boyfriend, was going to sit there and get away with saying things like that about his friends. He was so mad, he could break Pierce in two given half the chance.

Lake shot Fin a look trying to tell him to calm down. "What was Liv's reaction?" Lake asked.

"She denied it...but then I told her I saw what he did in the hospital room, the first time she was in the hospital..." He was clearly uncomfortable telling them about all this.

"What happened at the hospital?" Lake's curiosity was evident.

"I...I came into her room and...saw Stabler...k-kissing her hand. I didn't say anything about it until the night of the fight. When I told her I didn't think that was what partners did and asked was she the reason his wife left him, she slapped me and told me to get out. I did and I haven't seen or talked to her since." He hung his head and put his hands behind his neck.

Lake was frowning at that statement. She had not mentioned that either. "Okay. We will be interviewing co-workers, friends, family and reviewing your jacket. I don't have any more questions for you. Fin? Got anything you want to ask?" He looked over at his partner.

Fin didn't know what to think about this information, but he still didn't like the idea of this outsider cracking on his friends. "Yea...how in the heck did you ever get Liv to go out with you?" He spat the words at Pierce, turned and stomped out of the apartment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stanford Residence

Sunday, January 20, 10:05 a.m.

"Again, I am sorry we had to bother you so early on a Sunday. Thank you for your cooperation. There is one more thing. We need to talk to your younger son..." Elliot flipped pages in his note pad. "...uh...Mitchell. He lives at home, right?"

"Oh, yes. You should have told us...he's still asleep. I can wake him if you want..." Mrs. Stanford trailed off.

"Please. This is part of the investigation." Munch peered over his glasses at the older woman.

Mr. Stanford, Elliot and Munch sat in uncomfortable silence, while they waited for Mitchell Stanford. Mrs. Stanford returned within a couple of minutes. "Would you care for some coffee or tea?" She asked.

"No, thank you." Munch replied.

Elliot just shook his head. Tea. It made him think of Olivia. Since her undercover stint with the environmentalist group in Oregon, she would only drink tea. He wondered how she was and when she would wake up.

Footsteps on the stairs brought Elliot out of his thoughts as he looked up and saw Mitchell Stanford coming into the living room. A brief moment of familiarity crossed Elliot's mind when the young man's eyes turned toward him. He brushed it off thinking it was because he had interviewed him Friday night.

"Mitchell, you remember Detective Stabler from the other night...and this is Detective Munch." Mr. Stanford told his son.

"Yea. I already talked to you. I don't know anything about Ariel and all that." His eyes flitted between the two detectives.

Elliot realized Mitchell was very nervous. "This is not about Ariel. This is about Detective Benson. She is in the hospital. She is very ill and we are trying to find out who may have caused her to be ill. So we have some questions for you. Please, have a seat."

"What's wrong with her? How could someone make her sick?" He was rubbing his hands up and down his jean clad thighs.

"We'll ask the questions." Munch said firmly. "Your brother threatened Detective Benson the other night. Do you know if he had access to her personal residence?"

"No. I mean I don't know. How would he?" His voice was shaky.

"Do you know if he may have asked someone to carry out an act of harm to Detective Benson, perhaps paid them? Or perhaps convinced them out of loyalty to him to do his deed?" Munch took his glasses off and cleaned them with his handkerchief.

"You think Marty did something to her? What? Why?" His hands were fidgeting with his watch as he spoke.

Elliot snorted. "Why? He threatened to kill her! That's why! You were standing right here when said it! What are you some kind of an idiot?!" His anger manifested itself in his narrowed eyes, clenching fists and jumping muscle in his jaw.

"Well, she should never have said all that stuff against Marty and got his kids taken away from him! He loves his kids! She deserves to be sick! She deserves what ever happens to her!" Mitchell was hollering just as loud as Elliot.

Elliot was on his feet and nearly to Mitchell when Munch stepped between them, holding Elliot back. "Let it go, man. He's not worth losing your badge. Let it go." He whispered in Elliot's ear, his grip firm on his friend's shoulders.

Elliot backed off, but kept his icy glare locked onto Mitchell Stanford, who glared right back at him. The elder Stanfords hung back in shock and fear. "Thank you for your time. We'll be in touch if there is anything else we need." Munch took Elliot by the arm and they left.

In the cruiser, Munch turned to Elliot before cranking it up. "What the heck was that?" He looked at Elliot, anger still etched on his face.

"You heard him! He said Liv deserved this! She was helping a little girl get away from her rapist father and she deserves to be poisoned? I don't like that guy. There is something about him...I just don't like him." He breathed heavily, his head pounding from the blood that rushed to it suddenly in his anger.

"We'll check him out good...but if you go beating the crap out him, it's not going to do anyone any good. Especially not Liv." He cranked the car and pulled away from the house.

"Drop me by the hospital. I want to see Liv." He looked out the window, finished with conversation.

"I'd like to see her, too." Munch told him. "But then we gotta get on with the investigation."

- - - - - - - - - - -

Olivia Benson's Hospital Room

Sunday, January 20, 11:30 a.m.

All of the Stabler kids loved Olivia. She had been around for so much of their lives that they each had a unique relationship with her. The twins were in kindergarten when she and Elliot became partners. Lizzie thought she was her second Mom and always ran to her for hugs and affection. Dickie had fallen in love with her and to this day had a big crush on her. He blushed when she spoke to him and stammered and stuttered around her half the time. To Maureen she had become her friend, a confidante she could talk to woman to woman about things that would send her parents over the edge.

Kathleen had a more troubled relationship with her in recent years. She had heard her Mom and Dad fight enough that she had been convinced the real reason Kathy left Elliot was because of Olivia. Only since Elliot's return home, had she realized that was not the case. Her parents simply did not get along. When she really thought about it, she remembered they had always fought. Even before Olivia. She might not have helped things, but Liv was not the reason they did not get along. They disagreed over everything. Their home was a virtual battleground when Elliot was at home. She blamed a lot of it now on her Mom. If she would only leave him alone about his job and hours, that would stop half of the fights they had. Of course, it would do nothing about the rest of the time, but at least there would be some peace in the house. She was not sure her parents even loved each anymore or if they ever had in the first place. She knew they had married because her Mom had been pregnant with Maureen. In the last several months, she had made amends with Olivia. She had even found the courage to tell her why she had been distant toward her and Olivia had simply hugged her and told her she understood. She did not even seem upset or mad at Kathleen. That gave her a new respect for Olivia.

When she first came to see Liv in the hospital, she choked back tears. She looked so peaceful lying there, it was hard to believe she was so sick. She looked like she had lost some weight since she had last seen her. Probably because she had been throwing up so much. Maureen had told her to just talk to her like she was having a real conversation with her, even though she did not talk back. So, that is what Kathleen was doing. It was quite difficult at first, she didn't know what to say and she felt stupid talking to someone who did not talk back or even act like they heard her. But the more she did it, the easier it became and she had been talking to her for about twenty minutes.

"I could not believe when he admitted to me that he took Andrea out." She was painting Olivia's nails. She wanted to do something for her and thought this would be nice. "We've been together over six months, Liv!"

"So, anyway, I told Jared that I was not going to share him and if he wanted to see Andrea, then that was fine with me but we were over!" She turned to get more polish from the bottle on the bedside table.

"I really care about him." She sighed. Liv, it hurts so much. Why does love have to be so...so..."

"Complicated." A faint, whispery voice completed the sentence for her.

She nearly jumped out of her skin. Olivia was awake and had finished the sentence. "Oh, Liv! I am so glad you are awake! Are you okay? How do you feel? Can I get you anything? I need to get a doctor! Oh, I have to call Dad! And the others!" She put the polish down and leaned over, hugging Olivia.

Liv smiled and hugged her back. "I'm really tired. And thirsty." Her voice was raspy.

"I'll get a nurse and see what you can drink...I'll be right back!" Kathleen ran from the room.

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A/N: You guys are great! Keep those reviews coming in! I am so encouraged. " ) Bensler