Chapter Six – Love of my life

Nick barely slept a wink in the chair beside Olivia's bed that night. A nurse came in and out every hour checking Olivia's vital stats and she made sure to talk to Nick, her name was Grace and she was kind and patient. On her last check before she stopped she turned to Nick and smiled.

"You love her don't you?" She smiled as Nick gazed at Olivia, held her hand and stroked his thumb over her soft skin.

"Yeah." Nick replied. "It's complicated though, I'm in the middle of a divorce and Olivia… she's different."

"She's strong." Grace smiled running her hands through her blond hair before scribbling on Olivia's charts. "Two bullets, a hell of a lot of damage and she's fighting."

In a house in Queens Elliot was sitting at the breakfast table with his wife, it was only the two of them in the house, the twins were in school as was Eli and Kathleen and Maureen no longer lived at home.

When the paper was delivered, as usual, Elliot walked to the front door and picked it up. As soon as he sat down he unrolled it and he gasped dropping his spoon into the bowl with a clatter.

"Elliot what is it?" Kathy asked.

Elliot lowered the paper a little as his eyes read the small article and Kathy began to worry seeing the look in Elliot's eyes.

"El? What is it?" Kathy asked again.

"Olivia." He said in a near whisper.

Kathy ran around the table and wrapped one hand around her husband's shoulder while the other grabbed the newspaper. She saw the picture of Olivia in her dress blues and knew what it meant.

"She's dead?" Kathy asked her own eyes filling with tears, the woman had been like an aunt to her children.

"Not according to this." He said. "But it says… she's in critical condition and Mercy General." He dropped the paper. "Why didn't they call me to the house?"

"What do you mean?" Kathy asked.

"I'm her medical proxy, they should have called me before they gave her surgery." Elliot replied getting to his feet. "I need to see her."

"Go." Kathy said. "Call me, tell me how she is." Kathy added just as Elliot bolted for the door.

Olivia felt like she was being stabbed with a thousand knives as she slowly regained consciousness.

"Nick?" She mumbled through the oxygen mask on her face.

"I'm right here Liv." He said squeezing her hand gently.

"It will take some time before she's fully lucid, press this button when she is and I'll be straight back."

"Thank you." Nick replied before turning his attention fully to Olivia while the Doctor left.

Olivia just moaned, groaned and called for Nick for about an hour. Nick just reassured her he was there and stroked his hand through her soft yet matted hair.

"Olivia!" Nick turned his head as a man he could instantly recognise as Elliot Stabler rushed in.

Nick could only watch as the man took Olivia's hand.

"God Olivia, I'm so sorry, I'm right here though Olivia, I'm not going anywhere." He told her gently.

Olivia's head just rolled towards Nick a little which bought a little light into his eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you there." Elliot said to Nick.

Nick just nodded his head in reply.

"Who are you?" Elliot asked.

"I'm Olivia's …" What did he say? Lover? Boyfriend? No because he was neither. "Partner." He added. "I'm Olivia's partner."

"Oh so you're the reason she's here." Elliot spat viciously.

"Elliot!" Don snapped as he walked into the room before Nick could reply.

"Captain." Elliot said.

"Why are you here?" Don asked walking forward.

"Why wasn't I called?" Elliot replied.

"We tried, Fin tried, Olivia tried for months before she gave up, now get out." Don said angrily.

"Cap…"

"I'm not your Captain anymore, and you aren't welcome in this room. Detective Amaro can you inform the doctor that you do not want Mr Stabler allowed in this room." Don said turning to Nick.

"Yes sir." Amaro said getting to his feet.

"He can't…"

"Yes he can." Don interrupted. "When you left and Olivia had an accident they tried to contact you and when you didn't reply Olivia knew that she had to make the conscious decision of changing her details, Amaro is her medical proxy and I am her next of kin now he and I have the power to ban you from this room."

"Captain…"

"Elliot!" Don snapped. "She has gone through two surgeries, she had two bullets inside of her, she had her spleen removed, half her stomach removed and her liver was nicked now right now she needs all the strength she can get and seeing you again… the man she loved for so long… she's in critical condition Elliot, the shock of seeing you again could kill her, now get out."

Elliot leant over Olivia and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered.

"Nick?" She mumbled.

Elliot looked at his superior knowing that he had heard Olivia's call. It hurt, to hear her calling for someone other than him. He knew when she'd been out in Oregon, when they finally talked about it she told him that she had almost blown her cover by mumbling his name under the influence of narcotics when in a prison ward.

Love of my life

You've hurt me

"Get out." Don said just as Nick and a doctor returned. "And don't come back."

You've broken my heart

And now you leave me

"I'll be in the waiting room, I'm not going anywhere in case she needs me."

Love of my life

Can't you see?

"She'll never need you." Nick said re-taking her hand. "She has me…" As he said that he felt her squeeze his hand further.

Bring it back bring it back

Don't take it away from me

Because you don't know what it means to me

Her eyes flicked as the Doctor guided Elliot out of the room.

"Nick?" She asked as her eyes finally exploded open.

"Olivia." He smiled leaning over her. "I'm right here."

"What happened?" She croaked her free hand grabbing hold of the mask and pulling it down weakly.

"You were shot." Nick said. "Twice."

"Twice?" Olivia asked. "I remember … only one." She managed to say in a mumble.

"It's ok try not to think about it, you need to get better Olivia." Nick said with tears in his eyes as she looked at him drowsily.

"It hurts." She wheezed.

"Here." Nick placed the oxygen mask back on her face and pressed the button for the doctor while Don finally walked over.

"Nick why don't you go and find the doctor make sure that man isn't still fighting him."

"Uh… ok." Nick said.

"Don't." Olivia pleaded gripping his hand as tight as she could though it wasn't tight at all. "I need you." She whispered through her short sharp pants of breath.

"Ok. I won't go anywhere." Nick promised looking apologetically at Don as he slipped his hand into Olivia's free one.

"How are you feeling?" Don asked softly.

"Like I was shot…" She mumbled her voice thick with sleep. "twice." She added making herself laugh at the irony but the laugh made her gasp in pain.

"Don't try an laugh Olivia you've gone through two major surgeries." Don reminded her.

"Tell me Cap… who's the man that's fighting the doctor." Olivia asked after pulling the mask down.

"What do you mean?" Cragen asked.

"I know you know who it is, that was obvious, I was shot not blinded or made deaf." She replied.

"It's Elliot." Cragen replied with a sigh as he pressed the mask back to Olivia's but with the little strength she had she grabbed his hand and pulled the mask down.

Love of my life

Don't leave me

He could see the sadness in her eyes and the tears welling up in the chocolate orbs.

"He's here?" She asked as the tears spilled down her cheeks.

You've taken my love

And now dessert me

"Yeah." Don nodded. "We had him banned from the room until you could decide whether or not you wanted to see him."

Love my life

Can't you see?

"Ok." Olivia nodded. "I want too." She said gripping Nick's hand a little tighter. "I want to see him."

"Ok." Don nodded with a soft smile. "Ok I'll go and get him."

Bring it back, Bring it back

Don't take it away from me

Because you don't know what you mean to me

As Don left the room Olivia turned to Nick.

"Thank you." She told him bringing their conjoined hands to her face and rubbing her cheek on his hand.

"What for?" He asked.

"Being here for me." She said. "Thank you."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else Liv."

"You slept here last night, I spotted the blanket and pillow, where's Zara?" Olivia asked.

"She's ok with my Mom Olivia, you needed me here." He said stroking her cheek with his finger.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Yeah I do."

He pressed his lips to her hand just as the door opened and Cragen and Elliot walked back in. The two Detectives managed to hide a blush that crept to their cheeks.

You remember when this is blown over

And everything is all by the way

"Olivia." He smiled rushing to her side and taking her hand.

She snatched it back with a wince in pain.

"Shh, you're ok." Nick said softly as he leant over her so she could look into his deep brown eyes.

"I know." She smiled at him before turning to Elliot with a look in her eyes neither man had seen before.

When I grow older

I will be there at your side

"Why are you here?" She asked him weakly.

"I saw you were hurt…" He said knowing she was angry.

"You had no…" She couldn't breathe properly and Nick helped her hold the mask to her face for a few seconds before pulling it away. "You had no right to be here." She managed.

"I know." Elliot replied. "But I wanted to be here for you."

"I don't need you!" She half yelled half gasped as pain tore through her abdomen.

"Calm down Olivia you're hurt." Don said stepping forward.

Olivia summoned all the strength she could before managing to send an open handed slap across Elliot's cheek as he'd been leaning over her.

To remind you

How I still love you

"Get out!" Olivia told him. "And don't ever come back." She wheezed before Nick placed the mask to her face.

Elliot rushed out hiding the tears falling down his face. He understood to some degree that she was hurt, he'd left SVU and broken off all contact with her but he never thought she'd reject him like that. He could hear her crying from inside the room and he wanted nothing more than to rush back in there and be there for her but she didn't want or need him anymore, she had Nick Amaro now who was obviously madly in love with her.

Hurry back

Please bring it back home to me

Olivia sobbed hard as Don and Nick gathered around her and held her. It was painful to cry but she needed the release and right now she didn't care who saw her cry. Elliot Stabler was the man she had once loved, and now he was there in her life again it was more painful than being shot again.

Because you don't know what it means to me

Love of my life

Love of my life

Ooh ooh