Okay, someone asked for a longer chapter, so here it is. A lot of questions will be answered here, and I think everyone will be happy with the results. Enjoy, and please remember to review!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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Olivia soon found herself in Elizabeth Donnely's home, where the judge was supposed to be recovering but was instead going over old cases to cure her boredom. Olivia crossed her legs almost impatiently. "I know this is the second time, but I need another favor, Judge."

Donnely waved a hand. "You and your partner saved my life. How can I help?"

She shifted uncomfortably. "It's a matter of record that my partner's wife filed for divorce three years ago, and he finally signed it a year after that. But then he moved back into their house." She leaned forward. "What I need to know is if the divorce was ever finalized."

Donnely set her cup down. "Olivia..."

"I know what I'm asking. But I need to know, because if it is, she can't keep doing the things she's doing. And I'm his medical proxy. I can't risk getting banned from his room." She also couldn't do it for other reasons, but that was another matter entirely.

Donnely held up a hand, cutting her off as she stood up. "I know why you can't get banned from his room." She went to her bookshelf and produced a single piece of paper, then handed it to Olivia. "You went to a nearby public library and looked up that public information yourself." She sat back down on her couch and made herself comfortable again.

Olivia clutched the paper in her hands like a lifeline as she scanned it for the information she was desperate to know.

Donnely was surprised when Olivia suddenly leapt to her feet and ran out of her house.

"You're welcome."

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Olivia was out of breath when she returned to that familiar hospital corridor, and as she ran around the corner, her heart pounded and suddenly dropped to the floor. Every head turned in her direction, and she didn't miss the look of fear and worry in every set of eyes that studied her. She looked at them. "What is it? What happened?"

Cragen was the one who stepped forward, and Olivia felt her heart drop as she followed him. "What? Is Elliot okay?"

Cragen shook his head. "His fever jumped to 104 an hour ago. They're trying to bring it down and stabilize him." He searched Olivia's eyes. "They're not letting anyone in there right now."

Olivia felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her. "What?"

He nodded regretfully. "They don't want to risk him getting any other infections."

She stumbled backward and leaned back against the nearest wall, closing her eyes.

Cragen followed her, resting a gentle hand on her arm. "Olivia..."

She covered her eyes with her hand, trembling noticeably.

He gently rubbed her arm. "Liv, he's going to be okay," he murmured. "You know he will."

She lowered her head, nodding.

"Hey..." He tilted his head so he could meet her eyes.

She looked at him, wiping at her eyes.

He gently squeezed her hand. "You have to hold it together, Liv. He needs you to be strong for him right now."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper, then unfolded it and handed it to their captain. "Where is Kathy?"

"On her way. Elliot's doctor called her when he started getting worse." He looked over the sheet of paper.

She glanced at her watch. One hour. Even if she was caught in the worst traffic, she would have been there by now. She inhaled deeply and motioned to the paper as Cragen's face paled.

Cragen looked at her after he reread the paper several times. "Where did you get this?"

"It's public information. I looked it up."

He studied her. "What are you going to do?"

Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. "They're divorced. I'm his medical proxy. She's not keeping me out of his room."

Cragen nodded. "Are you going to ban her from the room?"

"Right now? No." She didn't want to upset Elliot any further than he already probably was. "But if she tries to keep me out again..."

He nodded understandingly. He couldn't blame her after everything Kathy had put her through. He was just proud of her that she hadn't sunk to the other woman's shameful level.

Olivia stared at the floor for a few minutes, then lifted her head and went to the observation window. She rested her head against the glass as she watched Elliot struggle to breathe. She was going out of her mind not being able to be in there with him, sitting beside him and holding his hand.

Cragen came up behind her and rested his hand on her back. "He'll be okay, Liv."

She nodded, sniffling.

Maureen was surprised to see Olivia when she came around the corner, and she was even more disturbed to see Olivia's shoulders shaking. A shudder went through her as she sped up her walk. "Olivia?"

Olivia turned her head, surprised to see Maureen. Wiping away her tears, she forced a smile and pulled the blond into a hug.

Maureen wrapped her arms tightly around her father's partner. "What happened, Olivia?"

She closed her eyes. "Your dad's fever spiked."

"What?"

She nodded, sniffling. "He'll be okay, Maureen."

Maureen struggled not to break down in tears as she clung to Olivia.

Everyone watched as two of the most important women in Elliot's life clung to each other, desperately trying to comfort the other.

Kathy came around the corner with the twins, but there was no sign of Eli. When she saw Maureen in Olivia's arms, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Cragen saw her first, and he rested a protective hand on Olivia's arm, his look challenging.

Calmly she approached Maureen and Olivia, and everyone who was watching tensed, poised to intervene on Olivia's behalf.

Maureen finally noticed her mother, and she looked at her. "Mom?"

"Maureen, I need you to take the twins to your grandmother's."

She tensed. "Mom, I want to stay here."

Kathy bristled. "Well, I need you to do this for me."

Maureen looked at Olivia for help, and Olivia looked at Kathy. "Why can't the twins stay here with us, Kathy? They probably want to."

Both Lizzie and Dickie nodded, making Kathy's blood boil.

"Well, I'm their mother, and I don't think they should be here. Especially with Elliot this sick."

Lizzie looked up at her, horrified. "But Mom, I want to be here for Dad!"

"Me, too!" agreed Dickie.

Seeing the anger in Kathy's eyes, Maureen took each twin by the hand. "Come on, guys. Let's go find the cafeteria, and I'll buy you guys some ice cream." She led the reluctant twins down the hall.

Once the kids were out of hearing shot, Kathy turned on Olivia. "What do you think you're doing?"

Olivia frowned. "What?"

"Do you honestly think that you're just going to come in here and steal my entire family from right under my nose?" Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

Olivia's frowned deepened. "Kathy, you've got to stop this."

"Stop what? You from taking my life?"

"Kathy, you know I'm not doing that. I'm doing what you should be doing. Trying to help your kids through this."

Kathy fumed. "I don't want you anywhere near my children, or my husband!"

That was exactly what Olivia was waiting for. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the wrinkled paper. "No, as his medical proxy, I have every right to be near your ex-husband!"

The blond woman's face paled considerably. "You... you had no right!" she sputtered.

Olivia took a step closer. "Actually, the divorce is a matter of public record, so yes, I had every right!"

Suddenly the door to Elliot's room opened, and Dr. Harvey came out, scanning the group. "Is Olivia Benson here?"

Olivia gave Kathy another look, then went to the doctor. "I'm Olivia Benson."

He nodded, motioning her closer. "Good. He's been asking for you, and we can't seem to calm him down. Do you think you can?"

She immediately nodded with obvious confidence. "Yes, I can."

He ushered her toward the door. "Great. We need to get you decontaminated and in there. His heart rate is through the roof, and we have to stabilize it."

She nodded again, following the doctor through the door.

The decontamination period took longer than any other time, but finally she was allowed into Elliot's room, and not a moment too soon. She immediately went to his bed, his pained mumbles breaking her heart. "El?" She reached down and took his warm hand. "Elliot, it's okay."

He heard her voice through the cloud of fever, and he fought to get to her. Slowly his fingers curled around hers.

She nodded, running her free hand up and down his arm. "I'm here, El. Just relax."

His eyes finally fluttered open, and she winced at the fevered glaze in them.

Her grip tightened on his hand as she moved her other hand from his arm to his forehead. "Hey..." She forced a small smile. "What's this I hear about you giving the doctors a hard time?"

A small smile appeared on his lips. "Liv..."

Her smile widened noticeably. "I'm here." She ran her fingers lightly through his hair. "So stop scaring the doctors, okay?"

He tightened his grip on her hand, then it loosened again as he faded back into unconsciousness.

Olivia sighed softly and started to pull away, but she was surprised when his fingers tightened around hers. She smiled and came closer to the bed. "Okay, Elliot. I won't go." She took his hand into both of hers and gently squeezed.

Harvey nodded in relief as he watched Elliot's heart rate come down a little.

Olivia looked at him. "He's going to be okay, isn't he?" She gently rubbed his fingers.

The doctor glanced at her. "If we can get his fever under control, then I'd be more optimistic. I'm sorry, but right now, he could go either way."

She nodded, suddenly feeling like a deflated balloon. "Can I stay with him?"

Harvey raised his eyebrow. "Doesn't he have a wife?"

Olivia sighed. "He did, but they divorced a few years ago."

He looked at Elliot's chart and found her name under Medical Proxy. It was an unusual circumstance, but he nodded. "Okay, you can stay. But if we need you to move-"

She nodded immediately. "I'll do whatever you need me to do."

"Great." He checked Elliot's vitals, then gave Olivia another look before he left the room.

As the door closed, Olivia carefully sat down on the edge of the bed by his waist. She pulled his hand into her lap, then gently started rubbing his chest with her other.

"Be okay, El," she whispered as she watched his chest move up and down in a labored manner.

"Please, be okay."

TBC...

A/N: So we're not quite at the EOness, but it's coming. And what'd you guys think about the twist with Kathy and the divorce? I mean, we never heard anything about it after he moved back in, but everything was signed, and she probably took it to court. So they're divorced, which makes Liv Elliot's next of kin, since she's listed as his medical proxy. Hehehe... I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and please remember to review!