Thank you to Ivyfern, mekaky, E-O4eva, for reviews/alerts/favourites. I hope this next chapter pleases as much.

DISCLAIMER (I always forget to do one!) – I don't own it Dick Wolf and NBC does, it sucks I know.

Ha!

Mercy General Hospital, Manhattan, New York

Wednesday, June 11th 2008

2.15 am

Olivia was slumped up in the plastic chair of the waiting room, still waiting desperately for news about Michael. Cragen had taken Melissa around ten pm when she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer and Casey, Alex and Melinda has arrived around ten thirty. Munch and Fin were still with her and on her trip to the bathroom she'd bumped into Elliot who she'd forgiven just because he'd waited around. Mrs Diane Thomas hadn't left either which was a surprise in its own but when Miss Josephine had arrived just after eleven, Olivia admitted that she was overwhelmed by the support.

"I still can't believe there's no news." Olivia whispered her breath shaking.

"It won't be much longer, at least we know he's still alive, that's something." Cole sighed pulling her into his arms.

"Small comfort would be an overstatement." She replied.

The comment stung but he knew she was right, he could still die on the operating table whilst they waited for some news.

"It's been nearly twelve hours. I can't handle this." Olivia whispered getting to her feet.

No one said anything as she began to pace. Even though everyone looked tired no one could have slept even if they tried. Munch's eyes were closed but everyone in the room knew he was wide awake as he kept shifting uncomfortably and only keeping his eyes closed because he didn't want to watch the heartbroken faces around him.

Fin had been on yet another coffee run, Olivia was still clutching at the soda can she'd asked him to get. It was the visible reminder to everyone that she was physically shaking, her rings clattering against the half full can.

When the door opened everyone jumped out of their skin. The doctor who entered was wearing surgical scrubs and Olivia's heart hammered inside her chest.

"Ms Benson?" He asked softly as he removed the mask from his mouth.

"That's me." She whispered her voice failing her.

Cole rushed to her side and wrapped his arm around her as she took his other hand in her own.

"How is he?" Cole asked his voice quivering.

"They're just stitching him up now, he won't be awake till morning." The doctor explained and Olivia and Cole as well as everyone else in the room let out large breaths that none of them had been aware of holding.

"And his heart?" Olivia asked.

"How about we sit down?" The doctor suggested pointing towards three empty seats.

Olivia sat down between the doctor and Cole and waited for the news.

"The surgery was a success but it wasn't without its problems. He will be going straight up to paediatric ICU when he's out of the recovery room. There were numerous complications, his heart failed on us a few times and we were very lucky to bring him back Ms Benson, he's a very lucky little boy. He will need further surgery but until he's recovered from this then we aren't going to operate on him again. You may see him briefly in the recovery room, we'll have to bring him around momentarily but then we are going to ask you to come back in the morning." The doctor explained.

"What further surgery does he need?" Olivia asked her voice stronger but still shaking considerably.

"We'll need to insert a tube into the artery in his heart, he will then need what's known as a Hickman line, a small thin tube feeding from the heart into a medication box. It's like an IV but he can carry around in a small bag." The doctor explained further. "He may need the line for the rest of his life but he also may recover fully from his condition."

"Ok, when can we see him?" Olivia asked as the pager bleep.

"Right now, that was the other surgeon, he's in the recovery room and they're about to bring him around." The doctor stood up and Olivia and Cole followed him. Everyone else knew that they wouldn't be allowed to go so they waited for them to come back.

They had to pull on gloves, hats and pale blue paper thin jackets to enter the recovery room. Olivia pulled hers on as quickly as she could desperate to see Michael.

They entered the room behind the doctor and Olivia rushed to Michael's side.

"He won't remember seeing you tomorrow." The doctor explained. "He's in a stage between sleep and wake that makes him conscious but he won't remember this at all." The doctor explained.

"Hey Baby it's Mommy. I'm right here." Olivia cried.

Michael turned to look at her then he looked at Cole and smiled.

"Mommy and Daddy." He whispered as his eyes began to roll into the back of his head.

"Yeah baby Mommy and Daddy, we love you very much and we'll see you tomorrow." Olivia explained. "Can I kiss him?" She asked turning to the doctor. He gave her a light nod and she leant over the trolley and gently kissed his cheek.

"Ok let's get him up to Peads ICU stat!" The doctor exclaimed making Olivia jump into Cole's arms.

They could only watch as the team wheeled him out of the room. Olivia was shaking, she knew it was serious with how urgent the doctor had wanted to get him up to the intensive care unit.

Slowly they walked out of the room and pulled off the scrubs. They placed them in the large bin before Olivia took Cole's hand. She sobbed softly into his shoulder as they made their way back to the waiting room to tell everyone.

When they walked everyone jumped up.

"He's uh, he's been taken up to the paediatric ICU, no one is allowed near him till morning." Olivia hiccupped. "Thank you all for staying, it means a lot." Olivia added.

"Right let's get you home." Cole whispered.

"No!" She gasped. "No, you go home, I want to see Melissa, you're working tomorrow, go home and get some sleep. I'll phone you when I see him tomorrow." Olivia explained.

"Ok baby, I'll walk you to your car then." He replied.

"Yeah, El needs a lift, he was with me. I'll take him home then go to Cragen's I'll call you when I get there so you know I'm safe." Olivia told him.

Stabler's apartment, Manhattan, New York

Wednesday, June 11th 2008

3.34 am

Olivia pulled up outside of the apartment block he lived in. She expected him to just say goodbye and jump out but he didn't so she turned the engine off.

"I'm sorry for what I said Liv, I really am, I've never seen you scared like that in all my life and I know you truly love him." Elliot explained. "I'm an ass and I speak before I think. I didn't mean a word of what I said, you are Michael and Melissa's Mom, I know that and so does everyone else."

"It's ok El, I know you didn't mean it and I'm sorry I got angry." Olivia sighed.

"No don't be sorry for getting angry, you should have hit me again. I deserved it." Elliot replied.

They looked at each other. Their hearts hammering inside their own chest as they felt the connection between them.

"You're my best friend El, if you don't think I should go through with this adoption then I won't. I trust you and your judgement as much if not more than I trust Cole's and he's the man I love. I need your support to get through these next few weeks El, please tell me you can give me that?" She was pleading, her eyes glistened with unshed tears as they plead for him.

"I want you to go through with this adoption, you showed tonight exactly what those kids mean to you and I think it would hurt me more seeing you lose them. I'm right behind you every step of the way Liv." He smiled gently.

"I love you sometimes El." She smiled back. "You can make me smile even when the world's against me."

"I love you too Olivia." He smiled. "You're my best friend."

He added that last bit even though he didn't want to, he wanted to jump out of the car and leave her with the words that he had been trying to muster up the courage to tell her since before he and Kathy divorced, but he had been too late. When he and Kathy finally divorced Olivia's relationship was serious and he could see how happy she was with Cole.

"I best be off. I'll see you tomorrow sometime." He reached over and brushed his lips against her cheek.

She closed her eyes. The fireworks that flew when his lips touched her almost made her call out. She didn't move until she heard the car door close. As she watched Elliot disappear into his building she wondered if she hadn't met Cole would there have been something between herself and Elliot. Quickly, she put a stop to those thoughts, she loved Cole more than words could express and whatever might have been between her and Elliot in those late nights in the cribs when they were catching a few hours after a tough case it didn't matter anymore. She was with Cole, she loved Cole and she wanted to spend all eternity with Cole.

Cragen's Brownstone, Manhattan, New York

Wednesday, June 11th 2008

4.05 am

She knew he was awake by the glistening light between the gap in the drapes. Slowly she climbed out of the car and locked and armed it before climbing up the steps. She'd never actually been to Cragen's house before. She knew he lived just down the street from her now as he happened to mention it to her when she requested a change of address. And then he'd pointed it out from the doorway of her house. As she stood on the stoop she glanced over to approximately her house. If she was right, Cole was in the bedroom but as the light she stared at went out she knocked lightly on the door.

"Olivia, come in." Cragen smiled gently opening the door to the house.

"Thanks" She mumbled stepping over the doorframe and into the warmth.

She followed him into the living room where a steaming hot mug of coffee sat on the table.

"It's decaff." He explained and she nodded and smiled taking the mug into her hands gratefully.

She sat down on the old leather couch, she could tell she could be comfortable and so she scooped her knees up to her side and leant in to the arm of the chair. Cragen was relieved to see her relax so he sat back with his own drink.

"Did she settle?" Olivia asked her voice a gently whisper.

"Yes, she was so tried. Once she was in her pyjamas and her head hit that pillow she was out like a light." He laughed softly.

"Good. Has she woken up?" Olivia asked knowing that she had suffered from nightmares in the past.

"Not a sound." Cragen answered honestly. "Now what did the doctors say?"

"Uh- they said that he Uh ..." The realisation of what the doctor had said hadn't hit her at the hospital but it was hitting her now.

Silent sobs filled her and her body shook uncontrollably. Cragen put down his drink and then took Olivia's from her shaking hands. He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms. She finally came to rest with her head in his lap, finally overcome with fatigue and the gentle stroking of her head and arm, she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

Cragen's Brownstone, Manhattan, New York

Wednesday, June 11th 2008

6.32 am

When Olivia's eyes fluttered open she froze. For a moment she couldn't remember where she was and whose lap she was laying her head on. As the memory of the previous night came into her mind she felt just a little bit embarrassed. Cragen woke as the weight left his lap.

"Good Morning." He smiled softly.

"Morning and I'm so sorry for falling asleep on you, you should have woken me." Olivia sighed.

"Nonsense, you were lucky to get any sleep I wasn't going to wake you when you finally got some." Cragen explained.

She nodded unable to speak, she'd fallen asleep fully clothed on her Captain's lap after sobbing hysterically. The word embarrassed didn't even begin to explain how she was feeling.

"I've made arrangements for Melissa to go to the day care at one police plaza, I'm sure you don't want her to go to school but she shouldn't spend all day at the hospital either." Cragen explained realising that Olivia had enough on her mind and he knew what she was feeling and wanted her to stop.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"There's clothes for her upstairs, I think you have some clothes in the car. Why don't I make us some coffee whilst you go and get them then you can have a bath and get changed and we can go to the hospital before taking Melissa to day care, then we can arrange something with Captain Jenkins so you and Cole can some time off." Cragen smiled.

"No, I don't want any time off and neither will Cole, we will need to arrange our shifts though around each other so someone is always available for Michael." Olivia replied knowing work would keep her mind off her sick little boy.

"We can do that. Now go on, go get your clean clothes and I'll make us some coffee." Cragen smiled and he leaned over and pressed his lips to her head before getting up.

She smiled softly, he was the closest thing to a father she had ever had and he was showing her just how much he loved her.

As she walked to the car she wondered how Michael would be today, how would he behave and how would he cope with his illness.

When she stepped back into the house the smell of coffee and the giggles of the four year old filled the air. Olivia made her way to the kitchen by following the girly laughter and she couldn't help but smile when she found Don Cragen holding Melissa and pretending to eat her stomach making her giggle and squeal.

"Grandpa Don that tickles!" Melissa yelled through her laughter.

"Ok ok!" He laughed putting her down on the floor.

"Mommy!" She yelled seeing Olivia and she rushed to her mother, her arms wide open.

"Good Morning baby." Olivia smiled picking her up and receiving a welcoming kiss.

Olivia placed her back on the ground and placed the bag in her hand on the counter.

"Now Mel do you want some toast and juice?" Cragen asked.

"Yes please." Melissa replied.

"Go sit by the table and grandpa will make it for you now then." He beamed stroking the side of the girls face.

She skipped to the small wooden table and climbed into the seat. Cragen placed some bread in the toaster and passed Olivia a steaming hot cup of coffee.

"That's got Caffeine in, I'm guessing you need it." He said as she smiled gratefully.

"Yeah something tells me today is going to be a long day." She replied.

Olivia and Cragen sections! I love their relationship and I love making it really stand out so I hope you guys like it too. Next up Olivia visits Michael but is he better or is he worse?

Please Review!