Notes: Sooo sorry for the super late update, but I have been SUPER busy. But I hope this makes up for it ;) Thanks so much! Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Jess couldn't get over the intense heat that seemed to be enveloping her right hand. It wasn't a hot warmth, more like a soothing, comforting warmth. She smiled as it got warmer.

"Jess baby," a familiar voice told her softly from somewhere in the distance of her black realm. "It's time to wake up now. Come on, Jess, you can do it."

"Mmmm I don't wanna," she slurred. But against her will, her eyelids began to flutter. "I wanna sleep."

"You've been sleeping long enough." She could hear the smile in the voice. "Come on, Jess. Do it for me."

"Fine," she smiled, and opened her eyes to the damaging fluorescent hospital lights above her head, to which she quickly closed her eyes again. "Ow," she complained.

"Glad you're awake, Jess," Fin smiled next to her.

She opened her eyes again, and smiled when she saw what the warmth around her hand had been. It had been Fin's hand. Fin saw her staring, and quickly took his hand away.

"Sorry," he blushed, but Jess smiled and took it again.

"Now, what are you sorry for?" she smiled. He blushed, and she laughed. Fin absolutely loved her laugh. "Come on, don't look so bashful!"

"Fin? Bashful? Good God, what have they done to you?"

"Nice to see you too, Munch," Jess laughed as the older officer walked in the door.

"Glad you're awake, Jess," John grinned, his usual lopsided grin. "Liv and El will be happy to know that you're okay."

"Speaking of the dynamic duo," Fin announced, knitting his eyebrows together, "how did Liv do with the Connor's case DD5's? Did she get those done?"

"Signed, sealed, and delivered," John smirked. "Don't worry, Fin, we got it all taken care of."

"Liv did your paperwork?" Jessica inquired, knitting her eyebrows together as well. "My God, how long was I out?"

"Two days," Fin sighed, rubbing the top of her hand with his thumb. "You had a stroke."

"Oh my God," Jessica gasped.

"Relax, Jess, the doctors took good care o' ya," Fin smiled, looking into her eyes and smiling. "They say you'll make a quick recovery and will be back on your feet in no time at all."

"Finally, some good news," Jess smirked. She looked around at the room. "Oh, damn, where'd they put my clothes?"

"Slow down there, Jess," John laughed, pushing her gently back down against the bed with his hand. "You're not going anywhere yet. The doctors still have to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," Jessica insisted, but the groan she let out when she moved her abs said different.

"That's what I thought," Fin announced. "Now, you're staying right here for a couple o' days, kapeesh?"

"But-!" Jessica tried to argue.

"No 'buts'," Fin ordered with a mischievous smile. "You're staying here until you are well enough to be let out."

"I'm fine," she tried to insist again, but the more experienced SVU detectives didn't buy it.

"There's no arguing, Jess," John laughed. "There's no escape. We're too much for you."

"Oh," Jess sighed, feigning distress at their words and putting on a fake southern drawl, "I guess you're right. Little ol' Jess could never make it past you two, big, strong, handsome…"

"Ignorant, hard-headed, empty-minded…" Elliot finished for her, waltzing in, grinning. "Should I go on?"

"You forgot intelligent and all-around-wonderful people," John accused, folding his arms over his chest and quirking his brow.

"Sorry John, I'll remember next time," Elliot grinned. He then turned his attention to Jessica. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Jessica sighed happily. But there was something missing. "Hey Elliot, where's Olivia?"

"She's working on some witness statements at the precinct," Elliot replied, his smile fading. "We've got a new case."

Jessica grabbed her pad of paper and a pen from the table beside her.

"How's the vic?" she asked, preparing to jot down the answer he was about to give her.

"An ADA," Elliot sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Karen Fitzgerald. Liv knew her… she was found raped and shot in the head in Central Park, in some bushes."

"Are there any suspects?" Jessica asked, not taking her eyes from the notes she had scribbled onto the paper.

"A few," Elliot replied, "but our biggest suspect is Richard White."

"I see," Jess nodded. "Workplace? Company name? Background history?"

"He's a realtor," Elliot replied. "Started his own business, called White Phillips Realty. He started it with a Kimberly Phillips."

"Mhmm," Jessica murmured, nodding and writing down the final details. "Thanks."

"No problem," Elliot nodded. "You can help us as soon as you're feeling well enough."

"I feel fine," Jessica replied, for what felt like the tenth time. "I can leave now."

"Stay," Elliot ordered with a grin. "I'll tell ya what, if you stay here like a good girl until the doctor says you can leave, Liv and I will keep you updated on whatever we find. At least until you're well enough to investigate with us."

"Fine," Jess snuffed, laying back and folding her arms over her chest. "But you'd better tell me anything and everything you find, got it?"

"Got it," Elliot laughed. "Don't worry Jess; you will stay explicitly in the loop. I promise."

"Good," Jess nodded.

Elliot didn't say anything, because he felt a vibration in his pocket. He picked up his phone and answered it.

"Stabler," he answered mechanically. He paused. "Oh hey Liv, what's up?" There was a paused, and Elliot furrowed his brow. "Liv, Liv calm down. No you most certainly are not calm! Okay, Liv, what did the card say? Liv, Liv, just chill, okay? Wait… wait it wasn't to you? God, Liv, please, relax. No I won't. I promise. Okay. Okay, bye. Okay bye."

"What's wrong?" Jessica asked, staring at him intently. He looked flustered, and she wanted to know what was wrong.

"Um, just some trouble at the precinct," Elliot replied, grabbing his jacket and stuffing his phone is his pocket. "I'm heading back down to clear it up. Fin, stay with Jess, will ya?"

"Sure El," Fin nodded.

"Thanks," Elliot nodded to him as he opened the door. "Bye you guys. See you soon."

They bid goodbye, and as he left, a picture fell out from Elliot's pocket. It fluttered over to the side of the bed, and Jess reached down and picked it up. Just as suddenly as she had picked it up, though, she threw it back down and screamed.

"Jess, what's wrong?" Munch asked, startled.

"Th-that man!" Jessica cried, tears flowing down her cheeks. "That man is my father!"

Fin gasped, and Munch's eyes widened. The man staring up at them in the picture that Jess was pointing to was Richard White.

Notes: AHHHH, SUSPENSE! ;D Please review my darlings! It makes our day, and will motivate us to continue! ;) Thanks!

11Alexandria7 is up next! :D