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The alarm woke Maggie at 7 the next morning and she groaned as she rolled over and felt for Reid. When she came up with an empty bed she shot upright then relaxed when she heard the shower going. She hurriedly got out of bed and made it with precision just as the shower shut off. She padded her way down the hall and into the kitchen where she checked out Reid's fridge and pantry. She located some bread that wasn't too stale and some eggs and milk still in date and whipped up some scrambled eggs on toast just as Reid came out dressed in her Rangers uniform. She looked so good in it and Maggie smiled.

"Hey handsome"

Reid smiled "Hello, don't go calling me that in public, people would think I was giving Jett a run for his money"

"Would they now" Maggie laughed and Reid nodded as she sat at the kitchen table and dug into her eggs with gusto

"Mag" she said around a mouthful of egg "If I wasn't so in love with Alex the man wouldn't have stood a chance. I would have swept you off your feet"

Maggie smiled as she slid into a chair next to her friend and continued her banter "Hmmm and the little fact that I wasn't gay wouldn't have stopped you?"

"Nope" Reid smiled and waggled her brows "I would have shown you what real love making is all about" and Maggie choked on her eggs

"I'll think I'll stick with Jett, thanks all the same, he rings my bells just fine" she shook her head as she watched Reid devour her breakfast

"See, that's where you have it wrong Mags. Just fine doesn't cut it in my world. Take Olivia for example, she thought hers were ringing just fine until Jay got her hands on her. They clang out of control now"

Maggie gaped "Olivia was straight?"

"42 years old and never kissed a gal until Jay" Reid nodded, using her toast to wipe up the last of the juice on her plate. Maggie just looked stunned as Reid stood and carried her dishes to the sink. She returned to the table where she bent down and placed a kiss on her friend's cheek. "Thanks for your support last night Mag. I'll see you later OK and you can fill me in on the BBQ"

Maggie jumped out of the chair and grabbed Reid, pulling her in for a hug which went on for endless seconds.

"Be safe out there today. Normal people turn into idiots today"

"I'll be fine, I'm tough" she raised her arm and flexed a bicep and winked

"Yes you are" Maggie laughed and swiped at her playfully. "See you later"

"Bye" Reid grabbed her jacket, hat and car key as she headed out the door. She arrived at the hospital no more than 5 minutes later and walked inside. No one tried to stop her from entering Alex's room and she frowned when she found the doctor and a nurse in there.

"What's going on? Is something wrong?" she asked and the doctor turned to her warily.

"Ah, nothing too worrisome, but Ms Cabot's blood sugar level has been haywire since she came in. Do you know if she had diabetes in the family?"

Reid could only shake her head, she had no clue. Alex was never really open about herself, she would listen for hours but getting to know her was like pulling teeth. She had used several really effective distraction techniques on Reid over the last two years to get her off her line of questioning. Something she wouldn't let happen again. "No, no idea" she stated

"Well from the tests we've done I believe Miss Cabot is a type 1 diabetic, which means she will be insulin dependent for the rest of her life" the doctor informed

Oh. Reid blinked and then mentally shrugged, it was OK. Diabetes if handled well these days meant a full and healthy life. It would be no harder than her looking after her sight and hearing to ensure they lasted as long as they could.

"We've started her on a course of insulin and we will check her bloods regularly. If I'm right it would be a main contributor as to why she is a sick as she is. She should show a marked improvement in the next 12 hours" he smiled as he saw the relief cross the Rangers face, not so tough after all "I'll probably keep her sleeping until tomorrow though, the antibiotics are starting to work on her lungs and the longer the machines can assist her the less pain she will be in when she wakes. Other than that once she wakes it will be up to her to decide whether she helps herself get better. I'm sure you'll assist her"

Reid nodded and moved over to the chair in the room and dragged it over to beside the bed as the nurse and doctor left. She took Alex's hand in hers and sighed as she looked at the woman she loved. She had a bit more colour in her this morning than last night and Reid hoped that was a good sign. Alex's hand felt frail in hers though as she held it.

"You need to get better love, I need you to fight, for yourself and us and all your friends. I'll be here when I can I promise. I have to work, I have to get some sleep but all other times I'll be here. I love you Alex" she raised the frail hand and kissed it "Always". Then she sat back to watch her love until she had to work.

The Benson household was in chaos. Olivia wasn't heading in to work until 1100hrs so she would still be on duty later for the fireworks. She took the twins, bundled them into their pram and got out of the madhouse. Don, Casey and Serena were going to get ready and head over to the hospital to see Alex and be back in time for lunch. Paige was already there, along with Maggie who were all cooking up a storm. The Stabler's would be coming over later and bringing Munch and Fin who were also going to visit Alex. Olivia hoped that Reid was doing better today, Maggie said she was OK this morning and was dressed for work.

Olivia sighed as she pushed the pram along a walking trail that ran alongside of the lake. Max was scurrying after her with odd ventures into the woods when he smelt something. After walking a mile she turned and headed back again, feeling relaxed. Once home she sat out on the balcony and enjoyed the early morning sun with Nathaniel and JJ, Max sprawled at her feet.

Inside the house the food preparation was coming along so Maggie and Paige shooed Jay outside to sit with her wife. Don and the women had just left for the hospital. Jay didn't protest too loudly as she hurried out to spend an hour curled up next to Olivia on the swing and playing with the twins.

Reid was still sitting talking quietly to Alex when the door to the room opened and in walked Serena, Casey and an older gentleman who looked vaguely familiar. She stood and embraced Alex's two friends and women she had got to know well. They fussed over her a bit, teased her about the uniform then turned to introduce her to Donald Cragen, the Captain of the old SVU team.

Reid shook his hand respectfully. Don was a little surprised to be introduced to Alex's partner, especially when said partner was female. What were all those photos in the papers of Alex with guys? As he listened he was able to fill in a few of the blanks as the women discussed all the symptoms Alex had been diagnosed with and how it wasn't picked up before.

Serena had point blank mentioned that Reid must be a Saint to be here after all the crap Alex put her through. Casey had shot her a sharp look when Reid's face had tightened in anger. There was a lot of murky water under this bridge.

A half hour after they arrived Fin and Munch came in and there were greetings all around. They too showed some surprise at a female partner. Sure she had been with Alex at the Benson wedding but the guys had ignored the gay rumours, Alex was straight. Besides this Reid, known as Stacey back then, had been a friend of Jay's.

Everyone stayed for another half hour before saying their goodbyes to Alex and promising to visit again soon. Reid was a firm believer that Alex could hear them and would be stronger with her friends around.

Not long after they left and Reid had just gotten relaxed again the door opened once again and in walked Abbie Carmichael and her partner Miranda. Reid didn't know her too well, she lived in Washington but they knew each other well enough to swap small talk and for Reid to tell her the prognosis.

Abbie said she couldn't stay, was late getting to the Bensons but had wanted to see Alex for her own peace of mind. Abbie leant down and kissed Alex on the forehead and squeezed her hand and told her to use that Cabot grit and determination and get better.

Reid checked her watch after she left and realise she only had a half hour to get to work. She grit her teeth in determination and stood before bending over Alex and whispering her love and to get better soon. With a last lingering kiss to the temple she left, not daring to look back.

She made a stop at the nurses' station and made a note with the nurses that if anyone besides those who had already been in to visit tried to get in to deny them entry and call either herself or Chief Benson. She specifically ordered that a man by the name of Brian Standish in particular not be let in, no matter what he says he was no longer a part of Alex's life, nor was anyone else associated with him. The nurses agreed and advised they would tell afternoon shift.

Just to be safe Reid made a list of visitors who could see Alex, those who attended had to provide ID to get in. No information was to be given out on the phone to anyone, not even her. The nurses could see she was deadly serious and immediately wrote this in the handover notes for the end of shift. They hoped no one was stupid enough to go against her wishes. Reid then left the hospital and headed for work.

Olivia's working day started out slow. Most people were enjoying themselves and the parade. There was a tourist or two that just had to get through the road closure that were frustrating the guys but otherwise so far so good. She knew it wouldn't last though and after the parade she snuck home to get a quick bite to eat. Everyone was on a revolving crib roster to make sure they had something to eat today. Barring emergencies no one was to be recalled off their crib break.

She was greeted by enthusiastic friends and family, Jay saved the best til last when she dragged her into the kitchen and proceeded to kiss the living sense out of her. She was rather weak at the knees when they came up for air and Jay grinned and blew her a kiss as she headed outside to their friends while Olivia raided the kitchen for food. She piled a plate high of left over's from lunch and went out to sit on the back porch and watch an impromptu game of softball taking place on the back lawn.

Everyone fielded except when it was their turn to bat and it was a hit and run style competition. The fielding team had to throw the ball round the bases and home to get you out. If you hit the ball into the lake on the full you were out. After she ate she picked up JJ who was awake and spent time cuddling her beautiful daughter. When her time was nearly up she handed her over to Paige, gave the young woman a smile, bent and kissed Nathaniel and waved goodbye. Jay and Max came bounding up, Jay with a kiss and hug. Olivia pat Max for a few seconds then hurriedly left so others could get a meal.

She returned to the station where things had hotted up, two locals had been arrested at the local town picnic when and argument broke out on who had the better marinated ribs. They had started a physical fight and were hit with a disorderly charge and time to cool down in the cells. She hoped they sobered up quick as they only had 3 booking cells to hold people in. As the evening wore on more people were brought in for fights, drunken lewdness, possession of marijuana and implement, possess weapon and assaults.

Olivia had to call in some volunteer staff to look after the cells, do the bookings and look after the phones and counter while all available officers were out on the road. At 2200 hours after the fireworks they got a call, there was a brawl at the local bar, it had spilled into the streets and more had gotten involved.

She sighed, great. She gave the order for all staff to attend, to call in the troopers and give any available Ranger a call. Any person seen throwing a punch was to be arrested on the spot. Grabbing her hat she headed for her 4WD, hollering for one of the part timers to grab the secure lock up van and bring it out for conveyance. Their 3 cells were going to be full.