A/N: Ten chapters – Whew! Thanks for all the amazing comments, you guys. I read all of them, and they really do make my day!

I gingerly wipe my mouth with the back of my trembling hand. My breaths are laboured, and despite the fact that the disturbing imagery in my mind has ceased, the nausea and the shaking have yet to end. I swallow hard, battling against my rebellious body, trying to quell the panic and regain control. Turning on the tap in the small basin of a sink, I turn away and lean heavily against the counter. I press the heels of my hands into my eyes, while my mind blares 'Wake up! Wake up!' Another deep breath is expelled from my lungs, forcefully.

I had yet to grasp the concept that Olivia came this close, and when the realization hit me, it hit me full force. Now, I'm left weak and rugged. I bend over, my head falling somewhere close to between my knees. Safety position. Safety position. Breathe. Breathe.

Breathe.

Minutes pass, and as my body calms, a harsh sentiment of cold raises goose bumps on my forearms. It's really cold in here, now that I've noticed it. Really cold. I just didn't notice before, because the pure adrenaline and purposeful mission of saving my partner had kept me well occupied.

My teeth begin to chatter, and I wonder how this guy ever stayed here. Maybe there's a heat source somewhere, either inaccessible or too hidden for me to find. I'm topless because I had removed Olivia's blood bathed blouse and replaced it with my own shirt, effectively leaving my torso bare. I sigh heavily, and I know that I have to find a way to warm us up. The thermostat in here is definitely turned off, or possible broken, for that matter, and even if it was functioning, I have no idea where to find it. The easiest solution is finding us more layers and more warm things to cover us up with. My mind wanders to the first room we inhabited, down in the basement, the one where Olivia had been trying to escape through the window. She'd been wearing a sweater, I believe, and also a coat, but she had removed them in order to stand on them, as well as the chair, in hopes of reaching the high basement window.

We hadn't had time to grab our shed clothing before we were violently ordered out of the room. That means, our warm late fall clothes are still within the walls of that concrete room. I need to get them, because there is nothing in our captors' closet, and I can see that Olivia's lips have that weir blueish tinge at the corners again. I turn off the tap that was rinsing away my mess, and push myself off the counter. I walk slowly towards Liv, because I don't want to startle her.

Although her eyes are closed, it's not a 'resting' kind of closed. It's more of a 'squeezed shut' kind of closed. Her hand is pressed firmly against the left side of her abdomen, and even though her wound was bleeding considerably more profusely before I removed the bullet, a small stream of blood consistently exerts from the hole in her side. I place my hand over hers, applying more pressure, and she gasps, and opens her eyes.

"El…"

"Right here, Olivia. You're doing great, honey, keep working. I'm so proud of you."

"Elliot…" A frown forms on her face, her eyes squints. Her chest heaves up and down with the force of her breathing. "Am I… going to… die?"

I try to swallow, but there's a big lump somewhere halfway down my throat. I clear it, and brush the hair out of her eyes with my fingers. "No, Liv. No, you're not going to die. You're not going to die."

I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince.

She breathes shallowly, but visibly relaxes at my words. "But it's…bad…right?"

My eyes kind of prickle. "Um…I guess you could say that."

"Why…is it…always…us?" She chuckles feebly.

I smile a forced grin, and it probably comes across as a creepy Grinch face. But I'm trying to make her feel better, so I need to play along.

"Liv? You're cold," I state, feeling her hands and brow.

"El…I'm so…hot. It burns…everywhere…"

I know it is just the feeling of being hot, from the wound. She's probably running a fever, but by the feel of her skin I can tell that she's freezing, even if she's not conscious of that fact. Her body needs to be kept warm.

"Olivia? I'm going to go get our coats and stuff, okay? I'll just be gone a minute, alright?"

Her eyes shoot open. "W-what?"

I lean over her so that she can see my face. "I'm going to get your sweater. I'll be right back."

A panicked expression crosses her face. "N-no…No, El…stay."

I smooth my hand through her hair. "It's okay, Olivia. Just relax. It's only for a minute, okay?"

She closes her eyes again, and swallows hard. "O-okay…"

I nod quickly and give her an encouraging smile. "I'll be back before you know it, sweetheart."

She simply nods slightly. I get up from my spot beside her, and trudge quickly over to the door of this dingy 'living space.'

"El?" She calls, when I'm halfway out the door.

"Yeah?"

"Hurry back," she says, slightly out of breath.

"You know it."

I turn and start at a slow run down the hall. It looks the same as it did coming up here, dark and dust, with various clutter scattered all over the edges. Cardboard strips, metal pieces to several different machines, and rusty nails adorn the floor. I jog carefully, avoiding the big messes, but stepping right on the smaller ones. I have no time to waste.

After a while, the straight, long hallway makes a sharp right turn, and I am met with the same landing space where Olivia and I first stayed upon coming up the stairs. I cross it quickly, because this room is familiar and I know its layout. The stairs are directly across from me, on the opposite wall. Wrenching the crappy door out of the way, I propel myself down the steep set of stairs. Adrenaline blurs my senses, and I find that even with this chemical strength, I need to slow down. I push my hand against the wall for support, and slow my steps until I get a steady rhythm going, instead of an uncontrolled, hazardous stumbling. Thump, thump, thump, thump.

When I reach the bottom of the steep, narrow staircase, there is another sharp, right turn. My shoulder comes in harsh contact with the wall ahead because my momentum prevented me from reaching the sharp turn. I push down the slight pain though, because Olivia is scared and alone and cold, and God damnit, I'm freezing too. The sooner we can reach out proper attire, the better.

Down here, in this new series of hallways, it's a total maze. I can only remember the way to the second room we were held in. After that, it's all blind. It's darker here, too. There is no whisper of daylight, because there are no windows. Clutter here has gotten denser, as if this was once a storage area. I have to walk now, because I can't watch my feet and run and try not to trip all at the same time. I've never really been a multi-tasker. I can practically feel the tension and suspense rolling off my body. All my muscles are coiled, ready to jump on any threat. It's kind of like a bad horror movie. Or, a really good one. All I can hear is my footsteps echoing beneath me, and my own laboured breathing.

I feel along the rough wall, slowly but steadily making my way to our 'prison'. Suddenly, my feet catch on something unexpected, something I didn't see. I fall flat on my stomach, cursing loudly as I try to get up on all fours. That hurts that chest, let me tell you. I cough and splutter noisily while I try to regain my winded breath. My ribs feel bruised. I was taken by such surprise that I didn't get a chance to catch myself on my hands. I roll onto my side, and gingerly push myself up, stifling a groan. God, my ribs!

I manage to get back up, and continue my journey to the coats. Soon, I reach the second room where we were kept. As I near the door, I quiet my footsteps, until I am moving almost silently. I remember that the bastard who kept us in here is still lying unconscious in that room. Just to be safe, I approach with caution.

I peer into the room, and stifle a hard gasp.

Our captor is on his feet, blinking rapidly and holding a hand to his head. His hair is mussed, and he's got a blank, dazed expression on his face. Looks like he just woke up a little while ago.

Bastard.

I ball my hands into fists. My endeavour to find the missing coats is quickly set to the back of my mind. I can do that after. Fifteen minutes won't hurt. I can do it later.

This guy tortured us.

This guy shot Olivia.

I caress my left knuckles with my right fingertips, and clench my fists tightly. I feel my heart rate increase, feel my blood boil. My barely contained rage seeps out of my personal, ready to spring. To attack.

This guy tried to kill Olivia.

I'm going to kill him.

A/N: Reviews make me write faster ;)