Well, I'm back. My holiday vacation was amazing and we were able to get home with no problems. I had no idea all the snow in my town melted because it's been raining for the last few days, so that's why I didn't have any problem getting home. Well, we're less than a week away from the new year, and believe me, I'm planning on partying the night away with my fiancé and my friends. So, please, from my gift to you, please enjoy this brand new chapter.

Oh, and one more thing, can someone tell me when the new episodes will air just so I can be prepared for it? I can't wait any longer!

Enjoy and happy reading!

Lots of love, hugs and kisses from your resident writer and friend, Nina!

X

Mercy General Hospital

Olivia Benson's room

Manhattan, New York

May 4, 2008

Elliot was nervous. Really nervous. And he has every right to be nervous because today was it. Olivia was going into surgery. Last night, he went into the hospital chapel, got down on his knees and prayed all night. And he never stopped praying.

Truth be told, he was scared as hell. He was more scared for her because she's been enough hell in her lifetime. With her ex still on the loose, planning his next move, his rage was out of control. Furthermore, he couldn't bear seeing the love of his life in her current state. She was supposed to be by his side; fighting crime, laughing, sharing drinks together and just being 'Bad Ass' Benson. However, as he learned so many times, even though she's a cop, she's also a woman and even cops have the tendency to be scared.

He raised his head up and opened his eyes. Weak sunlight peered through the curtained windows, which meant morning has arrived. He sighed deeply and cranked his neck as he got up and walked towards the window. He leaned against the wall and looked outside. A million thoughts ran through his head. He couldn't think about anything other than what's been going with Olivia within the last few days. Now, he wondered if going back to work without her was worth it. He wondered if he could be able to carry on without her was worth it. He didn't know what to think anymore.

"Elliot?" a familiar female voice called out to him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Olivia stirring on the bed.

"I'm here, baby," he responded.

"Where are you?" she asked softly.

"I'm standing by the window," he told her.

"Can you come over here, please?" she asked, practically begging.

He smiled as he moved away from the window and went back over to the chair he was sitting in. Then he sat down and took her hand into his gently.

"You okay?" he asked right away.

"I'm scared. What if it doesn't go well?" she asked frantically.

He raised her hand up and kissed it lightly. "Baby, don't worry. You're gonna be in good hands. The doctor told me you have a very good chance of seeing again. She just wants to make sure you're gonna get better, that's all."

"Will you love me even if I don't get my eyesight back?" she asked in an soft, unsure voice.

"I'll always love you, no matter what," he declared honestly.

"Hold me, please?" Olivia asked. She was on the verge of crying.

He didn't have to hear that twice. He climbed in the bed beside her and wrapped his strong arms around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and sobbed quietly. He kissed her forehead gently and tightened his hold on her. He didn't wanna let her go.

"Everything's gonna be okay, baby. Everything's gonna be okay," he assured her.

X

Local motel

Brooklyn, New York

May 4, 2008

Orlando was running out of time. He was losing his patience. He packed up his thing and was ready to get out of here. Since he ran out of money, he's gonna have to find somewhere else to stay; somewhere so the cops can't find him. He couldn't bear being seen again after what that fucker cop did to him last week. He still has big plans for Olivia's partner after what he did. He couldn't get proper medical treatment because there's so much fire under his ass now. God, why does everything has to be messed up?

He put his things by the door and took a minute to look around where he's been staying for the last week. If he hadn't run out of money, he would've stayed in a much nicer hotel room. He didn't have to think about that now. He was still on the run. If he has to, he'll have to skip town in order to save his ass.

Just as he was opening the door, he came face to face with a fist crashing on the side of his face. He stumbled back into the room, holding his face and groaning in pain. He heard the door being slammed shut as he tumbled on the bed.

"What the hell?!" Orlando mumbled loudly. He looked up and glared at the man who punched him.

"Orlando Cane. I've been wanting to do that for a long damn time," the man said in a menacing tone.

Orlando looked up and was confused at the man standing over him.

"I don't know who you are, but you had no right punching me in my fucking face!" he snapped.

"Actually, yes I do. This is for Olivia, you fucking prick!" the man snapped back.

Orlando finally figured out who the man was. He couldn't believe it. It was like someone kicked him in the ass once again!

"Jackson Peterson?!" Orlando revealed, looking shocked.

"Surprise, motherfucker! Thought you weren't gonna see me again; after what I heard what you did to Olivia once again?!" Jackson raged.

Suddenly, Orlando smirked. "I figured you would show up. Always coming to Olivia's rescue. Did you ever wonder why she left your stupid ass? Because she kept coming back to me."

Jackson raised his foot up and kicked him square in his face. Orlando groaned in pain because he knew he should've never said those words.

"No! You kept forcing her to come back to you; because you kept threatening her life over and over again. And, I have news for you, buddy: she didn't call the cops on you when you got caught up in that robbery-murder rap. I did," Jackson revealed with a smile on his face.

Orlando was shocked. Truly shocked. "What?! You couldn't have! You moved out of town when that happened!"

"Wrong again, you stupid bastard! I didn't move until after you got locked up. And, as far as Olivia testifying against you, the only reason she did it is because she got sick and tired of you. She tried to break things off with you before, but you couldn't leave well enough alone and kept terrorizing her. She never wanted you. She never loved you. If anything, it's all your fault things between Olivia and her mother got even worse!" Jackson roared.

Orlando was beyond angry. Without warning, he got up from the bed and proceeded to lunge at Jackson, but Olivia's former fiance proved to be much smarter by moving out of the way and got great satisfaction in watching Orlando crash and burn on the table. Jackson reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a set of handcuffs he brought at the store, then he leaned down and proceeded to slap them right on his wrists.

"Let me go, you piece of shit!" Orlando demanded.

Jackson just smiled as he reached inside his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "I don't think so. You're going back where you belong, bitch. I'm doing this for Olivia."

He dialed the number to the police station on his cell. After two rings, someone picked.

"Manhattan Special Victims Unit."

"This is Jackson Peterson here. I just wanna let you know that I made an citizen's arrest. We're located in Brooklyn."

Orlando knew he was done for now.

X

Mercy General Hospital

Manhattan, New York

May 4, 2008

"El, you're coming back, right?" Olivia asked frantically. Although she's going into surgery, she wanted to make sure he was gonna be there if she gets her eyesight back. The first person she wants to see is him.

Elliot smiled. "Yes, baby. I'm coming back. I'm going to the bullpen for a while. Don't worry; you're in good hands."

"He's right, Olivia. We're gonna take good care of you. You're gonna be good as new in no time," Melanie assured her.

"El, will you do something for me before you go?" Olivia asked softly.

"Anything for my angel," he said without hesitation.

"Kiss me," she said boldly.

He smiled as he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, he couldn't help but notice a huge smile on her face.

"I love you," she told him.

"And I love you. I'll be back before you know it, okay? I'll even bring the kids here," he told her.

"Okay," she said softly. She could feel her eyes growing heavy.

"We're ready to go. Don't worry, Elliot, we have everything under control," Melanie said before she and several other doctors began wheeling Olivia. As he watched them head towards the elevators, a single tear started falling from his blue eye. He closed his eyes tightly and silently began to pray. Praying was all he could do at this point.

Suddenly, he was jerked back to reality when his cell phone rang. He reached inside his pocket, pulled it out and snapped it open.

"Stabler," he answered.

"Elliot, it's Fin. You need to come down to the station," Fin replied right away.

"I was just on my way. Why, what's going on?" Elliot asked out of the blue.

"You're not gonna believe this. We've got Orlando in custody," Fin announced.

Elliot couldn't believe it. Orlando was in custody?! He thought his prayers were answered!

"How long ago was this?" Elliot asked.

"A few minutes ago. He was found in a motel in Brooklyn. Was worked over, too. Our witness managed to keep him occupied by the time we got there," Fin explained.

"I'm on my way," Elliot said as he snapped his phone shut and put it back in his pocket. With fierce determination burning in his eyes, he turned on his heel and walked away.

He couldn't wait to get his hands on Orlando again.

X

Special Victims Unit Squad room

16th precinct

One Police Plaza

Manhattan, New York

May 4, 2008

"Where is he?!" Elliot barked when he walked inside of the bullpen.

Fin intercepted him. "He's in interrogation. But, Elliot, Cap told me to tell you to step out on this one."

"What?! Why?!" Elliot snapped.

"El, man, I know you wanna hurt him like he hurt Liv, but we can't send him to jail if you're gonna kill him. I know your temper. Besides, our witness wanna talk to you," Fin said, trying to calm him down.

"I can't stay long. I'm going back to the hospital. Liv needs me," Elliot said.

"What's going on with her?" Fin asked, thinking about his baby sister.

"She's in surgery as we speak. Furthermore, she's going into physical therapy when she gets out. She's determined to get back on her feet at all cost," Elliot explained.

"That's our Liv. She's gonna be okay, man. But, we need you. Just go and talk to him, okay?" Fin said, looking somewhat hopeful as he turned on his heel and walked away.

Elliot took a deep breath and sighed deeply. He needed answers on why Orlando did this to Olivia and if this witness knew something, he was gonna know all about it. He was doing this for Olivia; the woman who's fighting to get her life back on track.

With another heavy sigh escaping her lips, he headed towards the interview room.

Coming up in the next chapter: Elliot talks to Jackson, then he heads back to the hospital. A week later, Olivia get her miracle while Orlando figures out how he's gonna break out of jail! Stay tuned!

I know having Olivia being all scared is out of character for her, but as I mentioned before, even though she's a cop, she's also a woman. This story shows that abuse can happen to anyone at any time as one of my reviewers told me (thanks, by the way)!

Please review!