The next two days passed uneventfully. Alex defended her right to be with Olivia during the night to any nurse who happened to look at her sideways. Olivia clung to Alex, squeezing her hand as she struggled through bouts of intense, gut-wrenching pain, begging Alex to hold her when she woke up panicking from nightmares of torture, listening to Alex's voice read her newspaper or magazine articles so she could let the morphine carry her to sleep with her lover's soft voice echoing in her ears.
Cragen, Elliot, Munch and Fin came and left, sometimes while Olivia slept, to smile at their heinously injured colleague and drop off more magazines and packages of Olivia's favorite foods. Elliot brought a dozen cookies that Kathy and the kids made from scratch. Fin brought headphones and the calming R&B albums he was always playing for her. Cragen looked sadly on and rested his hand on her cast-enclosed ankle while Munch gave her animated blow-by-blows of Fin's antics. Olivia did her best to smile weakly at her friends – her family – but the visits exhausted her. Only a few minutes of enduring their efforts made Olivia rest her head on the pillow and fight to keep her eyes open. Alex gently shooed them out and returned to Olivia's side, smoothing the brown fringe back from the brunette's forehead and easing down onto the bed to cradle her exhausted girlfriend.
The afternoon of the second day, Olivia's nurse entered the room smiling widely. "Afternoon," she said brightly. "The doctor says you're going home in the morning, Ms. Benson." Olivia blinked and then smiled back at her.
"Really," she said softly. "Tomorrow?"
"That's right. So today I'm going to teach you and Ms. Cabot how to care for your wounds." The nurse deftly started, with Alex watching closely. She demonstrated how she used the bathing cloths to clean Olivia's exposed skin and how she smoothed Olivia's wounds with antibacterial salve before replacing the bandages. Once she was finished, the nurse handed Alex a stack of instructions.
"Don't worry," she laughed at the slightly bewildered women. "You'll get the hang of it in no time. Now, I'll get off soon and I probably won't see you before you're discharged. So I just wanted to say that I hope you heal soon and get back on the force. I know how much you do and I have the deepest respect." She turned to Alex and continued. "Take good care of her or you'll have me to answer to."
Alex laughed gently and replied, "Don't worry. You'd have to line up behind her partners." With a last laugh, the nurse grinned over her shoulder and left the women alone.
Alex grinned down at Olivia and squeezed her hand. "I'm taking you home, darling," she said breathlessly. Olivia returned her smile quietly. Alex continued. "Listen, I need to run out and pick up your prescriptions and some things for the apartment before I take you home tomorrow. Is that ok?" Olivia's eyes widened; the thought of being alone in the hospital room caused her heart to pound in terror.
Alex continued to caress Olivia's hand and quickly corrected herself. "I meant, would it be ok if I called Cragen to stay with you while I run out?" Olivia calmed enough to nod in agreement and smile uneasily at her lover. Alex kissed Olivia and then dialed Cragen. After a brief conversation, she said her goodbyes. She sat on Olivia's bed and leaned close to cradle Olivia with her left arm. Olivia shifted slightly so her cheek rested close to Alex's chest so she could listen to the soothing sound of her lover's steady heartbeat. Alex had her left arm wrapped around Olivia, her hand resting on the cast covering Olivia's right arm. Alex thanked God for Olivia's life but could hardly wait until she could hold her warm body close and without pain.
Cragen entered the room, knocking softly on the doorjamb so as not to startle the silent women. Alex looked up to meet the captain's sad eyes and smiled, raising her finger to her lips. Cragen soberly took in the sight of the ADA tenderly extracting herself from Olivia's bed, moving slowly and gracefully to avoid waking the sleeping brunette. Alex picked up her purse and coat from the chair in the room's corner and beckoned for Cragen to follow her into the hall. Once there, she turned and began. "Captain, thanks for coming at such short notice. They're ready to discharge her tomorrow morning and I need to pick up all of the prescriptions and things we need before I can take her home."
Cragen smiled broadly. "That's great Alex. And don't thank me; I'd never refuse a favor to you or to Olivia. You know that." Cragen reached out and clapped her on the shoulder reassuringly. "Bye Alex. See you in a little while." Alex returned his smile and, with a cheerful farewell, turned and strode briskly towards the stairs.
Cragen settled himself quietly in the chair in the room's corner, flipping on the lamp so he could read his newspaper without disturbing Olivia. She had always been one of his favorite people since the first day she walked into his office clutching her transfer papers. He loved her for her dedication, for her compassion and gentleness when dealing with victims. No one else in the squad could comfort traumatized children like she could. But beyond that, Cragen had developed a special relationship with her. He had never had children with his late wife but he had always wanted a daughter, one who would inherit his wife's shining personality and strength. Olivia had come into his life as a daughter who lacked a father and they became close. Sitting here in the dim hospital room, listening to the beeps and whirrs of the machines monitoring the prone woman, Cragen felt as if his heart was breaking. Olivia was so strong, had been through so much already. She didn't deserve to suffer any longer. She deserved to look forward to a happy future with Alex.
After an hour of reading the paper, Cragen had finished the local news section and he looked over the top of the paper to check on his charge. When his sad eyes met brown ones, he nearly dropped the paper in his rush to jump from the chair and approach her. Catching himself, he slowly folded the paper and walked to her side calmly so as not to startle her. Her eyes followed his path and he smiled down at her as he perched on the edge of her bed. Cragen carefully rested his hand on her cast-encased wrist and said, "Morning, Detective."
Olivia smiled weakly from her pillow and responded, "Captain. Why are you… Where's Alex?"
"She ran to the pharmacy and the supermarket so that the apartment will be ready when she takes you home tomorrow. She called me to keep you company while she was out. How are you doing?" Cragen asked. Olivia's smile faded a bit and she shut her eyes.
"I'm alright Captain. I, uh.." she trailed off.
"Shhhh," Cragen whispered. "Just rest. I'm here if you need anything, just ask." Olivia's eyelids fluttered open briefly before she groaned softly and relaxed back onto her pillow. Cragen sat perfectly still for another moment, unwilling to disturb her with any sudden movement, before he stood and moved back to his chair, flipping the paper open to the sports section.
Alex stepped softly into the dark room, bringing with her the lightest breath of the chill night outside. She grinned to herself at the sight of her lover deeply and peacefully asleep while her captain snored softly from a chair nearby. Alex draped her jacket over the edge of Olivia's bed and clasped Don's shoulder firmly, shaking gently. Don started awake, blinking unfocusedly for a moment before he remembered where he was. He winked at Alex before he stood stiffly and stretched his sore back. He gathered up his jacket and hat and paper and followed Alex to the still brightly lit hall. Alex reached for Cragen's hand and smiled warmly. "Thanks again, Don. I'm so glad to be taking her home tomorrow. Oh, and I want to invite you and the rest of the boys to come over tomorrow night to have a little dinner and welcome her home. I doubt she'll last long with Munch around, but I'm sure it would make her feel loved."
Cragen smiled and clasped Alex's hand tightly. "I'd be glad to come. I'll make sure the detectives know that it's not optional. Six o'clock?" Alex nodded and, impulsively, leaned to press a kiss to Cragen's weary cheek.
"Don, thank you. I mean it," she murmured. Cragen smiled even wider, despite the sad situation, and turned to head home for a night of much needed rest.
Alex returned to Olivia's room. She brushed her teeth and splashed water on her face before she changed into the set of pajamas she kept in the room. She prayed that everything would go smoothly and this would be the last night they would spend in this hospital. Alex padded silently to Olivia's bed and climbed in, curling into her customary position. She pressed a lingering kiss to Olivia's unhurt cheek and nuzzled close to her lover, holding the sleeping woman protectively.