A/N: Heey Guys! Sorry it has been a VERY LONG time! I've been thinking about what to write next cause I had writer's block and life has been quite busy these last few months. I hope you enjoy this next chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter 10- The Day After The Surgery

The next morning came round quicker than Elliot had expected, but for once over the last few days, he actually had gotten a decent night sleep. Olivia was still asleep, and for once she had slept well too; the painkillers had kept the pain in her legs at bay so she could sleep.

Elliot found himself just watching her sleep. He was so happy that she was on the mend. Yes, he knew the next few months were going to be extremely difficult, but he knew Olivia and she was a very strong woman who would get through this, and he was going to be there with her every step of the way.

They hadn't gotten a chance to properly talk about their relationship or what exactly was going on between them, but no matter what happened, Elliot was going to love, help and support her the whole way.

A nurse came into the room to top up her painkillers, just as Olivia began to wake up. As her eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was Elliot staring back at her. When the Nurse moved away from her bed and left the room, Elliot moved to where she had been and placed a kiss on her lips. She smiled at him, and he took her hand.

"Hey" she croaked. Elliot smiled, "Hey, how you feeling?"

Olivia chuckled, "Like I've been to hell and back once again."

Elliot chuckled in return; at least she was in good spirits. They sat in some silence just staring at each other, until Olivia broke the silence.

"Did you really mean what you said?"

Elliot looked at her strangely, "I don't understand..."

Olivia gulped and looked down at their intertwined hands. "Do you really 'love' me?"

"Of course I do, I meant every word. I wouldn't have told you that I loved you unless I was absolutely sure I did; I would have said, 'I like you,' because I will always like, and I believe that you don't tell someone you love them unless you really mean it, and I really mean it."

Olivia smiled and gently squeezed his hand. She was so lucky to have a caring, trustworthy, honest guy like Elliot in her life because a lot of people would give anything to have someone like him.

"Olivia, can I ask you something in all seriousness?"

Olivia nodded and stared into his eyes waiting for the question that she was searching for the answer to.

"Are you telling me that for the past 11 years, we've both had feelings for each other that the other one didn't know about and still neither of us did anything about it?"

Olivia and Elliot were both silent for a moment as they thought and they both burst into fits of laughter.

"Elliot, you were married and I didn't want to be the person that would possibly breakup your family or your marriage."

"Well, my family is always going to stand by me, because to be honest, I get these vibes from my kids that they really don't like Kathy that much anymore since our divorce, and they didn't really want her to get sole custody. However, my marriage was over as soon as the kids were born, so in a way, I kind of was a free man." Elliot chuckled and glanced back at Olivia. Silence.

"Sooo…" Olivia replied, not really sure of what to say next.

"Sooo…" Elliot replied in the same way. His eyes locked with Olivia. "Kathy knew I have always loved you Livvy, but I think she tried to hold on to me because she didn't want to believe that her husband was in love with someone else." Elliot gulped. "Olivia, I have something to ask you, and I want your honest opinion, because I don't want you to do something that you're not ready for okay?"

"Okay" Olivia replied, looking slightly worried.

"Olivia, I want to be with you now more than ever before, because I almost lost you this week, and the pain that I felt was something I never ever want to have to experience again in my life. These next few months are going to be a very rough ride for you, but I want you to know that I'm going to be there every step of the way to love, support and take care of you, if, you'll let me?"

Olivia felt tears begin to brim in her eyes as she pulled Elliot toward her. She buried her head in his chest as he put his strong protective arms around her. Elliot could feel her tears seeping through his shirt. He felt that he and Olivia shared a special gift; they could read each other's minds and Elliot knew that Olivia was doing the one thing that she wouldn't do for just any guy; she was lowering her walls and letting Elliot into her life.

About an hour later, the Doctor came into her room and checked her chart. He ordered an x-ray of her legs, and Nurses came in to wheel her bed to the x-ray room. Olivia's face turned pale as she thought there was something really wrong. Elliot saw this and took the Doctor to one side.

"Doctor, why are you taking her for an x-ray? Is there something wrong?"

The Doctor smiled, "No, there is nothing wrong, but we just want to x-ray her legs before we allow her to go home so that when some progress is hopefully made in a few months, we can compare x-rays and see exactly how the bone structure is healing."

Elliot nodded and thanked the Doctor and his staff for looking after Olivia when she was there. He followed the Doctor to the x-ray room and waited outside while they x-rayed Olivia.

The Doctor came out a few minutes later and Elliot saw the look on his face. Elliot jumped up and ran over to meet him.

"What's wrong?" Elliot asked trying not to sound too panicked.

"I'm not sure to be honest. Olivia is hysterical though and we've all tried to calm her down, but it's not working. Do you think you could try?"

Elliot nodded quickly and ran into the x-ray room. Olivia was as white as a sheet, and she was sobbing hysterically about something that no-one could make out what it was.

"Livvy Baby, look at me." Elliot soothed as he gently cupped both sides of her face in his hands. "Livvy, what's wrong?"

Olivia sniffled, "I'm never going to be able to walk again am I?"

Elliot looked at her strangely. "Why would you think that?"

Olivia looked down at the ground, "The Doctors are taking me for an x-ray; that means something is wrong." Olivia sounded defeated; Elliot had never seen her like this before. He tilted her head back up to face him.

"Sweetie, they're taking you for an x-ray so that when you come back in a while for another x-ray, they can track your progress. They're letting you go home after they do this."

A wave of relief passed over Olivia's face. She nodded and Elliot kissed her forehead. He wiped away the tears that were sitting on the brim of her eyes and her cheekbones. Elliot smiled at her and left the room.

It was 10 minutes later, and the nurses were wheeling Olivia's bed back to her room. Elliot left the room while some nurses came in to help her change into her clothes Elliot had brought for her.

After she got changed, Elliot returned and the doctor brought her in a wheelchair and set it up for her. Elliot helped her get into the wheelchair.

The doctor explained a few bits and pieces about the wheelchair and using it to both Elliot and Olivia. They both thanked the doctor and the nurses, and Elliot gathered up her stuff.

Elliot wheeled her out of the hospital and over to his car. As he was walking there, he noticed Olivia taking a deep breath of the fresh air, and he thought, 'It's good to be going home.'