A/N: I never thought I'd get the response to this story that I have. Considering SARA was so blunt in her opinion… so thank you all for having a mind of your own and making your own choices. I appreciate the loyal support. =D

Olivia managed to stay twenty minutes the next time she went into the ICU. She had sat so quietly beside Elliot's bed, her hand gripped in his, that nobody had the heart to tell her to leave. When Olivia was told to leave, she just returned to the plastic chairs in the waiting room and sat patiently until they'd let her see Elliot again.

She looked down at her feet, the pink slippers very noticeable. She felt foolish having brought them at all, but she didn't like to be bare feet around New York City, Queens or Manhattan. It was dangerous being bare feet anywhere in public places. Olivia was aware of the easiness that came with catching aids from needles, and whatnot.

She couldn't believe that she had been so stupid, leaving the house without shoes.

She wiggled her feet in the slippers, making the front of them move like something was alive. She smiled weakly, wondering what Elliot would have thought of her pink slippers.

"I think you're wasting your time, Olivia," a voice called.

She snapped her head up to find Kathy stalking across the hospital floor towards her.

Olivia sighed. She had no energy to fight with her, not now she was saving her strength for Elliot.

"They won't let you in to see him without my permission," she said. "And I won't let you in there. You might as well go home," she suggested.

Olivia turned her eyes to the floor. She had no interest in pursuing the conversation.

"He is nothing more than your partner," she spat. "He's my husband, Olivia. MY husband!"

Olivia was so tired that she couldn't hold back her temper any longer. All the hours she had spent at the hospital by his side, or in the waiting him, and Kathy had the nerve to come along and make her feel like a nobody. She had tolerated enough from this woman. Enough was enough. She stood up and faced the woman. "Listen to me, Kathy. I don't care what the hell you think you know, but he is lying in that bed in there needing our strength to pull him through this, and if you have any feelings left for him that aren't pure selfishness, then stop acting like such a jealous child and grow up!"

Kathy stood back, momentarily stunned.

"And just for your information, Elliot has put me on his list of emergency contacts. I have as much right to be in there as you do. I've been in there already, more than once," she stated. "Because unlike you, I care about him… I'm here for him!"

Olivia crossed the waiting room to get away from her, and chose another seat in the corner, as she tried to control her trembling. She had never been so angry.

… … … … …

Olivia and Kathy were both approved to go in and see Elliot at the same time, neither one of them had uttered a word since Olivia's temper filled attack.

In the ICU, Kathy watched Elliot sleep.

Olivia stood on the other side, wondering if she should have been there at all.

"Take those slippers off, will you, they look ridiculous!" Kathy said rudely staring at the bright pinkness of her feet that stuck out like a sore thumb.

Olivia looked down at her feet.

"I like 'em," a voice croaked.

Both pairs of eyes shot to the bed, where Elliot's eyes had opened and he was glancing at Olivia's feet.

"El…" Olivia sighed. The relief to see him awake was so overwhelming she felt a crushing weight in her chest, as she moved across the room to his bed.

"Elliot," Kathy rushed to the bed, pushing Olivia aside.

"I'm okay," he winced. "Just a bit of pain."

"You're an idiot!" Kathy scolded.

"Not now, Kathy… please," he begged.

"What about your children?" she snapped. "What would happen to them if you died? Why do you continuously put yourself in danger, I don't understand it!"

"Don't lecture him now, Kathy," Olivia warned. "He doesn't need that… he needs your support."

"I need you to mind your own business!" she shot back.

"Kathy…" Elliot stated. "Don't talk to her that way."

He screwed up his face in obvious pain. "El, don't talk…" Olivia said. "I'm gonna go. I'll leave you to chat with Kathy. I'll be in the waiting room."

"No," he said. "I don't want you to go."

Kathy's face fell as she realized that he was looking at her, the way he used to look at Kathy. She had lost. Elliot belonged to her now, like it not. All Kathy was to him, was a friend at most, and the mother to his children.

I think the next chapter will be the last… =D

Anything you want me to put in it?