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...

10. Dream

Her heart was thumping when she approached his room again. She couldn't help wondering if he was now remembering more than the day before. He'd already dreamed about their past his first night after the accident. She blew out a breath slowly and shook her hands before grabbing the door handle and pushing the door open.

Elliot was just getting into bed again with the help of another man. She wondered if it wasn't too soon for him to be up and about, but the other man seemed to know what he was doing. When Elliot spotted her, his eyes lit up. She could tell that he was in considerable pain while he tried to hoist his body back into place and readjust his IV, but he smiled at her nonetheless.

Olivia waited by the door until Elliot was settled in. She'd seen the cast around his left leg, that ran from his foot all the way up to his thigh. He was now wearing a hospital gown with an open back, that only just covered all the necessary parts. He wasn't wearing anything underneath. She knew he wouldn't like being so exposed and helpless, but he seemed to be okay with the man fiddling with his legs, his gown and his blanket. She was glad he had his own room. It was small but private.

"This is my physical therapist," Elliot told her, and the man turned around to see who he was talking to.

Olivia took it as her cue to come closer.

"I didn't think he would be allowed out of bed so soon," she told the man. "I'm Olivia Benson. I uhm ... kinda caused this," she added, gesturing at Elliot.

"Greg Daniels. Please call me Greg," the man said, extending his hand to her. "You did a real number on him, Ms. Benson."

Elliot smirked and Olivia decided that Greg was alright. He would know how to handle Elliot. She shook his hand and told the man,

"I didn't mean to."

Greg smiled at her.

"That goes without saying, Ms. Benson. Now, about Mr. Stabler getting out of bed so soon. We want to prevent stiffness of his hip. I know the broken leg complicates matters, but it's important that he continues to move, to keep the blood pumping so to speak, even if it's just a few minutes every now and then. It will help him heal faster. We just did a few simple exercises in the chair."

Greg nodded at the armchair that had been placed in Elliot's room to the left of his bed. He turned back to Elliot then and gave him a few instructions about food and movements that were and weren't allowed for now. He'd be back in the afternoon and after making sure that Elliot had understood his instructions, he left the room. Elliot rolled his eyes and Olivia cocked an eyebrow.

"I like him already," she said playfully and Elliot smirked.

"Great. Now it's two against one."

"I'm not against you, Elliot," Olivia said, standing next to his bed.

"I know," he replied softly, and his voice made her body tingle in several places.

He was so completely Elliot right now, that she almost forgot he didn't really know her anymore. Almost.

"You look really beautiful," Elliot blurted out.

It was a very clear reminder that he truly wasn't himself. No filter. Olivia decided that she kind of liked this filter-less Elliot. Maybe she could take pointers from him. If there was ever a chance of building something new with him from scratch, this was it.

"Thank you," she said, smiling.

In the past, she would have deflected the compliment or made a joke about it, but this wasn't the past. This was the present. And she tried to relax into it.

Elliot looked really tired after being on his feet - or foot - and she asked him if he wanted to rest.

"No. Not while you're here," he told her, reaching for her hand.

She let him hold her hand and reminded herself once more that this wasn't the past.

"I'm not going anywhere El," she told him reassuringly. "I can just sit here while you rest, and we can talk later. You've got a really comfortable chair here now."

Elliot gave her a lopsided smile and she wanted to hug him. The way he was looking at her despite being in pain and feeling tired, made all her feelings for him resurface full force. She decided it was too soon for a hug, and just squeezed his hand.

"I have a few magazines here," Elliot said, gesturing at his nightstand.

Olivia knew he was basically admitting that he did need to rest. She took off her coat and tossed it on the foot of the bed, and took the two magazines. Sports magazines, of course. She sat down in the chair and thought it was really comfortable indeed.

"There's a coffee machine in the corridor," Elliot said, stifling a yawn.

"I'll be fine, trust me," she said, smiling at him.

His bed had been lowered so she could just catch his eyes while sitting in the chair to his left. Her heart skipped a beat when he said softly,

"I do."

...

Elliot had fallen asleep and Olivia had gotten herself a cup of coffee twice. She had read the magazines from start to finish and made a mental note to bring a book next time. The doctors and nurses seemed to accept that she was here to stay, and didn't comment that she wasn't sticking to visiting hours. Maybe they knew she had to take it easy too after the accident, and just let her be. Nobody else came to visit and Olivia wondered if Elliot's kids even knew he was in the hospital. Someone should call them. She didn't exactly feel inclined to do it herself. It was up to Elliot.

Around 10.30 am she heard Elliot groan a little, and stood up to check on him. His eyes were still closed but he seemed a little agitated. He wasn't hooked up to any monitors anymore but she guessed his heart rate was a bit high. Was he chasing shadows again in his dreams? She wasn't sure if she should wake him or not. She put a hand on his heaving chest tentatively. He was warm. Too warm, maybe? Elliot groaned again and sighed,

"No ... No ..."

She leaned a little closer to him and put a hand on his forehead. He was very warm.

"Elliot," she whispered, hoping to wake him without startling him.

He was still very agitated and Olivia shook his shoulders gently.

"El, wake up. It's just a dream."

She put a cool hand on his forehead again and almost jumped when his eyes popped open and he stared up at her, completely panicked.

"Olivia!" he gasped, but she wasn't sure if he was really seeing her yet.

"Ssshhh," she said, stroking his forehead gently.

"Olivia," Elliot said urgently again, "Somebody cut your throat. I thought I'd lost you!"

...

Dun dun.

A/N Sounds familiar? What was Elliot dreaming?