AN: okay people, new chap. I've got all my chaps edited now, it's just a
matter of fixing the changes in the computer, then loading them. So within the week, I'm thinking it will all
be up. I'll try. Enjoy.

Let It Be

"Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be;
there will be an answer, let it be."


The Beatles

It was Friday morning and Ed was sitting at Bobby's side on his usual pre-work visit. Ed was feeling grumpy and sat impatiently while the doctor finished the early morning check-up. Ed didn't expect his day to go well. To start things off, Olivia had a really bad case the night before and was at work all night, and so she didn't stay over at his apartment. Therefore, he woke up alone. Then he was faced with what he had been trying to pretend wasn't true all week. Fontana's last day. He wanted to act like it didn't matter to him, like he didn't care either way, but he did. In the short time they'd been partner's they had become friends and Joe had been there for Ed over the past year, and Ed wasn't ready to loose that. Not to mention they worked together well. He didn't want a new partner; someone new to warm up to, someone new to trust his life with, and someone new he'd have to learn to get along with. He just wasn't ready. He'd had enough change in his life that year. And in his already down mood, his thoughts had been with Misha all morning. It didn't make sense to him, though. He'd been separated from her for six years, and he felt like he shouldn't miss her so much. But he did. He always had. And despite his recent good feelings with Olivia in his life, he still had the horrible reminders of the way he failed Misha.

He raised his head to Bobby, as Dr. Westmoreland left the room. "Morning," he finally greeted his injured friend.

"Morning. You okay?" Bobby asked.

Ed shrugged. "Just gonna be one of those days."

"Westmoreland has some news...can you stick around a bit?"

"Of course."

They waited in silence for the doctor to step back into the room. When he did, he shut the door and stood before them with a smile. "Well, Bobby, the past couple days we have been looking into alternative surgeries while you've been resting, and I'm pleased to say we have found something. There's an operation that can be done, it's very new."

"What's the catch?" Bobby asked.

The doctor hesitated. "It's a very risky surgery. It's only been done a handful of times, and it's something that I, nor anyone in this hospital, has ever done. However, there is a surgeon in Chicago who has performed this three times, twice successful."

"And when you say twice...?" Ed asked.

"Unfortunately, one of his patients did not make it through. But it was one of the first times it had ever been done, and the procedure's been changed slightly. Aside from the obvious risks, there is the chance it will not work. Of all the times this has been done in the country, only a third of the patients have had complete recoveries. Others have shown improvement, one was healed but lapsed and is now paralyzed again."

"So you're saying that either I'll die, I won't be fixed, or I'll be fixed and chance losing it all?"

"This is no easy choice, Bobby. I want you to take the weekend to think it over. If you agree to it, we will fly Dr. Nolan in on Monday or as soon as you decide it."

"Other than dying, can I end up worse than I am?"

"Yes. There is the slim chance that something could go wrong. There is always that chance. But Dr. Nolan is a precise man, he's good at what he does. If something did happen, and you lost control of your arms or neck, there will still be a life for you."

"And if I don't have the operation? If I...let it be. When could I get out of here? Get back to work?"

The doctor sighed. "I couldn't say for certain, but I would say don't expect to be released at least for two more weeks. Then you would continue your PT as an outpatient, and you'd have to be on bed rest for a couple weeks. Then after all that, we'd see about getting you back slowly into the job. You have to realize, though, that you'd be in a wheel chair and...and you'd have a desk job. You'd be off the field."

Bobby's eyes slammed shut at the unthinkable. He couldn't form words to reply. "Hey," Ed jumped in. "You don't have to decide this today."

"Listen to him, Bobby. I'll come by later on today after you've had time to process this, okay? We'll talk about the surgery more and I'll bring you some more technical facts on it. If you'd like we can set up a satellite call with Dr. Nolan, whatever you need to make this decision.

"What would you do?" Ed asked the doc.

"I don't know...I'd be scared...but I think I would try." With that, he left the room.

Ed looked at Bobby, who was still laying with his eyes shut. "You okay?"

"I don't like taking risks," Bobby answered through gritted teeth. "I like to be in control of my life."

"You don't have to risk it, Ig."

And finally, the words running through Bobby's mind for the past week came from his lips. "Then who am I?" He opened his eyes and turned to Ed. "If I don't have my legs...if I'm not the cop I've always been, then who the hell am I?"

"You will always be the same cop," Ed pulled himself closer to Bobby. "You know as well as anyone that your greatness comes from your mind. Your legs may not work, but your mind does. You will still be an amazing cop."

"And when my mind's not enough? When the bosses give up on me? Then what? My badge...it's all I've ever had."

Ed studied his friend quietly for awhile, then shrugged. "Then you'll have your friends We'll be here."

"It's not your job," Bobby muttered returning his eyes to the window.

"No, it's not. And it wasn't your job to clean me up after Misha died. But it's what family does for each other." Bobby nodded, but didn't turn back to Ed. "You want me to leave you?" Again, Bobby nodded. "Okay, I'll be at work. Call if you need anything."

With heavier thoughts than what he arrived with, Ed left the hospital and headed for the 2-7. His cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Olivia. "Hey," he answered.

"Hi," she sounded exhausted.

"You get any sleep last night?"

"Elliott and I took turns getting an hour in the bunk. No time for more than that."

"You get any progress?"

"Some, yea."

"Stay strong."

"I will, I just needed to hear your voice."

He smiled for the first time that morning. "Yea?"

"How's our boy?" She asked. Ed quickly broke down the developments to catch her up. "Wow," she said when he finished. "I don't think I could even make that decision."

"Me either."

"Okay well let me hang up and call him real fast before I have to get back into all this. I'll try to talk to you later. I know today sucks, but try to have a good one okay?"

"You too." He hung up his phone and continued on to work. When he got there, Joe was already at his desk. Ed smiled. He really hoped he wouldn't have to start arriving earlier. "Man of the hour," he said approaching his desk.

Joe glanced up. "Don't give me shit today."

"Who me?" Ed grinned.

"Can we just work today?"

"Yea, just don't get too caught up in all the things you're gonna miss about me."

Joe snorted a laugh. "Right."

He was glad the day was getting closer to ending. He was just...tired. Leaving work that day was hard, but he knew he'd see Joe around. In fact they already had plans to meet for drinks in a couple weeks when they could schedule it. Mostly, Joe wanted to find out all about Ed's new partner. Ed wasn't even sure who his new partner would be. Before he had left he had asked Van Buren.

"Who you bringing in Lieu?" Ed had asked, loosening his tie.

She looked up at him, in obvious annoyance. "Seeing as how they didn't approve my request, I wouldn't know. I'm expecting a call before I leave tonight."

"Okay, okay," he stepped back. "Will you call me this weekend and fill me in?"

"I will, go on home Green."

So he had no clue who his new partner would be. He pushed it all away as he stepped into Bobby's room. Bobby was watching the news and Eames was at his side reading a magazine.

"Hey Bobby, hey Alex," he said. They both looked up.

"Hi Ed, how are you?" Alex asked.

"I'm good, you?"

She shook her head. "Ready to strangle Logan."

"Logan?"

"Yea, Deakins put us together for the time being since Barek's gone and Bobby's in the hospital." She rolled her eyes.

Ed laughed, "He's not so bad, is he?"

"No," she reluctantly admitted. "Just not my flavor."

"You doing okay Bobby?" Ed asked. Bobby didn't respond.

"He's not been too talkative this evening. We talked about the operation some, but he's still thinking it all over," Alex said.

"Good, take your time with it."

"Right," Bobby spoke up. "Do I stay this way or let them keep cutting me up?"

"Bobby, you gotta keep-" Ed started but was cut off.

"No! Ed...stop telling me to be positive, alright? I've been in three different surgeries! One of which, I nearly died on the table! I'm not optimistic and I am sick of you and everyone else telling me to be. None of you would be optimistic in my place."

"What is it you want me to say? Huh? That you should lay here everyday and pity yourself because your legs are dead? You are still alive!"

"I know that," Bobby muttered.

"Then tell me what I'm allowed to say, because all I ever get is your attitude."

"Just leave, Ed. No one is forcing you to be here. Go be with Olivia, or whatever, but don't sit around here."

Ed stood with a nod. "I will. At least she doesn't get pissed off with me every time I speak." He went to the door. "Watch what you say to Alex...you don't get a lot of visitors, you don't need to be scaring her off." He left the hospital, feeling like his day needed to be over already. He was fed up, plain and simple.

When Ed got home, he changed into an old pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Just as he tossed a frozen pizza into the oven, a knock came at the door. He walked out and opened the door to find Olivia on the other side. She stepped in and leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Hey," he greeted. She didn't say anything. "Tired?" She nodded. "Hungry?" She shook her head. "Okay, come on." He pulled her inside and closed the door behind her. Then he sat her down on the couch. "Wait here," he told her. He went to the bathroom, turned on the water in the tub, and began filling it up. He searched under the sink until he found an old bottle of bubble bath. He wasn't sure where it had come from, exactly. An old girlfriend of Bobby's, maybe. He squeezed some into the tub and walked back out to the living room. He took Olivia's hands and pulled her up. "Let's go." He took her into the bathroom. "Just relax for awhile, okay?"

She nodded. "Thank you."

"How about something to drink? Juice? Wine?"

"Wine would be wonderful."

"Wine it is. I'll be back." He kissed her quickly, and left her alone. He checked on the pizza, then poured her wine. He poured one for himself, as well. He took the two glasses to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Coming in," he said gently. He pushed his way in and found her looking completely out of it in the tub. He smiled. "How is it?" Her lips turned up into a smile and she nodded. He sat down beside the tub, facing her. "Here."

She opened her eyes and took the wine he was handing her. She sipped at it and watched him. He had an arm leaning on the side of the tub. "Your day okay?" She asked.

"Not so great, but it all went away when you got here."

"Yea?"

"Yea," he sipped his glass. "How'd the case go?"

"It sucked." She sighed and set her wine down on the side of the tub. He turned his free hand palm up and she set her hand in his. "We arrested the guy finally, but Novak isn't sure that she can hold him on what we got. Munch and Fin are working late tonight and Elliott and I are heading in early tomorrow. I can't even think anymore, I am so tired."

Ed squeezed her hand. "How's the kid?"

"Not good. She still won't talk to me or Elliott or Casey...I just don't know what to do."

"Hmm, how about rest tonight and start with a clear head tomorrow?"

"Sounds good," she closed her eyes. Unable to resist, he put his wine down and swiped some bubbles into his hand and brushed them onto her nose. She opened her eyes and gave him a look. He grinned at the cuteness of it. "What's that for?" She asked.

"To make you smile."

She laughed and grabbed some bubbles and threw them into his hair. "Now see, that makes me smile."

He let go of her hand and used both his hands to grab more bubbles and put them on top of her head. She flicked some water at him, getting him in the face. She laughed some more and he gasped. "That's not fair." He smushed more bubbles into her face.

"Ack! My eyes!" She screeched.

He stopped fast. "Oh shit, I'm sorry." He grabbed a washcloth and leaned over to wipe her face, and as soon as he did, she splashed a wave of water onto his front. She fell into pieces with laughter, and it took him a moment to realize he'd been had. "Oh, think you're funny?" He asked. She nodded. He glanced down at the tub than back at her. "Baby, your bubbles are disappearing fast." He raised an eyebrow and slid his hand into the water over her leg.

"So that's what this is about...you made me a bath just to get some?"

"No...no I can get some whether I make you a bath or not." He gave her a sexy smile and slid his hand up her leg. "You can't resist me."

"Oh?" She asked. "See, I thought it was the other way around."

He pushed himself up and leaned over her for a kiss. She held onto his shirt, slowly pulling him down to the water. Before she could, though, the smoke alarm blared. Ed cursed under his breath and ran from the bathroom. Olivia got out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself, then let the water drain out. She went to Ed's room and pulled her sweats from the top of her duffel bag. She loved those sweats. Not just because they were his, but because they were very comfy. And even though she had the same sweats in her closet at home, these were so much better.

Ed walked into the bedroom. "Well, dinner's inedible."

"I wasn't hungry."

"I was. But it's okay. I have left over s'getti-o's," he grinned and held out the bowl.

"It's all yours."

"I wasn't planning on sharing." He leaned against the wall and took a bite of his dinner. "Done with the bath already? I thought we were in the middle of something."

"I wasn't planning on sharing," she shot back with a smile.

He raised an eyebrow and put his food down, "What was that?" He took a step to her.

"You going deaf?"

He bit his bottom lip and shook his head. "You have a smart-ass remark for everything?"

She nodded. "Just about."

He stepped up to her and took the sweats from her hand and tossed them to the floor. "Now see...you don't need those." He hooked his finger between the top of the towel and her skin and slowly ran his finger across her chest. "Or this," he added as his finger reached where she had tucked the towel over, holding it on.

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