TITLE: Law & Order – Stolen Moments
AUTHOR: D M Harper.
SUMMARY: First meetings often go horribly awry, leaving bad impressions. A/U
RATING: Rated MA for sexual content
PAIRINGS: ADA Abbie Carmichael & OFC; Detective Olivia Benson & ADA Alexandra Cabot.
DISCLAIMER: This story is the work of an over imaginative mind and the basic wish of many gay women who watch and enjoy certain television shows, to see a little v-vroom between two female characters. I like to dabble with the subtext and do so for fun and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe on the copyright of NBC Universal Television or Dick Wolf. This entertainment does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone with you and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will, hence you have no one to whine to expect yourself - now bugger off!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please take the time to review; it's what feeds to the Muse and keeps the stories coming!
Chapter 21
Stephanie regained consciousness in the Emergency Room surrounded by her mother, Anita and Eric. "What happened?" she asked before giggling.
Maureen brushed aside the damp hair from Stephanie's forehead, "Sweetie, you collapsed at the station."
"Hey mom ... I'm ... stoned," admitted a glazy eyed and slurry worded Stephanie.
The older blonde smiled at her offspring, "Yes you are. The nice doctor gave you some Demerol for the pain."
Looking around, Stephanie waved to Van Buren and Eric, "Hey guys."
Both detectives grinned with relief.
"So what's wrong with me mom?"
"You've got two broken ribs and one has pierced your lung."
"Oh pooh, that doesn't sound too good," replied Stephanie between outbursts of laughter.
"No it's not. The doctor reinflated your lung, but you need to have some surgery to repair the damage. You are haemorrhaging internally and they need to stop it."
"Ahh crap," remarked Stephanie while rolling her eyes. "Oh Abbie, someone needs to tell Abbie."
"I've already called her," explained Anita. "She is on her way."
Stephanie smiled crookedly, "Thanks Loo and it looks like I'm out of action for a few days. Will you miss me?"
Anita chuckled at the comment, "I guess you could say that and I'll keep your seat warm for you."
With a wobbly finger pointed at her partner, Stephanie recommended, "Hey Eric, you get home to your lovely family."
"I'll go when I know you are fine."
Stephanie reached for his hand, "I'll be all right buddy, now scoot."
"Okay." Eric turned to Maureen, "Can you call me later?"
"Of course I can and thanks."
Eric made his goodbyes then left the cubicle just as Abbie arrived. She rushed to the side of the bed and gripped Stephanie's hand, "Baby, are you okay?"
Stephanie giggled once more, "I'm drugged up honey, oh god, you are so beautiful."
Abbie looked at Maureen with a questioning frown, "So what's the prognosis?"
Maureen explained Stephanie's condition just before a nurse and orderly arrived to take Stephanie to surgery.
"I'll be right with you when you wake up," promised a worried Abbie.
"I love you Abbie," slurred Stephanie before holding her mother's hand. "I love you too mom and I'm awfully fond of you too Lieutenant."
"Back at you Detective," quipped Van Buren.
Stephanie let go of her mother's and Abbie's hands and pointed to her cheek, "Kisses everyone."
Anita pecked her first followed by Maureen then Abbie.
Stephanie moved her head and captured Abbie's lips at the last moment then whispered, "I love you so much."
The orderly started to wheel the bed out and as she turned the corner, Stephanie raised her left hand and shouted, "ABBIE CARMICHAEL, YOU'VE GOT GREAT LIPS."
Abbie laughed and retorted to the other two, "Shy, isn't she?"
"Drugged is what she is," replied Maureen. "Come on, I'll take you both up to the surgical ward.
-0-
It was three hours and two cups of coffee later when Maureen was conversing with the surgeon and Stephanie was in the recovery room. Maureen patted the doctor on the forearm and returned to Abbie and Anita in the waiting room.
"Stephanie has had her spleen removed. It was pierced by the broken piece of rib. The two ribs have been put back into place and she is doing well in recovery. She should be moved to a private room soon."
Anita stood and sighed with relief, "That is good news. I'll leave and visit tomorrow. I'll give Eric a call and let him know what has happened."
"Thank you Lieutenant," said Maureen.
"I'll call Lennie too. He and Ed should be back from their stakeout by now."
"Much appreciated," added Maureen before hugging the other woman.
"Don't mention it Maureen and please call me Anita. I'll see you both tomorrow."
"Goodnight Anita," said Abbie.
Once Maureen sat down, Abbie asked, "Where is Jeffrey?"
"He's in Malibu with my sister and her husband. I'll have to phone them back."
"I'll go get us some coffee while we wait."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Abbie stood and went to the café on the ground floor and returned a short time later with two large containers. Handing one to Maureen, she sat back down, "Do you mind if I ask you a question about Stephanie?"
"No, go right ahead dear."
"She's very independent, isn't she?"
"Yes and has been ever since she was a little girl. Stephanie has always been strong willed and actually moved out of home when she was sixteen. She got a part time job and put herself through College."
"That's fairly impressive and she keeps a lot to herself too."
"Emotionally she does. My daughter doesn't like to disappoint others and can be her harshest critic at times. She wasn't always like that. Her father's passing impacted on her greatly and she was afraid to love again."
"That's understandable under the circumstances, especially with Peta."
"Stephanie's been through a lot, but has handled it well. Mostly, she has been on her own to fight her demons."
"I know she struggles with her feelings for Peta and I've reassured her it's all right."
Maureen took hold of Abbie's right hand, "Stephanie was very much in love with her and was heartbroken when their relationship ended. She drank too much afterwards to numb the pain, but fortunately snapped out of it fairly quickly. Stephanie isn't normally a big drinker, so when she gets drunk it's usually because she is hurting emotionally."
"I understand, but I sometimes feel she is holding back from me."
"She's petrified of losing you Abbie too. Stephanie talks openly to me about her feelings for you and I think that is a result of what happened with Peta."
"I had a notion she did and I'm glad she is disclosing more each time we are together."
"She's the same with Jeffrey. I know you and Stephanie are moving fast and that's why she is trying to slow it down. Stephanie is madly in love with you, but is allowing you to dictate the course of your relationship."
Abbie grinned broadly, "I love her too. In fact it scares the hell out of me how much I do. Stephanie is someone special and I'm in awe of her strength. You know, she got hurt protecting me and my heart feels so much for her that it aches."
"Yeah, she has that effect on you. She inherited that quality from her father and I'm extremely proud of her."
Abbie squeezed Maureen's hand, "She adores you and Jeffrey. Her face glows with she talks about you."
"I'm glad she found you Abbie. I've never seen her so happy before, not even with Peta."
"My family have been enchanted by her and are pleased for me."
"Are you in court tomorrow?"
"Yes, but I'll be finished by four and will visit Stephanie then."
"Good because I have night shift and can only stay with her until six."
"She'll hate everyone making a fuss over her."
Maureen laughed, "Yes she will, but she will have no say in the matter."
They both looked towards the door when it was opened by a nurse.
"Maureen, Stephanie is in room 518."
"Thanks Betty," replied Maureen gratefully.
-0-
Stephanie tried to focus on her surroundings and blinked twice before the blurriness abated to give her a clear view of her smiling mother and girlfriend. "Hello you two," she said somewhat groggily.
Maureen bent over to kiss her, "The operation went well, but the surgeon had to remove your spleen. It was ruptured and causing all the bleeding."
"Oh what a shame, I was saving it for an auspicious occasion," joked the heavily drugged patient.
"How are you feeling?"
"A lot better than I was earlier," replied Stephanie as she turned her head to Abbie. "Hi honey."
"Hey baby," responded Abbie while holding back her tears.
"Don't cry my sweetheart, I'm fine now."
"I know Steph, but you scared your mother and me."
"Well I had to protect my girl from the bad man."
Abbie leaned over and kissed her, "And don't think I don't appreciate it, even if you are as high as a kite and won't remember what I said."
Stephanie chuckled, "Feeling no pain darling, but I understand what you are saying. Now, I want you to go home and get some decent sleep so you can be at your best for court and nail that bastard's balls to the wall."
Abbie tittered briefly at the thought, "I'd rather stay here with you."
"I'd like that too Abbie, but I'm struggling to stay awake as it is and don't want you to get overtired." She looked at her mother and added, "The same goes for you mom. I love you both, but go home."
"Okay," agreed Maureen. "But I'll be back in the morning with some sleep wear and toiletries for you."
"Thank you."
Maureen kissed her daughter goodbye, "I love you and will see you soon. Abbie, I'll meet you outside."
"Bye mom."
Abbie ran her fingers down Stephanie's face, "I love you and if you need anything "Miss Independent" call me."
A sleepy smile graced Stephanie's features, "I adore you honey. Tell mom I'll be holidaying here until at least Friday and the dinner is still on."
"I will baby, sleep well."
"Before you go, can you please pass me my cell phone?"
Abbie opened the top bedside drawer and handed over the phone, "Promise to call me, even if it's just to talk."
Stephanie's eyelids closed, "I promise sexy legs."
Abbie kissed her tenderly before leaving and joining Maureen in the hall.
Maureen drew the brunette into her arms and they both cried for several minutes before Abbie spoke in a hushed voice, "She means the world to me and I'm so glad she is going to be all right. I don't want to feel this scared again."
"Unfortunately it comes with loving a police officer."
Pulling back, Abbie kissed Maureen on the cheek, "I admire your strength with having three in the family."
"You learn to accept it Abbie or it will drive you crazy with worry."
Nodding with understanding, Abbie walked towards the lift with her elbow hooked around Maureen's.
-0-