Thank you for reviews/alerts/favourites. I hope this next chapter pleases as much.
Any ideas where this should go next?
Mercy General Hospital, Manhattan, New York
Saturday, September 20th 2008
11.37 am
"Mommy am I allowed home today?" Melly asked.
Olivia smiled, she'd been asking the same thing since Thursday and Olivia couldn't help but be happy at how much colour had returned to Melissa's cheeks. She finally looked like her old self now as the antibiotics had worked and she was getting better.
"I don't know baby, I mean the doctor said yesterday you might but we'll have to wait and see what he says today." Olivia replied not wanting to build her daughter's hopes up to see them get shattered.
"Is Uncle Elliot coming to see me today?" Melly asked playing with the blue bunny rabbit Elliot had bought her the day before.
"I should think so he's been here every day to see you Mel." Olivia replied closing the magazine from her lap and putting it on the table, Melissa was wide awake now and Olivia knew she wouldn't get any peace.
"Mommy?" Melly started.
"Yes baby?" Olivia asked.
"Can I go to school on Monday?" Melly asked without looking at her mother.
"We'll have to see what the doctor says Mel, ok? I'm not saying no but don't be disappointed if you have to take a few more days." Olivia smiled just as someone knocked on the room door and came in.
"Miss Lorraine!" Melly smiled as her first grade teacher walked in.
"Hello Melissa how are you?" She smiled coming to the bedside.
"Much better." Melly beamed.
"Hello Ms Benson." Miss Lorraine smiled.
"Hello Miss Lorraine." Olivia smiled getting up from her seat.
"Melly are you ok if Mommy goes and get's something to drink and calls Granny and Granddad?" Olivia asked seeing as her daughter had company.
"Uh-huh, tell Granddad to come here, he makes me laugh all the time." She explained to her teacher.
"Ok baby." Olivia smiled and she leaned in and kissed her daughter.
"I'll won't be long." Olivia told Miss Lorraine.
"Take your time." She smiled knowing it must be hard on the mother keeping vigil by her daughter's bedside.
Olivia headed off down to the cafeteria to get herself some bottled water before calling her soon to be parents.
"Hey Pops." She smiled hearing his friendly voice on the other side of the phone.
Hello Olivia how's Melly doing.
"Better, she won't shut up, wants to come home and would like to go to school on Monday." Olivia laughed.
I'm sure, I have some news for you that may bring a smile to your face.
"Ok?" Olivia asked her intrigue building rapidly.
Keller called, you and Elliot have been cleared to work together for the foreseeable future, you can collect your guns and shields from my office on Monday.
"Wow, ok, I didn't expect that." Olivia was in shock, she'd been mentally preparing herself to having to decide whether she or Elliot would leave special victims.
I know, there are some terms and conditions but I'll explain everything to you both on Monday if Melly's well enough for you to come in that is.
"Yeah absolutely, I'm hoping to have her home today, she's very much her old self." Olivia smiled thinking about her brown eyed little girl.
I'm glad to hear it Olivia, your Mother and I will be over later on today if she isn't home by then.
"Ok, Melly was asking if you were coming." Olivia smiled knowing this piece of news would just cheer Melly up further.
Well I'll let you get back and your Mom says hi too.
"Hi mom." She laughed guessing she was on speaker.
We'll see you later Olivia, Take care.
"Bye." She replied before the line went dead.
Benson-Stabler residence, Manhattan, New York
Saturday, September 20th 2008
1.52 pm
"Melissa Jasmine Benson! Slow down!" Olivia yelled to the small blonde haired girl diving up the steps towards the front door which at that very moment flew wide open.
"Granny!" Melly smiled diving into the older woman's arms.
"Welcome home Melissa!" She beamed before moving out of the way for Melly to hug her Granddad.
"Hey Mel." Cragen smiled picking Melissa up in an embrace.
"Hey Granddad." She beamed.
Olivia came slowly behind them carrying Melly's holdall from the hospital.
"So she's home?" Anne smiled.
"Yup, she has to carry on taking antibiotics for a few days but she can go back to school on Monday and she's fine." Olivia smiled, she'd had quite a scare when her little girl had fallen ill, to have her home was a relief.
"Well come on, we'll get you a coffee and you can relax for a little, it's been a long few days." Anne smiled taking the bag from Olivia's hands before she could protest.
When she went into the living room she found Elliot and Melissa locked in an embrace and it just made her smile. When Melly finally pulled away Elliot got to his feet and pulled Olivia into an embrace.
"I missed you." She smiled hugging him.
"You saw me every day." Elliot chuckled.
"Not the same thing." She replied rubbing her cheek into his lovingly as he held her.
"I know." He whispered.
Melly rushed off to help her grandmother with the coffee, she'd found a new burst of energy from leaving the hospital and Olivia knew it was going to be a long day.
"Cragen said we get our shields back." Olivia smiled as they cuddled up on the couch.
"Yeah, I'm in shock." Elliot replied.
"Me too, I thought they'd definitely ask one of us to transfer." Olivia added.
"Yup." Elliot commented to busy stroking her hair to pay much attention, this was the most contact they'd had since Melly had been in hospital.
Olivia just smiled and cuddled up into him further, he stopped playing with her hair and slipped his arms over her shoulder with his hands coming to rest on her bump.
She was physically and mentally exhausted with the goings on of the past few days. She closed her eyes and before she knew it she'd fallen asleep in Elliot's arms.
"Someone's tried." Cragen smiled nodding his head towards Olivia has he headed for the second couch.
"Yeah, she has been sleeping in a hospital coat beside Melly's bed for three nights." Elliot replied knowing that sleep must have been hard to come by.
"When she gets back to work do you think she'd let me cut down her hours?" Cragen asked deciding Elliot's advice would save an argument with Olivia in the long run.
"Doubt it very much, why?" Elliot asked.
"Well I've never been pregnant but I've heard it's a tiring job." Cragen replied laughing.
"She's ok, I mean she does get tired but at the moment she's just exhausted with everything that's been going on between the suspension, Melly, the adoption, you and Anne moving in, her brain's been working overtime and she hasn't been resting enough, she'll be fine once she gets a good night's sleep." Elliot explained understanding why Olivia was so drained.
"At least with me and Anne living here now I can keep a closer eye on her." Cragen replied with a small chuckle.
"Yeah, she's got no way of hiding away from us anymore." Elliot added remembering how Olivia could lock herself away from everyone when she was worried or scared and she wouldn't let anyone in and now she had no option but to let them in.
When Melly and Anne came into the room they saw Olivia and became suddenly quiet, talking in whispers even though Olivia was a heavy sleeper.
"Elliot, why don't you wake her and tell her to go to bed she'll have a sore back sleeping there." Anne told him as she sat down with her tea.
"No if I wake her up she'll say she slept enough and fight the fatigue. Let her rest for a little longer." Elliot replied almost hearing Olivia's voice answering in his head.
"Have you got any plans for her birthday?" Anne asked wanting to make conversation.
"Not celebratory wise but she's decided she just wants everyone round for dinner here. I have decided what I'm buying her though." Elliot smiled gently, he'd been planning it for days.
"Ok well do you know who she wants over for dinner so we can arrange it?" Anne asked.
"The usual, Tammy, Fin, Munch, Alex and Casey, Melinda." Elliot read everyone's names like he was reciting a list, it was the same as always.
"Ok well invite them round, I'll cook and then she can just have a relaxing day." Anne smiled.
"I will." Elliot smiled back knowing that Olivia hated her birthday usually but this year he was going to make sure it was a birthday to remember.
As she shifted in her sleep he beamed, this was the woman he had always wanted to be with and now he had her and having her in his arms her remembered that he never wanted to let go.
I always forget to change the A/N's either the one at the top or the one at the bottom but OHHHH WELLL! Trying to move the story along a little so next chapter is a fast forward to Olivia's birthday!