A/N: Things are starting to wrap up, just a couple of chapters left. Enjoy!


Elliot sat with his hands on the wheel. The car was still idling in the driveway; he couldn't quite make himself leave. The reality of what had just transpired began to wash over him. He was leaving his wife, for another woman.

Elliot banged his head against the wheel, ignoring the pain. For a moment he was clenched the desperate desire to turn off the ignition, run back inside, and beg for forgiveness. Yet, he stayed where he was. It was a lost cause and he knew it. He couldn't fix what they had because if he were being honest with himself, he had fallen out of love with Kathy long ago.

It didn't make it any easier. Elliot blinked furiously, fighting back tears. All those years of marriage, over, just like that. He knew the next few weeks would be a nightmare of lawyers, paperwork, and negotiation, but he couldn't think about that now. Right now he needed to see Olivia.

I need to tell her that I loved her, and make sure she knows I mean it. She doesn't have to deal with this on her own. We'll get through this together. Elliot didn't care what he had to do to convince her, he wasn't ever going to leave her.

"Olivia." Elliot called through the door. He paused for a few seconds before knocking again. "Olivia, it's Elliot." He listened through the door for any sounds of movement, but all he heard was the dull noise of the television. Elliot checked his watch. It was later than he thought, she was probably asleep.

Elliot hesitated, mulling over his options. He hated to wake her, but he really needed to talk to her. Besides, going home right now was out of the question.

Olivia awoke to the sound of hammering. Dazed, she blinked slowly until the world came into focus. It wasn't hammering; someone was knocking at the door. Olivia tried to sit up groaning as she did. Her limbs were stiff from lying on the floor. She made it to a sitting position when she realized something was wrong.

She was breathing much too hard. Her chest heaving with each breath as though she had been running. Olivia tried to soothe herself to no avail. Panic was beginning to grip her and the sound of the door opening only intensified her fear.

"Olivia?"

Elliot, it was Elliot. His voice calmed her minutely and she heard his footsteps grow closer.

Elliot had twisted the key in the lock as his heart pounded in his chest. He told himself he was overreacting, Olivia was probably just sleeping. But his hand went to his off-duty weapon anyway. Holding it in front of him, Elliot crept into Olivia's apartment.

A cursory glance told him she was still staying on the couch, but then he caught sight of her ajar bedroom door. Elliot stalked forward, unsure of what he expected to find. He was almost there when a noise from the bathroom caught his attention.

Olivia was crouched on the floor with her head between her knees. Elliot breathed a sigh of relief and reholstered his gun. His panic ebbed away but was soon replaced by a different kind of fear as he knelt beside her.

She was shivering, her breath coming in short bursts as she rocked back and forth.

"It's okay Liv," he soothed. Elliot tentatively placed his hand on her shoulder and was relieved when she leaned into his touch.

Elliot ran his hands down her arms trying to calm her, but he was concerned when she flinched-her face screwed up in pain. Curiously, Elliot rolled up her sleeves and bit back a gasp. Olivia's arms were an angry red, the skin broken in places. When she turned away from him, he realized she had done that to herself.

"Oh Liv, it's alright," Elliot gently cradled her to him. "You're having a panic attack, just try to slow your breathing."

Olivia jerked back from Elliot, furiously shaking her head. She tried to talk to him but she couldn't catch her breath.

"No." was all she managed to eke out.

Elliot frowned at her response and examined her more closely; her skin was discolored and her trembling hadn't subsided. Elliot placed a hand to her forehead. She was burning up.

This wasn't a panic attack.

Olivia's eyes were wide and frightened, pleading with Elliot to understand. She tried to speak again but he shushed her.

"I'm taking you to the hospital." The relief was visible in her eyes.

Deciding against the ambulance, Elliot bent down next to Olivia. She lived close, he knew he could get there faster if he drove. Elliot scooped her into his arms and Olivia loosely wrapped her arms around his neck. He could feel her body shaking against him as he stood.

They reached the hospital in record time. Elliot was sure he had broken at least 8 traffic rules, but he didn't care. His only concern was Olivia. He kept murmuring reassurances to her, but she didn't seem to notice. Her breathing was still rapid and she was disoriented.

The car had hardly come to a stop before Elliot was out the door. He lifted Olivia who clung to him weakly and raced through the doors. Thankfully the waiting room was rather devoid of people, it didn't take long for them to be seen. Once the nurses caught sight of Olivia's condition, time sped up.

Within minutes they were wheeling her away and firing questions at him. Elliot answered best he could, but his head was spinning. Numerous times he had demanded to know what was wrong with her, but they ignored his questions and answered with more of their own. When they were finally satisfied that they had enough information about Olivia, two of them scurried away while the third guided Elliot to a small waiting room.

"Please, just tell me what's wrong," Elliot weakly pleaded with the nurse. The man smoothed his hands over his green scrubs, carefully wording his response.

"We're not sure yet. It may be serious or it could just be a fluke. As soon as we know something concrete, we'll tell you." With that the nurse left him to his thoughts.