August 21st, 7:56 AM parking lot of one police plaza.
"Once a subject submits or becomes passive, is the use of a CEW authorized?" Elliot asked as he was reading her open ended questions from his phone as a final study session since the Sergeants exam was just thirty minutes away.
"No," Liv said and he nodded "what do you do instead?"
"Arrest him or her and get them medical treatment if necessary."
"Yepp," he said with a smile as he moved to the next question "At which level of service shall a trooper begin to be recognized as "Trooper First Class" and receive collar insignia for that level?"
"Three years."
Elliot nodded and continued to smile "An involved officer who uses deadly force or whose weapon has been discharged will immediately notify who by the fastest means available and render as much information as possible?"
"Their superior officer," she said and just then their was a tap on the window "yes?" Elliot asked rolling it down.
"You gonna come in Benson? And what are you doing here Stabler?" Tucker asked.
Elliot sighed and Liv rubbed his arm gently "I'll be coming in Tucker but we still have time and Elliot drove me here after dropping our daughter off at school and is helping me study."
He nodded and gave a slight shrug "alright then, the test starts at 8:30 sharp and instructions are at 8:25. Don't be late," he said as he then stepped away and Elliot rolled the window back up "what a fucking jerk," he said.
"Yeah I know, it's okay though I can handle him."
"I know you can baby I just hate that you're gonna be stuck with him all day."
"Me too but I don't have to interact with him all I have to do is take my test."
"That's very true," he said and with that they kissed then he asked her more prep questions.
At 8:15 they stopped so she'd have time to make it into the building "you're gonna do great baby I know you will," El said with an encouraging smile as he kissed her temple.
"I hope so we didn't get through all the questions..."
"True but we went through most of them and you got every one of them right with out choices when you'll be taking a multiple choice test."
She smiled a bit at that "you have a point..."
"Yes I do so go in there and break a leg okay? I'm gonna go get the oil changed on the truck then I'll be back here for when you finish."
She nodded "sounds good, I'll have four hours to take it but I'm hoping to be done in two since there are only 100 questions."
He nodded "don't rush yourself because of me," he said seriously as he then smiled "but I'm pretty sure you'll accomplish your goal."
"Maybe," she said as she leaned over and kissed him "love you El."
He returned her kiss "love you too baby, you've got this," he said and with that she got out and headed inside with a smile.
"Good morning detective, please put your phone in the bin," Sergeant Draper said as Tucker was standing beside him and Karen Smythe was standing in the back of the room.
She nodded, silenced it then dropped it in there "why have we got so many monitors here today?"
"Because a bunch of people cheated last year. Why do you have a problem with it?" Tucker asked.
"No sir of course not I was just curious."
Tucker nodded and motioned her to a table and she quickly went and sat down "Olivia! Wow it's so good to see you it's been to long!" Smythe said greeting her and going to hug her.
"It's great to see you too it really has..." she said as they hugged "you look well!"
She nodded and smiled "I am I'm training recruits at the academy now and helping IAB here and there with things like this on the side. It's a great fit for me how are you doing? I saw the news."
She sighed "I'm getting a little better every day some days are more of a struggle than others but El's always there and that helps."
She nodded "that's really good to hear. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm surprised to see you here today."
"To be honest with you I'm a little surprised I'm here too but I'm not going back to work right now just taking the test for when I do."
She nodded "I see. Well I need to start passing out tests. You'll do well I'm sure of that."
"Thanks I hope so."
"Ohh you will," she said with a smile and once she put Liv's test down in front of her and stepped away Tucker faced everyone "good morning and welcome to the 2013 Sergeants exam. I'm sure most of you have taken tests before, actually I know you all have at the police academy so I'll make this short and sweet. There will be around 10 pages of multiple choice questions and maybe a write in or two I'm not 100% sure. When you write on your packet or bubble in your answers please make sure that they're legible, if we can't read your name the packet will be thrown in the trash and if we can't read your answers they will be counted wrong. There is to also be no cheating on this exam and if you're caught doing it your packet will be thrown away and you will receive a reprimand and unpaid suspension from the NYPD. You were all told to bring a number two pencil but if you weren't able to bring one for some reason there are 15 of them in the red cup beside the phone bin. Has anyone not put their phone into the phone bin?"
No one raised their hands and he nodded "does anyone need a number two pencil?"
A couple officers nodded and he motioned them to go to the cup "you'll all have four hours to take the test but if you finish before the four hours are through once you've handed your exam to either me, Sergeant Draper or Sergeant Smythe you'll be allowed to go ahead and collect your phones from the bin and go, there is also no talking allowed during the exam. Does anyone have any questions?"
Everyone shook their heads and Tucker nodded "lets begin then, you can all open your packets and I wish you all the best of luck," he said as he started the timer and soft elevator music filtered through the room.
Time ticked by as the detectives quietly worked as all that could be heard was the sound of pencils on paper, the quiet music and Tucker, Draper and Smythe's footsteps on the floor "you all get a fifteen minute break," Smythe said when they got to the two hour mark as she stopped the timer "you can use this time to go to the restroom, to the vending machine or both but your tests must stay behind and your phones must stay in the bin."
Everyone nodded and Olivia waited for the room to clear a bit before standing from her seat and stepping out as she bought two packs of chips and two candy bars then headed outside as Elliot smiled seeing her and stepped out of the truck "how'd it go?" he asked.
"Good, it's still going I have a little over 3 pages left," she said handing him his chips and candy bar.
He nodded and took them "thanks for these but why are you out here?"
"They let us on break and you know I can't resist spending time with you besides I got some for me too," she said as she winked then bit into her snickers.
Elliot chuckled, wrapped his arm around her then kissed her temple and opened his cool ranch Doritos "how long do you have?"
"About ten minutes now."
He nodded "we have time to eat in the truck then. I want a bite of that," he said as he leaned his head towards her a little and took a bite of her snickers bar.
"Hey I bought you your own!" she said but smiled anyway.
"Mmhmm and you can have a bite of mine too, come on get in here where it's cool," he said getting back in the truck.
She hopped in and started eating her chedder fries "guess who's in there monitoring?"
"Who?"
"Karen Smythe."
"Wow how about that! Did you guys have a chance to catch up?"
"We did she's working at the academy now, it seems like she likes it."
"That's great Liv really I'm glad to hear it."
She nodded and smiled "how'd the oil change go?"
"I was in and out of there within the hour. Almost swung by Izzabella's school to eat lunch with her but I was afraid you'd finish before I got back."
She nodded "you definitely could've I'll be another thirty minutes at the least."
He nodded "well take your time baby q104.3's all request lunch will keep me perfectly entertained until you're back."
She nodded and smiled "you should put one in yourself you know."
"Eh I like everything they play besides the only way you can make a request is through the app and I have no idea how to use it."
"I'll teach you later," she said while snagging his Twix and taking a bite.
Elliot nodded then chuckled , smiled and looked at his watch "looks like you only have six minutes left you gonna be able to eat all those chedder fries?"
"No whatever we don't eat we can give to Izzabella later."
"Sounds good baby," he said and they grew quiet while she ate what she could "I've gotta head back in," she finally said when she had two minutes to make it back.
He nodded, wiped his mouth then pecked her on the lips "love you baby, you've got this."
She smiled and returned it in kind "love you too El, see you shortly," she said as she then got out of the car and ran back into the building.
"You cut it close there Olivia," Smythe said when she plopped into her seat out of breath with 15 seconds to spare.
"I know I'm... sorry," she breathed out.
"It's fine, is everyone ready to resume?"
Everyone nodded and Smythe nodded "your final two hours start now," she said resuming the timer and everyone resumed working.
Twenty minutes past with Liv marking answers confidently as she then saw a question which hadn't been on the Quizlet and frowned oh well we had to expect at least one question that wasn't available for us to memorize she told herself in her head as she thought on the question long and hard for a couple minutes then used her past knowledge to answer it as best as she could.
A half hour more passed and she was still seeing questions which hadn't been on the Quizlet as she sighed, shook her head to herself and rubbed her temples now this isn't right! she thought to herself as she continued using her common sense and past experience to answer them to the best of her ability.
At a quarter after twelve she finally finished her exam and handed it to Smythe "do you think you did well?" she asked in a whisper.
"Hopefully, I've gotta go El's waiting for me outside but maybe we could go out for a drink or something sometime?"
"I'd like that, someone will contact you with in two weeks with your test results, if you'll be at Jon Munch's retirement party on the 30th we can have a drink then I'll be there."
"Sounds great, he's retiring?" she asked as Tucker was now rolling his eyes at them.
"He is I'm surprised captain Cragen didn't tell you."
"He didn't," she said as she frowned and sighed "I guess I'll see you there," she whispered as she then quickly grabbed her phone and left the building.
"Rough last half?" Elliot asked knowingly once she was back in the truck as it had taken her a lot longer than anticipated.
"Yeah I had to write a couple paragraphs and there were thirty questions on it that I had never seen before in my life. Can I borrow your mountain due? My head kills."
"Of course baby did you bring any aspirin with you?"
Olivia nodded, pulled the bottle from her purse and quickly took two of them "looks like the cheese cake factory is out because of the time so where do you wanna go instead?"
"Mmm how about subway? It's close to Lindstrom's office we can eat our subs in the car then go inside."
"Sounds like a plan," she said as he nodded and pulled out "Jon's retiring," she said after a minute.
"Oh wow... When?" Elliot asked shocked.
"I didn't ask Smythe many questions I didn't wanna keep you waiting any longer but his retirement party is on the 30th."
Elliot nodded and frowned thoughtfully "it's strange that you had to hear it through her I wonder why they didn't tell us?"
"I'm asking myself the same question. What do you think Lindstrom's gonna press us on today?"
"He'll probably ask if we managed to spend four consecutive hours apart this week, be disappointed at the fact that it was only two then ask me why I haven't pushed you to try to cuff me again."
She nodded and sighed "he's like a dog with a bone that one but I really do need to try again."
Elliot nodded "then we will you just tell me when and where."
She nodded slightly "I'm beginning to think that these sessions are a tad bit pointless if I'm being completely honest he's given us the tools we need to deal with our nightmares and your anger, we're both using them and they're working but the rest it's just..."
"I know baby... But hey you've gotta admit he is a good sounding board, one of us should call Cragen later too."
She nodded "I agree," she said and they fell into a comfortable silence during the rest of the drive.
1 o'clock found them in the waiting room of his office and he walked out a minute later "you guys can come in," he said with a welcoming smile.
They nodded and stood from their chairs in sync "we only have 30 minutes today our daughter gets out of school at 2," El said.
"That's okay though this would be a great opportunity for the two of you to practice being apart."
Elliot chuckled slightly "nice try doc. Lets get this over with shall we?"
Lindstrom nodded and they headed into his office "so Olivia how was the Sergeants exam?" he asked once the two of them had made themselves comfortable on the couch.
"It was okay I suppose there were more questions than I was expecting and that threw me off a little but I got to see my old training officer and that was nice."
Lindstrom nodded "I thought Elliot was the one who trained you?"
"He was he trained me as a detective Sergeant Smythe trained me when I came out of the academy."
Lindstrom nodded "I see, do you think you did well?"
"I hope so I studied really hard the last couple weeks. My gut is telling me that I did okay."
Lindstrom nodded and Elliot kissed her temple "Elliot how do you feel that she did?"
"Amazing I know she tried her best in there and that's all that matters."
Lindstrom nodded "did you have to write in your dream diary this week Olivia?"
"I didn't. I don't think I had any nightmares at all this week did I El?"
"I only remember you whimpering in your sleep once and I had you settled before you were able to wake up."
She nodded and he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple again "Elliot do you stay awake and listen for that?" Lindstrom asked.
"No I just hear it when it happens."
"Every time?"
Elliot nodded and Lindstrom nodded perplexed "that's puzzling. You two still share a California king bed right?"
"We do."
He nodded "are you a light sleeper?"
"It depends on the night."
He nodded "would it help if I prescribed you a sleeping aid?"
"I don't need a sleeping aid I'm glad I hear her the quicker I hear her the easier it is for me to calm her back down again."
Lindstrom nodded "I get that but it's strange that you can detect quiet whimpers from opposite sides of a California king bed."
"I don't really stay on my side of the bed I-I thought you knew," Liv whispered and Lindstrom shook his head "can you guys show me how you sleep?"
Her face went red and Elliot frowned "she's starting to feel uncomfortable doc lets talk about something else."
"There's no need for you to feel uncomfortable Olivia this is a judgement free zone."
She nodded slightly, glanced at Elliot's watch then sighed and looked around the room "I see you hung a new painting up in here it's beautiful I love the stars."
"Thank you I'm glad you like it I like them too, Olivia how do you guys sleep?"
She sighed "we just snuggle."
"Snuggle how?"
She sighed again in exasperation "doc drop it," Elliot said a bit firmer this time.
"I'm just trying to assess whether or not you have a sleeping problem Elliot."
"I don't trust me."
Lindstrom went to say something else but before he could Olivia spoke "I-I sleep with my head on his chest," she whispered.
He nodded "there's no reason to be embarrassed about that that position is common for couples who have a renewed spark in their relationship. I assume this is a recent thing?"
She fidgeted slightly and shook her head and he nodded "for how long has this been going on?"
"On and off for about... Six years I guess?"
"Did something change in your life during that time period?"
"Well we moved into the house that we live in now."
He nodded "anything else?"
"I-I guess Sealview happened during that time."
"What's Sealview?"
She sighed and shuddered as Elliot stroked her hair and took over "it's a women's prison that was shut down a couple years ago me and Liv went undercover there."
"Did something happen there?" Lindstrom asked as Elliot's phone began to ring "one second doc," he said as he continued to stroke Liv's hair "Stabler," he answered.
"Yes this is him."
His hand then froze in Olivia's hair "w-what? Why what happened?!"
"What's wrong?" Liv asked and he held a finger up "ohh my god... W-What hospital?" he asked standing up.
"H-Have them take her to New York Presperterian, why the hell weren't you guys watching her?!" he demanded as he then turned to Liv "Izzabella hit herself in the head with a brick at recess, they're taking her to New York Presperterian in an ambulance."
"Ohh my god..." she gasped as she rubbed his arm gently "everything's gonna be okay honey," she whispered as she then turned to Lindstrom "doc we have to go."
"I understand we'll continue where we left off next week. I wish your daughter the best!" he called out but they were already gone and he wrote Sealview, must revisit in his notebook that he had for the two of them then waited for his next patient to arrive.
xxxxx
"H-How could they not watch her? H-How could they let this happen?" Elliot asked from the passengers seat as Liv sped through town with the emergency flashers on.
"Honey I'm sure they did the best they could there are over 20 kids in her class... she's gonna be alright I promise."
"W-we don't know that!"
"I-I have to believe it El... I-I have to."
He nodded slightly and sighed "s-she's probably so scared."
She teared up slightly and nodded "w-we'll be there with her soon I-I'm driving as fast as I can."
"I know you are baby... I-I know you are I-I'm sorry I'm just scared."
"It's okay El I am too," she whispered and they rode the rest of the way in a tense silence.
xxxxx
"We've got a three year old with head trauma coming in in two! Be ready!" the charge nurse called inside the hospital.
"Child abuse?" another nurse asked.
"Not this time thank god, injury at recess, look alive!" she said and the nurse went out to the ambulance bay seeing a couple standing there "I'm sorry you guys can't loiter here," she said.
"Our baby's fixing to be here and we're waiting for her," Elliot said firmly.
The nurse just nodded as a doctor ran over and the ambulance pulled in "Izzabella Stabler, 3 years old, school said she hit herself in the head with a brick at recess, possible head trauma we couldn't get an IV put in she became hysterical every time she saw the needle, gcs was 13 now has improved to 15, bp 133/101, heart rate 98," the lead medic said while unloading her.
"Mommy! Daddy I heard a siren," Izzabella called with a slight smile.
"You did?" Liv asked softly as Elliot ran over "we're here baby! We're right here you're gonna be alright."
"Mmhmm my head hurts..."
"I know baby," he whispered then kissed her temple "sir we have to move her to our gurney please step over there," the nurse said.
Elliot reluctantly did what she said "they're gonna take you for a little ride okay? Me and mommy will stay right with you."
"Ride! Yay!" she said as the doctor counted to three then they moved her "weee!" she said.
"Was that fun?" the doctor asked as they started rolling her forward.
"Mmhmm. Where's mommy and daddy?"
"We're right here baby you're being so brave... So brave," Liv cooed from slightly behind them.
"I'm brave?"
Olivia nodded "the bravest," she said and the doctor smiled "we're gonna roll you to a special room where we can take a picture of your head okay?"
"Why?" she asked puzzled.
"Well you told your daddy that your head hurts and the picture will help me know why. I'm Dr. Thomson but you can call me Chris. What's your name?"
"Izzabella. I-I want mommy and daddy."
"We're right here baby we're gonna stay right behind you I promise," Elliot said and Izzabella nodded warily as they continued moving
"so Izzabella does your head hurt a little or a lot?" Chris asked.
"A little."
"Okay does it hurt when you do this?" he moved his head several different ways.
"Nnhnn," she said and he nodded "okay how about when you touch it?"
"Sometimes."
Chris nodded slightly confused by the response "Where does it hurt baby?" El asked softly taking over.
"Here," she said pointing at the top of it.
Elliot nodded and Chris did too "can I touch it?"
"Nnhnn," she said and he nodded "okay can I just look at it then?"
"Mmhmm," she said and Chris nodded, looked then stepped over to whisper to Olivia and Elliot "there's definitely a knot there I think at the very least we're looking at a mild concussion, the worse case is a brain bleed but the CT we're about to perform on her now will tell us a lot. We're also gonna need to get her hooked up to an IV as a precautionary measure and do several blood gases on her throughout the day incase the bleed is to small for a CT to catch."
"Brain bleed? S-She could have a brain bleed?" Liv asked as her face went white.
"She could. I don't think that's the case if I'm being honest with you but because she's young and her skull isn't fully developed we've got to cover all our bases," he said as they approached the door to theCT room "do the two of you want to come in here?"
"Yes," Elliot said quickly and he nodded and handed them each an apron "mommy!? Daddy!?" Izzabella called from the gurney.
"W-We'll be right there baby!" Liv called as Elliot looked to Chris "w-what happens if she does have a brain bleed?"
"Then we'll have to take her in for surgery but again I really don't feel like that's gonna be the case she's alert and has stable vitals so just try and keep positive thoughts okay?"
Elliot nodded slightly and put his apron on then they walked in to the room "what's that?" she asked pointing at them.
"It's called an apron me and daddy have to wear them while we're all in the special room."
Izzabella nodded and Liv managed to keep a small smile "so you know how the doctor told you that he needs to take a picture of your head?"
"Mmhmm."
Liv nodded "well it's time for him to do that now so the nice nurse who's standing beside you is gonna roll the bed that you're laying on into the machine over there so it can take the picture," she said as she pointed at the CT scanner.
She shook her head slightly seeing how big it was "n-no mommy it'll eat me."
"No it won't baby I promise."
"B-But it looks really scary I-I don't wanna go in there."
"You won't be in there very long honey and it doesn't hurt," Elliot said.
"Y-You promise?"
He nodded and stepped over to her gurney "I don't just promise I pinky promise."
She nodded and they linked pinkies "we need to move her now," the nurse said urgently.
Elliot nodded and moved to stand back beside Liv as a couple tears fell discreetly from her eyes "it's gonna be okay Izzabella I promise just keep being brave honey," he said as he then pulled Liv into his side "we're gonna need you to stay very still okay sweetie," the nurse told Izzabella once she was in the right position for her scan.
"O-Okay b-but I'm scared..."
"Don't be scared baby it won't hurt," Liv said while Elliot stroked her hair and wiped her tears away and the nurse nodded "it'll be loud but that's all."
She nodded slightly but when the scan started she jumped at the noise "I-I don't like this I-I want out I-I don't like this camera."
"Baby please lay still this picture is really really important," El said.
"B-But daddy..."
"Baby I don't like making you do this any more than you wanna do it but it's really, really important and it'll be done before you know it I promise."
Izzabella just nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks while they redid the scan "Dr. Thomson it's complete," the tech said once it was finished.
He nodded, walked over and looked at the results then sighed in relief "i-is it good news?" Liv asked hopefully.
"It's negative for a brain bleed yes"-
She sighed in relief "ohh thank god..." she said as Elliot exhaled too "but she's not out of the woods yet the scan showed positive for a concussion and we still have to do the blood gas test," Thomson said finishing his sentence.
They both nodded tightly "b-but you still think she will be right?" Elliot asked.
"Yes sir I do, nurse Alison here is gonna take you guys to trauma bay 1 to start her IV and run the blood tests that need to be run and you're both welcome to stay with her."
Elliot nodded "will we be allowed to hold her?"
"Yes that would actually be preferable," he said as he then left the room and Olivia and Elliot took off their aprons then rushed to her gurney that was now out of the CT scanner "c-can we go home now?" Izzabella asked in a whisper.
"No not yet baby," he said softly as he stroked her hair while they moved.
She just nodded slightly "I-I didn't like the camera."
"I know honey I'm sorry," he whispered and she just nodded "c-can I have a hug?"
"Yeah of course as soon as we get where we're going."
She nodded and a minute later they were in the trauma bay so he gently lifted her from the gurney and pulled her into a group hug "we love you so much baby, so so much," Liv whispered as they hugged her tightly.
Izzabella smiled slightly "I love you too," she said and they continued to hug tightly.
The nurse let them stay that way for a couple minutes before she finally spoke "I'm sorry to interrupt but I need to do her blood gas test and put her IV in so can you guys go ahead and lay her down on the bed for me?"
They nodded and Elliot sighed "This could go really bad really fast," he whispered to Liv.
"Yeah I know, get up there with her and hold her I'll try and distract her," she whispered.
He nodded and broke the hug "hey baby lets get up here," he said softly as Olivia walked over to the nurse "she's terrified of needles."
She nodded slightly and fiddled with the knob on his watch as he crawled onto the bed "don't mess with that baby it might break. Here play with these instead," he said pointing at the buttons on his shirt sleeve.
Izzabella nodded and promptly started fiddling with them as the nurse nodded to Liv then approached the bed "I see you like your daddy's shirt sleeve hmm?"
Izzabella nodded and Alison smiled "can I see your other arm? You can keep playing with the buttons."
Izzabella nodded and held it out as Elliot eased her head onto his chest and began stroking her hair once she was comfortable "hey sweetie guess what?" Liv said from the foot of the bed.
Izzabella dropped his sleeve and turned to face her "I spy something with my little eye that's... long."
"The floor?" she asked as she jerked slightly feeling the tourniquet being placed on her arm and her eyes darted over.
"Shhhh it's okay baby," Elliot soothed and Olivia shook her head "keep looking at me honey, it's round and long."
"That?" she asked pointing at the bedrail as her gaze then darted back to her arm W-What's she doing?" she asked as Alison used an alcohol swab on her wrist.
"You tried," El mouthed and Liv just nodded "she's gotta test your blood baby it'll only hurt for a minute just focus on me and daddy."
She kept her gaze on her arm and saw the needle "n-no! no no needles!" she cried as she jerked her arm away.
"Baby she has to do it I'm sorry... Please give her your arm back?" El asked softly.
She shook her head through tears "n-no I-I wanna go daddy, I-I wanna go now."
"We can't honey I'm sorry," she began to cry louder "I'm so, so sorry, so sorry."
"Daddy please... p-please!"
"I-I'm sorry," he whispered as she jerked out of his grasp and flung herself at Olivia "m-mommy please take me home, p-please, p-please!"
Olivia caught her in her arms as a tear fell from her eye "w-we can't honey w-when the brick hit your head it could have hurt it and we have to make sure it didn't i-if I took you home right now and it turned out that it did that would make me a bad mommy."
"N-no y-you're a good mommy, a-and my head only hurts a little..."
"I know... Listen baby I hate needles about as much as you do b-but the quicker we let her do what she has to do the quicker it'll be over."
"NOOOO! No needles no needles p-please n-no n-needles..."
"I-I'm sorry baby," she whispered as she passed her back to Elliot and stood by the bedside as he cradled her back to his chest "hush little baby don't say a word, daddy's gonna buy you a mocking bird, and if that mocking bird won't sing, daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring," she was calming slightly and he gently held her arm out straight for the nurse "w-what are you doing?" Izzabella asked.
"Shhhhhh," Liv cooed and stroked her hair as he continued to sing "and if that diamond ring turns to brass, daddy's gonna buy you a looking glass."
The needle eased in and she whaled loudly and tried to wrench it away "I'm sorry sweetheart... I'll be done soon," Alison said sadly as Elliot was forced to grip it a little tighter to keep it still as his eyes filled with tears "a-and if that looking glass gets broke, d-daddy's gonna buy you a billy goat."
"I-It hurts daddy... I-It hurts w-why are you letting her do a bad touch... W-Why are you helping her do the b-bad touch..."
Liv teared up more as Elliot's expression turned anguished "I-I'm sorry baby t-this has to be done... I-I'm making you do this b-because I-I love you a-and it has to be done please forgive me, p-please forgive me..."
Izzabella just burrowed herself closer to him and cried in defeat as he loosened his hold on her arm and Alison finished with the blood gas "the worst one's over honey just one more okay?"
Izzabella just nodded and Liv and El sang you are my sunshine together while she put in the IV "I'm all done," Alison said softly.
She nodded through tears and Alison motioned to Liv "Mrs. Stabler? May I speak with you for a second?"
"You can speak to me right here I-I need to be near my daughter."
She just nodded slightly "bad touch? Kids usually make more generalized statements."
"We just taught that to her a couple weeks ago when she started school t-that's why she said it."
"Alright well we'll have the results back in a little while in the meantime you can't let her sleep, eat or drink just in case they come back positive."
Olivia nodded and she focused back on Izzabella and El once she was out of the room "p-please no more needles daddy... N-No more t-they hurt so much..." she pleaded through sniffles.
"I can't promise you that baby"- her cries got louder as he sighed and stroked her hair "b-but I promise you they're done for right now."
She just nodded her head slightly as her sobs continued "honey I need you to try to take some deep breaths for mommy. Here like this," Liv said as she slowly breathed in and out.
Izzabella nodded as Elliot replicated it too and her breathing began to slow "that's it baby you're doing great, so so great," El cooed.
She nodded slightly and was silent for a couple minutes as she continued to breathe slowly "I-I wanna go home," she whispered.
"Hopefully soon baby, you wanna watch a movie?"
She nodded and they smiled slightly "what do you wanna watch? I bet I can find anything."
"Little mermaid," she whispered.
Elliot nodded "we can do that," he said as he found it and turned it on for her on his phone "Liv?" he whispered once she was occupied.
"Hmm?"
"Will you message Lizzie and let her know where we are?"
"Of course. Honey are you okay?"
He sighed "as okay as I can be right now."
She just nodded slightly as her thumb flied "E-El she has to be okay..."
"She will be I know it. I-I can feel it."
"I-I hope so," she whispered and with that they fell into silence and forced themselves to watch the movie and act as normal as they could around Izzabella.
Halfway through the movie Liv and El switched spots as Elliot was stroking both Liv and Izzabella's hair as Izzabella started to doze off "El," Liv whispered pointing.
"Sorry," he whispered stopping the motion as he then looked to Liv "I'm gonna go to the men's room really quick I'll be right back."
She nodded and redirected Izzabella to the movie and El stepped out as she began watching it again "my head still hurts," she said a couple minutes later.
"I'm sorry baby," Liv whispered as she kissed her temple.
Izzabella shook her head slightly "I-it was a bad idea..." she whispered.
"Hitting yourself with the brick?" she asked softly.
"Mmhmm I-I told Thomas that daddy said it was bad to throw things b-but he said it would be fun."
Liv nodded "Thomas is in your class right?"
"Mmhmm recess."
"Just recess?"
"Mmhmm, I-I'm sorry I did it mommy... T-Thomas said it would be fun..." she said through tears.
"Shhhh it's okay baby all that we care about is that you're okay that's it."
"I-I just really wanna go home, I-I'm sorry, I-I'm sorry."
Olivia gasped in slight shock "b-baby do you think that you're here because you're in trouble?"
"Mmhmm I-I threw the rock."
"Ohh baby no... No no that's not why you're here... Well not really anyway you're not here because you threw the brick you're here because it hit your head and hurt it... This is a hospital sweetheart..."
"S-So I'm not in trouble?"
"No baby I think you learned your lesson but like I said earlier if we didn't make sure you weren't okay before taking you home then that would make us bad parents and we could get in big, big trouble plus we love you bunches and want you to have the best care there is."
"I-I love you too," she whispered as Elliot walked back into the room and took his place back beside the bed "did I miss the doctor?" he asked.
"No," Liv said and he nodded relieved then turned to Izzabella "how are you feeling baby?" he asked softly.
"Okay mommy kissed my head and made it feel a little better."
He smiled a bit and nodded "mommy's kisses are the best aren't they?"
"Mmhmm. I'm thirsty."
"We don't have anything here for you to drink right now but we'll get you something later I promise."
Izzabella nodded and he smiled and glanced back at the phone "did Lizzie respond to your text?" he asked Liv.
"No not yet but she's probably in class or at practice."
"Yeah you're probably right," he whispered as a minute later he began to pace "this waiting is killing me baby."
"I know me too do you need to hold her again? Would that help?"
He shook his head "I-I can't sit still right now," he said as just then Thomson walked into the room "hi Mr. and Mrs. Stabler. We have the results of the blood gas test."
They nodded and immediately faced him "it came back normal as well. I can tell you with 99.9% certainty that your daughter does not have a brain bleed."
"Thank god..." they said in unison as they pulled Izzabella into another group hug and hugged her tightly in relief "w-when will we be allowed to take her home?" Liv asked looking at him after a minute as she leaned back.
"Well I'm gonna have her moved to a regular hospital room for continued observation and we'll have to do 1 or 2 more blood gas tests but if everything continues to go well you'll be able to take her home in the morning."
She nodded and Elliot looked to him "how about food , drink and meds? She's thirsty and has a headache and I'd like to do something about those two things."
"I'll order her a light painkiller and I'm comfortable with her drinking something light like spright or water. The pediatric floor we'll be transferring her to has a vending machine too and you'll be welcome to help yourselves."
He nodded "thank you so much Dr. Thomson, thank you for everything will you still be the doctor she sees upstairs?"
"Yes until my shift ends at 7 PM."
Elliot nodded and when Thomson left Liv looked to Izzabella "so baby what's gonna happen now is we're all gonna stay here together for one sleep then as long as you feel good tomorrow we'll go home okay?"
"I-I wanna go home now though..."
"I know baby but maybe we can have a little fun here when sissy gets out of class I'll ask her to bring us a couple games to play and Mr. cuddles how does that sound?"
She smiled slightly and nodded "I-I'm thirsty."
"I'll go get you something baby," El said as Izzabella nodded and just then the hospital speaker came to life "may I have your attention, will the owner of the 2008 Ford f150 with tag number: victor hotel Yankee 5971 alpha in emergency parking please move your vehicle? It's double parked and at risk of being towed. I repeat, will the owner of the 2008 Ford f150 with tag number: victor hotel Yankee 5971 alpha in emergency parking please move your vehicle? It's double parked and at risk of being towed, thank you."
"Ohh shit El I'm so sorry I-I didn't think," Liv whispered as she lowered her gaze.
"Baby it's alright that was the last thing on either of our minds I'll move it while I get her drink it's okay... do you want anything?"
She shook her head and he nodded, kissed their temples then left and they went back to watching the little Mermaid.
xxxxx
"Truck's handled, here you go baby," Elliot said about five minutes later as he handed Izzabella a small cup of water.
"Thank you daddy," she said as she drank it just as Alison walked into the room and administered the pain killer to her IV "what I just put in there should help your head sweetie," she said.
Izzabella nodded and she smiled "it's also time to move her upstairs," she said looking at Liv and El.
They nodded "do I get to go on another ride?" Izzabella asked.
"You sure do," Elliot said with a smile and before long she was on the gurney and they were heading upstairs "wow..." Izzabella said once they were moving in the elevator.
"You like that?" Liv asked.
"Mmhmm."
She smiled and nodded "I'm glad honey," she said and a minute later they stepped off "we're going to room 419," Alison said.
Liv and El nodded as they followed her and Izzabella in there and smiled when they saw the couch "I think we'll actually both be able to fit on this thing tonight," Liv said.
"Yeah I think so too assuming that Lizzie brings Mr. cuddles," he whispered.
"I'm sure she will but hey if she doesn't we'll figure something out."
"Where there's a will there's a way," he whispered and once Izzabella was on the bed and Alison was gone Liv joined her there and they found a cartoon to binge watch.
5:05 PM.
"M-Mommy I-I don't feel good..." Izzabella whispered as her face started becoming pale.
"Baby what's wrong? What hurts?"
She leaned forward quickly "I-I'm gonna be sick mommy..."
Liv nodded "El I need that trash can," she said as she gently held her hair back.
He jumped off the couch and held it out as Izzabella threw up into it "it's okay baby let it all out... Let it all out," she cooed as she hit the call button "I-I thought the doctor said the test was normal..."
"He did baby throwing up is one of the symptoms of concussion though you remember how many times I threw up after Picard..." El soothed.
She nodded slightly "I-I still think we need a nurse though."
"We do you did the right thing," he whispered as Izzabella trembled in her arms and he stroked her cheek "we're both right here honey, we're both right here I promise."
"M-My head still hurts daddy... M-Make it stop make it stop!"
"Sweetheart that's why we're still here is so the doctors can," he whispered.
She nodded slightly and threw up into the garbage can again as a nurse entered the room "you paged?"
"We did," Liv said as she continued to keep her hair out of her face and started rubbing her back "her head still hurts despite the meds you gave her and she's throwing up."
The nurse nodded "sounds like it's time for that second gas test. I'll consult with doctor Thomson and be back with you."
They both nodded as she left and a couple minutes later Izzabella finished then fell back against Olivia in tears as Liv and El shared a worried gaze then Elliot sat down on the foot of the bed "we're both right here baby and we aren't going anywhere," he reassured again not knowing what else to say as they waited.
Fifteen minutes later the nurse and a different doctor walked into the room "where's doctor Thomson?" El asked.
"He was called away on an emergency. I'm doctor Lynn Sypes I'll be taking over from here. I'm positive these are symptoms of her concussion and nothing more I've ordered a stronger pain reliever for her, zofran for the nausea and I don't believe that a blood gas test is necessary at this time."
Olivia and Elliot nodded warily as the pediatric nurse then cut in "but as I've tried to tell doctor Sypes the blood gas is needed as a precaution sense she's only had one of them while she's been here today. The brain is a very fragile organ, brain bleeds are deadly and risks don't need to be taken with that sort of thing."
Olivia's phone began to ring and they both sighed deeply "why are the two of you arguing like this in front of us if you two don't know what to do then how the hell are we supposed to know what to do?" Elliot asked as Izzabella continued to cry.
"I'm just trying to avoid putting your daughter through unnecessary pain and suffering," Sypes said as the nurse sighed "and I'm trying to make sure she doesn't die because of negligence!"
"D-Dr. Thomson did say she'd need at least one more blood gas test," Elliot whispered.
"Yeah he did but this one says she doesn't s-so who are we supposed to believe?"
"I don't know baby, can the two of you give us a minute?" Elliot asked.
They nodded and stepped out as Liv sighed "w-we shouldn't let them hurt her if it's not necessary El."
"I agree with that but that woman hasn't even examined her and she looks like she's been on the job all of a year Thomson seemed to know what he was talking about and he said she'd need another test."
"You have a good point El but Thomson also said he was 99.9% sure that she doesn't have a brain bleed and I don't want a repeat of 2 o'clock."
"Neither do I baby," he said and Izzabella looked to them "a-are you fighting?"
"No baby not at all why do you think that?" Liv asked.
"Faith told me her mommy and daddy fight a lot and that her daddy leaves a lot I-I don't want you to leave daddy..."
"I'm not going anywhere baby I promise we're just having an important talk that's it. You want me to hold you for a bit?"
She nodded slightly and he switched spots with Liv and gently pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair "you feel a little better now?" he asked softly.
She nodded and he smiled slightly, kissed her temple then looked back to Liv "do you by chance know what the symptoms of a brain bleed are?"
"I don't I think that's a question for the professionals El."
He nodded "yeah maybe but we can't decide with all that arguing I'll look it up," he said as he quickly found a credible website "it says here that the symptoms are drowsiness, confusion, loss of consciousness, loss of vision, blurred vision, incontinence, sudden and severe headache, nausea and vomiting."
She nodded "okay and how about the ones for a concussion?"
He quickly googled it "nausea, headache, issue with sleep, change in mood and blurred vision."
She nodded "okay so the ones that fall only with a brain bleed are loss of consciousness, loss of vision and in-continents."
"Yeah and she doesn't have any of those. Alright my vote is no for now we can always change our minds if she gets worse and now we know exactly what to look for."
"I agree, I'll go tell the doctor."
Elliot nodded and once she was out of the room he sighed "we love you kiddo so so much you know that?"
She nodded slightly "I-I love you too daddy."
He smiled and kissed her temple "quick question for you baby."
"H-Hmm?"
"Did Faith tell you how her mommy and daddy fight?"
"Mmhmm she said they talk really loud. She asked me if you and mommy talk loud too but I said no. Can we not talk any more daddy? My head still really hurts..."
"Of course baby I'm sorry. Peppa pig just went off but Team Umizoomi is on do you wanna watch that?"
She nodded and he turned it to the channel as Olivia walked back in with the nurse "she shouldn't be feeling any pain at all once this is in her system," she said as she hung the meds.
Elliot nodded "thank you ma'am," he said as he heard Liv's phone ring again "baby you should take that," he whispered.
She nodded slightly as she grabbed it and looked at it "it's Lizzie she must have just gotten out of class, hey sweetie," she said answering.
"Liv I-I just got your text is Izzabella okay?"
"She will be she has a concussion though she hit herself in the head with a brick at recess."
"Oh my god did she say why?"
"A kid in her class told her it'd be fun," she said through a sigh.
"What a stupid kid..."
"He's three too Lizzie I'm sure he didn't know any better either."
Lizzie just nodded "did dad talk to him?"
"No we met her at the hospital she rode in an ambulance. Sweetie can you do us a favor?"
"Yeah of course anything."
Liv nodded relieved "we have to stay here overnight so would you mind bringing us all a set of pajamas, the trouble game, one of the iPhone chargers and Izzabella's bear that she sleeps with at night?"
"Yeah of course where are your pajamas?"
"In the dresser your dads are on the left and mine are on the right."
"Okay what about food?"
Olivia looked to Elliot "is KFC okay with you?"
He nodded while rocking Izzabella and she nodded back "we're thinking five dollar fill ups from KFC I'll give you the money for it once you get here."
"Okay sounds good. Same order as always?"
"Yes please, we're in room 419 on the fourth floor at Nu York Presbyterian, when you get off the elevator it'll be the sixth door on your left."
"Okay I'll see you soon," she said hanging up and Liv glanced back at Elliot and Izzabella seeing her almost asleep "Dr. Psypes said it'd be okay for her to doze off as long as we check on her every two hours," she whispered.
He nodded "that's good she needs the rest."
"Yeah I agree," she whispered back and they sat in a comfortable silence and watched a movie while she slept.
A little over an hour later Lizzie showed up with their stuff and Elliot woke Izzabella "it's time for dinner baby," he whispered softly as Liv was doling out portions, paying Lizzie and organizing the room.
She moaned, nodded slightly then stretched "w-what is it?" she asked groggily.
Elliot smiled "mashed potatoes with gravy and macaroni and cheese."
She nodded and her mouth watered as she reached to take her IV out of her wrist "no you can't do that baby it has to stay in there," he whispered.
"B-But that's my eating hand daddy a-and I wanna eat..." she said beginning to cry.
"Shhhh don't cry baby it's okay you're gonna eat I promise I'm gonna feed you."
She nodded slightly and calmed down as Liv handed him her drink and plate "thanks baby," he said with a slight smile.
She nodded with a smile "you want yours now too?"
"No I'll eat after I'm done feeding her don't wanna make a mess on the bed."
She nodded then sat on the couch beside Lizzie and started to eat a bit of hers "how were your classes?" she asked.
"Pretty good but they're wanting me to pick a career major since this is my last year of basics and I don't have a clue what to pick."
"Honey have you tried taking an online career test?" El asked.
"No do they work?"
"I've never taken one myself but I hear they do," he said as Liv nodded "I know a lot of people that took them and found their careers."
She nodded "Liv what made you decide to be a cop?"
"That's a very long story for another day sweetie," she said with a small smile.
She nodded "dad? What made you become a cop?"
He sighed "well to start with it was because my dad was one and I could make money being one the passion for it came a year or so later when I saw the good I was doing but honey you don't need to just pick something randomly and hope it works out like I did I want you to love what you're doing from day one."
She nodded thoughtfully "mom seems to really like being a nurse."
He nodded as Izzabella missed her bite and some mashed potatoes landed on her shirt and she chuckled slightly "oops," he said with a soft smile as he cleaned them off with a napkin, gave her a new bite then turned back to Lizzie "is being a nurse something that interests you?"
"I donno I don't really like blood or gore much but I like helping people."
He nodded and Liv smiled slightly "it sounds like you should do something in the social field then, social work, teaching something like that but I also think you'd be good at a career in the arts."
She nodded "I wanna help people but with positive stuff if you know what I mean."
"I do sweetie. You could be a dance instructor, majorette instructor there are tuns of options out there for you just do some research, look at the different job descriptions and go from there."
Lizzie nodded as her gaze then turned to Izzabella "I heard you hurt your head today," she said sadly.
She nodded slightly "T-Thomas had a bad idea."
Lizzie nodded slightly "does it still hurt?"
"Nnhnn not really. I'm full daddy."
"You sure baby? You still have some mac and cheese left and a cookie."
"Mmhmm," she said and he nodded "alright baby just let us know if you want more later okay?"
"Okay daddy," she said and a couple minutes later him and Liv switched places "I left you my cold slaw in exchange for your biscuit," she said with a smile.
He chuckled slightly and nodded with a smile as he began to eat "thanks for grabbing dinner honey," he said looking at Lizzie.
"It was the least I could do really I hope I grabbed the right pajamas."
"Whatever ones you brought are fine I promise," he said and the room went into comfortable silence again.
Elliot finished his dinner pretty quickly and Liv smiled at Izzabella once he was done "so what do you wanna do now honey?" she asked softly.
"Can we play that?" she asked seeing the trouble game.
"Yeah of course," she said as Lizzie heard and promptly set up the board.
Despite the nurse interrupting several times to check her condition they managed to play three games before Izzabella got tired and began to yawn "well I think this is my cue y'all," Lizzie said with a smile as she stood and hugged her sister.
Izzabella hugged her back tightly "love you sissy," she said sleepily.
"I love you too and I hope you feel better," she said as she then hugged Elliot "love you dad see you tomorrow."
"Love you too honey see you then," he said as after she gave Liv a quick hug as well she left the room and Elliot put the game away "sweetie you ready to get comfy? Lizzie brought your princess pajama's," Liv said with a smile.
"Mmhmm," she said with a smile and Liv nodded and took her into the adjoining bathroom to do her business and change "no bath?" she asked tiredly.
"No baby not tonight I think you're to tired for a bath don't you think?"
"Mmhmm," she said and once Liv was changed she carried her back to the bed "you ready for bed kiddo?"
Izzabella nodded and Liv smiled , laid down and cradled her to her chest "what story do you want tonight?" she asked softly while El changed.
She just yawned and fell immediately to sleep as Liv slightly smiled and kissed her head then laid still.
"She out?" El asked in a whisper once he was back in the room.
She nodded with a smile and he nodded "Lizzie brought the bear but we don't have to use it," he whispered.
She sighed "it would be the first night in I don't know how long that we didn't sleep in the same bed when we were in the same place."
"Yeah I know," he whispered.
She sighed and shut her eyes in indecision as he quietly walked over to her and stroked her hair "whatever you wanna do is fine with me baby if you wanna move onto the couch with me she'll just be right there we'll hear her if she needs us and if you wanna keep holding her I won't be far."
She nodded slightly and relaxed further into the bed and he kissed her temple and continued to stroke her hair "I love you baby you're an amazing mother," he whispered softly.
"Love you too El and you're the best father I know."
"Aww baby you're too sweet..." he whispered as he then leaned down and kissed her lips.
She returned the kiss in kind then took his free hand and threaded her fingers through his as he gently stroked the skin on her inner wrist with his thumb "that tickles El," she whispered.
He chuckled slightly, kissed her temple again then stopped as they were silent for a few minutes "I-I'm just glad she's gonna be okay I was so scared El," she finally whispered.
"I know baby I was too, believe me I was too you were about the only thing that stopped me from having a coronary you know that?"
She shrugged and he shook his head "you were," he whispered.
She pulled her hand from his to wrap her arm around him "I-I'm so glad you didn't... You know have one?"
"Me too baby, me too," he whispered as they grew silent again and Liv's arm fell back to her side as he continued to stand there and stroke her hair gently until she fell asleep as once he knew she was out he kissed both their heads then moved to the couch to try to get some sleep himself.
A/n: Many thanks go to flowerchildtrm for helping me make the hospital scene as realistic as possible and her throwing the brick at her head was loosely inspired by my brother Ryan. The differences were he was 7 when he did it not 3, he came up with the idea himself, he was at home and he didn't go to the ER. Until next time everyone.