Sorry for the delay in updating. Thanks to all who reviewed. I will be away for the next week but I will try to update during that time. Hope you like it!

Elliot and Kathy were sitting in the waiting room sipping coffee Barbara had brought them when the doctor walked in.

"Mr and Mrs. Stabler?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," Elliot said.

"I'm doctor Dr. Williams. I just finished operating on your son Dickie."

"How is he doctor?" Kathy asked.

"Well it was touch and go for awhile. We lost him twice while in the OR." At this news Kathy started to cry again and Elliot tried to comfort her.

"He's stable but still critical. He's in Pediatric ICU. It's too soon to tell how things will turn out but we're monitoring him closely. The bullet entered his left side and just missed his heart. Luckily it passed right through."

"When can we see him?" Elliot asked.

"I'll have a nurse come and get you as soon as he's settled."

"Thank You doctor," Elliot said.

It was a half an hour before a nurse came to take them to Dickie's room. She told them since visiting hours were long over she'd give them a half an hour. Barbara decided to leave them alone with Dickie and told them she'd go downstairs and pull the car around. When they entered the room it was like something out of a dream. Elliot couldn't believe that it was his son who was lying there hooked up to so many machines. This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to protect his son.

Barbara sat in the car waiting for her sister and brother in law. She still couldn't believe what happened. Hadn't it just been earlier in the evening when her nephew had kissed her on the cheek and told her that he'd see her later? She was worried about her sister. She often put up a strong exterior but was really crumbling underneath, just like her husband.

Barbara could still remember the first time Kathy introduced her to Elliot. She was glad her sister had finally found someone who respected and loved her. After her traumatic experience in high school she didn't know if her sister would truly get over it. But when she found Elliot she finally did. Barbara knew her sister was so patient with Elliot and his work because of the fact that she was raped senior year. It's not something many knew about, in fact their parents didn't even know. He had been the star quarterback who had asked her to homecoming. She of course had said yes. After the dance at a party he had laid it on thick, but Kathy wasn't buying. She had said no repeatedly but he wouldn't stop. She never reported it because her friends had said you know who they're gonna believe. It was her word versus that of the star quarterback. This was before the days of No means No. Guys still took no means yes.

So although it was hard when Elliot worked such long hours, she never complained. She understood that he was doing for someone, what no one had done for her. Out of all the people who had known what had happened to her, not one had stood up to defend her, and tell her they would stick by her when she filed a complaint. And back then she wasn't strong enough do it alone. Barbara partially blamed herself. She too had told her sister that no one would believe her over the star quarterback who had a full ride to Notre Dame.

She saw Kathy and Elliot coming out so she started the car. The ride back home was spent in silence. Kathy was thinking about what they were going to tell the girls when they got home. It was 12:45 by the time they got home. Maureen was sitting in the living room watching T.V.

"Hey guys. I put the girls to bed awhile ago I..." She stopped speaking when she noticed that her mom had been crying and was still sniffling. Then she noticed her dad's shirt. It was stained with blood. She got real worried because she didn't see her brother.

"Is it Dickie?" she said not trusting her own voice.

"Maureen why don't we sit down," Now Maureen was really worried. Her dad only said things like that when she was in trouble or something had happened.

"Maureen honey, your brothers in the hospital," Kathy said before more tears streamed down her face.

"What happened? Is he okay?" Now Maureen started to cry.

"He was shot."

Those words broke down the last of Maureen's resistance.

"What? No!" and she began to sob. Her mother went over to comfort her.

Elliot felt even more guilty then he did before. Despite what Kathy had told him about it not being his fault he still felt responsible. Elliot decided he would go wake the girls. Elliot vowed that he would catch the SOB responsible for this. If it took everything he had he would find him. No one hurt Elliot Stabler's family and got away with it. This time it was personal.

I know cheesy ending lol. I will try and update by Saturday. For those celebrating enjoy all the holidays this week.