Bang. Olivia could feel her head exploding everytime she remembered that sound. She could still remember the moment the bullet had struck her, the moment she lost her balance right after she fired a shot. She remembered lying on the pavement. Instantly, her head pounded with such ferocity that she felt her surroundings spinning dizzyingly. A cloud of darkness overcame her, and Olivia slipped back into unconsciousness again.

"What do you mean she's fine? She's been unconscious for four hours now for crying out loud!" Elliot's voice blared through the hallway in the hospital. It was only when he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder that he calmed down.

"The gunshot wound is superficial, Detective. The bullet took a small piece of her left arm, but there was no significant damage to the muscles. It's not a life threatening or a career ending injury so it should heal in two weeks or so." The rigidness gradually drained from Elliot's body as the young doctor explained the situation.

"Then why is she unconscious?" Elliot was impatient. He was too worried about his partner to notice the other detectives standing behind him.

"I'm afraid she has a concussion, a result of..." the doctor was distracted by the sudden movement in Olivia's room. "I'll be right back."

Elliot watched as the doctor, together with a few nurses, rushed into Olivia's room. A cold sweat ran down his spine, his heart pounding faster than ever. He stepped closer to get a better look, but was stopped at the door by one of the nurses.

"You'll have to wait here," the nurse pointed to the chairs lined up in the hallway.

"Elliot, come on man, take a seat. Let the doc do his job." Fin's voice registered in Elliot's mind.

Having no choice but to obey, he sat down on the plastic chair. Thousands of thoughts flooded through his mind. I should've pushed her away. A pang of guilt hit him with such force that tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to overflow.

"Detective?" Elliot immediately jumped to his feet at the sound of the doctor's voice. "She just woke up, so she's a little weak. Other than that, she'll be fine."

"Can I see her?"

"That shouldn't be a problem. But not too long."

Elliot's 'thank you' was barely audible as he hurried to Olivia's bedside. She looks so pale. Fighting the urge to touch his partner's cheek, he flashed her a smile instead.

"How are you feeling, Liv?"

"Like a million bucks."

"Liv..." the tone in Elliot's fatigue laden voice told Olivia her partner was in no mood for humor.

"Besides feeling like a bulldozer ran over me, twice, and the missing piece on my left arm, I'm fine." Something about Elliot's expression suggested he didn't buy the story. "I'm fine, really."

"You got shot almost point blank, you've got a concussion and were unconscious for a few hours. That your version of fine, Benson?"

Olivia instantly picked up on Elliot's use of her last name. The only time he uses it...hell when does he use it? Silence fell between them once again. Elliot was slowly calming himself down by hanging on to the fact that she was awake and alive. Olivia, on the other hand, was anxious to know what had happened to the shooters.

"How many?" she asked.

Elliot let out a sigh, knowing that he could not hide the information even if he wanted to. "Three. Two shooters and a driver. DEA got to the driver before he drove away. Gave up Velez with just a blink of an eye. They're on their way to pick him up now."

"That's it?" Olivia was surprised. "Sounds too easy, if you ask me."

"The driver's just a kid. Eighteen at the most. Kid almost wet his pants when the DEA took him."

"So what now?"

"Well the DEA will settle things with Velez once and for all and you will stay out of the stationhouse for two weeks." A smile lit up Elliot's face as he voiced the last part.

"You can't be serious, El. Two weeks?" Olivia cringed when she heard what her partner had told her. It felt worse than being shot, the notion of inactivity.

"Don't look at me. Doctor's orders. Besides, I don't think Cragen would want you to come in as well."

"Damn right I don't want you at work." A voice distracted both detectives.

"Captain, I can assure you, I'll be fit for duty by the end of the week," Olivia tried to sit up, but any movement involving her left arm was met with searing pain. Sweat soaked through her hospital gown, and Olivia had no choice but to lie back down on the bed.

"Easy there, Olivia. I know you'll be fit for duty as soon as possible, but take the extra week or two off. If I remember correctly it's been a while since you took a vacation."

"But..."

"No buts, Liv. You heard the Cap. Take the time off. Go somewhere else, do something else." Elliot chipped in.

As if sensing the real reason behind Olivia's reluctance, Cragen added, "Nobody will think lesser of you, Olivia. Once in a while everybody needs a break, so consider this yours."

"Ok." Olivia knew she couldn't argue anymore. A vacation did sound like a good plan, now that she thought about it.

"Now with even more good news." The two detectives looked at him expectantly. "Hammond informed me to tell both of you that as of twenty minutes ago Velez was killed in a crossfire with the DEA. They are rounding up the remaining of his men as we speak."

"Lucky son of a bitch." Elliot muttered under his breath. What I'd give to squeeze the life out of his sorry ass neck.

"With that, my work here is done. Olivia, go home and rest, and I don't want to see you at the station at least for a week and a half. Elliot, I'll see you later."

"Bye Cap." Both detectives said in unison.

Elliot got up just as the captain closed the door. "I should let you rest too. The doc says that he'll run some tests tomorrow and if everything's ok then you can go home. I'll be over in the afternoon."

"Elliot, you don't have to. I can take care of myself. I'm sure I can get a cab home just fine."

"No can do, Liv. Besides, I don't think the guys will let me live if they found out. So just bear with me, all right?" Elliot turned around to take one last look at his partner, glad that her eyes were already fluttering close. "Sweet dreams." He whispered.

-----

Katherine stared at the papers placed in front of her. Every sheet of those papers represented her deepest wish. To be Alex Cabot again. For a fleeting moment she wasn't sure if she was ready. Ready to pick up where her life had left off previously.

So much was left unsaid between her and Olivia that Alex couldn't help but wonder if the detective had waited for her or if she had moved on. Of course she moved on, silly, it's not like you gave her anything to hang on to. Her feelings for Olivia were stronger and more deep rooted than she had imagined, a fact she acknowledged when she was still recovering from the gunshot wound just as she went into hiding. She had never felt so lost in her life. But whenever she stumbled, beaten down without the motivation to carry on any further, Olivia was always there to pick her up. Since the shooting, she only had memories to carry her through. And somehow that was enough for her to survive.

With her mind made up, she signed the papers, letting out a sigh of relief when she was done. Hammond had met with her personally to tell her about Velez's death, and had already explained to her about her choice for the next course of action. After what seemed like eternity, she gathered enough courage to pick up the phone and dial her mother's number. Amidst cries of relief and sobs of happiness, both mother and daughter reunited for the first time in what seemed like forever, drunk with happiness from the knowledge that they would be reunited in only a matter of days.

A week later, Alex stood at her mother's front porch, hugging the older woman goodbye and reassuring her that she would be careful. With a tearful farewell, Alex climbed into the idling sedan. She was still under protection, albeit minimal, just for precautions, according to Hammond.

Night was quickly falling when she got back into the city. Standing in front of her apartment building after being away for so long brought old memories and new tears to Alex. As if reading her thoughts, agent Shayne spoke up, her voice drawing Alex back to the present.

"You need a minute?"

Fighting to hold back the tears, Alex straightened herself. "No, I'm fine." With a confident stride, she walked into the building and headed toward her apartment. Without realizing that she had held her breath, Alex unlocked the door and gently pushed it open, as if any sudden movement would snap her out of the surreal feeling that overwhelmed her.

It took her more than two hours to set up her old apartment, with the federal agent helping once in a while. Sheets and sheets of white cloth that were used to cover her furniture were neatly folded and tucked away in a box. Most of her belongings were all packed into boxes, most of them scattered around the living room. The apartment was finally starting to look the way it was.

"There will be an agent..." the agent stopped talking when she realized the other woman was not listening at all. "Miss Cabot?"

Hearing her name being called once again, Alex felt as though the weight on her shoulders were being lifted. So many tears had already been shed that she couldn't hold back any more that came her way. Wanting to comfort the woman but knowing she couldn't because of her duty, agent Shayne simply left Alex in the middle of her living room, giving her the space that she so needed.

Pulling a blanket from one of the boxes, Alex laid down on the couch, feeling the softness of the fabric that she had spent so many hours on while preparing for her cases. Soon she slipped into slumber, her lips mumbling in a barely audible tone. Home.