Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and I have come to terms with it… almost...

A/N: I did my best to separate characters different lines into their own paragraphs, please bear with me, its probably very wrong! I have replied to a couple reviews below that had some questions.

Vertigo Mac: Thanks for the advice about the spacing, I gave it my best shot! Also the points you gave were well called, however, there will be some explanation too the first two. As for Fin arriving after Olivia, I really had no idea as I only started watching with season four, sorry about that.

Emsta: Thanks as well for the spacing tips. I fairly certain that this flashback didn't happen in the show, as I made it up! However if it did, that is really very strange and I am worried… lol.

And thanks to everyone else for reviewing, I really appreciate them (especially the ones that are nice and have good advice: ) Here's a nice long chapter for you all!

Olivia used her shoulder to held the phone to her ear while she was put on hold and stroked Elliot's forehead. "Elliot, stay with me. Don't you give up. Don't leave me by myself." She murmured, tears falling down her cheeks.

Elliot's eyes flickered open. "L…Liv?" he questioned.

"It's okay, Elliot, the paramedics are coming. You going to be fine." Olivia whispered, pressing harder on the makeshift bandage on his shoulder.

"I was supposed to take care of you…" he muttered, but Olivia shook her head.

"It's fine, El, just keep still."

As the paramedics rushed in Olivia glanced up, and a bright flash made her squint. Olivia winced at the light of the camera and then focused on Elliot. "It's alright miss, we can take it from here." Said one of the paramedics, taking Elliot gently from her and placing on oxygen mask on his mouth and nose. Olivia stood and watched as they took care of the man she had shot and covered the girl with a sheet. Then she looked back at Elliot, who was being loaded onto a stretcher.

"Miss Benson?" came a voice. Olivia looked up and saw the doctor standing over her.

She leapt to her feet and asked, "How is he?"

"He made it through surgery just fine. You saved his life. If the bullet had been a little lower…" the doctor trailed off.

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, but he will be groggy from the anesthesia. Oh, and Miss Benson, the other man died."

Olivia walked into Elliot's room, finding him looking around. "Liv!" he exclaimed.

"How are you doing?" she asked, sitting down next to him. "Alive, thanks to you."

"I am just sorry I didn't get there sooner." Olivia said quietly, taking his hand gently.

"You did awesome. You had a rough first day on the job. I am sorry about that." Elliot said, his eyes finding hers.

Olivia nodded and said, "I killed the guy who shot you."

"I am so sorry. If you ever need to talk, let me know." Elliot said and then he shut his eyes in exhaustion.

"Get some rest." Olivia said gently, getting up to leave. "Where's your wife?" she suddenly asked.

"She can't make it in until tomorrow. The doc told me. Stay a while with me?" Elliot asked, reaching out for her hand.

"Of course." Olivia answered, sitting back down beside him. Elliot smiled and closed his eyes again. After a while his breathing steadied and he was sound asleep. Olivia fell asleep, her hand still holding his.

Early the next morning Olivia awoke to find a pleasant looking nurse walking in. "Was I in here all night?" Olivia questioned, yawning.

"Yes, you didn't even wake up when I took his vitals at two in the morning. Normally its not policy to have people stay over night, but he looked like he enjoyed having you around, so I let it slide. You two dating?" she asked as she wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Elliot's arm. Olivia looked down and saw her hand still clasping his. She blushed and slipped it out. Standing up she straightened out her now very wrinkly shirt and ran a hand through her hair. The nurse smiled at her and said, "You two seem quite perfect for one another. He woke up when I took his vitals, and just smiled at you."

Olivia flushed again, deciding this conversation was way too awkward. "I will be back."

Elliot's wife didn't show that morning, but came later that afternoon. She talked with Elliot for a few minutes before he called Olivia in. "Kathy, meet my new partner, Detective Benson." Elliot said, and Kathy looked over. Olivia was quite used to people taking an instant dislike to her, and knew that's what was happening now. Kathy reluctantly reached out and shook her hand, muttering a thanks. Suddenly the nurse came bustling in.

"Hello, Mr. Stabler, how are you feeling?"

"Oh, better than I was." Elliot said with a grin.

"Good! I have something that might cheer you up." She said, handing him a paper. Elliot stared for a second and then handed the paper to Olivia. She took it curiously and saw her own tear streaked face staring back at her. The main page had a picture of her holding Elliot, the background of the murder scene blotted out, and so their faces stood out quite clearly. The article was titled Heroic New Cop Joins NYPD Special Victims Unit.

Kathy snatched the paper and her eyes widened. After a moment she turned to Elliot and said, "I have to go pick up the kids, but I will be in later."

The nurse shook her head and smiled at Olivia. "I never knew anyone that could look so good when crying!"

Olivia laughed and said, "Ya, sure."

Elliot looked up at Huang, who was sitting on the edge of his seat, listening. "Olivia came to visit me every day for the three weeks I was in the hospital. And when I got back to the office, she had caught up all of my cases that I was behind on. I couldn't ask for a better partner."

"How many times did Kathy come to visit you?" Huang asked suddenly.

"Twice. The kids came a few times with my parents, though." Elliot answered.

"I see." Answered Huang.

"What?" asked Elliot.

Huang didn't say anything and then said, "Well, bring Olivia in too see me."

Elliot walked back out to find Olivia busily working on a file, jotting down copious notes. "Liv, Huang wants to see you." Elliot said, and Olivia looked up.

"You set me up a shrink appointment?" she exclaimed.

"No, he just wants to talk to you." Elliot lied, and Olivia stood.

"Oh Maureen stopped by while you were in there." She added, turning back to face him.

"She did? What did she need?" questioned Elliot.

"She just needed a check for the Columbia application."

"Oh no… I forgot about that." Elliot moaned, reaching for the phone.

"Don't worry about it! I wrote her one. It's fine." Olivia said, taking the phone from him.

"Are you serious? You didn't have to do that!" exclaimed Elliot.

"Well I wanted to. It's fine." Olivia said, and Elliot shook his head.

"Hold on, I will pay you back."

"Elliot! Don't worry about it!" Olivia exclaimed, shoving away the cash. "Really. It wasn't a problem." With that she turned and hurried away.

"Olivia, you haven't been in too see me since 9/11." Huang remarked when she came in.

"No." she answered, looking over at him, "And I don't want to talk about 9/11 again."

"Olivia, its very important. You can't just bottle up all your emotions. I know you had an extremely traumatic experience, and you have to talk about it."

"I would say it was traumatic! A five year old girl died in my arms, and I couldn't do anything about it! I talk with Elliot about it a lot, he was with me." muttered Olivia.

"Good. Anyone else? Your boyfriend?" Huang asked, and she started.

"What?"

"Do you talk about it with your boyfriend?" Huang repeated.

"No! Plus he isn't really my boyfriend. I don't like him all that much."

"But he likes you." Huang added.

"I guess." Said Olivia evasively.

"Hold on." Huang said after thirty minutes of questioning. He got up and walked out of the office. He summoned Elliot over. "Well she isn't talking. However, I get the feeling that she doesn't like the guy one bit, but for some reason is trying to keep him happy. She is quite afraid of him, though why I can't say."

"Venture a guess."

"Well… it seems that if she mentions something… she will lose her job." Huang said.

"Are you kidding me? Olivia is letting some guy walk all over her because she is concerned about her job?" Elliot exclaimed, and Huang grimly nodded. Elliot spun and stormed into Huang's office.

Olivia saw him come in and stood to greet him. "El, what is it?"

"Olivia… we have to talk." Elliot said, sitting down next to her.

"About what?"

"Are you letting this Jake guy abuse you because you are worried about your job?" Elliot questioned, his icy blue eyes gazing into hers.

Olivia's eyebrows narrowed and she asked, "What makes you think he is abusing me? Do you honestly think I would put up with that?"

"Ya, I do." Elliot answered, and then reached out and grabbed her hand. Her eyes widened and she tried to jerk away as he yanked up her sleeve. Dark bruises ran the length of her arm. Elliot stared, for though he had known he would find something, he hadn't expected it too be this bad. "Huang!" Elliot called, and the door opened instantly. Elliot stood, pulling Olivia up next to him.

Huang gazed at Olivia, from the dark bruises on her arms to her panicked eyes and then said, "The call is up to you." Olivia nodded and pulled out of Elliot's grasp, hurrying out the door.

Elliot hurried out after her and watched as she seized several files and threw them in her bag. "Olivia, I'm sorry. But you cannot let him treat you like this."

"Just leave me alone Elliot. I am going home to work on theses files, I will see you later." Olivia snapped.

Elliot reached out and grabbed her arm, "Liv, don't let him do this to you. And mark my words, if he touches you again, I will kill him myself."

Her eyes widened at the seriousness of his tone, and the underlying care for her. "See you later." Olivia repeated, racing out the doors as fast as she could.

That night Elliot walked into Olivia's apartment to find her sitting at the kitchen table working on paperwork. "Hey Liv." He said quietly, and she looked up. Elliot noticed she had changed into sweats and a tank top, which revealed several more bruises on he shoulders and upper arms.

"Sorry." She said quietly, then stood up. "I know you are only trying to help."

Elliot looked at her sadly and ran a hand down her cheek. "I don't want you to get hurt." He answered softly, then kissed her forehead. Olivia wrapped her arms around him and he ran his hands gently over her back.

"Thanks, El." She whispered, burying her forehead in his shoulder. Elliot realized then the feelings he had always had for his partner, and that she reciprocated them. He raised her chin to look at him and kissed her. Olivia was surprised at first, but didn't pull away. Elliot ran his hands through her hair and then rubbed them up and down her sides. Abruptly Olivia jumped away.

"Sorry." Elliot said quickly.

"No… There's someone at the window." Olivia answered, her hand shaking as she pointed. Elliot looked and saw the very angry face of Jake Telluride glaring back at him.

In no time at all, Jake had moved from the window to the door and banged on it quite loudly. "Stay there." Elliot told Olivia, and with that he ambled over to the door, opening it slowly.

"What the hell do you think you are doing with my girlfriend?" he screamed, and Elliot's face darkened.

"First of all, she is my partner, and I don't appreciate the way you have been treating her- and if you touch her again, I will personally see to it that you don't live to do it again. So I advise you to leave, and don't bother her again." Jake stood rigid for a second until Elliot slammed the door. The heavy thudding of footsteps echoed as he angrily went down the stairs.

"See, not that hard." Elliot answered, trotting back over to her.

Olivia didn't respond for a second and then said, "Apparently not." Then she paused and added, "I didn't know he was coming over."

Elliot put his hands on her hips and said, "I still don't understand why you let him do that to you."

"Elliot… you don't understand. He's…"

"He's what?" asked Elliot gently.

"Nothing. See you in the morning." Olivia said, and then hurried off to her bedroom.

Elliot woke up the next morning a little later than usual and found that Olivia had already left. He found a note on the counter explaining that she had too get something done at work early that morning, and would meet him later.

When Elliot drove up to work that morning he found a very interesting sight. After parking he got out of the car and walked over to the big brown horse tied to the parking meter. "Hey… horse." He said to it after a moment, reaching out and patting its neck. Elliot looked closer at it and found its saddle pad had the NYPD emblem upon it. "Oh, you are a police horse, I get it." He said again, to no one in particular. With that he hurried up the steps to the precinct, and sure enough found Olivia chatting away with a kindly looking older gentleman clad in NYPD Mounted Police Uniform. As he walked up, the man reached out and shook Olivia's hand.

"Thank you, Miss Benson. I am so sorry about that. I can assure you it will be taken care of." He turned and saw Elliot standing there, smiled and then said, "You must be Detective Stabler."

"Yes, I am."

"Nice to meet you. I am William Gates, Captain of the NYPD Mounted Unit." He said, shaking Elliot's hand as well. Suddenly his radio crackled something about a suspect escaping nearby. "Well I must go, but nice to meet you. I will be in touch soon, Miss Benson." William said, and then hurried down the steps and untied his horse. He quickly got on and trotted quickly away, turning the corner and breaking into a canter.

"What was that all about?" questioned Elliot.

"You were right. I needed to tell someone. Jake couldn't get away with it." Olivia answered.

"Yes, but why go to the mounted police?" Olivia shrugged and went back to her file. Elliot knew he wouldn't get anywhere arguing with her and so just went about his own work. After a while he took a phone call, and once again realized he didn't have the right file. "Hey, Liv?" he questioned with a pleading look on his face. "Could you get a file out of my car for me?"

Olivia rolled her eyes and asked, "You forgot again?" Elliot nodded. "Alright, but this is the last time." Olivia scolded, walking out.

Elliot was so caught up in the call that he didn't notice the soft resounding noise the bleeped outside the window until Fin walked by and said, "Hey Elliot, I think Olivia set off the alarm in your car." Elliot looked up, confused. Olivia had a key. Suddenly a loud shot rang out, and almost everyone in the precinct looked up. "Elliot!" Fin suddenly yelled, and Elliot quickly hung up the phone, and sprinted over to the doors. Fin was already down the steps when Elliot swung open the door to the outside. The blast of cold air that hit him was nothing compared to what he saw. The drivers side window was smashed in, the glass fragments scattered everywhere. Blood droplets scattered about the ground and leather interior of the car and the windshield had a crack running its length. The file was laying on the floor and there was a huge dent in the side of the car.

"Fin, go in and tell the captain!" Elliot yelled, turning to face him. Fin nodded, sprinting back up the stairs where a gathering of cops had already appeared. Elliot looked up the ground and saw Olivia's gun there, and when he picked it up, it was obviously the gun that had fired the bullet.

A man standing nearby with his dog in hand stared in Elliot's direction obviously very stunned. Elliot ran over to him. "What did you see?" he yelled, and the man looked like he was going to pass out.

"She got into the car and that's when he came up behind her. He tried to take her gun, back she smashed the window of the car in with it and the alarm started going off." He began, and then trailed off, his eyes were welling up with tears. "Then they got into a fight over the gun and it went off. I don't know who got hit or if they weren't, but all the sudden he grabbed her arms and tossed her against the windshield." Elliot stared, and the man slowly finished, by now he was crying freely. "She stopped struggling after that."

"And you did nothing?" shrieked Elliot, grabbing the man's shoulders.

"I didn't… I thought he was catching a suspect." Bawled the man, and Elliot abruptly let him go.

"What?" questioned Elliot.

"He was a cop. He had a big black horse and he dragged the girl up onto it and galloped off." The man wailed, and then for added emphasis repeated, "He was a cop, I thought you were supposed to help people!"