Thanks for the feedback on my story. I am sorry for the quickness of the last chapter, I was at work. I will make it up to you.
"From the description, Elliot, we are pretty sure it is Olivia."
"From the description?" He looked through the rear view mirror at Munch. "What do you mean?"
"She is not exactly conscious, has no identification on her." Cragen responded, sensing Elliot's discomfort and even less in Munch's sarcasm.
"Oh god, what do you mean not conscious?"
"Apparently, she passed out at a farm, and the poor old man called for the local doctor, who called 911."
"Yeah the ol' geezer practically had a heart attack when he saw Olivia just lyin' there." Munch said, when he received looks from the other others in the car, he sighed and looked back out the window.
It was going to be a long ride.
Hating having to ask, Elliot asked anyway, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Did they say what else happened?"
Cragen looked over at his friend, "She…she was beaten severely, broken ribs, bruising, and.. Elliot…"
"What?"
"Maybe now is not the best time?"
"Cap, is there a better time?"
"Yeah, like when you aren't...umm let's see driving!" Munch said.
"Cap…oh god, not her."
"I am sorry Elliot."
They rode in silence for the rest of the trip.
Unsure of how to process this new information, Elliot just remained silent. He knew that there was a possibility that this would have happened, but he was praying that it wasn't true.
Once they got off the Thurway, Cragen started giving him directions to the hospital.
They arrived and Elliot parked the car, the other three got out of the car.
They turned to see that Elliot was still sitting there in the drivers seat. He was unwilling to move at the moment.
Knowing that if he went in there that woman in there could either be his partner, his best friend or it could not be, and that just meant that another woman was victimized in the world.
Cragen went over and knocked on the window; Elliot opened the car door and stepped out.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, come on let's get inside."
As they walked in a nurse asked if they needed help and they told them who they were looking for.
"Right this way please."
And the four men followed her down the hall.
Elliot's stomach was in knots, although he would never admit it.
As the same for the three other friends, waiting to see if it was her, to see if she was okay.
The stress.
"Here we are, she has woken up this morning, but is currently sleeping. Please don't wake her up, don't make her try to talk, and please don't stress her. She needs her rest."
"Thank you nurse." Cragen said as he looked into the room.
"Oh man." Fin said from next to Cragen.
"Oh god."
"Well she's looked better." Munch replied, and then shrugged his shoulders, "What?"
Without looking Elliot knew it was her from the others reactions.
"Don.."
"Yeah Elliot, go ahead, we will wait for you in the waiting room."
"Yeah." And with that he walked in to Olivia's room and closed the door. Taking a breath he turned around.
"God."
Knowing that he had to put aside his anger, his guilt, everything that he was feeling right now to help her through this, he gathered up his strength and sat down next to the bed.
"I am so sorry Liv." He said as he reached for her hand and gently wrapped his fingers around hers.
"I wish I was there for you when this happened."
He kept talking to her in soft whispers, hoping that she would wake up.
The doctor had come in and told him, that she would be waking soon, but not to push it.
Elliot couldn't help it, he needed to see those brown eyes, and he needed her to wake up.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there, Cragen and Fin had come in to let him know they were going to go and eat, and that maybe he should go with them.
Elliot flatly refused.
"Come on Liv, I need you to wake up. Please." He sobbed into her hand as he rested his head on the edge of the bed.
It wasn't long after that, that Olivia began to stir, and griped Elliot's hand in response.
"El?" Came her raspy voice.
"Right here Liv."
She opened her eyes and saw him, and instantly started to cry.
"It's okay, you are safe."
"Where am I?" She asked after a few minutes.
"Newburgh, St. Lukes."
"Did you find…"
"No, a farmer found you. You passed out in his front yard."
She just laid there and took in his features for a moment, "I am sorry Elliot."
"For what?"
"For this, you look terrible."
"You didn't do anything Liv. I was worried about you, scared…"
"I was scared too, when he…"
"You don't need to talk about this now if you don't want to."
They sat there in silence for a little while, just taking comfort in the fact that the other was there beside them.
A few moments later, Cragen, Fin and Munch walked in quietly.
"Hey Cap."
"Olivia it is good to see you."
"It's good to see all of you as well, I didn't think…"
"Shh, you are here now, and that is all that matters."
"Do you remember what happened?"
"Yeah, most of it."
"Whenever you feel like talking about it Olivia, but know that you shouldn't wait to long."
"I know Cap."
She squeezed Elliot's hand and closed her eyes.
"I think we should let the patient rest now." The Doctor said from behind them.
Everyone got up except Elliot, he didn't want to leave.
"Come on Detective, let's get some food into you."
"Don't worry Detective, I will take good care of her while you are gone."
With that Elliot let Cragen and the rest pull him towards the cafeteria.
"I thought she would have been worse." Munch replied as he took a sip of his coffee, "She doesn't look as bad as I thought."
"We have to talk to her, see if she remembers anything about the perp." Fin said, looking over at Elliot then the Cragen.
"What you want me to talk to her?" Elliot asked, unsure if he really wanted to know the sordid details of what happened.
"I think you are the best person Elliot, she will open up to you."
"Yeah."
"Look Elliot, we don't get to pick the vic, we have to catch this guy before he does this to someone else."
"I know."
"The doc said that if all goes well, she should be able to come home in a few days."
"Good."
"Elliot, you know the drill. She has to recover and then pass all the evaluations to get back on the duty roster."
"I know."
"We are all going to help her, but I think you are the one who is going to help her the most."
"Cap…"
"No, listen, she depends on you, you two have this connection I can't explain."
"That's what being partners is."
"Well those two over there don't have it." Cragen responded, motioning towards Fin and Munch.
"God I am glad." He replied with a small chuckle.
"What I am saying Elliot, is that I want you to take care of her, take her back to her place, and help her find herself again."
Elliot just looked at his boss, "What about her case, I want to work it."
Just then a nurse came rushing through the doors, "Detectives, follow me, Miss Benson, she…we are having a little problem."
Elliot jumped out of his seat and made is way towards her room.
What he saw when he got there stopped him in his tracks.