How Does it Feel
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: Uh ... ... ... ... ... not mine?
When Elliot told Olivia about his little chat with Don she wasn't, as some would say, a happy camper. But, she promised him she wouldn't say anything to Kathy. And, she had to be at work the next day anyway. She promised him that she would drop by afterwards, no matter what time it may be.
The doctors told him that he could leave in a week, but it would be months before he would be healed enough to return to work, full-time. They promised him that after a month he would be able to return, but only for desk-duty. He wasn't too thrilled about that word, but it beat the hell out of staying home. He had talked with Cragean after that and he had promised him his job would still be there when he was well enough to return. He and Olivia would stay partners.
Maureen and Kathleen had brought the twins to see him after they got out of school. Elliot was thankful for them taking the two, not their mother. He wasn't sure he wanted to endure the wrath of Kathy lying down with no way of defending himself. When the two older girls told their brother and sister to go off to the cafeteria and get something to eat he knew that something was up. The grave looks that appeared on their faces when the younger kids had left only proved his point further.
"What is it?"
"Mom came home, ranting and raving. Saying that you and Olivia were having an affair, she was filing for divorce, and would get sole custody. She won't, will she? I mean, she can't take us away from you, right?"
"You're old enough the where it's up to you who you live with, the twins, I don't know. But, as long as you say you want to be able to see me, you'll be able to. You don't have to worry about that."
"She's so mad at you, Dad. I've never seen her like that before. I don't understand it, she's the one who left!"
He sighed, "don't worry, girls. I won't let your mother take you away from me, I promise."
They hugged him and told him they were going off to find the twins, get something to eat. Around five minutes after they left Olivia's head peeked through an open door, she scanned the rooms for signs of Kathy, then smiled at him.
"Hi."
He smiled back, "hey."
She came into the room and pulled a chair next to his bed, "what did Cragean tell you about work?"
"Well, he said that in roughly a month I can come back to work," he chuckled at the look on her face, "but only for desk duty. Then, until my wound heals completely I stay at the desk. It should only be a couple of months, four or five tops. But, at least I get to come back to work...see you everyday."
"Don't turn sappy on me, Stabler."
He laughed. "I'll try."
"So, Kath's mad, huh? Didn't see that one coming."
Elliot snorted. "I'm having the papers filed tomorrow, hopefully the divorce won't take much time, but cop divorces are never easy. It'll be months before it's finally over ... lots of waiting we've gotta do."
She smiled at him, "well, it's a good thing that I love you then, huh? Listen, Elliot, no matter what happens, I'm gonna be here for you. No matter what Kathy throws at you, I'll still be here."
"I know, Liv, I know."
ONE WEEK LATER
Olivia paced between the soda machines and waiting area, Elliot was getting out of the hospital today, she was taking him to her apartment where he would stay until he got better. Kathy had protested it, but Elliot had calmly told her that there was no other place to stay, and he surely wasn't going to stay at home. They were in the process of a divorce; it made no sense for her to be so possessive. She's the one who wanted it in the first place.
Growing tired of the walking she sat in an uncomfortable plastic hospital chair and chewed on her fingernails, something she rarely did. She'd been waiting for what seemed like forever, enough time to do the piles of paperwork they gave her, and consume three cups of coffee. She looked at her watch for what seemed like the umpteenth time in the past hour, hour and a half, she still had roughly ten minutes left until he would be officially be released from the hospital.
She looked up when she heard footsteps approaching; it was the nurse that had told her to wait in the first place; that had been over an hour prior. The woman sent a faux smile in her direction and just kept on walking. She sighed to herself, looked like she'd have to wait just a little bit longer. Elliot was surely taking a long time to get ready.
The next sound she heard was a wheelchair rolling down the hallway, that was her cue. She looked up to see Elliot being wheeled down the corridor by an older, gray haired nurse. Where they younger, redhead had looked cold and indifferent this nurse smiled at her warmly. Elliot did the same, she imagined he was ready to leave the hospital, it was cold and bland, not much to look at. When they reached her she took over for the nurse, wheeling him into the elevator.
"So," he said when the doors closed, "your place or mine?"
She laughed at him, "well, seeing as you have no place, I think we'll be heading to mine."
"Oh, yeah ... you've got a point there."
She rolled her eyes, "did you call the kids, tell them that I don't mind them stopping by to see you?"
"Yeah, did that last night."
"Good."
"You sure you don't mind?"
"Why would I?"
He shrugged, "I don't know."
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. She steered the chair to where her car was parked and helped him into the passenger seat, folding the chair and putting in into the back. She climbed into the drivers side and looked over at him, "you ready?"
"I've been ready for a month."
She smiled and turned the car on, "you know you're gonna be alone a lot, right? Without you at work Munch, Fin, and I have been packed with stuff, I haven't been home much."
"You haven't gotten a replacement for me yet?"
She looked over at him, "no, she's not coming until next week."
"She?"
She turned her attention back towards the road. "Something wrong with that?"
"Of course not, what's her name?"
"Detective Rachel Peterson. From what I hear she's good."
"Well, hopeful she doesn't get too comfortable."
She looked to him again, "don't worry. You're job is safe."
They were silent for the rest of the ride; Olivia had turned the radio on. When they pulled up in front of her apartment building she got out, fixed his chair, and helped him into it. They rode up the elevator, which she had never actually been in before; it was off limits to those who could take the stairs. When they got into her house Olivia grabbed them each a beer and they sat and turned on the TV.
"I missed this." Elliot said out of the blue.
She looked at him puzzled, "TV?"
He laughed, "no. Beer."
She sighed and shook her head. "Men." When he shot her a look she shrugged it off. "You'll be sleeping in the guest room, I made up the bed last night. There's a walkie-talkie in you're room, and mine, but I'll warn you now, the second you start paging me for something like water every five minutes it's gone. You've got your crutches by your bed, and there's a railing in the bathroom. If you ever need any help, I'm just a room away. Ok?"
"Got'cha."
She took a sip of her bed, "good."
"You're not going to always be so controlling are you?"
"I will be until you get better."
"Great," he sighed, sarcastically.
"Hey, if you wanna be like that you can stay at the hospital until that wound heals."
He seemed to smart up, "all right." He looked at the clock, "you know, I'm a little tired."
She stood up, "let me help you."
She leaned over him, grabbed his shoulders, and pulled. He came easily into he arms and she stumbled a little, but kept her footing. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she wrapped an arm around his waist, holding onto the hand that was draped over her shoulders with her free hand. She had to keep herself from enjoying the situation and focus on helping him. They slowly made their way to the guest bed, occasionally stumbling, but never falling.
She sat him down on the bed as gently as she could; "you don't need help changing do you?"
He shook his head; "I'll need help with the shirt. That's it."
She nodded, "first I should get you something to change into, huh?"
He smiled, "that'd be good."
She searched through his duffel bag and got him something to put on, carrying it over to him. "All right, let's get that shirt off, then." As carefully as she could she grabbed the hem of his shirt and tugged upward. He slowly and painfully lifted his arms, allowing the shirt to go over his head. When it was off she couldn't help herself from staring at the bandage on his midsection.
"God, Elliot, I'm so sorry."
"You didn't shoot me."
"But it was my fault."
He shook his head, "no it wasn't. It was George Albertson's fault."
"He wouldn't even be after you if it wasn't for me."
"And, he wouldn't be after you if it wasn't for his brother." He stated as a matter-of-factly.
"That still doesn't keep me from feeling guilty."
He grabbed her hand, "Olivia, please listen to me when I say that none of this was your fault. There was nothing that you could have done to prevent what happened to me, and it's because of you that my daughter is safe. So, don't feel guilty."
"I'll try not to," she replied with a sigh. She picked up the other shirt and told him to raise his arms again. He did and she got the shirt on over his head. "Ok, you've got it from here, right?"
He nodded, "thanks, Liv."
She smiled and kissed him, "night."
"Goodnight."
"I'll see if you need anything before leaving work in the morning, all right?"
"Ok. Hopefully I'll still be asleep."
She laughed and left the room, shutting the door behind her. She quickly padded into her room and changed into a pair of jogging pants and a tank top. She slid under the covers on her bed and sighed in relief. She hadn't been kidding when she told Elliot work had been rough, her muscles ached. As she was drifting off to sleep she could swear she heard Elliot's voice. She picked up the walkie-talkie, "did you say something?"
She heard a soft chuckle, "goodnight, Olivia, I love you."
She smiled sleepily, "I love you too Elliot, now go to bed."
"Fine."
She was asleep in five minutes.
a/n: let me know what'cha think.