1Not Just Partners

Chapter 12

Olivia hadn't slept as well as she had last night in her whole life. She had fallen asleep almost immediately after telling Elliot goodnight. When she'd woken up this morning, she still had Elliot's arms around her. She laid there listening to Elliot's rhythmic breathing. She wished they could lay that way forever, but they had to get up.

"El, wake up. It's nine o clock," she gently shook him to wake him.

"What? We're late for work," he mumbled still half asleep.

"No, we aren't Elliot. We're off today. We're at the hospital and need to find out if I can leave yet."

"Oh yeah sorry Liv. I forgot where we were," he said. He was more all the way awake now. "I'll go see if your doctor is here yet."

"Thanks Elliot," Olivia replied.

Elliot unwrapped his arms from around her and got out of the bed. He tried to straighten his rumpled clothes the best he could. He headed out of the room toward the nurse's station.

He'd hated having to let go of Olivia. He had loved the feel of having her lay there in her arms. He had been a little apprehensive about telling Olivia his true feeling for her. It hadn't changed things between them too drastically. Elliot stopped at the nurse's station. The nurse didn't even look up from the magazine she was reading.

"Excuse me miss," he said to get the nurse to acknowledge his presence. "I was wondering if Olivia Benson's doctor has come in yet?"

"One second, let me check." She turned her attention to the computer and after typing for a second she told him, "Dr.Kramer will be in at 10:30 today." She went back to reading her magazine as if to dismiss Elliot.

He turned and headed back toward Olivia's hospital room. He knew she wouldn't be thrilled at having to stay there at the hospital for another hour and a half.

"The nurse said your doctor won't be in 'til 10:30," he said.

"What?" She said just a little too loudly for Elliot's liking. "I fine and I want to go home, but I have to stay her and wait for my lazy, slacker of a doctor. I can't believe I let you convince me to stay here last night." Olivia told him accusingly.

"This isn't my fault so don't try to blame me,"he paused. "Well the fact that your doctor is a slacker isn't my fault,"he said.

Olivia saw the guilt and sadness fill Elliot's gorgeous blue eyes. He still blames himself for the shooting she realized. "Elliot this isn't your fault okay? None of it." She told him emphasizing none.

"How can you say this isn't my fault Liv? My ex wife is the one wh this up,"he said.

"Exactly El, your ex wife not you." She gave him a reassuring smile to show him she really meant what she said.

Elliot smiled back at her. 'She is so wonderful and forgiving' he thought to himself. "Hey Olivia I'm gonna go call and check on the kids and call the station."

"Alright Eliot. Tell the kids hi from me," she said.

"I'll be back in a few minutes,"he told her. He turned to Elliot's ass again. Once she was alone she began to think about Elliot's confession from the night before. Would it really be so bad to be in a relationship with him. It would definitely cause some problems at work, but was there anything else? His kids, they liked her fine as their father's friend and partner at work but what about as his girlfriend? There was also the fact that she was really bad at relationships. She had no idea if she was ready to get into a relationship with Elliot or not.

At a payphone in the hospital

"Hey Captain. It's Elliot. How are the kids?" Elliot asked into the phone.

"They are fine Elliot. They're worried about Olivia, but that about it," Cragen responded.

"Yea Olivia said tell them she says hi. Her doctor won't be in for a while. We probably won't be in 'til about 10:30 so we'll see you guys about 11:30. You think you can keep the kids until then?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah that'll be fine," he said.

"Ok well I'll see you later," Elliot said.

"Bye Elliot. Tell Olivia to get better," Cragen said.

Elliot hung up the phone and dialed the number to the precinct.

"Special Victims. Tutola." Fin barked into the phone.

"Hey Fin it's Elliot."

"Hey man. How's Olivia doing?"

"She's good. She's pissed to still be at the hospital still," Elliot said laughing. "So any news on the shooting?"

"Nothing yet. Me and Munch are working on it," Fin told him.

"Thanks. I'll see you later," Elliot said. He hung up the phone.

When Elliot got back to Olivia's room she was sitting on the bed fully dressed in the clothes Maureen had brought her yesterday.

"Well I guess your anxious to leave aren't you?" Elliot said half jokingly.

"Yeah I am. So how are the kids?" Olivia asked.

"They're fine. Cragen says they are worried about you.," he told her.

"Why would they worry about me? I told them yesterday that I was fine," she wondered aloud.

"They love you Liv. Your good with them. They respect you.," he answered.

"They talked until the doctor arrived. "I see you are ready Miss Benson," Dr. Kramer said.

"Yes I am. I'm just waiting on the okay from you," she answered.

"Well everything seems in order. You will however need to do about six months physical therapy. No working out on the street for awhile," he told her.

"Oh don't worry doctor. She won't be doing anything to put herself in danger," Elliot interrupted. "I'll make sure she stays safe."

Olivia threw him a look as if to say 'who the hell do you think you are?'. The doctor didn't see this and continued speaking.

"Thank you Mr. Stabler. Miss Benson I would like you to come back in a month so I can see how your shoulder is healing. It is to stay in a sling except while your sleeping and showering until then," he finished.

"Ok. I'll be here," Olivia said grudgingly.

"You are free to go then," Dr.Kramer said.

Elliot and Olivia walked out to his car. Was only a little past eleven o clock he decided they should go get some food "Hey Liv, you hungry?"

"Yeah we should go get the kids though," she said.

"They'll be fine with Cragen. Let's go alone so we can talk," he replied.

"Talk about what?" Olivia questioned.

"Everything," he answered vaguely.