A/N: I apologize for any confusion in last chap as too Elliot's whereabouts'- good call jmewebber- but you will discover them in this chap. I just didn't feel I could drop everything at once. Well thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! You guys are the best! I love the feedback!
I have replied to the reviewers of the past two chaps below!
heartandy112- sorry about not warning you:( Thanks for the compliment on my writing, I am immensely flattered:)
NicksterPotter- I hope this chapter will help with confusion! I know this story has sort of been tons of threads that can be hard to follow (I myself get confused when writing sometimes!). Thanks for reading!
jmewebber- yes… ;) good calls, both of them. You will soon find their answers…
Taty Girl- Ya, it was a very sad chapter, it took me a really long time to write it. In fact, it was originally the ending to Redemption- aren't you glad I changed my mind on the ending to that story? Lol. I am so glad you like my writing!
Littlesweetcupcake- please don't die! I promise, things will start looking up!
YellyBelly- Yes, she did do a great thing, saving his life- she's the best! Oh and believe me, Elliot will not move onto another woman, I couldn't handle writing that!
Tany- Sorry for breaking your heart! It was a hard chapter for me to write as well! But trust me… I have quite a few surprises left in store…
Garrettelliot- glad you are enjoying them!
If I missed anyone, my sincerest apologies! I will try to amend it next chapter!
Devon felt a warm hand on his forehead, and a gentle voice telling him to wake up. When he opened his eyes, he saw her smiling, though tears were silently dripping down her face. That smile he never thought he'd see again. He glanced around and whispered, "Where are the Doctor and Jack?"
"They went to get his medical kit for you." She answered, the broad smile never leaving her face. Devon reached up and ran a hand down her cheek, his hand brushing against the long diamond earrings dangling from her ears. He then traced his hand over her jaw and through her beautifully sculpted layers of hair, streaked with light blonde over the dark chestnut. Then he glanced down and pulled out the corner of her shirt, seeing a scar there. She flushed slightly and then he suddenly dragged her up against him in a death grip hug. Throwing her arms around his neck they flipped over so that he was on top and he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Jesus Christ. I don't even know where to begin. Except that I've missed you, rather we've missed you so much!" Devon exclaimed, and then he broke out into a laugh from pure joy. And she laughed too, rolling over so that she was once again on top.
"Devon Masters. You are definitely the best friend I've ever had."
"Whoa! We interrupting something?" They both turned around to see Jack standing there looking absolutely floored, and the Doctor looking more than a little displeased. She quickly scrambled to her feet and held out her hands to help Devon up.
"Not at all. Good to meet you, Agent Jack Marshall. I do believe I have the answer to the mystery of the fax."
Jack stared at the woman, still shocked from seeing her rolling around on the floor with his partner. "You do?" he finally sputtered, and found himself turning pink at the gorgeous smile she gave.
"I do."
"So… this note, you know what it means?" Jack asked, the beautiful woman looking very patient.
"Of course. It says that Serena Warren needs to get these files to Olivia Stabler as fast as possible. That's easy."
"What? Olivia Stabler's dead, she was killed by the same people that killed this Doctor Swanson." Jack exclaimed, staring at her in absolute confusion.
"Agent Marshall. I am Olivia Stabler. I have been in witness protection for the past two years."
"Olivia!" exclaimed Doctor Warren, glaring over at her in concern.
"It's alright Lawrence. I have little to be afraid of anymore." Olivia said, "Agent Marshall, Devon Masters is a good friend of mine, we met on a case years ago."
"Well, why don't you two catch up?" Lawrence said, and Olivia smiled gratefully.
Olivia led Devon out to the garage, where her sleek blue Mercedes convertible was parked. He looked at it in surprise and traced his hands along the edge. "Dear lord, Olivia. The guy didn't have to this for the witness protection program."
"No, he got that for me as a gift." Olivia told Devon, leaning up against the hood.
"What happened?" Devon asked, his bright green eyes especially penetrating.
"I remember waking up from surgery and they told me that I had to go into witness protection, and if I didn't, my family would most likely be killed. The next thing I knew, I was on a private jet down here. They didn't keep me in New York longer then six hours after I got shot- I got the surgery and left. They were worried I might die on the plane ride here, but they couldn't risk keeping me home. So I arrived here and Doctor Warren took over my care immediately. He knew that I was in the Program, and agreed to take me on as his 'wife'. I stayed in the hospital here over six months, and then was released to be on bed rest. It's only been in the past half year or so that I have felt like myself."
"I'm so sorry Olivia." Devon said, patting her hand lightly.
She took a deep breath and continued, "After I started feeling better, Lawrence started to buy me really expensive gifts. The car, this bracelet and earrings, a laptop, designer clothes, you name it. He told me he wanted me to be happy again."
Devon looked over at her and sighed, "He's in love with you."
Olivia nodded slowly. "I felt so bad, but I can't love him. I just can't. Even after we found out about Elliot's car accident, it didn't change anything. Lawrence thought I would get over him, I still think that he believes that. But I won't."
"Olivia, you did nothing wrong."
"But I feel like I did. I felt so dirty, like I was betraying him the whole time down here. And then he left me too, and I couldn't tell him how sorry I was! This case took my life. I lost everything and I can't ever get it back. There hasn't been a day that I haven't wished I had just died when Perry shot me." Olivia said, tears dripping down her face.
Devon looked back at her and felt his own eyes brimming with tears and he whispered, "Elliot wouldn't have blamed you for anything. Just because someone else loved you doesn't make you dirty, Olivia. In fact, you showed an extraordinary ability to remain true to Elliot despite overwhelming reasons not to. And you haven't lost everything. Riley I am sure would like nothing more than to see you again, you must not quit on her to."
Olivia wiped her eyes slightly and asked, "How is she?"
"Pretty good. Winter O'Connor's been taking care of her. He has a good understanding of what she's going through. But she's kind of been on a downhill slide. You can tell she wants to hang on, though. After her dad died I sold the house in Colorado and we all moved to New York. Our apartments a block or so away from Riley's."
Olivia stared at him and asked, "You moved your whole family just for her? You gave up your life in Colorado?"
Devon looked back at her steadily and nodded, "Of course. It wasn't like I had much left there anymore. My brother has always been totally obsessed with the house- he is way into cross country skiing and snowmobiling, so when I offered it to him for a relatively low price, he jumped on it. My work was bringing me closer to the east coast anyway and Riley needed someone there for her. In the end it all worked out. The twins like it, and Reagan and the baby do too."
"Baby?"
"Oh. Reagan decided to have to baby. She's an adorable little girl. We named her after you."
Olivia flushed slightly and said, "You didn't have to do that. And I honestly don't know what to say for everything that you've done for my family," She paused slightly and then murmured, "I'll never understand how you turned out to be such a nice guy when you have every reason in the world to not be. I don't know how I would have turned out if all the stuff that happened to you had happened to me."
Devon turned to face her and answered, "I think you greatly underestimate yourself Olivia. I sincerely doubt I could have made it through all that happened to you."
"But I didn't make it, Devon." Olivia replied, wiping the corner of her eye again.
"Yes you did. And the way I see it, we have this one chance with life and we had better take what we get and make the best of it. We can't control what happens to us, but we can control our responses to it. Now it's your turn Olivia- what are you going to do now?"
Olivia looked up at him and smiled slightly, "I'm going to go home."
Devon nodded and grinned at her, "Good, I'll take you. Let's go change something for the better for your daughter."
When they walked back in the house, Jack and Lawrence were sitting at the table looking rather confused. "I'm going home." Olivia said, and they both turned to stare at her.
"You can't. You could be killed." Lawrence told her, standing and walking over to her.
"I know. But I can't do this anymore. My daughter needs me. I am not going to let her be destroyed by this too. I am going home- and I think I know the answer to this case." Olivia said firmly, her brown eyes filled with resolve.
Lawrence didn't answer for a moment, and then said, "I am going to miss you."
Olivia smiled at him and said, "I really appreciate everything that you've done for me. Thanks." And then she gave him a gentle hug.
When she turned to go up the steps Devon called after her, "I got us a plane. It leaves in an hour."
"Good." Olivia replied, and then sprinted the rest of the way up the steps. "I'm going home!" she shrieked to the maid as she walked by.
"Are you serious?" the maid exclaimed, as she was the only other one who knew about Olivia's witness protection. "Oh my God, I can't believe this."
"Neither can I." Olivia replied, grabbing her suitcase from the closet. The maid was almost giddy with happiness and hurried about getting her clothes.
"Now you are going to be happy again, right?" the maid questioned, looking over at her as she tossed a heap of nice clothes into the suitcase.
Olivia paused briefly from her unplugging of the laptop, "Yes, I think I'll be happy again." Suddenly she was confronted with the very painful memory of the night before…
Olivia slowly shut the lid of her laptop and set it on the table beside her bed. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sighed deeply. A soft knock at the door made her jump. "Can I come in?"
"Sure." Olivia answered. Doctor Lawrence Warren opened the door and smiled at her. He went over and sat on the edge of her bed, his brown eyes filled with concern.
"I wish that you wouldn't be so sad. You are so beautiful, it hurts me to see you upset." He told her, and Olivia didn't answer. Lawrence glanced at the set of keys next to her laptop, emblazoned with the Mercedes-Benz symbol. "Do you not like the car? I can trade it in for a Lexus if you'd like." He said with a halfhearted smile.
Olivia looked over at him and laid her hand on his shoulder. "No, it's not that. It was nice of you to get it for me. You didn't have to."
"I want you to be happy. Anything you want, Olivia, and I will gladly give it to you." Lawrence said gently, taking her hand. Olivia was momentarily stunned, he almost never used her real name, but she recovered after a moment.
"I am grateful for all that you have done." Olivia said simply, and then got up and walked out onto her balcony. The sea was calm that night and the moon was quite bright. Much to her surprise she heard footsteps and Lawrence came to stand beside her. She turned and felt him step up closer to her, so that their bodies touched and her thighs were pressed hard into the railing. Olivia was shocked- he had never tried anything this physical before. They didn't even sleep on the same floor of the house.
"Why do you always push me away? I love you." He said, and he attempted to kiss her. Olivia turned away and he settled to kiss her jaw. He seemed disappointed and whispered, "You loved your husband. I understand. But he's dead. You can't love something that isn't there."
Olivia shoved him away and murmured, "I can't let him go." With that she walked back into her room. Lawrence was right behind her, and pushed her hard against the nearest wall. He pressed his lips to hers and held her shoulder firmly. Olivia furiously pushed him off, her eyes now shining with tears.
"I trusted you. I trusted you!" she screamed, "I have lived with you for two years and I thought that you understood. I lost my family- my daughter doesn't even know I'm alive and my husband died before I could tell him. And I would rather die than sleep with you or any other man for that matter."
Lawrence immediately took a step back and said, "I'm sorry. I just wanted you to feel happy again."
"Not going to happen." Olivia muttered, and then turned, a pained look in her eye. "Why did you try so hard to save me? Why couldn't you have just let me die?"
"Olivia… you wanted to live when you were sick. You fought the hardest of any patient I've ever had. It was only after you husband died that you wanted to as well. There's a reason why you lived through getting shot."
"Maybe there was. But it died with my husband."
When she walked back downstairs she told Lawrence, "I'll pay you back for the laptop, but I have a lot of stuff on it."
He held up his hand and shook his head. "Consider it a gift, along with everything else. You deserve it."
"Thanks." Olivia said hesitantly, and then gave him another hug before hurrying out the door with Devon and Jack.
"So do you really think you solved that case?" Devon questioned as they ran along.
"It's all in the fax. God bless Doctor Swanson. We never would have figured it out without him." Olivia answered, swinging open the door to the car. "God, I can't wait to see my daughter again."
"Riley's missed you like crazy." Devon replied, with a slight smile.
Jack stood and stared at them. "Wait- you two had a kid?"
Devon laughed and said, "I told you my family was complicated. And no, Riley's not my blood daughter."
Jack nodded, but didn't look much less confused.
"Riley you really shouldn't be here today. You don't need to work after you just about got killed last night." Winter told Riley as they stood in the almost empty hallway leading into the precinct.
"I'll be fine. Where would you be if you didn't have me to watch you and your partner's back when you go to crime scenes?" Riley questioned, grabbing his tie lightly. Winter laughed and then cupped her jaw in his hand. Riley smiled broadly and pulled him closer, pressing a very firm kiss to his lips.
"Young lady! I am home early to keep an eye on you." Devon exclaimed, seizing Winter's jacket and hauling him easily back. Riley's eyes widened at the sight of him and then she smiled broadly, throwing her arms around his neck.
"You aren't too mad, right?" she whispered into his ear with a slight grin.
Devon rolled his eyes and replied, "Not too mad, but we'll have to talk. Later. But first, there's someone I think you should meet."
Riley released him and looked curiously behind him. Devon stepped out of the way and Riley saw a woman with long chestnut hair smiling at her. When she stepped forward into the light all of her features, including her dark brown eyes, were illuminated to an almost unearthly quality. "Hey, Riley. I've missed you a lot."
"Mom?" Riley asked, her limbs temporarily frozen. Olivia smiled and nodded. Winter looked quite ready to pass out from shock, and Riley still hadn't moved. "But you… died…" Riley muttered, still unable to quite grasp the situation.
"Almost. But I pulled through and they put me into witness protection." Olivia told her, and then Riley completely dropped her guard. She sprinted forward and jumped up into her mother's arms, just as she had done when she was a little kid.
"People have always told me you never know when you'll get a second chance, but I never believed it until now." Riley muttered into her mother's ear while holding tight onto her.
"I didn't either." Olivia replied, patting her daughter's hair and looking over at Devon, who was smiling quite widely.
A/N #2: Now that I have completely toyed with your emotions I bring her back! I suspect there are a couple chapters left at this point. And believe me, it will be quite worth it to stick around to the end.
