Roses

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm just borrowing them.

Sumary: See previous chapters

A/N: I think that I'll post 2 chapters today, because this one kind of end in a weird place.

Chapter 5

Elliot was awoken early the next morning by the sound of someone in the bathroom. He quickly realized that Olivia was no longer next to him. He also soon discovered that Olivia was getting sick over the toilet.

"You okay?" he asked from the bathroom door.

"Yeah." She said. She upset that he had woken up. She hadn't realized that Mather had gotten her so upset, and didn't want Elliot to know that he had gotten to her.

He wet a washcloth in the sink, and placed the cool rag on the back of her neck. Then he knelt down and rubbed her back tenderly.

"What happened?" He asked

"I woke up, and didn't feel well." She stated flatly.

"Mather's got to you didn't he?" Elliot asked.

"I guess." She said.Shw wondered how he could always tell justwhat she was thinking.Elliot could tell that she didn't want to continue the conversation. So he dropped it there, and just sat with her until she was sure that she was done getting sick.

"Come on," Elliot said, "Let's get back to bed; we still have a few hours before work."

Olivia climbed into bed next to Elliot. She curled up next to him, and let him hold her tightly. She took comfort in the way he lovingly rubbed her back. She hated that he had to take care of her, but at the same time was thankful that she didn't have to be strong for a change, because she had him to be strong for her. She let go, and just allowed Elliot to lull her back to sleep.

Elliot knew that Olivia was having a rough time with the stalking; she hated being a victim. He wished that he could do more for her, but didn't know what to do. He had never seen her get this affected before. She hadn't gotten sick because of a case since the first year she was in the squad. Elliot held his wife, and felt her breathing even out. When he was sure that she was safely asleep, he allowed himself to fall back into a light sleep himself.

Back at the 1-6

"You okay?" Fin asked as Elliot and Olivia walked in. She looked drawn and pale.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She answered. "How you feelin Munch?" She asked the man standing at the coffee machine, trying to get the attention off of her. "I see you survived yet another outbreak of whatever, huh?"

"Ha ha." Munch answered dryly. "The symptoms I had could have been anything. Better safe than sorry."

"Munch, when will you just admit that you're a hypochondriac, and get it ova with?" Fin scoffed.

Munch just glared at him as Elliot interrupted.

"Hey, guys, I don't mean to interrupt this veryinsightful conversation, but did you guys get anything on Mathers?"

"Yeah." Fin said forgetting about his conversation with Munch. "His PO said he moved to an apartment on 9th the day he got out. We were just getting ready to pay Mr. Mather a visit."

"We're coming too." Olivia said, turning, and heading out to the car followed by Elliot, Munch and Fin.

Mather's apartment

Fin knocked on the door. "Police, open up!" He called through the door

The detectives waited about three seconds before Fin knocked the door down with his shoulder.

They rushed into the apartment with their guns drawn.

"Clear"

"Clear"

"Clear"

Came from each room, until Olivia reached the bedroom. She saw an arm going out the window and called, "In here I got him!"

Elliot ran in "Where?"

"He went out the window." She said as she followed suit before Elliot oculd stop her.

Olivia followed Mather down the fire escape and into a nearby alley with Elliot, Munch, and Fin close behind. Shots rang out, and the four detectives hit the ground.

Mather jumped a fence at the end of the alley. By the time Elliot and Fin finally got up to the fence, he was no where in site.

"Damn!" Elliot yelled, out of breath,returning his gun to its holster.

"We'll get him" Fin said a little out of breath himself, "Don't worry."

"Everyone ok?" Elliot called out into the alley.

"Yeah, other than my back's gonna hurt like hell in the morning, I'm fine." Munch said as he returned his gun to the holster and brushed his coat off.

"I'm hit." Olivia called out.

Elliot ran to her to find that she was sitting on the ground holding her arm.

"Son of a bitch grazed me in the shoulder." She said. "It's not bad, I'll be okay."

Elliot called for a bus, although Olivia strongly objected to it. He helped her into it, again against her will, when it arrived, and sat with her in the ER while she waited to see the doctor.

TBC...