Goodbye my Lover, Goodbye my friend

Elliot sat in the waiting room of the hospital. Waiting for the nurse to give him an update on Munch's injury. He'd called Olivia. Called Captain and Fin. They were coming. He heard the distant tap-tapping of heels on the hard floor, and looked up.

"Olivia," Elliot choked. The shock of Munch paralysed him, he couldn't stand. She ran over and sat next to him, an arm around his shoulder, and a hand wrapped around his. He sobbed.

"How's Munch?" Olivia asked softly. He didn't answer. "Elliot how's munch?" Olivia spoke more harshly this time. He looked up.

"I don't know yet." He muttered. "It's not critical but it's not been simple."

A nurse walked over followed by Alex, Fin, Huang and Cragen. They smiled grimly.

"How's Munch?" Olivia asked speaking for them all.

"If you're meaning John Munch, he's going to be fine." She smiled as some consolation. " There's been damage to his feet, and he lost quite a lot of blood and passed out form shock but he's going to be fine." She informed them. Everyone smiled with relief.

"Can we go see him?" Elliot asked.

"Of course, he's awake now, just don't tire him out."

Thegroup walked in to Munch's room. He smiled wryly at them, his feet over the top of the blankets, heavily bandaged. The atmosphere was tense. No one really knew what to say.

"At least I kept my model looks." Munch joked. Olivia giggled.

"Oh yeah…sure thing there M." Fin joked back. They sat around the bed asking him for information: what had happened? Had he seen anyone loitering about? The police thing. Munch knew nothing. He thought and racked his brains for the sake of Elliot rather than himself but he knew nothing. After an hour the nurse came in.

"Time for my sponge bath?" Munch asked hopefully. The nurse looked up.

"Of course Mr Munch. Anything for you." She teased back. Everyone rolled their eyes and got up to leave. Elliot had said nothing. Throughout the whole thing.

"Stabler, wait a minute." Munch called straightening himself up. The nurse left to grab new bandages. Elliot stopped and looked, waited back with Munch.

"Elliot, I want you to know, you're one of the best damn cop this place has seen, but if you've come to the end of the road, then you've arrived. If you stay for the sake of it, you'll destroy yourself and the ones you love." Munch told him kindly. Elliots eyes filled slightly.

"I'm fine," he told him. "It's just the past few weeks have been tough you know, but in a bit it'll be fine." Munch looked unconvinced.

"Just promise you'll leave when its time. Don't be afraid it." Elliot nodded.

Alex, Huang, and Cragen were headed to Fin's house for a few 'celebratory drinks that Munch was going to be ok. Elliot and Olivia were headed back to her home. He was staying there, for support for both him and her. Fin opened the door to his apartment and they walked in happy.

"Nice place Fin," Alex remarked, surprised.

"Yeah it's a surprise." Huang said. Everyone laughed. It was smartly furnished – quite trendy really. They all sat in a circle and started playing a game of 'I Never'. They never heard the small bleep that sounded in the kitchen. They never saw the small timer counting back from 3. They only heard the bang when it was too late. They only felt the pan when it was too late. The whole building shook. The kitchen shattered, Alex, Fin, Huang and Cragen, strewn in the living room, bloodied and battered.

"Elliot, I got lucky tonight. 4 for the price of 1. How's chargrilled cop sound?"

I still hold your hand in mine, in mine when i'm asleep