Pathway to Happiness

Disclaimer: I don't own them

A/N: I thought I had hit a block but its amazing what the best of BNL CD can do for an author. Enjoy.

Dedications: To everyone who has been reading and reviewing. You know who you are. I love you guys.

Munch was the first to spot the two detectives who were standing by the desk at the nurse's station "Excuse me?" Munch said politely as he came up beside them "Can we speak to you for a few minutes?"

The taller of the two men turned to face Munch who promptly flashed his badge. When the man saw the badge his attitude changed from annoyance to understanding "You guys from Manhattan SVU?" he asked.

Munch nodded "I'm detective Munch. This is my partner detective Tutuola."

The tall detective nodded and he and his partner led Munch and Fin off to the side so as not to completely block access to the nurse's station.

"I'm Detective Williams," the tall one said, extending his hand to shake the hand of first Munch then Fin.

"And I'm Detective Sutton," the man with the mustache said as he did the same.

"How are they doing?" Williams asked, referring to Benson and Stabler.

"Still unconscious," Fin answered "They don't look too much worse for ware though."

"That's good," Sutton said in an understanding tone.

"Our Captain asked us to find you and to see what you've found out about the shooting," Munch informed them.

"Well we don't know much yet," Williams said "We were here interviewing the nanny of the two toddlers that got shot and the mother of the baby."

"Did you learn anything?" Fin asked, his voice full of eagerness and curiosity.

Detective Sutton pulled out his note pad and flipped through it "The nanny was walking home from the park with the kids," he began "According to her, the shooting just started. She attempted to pull the children behind a dumpster but not fast enough. The little boy was hit first directly in the chest."

"That's too perfect to be a random shot," Fin muttered.

"That's what we thought too," Sutton said before continuing "The little girl was shot in the head but the bullet only grazed her," Sutton paused then added somberly "If the nanny had pulled her out of the way just a little faster…"

"Hey," said Williams as he too wiped the forming tears from his eyes "This isn't the time for 'what ifs' this is the time for facts."

Sutton nodded "The baby was hit twice in the head-"

"This is too coincidental," Munch spoke up "To hit a baby twice in the head the person would have to be aiming for him."

Sutton nodded again.

"When did the shooting stop?" Fin asked.

Sutton flipped through his notes again "The babies mother said that it stopped right after the car hit the trash cans."

"The one that Elliot and Olivia were in," Fin said to Munch.

"Did you catch the shooter?" Munch asked. Munch really wanted a piece of this guy now. Someone who was purposely murdering children and attempting to murder two of his friends was someone who truly deserved an ass wooping.

"No," Williams answered sounding both ashamed and irritated "We came here first to interview the witnesses."

"Ok, ok," Sutton said in an attempt to calm everyone down "We were just about to walk through the crime scene. How about you come with us?"

Munch and Fin looked at each other and then back at Sutton "Alright," they both answered "Let's go."

On their way out of the hospital Munch called the Captain's cell phone to let him know where they were going.

In Olivia and Elliot's hospital room, Cragen sat between the two beds while Dr. Taylor examined Olivia to make sure that there was no permanent damage.

"Follow the light with your eyes," Dr. Taylor instructed as he slowly moved a pen light from side to side in front of her face.

Olivia did so as tears still sprang forth.

Satisfied that she was alright physically, Dr. Taylor put his pen light away and stood up "It looks like you're going to be fine," he told her.

'Fine!' her mind shouted at her. She had no right to be fine as long as Elliot was still unconscious. She had no right to be fine if it meant that the parents of those children could never hold their babies again. She had no right to be fine at all and yet she was which only served to deepen her guilt and intensify her pain.

"Olivia?" Cragen asked softly "How do you feel?"

"Like crap," she answered honestly.

"I'll get the nurse to bring you some Tylenol," Dr. Taylor said as he turned to leave.

Just then everyone in the room froze at the sound of five words.

"Some for me too Doc?" Elliot groaned as he opened his eyes.

Olivia sighed as a small amount of relief crept through her body.

Dr. Taylor rushed over to Elliot and performed the same examination that he had just finished performing on Olivia.

"Well Captain," Dr. Taylor said after pocketing his pen light once again "You have to very hard headed detectives here."

Cragen and Elliot both laughed heartily but Olivia only managed a pathetic excuse for a laugh.

Dr. Taylor left the room and Cragen began to explain the entire situation to his detectives.

"Now that you can't run off this time," he began "I have to tell you the rest of the story."

"Thank you Paul Harvey," Elliot groaned.

"Not the time Elliot," Olivia mumbled from her side of the room.

Just then Cragen's cell phone rang "Cragen," he answered.

Elliot looked over and caught Olivia's gaze. He saw the extreme pain in her eyes. At that moment he would have given anything to take it away.

Olivia saw the way he looked at her and she couldn't help but feel worse 'I don't deserve your concern' she thought.

"The crime scene?" Cragen asked in surprise.

Elliot and Olivia both immediately turned their attention to Cragen's side of the conversation.

"Munch," Cragen was saying "for all we know the shooter is still out there be careful."

Realization dawned and Olivia shot out of bed. Fighting against her dizziness she stumbled towards the door "Tell him I'm coming with them!" she called behind her.

"Olivia!" Cragen yelled as he sprang from his seat "Hold on Munch," he said to the man on the other end of the phone. He reached her and put a hand on her arm "You can't go out there," he told her matter-of-factly "Its too dangerous-"

"Captain," she cut him off, keeping her voice low so that Elliot couldn't hear her "Three kids died, I need to know what happened."

"You're too close to this," Cragen told her, his voice full of concern.

"You are dam right I am," Olivia said in a dangerous tone as she jerked away from Cragen.

"Liv," Elliot said weakly from his bed.

Olivia stopped just long enough that Cragen could grasp her arm again.

"Listen to me Benson," Cragen said, his tone now demanding respect and obedience "You are not to go anywhere near that crime scene. Now get back in bed and rest."

Olivia could hear Munch on the other end of the phone that Cragen was still holding.

Cragen paused and spoke into his phone again "Just a minute John."

It was only a second but it was long enough for Olivia to get away. Still feeling a little dizzy she ran out of the room and towards the hospital exit.

She knew that she had done it this time. Munch wouldn't allow her to ride to the crime scene with them and if he caught her there he would send her back to the hospital. So she would just have to get there on her own and make sure no one saw her.

As she left the hospital she didn't notice the man standing by the door, watching her. As she dashed for the subway she was unaware of the man who followed her.

She was still a little woozy and was paying attention to only the things in front of her and didn't notice the man behind her who pulled out a cell phone and whispered into it two little words "Green light."

TBC

A/N: Bwahahahaha what will happen next. Review and you'll find out.