Cilla and I have been e-mailing back and forth for days screaming "I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE NEXT CHAPTER UP!" And, of course, it never got done. But now it is. So stop yelling at me! crosses arms and pouts

Yea. Lack of sleep is beginning to catch up on me. And I have a day off tomorrow, and wouldn't you know it, I can't sleep in because we're getting up early to go to the beach! Oh well. I'll just sleep in the car I suppose.

Over to you, Cilla (whenever you get the chance to write something).

-Dani aka Livia aka Diane

Hey everyone Cilla here! So excited to get this chapter up finally. Dani had her part done pretty fast, but it took me a bit longer. :) But I guess the wait is good because the chapter is longer now! I really hope you guys enjoy this. Keep in mind that I'm starting high school in september so it'll take me a while to update, as well, I am on the JV volleyball team and have practice everyday starting next week from 6am to 10am then during the school week everyday from 3pm to 5pm. So I'll be pretty busy. And then Dani is going to her senior year, so we'll do everything we can to update for you guys!

-Cill aka Marish aka Rose (Don't ask about our choice in nick names...we'll start to ramble...)

Chapter Two

"Oh no," Elliot said. He rushed back to Olivia, momentarily forgetting the fight. He helped her up and led her back into the apartment, closing the door behind them. "What happened?"

"I don't know." Olivia leaned against the counter, taking deep breaths in attempt to calm down. She held up the letter. "It only says she's been in an accident. Nothing more. And I need to meet them ASAP."

"Well." Elliot reached for the phone and slid it across the counter. "Call them and set it up."

Olivia took the phone and dialed the number on the letter. She spoke softly. When she hung up, she looked at Elliot.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I spoke to this guy's- Stephen Matthew's secretary. She said that he wants me at his office at ten thirty tomorrow morning." Olivia put her head in her hands, elbows resting on the counter. "Elliot, what if something terrible happened? I don't think I could handle that."

Elliot walked to the other side of the counter and put his hand on Olivia's back. Suddenly remembering the fight, she moved away, pretending she needed a pen from one of her drawers.

"Do you want me to go with you tomorrow?" Elliot asked.

Olivia shrugged. She thought of what might happen if she heard bad news about Alex and nobody was there with her. She shuddered. "If you want."

"All right. I'll pick you up around nine forty five, okay?"

"Okay."

"Well, good night," Elliot said, rushing out of the apartment.

"Bye," Olivia said to the closed door.

---------

"Miss Benson?"

Olivia stood from her chair in the waiting room. A tall, brown haired man, about forty, was standing outside of his office. Elliot followed her into the man's office.

"Hello, Miss Benson. I'm Stephen Matthews," the man said, extending his hand.

Olivia took his hand a shook it. "Pleased to meet you. Um. I hope you don't mind that I brought my friend with me. For moral support."

"No, not at all. Did you know Miss Cabot, Mr..."

"Stabler," Elliot filled in, shaking Stephen's hand. "Elliot Stabler. And yes, I knew Alex. We all worked together and the SVU. She was- is a close friend of mine. Of ours."

"Yes. Well. Please have a seat." Olivia and Elliot sat. "You're probably wondering about the letter."

"Well, yes," Olivia said. She folded her hands in her lap- a nervous habit that Elliot had noticed over the years.

"Miss Cabot was in an accident three nights ago, Miss Benson. She was out late and was hit head-on by a drunk driver on her way home."

Olivia could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. Elliot took hold of her hand and squeezed gently. "But she's okay, right?" Olivia asked.

Stephen shook his head. "I'm afraid not. She was announced dead at eleven at night."

"No. No!" Olivia's tears flowed freely from her eyes. Elliot could feel his own eyes welling.

"Did she die instantly?" Elliot asked.

"There was a 911 call received at about ten o' clock that night. The paramedics rushed to the scene and took her to the hospital. They did all they could, but she didn't survive. The doctors believe that she was killed instantly with the impact of the other car."

"Did you hear that, Liv? She didn't suffer."

Olivia didn't respond. Her free hand was covering her face, attempting to hide her red, wet eyes.

"Well, thank you for informing us of this, Mr. Matthews," Elliot said.

"Before you leave, there are funeral arrangements set up for two days from now. Here's a card with more details." Stephen handed Elliot a card with information about Alex's funeral.

Elliot stood up, pulling Olivia with him. "Thank you, sir," Elliot said. He wrapped his arms around Olivia and let her sob into his shoulder. "Shh, it's okay, Liv. She's in a better place now. And she didn't suffer."

Olivia continued to cry. She couldn't believe how quickly things could change. Alex had been one of her closest friends. And now she was gone.

"Come on, Liv. Let's go get some lunch."

Olivia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She nodded. Elliot led her to the car and helped her inside. He hated seeing her so upset. He got into the driver seat and drove to the closest diner. They went inside and sat at one of the booths.

"Hey, Liv?" Elliot said.

Olivia looked at him. "What?"

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry about earlier."

"What's this? One of those 'someone died so now I must live my life to the fullest' things?" Olivia saw the hurt expression on Elliot's face. "I'm sorry, El."

"No, I understand. You're upset. So am I. I just-"

"Hello!" A cheerful looking waitress showed up next to Olivia and Elliot. "I'm Jane! What can I get you two today?"

"I'll have a number one, please. With a Coke," Elliot said, closing his menu.

"Can I just have a water, please?" Olivia asked.

"Sure thing. I'll be back with your order!" Jane left.

"Not hungry?"

Olivia shook her head. "No. Not really. This is all just happening so fast."

"I know." Elliot reached into his pocket and took out the card while Jane returned with their order. "Here's the funeral information. I figured we could go together. We need to run by the precinct and tell everyone there."

Olivia nodded. "Yea." She took a sip of her water. "I wonder if Cragen knows."

"Maybe." Elliot picked up a fry and put it down, suddenly losing his appetite. "I wonder if I can get this to go." Elliot stood and walked to the counter while Olivia sat, sipping her water. Alex's death had really messed things up. She was angry with Alex for dying, angry with the drunk driver for killing her, angry with Elliot for the fight, angry with Stephen Matthews for telling her about Alex. She didn't want to be angry. She just wanted everything to be okay.

"Ready to go?" Elliot asked, holding a Styrofoam box. "I already paid."

Olivia slid out of the booth. They walked to Elliot's car, where Elliot drove Olivia to her apartment building. When they got there, Elliot walked Olivia up to her apartment.

"You gonna be okay?" Elliot asked.

"Mmhmm." Olivia nodded. "It's tough, but I'll be fine." She forced a smile onto her face.

"All right. Call me if you need me."

"Okay."

Elliot leaned forward and kissed Olivia's cheek. Olivia turned away and opened her apartment door.

"You're positive you'll be all right?"

"Yes," Olivia said. "Bye."

"Bye." Elliot left.

Olivia shut the door behind him and began to sob uncontrollably.

---------

Two days later- the funeral

They all walked out of the bar that night.

"Get you a cab?" Elliot asked Alex.

"No, I'm not far. I'll walk. Thanks, though. Look, I'm sorry I'm such a buzz kill," Alex told them.

"Oh, don't be silly. It's late." Olivia assured her.

A dark SUV drove up next to Alex. Suddenly, the driver pulled out a gun and started shooting. Nobody knew what was happening until it was too late. Elliot and Olivia dove down, Olivia pulling Alex down with her.

"Get down!" Elliot shouted to them. But it had been too late. And the car pulled away.

Elliot jumped up and ran after the SUV, while Olivia looked over at Alex who was lying motionless on the ground, "Alex?" Olivia realized that Alex had been shot and crawled quickly to her.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. Somebody call an ambulance! Call 911 now! Alex. It's okay, Alex. Alex, look at me." Olivia shouted at the top of her lungs. She held her hand on Alex's wound, but warm blood quickly seeped through her fingertips. "It's okay, sweetie. Stay with me. Stay with me. Stay with me, Alex. They're coming right now."

Elliot rushed back and pulled out his cell. "You're gonna be okay. Alex, you're gonna be okay. Look at me. You're gonna be just fine. You're gonna be just fine. Now, just stay with me." Olivia kept repeating. "Alex, Alex, Alex, Alex. It's okay. Look at me. Look at me."

Olivia jerked up in bed, startled and short of breath. "It was just a dream," she whispered, placing a hand to her chest. The last two nights she'd had recurring dreams about the night Alex had gotten shot. It was horrible.

Just two days ago she found out that one of her best friends was killed in a car accident because of a drunk driver, and she had been upset over an argument she and Elliot had. It was amazing how things could change so drastically, so fast.

Olivia woke up that Sunday morning at seven am; there was a tightness in her heart, and restlessness in the air. Everything around her seemed to be going down the drain. Her whole life was slipping through the cracks and she felt like no one could her hear screaming, no one was going to save her.

Olivia had no appetite, so instead she climbed into the shower and she let the hot water wash over her body.

When Alex first arrived at SVU no one really connected with her. But soon she began to grow on Olivia and they quickly because best friends.

As she took her shower, she remembered the night her and Elliot saw her after being shot:

That night they pulled up to the "meeting spot" that they were given. It was a desolate area far away from just about anywhere. And it was almost pitch black out, except for all the cars that were pulled up around them.

"Nice location. Convenient." Elliot sarcastically remarked.

"Sorry. Only way to do this." said the DEA agent that met them there.

"Do what?" Olivia asked, a quizzical expression on her face.

"Wouldn't take no for an answer. Real pain in the ass, this one." the DEA agent explained to them and led them over to the middle SUV.

A US Marshall opened the back door and out stepped Alexandra Cabot. Both Elliot and Olivia are stunned and speechless.

"I am so sorry about all of this." Alex told them, her voice soft and child like.

Olivia started to cry. "Your funeral's tomorrow."

The DEA agent stepped in and said, "And you're both expected to attend. For the time being, Ms. Cabot's better off dead. If Velez can get to Zapata, he can get to her."

"Witness protection." Elliot uttered.

Alex swallowed hard, fighting back tears, "Until Velez is extradited or otherwise dealt with."

"How long?" Olivia asked.

Alex was at a loss for words and just shrugged sadly.

The federal Marshal stepped in and said, "We're on the move. Sorry, folks. Move them out."

Alex gave Olivia one last hug good-bye while they cried and she left.

Olivia stood in the shower crying still. It wasn't fair; Alex didn't deserve this. She should have been here with her friends and the people who love her. Not off somewhere hiding in Witness Protection.

Olivia was mad. Mad at everyone. Mad at Elliot for being so damn proud of himself and always hurting her; mad at her father who raped her mother; her mother for being the way she was; the feds for putting Alex in Witness Protection; the drunk driver for killing Alex; and Alex for dying. Why couldn't she just hold on a bit longer? Why?

Olivia cried her eyes out in the shower, and then climbed out to get dressed.

By the time Elliot arrived to pick her up, her hair was a bit curly, she was dressed in a spaghetti strapped black dress, and had some black heels on. On the way to the church neither Olivia nor Elliot said a word to each other. In a sense they already knew what the other one had to say and Olivia just didn't feel like talking. Until they hit traffic.

"Shit, we're going to be late." Olivia cursed. It started in 15 minutes, they were 20 minutes away and they were stuck in traffic.

"Liv?" Elliot asked.

She sighed, "What?"

"You okay?"

"Fine."

Elliot grabbed her had. "Liv, listen to me," he began.

Olivia felt a quick sense of relief as Elliot gave her hand a slight squeeze. She wanted to forgive Elliot, but she couldn't She just couldn't let herself give in like that. She wanted someone that she could run to, someone to dry her tears. And Elliot used to be that person. But how can the person she loves dry her tears, when he's the one that's making her cry?

Of course Alex's death had made her cry, but Elliot made her feel like shit the other night, and she couldn't stand it.

Olivia quickly remembered the fight and pulled her hand away. "If this is another one of your pity 'you jump, I jump' attempts, I don't want to hear it. Just because my best friend just died doesn't mean I need you to apologize."

Olivia saw the hurt in Elliot's eyes. "I'm sorry El. It's just... Everything around me seems to be falling apart." she said, her voice soft and hushed. "My whole world is crashing down around me. Everyone is leaving me and I don't know what to do anymore."

Elliot looked at Olivia confused. "Not everyone is leaving you. I'm not. I'm staying right here. I will never leave your side. Do you understand that? Sure I get mad sometimes, and I take it out on you. But I know it's wrong and I need to stop. But I have never left your side or stopped caring about you for a moment."

Olivia didn't know what to say. She wanted to agree. But something inside her was telling her if she did, she would be losing. She'd be giving in. "You jump, I jump right?"

Elliot nodded.

Olivia pressed her lips together and fought off tears. "I'm sorry El," she whispered. "I can't. I can't do this any more. I've let myself get too close to you for too long, and you just kept pushing away. Now that it's convenient for you, you want to come back?" she asked. "I can't do it."

Elliot led back against his seat and kept his eyes on the road. And they continued to drive in silence. As Olivia let silent tears fall down her face.