Author's note: I've been a fan of SVU for some time now, but this is the first fanfiction I've gotten around to writing. I've written fanfiction in other genres (Star Wars, Dark Angel, and a few others), but that was years ago, so I wanted to try my hand at a more "realistic" fandom. I'm writing it as I go, so hopefully the story works out lol Also, Olivia and Elliot are married in my story and I feel Olivia would take Elliot's last name, but hyphenate it with hers, so she's still "Detective Benson." Sorry if it gets confusing.

Please let me know what you think – I love feedback and cherish it.

Returned

Chapter 1

She let out a pained groan as she rolled onto her back. As consciousness returned, she could feel cuts and bruises littering her body. Slowly, she worked on opening her eyes, feeling the left one was slightly swollen. Reaching up, she touched her cheek and winced at the feeling of stitches. Glancing around the curtained room, she attempted to sit up, trying to ignore the pain in her chest.

"Olivia?" She relaxed against the pillows on the hospital bed again and turned her head to the right. Elliot Stabler rose from his chair, sitting on the edge of her bed, and took her hand into his own. Leaning in, he kissed her lightly and she kissed him back, slightly caught off-guard. "I am so glad to see you. How do you feel?"

Olivia Benson-Stabler furrowed her brow and blinked a few times. "Okay, I guess. Sore. What happened?"

Elliot tried to hide his frown. "I was hoping you could tell me. You were brought here last night and you've been in and out of it since, but you've been missing for two days."

"Missing?" She could not figure out what he was talking about.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

She closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to remember something. "I remember eating Chinese food at our apartment with you. We ate dinner, then watched some movie about vampires… and that's all I remember." Her voice started to show signs of panic and Elliot squeezed her hand. "How did I end up here?"

"You were left outside of the hospital – we were out following a few leads. We left your information at area hospitals and a doctor called me immediately after they found you."

Before she could ask another question, the curtain moved aside and a doctor stepped up to her bed while glancing down at a chart. She smiled at the pair on the hospital bed and focused on Olivia. "Detective Benson, I'm Dr. Wilson, how are you feeling?"

"Sore. Confused. Do you know what happened to me?"

"I'm afraid not. I was one of the two doctors who found you, but we couldn't determine anything that had happened."

"What about her injuries?" Elliot asked.

"Of course. Detective –"

"Please, call me Olivia."

"Olivia – you have two cuts which required stitches, one on your cheek and one near your collarbone. You have two bruised ribs and some minor cuts and bruises, but overall you're going to be fine."

"Why can't I remember what happened?" Olivia asked softly.

Dr. Wilson closed the chat and crossed her arms. "That I can't tell you. Nothing showed up in the toxscreen we ran, so I would say that your memory will begin to return over time. It's possible you've simply repressed whatever happened. We're going to keep you overnight, but if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to call the nurse's station. Did you have any other questions?" Olivia shook her head and Dr. Wilson nodded. "Let me know if you think of any."

"Thank you," Elliot said as Dr. Wilson left through the curtains. He turned back to his wife, who was staring off into space. "Liv?" She didn't make any motion that she had heard him. Elliot leaned in a bit and said, "Baby, are you okay?"

Olivia slowly nodded her head affirmatively. "I just wish I could remember," she said softly. Tears refusing to fall, she easily fell into Elliot's inviting embrace, resting her body against his chest.

He held her tightly and placed a quick kiss against her temple. "I know, I know. You'll remember and then we'll find the bastard who did this to you."

After two days in the hospital, Olivia was released. Casey, Munch, Fin, and Cragen had all been by to visit and ask questions, trying to spark her memory. She still hadn't remembered a thing from when she was missing. Dr. Wilson could find no reason to keep her any longer and, much to Olivia's excitement, let her go.

That night, the night air kept the bedroom temperature low, forcing the sleeping couple to find warmth in each other's arms. Flowing curtains in front of the window created dark shadows on the bedspread with the help of a street lamp.

As a police car screamed down the street outside their window, Elliot's eyes shot open. His eyes darted around the dark room and finally rested on the sleeping form of his wife. Her tiny, yet strong, form was engulfed and protected by Elliot's body and the fluffy comforter, making him almost forget the last few days had happened. Still, the stitched cuts and healing bruises did not allow him to think that way for long. The alarm clock's red numbers told him it was just after 5am. Knowing he and Olivia would have to wake up in less than an hour to get ready for work, he slowly untangled himself from Olivia's body and climbed out of bed.

As Elliot disappeared into the kitchen, Olivia began tossing and turning. Images flashed before her mind's eye. Firewood, lemonade, a flowering bush. Suddenly, the sensation of being underwater took over her body. The sheets became waves as she fought for air. She kicked and kicked, sending the throw-blanket at the end of their bed to the ground, when her eyes opened and she gasped for breath. As she looked around the room, she saw the walls of a log cabin and fresh flowers on shelves with books. In that instant, she knew. Horror gripped her heart and she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.

Seconds later, Olivia felt a hand on her arm and she opened her eyes, preparing to scream once again. Elliot's worried eyes met her terrified ones and she swallowed her scream. Looking around, she saw the bedroom she had fallen asleep in - far away from being a log cabin.

"Liv, what's wrong?" Elliot asked. She shook her head and pulled away from his touch, climbing out of bed. "Please, talk to me," he pleaded.

"I remember," she said softly. "Log cabin… lemonade. He always offered me lemonade."

"Who did, baby?" She was starring off into thin air and part of Elliot thought she might still be asleep.

She was silent for a moment, almost like she was waiting for the answer herself. "My rapist," she whispered. Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground as though the realization was too heavy for her body to support. She pressed her back to the wall and brought her knees to her chest, never looking at Elliot.

As her statement resonated in his mind, his blood began to boil. Some perv had violated Olivia and they had no idea who he was. So many emotions sent him in so many different ways. He immediately wondered how the hospital visit hadn't turned up any sign of vaginal trauma, but pushed those thoughts aside to care for Olivia. Elliot stepped over and reached out to touch Olivia's arm. He tried not to feel hurt when she flinched away – his training told him she didn't see her husband – just a man who could hurt her.

He stood and walked over to his nightstand, and grabbed his cell phone. Keeping an eye on Olivia, he dialed 911. "This is Detective Stabler from Manhattan SVU, my badge number…"

Olivia heard nothing as Elliot called for an ambulance. Images from the two days being held captive raced through her head, certain things clearer than others. She did remember pain and flower. He kept bringing her flowers. Why couldn't she remember his face?

She looked up from the floor when she heard the EMTs enter the apartment. She could hear Elliot barking out orders and telling them she was in shock. Elliot and an EMT personnel walked in the bedroom and the EMT woman walked over to Olivia, crouching down to eye level.

"Detective Benson, can you hear me?" Olivia nodded silently. "Okay, my name is Karen and we're going to take you to the hospital. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Olivia responded. Before Karen could call the stretcher in, Olivia continued, "But I can walk out to the ambulance."

Karen glanced up at Elliot who simply shrugged before she agreed. She helped Olivia stand up and Elliot and Karen's partner followed them out of the apartment complex. Elliot climbed into the back of the ambulance, sitting as close to Olivia as possible without making her uncomfortable. They rode in silence, Elliot slightly more concerned when Olivia kept her eyes shut for a majority of the trip. He worked so hard to protect her and for what? Some perp to break that bubble and attack her?

Soon the ambulance stopped and the doors were opened for Karen, Elliot, and Olivia. A wheelchair was waiting for them and Olivia took the seat without objections.

While a nurse got Olivia settled in a hospital bed, Elliot made a phone call to Captain Cragen telling him Olivia was in the hospital, leaving the details for when they were face-to-face.

"Detective Stabler?" Elliot ended the call with Cragen, the Captain promising to be at the hospital in thirty minutes, and spun around to face the nurse outside Olivia's curtain. "Your wife is asking for you."

His heart leapt in his chest, thrilled she wanted to speak to him again. Still, Elliot had not had time to process Olivia's revelation and he only prayed he could handle anything she wanted to discuss without going crazy.

Please leave me feedback and let me know I should continue this