Chapter 14

"Do we have a visual from the next building yet?" Stabler asked in hushed tones as the team gathered around the door to the suite.

Munch spoke rapidly into a radio before responding, "They're seeing movement in the master bedroom, although the curtains aren't open wide enough for them to see exactly what's going on."

"You've all seen the floorplan," Benson said. "Through this door is the living room, kitchen to the left, door to the balcony straight ahead, hallway to the bedrooms on the right. Master bedroom and bath are through the door and to the left, second bedroom with connecting door to the main bathroom to the right. Elliot and I are going straight for the master bedroom. There's also a balcony entrance to the master bedroom that needs to be covered. The rest of you spread out through the suite. If he gets past us, he's not to get past the rest of you. Is that clear?"

As the others acknowledged the orders, Stabler took the room key and inserted it in the lock, then carefully opened the door and stepped into the dark room, his weapon at the ready. Benson stepped in behind him covering the opposite side of the room. The rest of the team entered quietly and two men headed for the balcony door. Benson and Stabler moved to the hallway door and opened it carefully. After checking that it was clear, Stabler slipped through the door and made his way silently toward the master bedroom, with Benson right behind him.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar allowing some light to filter into the darkened hallway. In its pale glow, Stabler made out a smear of dark, tacky blood on the carpet as he approached the room. He looked at Benson then nodded toward the stain. Her gaze followed his and she looked back at him, eyes full of sadness as she acknowledged with a nod that she'd seen it.

They moved closer and the droning of a voice grew more distinct, " . . . he was really dead. Then I called for the ambulance, but it was too late. He was dead and both of us were finally free.

"I killed him to save you, David. I did it all to save you. Now it's your turn to save me."

"How?" David's voice was so weak it was barely audible.

"Just love me, David. That's all I want. That's all I ever wanted. Please just tell me you love me. I know I can be a better person if you would just love me."

Stabler slid down to his knees, crawled the last few feet to the doorway and gently nudged the door open a little wider. He winced as he heard David's soft, pain-filled voice on the other side of the room, but tried to ignore it and the large smear of blood that ran along the carpet where Justin had dragged David into the room, as he brought up his gun and settled into firing position.

"I do love you Justin. I really do. Please let me help you."

"Do you, David? Do you really love me?"

"Yes."

"And do you promise we'll be together forever."

"If that's what you want."

"It is," Justin said softly as he slid the hunting knife out of its sheath. "We'll be together forever."

Stabler's heart raced with fear when David didn't respond and he leaned further into the room. "Police! Drop it now or I'll shoot!"

Justin's head shot around in surprise and he screamed, "No!" when he saw Stabler. He quickly lifted the knife and moved to plunge it into David's chest.

Benson shouted, "Get the knife, Elliot," right before two shots rang out.

Stabler barreled forward, crashing into Justin's body as it fell over David's and knocking it clear just before the knife still clutched loosely in its owner's dead fingers sliced the other man's stomach open.

Benson and Stabler strode briskly down the hospital corridor, checking room numbers as they passed, until they finally found the one they had been seeking. They entered to find Jessica Langford seated in the guest chair, surrounded by several baskets of flowers and 'Get Well Soon' balloons, holding David's hand.

The injured man was lying in the bed, his eyes closed. His face was turned away from them, but as they moved closer they could see the edge of the bandage that covered the left side of his face, protecting the twelve stitches that had been required to close the gaping wound to the side of his head. There had been a severe concussion, as well as several hairline fractures in the skull that would heal on their own with time. His left arm was in a sling to ease the pressure on the badly mangled shoulder that had taken the brunt of the first blow.

The doctor had told them when David was first brought in that the shoulder injury had most likely saved the young man's life. If he'd taken the full force of that blow directly to the side of his head, it would have killed him instantly. Justin's heart obviously had not been in the second blow since it had only broken two ribs. Serious injuries, but David would live and that was the most important thing right now, Benson thought, as she greeted the fragile-looking blond. "Hi, Jessica."

The woman looked up wearily, but the ghost of a smile lit her face when she recognized the detectives. "Hi, Olivia, Elliot. How are you today?"

"We're fine," Benson replied with a smile.

"How's the patient?" Stabler asked.

The girl's smile faltered a little. "The doctor said there's no longer any danger of him dying. But a full recovery is going to take some time."

"I see they removed the respirator. Has he woken up at all?"

"Oh, yes. At first it was only for a few minutes at a time every couple of hours, but today it's been better. He's been waking every hour or two and staying awake 10 or 15 minutes at a time." Her smile grew a little brighter and she wiped a tear from her eye. "He even recognized me the last couple of times. He's still having a little trouble speaking, but he said my name, asked where he was and what happened. I don't think he remembers what happened at the hotel yet."

"The doctor told us it's possible he may never remember that," Benson said gently. "A trauma that severe to the head can damage short term memory and cause partial amnesia."

"Maybe it's better if he doesn't," Jessica said softly as she leaned over and brushed a stray lock of hair from David's forehead.

"You look exhausted," Benson said sympathetically. "Have you had anything to eat today?"

Jessica looked at her blankly, then shook her head. "No. I didn't want to leave him. I didn't want to risk him waking up alone and not knowing where he is."

"I can stay with him for a little while if you two want to go down to the cafeteria and pick up some food," Stabler offered.

Jessica looked hesitantly from Stabler to the sleeping man, before replying, "Well, if you really don't mind, I guess it's okay. I know he trusts you. I won't be long."

"Take your time," Stabler said with an encouraging smile. "You need to give yourself a break or you'll burn yourself out."

Jessica nodded then stood up and leaned over to kiss David on the forehead. "I'll be back in a few minutes, sweetheart," she said softly. "Elliot is going to sit with you for a little while." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze then laid it carefully on the bed before crossing the room to Benson.

After the women left, Stabler settled himself in the guest chair and picked up a magazine from the pile Jessica had stacked by the chair. He thumbed through it casually, glancing up every few minutes to check on the patient. He'd been there about twenty minutes when he looked up and was surprised to see a pair of hazy blue eyes staring blearily at him.

Leaning over to take the hand Jessica had been holding earlier, he said softly. "Hi, David. It's me. Elliot Stabler. Detective Stabler. Do you remember me?"

David started to nod, but pain crossed his face at the movement and his eyes slid closed against it for a moment. He opened them again and tried to smile weakly, as he lifted his right hand and gestured toward the cup of water on the tray table by the bed. Stabler leaned over to get the cup and held the straw to David's parched lips. The injured man took several sips then motioned for Stabler to take the cup away.

"Elliot." The word was barely a croak.

"That's right, David. It's Elliot."

"I'm sorry, Elliot. I'm so sorry." The words were weak and slightly slurred.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, David. We know Justin tricked you into going to the hotel. I'm just glad we got to you in time."

"No, not that. I'm sorry for . . . for not believing in you. For doubting you. I'm so sorry."

The words hit Stabler like a physical blow. There had been some things about that horrible night at the hotel that had been inexplicable, but the SVU team had written them off as manifestations of Justin's increasing loss of control. They'd been stupefied when the CSI team going through the hotel suite had found his trenchcoat in the living room and the suit and dress shirt he'd changed out of before going to court that morning in the bedroom.

The unit they'd sent to check his house discovered that when Justin broke in, he'd not only trashed the bedroom but scrawled in red spray paint on one of the walls -- 'How Does It Feel Knowing Somebody's Been Pawing Through YOUR Stuff!' They'd assumed the clothes were a trophy and none of them had thought any more about why they'd been left in the places they'd been found. Now he understood and the very idea of it filled him with sick horror.

"Elliot," the word was almost a plea, so soft and so full of sadness, Stabler immediately pulled his attention back to the young man in the bed.

The words stuck in his throat but he finally forced out, "I understand, David. Justin deliberately set the whole thing up to trick you. It wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. I don't."

"I'm so sorry," Gallagher whispered again.

Stabler felt sick to his stomach, but forced himself to say again, "It's okay, David. I understand."

"What is it? What's wrong?" came Jessica's frantic voice from the doorway, before she rushed into the room and over to the bed, the cup of coffee clutched in her hand all but forgotten.

"Nothing's wrong," Stabler said forcing a smile as he got up to give her back the chair. "David woke up a few minutes ago and we were just chatting a little until you came back."

Jessica looked suspiciously from Stabler to Gallagher and back again before saying, "Are you sure?"

"I am," Stabler replied. "The good news is he recognizes me."

Jessica smiled at that. "That is good news."

"We need to get going," Stabler said, "but we'll stop in again tomorrow."

As soon as the detectives walked out of the room after saying their goodbyes, Benson pounced on her partner. "What happened Elliot? Why are you so upset?"

"What makes you think I'm upset?" Stabler snapped irritably.

Benson shot him a look that said 'I've been your partner long enough to know.'

"He remembers everything that happened, Liv. All of it. Especially the part where Justin lured him there by pretending to be me."

"We knew that already, Ell."

"David said he was sorry, Liv. Sorry for not believing in me. Sorry for doubting me."

"Why would he say . . . ?" Stabler watched the light of realization flick on in his partner's eyes. "Oh my God! That bastard!"

"Yeah."