AN: Personally, this ep was always a little hard to watch but it feels so pivotal that I had to include it. Hope you're still enjoying, let me know. Thanks for reading!


Chapter 9 – 2007

They were okay. They were both okay. After the Sennet case - after their talk on the stairs of Elliot's apartment - they were okay… for a while.

When Elliot looks back, he sees it all going back downhill was when Olivia learned she had a half-brother, Simon. The guy was one of the key suspects for a rape case (naturally) that he and his partner were investigating and, while running the DNA found at the scene, they matched it paternally to Olivia. Olivia's no good, rapist father had another child, and Olivia neglected to tell everyone, including him, until she could no longer hide it. Elliot was oddly offended, not that he needed all the details of her life but, he would think, something this huge she would have shared with him.

When he finally confronted her about it, she told him that she didn't want him to know about Simon so he could remain impartial. But she had been sneaking around, tampering with the case, meeting up with a guy who could potentially hurt her; she should have let him help. Hell, Elliot thought she was seeing the guy [and hiding it from him], the way she was treating everything. She was helping the guy with no regard for her career… or her partnership with him.

When she finally confessed, Elliot was only slightly relieved. However, it was soon masked by his overwhelming sense of protection, which always presents itself as anger. How could she lie to him, keep something this huge from him? Also, what was so special about this guy, besides his DNA, that Olivia believed in so much.

Elliot knew Olivia struggled with not having a family, but he never thought it would go in this direction. Once they had gotten closer, she would sometimes make self-deprecating comments about her history or her genes. 'Half of my genes are drunk and the other are violent and cruel.' She had said, obviously disheartened by the whole thing. 'And look how great you turned out.' he had replied. He knows nothing he would say would really fix it - not that she would want him to 'fix her' or anything - but if he can make her smile, he's done his duty.

So, the whole time Simon was in Olivia's life, she was reckless. She was going against protocol, talking to him, lying to everyone about where she was and all. However, she was almost happy, happy to have found someone she was connected to forever. So, Elliot, no matter how hard he wanted to, never pushed her too far about the guy. In the end, the guy ends up jumping bail and disappearing.

Good riddance, Elliot thinks.

After Simon's disappearance, Olivia came back around slowly but surely. She was eating, sleeping, not looking over her shoulder, not answering any calls in hushed voices… it was going better. But, as the universe always has to have it, Elliot got some shocking news of his own – his almost was ex-wife is pregnant… again.

Sure, they had talked a couple times about working on their marriage; halfheartedly and cautiously, but they had only had sex one time - in a weakness on his part, mind you - but in a way it was bound to happen. Kathy had been nervous to tell him about the baby, that was clear. By the time she had worked up the nerve to tell Elliot, she was already 2 months along. She also had tried to make a strong case for Elliot to move back home.

To say Elliot was overwhelmed would be an understatement. For the longest time, if someone asked, he would have rather shot himself than have another child. But, faced with the reality, he felt different. He in no way wanted to shoot himself following the news, but there was a lot of regret. What didn't help was that he was not able to keep his mind off of what was to come, what he was going to do.

Olivia could tell that Elliot was distracted the next day at work. He probably should have just saved them both the trouble and texted her before going into work. Instead, he chose to ignore her all day, earning a 'you're being a dick, tell me what's wrong' confrontation.

"Hey." She had called from behind him. He knew the tone well: annoyance.

"What?" He replied calmly, coming to a halt, and turning to look at her.

"What's your deal been today? You haven't heard a thing I said." Her arms were crossed in front of her chest and he made a point to tell his body not to look down.

"Umm… Fuck," He runs his hand over his face slowly, catching his lower lip on the way down. He knows he needs to rip the band aid and just tell her, that he can't be the reason they end up fighting again. "Kathy's pregnant."

He looks at her then, trying to clock any sort of emotion from her face. Her eyebrow raises, which usually happens when she learns something surprising. Shortly after that, both of her eyes widen slightly, noting that she is more than surprised, disbelief maybe. She squints them next, curiosity; wants him to give her some sort of explanation.

"We, uhh, we had sex one time a few months ago. I guess that's all it takes. God, I can't believe this. I can't believe I did this. I feel like a fucking teenager again."

The look she gave in response will forever be burned into his mind. There was disappointment mixed with anger mixed with something he couldn't quite place… resentment, hurt?


Elliot couldn't not move back in with Kathy after learning she was pregnant. He did this, he has to take responsibility. So, he moved back in and they began to really work on their relationship. It was… stable… they were doing well, and Elliot was actually looking forward to the little one. He remembers back to when his other kids were young and how cute they were and how much they loved him, he was excited to feel that again.

However, at 8 months into Kathy's pregnancy, they caught a case involving children, which always complicates things. A child, maybe 4 or 5, was found on the street covered in blood, none of which was his (thankfully). The boy clings, literally, to Elliot from the moment they met. It takes a TV alert and almost a full 24 hours for a parent to show up. In that time, Elliot had bonded with the kid in the day they spent together, even took him home to give him a bath.

That part of it was nice, almost, besides the terrible reason the boy was there. But the little boy was so cute, and Kathy was helping him feed and bathe him, he really felt that sense of family he hadn't felt in a while. So, he was hopeful in a way, ready for this new adventure, to move forward with Kathy and their new child.

However, something always has to happen. After finding the boy's mom at a hotel with a man she is not married to, and with a bit of DNA testing, they find that the man who had come to pick him up was not the biological father of this kid. Elliot was devasted for the guy, for the child even. And Elliot being the way he is, took work home that night with him.

He was getting ready for bed, Kathy stretched out on the bed waiting for him to join him. He sits down slowly, anxiously. "When we were separated, did you see anyone?" He knows he shouldn't do this, that this is the father in the case talking. Kathy has given him no reason to not think this kid is his.

"Did you?" She fires back quickly.

"Yeah… Did you?" He has to know though.

"Yeah. I went on a couple of dates, no one you would know." She says it simply, like it doesn't even matter.

"Did you sleep with him?"

"What is the point of all this, Elliot? Are you asking me if this is your child?" Her tone borders irritated, and he resents her for it.

Before he can respond, Olivia calls and he stands from the bed to answer.

Elliot missed Kathy's eye roll.


Kathy has always been nice to Olivia, so she doesn't mind when Elliot calls and asks her to take the pregnant woman to her routine doctor's appointment. It's hard sometimes though, knowing the woman is always tolerant of her but knowing she isn't her biggest fan.

Ever since Elliot told her that Kathy was pregnant again, Olivia has taken a step back. She tells herself to stay out of the whole thing, that Elliot knows what he is doing, or at least is doing what he thinks is right. But she's noticed that Elliot has taken a step back from her as well and she can't help but feel saddened by the whole thing.

She picks Kathy up with a small smile. The woman is huge, clearly close to popping another child out. They make small talk for a couple minutes before Elliot is calling Olivia's cell, checking that she was able to get his wife with no issues. 'We're fine, Elliot.' She had responded unknowingly.

No sooner than Liv hangs up the phone, a car comes out of nowhere and slams into the passenger side of her patrol car. She doesn't see it, doesn't have time to react before she feels the car start to spin out of control. She doesn't have time to do anything because she passes out moments after.

Olivia's mind comes back before her body responds. In the few seconds before she is able to open her eyes, she thinks, trying to figure out what just happened. Why is her head pounding? Where is Elliot?

Her partner's name quickens her revival, thinking instantly that her partner's pregnant wife is (was?) in her car and that they were just in a car wreck. She opens her eyes slowly, the light already too much for her overloading senses. Her body has received everything now: the smell of metal, the taste of blood, the sound of car horns and steam, the throbbing pain in her head.

She looks to Kathy the next instant, immediately able to tell that she had taken the most impact and was not currently conscience. She straightens out the woman's head gently while saying her name, "Kathy?" she puts her fingers to the woman's neck and praises whatever higher power when she finds something.

To her surprise, there is no one surrounding them, meaning no one has probably called 911. "How does that happen' she thinks fleetingly. Thankfully she has her walkie talkie. She puts it to her mouth, trying to tell herself to remain calm as she calls in the crash and the condition of her passenger.

She gets out of the car carefully. She takes in the wreckage and her head throbs again. She doesn't bother to check the condition of whomever crashed into her. There's a part of her that doesn't care what happened to the other driver… the driver who potentially could have killed Elliot's wife, Elliot's child. The sirens are sounding all around her now and she doesn't have time to think about why her concern only lies for Elliot.

A medic comes up to her first, saying that she needs to be checked, that she could have internal injuries, but she's not concerned at all for her wellbeing. She refuses and sends the whole crew to the car, yelling about what happened, asking questions, wondering why they're not moving faster.

The lead fireman is the next person to approach, telling her that she can't go near the car, something about the airbag. It's then he tells her that the other driver is fine but wreaks of alcohol… her eyes scan over to see the guy standing next to his car, no visible bruises. She thinks for a moment that she'll kill him if Elliot loses this child.

"That's my partner's wife." She all but yells at the guy and she knows he can tell that she's not going to back down, that she needs to be involved.

The fire department is unable to get into the car safely so, Olivia volunteers and hops back in through the window she busted out before to get out. The rescue squad has no say in her actions now, she's acting on pure adrenaline, pure panic.

Once inside, another medic is instantly giving her direction on how to hold Kathy, how to stabilize her. She's gentle when she touches the unconscious woman, almost as if she was working on a bomb. She's scared but trying desperately to not let it affect her right now. She's done this so many times, held broken and bloodied people, and yet she's never felt like this.

"Sweetie, put your head back, it's ok." She's on the verge of hyperventilating. "You're doing great." She tries every coo she can think, hoping Kathy is able to hear or comprehend. She comes back for a moment before losing conciseness again.

Olivia notices in that moment that Kathy is bleeding from between her legs, which she points out to the medic giving her instructions. He tells her that they need to put an IV into Kathy's arm, that she needs fluids and now. "Put the need in, parallel to her arm, towards you. When you see a flash of blood, you've got it."

She begs her hands to stop shaking long enough so she can do this. "I don't see blood!" she tells the medic.

"Push harder!" And she does. She gets it this time, hooks up the tubing and squeezes the bag rhythmically. Kathy comes back around again; the fluids are working. All Olivia can hear now is the hurt woman's whimpers and cries. She almost misses when the firemen say that they're gonna take off the roof. It happens quickly, someone is giving her a jacket and telling her to put it over their heads.

Kathy is crying, contractions she says. "Are you okay, Kathy?" Olivia clocks the time between the poor woman's cries and tells the medic. "She's at three minutes, this baby is coming soon. Can't you give her something to slow down the labor?" This can't happen, not right now.

Captain Cragen appears outside the car; he's got Elliot on the phone. Olivia takes the phone but can't say anything, knows she's not the one Elliot is calling for.

"El." Kathy manages to get out, it's pained.

"Hey, I'm here baby, you doing alright?" Olivia almost rolls her eyes, of course she isn't doing alright, you idiot.

"Yeah, Olivia is taking really good care of me." She's trying.

"Listen I'm on my way, we're taking a chopper. I love you." His voice is hurried, sounds like he's running.

"I love you too." Kathy squeaks out before hanging up the line.

They only have one step left, cut the side of the car, and get Kathy onto a long board. She looks terrified as they begin to cut, "This baby is coming now. I can't help it. Ahhh my legs!"

"And we're gonna get you out of here, just hold on. Squeeze my hand, we are gonna do this!" Olivia is trying so hard to keep her voice light, unafraid.

They sounds are deafening as they cut the car. She's holding Kathy's hand and the woman is squeezing for dear life. Olivia is almost surprised she hasn't passed back out by now.

When they finish getting the car door off and enough room to get Kathy out, Olivia goes to get out of the car, to go around to the other side, to assist. But as soon as she lets her grip loosen from Kathy's hand, the other woman panics. "No, Olivia don't leave me, please!" It's all becoming surreal to Olivia.

"I'm gonna be right here next to you, I'm not leaving you Kathy. We have to get you on the board and then to the hospital." In the next instant, they get Kathy on the stabilizing board. "I'm right here, I'm right here…." Olivia grabs hold of her hand again and squeezes so tightly.

"Patrol is holding traffic from at every cross street between here and mercy, you'll be to the hospital in 10 minutes." She hears Cragen from somewhere, but she's only concerned with Kathy, with the baby.

She's internally counting the minutes. Ten minutes she was told, they just need to make it ten minutes. The baby has other plans, Kathy can't hold on anymore. The contractions are right on pace with a normal labor, even though nothing about this is normal.

She's almost fully dilated, the baby is crowning… she hears the paramedic rattling off facts and telling Kathy to start pushing. Olivia's head is spinning. How the fuck did they get here? Why the fuck is she holding her partner's wife? How the fuck did she get here? Where the fuck is Elliot?

She's angry, bitter maybe, but the chaos keeps her in check. "That's it baby, keep pushing." She coos in Kathy's ear, knowing the woman could use all the support she can get right now. "Good girl."

The baby's out, the baby is crying… healthy normal sounds. There's a sense of relief in the small box, a breath let out. Kathy gets a chance to look at her baby, hold the little guy, smile as if the world is right for second.

But it's short lived. Before Kathy is even able to get a good look at the kid, before she has a chance to revel in the miracle of life, she loses consciousness again. Her eyes roll back in her head and her grip loosens on the newborn. Olivia takes the kid, blood and guts and goo coating her shirt, but she doesn't flinch.

She takes a moment to look at the kid, needing something to ground her in the moment. He's beautiful, well as beautiful as a freshly born baby can look. There's something about him, something so pure, so innocent that makes Olivia want to cry.

When she thinks about it later, she'll know that wasn't the reason why she wanted to cry, but now, in this death box on wheels, the commotion pulls Olivia from her head, from the baby. Kathy is flatlining now and the paramedics are gearing up to shock her back to life.

Olivia clings to the baby for dear life. She knows the little guy has not clue what's going on, but she turns his unopened eyes away from what's happening anyway. She's completely helpless in this moment…


It's all stable now, finally. The ambulance crew was able to get Kathy's heart to start again right before they reached the emergency room entrance. But they took her away so fast, Olivia had no chance to ask if she was ok or going to make it. It takes another hour or so of waiting for someone in scrubs to come out to tell her that Kathy is stable and will be okay,

It's then that Elliot shows up. Olivia can see the terror on his face as he barrels through the doors, looking for his wife's room. He catches Olivia's eyes first and she knows there's something in them that calms him before she nods in the direction of Kathy's room. The eye contact breaks and she's alone outside the room again.

She knows she shouldn't look but she can't stop herself. She sees Elliot move quickly to Kathy's side where she's holding the baby and gleaming at him, despite the bruises and scrapes covering her own body.

"It's a boy." She sees Kathy say to Elliot before handing the child over to him.

Olivia is locked in now, staring unabashedly at Elliot as he talks to the baby. She can catch everything he's saying to the little guy. "Hey little man, welcome to the world… I'm your daddy."

Olivia watches Elliot's face light up at the newborn. In that moment, her heart clenches and she forces herself to look away, to stop imposing on a moment she is definitely not a part of. She almost cries for the umpteenth time today… for something she'll never have, something she'll never be lucky enough to experience.


Elliot emerges from the room about 20 minutes later, much more relaxed than he was when he came rushing into the ER.

"How's the baby?" She's able to get out, pushing her own emotions down and away.

"Great." He says in a relived whisper, he's smiling, and it causes her cheeks to lift on their own accord. He stares at her for a brief moment before moving to move past her and toward the exit.

Before she knows what's happening, she's enveloped in Elliot's arm. He's pulled her to him. Their chests collide and she raises her hands to meet his back because she needs something to keep her from falling, not that he would have let her, but her fingers on his back to ground her all the same.

Her head swims for a moment after the first contact. She's in a sense of shock. This feels like they just crossed some sort of line, some unspoken barrier they've retained in the last couple years of being partnered together.

Hell, there was a moment in all of this today that she thought he would be angry with her, think that she was the cause of all this, so now, there's only disbelief. Surprisingly though, it's comfortable, she's comfortable. They've never hugged, the closest thing they've had to 'physical contact' are handshakes and shoulder bumps.

But now, she's standing in his arms, and somehow, she feels like they're alright. Her eyes flutter closed, her body wanting to take in as much of this as it can before it gets withdrawn. She can feel his breath on the bare skin of the crook of her neck, and it makes her whole-body tense and relax at the same time. She opens her eyes again, hears him whisper a breathy, "Okay".

The contact has lasted too long she thinks right as he pulls away to look at her. He's got her by her upper arms and she's looking up into his warm blue eyes. In this moment, after all but saving his wife, she wonders why she ever disliked this man, how in the world there was ever a time she didn't even want to talk to him… look at him… be around him.

"Pick a name? She says because she needs to break whatever is happening right now.

"Kathy wants to name him after me" He says with a small chuckle as she turns to fall in line beside him.

"Just what the world needs, another Elliot Stabler." They both smile as they walk out together.