A/N: Nope, not mine. Maybe for my brithday...

A/N: This isn't exactly the weekend, but it is the next best thing. I was planning on Tuesday, so you all get it one day early. :) Thanks to my wonderful reviewers: SVU101, onetreefan, CarbyLivesOn, KaydenceRei, Caia, tria246815, Arion Rose, Cookie-ER, Lawandordersvu1, aBbY oLiViA eR sVu (twice, lol), Lade Cailynna Tenshi, livstrong2364, Unconscious-Regret, and Kelly of the midnight dawn. So...I've been telling a lot of you this is a chaper of relationship angst. It is. You will see Carby and some heart warming EO (lol, thanks for the term, Kelly). We will see how I do with the romance writing. You'll have to let me know if it's just as good. Enjoy!

"They're very nice and kind, but I'll tell you how they strike me. They all seem terribly sad. I can't think why…But they put me in mind of trees in November. I expect I'm being silly, though…" – Pipkin, Watership Down

Fear cursed through her veins as Abby lay on the ground, trapped by Richard's foot pressing hard against her chest. She remained quiet, though she was surrounded by a chaotic scene. If her head hadn't been aching so much, she would've given more thought to the fact that the two detectives were identical to the brain-dead Jennifer and plaster-grin Michael she had just met a few days earlier. But for now, she let this strange notion pass over her as the scene around her began to unfold.

"ELLIOT!" shrieked Detective Benson. Abby opened her eyes in fright to see "Michael" get hit with a bullet in the arm. He fell to the floor in pain.

"Don't even think about it!" yelled Richard. Abby suddenly felt a cold blast on her temple; Richard had lowered the gun to her head. "You shoot me, I'll kill her." Abby felt her pulse quicken; her heart hammered madly in her chest. Would the detective sacrifice her?

But Benson was hesitating. She looked directly at Abby, whose eyes were wide and terrified. Her gun was still pointed at Richard, but she still refrained from shooting.

Richard seemed pleased. The pain in Abby's chest was almost unbearable now. "I see how it is, Detective Benson," he purred. Benson's face remained a mix of thought and guilt. "You really are weak. You can't handle the pressure. Now that your partner is down, do you feel afraid, Detective? There's no one to have your back. Look, you can't even protect him!"

Her fear acted like a drug, numbing that pain. Abby was so drawn into the conversation; she could no longer feel anything but fear. Richard's words seemed to have had a big effect on the detective; Abby could see tears lingering in her eyes.

"Olivia," said her partner softly from the ground. Abby looked at him. She could see from a medical standpoint that he was in no particular immediate danger, but unless he got treated soon, it could get worse. The least that could be said was that it was sure to be very painful for him as well. "Liv, it's okay. I'm okay. Don't let him do this to you," he was saying.

The tension grew so thick in the air, Abby felt like she was drowning in it. She closed her eyes again, trying to take deep steadying breaths. "You see?' said Richard. "Are you strong without him? No. How can you be? You know you need a man to protect you in your life. Take this one here," he continued. Abby suddenly felt a painful dig in the ribs as Richard kicked her. She gasped, opening her eyes. Richard straightened, removing the gun from her head, aiming instead at her chest, though he had eyes only for the detective. "Her man couldn't save her either and look where that got her. You're worried about the same thing. That's what I hate about women. They're weak."

We are NOT weak! Abby thought furiously. The injured detective seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "No, Olivia," he said frantically. Abby's eyes snapped back to him, but this time, she noticed something else. "No," he continued. "You're not weak. I know you're not. Don't listen to him. Please don't."

It was his gun; Abby could see that now. It must have fallen from his hand when he had been shot. A daring idea stole over her. As much as she didn't want to, she could see it would have to be done before Richard could kill them all. As silently as she could, Abby extended her right arm to further out to make contact with the hard metal. No one noticed anything.

"You can't save everyone, Olivia," Richard claimed triumphantly. He was still focused intently on her. "But perhaps you already learned that."

Abby felt the heavy weight in her hand as she struggled to aim it without giving herself away. Once it was aimed, she seemed to be moving in a dreamlike state. She could feel no pain or fear; her mind focused only on the gun.

"So…who are you going to sacrifice this time?" Richard was saying. "Will you let my words drive you to shoot me and kill Abby? Will you be able to stand the guilt? What if he dies? Would you survive with that guilt, then?"

Abby squinted, preparing to make the shot. Her heart raced madly, but she couldn't feel it –

"Do you love him, Detective Benson?"

That was her cue. As if her mind had shouted "Now!" Abby pulled the trigger. The sound echoed loudly in the small room. She closed her eyes. She felt Richard's foot leave her, heard him fall on her other side, and then she heard a voice coming from far away.

"You didn't have to do that, Abby," someone whispered to her. "You didn't have to do that." Abby tried to make some sort of response, but her mind wouldn't allow it. She allowed the words to wash over her as her world faded to black.

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Abby awoke on a bed so comfortable that she didn't want to open her eyes. The mattress felt so soft beneath her aching back; the blanket so warm over her body. She tried to remember where she was, what had happened…

An aching pain in her chest…a cold metal on her head…a gun shot…

Abby's eyes snapped open. She recognized the hospital walls instantly as County General. A young woman stood at the foot of her bed with a clipboard. When she saw Abby was awake, she smiled warmly at her.

"I'm so sorry, Abby; did I wake you?"

Abby shook her head. "Not at all, Sam."

Samantha Taggart smiled nervously at her. "I'm glad you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Abby groaned. "Like shit." She paused, trying to cast around for something to say. She wanted to prolong the moment when she would have to think of Richard and the guns again. "What happened?"

Sam hesitated, which Abby noticed. To buy herself time, Sam looked at the chart again, though she knew what it said. "Um," she said, flipping pages. Sam winced. "They did a rape kit while you were unconscious," she said tentatively, waiting for Abby's reaction.

Abby seemed unsurprised. "I figured," she whispered in a hollow voice.

"I'm sorry, Abby," said Sam softly. "Do you know who it was?"

Abby sighed, and didn't answer. Sam seemed to think she had crossed a line because she blushed and abruptly began tasking around the room. After awhile of this while the two women remained in awkward silence, Sam said suddenly, "Abby – I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"How's Carter?" interrupted Abby quickly, wanting to change the subject from her own humiliating rape.

"Oh -" said Sam, caught off guard. "He's…" She paused, wondering how much to tell her. She offered a weak smile. "I'll find out for you."

Abby nodded and Sam retreated sheepishly from the room. "You do that," Abby muttered as the door closed. "You do that."

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Sam entered the door quietly. Drs. Kovac and Weaver were inside Carter's room conversing in low tones about his condition. Both looked up when Sam entered.

"Abby's awake," she said. The doctors smiled. "And she's asking about Carter. What do you want me to tell her?"

Weaver frowned. "Tell her…" she hesitated. "No," she said crossing over to the door. "I'll tell her." She left, leaving Sam and Luka alone.

"How bad is it?" asked Sam tentatively.

Luka shrugged. "He suffered a concussion from the head trauma, but it's concerning that he hasn't regained consciousness yet."

"Is it a coma?" asked Sam, as she gazed at Carter sadly.

Luka shook his head. "I hope not." He sighed and looked at the chart again.

Sam bit her lip. "What about the other one that came in with him? The GSW?"

"There were two," said Luka, looking up at Sam from the chart. "The cop that got shot in the arm will be just fine. He didn't lose a lot of blood. He'll have a sling for awhile, though. Richard," Luka said the word with such distaste. "Richard is dead, thank god. The bastard."

Sam was confused. "Richard?"

Luka nodded. "Abby's ex-husband. The guy who kidnapped her and killed Maggie and Eric. He was shot in the chest."

"Who shot him?"

"Apparently Abby did," said Luka. Suddenly they heard noises coming from the bed. They whirled around. Carter was waking up.

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She walked down the hallway, two coffees in hand, with a knot of worry in her stomach. Right, so it wasn't all worry…actually most of it wasn't worry. Olivia Benson felt guilty. And the thought of seeing her partner now, while he lay weak in some hospital bed was almost more that she could bear.

She entered the room cautiously, and was immediately relieved at the sight that met hers. Elliot was lying on the bed, it was true, but he was propped up by pillows, skimming though the latest edition of People magazine. He tossed it aside as Olivia entered. "Ah, coffee! Thanks, Liv; you're a life-saver."

"No problem," said Olivia quietly, as she handed him a cup.

Elliot caught her guilty tone. "Olivia, please. Don't blame yourself. Really, please don't."

Olivia looked at him. "I'm supposed to have your back, El. Richard was right. He -"

"No," said Elliot, cutting her off. "Richard was not right about anything. I never want to hear you say that, Liv." He took a sip of the hot liquid. "Richard said a lot of things, none of which are true."

Olivia shook her head sadly, feeling tears forming in her eyes again. "But Elliot-"

"No buts, Olivia," he interrupted. "You are not weak. You're one of the strongest women I know – you are the strongest woman I know. I don't want you to feel guilty about this. Ever. What Richard did is not your fault. You can't let yourself think that it is."

Olivia gave him a small smile because his words were making her feel better. How was it that her partner knew so much about her; understood her so well? Was it all the time they'd spent together over the last seven years? Or maybe it was because (dare she even think it?) he saw her as something more than just a partner…?

"He was right about one thing," said Olivia.

"What thing?" asked Elliot testily.

Olivia sighed. "I really would not have been able to stand the guilt if…you died."

Elliot nodded. "Thanks Liv. That really means a lot to me." He offered her a smile, which she returned. Elliot was casting his mind around, thinking for something to say, so she wouldn't dwell too long on what he'd just said. "So…does this mean we're out of here soon?"

"I guess so," said Olivia. She cracked an evil smile. "Too bad. Michael was starting to grow on me."

Elliot laughed. "Can I still call you Jennifer?"

Olivia raised her eyebrows at him. "Do I look like a Jennifer to you?"

"Just kidding," said Elliot. "Hey, got a question for you that I've been meaning to ask."

Olivia nodded. "Okay, shoot."

Elliot paused. "What do you think about Carter and Abby? Any chance Abby would fall for him again? Because I know Carter cares for her more than just a friend." He looked expectedly at Olivia for an answer.

Olivia knew what he meant. "I think they're both looking for something. They seem happy in their lives apart from each other on the outside, but deep down there's a piece that's missing. What they haven't quite discovered yet is that what they're looking for is found in the other and that the other is the missing piece."

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"Hey."

Carter turned his head to look at the source of the sound. "Hey, Abby," he said softly.

Abby came closer to the bed Carter was lying on. Weaver had told her he had a concussion from the head trauma, but overall he was lucky. She winced. Abby couldn't see how anyone in the hospital could be considered 'lucky.'

"How are you doing?" he asked concernedly.

Abby shrugged and sat down on the edge of his bed. "I've been better."

Carter smiled sympathetically. "I'm really sorry, Abby."

Abby looked directly at him, surprised. Why was he apologizing to her? "For what?"

"For…everything," he replied. "You didn't deserve all that. Your life is hard enough as it is."

Abby smiled sadly. "It's over now, at any rate."

Carter considered this. "Abby, if you…ever need to talk about it…I'm here for you."

"I know you are," she said softly. "You don't know how much it means to me to have you here." Abby looked down at her hands. Carter was asking her to open up. She knew she needed to talk about it…sooner or later.

"Do you think things happen for a reason?" she asked suddenly, catching him off guard.

Carter nodded. "I do. Why do you ask?"

Abby hesitated, and continued looking down at her hands. "I shouldn't be here right now."

"What do you mean?"

Abby closed her eyes. "I tried to kill myself." Carter's eyes widened, although Abby didn't see it. "It was right after Richard – raped me," she continued quietly. "He had gone out somewhere and he left me there, alone. I was tied to the bedposts. I was just lying there, helpless, weak. I just couldn't let him touch me again. He had a sleeping pills bottle. I took the whole thing, but Richard must have come in right after or something because…it didn't work." Abby opened her eyes and looked at Carter.

Carter pulled her into a hug. "Oh God, Abby."

Abby let him hold her in the embrace before pulling back and whispering, "Do you know what I thought right before I felt myself going?" Carter shook his head no. "I knew I loved you."

Carter hugged her tighter. "I love you too, Abby." He kissed her gently on the lips, and then whispered in her ear, "Things definitely happen for a reason."

A/N: Well, readers, we've come to the end. Next chapter will be the last. However, this is the time to ask if anyone would like a sequel, as it will influence what happens last chapter. If you'd like a sequel, please let me know. The update should come sometime later this week or over the weekend. Thanks for reading!

-Color Esperanza