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Chapter 3- Hard Truths Realized

Olivia woke up first that morning and stared at the man she fell asleep on. She took in his features and the small movements he made when he dreamed. She didn't remember them having a blanket last night, but there was one now. She looked on the coffee table next to them and saw a note which read Dad and Liv. She reached for it and read it to herself letting Elliot sleep.

Morning Dad and Liv.

I came by this morning to see how you were, but you two looked exhausted. Dad, I'll call you today at some point. Just be careful. I'll call you, too, Liv. We should do coffee or something.

Love ya both. Pleasant Dreams.

Maureen.

"She's a stubborn one, isn't she." Elliot said rubbing up and down her arms.

He was the only man that didn't make her jump with slightly intimate comments or touches. She turned and faced him, unconsciously patting his chest. "Hey, how do you feel this morning?"

"Surprisingly relieved."

"Relieved?" She said giving him a questioning look.

"Yes, relieved." He pulled her back down to him and took a deep breath. They both knew this was new territory for them, but he couldn't question it. Not now. Not now that she knows. "It means a lot that you are sticking around, even after learning what's wrong with me."

"El, why wouldn't I stay?" She said holding him tighter.

"Im afraid that I will lose you. That if you knew, you wouldn't want to stand by a sick man." He looked out the window and stayed silent for a moment. He then laughed slightly and held her closer. "But you did stay. You didn't run away after finding out the truth. Thank you."

"El?"

"What?"

"How is Cragen letting you stay on the job?" "He said I can stay until my illness interferes with my job. And that's what I intend on doing."

"What do you want me to do, El?"

"Just be here." He closed his eyes trying to get a quick nap in before heading to work, "Just be with me, Liv."

3 Weeks Later

Olivia promised to keep his secret under wraps. Not even Cragen knew she knew. She would now know before when he was having treatment, so it never surprised her. She still hadn't admitted to him that she loved him, but there was always tomorrow, right?

The Grover Case happened to be more complicated than what Cragen initially said it was. The perp, right after raping Ms. Grover, took a plane to Jamaica for three weeks. Because it was American Territory, they couldn't arrest him until he returned. When Louis Rodriguez returned to the United States, Munch and Fin were on the scene to arrest him immediately.

Unfortunately, he refused to confess to the crime. Ms. Grover even IDed Rodriguez as her attacker. Evidence from the rape kit proved that he was the man who raped her. It was Stabler and Benson's job to get the truth out of this bastard.

Cragen, Huang and the two detective stood looking into the interrogation room. There sat Mr. Rodriguez antsy in his seat continuously looking at the clock.

"So you guys know what to do?" Huang asked. He explained his profile to them earlier so they could have an idea on what they are up against.

Elliot looked at Olivia and smirked at Huang. "Always."

Olivia was apprehensive and grabbed his hand before entering the interrogation room. "What is it Liv?" He asked looking at her with curious eyes.

"Why don't we let Munch and Fin handle this?" She whispered to him. "You just had treatments..."

"Yesterday, Liv," he responded cutting her off. "Remember what I told you. I will continue doing my job until it interferes with it. Don't be so damn worried."

She wanted to cry. She looked at him and knew he didn't have the strength needed to interrogate this man. She didn't want to fight him so she looked down to the ground and against her better judgment, apologized.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Liv." He smiled and they entered the interrogation room to attack this bastard.

About half way through the interrogation, Rodriguez looked like he was ready to confess. Elliot moved over to him and shoved the chair he was sitting in away a few feet. Olivia stood on the side and kept a watch on the scene at hand. Elliot shouted, "You did that to her. You were pissed she turned you down. So you followed her the grocery store and waited for her in the alley. When she was walking home, you pulled her in and raped her three times! Three! And then to top it off, you left her there and you ran away to Jamaica for three weeks! What kind of man are you!"

"I didn't rape her!" Rodriguez shouted back.

Elliot suddenly turned very pale. He took a step back to try and grasp the reality of his situation. Everything was spinning. He felt like he was going to throw up, but the only thing that was going to happen was him passing out. He looked at Olivia and was afraid. "Liv? Im sorry..." He called out before passing out on the interrogation room floor.

"NO!" Olivia yelled pushing the perp into the wall to make her way to her unconscious partner. "No, No baby, NO! Elliot, don't you dare do this to me! Not now! Not now... I need some help," she yelled out in urgency. "It will be okay, El. Just hold on for me, okay." He looked so cold to her. His arms were clammy and his breathing was slow. "Elliot, damn it don't do this to me! Damn it I need you. You are my rock. It will be okay baby. Im right here, and I love you."

She said it out loud for the first time. The only one to hear it was a perp going back down to his cell.

Cragen entered the room and saw the heartbreaking sight in front of him. His top detectives, both completely vulnerable, and the conscious one completely heartbroken. "Benson, you need to let him go. He needs to get to the paramedics."

"There's no way in hell Im leaving him, Don. He's my partner." She looked down at Elliot in her lap as tears fell down her face. "I love him, Don."

"I know you do, Olivia. I know."

He gave a supporting hand on her shoulder as the paramedics entered the room. Olivia refused to leave his side. She went with them in the ambulance to the emergency room. She kept repeating to him, "Stay strong, El. I love you. Liv is here. Stay strong."

When they arrived at the hospital, Olivia showed her badge and walked with him until a nurse stopped her and told her, "Im sorry, mam. We need to take it from here. We'll come and get you once he's conscious. All right?"

"No, no, I need to be with him." Olivia told the nurse.

"Im sorry mam, its against policy. We will come find you if we know anything at all. Stay here." The nurse then rushed back into the room and Olivia was left alone.

She looked through the window and saw them rip off his shirt and inject IV's in him. He seemed so helpless. She burst into tears and fell to her knees. She cried and said, "I love him, God. Please don't take him from me. I love him. I love him..."

She soon found the strength to get up and move to the waiting room. She couldn't sit. Not with Elliot in there. Her heart broke just waiting for answers.

there you go. what will happen to elliot? find out next chapter!