Chapter 12

Oh, it's so bright. What the hell time is it? I feel like I've been asleep for a week and I still don't want to get up. Wait, is that snoring? What the he...

Liv was fully awake in an instant and quickly sat up as soon as she opened her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was looking at. Serena, her baby girl was lying in bed next to her, sound asleep. She was still wearing the outfit she put on before dinner, but she had her oxygen mask secured to her face and attached to the machine on the other side. She looked so calm compared to how she was earlier, her breathing even. Her right hand was intertwined to the source of the snoring Liv heard...Elliot. Serena was holding his hand at the edge of the bed. Elliot had brought the chair and ottoman from Serena's room into Liv's as close to the bed as it could get. He was sleeping with his feet up and slouching slightly to his left so that their hands would stay locked. He was going to wake up with a sore back and neck, not to mention a dry throat from the sawing sound that was escaping his throat.

Liv didn't remember going to bed. She certainly would not have left every single light on, well maybe she would have with Serena here. She did remember watching Indiana Jones with her on the couch and now, here it was almost nine hours later. When did Elliot get here? Before she could wonder anymore, she felt vibrating close to her knees. When she lifted the covers, she discovered Elliot's phone. Damn, he put me to bed and this must have fallen out of his pocket. Now that's embarrassing! Seeing it was Rollins and before 8am, she answered.

"Benson."

"Oh!" came the blonde's reply. "I'm so sorry Sarge. I thought I was calling Elliot's phone. I didn't mean to disturb you." Carisi and Fin, having heard Rollins' mistake, shook their heads and smirked.

"You didn't Amanda, don't worry. And this is Elliot's phone, I just got tired of feeling the buzz. Is everything alright?" Liv knew for Amanda to call before the shift started she must have something to report.

"Yeah. We need the lieutenant's approval on some things before we take action." Amanda was curious as to why exactly Liv had Elliot's phone so early in the morning.

"Hold on" Liv said as she reached over Serena as carefully as she could to reach Elliot. "El. El, wake up." She sat up on her knees to whack him in the head. "Elliot!"

"What?!" he grumbled as he began to stir and take in his surroundings. "Jesus" he stated as the full effect of his sleeping position started to sink in. As he looked up, he noticed how short Liv's shorts were by the way they rode up her thighs from the way she was squating. He also noticed the V neck in her shirt went down low enough for him to get a good look. Thank God she fell asleep wearing her bra! Fuck! Come on, now. Don't go there right now. "Stop yelling bedhead" he teased to cover up his slight indiscretion as he rubbed his neck and tried to stretch, effectively camouflaging the erection that was quickly taking form.

For that, she decided to give him another whack on the head as she handed him the phone and said, "Rollins." As he began to talk to his detective, Liv took the opportunity to run to the bathroom. When she returned to her room having put on a bathrobe, she noticed Elliot was off the phone and trying desperately to rub the kinks out of his neck. She felt sorry for his discomfort. After all, she knew he only slept slumped in the chair for Serena's sake. She came up behind him, shooed his hands away, and began to massage. "What did Rollins want?"

Elliot was too busy groaning in relief to answer right away. He would have happily crawled into the bed knowing Serena would welcome him, but would Olivia? All sorts of thoughts immediately ran rampant through his mind until he felt Liv apply a little too much pressure in one spot.

"Hello?" She said. "Is everything okay?"

"OW! Yeah." He dropped his voice once Liv shushed his outburst. "We need to get some kind of statement from Serena today. The brass and the Feds need all they can to get this guy for good. I told her no one gets him before we do." They both became silent, lost in thought as they watched Serena sleep.

It was almost 11 when Liv heard Serena making noise. Olivia was already showered and ready. Elliot left shortly after awakening so he could go home to do the same. After all, he was the one who had to be in the office today; Fin would take up her slack for a while. She had plenty of paid leave coming to her in one form or another. She ran into her room and found her daughter with a furrowed brow thrashing about. She began to claw at her mask without opening her eyes. Olivia rushed to her side and sat on the bed next to Serena's legs which started to kick at the covers. Although she was clearly distressed, she was eerily silent.

"Sshhh, baby. It's okay. It's okay, you're safe. You're here with Momma Serena." Liv had to put her hands on her daughter's face to keep her from damaging herself while trying to rip the oxygen mask off. At Liv's touch, Serena stilled and opened her eyes. Her breathing was very erratic so Liv didn't want to remove the mask just yet. "See? You're home. You're okay." she continued to soothe and kept her hands on her daughter to ground her. It took a few minutes, but it worked and Serena was able to sit up and remove the oxygen mask.

NO! NO! NO! I wasn't dreaming! I felt Momma at the park and in the car. Elliot was holding my hand so I could sleep. I actually thought he needed to hold my hand so he could sleep too. But no! How could I be back here? It couldn't be a dream. I don't want the nightmare anymore! "You're here with Momma Serena." Momma? That's right. My name is Serena and I really am here with Momma. She's touching me. Good touching. Loving touching. Look!

As she opened her eyes, she was greeted with the most beautiful sight she could remember, her mother's caring eyes. The eyes everyone said she shared but it's been so long since she's seen her reflection that she can't imagine any part of her looking like Olivia. They were home, those eyes. She hated the big, old, stupid mask she had to wear at night, so she immediately quieted her breathing (another technique she had to learn quickly under duress) and she was able to get it off without damage. She grabbed Olivia's hands before she could let go and just stared at her mother, emulating Liv's breathing patterns. Liv smiled.

"Good morning!" she said and Serena nodded in return. "You snuck into my bed last night. How did you learn to be so quiet?" Liv regretted her question as soon as it left her mouth. She had a pretty good idea of the consequences Serena must have had to learn if she wasn't quiet. Just then, the front door opened and Elliot walked in. "Hey!" Liv shouted into the other room. "Does either of you want to tell me just how I went from watching a movie on the couch to having my bedroom invaded by the two of you?" Serena immediately pointed to Elliot.

"Me?" he questioned innocently. "It was your idea!" and at that, the tension was relieved. "Anyway, I said I'd stop by after work and what did I find? You were loudly snoring on the sofa with the TV on a blank screen."

Olivia smacked his arm. "I do not snore!" and out of the corner of her eye, she saw her daughter smile so she turned. "Well, I don't!" She leaned over and whispered in Serena's ear, "Do I?" knowing the answer, but playing along. Serena shook her hand on a so-so gesture and Liv looked properly affronted. "Speaking of snoring, I didn't need an alarm because I had a jackhammer next to my bed!" she fired back with a smirk. Turning back to Serena, she said, "Let's get dressed, sleepy head."

"Oh! I almost forgot. That's part of the reason I came back. I brought these. I asked Liz to gather some of her old clothes from the attic for Serena until we can take her shopping. I think these might fit better than your clothes will" he offered handing over a bag.

Liv loved the way he said "we" when discussing shopping. He was always such a big part of her daughter's life that she should have hyphenated Stabler to the end of her name. "Just what are you insinuating Stabler?" Liv asked and started laughing out loud at the look of horror on her partner's face. Yes, no matter what their rank or positions, they were 'partners for life.' "What's the other part?"

"Well, the other part is so I can drive you to the station. Everyone is coming in around two o'clock and I didn't want either of you feeling like you're walking into the inquisition. I figured if we can get Serena's statement, in any way that she can give it…" he clarified knowing the girl refused to talk verbally, "then she won't have to face the brass for any more than a cursory greeting."

"Okay then" began Liv "I'll go heat up your breakfast while you get ready. Do you want to shower, baby?" Seeing her daughter's assent, she gave Serena the bag of Lizzie's clothes and went to gather some extra towels while Elliot turned for the living room to give her some privacy. Serena quickly jumped off the bed and ran after him, grabbing his hand.

"I'm just gonna sit here keeping your mom company while you shower angel. I'm not going anywhere" he said to reassure her. Serena studied him for a moment before releasing his hand and walking into the bathroom, leaving the door wide open and stepping into the shower.

"I'll call Liz later and thank her for the clothes" Liv said. "And thanks to you too for thinking of them. She got so tall but she's so thin, El. Her clothes from two years ago will still fit except for being too short! She's covered up, but I can feel her bones right through my fingers." She averted her gaze so he couldn't see that she was getting upset. It was a moot gesture because he was Elliot after all. What she felt, he did,66 no matter what.

"I know. I felt her put pressure on my hand last night and it was barely a squeeze, yet she was putting such effort into it. But she's home now Liv. As you always say, she survived the hardest part and now, you will help her survive the rest. We both will." He whispered the last part as an aside, but Liv heard him loud and clear. She came out from behind the island, put her arms around his waist and enveloped him in a hug.

"Yes, we will. Oh, and about last night. Thanks. I'm sorry you were so uncomfortable, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate you doing that. I know Serena probably didn't give you much choice for sleeping arrangements. If that happens again, just get in the bed." She stated that part so matter-of-factly that Elliot practically did a double take, but Liv was already back in the kitchen putting Serena's breakfast together in a sandwich style so they could get to the stationhouse.

Serena did not take long in the bathroom. In fact, she was so quick that Olivia questioned whether or not she was clean. Her hair hung dripping down her back and although it was the end of June, she was wearing a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved tee and the sweater Liv gave her yesterday. Again, she was fixing it so her thumbs came through the knitted holes. Liv normally got cold easily herself, but Serena was making her sweat just by looking at her. While she sat eating her sandwich, Liv came up behind her with a hairbrush, causing Serena to literally jump out of her seat.

"I'm so sorry, baby!" she apologized quickly putting her hands up. What the hell are you thinking Olivia? Coming up behind her after all she's been through with a brush of all things! "I wasn't thinking! I just thought I might help you with your hair, but I'll just…." she trailed off, chastising herself for her stupidity.

Oh Momma, don't be sad. I used to love when you brushed my hair! I'm sorry I got scared but I didn't expect you to do that. Here. Serena grabbed Olivia's hand that held the brush and put in on the back of her hair as she returned to her seat on the bar stool. It felt good to have her mom brush her hair again, all the little things she missed.

"Serena, are you ready? Momma and I are going to take you to the station so we can figure out what happened to you." He stopped short when Serena's head popped up and her eyes were wide with fear. "Honey" he began again as he gently placed his hand on her arm. "You can tell us anything. Do you understand? Anything. As much or as little as you want, any way that you can. We will be right beside you the entire time."

Serena broke eye contact. She didn't want to go to the station, even though she used to love going there. She didn't want to "tell" anybody anything, verbally or otherwise. She just wanted to stay right where she was with the two people she loved most. But listening to them whisper, seeing the focus in Elliot's eyes, she sighed. She never said no to them and she wasn't about to start now. So, she stood up and walked over to the door to wait patiently for them to catch up.

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