A/N I had some problems with my PC and then with my smartphone I have a beta reader but somehow I couldn't get her corrected version here. So I apologize for any mistakes that are still here.
Chapter 23
Slowly Oliver pulls his hand away and Alex gasps as she sees the blood coming through his shirt. Abby sees it too and turns around.
"Call an ambulance! Oli is hurt!" Abby yells.
Munch runs to his desk and calls for a bus and asks Amanda to go downstairs to the reception desk to lead them back to the squad room. Cragen immediately walks to Oliver and when he sees the blood on his shirt he knows that something is wrong with his Detective. Abby looks at Nick and Fin.
"Arrest the asshole for assaulting an officer of the law. " Abby growls.
Abby looks like she's gonna kill Elliot but manages to keep herself relatively calm. Knowing that Oliver needs her now and that if she attacks the son of a bitch she'll get sued herself. Cragen walks to where Fin and Nick are standing with Elliot.
"Let go of him for a moment. " Cragen says.
Nick and Fin let him go but make sure that they can grab him should he make a move.
"Stabler, give me your gun and badge. " Cragen orders.
"Are you serious? You gonna arrest me for hitting her? She's the one that's crazy and I need to pay for it? " Elliot yells.
"Give me your gun and badge, Detective! Now!" Cragen says sternly with a cold voice.
Elliot pulls his gun and badge from his belt and hands them over to Cragen. "Fin, cuff the bastard. " Cragen orders.
Fin pulls his cuffs from behind his back and cuffs Elliot tightly.
"Elliot Stabler, you are under arrest for assaulting an officer of the law. " Cragen says and read him his Miranda rights.
"Fin, take him downstairs to the holding cells. Nick, walk with them. I don't want that things go down and end up worse than they already are. " Cragen says.
In the meantime at the other side of the squad room. Alex had pulled off her jacket and putted it under Oliver's head. Then she carefully pulls up Oliver's shirt a little higher than his navel. When Alex sees the blood on Oliver's stomach she gasps Oliver's name.
"The outside looks worse than it is, Lex. I popped a couple of stitches. The inside is what hurts. " Oliver says softly. "I "I "I don't care what it looks like, I know something is wrong when you say you're in pain. Munch called for an ambulance. I'm sure they'll be here soon. " Alex says softly.
"You're coming with me in the ambulance? " Oliver asks.
" Of course I am. " Alex answers.
Abby looks down at Oliver's stomach and gets angrier and angrier.
"I'm gonna charge the sick bastard with everything I can think of. " Abby growls.
Alex looks up at Abby.
"I want you to nail his balls to the wall and make him pay. " Alex says with her courtroom voice.
"Don't worry about that, Alex. He'll pay." Abby says.
After Munch called an ambulance he walks to Oliver, Alex and Abby. When he sees Oliver's stomach he looks shocked .
"Bus is here soon. This isn't from one blow into your stomach. What happened? " Munch asks.
Oliver looks panicked at Alex and Abby. Alex squeezes Oliver's hand and answers Munch's question.
"Oliver had a surgery in the hospital last week after he was hit by a car. That's all you need to know for now, John. " Alex answers sternly but with a soft voice.
The Sergeant knows better than ask what happened, hearing the tone in Alex's voice. Then he raises his eyebrow.
"Oliver, that's your new name, Benson? " Munch asks, trying to distract Oliver.
"Yes it is." Oliver answers.
" Good choice. I like it. Now I get it why Abby said Oli. " Munch says.
Munch stays with Oliver to distract him till Amanda comes back with the paramedics and then walks away to give them some space and Oliver and Alex some privacy. Knowing that they need to tell wh a t happened before. The paramedics walk across the squad room with a gurney.
"What happened, Detective Benson? " One of the paramedics asks.
" I've been hit hard in my stomach. I had a hysterectomy last week. My stomach hurts and it's not from popping a few stitches. " Oliver answers.
The paramedic examinations Oliver's stomach. When she pushes lower on Oliver's stomach the Detective yelps. The paramedics immediately know something is wrong and they quickly lay Oliver on the gurney. Cragen, Munch and Amanda are standing closer now but not so close that they are standing in the way.
"Alex is coming with me. " Oliver says.
" Who is Alex? " One of the paramedics asks as he looks around looking for a guy.
"I'm Alex." Alex answers.
"Are you family, Ma, am?" The paramedic asks.
" I'm Detective Benson's MPA. " Alex answers.
"That's good to know, but unless you're family you can't go with the ambulance. I'm sorry. " The paramedic says.
Alex looks at Oliver and sees 'the' look in his eyes. Before the younger blonde can react, Oliver speaks up.
"She is my fiancé and SHE is coming with me. " Oliver says sternly.
"Alright, she can come with us. Let's go. You could have said that in the first place." The paramedic says.
The paramedics quickly walk with Oliver on the gurney out of the squad room, with Alex walking next to him holding his hand. This time they're going to Mount Sinai. Abby is following them and goes with her own car to the hospital to be there for Alex. There is nothing she can do at this time of the day since it's passed 5 PM. She'll press charges first thing tomorrow morning when she knows how Oliver is doing. Left behind in the squad room Munch and Amanda are shocked by the Detective's 'announcement' about Alex and him being engaged. They didn't know they were together let alone being engaged. They turn to Cragen to ask him about it but the look on their Captain's face stops them from asking.
"Shouldn't someone call Stabler's wife to tell her where her husband is and what's going on? " Amanda asks.
Cragen sighs before he answers the question.
"I'll go to Kathy and explain the situation to her and tell her what happened. Munch, when Fin and Amaro are back I want you to go to the hospital with Amaro and find out how Oliver is doing. Make sure that if Amaro has problems with Oliver's change he'll be respectful towards Alex. I do not tolerate disrespectful behavior from anyone. If Stabler wouldn't have hit Oliver I would have suspended him for his behavior. Now IAB probably wants to fire his ass and I won't try to stop them. If Fin and Amaro wouldn't have stopped him he would have beaten him up." Cragen answers.
" Good luck Sir. I'll make sure that Nick behaves himself in front of Alex if he has problems with it. I won't tolerate it neither. If you had said it or not. You go to Kathy, as soon as I know how Oliver is doing I'll come back to the precinct. " Munch says.
"Alright. If you need me, call me otherwise I see the two of you when I'm back here. " Cragen says.
Both Amanda and Munch nod at Cragen and then the Captain leaves the squad room to go and have a very difficult conversation with Kathy. One he always hoped he would never have to have with her. Of course this is by far not as worse than going to a cop's wife and tell her that her husband died doing their duty. But still this is not exactly easy too.
When Abby arrives as t the hospital she arrived about 15 minutes after Oliver and Alex got there. Abby walks to the ER waiting room and after looking around for Alex she spots the blonde ADA and walks to her.
" Hey Alex. Do ya know more about Oli?" Abby asks.
" No, I don't. They took him straight behind the doors. His vitals were getting lower during the ride to the hospital. The paramedic said that it could be an internal bleeding. What the hell is wrong with that asshole? I knew he wouldn't accept it but did you expect him to actually attack Liv? " Alex asks.
" No I didn't expect this to happen. Sure the bastard had anger issues but I never thought he would attack Oliver. I thought he would get nasty against you once he would find out that the two of ya are engaged. Maybe try to hurt you but never Oli. My guess is that something snapped inside of him when he realized that he would never get Oliver even without knowing about your relationship. But then again the man is as bigoted as you can get them. But attacking Oliver is the last thing I thought he would do." Abby answers.
" I never saw this coming. I would have walked to them earlier if I suspected something like this would happen. But I really didn't. I'm scared Abby, scared for what can be wrong with Liv. He never says or admits he is in pain. So when he says that he is, it must be really bad." Alex says softly.
" I know you're worried. But Oli is a fighter. No matter what it is he'll fight. Now even harder than before. He has you to fight for and that will get him through this. I'm convinced he'll get through this because of you." Abby says.
"I know he is a fighter. I just hate it that he is in so much pain. " Alex says.
" I know ya hate it. I hate it too. But he'll make it through this. The hardest part for you is that ya have to wait. But I'm here with you. " Abby says.
It was an hour later when Munch and Nick arrived at the hospital. As soon as Munch was in the ER waiting room and he saw Alex he walked to her and pulled the blonde in a hug.
" I know you're worried about Oliver but he's a fighter, Teflon. He'll make it. " Munch says as he pulled away.
After Munch pulled away Nick did something he hadn't done before. The Detective pulled Alex into a hug too. Letting her know without words that he accepted Oliver. When he pulls away Nick looks Alex in her eyes.
"If there's anything I can do for you or for Oliver, all you have to do is let me know. He's my partner and I have his back, Alex. " Nick says.
Until now Alex managed to keep herself together. Hearing the words Munch and especially Nick daid makes the tough ADA tears up on the inside. Tears are forming in Alex's stormy blue eyes. Not able to answer them Alex nods at them. Seeing how difficult she has it now, Abby puts her arm around the younger blonde and coaches her best friend to the chairs they were sitting on. When they sit down Abby pulls Alex into her arms and tries to comfort the blonde attorney the best she can do now. Munch and Nick take a seat on the other side of the Texan. Patiently waiting till both women are ready to talk with them. After a minute or two Alex pulls herself together a bit.
"I'm sorry for being so emotional. Thank you both for your support. It means a lot to me. And I know that it means the world to Oliver that you support him and have his back, Nick." Alex says softly.
" You have nothing to be sorry for, Alex. We all care for Oliver but it turns out that you care for him and love him on a whole different level. Seeing that you are his fiancé. He surprised us with that back in the squad room. It sounds a little odd in this situation but I do mean it, congratulations Teflon. " Munch says.
"Thank you, John. " Alex says.
" Wait, Benson asked you to marry him? Sorry that came out wrong. I'm just very surprised. I didn't know it, I didn't know that the two of you were together. I agree with Munch here though, congratulations Alex. " Nick says.
"It's alright, Nick. We wanted to tell everyone when we came back to NY and throw a party. But my fiancé had to be protective about me and told the paramedic that I was his fiancé and that I would come with him. So he kinda outed us then." Alex answers with a small smile on her lips.
" Leave it to Benson to go all protective about you when he's injured. Do you know anything about his condition yet?" Munch asks.
" No I don't know a damn thing. They took him away as soon as we arrived at the hospital. The paramedic thought that he might have an internal bleeding m and his vitals went down when we were on our way. I've waited here for over an hour now and if there isn't someone coming here soon to tell me how he's doing I'll go get some answers myself. " Alex answers.
Despite the current situation Abby, Nick and Munch laugh and smile about Alex's words. Knowing that the blonde had collected herself again, for as far as she could, and that someone was facing the ADA's wrath if she didn't get to see someone soon and not getting any answers.
10 minutes later the doors to the waiting room are opening and Dr. Bouchon walks inside in a surgical uniform.
" Family of Detective Benson? " Dr. Bouchon asks.
Alex almost jumps up from her chair and walks fast to the Dr. followed by Abby, Munch and Nick.
" I'm Dr. Bouchon. Are you family of Detective Benson? " Dr. Bouchon asks.
" I'm ADA Alexandra Cabot, Detective Benson's fiancé. These are ADA Carmichael, Sergeant Munch and Detective Amaro. They are Detective Benson's other ADA and partners. How is Liv doing, Dr. Bouchon? " Alex asks.
" Due to the punch in her stomach. ." Dr. Bouchon starts.
"Excuse me for interrupting you Dr. Bouchon, but could you please refer to my fiancé as Detective or him? We both would appreciate it. " Alex says kindly.
" Sorry, yes of course. I didn't know. Alright, due to the punch in his stomach, Detective Benson had an internal bleeding. We managed to find it but your fiancé lost a lot of blood and needs a blood transfusion. Because of his blood type this is gonna take longer. We have given him a transfusion during the surgery but we need to get blood with an express service from the blood bank or another hospital, from which one is the fastest st this moment. After the transfusion he still is in a critical condition for the following 48 hours, I'm afraid. But if he makes it through them, I'm positive he will make it. But like I said those 48 hours are critical. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you, Ms. Cabot. " Dr. Bouchon explains.
" Take mine. We have the same blood type. He needs it now, not in an hour or so because you don't have enough here. "Alex says sternly.
" He needs to make it through those 48 hours Dr. Bouchon. I need him. " alex adds softly.
" The sooner he gets it the better it is. I'll send a nurse to you, Ms. Cabot to collect the blood and she'll bring it to us as soon as you are done. I can see how important he is for you. And you are to him. Before he was sedated he kept asking for Alex and that he wanted her there. Alright, if you don't have any more questions than I go back. " Dr. Bouchon says.
About 5 minutes after the Dr. had left a nurse came and took Alex to a room where she takes the blonde's blood. After half an hour she had taken as much as she could with being it safe for Alex in this situation. After the nurse made sure that Alex was alright she pointed the way back for the blonde and went to the OR with Alex's blood. An hour later after Alex got back into the waiting room, Dr. Bouchon came back and walked to where Alex and Abby are sitting. Munch and Amaro needed to go back to the precinct but they insisted that as soon as Alex knows more she would call them and they would be right back at the hospital.
"Ms. Cabot, Detective Benson will be transferred to a private room on ICU as we speak. As soon as he is ready a nurse will come to take you to your fiancé. We won't keep him sedated so it's possible that he will wake up. But I can't say when that will be. Nor if he will wake up the following hours. For now we have done everything we could and it's ul to Detective Benson now." Dr. Bouchon explains.
" Do you know when the nurse will come to bring me to Oliver? " Alex asks anxiously.
"I think in half an hour. " Dr. Bouchon answers.
" Thank you Dr. Bouchon for everything you have done. I am aware of what you told me but my fiancé is a fighter. I am hopeful he wakes up. I have to be hopeful and have faith in him." Alex says.
" No need to thank me, Ms. Cabot. I don't ask from you not to be hopeful I just have to be honest about his chances. You know your fiancé better than I do, obviously, and if he's the fighter you say he is, he needs to fight as hard as he can. Now, if you will excuse me I need to go back. " Dr. Bouchon says.
"Yes of course. Thank you again, Dr. Bouchon. " Alex says.
The Dr. nods at Alex and Abby and leaves the waiting room. Half an hour later a nurse came into the waiting room.
"Family of Detective Benson? " The nurse asks.
" I'm ADA Alexandra Cabot, Detective Benson's fiancé. This is ADA Carmichael. " Alex answers.
" My name is Ms. Danton, I'm a nurse at ICU. I'm here to take you to Detective Benson. Are you ready?" Nurse Danton asks.
" Yes I certainly am. Take me to Liv, please. " Alex answers.
" Very well. Ms. Carmichael, you can come with us but only for a couple of minutes. After that you have to leave. Too many people is too stressful for Detective Benson now. And at this point only Ms. Cabot allowed to stay with her fiancé. I hope you can understand this. "Nurse Danton says.
"Of course I understand it I'm happy to see Oli for a couple of minutes now." Abby answers.
The nurse takes them to the first floor where the ICU is. When they arrive at Oliver's room they hear a nurse trying to calm down someone inside the room.
"I'm sorry I have to check if your fiancé is brought to another room. It's not possible for him to be awake already. " Nurse Danton says.
"Oh yes it is. " Alex and Abby say in canon. Just when Nurse Danton wants to go and check, they hear the nurse inside Oliver's room again.
"Detective Benson, you need to calm down. When the Dr. comes here he checks you and maybe he will remove the tube. There is a nurse getting Ms. Cabot here." The nurse says.
"I think that's my cue to go inside. Otherwise I think you all will get shocked again. I won't put it past him to try to get the the tube out himself and then tries to get out of his bed and go and look for me himself. " Alex says dryly.
Nurse Danton looks at the blonde ADA like she has grown a second head.
"Trust me, Alex is telling you the truth."Abby says.
Alex doesn't wait for an answer and opens the door and walks inside, Abby following behind her smiling at nurse Danton.
"Easy Liv, I'm already here. " Alex says.
The relief of Oliver being awake clearly in the blonde's voice. As soon as Oliver hears Alex's voice he turns his head and his eyes lights up seeing the blonde attorney. And then he points at the breathing tube in his mouth.
All Alex can do is shaking her head with a big smile on her face.
A/N The following time it will take longer to post a chapter possibly. I have to write or copy a chapter on my smartphone and send them with copy and paste to my beta reader and post them the same way. The Internet on my PC is not working and probably won't be for a while. So unless I'm elsewhere and have access to the Internet this is how I need to do it. Next chapter there will be a quote again as I normally post with each chapter in this story.