Thank you SO much for all the reviews I'm absolutely blown away by the support for this story. I'm sorry this is a bit of a shorter chapter but I wanted to get something up as a thankyou for the feedback. I really do appreciate it :) I hope you enjoy this chapter and please contine to treview and tell me what you think!

When Olivia came back out to the lounge five minutes later, she found Amanda still in the same position sitting on the couch. She was careful to make sure she was in Amanda's line of sight before she spoke so as not to startle her.

"Can I get you anything? Tea?" Olivia asked, though she was pretty sure the blonde just wanted to get some rest.

"Uhm, no I'm okay. Thank you," Amanda replied, shaking her head. She didn't feel like she could even stomach water at the moment and she was so exhausted, all she wanted to do was lay down.

"Come on," Olivia said kindly, laying her hand softly on Amanda's shoulder, "why don't you get some rest?"

Amanda nodded and she let Olivia help her up from the couch. She was grateful for the help as though the painkillers had dulled the aching in her head, her ribs were still incredibly painful. She walked, half leaning on Olivia to the master bedroom where she was dismayed to find that Olivia had not just made the bed, she'd changed all of the sheets. Amanda was already feeling guilty that Olivia was doing so much for her.

Olivia turned down the blankets so that Amanda could get into the bed, rearranging the pillows so that they weren't too high. Amanda sat on the edge of the bed, not quite getting into it and for a moment there was an awkward pause as neither woman knew what to say.

"I'll leave this on," Olivia said, switching on the bedside lamp. It gave out a soft warm glow, one that she herself had relied upon in the months after her abduction. She'd only recently learned to sleep without it.

"Thanks Olivia," Amanda mumbled, though she felt her words weren't nearly worth enough. She was still sat on the edge of the bed, her whole body rigid, half from pain and half from the awkwardness of the situation.

"Amanda it's okay," Olivia said gently, trying to reassure her, "just try and relax, you're safe here."

Amanda took a long shay breath and tried to relax herself a little bit, "I'm sorry," she whispered, her head down so she didn't have to make eye contact with Olivia.

"Hey, don't apologise," Olivia said, sitting down next to Amanda on the bed, "look at me," she asked, and Amanda found herself complying with Olivia's request despite the fact she didn't want to.

"This is not your fault," Olivia insisted, and Amanda could see in the brunette's eyes that she really believed it but even that didn't stop how guilty she was feeling.

Despite Amanda's lack of response Olivia continued talking anyway, "I'm here to help you in whatever way I can, because you're my friend, and because I want to. I want you to feel comfortable, if you'd rather go home, we can go to your place but I really think you need to rest," Olivia explained calmly and Amanda found herself wondering how Olivia was being so gracious.

"Here's… fine," Amanda said quietly, with a tiny nod of her head.

"Okay," Olivia smiled, secretly relieved that she wouldn't have to drive across town at 5 in the morning. It wouldn't have been good for her or Amanda, "I'm going to be right outside if you need anything."

"Okay," Amanda agreed. She still hadn't made any move to get in to the bed but Olivia figured it would be better to let her do it in her own time so she stood up and made her way to the door.

When Olivia switched off the main light Amanda was pleased to see that the lamp on by the side of the bed still provided enough light so she could see everything, but it wasn't so bright that it hurt her eyes.

"You need anything, just call," Olivia said kindly, before closing the door behind her.

Amanda let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding and dropped her head in to her hands. She couldn't help wishing that this was all some sick dream and that she would soon wake up in her own bed in her apartment but the stabbing pain in her ribs told her that it was all very real. Bringing her legs up slowly she settled into the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. A voice in the back of her mind told her to stop being stupid and turn the lamp off but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead she closed her eyes and tried to focus on anything other than the pain she was in. When she was finally settled, it took less than ten minutes for Amanda to fall into a light sleep, her body and mind both exhausted.

Olivia returned to the longue with the idea of getting some sleep. It was past 5 in the morning and she knew that when Nick and Fin got to the precinct at 8 and caught wind of the case, she'd be on her phone non stop. She turned off the light and settled on the couch. Pulling the blanket over herself she got comfortable and closed her eyes, only for her mind to begin racing.

She couldn't get the look on Amanda's face out of her head. She'd seen it on her own face, in the mirror, after both Sealview and her abduction. That look of utter helplessness and desperation. She knew how hard it was, she knew how hard it must be for Amanda. After 15 minutes Olivia still couldn't switch off so she got up, poured herself another cup of coffee and began transcribing Amanda's interview and consolidating the information. If she couldn't sleep she may as well be productive.

Amanda awoke suddenly, her heart racing and an uncomfortable feeling of panic in her chest. The sheets around her were tangled, physical evidence of the fight she'd had in her nightmare. She'd been running from not one, but two attackers and cringed at the cruelness of it. Her ribs felt like they were on fire, her head had started aching again and she was still exhausted. Glancing quickly at the clock she noticed she had been asleep for less than an hour.

She needed to get up, get away from the bed long enough to gather her thoughts and calm down but as she went to move pain rippled across her chest and it was bad enough to forced her back into a lying down position. Amanda bit her lip and managed to avoid crying out in pain but as soon as her head hit the pillow hot salty tears of frustration began to fall from her eyes and this time there was nothing she could do to stop them. She'd held them back for too long and now they were coming in full force. She buried her face into the pillow, ignoring the pain it caused her bruised cheek in an attempt to muffle her sobs and not wake Olivia.

Olivia was on her second cup of coffee and reconstructing a rough timeline of Amanda's evening when she thought she heard a noise. It was loud, and she listened intently for a couple of seconds but it didn't repeat. She put it down to tiredness and continued writing.

Then she heard it again. Slightly louder this time and more noticeable. She'd seen and heard enough crying in her 15 years at SVU to know what it was. Olivia got up to walk to her bedroom and then paused, wondering briefly if she should just give Amanda some privacy. The blonde had never been forthcoming with her emotions and she didn't want to intrude. But on the other hand, if Amanda didn't want her there, all she had to do was say, so Olivia crossed the hallway and knocked softly on the door.

"Amanda?" she asked, "are you okay?"

Olivia got no answer, but the sobs were slightly louder now she'd come to the door, "I'm going to come in, is that alright?"

There was still no answer from Amanda but that meant there was no refusal either, so Olivia took a deep breath and opened the door. The scene she saw before her broke Olivia's heart. Amanda was curled up on her side facing away from Olivia, her shoulders shaking with heavy sobs. It was obvious she had her face pressed into the pillow because even now the sounds were muffled.

Olivia crossed over to the bed and sat on the edge. Amanda's back was still to her but Olivia reached over to brush the hair out of Amanda's face.

"It's just me sweetie," Olivia soothed when Amanda flinched slightly at her touch.

Amanda attempted to sit up again, but like before the pain was a hindrance. Olivia noticed this and helped Amanda up. She was still sobbing profusely and couldn't even get any words out. This only compounded Amanda's frustration and caused more tears.

"Don't try to speak, it's okay," Olivia said, wrapping her arms around the crying woman.

Amanda fought the embrace for a moment, before her need for comfort won out and she all but collapsed in Olivia's arms.