Once she reached the waiting room not only was she met by the members of the SVU squad but by a sea of blue uniforms. Over seventy five officers, detectives, sergeants, captains, and even several members of the brass.
"Zoe tell us something. We're going crazy down here." Fin said the moment he caught sight of her.
"I'm sorry for the delay, but-" she stopped short distracted by the approach of a tall, powerful looking man, intimidating and brooding in his appearance. His hair was jet black with ever encroaching streaks of grey cut bristle short. He had a neatly trimmed mustache that matched the hair on his head perfectly. His eyes were bloodshot, full of worry and the normally mesmerizing blue eyes seemed subdued.
"Commissioner Holbrook. Nice of you to come down sir." Cragen spoke first extending his hand to the commissioner.
"What have we heard?" he asked accepting the captains hand.
"Nothing. Zoe, detective Rhoades's sister, was just about to fill us in." Cragen said.
"Dr. Rhoades please." The commissioner said with a little two much desperation to go unnoticed.
"I can only give you a broad picture for now." Zoe said to the room at large. "Both detectives are very lucky, had those involved not found them as quickly we would be mourning the loss of two today. Benson sustained several serious injuries as well as severe dehydration. She is stable and resting; we expect her to make a full recovery." A collective exhale of breath was audible throughout the crowd. "As for detective Rhoades her injuries are far more severe. She is at the moment stable but still very critical and by no means out of the woods." Zoe finished.
"Thank you Dr. Rhoades. Everyone updates will be given to the sixteenth precinct as they become available. In the mean time the streets need your attention. Thank you for your support of detectives Benson and Rhoades." The police commissioner's words were direct but gentle. No one could mistake them for anything but an order so they gathered themselves and vacated the waiting room. Only Fin, Munch, Cragen, Warner, Casey and the commissioner remained. Now closer together Fin noticed an unease about Zoe as she watched the commissioner apprehensively. Neither would meet the others gaze.
"Ok. Now tell us how they really are." Munch said as the last of the group disappeared from sight.
"Olivia has a serious concussion, broken right wrist and forearm, deep bruising throughout her body, a laceration on her left palm, she's severally dehydrated and needed several blood transfusions. All in all she is beat to hell but shows no signs of permanent damage. She was drugged so her memory has some gaps but those should fill in as the concussion symptoms dissipate."
"You talk wid her?" Fin asked.
"Briefly. She recognized me, remembers what happened up till a point and is aware of her surroundings. She is on some heavy-duty painkillers so she fell asleep on me but not before I asked if she wanted visitors. She said I wouldn't be able to stop you even if she didn't." Zoe said smiling.
"That sounds like Liv." Casey said.
"'What about Rhoades?" the commissioner asked finally meeting Zoe's eyes, she hesitated for a moment then returned her gaze to the members of the squad.
"Honestly? Lucky doesn't begin to describe her, miracle is more like it. The injuries she sustained were bad enough, then going four days without treatment?" Zoe shook her head pushing down the emotions that were creeping up on her again." The medical supplies they had with them were helpful and what kept them both alive. Without it they would be dead for sure.
"We asked the kidnappers about that. They found the ambulance on the street, found that is was unlocked, grabbed the jump bag then took off. They were afraid if Olivia or Penn died to soon someone would smell the decomp and find them before the six days were up and they wouldn't get their money." Casey explained.
"We would have hunted them down like dogs!" Fin growled.
"Dam straight!" Munch seconded. Zoe could not hold back the wave of emotion those words brought on and she started to heave with sobs. Fin wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed it trying to comfort her.
No one spoke as Zoe struggled to regain control. Fin stayed at her side; She was surprised at how comforting his presence was.
"So sorry. Penn never had many people who cared about her, you can count them on one hand, to hear your comments is so heartwarming." Zoe said wiping tears from her eyes.
"We mean them, every last one. She helped Olivia, she's one of our own." Munch said quietly. Zoe sniffled one last time before refocusing.
"She's got multiple fractures on the left side of her body, consistent with being struck by a car. Left leg, arm, ribs, shoulder, are all broken. Her left lung was punctured by a broken rib causing it to collapse and fill with blood. They used a chest tube to drain the blood but she isn't able to breathe on her own. She had some internal bleeding which was repaired during surgery. She needed several units of blood to replace what she lost. Her vitals are low but stable and she is listed as extremely critical." There was silence for a moment while everyone absorbed this information.
"So is she going to make it?" Fin asked. "I mean all that sounds really bad."
"It's touch and go. She is weak and her heart may not be able to handle the strain so she could still die; it's a real possibility." Zoe answered.
"Can we see her?" Commissioner Holbrook asked. Zoe met his eyes again causing anger to boil in the pit of her stomach. Keeping composed she answered.
"They will only allow two at a time. I would suggest giving it a day or two. Let the doctors bring her vitals up. I warn you though she is not a pretty sight. With trying to stabilize her she hasn't been cleaned up at all."
"Just for a minute. So we can tell her we're here for her. Let her know we got her back?" Munch pleaded. Zoe looked around at everyone's faces. They were determined and scared. Zoe had to fight off another wave of emotion.
"Ok, sure. I will take you to see Olivia then two at a time to see Penn. Follow me. She pushed open the two large swinging doors she had exited through and everyone fell in behind.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
They reached the telemetry floor quickly and quietly. As they passed the nurses station one younger looking woman in deep purple scrubs stood up to great them.
"Dr. Rhoades, I am hoping this is the SVU squad."
"Yes. They wont be here long and a few will be going with me to the ICU so there will only be a few in the room at one time." Zoe paused for a moment explaining.
"I'm not bothered by the number of people, the more the merrier. She's been asking for several people, I think they are all collogues but I'm not sure. Hopefully one of you is Elliot as that is the one she calls for the most." The nurse said.
"Is she awake?" Zoe asked surprised by that information.
"No, no. The pain medication knocked her right out. She's talking in her sleep." The nurse answered. Zoe turned to the group behind her.
"Does she normally talk in her sleep? And who is Elliot?" Zoe asked. Each person looked from one to the other exchanging looks of understanding and sadness.
"Alright what am I missing?" Zoe asked catching on.
"She mumbles in her sleep, usually about cases she is working or has worked in the past. Elliot is her former partner. He retired several months ago." Casey answered.
"Ah. I see. Thank you Hannah." Zoe said sensing the topic was not open to discussion. Zoe started down the hallway once again with everyone in tow. She stopped outside of room T-7S. Quietly she pushed open the door allowing the group to enter. Commissioner Holbrook remained in the hallway. He waited till everyone was out of earshot before speaking to Zoe.
"Zoe please I know how-."
"Don't! Not here not now!" Zoe breathed through clenched teeth. The commissioner was persistent and tried again.
"Zoe I have every right to see her she's-."
"STOP! You have NO right. That right was gone years ago remember? You signed that right away." Zoe cut him off again placing emphasis on several points. Not taking the hint he drew breath as if to speak again, but Zoe got there first.
"Walker you made a choice years ago! You cannot change them so you have to live with those choices." The commissioner stomped his foot in frustration, losing all attempts at keeping his cool.
"DAM IT ZOE! I am her fa-." Cragen's appearance at the door caused him to stop abruptly. Had it not been for the terrified look on Cragen's face he would have snapped at him for interrupting.
"What's wrong?" Zoe asked. She could hear monitor alarms sounding from the room.
"We need help now! Melinda said she's seizing!"
"Hannah! Call Dr. Clifton!" Zoe yelled to the young nurse at the desk. "And being me two milligrams of Lorazepam!" she ducked inside the room leaving the commissioner standing in the hallway. Once in the room she found the members of the squad backed up against the wall opposite the bed where Melinda stood holding Olivia's broken arm attempting to keep it from bashing against the bed rail while she shook violently from head to toe. Blood dripped out of her clenched teeth. Zoe quickly scanned the monitors taking note of all her vitals determining a plan of action. Hannah arrived holding a needle and a vial.
"Dr. Clifton said to push the lorazapam and that he is on the way." Hannah said as Zoe took the needle and vial. She stuck the needle into the vial drawing back the plunger bring with it the appropriate amount of fluid then shoved the needle deep into Olivia's thigh.
"Get me sixteen milligrams per kilo of phenobarbital, an intubation kit and two milligrams of narcan." Zoe said removing the needle from Olivia and handing it back to Hannah.
"Narcan?" she asked disposing of the needle.
"I have a suspicion. Get it please." Zoe spoke with no emotion just a straight business like seriousness. "Dr. Warner right?" Zoe asked. Melinda looked up from Olivia to Zoe.
"Melinda." She responded. As Olivia's body started to still Melinda let go of her broken arm after placing it softly on the bed.
"If Dr. Clifton isn't here in the next minute I am going to need your help." Zoe said holding her serious, all business tone. Hannah returned with several supplies, placed them on the trey table and started handing items to Zoe. "Once I push the phenobarbital we may have to intubate. I need you to drop the tube or push the narcan, which would you feel more comfortable doing?" Zoe asked as she pushed another liquid into Olivia this time through the IV.
"I'll tube. I don't feel comfortable handling narcotics." Melinda answered. She pushed the bed away from the wall making enough space for her to stand at the head. Another alarm sounded next to her.
"Resps are down to ten, still falling." Hannah read out.
"Ok seven and a half ET tube please." Melinda said. Although many years had passed since she had done an intubation you would never know it. With steady hands and smooth technique she slid the tube down Olivia's windpipe withdrawing the laryngoscope at the same time. "I'm in. Go ahead and bag." Hannah retrieved the bagging device, connected it to the visible portion of the tube and began squeezing air into Olivia's lungs.
"Equal breath sounds bilaterally. Oxygen saturation is at one hundred percent. Good job everyone." Zoe said. She turned her attention to the wall were the squad stood silent and frozen. "Lets step outside. I'll explain what just happened." Before anyone moved a man in scrubs and a lab coat came sprinting into the room gasping for air.
"I'm here…what…do…you…need?" he asked between gasps holding a stich in his side.
"Easy Percy. Breathe. Let me get them outside and I will update you." Zoe said her voice wavering slightly. The squad filed put silently. Only Melinda stayed behind.
"Whew! I am out of shape!" Dr. Clifton exclaimed regaining his breath. "So what happened with Ms. Benson?"
Fin, Munch, Cragen and Casey waited anxiously in the hall. No one spoke and each wore a similar expression of shock, fear and sadness all rolled into one. When Melinda and Zoe exited the room each person drew breath and held it bracing for bad news.
"I can imagine how scary that was to watch." Zoe said. Everyone nodded in response.
"Will she be ok?" Casey asked first to find her voice.
"Yes. The seizure was a result of an allergic reaction to one of the medications she received, not due to her concussion, which is good. It means she did not develop a seizure disorder, it was just a one time occurrence." Zoe explained.
"She stopped breathing though." Fin said.
"One of the medications used to stop the seizure activity has a depressant effect on the respiratory system, a person loses the ability to breathe but it is only temporary. Once the medication wears off we can remove the tube." Zoe answered.
"How long?" Cragen asked.
"Three maybe four hours. She'll be more groggy and confused then before, just give her time. Visiting hours are almost over, but you can sit with her if you would like. I am going to see Penn, commissioner-." She looked through the group then behind her. "Where did the commissioner go?" her question was answered by headshakes and shoulder shrugs. Zoe had a suspicion, but decided she would deal with it later. "As I said I am going to see Penn if two of you would like to come you may."
"I'll go." Munch said
"I'll go two." Cragen parroted. Zoe nodded, smiled weakly to those staying behind, and then proceeded down the hallway followed by Munch and Cragen. Casey, Fin, and Melinda returned to sit with Olivia.