Chapter 9 - New Developments
"Good Morning Gorgeous!" Elliot said as he walked into Olivia's hospital room with a dozen lilies her absolute favorite, "Are you ready to get the hell out of this place, and finally go home!" He said excited for her.
"I have never been so ready in my life!" Olivia said sitting up and smiling, "Are those for me?" She said looking at the lilies.
"These? No. No, they are for your hot nurse. "He said cracking a smile and placing them in her arms, and giving her kiss on the cheek.
"Phew you scared me there Stabler, because my nurse is a male!" She said teasing him.
A second later Olivia's male (and very flamboyant) nurse entered the room.
"So you're finally getting out of here Detective? I'm going to miss your pretty smile!" He opened up her file and walked closer to her bed, "I went ahead and set you up with a home nurse. She will stay with you for the first week, and then just come over once a day for your physical therapy."
Olivia had just taken a sip of water and choked to death on it when she heard the words, 'home nurse'. Thank God Elliot was there to speak on her behalf.
"Olivia Benson having a home nurse? Are you crazy? She will kill her the first hour she's there!" He laughed at her.
She coughed a little more; Elliot poured her another cup of water and handed it to her. "I definitely can not have a home nurse." she said licking her lips and then stopping to bite on the side of her bottom lip. She shook her head no, "absolutely not."
"Olivia, you live alone, you are going to need help. What if you slip in the bathroom and can't get up?" The nurse asked her.
"I'm not 90!"
"Olivia, you fell in the bathroom last year." Elliot said smiling at her.
"Ha ha Elliot, I'm still not having a live in nurse!"
"Well your only other option is that you stay here for another week." The nurse said to her.
Olivia leaned her head back and rolled her eyes. Elliot could see how frustrated she was, he hated seeing Olivia upset.
"Hey," Elliot said turning to the nurse, "Can I speak to you outside for a minute?"
Olivia gave him a, 'what the hell are you doing Stabler' look.
After about 30 seconds Elliot came back in the room, "Alright lets get you out of here!" Elliot said grinning proudly.
"What did you say to him Elliot?"
"Just worked my Stabler charm." He said as he winked at her.
"So I can go home?" She asked a smile growing upon her face.
"You're going home!"
"What about the whole nurse living with me thing." She asked nervously.
"No live in nurse," he said. She looked at him in disbelief, "Do you trust me?"
"Always."
"Ok well lets get you the hell out of here!" He helped her out of the bed and into the wheelchair. He grabbed her bags and the flowers and they left the hospital.
Eoeoeoeoeoeo
Elliot was in deep thought as he drove Liv home. He couldn't believe that she was actually leaving the hospital! Tears formed in his eyes when he thought about how close she came to dying. He almost didn't get to tell her he loved her. He almost never got to see that smile of hers.
He looked over at her with a sparkle in his eye; he took his right hand and placed it in hers. He squeezed tight. She rubbed his knuckles with her thumb.
"Elliot! You just passed my apartment! Where are you taking me? I swear to God Elliot if you are sticking me in some rehab center you are going to have to find a permanent replacement for your partner!"
He smiled at her, "Never. Just relax would you. I know what I'm doing. You said you trust me right?"
"Right."
"OK then, don't worry about it."
They pulled up to an apartment building a few blocks away from Olivia's. He put the car in park and turned off the engine.
"Elliot where the hell are we?"
"My Place." He said with a smile.
"Have you been drinking? This isn't your house!"
"No, I have not been drinking. This is my new place I moved in last month."
"The sign says one and two bedroom apartments, you guys must be pretty cramped in there…did you guys lose the house?" She said completely not understanding what Elliot was trying to tell her.
"Being off the job for 3 months has really affected your detective skills!"
She shook her head, "I don't get it,"
"This is my apartment Liv. Just mine, and well the kids when they want to stay with me."
"Huh?"
"I'm getting divorced."
Olivia's eyes widened, "Wha---wow. I'm sorry Elliot."
"Don't be sorry Liv; it's not your fault."
"What happened? Why?"
"How much time you have?" He laughed, "Basically we're not in love anymore, and I couldn't go around faking it for another minute."
"I can't believe you didn't tell me. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm telling you now. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I just wasn't ready yet. So---let's get you moved in shall we?"
She coughed, "huh…what?"
"You're staying with me!"