Chapter 5

A/N: Titanic is done...now it's time for Defining Broken to take the spotlight =)

Elliot awoke the next day and rolled over in bed, rubbing his eyes. He yawned and lay flat on his back, staring up at the cream-coloured ceiling as he wondered miserably why Olivia hadn't come into his dream last night. Had he done something wrong? Was she upset that he'd gone to see Kathy? He sighed. The alarm hadn't gone off yet and he hadn't heard Rose getting ready yet, so he figured he had time.

"I need you, Liv," he pleaded quietly before closing his eyes.

Olivia leaned over his bed and gently kissed his forehead.

"You'll be okay, baby," she assured him before climbing into the bed and snuggling against his body. She hated seeing him so weak. He deserved an explanation, she figured.

Elliot was in a dark forest, wind whistling eerily through the creaky branches of dying trees. A twig snapped behind him. He turned around only to see a pair of deep red eyes staring back at him.

"Liv!" he called hopelessly.

"Sanctus, espiritus" the chant echoed through the trees, each time growing louder as if an invisible force were closing in on him, drowning him.

"Olivia!" he screamed again.

"We worship Bas, bow down before the Master," the voices hissed icily and Elliot slid to the ground as he felt the wind knocked out of him. Hundreds of stone angels with demonic grins flew around him, their winds chinking together like ice in a tall class. One of them pulled out a razor.

"No!" Elliot bellowed into the night.

Rose was curled up in Elliot's guestroom when she was awakened by a loud scream. She leapt to her feet. "Elliot!" she darted from the room although was more reluctant as she approached his door. She knocked lightly.

"El? Are you okay?" She pushed open the door when she heard moaning. "El!" He was thrashing wildly in a pool of sweat. She sat on the edge of his bed and laid a comforting hand on his forearm. "Elliot, wake up, you're okay,"she assured him. His skin was so hot. Rose brushed a hand across his forehead. "El...you're burning up," she murmured. He only groaned in response. "It's okay, sshh," Rose whispered soothingly.

"Head hurts," he grumbled.

"I'll get you something," she said and quietly slipped out of the room returning moments later with a tall glass of water and some aspirin. Elliot couldn't help but think she looked a bit like Olivia in the dark room. "Take them, they'll help," she urged and then proceeded to gently lift his head and tilt the water into his mouth. He nodded gratefully and took the pills she held out.

"Thanks," he said weakly and was happy when she let him lay down again.

"I'm calling you in sick," she said.

"No, I'll be fine in the morning."

"It -is- the morning," Rose reminded him.

"Then I should get ready," he said and tried to sit up, only to have the world start spinning. Rose pushed him back into bed and made her way to the kitchen to call Captain Cragen. He picked up after the second ring.

"Cragen."

"Hello Captain, it's Rose. I wanted to call Elliot in sick for today."

"Sick?"

"Yes-seems like the flu or something."

"You don't sound too good, yourself."

"I'm just tired. I got up with Elliot earlier," Rose yawned.

"Hmm...why don't you take a day, yourself. Elliot would do well to let someone take care of him," Cragen replied.

"Will do, Captain."

"Oh, and Rose?"

"Yes?"

"It's a good thing Elliot has you. I was worried about how he was going to handle Olivia's passing, I mean, they spent 12 years together, but it seems like now he's starting to accept it," Cragen said with a note of relief. Rose however, gave a deep sigh.

"He's not exactly -handling- it..."

"He's doing better every day, that's what counts."

"I suppose you're right.."

"Hey El, that was Cragen I was just on the phone with. We both have the day off," she said quietly, slipped off her flats and sat on the edge of his bed to feel his forehead; still warm, but he was shivering. Rose pulled the blanket more tightly around him. "Do you need anything else?" she asked gently.

"Stay," he murmured and Rose was too tired and felt too much pity for him to object. She slipped under the covers and laid down in the bed next to him. Both remained lost in their own worlds and she found herself lightly massaging his collarbone in an effort to soothe him back to sleep. As his breathing became more even, Rose felt her eyelids getting heavy. She let them close slowly and began to fall asleep. When she next awoke, she was spooned against Elliot. How did this happen? She thought and slipped out of his arms only to have him pull her back.

"Liv..." he whispered half-asleep and lay his face against the back of his neck. Rose sighed...if she weren't as tired, she probably would have corrected him, but then again, he was happy and innocent right now...such a rare thing for any SVU detective, especially after what happened and he needed that. It wasn't hurting anyone...and, well she could do with a little comfort, too. "I love you, Olivia," Elliot murmured and Rose didn't say a word..

When Elliot awoke, he was surprised to find his face nestled in a mane of curly red hair. He tried to sit up, but felt like shit and laid back down. His moving caused her to get up and she, looking uncomfortable as he did, slid to her own side of the bed.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"A little, thanks for...you know," he muttered awkwardly.

"No problem...hey Elliot?"

"Yes?"

"You really miss her, don't you?" Rose prompted, but he turned away, not wanting to talk about Olivia. It was just too painful. "It's okay. I miss Jack, but I can't even begin to fathom how you must feel. Talking about it might...help," Rose said.

"Maybe," he muttered but didn't elaborate. Rose laid a hand on his shoulder.

"You aren't alone. I'm here if you want to talk about it," she murmured softly, feeling a sense of pity so strong it overwhelmed her. Elliot sighed. He didn't want to admit it, but he was starting to depend on her. Without Rose, there wouldn't be a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel Olivia had left behind. Without Rose, he'd have joined her by now

A/N: So...I guess you can all see where this is going...it's going to be more than a sappy eventual pairing though. don't worry, I'm not jumping into an E/R pairing...it's far too soon. Just friends. The fact that they shared such a traumatic experience automatically makes them close even though they've only known each other for 5 months. Read and review, please =)