Wow, this story is proving to be more popular than I thought it would be... Cool.

I'd like to thank the little peeps: Paige, onetreefan, seriesfanatic, kelly, livNel4ever, Sweet4Stabler, nickysbabygirl, La Vi3 bOh3M3, iluvstabler, Marie LaRose, Spike868, JO, PaceyW'sgirl, gigletrig, Neela149, TearsOfTheOliveTree, Inara Cabot, MissContrary101, SilverBlackWolf13, SVU is my life, Demon Daughter, Kadyann, LivElrocks a lot, Svu sister, and Maggie Doyle. Very special thanks go to bluecougar, Psycho Strider, and of course Shelly. Every one of ya'll's reviews are like little chocolates... Ya'll rock!

Disclaimer: They ain't mine, okay? Let's just not even go there...

Grinning smugly, the man reached over and turned the machines off, then watched as Elliot's chest rose and fell, then stopped moving altogether.

Elliot's eyes flashed open, and he struggled briefly before losing consciousness.

The man sneered again and turned to leave, but he froze when he saw the figure run through the door.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

Olivia saw the man standing over Elliot's bed, and she froze when she realized what he was doing. Without realizing it, she ran at the man.

Using his surprise to her advantage, she forced him against the wall, holding her forearm against his neck, effectively pinning him against the wall. Behind her, she heard people shouting, and she lost her focus long enough for the man to shove her away.

Olivia watched in surprise as the man jumped through the window, disappearing into the night.

But she was snapped back to the present when a woman shouted, "Detective! Come over here and help us!" Running to Elliot's side, she watched in fear as the nurses and doctors struggled to revive her partner. "Talk to him, Detective. See if he'll respond to you," one nurse urged.

Olivia nodded and grabbed Elliot's hand, saying, "Come on, Elliot! Breathe! You can't quit on me!" Leaning down close to his ear, she whispered, "Come on, you stubborn son of a bitch. Don't you dare give up on me." Suddenly she felt his hand tighten around hers, and she heard a nurse shout, "He's back. Push a round of EPI, and get that tube out."

A nurse looked down at Elliot and said, "Okay, Mr. Stabler, we need to get the tube out, okay?" He nodded weakly, and the nurse said, "On the count of three, I need you to exhale. Okay? One, two, three."

Olivia watched as the nurse carefully pulled the tube out of Elliot's mouth, stroking his forehead as he gasped and coughed. "It's okay, El. Just breathe," she murmured. "It's okay."

The nurses and doctors quietly filed out of the room, until only one nurse remained. Producing a cup of ice chips, the nurse extended them to Olivia and said, "His throat will probably be sore for a while. Would you like to give him these?"

Olivia nodded and accepted the cup, unconsciously continuing to caress her partner's forehead.

"Try to keep him from talking too much. I'll be back in a little while to check on him," the nurse said, walking out of the room.

With a tired sigh, Olivia sat beside Elliot on the bed. His hand found hers, and she smiled at him, fishing out one of the ice chips and feeding it to him. After he swallowed the ice, Olivia heard the most beautiful sound of her life.

"Hey, partner," he whispered hoarsely, and Olivia couldn't stop the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Hey, yourself. God, you gave me such a scare, El," she murmured, and she couldn't stop herself from diving forward and wrapping her arms around Elliot, holding him close.

He wrapped his arms around her, and she pressed her face into his neck, whispering, "Oh God, oh God."

"No, not God," he corrected hoarsely. "Elliot."

"Yes, you are," she cried, pressing a kiss to the underside of his jaw.

"That bad, huh?"

"Elliot, you were on life support. They turned the machines off. And now some freak got in here and almost killed you!"

More tears fell, and Elliot shifted in the bed until she was laying beside him with her head resting on his shoulder.

"But he didn't. I'm right here. With you."

"I know. But I came so close to losing you. Three times."

Grabbing her hand, he held it over his heart and said, "But you didn't. Feel that? I'm alive. I'm right here with you."

She sniffed and wiped the tears away, then said, "Yes, you are. Now, you need some rest. Go to sleep, okay?"

He thought for a moment, then said stubbornly, "Fine, but only if you get some too. You look exhausted."

"Okay, how about I make you a deal?" she offered, scooting closer against him. "I'll stay here with you so we can both get some shut eye, okay?" And so I can keep my eye on you, she thought, watching as he struggled to stay awake.

"Alright," he agreed sleepily. Olivia chuckled softly as he drifted off to sleep, and she carefully pulled him into her arms, dropping a tender kiss on the top of his head.

She was almost afraid of going to sleep for fear that Elliot would be gone when she awoke. But after a while, her exhaustion overtook her, and she snuggled closer to Elliot before falling asleep.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

Matthew Johnson walked into the doctor's office, flashing his badge at the older man. "Dr. Carlos? I understand that Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson are under your care?"

The doctor nodded, and Johnson produced a manila folder across Carlos's desk, saying, "Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson died this morning from complications due to their substantial injuries. Do you understand?"

After reading the file, Carlos frowned and nodded, handing the folder back to Johnson.

"I'll notify their families," Carlos stated, standing up and walking out of the office.

Johnson tucked the file back into his jacket and followed Carlos out of the office.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

Cragen was in his office when his cell phone rang, and he opened it quickly.

"Cragen."

Mr. Cragen? This is Dr. Carlos. I'm calling in regards to Mr. Stabler and Miss Benson.

"Oh yes, Dr. Carlos. How are they?" Cragen asked.

Mr. Cragen, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Mr. Stabler died last night from an infection. It spread too quickly. I'm sorry.

Cragen was reeling. Elliot, dead? He was fine last night. Then he remembered Olivia. How was she taking it? Had they even told her?

Mr. Cragen?

"I'm here," he said quickly, swallowing the bile that rose in his throat.

I know this is bad, but I'm afraid I've got more.

"What do you mean?" How could this be worse? he wondered.

Miss Benson passed away this morning. She was bleeding internally, and we couldn't stop it fast enough. I'm very sorry.

"Thank you," Cragen mumbled numbly, closing his phone.

Almost robotically, he sat at his desk, looking at the pictures that adorned the surface. Slowly, he picked one up and looked at it, tears blurring his vision. It was a picture that had been taken at the previous Christmas party, of Elliot and Olivia.

Elliot was standing as tall and proud as ever, dressed in a black tux. Olivia stood in front of him, dressed in a sparkling midnight blue evening dress. His arms were wrapped around her, and she was leaning back against his chest. Both of them were looking at the other with nothing but pure love in their eyes.

He felt a tear slide down his cheek, and he smiled at it, whispering, "You two… Just take care of each other. That's an order."

Then he gently placed the picture back in its place and stood up, looking through the glass to where Alex, Munch and Fin stood laughing and joking. With a heavy heart, he walked out of the office and approached the group. Munch was the first to spot him.

"Hey, Cap. What's up?" he asked, peering at him from over the tops of his sunglasses. The entire squadroom fell completely silent as Cragen sorrowfully reported the tragic news.

When he was finished, he looked up to see Alex clinging to Munch and crying softly, while he held her and whispered soothingly. Fin looked on the verge of tears, but he remained silent and stoic.

Clearing his throat, Cragen said, "Look, I want everyone to go home for the rest of today. Take some personal time if you need it. I don't want to see anyone back here until tomorrow morning. Got it?"

A few scattered murmurs of agreement swept through the squadroom, and Cragen nodded and walked back into his office. Closing the door behind himself, he closed the blinds and sat at his desk. Then, placing his head in his arms, he cried for his lost friends.

TBC...

A/N: Okay, before ya'll start throwing the flaming objects and desk banging, let me say this: THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!!! Okay? Now, you see that little purple button down there? Yeah, that's the one. It's lonely. Go push it and make friends with it!!