Where do we Stand

Not mine, I own nothing… Guys, thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate them and I am looking forward to reading more and hearing your thoughts.

Once Olivia had been stabilized, she was taken to the OR for emergency surgery, in the vain attempt to remove the slug that had embedded itself in her chest cavity. Outside the OR, in the designated waiting room found her squad and fellow colleagues. Some, Olivia noted to being more than co-workers, to her they were family, the only family she had, but all were stressing over her predicament. Looking around the room, one would find not just the cops Olivia had worked with throughout her career, but also found sitting in high anxiety were lawyers, judges, paralegals, the medical examiner, and several Lab techs, these people helped make up her extended family. All huddled and bunched into the small waiting room. Sitting on pens and needles, restlessly.

Sitting in one of the hard plastic chairs next to the window, was Captain Cragen. Olivia had always looked up to the Captain, seen him more than just a boss. He was the closest that she had ever came to having a real father in her life, and the Captain returned the feelings. He felt the same about all his detective for that matter, he seen people come and go in his squad, and only few special ones managed to stay the longest, and they had formed a family bound that was unbreakable. Cragen turned painful eyes around the room, taking in each person as he scanned the perimeter. Hearing the news that she had been shot was devastating in itself. He new the squad needed to stay focus, he knew they needed him to lead them on, but the thought of losing one of their own may end up being their demise. He just couldn't bare the thought.

Making another scan around the room, Cragen began to take note of the occupants and their activity. Standing in the corner, John Munch held a silent prayer. Whispering Mi Sheberach Prayer over and over, in hopes of healing not only Olivia's body but her spirit too. Casting his eyes skyward, he began the prayer once again. Never pausing to talk to his fellow colleagues. Oblivious to his surroundings, Fin sat with his head hung down. He held his head with hands, making his fingers overlap at the back of his head, just above his nape. His elbows resting on his knees, lost in thought, Fin looked like a lost little boy.

With a passing thought, the Captain noticed that Elliot still had not made it back. He new Elliot left to make a call, presuming it was a quick call to his wife, Cragen figured his detective should have been back by now, maybe it was the uneasiness of the situation at hand that had the Captain on edge.

The creaking of the rooms door alerted the companions to a new arrival, all eyes turned toward the door with worried apprehension. Hope danced in the eyes of all the occupants, only to be let down. Stepping from behind the wooden shield was Elliot Stabler followed closely by his wife and then none other than Alexandra Cabot.

All eyes danced from Elliot to Alex in confused wonder. To most occupants, they had thought she was still gone, hidden away in the witness protection program. Surely she was not back, the last they had heard of her was at the Conners trial, did they not whisk her away again.

Elliot spoke up first, needing to relieve his worried mind, "Cap, how is she, any news?"

"No, Elliot, she is still in surgery, last we heard she was stable," the Captain sighed. "It just feels like hours since she was taken to the OR, I don't know..."

Everyone nodded their head along with the Captain, knowing how he felt.

Alex glanced around the room, noting familiar faces, nodding her head at them. She took each one in time, every face she remember, now marred with age and worry. She didn't feel like she had been gone that long, just a couple of years. Could worry and stress really age a person in minutes?

Fin raised his head, looking the young blonde over, "Bought time you showed up baby girl."

Alex nodded, "It's been well over due, I think I was hiding, trying to avoid the pain, and all I did was create more..."

The rooms' occupants all looked around, trying to listen to the conversation at hand, but give the appearance of not caring or hearing.

"You know, you hurt her bad, I mean, it wasn't delicate pin prick," Fin said, "You left a canyon in her heart that she couldn't get over."

Alex nodded, to choked up to respond. She knew what she had done wasn't right, but she thought she was doing what she needed to survive. She thought that staying away was what her heart needed in order to go on. Now, looking back, she could see the light, and she knew she needed to make it right. Not just for her sake, but for Olivia. She had to show Olivia she was worthy of the beautiful brunettes love, that she deserved her.

"I am going to work on fixing that, I plan on showing her just exactly what she means to me." Alex looked like she was about to cry.

Fin nodded, "You really hurt her, she already thinks she knows what you think of her. She couldn't function without you, she gave up, and quit caring when she thought you could care less." Fin said, "She thought she had no reason to try, to live, so she quit caring, she quit living, now look where it's got her, man!"

"Enough," said Cragen. "Sitting here arguing isn't going to help Olivia, and pointing the finger definitely isn't going to resolve this mess."

Cragen stood and began to pace, running his hand back and forth on the back of his head. He knew Fin was under stress, he was just trying to protect his family by grasping at straws and lashing out at the most available person.

Alex looked around the room, seeing familiar faces painted with what she could only guess to be accusing glares. She felt lost and alone, all she wanted to do was make sure her detective was going to be alright, she wanted to care of Olivia, and show her she, Alexandra Cabot was deeply in love with her. She had to hold it together, she had no choice. The ice princess needed to make her appearance, and make it soon before Alex lost it in front of so many people.

Elliot watched the emotions fleet across Alex's face, he knew she was struggling to keep it together.

Putting his arm around Alex, he softly spoke. "Alex, hun, you need to listen to me. She may have been hurting, but deep down, in her heart, she knew you loved her. Don't give up now, not now. Okay?"

Alex nodded, losing her voice to the emotional turmoil, she silently relented, agreeing to give temporary peace to a tense situation. Setting down next to Kathy, Elliot's wife, Alex began what would soon by the hardest test of time. Silently, the group waited for news on their beloved detective as the hour hand slowly ticked away. Seconds seemed to take minutes as minutes slowly drug into hours. Hours passed by with no news being passed onto the waiting group. Not able take much more Alex looked to Elliot. Sensing a need to speak, to think out loud, she began to say, "I just feel like I..."

Just as Alex began to speak the door opened, this time revealing a surgeon standing in fresh scrubs, a lab coat with a clipboard and pin in hand. Tired eyes looked upon the group, exhaustion clearly painted on the doctors face. Tiredly, she set the line of her mouth, and affirmed an unreadable expression to her face. Looking about once more, she scanned the room looking for someone who would be in charge.

Cliffy....