A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the feedback on that one! It was pretty much as I thought. I've never had so many messages at once! Hope you keep reading and reviewing.

Chapter 4: From Bad to Worse?

As the two shots rang out, Olivia's face drained of color. A sickening, twisting feeling worked its way from her stomach to her heart. She was torn -- she needed to go back, but she couldn't let the boy out of her sight.

Fortunately, two squad cars and an ambulance were turning onto the street in response to Elliot's radio for help. She quickly ran out and flagged one of them down. The officer stepped out of his vehicle, and nodded as he listened to Olivia's instructions to take the boy into custody, but not to harm him.

The second officer began to ask her a question, but it went unanswered. Olivia was nearly to the opposite end of the block by then.

Her heart lurched into her throat as she reached the scene. Two EMTs were pulling a stretcher alongside Elliot's motionless body.

Olivia threw herself to the ground next to him, not caring how hard her knees hit the cement.

"No," she breathed. A whisper was all she could manage. Tears rained down her cheeks, falling to the blood-soaked sidewalk. She grabbed for his hand, hoping to feel a pulse. It was extremely weak, but it was still there.

"Detective! You need to move!" One of the ambulance attendants shouted at her.

Olivia nodded and touched Elliot's cheek briefly.

"Don't you dare leave us. Don't you dare." The glassy look in his normally clear blue eyes shocked her, ripping at her heartstrings. She watched, silent, as they slid him onto the stretcher and lifted him into the back of the emergency vehicle.

She stood up, turning around and glancing into the shop. What she saw made her gasp. The first gunman was gone. Her eyes darted around up and down the street and back into the store. Advancing through the open door, she realized the cashier was nowhere to be seen.

The boy's voice echoed in her mind. She'll kill me. She'll kill...Jill.

"..it was the young lady behind the counter.. "

Olivia snapped her attention to the old man who had winked at her earlier. A uniform was taking his statement. She took a step forward to better hear his statement.

"After the pretty lady cop began chasing the man in the street, sh-she grabbed the money bag and walked over to the gentleman in handcuffs. She helped him up and they both walked outside. I heard a car door slam. When she came back inside, I at first thought she had perhaps put him in the police car, but then she grabbed the gun and told us all to get back on the floor. The next thing I hear is two shots, and tires squealin'."

Olivia stood in a daze. Her eyes moved from the old man to his wife; from the young girl crying to her mother; and ultimately to the floor. Her eyes traced one of the planks in the hardwood floor until it came upon the cake. Cake?... Birthday cake... The twins' birthday... The twins!

She literally jumped up as if in surprise and ran back outside. She hurried around the side of the car and yanked open the driver-side door. The keys were still in the ignition, and the radio was still playing. Olivia blinked away the tears and pulled out from the curb. She turned on the siren and sped off down the street.

--------------------

"Coming!" Kathy Stabler shouted wearily in response to the pounding at the door. She and the kids had spent the entire day cleaning, and getting the house ready for the party. The dining table was covered in a brand new table cloth, and blue balloons floated above it. She turned off the kitchen faucet, and grabbed a rag as she headed towards the door.

Kathy dried her hands lazily and threw her dish towel over the chair as she reached to open the door. Olivia was standing there, her clothes covered in red blood and blue frosting. Tears stained her cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, but Kathy cut her off.

"No. No! NO!" She shouted, buckling at the knees.

"What is it, Mom?" Kathleen asked, nibbling on a carrot as she came from the kitchen. She watched as her mother's knuckles turned white gripping the door, and as Olivia shook her head in sorrow. The carrot slipped from her hand and rolled under the bookshelf. "Is Dad alright?"

"What's wrong with Dad?" Dickie asked as he came scampering down the stairs.

Kathy couldn't tell them. She'd lost the ability to speak. Olivia cleared her throat. "Dickie, get your sisters. We don't have any time to waste."

Dickie didn't hesitate. He recognized the urgency behind her tone of voice. He ran back up the stairs to Elizabeth's bedroom and threw open her door, ordering her to get off of the phone. Maureen was in the bathroom, but he didn't stop shouting at her until she came out.

"I'll get the keys," Kathleen suggested, disappearing from view. Olivia nodded in response. They wouldn't all fit in the sedan, and Kathy was in no condition to drive. It would be better if they could all stick together. The station wagon would be the best option.

Dickie pounded down the steps, his two sisters following closely behind. Kathleen reappeared from the kitchen; a set of keys dangling from her right hand. She tossed them to Liv, and motioned to Maureen. No one said a word. They'd all dreaded this day for years.

The two eldest took hold of their mother and guided her out the door and to the garage.

--------------------

The car ride had been a silent one. Olivia had tried to explain, "There was a robbery at the bakery...", but she knew it wouldn't be of any help. It wouldn't make the pain go away.

The Stablers ran ahead of her into the Emergency Room. Olivia hung back a bit. She felt they deserved to be with him first.

As she stepped through the doors, she could see Cragen and the boys standing around, anxiously waiting for news. Munch spotted her, and rushed over immediately.

"Are you okay?" he asked, placing his hands on her shoulders with concern. "When you weren't at the scene -- or here, I figured you'd gone to his house."

She looked up into his face and shook her head. "I should've stopped it -- should've seen it."

Munch gave her arm a squeeze. "You did what any of us would have done. It's not your fault. Elliot knows that. He would have done the same thing, and be in the same position as you are right now had it been you. It just as easily could have been you."

A tear dropped. "Yeah, well maybe it should've been me."

He looked at her with worry in his eye and pulled her into a tight hug. "It's okay. He'll be fine. I know it."

She closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. I really hope you're right.