Chapter 7 Back Home

Olivia was in and out of it for the next three days. They kept her pretty well sedated.

Elliot had spent every day and night holding Olivia. He never wanted her to leave his arms. Olivia had stirred and rubbed her hands along Elliot's arms.

"You're still here? You didn't leave?" she said, thinking that maybe he would leave to get some good rest in a normal bed.

"Did you really think that I would?" Elliot asked as he kissed her forehead.

"The doctor was just in; he said that your tests results were good. He thinks you should stay a few more days, but said he would understand if you wanted to go home."

"Good let's get the hell out of here." she said.

Elliot hopped off the bed and grabbed some clothes for Olivia.

"But how did you get our bags if you didn't leave?" she asked playing the Detective role she was so good at.

"Munch and Fin brought them when they were here the other day." Elliot replied, as he was digging through her bags, "Oh this is nice; I think you should wear this." Elliot said with a huge grin on his face.

"Elliot! Put that down, that's my nightgown!" Olivia laughed for the first time since the attack.

"Your night gown?" Elliot said looking at the black lacy very see thru 'nightgown', "Well if this is your idea of a nightgown, then I can't wait to see your teddies!"

Olivia giggled.

"You're beautiful when you laugh." Elliot said very seriously.

"Elliot- stop it, your embarrassing me!" Olivia exclaimed.

"I'm holding this teddy over my body, and you're embarrassed?" He joked.

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It was a long drive home, but they talked the entire time. The decided that they couldn't tell their co-workers about their feelings that had surfaced, it would jeopardize their careers, and both of them agreed that they weren't ready to quit the squad, not just yet anyways.

They pulled up to Olivia's apartment, "Do you want me to carry you?" Elliot asked.

"I'm not paralyzed Elliot, I think I can make It." she said as she nudged him.

"Ah that's the Olivia I know and love." he whispered in her ear as he helped her out of the car.

When they got to Olivia's apartment there were flowers through out her apartment and cards that covered her kitchen counter. Olivia looked at Elliot as if to say-'how did these get in here'?

Elliot saw the expression on Olivia's face and answered her thought, "Casey asked me if I had a spare key to your place."

"Ahhhh." Olivia moaned as she took a deep breath and fell back against Elliot's chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck so softly she got goose bumps all over her body. She was so scared, but being in the comfort of her partners embrace she had never felt so safe. It warmed her soul, an emotion that she never let herself explore.

Her thought was interrupted by the ring of her partner's cell.

Damn it he thought. But she didn't mind, she was used to it and actually couldn't believe it didn't ring sooner.

"Stabler, Hi sweetie…Just got back. Maureen, is everything alright? …ok good…no I'm not sure when I'll be home," He said as he looked at Olivia, knowing that he wasn't going to be back for awhile, "Working late at the station house, kiss your brother and sisters for me…Love you too sweetheart."

It always got to Olivia, the way Elliot was with his children. He adored them, which made Olivia adore him.

"I hate lying to them," He said, "They don't know what happened to you, and I didn't want to tell them over the phone." he explained.

"Elliot- you don't have to defend yourself, I know why you said it, and I would have done the same thing." she said sweetly.

"Well I better unpack." she said picking up her suitcase with her good hand.

"I don't think so!" He said as he grabbed the suitcase from her. "I'll unpack you have to rest."

"Elliot, I'm ok-- really. I can unpack my own suitcase."

"I know, but let me do this, please?" he pleaded. She looked so tired; the swelling on her face had not gone down. She had two black eyes, a busted lip, and 20 stitches in her face, not to mention the head trauma and bruised rib and she wanted to unpack her suitcase. Incredible! He thought.

"You, on the couch." He ordered her.

It was strange, Elliot taking care of her. She was not used to anyone taking care of her; ever, let alone her partner, her equal. It was nice though she thought.

She heard him opening drawers, and her closet doors; she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever be able to find her clothes again, she giggled to herself. I wondered if he put away my bras and panties…

He came out of her bedroom and headed to the kitchen. "What are you doing now El?" she asked.

"Thought you would like a bite to eat?" he said as he looked through her fridge.

"I don't think I can eat," she said pointing to her jaw, "Too painful."

Aww she was so cute, he came over with an ice pack and sat beside her on the couch. He placed the ice pack gently over her jaw; she squirmed as the cold pack touched her cheek. Her whole face began to throb. She couldn't help it, her eyes began to water, and the pain was too intense. He pulled her frail body close to her, careful not to hurt her. He couldn't make her pain go away, and it broke his heart.

They fell asleep in each others arms. Elliot wasn't sure how long they had nodded off for, but he knew it wasn't too long. She woke up in a cold sweat, heat racing, and tears flowing. Her body was shaking. She didn't have to say anything. He knew she just had a nightmare.

"It's ok…It's ok," her serenaded her, "I'm here Liv, it was just a nightmare, I'm right here," He rubbed her shoulders, "You're safe now," He was just about to kiss her neck, when his phone went off again, "Perfect timing." he said. Olivia took a deep breath so the person on the other line didn't hear her sobbing.

"Stabler, yeah hi Cap…she's hanging in there, she's a survivor," he said squeezing her shoulder, "no, I won't be coming in today…right, ok I'll see you later then…yeah I'm with her…no not yet… yes I'll tell her, bye." He shut his phone and placed it on the coffee table, "The Cap sends his best, and he said he was going to stop by when he leaves the station."

"What did he say when you said, 'no not yet'?" She asked curiously.

"He wanted to know if I had been home yet."

"Oh, you know El, if you want to go home you can. You don't have to take care of me." She didn't mean to say that, she didn't want him to leave, and although she didn't want to admit it, she needed someone to take care of her.

"Liv, I'm not leaving you." He said kissing her forehead.

"Thank you." She couldn't help it; she bawled her eyes out, sobbing uncontrollably. He hated seeing her like this, he had never seen her like this, and while his heart was breaking, he felt responsible it the guilt was beginning to eat him away.

"I… sob …I don't want…I don't want to be left alone…I'm so scared." She cried out. He held her tight; it was all he could do.

His eyes began to tear up, "I'm so sorry Liv, if I just would have gotten there sooner--"

"It…it's not your fault…you're here now…. sob you are sniff sniff you are here when I need you the most." she wept.

There was a knock on the door. Elliot got up to answer it, surprised to find Casey on the other end.

"Hi Elliot, how is she?" Judging from his face, she knew the answer, not well. He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes, hoping that she didn't see them.

They walked into the living room. "Hi Olivia, how are you holding up?" she asked with a look of deep concern.

She was only able to nod as she still had a lump in her throat. "Is there anything I can do for you…anything at all?" Casey asked.

"Actually…I do." Olivia said.

Elliot looked at her with the most confusing look on his face, what could she do that he couldn't?

"I need to take a bath…if it's not too much to ask do you think you can help me? It's just ---"

"Olivia, you don't have to explain, of course I'll help you!" Casey said as she looked up at Elliot, "I go draw the bath." she said and left the room.

"I would have helped you Olivia." Elliot said almost hurt.

"I know El, and you will, but I need a woman right now."

"I understand completely, I'm sorry."

Before she could answer there was another knock on the door. "That must be the Cap." Elliot said and walked towards the door.

"Hi Elliot," He let himself in, "And how is our best detective holding up?" The Cap asked Olivia as walked into her living room.

"I'll get through it." she sighed

"I picked up your prescriptions." He said holding up the bag.

"Thanks Cap, that means a lot."

Casey entered the room, "Hi Don," she said, "Olivia, It's all ready." She helped her off the couch and into the bathroom.

Cragen asked Elliot what that was about, "Bath." El replied.

"Ah...So how is she really doing? He asked.

"Not good Cap, not good. I've never seen her like this; she hasn't stopped crying since it happened." He took a deep breath he was looking down at his hands, "It's hard you know, she's so strong, and to see her so--"

The Cap nodded, he knew what Elliot was trying to get out. "So do you want some time off?" He asked Elliot.

"I do Cap…I just can't leave her right now…it was my fault and I since I wasn't able to protect her then, I have to do it now, and she needs me Cap, she doesn't have anyone…"

"You don't have to explain it to me El, listen I'm going to take off, tell Olivia I said bye ok?"

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Casey helped Olivia undress, she was very careful trying not to hurt her. "Oh My God Olivia!" Casey looked at Olivia's nude body up and down, "You're covered, I mean covered in bruises…from head to toe." she gasped.

She helped her into the tub, "I know…" Liv said as she looked up shamefully at Casey, who began to cry. "I'm so sorry Olivia, I know we see this all time, deep breath but when it's one of your best friends…" she let out a squeal."I'm just so sorry that you had to go through this is all." she finished.

Olivia couldn't believe that Casey was crying over her, and that she called her one of her best friends.

"You know, if there is one good thing that is coming out about this whole situation, it's that you really find out who your true friends are…it means a lot to be that you are here, Case…I mean look at us she managed to laugh you're giving me a bath."

They both began to laugh while they cried at the same time.

Olivia was sitting on her bed in her bathrobe while Casey looked for her pajamas. They both heard the phone ring. "Casey, it's yours." Elliot said loudly.

"Go," Olivia said, "I can handle it from here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later.---Hey Case?"

"Yes Liv?"

"Thank you."

"Anytime" she replied and walked out her bedroom.

Olivia heard her say goodbye to Elliot followed the sound of her apartment door shutting. Elliot walked into Olivia's room. He had a glass of water and the bag of pills the Cap had brought over. "Here." He handed them to her. She swallowed them as she watches Elliot pull out a pair of shorts and an NYPD Tee.

He helped her into them…he tried not to sneak a peek when he was pulling the T-shirt over her head, but he was a man after all. Her body was amazing, he had always known how sexy Olivia was, but he had never seen her this up close and well, bare. His insides were burning, he wanted so much to kiss every mark that fucking pervert had left on her body.

"Elliot Stabler did you sneak a peak?" Olivia said in a flirtatious way.

"God himself would have sneaked a peak at you Olivia." he said helping her into her shorts, gazing into her eyes.

He pulled the covers from her bed, and she crawled in. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead. He began to walk out of the room, "I thought you were going to stay with me?" she whimpered

"I am, on the couch." he said, he wanted nothing more then to crawl into the bed with her and hold her, but he thought that she might not be ready for that.

"Uuh ahh," she shook her head, "El, I need you to hold me." She moved the covers to welcome him into her bed, "please." She begged.

"Well if you need me to…" he said as if he had no choice. He crawled in behind her snuggled her body as close to his as could.