Whee!! Here's the second chapter of Iris!! YAY!!

This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reviewed the first chapter: Catty, Hkitty9013, oOophoenixoOo, BethanyKeegan, Kadyann, seriesfanatic (thanks for reviewing all my stories!) CriminalCourtGirl89, and of course, onetreefan! Thanks everybody!

Disclaimer: They ain't mine. Guess it doesn't matter that I'm a senior...

"...aspirated large quantities of water..."

"...nonresponsive, coma-like state..."

"...might not make it through the night..."

Olivia felt like she was floating. She tried to open her eyes, but they refused to cooperate. She could hear voices, some familiar, some she had never heard before. Then the memories came crashing back. The perp hitting Elliot, then shoving him into the water. Diving into the water and pulling Elliot onto the beach.

The last thing she remembered was passing out after the ambulance took Elliot away.

Elliot! She had to see him! With every ounce of strength she could muster, Olivia forced her eyes open. As she did, a blinding white light assaulted her eyes, and she let out a soft moan, closing her eyes again.

"She's coming to," a voice on her left said.

She felt someone grasp her right hand and squeeze it gently.

"Elliot?" she croaked, her voice foreign to her ears.

"Naw, baby girl, it's Fin," she heard him say in an oddly thick voice.

"Fin?" she asked, forcing her eyes open.

As her eyes focused, she slowly realized that she was in a hospital room, and she turned her head in the direction of Fin's voice, taking in his haggard appearance.

"God, Fin, you look like hell," she tried to joke.

He smiled, but she could see a hollow look in his eyes, and she squeezed his hand.

"Well, you look beautiful," he said, squeezing her hand back.

A suuden sense of urgency flooded her.

"Where's Elliot? Is he okay?" she asked, struggling to sit up.

"Whoa, Livia. You broke your ankle, so you're not going anywhere for a while," he said gently, and she looked down at the foot of the bed. Sure enough, her leg was in a traction, and she looked at Fin helplessly.

"Elliot's gonna have a field day with this," she moaned, settling back against the pillows. Olivia watched as Fin frowned and sighed.

"What? What's going on? Where is he?" she demanded fearfully.

He stood up, saying, "I'm gonna go get Munch and Cragen. Your doctor wouldn't let us all in here at once, so we've been taking turns staying with you. I'm gonna bring them in. You know how they are. They won't believe you're awake until they see you with their own eyes."

Olivia watched as he walked out of the room.

A few moments later, he returned with Cragen and Munch in tow. Without a word, Cragen quickly approached her and gently pulled Olivia into a gentle hug.

Munch held back, and when Cragen released Olivia from his hug, she smiled at Munch and said, "So, what's the government up to now, John?"

He smiled at her and joined Cragen and Fin.

"You know that as soon as you come back to work," Cragen pointed at her injured leg, "you're on desk duty."

Olivia let out a chuckle, but quickly stopped.

"Where's Elliot? He's okay, isn't he?" she asked, surveying the men. When they didn't answer, her voice rose with anxiety. "Guys, please. Tell me where he is."

Cragen cleared his throat and spoke softly.

"Olivia, he's right over there."

Olivia whipped her head in the direction of Cragen's finger, and she emmitted a soft gasp.

On the other side of the room was a second bed. And Elliot was in it.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked, searching the men's faces imploringly.

"The doctors said that he aspirated a lot of water. And when Flores hit him with the gun, it did a lot of damage," Cragen explained.

"How much?" Olivia demanded.

"He's in a coma. Olivia," Cragen took a deep breath and exhaled, "they don't think he'll make it through the night."

At first, the words didn't register. Elliot couldn't be dying. He was... Elliot. He was the strongest man she had ever known, both emotionally and physically. She looked at Munch and Fin, desperately searching for an answer.

"No, it's not true. It can't be true," she murmured. Before she could stop it, words began to tumble out of her mouth.

"He can't die. He's my Elliot. I need him. God, I love him."

The men looked at each other as they heard the last words out of her mouth. She looked at them, and as they looked in her eyes, they saw something. The truth.

But before another word could be spoken, a nurse entered the room.

"Gentlemen, visiting hours are over. Miss Benson needs her rest. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

One by one, the men bent over and hugged Olivia, reluctant to leave her.

Munch was last. As he held her, he whispered in her ear.

"Just hang in there, Olivia." Then he kissed her cheek and walked away.

At the door, each man gave Olivia a wave, and then the room was empty. The only sounds in the room were the hiss of Elliot's respirator and the steady beeps of his heart monitor.

Studying her partner, Olivia felt her eyes slide shut, and she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

TBC...

A/N: (ducks flaming shoes while running for cover) HAHAHA!! I know I'm soooooo EVIL!!! REVIEW!!!