**I know this chapter is a little bit shorter than the others, but I really wanted the next moment to have its own chapter. And trust me, I'm ALL about some long chapters, so I know the shortness sucks lol.

This chapter, the rest of the gang get brought into play. Also, some life-changing decisions are ahead for a couple of our key characters! :) Enjoy!

Don't own them...**

Reaching over, Elliot gently swiped his thumb across Olivia's tearstained cheek. A silence had been surrounding them for quite a while as they sat in his SUV, which was still in the parking lot of the doctor's office. Olivia had been leaned over into Elliot's side as he ran a hand across her back.

Instead of forcing her to get on with her life, he gave her the opportunity to just sit there and catch up on everything that had happened in the previous twenty-four hours. Hell, he was still trying to take it all in as well.

His shoulder was damp from her tears and his arm was beginning to cramp from the awkward position that he had been in for longer than he should've been, but he wasn't complaining. At that moment, he had her. He had Olivia Renae Benson and that's all he wanted in life.

Once Olivia had mostly regained her composure, sitting upright in the passenger seat, she flipped down the mirror and dabbed at her face with a leftover napkin from a fast-food place, sniffling as she wiped away the tears. "I need to go tell Cragen," she told Elliot, matter-of-factly.

"Honey, I'm sure he's fine with letting you take some time to sort through things before you make big decisions," he attempted to reach over and place his hand on top of hers.

"No, Elliot," she told him boldly, pushing the mirror back into its place. "In case you didn't hear the doctor up there, this required immediate response. I don't have time to sit and contemplate life before I pick a path," she snapped.

He knew she was stressed. He wasn't going to let himself snap back like he did more often than not. "Liv," he spoke softly, finally making contact with her hand. Her dark brown eyes darted over to him as she wiped her nose with the napkin one last time. "We're going to make it," he told her, his blue eyes piercing hers. "I wasn't meaning to take a month long vacation to figure out what we're going to do," he explained. "I was just saying to take a breather for just a minute. We have all day to let Cragen know before you have to be in the hospital by 8 in the morning."

Olivia's eyes eased their intensity as she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I snapped," she apologized, rubbing his hand with her thumb as she bit her bottom lip.

Elliot gently pulled her chin towards him with his free hand as he smiled at her, tracing her face with his eyes. "We're going to make it," he repeated. "Somehow," he promised, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"I love you." Her words were short but oh-so-sweet. They made a smile spread across his face as he nodded.

"I know. So what do you want to do now?" he asked, cranking the SUV's engine.

"We gotta go tell the guys," she sighed.

"Liv, what the hell is this about?" Casey asked, her foot tapping against the concrete floor. The red-head of the group was leaned against a small table, her briefcase at the ready.

"We're still waiting on Cragen," she told one of her best friends. Elliot stood by Olivia, not more than six inches away. He wasn't letting her out of his sight, or reach, for as long as possible.

Alex sat calmly across the room, inspecting her fingernails as her crossed leg bounced up and down. "Why can't you just tell us, and then tell him?" she asked, not meaning to cause any waves in the room.

"Dammit, guys," Elliot huffed. "This is only going to take a minute of your time, if you can just hold on until the last member of our crew gets here."

Fin chuckled under his breath. As much as he loved Olivia like his little sister, he still had a little work to do on becoming friends with her partner.

"Okay, okay," Cragen announced, entering the small conference room. "I'm here. What's this big announcement?" he asked, shutting the door as the blinds clanked against it.

Olivia took a deep breath as her stomach bottomed out. Elliot lifted an arm inconspicuously and rested it on the small of her back, just letting her know that he was there. She nodded and looked up at the room of faces staring at her. "I found out today that…" she paused, not sure if she could finish her sentence.

After taking another deep breath to stop the flood of tears that almost escaped, she swallowed hard and stood up straight. "I found out today that I have cancer."

The room was silent. Nobody moved, breathed, or spoke. "You're in the best shape of your life," Casey finally argued, picking up her briefcase. "That's nonsense." She noticed Olivia's head look down just as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Oh my God…" she mumbled, her eyes suddenly a lot wider than before as she dropped the briefcase.

"Cancer? Are they sure?" Munch asked, his dark glasses now in his hand as he rubbed his eyes.

Elliot nodded as Olivia stood motionless. "Acute Myeloid Leukemia," he told everybody, his eyes tracing Olivia's form as his hand crossed her back repeatedly.

Suddenly, Casey grabbed her briefcase again and ran out of the room, leaving the door open behind her. "Um…I'll go get her…" Fin told everybody, getting up from the table.

"No, no…" Olivia stopped him, raising a hand as she looked up. "Let her go. Everybody deals with things in their own way." Her words were bold and brave as she looked up at the ceiling, trying to get the crying under control. "She'll come around."

Cragen approached Olivia, wrapping his arms around his daughter-figure's shoulders. "Take as much time as you need. We'll be here when you're ready to go again," he promised. "And we'll be there every step of the way."

"Thanks, Cap," Olivia responded with a shaky voice as he left the room.

Looking over, Olivia noticed Alex's face. It was as white as a ghost. "Alex? You okay?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

Alex looked up and attempted a smile. She got up from the table and approached Olivia and Elliot. "Take care of her," she quietly instructed Elliot. She was one of the very few people who knew about the affair. And Olivia knew she'd take it to her grave. Elliot nodded and rubbed Olivia's back.

"And as for you," Alex continued, hugging her best friend, "I'll go fix Casey and we'll be there every step of the way, too."

"Thanks, Al," Olivia whispered.

After Alex left the room, Elliot smiled at Olivia, squeezing her hand. "I'm gonna go talk to Cragen for a minute," he told her with a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Come in," the captain answered as Elliot knocked on the door. He motioned for his senior lead detective to take a seat as he wrapped up a phone call. Once the phone was back on the receiver, Cragen looked up at Elliot. "I don't even know what to say," he admitted.

Elliot halfway chuckled. "Me either, Cap."

"The Department will be paying all medical expenses for her. And they are being given instructions from a much higher-up that that includes any and all treatment that the doctors believe could help her in the slightest bit," he informed Elliot.

"Oh, wow…that's great, Cap," Elliot grinned. He knew Olivia would be freaking out about money as soon as it crossed her mind. "But I have another question…"

Cragen looked up from the pile of papers in front of him and smiled. "Take all the time off that you need to in order to help get her better," he instructed. "Obviously, that doesn't mean every day, all day long. But if she needs you, then you be there for her."

Nodding, Elliot took a deep breath. "I don't know what to do, Don," he sighed, his head resting in his hands while his elbows were propped on his knees.

"If it were me…and thank God it isn't…I'd get on with the divorce as soon as possible," Cragen bluntly told him. "You guys have been more than partners for, what…three years now? Now's the time to make the move," he advised. "You don't want to end up living the rest of your life wondering what would've happened…especially if this cancer isn't as merciful as we're hoping."

"Thanks, Captain," Elliot let out a deep breath as he stood up. "I've been needing to hear that."