Chapter 5
They reached the hospital about four hours ago, but no update on what her condition was. She had been rushed to surgery the moment they got to the hospital, and has been in there ever since.
The ride to the hospital was horrible. There were so many bumps and potholes, it was fucking ridiculous. Elliot held her close the whole way there, with Fin standing close by just in case. Every little bump or pothole made the barely conscious detective yelp in pain. She stopped breathing about three times on the way to the hospital. They revived her, but they knew she wouldn't be able to last much longer if things kept going the way they were.
Once Liv was whisked away to surgery, Elliot completely broke down. He fell to his knees with tears streaming from his eyes, as though somewhere, deep down, a dam that had kept all his emotion back had been broken.
His cries were a heartbreaking sound to the rest of the SVU team. He failed her, and he knew it. The only promise he had ever made to her, the most important one, he broke within a single action. The whole ordeal ended with the death of the woman he loved most. He let her walk into the trap that had been set for her, and now she was as good as dead. He wanted to die with her, because, in his mind, he had no other reason to live if she was gone. He sobbed her name again and again, crying out for his beloved Olivia.
Munch tried to comfort Elliot, but it was no use. Still with no update on her condition, he took off for the hospital chapel to think. Elliot was sobbing silently into his hands when a gentle hand got his attention. Looking up, it was Munch.
Elliot threw his arms around Munch (A/N: He's grieving for crying out loud! Munch was the first person to try to comfort him, and he needed someone strong to support him. So get your minds out of the gutters, ELIOT ISN'T GAY!) Munch and Elliot sat in the chapel as Elliot continued to sob into his hands.
All of them were grieving. They all were close to her, but not as close as he was. Almost everyone, Cragen included had a suspicion that there was more than just business or a friendly relationship; there was even a bet going as to how long it would take one of them to make a move. The two of them were always together, even if it wasn't related to a case, they were even spotted shopping together (three guesses who it was that spotted them... you guessed it, Munch and Fin.) They had a bet that Liv and Elliot were in love, even if they would never admit it in their wildest day dreams.
"Detec...Elliot, it's going to be ok. She's a fighter, she'll pull through," said Munch as his voice broke trying to hold back tears. He wanted to cry also, to grieve for the loss they would eventually have to deal with. He couldn't do that though; he knew he had to be strong for the both of them, he wasn't about to break down. Not now, not here.
"None of this is your fault," said Munch, after Elliot finally calmed down. He knew all of them, every single detective sitting in that waiting room felt guilty for allowing this to happen. That they hadn't done anything to stop her from going out alone, and that it took them so long to find her. Even Munch felt the weight of guilt on his shoulders for not doing anything to stop her, or try to convince her to take someone with her. They knew the dangers, they knew what could happen, but they did nothing to stop her.
The other SVU detectives joined Munch and Elliot in the chapel after a while. Jackson was sitting in a pew with his head in his hands, tears pouring down his face onto the carpeted floor. Green was sitting a bit farther down from Jackson, staring at the floor, a few tears trickling down his face also. Carter, a detective from the Bronx SVU was sitting staring at the wall, lost in his own thoughts. All of them could hear what Munch was saying through Elliot's renewed sobbing. They all wanted to believe she was going to make it, that she would be back to work in no time. Who were they kidding? Only themselves. They saw the condition she was in when they found her, they just didn't want to give up hope.
Now that Elliot had finally broken down, it was all over. They had never seen his this upset before (who could blame him?) He was so strong, hiding any emotion at all behind a brick wall. Hearing his sobbing now was just as distressing as the news they just received.
It was all over.
...
Sorry about the cliff hanger... Stay tuned to hear what happens...