Central Park

Sunday, April 15th 2010

A gun shot rang out through the park. A flock of birds flew up from the bushes, frightened by the noise.

Olivia sat in the surveillance van but she had lost sight of Elliot.

"Detective Stabler, we have lost video contact, relay your position." There was no response. "Detective Stabler, please respond." Still only static.

"Damn!" Olivia exclaimed as she threw down her headset, grabbed her radio and burst through the doors before Fin could stop her. "All units this is Detective Benson, we have lost audio and visual contact with Detective Stabler, shots fired. I repeat shots fired, all units to his last known position." All she was aware of was the pounding of her footfalls and her blood racing. She tried once again. "Detective Stabler, please respond." She turned a corner to find a familiar sneaker sticking out from the undergrowth and her heart lept into her mouth. He was lying face down on the ground and was completely still. Hurrying to his side, she knelt down to check his pulse and found a weak one. When she reached down to turn him over something wet covered her hand. Pulling back, her hand was covered in blood. "Oh, God! Detective down, I repeat Detective Stabler has been shot. I need a bus, now." She threw her radio to one side and removed her jacket to stem the bleeding. "Hang in there, El, don't you give up on me now!" She whispered more to reassure herself than her unconcious partner. Footfalls behind her had her armed and ready to shoot within the blink of an eye.

"NYPD! Don't shoot!" It was Munch followed closely by Fin.

"He's been shot in the shoulder. I didn't see the direction the guy ran."

The sirens sounded in the distance followed by the honking of the fire truck.

"Come on, El. Wake up! The bus'll be here any second."

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Olivia sat in the corridor with her hands resting on her knees and her head in her hands. The door burst open and the noise attracted her attention.

"Olivia," Kathy walked over to her followed by their daughter, Kathleen.

"Kathy," she said softly by way of a greeting. "Kathleen."

"How is he?"

"He's still in surgery. He was shot in the shoulder."

Kathleen barged past her mother.

"How the hell did this happen?," she yelled at Olivia, "I thought you were his partner, you're supposed to protect him."

"Kathleen!" Her mother chastised, "This isn't Olivia's fault."

"He was shot by a guy we had under surveil-"

"Detective Benson?"

The surgeon appeared in his scrubs.

"Detective Stabler is in the ICU. Whoever administered first aid saved his life, he'd already lost a lot of blood before he was found. We removed the bullet but there was extensive damage to his shoulder. He may never regain complete use of his arm and he'll be facing months of rehab. I'm sorry."

Olivia sank back in her seat. This wasn't happening. Without the use of his arm he'd probably have to retire. His career in SVU, at the very least, was over.

"I'm so sorry, Kathy."

"It's not your fault, Olivia. He's a cop, it's the risk you take every day. He's still alive, thanks to you."

"He won't be concious until tomorrow morning at the earliest. I suggest you go home, get some sleep and come back tomorrow."

Kathy placed a hand on Olivia's shoulder.

"Do you need a ride? Your place isn't far out of our way." Kathleen folded her arms across her chest and pulled an I'm-so-not-impressed-mom face.

"Nah, I, urm, I have a car waiting downstairs. Thank you."

Kathy shrugged.

"No problem. Call me if you hear anything, ok?"

Olivia nodded and gave her a forced smile and Kathy turned and left with her daughter in tow.

Olivia didn't know what to do. Rationally, she knew that she needed sleep, but she also knew that she wouldn't get any tonight. Whatever happened, she knew that their partnership of almost eleven years had come to an abrupt and brutal end. Would Elliot blame her for his career going down the pan?

It was that thought alone that kept her from sleep that night.