DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted characters of any TV program, movie, or published work of fiction are the property of their owners/creators. In this case, Law and Order SVU and Dick Wolfe. No copyright infringement is intended and nothing is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Feedback is greatly appreciated (good or bad). Single quotes indicate thoughts. The subject is sensitive and I will stick to the medical facts as best I can.

ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.

Chapter 18: Powdered Eggs

The explosive rush of emergency personnel jetting through the ER turned very few heads. The entourage of police, firefighters and press did cause some to stir. Straining their necks to get a good look at the large mass moving down the hallway. The TV hung from the corner of the waiting room provided all the information they needed.

"Travis, look we're on TV?" A large woman of color said to the half asleep teenager to her right.

"¡Parece mamá buena!" The young girl said cuddling the crying toddler.

"Lacerations are superficial to the arms and torso. Cut above left eye is 6 inches with debris. Bleeding contained in the field." Min cited from recent memory.

"You folks are going to have to wait here!" The petite nurse shouted at the reporters, rescue squad and half the population of DC.

"I'm her partner!" Elliott grumbled.

"I'm her part ugh boss." Abbie said flashing her badge.

"And these are my security team." The nurse said as three rather large, armed men took their places on each side of her. One stepped forward towards Elliott.

"We'll wait." Abbie said touching Elliott on the arm. She ushered him to a row of chairs near the window.

Cautiously she peered down the hall. First left and then right. Nurse's station busy. Dinner trays being distributed. Stepping with confidence, Alex existed her room wrapped in her London Fog still riddled with soot and headed to the elevator. As luck would have it, the elevator doors opened upon her arrival. Smiling, she stepped inside.

"HOLD the elevator!"came from just steps behind her. She glanced up and cringed. She recognized the face. 'Dan Somer', the pushy reporter from the news. He had a jittery, in a hurry look about him.

"One please." He demanded. Alex moved to press the elevator "1" button. Her left side let her know that was not such a good idea. "Auhhha." She grunted.

"I'll just get it." Somer said irritated. The jolt of the elevator was enough to force an already unsteady Alex into the elevator wall. This time the pain was harder to hide.

"Shit!" Alex yelled. Somer did not react, nor look in her direction. He began primping himself using the stainless steel elevator doors as a mirror. Moving his hair just enough to keep the boyishness of what remained of his good looks. Even through teary eyes Alex could tell he was much older then he looked on TV.

"What is taking the elevator so long!" He exclaimed. "First I miss that Cabot woman for a scoop and now I going to miss the other survivor." He tapped his foot and looked angrily at the floor numbers above the door. "Come on Come ON! If she scoops me again I'll kill her."

Alex just watched, hiding the pain as the elevator lowered to the first floor. It stopped with a much softer jolt. The doors were barely open before he stepped out into the mass frenzy of the ER. Alex took a breath and gently pushed herself from the wall. She stepped from the elevator doors and was engulfed with the harrowing sounds of people in stress.

"CLEAR!" yelled the intern. Two sharp beeps all eyes on the monitor. The straight line sent all back into action. The nurse forcing air into Olivia's lungs. Methodic compressions were applied to her chest.

"Charge to 350." Two counts. "CLEAR!" Two sharp beeps. A third resonates, then a fourth. "She's back. Get her to the MRI."

"Wait!" Min warned. "She was under the rubble of the building. Metal fragments are probably all over her body."

"Good catch." Intern Garcia praised. "Get a portable X-RAY and alert the OR we have one on the way." Garcia took his gloves off and throw them in the trash. Taking a deep breathe, he headed for the waiting room.

The force of the door opening caused Elliott and Abbie to look up. Garcia met their eyes and headed for them.

"You're with Officer Benson?" Garcia asked.

"Special Agent Benson." Abbie corrected. "She worked in my office."

"And she was my partner." Elliott added. He saw the hesitation in the doctor's face. "I was her partner on the force in New York."

"Understand. Unfortunately I can't share her condition with you. However, I have a few quick questions." He looked for acknowledgement.

"Does she have any medical hardware in her body?"

"Not that I am aware of." Elliott answered. "Nor does she have a bullet or fragments."

"Any pre existing injuries, chronic illness or other medical conditions?"

"She was stabbed once." Abbie noted.

"Nothing else that I know of." Elliott added.

"She has a rare blood disorder." The answer came from just the left of the group. All turned.

"Alex." Elliott stood and moved towards her. He gave her a hug and lead her to his seat. Both she and Abbie adjusted their positions so that they did not come in contact.

"Ms.,"

"Cabot. Alex Cabot US Attorney's office." She said firmly but shy. "Her mother was of Mediterranean decent. It causes the blood to clout."

"Do you recall what it is called?" Garcia had taken out a notepad and began to write out what he had heard.

Alex thought for a moment. "Its a protein S deficiently. It can mimic Lupus."

"That explains a few things." The doctor added.

Alex was hesitant in asking the next question. "What is her condition?"

"as I said before, I can only give the information to the next of kin." The ER doors opened.

"Dr. Garcia your wanted in room 3." The stern nurse from before barked. She gave the group an authoritative stare.

"You can tell me. I am the next of kin." Alex said desperately. "She's my wife."

"What the..." Elliott said wide eyed. Abbie's jealousy rose within her body.

"We are taking her to the OR." Garcia said standing. "I will have the PA come out and tell you more about her condition." With that he disappeared through the ER doors.

Alex felt all eyes on her. Elliott's in confusion, Abbie's in disbelief. Alex closed her's and said a quick prayer.