Ahhh! I meant to have this up last night for you amazing folks but the internet crashed and my roommate had to do some weird technical thing to fix it... you guys are wicked though! Thanks for all the reviews.Also, I am NOT a doctor. And I do not play one on TV. but my mother is a midwife so the things happening to Olivia are 99.9% accurate but excuse my artistic license in Elliot's case... I'm hoping to make it through life without actually knowing what happens to a body when it is shot three times.

hey little bag of sugar /
floating in your biosphere /
summon the courage /
to put down your landing gear /
and come out here /
'cuz i am as exhausted /
as a drowning polar bear /
swimming around looking for a ride /
and it's so god awful hot outside/

you're gonna love this world /
if it's the last thing i do /
the whole extravagant joke /
topped in bitter sweet chocolate goo /
for someone who ain't even here yet /
look how much the world loves you /
look how much the world loves you/

-landing gear, Ani DiFranco

Elliot felt the white hot pain in his eyes. His chest was heavy and the dull chirping of a machine pressed on his ears. The pressure keeping his body down was suffocating him. He felt groggy and exhausted. His eyelids were heavy and refusing to open. It didn't take long for him to register that something was wrong. He started trying to move every muscle in his body. He was unsure if it was working but he felt a squeeze on his hand.

"Dad?"

Elliot managed to open his eyes a crack and he saw the concerned face of Kathleen leaning over him, "Ka-" his voice broke.

"Shh. Don't try and talk." Kathleen whispered. Elliot managed to open his eyes more and he took in the scene around him. Kathleen was at his bedside in the beige hospital room.

"Where am I?" his hoarse voice whispered.

"St Martin's." Kathleen answered, "Do you remember what happened?"

Elliot managed to slowly maneuver himself into a sitting position, "I- I just remember chasing Turner into an alley..." he whispered.

Kathleen nodded at her father and stroked his hand, "You were shot Dad... Dad, let me go get the doctor."

Elliot nodded and his daughter rushed from the room. He spotted a glass of water on his bedside table. His throat was killing him so he leaned over and with a weak and shaky hand, he managed to pour the cool liquid into his mouth. His throat soothed, Elliot coughed loudly and Kathleen came running back into his private hospital room, followed by a young blonde doctor.

"Detective Stabler, how are you feeling?" The doctor frantically read the machines hooked up to Elliot's body.

"A little sore." Elliot stated causing a smile to spread across the doctors face.

"Tough guy, huh? No shortness of breath? Tight chest? Headaches?"

Elliot shook his head at all of the symptoms, "Nothing..." he then turned to his daughter. Kathleen was chewing her finger nails, "Kathleen, can you call Olivia for me?"

Kathleen shot a look to the doctor who shook her head at the terrified daughter. Kathleen took in a deep breath before answering, "Sure dad. I'll call her."

Elliot's heart plummeted into his stomach, "I'm not blind. What the hell is going on?"

The doctor then let out a deep sigh, "Detective Stabler... Detective Benson went into labour yesterday afternoon. She was admitted to the hospital at almost the same time as you..."

Both Kathleen and Doctor Schmidt stepped back from the bed as Elliot started pulling off chords that were hooked up to him, "Where is she?"

"Detective. Please, I need you to stay in bed so we can monitor you."

Elliot shook his head, "Kathleen, get the wheelchair."

Kathleen stared at her father in shock, "Dad- listen to the doctor."

Elliot swung his legs over the side of his bed, ignoring the pain shooting through his body, "Where is Olivia?"

"Detective, please-"

Elliot cut the doctor off, "Look, doctor, I know you're concerned but I have to be with my partner. I cannot leave her to have my children alone."

"Dad- she's unconscious."

Elliot stopped dead and looked at his daughter, "Pardon me?" he choked out.

"She had a panic attack sir. We sedated her in order to keep her calm..."

Elliot stared at Kathleen and Doctor Schmidt in anger, "Get me to Olivia. Now."

Olivia moaned. Her entire body felt like it was turning on her and attacking. She was in a strange place with strange people. A man shone a light in her eyes. His face was distorted and hazy. Her mouth felt like she had eaten a bag of cotton. There was a pounding in her ears like a marching band drummer had taken up residence. The soreness in her chest made breathing a labored task. The fluorescent lights of the room obliterated her memory and her understanding of what could possibly be going on around her. Only one thing registered in her mind.

"Elliot." she whispered so softly that only the doctor, who was now shining the bright light down her throat, could hear her.

"Pardon me Ms Benson?"

Olivia's eyes shut in pain as she tried to summon enough moisture in her throat and mouth to help make her words coherent, "My- my partner- Elliot Stabler?" she whispered, hoping that clarifying Elliot's title might make the doctor understand.

Olivia gripped the starchy hospital bed as pain surged through her body. The doctor noticed and he grabbed her wrist and took her pulse, "She's having another contraction." He called out to the room around them. Olivia's vision had cleared enough for her to take in the forms of two other doctors and three nurses. Suddenly, a wave of realization hit her and she turned her eyes back to the doctor.

"Doctor Barnes?"

The kind-eyed doctor smiled and nodded, "There she is- It's good to see you awake Ms Benson. You gave us a bit of a scare when you passed out last night. That was one nasty anxiety attack." He then nodded towards one of the nurses, who quickly left the room.

Olivia's eyes widened in shock, "Last night?" she hoarsely whispered.

Doctor Barnes nodded, "We gave you some medication to slow down the labor which lowered your blood pressure and then it was safe to give you some medicine to calm you down. You had become hysterical and we knew you just needed to hold on a little longer."

"Are the babies okay?"

"Their heartbeats are strong and even. They're ready to get out here into the real world though."

Olivia instantly felt a crash of panic hit her body. Her chest tightened again and eyes welled with tears, "No. I can't do this without Elliot- Please, Doctor, is he okay?"

"I'm fine."

Olivia swiveled her head on the scratchy pillow, wincing at the pain that attacked her as she did so. "El?" She blinked at the form that was being wheeled into her room.

He looked pale and gaunt. He wore his gray zip-up hoody along with black track pants. He had a raging red gash on his forehead with six dark black stitches holding it shut. But Olivia barely noticed the "I've been through hell-and-back" look he sported. Not over the smile that had filled his face. His eyes flooded with relief and joy as she reached a hand out to him. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks as he leaned in from his wheelchair and kissed her deeply. Their bodies delighted in the connection of their long separated lips. Elliot ran his hands through her hair until they rested on her cheeks. She clung to his neck and allowed him to kiss her tears off of her face. Their foreheads finally rested together and they allowed themselves to bath in the others existence.

Olivia wanted to remain that way with her partner forever but the unanticipated contraction forced her body to lean against her bed, "Jesus." she murmured and Doctor Barnes closed the gap between himself and Olivia.

"Dear, I'm going to check how dilated you are. But I'm guessing you should get ready to push."

Elliot took her hand in his, "You ready for this?"

Olivia bit her lip and nodded, "I think so. Now that you're here."

Elliot leaned in and kissed her temple, "There's no way I wouldn't be."