With tears in her eyes, Olivia paced through the waiting room hoping her doctor would come out soon. Elliot and the rest of the group sat on the chairs. The nurse at the front desk said that she was in surgery. Three hours had passed since they arrived at the hospital and 5 had passed since the accident. Munch tried to keep things light and calming, by telling some not so funny jokes. Casey sat at the children's coloring table coloring pictures with McKenna.
Soon the janitors were cleaning the floors and picking up garbage and straitening the year old magazines. McKenna had fallen asleep on the small sofa chair. No one spoke, afraid of what to say.
Olivia's eyes were slowly starting to droop shut. She was nearly half asleep when she heard a deep voice. "Are you all here for Alyssa?"
She jumped up and went over to the doctor. Everyone stood around him hoping for good news. "How is she?" Olivia asked wanting to cry.
"I am sorry to have to say this, but Alyssa didn't make it our of surgery. She lost too much blood. She also had a lot of damage from the accident, that even if she had made it through she would have died within a few days."
"What about the baby?" Elliot asked
"We were able to save the baby. She had a healthy baby boy. She was able to hold him for just a short time before we had to start the surgery. She wanted me to tell you that if anything happens, she would like an Olivia Benson-Stabler and Elliot Stabler to take care of her two children."
"When can we see him?"
"I will have a nurse bring him out. He is about 4 hours old." The doctor left after he gave his apologies to everyone. Olivia leaned into Elliot's shoulder.
"Why Elliot? Why did her have to die? It isn't fair. I miss her so much."
"I miss her too Livvy. We have to be strong for McKenna and her little brother. It will be okay."
Olivia looked around and noticed that everyone was crying. Crying for losing a friend. Crying for her two children. A friend, co-worker, mother, sister, and daughter was gone. The only thing left of her was the little girl on the couch and the little boy in the nursery. A nurse came out carrying a baby in a blue blanket. She walked over to Olivia and laid him in her arms. "He weighed 6 pounds and 3 oz. I am so sorry for your loss and I hope everything works out for the best."
"Thank you." Olivia said. "When can we take him home?"
"Next week. After the papers are filed and he is checked out by a doctor." The nurse gave Olivia a reassuring smile and walked back to tend to the other newborns.
Olivia turned to Elliot and kissed his lips. "We have a family now."
"All thanks to Alyssa."
"Yeah." Olivia said. "It will all be okay, won't it?"
"You bet. Alyssa is looking down on us and guiding us."
One by one each person got to hold the baby. Then those who were willing to, went to say their final good bye.
Olivia stood in the doorway, unable to move. With baby Cole in her arms she took the few steps to the bed, where her friend lay. "Hey Alyssa. I really am going to miss you. I love you so much. You were and still are my best friend. Thank you for everything." She leaned down and kissed her cold cheek. "Thank you."