A/N: Here's chapter 2. I want to thank all you guys that favorited, followed and reviewed the story. As always let me know what you think.

Chapter 2: Can't Let Go

I walk into the firehouse bright eyed and bushy tailed Monday morning. Although Calvin and I had stayed up most the night playing games, he called me mom for the first time. I whistle all the way to the locker room and start changing into my uniform.

"What's got you in such a good mood, Liv?" El is standing beside me with one foot on the bench tying his boots up. "Get laid this weekend?" He wiggles his eyebrows at me and starts tucking in his shit. I roll my eyes at him.

"If you must know, Calvin called me mom for the first time last night." I pull my pants up and bend down to grab my boots. Elliot stops mid way through tucking in his shirt. If anyone were to walk in it would be a questionable scenario. Elliott with his hand down his pants and me in boots and pants and my shirt in my hands.

"That's great, Liv! Congratulations." He at least gives me enough time to pull my shirt over my head before giving me a hug.

"Speaking of him calling you mom, are you going to the family picnic? Kathy is making her famous potato salad."

"I don't know. The social worker is supposed to be coming by some time this week. It's about time for the one year check up."

"Alright. Let me know if I need to pick you and Calvin up or if y'all are driving."

I nod and head to the start of shift meeting. Turns out the shower that we all paid for can't be installed because it would violate building codes and be a hazard or some blah blah bullshit. The rest of the morning goes by quietly but no one dares say that out loud. They don't want to jinx it. Cabot is making lunch for us and everyone is excited. After her first dinner her two months ago everyone has wanted some of her cooking. I can't blame them. If firefighting forces her into really retirement she can open up a restaurant, no problem. I'd eat there everyday, breakfast, lunch and dinner if it were a possibility.

The burgers she made smell like heaven and the roast she has in the oven smells even better. I take a bite of the burger and I'm convinced that these should be illegal with how good they taste. Everyone has pretty much has the same thought.

Everyone is talking about the picnic coming up for the weekend and I'm still considering it. If only the social worker had scheduled the appointment for sometime next week. I sit back away from everyone else and enjoy the teasing and joking all the boys do. It takes my back to Jack and all of his jokes and his pranks. I remember the time he told Fin to make sure the roof was clear so that the Chief could land his helicopter. It was the middle of a blizzard.

"What about you, Cabot? You going to the picnic?" Fin asks her. My mind turns back to the conversation and the answer to the question seems so important.

"Stabler's wife make the best potato salad on this earth. My goodness."

"I guess I'll have to go to see if it really is the best. Should I bring anything?" Oh good, she's going.

"Nah. It's usually the wives that bring the food." Munch is the one to reply this time.

"That's a shame, boys. So what you are saying is because I'm not someone's wife I can't bring food? Well it looks like you guys wont be having Novak Ribs."

There's that smirk again. But I've heard of Novak Ribs and they are legendary.

"Wait, wait. Let's not be hasty. Novak Ribs? As is the restaurant in Boston? Novak with the grill fork for the V, that Novak?" Now Elliot is almost drooling at the mouth.

"The very same."

"Man I saw it on the Travel Channel as one of the places you have to try before you die. They say their steaks are even better than the ribs. Didn't they open a new restaurant here in Manhattan?" Fin has a glazed look in his eyes.

Alex nods her head in the affirmative and we all get very excited at the possibility of world famous ribs at our picnic.

"What are you going to do, get them to cater the event?" Melinda is the one to ask but we're all thinking it. I mean how could she even get those ribs for us? There has to be an enormous waiting list and I'm sure they don't just cater to lowly firemen even if we are a pretty elite squad.

"Don't worry about it. Do you guys want them or is it still a 'Wives are the only one that bring things' type of situation?"

All the heads in the room nod excitedly.

"If it gets us those ribs, you can be Benson's wife for the day."

Her head whips to the side so fast I'm concerned that one of our paramedics is going to have to check her out for whiplash.

Damn it, Elliot! I swear to all that is holy, I will gut you like a fish if I survive this embarrassment. You and your damned mouth. Well that's one way of her finding out. She's turning pink too so at least I'm not the only one that's uncomfortable. "I don't know, guys. That's a bit fast isn't it? Coworkers Monday and married by Saturday?"

Only one thing I can do in this situation; play along.

"That is a bit fast, even for me. What do you say, Cabot, rain check on getting married?" I say it with a smile and wink. She laughs back and we're both grateful that the situation didn't get that much worse. "Sure, Benson. Rain check."

Ok, situation diffused. Thank goodness since the alarm just went off. It's all hands on deck for multicar accident on the bridge.

We hit the ground running, literally. "Multicar accident" doesn't quite cut it. There's at least 7 cars involved and we are stretched pretty thin. Warner, her partner and two guys from squad are busy with a guy stuck with his leg pinned. Fin and Munch are putting out engine fires and we have guys on every car. I swivel my head around to look around to where I'm needed. "Cabot, you're with me. There's a car at the end of the stretch. Looks like the driver isn't moving. The horn keeps blaring." "Got it." We rush over to the car and the driver is alive but barely breathing.

"Warner! We need you back here. Guy's got a pretty nasty head wound." I call over the radio but I'm not getting a response. I radio her partner but I get nothing. "Cabot. I think my radio's busted. Tell warner we need her back here."

She nods. I'm trying to stop the bleeding on his head but I'm not making any difference. "Warner says she's busy with the pinned leg."

"Doesn't matter, anymore. He's gone." Damn it! I kick the tire in frustration. I was really hoping we'd be able to save the guy. A scream pulls my attention away from the DOA and toward the side of the bridge. There's a woman holding on to the side of the bridge. "Cabot, I need a line!" She runs away to get the rope and I make sure my harness is secure. I look over the edge and try to comfort the woman holding on for dear life.

"Don't worry! I'll get you out of there." One hands slips off the bridge. I slide on my stomach and grab her other arm. She's dead weight on my arm and I'm starting to slide toward the edge of the bridge. My helmet falls off my head and into the water below. "Hey, hey, don't worry. What's your name?"

"Sh-Shelly."

"Well, Shelly, I'm Olivia. I'm gonna get you out of here." Where the hell is my line?! Every second seems like an eternity. I can feel myself still sliding closer to the edge and I can't help but think of Calvin and if I'll get to see him again. I know I shouldn't be thinking like that but it's hard not to. I try to dig my feet into the asphalt but come up empty.

"Benson!" I can't be sure who is the one who screams my name but soon I feel a rope loop into the back of my harness and a hard tug. We start moving back up but I imagine whoever is pulling us up slipped because we fall a few inches but it's enough to feel a sickening pop in my shoulder and my face scrape across the asphalt. I can feel small bits of grit dig into my cheek. We start moving back up and this time we make it all the way up. Thank goodness.

I feel a burning pain in my shoulder and tears cloud my vision. The pain is unbearable and I know I'm going to need to see a doctor. I open my mouth for Melinda but nothing comes out.

"Benson?" the voice sounds far away. "Olivia?" The voice seems even further away and the last thing I remember seeing is blue eyes and blonde hair before passing out.

Let me know what you guys want to see next. Or what you guys want to happen at the picnic.

Cheers,

ASachs