The next morning was chaotic. Elliot insisted on taking Eli to the airport, but he didn't want to leave Olivia alone. She knew she would be fine, but after the last incident Elliot was even more protective than usual. Amanda and Kathleen had to work, Maureen had the boys, he didn't trust Dickie to not be an ass, so Lizzie stepped up and hung out with Olivia at the hospital.

Lizzie was the 'softest' of the Stabler children. Dickie always took the dominant role and Lizzie seemed to always follow gently behind him. That's not to say she didn't hold her fair share of the Stabler 'fire', but she kept a better handle on it. It was hard to know where Lizzie stood with things because she usually kept her mouth closed and let everyone else fight things out.

Olivia had absolutely no idea what Lizzie thought of her. Maureen was reticent but kind, Kathleen was enthusiastic and loving, Dickie tolerated her, Eli was coming around, but Lizzie was a bit more enigmatic.

Neither woman knew what to say to each other so they sat in relative silence for a long time. Olivia didn't know much about Lizzie's job or personal life or really anything. The only recent story she heard was the one about her walking in on Dickie and that didn't seem an appropriate thing to ask about.

To her surprise, Liz broke the silence. "Eli seems to be warming up to you."

The thought made her smile. One of the good things rising from this crappy situation was her relationship with Eli. "I'm glad. I knew all you kids forever, but I barely got to know Eli before…"

Liz finished the sentence for her, "before Mom and Dad left."

Olivia felt her head drop a little, "Yeah."

Seeming to pick up on Olivia's sadness on the subject Lizzie skillfully changed the subject. "Kathleen says you have a son? What was his name? Noah?"

"Yes, his name is Noah."

"You were always so good to us when we were kids, I'm glad you have one of your own. How old is he?"

"Ten," Olivia answered with a smile, "Want to see a picture?"

"I'd love that. I'm a little jealous that Kathleen has gotten to spend so much time with him. Her work schedule is more flexible than mine."

Olivia handed Liz her phone. "Swipe right, those are the most recent."

"Olivia, he's beautiful. He looks so much like you, and those curls," she covered her heart with her hand, "they are killing me with cuteness."

Liz held the phone out for her to take. "Can I see baby pictures? I wish we had the opportunity to get to know him sooner." Lizzie's blue eyes flit to Olivia's, "but we know him now, and we will spoil him just as much as you spoiled us."

Olivia wanted to cry at her comment. She always worried about Noah growing up alone, but it seems he suddenly found an even bigger network of people to love and adore him. "Um, Noah's actually adopted." She finally found the album of baby pictures and handed the phone to Liz.

"Really? I would have never guessed." She gave Liv a smile before diving into the pictures. "Oh Olivia! He was so precious!"

"Thank you." Olivia beamed. "He's my little miracle baby."

Lizzie thought for a moment, and handed Olivia her phone back, "Do you think you and Noah could come to one of our family dinners?" She looked down shyly, obviously nervous about the invitation. "I'm not sure where things stand with you and my dad, but you've always been a part of our family," she smiled wryly, "a complicated part of our family, but family nonetheless."

"I would love that…When I can finally move around though. Sitting here is horrible."

Lizzie's face broke into a slightly mischievous smile. "Let's go for a walk."

Olivia hesitated, but grinned in return. "Yeah, let's go."

Liz helped her out of the bed and untangled all the various tubes. She tracked down Olivia's slippers which had found their way deep under the hospital bed. Once she was standing, Liz steadied her. "Dad's gonna kill me."

Olivia rolled her eyes with exaggeration, "Your dad needs to relax. I'm fine. I will be fine."

"Oh I know that, but he might lose his ever loving mind when he finds out we did this."

Olivia laughed, "You only live once."

Liz laughed along with her as they took a small stroll down the hospital hallway.

-000-

Once Liz and Olivia took a short lap, without an incident, she got back into bed. Lizzie said she needed to check in on something at work so Olivia took a minute to text Eli.

O: You board yet

E: Nah. Couple more minutes.

O: They are finally letting me walk around.

E: Awesome! Is dad letting you? Pretty sure that even if the doctors say you're fine he's still going to flip out.

O: Oh it's been a battle. Apparently HE'S the only one who can walk with me. I might die if someone else walks me. Apparently.

E: Sounds like dad

O: Liz took me for a walk. Don't tell him.

E: He's gonna kill her

O: I'll talk him down

E: You might be the only one who can talk him down

E: Boarding now

E: Text you and dad when I get home

O: Sounds good.

-000-

Elliot made it back to the hospital by afternoon. He gave Lizzie a quick kiss on the cheek and a thank you as she rushed off to work. Olivia had fallen asleep so he wandered over to the edge of the bed. She was only the light hospital sheet so he pulled his blanket out of its carefully folded position on his chair and draped it over her.

After getting her tucked into the blanket he opened his bag and pulled out his laptop. He and Ayanna had a talk, and both decided to pull him from field work at least until Olivia was released from the hospital. That meant he was doing background searches and preliminary work ups. Basic boring stuff, but stuff that could be completed while camping out at the hospital.

He dug out his glasses and went to work.

About an hour into his research, one of Olivia's doctors knocked at the door and pushed his way in. Elliot immediately looked up and then glanced over to Olivia's still sleeping form.

"I can come back at a better time. Buzz for the nurse when she wakes up."

Elliot nodded, but then Olivia's groggy voice said, "I'm awake." Her eyes were still closed, but she managed to peel them open to see her doctor.

"How are you feeling today? Can you rate your pain for me?" The doctor scrolled through a couple screens on his tablet before arriving at Olivia's patient chart.

Liv rubbed at her eyes as she shook away the muddled confusion of sleep. "I'm feeling okay today. Pain at a 4 or 5 maybe?"

The doctor typed the number in her chart and then asked, "Do you feel like your pain is well controlled?"

"Yeah. It's painful, but manageable." She shifted uncomfortably.

"We really need to focus on improving blood circulation, so we need you up and moving as much as you can. If you're up to it you can shower and change clothes. Loose fitting clothes will be the most comfortable and still allow us to do examinations as needed."

Olivia nodded, seeming to soak all the information up. Elliot already knew most of this. He read the packet the nurses brought by earlier. He brought his focus back to what the doctor was saying.

"I don't need to check your abdomen again until tonight so we should be good to go. Do you have any questions for me?" The doctor waited, but Elliot understood everything, and Olivia seemed to trust him to remember all the information since she was still tired and recooperating.

"I think we're good," Elliot gave the doctor a polite smile before the doctor exited the room.

Once alone, Elliot asked, "You up for a walk?"

Olivia smiled like she was obscuring some kind of secret, and answered, "Actually a shower would be great. I really want to wash my hair."

"Alright. He got up and dug through the overnight bag he packed for her while stopping by her apartment this morning. "I grabbed you some things earlier. I borrowed Amanda's keys. I hope that's okay," he glanced up to gauge her reaction and she didn't seem to mind.

He pulled a few toiletries from the bag, and a couple different sets of comfy clothes. He turned towards her, suddenly not sure how this should go or what she would want in this situation. "Do you want me to help you?" He hurried through the rest, "If that's too weird or whatever I can probably get a nurse in here to help you." His eyes darted up to meet Olivia's. She smiled, seeming a little tickled at his discomfort.

"Honestly, I would prefer it if you helped me. As much as I love having perfect strangers gawk at my scarring… I really don't." Suddenly her voice changed to a more flirtatious tone, "Plus, I'm sure you have seen more of my body than most at this point. This was not entirely how I pictured you seeing me naked for the first time, but I guess I can just go with it."

He sauntered over to the edge of the bed, trying to contain his grin. He leaned over so his face was only centimeters from hers, "You pictured yourself naked with me?"

He nearly laughed at the light flush rushing her cheeks. "You haven't?" She eyed him knowingly.

"Oh, more than I'd like to admit. Longer than I want to admit." He couldn't help but kiss her lightly.

Her hand snaked up behind his neck, pulling him back towards her, kissing him deeply. "Okay then. This might not fulfill any longstanding fantasy, but I'd rather you be here than anyone else."

He smiled at her confession and then whispered in her ear, "Doesn't matter where we are, Liv, you have always been my fantasy."

She kissed him again and then pulled back, "Well then, let's get me out of these clothes."

He grinned and reached out his arms to help her out of the bed.

THANK YOU for your comments, follows, favorites, etc. I wish it was easier to respond to all of them, but I read them all! Honestly, seeing feedback from my readers motivates me to work faster! Thank you for reading my work and enabling my current fanfic writing addiction.

Now. Who is ready for a sexy shower scene- am I giving away too much? Oh well.