To End the Nightmare

Ch. 2

Disclaimer see Ch. 1

Ok, I took a couple of liberties here. We have jumped ahead a couple of months. Exciting tidbits will be explored in future chapters. Please let me know if you liked this decision.

Olivia watched the dark house and wondered what it looked like inside. She had sat vigilantly protecting the occupant for two nights now, but never had the courage to venture inside. What if everything had changed? Her mind taunted her with scenarios of her one true love having left her behind.

A light turned on in the living room startling Olivia out of her worrisome thoughts. Looking at her watch she saw it was 5am, time for the morning run. A slight smile twitched on her lips as she remembered days when they would chase each other happy and carefree through the streets of New York.

All of a sudden she noticed an unfamiliar car roll around the corner and stop at the end of the street. Olivia quickly checked her gun and opened her car door. As she stepped from the car she saw Alex open her front door and the car down the street started their way. Moving toward Alex as fast as she could she barely got her body between Alex and the gun that fired from the car window.

All she could feel was a burning pain lance through her back and then she was falling on top of Alex. Her sweet girl, if only she could stay a minute more with her.

"HELP, ANDREW!"

As Alex clutched Olivia to her she saw Andrew run into the street to try and get a shot at the car. "Olivia, come on baby open your eyes. Please, Olivia!"

"I need to get you out of here. I have an ambulance on the way. Come on."

"NO, I won't leave her."

"You can't help her. I promise the paramedics are on their way."

"HER, she has a name and it is OLIVIA!"

The agent looked down and focused on the face. Olivia, as in the girlfriend, how did she get here? "Where did she come from?"

"I…I…God, Olivia, why do you do these things?" Alex sat holding Olivia's head in her lap. As the sirens and agents spilled onto the lawn and surrounded Alex and Olivia, Alex's only thought was that she was never letting go of Olivia again.

The ambulance was racing with sirens blaring toward Harborview Hospital. The paramedic eyed the woman sitting watching every move he made to try and keep the woman on the gurney alive. "Hold on we are almost there."

"Please, baby, please." The blonde sobbed as she clutched the woman on the gurney's hand.

"We are almost there. I promise the doctors are the best here, ma'am."

As the ambulance pulled up to the Emergency Room doors a cell phone rang. Looking at the woman on the gurney the paramedic realized it was coming from her pants pocket. As he reached for it his hand was stopped by the U.S. Marshall that was accompanying the women. "I'll get that." As he opened his mouth to say something he saw the look on his face and stopped.

Pulling the phone from Olivia's front pocket Andrew glanced at the screen no information was listed. Pushing the phone on he answered it. "Hello."

It had been hours since they had taken Olivia to surgery and Alex was about to scream in frustration. Why wouldn't they just tell her something? Looking toward Andrew Alex became concerned. Ever since Andrew had answered Olivia's phone he had looked anxious and that just wasn't like him. "Andrew?"

"Yes."

"Will you please tell me what is wrong?"

"I am not sure what to make of Olivia's sudden appearance. Where did she get information on your location?"

"Does it really matter? It's not like she's out to hurt me."

Andrew heard the edge in Alex's voice and knew this wasn't the time to hold things back. "Can you imagine a reason Olivia would quit the force?"

"What do you mean?" Seeing Andrew staring seriously at her Alex dropped into the chair nearest her. "She didn't! Tell me she didn't!"

"I don't know what is going on. The call was from a Capt. Cragen, he wanted to know what she was trying to pull by turning her resignation in while he was out of town."

"Why? I can't…I swear to God Olivia Benson, I am going to smack you upside your stubborn head."

"What?"

"She figured out where I was and it must've been from street sources. She knew something was up because she was out there waiting for them to make a move on me and when they did she protected me. I swear that woman sometimes she is just too damn protective of me for her own good."

Andrew walked over and sat next to Alex. "What do you mean?"

"When I got shot in New York I saw it in her eyes as she held me. She was so pissed at herself for not taking that bullet. Why doesn't she understand that her giving her life for me would kill me?" As Alex's anger dissolved into tears Andrew wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Andrew squeezed Alex's shoulder gently as he saw the doctor's come through the surgery doors. "Hey, looks like we are going to get some news."

Alex tried to stand but found her legs too wobbly to hold her suddenly shaking body. Looking up Alex tried to read the doctors eyes. "Doctor?"

"Ms. Cabot, could I speak with you privately."

"U.S. Marshall Andrew Hinton, I am Ms. Cabot's protection detail and I need to know to what extent Detective Benson has been injured."

For a moment it seemed as if the doctor would protest, but instead he sat in a chair across from them. "Surgery was a success. It took longer than expected due to the blood loss and the difficulty of retrieving the bullet. I don't believe there will be any permanent damage to her back, but it will take awhile before she is able to return to work."

"Can I see her?"

"She is in recovery right now, but as long as everything continues going well I should have her in a room around 3 this afternoon. You should get something to eat and rest. I will have a nurse come get you when they have her assigned to a room."

"Thank you."

"I will see you when I check on her this evening."

Alex sat holding Olivia's hand. "Baby, I love you. I need you to wake up and show me those beautiful eyes."

Alex thought back to this afternoon. The nurse had taken her to Olivia's room as soon as they settled her. Seeing Olivia hooked up to all the machines had taken every last breath from her lungs. The nurse had to help her into the chair beside Olivia's bed. Andrew had waited outside the door though he didn't seem comfortable with the idea that someone new she was alive.

"I'm sorry, but no one other than her doctor or nurse is allowed in there."

"Excuse me; are you trying to keep me from seeing my daughter?"

"Your daughter?"

"Yes, Olivia Benson is my daughter and I will see her now or some judge's dinner is going to be rudely interrupted and I don't think you will like the outcome."

As the door swung open Alex stood clutching Olivia's hand not sure what to do next. "Alexandra, glad to see you are taking care of our girl." Alex's mouth gaped open at the casual air her mother displayed at seeing her alive. "You didn't really think I wouldn't find out what happened with you did you?"

Alex dropped back into her chair. "How? Wait you bullied Andrew to see your daughter. What was that about? How did you even know Olivia was here?"

Katherine Cabot stared down at Olivia's face and sighed. "There is a lot to tell you, but suffice it to say that Olivia and I have gotten to know each other in your absence. She is a wonderful woman and I am glad she found you, Alexandra."

Alex looked at her mother stroking Olivia's hair. "How did you find out about Olivia?" She watched her mother compose herself. "Mom?"

"Capt. Cragen called me as soon as Marshall Hinton let him know of the medical emergency. I flew here immediately. Sometimes it pays to be rich." Walking over to her daughter's chair Katherine reached out to touch Alex. "Are you okay?"

"Mom…" Alex sobbed and was pulled into her mother's arms. As Alex felt her mother stroking her hair and murmuring soft words in her ear she finally succumbed to the fear she had held off all day long.