Disclaimer: If I did, we'd all be some very happy EO shippers. Ooh, yes we sure would be mwahaha. Let me tell you ;)

Chapter: 26

Title: Orchard of Mines

A/N: This is slowly degrading my mind. Not much to say this time around. Bought SVU Season 8, woot. I'm still waitin for EO in Season 10 to kick off. But I swear that Kim bitch is just so annoying. Its like "Ugh, JUST GO AWAY!" First we had to get used to Casey; and she was easy to get used to. At least she had humor and wasn't a bimbo. No offense to any people out there who like the new ADA. I don't. And to make things clear; Liv did NOT die in the last chapter. I know I got a lot of questions about that, sorry I didn't reply to the PM's and emails; I figured I would just answer that here. Note all questions will be answered soon. I don't plan to leave any part of this story un-finished or un-tied. So everything will begin to make sense, the ties'll be made and you'll be sitting back going "Oh so that's it, aha, Niiicole, you tricky biatch you." (: Inspiration for this chapter would be its title; which happens to be a song and Brittany aka MidnightL0ve's wonderful, beautiful, amazing Elliot and Olivia shipper video, Stay With Me. If you have not watched that on YouTube, what are you waiting for. Shoo. YouTube(dot)com(backslash)Midnightl0ve. Hope I haven't lost my touch or anything.

Xoxo, Crisis.

Read. +Review+ Enjoy!

Elliot stood outside of Olivia's door with so much as a blank gaze on his face. He'd sent Maureen and Kathleen to treat the children to a late dinner before taking them home for the night. The day had been rather stressful; filled with its downs, and he had come so close to losing her once more. He still had yet to hear from the doctor, though he knew whatever the educated man had to say, it wasn't good. He hadn't emerged from the room once, but to retrieve what he needed before going back in. And Elliot couldn't see around his broad shoulders. He didn't know if she was okay; if she would be okay. And the only thing he could do was wait and drink gallons of coffee to make sure he stayed awake. And to think he once thought the job was stressing.

Taking a seat in the chair, he sighed and leaned forward, running his hands down his face. His job had been a major part of his life. Yet; even as sickening as the cases he solved and put justice to were; he enjoyed work so much, he forced himself to go even on his sick days. Rarely ever taking his vacation hours. Often losing said time at the end of the year. And for what? To hear about rape victims all day? No.

To see her.

A single tear found its way from his face and he inhaled, quickly wiping the translucent sheet of emotion away. He would not allow himself to submit to such sorrow. Not yet. Not ever. She would make it. He knew it. She had to. For him. For the kids. For them.

She was the sole reason he woke up in the mornings. The sole reason he came to work everyday; other than the fact that bringing families justice gave him a sense of pride and knowing that what he did, made a difference. But it had always been her who kept him on track. Whenever he lost his way, she found him. Brought him back. Who knew how many times the wonderful woman had saved his life; his dying marriage, and his family. She was a saint. A angel. And he didn't know what he had done to deserve such a beauty. From the moment she was first assigned as his new partner, there was this instant connection. A connection no one but they understood. Fin and Munch could suspect all they wanted; they would never fully understand what went on between them and in their heads. They were Benson and Stabler. The dynamic duo. Manhattan's most valuable detectives.

"Your thinking too much, Elliot." Cragen's voice broke through all silence. Elliot nearly jumped, but glanced over to the old man. He nodded his head; absent minded that the doctor had pushed through the door and was now standing in front of them. "Elliot." The captain stated sternly.

"What?" Elliot's head jerked up, and the white coat had never looked so good. He instantly stood up, rubbing his eyes as he placed trembling hands on his hip. "What's wrong with her? I-is she going to be okay?" He asked, almost frantically. He didn't want an answer if it was anything but good. If it was bad, it was better left unsaid. He didn't want to hear he was losing another woman in his life. Another love. It would be it for him. He would love no more. Kathy had given him his kids. And Olivia had given him his heart and his life.

The pale faced doctor, tired from working on her for so long, inhaled as he glanced back into the now cleared out room. Elliot had to squint in order to clear his eyes of the mist. She looked peaceful.

"She's losing blood. We were able to stop the bleeding, but there's no telling when it will start again."

"Where was she bleeding from? There was no blood when I was in there." Elliot nearly fumed as he flung his hand upward. At the moment, he was too on edge to care. What if this doctor was her stalker? What then? What now?

"On the inside, detective. We'll need to get a few X-rays of her chest and abdominal area to be sure, but for now, she's under watch. We'll keep her monitored."

"If she is losing that much blood, what then?" Cragen's voice chimed in as he stood from his chair and stood beside Elliot. He'd been there nearly all night with El.

"She'll need a transfusion. It would be crucial if you could tell us her next of kin; or anyone who would be a suitable donor."

Shaking his head out of frustration, Elliot paced the hall. His hand rubbing the back of his neck. She had no one else. No family. No one but him.

"Olivia doesn't have anyone." Cragen began. "I don't know who would match her blood type."

"I would." Elliot stopped, his eyes gazing into the room at her sleeping form. Why did she seem so peaceful when she was in a lot of pain? Wasn't she uncomfortable? "We're both type A." He murmured.

Cragen's wrinkled brows furrowed as he glanced to Elliot, shoving his hands into his pockets as the doctor sidestepped them and headed off towards the counter to input Olivia's status information.

"Since when did you know Olivia's blood type?"

Elliot nearly smiled at the memory. It had been right after she returned. She had been assigned as his handler. A case of pure betrayal and distrust. The guy had been keeping tabs on his wife; going so far as to inserting a microchip to follow her around; track her whereabouts. She'd fallen ill and needed a new kidney. Elliot and Olivia had been at the hospital that night. Fixing the mess they had made when they brought the womans husband to the hospital the first time around.

It hadn't been a detailed conversation. More like small talk on the way to the elevator. He could still hear Olivia's words running through his head. Loves a bitch. That it was. We've been partners all these years and I don't even know your blood type. It was A positive. How bout that, me too. The small smile on his face was barely evident, but it had been there. Even as they stepped into the elevator, so smoothly. Both movements like an extension of the other. Surely they had been partners long enough then; their movements were almost mirror imaging the other. He hadn't even been looking at her when he'd said it. I'd give you a kidney. And it was almost like a rapid fire shot when she replied. Not if I gave you mine first. The familiar ding of the elevator doors closed, not being revealing his smirk to the world. It was a moment he cherished between them. The one moment they openly admitted their love for one another. Given that it had been coded. What did anyone expect? What did they expect? A flat out confession? Things had never been so simple with them. And they most likely never would be. But Elliot, wouldn't have it any other way.

"Elliot?"

Snapping back to reality, Elliot glanced back to Cragen and nodded his head as he sighed, hand on the door as he prepared to go on in.

"Just a case we worked when Liv first got back. You know. When you assigned her to be my handler." He smiled slightly, pushing through the door. Cragen chuckled to himself and shook his head, glancing around. At the moment, he didn't have a place to return to. His lonely old apartment was usually abandoned; having never slept there but rather over at the precinct. All that, was now gone. A ringing brought him back to his own reality as he reached abruptly into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone. "Cragen." He answered, hearing Fin's voice on the other line. "I'm not sure. Elliot just went in to sit with her. Swing by his place, make sure his kids are okay. And put protective detail out there. If this psycho path decides to hit Liv's heart, you know where he's going first."

It seemed like an eternity to Elliot as he slowly proceeded towards her bed side. Her form looked so depleted, yet so peaceful. As if nothing bothered her. He had tried for years to give her such peace. And yet, he had not been able to protect her the way he wanted to. Years of getting close and pushing away. Years of making sure they remained anything but more than partners. A lot of good that did, though. Here he was, bordering his own sanity as he gazed upon his unconscious lover. The one woman he vowed to keep his hands off of, constantly telling himself that she deserved better. Than he was not worth her time, and that she needed someone who could give her stability. He barely had it together himself. Though, that was just the beauty of it. The very part where it started. They counter-balanced each other out. She was the only one who could truly calm him down and piss him off at the same time. And likewise. They were the exact definition of yin and yang; perfect for each other in every opposite attracting way.

The monitors jumped slightly as Elliot's hand snagged a hold of Olivia's. The brute detective found himself smiling only slightly as he interlaced their fingers and took a seat beside her bed. His heart contorted in pain and anger; simply because he had left her alone up in the cribs, and he wanted her by his side, smiling right now. The look on her peaceful face sent a sense of serenity over him, though it did not lay to rest the many worries he had. Who could be after her? Who could want her so bad, they'd bomb the entire NYPD unit. With Fin and Munch working 24/7 on the case, and the Captain doing everything within his power to get to the bottom of things, Elliot really wasn't sure how long it would take to end the nightmare that had wrought itself upon everyone. And he didn't know why such a disaster would befall such a beautiful, innocent woman. Olivia had never done anything to deserve any harsh treatment. She'd dedicated her life to helping others; saving special victims. She had for years. And never had she had anything this dangerous pursue her. What changed? Feeling the burning sensation in his eyes, Elliot let the translucent liquid fall as he rested his head on Olivia's stomach, allowing a small sob to escape. He was completely lost without her; damned for however long her sleep lasted. The small sobbing escaping from his chest continued, even as he heard the knock on the door. He didn't dare move, not caring about his demeanor or any of the such, he didn't care if his rough and tough exterior had just been shattered, he needed to let it all out; couldn't bottle it up any longer. Things had been going so well (A/N: I'd say so, Kathy's gone ha) and all of a sudden, everything went down hill. He wanted off the roller-coaster that was destined for hell. The nurse at the door silently bowed her head as she stepped back, thinking the idea of asking him if he wanted something to eat wasn't appropriate at the moment. With a subtle smile, she turned away.

Still letting the pain he felt out, Elliot occasionally pressed his lips to her clothed stomach, finally calming himself down to where only tears fell from his blue eyes. He felt guilt rush through him ten fold, and all the times where he had not been there for her came crashing down upon him like a tidal wave of pure raw emotion. A void of blame; which she was not directing, but then again, she didn't need to. Seal View. A perfect example. He let her go in there; by herself. Even if Fin was there, he couldn't protect her the way Elliot could. Elliot knew this. Olivia was his partner and his only. He'd made that more than clear. They worked the best with each other; kept each other safe. They stuck their heads and their backs together. Any perp would be fucked if they so much as ran from them. Over the years, that had become the milestone of their relationship. The fact that they could take care of the other that way. The fact that they depended so much on each other, it was natural. The very fact that they had gotten so used to confiding in the other, knowing when to let the other in and when to keep to themselves. The moments between them was like a gentle rain. Soothing and relaxing; allowing the body to adjust to the new sensation before reveling in it.

Bringing a hand up to wipe at the tears, Elliot lifted his head to look upon Olivia's face. Still no sign of life. Just the image of an angel.

"Liv." The whisper was gentle, anyone would have had to strain their ears to hear. Elliot got the feeling she heard him; he wasn't sure why, but somehow, she was listening. "There was a time when you offered your life for my own. A time when you had my back to the point where your life could have been taken." Swallowing hard, the reflection of the Gitano case flashed through his mind. "I admit, I lashed out at you because I was scared. I thought I had lost you, that day in the terminal. I though; save this kid, or my partner?" The soft humming of the machines in the room gave his voice a small echo. "It was a horrible though. The fact that I would put a kid, a child in harms way. I didn't know why I did it. I still don't understand it. I made that choice, because I couldn't live without you." The monitor jumped once more, though he did not notice. He just continued, feeling oddly at ease to spill his guts to her.

"When Gitano had that gun to my head, the only thing on my mind was you. And when you told me how I was all you had, I knew then I couldn't allow the risk of either of us losing the other to continue. I was wrong. I need to take those risks. Because I can't live without you. I can't work without you by my side, I can't go to sleep at night without you in my head. I can't even wake up without wondering if your up; if your at the office already. If your okay."

"I couldn't take it if you were taken from me then, its no different now." His eyes fell to her softly rising chest and moved to her stomach. His stomach sank. What if she was losing blood because of the baby? What if she was pregnant? What if the baby was harmed. His heart began to pound more, and he tightened his hold on her hand more. "Baby, I can't live without you." He nearly sobbed out, his body lifting from the chair as he loomed over her. "You've gotta be here. With me. Forever." He stated, tears rimming his eyes. "Liv, you gotta stay with me." He whispered, his lips falling to her forehead. He was too into the moment to notice her hand squeezing his back. "I want to marry you; have a family with you. Have little Benson and Stablers running around driving Munch and fin crazy." He murmured as he pulled away. His eyes opened, and he was greeted with the most wonderful thing. The tears fell from his eyes as her name barely fell from his lips. "Liv.."

"For a cop with an anger problem, you sure have a way with your words, Stabler, I'll tell you that." She smiled, her voice weak and raspy. Though it was still a heavenly sound as Elliot laughed, loudly and happily. His lips met hers; and it would have taken the entire police force to part them. Through the window to the door, Cragen and Fin looked on with a smile on their faces.

"Are you sure you know who's behind all this?" Cragen asked as he turned to Fin. The man nodded with a small grin as he looked back to Olivia. "Then what the hell are you waiting for? I want that son of a bitch in a cell. Now."

A/N: You know I can't keep Olivia out of the story for too long. That's torture to me. Leave some feedback. The more I get, the more motivated I am. (: Plus, I really want to know if I lost my touch :/ Review?