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Chapter 5

Olivia had called Cragen, but it was so late at night that she had to leave a message- thankfully, leaving her with just the Stablers. She'd rather be alone right now, or with Casey, but the less people she was with, the better. Olivia didn't think she could handle being in a room with both the squad and Elliot's family… too many people worried about him, worried that he was going to die or never wake up… if too many people thought it, then maybe she would start to believe it.

And, of course, when they finally let people in to see Elliot, it was his family who went in first. Kathy even asked her if she wanted to go in and see him now, but Olivia had declined. She was just 'Aunt Olivia' to them, they didn't need her there, intruding on their family grief when it was so raw and fresh.

It was twenty minutes later when Kathy stepped slowly out of the hospital room and stumbling towards Olivia, who was still sitting in the waiting room. "Olivia?" she asked, her eyes red, tear stains on her cheeks. "Um… Look, I know it's a bad time right now, but I just… I just can't take care of the baby right now. Do you think you could keep him for me? You know, only for a couple days?

Olivia smiled weakly, and almost said yes before she realized she couldn't. She shook her head. "I'm flattered, Kathy, but I can't. Casey was hurt in the same accident as Elliot and I don't think I'll be leaving the hospital much either. Once she gets released, I suppose I could, but-"

"No, no," Kathy said quickly, shaking her head tearfully. "No, by the sound of it, you're going to be taking care of Casey and you don't need to add Eli on top of that. I can take him to a friend's, I guess-"

"He can stay with me."

Both turned around to see Alex standing behind Kathy, her face pale and drawn, her hands hanging limp and loose at her sides. "That is, if you'd let me."

Kathy frowned slightly before starting, "Oh, I know you- you're that woman who was in the newspaper a couple months ago…"

"Yes. Alex. I used to work with your husband; we met a few times. I can take some time off work and look after Eli for you." Alex smiled at her slightly, her pale blue eyes drawn and haggard. She looked just as tired as the rest of them.

Normally, Kathy wouldn't trust her son to a woman she barely knew, but it seemed like Olivia trusted her- and it wasn't like she had any other options.

"Okay," Kathy said weakly, beckoning for Alex to follow. "Come on; let me give him to you. And Olivia, I know you haven't seen him yet. Come on. I know you want to."

Olivia smiled slightly as she got to her feet and followed Kathy and Alex to Elliot's room. Inside were the twins, Kathleen, and Maureen, who was holding Eli and rocking him back and forth, though her eyes were focused on her father.

And there, in the center of it all, was Elliot. Tethered to machines to keep him alive, trapped in a dream world, in something deeper than simple sleep or unconsciousness. Surrounded by his family, but… does he even know it? Does Elliot know that around him is all the people who care about him and love him?

Olivia goes into the hospital room, easily ignoring Alex's and Kathy's soft voices, focusing only on her partner. The soft rise and fall of his chest is the only sign that he's still alive- and if she had just been a grown-up and gone to apologize to Casey in the first place, neither of them would be in the hospital.

She isn't there for too long, ten minutes, perhaps, before she hears the hospital room door open and someone walk inside. Their gait seems strange, like it is aided by some sort of crutch, but Olivia can't drudge up enough energy to turn around and see. Everything that had happened had left her thoroughly exhausted, and the exertion of turning around just seemed too much.

But then, that voice… like a brilliant shot of pure energy had just entered her system, because hearing that low, husky voice ask her name uncertainly suddenly left her wide awake and in a state of nervous anxiety.

And the sight of her standing in the doorway, fiery red hair hanging loose and limp over her shoulders, eyes pale and uncertain, slender body leaning precariously on a pair of crutches was all enough to make Olivia's previous tired mind see the possibility of sleep as only a distant memory.

"Casey!" she exclaimed in surprise, her usually mellow voice wrought with emotion as she turned to face her. "You're awake."

She nodded, moving closer to her amid the Stabler family, who all were still focused on Elliot, indifferent to the reunion happening in their midst. It did not concern them; the center of their family was all that mattered, at the moment.

"Yeah," Casey murmured. "I had to sneak out of there to come in here and see you. The doctor told me to stay put, but, clearly, he doesn't know me too well."

And just like that, all of Olivia's lingering worries about Casey's condition evaporated as she walked towards the door, stepping gingerly around her. "Not like I do. Come on; let's go talk in private."

Casey followed her out into the waiting room, stoically resting as much of her weight as possible on her own two feet rather than the crutches. It wasn't that it hurt- more as if her right leg was numb. She did have limited mobility, but she had to watch herself carefully and every time she moved her right leg forward, Casey found herself fighting to walk without falling, rather by simple feel and instinct. As if her right entire right leg was asleep.

Olivia watched silently as Casey struggled forward before voicing her concern. "Case, go ahead and sit down for a moment. We can go back to your room in a second."

A slight frown tugged at her lips as she looked up at the watchful detective. "Clearly, you don't know me too well, either," she said, her cool voice lightened by a slight teasing edge.

Olivia breathed out a heavy sigh, shaking her dark hair out over her shoulders. "No, I do. I'd just rather talk with you for a second before you end up falling and leaving me to pick you up."

"Oh, you'd think I'd go down without a fight?" Casey asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically, this time with a smile. "Perhaps I was right before. Maybe you don't know me at all. "

Another low laugh was drawn from her throat as Olivia's cool, coarse hand wrapped around Casey's softer one, leading her over to a chair. "Whatever you want to believe, Novak."

They both smiled, but the moment of humor quickly passed as Casey looked back at Elliot's room. "Is he going to be okay?" she asked nervously. "I asked my doctor; he said he didn't know."

"I don't know." Olivia leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes, struggling to remain in control as she tried not to let herself get emotional about this. Her crying wouldn't help anybody. "We thought he was fine, but he passed out a few hours ago… he's in a coma, Casey. And the doctors don't know when- or if- he'll come out of it."

"Oh my god." Casey looked away, shock barely registering on her face as her hand found Olivia's and squeezed tightly. "He'll… he'll be okay, Olivia. He-"

"You don't know that."

Casey grimaced, leaning her head into Olivia's shoulder and forcing herself to smile. "Yes, I do. It's Elliot we're talking about, Liv. He is going to be fine."

Mostly in an effort to make her focus on something other than her comatose partner, Olivia pulled back from Casey's arms and looked her up and down worriedly. "How'd you even get out to come see me, anyway? I thought you were in the ICU."

"I was. The doctor told me to stay put, but I was worried about you and Elliot, so the moment he left, so did I. I don't even know why I'm in the ICU; I feel fine."

"Standard procedure, after surgery like that. Anyway, don't get too rebellious; you'll only be in the hospital for a couple of days, anyway." Olivia squeezed her hand tightly before helping her up and leading her towards her hospital room. "Listen, Casey… I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up, it's just that-"

"Olivia, stop!" Casey chuckled, glancing up at her, amusement dancing in her light green eyes. "I understand. You knew I was going to be okay, and you had just found out your partner was in a coma. If there was ever anything for us to fight about, this is not it."

When they had finally gotten Casey back to her hospital bed, the ADA looked around uncomfortably before groaning in aggravation. "It's so loud in hospitals. All the beeping from machines and announcements for doctors needed here and there- I'll never be able to sleep tonight."

Kicking her feet up on the bed and wincing slightly as her sore back protested, Olivia shook her head with a low chuckle. Leave it to Casey to find the least important thing in this horrible situation to complain about- but then, that had always been Casey's style. Focus on the least painful thing so the more painful ones won't seem as bad. "Casey… we have to talk."

The lawyer's full lips pulled into a frown as she looked away unhappily. "Yes… I know. And there's no time like the present, right?"

"Right." Silence reigned for an uncertain moment before Olivia took the initiative and began to speak. "I'm sorry for saying what I said last week. It was completely uncalled for and it wasn't even true."

"And I'm sorry for not ever letting you apologize. …Olivia… what are we doing here, exactly?"

Allowing dark hair to shield her gaze so she didn't have to look at Casey, Olivia swallowed back her nerves and tried to convince herself to say what she had to say, consequences be dammed. "Casey, ever since Alex came back, I've been…" No, no, that's all wrong, don't start it out by mentioning Alex. "I mean, ever since you were attacked-" Oh, like that's any better? I'm sure she has great memories associated with that night, Olivia! "Well, for the past couple months, I've been thinking about what you mean to me, and…" Oh, god, Olivia, just say it!

"Casey, I love you."