I apologize for the extremely long wait. I've had so much going on. But anyway, here's the latest chapter! Enjoy! Please feel free to read and review!
Location: Mercy Hospital. Waiting Room.
"How is he?" Cragen rushed into the waiting room to find Olivia sitting in a chair looking distressed and disheveled. "Any word on his condition?"
Her clothes and hands were blood-soaked and her hair was a frazzled mess, with loose strands covering parts of her face. Either she was too distraught to notice, or she hadn't cared to push them out of her face. Her face was tear-stained with a blank, shocked expression staring down at the floor. She looked up when she heard Cragen. He sat down next to her.
"I don't know," Olivia stammered frantically. "He's still in surgery. He's been in there a long time..."
"It's okay," Cragen consoled her. "I'm sure he'll be just fine. Like always."
"I hope so," Olivia said quietly.
"You've been here all night," Cragen began. "Why don't you go home and get some sleep? I'll stay here."
"No. I have to be here," Olivia shook her head
"I understand," Cragen persuaded her. "But you need some sleep. And not too mention a fresh change of clothes."
"No!" Olivia's voice rose, becoming more frantic. "You don't understand! It should be me in there on the operating table. Wilkerson was going to stab me with the pipe. But Elliot put himself in the way. He saved my life! He had my back out there. Now I have his back in here. Besides, I won't be able to rest until I know he's alright."
Cragen knew there was no changing her mind, but he needed to calm her down quickly.
"Okay," he spoke calmly. "I'll stay with you if you'd like."
Olivia nodded quietly. "Thanks, Captain."
She took a deep breath and tried to put her mind at ease. She had to think positively.
Cragen's right. She reassured herself. Elliot will be fine. He'll make a full recovery and come out on top. Just like always.
Somehow it wasn't enough. Images from that horrific night continued repeating themselves in her mind. The one that stuck out the most was the sight of the lead pipe protruding from Elliot's stomach. It was in pretty deep. Did it go all the way through? Olivia shuddered at the thought. She pushed the thought out of her mind, but other thoughts immediately took its place. Her mind shifted to the ambulance ride to the hospital.
Olivia had insisted on riding along. She held Elliot's hand hoping he'd regain consciousness, while two EMTs worked on his wound. One of them attached him to an IV and an EKG monitor while the other cut off his shirt and gently pulled the pipe out of his stomach. More blood began to gush from the wound. He quickly grabbed more gauze and pressed it against Elliot's wound applying pressure as he did. Suddenly, the EKG monitor began to beep rapidly. Then it let out a single long steady BEEEEEEEEEEP!
"He's flat lining!" shouted the EMT applying pressure to Elliot's wound. "Get the paddles!"
The other EMT turned on a portable defibrillator and picked up a paddle in each hand.
"Sorry, ma'am," he informed Olivia. "But I need you to move out of the way."
Olivia obeyed and let go of Elliot's hand. She slid back into a corner letting the EMT take her spot beside Elliot. She watched as he raised the paddles of above Elliot's as he awaited for the paddles to charge.
"Clear!" he called out as he pressed the paddles against Elliot's chest sending a shock through his heart.
Elliot's body jerked upward then dropped back onto the gurney. He remained unconscious and the EKG monitor continued its long steady beeping.
"Again!" called his partner.
The EMT recharged the paddles and shocked Elliot's heart again. But there was still no change. Olivia watched in shock, holding her breath as she silently prayed. She prayed for him to come back to her. Just as he promised her he would. The EMT shocked Elliot a third time with no success. He lowered his paddles and exchanged solemn stares with the other EMT.
"Should we call it?" asked his partner.
"Not just yet," he answered. "I want to try one more time."
He recharged the paddles and shocked Elliot's heart again. The two EMTs and Olivia watched the EKG monitor for any change. But there was none. The EMTs opened their mouths to console Olivia when suddenly the EKG monitor went from a single long beeping to a steady paced beep, beep, beep.
"We got a pulse!" one of the EMTs said to Olivia.
Relieved, Olivia released the breath she'd been holding in as she watched the EMTs continue to take care of Elliot. He was still unconscious, but Olivia remained hopeful. One of the EMTs moved over so she could sit beside Elliot again. She held his hand and leaned in close to his face.
"Hang in there, Elliot," Olivia whispered into his ear. "We're almost at the hospital. Just hang on a little longer."
"Detectives?"
"Huh?" Olivia blinked, coming back to reality.
In front of her and Cragen stood a female doctor in full surgery gear. She wore burgundy medical scrubs and latex gloves. A face mask and a stethoscope hung loosely around her neck.
"Are you with Detective Stabler?" she asked.
"Yes," Cragen answered as he stood up. "I'm his boss, Captain Donald Cragen. And this is his partner, Detective Olivia Benson."
"How is he?" Olivia asked, standing up beside Cragen.
No disrespect to Cragen, but Olivia was not in the mood for small talk. She needed to know Elliot's condition.
The doctor took a deep breath. "The pipe punctured an artery. We tried to close it off, but there was too much internal bleeding. He didn't make it. I'm so sorry."
Olivia slumped back in her chair. Her heart felt as if it were being ripped out of her chest. Her whole world, everything she knew, was shattering before her into a billion little pieces. This had to be a horrible nightmare. It couldn't be real. Could it?
"Are you okay?" Cragen asked her, already knowing the answer.
He felt as if he'd been stabbed in the chest. Elliot had been like a son to him. How was he going to tell his squad one of their own was never coming back?
Olivia shook her head nervously. "I need some air."
The truth was she felt like she was suffocating from the pain and agony of losing Elliot. Her partner. Her best friend. Her soul mate. She didn't want Cragen to see her lose control. She needed to get away quickly.
"Why don't you go home?" Cragen insisted. "I can take it from here."
Without further discussion, Olivia exited the hospital. Outside, the sky was still dark even though it was early morning. The streets were empty and lonely. It began to rain as she walked home. It started out a soft, slow drizzle, then it turned into a steady shower. Olivia didn't have an umbrella or raincoat, but she was too upset to care. She let the pouring rain mask the teardrops streaming down her face. And along with the teardrops, came anger and guilt, as well as sadness and pain. Overcome by emotions, Olivia ducked into a nearby alley and pounded her fists against a dumpster.
"You crazy ass son of a bitch!" she cried out into the night. "You killed him! I hope you're fucking happy with yourself!"
Even though there was no one around, part of Olivia hoped that Wilkerson was lurking somewhere overhearing her. She wanted him to show himself so she could kill him herself. But the other part of her knew it was the grief taking over. Still she vowed, right then and there, that she would avenge Elliot's death. Olivia swore she'd risk her life, as Elliot had done for her, to make Wilkerson pay for what he did.
Location: Mercy Hospital. Recovery Room.
Elliot slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was now laying in a hospital bed attached to several machines and an IV in an empty hospital room. He tried to sit up, but the intense pain in his stomach practically knocked the wind out of him. So he quickly laid back down. As he winced in pain and struggled to catch his breath, all the horrible events that took place the night before came back to him. He remembered the shipping port, and the showdown with Wilkerson, and Olivia. Olivia! Where was she? Was she okay? And why wasn't she here with him now?
"Hello?" Elliot called out as loud as he could. But the pain restricted him from raising his voice. "Anyone out there?"
Suddenly, he heard footsteps the hallway. They sounded as if they weren't too far away. The footsteps became louder as it came closer. A female nurse stepped into the room followed by a man with a graying come over wearing a dark blue jacket over a gray shirt and dark pants. Elliot recognized him immediately. He was DEA Agent Jack Hammond. He worked with Olivia and Elliot on a case involving the Colombian drug cartel. He moved their former ADA Alexandra Cabot into witness protection when the cartel went after her.
"Agent Hammond," he said, surprised. "What does the DEA want with Wilkerson? And where's Olivia?"
"Olivia's not here," Hammond sat down next to him while the nurse checked his vitals. "And I no longer work for the DEA. I'm FBI now."
"Is she okay?" Elliot became worried and confused. "What happened to her? And what the hell is going on?"
"She's fine," Hammond assured him. "She went home not long ago. Your captain too. And as soon as you're well enough, we're moving you into witness protection."
"WHAT?" Elliot couldn't believe his ears. "Why?"
"Wilkerson is still out there," explained Hammond. "He evaded authorities at the shipping port after he attacked you."
"Figures," Elliot grumbled.
"But," Hammond continued. "We're not giving up. NYPD is searching the city for him as we speak. And the FBI is monitoring the city, state, and Canadian borders."
"Good luck," Elliot quipped. "Wilkerson is probably out of the city by now."
"Maybe," agreed Hammond. "And maybe not. But either way, you have to go into witness protection. If Wilkerson finds out you're still alive, he'll come after you. Or your family or your coworkers."
"There's no other way?" Elliot questioned.
"No," Hammond shook his head. "As long as everyone believes you're dead, you and everyone you care about will be safe. And alive."
Elliot paused a moment, to let it all sink in. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like Hammond was right. No matter which way he looked at it, he realized it was the only way to keep his family and Olivia safe. As long as he stayed dead, Wilkerson would leave them alone. He hoped. He'd have to trust the NYPD and the FBI could find Wilkerson. And soon. Elliot didn't like the idea of possibly never being able to see his family and Olivia again.
"Do Cragen and Olivia know?" Elliot finally spoke at last. "Do they know I'll be in witness protection?"
"No," Hammond said in a solemn tone. "I'm sorry, but we couldn't risk it. For this to work, they too have to believe you're dead."
Oh, God, Liv. Elliot thought to himself. I'm so sorry.
He couldn't imagine what she must be going through right now. Part of him wished he could call her, but he knew he couldn't risk it. Maybe he could get Hammond to give her a message.
"But they would never tell," Elliot persuaded Hammond. "If you can't trust Olivia and Cragen, you can't trust anyone."
"I understand how you feel," Hammond cleared his throat. "But we can't. It's too risky. Now we can't waste any more time. We're transporting you to a hospital outside the city. Your name there will be Frank Roman. You'll remain there under FBI supervision until you recover. Then we'll move you to a new city, under a new identity."
"Come on," Elliot said. "Can't you grant a dead man one last request?"
"Very funny," Hammond wasn't at all amused.
"I'm being serious now," Elliot pleaded, putting all jokes aside. "You let us see Cabot before you moved her into witness protection. Can't you let me see Olivia one more time."
"I'm sorry," Hammond firmly stood his ground. "But the answer is still no."
Elliot reluctantly gave up.
"Can you at least make sure they're okay?" Elliot asked. "Make sure my family and Olivia are okay. Please?"
"I'll do what I can," Hammond said, sympathetically. "Now let's get moving."
Location: Unknown.
Wilkerson lingered in the darkness with Mercy Hospital in full view below him. He watched waiting for a sign. Anything to help him figure out his next move. Did he succeed in taking down his nemesis? Or did he fail? He had to see it through. But he also couldn't stay there much longer. Dawn was approaching. Light would replace the darkness and shadows. He would no longer be able to hide.
He moved closer, but not too close. Wilkerson was sure the hospital was crawling with NYPD and federal agents. But he wanted a closer look at the familiar female silhouette exiting through the Emergency Room exit. He crept quietly towards down the left side of the roof, hiding among a stack of crates. He watched as the silhouette walked away from the hospital. As she walked under a streetlight, he saw that he had a perfect view of her. Just as he had suspected, it was Olivia. And she looked rather distressed.
Just when he thought his time was running out, the sky darkened and rain began to fall. Wilkerson smiled realizing, he had just gained a little more time. He silently and sneakily crept to the ledge of the roof and looked over the edge. The building next to it was close enough. He was confident he could jump over to it. He took a few steps back to get a running start. Then he sprinted and leaped up and over to the roof of the next building. As he landed on the roof, he slipped and crashed into an old oil drum. He hadn't anticipated the rain would affect his landing. He quickly stood up and looked around to see if anyone had heard.
Below he could see Olivia in a nearby alley. She was crying and punching a dumpster. It was then Wilkerson realized her punching had masked the sound of his fall. And it was then he also realized something had happened, But what? As if reading his thoughts, Olivia began to cry out loud in a fit of despair.
"You crazy ass son of a bitch!" she cried out into the night. "You killed him! I hope you're fucking happy with yourself!"
A twisted grin slowly spread across Wilkerson face. Elliot was dead. Victory was his. He continued to watch Olivia with great satisfaction. But she suddenly stopped punching the dumpster and walked out of the alley and down the street. He watched her expression go from that of despair to one of anger. He could see she was livid. But there was something more. Something familiar. In her eyes, he saw vengeance.
Wilkerson knew she would come after him to avenge Elliot's death. He was almost tempted to reveal himself to her while she was vulnerable and alone, but that would be too easy. Plus, he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He decided he would come back for her when the time was right. But now he wanted to have some fun. He felt a new sense of freedom. He was invincible once again.
Stay tuned! More exciting chapters to come soon! Please feel free to read and review!