A/N: My deepest apologies for taking so long to update this story. I truly had no intention of taking this long. I'm so sorry but with 12 hour shifts and other obligations my writing has fallen slightly to the way side. Please forgive me and I hope this chapter more than makes up for it.
"You have better be Dr. Delay." Alex said as her and Elliot walked into the room and saw a young short blonde hair woman examining Olivia's incision.
"I am" The woman said looking up from what she was doing "and you must be Alex Cabot."
"Yes and this is her partner Elliot Stabler."
"Nice to meet you both. Now if you will please give me a few more minutes to examine Ms. Benson I will be out to talk to both of you in a moment."
"They stay." Olivia said without blinking an eye "If you want to finish your examine then they both stay especially Alex."
"If that is what you wish." Dr. Delay answered as she went back to examining the incision. After a few more minutes she stood up and lowered the gown back over Olivia's torso and removing her gloves. She washed her hands in the sink before turning to face three patiently yet anxious looking faces.
"The surgeon who performed the surgery did an excellent job. By the looks of things there should be very minimal scarring that most likely you won't see unless you're up close. I understand that Dr. Mathews wants to start you back on daily treatments of Hyper Baric Oxygen Treatments, which has been proven in several medical studies to help in the healing process of wounds. Actually it usually speeds the healing process up to half the time. It's amazing what rich oxygenated blood can do to and for the body."
"Half the time let's start tomorrow." Olivia said with a smile on her face thankful that there was a possibility to speed the healing process up.
"We will but you will have to wait one week." Dr. Delay said.
"Why?" Alex asked.
"I want to watch for any signs of infection which should appear within the next few days. If there are none then I say let's start treatments one week from today." Dr. Delay explained as Dr. Mathews walked into the room.
"Good afternoon ladies I see you have met Dr. Delay." He said smiling at everyone.
"We have and she was just explaining that from the aspect of the GSW we have to wait a week to start the treatments." Elliot said "What's your thoughts on that?"
"I agree with her. If we start it too soon and an infection occurs we could cause the infection to spread throughout the body quickly and trust me that is the last thing you want." Dr. Mathews explained. "Waiting a week isn't going to make or break her process. In lieu of the HBOT for a week I would like her to do some physical therapy and her behavioral therapy until we can start the treatments. I have already notified the nurse's station who's busy scheduling her first appointments for in the morning and afternoon tomorrow. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all' Alex said as she reached for Olivia's hands "They have been told to get whatever or who whoever no matter what. The same thing applies now as the last time Dr. Mathews you have a blank check to do what you need to help her and that goes for you as well Dr. Delay."
"Thank you Ms. Cabot." Dr. Delay said as she extended her hand to Alex and Elliot "I have ordered pain medicine as needed for her. Here is my private cell number where I can be reached day or night. Now if you have no other questions I will excuse myself so I can check into my hotel."
"None at the moment and thank you for coming on such short notice." Alex said smiling sweetly at the woman as she walked out the door before turning her attention back to Dr. Mathews "Now for the EEG."
"It showed what I suspected and that was that she has reinjured the same spot." He said pulling the film from the envelope he was holding so he could show Alex "Here is where the first injury occurred and you can see the scar tissue from where it was healing. This red mark you see on top of it is the new injury along with this area over here. Essentially she has suffered a total of three TBI's. The double vision can be explained with this injury here. This is a portion of the brain that handles vision and other sensory elements along with some balance. I noticed when I had her walk a few steps as a test that she staggers much like that as a drunk person. Part of that is due in part to her double vision it is hard for her to focus which I am very positive that the HBOT will address that problem."
"If not?" Olivia asked speaking up for the first time since the doctors began discussing her treatment options.
"Olivia lets cross that bridge when and if we get there."
"Fine" Olivia exhaled "How much is all this going to cost?"
"However much it needs to" Alex whispered as she ran her fingers through Olivia's hair "Other than what you just said is there anything extra we can do to help her."
"Not really no, just what you're doing now by supporting her and being there for her. Majority of the times simply having someone who can be there and support them no matter what happens makes all the difference. I can tell she has an amazing support system."
"Thank you." Alex said smiling.
"You're welcome but let me ask you something Alex. Where's your support system?"
"I have the other detectives."
"I understand that but you need a professional to talk to as well. A lot of times when a injury of this magnitude occurs we focus solely on the patient and forget about everyone else connected. But Alex you are affected just as much as she was. She may have suffered physically but you have to carry the emotional burden. Have you considered talking to someone?"
"Actually I am now." Alex said.
"Good. Now one other thing, I would like both of you to start couples therapy once we have passed a few of the major hurdles. I think it would be very beneficial to both of you."
"What would you say if I told you that we aren't or actually wasn't a couple till after the first injury." Olivia said laughing
"I would find it hard to believe." Dr. Mathews answered in shock
"Alex is the ADA assigned to my squad. I was shot protecting her the first time the same as this last time. We never discussed our mutual attraction or making anything of it until this happened."
"In that case I would defiantly recommend couples therapy. The basis of your relationship at the moment is built on a traumatic injury. Once the injury is gone per se the couple no longer feels as if anything connects them. Often times what one feels for someone or think we feel for someone after they have almost given their life for us we misconstrued as love, when in truth it is gratitude."
"Whoa doc." Alex said holding her hand up to stop him "We've had one date. Neither one of us is anywhere close to saying I love you or anything similar to that. I am eternally grateful to Olivia for what she has done for me and I will be my entire life even if we don't work out. But let's slow this train just a little bit by about fifty miles per hour ok."
"Ok and I'm sorry if I over stepped my bounds. I was under the impression that…"
"It's fine I understand believe me." Olivia said with a smile on her face as she glanced up at Alex. She could see how their interactions could be misinterpreted by someone who hadn't seen them on a daily basis. Actually who was she kidding she wanted that type of claim on Alex before her injury and now that they've been through what they have so far she wanted it even more.