Olivia opened her eyes to the first rays of sunshine coming from the horizon, reflecting off of the equipment to her right. She swallowed painfully, feeling how dry her mouth was. Nick was right next to her. With a painful realization, she again had to come to terms with what had happened. It was like waking up from a nightmare, only to realize that the nightmare had come true.

His hand was resting lightly atop her own on the bed as his head tilted back in his sleep. The tube in her throat offered her no comfort as she remembered the doctor telling her about her lung. The pain was dull, though. That much she was thankful for. She could feel her weak lungs taking in every breath that was delivered. It was a combination now of both her own effort to breathe and the machine that helped her. There was nothing more degrading.

Olivia closed her eyes tightly when she felt the pain radiating from between her legs. The nightmare became real again. She still couldn't remember. She never would. When she squeezed Nick's hand, his concerned eyes opened again. He leaned forward.

"You ok?" He asked quietly. She gave him a single nod to assure him she was as ok as she could be. He yawned absentmindedly, then spoke aloud after glancing down at his watch.

"5:20."

Olivia just kept staring at him, seeking something, someone to keep the face of Lewis at bay.

He's dead. Though she reminded herself, it didn't help. He couldn't die. That man would never die.

Nick stared back at her, finding great solace in her eyes. He always had. It was a miracle to be able to look endlessly into those eyes after thinking he'd never see them open again. It was a blessing he didn't know that he'd had. He would never forget or take it for granted again.

Olivia removed her hand from his and slowly handed him her call button. Nick pressed it as he read what the she silently communicated to him. The doctor came in with only one nurse. Both carried their clipboards as they usually did. The nurse took Olivia's vitals as the doctor spoke to her.

"Do you feel any pain, Olivia?" He knew the extent of her injuries, the pain medication she'd need to keep it down.

Olivia gave a shake of her head. Nick found himself wanting more than anything to hear her voice again. It seemed like it had been taken and might never return. The sound of her voice would make him certain she was there to stay.

"Vitals look good." Then the nurse had a quiet conversation with the doctor.

"What is it?" Nick was antsy. He didn't want to be kept in the dark, and he didn't find it fair they'd do the same to Olivia.

"Her lung seems to be functioning well enough for us to remove the ventilator." The doctor addressed Nick directly. "We'll get that out of there right away, alright?"

Olivia nodded as he bent down to her.

"Jen, get an NC for me." At his words Nick gave another quizzical look. "It'll deliver an increased amount of oxygen to help your lung heal."

Olivia nodded again, finding Nick's hand as she prepared for the tube to come out of her lungs.

"Just cough." The doctor instructed gently.

Olivia did what he said, and felt it rub against her throat as he pulled it out. Nick squeezed her hand as it was removed completely.

"Does it hurt to breathe?" Dr. Huntington asked her.

Olivia took a breath, finding herself unable to take a deep one. It didn't hurt. Not much, anyway.

"It may be difficult to talk for a little while, so just relax. Get some rest." He stood straight up and placed a mark on his clipboard.

The nurse returned with the tubes to assist Olivia's tattered lungs in their feat. They laid easily around her ears and sat just centimeters into her nose. The oxygen eased Olivia's initial struggle for air.

"Use your call button if you need anything." Dr. Huntington left with the nurse, leaving Nick and Olivia alone again.

Olivia had her eyes closed, concentrating on bringing every breath she needed into her body. Nick had just opened his mouth to say something when they both heard the light knock on the door. Brian's face appeared as he came through the entrance.

"Hey, Liv." He gave a sad smile, relieved beyond words that he could see her beautiful eyes again.

"Nick." Brian nodded as he solemnly greeted her partner as well.

"I'll - give you two some time." He let go of Olivia's hand and left the room as Brian walked carefully to where Nick had been sitting.

Olivia felt tears on the brims of her eyes. It was happening. He had come to say goodbye. She reached out for his hand - one last time. Brian felt his heart bending beneath his sadness as he took it.

"Olivia -" he began, but he stopped when she shook her head. She already knew. A pair of tears dropped from her eyes as she offered him a small smile.

He read her lips, though no sound came from her mouth. "I know."

Brian bent his head down and felt his own tears begin their assault on his tired face. Olivia took the deepest breath she could, giving his hand a squeeze to make him look back up at her. They just looked at each other for a time. It was a whisper he heard from her. It hurt to speak, but she had no choice. She couldn't say goodbye in silence.

"I'm ok." It came again after a pause. "I'll be ok." She assured him.

The intimate tenderness of her body created a new wave of tears she hadn't seen coming. Brian didn't know what had happened. He didn't need to - she wouldn't tell him.

"I'm so sorry, Liv." Brian heard his voice falter as he said it. Her eyes absorbed his in their deep brown. He was so grateful to have the chance to see them one last time before he went.

"Me too." She replied honestly. Her swallow was painful before she spoke the words that meant so much more to her after meeting Brian. "I love you."

Brian felt an almost physical blow. He repeated the words back to her. He did love her. He loved her like he'd never loved before. He leaned forward, capturing her lips in a soft, gentle kiss - their last. Brian heard her whisper again.

"Goodbye, Brian."

He leaned back and gave her hand one final stroke before standing and letting it go.

"Goodbye, Liv."

Munch awoke only fifteen minutes after Brian had left for the last time. He found his room to be empty. Brian's suitcase was gone.

Quickly, he got up and turned on the light in the bathroom. No one. He was alone. The door that connected to Fin and Amanda's room opened without protest. He found them both sleeping. Munch turned back to open the door opposite it, leading him to Cragen and Eileen's room. The captain was up, sitting on the edge of his bed.

"John. What is it?" He could read the expression his friend held.

"Brian's gone. His suitcase - everything. Did he say anything to you?" Munch's mind went quickly. He could be at the hospital. But that didn't explain the fact that everything he had was gone.

Cragen shook his head. "No. Nothing. Why don't you give him a call?"

Munch nodded. "You headed to the hospital soon?" He asked before leaving the room.

Cragen sighed. "Yeah. I'm going to head up right after breakfast."

"I'll come then too. Fin and Amanda are still sleeping. I think they need it." Munch bowed out, holding his phone to his ear as he dialed his best friend.

Brian heard his phone ringing as he sat in the back of the taxi, on his way to JFK airport. He picked up his phone, looking at the name displayed across the screen. His heart hurt. He hadn't taken the time to say goodbye to his dearest friend, but he couldn't answer now. Not after what he'd just done. He let it ring until it went black in his hand.

Simon had gotten the call from the hospital at 3:00 that morning. He had been sleeping peacefully, for the most part, ever since. The morning came slowly. Both Ty and Olivia stayed quiet in their beds as their parents got the sleep they so desperately needed. At 6:00, their small daughter began to make her concerns known. Simon got up when Tracy laid silently. He pulled Olivia into his arms, bouncing her comfortingly.

"Oh, honey. Everything's gonna be ok." He felt he was speaking more to himself than he was to her. "It will all be ok."

Tracy sat up slowly as Simon made different sounds to calm Olivia.

"She's awake." Simon directed his statement at Tracy.

She nodded. "I can see that."

He shook his head. "No. The hospital called this morning. Liv's awake."

Tracy took a deep breath. "We can see her today?"

"Maybe we can grab some breakfast and then head over." He suggested, still feeling drained.

Tracy nodded, getting to her feet. She put a reassuring hand on Simon's shoulder before disappearing into the bathroom for a shower. Ty stirred in his bed and looked straight up at his dad in the dim light of the room.

"Dad?" He rubbed his eyes groggily.

"Hey buddy." Simon sat down on the edge of the second bed in the room, holding Olivia close to him. "You get some sleep?"

Ty nodded a little in reply.

"Daddy, is Olivia ok?"

Simon swallowed hard at Ty's question. "I hope so." He paused to put a hand on Ty's leg. "We're going to see her later today. Ok?"

It hurt that he'd have to explain what happened to his children. They would be asking questions. They would be confused and scared if she looked anything like the way Simon had seen her. But he had to let them see her. Ty was already confused.

"Ok." Ty replied quietly.

Nick saw Brian pass him as he stood in the hallway, waiting. Brian stopped, wiping evidence of his emotions away as he held out his hand. Nick took it, seeing the tears still shining in his eyes.

"Nick." Brian felt the lump in his throat ready to explode. He had to move quickly or he'd break down in front of him.

"Take care of yourself." Brian had to swallow. "Liv's lucky to have you."

Brian had resented Nick at first with the way he'd given him a cold shoulder. Lewis' actions, as strange as the idea was, had changed that. Brian opened his eyes to find how great a partner Nick really was to Olivia.

Nick let go when Brian did, still speechless. Brian continued down the hallway to where he disappeared. Nick had an idea, some idea of what he thought had happened. He had to make sure. Moments later, he returned to Olivia's room, knocking gently. Olivia lifted her left hand, the only one she could move, to wipe away the tears that had cascaded down her face. Nick approached her quickly. He knew what had happened. That had been goodbye.

"Oh god, Liv." He physically hurt seeing her like that. The tears mingled in the lacerations and bruises on her face. Life only became more unfair to a woman who never deserved any of the awful things it dished out to her.

She shook her head. There was no reason to scare Nick even more. She knew just looking at her injuries was hurting him, and her tears only increased his terror.

"It's ok." She whispered.

Nick was almost reduced to tears simply at the sound of her voice - even if it was only a whisper. She let her hand find his as she closed her eyes. Images of Brian weaved in and out of distorted pictures, pieces of the hours past. Lewis was beating her. He was burning her, cutting her.

Nick saw her leave him. He could see her chest rising and falling unevenly. "Liv." He called to her, needing to calm her. Her poor lung was already in agony.

"Liv come back. Look at me."

She opened her eyes, following the voice back to reality. "Sorry." She whispered again.

Nick was the one that shook his head then. "They'll get better." He felt his own voice drop to a whisper.

Olivia nodded, swallowing again. Her throat was in desperate need of moisture. Then a deep feeling of hopelessness set in. What was she even trying for? She was alone again. She'd wake up in the middle of the night with no one to hold her. Lewis' face was sure to taunt her as longer, if not longer than he had before. He'd taken too much.

She spoke. "Is it even worth it." Her question was more of a statement, a thought that she pondered aloud.

Nick's breath hitched. She wasn't even looking at him and he could see the light dim in her eyes. He sat down slowly, hoping he could still form words through the lump in his throat.

"Yes." That was all he could say. But it was enough.