When a story is updated within 24 hours here at FF, it isn't bumped to the top of the list, so I decided to wait a little longer this time. Otherwise, I'd have to stay up later and later (European time) to update. Enjoy chapter 5 and do let me know what you like and don't like about this story!

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5. Discharged

G'night Liv.

Olivia broke down as soon as she was outside Elliot's room. His use of her nickname had hit her hard and she pressed a hand to her mouth. She rushed off to her own room before someone would see her cry. The woman in the other bed was snoring so Olivia crawled into bed, pulling the blanket over her head, and allowed herself to cry. All of her pain of the past four years was coming out, as well as the stress of the accident and the shock of seeing Elliot again so unexpectedly, only to find that he didn't remember her anymore. The fact that he remembered something only made her cry harder. She hated Kathy for keeping her away and she grieved over the time they had lost because of it. He could have been there when Lewis took her. He would have found her, she was certain of it. He would have killed the bastard so he wouldn't have taken her again. She'd longed for him then, more than ever before. She had prayed that he would come for her. And he could have shared in her joy when she adopted Noah. He had always wanted that for her, and now he didn't even know her anymore. She wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all and cried until she had no tears left, finally falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

...

Light was coming in through the windows already when Olivia woke up and she saw that the woman in the other bed was sitting up and eating breakfast. Olivia felt like she'd been hit over the head and had been unconscious for hours. She probably had been. As soon as she sat up, the memories of the night before came flooding back. She swallowed hard when the reality of it all sank in.

She wobbled to the bathroom to use the toilet, avoiding looking at herself in the mirror. She knew she'd look like hell after bawling her eyes out and then basically passing out, and she didn't need to see it. When she came back, a helpful young nurse asked her if she was ready for breakfast.

"Yes, thank you," she said softly, climbing back into bed.

After breakfast, a doctor came in to check her vitals, her eyes and her reflexes. Everything checked out and the doctor told her he would get her discharge papers ready after finishing his rounds. He did recommend taking a few days to get some rest before going back to work. Olivia wasn't sure she would be able to stay home, but she promised the doctor she'd try to rest.

"Oh, and the officers who were here yesterday to take your statement, would like another word with you," the doctor added. "You can use the office behind the nurses station."

"Okay. But I don't have any clothes yet."

Lucy was going to bring her fresh clothes when she brought Noah, but she wasn't going to be there for another hour.

"I'll have the nurse get you a robe," the doctor promised her, and after she had received the robe she went to talk to the officers.

They showed her the traffic cam footage and sure enough, she had ignored a red light. But she'd known that already. Seeing her car crash into Elliot's was horrific. It would have been horrific in any situation, but knowing she could very well have killed Elliot made it even more shocking to actually see the accident caught on camera.

"I'm so sorry. I've already apologized to the other driver," she told the officers, who nodded sympathetically.

"We've just spoken with him as well and have shown him the footage. But he's not pressing charges, Lieutenant," the older of the two men told her.

"We're all NYPD and we know there was no foul play," the younger one added. "Your insurance companies can deal with the damage to your cars and the hospital bills."

"I will pay for any expenses his insurance won't cover," Olivia told them. "I want to do the right thing here. I ... I was upset, but that doesn't mean I'm not responsible."

"Upset?" the older officer asked her.

"Yeah. I work at SVU and ... well, the case we're working kinda got to me."

The officer flipped through his notebook and then looked up at her.

"You're Olivia Benson."

"Yeah."

She wondered why that was suddenly interesting. They had written down her name last night.

"You were the one that was kidnapped by that uhm ..."

"Yes, I am," Olivia interrupted quickly, not needing to hear the name.

"And you still work at SVU?"

There was surprise but also admiration in the man's voice. Maybe she was stupid to stay in the unit but she hadn't been able to leave. The victims still needed her and getting the perverts off the streets was still such a huge goal in her life. She got out of the conversation quickly and after saying goodbye to the officers, she made her way to Elliot's room.

...

She was actually a little nervous to see him again, but she was excited as well. After wondering for years what he was doing and why he had disappeared from her life, she could now just walk up to him and talk to him. It was weird that he didn't remember their time together on the job, but she had hope that some of his memory might come back. She knew she had triggered something in him, and she wanted to help him in any way she could.

"Hey," Elliot said happily when she came in.

He was pale and looked tired, but his eyes were clear.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"Like I was hit by a truck," Elliot said with a grin and Olivia rolled her eyes.

"It was a normal car Elliot. But still, I'm sorry."

Elliot tried to sit up a little straighter but winced, and Olivia rushed to his side quickly.

"You need an extra pillow?" she asked, putting her hand on his arm.

"No, it's fine," Elliot sighed, but she could tell he was in pain.

"Cracked ribs," he said by way of explanation while he sank back into the pillows that Olivia had fluffed up a little despite his objection.

"I'm sorry," Olivia said again.

Elliot put his hand over hers on his arm.

"Will you stop apologizing? I know you weren't trying to kill me. Shit happens."

"Okay."

"So," Elliot said, "where were we?"

Olivia cocked an eyebrow. He was going to push her about their non-relationship again?

"I'm being discharged," she told him, changing the subject quickly. "My nanny is bringing my son over and some clean clothes, and then I'm out of here."

...