Disclaimer: SVU and all of its characters were created by and are the property of Dick Wolf. I make no profit with this story, which is my own original work.

Elliot was in a bad mood. Traffic that morning had been a nightmare the entire way to the hospital. To make matters worse, some asshole had taken up two spaces in the garage, causing him to have to have to drive to another level in search for a place to park. Though Elliot didn't miss his beat cop days for anything, a part of him wished he had the authority to write whomever owned that car a ticket and leave it on their windshield. He even briefly contemplated placing a call to the nearest patrol in charge of parking management, but ultimately decided that getting to Olivia mattered more.

Getting out of his SUV, Elliot double checked to make sure the vehicle was locked, taking extra precautions today because Olivia's belongings were stored in the back. As promised, he'd stopped at her apartment on his way home last night to get the items that she'd asked for. While it might have saved him a trip to bring everything with him now, the room in the ICU ward where Olivia was currently staying was anything but spacious, so Elliot had elected to wait until it was definite that she was being moved to a regular floor before bringing the bag inside.

It took him no time at all to make his way to Olivia's room, the elevator and hallways not crowded at all this early in the morning. Despite the gravity of the situation, Elliot once again found himself grateful that his status as Olivia's medical proxy allowed him to be present before regulation visiting hours started.

After greeting the nurses at the station, Elliot entered Olivia's space quietly, finding her asleep. Knowing how precious a commodity adequate rest was for his partner, he tried to make as little noise as possible while he settled himself in the chair beside her bed. He could have easily passed the time watching Olivia sleep, but decided against doing just that, only because he feared her reaction should she wake and catch him in the act. There weren't any ill intentions on his desire to observe, more so the relief it brought him to see that while the process was a slow one, Olivia was doing better than she had been.

Shifting in his seat, Elliot crossed his legs, wishing he'd thought to bring a book or something along with him. He wasn't the type of person to pass the time playing games on his phone, either. The chair he was sitting in was comfortable enough, even though it was hospital issue. The thought of leaning his head back and catching a few minutes of extra sleep was a tempting one, but he was determined to be alert when Olivia opened her eyes. Despite his best efforts to take care of himself, a good night's rest was the one thing that still eluded him. Elliot hoped now that his appetite had returned to normal and his nerves weren't quite as frayed, that the rest would soon follow.

"El"

The sound of Olivia's raspy voice calling his name pulled Elliot from his distracting thoughts. His head turned in her direction, blindly reaching for the side table to grab the cup of water that rested there, knowing instinctively what his partner would need.

"Morning, Liv. Here, have a sip."

With great effort, Olivia raised her head from the pillow. Grateful for the provided straw, she took a few sips of the precious water before sinking weakly back against the bed again. Licking her lips, she eyed Elliot warily before speaking.

"Thanks. Please, tell me you've actually eaten and slept. You don't smell, so I know you've at least been keeping up with showering. Something I can't say for myself."

Elliot couldn't hide his smile. It always made him happy any time his partner showed off her sense of humor – a trait he had been missing dearly these past few months. He also knew he had to answer her honestly, because she would know if he were lying.

"Very funny. To answer your question – yes, I've been eating. Sleeping has been a bit more difficult, but that's improving, too. I promise, Liv, I'm taking care of myself."

"You better be. I can't have you falling apart, too. One of us in the hospital is enough."

In Elliot's opinion, one of them in the hospital was too many, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. He knew what Olivia was trying to say, and he didn't want to contradict her.

Settling back in his seat, the pair were content to sit quietly. Olivia's eyes had drifted closed again, but Elliot could tell that she was still awake, only resting. His fingers ached to wrap around hers, to hold her hand and offer comfort, but he didn't want to overstep, so instead he sat beside her and hoped that his presence alone was enough. As much as Elliot wanted an update, he hoped that the doctors wouldn't be intruding any time soon, allowing Olivia a modicum of peace this morning.

It hadn't taken long for Olivia to fall back to sleep, her mind and body still extremely exhausted with everything it was dealing with. Elliot didn't mind in the least, content to sit by her side and keep her company. He'd also been aware of how his earlier gray mood had shifted, the sight of his partner alone having been enough to lift his spirits. Elliot hoped his being here for Olivia provided her with the same comfort.

A noise in the hall just outside the door captured Elliot's attention, and he held his breath, hoping that it wasn't a doctor coming in just yet. Sleep for Liv was precious, and she needed as much as possible. Not that the staff here weren't sympathetic to that, but he didn't want her to have to deal with an intrusion just yet. To his relief, it was only the morning nurse – whose name he still couldn't remember.

"Good morning, Detective Stabler. I was just bringing Detective Benson some fresh water. Is there anything I can get for you?"

While he was grateful for the offer, and the fact that she was speaking in hushed tones in deference to her sleeping patient, Elliot opted to decline for the time being. His morning cup of coffee was enough to keep him fueled with caffeine, but any more than that might feed his already overworked nerves. As quietly as she had stepped into the room, the nurse tiptoed out, promising to come back and check on Olivia again shortly.

A glance at his watch told Elliot the time was just after eight. He tried not to think about the fact that if this were a normal day, he and his partner would have been elbows deep in a case by now – working their way through a pile of files, or out on the street canvassing through a list of witnesses. It wasn't that he spent a great deal of his time thinking about work, just that part of him missed the routine he and Olivia used to share. Though if he were being honest with himself, Elliot would have to admit that version of Olivia that he was missing the most this morning hadn't been around for several months – but his heart was comforted by the fact that each new day saw her coming back to her old self.

The sound of skin shifting against linen followed by a soft moan captured Elliot's attention, and he was immediately pulled from his wayward thoughts and focused on Olivia. Her eyes were open again, and while she did seem more alert than before, he could tell that she wasn't happy. Before Elliot had a chance to ask what was wrong, it seemed that the brunette had anticipated the question.

"Sorry, El. I don't mean to complain. I thought my couch was uncomfortable to sleep on – this bed definitely takes the prize as the worst. I think I'd rather take that mattress in the far corner of the cribs."

Elliot's eyebrows raised in acknowledgment, a corner of his mouth quirking up with the amusement he'd been unable to hide.

"You mean the bed that Munch swears is possessed? That one? I've had my share of lumpy hospital beds, but I've never gone so far as to say I'd prefer that."

"I said what I said. What's worse, I doubt it's going to improve any time soon. Even if I do get moved to another floor today, this bed is probably going with me, since I barely have the energy to move."

Before he could stop himself, Elliot reached out, sweeping the hair that had fallen across his partner's forehead out of the way.

"The offer still stands Liv, if you ever want me to rub your back, I'd be happy to help."

A flush tinged Olivia's cheekbones as she seriously considered the offer. It's not that she wasn't tempted – or touched – by the kindness. Rather, the embarrassment lie in the fact that other than the flimsy hospital issue gown she wore and the lone blanket that covered her form, she had nothing on underneath. Not that she and Elliot were strangers to seeing one another in various stages of undress – more than a decade of quick changes in the locker room and intense situations had allowed for the occasional glimpse or two. That didn't even count the time she had paraded around in front of her partner and two gun toting thugs to help him maintain his cover.

"Liv? You still with me?"

The blush on Olivia's face only grew as she realized she had gotten lost in her own downward spiral of thinking, trapped in a mire of memories and wondering what it would feel like to feel Elliot's hands on her skin outside of a life threatening situation – and outside of the gentle ways he'd been trying to offer comfort since she'd been in the hospital.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Not convinced, Elliot placed his palm first on Olivia's forehead, then switched to rest the backs of his fingers against her cheeks. Satisfied that the flush had only been temporary, and not signs of a fever, he allowed himself to relax, but only after helping his partner get a sip of water. He also wisely didn't bring up the subject of a back rub again, worried he may have overstepped his bounds.

Eager for a change of subject, Olivia was about to ask if Elliot had brought her things with him today, then changed her mind. Part of her didn't want him to think she doubted his memory, and the other was afraid of jinxing what little luck she had. She may not be getting out of the hospital any time soon, but she didn't want to hurt her chances of getting off this floor.

"Did you want more to drink?"

Elliot's question caught Olivia by surprise, as she hadn't realized how lost in her thoughts she had become. She hoped her startle response hadn't been visible.

"No. Thanks, El. I'm still limited on how much water I'm allowed, I want to try and pace myself."

"I understand."

Olivia watched as Elliot sat back down, allowing herself to relax. What she really wanted to do was sleep, but at the same time, she was so fucking tired of sleeping. She also didn't want to bore her partner to tears by being such poor company.

"Liv, rest. I'm here for you, not so you feel you have to entertain me."

A ghost of a smile played across Olivia's features.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Read my mind like that."

Elliot leaned forward, like he was about to share a secret.

"I could say the same for you, partner. Guess that's one of the hazards of working together for all the years we have. Mind reading comes with the territory. So, do me a favor, and get some rest."

"I will. But not because you said so, it's because I'm tired."

"Of course. I'll be here when you wake up."

Unfortunately, no matter how much Elliot wished it for her, Olivia's second nap of the morning was simply not meant to be. Her breathing had just started to even out when one of Dr. Campbell's assistants came in, the cardiologist herself having been called away on an emergency. Elliot was asked to step out of the room briefly while a simple physical examination was performed, but at Olivia's request, allowed to return so he could be included in the discussion of her progress.

Not much had changed for Olivia overall in the course of her days spent in the intensive care unit, but in the grand scheme of things, she was improving. Her vitals had finally balanced out to a point where she was no longer considered to be in critical condition, and if Dr. Abrhams were to agree when he saw her later today, then everything looked good for her transfer to a regular floor. It wasn't the news Olivia wanted to hear – she wanted to go home – but it was better than nothing at all.

The other thing the cardiologist had mentioned, but wanted to run by Dr. Campbell first – since the woman was in charge of Olivia's primary cardiac care – was starting her on a low dose of a medication called Carvedilol. The name of the drug was unknown to both of the Detectives, but not its purpose – years of being on the force and working with the medical examiner had left them familiar with a class of medications known as beta blockers, pills used to control high blood pressure or even heart failure. The fact that she was now counted among the numbers of those who needed to take it brought another sweeping dose of reality for Olivia, one she wasn't sure she could deal with on her own. Yet again, she found herself grateful for her partner's presence. Without a word, Elliot had managed to ground her.

"Do you have any questions?"

The physicians assistant had been polite enough, but the only thing Olivia was feeling after being asked that was an urge to laugh. She had so many questions, and she didn't think that even being locked with her treatment team for hours on end in an interrogation room would answer them all. Thankfully, she didn't have to rely on her own muddled brain to try and respond with logic, or even coming up with things to ask that sounded remotely coherent. That was because right now, Elliot Stabler was not only her partner, but her advocate. He may have been in the same boat as she was when it came to feeling lost and confused, but Olivia knew without a doubt that in his spare time, he was finding out whatever he could to help.

"I can't think of anything at the moment – can you, Liv? You've already explained that she'll start the medication this evening and needs to take it twice a day. Oh, there is one thing...which of her doctors would we need to speak to about getting something for pain, like Tylenol? She's been having the worst headaches."

"Elliot."

"You have to tell them about these things, Olivia."

With a compassionate smile, the physician's assistant directed her attention to Olivia.

"Your friend is right. I don't see there being a problem with it, but you're going to want to check with the nephrologist. Once Dr. Abrhams gives his okay, the nurses should be able to get some Tylenol on order for you easily."

"Thank you."

A few minutes later, Elliot and Olivia were on their own again, and the woman in the hospital bed was glaring at the man sitting by her side. Her evil stare was having little to no effect, however – if anything, Elliot seemed amused. Reaching for his partner's hand he brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on Olivia's knuckles.

"Don't be mad at me, Liv. You know you'd do the same thing if our positions were reversed."

"You have a point. I just don't like being the center of attention."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, partner, but that kind of comes with the territory of being a patient. Not that I'm any better at it myself, so don't you say anything about it."

"You know me too well."

The two shared a smile, and Elliot gave Olivia's hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. A few minutes passed in silence before Olivia had the courage to speak again.

"Well...one down, one to go. Is it wrong of me for being too afraid to hope that everything will go in my favor?"

"Not at all. I get that you're nervous. I've got enough faith for both us."

The tender moment was interrupted when the automatic blood pressure cuff on Olivia's arm began to inflate, and now that she was more alert, she cursed.

"I'm really getting sick of this stupid thing. I suppose that will be a bonus to being on a regular floor, although I'm not sure having someone come into my room multiple times a day to check my vitals isn't just as annoying."

Elliot muttered something under his breath about finding a way to thank the nurses, but it hadn't gone unnoticed.

"You're lucky I have the IV in this arm, or I'd have slugged you in the shoulder. Also, even though I don't want to admit it, I happen to agree with you. What do you think I did for the staff all those times you were in the hospital?"

The partners looked at one another, and a mutual realization dawned on them both. Elliot was the first to speak.

"We really are the world's worst patients, aren't we?"

"I think so."

Having finally admitted to the truth, the two put their heads together and discussed ways they could express their thanks once Olivia was discharged from the hospital. One of the ideas they came up with had been to have a delivery of bagels and pastries for the nursing staff to keep at the station. Even though the medical profession and NYPD were in completely different fields, there was a mutual understanding. A simple gesture of gift package or food delivery – especially on a busy day – meant the world.

Now that they had a game plan, Olivia allowed herself to finally hope a little bit. She knew she still had a long road to go, but for the first time since she woke up here in intensive care, she could finally accept that it would come to an end eventually, that she would heal. It may not happen as fast as she'd like, but she was going to get there.

By the time Dr. Abrhams came into Olivia's room later that morning, the headache that had started off mild not long after Elliot's arrival had reached near unbearable levels. If she had to hazard a guess, Olivia was willing to wager that part of the problem was due to caffeine withdrawal. Her appetite had betrayed her over recent months, and she'd tried to make up for it at work by consuming more than her fair share of coffee to remain awake and alert. Now that she'd gone not only several days with solely IV fluids to sustain her, it made sense that her system was starting to protest – just yet another giant 'fuck you' in general it would seem that her body had been sending in her direction lately.

"Good Morning Olivia, Elliot. Before I get to any questions, I want to mention that I did get a message from Dr. Campbell's assistant, and they mentioned that you had asked about pain relief?"

Before Olivia had a chance to answer, worried that she would brush it off – even though it was obvious just from looking at her face that she was hurting – Elliot hurried to respond on her behalf.

"Yes. There are the usual aches and discomfort brought about by the bed in general, but Liv's also been dealing with some headaches. While she hasn't explicitly said anything to me, I'm willing to wager they are on the verge of migraines."

"El-"

Dr. Abrhams watched, amused, as Detective Stabler silenced his partner with a look, completely unaffected by the glare she was giving him.

"What did I say earlier, Liv? You have to tell the doctors about these things. I get that you don't want to make a fuss, but that doesn't mean you have to suffer in silence, either."

With a sigh, Olivia turned her head to face the other man in the room, an expression on her face that spoke to a myriad of emotions.

"As much as I don't want to admit it, he's right. The headaches are unbearable. I just don't want to be any trouble, or stay any longer than I have to."

Empathetic to his patient's mood, Dr. Abrhams took a step closer to the bed, resting his hand on the footboard.

"I do understand, Detective. No one wants to be in the hospital, and believe me when I say that our goal is to get you home as soon as possible. But your partner is telling the truth. It's very important that we know when you are in pain – even if it's just a headache – so we can treat that. Not just for your comfort, but to make sure there aren't any new or underlying conditions that we may have missed."

Olivia's cheeks flushed as the words hit home. She hadn't meant to keep secrets, she was only trying not to be a pain in the ass. It made sense though, the need for this to be the one place to talk about every ache and pain. She promised herself that she wouldn't suffer in silence any more.

"I get it. I'll speak up from now on."

"Thank you. Now, on to what you were talking about in terms of pain relief. I'm afraid to say that because of the condition of your kidneys, we are somewhat limited on what we can prescribe. For your headaches, I can write an order for Extra Strength Tylenol to be taken every six hours as needed. But, if the backaches persist, and you have continued discomfort there, the only thing I would be able to order is a lidocaine patch that would be applied directly to the skin. You don't have to make any decisions about that now, but I have to ask, would you like me to order that Tylenol for you?"

Olivia glanced at Elliot, she wasn't sure why, it wasn't as if she needed his permission. Except – in a way, it almost felt as though she did. Not in being allowed to take it, but the reassurance that admitting she needed it didn't make her weak. The more she considered it, the more stupid it sounded, but Olivia supposed she couldn't expect the logic center of her brain to function normally given everything she was dealing with.

"That would be great, thank you."

"Not a problem. I'll do that as soon as I step out to the nurse's station to update your chart after our visit."

Dr. Abrhams then went on to discuss Olivia's lab results from that morning. It was distressing to learn that not much had changed or improved, even though it was to be expected. Now that her condition was stable, the next step was moving her to a regular floor, and getting her started with receiving dialysis daily. Olivia felt her head begin to swim as the nephrologist detailed the process involved with getting her set up for the next phase of treatment, and she could only hope that Elliot was paying better attention than she was, because it was quickly becoming too much to handle.

Belatedly, Olivia realized that Dr. Abrhams had asked her a question, as he was watching her expectantly, as though waiting for an answer. Feeling her cheeks flush with shame over having zoned out during something so important, Olivia could only stumble through a respone as best as she could. To her relief, the doctor accepted her answer, but reassured her that if she ever had any questions, someone from his office was on call at all hours. Just before he left the room, he promised that they would try to set up the transfer to another floor later that afternoon.

Once they were on their own again, and there was no threat of any interruptions – save for when the nurse would eventually come in with Olivia's Tylenol, Elliot hoped to have a word with his partner.

"You hanging in there, Liv?"

"I'm trying."

Elliot knew what that cost Olivia to admit, so he didn't press the issue further. Instead he just reached out and squeezed her hand once before letting go, offering a silent show of support. He thought about asking Olivia if she wanted a drink, but opted to wait. He also didn't want to give the impression that he was hovering. But there was something else that he needed, though he hated himself for it. Thankfully, Olivia could see right through him, and called him out before he could say a word.

"El, it's okay. I'll be fine. Just go."

"But -"

"But nothing. I'm a big girl. I've told you that you have to take care of yourself, too. Nothing is going to happen in the next five minutes in terms of me going anywhere, so I'll be fine on my own long enough for you to go to the bathroom."

Elliot opened his mouth to object, but before he could get a word in edgewise, Olivia continued.

"Don't even argue with me, Elliot. I know you're not that fidgety of a person, and you're practically doing a dance in your chair. Just go."

She was right. He couldn't argue with her, as his bladder was screaming for relief. Promising to be back as soon as possible – a comment that earned him yet another exasperated eye roll, Elliot darted out into the hallway and in the direction of the public restroom.

After using the men's facilities down the hall, and taking some time to stretch his legs – he had also stopped in the kitchen adjacent to the nurses station to grab a quick cup of coffee – Elliot was back where he felt like he belonged. While part of him had expected Olivia to doze off again in his absence, she was still awake, though it hurt his heart to see her shifting uncomfortably on the bed.

"Hey, Liv. Were they able to get you that Tylenol yet?"

"No, and I don't want you causing any trouble for it, either. It hasn't been that long since the doctor left my room, he probably hasn't even put the orders into the system yet. We both know how hospitals work."

Elliot opened his mouth to object, and Olivia silenced him with a look.

"If no one has brought me any pain relief in an hour, then I will let you say something, okay? Until then, I don't want to make a fuss. I seriously doubt that Tylenol is going to do all that much for me beside take the edge off anyway."

After considering his partner's request for several moments, Elliot offered a counter-proposal. He knew it was risky, but he also thought that her timetable of an hour was too long to wait.

"Thirty minutes."

"Okay, fine. But only because I don't have the strength to argue with you."

The words were meant to be a joke, but the truth behind them hung heavy in the room between them. Not wanting things to get too tense, Olivia deftly tried to switch the subject, opting instead to tease Elliot about being able to smell the coffee on his breath. The swerve worked perfectly, as before he could get an apology out in thinking that he'd upset her, she was questioning where the brew related in comparison to what was served at the precinct.

"Are you sure you don't mind, Liv? I'm sorry, I should have asked."

"I swear, El.. if you make me get out of this bed in order to smack you..."

Olivia had only been partially kidding with her threat, but Elliot had taken her seriously. He understood her more then, that she was being genuine in saying that him smelling of coffee – or even food – wasn't a temptation for her. Though she was starting to have inklings of an appetite, and looked forward to being allowed a meal once she was given permission to start eating, her main concern was the fact that she could drink water. Before Elliot could come up with a reply – or at close risk of his own personal health, another apology – a nurse came into the room pushing a medication cart.

"Detective Benson, I have the Tylenol that Dr. Abrhams ordered for you. The time we've dispensed it will be entered into your chart, so if you should need more, you can have another dose in six hours. If everything goes according to plan, you should be moved to your new room by then, but they will have a record in the system, so you don't have to worry about asking for more when you are in pain."

"Okay. Thank you. El, could you pass me my water, please?"

Elliot had already been reaching to pour his partner a fresh cup so she could take the pain relief capsules the nurse had brought, but it did his heart good to be asked the simple favor. Getting Olivia her medication didn't take long, and soon as it was dispensed and the entry was logged into her electronic chart, the nurse left the room as quickly as she had entered, leaving the two detectives on their own.

The pair barely had time to start another conversation when someone else came into the room, informing Olivia that her transfer out of intensive care had been approved, and she would be moved to another floor shortly. Once they learned the location of her new room number, Olivia began to encourage Elliot to use this time to go to the cafeteria and get himself something to eat. It was already well past the lunch rush, and she was willing to wager that while his intentions may be good, he would likely be more of a hindrance than a help when the staff was trying to move her. It wasn't that Olivia didn't appreciate Elliot's care and concern, but she knew that if any of the alarms were to be triggered upon being disconnected, it would only worry him.

"Are you sure, Liv? I don't mind staying with you."

"I'm sure. I know the food here isn't the greatest, so if you don't want to eat at the cafeteria, take a walk to one of the nearby restaurants if you want. I'll be fine. Maybe even use some of the time to call Cragen and the others and give them an update, I'm sure they'll want to know what is going on. Then on your way back, you can grab my bag and bring it to me."

Where just a few moments ago, Elliot's expression had been doubtful, Olivia saw the instant she had won him over and convinced him to agree to her suggestion. Holding back a sigh of relief, she gave him a sincere smile, and tilted her head toward him to accept the kiss she knew was coming to the crown of her head.

"I'll be back Liv. You have your phone, don't hesitate to call or text if you need anything."

Knowing that agreeing to that request was the only way to get her partner out the door, Olivia nodded. Once on her own, she began having a silent practice conversation in her head of something she wanted to discuss with Elliot before he left the hospital later that night. She knew what she wanted to ask would likely not be received well by her stubborn partner, but she was only trying to look out for his well being – just as much as he was trying to look out for hers. She wasn't worried about it sparking an argument, more that Elliot wouldn't be easily swayed to what she wanted, and think her request was borne of guilt.

Olivia wasn't left alone with her thoughts for too long, as some aides – along with her nurse – came into her room to help with her transfer. Fortunately, there wasn't much she had to do in terms of helping, as the majority of the move just involved disconnecting the heart monitor she was currently on and switching her to a portable one. As for the rest of it, she was able to stay in her bed, as they would just be moving the bed itself – with Olivia in it – to the new room and bringing the unused one up to take its place in the ICU.

Other than making sure she had her cell phone and charger, plus the chapstick that Elliot had brought for her the other day, there were really no other personal items that Olivia had to worry about. Of course, she made sure not to forget the teddy bear and balloon her partner had gifted her. She bit back a smile as the aide who was 'driving' her bed remarked to keep her hands off the rails, unable to stop herself from thinking of the warnings issued at amusement parks to riders that they must keep their hands and feet inside the car at all times. Grateful that despite the severity of her illness that her sense of humor was making a return appearance, Olivia tried her best to relax, even though the speed at which her bed was traveling through the halls did make her a bit queasy. It wasn't far to go, however, so she did her best to grin and bear it.

Once in the new room – which, much to Olivia's relief, was also private – it didn't take long for the staff to get her settled. Her new nurse stopped in briefly to introduce herself, and promised she would be in shortly to do a patient intake. Even though she had sent him away for his own good, Olivia hoped Elliot would return by the time that happened, as the idea of answering a plethora of questions about not only her medical history, but the situation that had brought her into the hospital in the first place was exhausting.

As though she had wished him into existence, her partner's muscular frame appeared in the doorway to her room, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, and a bouquet of flowers in his other hand. If Olivia could find a word to describe Elliot in that moment, she would say that years had been taken off of him, and she could only guess that attributed to the fact that she was no longer in intensive care. That only cemented the decision she had made in his absence, and affirmed her belief that what she would ask of him later was the right thing to do.

"Hey there, partner. You have no idea how good it is to see you off that floor. Granted, it still sucks that you're in this building, but it's a step in the right direction."

With a nod toward the nightstand next to her bed, Olivia watched as Elliot followed her direction and deposited the flowers there. She wasn't overly surprised by the gift, as she recalled him having said earlier about wanting to get them for her before, but they hadn't been permitted in ICU. Plus, they would be something pretty to brighten up the room.

"Please tell me you actually followed instructions and went and ate lunch, and didn't just hang out in the hospital gift shop for an hour."

"No, Liv. I ate. Called the precinct too. Cragen, Fin, and Munch send their love, and they are going to try and stop by and see you soon. Not right away, because they know you need your rest, but maybe for a quick visit the day after tomorrow."

"I would like that."

Before Elliot could say anything else, the nurse who had greeted Olivia earlier came into the room, pushing a cart with a computer on it. After scanning the medical ID bracelet on Olivia's wrist, she first inquired if Olivia was comfortable with having Elliot present while she went over her medical history, to which Olivia not only gave her express consent, but assured Elliot that it was fine if he spoke for her if she should forget anything.

The whole process of intake took a lot longer than Olivia had expected, and she was feeling more than weary after the nurse had left the room when they were finished. One bright spot in it all however, was that she had learned that she would be allowed a tray for dinner that evening, then regular meals continuing on the following day. While she may not have an option for tonight's choices, menu selection would be available for tomorrow. The one downside of it all was that she was to be expected to be on a renal health diet, and that a nutritionist would be coming to speak with her tomorrow as well. Olivia didn't know what that would entail, though she hoped she would at least be allowed a few comforts.

"What did you want me to do with your bag, Liv? Do you want to leave it as is, or would you like me to unpack it for you?"

"If you wouldn't mind unpacking it for now? I'm still not able to use any of it yet."

"No problem."

Elliot got right to work, effortlessly unpacking Olivia's items and putting them in the drawers of the closet by the window. For her toiletries, he was able to store those in the bathroom, since Olivia had been given a private room and didn't have to worry about a roommate.

"I know a shower is likely out of the question, but I really hope they will let me get cleaned up in some sort of way tomorrow."

"Did you want me to ask?"

"No, I can do it. There really isn't much I can do right now anyway. That's why I had you put those clothes away for now. Until they take this stupid catheter out, I'm stuck in this damn hospital gown."

It was an involuntary reaction, and completely unintentional, but Elliot had been unable to stop himself from wincing when Olivia mentioned the catheter. He hoped she hadn't noticed, but of course, he wasn't that lucky. Before he could say anything though, she was coming to his rescue with another comment.

"I'm just grateful I wasn't coherent when they put it in. Having it come out will be another story altogether, but I hope it's sooner rather than later."

"Me too, Liv. Me, too."

The hours passed by, and soon the sound of dietary carts could be heard in the hallway. Struck by an impulsive idea, Elliot suggested he run down to the cafeteria to grab a meal for take out, and bring it up to eat in the room with Olivia. The smile she gave him as a response was the only answer he needed. By the time returned, he found his partner sitting with what looked like a plate of baked chicken, rice, and steamed vegetables. Accompanying the meal was a salt substitute – no doubt part of the renal diet – and small piece of angel food cake for dessert. Elliot observed cautiously, knowing Olivia's recent struggles with appetite and food in general, wondering how she would react to what likely seemed to be such a large meal. Thankfully, she didn't appear to be overwhelmed or daunted by the tray in front of her.

As the pair ate together, the conversation was kept light. Elliot focused on his own dinner, while surreptitiously keeping an eye on how much Olivia was eating. While she didn't touch much of the rice – not that he could blame her, it did look terribly dry and under seasoned – she was able to eat the chicken and vegetables without issue. She even managed a bite or two of the cake.

"I can't even remember how long it's been since I've eaten that much in one sitting."

Elliot kept silent, not sure what to say. Of course, Olivia could read him like a book.

"It's okay, El. I know you've been thinking the same thing. I'm sorry I had you so worried about me."

"You don't have to be sorry about anything, Liv. Just focus on getting better."

Pushing her tray table to the side, Olivia decided this was the best opportunity to have the conversation she'd been rehearsing in her head all afternoon.

"El. I want to talk to you about something."

"Anything."

"I don't want you to come into the hospital tomorrow."

Elliot's mind was going a mile a minute. He was trying to figure out what he'd done wrong, how he could make amends. But judging from Olivia's tone of voice and her body language, she wasn't angry with him. So, rather than react impulsively, he decided to hear her out. Nodding for her to continue, he waited for his partner to explain.

"You've helped me through so much these past few days, hardly leaving my side unless you've been absolutely forced to. I know you want to be here, and no one is forcing you, but now that I'm stable and on the mend, what I need for you to do is take care of yourself. Take the day, call your kids, maybe even go meet them for dinner. I'll still be here the day after, and if you want, we can still talk on the phone. I'm not chasing you away, I'm just asking you to put yourself first."

"Liv."

"It's what I want El. I'll be fine by myself for a day. If I really need you for anything, I promise I'll call. Other than that, I'm going to try and just sleep, at least as much as they'll let me – this is a hospital, after all."

Realizing there was no way he was going to win this argument as it were, even though they weren't actually fighting about anything – it was just Olivia being her adamant and determined self. If Elliot were being honest with himself, seeing this side of his partner did his heart good, it meant that she really was in fighting form, and determined to get better.

"Okay, Liv. I'll stay home tomorrow. But – I'm going to call you, and I'm going to be back the next day."

"Wouldn't have it any other way."