Partners?
By
18lzytwner
Chapter 1
Elliot Stabler practically bowled over the nurse just exiting the front nurse's desk at the hospital. He apologized before flashing his badge and quickly explaining that he needed to find Captain Olivia Benson. She smiled slightly. She'd seen plenty of officers during her work at the hospital and most who rushed in like that were partners – though she knew that a Captain didn't often have partners.
Still, she gave him a room number and Elliot thanked her before rushing up to the second floor. The hospital had moved her to a more private area to investigate possible rib injuries along with the rest of her injuries. Fin had said she was up and moving, albeit slower than normal, so he figured things weren't too bad.
He heard voices coming from the room that the nurse had given him. He didn't recognize one of them, but he'd been away from the city and its hospitals long enough that he wouldn't remember the staff's voices. Still there was something about the voice that bothered him.
"Elliot," Olivia had stopped talking to the person standing near her. Her eyes had met his.
"Liv, you, ok?" He would mention that she hadn't called him later.
"This is Chief McGrath," she smiled slightly.
"Chief, I'm Detective Stabler, Olivia's former partner," Elliot introduced himself.
"Detective, checking up on the Captain?" McGrath gave him a look.
"She can take care of herself, but when you hear what I heard over the radio, it makes you concerned," Elliot parried the question skillfully.
"That's understandable. I have to make a few phone calls. One of course to Bronx Gangs," the Chief said.
"You're going to call Duarte?" Olivia gave her superior a look of her own.
"He's our expert on BX9," he reminded her.
"Well, I'm sure he loved that," her tone told Elliot all he needed to know about the Bronx Gangs officer, she didn't like him.
"Look, whatever beef exists between you two, I suggest you put it to rest because I'll make sure he comes tomorrow morning to take your victim statement," McGrath told her.
"My victim statement?" Olivia still had a look of displeasure on her face.
"Well, you are a victim, right?" With that her Chief left the room, leaving the two former partners to talk.
"I was right. He is a fun guy," Elliot gave her a look.
"Who really called you?" She asked, not bothering to beat around the bush. They had had the talk, but it was literally only two days prior.
"No one. I called Fin after you didn't pick up your phone. You were going to call me when you got back from picking up Noah, remember?" He reminded her. She shook her head – she had forgotten.
"Come on. If you're done hanging around this place, let me take you home," he said.
"I have to call Fin and Amanda," Olivia told him.
"You already have a security detail outside your apartment. Fin told me that he was going to get Noah from Amanda's and bring him back to your place, now that everything's secure," Elliot explained. He'd thought of everything.
"Ok," finally she acquiesced and he helped her get her coat on before they walked toward the elevator. The silence that settled between them was palpable. She'd gone back inside her shell to protect herself from this BX9 gang. He understood that. They'd come after her and Noah. This was war and he was certain of who would win it.
To Be Continued…