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.

Detective Elliot Stabler was worried. She wasn't the same. Everyone who knew her could see it, but no one more so than himself, the one person who had witnessed the slow decline with his very eyes. If anyone were to ask, he could recite the exact day, hour and minute that it had happened. Granted, her abilities on the job had not been compromised in the slightest, so no one could accuse her of not having her head in the game. No, Olivia Benson was still the same brave, kick-ass detective that had walked by his side for the past thirteen years. Perhaps she took more risks than before, but it wasn't on purpose – at least he hoped not. His partner was simply heartbroken, and try as he might, there wasn't anything he could do to fix it.

The cause of the recent upheaval in Olivia's life wasn't due to any sort of breakup in the traditional sense. Yes, Elliot was aware that his partner had a dating life, even though it pained him more than he was willing to admit. Plus, in all the years he'd known her, not once had she ever given a man her entire heart and soul – in her own words, she was married to the job. No, the reason Olivia was in emotional ruins was none other than a boy named Calvin Arliss.

Olivia and Elliot had first met Calvin about three months ago. They had been investigating the rape and murder of Samantha Millerton when additional evidence led them to a series of unsolved rapes dating back at least thirty years. One such piece of evidence, a ring belonging to a Joan Arliss, had been recovered. Olivia had gone to Joan's home to not only return the stolen jewelry, but also in the hopes of obtaining a positive photo identification of their suspect. Sadly, it was discovered that Joan was bedridden and in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, with her daughter Vivian as her sole caretaker.

During the course of their conversation, Olivia had let it slip to Vivian the reason for the visit. It just so happened that the dates matched up in a way that meant that the other woman had been conceived during her mother's rape. Having had this secret kept from her throughout her entire life, Vivian was understandably distraught. When Calvin had suddenly appeared, she had shouted at the boy before disappearing back into the house. It was then that Calvin had turned on Olivia. Not only was he fiercely protective of his mother, but there was an implied fear that whatever Olivia might have said would cause Vivian to break her sobriety.

It was when Olivia talked to Vivian again in the backyard, trying to encourage her not to drink, that the detective revealed a secret of her own. At first, the blonde was hesitant to believe, but ultimately realized that if anyone could understand what she was going through, it would be Olivia. Promising to try and stay strong for the sake of her son, Vivian had accepted Olivia's card.

As the case continued to unravel, it became more and more complicated. There was even a brief moment in time when Olivia had believed that she and Vivian could be half sisters, but a DNA test quickly ruled that out. Instead, it was determined that the man responsible for Joan's rape – and countless others – was none other than Walter Burlock. By a cruel twist of fate, ADA Hardwicke had instructed they had nothing to hold Burlock on, the exact same day that Vivian had come to the precinct, high on drugs. Joan had passed away the night before, and Vivian was desperate for answers about her biological father. She'd had an encounter with Burlock in the hallway, and had it not been for Olivia, would have physically attacked the man.

Not long after that confrontation, Burlock was bludgeoned to death in the place where he'd been staying. Vivian was high on the list of suspects, and it didn't help her case any that she couldn't be found. Instead, she'd dropped Calvin off at the precinct, with a notarized paper in an envelope that stated her forfeiture of parental rights. Olivia had also been named the child's legal guardian. No one was more shocked than the detective, and Calvin had been devastated to have been abandoned.

In the weeks that followed, Calvin and Olivia had grown closer. It had taken some time, but the detective managed to earn the boy's trust, and had done everything in her power to provide him with a stable home. Although she hadn't said the words out loud, Elliot knew that it was the closest his partner had ever come to feeling like she belonged to a family, even though he'd always considered her part of his. Other than an estranged brother, Olivia had always believed herself to have no one that she could rely on.

The one thing Olivia hadn't done – that she especially should have – was send in a sample of Calvin's DNA to the lab for testing, to aid them in the search for his father. When Elliot had questioned her on it, Olivia had claimed she'd forgotten, but her partner knew that hadn't been the case. He was no fool, and there had definitely been a fire in her eyes when he'd informed her that he had sent in the sample instead. As Elliot looked back now, if he had known then what upheaval that one lone swab would have caused, he'd never have done it, no matter his dedication to uphold the law at all costs.

It had been during that time that they had come into contact with Vivian again, when the woman's fingerprint had turned up during a burglary connected to a rape that SVU was investigating. When Olivia had tracked her down, the blonde had been completely strung out on drugs, pleading to be left alone. She had even offered to give up her son for good, intuiting that what the detective wanted most was Calvin. Elliot, who had entered the room at precisely that exact moment, had told his partner he would back her play – no matter what she decided. Olivia had promptly arrested Vivian.

Things had continued to spiral downward from there. Vivian confessed to Walter Burlock's murder, but it turned out she was only trying to protect her friend, Sarah. Sarah ultimately turned herself in, but when they were all at the courthouse, Sarah was killed by David, Vivian's ex boyfriend and Calvin's father. Furious with Olivia, and holding her responsible for Sarah's death, Vivian withdrew her petition naming the detective as guardian, instead insisting on sending her son to Vermont to live with the grandparents whom he'd never met. Social services had turned up at the precinct one day to serve Olivia with the papers, Vivian in tow. They'd all but ripped the boy from Olivia's arms as Elliot held her back. Even now, he could still hear Calvin's pleas as he was pulled away, begging Olivia to not let him be taken. That was the day that the Olivia Benson he knew had changed for good. Elliot himself had been there to witness the moment the fire in her eyes went out.

Today marked two months to the day since Calvin had been removed from Olivia's care, and Elliot had needed to be in court to give his testimony for a case. When he returned to the precinct just before noon, he found Olivia sitting at her desk, much as he'd left her earlier that morning. As was always the case these days, the sight of his partner was almost too much for him to bear. The dark circles that had been present under her eyes for weeks were more prominent than usual, and if he wasn't mistaken, Elliot could almost swear that Olivia seemed even thinner. The muffin he'd brought in for her breakfast sat virtually untouched, save for the lone bite he'd encouraged her to take a few hours before. Hoping to convince her to eat, and at the very least, get her away for a little bit, Elliot decided to make an offer.

"Hey, Liv. Why don't we go out and grab some lunch? My treat. Cragen can always reach us if we catch something."

The answer was immediate, as if Olivia hadn't even taken any time to process the question in the first place.

"No thanks, El. I need to finish this paperwork. You should get something for yourself, though."

Trying to hide his sigh of frustration, but not wanting to get into an argument, Elliot took his seat. A few minutes later, Fin stopped by their joined desks, stating that he and Munch were going to be ordering in and asking if they wanted to join. Once again, Olivia was quick to decline, this time stating an upset stomach as her excuse. Sharing a knowing glance with his coworker, Elliot asked for a sandwich for himself. While it didn't change things entirely, it made him feel a little bit better to know he hadn't been the only one who had noticed a difference.

The day wore on, and eventually it was time to leave. Before he had a chance to invite Olivia for dinner, Elliot watched as his partner wordlessly gathered her things and slipped out the exit. He'd barely even heard her murmured goodbye as she all but brushed by him in her attempt to make a hasty retreat. Frustrated, and knowing he likely wouldn't see Olivia again until Monday, Elliot tried to come up with an alternative idea. As one began to formulate in his mind, he quickly grabbed what he'd need for the weekend, offering a perfunctory farewell to Fin and Munch on his way out. If all went according to plan, he would either be welcomed with open arms, or his partner was going to kick his ass. No matter which scenario played itself out, neither would be a first.

After stopping at his apartment – now that the divorce had finally gone through for good this time, he was actually getting used to being on his own again – long enough to change clothes and pack a bag, Elliot headed back through the city toward where Olivia lived. Though he was initially tempted to stop for groceries, he vetoed that idea almost as fast as it had popped into his brain. He was taking enough of a gamble as it was hoping that his partner would actually let him in, without trying to insist that he cook for her. Elliot figured he'd cross the bridge of trying to get Olivia to eat something once he was certain she wasn't going to slam the door in his face.

Twenty minutes later, Elliot was pulling into an empty parking spot outside Olivia's building, a rare feat for a Friday night. Even though he knew he was taking an incredible risk, he didn't text ahead or press the buzzer to announce himself, instead using the key that he had been given early on in their partnership to let himself in the security entrance. Even though he took the stairs in lieu of the elevator in an attempt to delay the inevitable, the moment eventually came when he could stall no longer. He was standing in front of Olivia's apartment, the telltale 4D on the door mocking him in one instance while at the same time also daring him to knock.

When the first raps of his knuckles went unanswered, Elliot began to wonder if perhaps he'd made an error in judgment. Maybe he'd misread the situation entirely. It could be that Olivia wasn't even home, that she'd had a date tonight, and he was merely making a colossal fool of himself by showing up like this. But the nagging feeling in his gut just wouldn't go away. Instinct was screaming at him that she was inside, and simply choosing to ignore him. So, he decided to try talking to her in the hopes that she would hear him – not that anyone else would be at her door at this hour on a Friday night without calling first.

"Olivia? Liv, it's me. I'm sorry to just show up like this without calling first, but the heat is out in my apartment, and my landlord says it won't be fixed until Monday."

Elliot was quiet for a few minutes, trying to think of something else to say, when he heard the sound of the chain being removed and the deadbolt disengaging. The door opened a fraction of an inch, and there was Olivia. Now that she'd changed into more comfortable clothing and washed off her makeup, Elliot could swear that she looked even thinner and paler than she had at work. The exhaustion was evident in her voice.

"What is it that you want, Elliot?"

"I was just hoping I could crash here for a couple of days. I know I should have called first, but -"

Olivia didn't finish, interrupting him mid-sentence.

"I wouldn't have heard it anyway. We're not catching this weekend, I turned my phone off as soon as I got home."

Elliot remained silent, but didn't back down, either. He watched as Olivia gnawed on her lower lip before ultimately sighing in resignation. Taking a step back, she gave a wave of her hand to indicate he should enter. Turning on her heel, Olivia headed back to the couch, which from the looks of things, had been her bed for quite some time. Not worried about what that meant in terms of where he would be sleeping, Elliot finished letting himself in, and locked the door once more. Setting his bag on the floor, he joined Olivia in the living room, choosing to sit on the love seat so he wouldn't crowd his partner. Understanding what an accomplishment it had been that he had even been granted access to the apartment, Elliot decided not to push his luck with too much too soon. He could always try and get her to eat something later. For now, he'd just be content to sit with her in silence.

Despite his promises to himself, after more than hour in complete stillness, the quiet began to become unnerving to Elliot. He wasn't even certain how Olivia could tolerate it, but a glance to his side told him that she wasn't even with him in the moment. Yes, she may have been physically present, but her eyes had a far-off look in them, as though she were somewhere miles away.

"Liv?"

He had to call the brunette by name twice more before getting a response, and even then, Elliot wasn't certain she fully heard him. Yes, Olivia may have been looking in his direction, but it seemed more as though she were looking through him.

"It's getting late. What do you say we order something for dinner before all the delivery drivers in Manhattan are completely swamped and we have to wait even longer for our food?"

Just when he thought he wasn't going to get any sort of reaction from his partner, Olivia shrugged her shoulders. Elliot tried to tamp down his frustrations, knowing that letting them show wouldn't help the situation. He wasn't angry, only concerned. That only intensified when Olivia finally answered him.

"I'm not hungry, but don't let me stop you from getting something for yourself."

Elliot grit his teeth, something else that went unnoticed by the brunette sitting only a few feet away from him. Having spent the entire day with her, he knew she hadn't eaten any lunch. Knowing her as well as he did, he also knew that Olivia's idea of a balanced breakfast was a glass of orange juice. If she'd managed that today, he'd consider himself lucky. As it was, he was afraid to inspect the contents of her refrigerator. Then there was the subject of dinner, which he was currently trying to debate. Even though his partner had said she wasn't hungry, Elliot was willing to bet the entirety of his next paycheck that it wasn't because she'd already eaten.

"Liv -"

Her indifference having given way to anger, Olivia didn't even let him finish his next sentence.

"I said I wasn't hungry. I'm a grown woman, I think I would know. I don't need you trying to treat me like a child in my own home. Now, if you want something to eat, I already told you to order it. But leave me out of it. It's either that, or you can find somewhere else to stay."

Not wanting to push his luck this early into the weekend, and knowing she meant exactly as she had said, Elliot raised his palms in a gesture of wordless surrender. He may be temporarily conceding defeat, but the battle was far from over. Plus, he still had a few tricks up his sleeve that he was willing to try and play.

"Okay, you win. I think I'll call that Chinese place we typically order from, they always have the best food. I know you said you didn't want anything tonight, but did you want me to get you some of their egg drop soup for tomorrow? I haven't forgotten that it's your favorite."

Elliot tried to keep his face impassive as he waited for Olivia's response. She was quiet for so long that he was worried that this effort, too, would backfire. But then he saw the moment her resolve wavered. Resisting the urge to cheer out loud, he merely nodded in confirmation, accepting her silent agreement. This was one of the many times where he was grateful that they didn't need words to communicate.

After he'd placed the call to the restaurant, purposely ordering enough food for two despite his partner's claims that she wasn't hungry, Elliot headed into the kitchen. Being a frequent guest at Olivia's apartment, he was quite comfortable with making himself at home, and knew his way around her place almost as well as he did his own. Opting not to comment on the sparse contents of the refrigerator or the bare pantry shelves, Elliot chose to busy himself making a pitcher of iced tea so they would have something to drink other than water. He already knew Olivia didn't drink soda anymore, and while he had spotted wine, beer, and hard liquor, the last thing his partner needed right now was to drown her sorrows in alcohol – especially if she hadn't been eating. It wasn't something he was going to specifically call her out on, but Elliot did plan to spend this weekend quietly observing, as he'd promised Olivia years ago that he'd never let her drink to escape her problems.

Pushing those thoughts to the side for now, Elliot forced himself to focus on the here and now. Even if he couldn't get Olivia to eat anything, the least he could do was make sure she was staying hydrated. While water was certainly the best choice, certainly a little bit of tea couldn't hurt.

"Did you want some iced tea, Liv? I'm pouring myself a glass."

"No thank you, El. But, I will take another bottle of water."

It was something, Elliot thought. At least she hadn't refused him again. His next hope was that when Olivia saw what he had ordered to eat, she might be tempted to try some for herself. Granted, she would likely see right though his intentions in that regard – Olivia was after all, an amazing detective – but he didn't care. She could call him out all that she wanted, so long as she ate something.

Two hours later, Elliot was putting his leftovers away while Olivia lay curled up in the fetal position on the couch. She had covered herself with a blanket, and was staring blankly at the television. Elliot had put the set on earlier, hoping it would give them something to talk about, but nothing seemed to capture his partner's interest. Unfortunately, his plan with dinner had ultimately failed too, as Olivia had scarcely acknowledged the fact that he was eating. He'd managed to get her to try a bite of his egg roll, but even that had been a struggle. Truth of the matter was, this listlessness and indifference was really starting to scare him, and Elliot didn't know what he was supposed to do about it.

If Olivia's behavior were affecting her performance at work, it would be worth mentioning his concerns to the Captain, or perhaps even George Huang. However, the job was the one place where he'd seen his partner be solely focused. If Elliot had to say anything about it, he might say that Olivia was a bit more daring than usual, insisting to go first to clear an apartment or room where he normally would take the lead. Whether or not that meant she was intentionally taking more risks with her own life, he couldn't say for certain. He definitely wasn't going to rat Olivia out to Cragen or to the department shrink on a loosely based theory, especially when he didn't have any concrete evidence to base it on.

Before joining Olivia in the living room once more, Elliot made his way to the hall closet, where he retrieved an extra pillow and blanket. He already had a pretty good idea that the brunette wouldn't be retreating to her bedroom for the night to sleep, and he wasn't about to ask her to give up her comfortable spot on the couch in order to accommodate his six foot frame. No, he would make do just fine on the love seat. He'd certainly slept in worst places, both in his years as a Marine and in law enforcement.

Once he'd double checked that Olivia didn't need anything else, Elliot arranged his bed for the night. His legs were draped over the arm of the love seat, but he wasn't about to complain. At some point during his travels around the apartment, Olivia must have turned down the volume on the television. The room was still bathed in the soft glow from the screen, but the sounds were more muted, making any dialogue indecipherable. He was getting lost in his thoughts again when Olivia's voice broke into the silence.

"I haven't slept in there since he was taken away."

There was no need for Olivia to emphasize who the 'he' in question was. Elliot remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt her train of thought. It was the first she'd talked about Calvin since the boy had been taken away from her, and if she needed to vent, he was going to let her say whatever she needed to.

"Some of his things are still in there, too. I keep meaning to pack them up and send them to his grandparents in Vermont, but I can't bring myself to do it. I know it sounds silly, but it feels like doing that would make it all seem too real, even though I know he's not coming back."

As she'd said the last words, Elliot could hear as Olivia's voice broke a little, and his heart broke right along with it. He still remembered that day at the precinct, and wished more than anything he could take back the callous words he'd said. What Olivia had needed in that moment had been his comfort, not the obvious reminder that 'it was always temporary'. Even now, Elliot longed to wrap his arms around his partner, as he heard her all but falling apart a few feet away, but he knew that gesture would be rebuffed. It was only because they were hidden under a cover of darkness that she was opening up as much as she was.

"There have even been a few times when I've thought about moving, but I'm not sure how practical that would be. What if Calvin needed me for something, how would he find me?"

Once again, Elliot kept silent, not wanting to point out the obvious. It was unlikely that Calvin would make his way from Vermont to Manhattan on his own, though he didn't doubt the boy's resourcefulness. From what little he had learned about Calvin's fortitude in his short time getting to know the child, Elliot reasoned that if Calvin set his mind to something, he'd find a way to make it happen. While he desperately hoped that things would never reach that extreme, Elliot did hope that the two would find a way to stay in touch. At the same time, he also said a prayer that Calvin was faring better in Vermont than Olivia was here.

Much to Elliot's surprise, Olivia had talked late into the night. It was probably the first time she had ever fully been able to get the emotions she had been feeling off her chest, so he figured the release had likely been good for her. Eventually, exhaustion had taken over, and the brunette had fallen into a fitful sleep. Elliot had lain awake for about an hour longer after that. He had been feeling pretty helpless in regard to what he could do for his partner lately, and staying awake keeping watch seemed like a good way for him to protect her without seeming like he was hovering.

Olivia startled awake, her breath caught in her throat and her tears still wet on her cheeks. Once again, she'd been dreaming about Calvin, and it was just as heartbreaking as all the times in the past. It seemed every time she closed her eyes, she'd hear him calling out for her, but no matter how much she searched, she could never find the boy. It didn't matter how many times the nightmare happened, it was just as devastating now as it had been the first time it had occurred.

Pressing a hand to her heart, Olivia tried to catch her breath. Unlike in the past when she'd woken up from a bad dream, this time was different. There was a crushing pain in her chest, if she had to describe it to someone, she would say it felt as though all her ribs had been clamped in some sort of vise that was trying to squeeze the life out of her. But at the same time, it was accompanied by an intense churning in her stomach and a breakout of perspiration on her brow. It was a feeling she knew well, and one she hated with a passion.

She was going to throw up. There would be no avoiding it, all Olivia could hope for was that she would make it to her bathroom in time and that Elliot wouldn't wake up and witness her humiliation. All her life, she had always despised getting sick in this way. Whether it was because of her mother, and the many times she'd had to clean up after the woman, or the fact that when she herself had been sick as a child, there was no one to care for her, she didn't know. No matter what way she looked at it, Olivia had never been able to tolerate being nauseated.

Only once, early on in their partnership, had Elliot witnessed her getting sick. While he had never shamed her, Olivia had been determined that was a sight he would never see again. So, with shaking legs and trembling hands, she crept down the hall. Eventually urgency took over, and she had to hasten her steps, collapsing on her knees in front of the toilet just barely in time before the next wave of nausea hit. She hadn't had a chance to latch the door behind her, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

Elliot wasn't sure exactly what had had woken him. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he couldn't explain, but he wasn't sure exactly where it was coming from. What he did know was that his back would be killing him tomorrow after sleeping in this position. He wasn't going to complain, though, because what mattered was being here for Olivia when she needed him most. Speaking of Olivia, now that he was awake, he wanted to check on her. Biting back a groan of protest from his already aching muscles, Elliot pulled himself into a sitting position and cast a glance to his right. To his surprise, the couch was empty, and Olivia was nowhere to be seen. There was a faint light coming from the hallway, however, which informed his sleep addled brain that his partner had likely just woken up to use the bathroom and would be returning shortly. Not wanting to startle her, Elliot tried to make himself as comfortable as possible and closed his eyes once more.

Unable to fall back to sleep, Elliot waited quietly as the minutes ticked by and Olivia still hadn't returned. The feeling of uneasiness he'd had upon initially waking was only increasing. Instinct was telling him something was wrong. Though he knew if his theory was incorrect Olivia was most likely going to kick his ass, Elliot didn't care about the consequences. She'd been so not herself lately, he simply couldn't forgive himself if she really were sick and he didn't check on her.

Tiptoeing down the hall, Elliot's noticed that the bathroom door was partially ajar, which explained the light he'd seen filtering out into the living room. Feeling like a complete ass, and as though he were committing the ultimate transgression of invading his partner's privacy, he raised his hand to tap softly on the door with his knuckles.

"Liv? Are you okay?"

Elliot wasn't sure exactly why he was whispering, there was no one else in the apartment who he needed to worry about disturbing, and it was highly doubtful that Olivia had fallen asleep in there. Still, as close as they were, there were some boundaries they simply didn't cross, and as juvenile as it may seem, the bathroom was one arena where he'd always given his partner a wide berth. The ridiculousness of the situation was not lost on Elliot, as not only had he grown up in a household with sisters, but for the majority of his adult life, he'd lived with a wife and daughters. He was no stranger to sharing a bathroom with women. He'd even been a guest at Olivia's more nights than he could possibly count, so he wasn't sure where this discomfort stemmed from. Either way, there was no time to focus on that now, because he was finally getting an answer from the other side of the door.

"I'm fine, El. Go away."

Perhaps, Elliot thought, if he didn't know Olivia as well as he did, she might have been more convincing. But her voice was weak and strained, and there was no strength of emphasis behind it. Even if it hadn't been for that, there was the fact that her statement had been punctuated by the sound of retching that compelled him to move.

"Liv, I'm coming in."

His words were a matter of fact, not a request. As he pushed the door open, there was nothing that could have prepared Elliot for the sight before him. Olivia was all but collapsed on the floor in front of the toilet, hunched weakly over the porcelain bowl. When she turned to look at him – in what he assumed was an attempt to admonish him for daring to enter without an invitation – the paleness of her features were startling. But it was what Elliot saw when he took two steps closer that really shook him to his core.

He had only intended to kneel beside Olivia and offer what assistance he could by holding her hair back. Elliot had never been squeamish, and his years both in the service and on the force had given him a strong stomach for all sorts of things. Not to mention the fact that he was a father of five, and hardly a stranger to a little vomit. But as his eyes caught a glimpse of the contents of the toilet, Elliot knew that this was no ordinary upset stomach. By all appearances, Olivia seemed to be throwing up blood, and nothing good could come from that. Wrapping an arm around Olivia's shoulders, Elliot pulled her body against his, absorbing her weight against him. He'd been expecting her to put up a fight, but the brunette was so weak that she offered hardly any resistance at all.

"Liv, we need to get you to the hospital."

"No ambulance."

Elliot couldn't believe his ears. He'd been anticipating more of a fight, and he wasn't sure how to react at first. Olivia wasn't protesting the idea of going to the hospital, only negotiating the terms for the method of getting there. While he didn't necessarily agree, he could understand her point. She didn't want it on the record that an ambulance had been called to her residence, and she didn't want her neighbors spying on her personal business. If he called 911, it would be inevitable that the whole building – not to mention most of Manhattan NYPD would be talking about her.

Torn between wanting to do the right thing, and respecting his partner's wishes, Elliot offered a compromise. It was clear from the tone of his voice that the terms weren't open to any further bargains.

"Fine. I'll drive you, but I'm using the lights and sirens."

Elliot felt as Olivia nodded weakly against his chest, and didn't hesitate a moment longer. Scooping the brunette into his arms, he carefully got to his feet and carried her into the living room. He lay her on the couch only for the time it took to grab his wallet, phone, and keys. Then, after wrapping Olivia in a blanket to protect her from the chill in the night air, he carried her out the door and down to his car.

True to his word, Elliot raced to Mercy General at top speed. He was grateful that their personal vehicles were also equipped with the same lights and sirens as the sedans they used during the day. Typically, they were only to be used when rushing to a crime scene when on call in the middle of the night, but these were extraordinary circumstances. He'd take whatever reprimand was necessary if it meant that Olivia would be okay.

As soon as they reached the emergency room, Elliot screeched to a halt outside the doors, double parking in the last two available spots. He had enough presence of mind to leave his police placard visible on the dash, only to prevent his car from being towed. Sweeping Olivia up in his arms once more, he hurried through the automatic doors and straight for the triage nurse.

Since Olivia was still conscious, they'd brought her a wheelchair to sit in, but pushed her immediately to the front of the line. Elliot stood in the corner of the triage station, watching with concern as his partner's vital signs were taken and as Olivia struggled to answer the questions she was being asked. Whether it was appreciated or not, he offered help whenever he could.

The next thing he knew, the nurse was pushing Olivia toward the back where the exam rooms were. Elliot tried to follow, but he was stopped and told that he wasn't allowed to go with her. His eyes stayed on Olivia to the last possible moment, and when he saw her being wheeled into a room, the last thing he noticed was the sign posted outside the door – they were taking her into a trauma room. That was the moment that Elliot believed his heart skipped a beat and the blood in his veins turned to ice. Never before in his life had he been as afraid as this.

A/N: Although this is a work of fiction, some of the occurrences in this story are taken from a real life health crisis that I experienced in 2018. I'm incorporating some of my own memories and what happened into this, so it will be a deeply personal journey for me. I will try to make the medical information as accurate as possible whenever I can, but please try and remember that this is also what I remember, and not made up.