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.

When he was able to catch his breath, Elliot tried to force himself to think rationally. The first thing he needed to do was move the car. Hospital staff and security may have been patient with him so far, but he was here with Olivia for the long haul, and he didn't want to test their limits. After parking in a more respectable spot, Elliot returned to the waiting room, sinking down into a chair and burying his face in the palms of his hands. The adrenaline that had been coursing through him since waking up and finding out that Olivia was sick was starting to wear off, leaving plenty of room for the fears in his mind to take over and spiral out of control.

He still couldn't get the more recent images of Olivia out of his brain. It was as though they would be burned there indelibly – much like the blame that was starting to take root in his soul. Like some macabre movie, visions of his partner's slow decline over the past two months began to play out, the images dancing behind his closed eyelids. The memories that were the sharpest though were from just a short while ago, the sight of Olivia all but collapsed on her bathroom floor, the contents of the toilet bowl stained in crimson. That, and how fragile she had felt when he'd hoisted her into his arms to carry her down to his car to drive her here to the hospital. Never in the thirteen years that he'd known her, had he ever associated the word fragile with Olivia Benson.

Elliot was also aware that the fact that Olivia had been taken into a trauma room meant that her situation was precarious, something he had already gleaned while he'd been surreptitiously watching the triage nurse take his partner's vitals. Olivia's heart rate had been alarmingly high, her blood pressure dangerously low. Even her blood oxygen levels had been concerning. Elliot knew that a trauma room would have the necessary equipment on standby should his partner take a turn for the worse and start to crash, and for the first time in his life he was cursing the medical knowledge he had attained over the many years working as a first responder. There were far too many variables dancing around in his brain right now, and none of the outcomes were positive.

Already, it felt like a lifetime had passed since Olivia had been whisked away from him to somewhere he couldn't follow. But when Elliot glanced at his watch, he noticed that it had been barely twenty minutes since they had first arrived at the hospital. As a father, some of his worst memories had been the times when any of his kids had been sick or hurting, and he'd been unable to say or do anything that would make them better. Now, with his partner so critically ill and not having any idea as to what could be wrong, Elliot was filled with an equal sense of helplessness. If someone granted him the opportunity, he would switch places with Olivia in a heartbeat, if only it would guarantee that she would be okay. She meant that much to him.

Elliot was pulled from his reflective thinking when his phone began to ring in his pocket. Ignoring the glares aimed in his direction from the other people sitting in the emergency department waiting room, he hurried to answer, especially when he saw that the caller was none other than his Captain.

"Stabler."

"Elliot, I'm sorry to bother you on your weekend off, but I need you to pick up Olivia and head to a crime scene. Munch and Fin are already out on another call and aren't finished yet."

Closing his eyes, Elliot held back the groan that threatened to escape his lips. So much for his hopes of protecting Olivia's privacy for as long as possible. Now, he would have to tell their commanding officer exactly where they were. Not that either of them would be reprimanded, but if she heard about this case, it was likely Olivia would blame herself for being sick and not being able to help.

"I can't do that, Cap, Olivia is sick. In fact, I'm at the hospital with her right now, waiting to hear something from the doctors."

In an instant, all premise of authority evaporated from Donald Cragen's voice. Left in its wake was the father figure he tried to be for his squad, especially to the woman he thought of as a daughter.

"Olivia's sick? What's wrong?"

"I don't know yet, but it's bad, Cap. She was throwing up blood. When we got to the ER, her vitals were all over the place. They wouldn't even let me stay with her, just rushed her back to an exam room."

"Don't worry about this case, then. I'll call in someone else, or handle it myself if I have to. Stay with Olivia, and keep us updated."

Elliot nodded, then remembered that his Captain couldn't see him.

"I will call as soon as I know something."

After hanging up, Elliot changed the settings on his phone to vibrate only. He wasn't expecting any more calls, but didn't want the ringing to be disruptive. Then it was just a matter of trying to resist the urge to pace until he found out word about Olivia.

The hours ticked by, and Elliot still sat alone in the waiting room without hearing any updates on how Olivia was doing. How he'd refrained this long from asking for any information on his partner's condition was astounding, even to him. But, as Elliot had reasoned with himself, anything that would deter Olivia from getting the attention and care she so desperately needed was not something he wanted to contribute to.

His patience didn't negate his worries, however, and a myriad of fears continued to infiltrate his thoughts. Every possible terrifying outcome or worst case scenario ran on a repeat loop in his brain, coupled with the heavy weight of guilt for not having intervened sooner. Guilt was an emotion Elliot was all too familiar with. Some of it stemmed from his Catholic upbringing and the tenets that he still upheld to this day, while others were just because of the man he was. It was no secret that he carried the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, and while he made it his mission to try and make the world a better place for his children, he often neglected his own needs in the process.

Lost in his own torment, Elliot didn't hear the approaching footsteps until the doctor was standing right beside him. He hadn't given his name when he'd registered Olivia as a patient here in the emergency room, but one of the nurses on duty had recognized them. Not to mention, he had been listed in Olivia's file as her emergency contact since the second year of their partnership. Olivia had bestowed the title on him not long after her mother's passing, knowing she had no other family or friends whom she trusted enough to make decisions on her behalf.

"Excuse me, Detective Stabler?"

Elliot raised his head from where it had been buried in his palms to look in the direction of the voice that had just called his name. Almost immediately, he recognized that Dr. Kyle Beresford was standing beside him, and felt a sense of relief at knowing such a skilled physician had been treating Olivia. Not that any of the doctors here at Mercy General were less than qualified, but it just helped seeing a familiar face. Getting to his feet, Elliot wasted no time with pleasantries.

"Dr. Beresford. How is Olivia doing, can I see her?"

"Why don't you come with me? I'd prefer to have this discussion somewhere more private."

At the suggestion from the doctor to take the conversation someplace where they wouldn't be overheard, Elliot immediately feared the worst. The blood in his veins turned to ice, and he could have sworn his heart stopped beating in his chest. He was holding his breath, because he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear whatever Dr. Beresford had to say. As long as he didn't know the truth, Elliot could go on believing that Olivia was just fine. In fact, maybe if he pinched himself, he'd wake up to find that this entire situation were just one of the many terrible nightmares that had plagued him over the years.

"Is she -"

Elliot's voice was strangled, and sounded foreign to his own ears. He wasn't even sure how he'd managed to choke out those two words, let alone attempt to finish the question he couldn't bring himself to ask. Mercifully, the doctor understood exactly what he was trying to say, and hurriedly made every effort to reassure him.

"No, Detective. It's nothing like that. Olivia is alive, but she is very ill. Her condition is, in fact, quite serious. I just want to discuss with you the treatments we've provided for her thus far, and as soon as we get her transferred to a room up in the intensive care unit, I'll make sure you're allowed to see her."

Olivia needed the intensive care unit? Elliot still didn't have any more answers about what was wrong with his partner than when he'd first arrived, and what little information he'd been given to go on was almost enough to make him need medical care himself. Even so, he managed to get to a standing position and followed obediently after the doctor, though he wasn't exactly sure how all his limbs were operational. He certainly wasn't capable of forming coherent sentences.

After walking what seemed like forever, but in reality had only been the distance of one short hallway, Dr. Beresford led the detective to a small consulting room. Away from the din of the rest of the hospital, Elliot was able to hear himself think for the first time in a matter of hours. As the emergency room physician set the chart in his hands down on the table between them, Elliot caught sight of his partners name on the file, and that was when reality truly began to sink in.

Olivia was a patient here. Worse than that, she was being moved to the intensive care unit, and Elliot had yet to learn what had caused the health crisis that had made his friend so very ill this morning. Despite the severity of the situation, he was still counting his blessings. What would have happened had he not trusted his gut instinct, and instead decided to leave Olivia on her own this weekend like he knew she had wanted? Thank goodness he had come up with that pitiful excuse of the heat in his apartment being out and made an unwelcome pest of himself, or there was no telling when – or even if – anyone would have found out she was ill until it was too late. From experience alone, Elliot knew that Olivia would have been too stubborn to call for help on her own.

"Elliot?"

Pulled back to the present by the sound of Dr. Beresford calling his name, Elliot startled out of his reverie and focused his attention on the man sitting across from him. Still finding words difficult, he nodded his head, indicating that he was ready for whatever explanation the doctor was about to give.

Dr. Beresford tapped the keyboard a few times, until he found the results he was looking for. Swiveling the monitor around so that Elliot could see what he was trying to show, he knew there was something else that needed to be explained first.

"As I mentioned a few minutes ago, Olivia is very ill. We've managed to stabilize her vitals, though as her next of kin, I think it's only fair that you know that there were a few precarious moments when things were very touch and go."

Just when he thought that his heart had resumed beating normally, Elliot felt his chest constrict with yet another arrhythmia. Unlike Olivia had been, though, he was not in need of immediate medical attention, even if it once again felt like the very breath had been stolen from his body. He reasoned with himself that until he could actually see his partner, confirm with his own eyes that she was in fact still alive and breathing, his own vitals would continue to betray him.

"Please, go on."

Though it had been a simple statement, Elliot mentally applauded himself for being able to speak in a full sentence this time around. He immediately pushed the distracting thought to the wayside, needing to focus on whatever information would be imparted to him next.

"Preliminary testing indicates that Olivia has suffered from a cardiac event known as Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy."

Elliot may not have had the same wealth of knowledge as the skilled physician he was currently sitting across from, but he knew enough to not need the words spelled out any clearer than they already had been. His next words were barely a whisper, and he was once again attempting to convince himself that this was all just some macabre nightmare that he would wake up from, just like the night terrors that had haunted him previously.

"Olivia had a heart attack?"

"Not exactly. Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy is what we refer to in layman's terms as 'broken heart syndrome'. I know it's no secret that your jobs are already high stress, but has she been through anything above and beyond what she usually deals with lately?"

The situation was anything but amusing, but Elliot found a mirthless laugh escaping his lips nevertheless. He wasn't worried about Dr. Beresford taking offense, because he was aware the doctor knew as well as he did that his emotions were all over the place.

"You could say that. She recently suffered a loss of sorts that affected her very deeply. A boy she was given guardianship of and had bonded with was removed from her care in an act of spite, and she hasn't been the same since."

Nodding his head, the doctor made a notation on the electronic chart in front of him.

"That would definitely be a trigger. Typically Takotsubo is brought on by a significant event, like the sudden loss of a loved one, or a time of great stress. It can on occasion, be a more gradual buildup, which is what I think happened in Olivia's case."

"But if it wasn't an actual heart attack, then that must mean she will recover?"

Dr. Beresford addressed the clearly broken man sitting across from him with kind eyes. In all the times they'd interacted with one another, he'd always respected Detective Stabler – and Detective Benson – a great deal. It was also easy to see how much the two cared for one another. Even though Elliot hadn't explicitly said so, Dr. Beresford knew without question that he would swap places with Olivia with no questions asked, if only to spare her the suffering she was currently dealing with.

"That's where things get difficult. It was an actual cardiac event, and the heart muscle itself has been weakened significantly. In particular, the left ventricle. We'll have to do follow up tests in a few days to assess just how severe the damage is, but as of right now, I would estimate that Olivia's heart is pumping at only fifty percent of the capacity it should be."

"What can you do for her?"

"We have her on a BiPap– or a bilevel positive airway pressure – machine to assist with her breathing. It's a bit more helpful than just having her on a nasal oxygen cannula, but not as extreme as what intubation would require. When you see her, she'll just have a mask over her face."

Elliot nodded blithely, barely aware that he was clinging to the arms of the chair for all he was worth. A part of him wondered if, by the time he'd finished receiving this update, he wouldn't require some sort of respiratory assistance of his own. He was only half listening as the doctor described some of the other medical interventions that were being taken to help make sure Olivia was not only comfortable, but that she also remained stable.

"There are a few more things you need to be aware of."

There was more? How much worse could it possibly get for Olivia than having what basically amounted to a heart attack? No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Elliot was instantly rebuking himself, having learned over the years that you never ask what else can go wrong, especially at a time like this.

"Just tell me, doc."

"When Olivia was brought into the ER, her blood glucose reading was over six hundred, a level which places her in the category of diabetic ketoacidosis. Given that she was already in extreme medical crisis when she arrived, I see no reason to believe that the impact will be permanent – however, we are currently treating her with insulin, and will be testing her sugars regularly while she is an inpatient."

Elliot felt his stomach bottom out, and he'd lost count of how many times that had happened already. He had a feeling he wasn't done hearing the news, but all he wanted right now was to see Olivia. They may have spent the last thirteen years perfecting the art of keeping a respectful distance with one another, but nothing was going to stop him from taking her hand in his own and holding on for all he was worth.

"I know you've had a lot to absorb in just a short amount of time, so I just have one more piece of Olivia's health to pass on, and then I'll try to let you see her as soon as possible. I want you to know that even though this last bit may be distressing to hear, I don't want you to panic."

Even though Dr. Beresford's intentions had been good, that was the worst possible thing he could have said in the moment. The instant Elliot heard the words 'don't panic', that is precisely what he began to do. He wasn't sure what to expect, but what he heard next served to completely shatter his soul.

"We're not entirely sure as to the cause, whether it was triggered by the health crisis, or the other way around, but test results indicate that in addition to everything else, Olivia is also experiencing acute kidney failure."

Kidney failure. The words haunted Elliot unlike anything else he could ever imagine. Incapable of responding to the doctor, he momentarily became lost inside his own mind as he was transported back in time several years. It was the point when Olivia had only just returned from Oregon, and their partnership had been rekindled. Throughout the difficult and complicated Masoner case, it had always seemed to Elliot that he had forever been sticking his foot in his mouth, and they were more on edge with one another than ever before. Once things had been resolved, albeit in an unconventional way, it had also led to a surprising revelation. Glenn Cheales had ultimately been arrested for his crimes, but his wife Naomi had been left with terminal liver failure as a result of his actions. It had taken some finesse and wrangling on the part of the detectives, but they had managed to arrange it so that Glenn could donate a lobe of his liver to save Naomi's life. As they were leaving the hospital, while waiting for an elevator, Olivia had impulsively asked Elliot what his blood type was. Never in a million years had he expected to have something like that in common with the woman who he'd worked beside for so long. Olivia's answering declaration had sparked a moment of impulsivity on his behalf as well, and he'd offered her a kidney on the spot. Not only had she countered the proposal with an offer of her own, but that had been a memory Elliot had never forgotten. Given his propensity for bad luck in the field, in particular whenever FBI Agent Dana Lewis was around, he had always thought that Olivia would be the one to uphold the promise they had made to one another. But now, in the wake of this health crisis, it seemed to Elliot that it may finally be his chance to step up to the plate. Snapping out of his reverie, he finally addressed the doctor, his tone of voice leaving no room for negotiation.

"We're the same blood type. She can have one of my kidneys. She can have anything of mine that she needs."

Dr. Beresford regarded Elliot with a kind expression, not at all offended by the outburst.

"It's very selfless of you to offer, Elliot, but we're not at that point just yet. I'm not going to lie to you, Olivia's condition is very serious, but in this instance, a transplant may not ever be necessary. When dealing with acute kidney failure brought on by sudden illness, quite often the organs will return to normal function on their own following treatment."

The immense relief that surged through Elliot upon hearing that bit of news brought a sense of calm, but his fears would not be dissuaded completely. He knew, instinctively, that whatever lay ahead for Olivia in terms of recovery, it would not be an easy road.

"What do you have planned to do for her next?"

"We're not going to delve too heavily into any aggressive treatment plans just yet, not until Olivia is beyond the point of crisis and out of the intensive care unit. For the time being, we are going to focus on keeping her stable and comfortable."

It was with that explanation that the weight of this new reality fully began to sink in for Elliot. This was not going to be like times in the past when Olivia hadn't been feeling well, or even when she'd sustained a minor injury at work. She was in intensive care, and even after the urgency of her illness passed, she still wouldn't be going home right away. Knowing her dislike of hospitals, Elliot found himself wishing once again that he could trade places with his partner. Not only to spare her the anxiety she would no doubt feel, but also because he just couldn't bear to see anyone whom he loved in pain.

Whatever it was that Olivia would need, Elliot was determined that they would cross that bridge together. There was no way he was going to leave her to navigate these uncharted waters on her own, no matter how much she would undoubtedly try to push him away. The rest of that, though, could wait. After receiving all the news that he had about his partner's current health condition, nothing mattered more to Elliot now than being by her side.

"Please, can I see her?"

While he'd never considered himself the type of man to beg for anything, there was a desperation in Elliot's voice that even he recognized. Unashamed, he looked beseechingly at the doctor, hoping that the one thing he wanted most right now would be granted to him.

"We're still waiting to get Olivia transferred to a room up in intensive care. I promise you, once she is settled, you will be allowed in to see her. Until then, why don't you take some time to yourself. If you'd like, I can have someone call you once she's able to have visitors? Or, you can head up to the visitors lounge in ICU and wait there."

It wasn't the answer Elliot had wanted to hear, but it was better than an outright refusal. He'd already waited several hours just to hear an update on Olivia's condition, a little bit longer wouldn't break him – even if it felt as though it might. Plus, that would give him an opportunity to call back Captain Cragen, who no doubt had been just as worried about Olivia ever since their hurried conversation earlier that morning.

"I do have a couple phone calls I need to make, so once I take care of that, I think I'll grab a cup of coffee, then head up to the visitors lounge. Thank you, Doctor, not just for taking the time to explain everything so clearly, but for everything you've done for Olivia."

Elliot extended his hand, which was accepted by Dr. Beresford.

"Of course. Even though she will be transferred out of my care soon, I plan to keep tabs on Olivia's condition while she is here at the hospital. Please, let me know if there is anything else I can do, for either of you."

With a nod, Elliot agreed, then headed back to the main part of the emergency room. Making his way through the halls, his next destination was the cafeteria. Uncertain as to whether or not he'd be allowed to take the coffee with him up to Olivia's floor, he planned to drink the beverage in the dining area, then head upstairs. Plus, it would give him a chance to update Cragen and the others.

Elliot chose an isolated table in a quiet corner of the cafeteria, purposely avoiding others. He was a man on a mission, intending to stay here only long enough to choke down a cup of coffee and make a few necessary phone calls before heading to be by Olivia's side. There was no way he had any patience to make small talk with members of hospital staff who should happen to recognize him, let alone random strangers.

As he mentally prepared himself for the conversation he was about to have with his Captain, Elliot sipped his coffee, burning his tongue in the process. He paid no heed to the pain, the discomfort failing to register to his already disoriented senses. He was equally unaware of the unpleasant taste of the bitter brew. The only thing that did have Elliot's attention at the present moment was how badly his hands were shaking as he tried to find Cragen's number among his list of contacts on his phone. It was rare for Elliot to find himself at a loss for words, but that was precisely what happened the minute his superior officer answered on the other end of the line. Having recognized his Detective's number, Cragen had wasted no time with pleasantries.

"Elliot. How's Olivia? Is there any news?"

Up until this point, Elliot had been doing what he considered was a respectable job of keeping the myriad of emotions coursing through his mind contained, a feat in and of itself. That ability crumbled to pieces the instant he heard the familiar and concerned voice of his Captain. The surreality of the moment evaporated entirely as the weight of truth came crashing in full force. In the seconds that elapsed, Elliot lost what remained of his already fragile control, and much to his dismay, he began to openly weep.

Knowing that whatever was going on with Olivia had to be serious indeed if it had driven Elliot to the point of tears, Don Cragen knew he couldn't waste any more time. Instead, he was going to do what he should have done all along. Without even bothering to wait for a response, the senior of the two men spoke again, leaving no room for argument.

"I'm on my way to the hospital now, Elliot. I'll call you back when I get there."

How he managed to form any type of acknowledging reply, Elliot didn't know. He only knew he needed to get to a place where there weren't so many people. Nearly forgetting to throw away his still full cup of coffee in his hurry to escape, Elliot made a hasty retreat out of the cafeteria. His initial plan was to opt for the stairs instead of the elevator, with the intent to jog up several punishing flights, another desperate attempt to rid his body of some of the nervous energy that was begging to be set free. Instead, Elliot headed down the hall toward the seclusion of one of the private restrooms. Only when he was safely locked within the safety of those four walls did Elliot allow himself to collapse back against the door, his legs giving out on him at last as sobs emanated from somewhere deep in his chest. Sinking slowly to the floor, Elliot permitted himself a few precious minutes to fall apart.

It was only when his tears were spent that Elliot shakily got to his feet. Stumbling over to the sink, he adjusted the faucet to cold, and splashed some water on his face. He'd had his brief moment of weakness. Cragen would be calling back any minute, and he would have to face his Captain, inform the man as to what was going on. Then, Elliot vowed, he would go be with Olivia. She needed him to be strong for her right now. His own needs could wait.

Although he was thinking much more clearly than he had been even a few minutes earlier, Elliot was still incredibly surprised when he reached the bank of elevators and quite literally ran into his superior officer waiting for one of the sets of doors to open up. While he didn't know exactly how much time he had spent sitting on the bathroom floor falling apart, Elliot was aware that it hadn't been long enough for his Captain to get here while obeying all of the proper traffic laws. For Cragen to have reached the hospital already, the man must have been driving at breakneck speeds, sirens blaring. Knowing this, the depth of gratitude Elliot felt was almost overwhelming, and threatened to make his knees buckle on him yet again. Forcing himself to remain steady, Elliot turned to the familiar face.

"Cap."

Though he could have sworn he'd managed to get his emotions under control, the strangled sound of Elliot's voice was obvious even to his own ears. With great effort, he swallowed down the lump in his throat and blinked several times in rapid succession to ward off the renewed onset of tears that had threatened to fall. He couldn't fall apart, not again. But he also didn't want to have such an important conversation about Olivia out in the open, either. Though it was unusual for a Detective to be the one to give orders, this was more a humble request.

"Come with me. We'll go somewhere quiet to talk, and I'll tell you everything I know."

The two men took the elevator upstairs, Elliot leading the way until they arrived at the waiting room just outside the intensive care unit. The concerned expression on Cragen's face only seemed to double in intensity once he realized their location.

"Elliot? What's going on? What's wrong with Olivia?"

As best as he knew how, Elliot relayed the information that had been bestowed on him by Dr. Beresford. That conversation seemed like a lifetime ago, but in reality it had only been a mere forty five minutes since Elliot had left the small office inside the emergency room. That didn't include the many agonizing hours he had spent prior to then, waiting on any word on his partner's condition. Once he'd tried to absorb what he'd been told about his Detective's current state of health, Don Cragen didn't waste any time setting his next plan of action into motion.

"All right. Here's what we're going to do. Effective immediately, you are both on leave. I know Olivia's goes without saying – I'll submit her paperwork as soon as I get back to the station – but I know you're going to want to be with her as much as possible. Don't worry about the logistics, Elliot, just let me handle it, okay?"

The idea of taking a leave of absence from work hadn't even occurred to Elliot. Realistically, he knew that was what he was going to do anyway, regardless if it were approved or not, but to try and comprehend all the paperwork now was too much to even think about. Still feeling overwhelmed, Elliot watched as his Captain withdrew an envelope from his suit jacket.

"What's that?"

"This is something I had hoped to never have to give you. Olivia left it in my care years ago, in the event that something happened to her and you were left to make medical decisions on her behalf. Since we don't know exactly where we stand right now, I think it's something you need to read."

With a shaking hand, Elliot accepted the envelope, but couldn't think of anything to say in response. His mind was swirling with everything he'd just heard. Before he could get too lost in thought, a nurse entered the waiting room.

"Excuse me, Detective Stabler? Detective Benson is able to have visitors now."

Although Elliot had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever, it appeared that his courage had failed him. Turning to look at his Captain, it wasn't until the older man gave a nod of encouragement that he was able to get to his feet and follow after the woman in scrubs. Was he really prepared to see Olivia, knowing now just how seriously ill she actually was? Determined, Elliot kept walking, reminding himself that his partner needed him to be strong.

As he stepped through the open glass doors that the nurse had indicated, he scarcely recognized the form on the bed, even though in his heart he knew it was Olivia. While the mask Dr. Beresford had spoke of concealed most of her face, it didn't hide the beauty of the woman who lay before him. Even while facing an illness as grave as this, Olivia remained one of the most beautiful creatures Elliot had ever laid eyes on.

Collapsing into the chair beside the bed, his legs unwilling to hold him up any longer, Elliot reached out a shaking hand. Gently entwining his fingers with Olivia's he brought their joined palms to his lips to place a soft kiss on her knuckles. As much as he tried to fight it, a stray tear trailed down his cheek. With the sound of the heart monitor in the background, Elliot spoke to his partner for the first time in hours.

"You're going to get through this Liv. I'm going to make sure of it. You won't have to do this alone."

His promise made, Elliot allowed himself to relax as best he could, never once letting go of Olivia's hand. He was settling in for the long haul, prepared to keep vigil for as long it took. In his mind, he'd already failed Olivia once for not having noticed her deterioration. He wasn't going to fail her again.