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 watched Olivia as she slept, his mind still trying to process the fact that the condition of his partner's health was so serious. It was a relief, though, to know that she was beyond the critical stage that she had been in yesterday when he'd first brought her to the hospital. Her current status hadn't changed, however, and that was the fact that she still remained in intensive care. Part of Elliot wanted to at least call Cragen so he could update their Captain on what was going on, if only he actually had some concrete information to update him with. For now, he hesitated to leave Olivia's side for very long, too worried that he would miss something important.

Startled from his distracted and intrusive thoughts by a blur of movement in his peripheral vision, Elliot directed his gaze back toward Olivia's face. She was awake again, though her disappointment at finding herself still in the hospital was obvious.

"I guess this isn't just a bad dream after all."

Olivia's voice was hoarse and cracked, both from lack of use and the fact that she hadn't been able to drink anything – even if the IV she was attached to was keeping her sufficiently hydrated. Hearing the woman who had always been a source of strength in his life sound so defeated made Elliot's own heart want to shatter in his chest. Despite it all, there had been an underlying layer of humor to her tone, and that was what gave him hope that his partner would have the will to power through this. Even so, he felt she deserved an answer.

"I'm afraid not, Liv, although I wish it were a nightmare, too."

Elliot hesitated for only the briefest of moments before continuing.

"Is there anything I can get for you? I mean, are you comfortable?"

Olivia's face flushed, and that was the only tell that Elliot needed. He knew then without question that she was in need of something, it was just a matter of getting her to put aside her pride and admit to it.

"Could you -"

Olivia started to ask her question before faltering, her anxiety getting the better of her. Mentally, she rebuked herself, cursing her own stubborn need for independence at all costs. This was Elliot, after all – he'd never judge her, and it certainly wouldn't be the first time he'd cared for her when she was sick, things had just never been to a level this extreme before. Not to mention, she'd taken care of him in the past as well.

"What is it, Liv? Just ask me."

Closing her eyes, having decided that her request would be much easier to voice aloud if she weren't looking at the man sitting by her bedside, Olivia dug deep into her reserves to find her courage.

"Do you think you could ask if I would be allowed more ice chips? I didn't have that many before, and I'm sure what was left has already melted."

"Of course. I'll go do that now. That reminds me, I also brought in some chapstick for you. Your lips are dry and starting to crack a little. I can help you with that, too, if you'd like."

"Please."

Squeezing Olivia's hand once in a gesture of reassurance, Elliot got to his feet and made his way out of the room and to the nurses station. Thankfully, he ran into no trouble at all procuring ice chips once he returned the mostly full cup of water, proving that their patient was adhering to the guidelines put in place by Dr. Abrhams. By the time he returned to Olivia's side, she was dozing lightly again, their short exchange having exhausted her already limited energy reserves. Torn between letting his partner get the rest he knew she needed, or giving her the ice chips she so desperately craved, Elliot's mind waged a brief debate before coming to a decision.

"Liv, it's me. I have your ice. If your open your mouth, I can give you a spoonful."

Though her eyes remained closed, Olivia's lips parted, the only invitation Elliot needed to give her some of the ice chips he'd gathered on the spoon. A soft sound of contentment escaped as she allowed the frozen crystals to melt on her tongue, and Elliot could only imagine what a relief it was to be allowed that one small luxury, as it were.

"May I help you with your chapstick, Liv?"

The nod was almost imperceptible, to the point where Elliot might not have seen it had it not been for the accompanying verbal confirmation.

"Please."

Fishing the small tube out of the pocket of his jeans, Elliot uncapped it, and rolled it up from the bottom one click so it would dispense better. Then, he swabbed it liberally over Olivia's lips, using the utmost care. When he was finished, he replaced the lid and set the chapstick on Olivia's bedside tray so it would be within easy reach for future use.

Before Elliot could say anything else, or even resume his prior position next to his partner, there was a knock on the glass partition that served as a door to the room. For her part, Olivia struggled to open her eyes to greet this new visitor, glancing briefly at Elliot. Her unspoken question asked him to be her advocate once more, which he was already prepared to do anyway.

"Good morning, Detective Benson. My name is Zac, and I'm from the hospital's radiology department. I was sent here to perform an echo cardiogram on your heart so your doctor can determine how well it is functioning. Is it all right if I come in?"

After looking to Olivia for a nod of consent, Elliot was the one who answered.

"Please."

"It will just take me a few minutes to get everything set up, and then we'll get started. If you'd like to have your friend stay for the duration of the test, he is more than welcome, or if you'd rather have this done privately, it should only take about twenty five minutes or so."

Again, Elliot ignored Zac, instead looking to Olivia for direction. Deep down, he knew she wanted him to stay, but he was also aware there would be times when her gown would have to be lowered. But there was one other thing he hadn't considered, and that was the fact that his partner was still trying to take care of him, even though she was the one in a hospital bed.

"Go, El. Take care of yourself for a bit. I know you, and you probably skipped breakfast to get here before the doctors came in. At least get something to eat. I don't need you to be in the hospital, too. I'll be fine."

"I don't know about that, Benson, but I do know better than to argue with you. I'll be back as soon as I can, and if you need me, I'm only a phone call away, okay?"

Olivia managed another nod, closing her eyes at the feel of Elliot's lips brushing against her forehead. Then, she watched as he turned on his heel and made an abrupt exit, almost as if he were forcing himself to walk out of her room before he could change his mind.

Just as Zac had promised, the echo cardiogram hadn't taken much time to complete at all, and Olivia was greatly relieved that there wasn't much she was required to do to participate. Even the act of raising her arm above her head to help the technician capture a better image had been exhausting, and she was relieved when the test was finished. The one downside, however, had been the remnants of the transmission gel that had been left behind on her skin. Yes, Zac had given her a clean towel to wipe herself off, but Olivia still longed for a shower, an impossible feat considering the amount of tubes and wires connected to her body. She also knew it wasn't even something she could ask for Elliot's help with, as the act of him helping her bathe would be far too intimate. In Olivia's mind, she'd already breached too many of the invisible lines they'd drawn for themselves as partners as it was, she didn't want to cross any more.

The other relief for Olivia had been that the test hadn't been painful, aside from a mild discomfort at the times when Zac had needed to use a firmer pressure than others with the wand that had danced across her skin. Though she'd remained awake throughout the procedure, the grainy images on the screen meant nothing to Olivia, and she tried her best not to think about it, having decided that the last thing she needed to do was worry. She was already in the hospital, she didn't need to make herself any sicker. If not for her own sake, then at least for Elliot's.

While everything about her current situation still seemed very surreal for Olivia, and she couldn't deny she was having trouble grasping the reality of her current situation, the health scare she'd experienced had indeed served as a wake up call of sorts. Prior to this, she'd gotten so wrapped up in her own grief over losing Calvin, that nothing else had mattered. Like an automaton, she would get up every morning and go to work, moving through the motions of her daily life without really caring. Yes, the job was still important to her, she had still had empathy for the survivors she helped – but the passion, the drive, hadn't been there for a very long time. As the weeks turned into months, the little things in regard to her self care had slipped to the wayside, and become forgotten, and Olivia hadn't even noticed – or cared- that her health was suffering.

The thoughts circulating through Olivia's brain were exhausting enough on their own, and coupled with her current condition, made her already weary mind and body even more worn out than it already was. Even though she'd done nothing but sleep since her admission to the hospital, Olivia found herself being pulled into slumber once more, no matter how determined she was to try and stay awake until Elliot's return. A part of her felt guilty, not only for the trouble she was causing her partner and best friend, but for being what she felt was such poor company. The logical part of her brain knew Elliot didn't fault her for any of this, but Olivia still held herself to blame. She hoped to be discharged as soon as possible, if for no other reason than so Elliot could get a break.

It just so happened, that as Olivia was starting to drift off, Elliot appeared in her room again, as if he had known how much she had needed him, but was too proud to admit out loud. At first, Olivia was concerned that Elliot had ignored her instructions that he take care of himself for awhile, in particular that he eat something, but it didn't take her long to notice the drink cup that he carried, nor the tell-tale stain of mustard on his shirt, no doubt that had come from his having rushed through his meal in his haste to get back to her. Though the situation was anything but humorous, Olivia couldn't help but wonder if Elliot had given himself a case of indigestion from having eaten so fast. That was probably what the soda he was still sipping from was for.

"Did you remember to chew? Or did you swallow the burger whole?"

Even as sick as she was, Olivia managed to look intimidating as she scrutinized Elliot with a raised eyebrow and an expression that said he had better tell her the truth.

"Am I that obvious?"

"Yes. I told you to take some time to yourself, El. It's not as if I were going to leave town while you were away."

Elliot smirked, sitting back in what he felt was his rightful place by Olivia's side. He took one last sip of his soda, then set the cup on the tray next to Olivia's bed. Taking her hand in his own, he brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"I wouldn't blame you if you did, Liv. This place sucks."

Olivia gave a snort of amusement that was almost a laugh. Even given the gravity of the situation, she was glad that Elliot was able to find some humor in her comment. It probably helped now that she was awake. Reading between the lines, though, she knew that her partner was still terrified for her. If she had any strength, Olivia would probably be terrified for herself, too. As it was, it was taking all her energy just to keep her eyes open, but she didn't want to stop talking to Elliot just yet. Despite all the uncertainty in her life right now with being in the hospital, his presence made her feel safe.

"Don't stay awake on my account, Liv. I'm not going anywhere."

Olivia didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It was amazing how well this man knew her. Then again, she could read him like a book, too. One of the benefits of having been partners for over a decade. It meant they could push each other's buttons like no one else was able, but it also meant that their bond was an unbreakable one. It was no joke when cops remarked that most partnerships were like a marriage, and Olivia would never forget that Elliot had once promised her way back in their early years that he was her partner 'for better or worse'. He'd certainly proven that more times than she could count, present situation included.

"I am tired. Not that I understand how I can be, all I've been doing is sleeping."

"You've been through a lot, Liv. Your body needs to recover. Sleep is the best thing for you."

"My own bed would be the best thing for me."

As soon as the words had been spoken, Olivia immediately wished she could take them back. She hadn't meant to complain, but the truth of the matter was she was terribly uncomfortable. She chanced a glance at Elliot, waiting for him to reprimand her for being an uncooperative patient, but all she saw in his eyes was compassion.

"I'm not going to argue with you on that, Liv. Is there anything I can do to make it better? Did you want me to bring in one of your own pillows from your apartment?"

"Maybe. Let's see what we learn from the doctors. But if it turns out I'm going to be in here much longer, I'm not going to turn that offer down. My neck and back are killing me."

"Did you want me to rub your back?"

"El -"

Olivia felt as Elliot took her hand in his own, something that she noticed that he had been doing a lot lately. She couldn't help but wonder how often he had held it while she was unresponsive. The sheer idea of that caused a warm sensation to flood through her body that had nothing whatsoever to do with the temperature of the room. It certainly wouldn't be the first time either of them had ever been physically demonstrative with one another – while they weren't particularly touchy on the job, they sometimes did reenact crime scenes to get an idea of how things played out, and it wasn't unusual for them to share a hug or offer comfort if the other needed it.

"Liv, please."

"It's not that I don't appreciate it, El. It's just that I don't think I can move into a position for that to be possible. Not right now. But, I just might hold you to that promise, and cash in a rain check for it later, if that's alright with you?"

"Whatever you need."

Despite her best efforts to stay awake, Olivia drifted off to sleep not long after her brief conversation with Elliot, the events of the day having taken their toll on her. As he kept his eyes glued on his slumbering partner, Elliot found himself conflicted yet again – to stay by Olivia's side where he felt he belonged, or to slip out of the room for a few minutes to make a phone call that would update Cragen and the others. Before he even had the opportunity to make a decision, his phone vibrated in his pocket, and Elliot was even more grateful that he had remembered to silence the device before entering the hospital earlier that morning.

"Stabler."

"Elliot, it's Don. Is this a good time? I didn't want to intrude, but I was hoping to see how Olivia was doing. Fin and John are on speaker with me, we have a few minutes here, so we thought we'd call to check in."

Elliot couldn't help but smile softly to himself at how the timing had worked itself out. Now, he didn't have to make a decision at all. So long as he kept his voice low, he could remain right here by Olivia's side and fill in their Captain, Fin, and John at the exact same time.

"She's sleeping right now, but I was actually just thinking about giving you a call so I could keep you all in the loop. We don't know much more than we did yesterday, but she's been marginally more alert today, which is a good thing. They also did an echo cardiogram a short while ago, so I hope we will get the results of that back soon."

"Any word on when would be a good time to come and visit?"

This time, Elliot hesitated before answering. He knew that Cragen and the others were equally as concerned as he was about Olivia. Their squad was a tight-knit one, very much a family unit in their own way.

"I still think that would probably be better if you wait until she were moved to a regular room. The way things are headed, that should be soon. She's still being monitored regularly right now, but things don't seem to be as urgent as they were when she was first brought in."

"No problem, we understand. Oh, and Elliot, you are taking care of yourself, too, aren't you? You know that it's necessary if you want to be there for your partner."

Despite the seriousness of the comment, Elliot couldn't help but laugh a little. He knew no one would take offense, and he also knew his next words would be understood perfectly by the men whom he was explaining to.

"Believe it or not, Liv is actually keeping me in check. She kicked me out of her room a few hours ago when they came to do the one test, insisted that I eat something. Yelled at me again when I got back, worried that I didn't take long enough and might have made myself sick for not taking my time."

"That sounds like Olivia."

This time, the sardonic tone of voice belonged to John Munch, but there was no denying that the man was right. Olivia was always the one making sure everyone else was taken care of, often while neglecting her own needs in the process.

"Was she right, though?"

Now it was Fin who was cutting in to the conversation, his inflection making it clear that the question didn't necessarily require an answer. While there was no doubt that he and Elliot had had their differences more than once over the years, the concern was still there.

"I'm doing okay – or at least, I promise I'll try and do better. The last thing I need is Liv pissed off at me right now."

"Just remember that you're not in this on your own, Elliot. And neither is Olivia. We're all here – not just for her, but for you, too. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Even if it's someone to sit with her for awhile so you can get a hot meal, a shower, and some sleep."

Elliot took the sage advice from his Captain to heart, knowing that the words were sincere. He also was aware that were it not for the fact that Olivia's current status as a patient in ICU, all of the men would have descended on the hospital already to check on her in person. As he was trying to think of something else to say, he glanced at the bed, surprised to find a pair of chocolate brown eyes watching him sleepily but intently.

"Listen, I need to go - Liv's awake. I'll call back tomorrow when I have another update. Thanks for checking in."

"Of course Elliot. Please tell her that we're thinking of her, and remember what I said about taking care of yourself."

"I will, Cap."

Elliot ended the call, setting the phone to the side, and after easily deciphering the expression on his partner's face, he reached for the cup on the bedside tray, which was luckily still mostly full of the ice chips he had procured earlier. Scooping a few up on the plastic spoon, he offered it to Olivia, who accepted it gratefully, a soft sound of contentment escaping from her throat as she found a semblance of relief for her dry mouth.

"You didn't have to end your phone call on my account, El. But since I already figured out you were talking to Cragen, how mad is he that I'm missing work?"

Just when Elliot thought that it was impossible for his heart to hurt any more than it already had the past couple of days, he felt another sharp pain in his chest at the weight of those words. Without hesitation, he took Olivia's hand in his own, desperate to provide reassurance.

"Honey, no one – especially not the Captain – is angry with you for missing work. You're in the hospital, it's not your fault. You didn't ask to get sick, it just happened."

Elliot waited for a response, but none came right away. Instead, Olivia's expression changed ever so slightly, one of her eyebrows arching up higher than the other. If he wasn't mistaken, she was somewhere between amused and annoyed - and he couldn't quite figure out why.

"Honey? You've resorted to pet names now? I'd like you to remember that just because I'm in a hospital bed, it doesn't mean I can't kick your ass."

Elliot felt his face flush as he made the connection as to why Olivia had reacted the way she did. He hadn't even realized he'd used the term of endearment to address her. The one thing he wasn't going to do was apologize for it – however, he would make amends for having made her feel uncomfortable.

"I wasn't trying to overstep, Liv. It slipped out. You just seemed so upset, I was trying to calm you down. I hate seeing you blame yourself for something beyond your control."

"I know, El, and I appreciate it. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me for anything, Liv. You know you'd do the same thing if our positions were reversed."

Though she didn't say anything out loud, Olivia's fingers tightened around Elliot's where he held her hand. Her eyes were softer now, and she nodded her agreement. As though sensing the atmosphere in the room was getting too heavy for either of them to handle, Elliot cleared his throat.

"Do you need me to get you anything?"

"Considering there isn't much I'm allowed to have, I don't think so. However, once I'm out of ICU and on a regular floor, would you be able to bring in a bag with some of my things from my apartment? I'm already sick of hospital gowns."

It was the first time Olivia had acknowledged out loud that her inpatient stay wasn't going to be ending anytime in the immediate future. Elliot knew exactly what that had cost her to admit, and didn't hesitate to offer whatever reassurance he could.

"Of course. You give me a list, and I'll get you whatever you ask for."

Olivia shifted in the bed, grimacing slightly as she did so. She was uncomfortable, but didn't want to complain. Also, she felt in need of another nap, even though she hadn't been awake for very long. Luckily, she had a partner who knew her as well as he knew himself.

"Sleep, Liv. I'm not going anywhere. I promise. Get the rest your body needs. I'll be right here."

Even though it felt as though that's all she'd been doing for days, after hearing Elliot's simple instruction, Olivia closed her eyes and succumbed to the siren call of slumber. Just before she drifted off, it was in the back of her mind to ask her partner something else about work, and she hoped she would remember whatever the question had been when she woke.

Once Elliot saw that Olivia's breathing had evened out, he waited a few minutes more before quietly easing himself out of the chair at her bedside and soundlessly slipping from the room. He was reluctant to leave her alone for any reason, especially knowing that the end of visiting hours would come sooner than he was ready for, but his bladder was insistent upon being relieved.

After stopping in the restroom, and tamping down the instinct to rush immediately back to Olivia, Elliot headed farther down the hall past the visitor waiting room to where the vending machines were. He wasn't hungry, still didn't know how he had even managed to eat lunch earlier that day when Liv had sent him to the cafeteria, but the forced air cycling through the hospital was making his mouth feel dry. At the very least, he wanted to grab a bottle of water to have something on hand to drink, even if it would only serve to repeat the cycle of eventually needing the bathroom yet again.

Water acquired, Elliot tried not to focus on how good walking around the halls had made him feel. It didn't seem fair to him, especially considering that was a luxury Olivia didn't have at the moment. While he'd hardly say his partner was complaining, she had briefly mentioned her physical discomfort twice now, and Elliot knew her well enough to realize just how bad she must be hurting to say something about it out loud. It only made his heart break that much more for her.

From his own experience in hospitals - and it was a well known fact over the course of their partnership that he was the more injury prone of the pair, Elliot understood just how unpleasant being dependent upon others could be. He'd always been fortunate to never need to stay inpatient for very long, but that had never made him a model patient, either, and the fact that Olivia wouldn't be going anywhere in the immediate future only made him that much more determined to do something nice for her once she was back in good health. Elliot didn't know yet what that would be, maybe he'd have to ask Kathleen for some ideas, but one thing was for certain, he was definitely going to treat Olivia to more than just dinner.

For now though, Elliot's main goal was seeing his partner's health restored to what it once had been. For months, he had made it part of his nightly prayer requests to see the smile return to Olivia's face. Since her sudden health crisis, those prayers had only intensified, Elliot imploring with God on an almost hourly basis that the woman who he cared so deeply for would make a full recovery. Even if that meant he would have to defy one of her more serious requests – Elliot was determined that Olivia would beat this, and he would stop at nothing. He'd rather have Olivia mad at him because he ignored her letter and gave her one of his kidneys than to lose her altogether.

Filled with a sudden wave of inspiration, Elliot doubled back to Olivia's room only briefly, to check and make sure that the brunette was still sleeping soundly. Satisfied that she was resting comfortably, he retraced his steps once more to head toward the elevators, taking them down to the hospital chapel. Grateful to be alone in the small room, Elliot first lit a candle for his partner's health, then situated himself on one of the wooden benches and began to pray. Unlike the more formal prayers he was accustomed to, this was more of a means to try and fortify his soul, asking for the strength he would need should it become necessary to give Olivia a part of his body to keep her alive. His worries for his own personal safety weren't for his benefit, but more for the sake of his family. If not for his kids, and it would guarantee that his partner and best friend would be restored to full health, he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever was necessary. Elliot knows that this is the main reason why Olivia had refused his impulsive offer made so many years ago, where she would do the same for him in a heartbeat. It pains him to know that someone he cares about so deeply has never fully grasped her own self worth, but then that is also partly his fault, because he has never told her often enough just how much she means to him.

Sitting there in the quiet hospital chapel, Elliot vows that is going to change. He and Olivia may never have talked much about their feelings in the past, and he's just as much to blame for that as anyone else, but no more. Even if Olivia won't be ready for the heavy conversations anytime soon, he's going to prove to his partner that he's got her back in more than just the field. He's going to do what he should have done the day Calvin was taken away. He's going to give Olivia a reason to fight.

It is only after hearing the hollow echo of his own sob in the room that Elliot realized that he was crying. Unashamed, he wiped the tears from his eyes and drew a shaky breath. He really should be getting back to Olivia, he hadn't meant to leave her alone for this long. The weight on his shoulders feels considerably lighter, though, so perhaps this detour had been therapeutic after all.

Elliot stopped in the restroom again for a second time on his way back to Olivia's room so he could splash some water on his face to hide the fact that he'd been crying. At least he hoped she wouldn't notice, but she was a detective, after all, so part of him was braced for an interrogation as soon as he crossed the entrance to her ICU suite. Luck appeared to be on his side, however - for all intents and purposes, Olivia still appeared to be sleeping, so Elliot took his place by her side, sitting down quietly so as not to disturb her.

Grateful that the chair in Olivia's room was more comfortable than that in most hospitals he'd been in, Elliot stretched out his legs and tried his best to relax. Though he'd never admit it to his partner, he'd barely slept the night before, instead having spent most of his time on the internet researching her condition. It was a dangerous practice to get into, but there was no way his nerves would have let him sleep anyway, and he had exercised enough caution to only read reputable sites so as not to fall into a rabbit hole of misinformation that would only feed his panic. For the most part, while everything he had read emphasized how serious what Olivia was dealing with was, the outlook for recovery remained positive. Not that Elliot had believed the doctors were lying, but it felt good to have that added reassurance.

No amount of reassurance would be enough for him, however – not until the moment the doctors proclaimed that Olivia was one hundred percent healed from this medical ordeal. While not an impossible journey, it was still a long road ahead, and Elliot hoped that his partner would allow him to stay by her side as a support system. In truth, he was surprised that she hadn't tried pushing him away as it was already, and supposed that only showed that her own fear was worse than she'd even been able to put voice to. Not that he blamed her in the slightest – while it seemed like eons had passed already, this was only her second day in the hospital, so trying to come to terms with everything was still new to them both.

A glance to his right told Elliot that Olivia was still sleeping peacefully, so he decided to take advantage of the opportunity to close his own eyes for a few precious moments and get some rest himself. He briefly considered setting an alarm on his phone so he wouldn't doze for long, but decided against it, too afraid the noise would disturb the slumbering woman next to him, who desperately needed as much uninterrupted rest as possible.

If he was being honest with himself, Elliot hadn't been expecting to sleep at all. However, the next thing he knew, a hand was on his arm, and he could hear Olivia calling to him. Her voice was still so weak it broke his heart, but he would recognize the sound of it anywhere.

"El, Elliot. Go home. At least one of us should get some sleep in a decent bed, don't you think?"

Elliot glanced to his side and met the gaze of his partner, who was watching him with concern. Instantly, a wave of guilt washed over him. Even though he knew he couldn't fault her for it, she shouldn't be worried about him right now, her focus needed to be on her own welfare.

"Don't worry about me, Liv. I'll go home later, I promise. But for now, my place is here with you. I'm not going to lie to you and say I wasn't tired, but let's just consider this like one of those cat naps you always accuse me of taking on stake outs, okay?"

With those words, a knowing smirk became the prominent expression on Olivia's face, and Elliot braced himself for the rejoinder that was no doubt about to follow.

"You mean the ones where you tell me you're just 'resting your eyes'?"

Yet again, Elliot counting his blessings that despite the seriousness of the situation, his partner's sense of humor remained intact.

"Exactly. You should know better than anyone that keeping focus on any one point for too long can cause eye strain."

"You'd be more convincing if you didn't snore every time you 'rested your eyes', El."

Laughing with earnest now, Elliot reached out and tucked the nasal cannula back behind Olivia's ear, allowing his hand to rest on her shoulder briefly for a few moments after. Before he had a chance to say anything else, a nurse appeared in the doorway. Olivia and Elliot exchanged a glance, all joking between them forgotten.

"Pardon me for interrupting, Olivia – but Doctor Campbell has ordered a daily injection of heparin in addition to the Intermittent Pneumatic Compression device on your legs as a precaution against blood clots during your hospital stay."

Not really liking the news, but resigned to do whatever was necessary to keep herself from getting any sicker than she already was, Olivia nodded her consent. As mindful of her modesty as he had been the day before, Elliot stepped out to give her some privacy.

A few minutes later, Olivia and Elliot were on their own again. While he had been outside the room, Elliot had taken it upon himself to refresh Olivia's supply of ice chips. The remaining time of visiting hours were dwindling down, and it wouldn't be long now before he'd be asked to leave for the night. He was surprised Olivia hadn't been more insistent before in trying to make him go, and he was grateful that she had relented. However, he could see that exhaustion was settling in yet again, and made up his mind that he would stay only as long until his partner fell asleep once more, with a promise to return first thing the following morning.

To his surprise, Olivia didn't fight him when he said he'd be back the next day. However, she was adamant that he take care of himself once he got home – and to her, that meant a decent meal and good night of sleep. Elliot was hesitant to make a promise he wasn't certain he could keep, but there was also no way he could deny the imploring look in his partner's eyes. Even on the best of days, he'd do anything she asked. So of course now that she was at her worst, there was no way he was going to tell her no.

As Elliot watched his Olivia fight sleep, he truly did understand her internal battle. He was waging a similar one of his own. Still, as reluctant as he was to leave, he knew she needed her rest, and didn't want her staying awake on his account. Just as he was about to try and soothe her, her voice reached his ears.

"El?"

"Yeah, Liv?"

"Thank you."

Olivia mumbled something more after that, but it was incoherent, and Elliot wasn't able to decipher what she had said. Even though he was certain she was asleep now, he still waited another twenty minutes, until her breathing was deep and even. Then, with a soft kiss on his partner's forehead, and a whispered vow that he would see her again in the morning, Elliot tiptoed out of the room and made his way out of the hospital. As he exited the parking garage and turned in the direction that would lead him home, he hoped that he would be able to keep his promise of taking care of himself.