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.

To say Elliot wasn't in a rush to get to the hospital to see Olivia this morning would be a lie, but knowing that his partner was considerably more stable did allow him to take the time to stop for a quick breakfast and cup of coffee on the way. He was also impressed with the fact that he'd had an adequate rest the night before, unlike the first evening Olivia had spent in ICU when he'd tossed and turned and been haunted by nightmares whenever he would doze off. That didn't mean his sleep had been completely uninterrupted – the memory of the emergency situation the other day was still seared permanently in his brain – but now that the critical stage had passed, it was becoming easier to accept the reality of Olivia's condition. Elliot knew he couldn't fall apart – at least not in front of her – she was going to need his strength to get through whatever lie ahead.

As he made his way to the floor that housed the ICU, Elliot drained the last of his coffee. While he was aware that Olivia's appetite was still virtually nonexistent, he wasn't sure if she was experiencing any nausea, and he didn't want to flaunt the beverage openly in front of his partner, especially when her current diet was limited to only ice chips. But, he also knew that Olivia's first question upon seeing him would be whether or not he was taking care of himself, so luckily he had the trash bag from his breakfast to throw away in the trash can in her room.

It was earlier than traditional visitor's hours, but given that Elliot was Olivia's medical proxy, he had been granted special permission to come in first thing in the morning so he could be present for doctor's rounds, particularly considering the fact that Olivia herself was only just becoming coherent enough to process what she was being told. Tiptoeing into the room quietly, as he had expected to find his partner still sleeping, Elliot was pleasantly surprised to find Olivia awake and scrolling through her phone.

"Morning, Liv."

"Morning. I was just trying to catch up on some of the messages I've missed. Everyone has been so concerned. I just don't have the energy to answer them all. Maybe you could help me later with that?"

"Of course."

"Thanks El. I know I shouldn't be worrying about something as trivial as that, but it's still nagging at me."

Elliot brushed the hair off his partner's forehead, tucking the unruly nasal cannula back behind her ear in the same sweep. He understood where she was coming from, he truly did, but his main concern was trying to ensure that she had as little stress in her life as possible.

"I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry about it. If you need to, refer them to me, and I'll do my best to keep people updated. You've got enough on your plate."

"I get that, it's just so fucking frustrating. I should be able to answer a few text messages without getting exhausted."

"You're also dealing with not just one, but two health emergencies. You need to not be so hard on yourself. It's only been a couple of days, Liv. Try and remember that your road to recovery is a marathon, not a sprint."

Olivia laughed softly, and Elliot's brow furrowed, trying to figure out just what he had said that was so funny.

"Yeah, about that. Feels like I've already run a marathon or two, but thanks for the reminder. Just don't let me forget that part when I feel like throwing in the towel, okay partner?"

Elliot leaned down and placed a soft kiss to Olivia's forehead, then pulled back to look directly in her eyes. His reply was sincere.

"Never. I'm in this with you for the long haul."

As her partner settled in the chair beside her bed, Olivia finally decided to comment on something she had noticed when Elliot first walked into her room.

"So, unless you picked up some random trash on your way in, it looks like you actually stopped for some breakfast. Good to see you are taking care of yourself. I guess that means you've taken my threat of kicking your ass seriously."

"You should know better than to think your threats scare me after all this time, Liv. I was just being polite. I didn't want to come in here and flaunt food or coffee in front of you, especially when you aren't allowed to have either."

"Not that I don't appreciate it, El, but if you must know, what I'm really craving right now more than anything is a drink of water. I'm hoping that they will let me have some soon."

Elliot was about to offer to go and get his partner some ice chips, but before he had the chance, there was a knock on the glass partition and Dr. Campbell entered the room. It was hard for either detective to discern from the cardiologist's expression alone just what news she was here to deliver, and Olivia found herself reaching for her partner's hand without even realizing it. There was nothing for her to worry about, though, because without a moment's hesitation, Elliot had enveloped her fingers within his own.

"Good morning Olivia, Elliot. If I may say, Olivia, your color looks better today than when I saw you last. How are you feeling?"

The temptation to rely on her default answer of 'fine' was tempting, but a quick glance at Elliot followed by the imperceptible shake of his head reminded Olivia how important it was that she tell the truth.

"Honestly? Like I got hit by a bus. I'm not experiencing any pain, but I'm just completely exhausted, and have zero energy, even though all I've been doing since I got here is sleeping."

"I know it's frustrating, but you have to understand that your body has been through a lot, and in just a short amount of time. I do have the results from your echo cardiogram yesterday. They show what I suspected, that while you did not have a heart attack, the heart muscle itself is considerably weaker than normal, and only functioning at about fifty percent what it should be."

Elliot felt Olivia squeeze his hand harder as they both tried to absorb the weight of what the doctor had just told them. The shock on her face was evident, and he would guess his own expression mirrored hers. However, he managed to find the ability to speak first, so he was able to ask the question on both their minds.

"Is the damage permanent, or will her heart be able to heal?"

"I see no reason that with time, rest, medication, and cardiac rehab, that your heart should not return to full function."

Olivia could only nod, then lay docilely while Dr. Campbell performed a simple exam. There were a million questions swimming in her mind right now, but none she could put voice to in the moment. Luckily, the cardiologist was more than understanding and explained that she could easily be paged if they needed to know anything else. The other bright spot was that if the reports from Dr. Abrhams were in agreement, it might be possible for Olivia to be moved out of the ICU the following day. It wasn't perfect, or the exact news the brunette wanted to hear – she wanted to go home – but it was a step in the right direction.

Alone together in the room after Dr. Campbell had left, Olivia turned to Elliot. One of her questions – whether or not she would be allowed water to drink soon – was yet to be answered, but when Dr. Abrhams stopped by in a bit, she might find out the news then. Until that moment, Olivia knew she would have to rely on her allowance of ice chips to satisfy the desert that her mouth had become, and she was just about to ask Elliot if he would get her some when he once again was able to read her mind.

"While we wait for more doctors to come in and see you, I'll go and get you some ice. How does that sound, Liv?"

"Perfect."

True to his word, Elliot was back within minutes with the promised ice.

As much as Olivia would have liked to be able to serve herself, she had to acknowledge that she was still too weak to do so, although accepting help from Elliot wasn't anywhere near as humiliating as having strangers offer assistance. It was why she'd endured a dry mouth since he'd left the day before, not wanting to complain or bother any of the nurses here, believing the staff had far more important things to see to than what she perceived a minor discomfort. Even so, the sheer magnitude of her helplessness was starting to take it's toll, and Olivia couldn't help the lone tear that spilled over and trailed its way down her cheek. Her hope that it would go unnoticed was a futile one, as Elliot was ever observant, especially when it came to his partner.

"Liv, what is it? Are you in pain? I can get the nurse -"

With great effort Olivia raised her hand to lay it on Elliot's arm, stopping him as he was in the process of reaching for the call button on her pillow.

"No, El. It's okay. I'm not in pain, I'm just frustrated. It's bad enough that my body has turned against me, I don't even have the strength to feed myself a spoonful of ice chips."

It seemed every time Elliot had himself convinced his heart couldn't break any more than it already had regarding what Olivia was going through, she would allow herself to be vulnerable – a side she wasn't comfortable showing to many people, he knew – and admit to something that would cause it to shatter all over again. It didn't matter that Olivia Benson was the strongest woman he had ever met,

right now she wasn't feeling that way, and he needed to be the one to be strong for her.

"Hey, you're being too hard on yourself. Your body has been through the ringer, Liv, and while I'm sure it feels like forever, it's only been a couple of days. It's going to take some time to recover from this, but you're not in this alone, okay?"

"Partners for better or worse, right? I just didn't realize that extended to in sickness or health, too."

"Of course it does. You must not have read the fine print."

Olivia laughed at that – the first, honest-to-goodness laugh that Elliot had heard from her since she had been taking care of Calvin, and the sound was music to his ears. He knew that didn't diminish the long road she had ahead of her, but man, had he ever missed that laugh. However, he didn't want to make a big deal about it, so instead, he easily switched tactics, navigating the conversation back into more neutral territory.

"More ice, Liv?"

"Please."

Elliot gave Olivia another spoonful, and offered a third, but she shook her head. Not for the first time, he wished there was more he could do for her to make her comfortable, but knew right now his options were limited.

"Hey, El?"

"Yeah?"

"I hope I'm not jinxing myself, but what would you say to helping me make a list of some things from my apartment, on the chance that I am moved to a regular floor in the next day or so? That is, if you still don't mind getting a bag together for me?"

"Of course not. I don't have any pen or paper, but I can easily make a note in my phone. That's actually probably better, because then I won't lose it."

Together, the two of them pieced together the items Olivia would need most, starting with some comfortable clothes like lounge pants, tank tops, and loose fitting shirts. Without any embarrassment at all, Olivia directed Elliot where he could find some basic undergarments in her dresser drawer to bring her in as well. Some of the other things she asked for, without trying to seem too needy - included her travel toiletries kit, hairbrush, some hair ties and a headband, her tablet and charger, and last – but not least – a pillow that would actually be somewhat comfortable to sleep on.

Even after the duo had double checked the list, it seemed as though Olivia was still stressing over it, so Elliot tried to put her mind at ease by reminding her that even if he did forget something, it wouldn't be any trouble at all to bring it by on another day. However, that didn't appear to have the reaction he'd hoped, as Olivia's brow had furrowed and her mouth turned downward into a disapproving frown.

"What is it, Liv?"

"We're going to need to talk Elliot. About the letter. I know Cragen had to have given it to you, so don't pretend otherwise."

Olivia's statement had prompted a face-off of sorts between the two partners, neither knowing where to begin in terms of a conversation on that particular topic. To be fair, Elliot had known it was coming eventually, he just hadn't expected it to be this soon. Part of him was hoping that Olivia would forget, or at the very least, be willing to wait until she was feeling marginally better. Fortunately, he was spared for the time being by the appearance of Dr. Abrhams, who had just arrived for morning rounds.

"Good morning Olivia. How are you feeling today?"

"Still tired, but feeling a bit more awake than I was yesterday. That's not saying much, though, because I'm still exhausted."

Dr. Abrhams nodded, a look of sympathy gracing his features.

"I understand. As I'm sure Dr. Campbell explained earlier, and as much as I'd love to tell you myself that you will be feeling like your old self quickly, I'm sorry to say this recovery process is a tedious one."

It wasn't the news that Olivia had wanted to hear, but nonetheless, she had been expecting it. She hadn't gotten this sick overnight – it had been a gradual decline – it made sense that the healing would also take time.

"I do have one question for you though. I'm really trying not to be a bother, and I understand why I can't have anything to eat just yet – to be honest, I don't have much of an appetite anyway. But, would it be possible for me to have some water to drink anytime soon? It is so much a part of my daily routine, and while the ice chips are helping, I do still have a craving for water."

"I've been looking over your numbers, and they are still very concerning. Fluid intake is something that has to be monitored closely in patients with kidney disease, but as long as you follow the guidelines and consume no more than thirty-two ounces a day, I see no problem with allowing you to have a limited amount."

It wasn't exactly the news Olivia had wanted to hear. Prior to this, she had been accustomed to drinking as much as she wanted – not just with coffee or tea, but a water bottle was a near constant on her desk at work or coffee table at home. But, if it was one of the rules she had to follow to be allowed to have something more than ice chips or IV fluids, she would gladly welcome whatever rules accompanied it.

"I can do that. What are the next steps regarding treatment?"

"Once we get you moved out of ICU and to a regular floor – something I see happening in the next day or so – I will schedule you for a procedure that will implant what is known as a dialysis catheter in your chest. It will allow us to start you on dialysis almost immediately after."

Without realizing she was doing so, Olivia had reached out her hand toward Elliot, seeking the added reassurance and comfort. It was all becoming too real, too fast. Up until this point, she'd had the ability to fall back on the defense mechanism of denial, to pretend that this was just all some horrible nightmare that she could wake up from. Hearing things spelled out in terms like this made it all too real.

Dr. Abrhams remained in the room for a few minutes more, ensuring that neither Olivia nor Elliot had any other questions. With a promise to not only stop in again the following morning, but to write an order allowing consumption of water to Olivia's chart, he excused himself, leaving the partners alone to absorb the weight of everything that had been discussed.

"El?"

Olivia was having trouble finding her voice. There was so much she wanted to say, but it was as though the words had been stolen from her. She was still coming to terms with the fact that she was in the hospital, and every day the news of her condition became more and more overwhelming. As much as she felt guilty for taking up Elliot's time, she was grateful for her partner's presence. There was no way she'd be able to do this on her own, no way she could process it all without his help. Plus – and Elliot was the only person she could ever admit this to – she was scared. Her immediate future was filled with uncertainties, and that alone was terrifying in itself.

"I'm here, Liv."

"I'm scared. And if you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll kick your ass."

"Our secret, partner. I promise. You're not in this alone."

Embarrassed at her display of emotions and vulnerability – even though Elliot was the only witness – Olivia attempted to pull her hand free of his grasp. Instead of releasing her, he just held on even tighter, and for that she was grateful. She really hadn't wanted him to let go. But that didn't stop the guilt that she felt for having him by her side, as much as she wanted – and needed – him there.

"El, we need to talk. Not just about the letter, that can wait. You should go home. You have a family who needs you. Not only that, I can't expect you to miss work because of me."

A brief flash of hurt crossed Elliot's features, but it was there and gone again so quickly that Olivia thought she might have imagined it. Convinced she was doing the right thing in sending Elliot away, even if what she wanted was for him to stay, she tried yet again to get her hand back, but he still held tight. The gentle grasp on her fingers prompted her to make eye contact once more.

"Liv, listen to me. Are you trying to get rid of me? What I mean is, do you want me to leave? Because if that's what you really want, then I'll do it, but something tells me that you're only saying that because it's what you believe is the right thing to do."

"Damn you, Elliot Stabler. Damn you for knowing me so well."

Despite the fact that she had just cursed at him, there had been little fire behind Olivia's words, and Elliot hadn't taken her seriously.

"I could say the same thing about you. Comes with the territory of having been partners as long as we have, I suppose. You still didn't answer my question, though. Do you want me to leave, Liv?"

"No."

Brushing his lips against the crown of her head, Elliot met Olivia's gaze once more.

"Then I'm not going anywhere. Not until I absolutely have to. The only thing I want you worrying about is yourself. Work is being taken care of, and I've been talking to the kids every night."

Already spent from what little energy she had expended trying to get her point across, Olivia relaxed into the mattress, satisfied that Elliot was telling her the truth. Now that she had been granted permission, she was craving a drink of water more than ever, but tried to remind herself to remain patient. It would likely take awhile for the orders to get updated in her chart, and she also didn't want to go through her day's allotment all at once, either. It seemed that drinking water was just one of many things she wasn't going to take for granted once her life returned to normal – even if that outcome seemed so far in the future.

"Tell me about how your kids are doing. I can't promise I'll stay awake for long, so you might need to repeat yourself later, but I could use the distraction and I always love hearing about them."

Just as she had predicted, Olivia had fallen back to sleep before Elliot could start updating her on what was going on in Kathleen's life. Naturally, he'd begun with his oldest. Once he was certain that Olivia was resting comfortably – or at least what was as comfortable as possible under the circumstances – Elliot decided to take advantage of the opportunity. He hated to leave Olivia's side for any reason, but it was her voice in his head that he heard insisting that he take care of himself. So, he was going to leave the room for a few minutes, just long enough to stretch his legs, use the restroom, and grab a cup of coffee.

The brief respite had been a welcome one, and while the coffee available in the ICU floor kitchen was less than desirable, it did serve its purpose in providing a much needed dose of caffeine. Feeling more alert than he had previously, Elliot made his way back to Olivia's room, feeling even more at ease when he found his partner still sleeping as soundly as he had left her.

Back in what he felt was his rightful place by Olivia's side, Elliot settled himself in the chair once more. Even though he wasn't within the chapel walls, or inside a church, he decided to take advantage of the quiet and pray. It seemed as though that was how he spent every waking moment these days. If he wasn't behind a computer screen researching every possible thing he could on his partner's health condition, then Elliot was praying. He certainly hadn't been spending his time sleeping – not that he would tell her that. His rest had been adequate, enough that he wasn't going to end up in a hospital bed next to Olivia, but there was still plenty for him to catch up on. As far as he was concerned, he could do that once she was past this hurdle. Until then, a splash of cold water on his face and a strong cup of coffee were all he needed to keep him going.

Not for the first time in his prayers, Elliot asked for Olivia's health to be restored. He knew there was no way possible for him to trade places with her – even though he'd do that in a heartbeat if given the chance - so instead he just asked for the strength to be able to be there for her, however she needed him. It was no secret to Elliot that Olivia always thought of herself as being alone with no family, but he had always considered her a part of his. Now was the time for him to prove that.

Feeling the sense of peace that always followed prayer, Elliot relaxed back in his seat. To help pass the time, he pulled his phone from his pocket – not that he anticipated any missed messages, but rather to double check the list that Olivia had given him earlier. His plan was to stop at her apartment on his way home tonight, and gather her things, so they would be safe in his trunk should she need them. With any luck, the doctor's estimation would be correct, and Olivia would be moved out of ICU tomorrow.

Now that Olivia's naps were becoming more infrequent, Elliot thought about whether or not she would be interested in having something to help pass the time during the remainder of her stay. He knew his partner well, and understood she did about as well as he did with idle time. That was when he remembered that one of Olivia's requested items had been for her tablet, so she likely planned to use that device for some reading if she was able to gather enough concentration and focus. At this point, he wasn't sure if she would let him, but Elliot knew that he'd be more than willing to read to Olivia, but on the off chance that she wouldn't accept that, he made a mental note to add a deck of cards to the bag he was going to be putting together. Even if if meant that his partner would kick his ass in gin rummy, or something as simple as a game of 'Go Fish', he'd gladly welcome it if it would mean bringing a smile to Olivia's face. He'd even put up with the trash talk that would no doubt come with their card playing. Anything so long as it would give him a glimpse of the woman she used to be before she had lost her spark.

The feeling that he was being watched pulled Elliot back to the present, and he turned his gaze to the bed to find Olivia watching him intently. If he didn't know any better, he'd almost guess that she were sizing him up – studying him somehow as if trying to weigh her options whether it was in her best interest to try and start a debate whether or not he needed to leave and get some rest. It was probably a good thing they were equally stubborn, because as the days of her hospitalization continued, there were likely going to be more than a few battles of wills between the two of them.

"Elliot -"

"Don't even say it Liv. I'll have you know I stretched my legs for a bit after you fell asleep, then came back here and even closed my eyes for a few minutes, so I don't want you thinking I'm not taking care of myself."

The roll of the brunette's eyes was so loud that Elliot could have sworn he had heard it as well as witnessed it. He didn't believe that anything could be as dramatic as some of the expressions he saw on a regular basis from one of his teenagers, but this annoyed Olivia was easily proving him wrong.

"I wasn't going to say that, you idiot. What I was going to say – before I was interrupted, that is – is that you should probably get yourself something to eat soon. And that when you do, can you see about getting me some water to drink on your way back?"

"It's not that late, Liv. I don't need to eat anything yet."

Not saying a word, but rather indicating with merely a glance, Olivia directed her attention toward the clock on the wall in her room. To Elliot's surprise, it was almost one-thirty in the afternoon. He must have either been more lost in thought than he had imagined, or like he had told his partner, actually dozed off at her bedside. Even so, he was still prepared to argue and say that he wasn't hungry – until his traitorous stomach chose that exact moment to growl and make a liar out of him. Conceding defeat, Elliot allowed a resigned sigh to escape his lips.

"All right, you win. I'll go and grab something. But – as soon as you're on a regular unit and allowed to have food, we're going to be having our meals together."

"I still don't have much of an appetite, but I like the sound of that. Oh, and El? Try and remember that you aren't in some sort of speed -timed competition today, okay? You can actually take the time to pause between bites to make sure you don't choke. I know you'll be in a hospital cafeteria, but that doesn't mean I want you testing anyone's knowledge of being able to perform the Heimlich maneuver."

"Noted. I'll be back in a bit Liv. Can I get you anything else other than asking about that water? Did you want anything from the gift shop? A magazine or newspaper to read perhaps?"

"No, thank you."

With what had become his customary greeting and parting gesture in a matter of only a few days, Elliot pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of his partner's head, then made his way out of the room. Much like the other day, he had to force himself to leave, hesitant to spend any length of time away from Olivia's side than absolutely necessary. It was only the thought that he would be back as soon as possible that steeled his resolve – that and the not so subtle reminder that Olivia would kick his ass if he didn't do as she requested.

Despite the nagging sensation in the back of his mind telling him he needed to rush, Elliot forced himself to take his time as he ate his sandwich in the hospital cafeteria. The fact that Olivia was in a more stable condition had eased his nerves some, and he also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be able to make a few phone calls to update the Captain and the others, too.

Twenty minutes later, and not only had he spoken to Cragen, but his plate was empty and his soda cup was drained. Deciding to grab a refill of the drink to take back upstairs with him, Elliot made a quick stop in the restroom before heading to the elevator that would lead him back to Olivia. He'd thought about stopping in the gift shop, but decided to wait on that until she was in a regular room. His final stop before returning to his partner's room would be the nurse's station, in the hopes that the orders Dr. Abrhams had submitted earlier would finally have been updated in Olivia's chart, and he could surprise her with that glass of water she'd been craving for days.

Thankfully, Elliot's wish – and Olivia's had come true, and a short time later he was walking into her room with not just his own cup of soda, but one of water for his partner. He had entered quietly, since she appeared to be sleeping, but as it turned out, she had only been dozing quietly, and upon hearing his footsteps, Olivia opened her eyes. Even with her wan complexion, her smile reached her eyes when she saw who it was. It was then that she noticed that Elliot carried not just one, but two cups in his hands, and when she spoke, there was a slight tremble to her voice.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"It is. Since you're on a limit, they are only dispensing it in small amounts a time, but I figure it's better than nothing. I didn't know if you'd want one or not, but I asked for a straw."

"Thank you."

Elliot's next question, even though he was aware was a more delicate topic, was whether or not Olivia wanted his help. Had anyone else been asking, he knew his partner's pride might now have allowed her to accept, but with him, she was able to feel safe in showing vulnerability. He helped hold the cup steady so she could take a few sips of the precious liquid, before collapsing weakly back onto the pillow as though she had exhausted all her energy reserves. Elliot imagined as though that description wasn't too far off the mark.

"I'm going to set it over here on this tray, just let me know when you want more, okay?"

Olivia nodded her agreement, and Elliot settled in the chair at her bedside. While he had been at lunch, he had considered asking his partner whether or not she wanted him to turn on the television in her room to help pass the time, but looking at her now, he knew better than to ask. Though she hadn't spoken about it, he could tell that Olivia was dealing with a headache, and was no doubt savoring the silence – or at least as much silence as one could get while in the hospital.

"Liv, can I ask you something?"

"I guess so."

Elliot reached for her hand, entwining their fingers – his way of prompting her to meet his gaze.

"Why haven't you said anything to anyone about being in pain?"

Olivia pulled her lower lip between her teeth, as though she knew she had been called out, but didn't know what to say or do about it.

"It's just a headache, El. Not a big deal."

"If you're hurting, it is."

Glancing away briefly, Olivia worried her lip even more. She hated it when Elliot was right, especially about things like this, but the last thing she wanted was to be one of 'those' patients – the kind that annoyed the staff by pressing their call button every few minutes asking for the smallest things. Not to mention the fact that she hated to complain on principle alone. Luckily for her, Elliot could read her perfectly, so she didn't have to explain any of it.

"I know you, Liv. The thing you hate most of this isn't just the fact that you're sick – even though we can both acknowledge just how much that sucks. What you hate is that so much attention is focused on you. You're the kind of partner who would take a bullet for me, and then in the same breath apologize for bleeding on my shirt."

Olivia knew there was no way she could argue against what he had said, but despite it all, she arched one eyebrow, redirected her gaze into a pointed stare.

"Which one do you want to be, El? Pot or kettle?"

Elliot sputtered only briefly, not sure if he should be insulted or proud at the fact that the fierce side of Olivia that he'd missed for so long was making an appearance. Ultimately, he decided on continuing with his gentle teasing – anything that would bring a smile to his partner's face.

"At least you're not denying it."

"What I will deny is if anyone ever asks me about this, but just between us, you're right on this one particular instance. Maybe I should mark it in my calendar."

Raising a hand to his heart, Elliot gasped dramatically.

"Did I hear correctly? Did you just admit that I was right about something? Are you absolutely certain you don't need me to get a nurse?"

Olivia shot her partner a withering look, accompanied by an obscene gesture. Naturally, he took no offense, only laughed, then reached out to grasp her hand in his own once more.

"In all seriousness, Liv, if you're in pain, you should ask if you're able to take something. Don't be more uncomfortable than necessary. You don't want to do anything that could be a detriment to your recovery."

"You have a point. How about a compromise? I don't want to press the button for the nurse, they have more important things to do, but the next time someone comes in to check on me, I'll mention it."

Elliot sighed. He knew what he had to say next wasn't going to win him any points, but Olivia's health came first.

"Olivia, you are important. You have barely asked for anything while you've been here. If you let this headache go on, there's no telling how miserable it could make you. I know there is no guarantee they'll be able to give you anything, but it doesn't hurt to ask."

"Okay, El. You win."

A short while later, and after the nurses had checked in with Olivia's doctors and received the approval to give her some Tylenol. Any stronger forms of pain medicine could cause further damage to her kidneys, but by that point, the headache was throbbing behind Olivia's eyes, and she was grateful for any form or relief she could find.

Once the headache had begun to abate, and the afternoon had started to wane into early evening, Olivia decided to try her chances at chasing her partner away. She wasn't sure how successful she would be in her attempt – especially considering she was anything but intimidating while lying in a hospital bed.

"El, go home."

"Liv -"

"Don't 'Liv' me. You've been here almost nonstop – don't think I've forgotten that we still need to talk about that, but I'm not going to argue about that now. All I'm asking is that you take tonight, go home a little early, and get some actual rest. You heard the doctors today, chances are good that I'm going to be moved to a regular room tomorrow, you can come back and annoy me more then."

The adamant statement had exhausted Olivia's limited energy reserves, but the determined look on her face was what won Elliot over. He also reminded himself that he still wanted to stop by his partner's apartment on the way home to get the things she had asked for, and if he left now, he'd even have time to check in with his kids before it got too late.

"Okay, you win. But, I'm coming back tomorrow."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you."