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.
Even though he was supposed to be working, Elliot's mind was already at the hospital, and what would happen when he arrived to visit his partner. He was not quite sure what to expect. If everything went as planned today, Olivia would be moved to a different room. While her level of care still required more intensive supervision, it was no longer necessary for the near constant level of monitoring as she had been receiving in the ICU. Rather, she would be on the long term wing, designed for patients who have not yet been moved to more permanent facilities.
The next steps in Olivia's treatment were still being determined. As her medical proxy and next of kin, Elliot was in charge of all decisions. For the time being, nothing immediate needed to be done. Considering it had been only one week since the surgery and complications that had resulted in Olivia slipping into a coma, the doctors saw no need for panic. Obviously, they were concerned, but Olivia was breathing on her own, and her vitals continued to remain stable. Likewise, the development of the pregnancy was on target, with no signs of any adverse effects to the child she was carrying, either.
What Elliot was most looking forward to in his partner's new room assignment, however, was the freedom that came with it. Given the limited space in her ICU cubicle, he was allowed to visit, but there were many restrictions. Olivia's new quarters would even allow him the opportunity to stay overnight if he so chose, as a convertible sofa was positioned by the window. There also would be more leeway to decorate, to make the space more homey and welcoming – not that Elliot wanted Olivia to have to stay there for long. Every day, he prayed that his partner would wake, but he tried his hardest to remain patient and remind himself that however much time she needed to heal, she was in the best possible place.
The most difficult part of this past week had been trying to maintain some semblance of sanity and keep his presence at the precinct consistent. While Cragen and the others had been more than understanding in regard to Olivia's condition and Elliot's need to spend time at hospital, he also wanted to save as much of his leave as humanly possible. Elliot's every waking hour not devoted to work or his kids was spent with his partner, praying for her recovery. But in the event that Olivia was still not awake by the time their daughter arrived, he would step up to take care of her – something he knew instinctively as what Olivia would want.
The one thing that had helped as far as work was concerned was that there were currently two temporary detectives filling in with the squad. Cragen had already set the wheels in motion for that prior to Olivia's collapse and surgery, having wanted to have extra help on hand while she was on maternity leave. With the additional manpower, it left Elliot free to focus mainly on the administrative side of things, allowing him the opportunity to head to the hospital at a moment's notice should the situation call for it.
Tonight though, things would be different. While Elliot had wanted to wait until Olivia was awake before sharing the news with even more people, he knew he couldn't delay any longer when it came to telling Kathy and his children. Everyone would be meeting at the house in Queens for dinner, and as much as Elliot hoped for a peaceful and positive outcome, he was bracing himself for fireworks.
"Elliot."
Turning at the sound of his name having been called, Elliot found that the Captain was speaking to him. Hoping that his mind hadn't been wandering excessively – but willing to acknowledge that his attention span had been less than ideal lately- he turned to address his superior.
"Yes, Cap?"
"You can head out early. I know you mentioned meeting with Kathy and the kids, and I'm sure you'll want to stop and see Olivia before you go home, too. Just make sure you get some actual sleep tonight, okay?"
"I will. If everything went the way it was supposed to, I should be able to crash with Liv in her room. I know it's not necessary, and that she's being taken care of, but I'd just like to keep her company, you know?"
Don Cragen gave his Detective a knowing look.
"I understand exactly what you mean. Give her our best. I'm going to try and stop by tomorrow, and I'm sure Fin and John plan to see her again soon, too."
"Thanks."
Tidying his desk up for the night, Elliot powered off his computer and made sure everything that needed to be taken care of was done before he left. Then, he headed upstairs to the locker room to grab the bag he'd brought with him that morning – something that would save him a trip not only later that evening, but the following day as well. With a wave goodbye to his coworkers, he made his way to the elevator, hoping the traffic on the Queensboro bridge would be in his favor, and that the family dinner he was heading to wouldn't end in a combination of disaster and tears.
Elliot had made it to his former home in Queens in record time. He wasn't sure if that was merely good fortune or should be seen as an omen of things to come. It was hard to tell by looking at the exterior of the house just who all had arrived yet, but Elliot was hoping for a few moments alone with his ex-wife. Even though he and Kathy were no longer married, he felt he owed it to her to break the news about Olivia and the baby privately before dropping the bombshell at the dinner table. Plus, he was hoping that if she weren't too shaken or upset, that her support would go a long way in comforting the children should their reactions at having another sibling be less than ideal.
Walking up to the front porch, Elliot knocked on the door. He still had a key to the house – something Kathy had insisted on in case of emergency – but never felt quite right using now that the divorce had been finalized. It was only when he heard a voice call out permission to enter from the other side that he was comfortable entering. Toeing off his shoes, he took the silence that reigned as a sign that he and his ex wife were still the only ones home – either that, or all the kids were upstairs distracted with something else.
"Kath?"
"In the kitchen."
Elliot headed in to find Kathy just putting something into the oven, then turning to wipe her hands on a dishtowel before tossing it to the counter. He crossed the room to greet her, dropping a kiss to her cheek and inquiring how she was, the pair of them not having spoken much since a little more than a week prior when Kathy had called to see if he'd be interested in spending some extra time with the kids.
"Hey, thanks for helping me arrange this."
"Of course. How is Olivia? Has there been any change?"
Elliot shook his head, fighting back the onslaught of emotions that threatened to consume him anytime he thought of the condition of his partner.
"I was wondering if you and I could talk for a bit, in private, before we sit down with the kids. There are some things I need to tell you."
"All right. Did you want something to drink?"
Declining the offer, Elliot gestured toward the kitchen table, feeling that both he and Kathy would be more at ease with the buffer of space between them. Not that he was expecting her to react badly to his news – he knew she had been seeing someone herself – but rather because it was a lot to take in, and the topic of his interest in Olivia had been a matter of contention toward the end of their marriage.
"It's about Olivia. There are some things you should know."
Kathy ran her hands down her blouse, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle.
"You're together, aren't you?"
Elliot was certain his mouth was hanging open. Not that he was surprised that his ex wife had guessed correctly, but rather that he hadn't needed to speak the words out loud. Maybe this wouldn't be as difficult a conversation as he had imagined. However, it appeared his reaction was misinterpreted.
"Give me a little credit, Elliot. I've always known you've had feelings for her. But I've also always known that you were faithful to me and our marriage. Our divorce has been final for some time, and whatever is going on between the two of you, I can tell that it's a fairly recent development. I'm not angry, I'm just wondering why you didn't tell me when I called you before."
Elliot exhaled, knowing now was the time for him to be truthful. Even if what he was about to say felt like a betrayal of sorts to Olivia, he knew she would want him to be honest. Plus, he would leave the more intimate details out of it.
"It's a bit more complicated than it sounds, Kath. A couple of months ago, Liv and I dealt with this case that might have been the most awful one we ever faced together. It really shook us both up. As a result, we were temporarily separated, only I found out from Cragen, and not Olivia herself."
Licking his lips nervously, Elliot continued.
"I went to her apartment that night, and one thing led to another. We both knew something more was starting to develop that night, but didn't want to dive into anything while we were both reeling emotionally. So we had agreed to see out the time spent apart, and reassess when it was up."
"What happened?"
Elliot's face morphed as the more painful memories started to resurface.
"I was injured on the job – I think you'll remember me telling you about that – and Olivia found herself working out of state undercover on a related case for the FBI. She wasn't even supposed to tell me that she was leaving, but she managed to get word to me. There was also another development."
With a knowing look in her eye, but no hint of animosity, Kathy guessed what was coming next.
"She's pregnant, isn't she?"
With a strangled sound to his voice, Elliot managed to confirm that his ex wife's theory was correct.
"Yes."
Kathy reached out a hand, laying it on top of Elliot's. The expression on her face was full of compassion.
"I'm so sorry, Elliot. I can't imagine what you're going through right now. I know it's hard enough with Olivia in such a complicated condition, but knowing she's carrying your child, and that they could both potentially be at risk? I'm sorry you've been dealing with this on your own. Whatever you need, I'm here for you."
"Thank you."
The pair were quiet for a few moments, before Kathy's voice broke the silence.
"How is the baby doing, developmentally speaking? Are the doctors concerned at all?"
"Everything seems to be on target. Even given the fact that she is in a coma, Olivia is remarkably stable, too. Her OB plans to keep up with more frequent ultrasounds than a woman at her stage of pregnancy might normally receive, only to make sure everything continues to go as it should. That, and they always have her wearing the fetal heartbeat monitor. But just like her mama, our little one is a fighter."
Elliot's unshed tears having been contagious, Kathy's own eyes were damp.
"Her? You're going to have another daughter?"
Nodding, Elliot let the reality of it all overwhelm him once more.
"I was hoping to tell the kids tonight, if you think that would be all right."
Kathy sat up a little straighter, her features thoughtful.
"I can't say for certain how they'll react to the news of you having a baby with another woman – especially since it's Olivia. But one thing I am willing to bet money on is that one of the topics that will have our son the most upset is that he's getting a little sister and not a little brother."
Laughing, Elliot couldn't help but agree. He was about to say something else, but the sound of feet thundering down the stairs kept him mute. It was time to table the rest of the talk until later. Wiping his eyes, he hoped his signs of upset weren't visible as he prepared to greet his kids.
Not wanting to break down the lines of communication before they could even start, Elliot made the decision to wait until they were finished with dinner before saying anything. It was such a rare occasion for him and Kathy to have all four of their kids under one roof together, and he wanted to make the most of it. Needing to burn off some nervous energy, he offered his ex wife some help in the kitchen, and she quickly put him to work making a salad to accompany their meal.
In no time at all, the lasagna that Kathy had prepared was ready to come out of the oven. Since the twins had already set the table, and Kathleen and Maureen had taken care of making sure everyone had something to drink, the Stabler family – and even despite the divorce they were still a family - took their seats. For the first time in more than a week, Elliot was able to eat a meal that didn't come from a vending machine, hospital cafeteria, or styrofoam container. It was actually a miracle he'd been remembering to feed himself at all, considering, but he had known that if hadn't, he'd have been in for a great deal of trouble once Olivia woke up.
"So, Dad, how's Olivia doing?"
While he had known to expect his kids to be curious about what was going on about Olivia – after all, they had known her for much of their lives – Elliot had barely had time to chew and swallow his first mouthful of food. Already it felt as though Maureen had put him on the spot. Thankfully, Kathy came to his rescue.
"I'm sure your father will be happy to fill you in on everything that he's able to – once he's had a chance to eat. In the meantime, why don't you four tell him what's been going on in your lives, give him a chance to catch up? I'm sure he could use some positive news for a change."
Fully anticipating an argument to ensue as all of his kids attempted to start talking at the same time, Elliot was pleasantly surprised when they actually took turns. As the oldest, Maureen went first, sharing about how her classes were going, and the internships that had captured her interest that she planned to apply for. Kathleen was next, and although it wasn't as easy to get his middle daughter to open up to him these days, she too reluctantly spoke about what was happening with her own academic and social life. Elliot couldn't help but notice that the subject of her dating life – if any – had been purposely overlooked, but he wasn't about to pry for details, not when his own was sure to be under the microscope. Out of any of his children, it would be Kathleen who would have the biggest issue with the most recent developments between him and Olivia, and Elliot didn't want to do anything that would add to him incurring her wrath.
Not about to be left out of the conversation, the twins got into a small spat of sorts, bickering between themselves over which of them would be first to speak. In the end, Lizzie deferred to her brother, and Elliot didn't know whether it was because she had the patience to save her story until last, or because she was simply tired of fighting.
As it turned out, Dickie didn't have much to reveal, his particular brand of gossip more in tune with topics not exactly ideal for the dinner table. After promising his son that he could finish telling his story later, Elliot turned to his youngest, wondering if perhaps what she might have to say would have anything to do with the auditions she had been telling him about the last time they had spoken.
It made Elliot feel good to know that as far as his children were concerned, his fatherly instincts were still right on target. Lizzie had indeed gotten a part in the school play – perhaps not the part she had been wanting, but her second best choice. Making sure to enforce to all of his kids how proud he was of them, and to let Lizzie know he would do whatever he could to attend one of her performances, Elliot couldn't help but feel the emotions overwhelm him all over again when his beautiful, compassionate daughter asked an innocent question.
"Do you think Olivia will be able to come, too?"
By now, everyone had finished eating, and Elliot knew he could delay no longer. He also needed to say something before his son started nagging his mother for dessert, so he had to speak up before he lost his nerve.
"That's something I wanted to talk to you about. I know your mom has told you that Olivia is in the hospital, but it's a bit more serious than just an injury at work."
At the moment, Elliot wasn't sure if he was grateful that his children were of the age where he could talk to them openly and honestly, or if he preferred when they were little and had to be sheltered from the more difficult discussions. He had come over tonight, already knowing that this wasn't going to be easy, but he wasn't about to back out now. He owed it to his family, and more than that, he knew that Olivia wouldn't want him to.
"Olivia had been working on a case, undercover with the FBI. I hadn't seen her for awhile until recently. But, while she was away, she was hurt. Another officer – someone who didn't know she was a cop – thought she was doing something against the law and tried to stop her. They hit her over the head with their flashlight. No one knew it at the time, but it caused an injury to her brain."
All four Stabler children, who had been remarkably silent throughout the course of Elliot's story, turned their eyes first to their Mother, and then back to their Father. Only Maureen, who was a bit more aware of what was going on than her siblings, seemed less troubled.
"She's going to be alright, though, right Daddy?"
The question had come from Lizzie, who had reverted to calling Elliot by a name she hadn't used since she was much younger.
"The doctors think so, but there were some complications. While they were doing surgery to fix the problem, Olivia had a stroke. They think they were able to reverse any damage in time, but she hasn't woken up yet. She's currently in a coma."
Elliot allowed time for that information to absorb. There was a very real part of him that was tempted to leave it there, but a look from Kathy from across the table reminded him that he needed to continue.
"There's more."
Four sets of eyes looked at him expectantly, a myriad of expressions on each of the different faces.
"Before she left, things were starting to shift between my and Olivia's relationship."
Kathleen's eyes darkened, not unlike a storm cloud. Before she could say anything, however, it was Lizzie who piped up first.
"You mean, like you were going to be dating each other?"
"No, you idiot. He was fucking her. Next thing we know, he'll be telling us he knocked her up."
Elliot wanted to reprimand Kathleen – both for her language, and the way she had spoken so disparagingly about his partner. But his tongue was tied, and yet again, he was thankful when Kathy came to his rescue.
"Kathleen. Watch your mouth. Don't talk like that about your father, or about Olivia."
"Why not, I'm right, aren't I? That's what you were going to say next, isn't it, Dad? Olivia is pregnant, isn't she?"
Still unable to find his voice, Elliot remained rendered mute. Kathleen had taken his silence as confirmation of fact, and it had only intensified her anger.
"Don't let me stop you from playing happy families then. Enjoy your new life with Olivia. I can't speak for the others, but you can just forget about me. It's clear that's what you want to do anyway."
Getting up in such a rush that her chair gave an almighty screech as it was abruptly shoved back, Kathleen stormed out of the room and stomped up the stairs. The slamming of her bedroom door was the final punctuation to her parting statement. As for the rest of the family, they all sat around the table in stunned silence.
Maureen was the first to speak. In her role as the eldest, she was accustomed to playing the peacemaker, so it was no surprise that she was taking it upon herself to go and check on Kathleen.
"I'll go and talk to her."
Reaching out to rest a hand on her father's arm, Maureen squeezed gently.
"Try not to take it too personally, Dad. It's a lot of news to take in at once. I know this probably isn't the way you intended for things to happen. I just hope Olivia wakes up soon, and all I want is for you both to be happy."
Pulling his daughter in a for a hug, Elliot didn't hesitate to show his gratitude.
"Thank you, honey. That means a lot. Whatever you do, make sure Kathleen knows that she's allowed to be upset."
"Of course."
Maureen headed up the stairs after her sister, leaving the twins with their parents. Both Lizzie and Dickie were staring at their empty plates, as though the pattern on the dishes somehow held all the answers to the many questions of the universe. After sharing a glance with Kathy, Elliot knew this was his mess to sort out, so he turned his attention to his two youngest.
"If either of you have something to say, it's okay to speak up. Like I told Maureen to pass along to Kathleen, it's perfectly all right to be upset by this news. I understand that it may not be what any of you were expecting, but I thought it was only right that I tell you the truth."
It was Lizzie who spoke first, though it was clear that Dickie was thinking of a few questions of his own.
"Is Kathleen right, are you going to have a new family with Olivia and forget all about us?"
"Of course not. I would never do that to any of you, and for another thing, Olivia would never let me. We didn't have much time to talk about her pregnancy before she was hurt, but I know one thing for certain, and that is all of you would have been a prime concern."
Before Elliot could add anything else, it was Kathy who came to his and Olivia's defense.
"Your Father's right. You two have known Olivia since you were five years old. She's always been there for you, for our whole family even. That's not going to change just because she and your dad are developing a closer relationship."
Apparently, her Mother's approval had been just the confirmation that Lizzie had needed to soothe her nerves. While it was clear that she still had mixed feelings on the subject, she was able to smile a bit, and her features brightened.
"I think it will be kind of cool to not be the youngest anymore."
Grinning back at his daughter, Elliot accepted the words for what they were. It wasn't exactly happiness just yet, but it was a start. Now, until he could talk to Kathleen, there was just one more hurdle to tackle.
"What about you, son? As I said before, there isn't any wrong way to feel about this. Whatever you need to say, I want you to feel comfortable telling me."
Dickie's face was an inscrutable mask, and Elliot couldn't tell one way or the other what his only son was thinking. Thankfully, he didn't have to wait for long – and as it turned out, his ex wife's earlier prediction ended up coming true.
"So what are the chances that I could have a baby brother out of all this? I'm getting kind of tired of swimming in estrogen around here – sorry, Mom."
In an effort to hide her smirk, Kathy took a drink of her water, locking eyes with Elliot from across the table. He hated to reveal this bit of news with half of his kids still missing, but given Kathleen's earlier reaction, he figured Maureen would understand. Plus, he could always call his oldest later to fill her in on the details.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but so far, most of the early tests seem to indicate that Olivia is going to be having a girl."
Dickie was visibly disappointed, but quickly recovered.
"Just make sure the next one is a boy, okay Dad?"
At the incredulous expression he was getting from everyone still sitting around the table, the teen hurried to clarify.
"What? Do we all seriously think that he and Olivia are going to stop with just one kid?"
The glares seemed intensify, and Dickie seemed to understand that he was better off cutting his losses while he was ahead.
"I'll shut up now."
After being excused from the table, the twins went upstairs to finish working on their homework. Not long after, Maureen returned to the first level, with a sad shake of her head. Apparently she hadn't made much headway with her sister – other than to learn that the source of Kathleen's anger was directed primarily at her father as opposed to Olivia. As much as that knowledge hurt, Elliot would rather take the brunt of his daughter's wrath, anything that would spare his partner. He also made a promise that he would talk to Kathleen soon enough, but understood that she needed some time alone to sort out her feelings and emotions without him trying to interfere. He would give her until the following day, then attempt to reach out again.
With an apology to Kathy for having brought so much trouble to her door – something that was easily dismissed, Elliot left for the night, intent on heading to the hospital to see Olivia. However, his first stop was to drop Maureen back off at the apartment she shared with a few friends. Looking forward to the extra time with his oldest daughter – in particular since he had yet to share the news with her that she would be getting another little sister – the two buckled into his Jeep and made their way toward the city.
Not that Kathy hadn't been supportive, but Maureen's response may very well have been the first of his kid's reactions that allowed Elliot to feel that it was okay to be happy about the impending arrival of another child. Not that he'd been ashamed of his emotions, but he had been trying to keep them compartmentalized and contained for precisely the reason Kathleen had accused him of – abandoning one family in favor of another. That couldn't be further from the truth. There was enough room in his heart to love all of his kids. And no matter what was starting to blossom between him and Olivia, it didn't negate the part of him that would always care for Kathy. She had been his first love, and they shared four beautiful children together. Even though they now lived separately, they were forever linked by the lives they had created.
Elliot arrived at the hospital, with the bag he had packed in hand. Having already received a message from Olivia's nurse earlier that afternoon, he knew exactly where to head to find his partner. He had hated being absent while Olivia was being transferred to her new room, but knew there was no way she would have wanted him to miss time with his family solely for her benefit. In fact, he could practically hear her voice in his head, yelling at him for even considering the alternative.
Just as had been promised, Olivia's new quarters were infinitely more welcoming. Despite the plethora of necessary equipment, the space had a homey atmosphere to it, feeling more like a hotel room than a medical environment. After setting his things down on the sofa by the window, Elliot went to greet the woman who, for all the world, looked as though she were only sleeping.
"Hey, Liv. Sorry it took me so long to get here today. I have a lot of news to fill you in on. Sounds like you had some excitement of your own, too."
First pressing his lips to his partner's forehead, Elliot lowered his palm to cradle the swell of Olivia's abdomen – growing more prominent every day – and said hello to the little one developing within.
"Hello to you, too, Peanut. Hope you aren't giving your mama too much trouble. She needs her rest right now, but I just want you to know I'm here for both of you."
Elliot wasn't certain exactly where the term of affection had come from, but as he and Olivia had never gotten around to discussing potential names for their daughter, he didn't want to take such an important decision upon his own shoulders. Giving her a nickname, something special just between the two of them, however, was something he would always treasure, and he wanted to start that connection early.
Allowing himself to take advantage of the amenities afforded to him in Olivia's private suite, and the freedom from having less restricted visiting hours, Elliot took a few minutes to get himself settled. First, he set up a few of his things in the bathroom, opting to shave tonight to save himself a few precious minutes come morning. He wouldn't be able to spend every night here at the hospital with his partner, but he wanted to stay here as often as possible, so she wouldn't have to be alone.
Once he had finished with his nightly routine and changed into comfortable clothes, Elliot situated himself in a very nice chair by Olivia's bedside. He wasn't yet ready to sleep, let alone relegate himself to a distance so far away as to where the sofa was located. Knowing his partner wasn't one for watching much television in the evenings – even to unwind – he instead grabbed one of the books he had brought with him. Unlike the novel he had chosen that would pique Olivia's interest, this one was instead intended for their daughter.
"I know you, Liv. If you were awake right now, you'd be reading to our little Peanut, so she'd love the written word as much as you do. Maybe some of that comes from wanting to share the good parts that you remember of your Mom, but I'm not going to let these moments pass by."
Compared to the size of his hands, Elliot knew the book looked even smaller than it actually was. He probably didn't even the need to see the words on the page in order to recite the familiar verses. This was an old favorite, one he had spent many nights reading to each of his other children – and his own mother had read to him and his siblings. But there was something to be said for tradition, and he wanted that to continue. So, opening the cover of 'Goodnight, Moon', he began to read the first ever bedtime story to his new daughter as she slept nestled in the safety of her mother's womb.
When Elliot finished with the short story, he set the book to the side. He still had every intention of reading from the novel he had brought, too, but there was something else he wanted to do first. Having remembered a promise he had made during one of the last phone conversations with Olivia before she returned home, Elliot wanted to make good on his word.
Grabbing something else from his bag, Elliot moved his chair to the bottom of the bed. There, he began the painstaking but loving process of painting his partner's toenails. It might not be the foot massage he had said he would give, but as Olivia's calves were currently wrapped in cuffs attached to a compression device in order to prevent blood clots, following up on that was a bit difficult.
Having chosen a vibrant pink polish to decorate Olivia's nails, Elliot was very attentive to detail as he worked. He wasn't exactly skilled in the art of administering a pedicure, but he wanted to do something to make his partner feel pampered, even if she weren't alert enough to be aware of it.
He had just finished applying the second coat when someone entered the room. Upon being caught in the act, Elliot froze instinctively, only to visibly relax once he realized that he wasn't in trouble. As it turned out, the main reason the woman was here was to introduce herself as one of Dr. Adelman's assistants, and to relay some of the information from the neurosurgeon's most recent checkup. As his partner's medical proxy, Elliot had spoken to her doctors at various intervals throughout the day, but there was one particular detail that he was still waiting to hear about.
"I'm happy to report that Dr. Adelman is pleased with the progress of Detective Benson's recovery from the burr hole procedure. So much so, in fact, that he wants to remove the drains that he put in place last week at some point tomorrow. The MRI that was done today has shown a remarkable decrease in swelling, and there is no longer any evidence of an ongoing brain bleed."
It was amazing news, but it still didn't lessen the concern as to why Olivia had yet to regain consciousness. However, Elliot's fears were mollified by the knowledge that his partner's vitals continued to remain stable – and, despite the fact that she was still considered to be in a coma – she was breathing on her own and needed no drastic medical interventions to help sustain her. Turning his attention on the most important question he could think of, Elliot addressed the assistant with what he most needed to know.
"Would someone need to be present for that tomorrow, for when they remove the drains? I understand that for the sake of a sterile environment I might not be allowed in the room itself, but will Olivia need me with her?"
"There is no real risk involved, as the drains aren't deeply placed. But if it would make you feel more at ease to keep Olivia company, then by all means, you are most welcome to be present."
After performing a simple exam, one in which Elliot was able to see yet again for himself just how well his partner's reflexes were responding – even though she remained asleep – the assistant exited the room, leaving Elliot alone with Olivia.
Once he'd taken some time to process everything he'd been told, Elliot picked up his phone. No matter how much he'd promised himself that his time with Olivia was to be strictly for that, he needed to call his Captain. Yes, it was true he was trying to keep working as much as possible right now, no matter how much it broke him to be away from the hospital, but he wanted to save up all the leave he had to use it when the baby was born. But tomorrow was definitely an exception. There was no way he was going to leave his partner on her own to have the drain removed, not when he'd already missed so much as it was.
"Cragen."
"Hey, Cap. I'm sorry to bother you while you're likely at home, but I needed to let you know I'm not going to make it in tomorrow. Nothing is wrong, but Olivia is scheduled to have the drain removed from that procedure they did last week, and I want to be here with her for that."
Even though he knew his superior wouldn't fight him on the issue, Elliot still found himself holding his breath as he waited for an answer.
"Of course. You should be there. If everything goes well and we get out of here at a decent hour, maybe John, Fin, and I can stop by at some point tomorrow, too."
"That sounds great. Thanks again, Cap."
Feeling more at ease, Elliot ended the call. Now it was time to devote the rest of his attention to Olivia. Not expecting any further interruptions for awhile, he picked up the novel he had brought, turned to the first page, and began to read.
Elliot woke the following morning, and was only disoriented for a fraction of a second. All confusion disappeared the instant he lay eyes on Olivia. Much like the way he started every day, today began with the renewed hope that it would be the day that Olivia would wake up.
He hadn't had much sleep, having read aloud late into the night. But that didn't matter. Elliot liked to think that he was making a difference, that even though she was in a coma, Olivia could hear his voice and he was somehow providing comfort.
Knowing it was still early in terms of hospital routines, and that his partner's doctors weren't due to start making rounds for awhile yet, Elliot decided he would take advantage of the opportunity. Rushing through a shower, he dressed in a pair of jeans and a shirt, and headed down to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee and something to eat. The more logical side of his brain argued that he could have brought his food back with him to the room, but he didn't want to tempt Olivia with the scent of coffee when she knowingly couldn't have any. Plus, it wasn't as though he planned to be away for long.
Freshly caffeinated and with a full stomach, Elliot returned, and took back his usual position at Olivia's bedside. As much as he wanted to talk to his partner, he decided to let her rest for a bit before beginning a conversation of sorts – albeit one sided. Instead, Elliot ran over the day's upcoming schedule in his mind, trying to plan accordingly.
One thing that was for certain was the fact that barring any unforeseen complications, Olivia would be getting the drain removed. Another was that at some point, someone from physical therapy would be coming to work with her. Even though she was confined to a hospital bed, Olivia had been having daily sessions where her body was taken through a series of basic exercises and stretches to assure that her muscles didn't atrophy because of misuse.
Another potential highlight of the day was that it was also likely that someone from OB might be coming by to perform an ultrasound to check on how the pregnancy was progressing. This was the one event Elliot had especially prepared for, and had brought along a video camera to record everything that transpired. Much as Olivia had done for him by sending him a copy of an ultrasound when she had been away in Oregon, he wanted to return the favor. There was no way he wanted her to lament about missing one single stage of her pregnancy. It was why he'd been documenting everything, having bought a journal to keep track of all the important moments along the way. It was his hope that Olivia would be awake soon so she could experience them herself, but until she was, Elliot was going to make sure the memories would still exist for her somehow.
The first person to arrive was one of Olivia's nurses. As Elliot was mostly familiar with those in the ICU, this individual was new to him. Even though he knew she posed no threat, he couldn't help the protective instincts that threatened to take hold, and had to remind himself that this woman was here to help.
"Good morning. You must be Elliot Stabler. You're listed on Detective Benson's chart as her next of kin, and it was mentioned by her night nurse that you were here. I'm just going to be doing an assessment, along with giving Detective Benson her daily injection of folic acid."
With his memory serving him well from each of Kathy's pregnancies, Elliot knew that the folic acid was essential, and part of the prenatal vitamin formula. Since Olivia couldn't take them by more traditional means, he was glad that the doctors were still ensuring she got the necessary supplements she needed to help their daughter thrive.
"I also wanted to mention to you that it is possible that Detective Benson might be switched to a different sort of bed today. There is one available for long term coma patients that helps with circulation, providing near constant movement. She would have had it before now, but I'm ashamed to say that there was a hold up regarding insurance and refusal to pay."
Elliot felt his temper flare, but quickly tamped it down. Getting angry now – however justified – would help no one. Instead, he said what he was thinking, knowing it was the truth.
"Don't worry about the cost. Whatever she needs, make sure she gets. I'll figure out a way."
And he would. Even if it meant taking out a loan, or maxing out every single credit card he owned, Elliot would find a way to pay for Olivia's medical care. That was when another idea struck him, and he made a mental note to contact Dana later, because if anyone should be paying for this, it should be the FBI – or even the officer who injured Olivia in the first place. Elliot knew Dana was working on something, but it had been awhile since he'd heard an update from the woman.
Once the assessment was complete, the nurse left, with the reminder that someone from physical therapy would be in before noon to work with Olivia. Alone with his partner again, Elliot decided to spend some time talking to her, and save the reading for later. In an interesting turn of events, he decided to talk about work, because he was willing to guess that if she were awake, that would be one of the first things that Olivia would ask about.
"I've been meaning to tell you that Dani – or as you probably remember it, the woman whose eyes you wanted to claw out for sitting at your desk – is no longer with the unit. She was transferred back to Warrants. We have a couple of temporary Detectives with us now to help balance things out a bit, but Cragen is looking for someone on a permanent basis. I'm thinking to partner with me, because I have a feeling Fin is going to fight to work with you."
Elliot licked his lips, then continued.
"Speaking of the guys from work, they mentioned they might stop by later to see you. Everyone has been so supportive. Not that they wouldn't be otherwise, but between you and me, I think Fin and John are having a secret competition to see which of them gets named godfather."
Reaching out and taking Olivia's hand in his own, Elliot brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
"That brings me to the more difficult thing that I wanted to talk to you about. As I'm sure you'll remember me telling you, I had dinner with Kathy and the kids last night. In a perfect world, I would have waited until we could tell people about the baby together, but I don't have that luxury right now."
Elliot continued to talk about what had gone on the night before, pouring his heart and soul out to his partner – but making sure that she knew that none of what had happened was her fault. He was well aware that even if some level of Olivia's subconscious were to register his words, she would blame herself, and that was the last thing he wanted.
"Maureen is definitely on our side, and once he got over the upset of not getting a little brother, Dickie seemed okay with the news, too. Lizzie was more reserved, but I think she's just happy she won't be the youngest anymore. As for Katie, she'll come around. It's me she's most angry at. But, I'm also willing to bet some of that might stem from the fact that she has to acknowledge that her father has a sex life."
It was cathartic to talk like this. In his mind, Elliot could almost hear the advice that Olivia would give, including not giving up on his middle daughter. He could also hear her remind him to not spend all of his days and nights here at the hospital, and to take care of himself. Internal voice or not, she was absolutely right, and that was exactly what he had been trying to do. It was just hard to wear so many hats and be in so many different places all at once. He was only one person with a ton of responsibilities, and he was terrified of letting someone down. Already Elliot felt like he'd failed his partner, even though nothing about her present condition was his fault. But if he could make it better, he absolutely would.
As things happened to work out, Dr. Adelman came in for a visit not long after Elliot had finished pouring out his heart to Olivia. Thankfully, the neurosurgeon had brought with him the necessary items to perform the simple bedside procedure of removing the drain that had been put in place following Olivia's burr hole surgery the previous week. Elliot was also relieved that he wasn't asked to leave, and even though he was required to put on a gown, gloves, and mask to help keep the environment sterile, he happily complied.
Elliot wasn't sure what he was expecting, but the task of removing the drain wasn't as complex as he had imagined. He had even had a chance to glimpse the series of three small holes just above Olivia's ear before they had been bandaged again. He may not have a medical degree, but in his own opinion, things appeared to be healing nicely. Thankfully, Dr. Adelman seemed to agree.
"I'm very satisfied with the progress of this so far. There are no signs of infection present, and I believe we should be able to remove the dressings completely in another few days."
Washing his hands at the sink in the room for a second time, Dr. Adelman made sure that Elliot didn't have any other questions for him. Then, just prior to leaving, he performed another neurological assessment on Olivia – similar to what the nurse had done earlier that morning. Though some might think it excessive, Elliot was impressed with the level of care his partner was receiving, and even though her GCS remained the same, he was relieved that her condition hadn't deteriorated.
Elliot spent the next couple of hours reading to Olivia, taking the briefest of pauses when he felt his voice begin to tire and crack. After a sip of water and a short rest, he was always ready to pick up right where he had left off. Currently, they were in the middle of the English literature classic Pride and Prejudice. It was definitely not something he would have chosen to read for himself, but he remembered his partner telling him about it on multiple occasions. Not just the written novel, but in particular a certain television miniseries featuring British actor Colin Firth and a very clingy wet shirt.
Just as it was nearing lunchtime, Elliot marked the page where he had stopped to save his place and set the book on the side table. Getting up to stretch, he ignored the audible crack from his spine that protested his having stayed in one position for so long. After taking a brief break to use the bathroom, he was just about to step out to head down to the cafeteria when the physical therapist entered the room. Not having realized that it was time for Olivia's session already, Elliot didn't hesitate to greet the younger woman.
"Good afternoon, Elliot. How are you today?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Unless you need me to stay, I thought I might grab a bite to eat while you're working with Olivia."
"Of course not. We'll be just fine, won't we, Olivia? I'm sure we can find plenty of gossip to catch up on while you're away."
That was why Elliot liked Kara so much. She treated Olivia as though she were awake and capable of conversation. Likewise, during the few times Elliot had been present during the physical therapy sessions, Kara also explained each and every exercise as she worked, so nothing was a surprise.
Dropping a kiss to Olivia's forehead, Elliot promised his partner that he would be back soon. He also reminded her not to give Kara too much trouble. Then, just as he had earlier, though he hated to leave, he knew he had to do so in order to take care of himself.
As much as Elliot disliked being away from Olivia, he couldn't deny how good it had felt to stretch his legs. Had his partner not currently been in the middle of receiving physical therapy, and had he thought ahead of time, he might have mentioned something to one of Olivia's nurses, and considered the possibility of stepping outside the hospital in order to grab something for his lunch. That was always an idea he could save for another day, because the last thing he wanted to do was miss the visit from Olivia's OB.
While he ate, Elliot tried not to let the various thoughts that were almost always present now overwhelm him. There was so much responsibility on his shoulders, and it wasn't that he minded, but he was constantly worried about whether or not he was making the right decisions. Yes, he had signed those papers that day in the emergency room, which had placed him in charge of Olivia's care, but never in a million years had he imagined a scenario like this one. No matter how much he tried to remain upbeat, he was terrified about the potential possibilities – including the one that would leave him a single father, and a world where Olivia would never get to know their daughter.
Pushing that thought out of his mind almost as quickly as it had tried to enter, Elliot focused instead on something positive. That in just a short while, he would get to see yet another image of their little one. The doctor had even mentioned wanting to do a 3D ultrasound once Olivia was a bit further along in the pregnancy. Today officially marked the start of the sixteenth week, and Olivia's OB had mentioned that the most optimal time to get the best 3D images was around week twenty-six and after.
Elliot fervently hoped that by the time that date rolled around, Olivia would be awake to enjoy that particular experience herself. Hell, he'd fall to his knees and beg if he thought there was a chance she would wake up today. But he had been trying his hardest to remain as patient as possible, even if it wasn't always easy.
Unable to finish his lunch due to loss of appetite, although thankfully he'd managed all but the last few bites of his sandwich, Elliot disposed of his trash. He had thought about stopping in the gift shop on his way back up to see Olivia, but had decided against it, opting instead to purchase flowers from a nearby florist, where he would undoubtedly have a chance for a better and prettier selection. Now that his partner was in a regular room, Elliot would have the chance to decorate her space a bit more than he was able when she was in ICU.
Back upstairs and settled in his rightful place by Olivia's side, Elliot had also made sure to grab his laptop from his bag. As an added precaution, he had also snagged the handheld camcorder so he would have the device nearby whenever the OB came to visit. In the meantime, he was deeply engrossed in a search, trying to locate the most beautiful bouquet of flowers he could find.
He had just placed the order – having paid extra for delivery later that same day – when Dr. Barrett came into the room, pushing the portable ultrasound machine along in front of her. As was customary, she greeted her patient first, then followed by addressing Elliot.
"Good afternoon, Olivia. Are you ready for another peek at your little one? How about you, Elliot? Looking forward to seeing your little princess?"
"I've taken to calling her 'Peanut', actually."
"I like that. Just give me a few minutes to get everything set up, and then we can get started."
With a nod, Elliot also got himself ready, abandoning his chair to stand close to Olivia's side. He was grateful that the camcorder he had brought allowed for one handed operation, which would permit him to hold his partner's hand throughout the ultrasound and still film the images on the screen. Just as he did last week when Dr. Barrett had been in for a visit, Elliot said a fervent prayer that perhaps this time, when Olivia heard the whooshing sound of their daughter's heartbeat filling the room, it would be just the thing that would prompt her to regain consciousness.
It never mattered how many of these that Elliot saw, they never failed to fill him with a sense of awe and wonder. Even more so now, knowing he had to experience the event twice as much in order to report back to Olivia when she did wake up. He didn't want to miss a moment, which is why he'd taken to recording them. Thankfully, everything was still on track, and their little girl was as strong as ever – just like her mama. Elliot knew that if Olivia were awake, she'd want to bestow some of the credit for that strength on him, but he didn't want to hear it. In his mind, their little Peanut was going to be a little miniature of her mother, and nothing would convince him otherwise.
Once the ultrasound was complete, Elliot took over for the doctor in wiping the excess gel from Olivia's stomach. He had felt uncomfortable at first helping out in this way, feeling as though he were crossing some sort of invisible boundary, until he realized that Olivia would likely prefer the assistance to come from him. It was why she had trusted him with all the decisions related to her care in the first place.
While he was expecting Dr. Barrett to leave, the other woman removed a second device from the cart and began to arrange its placement just above the fetal heart monitor on Olivia's stomach. Curious, Elliot glanced at the OB, wondering just what else they could be trying to measure.
"Now that Olivia is in the sixteenth week of her pregnancy, it will be possible to detect fetal movement. While still relatively early, this device will be able to register any movements or kicks that Olivia herself is currently unable to tell us that she is sensing. By tracking the movement, it will allow us to keep an even better eye on your little one's development."
Fighting back tears, Elliot thanked Dr. Barrett for everything, and promised he would reach out if he had any questions. When he was yet again alone with his partner, he brought Olivia's hand up, pressing a tender kiss on her knuckles.
"I can't wait until you can see her again, Liv. She's getting so big. But as I've said before, you rest as long as you need to."
Before Elliot could talk to Olivia more about the ultrasound, or even settle in his place in the chair by her side, Dr. Adelman came back into the room – this time with another colleague. It was later in the day than they typically did rounds, but given people were in and out most of the time, Elliot wasn't concerned. While he didn't recognize the new physician, Elliot was curious why there was a gastroenterologist present, and he waited as patiently as he knew how for an explanation.
"Hello again, Elliot. I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier, but I wanted to consult with Dr. Hanson first. We believe that now that Olivia has recovered sufficiently from her other procedure, and that she shows no signs of waking from her coma any time soon, it would be best that we place a PEG tube – or a percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube - in order to supplement both her and the baby with adequate nutrition."
A feeding tube. Even though Elliot had known something like this would be a possibility, there was something about it that just had a sense of finality to it. A permanence. Like they didn't expect Olivia to wake up ever. No matter how much he knew it was a necessity – not just for his partner, but for his daughter – he hated to think about it. But he was the one in charge, and the responsibility weighed on him.
"Are there any risks to either Olivia or the baby by doing the procedure? I know she'd want me to ask that."
Dr. Adelman was the one to answer first.
"As I've said before, every procedure comes with risks, but in this case they are minimal. There is no general anesthesia involved, merely a mild sedative to ensure Olivia's comfort during the endoscopy portion along with a local numbing agent at the site where the tube will be placed. The whole process will take less than an hour, plus a short time spent in recovery."
Elliot hated the idea of putting Olivia through anything else, but he knew she'd want their daughter to be taken care of. And since she currently wasn't capable of eating a proper healthy diet to ensure that their baby was growing and developing the way that she should, this was the next best option.
"Okay. What do you need me to do?"
"Just sign these consent forms. We can get started immediately, and I will be present as well to monitor and make certain there are no additional complications neurologically speaking – not that I'm expecting any."
Nodding, Elliot wiped his sweaty palms on his pants so he could have a better grip on the pen. His signature wasn't one of his best, but it was satisfactory. Not wanting Olivia to leave his sight without at least giving her a kiss on the forehead, and also needing to say a few words to his daughter, Elliot bent over the bed. Cupping his palm over the spot where their little one was safely nestled, he pressed his lips to Olivia's brow.
"I'll see you in a bit, Liv. You're going to do just fine. You, too, Peanut. I'll be here waiting for both of you when you get back."
He almost couldn't bear to watch as Olivia was wheeled away, but Elliot kept his eyes on his partner until her bed had disappeared from view. Walking over to the sofa by the window where he had spent the previous night, he collapsed down onto the cushions and buried his head into his hands. He knew he needed to make a few phone calls, to update Cragen and the others about what was going on, but he couldn't manage to do that yet. He was still coming to terms with it himself.
Once he was more composed, Elliot took his phone out of his pocket. Still not feeling quite capable of carrying on a conversation, he sent out a text message to his Captain, relaying the information as best as possible. He also sent an update to both Kathy and Maureen, who had asked to be kept in the loop regarding Olivia's condition.
Even though his nerves were on edge, Elliot felt the need to do something with his hands, or else believed he was going to go completely insane. Though he hated to leave Olivia's room for any reason, especially having promised that he would wait there until her return, he took a brief break to head to the kitchen behind the nurse's station down the hall. Helping himself to a cup of coffee, he nearly burned his tongue on the bitter brew. When the caffeinated liquid was gone, he debated whether or not to head to the chapel, but instead opted to do his praying in private.
Even though he had only been gone for twenty minutes at most, the last thing he had been expecting when he got back to Olivia's room was to find Cragen there waiting for him.
"Cap? What are you doing here?"
"I got your message, and came here as soon as I could. Didn't think it was right for you to wait alone. We were going to be coming today anyway. Fin and John will be by later."
Words couldn't express how relieved he was. Elliot all but collapsed back onto the couch. While he wasn't as free with his emotions as he would have been in front of Olivia, he didn't have to keep them bottled up, either. The Captain was the closest thing to a father figure that he'd had in ages, and no matter how many times Elliot seemed to screw up, Cragen always believed in him. His support meant everything right now.
"Thanks."
"You don't have to say anything, Elliot. We can just sit here. I just wanted to remind you that you don't have to do this alone. Our squad is a family, and we're always there for each other."
Nodding, Elliot allowed his body to relax back against the cushions. Still not quite comfortable with the silence, he decided to talk about something positive. Sharing with his Captain some of the details regarding that morning's ultrasound, he could scarcely keep the fatherly pride out of his voice as he spoke about his newest daughter that Olivia was carrying.
"I'm just so worried about them both. I'm terrified I'm going to do the wrong thing."
"I understand, son. But Olivia trusted you for a reason. You're not going to fail her – you're not going to fail either of them. Everything is going to work out the way that it should."
Even with his Captain there for company and moral support, Elliot had still been counting the minutes until someone came to give him an update on Olivia. He was doing alright up until the clock reached the one hour mark, and that was when his leg began to fidget uncontrollably. Elliot was certain he was driving Cragen nuts, but couldn't bring himself to care enough to apologize. It was only when Dr. Adelman appeared in the doorway to Olivia's room with Dr. Hanson in tow that Elliot remembered how to breathe again. Though it was obvious the neurologist also had something to say, it was the gastroenterologist who spoke first.
"Olivia handled the placement of the PEG tube beautifully. There were no complications, and she should be brought back up to the room shortly. If all continues to go well, we should be able to start giving her the nutritional supplements in about twelve hours time."
Relieved, Elliot turned his attention to Dr. Adelman, curious as to what information the other man had to report.
"We also decided to take advantage of this opportunity to switch Olivia to the different type of bed that I mentioned to you the other day. This one will work continuously to improve her circulation, and will also decrease the chances of her developing bed sores from laying in one position for so long."
His brain still stuck on the part where his partner had made it through yet another medical procedure, Elliot only partially processed the information about Olivia's new bed. He did, however, recall having been told about it a few days ago, and even the nurse mentioning it earlier that morning.
Remembering his manners enough that he was able to shake the hands of both doctors and thank them, Elliot was in a daze as he walked back to the spot where he had previously been sitting. He was even more grateful for his Captain's presence when Cragen offered to send a few updates on his behalf, allowing Elliot the time he needed to pull himself together.
A short time later – even though it seemed like an eternity – Olivia was being wheeled back in the room, and it took every ounce of strength that Elliot possessed not to rush to her side immediately. It would take a few minutes to get all the equipment set up and arranged as necessary, and this new bed definitely took up more room than its predecessor. Elliot wasn't complaining, though. All that mattered was that his partner was getting the best medical care possible. As he'd told the nurse this morning, whatever the expense, he'd find a way to handle it.
Having been reminded of his intention from before that he wanted to contact Dana, Elliot made another mental note to reach out to the woman as soon as he found some free time. He knew she was already working on some things on her end, so he hoped that she would have some news for him the next time they talked. He also hadn't forgotten about the name of Olivia's handler that he had been given, but at the moment seeking out Dean Porter to exact revenge was the least of his concerns.
Once the people who had brought Olivia back had left, the sound of a ringing phone pulled Elliot from his spiraling thoughts, and he couldn't help his startled response. Reaching reflexively for his pocket, he realized that it wasn't him who was receiving a call, but rather his Captain. Since he figured he wasn't required to pay attention to the conversation, Elliot focused his attention back on his partner, taking Olivia's hand in her own and bringing it to his lips.
"You did so good today, Liv. I'm sorry I had to put you through that, but I know it's what you'd want for our little Peanut. Now, you'll both get what you need to stay strong and healthy."
Belatedly, Elliot realized that Cragen had not only finished his call, but had joined him, and was now standing on the opposite side of Olivia's bed. Having not seen her since the week prior, the Captain was looking down at his Detective with a somber expression, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Hey, Olivia. I know you're working hard at getting better. I just wanted to tell you to take all the time you need. Fin and John are on their way, they want to see you, too."
Directing his attention back to Elliot, Cragen changed the subject slightly.
"John had mentioned the idea of getting you out of the hospital for a bit, taking you to a restaurant for dinner. He's even volunteered Fin's credit card as payment to try and coax you to another location. I told him I'd ask, but I figured the odds weren't very likely."
"You're right about that, Cap. I'll be spending the night here again, but will be back at work tomorrow. I need to save as much of my leave as possible, because I don't know what else might happen."
Cragen nodded his understanding, not having expected an any different of an answer than the one he was given.
"How about I just message John back, ask him and Fin to bring something here? That way we can all keep Olivia company while we eat?"
"I'd like that."
A short while later, Elliot found himself seated at the small table in Olivia's room, surrounded by his friends. He had tried to pay for his share in their meal, but Fin had insisted it was taken care of. However, the other man had no issues collecting money from John. Watching the two bicker brought a smile to Elliot's face, and he knew that if Olivia were awake, she would also be greatly amused by their interaction.
The extra company had been nice, and Elliot had found it good to get out of his own head for awhile. But all things must come to an end, and eventually Fin, John, and the Captain had to leave. Taking advantage of the fact that he was now alone again with his partner, Elliot readied himself for bed early – even though he had no intention of going to sleep just yet. After shaving and changing into comfortable clothes, he situated himself in the chair beside the bed. Before he could start pouring his heart out, however, another surprise visitor entered the room.
"Hey, Stabler. How's she doing?"
Despite the fact that the woman had crossed his mind on several occasions throughout the day, Dana Lewis was the last person Elliot had thought would turn up at the hospital. He wasn't displeased to see her, however – especially since it appeared she was there to deliver some sort of news that couldn't be said over the phone.
"No change. The doctors put in a feeding tube today, which was nerve wracking as hell. In the long run though, it will be a good thing for both her and the baby to get the nutrition they need."
Dana nodded, then gestured awkwardly to the chair beside Elliot.
"Is it all right if I sit?"
"Please."
Reaching into her bag, Dana pulled out a manila envelope and held it out in Elliot's direction.
"I'm giving this to you because I know you are Olivia's medical proxy. The Bureau has reached several decisions, all of which I think are important for you to know. First, Agent Porter has been terminated. I trust that will be enough for you and you will disregard any information I gave you previously."
Elliot kept his expression blank, and that seemed to satisfy the woman who was speaking to him.
"Second, it was also determined that both Deputy Ibold and former Agent Porter were at fault for Olivia's injuries. Since nothing can really be gained by going after a small town Oregon police department, the FBI is taking charge of the settlement. All expenses for Olivia's medical care will be paid for, as well as compensation for her work. In the event of the inevitable – which none of us see happening, we just have to put these type of things in for legal reasons – all monies will go into a trust fund for Olivia's daughter.
Elliot didn't know what to say. It was more than he had been expecting, that was for certain. He also knew it was the most the FBI would ever admit to having screwed up, but he was beyond grateful for small mercies. Knowing that Olivia could receive all the medical care she needed without ever having to worry about paying a bill was an immense weight off his shoulders.
"Thank you, Dana. Keep this up, and you just might lose that jinx status."
"Watch it, Stabler. I might start to think you actually like me."
With a wink, the woman excused herself from the room, leaving Elliot and Olivia alone once more.
"How about that, Liv? I'm always telling you about all the people who care. Now I can keep my promise to you about not kicking Dean Porter's ass and landing myself in jail. Don't think I haven't thought about it, though."
As he settled in to begin another night of reading to both mother and daughter, Elliot felt the most at ease than he had since Olivia had first been brought to the hospital. Yes, his partner may still be in a coma, but she was stable, and she was getting the best care possible. He had every belief that she would come back to him when she was ready. Until that time came, he would be right by her side waiting for her to wake up.
