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.

The next time Elliot opened his eyes, he could see the early light of dawn just breaking through the blinds of the covered window. To his right, Olivia's breaths were slow and even, indicating that she was still deep in slumber. His hand was still holding tightly to hers, their fingers entwined even after all these hours had passed. Elliot suspected it was his partner's proximity that had kept the nightmares at bay, and he was beyond grateful.

As much as he wanted to remain exactly where he was, necessity dictated that he move, and as soon as he was able. Delicately extricating himself from Olivia's grasp with as little movement as possible, Elliot managed to maneuver himself to a sitting position. Thankfully, having already been propped up somewhat by the bank of pillows his partner had arranged the night before had made it easier for him to pull himself upright without putting too much strain on his tender ribs, or pulling on the stitches that graced his torso. Shuffling his way toward the bathroom, Elliot quickly abandoned the impulsive idea that he shower now while Olivia was still sleeping. He was neither willing to trust his own limitations in terms of staying upright that long nor ready to risk his partner's wrath should she wake and discover that he had attempted to do something that most definitely would require supervision.

Elliot was just making his way back to the main room after having relieved himself and brushed his teeth when he noticed that Olivia had rolled over and curled up on her side. She was now facing the part of the bed that he had previously been sleeping in, her arm curled around one of the pillows he had been using. A lock of hair had fallen across her face, and Elliot couldn't remember a time when he had last seen his partner look so beautiful or so content. He wanted to commit the image to memory – not that he would ever forget what she had done for him by traveling all this way to be here when he needed someone the most.

Feeling inspired, Elliot picked up his phone and sent off a text message, asking a certain someone for a favor that he hoped wouldn't be too much of an imposition. He knew he wasn't ready to go home just yet, and even when that time did come, he was clear headed enough to realize that he'd have to put aside his pride and ask for help in that area, too. Thankfully, he received a reply almost as soon as he had pressed send, the individual whom he had contacted just as relieved to hear from him as he had been for their aid.

With that particular chore out of the way, Elliot moved on to the second phase of his mission. He remembered that Olivia had mentioned the possibility of taking him to the local diner for breakfast, but if he were being honest with himself, he wasn't quite in the headspace to be out in public. Maybe after he'd had the opportunity to shower, he'd be feeling more like himself, but for now, Elliot knew he'd infinitely prefer the seclusion of the motel room that he and Olivia were currently holed up in. That didn't mean he couldn't see to it that they had something to eat however, and having learned his lesson the day before in terms of taking the prescription strength pain relief on an empty stomach – or worse, combining it with alcohol – his next plan was to order in food so they could start the day off with a decent meal.

After scouring the options for delivery at his disposal, Elliot chose a nearby cafe that seemed to have a selection that would appeal to both him and his partner. Still not wanting to wake up the woman who was slumbering so peacefully, he took a gamble, opting for a variety of foods they could each choose from, along with plenty of hot coffee. Even though his mind was just as busy as ever, stepping back into the provider role had made Elliot feel useful, and it wasn't that he was refusing to allow Olivia to take care of him, but he was also well aware that she didn't cede control very often, either. If he thought he could laugh without injuring himself further, he'd find the situation humorous. The two of them truly did make quite a pair.

A soft mewling sound followed by a languid stretch captured Elliot's attention from his musings, and he turned to face the bed where Olivia lay. She was blinking up at him sleepily, and he tried to conceal his amusement at her obvious confusion. It was only when her expression of bewilderment morphed to one of recognition and then concern that Elliot rushed to reassure her.

"It's okay, Liv. I promise, I slept. I haven't been awake for that long, and I haven't been overdoing it. For the sake of honesty, though, I will admit, I did briefly consider taking a shower before you woke up, but I thought better of it. I wasn't willing to risk getting on your bad side."

The corner of Olivia's mouth quirked up, even as she arched one eyebrow.

"That's good to hear. If you give me a few minutes to get my bearings, I'll get something sorted for breakfast. I'm guessing you probably don't want to go anywhere until later."

Elliot loved how well this woman knew him – even better than he knew himself.

"Already taken care of. A food delivery is on its way, and I made sure to remember the coffee."

"Good to hear you have an appetite today, El. After we eat, if you want, we can see about getting you that shower. I'm not going to hover, but I did promise to help you with those bandages."

"Sounds good. Bathroom is all yours if you need some time to get yourself sorted."

Nodding, Olivia got to her feet, grabbed her bag, and padded in that direction closing the door behind her. As he watched her go, Elliot tried to figure out how to best broach the topic over breakfast of what else he had done. He knew Olivia wouldn't be angry with him, if anything she would be shocked over his willingness to not only admit he needed help, but that he was ready to accept it.

When Olivia emerged from the bathroom several minutes later, she was dressed for the day. Even though she had opted for a casual look, wearing leggings and a tunic length sweater, her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, and she had even applied the light touch of makeup that Elliot was accustomed to seeing her in. Before he had a chance to say anything, however, there was a knock at the door. Even though he knew he shouldn't be pushing his limits, Elliot was closer, so he took it upon himself to answer and accept their breakfast delivery. As soon as he saw how much was there, he knew he wouldn't be able to manage on his own – at least not without aggravating his injuries. Thankfully, Olivia was already on her way over to intercept and help.

"Let me take the heavier things, El. You can carry the coffee over to the table."

Since everything had already been paid for – including tip – with the app that he had used, there was nothing else that needed taken care of. Left on their own once more, the two partners worked seamlessly to set up their morning meal.

"Are you sure that it was you who ordered our breakfast, or did Noah somehow get hold of your phone? This looks like something he'd pick – one of everything."

Elliot bit back a grin, taking the gentle teasing for what it was.

"I didn't have the heart to wake you, and wanted to be certain you'd have something you liked. Plus, I'm admittedly more hungry today than I was yesterday."

"I'm glad to hear it. Truth be told, and I know this will come as no shock to you, I don't often take the time to indulge in breakfast most mornings. Obviously I make sure my son does, but I don't typically listen to my own advice."

Passing over one of the cups of coffee, and taking the other for himself, Elliot took a careful sip before responding.

"Heavy is the hip that wears the Captain's badge"

"Something like that. Come on, let's eat while the food is still hot."

Despite her chiding, Olivia had nonetheless been pleased by what Elliot had chosen for them. There was a bowl of cut up fresh fruit – something she greatly appreciated – and a Belgian waffle that had been sectioned into quarters rather than served as a whole. Likewise, a portion of scrambled eggs and even a side of bacon that Olivia was certain was more for her partner's benefit than her own. She wasn't about to complain, too relieved to see that Elliot was eating something willingly again to argue.

Even though she had initially believed there was entirely too much food, it ended up being the perfect amount. Olivia had consumed plenty, and Elliot's appetite – while not completely back to normal – had improved drastically. Not wanting her partner to overdo things, it was Olivia who insisted on cleaning up when they were finished, but only after they had each lingered over a second cup of coffee.

Now, with full bellies and freshly caffeinated spirits, Elliot was able to take a pain reliever. He was tempted to see how long he could make it without one, but gentle encouragement from Olivia had him seeing reason in no time. Taking a shower would no doubt require more of a Herculean effort than he was accustomed to, and he didn't want to attempt any of that by starting the process already in pain, only for it to increase and become worse. Plus, it wasn't as though he were abusing the prescription he had been given, so there wasn't anything wrong with him taking the medicine when he needed it.

"I think I'm going to attempt that shower now, before you can no longer stand to be in the same room with me."

Olivia made no attempt to hide her smile, even though she knew Elliot was deflecting to humor to avoid talking about his feelings for the time being. While he hadn't gone into great detail, he had mentioned over breakfast that he'd been in contact with Jet, and asked the OCCB Detective – along with Kyle Vargas - to make the nearly one hundred mile journey to Westbrook and pick up his Jeep so they could drive it back to the city. Olivia had been surprised by that bit of news, but definitely relieved. In fact, she had even considered contacting either someone on Elliot's team or one of his children to do that very thing herself, knowing that he was in no condition to make a drive like that on his own. Even riding in a passenger seat for that length of time could prove to be uncomfortable, but Olivia felt better knowing that Elliot was putting his safety in her hands. Getting back to the topic at hand, she tried to think of something to say to her partner.

"Wouldn't be the first time one of us had been caught with the other after several days without a shower. I can't help but think of all those cases we had in our early years that went on for days. If I remember right, we tended to favor food or sleep on the rare occasions we did catch a break. I'm not going to fight you now if you do want to get clean though. I know I how much it helps, especially when the stitches start to itch."

Elliot nodded, then moved toward his bag to gather the items he would need. What he wasn't expecting was for Olivia to also place a bag in his hands, containing an antibacterial soap that hadn't even occurred to him to purchase. It was then that he recalled the instructions from the hospital in regard to his wound care, and how that particular item was a necessary part of his healing process.

"Thanks, Liv. I'll try not to take too long."

"Take as long as you want, don't worry about that. All I ask is that you don't lock the door, in case you should need help. That way I'll be able to get in. Whenever you're ready after, we can work on putting on some fresh bandages for you."

Despite his earlier promises, once he had gotten under the soothing spray of the water, Elliot had wanted to stay there for an eternity. If only his soul could be cleansed as easily as his body, or the healing process were as simple. It was a fact that the stitches could be removed in ten days, and while the damage to his ribs might take a bit longer, Elliot knew from experience that they, too, would eventually be restored to their original undamaged state. But his troubled spirit was a much more complicated matter, as there was no bandage or remedy that could repair it as effectively as time itself. Not being a patient man, that was a luxury that Elliot didn't have.

Eventually, Elliot had to concede that he needed to get out of the shower. Not only was he growing weary from having stood on his feet for so long, but he didn't want to cause Olivia any additional worry. Fortunately, this room was equipped with a walk-in stall, because Elliot didn't think that he would have been able to step in or out of a tub enclosure on his own.

After drying himself off, using the utmost care to not swipe too hard at the areas of his body where there were stitches present – and there were more there than he had been aware of previously- Elliot managed to get himself into a pair of boxers before the pain became too much and he was unable to stop the gasp of discomfort that left his lips. Naturally, despite his efforts to conceal it, his partner was ever observant, and she was knocking on the door in an instant.

"El, are you all right?"

Weighing his options carefully, Elliot was reminded of something Olivia had said to him the night before, about not being a superhero. Putting his pride to the side, and acknowledging to himself that if he could be vulnerable with anyone, it would be with the woman who was here with him now, he called out.

"I am, but I'm having trouble getting dressed. Can you help me, please?"

"Of course. Is it all right if I come in?"

Even though he had just made the request, Elliot loved that Olivia still asked for consent before opening the door. Her respect for his privacy meant a lot to him, and he knew she didn't take it lightly.

"Please."

The door swung open, and there was Olivia, bag of first aid supplies in hand. Just as she had the day before, she paid no attention to Elliot's state of undress, merely focused on the matter at hand.

"Why don't you sit on the closed toilet seat like you did yesterday? Not only will that get you off your feet for a bit, but that way I can bandage your hands and wrists first. Then when I'm done, I'll help you get your jeans on. After that, we can work on taking care of the wounds on your torso. Your shirt will come last."

"Sounds good to me."

Elliot forced himself to sit still as his partner tended to him, trying to remind himself not to stare. It was also a struggle to not allow a fresh wave of guilt to seep into his bones, as he realized for all the times Olivia had cared for him after he had been injured, not once had he done the same for her. The closest he had come to being there for her had been when he'd gone to pick up Noah in Woodstock and bring him home. Elliot supposed that was a blessing in itself, to have been trusted with the safety of the one person she held so dear. He had never taken that responsibility lightly, and he never would. But last year when his partner had been shot, he had wanted nothing more than to be the one by her side as she healed. The compass was meant to be a bridge between them while he took care of her, not a parting gift as he was on his way out of town. To this day, Elliot was impressed that the pendant was still firmly clasped around Olivia's neck, and that she hadn't thrown it in his face and told him to get the hell out of her life.

"Elliot?"

Pulled back to the present, Elliot felt a blush stain his cheeks as he realized that Olivia had been trying to get his attention for several minutes. Lost in his own world of self deprecation, he had completely missed the fact that she had finished tending to his hands and wrists. Not that it had been hard, as her touch was so gentle, and he hadn't experienced an ounce of pain.

"Sorry, Liv. I just zoned out for a bit."

"You don't have to apologize. Are you ready to get dressed, or did you need to sit for a moment?"

Indicating he would prefer the former, Elliot was ready to get to his feet when Olivia suggested it would be easier to work the denim over his legs before he stood, then pull them up to his hips once he was upright. Readily agreeing to that idea, the two worked together. Though he knew she wouldn't have made the situation awkward, Elliot was nonetheless relieved when Olivia allowed him to take over once the jeans were around his waist. Then, he forced himself to pay attention while the wound by his rib cage was carefully disinfected, then had a fresh bandage applied.

Grateful when his partner stepped back out of the bathroom to allow him a few more minutes to himself to finish getting things together, Elliot cleaned up as best he could. He knew it wasn't necessary, but he didn't want to make any more work for Olivia than he already had. It was also getting harder to ignore the broken mirror, and he knew he'd have to own up to what he had done sooner rather than later.

Elliot was on his way back out to the main room when he heard the sound of a phone ringing, but didn't recognize it as one belonging to him. Someone must be trying to call Olivia. It was only when he heard his daughter's voice come through on what must have been a video call that his heart constricted, and he knew he couldn't keep avoiding his family – or worse, leave his partner to clean up his mess any longer.

Temporarily abandoning what little mess was left behind in the bathroom, Elliot moved as swiftly as he was able toward the place where Olivia was sitting on the side of the bed. Dismissing her concerned expression with a shake of his head, he held out his palm, wordlessly asking for the phone she was currently engaged in a video call on with his daughter Kathleen. After a moment of shuffling, Elliot was face to face with a very worried pair of blue eyes, and guilt washed over him anew. Instantly contrite, an apology was the first thing to leave his lips.

"I'm sorry, Katie. I didn't mean to worry you. I know I should have called you sooner. I was just being my usual stubborn self and trying to deal with everything on my own."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, the truth behind her father's words made Kathleen chuckle.

"That's not surprising, Dad. I just need you to remember we're not babies anymore. I get why you didn't want to tell Grandma, and we'd have respected that. Thank goodness for Olivia. I'm glad you have someone there taking care of you."

"So am I. I don't deserve her, but I'm glad she's here, too."

Olivia, who was still watching him cautiously, softened her gaze immediately. Even though she didn't say a word, she held out her hand, palm up for Elliot to hold on to as he continued to reassure his daughter. It took several more minutes before Kathleen was suitably convinced that her father was telling the truth, but eventually she was comfortable enough to end the call. Elliot supposed it also helped that his partner had also promised to get in touch if anything changed, or that anyone could contact her whenever necessary. It reminded him of all the times Olivia had been there for his kids when they were growing up, and he felt another flash of guilt at the realization that it hadn't just been himself who he had taken out of Olivia's life without a word when he had disappeared all those years ago, but a family she had loved, as well. What he had said to Kathleen was true – he really didn't deserve her – but he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

Before Elliot had the chance to say anything to Olivia, even something as simple as a word of thanks, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Neither had expected Jet to arrive so quickly, but Elliot had taken quite a long time in the shower, not to mention the fact that he had called the younger detective before their breakfast had even arrived. The more they thought about it, the more the timing made sense. Heading to admit their guest, the last thing Elliot was anticipating was to be practically tackled by Jet the instant he opened the door, but he nonetheless welcomed the embrace, even despite the uncomfortable pressure it added to his tender ribs. She had only ever hugged him like this once before, following a similarly dangerous situation, and Elliot was deeply touched by the younger woman's affection.

Quickly regaining her composure, Jet tucked her hair behind her ear and immediately changed the subject. Though she was no longer wearing her heart on her sleeve, it didn't stop her from fussing over Elliot's injuries, lamenting that the OCCB squad didn't need him to be out of commission as well, especially with Ayanna still on leave following the gunshot wound she had sustained on the case prior.

"Would it help you any to know I was being careful?"

Elliot thought he was being convincing, but Olivia's snort of incredulity accompanied by Jet's roll of the eyes told him otherwise. He wisely shut his mouth and refrained from saying anything further. Desperate for any sort of ally, his eyes sought out Kyle Vargas, who was hovering by the entrance to the motel room. Though Elliot's opinion of the AI expert had improved drastically of late, it was clear the other man still considered himself to be somewhat of an outsider. Wanting to make the professor feel more welcome, Elliot took a few steps closer, hand outstretched.

"Vargas, thank you for helping out with this. I really appreciate it."

"Of course. I'm just sorry our traces didn't locate Bonner before he snatched you."

Dismissing those concerns with a wave, Elliot gave a smile. He may not be able to do much about his own guilt at the moment, but he damn sure wasn't going to let anyone else carry any burdens on his behalf. A glance over his shoulder at Olivia and her narrowed eyes told him she knew exactly what he was doing. He never was able to hide from her.

"Let me get you my keys. Again, thank you both for coming all this way and driving my Jeep back to the city. I'm still not sure how much longer I'm going to stay here, but I am coming home."

"Glad to hear it, Stabler."

Not long after, Jet and Olivia exchanged a warm farewell, and when it was obvious the detective was feeling more reassured after having seen her colleague in one piece, Jet left the room with Vargas in tow. The two partners were once again on their own, and Elliot felt more drained than he had in awhile. Knowing he wasn't expected to say anything – at least not yet – he made himself comfortable, content to just rest for now.

It was only after he had settled once more on the bed that Elliot remembered his neglect in cleaning the bathroom. When Olivia headed to take care of something that should have been his responsibility, it was on the tip of his tongue to apologize, but he swallowed down that urge, knowing instinctively she wouldn't want to hear it. The two of them had been in similar positions enough times over their years together as partners. It was second nature for one to take care of the other and pick up the slack when needed. When Olivia returned to the main room a few short moments later, she was regarding Elliot with a thoughtful expression. Even though he was reclined back against the bank of pillows, he was still awake, and raised an eyebrow by means of a silent question.

"Jet was definitely relieved to see you. Not that I can blame her. It wasn't as though I didn't know this already, but I can see that your penchant for diving headfirst into danger hasn't reduced any the older you've gotten."

Even though he knew he should have taken the admonition a bit more seriously, especially considering the injuries he was currently nursing, Elliot couldn't help but respond by arching his eyebrow even higher. Because the truth of the matter was, Olivia was no better at avoiding conflict and risk than he was, and she knew it.

"At the risk of getting smacked, I'm going to repeat back a phrase you've said to me on numerous occasions. Do you want to be the pot or the kettle? Exactly how many hostage situations have you been involved in again?"

Olivia's face darkened – not unlike a thundercloud – but as it turned out, Elliot was not the one she was angry with.

"I hope Fin doesn't have any plans, because he is going to be on weekends for the foreseeable future."

"How do you know I found out from Fin?"

Looking no less formidable, Olivia addressed her partner again.

"Are you telling me it wasn't?"

"No."

Olivia didn't say any more, but there had been no need. The look on her face clearly said 'that's what I thought', and Elliot didn't dare argue. Plus, he knew she was right. No matter how much he had protested and tried to turn the situation around, the fact remained that they both were notorious for risking it all for the sake of justice. But given he was the one who had recently been in the hospital, Elliot supposed it was only fair that those who cared about him had been chastising him. In truth, it felt good to know that so many people thought enough to say something in the first place.

Before Elliot could say anything else, his phone rang. Not expecting anyone else to reach out, especially after having been in contact with both Kathleen and Jet already today, he looked at the display with curiosity. Surprised to see that Meredith Bonner was calling, he didn't hesitate to pick up, the guilt he was already dealing with ratcheting up several degrees over the fact that because of him, a woman he respected had needed to use deadly force on her own brother in order to save his life.

"Chief Bonner."

"Meredith, please. I know I'm probably the last person you want to hear from right now, but I was hoping I could see you."

Even though he'd told Olivia about his uncertainty in regard to leaving the hotel room only as little as an hour before, Elliot found he couldn't deny the request of the woman on the phone. Plus, there had been something about working closely with the Chief that had resonated with him. Struck by a wave of inspiration, Elliot glanced across the room to where his partner was standing and watching him intently.

"Of course. Actually, there is someone I'd like you to introduce you to.

Maybe we could meet for lunch at the diner in a couple of hours? Unless, of course, you were wanting a place with a bit more privacy?"

As it turned out, privacy was exactly what Meredith Bonner was looking for. Instead of more public venue, she instead gave Elliot her address, insisting he and Olivia come to her residence where they would have the freedom to talk without having to worry about idle gossip. After finalizing the details, Elliot ended the call, knowing he would have some explaining to do for Olivia. Of course, she had read him perfectly, and there wasn't much he needed to say.

"Not that I'm ever going to question or berate you for your big heart, but do you want to tell me why you're so focused on taking care of other people when you should be taking care of yourself? And before you give me that 'pot or kettle' bullshit again, I'm going to remind you that of the two of us, you are the one who currently has a concussion, busted ribs, and stitches."

"Point taken. If it were anyone else, I would have made excuses, but it's the Chief. It was her brother who killed Rita and those other girls, and also who attacked me. In order to save her own life, as well as mine, she had to take his. Not to mention, her father, who is the judge in this town, is dirty as well, and she only just learned he is responsible for having murdered her mother a long time ago."

Ever empathetic, Olivia's heart went out to Meredith Bonner, a woman whom she had never even met, but instantly respected. It hadn't lessened her concerns for Elliot any, but instead made her more determined to help. While he hadn't said anything specifically, Olivia knew her partner well enough to realize that his attempts at forgiving himself for the weight he carried in regard to Rita Lasku's death made his need to help the Chief imperative.

"Okay. We'll go and meet the Chief in a short while."

"Why do I have the feeling you're about to set terms or conditions?"

Resisting the urge to laugh over just how well Elliot knew her, she instead joined him on the bed they had shared the night before.

"It's nothing as dramatic as that, El. I was just going to suggest that you rest first. Both for your physical and mental well being. You know as well as I do that whatever you talk about will be draining, and you're going to need your strength. The last thing I want is you overdoing it and having a setback."

"That's fair. But only if you rest with me. You may have gotten some sleep last night, but I'm sure it still wasn't enough."

Unable to do anything but agree, Olivia set an alarm, and made herself comfortable. She didn't know what awaited when they would go and talk to the Chief, but she damn sure wasn't going to let Elliot do it alone. He was struggling enough already. She may not be able to restore his faith in humanity, or even give him back the foundation of his religion, but she was going to do everything in her power to make sure he didn't give up on himself.