All I can think of is the season premiere of organized crime and that episode 2 title "Dante's Inferno". Literally Dante had to crawl through seven rounds of hell, so I'm very nervous. This will also be the episode that Olivia is in, so I've basically prepared myself for everything I can think of.

Anyway, this is my take on what I would have happen if I was writing and producing and directing the show (basically i should just own it at this point)

Disclaimer: I, in no way, own or operate any part of the L franchise. If I did, they'd already be together.

"What did you just say?" Olivia feels the walls caving in. She can hardly focus on the papers in front of her. Her whole world has come to a jolting halt, and she isn't sure if it will spin again.

"Liv, I'm not sure. Look, all I heard was that he had been hit by a semi truck. They are thinking it was intentional. Some undercover operation he was in. I just thought you should know."

Olivia focuses on her deep breathing exercises because if she doesn't, she will collapse right where she is standing. She clutches the edge of her desk to ground herself, give herself some semblance of balance because right now, her emotions are anything but. The air is thick around her lungs, and she struggles to breathe normally.

"Fin, tell me. Is he?" She can't bring herself to say those words. Not now. Not when they've had no time. Not when he's tried so damn hard to be something for her. Not when she has tried healing her past so she can be ready. They've come too far for it to all be taken away. She hears Fin sigh on the other end of the line, and her heart teeters on the edge of her chest, prepared, albeit terrified, for what Fin is about to say.

"They haven't told me anything, Liv. I wish I knew more. He is at Mercy. I know his brother and mother are there. I'm not sure about the kids. Look, you go. I am five minutes out from the station. I'll hold down the fort while you go see about him."

He couldn't have been more of her saving grace than he was in that moment because Olivia had never run out of the station as fast as she was running now. She only has her keys, and her heels are slamming against the concrete of the garage. She wastes no time in getting to her SUV and starting it up. She peels out of the garage and turns on her lights. And she knows she shouldn't do it, but she needs to get to Elliot.

When she arrives, her adrenaline is pumping hard through her body. She rushes to the front desk frantically, slapping her hands against the counter to catch the girl's attention.

"I need to know what room Elliot Stabler is in. NOW!" Normally, she'd be calm. Cool. Collected. But this situation was not normal. Not in the slightest. She had no time to be collected when her mind was spinning like an eight day clock.

"I'm sorry. And you are?" The girl is frightened. That much Olivia can tell. But she doesn't care. She needs to get to Elliot.

"Olivia Benson. I'm-I'm his partner." She rushes out the information in stammered breaths. The girl looks at her, unsure. So Olivia pulls out her badge.

"Please. This is urgent. I need to see him." The girl nods and logs onto the computer, seemingly searching for Elliot. When she comes back to the window, she smiles sadly.

"He was brought into the emergency room hours ago. He is in the ICU. You'll want to-" Olivia cuts her off and runs towards the elevators.

"I know where to go. Thanks!" She yells across the lobby as the elevator closes. She presses the floor number to the ICU and taps her foot as the elevator seemingly drags on.

"Come on! Hurry up!" She shouts at no one. Luckily, no other person seems to need the elevators, and she is off and running through to the ICU desk. There are several nurses standing there, checking charts, updating information, and chatting.

She arrives to the front desk, and quite frankly, she's out of breath, but she made it. She's made it to Elliot, or at least one step closer.

"Hi, I'm Captain Olivia Benson. I'm here to see Elliot Stabler."

She locks eyes with one of the nurses who walks towards her direction.

"Are you family?" She is sassy, and a bit rude, but Olivia brushes it off because it doesn't matter. She is here for Elliot, and she has to get through this to get to him.

"No, I'm his partner."

"Captain's don't usually have partners."

Olivia stifles out a laugh. This nurse pays attention well, but Elliot is still her partner in the ways that matter.

"Look, I am a friend of his. I need to see him now." Olivia isn't as nice, but this nurse isn't budging.

"Family only. This is the intensive care unit, but we only allow family in here unless otherwise authorized."

Olivia knows that she isn't getting passed this nurse. She tries reasoning with her. But her patience is wearing thin. Elliot could be dying, and she has yet to see him. She desperately needs to see him.

"Look you don't understand. I need to see him. Now. He could be dying, and I need to see him for myself."

The nurse's expression falters, but she doesn't budge.

"The rule is family only, and you aren't family, so go before I-"

"She is family. Let her through!"

Olivia locks eyes with the matriarch of the Stabler clan. Bernie inches towards her and takes her hands into hers.

"She is family in every way that counts. She's with me. That's all the damn authorization you need."

A fire burns behind Bernie's eyes as they walk away from the desk and to a room. Elliot's room. They sit down outside and Bernie sighs. Olivia's heart is in a vice grip.

"Olivia, it's bad. I just want you to know that. And I want you to know..." Bernie pauses and takes one of Olivia's hands into hers. "My son loves you. Maybe not in a way that you understand, but he loves you. Has for a long time. And if you have any love for my son, please, be here for him. For me. For us." She ends in a whisper. A pleading voice that wraps around Olivia's soul. Sure, she knows Elliot loves her, but to hear it this way from his mother, it's a whole new perspective.

Olivia squeezes Bernie's hand. "I care a lot about him. More than he will ever realize. Whatever you guys need, I'm right here." Bernie smiles and pats Olivia's hand before dropping it.

"I'm going to tell him you're here." She shuffles into the room, and Olivia trudges behind her.

"Son, Olivia is here to see you. I'm going to let you two talk. Please, come back. Do not make me bury you."

Olivia steps inside, and she spots Randall as well. They exchange a quick hello before Bernie and Randall excuse themselves.

Olivia stares at him. Elliot is hooked to monitor after monitor, but surprisingly, he is able to breathe somewhat on his own. He only has the nasal cannula around his face, and to her, that is a good sign. She doesn't move from her spot at the foot of his bed. She just stares at him, unblinking, scared that something will happen in the split second she closes her eyes.

"El, it's me. Liv." She starts off awkwardly, not sure what to say to him. She doesn't know what to say. What could she say to him at a time like this? She yearns for him to open his eyes so she can see the hauntingly beautiful shade of blue staring back at her. She takes in his injuries. The image of the battered body of her former partner is now burned inside her head, and it breaks her even more. Her voice is higher and softer when she speaks to him again.

"Elliot, you could've said you were going under. I had no idea it was this dangerous. Now you're here, but you're not, and I..." she trails off, biting her lip to hold back the tears that are threatening to pool. She has built her strength back from dust, and she refuses to crumble, but the sight of Elliot in this delicate state... well... it's enough to crack the walls.

"I heard you took a hit. What's that about, hm? Are you in trouble?" This was ridiculous. It isn't like he was going to wake up and tell her. She thinks that it's pointless, but she notices something. It's slight, and she squints her eyes. But nothing happens. Maybe she is imagining it.

"El, I don't want to stand here and pretend like this doesn't affect me, because it does. It hurts. You, lying in a hospital bed, almost killed. I couldn't live with myself if I'd lost you a second time."

She lets the tears pool now, not caring because he can't see them.

"I want you to know, when I said I wasn't ready... I was just scared. Scared of the possibility of you and me. The only reason we are able to have this possibility is because of Kathy, and I don't want that over my head. It will always be that barrier, El. Unless something else was in the way because your letter? It will always be you and I... I will always care about you, El. Please, come back. Wake up for me?"

Tears fall from her eyes as she walks towards the side of the bed, clutching his hand into one of hers. She raises it and caresses his knuckles before dropping it again, leaving his hand in hers.

"Damn it, Elliot. Don't you dare die on me. I want this possibility with you. I know we are running out of time, but this can't be it for us. I am ready. I love you, Elliot Stabler, and I need you to come back to me."

She puts her head to his and weeps silently, still clutching his hand tightly.

She isn't sure how she ended up sitting down beside his bed, but when she comes to, she is still holding tightly to his hand, but something is different. She feels something brushing her knuckles lightly. She gazes at her hand, and shock fills her body when she sees Elliot's thumb stroking across her white knuckle grip. She turns and finds his blue irises watching her intently. She smiles a watery smile and says nothing. She is so overcome with emotion that she's scared to speak. She knows she will cry.

"Hey, Liv."

He says it so casually, so quietly, so Elliot like. And she musters a laugh and brings his hand to her cheek.

"Hey, you." He smiles at her, squeezing her hand that is holding his. Neither know what to say in this moment. They are afraid to burst the bubble they've put themselves in.

"I'm glad you're here." It's the only thing he can say. There' so much more meaning behind it than he can muster up saying, but he sticks with it.

"I would've been here anyway." She feels the tears brimming, the words dancing on the tip of her tongue.

"I'm sorry."

"You almost died."

They both speak at the same time, and the magnitude of the situation falls on their pregnant pause. Elliot looks at her with so much emotion, and she allows the tears to fall.

"Elliot, Fin called me and said you'd been hit by a semi. I thought I'd lost you. And if I lost you again... God Elliot, I don't know that I could survive it a second time. Don't you ever do this to me again." Her voice becomes a whisper.

Elliot drops her hand and cups her cheek, swiping at the falling tears. His heart breaks because he hadn't intended to leave her again. He won't ever leave her again. Not willingly.

"I'm here, Liv. I'm not going anywhere."

His statement brings heat to her stomach, and the words fall out before she's able to swallow them down.

"You don't get it, Elliot. It would have killed me if you had died. All I could think about for the last 24 hours was that this was it. We were out of time, and it would have been my fault. I was the one that said I wasn't ready, and you were ready to jump in headfirst. That scared me, El. But I know that you meant every word. I care for you, too, Elliot. In every way that counts. In every way that matters. When you are back on your feet, I want you to know that I'll be ready. I'm done being scared. I just hope you're not done waiting."

Her confession hits him square in the chest, and he nudges her closer with his hands. She scoots her chair to where she can really see him. She can smell the mint on his breath from where they brushed his teeth earlier. He pushes the hair back from her face and pulls her closer by her neck.

"I'll never be done waiting for you, Olivia Benson." He pulls her in for a kiss, and although quick, it becomes a promise that this is their universe. The one where he chooses her.

She parts from him and looks him in the eyes.

"I love you, Elliot Stabler."

END

SOOOO,

I wanted this up ASAP before next week. I really and truly cannot wait for the season 5 Premiere of OC. did you know that Elliot will be on that episode of SVU? He is credited with a recurring/guest appearance. So yes, I am so stoked. I will be cancelling all my other subscriptions for Peacock!

Please let me know what you think 3