Sitting in the little Italian Restaurant Olivia laughed as she watched Carisi trying to get Nicky to say 'Dada'. Nicky being a typical toddler and having inherited his parents stubborn streak was refusing and instead saying 'mama' and reaching over for Amanda.

"I swear he said it earlier" Carisi said "Go on Nicky who am I"

"Mama" Nicky cooed, clapping his hands together.

"Carisi, he 'aint going to say it. He only got eyes for his mama" Fin laughed.

"He did say it this morning" Carisi looked up "come on Amanda back me up"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Counselor" Amanda grinned

"I'm Teasing" she smiled walking round to him.

Pulling her son on to her hip she kissed his cheek. "Nicky who's this" she said pointing to her husband.

"Dada" Nicky giggled, clapping his hands together.

"See it's all about how you ask" she smiled teasing her husband into a kiss.

Olivia had been distracted from the conversation by her phone ringing loudly on the table. It wasn't a number she recognised but had given her number to so many victims and witnesses that it could be anyone.

"Benson…" she said lifting the phone to her ear

Looking over the table Amanda carefully pushed Nicky back into the arms of his father. "Liv?" she said softly looking at her friend who had turned as white as a sheet. "What's happened?"

"It's Stabler" she said, the phone slipping out of her hand onto the table.

"What's the stupid fool, gone and done now?" Fin asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"There was an accident. A 18 Wheeler plowed into his truck…" Olivia said.

"Shit! Liv I didn't…"

"I have to go…." Olivia stammered looking around for her things. "I need to get… I have to…." she let out a soft sob trying to get her words together.

"Just go" Amanda said softly, picking up her friend's bag, handing it to her.

"But Noah…" she said, turning watching as her son along with Billie and Jessie were choosing ice cream at the counter.

"We got him liv. Don't worry" Amanda hugged her friend "just go see Elliot."

She took one last look at her son who was being handed a huge ice cream cone with at least 4 scoops on before dashing out of the door to find her SUV.

Returning to the Table Noah smiled looking around, "Where's Mum?" he asked.

The three adults looked at each other, not quite sure how to explain the last few minutes. On one hand Noah was old enough to understand on the other he was still a child and didn't really understand everything

"Your mum got a call…." Amanda said softly.

"It's not work is it?" Noah asked. Whenever they had a day planned or were doing something fun Work always seemed to have other plans for them.

"No. not exactly," Carisi said.

"There has been an accident" Amanda continued "Elliot was involved in a crash"

"But he is okay isn't he?" Noah asked. He knew how much his mom's former partner meant to her and he saw him as a friend as well especially after the gang incident and he had driven him home from woodstock.

"We don't know," Amanda half smiled. "you're going to be staying with us for a bit . And your mum said she would call if there was any news"

"Okay" Noah said quietly not as quite interested in his ice cream as he had been just a few moments ago,

Dashing through the doors of the hospital Olivia looked around trying to find the main information desk to find out where he was. The drive upstate had been a blur and she dont know how she had even gotten there with her mind on Autopilot. She was sure she had run a few red lights and broken the speed limit but she would deal with that later once she knew he was alive and alright.

Eventually finding the main desk she sighed drumming her fingers impatiently on the desk she was waiting for the two nurses to finish their conversation about the weekend

"I'm Looking for Elliot Stabler, he was brought in after a RTC" she said

"Are you family?" the nurse asked

"I…" she paused. Of course they were going to be like this, her mind flashed to the worst family only usually ment bad news. "He is my partner." she lied, it wasn't a true lie, more of a white lie. They were partners in the sense of the job.

"He is on the 5th floor ICU" the nurse smiled, handing her a visitor's pass.

"Thank you" Olivia smiled, grabbing the pass and walking off in the direction the nurse had pointed her in.

The hospital was a maze of twists and turns of having to go up one floor in one lift walking along a corridor before getting a different lift up another 2 floors and along that corridor and through a passageway before getting the lift again up to the 5th floor.

This corridor was several miles long at least with the ICU being at the far end of the building. After being allowed on to the ward she walked along another long corridor. Stopping outside his room she looked through the tiny window before pushing the door open.

The sight of him lying in the bed hurt her heart, despite him being very tall and broad he somehow looked tiny in the bed. Next to the bed there was a heart monitor beeping rhythmically with every beat of his heart confirming he was alive and stable and he had a nasal cannula giving him oxygen but he's eyes were clamped shut and he was making no movement

Taking a deep breath she moved closer to the bed placing her bag on a nearby chair, on closer inspection his head had been covered in cuts which must have been from glass smashing on impact. Taking his hand in hers she blinked back the tears recalling the countless times she had been at his side whilst he lay in a hospital bed. There were too many to count.

Closing her eyes she willed to whatever deity was listening to make him wake up. She wasn't as religious as he had been, but she didn't care who it was that answered her calls or what she had to promise up to them she just wanted him to open his bright blue eyes and smile at her

"Please let him wake up" she whispered into the darkness of the room. "I can't lose him again, not like this. I can't lose him"

Hearing the door open she jumped dropping his hand back on to the bed turning to see a young nurse walking in pulling a computer along with her.

"Sorry I didn't mean to make you jump" she smiled as she scanned the band around his wrist.

"What happened to him" Olivia asked

"He was hit side on by a 18 wheeler. Thankfully he was wearing a seatbelt or it could have been a lot worse. He has a few broken ribs and bruises from the impact. He also has a concussion from hitting his head against the side of the truck" the nurse said softly moving around to check the drip which was connected to fluids and morphine.

"When will he wake up?" Olivia asked, looking at him.

"We don't know, because of the concussion it's going to take time." she said clicking off Elliots medical details pushing the computer to the door, "talk to him" she turned "it helps if they know there is a loved one with them"

Hearing the door close with a click Olivia turned back to look at Elliot. Taking his hands in hers she brushed her thumb along his knuckles.

"Elliot…." she whispered, unsure of what she actually wanted to tell him, or even if he could hear her properly "Elliot, I need you to wake up." she said, blinking back the tears "I can't do this without you. Please just wake up…. I love you…"

The door opened again, turning, Olivia saw Bernie rushing in towards the bed.

"Olivia?" Berinie said confused "What happened to him"

"I don't know," Olivia smiled at the older woman. "His truck was hit by a semi. That's all I know"

"You weren't with him"

"We are not in the same unit anymore" Olivia said softly "he left SVU 13 years ago"

"Of course. Silly me" Bernie shook her head.

"So your the Famous Olivia" the man next to Bernie smiled "Im Randall, Elliot's older and better looking Brother" he said shaking olivia's hand

"Hi" Olivia Smield.

"I have to Say I can see what Ma, ment when she said Kathy was worried. Little bro your seriously punching above your weight"

Olivia smiled slightly "I'll leave alone with him"

"Don't go on our account Olivia" Bernie said softly

"It's fine. I need to check in with my son and my Squad so…" Olivia picked up her bag

As she reached the door she turned watching as Bernie leaned in close

"Don't make me bury you" she whispered.

Walking out Olivia lent against the wall trying to keep her composure hearing Bernie say what she had just said was killing her. Taking a deep breath she walked along the corridor and out to the main walkway. She recalled there was a Restaurant at the other end of the corridor.

Pulling her phone out of her bag she scrolled through to Amanda's number, pressing the ring she began walking down to see if she could get a coffee.

"Liv" Amanda's voice echoed down the line "how is everything"

"It's bad. He is unconscious and they cant say when he will wake up"

"Liv" Amanda sighed softly

"I can't lose him not again. It almost killed me last time, especially after…"

"Do you want me to come up there? Carisi can manage with the kids."

"I'm fine. Bernie and his brother are here and I am sure the rest of the clan will be along as well. How's Noah?" she asked

"Fine. he was worried when you left and seemed concerned about Stabler but Billie and Jessie have been distracting him. We can keep him for a few nights if you want to stay up there"

"Thanks Amanda," Olivia said. "I will call later if there is any news"

Walking around the restaurant she picked up a tray and walked along the counter with hot plates on. For hospital food it did look quite good and she was feeling rather hungry. She chose a sandwich that was in the chiller cabinet along with fries from the hot plate. The only coffee that was available was a machine that made the drink instantly. There was a Starbucks somewhere in the hospital down by the main entrance but given how long it had taken her to not only find the ICU but then also find the restaurant this was the best she could get.

After paying for her food which she could have more than likely gotten for over half the price at the bodega round the corner from the precinct back in the city she found a table in the corner by a huge window that looked down on to the atrium of the main entrance below.

Picking at the sandwich Olivia wasn't really in the mood to eat it was more of a necessity, she needed to keep her strength up as this was going to be a long night. The coffee was poor quality and was bitter.

Heading back along the maze of corridors she walked in to Elliot's room, when she walked in the doctor was talking things through with Bernie and Randal

"Sorry i can wait…" she began as everyone looked up

"Nonsense Olivia " Bernie smiled, grabbing her hand "your family.

Smiling weakly back she gave the older womens hand a squeeze before turning back to listen to the doctor,

"As I was saying, the next 48 hours are crucial to allow the body to heal. We will know more once Elliot wakes up but until then its a waiting game. His vital signs are good"

"And he is a stubborn old idiot" Randal butted in. "that's got to go in his favour

"Don't say that" Bernie said looking at her elder son "he's not a idiot"

"Sorry Ma but it's true. He is a stubborn old fool"

"Anyway, I will leave you to be with him. And I will be about if you have any questions" the doctor smiled before walking out

"Thank you" Olivia called after him.

Turning her attention back to the room it felt awkward. She wasn't really family, not in that sense and the room felt thick and awkward. The room was only filled with the sound of the monitors beeping at rhythmic intervals

"Ma" Randall smiled "we should get back. I need to update the kids. Kathleen has already text half a dozen times"

"I don't want to leave him…" Bernie said close to tears

"I'll stay with him" Olivia smiled taking the older woman's hand in her own

"Don't you have to get back for your kid" Randall said.

"He is with my friends, Elliot…." she paused "Elliot needs people he knows around him" she smiled "I will call if there is any news" she said

"Thank you Olivia. I always did like you when you worked with Elliot" Bernie said.

She watched as Bernie and Randall left, the door closing with a soft click before taking her seat in the huge leather armchair.

Once again the room was filled with a loud silence aside from the machine beeping. Remembering what the nurse had said earlier about talking to him she smiled reaching over taking his hand

"So Noah has been asking about you. He has got a solo in the summer showcase. He wanted me to ask you if you would come. I said I would ask. I know things are difficult with your schedule over at Organised crime but it would mean the world to him if you were there." she paused "and i wouldn't mind if you were there either."

Looking at the clock on the wall she could see it was getting late. It was almost midnight, it wasn't late by her standards. There were times she had not left the office till well after that and returned at 9am the following morning.

Slipping her boots off she pulled her legs up trying to make herself comfortable as she could in the hard chair. The door to the room opened and a nurse walked in checking the machines

"Sorry" she smiled "I didn't mean to make you jump. Thought you could do with this" the nurse said handing Olivia a thin blue blanket like the ones on the bed

"Thanks," Olivia smiled, pulling the blanket over her.

Waking with a start Olivia looked round the darkened room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes she looked at the clock on the wall and could see it was just after 2am. She hadn't realised she had fallen asleep, she had wanted to stay awake to make sure he was alright. The heart monitor was still beeping in the same rhythmic way it had been since she had arrived. Shifting herself in the chair as her back and bum had gone numb from the position she had fallen asleep in.

"Olivia" Elliot Mumbled his brow furrowing.

Dropping the blanket she scooted to the edge of the seat reaching for his hand.

"Elliot" she whispered.

"Olivia," he muttered again.

Standing up she wrapped his fingers round his "Elliot" she said.

"Liv…. Where are you…LIV"

"Elliot i'm right here" she whispered softly brushing her other hand across his head. "Im here"

She watched as his eyes snapped open.

"Hey you. Welcome back" she smiled tears pricking her eyes.

"Water" Elliot gasped horsley

Reaching for the jug of water that was on the table at the end of the bed she quickly filled it and added the straw holding it for him to take a sip.

"Thanks" he gasped as she put the cup up at her, he could see the tears in her eyes. "Everything okay?" he asked

"I thought I had lost you" she said letting out a sob. "I heard you were in an accident and I thought I had lost you again"

Reaching up he placed a hand on her cheek brushing away the falling tears "you brought me back. I heard your voice and I couldn't leave. I heard everything you said. It was like your voice was guiding me back to where I needed to be."

"You heard me?"

I did. And I am not leaving you again Benson" he said.

"What exactly did you hear"

"I heard about Noah's solo and if I am out of here then I would love to watch him dance, I heard Randall hit on you so I am going to kill him when he comes in"

Olivia let out a laugh

"And I heard you say 'I love you"

"You heard that"

"Liv, you know how I feel about you. I have loved you for too long. I know you said you weren't ready…."

Leaning in, Olivia softly kissed him "I think I want to try us. I came this close to losing you for good and I can't lose you again"

Settling back in the armchair Olivia looked over at Elliot who had been checked over by the doctor and given the all clear, they still wanted him to stay in hospital for a few days to make sure everything was alright but he had been given a clean bill of health and declared extremely lucky given he was hit by a truck.

"You planning on camping in that chair all night captain?" he asked smiling

"I am not leaving your side"

"Well in that case get over here" he said tapping the edge of the bed "there is more than enough room"

"Elliot" she sighed

Climbing on to the edge of the bed she slowly rested her head against his shoulder being mindful of all his injuries. Feeling his arm wrap around her she allowed herself to fall asleep knowing he was alive and was next to her.

It was a huge leap of a very tall cliff she was taking but her heart was already battered and bruised when it came to loving him and she couldn't fight it anymore she was tired of fighting her emotions and going home to a empty bed especially seeing how her friends were so happy given their line of work. She just preyed that everything would work out