Chapter 15 These characters are not mine, but I love them just the same.

Alex beat the ambulance to the hospital. She tried to read Elliot's face when they arrived and Olivia was whisked away in the emergency room. Elliot sat down and buried his face in his hands. Alex draped her arm over his shoulders and together they sat in silence. It wasn't long before Captain Cragen and Fin showed up. Nobody spoke mainly because everybody was holding their breath. Elliot walked over to a corner of the waiting room where Cragen joined him.

"I don't know if I can go on without her, Cap." Elliot didn't care that the tears were falling down his face.

"You can and you will. Your children need you. Olivia needs help. Help that we can't give her. All we can do is love and support her." Cragen was trying to be as strong as possible for his detectives.

Elliot looked at Cragen, but his eyes were looking through him. " Sir, I don't think she wants help. I don't think she wants to face all this."

"She's wounded right now. Scared, confused. She is a strong woman, Elliot, you know that. She's not one to give up."

"Captain, she may have tried to end it. She took way too many pills, drank way too much, and had her personal piece out and loaded.

"El, she called me earlier today. She got a direct phone call from Dan this morning. He scared her and I'm sure that may be what put her over the edge."

Elliot looked stunned. "Why didn't she call me?" He asked more to himself. He wandered back over to Alex. "Did you know that Dan Wheeler called Olivia this morning."

"I didn't until I called. She was rambling and I couldn't understand all she said. I did hear her mention him and she was frightened."

"That's probably why she had her gun out." Elliot said matter of fact. "I don't think she meant to O.D., Alex. She's been drinking heavy and I think the pressure of it all cause her to take too many pills. She didn't take them all." Elliot didn't seem any happier about deciding this was not intentional.

Alex didn't bother wiping her tears away. "El, I never would've thought Olivia would end her life, but I didn't know what to think today. She's so hurt over all this."

"Who wouldn't be." Elliot snapped. He quickly apologized to Alex with his eyes and it was clear she understood.

The doctor came out soon thereafter. "Family of Olivia Benson." he called. They all stood and approached the doc. He was surprised at first, but realized how it was. "We pumped her stomach, she's resting now. We'll keep her overnight, but I believe she'll be okay." Elliot let a smile cross his face as he closed his eyes.

"Can we see her?" Alex asked.

"Sure. One at a time. She's not awake; probably won't be for awhile."

They all looked at Elliot and he declined. "I need to walk." Elliot left the hospital.

Alex looked concerned, but Cragen's look told her it was okay. It was all going to be okay. She entered Olivia's room and saw that she was indeed sleeping. She sat and stared at her friend. What hell she must be going through. After a few minutes, Olivia stirred . She opened her eyes and saw Alex sitting next to her bed. "Alex, what's going on?"

Alex stood up and moved closer to Olivia. "We found you unconscious in your apartment. We were so scared, Liv."

Olivia seemed to be thinking of what to say. "Elliot was with you?"

"I called him after I talked to you. He couldn't wake you either, so we called for help."

"What happened? Did Dan get in?" Olivia's eyes opened widely at the realization that she may be in the hospital because he got to her again.

"No, no, no. " Alex was quickly understanding where Olivia's head was. "Honey, he's in jail. He didn't escape, or bond out.

"He called me, Alex. It wasn't collect. I didn't hear the familiar jail background noise." Olivia was trying to understand how he called her.

"A CO let him call from his cell. He intentionally called to harass you." Alex filled in the missing pieces. "Liv, you took too many pills tonight. Combined with alcohol, you overdosed."

Olivia looked at Alex with surprise, then shame in her eyes. She didn't know what to say.

"Liv, it's okay. We're going to get you some help. You don't always have to be the strong one." Alex and Olivia's attention was diverted to the door as it opened. Elliot stood in the doorway and his gaze was fixed on Olivia. Alex said her goodbyes and touched Elliot's arm lightly as she passed him.

He walked over to her bedside without a word. She studied his face. He wasn't resting and it was showing. She felt guilty because she knew it was mostly because of her.

"El, I'm sorry. I…"

"Why didn't you call me when Dan called you? I would have come right over." Elliot's voice was short and Olivia hated it when he was upset with her.

"You have been through so much. I wanted you to rest and I know you would've come right over. I could handle it." Olivia tried to make him understand.

"No you can't!" Elliot hollered at Olivia making her jump. He was totally upset and headed for the door. He turned around and hurried back to Olivia. "I can't stand the thought of losing you. I love you. Do you understand me. I love you and I won't make it if you don't."

Tears were streaming down Elliot's face. Olivia stared at him with tears of her own spilling out. Neither of them said anything for what seemed like forever. Finally Olivia caved. "I can't handle anything anymore." She broke down and was beginning to become hysterical. Elliot held her until her crying subsided enough for him to talk to her.

"You need help. That's not weak of you to ask for help. Olivia, you've been through so much. You can't do this alone, and you don't need to." Elliot held her face between his hands as he forced her to look him in the eyes.

"El, I don't know what to do or how to feel. I am so lost right now." Olivia pulled Elliot's hands away from her face and held them with her own. She closed her eyes.

"You are my partner and I will help you. I will do whatever it takes to help you. I need you in my life, Olivia. Please let us help you."

Olivia never opened her eyes but she slowly shook her head. "Okay. Sign me up for the department shrink."

A small chuckle escaped Elliot as he leaned in to kiss Liv on the forehead.

Elliot had been back to work for nearly two weeks already. He forced himself to get back into shape and was feeling pretty good. Each morning he glanced at his partner's empty desk hoping she would return early. She wasn't due back for a few more days, but he couldn't help but worry that she would decide not to return at all. He hadn't had much contact with Olivia the last few days. She had been in intense therapy and asked him not to call her the last time they talked. He did what she asked, but was hating it. He looked at the picture of the whole gang that he took off Olivia's desk and placed on his own. It was taken a few years ago at a party for a promoted colleague. She had the most beautiful smile. It made him smile just looking at her.

His phone rang and he was quickly involved in a conversation and didn't see Olivia enter the squadroom. She put her purse in her desk drawer and made her way over to the coffee machine. She pulled herself a cup which was routine and returned to her desk. Elliot had recently hung up the phone and was intently watching his partner as she made herself comfortable at her desk.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" She flashed that ever so familiar morning smile at Elliot and it was all he could do not to grab her out of her chair and hug her.

"Business as usual. We caught a rape down at the college. Up for it?" Elliot never took his eyes off her.

"It's what we do, right." Olivia stood up and grabbed her jacket. She looked good. Her bruises had healed on the outside and she had control of those on the inside.

"Benson!" came the familiar boom of Captain Cragen. "My office!"

"Already?" Olivia smiled at Elliot and headed to her boss' office. Elliot sat back down to wait for her. He watched as she entered his office and stood in front of him. They exchanged a few words before Cragen came out from behind his desk. Elliot couldn't help but smile as he watch their captain take Olivia into his arms like a proud father would.

This is my first fanfic writing. I enjoyed reading the many stories and decided to try one myself. To those of you that reviews, thank you. I appreciated each comment and definitely took the advice that was offered as well. I had to learn some of the rules of the site as I went along. I hoped you enjoyed this story. I love SVU and hoped I was able to catch the special bond that exists between Benson and Stabler. Please take a few minutes and send a review to let me know how I did and maybe what I should've done. Until the next story….