Chapter Text
The 10-13 comes across the radio while she is driving back to the precinct from 1PP. COMPSTAT ran long, as usual, and she is running late for her weekly meeting with Fin. When she hears “10-13! 10-13! Church of the Blessed Sacrament. West 71st and Broadway.”
She’s not far from the scene, so she flips on the lights and siren and heads that way. On the way, she calls Fin.
“Hey, Liv.” In hindsight, she’ll realize that his voice sounds strained, but she doesn’t notice it in the moment.
“I’ve got to cancel on you, Fin. 10-13 just came across, and I’m on my way. A couple of blocks out. We’ll meet later today if I get back in time, or we can push it to tomorrow.”
“Okay,” he hesitates.
“What is it, Fin?”
“Ayanna called.” Her stomach drops, and she knows before he says it. “It’s Elliot, Liv. The 10-13. Apparently during his suspension he’s been tracking a-”
“Serial killer,” her voice cracks, and she fights back the tears that spring to her eyes.
“Yeah. She said he’s alive, but he’s injured. Not sure how bad or how long he had him. Jet is with him, found him. Called it in. I don’t know anything about the perp.”
She lets out a breath. “I’m pulling up now. I’ll let you know when I know something. Thanks for the warning, Fin.”
“You got it. He’ll be okay, Liv.”
The call disconnects, and she’s out of the car in a flash. Running toward the scene, she holds up her badge to the uniformed officer outside. “Captain Benson, SVU. Where’s the vic?”
An officer points her in the direction of the church and tells her he’s straight ahead.
She enters through the double doors, and her breath is stolen from her lungs. There, at the front of the center aisle, is a makeshift metal cross with blood towards each end of the horizontal bar. Not knowing the state of her partner, she calls for the young detective, “Jet!”
“Up here, Captain!” It’s coming from the floor near the cross, and Olivia hurries down the aisle.
“Elliot,” slips out on a whisper. She feels a rush of emotion when she finds her partner passed out on the floor with Jet attempting to hold pressure on both of his wrists. “Why is no one helping you?” Olivia drops to the ground, taking one of Elliot’s wrists into her hands, so that she and Jet each are only concerned with one.
“He just passed out. He was awake and talking.” Olivia can hear the emotion in Jet’s voice when she says, “Asshole’s dead. I - I had to shoot him.” She nods her head to indicate the area behind the altar.
“You did good, Jet.” Olivia maneuvers Elliot’s arm, so she can hold pressure with one hand. She pulls her phone from her pocket and dials Central Dispatch. “Captain Olivia Benson, Manhattan SVU. I need a bus at my location immediately for the 10-13. Officer down is Badge Number 6313, Elliot Stabler.” She pauses to listen and nods at Jet. “Thank you.” She disconnects the call and informs Jet that the ambulance should be pulling up any second.
***
As the ambulance leaves, taking Elliot to Mercy Hospital, Olivia searches for Jet. She finds her sitting on the steps near the front door of the church. She takes a seat by the young woman and tells her again, “You did good, Jet. I know it doesn’t feel like it, but you did. Elliot’s vitals are stable, and the perp is dead.”
Jet looks at her with tears in her eyes - more emotion than she’s seen from the young woman. Though she knows she had been devastated by the loss of Detective Whelan last year, Olivia had been nursing her own wounds and unable to attend the young man’s memorial service. “But what if-”
“He’s going to be fine,” Olivia says, reassuring herself as much as Jet. “Elliot is the most hard-headed son-of-a-bitch I know, and I work with the brass, so I know some stubborn sons-of-bitches.”
That earns her a small smile and chuckle. “That’s true.”
Olivia has a soft spot for Jet, and she wraps her arm around her shoulders. “Listen, I know you have to give your initial statement. When you’re done, though, I want you to meet me at the hospital. You don’t need to be alone tonight. I’ve been there.”
“I’ll be fine,” Jet tries to argue.
“I know you will,” Olivia nods, “but it will make me feel better to see that you’re okay. Deal?”
“Deal.” Olivia sees her fighting an eyeroll, and it reminds her so much of herself as a young woman. “I’ll text you when I get there.”
***
Fin and Ayanna have both rotated through Elliot’s room along with various other members of both squads. Olivia calls Elliot’s kids to let them know he’s injured, but he’s going to be okay. Kathleen and Maureen are on their way, but it will take the other kids longer. Eli can’t get out of Colorado until the weekend, and Dickie is out of town but is changing his flight to get back as soon as possible. Lizzie is locked in a meeting, but Olivia left a message with the receptionist for her to call her as soon as she can.
Elliot is still asleep. He has stitches in both of his wrists and burns to the bottom of his feet. Thankfully the burns aren’t too deep, but she knows they’ll be painful regardless. Olivia is sitting in the chair beside his bed, holding his left hand gently. Her thumb is rubbing patterns on the back of his hand. She’s speaking to him softly, willing him to wake up. “El, I need you to wake up. The doctors say you’ll be fine, but I need you to be okay. We both know there’s a difference. I can’t lose you again. Not for real. I - I love you too much to go through that again.”
She feels a slight squeeze on her hand but thinks she’s imagining it. Then it happens again. When she looks toward the head of the bed, his eyes are fluttering open, and he’s mumbling something. She leans closer, and it becomes clear. “You. Love. Me?” He even manages a small smirk in his medicated state.
“That’s what you took from that?” Olivia chokes out a laugh, though there are tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Love you, too, Liv.” Elliot gives her a glassy-eyed smile. “May need you to repeat it when I’m less medicated, though.”
“That can probably be arranged,” she smiles. “I’m going to let the nurse know you’re awake.”
He snags her wrist and looks at her a little wild-eyed. “Don’t - Don’t go?”
Reaching over to press the call button on his bed, she sits back on the chair and says, “Not going anywhere, Partner.”
***
Elliot manages to stay awake for about ten minutes after the nurse leaves the room before dozing back off. Just after he falls asleep, she gets a text from Jet that she’s in the ER waiting room. Olivia texts her Elliot’s room number. Ordinarily she would go meet her, but she wants to be there if Elliot wakes up again.
When her phone rings a few minutes later, Jet sounds exasperated. “I had to hand over my badge as part of the investigation, and they won’t let me through. I should just-”
“Are you on this floor? I’ll be right there.” She hears Jet try to protest, but hangs up before she has a chance.
Olivia pulls open the double door and immediately starts talking to the officer guarding it. “Captain Olivia Benson. This is Detective Jet Slootmaekers. She’s the reason you are guarding this door today; she saved Detective Stabler. Whatever list you have, add her to it. Detective Stabler’s children will also be arriving. Kathleen Stabler and Maureen O’Brien. They should be let through immediately. Jet, come with me.”
With that, she lets the door close behind them and leads Jet to Elliot’s room. “That was pretty badass, Captain.”
“Not my first run-in with a man who let the uniform go to his head.” Olivia glances at her and smirks as she reaches for the door to Elliot’s room.
When they enter the room, Elliot is still sleeping, lying in the same position he was in when she left a few minutes earlier. Jet lowers herself onto the window seat on the opposite side of the room. Olivia checks on Elliot before moving to sit beside the young detective. “Jet, I just - thank you,” she sniffles, and both women wipe tears from their eyes. “for watching his back. He’s my partner, and - I don’t know how much you know, but - I lost him for a while. I don’t think I could do that again.”
Olivia is surprised when Jet initiates a hug, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
“Loves. Me,” Elliot grunts out from his bed.
“What’s that, Old Man?” Olivia turns her face away and feels it redden when Jet asks the question.
“Liv,” he clears his throat. “Said she loves me. Last time I was awake.”
“Lots of people love you, Stabler.” Jet has the decency not to let her jaw drop, but she does cut her eyes at Olivia. Her voice cracks when she continues, “I’m - I’m just glad you’re okay, Grandpa.”
Elliot groans and motions with one hand for her to come closer. “C’mere, Kid.” She slowly approaches the bed, and he reaches out for her hand, grasping it tightly with his - probably tighter than he should considering the wounds to his wrist. All three of them have tears in their eyes as he rasps out his own “thank you.”