Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Olivia shivered as she crawled into bed, every muscle in her body ached with the movement. She reached for the phone and smiled at the text from Rafael.

'I'll see you tomorrow. Sorry about the lack of contact. Get some rest Liv.'

When he was busy his texts were always straight forward. It never bothered her, she knew they loved each other and they weren't 16, no need to say I love you every 60 seconds.

She coughed before typing back, 'don't stay up all night counsellor'. Olivia winced as she put down her phone. The past two days her throat had just been sore, but now it was on fire.

She laid down and pulled the blanket up to her neck. She was not sick. She was not sick. Rafael needed her to testify. This was just a headache.

Olivia fought to open her eyes, the mucus made it seem like she was looking through frosted glass. It was too dark for her to be awake.

A chill ran through her body and she gripped the blanket tighter. It was too cold and this was the thickest one she owned.

Why am I awake? It was too early and she still had to testify in the morning.

Olivia closed her eyes and tried to snuggle deeper into her cocoon. It was so cold.

"Mommy?" A little voice whispered and she forced her eyes open again.

"Noah?"

"I peed the bed," he whimpered, "I'm sorry."

Olivia coughed as she sat up slowly, "it's okay baby. It's okay. Do you–" sneeze "–need clean pjs?"

"I changed already. I can't change my sheets."

"That's okay. I can do it." She sluggishly pulled back the blanket, "hop up. Let mommy–" cough "–change your sheets."

She waited until Noah nestled into her bed before leaving the room.

Olivia was almost to Noah's room when she had to stop and lean heavily on the wall. She couldn't see straight. A sneeze had spots swimming in her vision.

One foot in front the other, she shuffled towards Noah's room. She dropped onto the first thing that would hold her up – Noah's bed. Thank God.

She pulled off the fitted sheet and threw it to the ground. The extra exertion had her desperate for rest and Olivia slumped onto the bed. Her shallow breaths soon turned into coughing.

Her chest hurt with every cough. She just needed a few seconds to sleep. Olivia laid down on the bed and grimaced when the wet spot made contact with her skin. She would shower in the morning.

"Mommy?" Noah poked her shoulder, "your phone is going beep-beep."

Olivia groaned as she moved a hand to grab the phone from Noah. 'Court today' the notification read. She pushed herself up. The spot below her was no longer wet, only a slight yellow stain reminded her of why she was in Noah's room in the first place.

"We..." She heaved a shaky breath, "we have to get ready sweet boy. Mommy has to–" she broke into another coughing fit. Each cough sounding like it was coming from the pits of hell.

"Mommy?" Noah looked at her with concerned eyes.

"I'm okay." She gave a brief smile, "let's get ready."

"You feel icky?"

"Just a headache. Let me go get you breakfast." Olivia followed a bouncing Noah to the kitchen. His movements were making her nauseous.

"Can I get eggs?" Noah asked.

The thought of raw eggs caused Olivia's stomach to lurch. "How," she croaked out before coughing, "how about a bagel?"

"With jelly!" Noah shouted.

"Yeah baby, lots of jelly. And we won't tell uncle Rafa." Olivia smiled. Rafael always turned up his nose at Noah's choice of bagel toppings.

"Jelly goes on toast Liv, not a bagel."

"He's barely five years old Rafa. It's just an exploratory phase."

"This is your fault. He had to learn this behavior from somebody."

"Are you ready to go?" Olivia leaned heavily on the door.

"Yep."

"Alright, let's go." She slowly closed the door behind them. The pounding in her head was making it almost impossible for her to lock the door but after multiple fumbles, she finally slipped the key into the lock.

Olivia dragged the back of her hand across her forehead as she waited for the light to turn green, it was all in vain though because sweat reappeared on her skin moments later.

"Turn left at the next intersection."

It’s not like she doesn’t know how to get to the courthouse, but today, she doesn't trust himself enough not to miss the turns. Her mind was hazy, and it was taking all her energy to hold her head upright. She was barely able to focus on driving, never mind remembering which street is which without someone reminding her where to turn.

She looked down at the AC control, it was turned to full-blast, but Olivia couldn't feel it on her skin. She reached out to touch the vent – it was blowing cold air, but she was still burning up. She tried to think about turning down her window when the light turned green.

The dull monotone voice cut through her fog. "Turn left at the next intersection."

She slowly turned left and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the courthouse.

The baliff opened the door to the witness room, "Lieutenant Benson, they're ready for you." He waited for her to move off the couch, "lieutenant?" He stepped into the room and saw Olivia folded uncomfortably on the couch.

Her brow was pinched and she was making a soft moaning-whimpering noise.

"Lieutenant, are you okay?" He touched her shoulder and Olivia's eyes flew open.

"What?"

"They're ready for you to testify. Are you alright? You look a lil green."

"Fine. I'm fine." Olivia pulled her blazer on. She was suddenly too cold. The air from the vent prickling her skin. "Which room am I going to?"

"43." He helped Olivia to her feet. "Are you sure you're alright? I can always tell the ADA you can't make it."

"I need a tissue."

The guard thrusted a box towards her and Olivia quickly grabbed one before sneezing so forcefully she had to be held up.

"I think you oughta sit this out lieutenant."

"I'm fine," she insisted, "just tell me where I'm supposed to be."

"I already told you."

"Right." Her memory was coming back in short bursts between her headache. "45 right?"

"43."

"The people call lieutenant Benson," Rafael said cooly. On the inside he was giddy. He hadn't seen his girlfriend in 3 days, the only communication they had were a few texts. The joys of preparing for a high stress case were never ending. He turned around just in time to see her stumble through the double doors looking like death on steroids.

"Liv?" He whispered, but she just brushed past his table.

She crawled up to the stand and swore on the Bible before sitting heavily in the seat.

Rafael tried to make eye contact with Olivia but her eyes were so glazed over, he wasn't sure if she was even awake.

He still had a job to do so he buttoned his jacket and made his way toward the witness stand.

"Just a sec counsellor," the judge turned to Olivia, "are you okay?"

"M'fine," Olivia pulled her blazer tighter around her body. When did the courthouse get so cold? She should have brought a jacket.

Her mouth opened slightly to help take in extra oxygen. Her nose felt like it was stuffed with wet sand.

She felt like she was a Peanuts character. Rafael's mouth was moving but all she heard was whomp whomp. He looked expectantly at her, his eyebrows twitching every few seconds. Shit. He asked her a question.

"I... I uh." Olivia lifted the crumpled tissue to her mouth before coughing. "What was the question?" She sniffled.

"When was the first time you saw the defendant?"

She squeezed her eyes tightly, the pounding in her head was getting worse. "I met him two weeks ago after his girlfriend accused him of rape."

"And what did he have to–" he saw Olivia sway gently and changed his question. He needed to get her off the stand fast. "How did he react to that accusation?"

"He..." Olivia swallowed thickly, "he... he uhh... Hot."

"Your honor, exactly what is happening with the people's witness?"

"I'm wondering the same thing Mr. Buchanan. Mr. Barba, what kind of game are you playing?"

"None your honor. Can I speak with my witness off the record for a few seconds?" He raced up to the stand after the judge gave him the go-ahead. It was taking everything from him not to put a hand to her clammy forehead.

"Liv? Are you sick?"

"Just...let's continue. I can do it."

Rafael eyes her warily. He could see beads of sweat gathering just below her hairline and she was shivering, still trying to get her blazer to cover her better. "Liv, you look terrible. Let me ask for a continuance."

She sneezed, "just go on Rafa."

He sighed and against his better judgement, moved away from Olivia.

"How did he react to that accusation?"

"He became very hostile," she whispered.

"You need to speak up lieutenant," the judge said.

Olivia moaned softly, her stomach was starting to flip-flop uncomfortably. Everyone was still waiting on her statement. "He became hostile," she said louder.

A new stream of sweat started down her back. It was suddenly too hot. "Can I have some water?"

"I'll get it," Rafael rounded his table reaching for the jug.

"Lieutenant do you need me to get a medic? You look a little pale."

"I..." The courtroom swayed in front of her. "I..." Olivia felt her head becoming light as the edges of the room faded to black.

Rafael watched in horror as Olivia's eyes rolled back before she slowly slumped off the seat. "Liv!" Screw being professional in the workplace. He put the glass of water down and ran forward. He gently pulled her out of the witness stand, "your honor, I'm requesting–"

"Permission granted. We'll continue this in two days." She glanced down at a pale Olivia in Rafael's arms, "and for God's sake, somebody get her a medic."

"Liv?" Rafael said gently as he put a hand to her forehead. She was burning up. He peeled off her blazer and grimaced at the collar being drenched in sweat. "Can somebody bring water?!"

He cupped her cheek, "Livia? Amor? Can you hear me?"

She gave a weak, strangled moan.

"That's good querida. I'm here." He brushed back her sweaty hair, "just stay here with me, I'll get you help."

Olivia moved her head when she heard whispers. Whatever she was laying on was stiff and uncomfortable. She cracked open her eyes and saw Rafael standing in the corner.

"Si mami, lo haré," Rafael whispered, "tell him, I'll try to get her home soon."

"Raf," Olivia said weakly.

"Hey," he rushed to her bedside, "how are you feeling?"

"What happened?" The fog in her brain was too thick to see through. One minute she was going to bed, the next she was waking up to Rafael whispering.

"You're in the hospital."

"Why? M'fine." Olivia tried to wiggle off the bed but her limbs refused to co-operate.

"No amor, stop trying to get up. You already scared me in court today."

Court! She sat up quickly and groaned when her stomach churned unpleasantly.

"Easy," Rafael helped her lay back down.

"I have to testify. The case. Hansen's gonna walk."

"You started to testify that's why we're here."

"I did?" She looked at him with unfocused eyes. "How did I get to court?"

"Jesus Liv," he whispered, "when you told me you were feeling run down when you closed the case, were you sick?"

"Not sick. Headache."

"Olivia, people do not pass out from a headache. You had a fever, a very high one. They think you have pneumonia."

"I'm gonna throw up."

"They left this." Rafael lifted the bag to her chin. He helped her sit up slightly and held her hair back as she vomited.

It took Olivia a few minutes before she slumped back on the bed. "Rafa," she whispered, "my stomach doesn't feel good."

"I know, but I'll take care of you." He kissed the side of her head and frowned at the heat still radiating off her.

"Where's Noah?"

"Home. I asked mami to stay with him. That okay?"

Olivia barely nodded and closed her eyes. "I drove," she whispered, "that's how I left home."

Rafael frowned, "Olivia you are sick. Why – what would possess you to drive?"

"I'm not sick." She coughed, "it's a headache. And I have to testify."

"Eres tan terco. You have a headache, a fever, you're sweating but still cold, a cough, sneezing, you're obviously delusional, and now there's vomiting. What more evidence do you need to prove that you are sick?"

"Still not sick." Olivia shivered and wrapped her arms around her body and frowned at the IV line she saw in her right hand. "Why is it so cold in here?"

Rafael sighed and pressed the call button. "I'm going to ask that they send you home and then I'll take care of you."

"M'kay."

"Miss Benson," the nurse greeted, "nice to have you back with us."

"Where'd I go?"

"Nowhere amor," Rafael kissed her head.

"Let's see where you are right now," she ran the thermometer over Olivia's forehead.

Rafael looked over the nurse's shoulder when he heard the beep. "What is it?"

"Finally at 103. You went down .2 degrees."

"See?" Olivia opened her eyes to look at Rafael, "not sick."

"You're very sick miss Benson. A fever above 103 is nothing to joke about."

"Did her results for the pneumonia test come back?"

"They were negative. Just a bad case of the flu." She looked back at Olivia, "your boyfriend was telling me that you're a SVU lieutenant and a single mom, I'm guessing there's not a lot of rest there."

"No," Olivia whispered.

"Not alot of time to take care of yourself either?"

"No."

"I figured, you were dehydrated and forcing yourself out of bed to testify forced your body over the edge."

"When can she go home?" Rafael asked rubbing Olivia's shoulder, "her son wants to know."

"As long as she promises to take it easy the next few days and take her medication, I don't see why we can't discharge her after she finishes her IV."

"Liv?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, "fine," she sneezed before cupping her forehead and groaning.

xxx

"Why is it so cold?" Olivia whispered.

Rafael looked at her dressed in both his and her coats, "maybe because you're sick," he answered as he opened the door.

"Not sick."

"Mommy!" Noah shouted, "mommy! Mommy!"

Olivia sneezed and Rafael got between the two of them. "Tu mami's sick mijo."

"She feels icky?"

"Yeah."

"How do you feel querida?" Lucia asked, "do you want me to make you some tea?"

"I think she should get to bed," Rafael removed the coats, "they want her to rest."

"Mommy sleeped in my pee," Noah blurted out.

"The bed," Olivia groaned closing her eyes. "I have to go do the baking soda thing."

"You need to rest." Rafael led her down the hall.

"It's gonna stain."

"We can fix it, just get rest."

"You have to ise the scrubbing brush below the sink."

"No problem." He left her by the bed and went towards her dresser, "which sweats do you want?" He turned around to see Olivia crawling below the covers, "guess work clothes it is. You must be really sick."

"M'not sick," she sniffled.

"Want me to put vaporub on you?"

"No. It's slippery. Don't let me sleep too long," she whispered in a nasally voice.

"I won't," Rafael stroked his fingers slowly through her hair.

"Cause m'not sick," she coughed.

"No, you're not."

"I have to make Noah dinner." Olivia closed her eyes and nuzzled her pillow.

"Mami can do it."

"And his bag. Sometimes they send home notes."

"Okay."

"Do you want dinner?" She murmured.

"Right now I want you to get better."

"Cause we could make..."

He paused when he realized she hadn't finished. "We could make what?" Rafael looked down and smiled – she was fast asleep. "Sleep tight amor." He kissed her forehead before leaving