Cease Fire

Chapter One: Argument

Cold hard rain began to fall as Elliot and Olivia stood in the waiting room. Casey Novak had been attacked a couple nights ago, and the sight of her bruised and battered body flashed painfully in front of Olivia's eyes once again.

"Liv, it's bothering you again, isn't it?" Elliot's concerned expression brought her back to the stillness of the waiting room.

"Elliot, if I had stayed there instead of getting coffee, none of this would have happened. You could be at home doing something with the kids instead of hanging around here with me." She sat miserably on the cold metal chair with her face in her hands. "You shouldn't even be here. Elliot, go home. I'll stay here."

His gaze lifted from her to the clock. 12:42, "The kids would be at their mother's anyway. She doesn't want to see me, and the kids hate it when I'm in a bad mood."

"Why the hell are you in a bad mood? I just know that Casey is hurt and lying in that stiff bed because of my negligence. That's why I'm sitting here. Go home, Elliot." Tears of sorrow began rolling down her cheeks, messing up her makeup. Elliot saw this and immediately sat beside her. "Liv, I was waiting in the car. Why didn't you call me when you found her?"

"I didn't want you to deal with that and your home situation on top of it. That's why, Elliot!" She stared at him with intensity. The flash of anger that showed in his eyes that second was enough to make anyone back against the wall.

"So, you thought that I couldn't handle it. Is that it!"

"N-no, it's just that-" She was silenced by his next statement. "Liv, I can handle it. You want me to show you what else I can handle?" He pulled out his gun and pointed it straight at her chest. "This is what I can handle, Olivia. This is reality." He was about to pull the trigger, when a click was heard. He was out of rounds. Of all times to be out. It had to be now.

"Elliot, put the gun down!" Don had entered the room. "What the hell do you think you're doin?" He crossed the length of the waiting room and jerked the gun out of his detective's hands. "Olivia, are you alright?"

"Captain, I'm fine. Don't punish him. I was out of line. I crossed it, and he showed me that." She sat back down and stared at her hands again.

"I don't care if he was showin' you a gun for the first time. He was out of line. You weren't. Cuff him!" A uni stood and attempted to cuff Elliot. He struggled against the cold metal that was wrapping itself around his wrists. "Damn you, You have no reason to arrest me!" Olivia stood weakly and walked over toward Don. "Let him go, cap. He didn't act foolishly. I did." She began whispering everything that had been said into his ear. He nodded stiffly. "Let him go, Harry."

"But he tried to-"

"That's an order, officer!" Craigen strode over and handed back Elliot's gun. "If I hear you threatening her again, you'll be gone faster than Tim Donnovan's car that night." He turned on his heel and headed toward the nurse that stood waiting for him.

"How is she?"

"She still hasn't regained conciousness. There is a possibility that she has or could slip into a coma. I'm sorry, Captain." She observed the actions of the man standing in front of her. He hadn't slept for at least two days. It was evident from the dark circles under his weary eyes. She gave him an encouraging smile and said softly. "You all can see her, but I warn you. If there is a movement in her hands or eyelids, she may be having muscle spasms. She's in room 420. Get some sleep. You need it. By the appearance of all the others, they do too."

"You have no idea. That's just two of them. I have two more back at the station. They're on their way now, I believe." He motioned for Olivia and Elliot to come foreward. The nurse retreated back to her post. They headed upstairs.

A/N

This is my first LAO SVU fic. Be nice. And possibly review. Thanks.

I have a board dedicated to SVU, feel free to check it out.

http/laosvu.