Okay, okay, people! Put down your torches and flaming sporks! Here's the second half! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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There was a painful ache in his chest, and his mouth felt as though it were full of cotton when Elliot started to wake up. His eyelids were heavy, but after a few moments, he finally managed to open them. The lights were soft in the room, and he quickly realized that he was in a hospital room. What the hell...?

He slowly lifted his arm and touched the oxygen cannula under his nose as he tried to remember what had happened to land him in the hospital. He had gone to work that morning feeling lousy, and anything after that was a blur. But he did remember Olivia's frightened voice, and being in her arms. He moved his right hand to rest on his sore chest and reluctantly let his eyes close again.

Olivia walked back into her partner's room. Munch had persuaded her to get some lunch, and though the food was bland and the coffee weak, she did feel a little better. She returned to her seat beside her partner's bed. He was still pale, but he was breathing. She gently touched his arm. His doctor had said that Elliot had suffered a heart attack, and she was still in shock. He seemed too young to have had one. But their job was full of stress, he never saw his children, and the woman he had been with for over twenty years was now his ex. Of course he was under stress. And he never ate well, no matter how many times she had urged him to.

But she was still reeling with disbelief. She slipped her hand into Elliot's and let out a heavy breath. His doctor was sure that he would make a full recovery, but he still hadn't regained consciousness, which troubled her. There was so much that she needed to tell him, so much he needed to know.

Elliot was surprised when he felt a hand in his, and without opening his eyes, he knew Olivia was sitting beside him. He could smell the perfume she wore, combined with a scent that was uniquely hers. Even just listening to her breathing calmed and reassured him that he was not alone.

Olivia leaned back in the chair and sighed quietly. Hospital chairs had to be the most uncomfortable chairs ever created, and sadly she was getting used to this one. She had barely left Elliot's side in the twenty four hours since she had first been allowed into her best friend's room. And each time she had reluctantly left, she had been afraid that he would wake up by himself in the hospital room.

A few tears slipped down her cheeks as she was once again reminded how close she had come to losing him. In their line of work, anything could happen. They both knew that when they left their houses each morning, they might not ever come home. But a heart attack... She tightened her grip on his calloused hand.

When she held his hand tighter, he was surprised. Something very bad must have happened to scare Olivia. She was the bravest, strongest person he had ever known. And to know that she was frightened, because of him...

He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head toward her. Tears...? Olivia was crying. As long as they had known each other, he had only seen her cry once or twice, and he hated that he was the reason she was crying now.

Olivia sniffled and looked at their hands. She had been keeping too much to herself for too long. When he woke up, she would swallow her fears and finally tell him. He needed to know.

Elliot shifted his hips, gently squeezing his best friend's hand.

Surprised, Olivia wiped her eyes and looked at her partner's face. "Hey..."

He blinked slowly and offered her a weak smile. "Liv..."

Relieved, Olivia leaned closer to him and rested her hand on his forehead. In their eleven years as partners, they had rarely touched outside of undercover work or comforting hugs. Occasionally there was the unintentional brush of a hand against skin, but there were so many rules, so many invisible lines that defined boundaries.

But in those weeks since his divorce, all of those lines had been blurred, or completely erased. But today, in that moment, there were no rules. It was about comfort and reassurance, for both of them.

He summoned a weak smile for her. "Must've been bad..."

She swallowed a soft groan. "Pretty bad. You had a heart attack, Elliot."

His eyes filled with surprise. "That's why... I feel like I was run over by a truck."

Her thumb caressed his skin. "Something like that." She blew out a soft breath. "El, I-"

The door opened, and Elliot's tired eyes lit up when his children slipped into the room. "Hey, guys..."

Maureen hurried across the floor and to her father's side. "Hi, Daddy." She leaned over and hugged him tightly.

Elliot swallowed a groan of pain and wrapped an arm around his eldest daughter. "Hey, angel." He kissed her head.

Olivia took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest.

The rest of the children surrounded their father's bed. Elliot hugged each of them, then settled back into the pillows. Every person he loved and held dear to his heart was in this room. His gaze flickered to his partner, and his heart warmed.

Olivia locked eyes with her best friend, and she finally smiled.

As his children talked quietly, Elliot felt his eyelids grow heavy. He didn't want to fall asleep, but the simple task of just keeping his eyes open was becoming too much.

Olivia finally moved back to the bed and softly said, "Kids, your dad needs to rest."

Maureen nodded, leaning down to kiss her dad's cheek. "We'll come back, Daddy."

He smiled sleepily. "I love all of you."

They said their goodbyes, and Maureen herded her younger siblings out of their father's hospital room.

The door closed, and Olivia returned to the bed. "You have some great kids, El."

"I know," he murmured, blinking slowly.

She ran her tongue over her lower lip. "El..."

"Hmm?"

A nurse came into the room, and once again Olivia fell silent as she watched the nurse tend to her partner.

The nurse checked Elliot's vitals, then pulled out a syringe and injected its contents into Elliot's IV. She glanced at Olivia and smiled warmly. Every time she came to check on this particular patient, his wife had been at his side. She had never seen such a devoted, loving wife. She patted Elliot's arm. "He'll rest easy. Maybe you should go home for a little while."

Olivia shook her head. "I can't do that."

The nurse's compassionate smile widened, and she nodded before leaving the room.

Olivia sighed wearily and returned to the bed. "Don't worry, El. I'm not going anywhere."

He cracked one eye open and took her hand. "You never do," he mumbled.

She chuckled softly. The pain medications were certainly helping. "And I never will."

"Hmm..." He yawned.

She sank down into her chair again, absently stroking Elliot's hand. "Elliot, there's something I need to tell you." She ran her hand along his arm. "El... I love you." She paused and waited.

But he didn't reply.

After a few moments, she lifted her head to look at him, but he was sleeping soundly with his head turned toward her. With a small smile, she got up and perched herself on the edge of his bed, close to his head.

In his sleep, Elliot lifted his head and laid it in her lap. Then he snuggled into her and yawned.

Her eyes widened in surprise and delight. Maybe he hadn't heard her, but she had a feeling of where his feelings lay. Her hand gently smoothed his hair back.

"You got lucky," she said teasingly, her heart light. "But when you wake up again, I'll say it again, because you need to hear it."

He continued to sleep, and after a moment, she grabbed a pillow and placed it behind her back. Then she grabbed his blanket and pulled it over both of them.

"Sleep well, Elliot."

She settled back into the pillow and closed her eyes, her hand still lovingly stroking Elliot's hair.

The End!

A/N: So fluffy, I know. If you aren't in a diabetic coma, please review! Thanks for reading!