Okay, because I think I have ADD and can't stay with one story, here's my newest story, Matters Of The Heart. Enjoy, and please review!

Disclaimer: They ain't mine. Rach, did you find those dolls yet?

This chapter is for Rach, Kelly, Essy and I have an idea, cause they rock!

Olivia watched helplessly as Coen punched Elliot, then threw him into the churning swamp waters, and she had to grip the tree with all of her strength to keep from diving into the murky water.

Stay here, Elliot's voice rang in her ears. Don't come out for anything. You'll be safe here.

Coen finally walked away from the water's edge, and Olivia crouched down behind the tree, until she heard his footsteps fade away to nothing. Rising unsteadily to her feet, she stumbled through the trees and collapsed to her knees at the water's edge. Through her blurred vision, she saw Elliot drag himself out of the frigid water, and she crawled to his side and helped him reach the shore.

With a groan, she lifted him into her arms and clutched him to her chest, murmuring, "I've got you, Elliot. I've got you." He flung his arms around her neck and clung to her, his body shaking violently. After a few minutes, she felt the cold water begin to seep through her clothes, and she desperately searched their surroundings for anything that would provide shelter.

She sent up a fervent prayer of thanks when she spotted her SUV, even though she knew that the battery was dead and there was no gas in it. It would at least provide some shelter until they were found, and by the way the temperature was quickly plummeting, she prayed that it wouldn't be long.

Elliot continued to shiver in her arms, and she knew that if she didn't find a way to warm him soon, hypothermia would set in, and he would freeze to death. So she carefully helped him to his feet and wrapped one arm around his waist, then grabbed his arm and tugged it over her shoulder.

"Come on, Elliot," she groaned, ignoring her own injuries as she half guided, half dragged her partner to her broken down SUV. Finally they reached the vehicle, and Olivia released her partner and jerked on the handle of the back door, letting out a scream of frustration when she realized it was locked. Looking at her partner, who appeared on the verge of collapse, she felt anger surge through her. She would not let Coen beat them!

Spotting a large tree branch on the ground, she picked it up, and without a second thought, hurled it against the window. The glass shattered instantly, and she reached in and unlocked the door, then grabbed Elliot and gently pushed him into the backseat before climbing in behind him and shutting the car door. As soon as she was in, the cop in her took control, and she remembered her hypothermia treatment training.

Keep victim calm. Remove clothing and slowly warm with body heat. Do not warm too quickly. Doing so will result in heart failure and death.

"Okay, El," she murmured, carefully stripping him of his dripping wet shirt and pants. Ignoring the awkwardness of the situation, Olivia removed her own jacket and pulled her partner against her body, wrapping her arms around him and slowly moving her hands up and down his back in an effort to warm him.

As she continued the actions, she happened to look up and out of the window, and she let out a moan. Snow had begun to fall, and the sun was rapidly setting in the distance. Elliot shuddered again in her arms, and she held him tighter to her, whispering, "It's okay, Elliot. They'll find us soon. We're going to be fine. I promise you."

A few minutes later, he looked up at her with cloudy eyes. "Liv, are you okay?" he mumbled, and she swallowed thickly. Only Elliot would be worried about her when he was the one in danger of freezing to death.

"I'm fine," she assured him, and he nodded and shut his eyes, his head involuntarily sinking to the crook of her neck. She knew he had lost consciousness, and she moved to rest her back against the car door with the unbroken window, still cradling Elliot to her chest. As she rested her head against the door, her eye caught glimpse of a brightly colored material, and she mentally cheered as she reached down and grabbed her blanket from the floorboard, the one she always kept for a stakeout.

"Thank God," she muttered over and over again as she carefully pushed Elliot upright, wrapped the blanket around his still shaking form, then gently laid him back in her arms. By now, the sun was nearly gone, and snow flurries were drifting in through the broken window. Her breaths were coming out as smoky puffs from her mouth, and she shivered in spite of herself.

Stay awake, she ordered herself as she fought against her heavy eyelids. Stay awake for Elliot. You have to be able to let the rescue team know you're here when Cragen sends them. You can't let Elliot down.

She moaned and forced her eyes open, lowering her eyes to focus on her unconscious partner. "Hang on just a little longer, El," she whispered through chattering teeth. "Please, hang on for me."

The snow flurries were quickly coming faster and heavier, and she realized that the danger of them freezing to death was greater with every passing second. So she raised the blanket to cover Elliot's head, said a quick prayer to a God she thought she couldn't believe in anymore, and let her head loll forward to rest against Elliot's.

A loud snapping noise and the shattering of glass shoved Olivia back into consciousness, and she let out a scream as she saw dark eyes staring evilly at her and Elliot.

"No! Get away from us!" she shrieked, futilely attempting to shield her injured and unconscious partner. But her weakened state was no match for Coen's strength, and she screamed again as Elliot was ripped out of her arms. She scrambled to climb out of the car, but as she flung the door open, a shocking pain made her lose control of her muscles, and she fell into the snow. Looking up, she saw Coen with a taser gun in hand and a wicked grin on his face, and she tried to force her battered limbs to cooperate.

"Leave him alone!" she screeched, and Coen's smirk widened as his dark eyes flashed with excitement. Noticing that one hand was behind his back, Olivia let out another scream as he produced a small handgun, aimed it at her head, and pulled the trigger.

TBC...

A/N: (ducks flaming shoes and rotten veggies while diving for cover) Hey! Just be patient with me! There's still soooo much more to come...