A/N: Thanks to my wonderful beta as usual. I know it's yet another story but I want to see how you all like this 1st chapter before I continue it. So I will only continue if I get at least 8 reviews. Please read and review. This chapter is for PaceyW'sgirl.

Disclaimer: Own nothing.

For 7:54 in the morning the Special Victims squad room of the 16th precinct was already teeming with life as Detective Second Grade Olivia Benson wearily walked in to the bullpen to start Friday's day of work. It had been a very long week and Olivia was exhausted both physically and mentally. Not just from working but also due to her partner's aggressive verbal outbursts directed straight at her and her patience was becoming dangerously thin.

She looked over toward her desk after locking her purse up safely in her locker. Her hot headed partner was already at his desk working on a file and looked just about as shitty as she felt.

Olivia sighed as she sat down and went to say 'good morning' but Elliot looked up and spoke up first.

The brunette could see the big black bags underneath his dejected blue eyes.

"Liv, could we please talk up on the rooftop?"

The junior partner nodded and stood up from her black leather chair. "Sure, El."

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The two detectives were standing on the precinct's rooftop and no words had been spoken yet, so Olivia decided to express her concern.

"El, I'm worried about you. What's going on? I know for a fact that you have been sleeping up in the cribs all week and that you look like crap."

Elliot turned and looked at his beautiful partner beside him. Anger had now overpowered the dejection in his blue orbs.

"Kathy asked for a divorce," he snarled.

"Oh, El, I'm so sorry. Did...did she say why she wanted a divorce?" she asked softly, her voice genuinely sympathetic.

Out of anger, Elliot lost control and didn't realize what he was doing. He grabbed his younger female partner roughly by the shoulders, so she couldn't move her arms and shoved her in to an air conditioner vent, causing her to whimper in pain as her ribs collided with the metal. She was scared of her best friend for the first time ever, which she didn't think was ever possible.

"You! You are the real reason my wife wants a divorce! You ruined my marriage!" he yelled and squeezed her shoulders really hard.

Olivia tried to hold back threatening tears as she whimpered in pain. "Ow! Elliot, you're hurting me."

As if something clicked in the detective's brain, he let go of the woman's shoulders and instantly felt bad. "L...Liv, I'm --"

Olivia put her hand up in front of her and shook her head. "No. No. Just...Don't," she warned, trying to keep the emotions out of her voice, trying her hardest to keep it steady.

"Liv!" He tried once more but the brunette shook her head and opened up the door.

"Leave me alone, Stabler," she growled before rushing down the stairs back down to the squad room.

Calling him by his last name was never a good sign.

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The brunette rushed back in to the squad room and was glad Fin and Munch were out on call as she made her way to Captain Cragen's closed office.

She softly rapped on the door and waited for a positive response from her commanding officer before opening the door.

As soon as the detective entered the small, immaculate office, Cragen knew that something was terribly wrong.

"What's going on, Olivia?"

"I want a new partner," she started and watched the captain's jaw drop. "But for now, I need the day off."

Don sighed and rubbed the back of his stiff, tired neck. "Ok, Olivia. Take today and tomorrow. Get some rest, you look like you need it."

"Thank you, Captain," she replied and walked out.

Olivia groaned inwardly when she saw Elliot sitting at his desk waiting for her to come out of Cragen's office.

"Liv, please hear me out," he begged her as she made her way to her locker to collect her purse. "Liv!"

"Stabler! My office now!" Cragen came to the rescue, producing a sigh of relief from Benson as she grabbed her purse out of it's steel confinement.

Elliot took one last look at Olivia as she closed up her locker before heading in to the commanding officer's office.

"Yes, Captain?" He asked as he closed the door behind him to provide them with some privacy.

"What just happened between you and your partner up on the rooftop?"

"Ahh...Just a disagreement, sir," he lied to his superior officer, not wanting to tell him that he had become violent toward her.

Cragen shook his head. "I know that you're lying, Detective. Go do some paperwork. You're on ass duty today and tomorrow."

"Sir, I request a couple hours off to talk to Liv."

"Request denied, detective. See her after work."

"But Captain."

Cragen shook his head. "No. Get to work."

Elliot sighed, trying to keep his anger at bay. "Fine," he huffed and stormed out of the office back to his desk.

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Olivia walked out of the building and flagged down the first taxi that she saw approaching. She opened the back passenger door and got in.

"364 East 92nd Street please," she gave the driver her address.

"Yes, Ma'am," the young man replied and pulled away from the curb.

The female detective watched the quick passing scenery as she dwelled on her life. She was sick and tired of putting her emotions and her dreams on the backburner. It was her time to be selfish. Take care of herself.

The cabbie's voice brought Olivia out of her musing. "That will be 40.81, ma'am."

The brunette pulled 45 out of her purse and handed it to the man before opening the car door. "Thank you. Keep the change."

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That night, Olivia was lying on the couch in a blanket, listening to an old jazz record, which used to be her mother's favourite. There was a half filled wine glass on the coffee table, just sitting there. She'd had a few drinks but she was no way near drunk. Her plan wasn't to get drunk, just to loosen up a bit.

A tap on the apartment door brought Olivia out of her light doze. She groaned as she slowly got up before heading toward the door.

The brunette looked through the peephole and cursed when she saw Elliot on the other side.

"Go away, Elliot."

"I'll use my key, if I have to, Olivia," Elliot said adamantly.

Olivia groaned and opened up the door. "Fine. But you listen to what I have to say first."

Elliot gulped and nodded, so Olivia reluctantly let him in.

He closed the door behind him and sat in the arm chair near the wall to the right of the couch, which was where Olivia was sitting.

Olivia ran a hand through her long caramel tresses. "First of all, I'm sick and tired of being used as your emotional boxing bag, Elliot," she started and saw him open his mouth. "Shut your trap and listen, I'm not finished. I'm sick of putting my emotions and my dreams on the backburner. This is my now. It's my turn to be selfish for once and I'm going to take this opportunity to do that...You have till noon on Sunday to convince me why I should stay here, otherwise I'm leaving and not looking back," she informed him.

Elliot's jaw dropped in shock. Would Olivia really leave? "That's only thirty-nine hours, Olivia."

Olivia shrugged her shoulders and picked up the glass of wine. "I don't care. This is about me. Not you."

Elliot nodded, sadly and stood up. "I...I got to go," he said and rushed out of the apartment.

Olivia took a sip of her wine and arched her head back on the top of the couch, to look up at the white ceiling above her. She finally let the tears, which had been threatening to fall all day, flow freely. Olivia didn't want to leave her home, her job, the squad or the man that she desperately loved behind but her sanity depended on it.