A/N: Well as long as I have obligations, you'll have fiction, pretty much anyway. The series has been named. The rest of the stories will all be here under this name except the first chapter of the series: Late Night. Let us see where the muse takes us this time around. At least I'll have something random to work on over the course of the semester.I'm really not sure whati'm getting myself intowith this series, but then againI didn't in the last either.Enjoy peace, lishbug
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to SVU. If you really want my original character should they make an appearance you can have them. This disclaimer applies to every chapter/section here on out.
Series title: Lifelines
Section title: Crowded Rooms
1
/Friday night/
Alex Cabot sank further into the bubble bath. She had come home a little early today and shed her office attire and slipped into the hot bath hoping that it would help her feel better. She had been feeling lousy all week and this morning it took on a whole new level, waking up with a cough.
Olivia had been out on assignment for most of the week so they rarely had time to speak this week.
Alex started to feel tired and not wanting to sleep in the tub she eased herself out of the soothing water and into some nice warm PJs. She set herself up on the couch with some tea and an old movie. She shivered as she looked out the window from the spot where she rest, it was swirling snow, it was half way through March for goodness sakes. Alex shook her head and returned her attention to her tea and movie.
/Meanwhile with Olivia and Elliot/
Olivia strummed her fingers on the stirring wheel as she and Elliot sat at another red light. They had just come back from questioning the last guy on their list of witnesses. Now they were headed back to the station house in hopes of being able to put this case to rest for the weekend. Neither of them have had a weekend off in almost a month, both were looking forward to it.
"Rush hour traffic is a bitch." Olivia said as they sat waiting.
"Yeah, guess everyone is trying to get home for the start of the weekend," Elliot replied trying to continue the small talk.
"Hey, how are the kids you haven't really talked about them in a while, and I haven't been over to the house in a while." Olivia said with a big smile on her face, she loved hearing how Elliot's kids were doing.
"They are good. Lizzie and Dickie are doing great in 8th grade. Maureen is good I haven't seen her is about 3 and a half weeks, but I've talked to her a lot. Kat is doing okay I guess, she calls now and then, I haven't actually seen her though since a week after Emily's trial ended. That was over a month ago."
"You did a good job with those two girls El." Olivia patted him on the shoulder as she was finally able to pull into the precinct's parking area.
The two detectives ventured into the station where they were met with a flurry of activity.
The rest of the day was spent chasing more called in leads. Apparently the newspaper got a hold of the description of the guy they were after and printed a crazy article about him with out consent from the precinct.
When 7 rolled around, 4 hours later, Cragen came out of his office.
"Alright boys and girls lets put this away for the weekend and look at it with fresh eyes. There is no threat that this guy will strike again over the weekend considering it was an acquaintance rape. Lets all go home and relax." Cragen said tapping the pin board as he left the bullpen and returned to his office.
The detectives each gathered their jackets and headed out into the blustery March night on their way to their respective homes.
/Elliot's house/
Kathy stood at the sink about to let the water drain from the dishes when the phone rang.
"I'll get it!" Lizzie and Dickie shouted at the same time running from the coffee table to the phone, sending homework papers flying.
Kathy laughed to herself as dried off her hand and tossed the towel onto the counter. The drain gurgling with the release of water. She leaned against the doorframe of the living room watching as Dickie animatedly talked to the caller while Lizzie jumped up and down beside him holding out her hand.
"What, okay, gee sorry spaz," Dickie said into the phone. "Here Mom, Kat wants to talk to you." He said handing the phone over to his mother.
The twins went back to sorting out their papers and settled back to work. All the while jabbering and bickering with each other as only twins can do.
"Hi sweetheart how are you?" Kathy said as she saw headlights pull into the drive way and Elliot stroll up the walk. She started getting his plate out of the oven.
"Hi Mom…" Kat took a deep breath.
"Is everything okay, you sound stressed." Kathy paused in her work to bring her full attention to her daughter.
"Everything is fine mom."
Elliot walked into the kitchen after hugging the twins and kissed his wife on the top of the head. Kathy mouthed it was Kat on the phone and he smiled a huge smile.
"So what's going on? Do you need anything?"
"No, no I just wanted to hear you're voice." Kat spoke almost sadly.
Elliot sat down with a beer and his plate and watched his wife talk to their daughter.
"Sweetheart, you sound sad are you sure everything is okay." Kathy asked with worry written on her face and evident in her voice.
Elliot looked at his wife.
"I'm fine mom, its just, maybe I can come over for dinner tomorrow." Kat asked hopefully.
"Of course you can, why don't you come over early. We can have a nice day together."
"I'd like that, thanks. One more thing."
"Yes," Kathy asked a little confused and concerned.
"Can Olivia and Alex come over for dinner too?"
"I don't see why not, the twins have been asking if Aunt Olivia and Alex could come over. I'll have your dad call them tonight or in the morning."
"Okay, well I have to go. If I want to come earlier tomorrow I need to finish a project."
"Alright sweetheart, do you want to talk to your Dad before you hang up." Kathy looked at Elliot as she said it. He perked up.
"No I really have to go, but tell him I love him from the bottom of my heart."
"I will honey."
"I love you mom."
"I love you too Kat."
"Bye."
"Bye,"
Elliot chewed a fork full of mac and cheese as he looked at Kathy with puppy dog eyes.
"Oh stop it El, she says she loves you from the bottom of her heart. She is coming over tomorrow for the day and dinner. She is wondering if we could invite Liv and Alex over for dinner."
Elliot swallowed before answering, "That sounds great, I'll call Liv in the morning."
Kathy sat down across from Elliot as he finished his dinner, so they could talk.
/Olivia and Alex/
Olivia entered the dark apartment. The only light came from the DVD player which was showing the main menu for You Got Mail. As Olivia entered the living room further she noticed that there was a beautiful blonde sleeping on the couch. A grin spread quickly across Olivia's face. She carefully placed her belt, gun and badge on there spot on the counter. She then returned to the living room and sat on the coffee table and carefully took the mug of cold tea out of Alex's hands and placed it on the table. She then eased the dark rimmed glasses off of Alex's face, folded them, and placed them beside the mug. Alex didn't stir.
Olivia looked at Alex sleeping, sitting on the couch. She reached for the remote and shut off the entertainment system. Then she placed a soft kiss on Alex's temple. The flesh there was warm. Olivia took Alex's hand and held it in her own, it was clammy. Olivia turned on the light next to the couch. This caused Alex to stir.
"Liv, you're home." Alex said through a haze.
"Yeah, honey I'm home." Olivia said as she caressed her cheek.
"When did you get home?"
"I came home early I wasn't feeling well." Alex said, punctuated with a cough.
"You don't sound or look too good. Why don't we get you to bed."
"Okay," Alex tried to move, the world spun a little. Olivia steadied her and they both slowly made their way into the bed room. Olivia turned down the bed and helped Alex ease in then she tucked the covers around her.
"I'll be right back," Olivia said as she went into the bathroom to retrieve supplies from the medicine cabinet and fill a cup of water.
When she returned to the bedroom Alex could barely keep her eyes open.
"Here take this it will help with your fever and this will help with your cough." Olivia handed Alex two pills and the little cup of water.
Alex took them slowly and choked down the water.
"Thank you." Olivia nodded and shut the light off before returning to the bathroom where she herself took a nice long shower. Working hard for the past week on assignment she hadn't had a chance for a nice good shower.
After feeling refreshed for the first time in days, Olivia slipped into bed. Pulling Alex close to hold her. She quickly joined in the world of the sleeping, leaving behind all thoughts of work and life.
/Meanwhile with Kathleen/
"So what did your Mom say." Emily asked as she unloaded her bag from the library.
"I'm going to spend the day with her and dad and the twins tomorrow then have dinner."
"Cool." Emily said smiling.
"Then… then we'll talk."
"That's good, just remember, don't do anything your not ready for." Emily said smiling as she stepped closer to Kathleen forgetting her task.
"You sound like my Dad." Kathleen swatted at her.
"He sounds wise." Emily smiled, she couldn't believe she had found such a great person in Kat.
"He is, but enough talk about him." Kathleen started tickling Emily.
"No fair," Emily squeaked, trying to push Kat away and tickle her back.
The two girls played around for a while more before settling in for the night to watch a movie, wrapped in each others arms, eating popcorn and commenting on the acting.
/Saturday Morning/
Olivia woke up with a start and glared at the clock. The bright red numbers 9:40 stared back at her. She started to fling the covers off and rush off to the precinct thinking she was 2 hours late. Realization hit her as her feet hit the floor, along with Alex's arm, pulling her back into bed.
"It's your day off," Alex croaked out.
"How are you feeling today," Olivia asked as she settled back into the warm bed.
"Lousy," Alex nestled into Olivia's shoulder.
Olivia stroked Alex's hair as she let her sick lover drift back into a deep sleep.
/Emily and Kathleen/
The phone ringing jarred Emily awake.
"Hello," she said into phone non too pleased.
"Kathleen?" the voice said.
"What? No. Mrs. Stabler?" Emily asked confused and tired.
"Emily?"
"Yeah."
"Is Kathleen there."
"Hmm, what no, I think she's in the shower."
"Well I'm sorry to wake you but I'm here to pick her up I'm on my way down the hall."
"Oh you're here." Emily glanced around the room. Shit, she thought to herself, there is no way I'm gonna be able to explain this one. Her bed was still perfectly made on the other side of the room while Kat's bed definitely looked slept in.
"Yes, I'm hanging up now."
"Okay."
Seconds later there was a knock at the door. Emily gulped and opened the door while throwing on her robe over her tank and pj bottoms. Her newly cut black hair was tossled.
"Hi Mrs. Stabler." She said letting the older women into the room.
"Good morning Emily."
"Does Kat know…" she started to say giving a sideways glance at the messed up bed when the door swung open again.
"Em did you know that Jenny has a…" Kat stopped toweling her hair and looked at her mother.
"Mom, what a surprise, I thought I was coming over to the house this afternoon."
"I thought it would be fun to surprise you." Kathy said with a huge grin on her face.
"Great," Kat replied with an equally large yet forced grin. "Let me just get some clothes on and I'll be ready."
"I'm ah going to take a shower, have a good day Kat, I'll see you when you get back." Emily smiled nervously at the two women in the room before grabbing her shower things and inconspicuously rushing out of the room.
Kat threw on some jeans and a shirt. She then grabbed her tooth brush.
"I'm just going to go brush I'll be right back."
"Okay hunny." Kathy said as she looked around her daughters room. Not being able to stand the bed, she thought she would save Kat some time and make it for her.
Kat entered the bathroom to Emily just coming out of a stall. Kat smiled as they both went to a sink and turned on their respective faucets. After Emily had dried her hands on her robe she slid up to Kat and wrapped her arms around her. Kat spit out the toothpaste and water and rinsed her mouth off. She tilted her head to the side and grinned at Emily.
"I'm so sorry about my Mom."
"It's okay, at least she is not super bitch like mine." Emily rested her chin on Kat's shoulder.
"Was she always like that?"
"No, actually she use to be the cool mom on the block."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be and have fun tonight with your parents."
"I will thank you."
"You better get going."
"Okay."
Emily lifted her head and placed a chaste kiss on Kat's lips.
"Jesus, you two get a room," Steph, Emily's old roommate before the attack, said as she entered the restroom.
"We love you Steph." They said in unison.
"Yeah, yeah I love you guys too." Steph grinned as she entered a stall.
Kat left the bathroom to head home for the day with her mom and Emily whisked off to the shower.
On returning to her room Kat noticed her bed was made. What is it with my parents and making my bed, Kat though to herself, it's creeping me out.
/The Stabler house/
Elliot hung up the phone. Kathy had just called to say she and Kat where going to hit up a few shops before coming home. Elliot grinned, he was so happy he hadn't seen Kat in so long. Looking at the clock he noticed that it was almost 11, decent enough time to call Liv. He picked up the phone a punched in the familiar numbers.
"Hello," Olivia answered in a rush.
"Hi, it's me Elliot, did I wake you up."
"What? No, I've been up for a couple hours." Olivia answered distracted, willing the conversation to wrap up.
"Is everything okay?" Elliot asked concerned.
"Not really Alex is really sick, and… well it doesn't matter, why are you calling."
"We just wanted to see if you two wanted to come over for dinner, Kat asked but I can tell this is a bad time, call if you need anything." Elliot quickly spit out.
"Thanks El, tell everyone we're sorry we couldn't make it… I got to go." Olivia quickly hung up the phone not waiting for a reply.
Elliot hung up after hearing the click and went to check on the twins who where still sleeping. After assuring himself they were indeed alive he propped his feet up in his chair and opened a book he started three months ago. Not remembering the plot he turned back to the beginning and started fresh.
/Olivia and Alex's apartment/
Olivia hung up the phone and hurried back into the bathroom where she had left Alex moments ago. Alex clung to the toilet bowl for dear life. Olivia produced the cool cloth she has soaked and gently wiped Alex's forehead and neck. Leaving the cloth on her neck she got another cloth and wiped her face and hands.
"Are you feeling any better now?" Olivia asked softly.
"Actually a little, I'm still feeling woozy though."
Olivia nodded as she helped Alex gently out of the soiled pajamas. Alex now sat on the bathroom floor in her panties.
"I must look pathetic." Alex groaned, "just the way you wanted to spend your weekend off."
"Sh, you don't look pathetic. And as long as I'm with you sick or not that's good enough for me. Now come on lets carefully move to the shower and get cleaned up."
Olivia helped Alex into the shower, very slowly and cleaned her up. She left Alex to get some clean clothes and then helped her get dressed. Together they made their way to the living room and the couch.
The rest of their day was spent watching old movies. Alex spent much of the time sleeping in Olivia's arms and nibbling on crackers and sipping tea. Besides the fact that Alex had the stomach flu they had a fairly decent Saturday.
/After dinner at the Stabler Residence/
Kat helped her Dad do the dishes while Kathy put away the leftover food. The twins were getting out a board game for all of them to play.
"So how is school going?" Elliot asked Kat as they did their chore.
"It's going great, classes are interesting this semester and midterms are coming up next week."
"Are you ready for them?"
"Yes Dad."
"Alright just checking." Elliot said. He then suddenly flicked some soapy water at Kat. Who then playfully whacked him with the dishtowel.
"Alright, don't mess up my kitchen you two." Kathy laughed as she placed the leftovers in the fridge.
"We're ready." Dickie called form the living room.
"And we're finished." Elliot pulled the drain on the dish water.
The five Stablers settled around a game of Yahzee.
About two hours later Dickie and Lizzie grew bored of the game.
"Alright first one to get a Yahzee wins," Elliot proclaimed.
On Lizzie's next roll she got a Yahzee and jumped up in the air.
"I win. Come on Dickie lets play your new Playstation game."
"Alright."
The two thundered up the stairs on toward the new generation of fun.
Kathleen grew quiet as she slipped up onto the couch from the floor. Kathy started putting the game away. Elliot eased up off the floor groaning from being down there too long. When Kathy returned from the den she took a moment to take in the sight of her daughter.
"Kat honey are you okay?"
"Yeah Mom, I'm fine." Kat forced a smile.
"You look like something is bothering you, you know you can talk to your Dad and I."
"I know," Kat took a deep breath. "That's one of the reason's why I wanted to come over tonight." God I wish Olivia were here, Kat thought to her self, but she understood why and hoped that Alex was feeling better.
"What is it Honey?" Elliot sat on the coffee table across from Kat while her mom sat next to her on the couch.
"I don't want you to hate me," Kat said softly.
"Oh no we won't hate you, no matter what." Kathy said placing an arm around Kat squeezing her.
Kat eased out of the hug and placed her head in her hands, resting on her knees.
"There is something I've been wanting to tell you for a while but I never could get the courage to…" Kathleen felt like she was going to either pass out, throw up or both.
"Its okay sweetheart." Elliot said, waiting patiently for his daughter to get her thoughts straight, what ever was wrong was eating Kat up inside and he didn't want to push her.
"Mom, Dad, I'm… I'm gay." Kat was finally able to say. She let the tears slid down her face now.
Elliot sat there for a few moments processing the information. His mind stopped working for a second before he could form real thoughts. Kathy could only think of one thing to say.
"Emily?"
"Yeah, Emily is my girlfriend." Kat sniffled out.
Kathy nodded. Elliot was still processing.
"Sh, it's okay, sweetheart." Kathy gathered her daughter up in her arms. "Don't ever think we hate you. We're confused but you know what its okay. We don't love you any less. Sh. Is this why you wanted Olivia here, she knew didn't she."
Kat nodded into her mother's embrace.
"Kat, honey," Elliot finally spoke. "I love you. Thank you for being honest with us."
Kat flung herself out of her mother's arms and into her fathers. She didn't think she would have a problem with her Kathy it was Elliot she was really worried about.
After a few minutes of sitting silently together they broke apart.
"I love you guys, thank you." Kat said as she wiped her eyes.
Elliot was still in shock, Kathy knew already really. It was something that she just had an inkling about it, it really wasn't a huge surprise to her, although it was one of those things that you just didn't share with Elliot.
/later that night in Kat's dorm room/
Emily lay curled up in Kat's arms.
"So what did they say."
"They said they loved me."
"I knew they would." Emily smiled at Kathleen and washed all other thoughts of the other girl's mind.
/Monday Morning/
"So you missed quite the dinner on Saturday." Elliot said, as once again he and Olivia sat trapped in Manhattan traffic on their way to canvas a neighbor in the case they were working on.
"Oh really someone get sick," Olivia laugh.
"Is Alex okay?" Elliot asked concerned.
"Yeah she took the day off today to finish recouping. So what happened?" Olivia asked, as they finally were able to pull onto the street where they needed to be.
"Kat told us about her and Emily." Elliot said glancing at his partner as she pulled into the parking space, threw the police placard in the window, and twisted in the seat to look at him.
"What did you tell her," Olivia asked looking him in the eye.
"That I love her." Elliot looked at his hands as he spoke.
Olivia nodded as they exited the car and headed up the walk to the apartment.
Knocking at the door of apartment 1c, Olivia got a strange feeling.
"Police open up, we would like to talk to you."
Suddenly bullets started flying Elliot pulled Olivia down.
When the firing stopped and the shooter took off on foot, Olivia tried to get up but Elliot was dead weight on her.
"Elliot!" Olivia panicked. She searched for a pulse and found one but weak. Blood was seeping from his shoulder.
She reached to his back and grabbed the walkie-talkie.
"Officer down Officer down, shots fired…" Olivia rattled off their location as she tried to get up.
"Copy that an back up and an ambulance is on the way."
A/N: What happens next? Dum dum dum. Stay tuned to Lifelines to find out. Chapter 2 of Crowded Rooms: Is Elliot okay? How does Liv react? Hmm.