Disclaimer – I don't own Law and Order: Special Victims Unit or any of the characters.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Olivia squints as the sun bounces off the white sand. She digs around for her sunglasses in the over-sized canvas bag she brought on a whim at the airport but will never use once she returns to Manhattan. Settling them onto her nose, her eyes adjust to the tinted lenses. She inhales and smells the salty sea. Behind her, palm trees offer comforting shade which she will seek later. Her eyes close as she slips her feet from her flip flops to wriggle her toes in the grains of sand, relishing in the new sensation. The island is so peaceful and a huge contrast to her normal life. Part of her wants to miss her flight home. If only she had that luxury.

Munch closes the filing cabinet behind her with a bang and she's brought back to reality. She blinks as she glances around the squad room furtively to make sure no one witnessed her break from reality. She sighs.

A girl can dream.

Opening her desk draw she slips her new brochures inside, the paper crinkling as the picture perfect destination disappears into the dark recess of her desk. She lifts her head, rolls her neck only for it to click rebelliously. She massages it lightly with one hand as her eyes fall on her partner's empty desk. Elliot mumbled something about hitting the gym over an hour ago. He'd been quiet all day, not just with her but the rest of the team, save for the quick joke he made this morning about not having to partner up with Munch any more. He doesn't like to make small talk, neither is she, but he's been quieter than normal and it's usually a sign that something is wrong. She doesn't want to interfere, but she doesn't want him to ignore it and let it fester as he's prone to do. With the mood he was in she doubted he left the precinct yet, let alone venture home.

Shouldering her bag Olivia pushes away from her desk to stand. "Good night Munch."

"Leaving so early? I was about to impart my insights into the assassination of-"

"I'll see you in the morning, John," Olivia says, rolling her eyes.

"I'll just entertain the night shift then," he calls out as the door swings closed behind her.

She smiles lightly as she continues down the corridor. This end of the precinct is quiet, most of the building have gone home in hopes of some time away from the job before they get called in on the next case. She doubts downstairs is as quiet, doubts the desk sergeant is having a slow night like she is.

Olivia passes the crib, her head turning out of curiosity as she notices the door ajar and one of the lamps on. She stops mid step and cranes her body to peer around the door only to see Elliot lying on the far cot next to the wall. He isn't asleep, his eyes are focused on the bunk above. His hands clasped in an apex across his chest. He's still in his dress shirt and he's taken off his tie. She should keep walking. She really should. But then this was why she was going to find him.

She looks up and down the hallway before pushing the door open and walks in, closing it softly behind her. "I thought you were going to the gym," she starts as she rests her back against the door, pushing it till it clicks closed.

Elliot turns and looks at her before twisting his body to sit up. "I went to get some food instead."

She knows it's a lie, she can smell the faint odour of stale beer but knows he only had one or two, he wouldn't risk coming back here drunk. He probably only left the building long enough for most people to leave for the day so he wouldn't be seen coming back. Less questions and rumours about him sleeping in the crib. "You could've brought me something back."

"I'll remember next time," Elliot promises rubbing his face wearily.

"Why are you sleeping here?"

"Because I can't sleep on the couch at home." His eyes hold hers for a long beat, obviously hoping she won't press for more details. She knows he's embarrassed about any fractures in his marriage, his family, he deems it a failure, thinks others will think the same. After everything they've been through, Elliot knows her better than that. "Kathy found the bond paperwork in my pocket."

Olivia's eyes slide shut. She's grateful for everything he did for her, she surely would have been attacked in Rikers if it weren't for him. She wants to do something, say something to Kathy. She reopens her eyes to find his gaze trained on her face. "I'm sorry Elliot, is there anything I can do?"

Elliot shakes his head. "I'll talk to Kathy in a few days when she's calmed down."

Deflated Olivia pushes off the door and slowly crosses the room to sit on the cot next to his. "This is my fault."

"No, it isn't. Some guy got pissed at you because you put him in prison for attacking women. You did nothing wrong Liv."

"I didn't have to say what I-"

"I'm not going to be mad at you because you talked back to a perp who mouthed off at you. He put those women through hell. He should stop blaming others for his mistakes," he tells her with conviction.

"Yeah, well, he's going down for murder now so he's going to have a lot of time to think about it," Olivia tells him. "So you're going to stay here till you sort things out with Kathy?"

He shrugs. "I don't know. She knows I wouldn't do anything differently if it happened again."

"One hell of a gamble," Olivia replies. He shouldn't have taken the risk with his family's home.

"Nope," he says with confidence. "I'm only sorry that he almost got away with it."

"You could've lost everything," she says softly. She hates the look of defeat and resignation in his eyes. He could have lost everything because of her. There's no point in arguing with him about it, she would've done the same for him, only she didn't have five kids and a spouse to think about. Kathy won't back down easily and she has no idea how Elliot will make this up to her if she ever gives him the chance to. "Did you ever think-"

"Nope," he cuts her off forcefully. "Not for a second."

She stares at him, waits for him to look away. He doesn't and after a long moment she bobs and ducks her head.

"Please tell me you didn't hire Langan as well," Olivia says a minute later as she remembers the lawyer's cryptic reply to her question.

"No," Elliot says innocently. "Well, not just me. Cragen, Fin and Munch helped with that."

There's a pause as they look around the room. She can't leave him here after he risked this for her. Olivia lifts off her cot and picks up her discarded bag, full off false confidence in her idea which will more than likely cause more problems if Kathy ever finds out. "C'mon my fold out is more comfortable than this cot."

"It's okay Liv, you don't need to-"

"I'm not taking no for an answer Elliot," she says as she opens and holds the door as she waits for him. It's the least she can do. "It's just a few days."

"Tops," he promises as he passes her into the hallway. She hopes for his sake it's just a few days.