So after hearing that Chris will/may not be returning to SVU in the fall, my first reaction was "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" but then I thought about an amazing scenario, and wanted to write a one-shot about it, so I did. Some of you may think this is too similar to that locker-room scene after Olivia transferred to CC back in season 7 (of course this is with Elliot leaving instead of Liv) and I admit I did gather some inspiration from that scene. And this may seem a bit "out of character" at some times, BUT I hope you all like this. PLEASE R&R.
It was nine o'clock in the morning, and the precinct was crawling with people. They had just uncovered another body in a string of rape-homicides. Detectives Munch and Fin were busy taking calls from a tip-line, Cragen was discussing the latest dilemma with the newest ADA, and everyone seemed occupied. Everyone except Olivia Benson.
She stared at the empty desk in front of hers. It was cleared of papers and picture frames, and the only thing that remained was a government issued desktop computer and the mouse.
Olivia couldn't help but feel…empty.
He's gone…He's gone… She kept saying to herself. He had left and he was never coming back.
A single tear escaped her eye, and her heart broke silently.
Why had he left?
Oh yeah…He killed that girl…She reminded herself.
Elliot had shot their dead witnesses' daughter when she brought a gun into the precinct and shot their three perps, and several innocent bystanders.
He had no choice, right? If he hadn't of shot, the girl probably would have killed others…so it was the right thing to do, wasn't it? Olivia asked herself, No…it wasn't right…it was necessary.
She let out a sigh, and stood from her desk, and walked to the locker room. She needed to think…
How could he be so selfish? She thought, kicking the lockers, and sitting on the bench with a humph, He knew I would have stood by him, and helped him…He knew I wouldn't have questioned his actions or motive…Why? Why did he leave ...me?
More tears fell and she could do nothing to stop them. She stood and leaned against the wall, sliding to the floor with a sob. She hugged her knees close to her chest and cried. She cried the hardest she had ever cried before; even more than the Gitano incident, even more than when her mother died, even more then the day she realized she loved her partner and would never have him. She felt as though she was dying inside, and she just wanted to feel ok again.
She heard footsteps, but didn't care. She just ignored them and buried her tear stricken face in her crossed arms.
"Liv?" A voice called from above her. It was Elliot, "Olivia…"
A hand rested on her shoulder and he sat down beside her.
"Why...Why didn't you tell me?" She asked through her sobs. He hadn't even called her to tell her he had left. Cragen had told her in his office, along with Munch and Fin. Nothing special, or ceremonious, "Why didn't you talk to me? Elliot…I…" A sob crawled up her throat, and she turned away as another wave of tears threatened to escape.
"Olivia…Olivia I didn't think I'd be able to leave if I did talk to you. You have been my partner for as long as I dare to remember, and I knew you would persuade me to stay. But I need to leave SVU, Liv, I just…" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "I don't want to lose you, too."
"But you are, Elliot," She said, turning to look him in the eye, "You're losing me, and I'm losing you. I just…Elliot, I…I can't do this without you…" She said, looking at him. The realization that what she had said was true made her heart ache even more. She stood to her feet, looking at anything but Elliot.
"But you can, Liv. You were meant to be here, in SVU. It's who you are, Olivia. You are SVU, you need this..." He said, standing, and rubbing her arm, trying to comfort her.
"So do you," Olivia whispered. Elliot sighed and drew her close to embrace her, but she held her hand up, "Don't please, just…Please, El. I can't…" She tore away, and ran out of the room.
Elliot stood alone in the locker-room; his whole life was falling apart. He hadn't meant to hurt Olivia, and he had no idea she would be so torn up about his leaving the unit. If he had known…
"Olivia!" He ran after her, and met her at the elevators, "Please, you've got to believe me, Liv-"
"Please, Elliot, just leave me alone! I can't…Please El." She tried to walk away again, but Elliot grabbed her arm and twirled her around to face him.
"No, Liv, I am not letting you walk away until we get this straight. I am not leaving you, Olivia, I'm just…"
Olivia interrupted, "…leaving?" She asked, anger boiling up inside her.
Elliot nodded, "I can't take this anymore, I can't take SVU anymore. It's not where I need to be."
Olivia looked down at the floor, listening to what he said, but never letting his words change how hurt, how lost, how betrayed she felt, "Well, I hope you find the place where you belong, El, 'cause if you ask me, you won't find it anywhere but here," She said, getting right in his face, her anger threatening to explode.
They stared into each other's eyes, each with their own emotion and fury, but suddenly the anger subsided, and they both realized their proximity. Elliot still held her arm, and they were only centimeters away from being completely against one another.
Without knowing what he was doing, Elliot reached up, and cupped Olivia's face in his hand.
"El? What are you-" Olivia let out a gasp as Elliot leaned forward and placed a strong kiss on her lips. Time stopped in its tracks.
Olivia was completely still, and Elliot wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed her close, never breaking the moment. Suddenly Olivia's senses returned and she realized what was happening.
"El, please, stop, I can't…" Olivia pulled away and stepped back, staring in disbelief at Elliot, who starred back in astonishment.
"Olivia, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…I, just…" Elliot tried to explain himself, but words failed.
Olivia stared at the floor, again not listening to anything but her own heartbeat. It was quick and her breathing had quickened. She couldn't see straight, and she felt as though she was flying.
"Olivia? Liv, are you ok? Liv, answer me!" Elliot walked closer, and held out and arm to steady her.
Olivia came back to reality, and brushed his hand away, "Please, El, just…" She shook her head, still trying to shake off the feeling of his arms around her. Elliot tried to pull her into an embrace, but she pushed him away, again, "Don't, El. Just go, please…"
Elliot nodded, and before Olivia could call after him, he was gone.
He's gone…He's gone… The tears began to form again, and Olivia could do nothing to stop them.