Wednesday 12/15/04 7:55 a.m.

Detective Elliot Stabler walked into the 1-6 precinct at five till eight, which was late for him. His partner, Olivia Benson stared at him, taking in his disheveled appearance. He still had his five 'o clock shadow from the previous day, his blue eyes were bloodshot and his suit was wrinkled, in fact it was the same one he had worn the day before.

"Take this." Olivia said, handing him a cup of coffee.

"Thanks."

She continued to stare at him for a few more seconds before saying "Have a rough night?"

Elliot stared into his coffee. "Why do you say that?"

"Elliot come on I'm not blind, you look like hell."

"I feel like hell."

He had told her numerous times that he was over Kathy leaving him and taking the kids but this proves that he's not.

"How much did you have to drink last night?" she asked, moving so that she was looking into his eyes.

"Ah lets see… a bottle of Jack's and a couple of beers."

She opened her mouth to say something but at that time detective John Munch walked in. "You look like hell Elliot."

"Thanks for noticing john." Elliot said sarcastically.

"Anytime."

"Alright people I don't pay you to sit around." Captain Donald Cragen said as he walked into the bullpen. His eyes settled on Elliot. "Elliot can I see you in my office?"

Elliot sighed and got up from his chair. He followed the captain into his office.

"You look like hell Elliot."

Elliot glared and Cragen and sighed. "You're not the only one who thinks so."

"What's going on with you?"

"I dunno Cap'n. I-I've been drinking every night. I haven't been able to sleep…"

The captain sighed. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since Kathy left."

Cragen nodded. "Look, go home, take a shower and get some rest." Come back tomorrow, and then I'll put you to work ok?"

Elliot shook his head. "The house is empty, I can't go home."

"I tell you what; go get whatever you need from your house and come back to the station house. You can sleep in the Crib."

Elliot reluctantly nodded his head. "What about Liv?"

"Don't worry about her. Ill put her on desk duty for the day."

Elliot gave a weak smile. "Oh she'll love that." Cragen smiled. "Thanks don." He walked out and went to his desk to get his jacket.

"You ok?" Olivia asked, looking up from her paperwork.

"Yea I'm just gonna go pick up some stuff at the house."

She nodded. "Elliot if you ever need someone to talk to I'm always here no matter what time of day. And if you ever feel like not going home your always welcome at my place."

A small smile whipped across his face. "Thanks Liv." He turned and walked out of the bullpen. Olivia smiled to herself and went back to her paperwork.

10:00 A.M. Same Day

Elliot walked into the squad room with a duffel bag draped over his shoulder. He walked into the precinct showers. Since it was still early no one was in there. He took a shower then shaved. When he was done he took his bag into the squad room in put it in his locker. Olivia was sitting at her desk. He hadn't noticed her when he had first walked in.

"Hey, you look better." Olivia said, trying not to stare at Elliot's chest, which was covered by just a muscle shirt (and there was plenty of muscle). "Are you going to sleep in the Crib?"

"I'm gonna try." Elliot responded as he closed his locker. "So did Captain put you on desk duty?" He had a small smirk on his face as he said this. He knew how much she hated being stuck at a desk.

Olivia glared at him. "Yes."

Elliot chuckled. "Have fun." He walked towards the stairs leading up to the Crib.

"Oh thanks a lot." Olivia said with a laugh.

Half way up the stairs Elliot stopped and looked back at Olivia. She was still staring at him. Elliot smiled and continued up the stairs. When he got to the top he shook his head. I can't be having these thoughts about Liv! He screamed at himself. My wife has left me and taken my kids and here I am thinking about Liv! But its nothing new is it? I've been thinking of her for six years now haven't I? But now it's different, I'm not married now. He sighed and walked into the room.

Olivia sat at her desk trying to concentrate on her paperwork, but her thoughts kept coming back to Elliot and how he hadn't told her about his problems. It's like he's blocking her out, first she found out about Elliot and Kathy from a damn lawyer instead of Elliot and now she's found out about Elliot's drinking problem from the captain. Doesn't he know that I am here? She looked down at her paperwork and closed her eyes. When she did this she loved what she saw. It was the very thing that she wished she could wake up to every morning. Olivia could stare into those eyes forever; they had so much depth in them. They would change different shades of blue according to Elliot's mood. They would turn a beautiful periwinkle when he was happy, they would light up when he laughed. But she loved his eyes most of all when he was angry. They would turn a deep, dark blue that would glow when he yelled. But lately his eyes have been blank, empty. They showed no emotion except anguish.

"Olivia…"

Olivia opened her eyes to see the captain standing in front of her.

"Sorry captain. I-I'll get back to work."

Cragen smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about Elliot Olivia, he'll come through."

"I know he will."

"Good… now get back to work."

"Yes sir."

Elliot lay on the bunk staring at the bunk above him. It had been over an hour since he went up to the Crib. He hadn't gotten any sleep. He kept thinking about what had gone wrong between Kathy and him. Kathy had said that it was his hours that he spent at work. He couldn't blame her; sometimes he wouldn't come for days. The night that she had left he had been gone for three days. He told her that he would change his hours; he had told her that for two years so she knew he wouldn't do it. She said that she was tired of waking up in the night and find his side of the bed cold. But twenty years of marriage and she just walks away! Twenty fucking years! He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. This is impossible. He opened his eyes and looked around the room. His eyes fell on the stereo the precinct had bought last year. He swung his legs around and stood up, careful no to hit his head on the top bunk. He walked over and opened the CD player. He laughed to himself when he saw what was in it; Fin's rap crap. He took it out and put in Kenny G. He went back to the bunk and laid down. The soft sound of the saxophone filled Elliot's ears, his eyes started to droop, then they closed completely. It felt like only five minutes when he was shaken awake. He groaned and sat up. He shook his head and opened his eyes to see Olivia sitting on the bunk next to him.

"What time is it?" Elliot asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Almost two." Olivia said looking at Elliot, concern in her eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something but Olivia raised her hand to cut him off.

"You needed the sleep Elliot."

Elliot shook his head. "I know but not at work."

"El if you'd gone out in the field today and we had happened to get into a tight spot… well we would be as good as dead."

She's right, damnit I hate it when she's right. "I know I know."

"How long has it been since you've eaten anything?" Olivia said moving to sit next to Elliot.

Elliot shrugged his shoulders.

Olivia nodded and said, "C'mon lets go get something to eat."

They both stood up. Elliot walked over to the stereo to turn the music off.

"Leave it on" Olivia said, handing Elliot his shirt. "It's relaxing."

"Yea it is." Elliot said, taking his shirt and slipping it on. They both stood there listening to the soothing sound of the saxophone.

I could stay like this forever, just me and Elliot, listening to Kenny G. At that thought she grinned to herself.

"What?" Elliot asked with a dazzling smile.

"I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Oh nothing important… lets go."

Elliot followed Olivia out of the Crib, the music still in his ears.