"Olivia, please, you're being ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous? On the contrary, I think I am being the only rational one in this room!" Another shirt flew across the room, landing in its designated box.
Detective Olivia Benson had entered a packing frenzy. After a particularly grueling case that brought everyone's secrets to the surface, the brunette had given up, resigning herself to a life of misery and loneliness. Casey sat on the bed, watching the flurry of clothes and other items sadly. Clearly, begging the detective not to leave was a lost cause. "Olivia," she said quietly. "Don't do this. Don't you care?"
"No, Casey, I don't!" Olivia snarled, taping one box and preparing another. "Kressler may be a sleazebag, but he brought up some very good points. We aren't meant to be together. I'm not meant to be with anyone."
Olivia's words tore Casey's heart into shreds, making the attorney swallow in an effort to choke back the pain. "You're going to leave because a defense attorney exposed you on the stand? He never mentioned us! He said that you don't know how to love, and that you never could because your mother was drunk and your father was never around."
"THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT." Olivia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "This case hit too close to home. A woman grew up the product of a rape, and could never bring herself to love anyone. She turned into a bitter old lady and no one wanted her."
"But you're not her," Casey answered softly. "You..you have me." She shook her head in disgust. "I can't believe you're going to leave me like this. The Olivia I fell in love with would never act so out of character." She stood up. "The Olivia I know would swallow her damn pride and realize that, unlike that bitter lady on the stand, she's loved and needed. But.." The redhead glanced at the boxes. "I can't change your mind. I'll just go."
As Casey removed her ring and tossed it into the bed, she passed Olivia. The detective surprised her by grabbing her and pulling her into her arms. "Why do you want me, Casey? I'm damaged goods. From day one of my existence, I was a mistake. I love you very much, but I am not who you deserve."
Casey realized that her tears had spilled from her eyes and had started to trickle down her cheeks. "I just want to be loved," she murmured. "I want someone who looks adversity in the eye and fights it, not someone who cowers from love and happiness. Let me in, Olivia. Please. I…I need you," she whispered, dissolving into tears.
"I'm too damaged," Olivia insisted, wiping the younger woman's tears away gently.
"But if you think about it, I am damaged too," Casey pointed out. "Shall we revisit the Charlie situation?" she asked. "I'm as fucked up as you, Olivia. Our only hope is to be fucked up together."
Olivia chuckled softly. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." She cradled Casey in her arms, hugging her tightly.
"You were thinking about running away. But you're married now. It's not so easy anymore. You're stuck forever."
"Oh? And I suppose you mean that?"
Casey nodded, smiling. "I mean every word."
"And I couldn't be happier," Olivia answered, pulling her in for a passionate kiss. The proper glue could repair even the most damaged goods.