Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the song, none of it! Characters belong to Dick Wolf and Wolf Films, song belongs to Lonestar and BMI.
LET'S BE US AGAIN
Tell me what I have to do tonight
'Cause I'd do anything to make it right
Let's be us again
I'm sorry for the way I lost my head
I don't know why I said the things I said
Let's be us again
Elliot could not believe what he had just said to Olivia. Sure he was pissed off as all get out that she left for a goddamn month and never said boo to him but he should never have said what he did to her in the cribs. He shouldn't have told her that he wished that she would just go away. He wanted to see her smile and wanted them to be alright again. If it didn't happen soon he was going to go crazy. He missed his partner and his best friend. If he thought that it hurt not having her around for that month that she was in Oregon, it hurt ten times as bad that Olivia was setting right across from him but he couldn't be close to her.
Here I stand with everything to lose
And all I know is I don't want to ever see the end
Baby, please, I'm reaching out for you
Won't you open up your heart and let me come back in
Let's be us again
Because it was the end of their shift, Olivia went to her apartment. She went in and threw her keys on the side table and then curled up on the couch into a little ball and cried her eyes out. The things that Elliot had said to her earlier today had really hurt and cut deep. She knew that he had a right to be upset and angry with her that she had taken off like she had but she hadn't had a choice. He should understand that, he had the same experience when they sent Alex into witness protection.
Elliot left the squad room shortly after Olivia and went to his car. He spent about an hour just driving around aimlessly until he thought that his temper had cooled off enough. Then he drove to Olivia's apartment building and sat in the parking lot. He didn't know what he should say to her. He knew what he wanted to say to her, he wanted to let all of his feelings out for her, like the fact that he loved her and couldn't live without her in his life. He hadn't told her yet that he had signed the divorce papers that Kathy had served him with. Maybe he should start there. No that wouldn't do. Maybe he should just go up and there see what happened.
Look at me I'm way past price
Isn't there some way that we can try
To be us again
And even if it takes awhile
I'll wait right here until I see that smile
That says we're us again
Here I stand with everything to lose
And all I know is I don't want to ever see the end
Baby, please, I'm reaching out for you
Won't you open up your heart and let me come back in
Let's be us again
Elliot got out of the car and walked to the front door, where the doorman let him in. Elliot rode the elevator to Olivia's second floor apartment and when he reached her door he knocked and prayed for her to answer.
Olivia rose from her position on the couch, wondering who was at the door and even contemplating not answering it. She hesitated and heard the knocking turn into impatient pounding. She went to the door and swung it open, she found Elliot standing there with red rimmed eyes and a horrid look on his handsome face.
When Olivia opened the door, Elliot thought that she must look on the outside how he felt on the inside. "We need to talk." he said quietly, not quite looking at her and more at the floor instead.
"Ok. But don't you think you said enough earlier today in the cribs." Olivia said. She stepped back and went and sat on the couch, pulling her legs up underneath her.
"What I said earlier, Liv." Elliot said, referring to her by her nickname. "I-I didn't mean a word of it. I was just upset and angry that you left with out telling me. I guess I thought that maybe our relationship would be changing, and then you left and my world fell apart."
"Oh, El." Olivia said. "I wanted to tell you that I was leaving. I tried to call you that one time but then to protect my cover by the time you got to the phone I had to go. I'm so sorry."
"I know. Then you came back and I let my stubborn pride get in the way and I acted like a jerk towards you. I am sorry Olivia. I never ever meant to hurt you. I have to tell you this Olivia. I love you, and I signed the divorce papers for Kathy so as soon as it is finalized if you want to take a chance with me, I'll be ready."
"Oh, El." Olivia said, not quite knowing what to say. She knew she loved Elliot and had for a long time so she said what come naturally. "I love you too, El."
Baby, baby what would I do
Can't imagine life without you
Here I stand with everything to lose
And all I know is I don't ever want to see the end
Baby, please, I'm reaching out for you
Won't you open up your heart and let me come back in
Let's be us again
Elliot moved closer to where Olivia was setting then and opened his arms to her. He had tears running down his face and a smile on his lips. Olivia loved him and that was all that mattered. He couldn't imagine his life without Olivia in it and now he knew that they would be together forever. He had just thought that he had lost everything when Kathy had told him she wanted a divorce, but now he had everything he needed in the form of one Olivia Benson.
Olivia stood and threw herself into Elliot's arms and hugged him close. She smiled as he buried his face in her neck and whispered "I love you." again. Life was back to the way he was supposed to be. She knew in that moment that everything would work out for the best.
When Olivia stepped into his arms, Elliot knew that everything would be ok. That they would be them again, that they were them again. Best friends, partners and now something more.