AN: This is only my second attempt at an EO story. I've never really done anything this AU before, but I'm going to give it a shot... and when I say AU... I mean SERIOUSLY AU! I'm tired of Olivia getting dumped on all the time, so for once, she's going have a good life! This is set in their senior year of college... Please review!
I don't own any part of SVU. Dick Wolfe does... idiot! If I owned it, well, the fans wouldn't be so pissed off... I only own the story line.
Thanks to my amazing beta :) Luvs!
Olivia Benson Donnelly bounced the eraser of her pencil up and down, rapidly, on top of the table she occupied at Hudson University's campus library. She glanced at her watch and let out a frustrated sigh. Her lab partner, Elliot Stabler, was late. Again.She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulled it out, hoping it was Elliot explaining where he was. Instead, she smiled, seeing that it was her father.
"Hey, Daddy," she whispered, not wanting to disturb those around her whose partners hadshown up.
"Hello, Angel. How's your day been?"
Olivia pushed her hair behind her ear and exhaled loudly. "Elliot's late again, Daddy. This is seriously getting old. I swear, if he affects my grade, I'm gonna-"
"I can't hear you," her father sang in her ear. "You know I can't hear you threaten the life of another. How's it going to look to the review board when my daughter kills her chemistry lab partner? I'm a sergeant."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Funny, Daddy. Really dang funny. But it's not chemistry, it's psych class."
"Hang in there, Angel. It'll be okay."
"I will. All I can say is that he better show up today. Will you please tell Mom that I'll be home late tomorrow afternoon? I have a few things to do around here with Alex and Casey in the morning and then I'll be home," she told her father as she continued looking through the crowded library for Elliot. "I tried to get her earlier, but she didn't answer."
"She's in court this afternoon, honey. No worries, I'll tell her when she gets home."
"Thanks, Daddy. I love you and I can't wait to see you."
"I've missed you something terrible, my angel."
Olivia smiled and looked up to see Elliot making his way towards her. "Back at ya. Look, Elliot's here. I'll call you later. Are you on call tonight?" she asked her dad as Elliot approached the table and unpacked his bag.
"Just til midnight. I love you," her dad told her. "And Angel, don't kill your partner," he teased.
"I love you, too." Olivia chuckled and hung up the phone. She glared at Elliot as he sat down in front of her. "You're late," she informed him. "Again."
Elliot glanced at his partner and smiled a tired smile. "I know, Olivia, and I'm sorry. I told you this time is hard for me. I'm doing the best I can." Olivia watched as he ran his hands over his face and sighed heavily. She could immediately tell that something was bothering him, but they weren't technically friends, so she wondered if it would be inappropriate to ask him what was wrong. "Look, if you want another partner, a better partner, I can go to Professor James and see what he can do," he offered.
Olivia gasped and her hand flew out to touch his arm. "No, Elliot, I don't want that," she told him. "You're a terrific partner... when you show up." Elliot looked up to argue with her but stopped when he saw her smirk. "I'm sorry, okay. I'm just stressed and I hate psych. It's not like we're behind on this thing, anyway," she said as she took her hand back.
"I know, I just feel bad. I know I'm late and I duck out early, but I do have a reason, Olivia. I'm not slacking on our project, I swear. I just have a lot going on."
Olivia saw this as her opening and decided to take a chance. She looked down at her hands and began twisting them together. "Elliot," she started, "I remember the 'you' from high school. You were this macho-man football player and involved in everything. You're a freshman starter on the football team freshman year here and then you suddenly disappear for a few years and you come back as some brooding asshole. What happened?"
Elliot's brows drew together on a frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just mean that you're different. Harsher, I guess. Has something happened?"
"It's called 'growing up', Olivia. Things happen and suddenly 'football' isn't the most important thing in the world," he snapped, trying to keep from yelling. "You should try it sometime."
Olivia threw her hands out to the side and then pointed at him. "See! That's what I mean. Elliot, I've known you for almost five years and you've never been one to get so angry so fast. What the hell is going on with you?" She watched as Elliot stood up and began to collect his books. "Christ, Elliot, where are you going?"
Elliot slammed his books down and glared at Olivia. "I don't need this right now, Olivia. I'm leaving before I say something I'll regret." He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I'll email you my part of the project later this week," he said as he walked away from her and out the door.
Olivia watched him as he walked out the doors of the library. She was so confused as to what had happened to him. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see her best friend standing behind her. "Shit, Casey, you scared me."
"Sorry," Casey said, watching Olivia pack her things. "What happened with Elliot? Trouble in psych paradise?" she asked, laughing at her own joke. Olivia shot her a look and she threw her hands in the air. "Alright, sorry. Listen, what time do you want Alex to get here in the morning?" she questioned as the two friends made their way out of the library and towards their shared apartment.
"The earlier, the better, Case. I have to be home, not just in Manhattan, but walking up to my bedroom, at no later than 5 or my mom will kill me! This dinner is so important to her," Olivia told her. "Not to mention, I have to drop you at your house and pick up and drop off Melinda as well,"
"We'll make sure you're home, Livvy. Promise."
"I'm serious, Casey. I want to help Alex look for her wedding dress but I absolutely cannot miss this dinner. Mom's campaign is riding on this."
"Honey, I know. I've got to be there too, remember?" Casey reminded her. "I can't believe your mom is going to be a judge."
"Hopefully," she said, correcting her friend.
Casey and Olivia arrived at their apartment and sat their books down on the kitchen table. Casey grabbed two diet sodas out of the refrigerator and sat down next to Olivia on the couch. Olivia looked at her watch an sighed. "Gosh, I have to be at the hospital in an hour an a half for my shift."
"I still can't believe your parents are making you volunteer at Children's Hospital. Don't they understand your workload? You're taking, like, almost double the hours I am and I can barely keep up with my car keys because of my stress," Casey said, amazed that her friend could still remember her own name.
Olivia laughed and took a drink of her soda. "It's not as bad as you think, Case. I'm there in the seriously late evening. Most of the kids are asleep so they don't need much and I keep a few of them company if they are bored."
"That's it?"
"I actually have a good bit of time to study. The CEO is a college friend of my mom's, that's how I got the position. I have fun, Casey. Those kids are so sweet and you know how much I love kids," she gushed, tucking her legs underneath her on the couch. "This one kid, Sarah, has been teaching me how to play Mario Kart on the Wii. I swear, I have got to get one of those," she giggled.
"My brother got one for Christmas. He and my dad played golf for three days!" Casey told her, laughing at the memory. She paused for a moment, turning serious. "Livvy, why do your parents want you to volunteer at a hospital and not somewhere else -like an attorney's office- since you don't want to be a doctor or anything like that?" she asked.
Olivia sighed and twisted her hair back into a clip. "Mom is still trying to get me to change my mind about law enforcement." She grabbed her soda and took another drink. "She hates the fact that I want to be a cop and she's doing everything she can to change my mind."
"I don't get why she's so against it, Livvy. She's an attorney -almost a judge- and your dad is a sergeant. I know he's your step-father but still..." she trailed off.
"I know, Case. She's just scared, I guess. How many times has my dad been shot in the last six months?"
"True," Casey said as she stood up and walked into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and stared at the contents inside. She closed the door and opened the pantry as Olivia walked in behind her and threw her soda can away. "Why in the hell is there never any food in this apartment, Livvy?" she whined.
Olivia laughed and leaned against the counter, folding her arms across her chest. "There's plenty to eat here, Case. You just don't know how to cook."
"Not everyone is as amazing as you," Casey praised, sarcastically.
"So very true. I'm one of a kind." Olivia looked at her watch and pushed away from the counter. "I've got to change into my scrubs and get to the hospital," she told her friend as she made her way into her room.
Casey groaned and shut the pantry door. "Livvy! Will you please fix me something to eat before you leave?" she begged, following Olivia down the hall.
"Grow up," Olivia laughed and closed her bedroom door on Casey.
Casey laughed as well as she dramatically banged on the door. "I'll starve! I'll die and you'll feel so bad knowing you could have prevented it if you'd only fixed me dinner!"
"You're pathetic!" Olivia called back through the door as she quickly changed into her royal blue scrubs. Ten minutes later, Olivia walked out of her room and back into the living room with Casey. Her hair was in a high ponytail, she had on her new tennis shoes, and started packing her books into her back pack. "Case, I made a chicken casserole last night while you were out with Ben. Just put the pan in the oven on 350 for 30 minutes"
Casey jumped off the couch and threw her arms around her best friend. "I love you so much," she yelled. "I knew you wouldn't let me starve!"
Olivia pushed Casey off of her and slung her bag onto her shoulder, grabbed her purse and keys and walked to the door. "I love you too, you butt."
