Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Law and Order: SVU. Dick Wolf and the people at NBC do.
April 23, 2011
Olivia rolls over to look at the clock on her bedside table. It's 4:30 in the morning, and she still hasn't been to sleep. She keeps remembering everything that has happened to her over the past few years and thinking about what the future holds.
She remembers her first day as a member of the Special Victims Unit and as Elliot's partner. That day changed the course of her life forever. It was the day she fell in love. She remembers times when, after closing a hard case, they would spend hours sitting on her couch eating, talking, and laughing. She also remembers the various times throughout their partnership where she had either saved Elliot's life or he had saved hers. But now, everything is about to change. They are no longer going to be partners.
Today is the big day. He's going the be up there waiting for her at the front of the church in his dress blue uniform, and, despite the fact that she has truly earned her nickname - "Bad-ass Benson" - she is going to cry. She knows it, and she can't help it. He's the man of her dreams.
She rolls over to look at the clock again. Only ten minutes have passed. "I might as well get up. There's no use in laying here if I'm not going to sleep." She moves into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, and prepare for the days activities.
As she goes to get in the shower, Olivia sees her phone laying on the dresser. She almost reaches for it to call him but catches herself.
After her shower, Olivia slips into her uniform. She takes extra care to make sure it isn't wrinkled, not that she wouldn't have anyway, but this is a special day. She pulls her hair back into a neat bun and applies a little bit of makeup.
A little after 9:00, Don arrives to carry Olivia to the church. He greets her with a hug as the first tears begin to fall. They are both in their dress uniforms, just as Elliot will be.
The ride to the church is pretty quiet. When Don pulls up to the church he asks Olivia, "Are you ready?"
"You go ahead. I'll be in in a minute."
With that, Don gets out of the car, leaving Olivia alone to think. For the first time in years, Olivia begins to pray. It's only one sentence, but that's all she needs. "God, I know we haven't talked in a while, but please...give me the strength I need to get through this day."
Olivia starts to get out of the car but remembers something else. As her tears again start to fall, she says, "El...I don't know if you can hear me, but...I just want you to know that you are the only man I ever really loved. Most of my favorite memories have you in them. For the past couple of days, all I've done is think about all the good times we shared...as parters and as friends. Not to give you a big head or anything, but you really were the best damn detective I ever met. I...I never dreamed this would happen. It wasn't supposed to end this way. I guess...I guess I always figured we'd end up retiring together...you know...when we were to old to go out chasing perps anymore. I'd give anything if I could just know that you're hearing this. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life, and, just so you know, work - and life - is going to be hell without you here. I'll miss you...I already miss you."
Olivia looks in the mirror and wipes her face. She needs to get inside to see her man. He is waiting for her. She only wishes he wasn't waiting for her like that - in a box. She doesn't know how she is going to make it through the day.