Disclaimer: Dick Wolf and NBC own Law and Order SVU. I only own this story idea and any characters that I create
Summary: This takes place after Olivia comes home from Oregon for the trial.
One Rainy Night...
Olivia sighed as she tossed her trench coat onto the table in her hotel room. She pushed her bangs back from her forehead, sighing. She laid down on the hotel bed closing her eyes trying to block out the images of her partner and his new partner. His new blonde partner that made him laugh. Olivia frowned trying hard to remember the last time she had made Elliot laugh. It had been awhile. She swallowed hard thinking about her conversation this afternoon with Cragen. There was no place for her, right now he had said. She looked over at the clock on the nightstand. She sat up reaching for the television remote, no longer wanting to dwell on how easily she appeared to be replaced. Her phone rang startling her. She reached for it surprised to hear Dana's southern twang on the other end. Olivia listened as Dana rambled on about their case. It was over. Olivia could not believe it. The group had made a mistake, an error in judgement, and just like that she was released from her assignment. Olivia closed her phone, wondering what the hell she was supposed to do now. No case and no room for her on the squad. No place for her anywhere.
Captain Cragen called the squad into his office. Fin leaned against the door frame while Dani sat in one of the chairs in front of Cragen's desk. Elliot sat in the other looking at their captain, expectantly. "Okay so we are going to be making some changes," Don started.
Fin raised an eyebrow.
"Munch broke his leg last night," Cragen said watching the look of concern cross the detectives. "He is okay. He is going to be out of commission for a couple of weeks,"
Fin nodded. "We will pick up the extra work, Captain,"
"I don't think you will need to do that," Cragen said. "I have a replacement,"
Elliot raised his eyebrow.
"Please, not a rookie," Fin sighed rubbing his hand down his face.
Cragen looked up at the knock on his door. "Come in. It is not a rookie Fin,"
Fin stepped away from the door. His eyes widened in shock as she stepped through the door. "Liv," Fin grinned.
"Hey," Olivia smiled hesitantly.
"We missed you," Fin said giving her a fierce hug.
Olivia smiled hugging him back. "I missed you guys, too,"
Elliot was shell shocked. She had reappeared just as suddenly as she had disappeared, no explanation. He had been worried sick about her and relief washed over him as he drank in her appearance. She looked good. Her hair was longer down to her shoulders. She looked so good to him. He missed her so much.
"Hey, El," Olivia said softly.
Elliot nodded trying to keep his emotions in check.
Dani looked at Olivia then at Elliot. You could cut the tension between the two of them with a knife. It suddenly dawned on Dani that she had seen Olivia earlier. She had came looking for Elliot. Dani swallowed hard deciding from the look on Elliot's face that little fact should remain untold at least for now.
"I am going to have Liv work with Fin for now while Munch is out," Cragen looked at Elliot as he said that waiting for the inevitable explosion. Cragen studied Elliot's face unable to get a good read on his detective.
"That is fine," Elliot said abruptly standing up. "I need to finish up some paperwork,"
Olivia watched in astonishment as Elliot walked out without another word to anyone. Her chest tightened. God, he was even more angry then before she left.
Dani stood up following Elliot out of the office. She looked around the bull pen but he was nowhere to be found. She dropped down into her seat, frowning. This was going to be bad she just knew it. She stared at window across the room, the gloomy sky outside remarkablely matching her new attitude.
Elliot paced the roof top of the 1-6. His head was pounding. He could not remember the last time he had been this angry. He wanted to slam his fist into something. The relief at seeing her had quickly turned into anger. Anger that she had left him walked out like everybody else had. Olivia was not supposed to be like everyone else she was supposed to have his back. What the fuck was Cragen doing, partnering her with Fin? She was his partner. His! Elliot grasped the concrete edge of the rooftop trying to calm himself down. He looked down at his white knuckles forcing himself to breathe.
Olivia sat down at her new desk. At least she now had a window seat. She stared out the window at the charcoal grey sky edged in darkening clouds. The storm that had been brewing was edging closer and closer to the city. It's darkness mirrored her own feeling as she stared across the room at the pretty blonde occupying her desk.
Fin cautiously stepped out onto the roof top. He leaned against the door looking at Elliot hovering near the edge. "You gonna talk to her?" he asked.
Elliot turned around glaring at Fin. "I have nothing to say to her," Elliot gritted out.
"Really?" Fin said his left eyebrow raised in question. Elliot Stabler was not his friend not even a favorite colleague but Olivia was. Fin hated the look on her face when Elliot blew past her in that office without so much as a greeting. This was for her, he reminded himself.
"Really," Elliot replied sarcastically.
"Don't be an ass, Elliot," Fin said his own angry rising.
"Don't tell me what to do, Tuturola," Elliot snapped emphasizing his last name.
"It wasn't her fault," Fin said, sighed as he walked away from the door and closer to Elliot. "She had to leave,"
"Really?" Elliot said his eyes blazing. "Which time, Fin? Would that be computer crimes or the latest FBI stint?"
"What do you want me to say?" Fin said. "I don't know what happened with the computer crimes thing but she had to go with FBI,"
"Whatever," Elliot glared.
"Come on, El," Fin said rubbing his hand down his face. "You were worried sick about her last week,"
Elliot shrugged.
"Talk to her," Fin said. "You're partners,"
"Not anymore," Elliot snapped.
"That's a formality while Beck is here," Fin said. "You guys are partners,"
"I don't need her," Elliot said flatly. The lie escaping his lips despite the tightening in his chest.
They both turned around at the soft gasp. Olivia was standing by the door, clutching the frame. She struggled to hide the shock and hurt that she knew was on her face. "Cragen wants us all down in the bull pen, now," she whispered her voice even lower than normal as she turned made her way quickly back down the stairs.
Elliot silently cursed as he watched her disappear back down the steps. He had seen that look. Fuck, she looked so hurt. Now, he really wanted to hit something.
Fin watched the storm brewing in Elliot's eyes. He frowned at him as a streak of lightening illuminated the rapidly darkening sky above them. "I am going downstairs," Fin said turning and leaving Elliot alone on the roof.
Elliot entered the bull pen shortly after Fin. Dani was perched onto top of her desk and Fin was leaning against his own. Elliot's eyes sought out Olivia who was leaning somewhat wearily against Munch's desk. Elliot tried to make eye contact but Olivia was purposefully ignoring his attempts keeping her eyes on their captain.
"I need you guys to take a ride down to Virginia," Don said. "I know it is a pain but there is a unit there that may have some information on our perp. It may be where he started. Sorry, budget is tight or I would fly you,"
"When do we leave?" Fin asked already dreading the answer.
"Tonight," Cragen said. "Sorry, we can't waste any time. Liv, they will fill you in on the drive,"
Olivia nodded silently.
"We all need to go?" Elliot asked frowning.
Olivia looked up a surge of anger pulsating through her veins. "Fin and I can go alone," she snapped, tersely. Fuck him if he couldn't even stand to ride in a car with her. She did not need this shit from him.
Dani watched the exchange carefully. Elliot looked like he was going to explode.
"That was not what I was saying," Elliot gritted out.
"We can take separate cars," Olivia said glaring at him.
"I don't think that is necessary," Elliot growled.
"I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," Olivia continued, now deliberately trying to piss him off.
"My office, now!" Cragen thundered before Elliot could even reply.
"Shit," Fin said under his breath as he watched Olivia and Elliot follow the captain.
Dani looked over at Fin. "What is that about?"
Fin sighed. "I don't even know where to begin, Beck,"
"Sit down," Cragen glowered at both of them.
Olivia and Elliot promptly sat.
"I have just about had it with the two of you and this bickering. It ends tonight. Do you understand me?" Cragen said watching them bob their heads in unison. "You will go to Virginia together. You will ride in the same car. You will be civil. You will get the damn job done!"
Olivia winced inwardly at Cragen's tone. She knew he was mad and worse yet she knew that he was right. She stood up as they were dismissed. She made her way quietly to the lockers to get her overnight bag. She jerked it out of the locker, sighing. She let her forehead drop against the cool metal of the lockers wishing she didn't feel like shit inside and out. She heard the door open and lifted her head up.
Dani Beck entered the locker room. She made her way to her locker, twisting the lock watching Olivia from the corner of her eye. She looked exhausted. Dani studied her. She was still beautiful even with the exhaustion and the look of hurt in her eyes. Dani didn't miss that either. Nor did she miss the look of sheer happiness, no matter how brief, that had crossed Elliot Stabler's face when Olivia had entered the Captain's office. Why did she have to come back now? Dani glared into her locker just when she was starting to get close to Elliot.
Thirty minutes later, Olivia slid silently into the backseat of the police sedan with Fin. She smiled at him as she watched him pop in his ear buds, lean back, and close his eyes. Olivia tried to drown out the incessant chatter of Dani Beck from the front seat. She had barely been introduced to the woman and she already disliked her immensely. Olivia frowned as she leaned against the cool glass watching the first drops of rain splatter onto the window.
Elliot drove carefully as the rain was now coming down steadily. He glanced in the backseat. Olivia was curled into a ball her head against the glass. Elliot frowned. "Liv?" he asked.
Olivia stirred sitting up. God, she felt like shit. "Yeah," she whispered hoarsely rubbing her head which was pounding.
"You okay?" Elliot asked concern evident in his voice. She looked pale.
"I'm fine," she answered.
Dani twisted in her seat looking back at Olivia. She promptly twisted back around to face the front. "She looks fine,"
Elliot ignored her. "You sure?"
"Yes," Olivia answered softly.
Elliot turned his attention back to the road. The rain was coming down harder. He turned up the wipers but the rain continued to pour in steady sheets. Elliot narrowed his eyes. "Guys, I think we should pull over," Elliot said.
Dani nodded in agreement. She couldn't see two inches in front of the window shield.
Olivia nudged Fin as Elliot took the next exit. "Fin, we are going to stop,"
Fin turned off his ipod. "God, I can't see shit," he said looking out the window.
Olivia nodded.
Elliot drove down the street looking for a hotel. About a mile and a half down from the exit, he spotted a flashing vacancy sign. He pulled up in front of the hotel, turning off the car. "I'll go in and see if they have a room. I guess we will have to take whatever they got," Elliot said pulling his jacket tighter and wishing he had an umbrella.
Dani watched as Elliot ran into hotel's front office. "This place looks kind of creepy. You should have went with him, Fin,"
"And both of us get soaked?" Fin said looking at her like she had two heads.
Olivia sighed listening to Fin and Beck argue. She finally opened her own door and stepped out into the deluge. She sprinted to the door but still managed to step into the lobby throughly soaked. She sneezed abruptly shivering and pulling her thin jacket around herself.
"Liv," Elliot looked back at her. She was completely soaked like she had stepped out of shower. Her slender frame shaking. Elliot crossed the room quickly wishing he had something dry to warm her with. He wrapped both arms around her trembling frame. "Why the hell did you come in here?" he asked.
"Beck though it looked sketchy," Olivia said.
Elliot raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
Beck and Fin were arguing, driving me crazy," Olivia managed to get out her teeth starting to chatter. She leaned forward into Elliot's arms seeking his body heat. She didn't care if it was inappropriate right now she was freezing.
Elliot hugged her to his body closing his eyes, realizing this is what he should have done the minute she stepped into Cragen's office. A clearing throat interrupted them and Elliot turned back to the clerk.
The young man eyed Olivia. Up and down. Slowly.
Elliot glared at him, tightening his grip on Olivia.
"This is the only room, I got. Two beds," he smirked at them.
Elliot took the key giving the clerk a look he usually reserved for perps.
The clerk backed up a bit seeing the threatening look in Elliot's eyes. Elliot guided Olivia to the door. He debated leaving Olivia in the front office but he wasn't about to leave her with that smarmy clerk. No fucking way. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they ran to the car to get Fin and Dani.
The room was number six and all the way at the end of the row. Elliot stepped in first and was hit by an icy blast of air. He hated how hotel rooms where either freezing when you entered them or stifling hot. He dropped his bags along with Olivia's on the table. He walked over to the heater turning it up high.
Dani frowned as Elliot stepped past her and she looked around the room. God, it was old. She frowned at the beds. Was she supposed to sleep with Olivia? She turned at the sound of Olivia coughing.
Olivia coughed hard, her whole body trembling. It was so cold, she didn't think she would ever get warm.
Elliot shrugged off his jacket and walked back to Olivia. "You're getting sick," he said softly. "You need to get out of those wet clothes,"
Olivia nodded.
"How about a hot shower?" Elliot asked softly.
Olivia nodded her teeth chattering hard.
Fin opened his bag sorting through his stuff. "That sounds like a good idea. Liv, you go first," Fin nodded.
Dani sat in one of the ugly brown hotel chairs watching Elliot walk to the bathroom. She heard him turning on the water for Olivia as she watched Olivia sort through her bag. What the hell was happening here? Elliot was supposed to be mad at her and now he was practically waiting on her.
Elliot exited the bathroom closing the door. "We got hot water though I don't know for how long,"
Olivia nodded her dry clothes gathered in her arms.
Dani frowned. "Don't take too long so that we all can enjoy a shower,"
Olivia didn't miss the curtness to her tone but she felt like crap so she ignored it.
Elliot frowned at Dani as Olivia disappeared into the bathroom. "She's not feeling well,"
Dani glared back at him. "Yeah, I get that but she isn't the only one who is soaked and feeling like shit,"
Fin reached for the remote turning on the TV searching for something to fill the growing silence in the room.
An hour later, they all were showered and in bed. Olivia shook even with her sweat pants and sweat shirt on. She tried to fall asleep but between her head and stomach pain, she couldn't.
Dani sighed hearing Olivia twisting around in bed. She had no idea which was more annoying Fin's snoring or Olivia's movements.
Olivia heard Dani's sigh and sat up.
Dani glared at her in the dark. "We have a really long drive in the morning, could you at least fake sleep?" Dani hissed quietly. "We all need our rest,"
Olivia started to say something when she felt the bile rise in her throat. She abruptly covered her mouth and stumbled into the bathroom.
Dani listened to her retching and looked over at Elliot wandering if he was going to wake up. She watched him shift in his sleep. His eyes opened wearily.
"Where's Liv?" he questioned sitting up quickly placing his feet on the carpeted hotel floor. He heard what was clearly vomiting coming from the bathroom. "When did that start?"
Dani shrugged watching him walk to the bathroom. She grabbed the pillow on the bed placing it over her face to cover the scream of fustrastion that escaped her lips.
Elliot entered the bathroom to find Olivia crouched over the toilet her forehead resting on the cold poreclain. Elliot kneeled down beside her. "Olivia," he whispered brushing her hair back from her face. His hand grazed her cheek. "God," Elliot placed his hand to her forehead. "You're burning up,"
Olivia moaned.
"Shit," Elliot whispered. He stood up and began running cold water in the sink. He grabbed one of the wash cloths soaking it. He placed it on Olivia's neck.
She trembled. "It's too cold," she shivered.
"Liv, it feels that way because you're burning up," Elliot whispered.
"I need to brush my teeth," Olivia mumbled as she attempted to stand losing her balance quickly.
Elliot caught her around the waist. "I got you,"
Olivia closed her eyes. "The room's spinning," she whispered.
"I got you, Liv," Elliot repeated reaching for her toothbrush.
"I feel like shit," Olivia moaned.
Elliot smiled softly. "Which toothbrush, Liv?"
"Am I dying?" she groaned.
"What?" Elliot asked handing her his when she didn't answer him.
"That is the only reason I can think that you are being nice to me," Olivia whispered.
"Liv," Elliot sighed.
"It's okay, El," Olivia whispered.
"No it isn't," Elliot whispered back. "I am ass,"
"Yeah, you are," Olivia whispered.
"Thanks," Elliot replied dryly.
Olivia smiled. "I am an ass, too. So I guess that makes us a matched pair,"
Elliot smiled handing her the toothbrush. "But you are such a cute ass," he whispered.
Olivia met his eyes in the mirror, smiling even though she felt like crap. "Watch it, Stabler. If I didn't feel like shift right now I might kick your ass for that comment," Olivia leaned forward brushing her teeth quickly unsure how long she could stand on her feet even with Elliot's hand secure on her hip.
Elliot watched as she leaned forward rinsing her mouth. Olivia stumbled slightly and he managed to catch her again. "I think we need to get you in bed," he reached down scooping Olivia up. He reached for the wash cloth balancing her in his arms.
Dani opened her eyes as Elliot walked out of the bathroom carrying Olivia. She frowned. "What is wrong with her?"
"She is sick, Dani. She has a fever and feels like crap," Elliot said bluntly.
Olivia moaned exhaustion setting in as her body wearily started to give into sleep.
"Maybe we shouldn't sleep in the same bed," Dani frowned. "I don't want to get sick,"
"What? Elliot asked incredulously. "Where do you expect her to sleep, Dani?"
"The bathtub?" Dani suggested.
Elliot glared at her. "She is not sleeping in the tub!"
Fin rubbed his eyes. "Why are we yelling in the middle of the night?"
"Olivia is really sick and apparently Dani is refusing to sleep in the same bed with her," Elliot continued to glare at Dani.
Fin sat up. "Dani, get over here,"
"I am not sleeping with you," Dani snapped angryly.
Fin glared. "You're not sleeping with me. I will sleep on top the comforter,"
"I don't think so," Dani said looking at Elliot.
Elliot grabbed a couple of pillows and the comforter off Dani's bed. Grasping them one handed.
"What are you doing?" Dani asked startled.
"Sleeping in the tub," Elliot snapped. "With Liv,"
Fin watched as Elliot dragged the comforters and pillows into the bathroom still balancing Olivia in his arms.
Elliot dropped the pillows into the tub before stepping in. He sank down trying to get his over six foot frame comfortable in the small space. Olivia shifted on top of him, moaning and shivering. Elliot reached for the comforter on the floor, pulling it up and over them covering her trembling body. He wrapped his arms around her, protectively.
Olivia shivered slipping her arms around Elliot's torso nestling her head on his chest. She pressed as close to him as possible absorbing his warmth, relaxing on top of him letting sleep take over.
A/N: More rainy nights...if you would like? What will Elliot do when Olivia's fever continues to rise? Let's just say it might increase his own temperature! Thank you for reading!