"Can't Blame a Girl for Trying".
Chapter One
It could have been just like any other day. Olivia Benson woke up early to go for her morning run. Today was starting to feel different, but she never thought anything close to what was soon to come.
She packed her shower gear and some work clothes into her drawstring bag and ran twenty blocks, about a mile, to Elliot's house. Elliot Stabler was her partner at the 16th precinct, downtown Manhattan, Special Victims Unit. She knocked on the door. Elliot had been off work for some time to gather himself after his recent divorce with Kathy. He has been very down about the whole thing. He knew he needed the divorce, but all he could think about was his kids. Olivia knocked again. Elliot moped his way to the door opening it surprised to see Olivia standing there with a reassuring smile with a drop of sweat that fell below her brow, still catching her breath from her run. Olivia really cared about Elliot, she was really concerned about his absence. She looked him up and down and thought to herself he looks like crap. He was greasy and wearing three day old clothes. After a while of just standing in the doorway staring at one another Elliot finally walked away from the door leaving it open for Olivia to enter, he walked back to his safe place the couch. He laid down saying little to nothing. Just a few nods of response. Olivia walked in closing the door behind her.
"El, what am I to do"? Olivia now speaking in her nurturing voice. She looked him in the eyes. It's almost as if she already knew the answer. Elliot stayed curled up on the couch in his depressed state of mind staring into nothing. Olivia walked into the kitchen to the fridge opening it finding nothing but a case of beer. She went back to the couch to find Elliot out cold. Elliot felt better knowing she was there for him, all of his thoughts just went away for a while.
He slept like a baby for a couple hours, the most in weeks. Olivia started to pick up his place, when she finished she jumped into the shower and got ready for the day.
Later Olivia walked into the living room to find Elliot in the same spot she had left him. She went to the kitchen to call the Captain to tell him she would be taking the day off to keep Elliot company. Cragen understood "Do whatever it takes Liv". Olivia walked back over to the couch and lifted Elliot's legs and sat down placing the back down onto her lap. "El, I'm worried about you" Olivia said under her breath. Elliot looked up seeing her face now thinking hard, spacing. Elliot was not the type to be emotional his was a hard ass most of the time, but before he couldn't stop himself as he began to tear up and cry silently to himself. "El"? She grabbed his hand as he sat up on the couch. "I'm so sorry". is all he said. They sat there for a good amount of time, Olivia just comforting him, holding him. They were best friends, partners.
Elliot fell asleep in her arms as Olivia read a book silently to herself. She woke him up a half hour later. "El, we need to get you in a shower". She laid out some fresh clean clothes and waited for him to finish. As Elliot came out of the bedroom drying his hair. "Better"? Olivia presented a smile to lighten the mood. "Liv, you didn't have to do all of this" Elliot said referring to all the cleaning and washing of clothes. He continued "You have done so much for me". She smiled "Like you wouldn't do the same." was what Olivia said as they started to fold laundry.
Later that evening Elliot was watching the nightly news and catching up on paperwork from the days he had missed at work. Olivia walked in to help, she needed to catch up on today's work as well.
The doorbell rang, Elliot jumped, could it be Kathy he thought. Olivia could see the panic in his eyes "El, it's take out." she reassured him. He was tense but he went back to his work, he didn't want her to think he was going back into depression. Elliot did love Kathy but their relationship was poison. His reaction was something he didn't quite understand.
They sat and enjoyed their takeout while Olivia forced him to watch her favorite chick flick. Elliot was starting to feel a lot better now but he still hadn't spoke a word about the divorce to Olivia. She was his best friend, and partially responsible for his final decision on his divorce. He loved Olivia,but they'd never act on their feelings for each other. Olivia didn't quite understand the quality of the relationship they shared. She had trained herself to never act or think about him in the way she wanted to.
They were silent for some time until Olivia suddenly yelled "Elliot for god's sake, you know you can't let this stay all stuffed in the back of your head, you need to talk to someone." He looked up startled by Olivia's subtle outburst. Elliot as stubborn as he is replied implying something just as subtle "I think you need to talk to someone about what that really was about Olivia, I don't think you were talking about my divorce anymore."
