i haven't written fic in like two years and this just happened. don't question it.
On December 3rd, 2000, her pipes had burst. Without hesitation, she dialed Elliot's number. Without hesitation, he answered.
"I need you."
So he came. He'd always come when she called.
While he fixed her pipes, she made a bowl of popcorn, and ate and laughed at him as he struggled. He grumbled and sighed, "I don't have to do this, you know?"
Olivia just laughed.
He continued working, telling her of the time Dickie fell off the bunk beds and split his lip.
On July 25th, 2002, her pipes burst again. Without hesitation, she dialed his number. Without hesitation, he answered.
"I need you."
So he came. He always would.
While he fixed her pipes, she drank an ice cold beer, laughing as he started to sweat.
"Your air conditioner need fixing too?"
She made some sort of noise of affirmation, not giving up the feeling of relief her beer provided.
"Can I get one?"
One turned into four, and so there they sat on her couch, watching the Yankee game, sitting closer than they should have.
On August 4th, 2004, three months before Kathy left, her pipes burst again. Without hesitation, she dialed Elliot's number. Without hesitation, he answered.
"I need you."
So he came. He always would.
While he fixed her pipes, he begrudgingly told her about Maureen's new boyfriend.
"Did you run a background check?"
"Of course."
She smiled, and sat on her couch while he worked.
"Can I get a beer? Just one this time."
One turned into four, and so there they sat on her couch, watching a rerun of Seinfeld, sitting closer than they should have.
He accidentally spilled his beer on her shirt, and he grabbed a napkin from the side table, and began frantically dabbing at her shirt.
"Shit, I'm sorry."
"It's all right."
His wrist brushed against her breast, and her breath hitched. Elliot licked his lips, turning his head towards hers. She looked down at his lips. He slowly leaned in, and suddenly, pulled back. "I should go," he let out on a breath so quiet Olivia's not even sure he said it at all. But he stood, apologizing for the spill, and let himself out.
After that, he wasn't sure she would call again.
On November 22nd, 2007, two weeks after the Sennet case, her pipes burst. Without hesitation, she dialed his number. Without hesitation, he answered, and he sighed in relief.
"I need you."
So he came. He always would.
While he fixed her pipes, she stayed quiet. There wasn't much to talk about anymore. Olivia quietly passed him a beer as he finished.
One didn't turn into four, but the tension turned into a comfortable silence.
On February 10th, 2008, four months after Eli was born, he sat on his couch, quietly laughing at himself for being such a pathetic bastard. He wished for her pipes to burst again so he'd have a reason to go over there.
And her pipes did burst, but the call never came. He learned later that she'd started calling a plumber. The calls stopped coming then.
Now, nearly two years since he last saw her, his phone rang, and without hesitation, he answered.
"I need you to pick up a vegetable platter for Eli's party on Sunday."
It wasn't Olivia's voice; he figured it never would be again.
If he wanted her calls to come again, his would have to start as well.
"Got it, Kath. I'll see you then."
He hung up, and dialed the number that's been at the tip of his fingers all along.
"Liv, it's me. I need you."