Chapter 1: Away

Olivia Benson walked out the elevator and strode toward the door to her desk. It was 7.38 a.m. and it was the first day after her one-week-vacation. She went over to her locker, put some things in it and turned around. As she looked to the door again, her co-workers Odafin Tutuola and John Munch walked in. They both grinned and waved.

"Hey Liv. Got a nice vacation?" She nodded. As they came by, she asked curious: "Where's Elliot? Shouldn't he be already here?" Munch and Fin changed a look, then looked at Olivia and gave a shrug.

She sighed and walked to her desk. Olivia sat down in her chair and watched the stress of the officers who were running through the doors and upstairs. Well, well. Good to be back. That's what I missed the most., she thought. The morning stress. Wohooo. S

he turned in her chair and looked to the office door of her Captain, Don Craigen. There were shadows behind it. Seemed like he would have a little morning meeting. As always. Olivia smiled and turned on the computer. While it loaded, she turned to face the desk of her partner.

It was empty. His things were away. She frowned. What had happened? Something bad? Something that she mustn't hear of? Olivia thought of the last time she saw Elliot.

Olivia sat at her desk, when a coffee mug appeared on it. She didn't have to look up to know who placed it there. "Thanks, El. That's what I've needed." She heard him chuckle. Then she turned after all and faced the big man in front of her. He grinned as he took a sip of his coffee. His blue eyes glowed. "Nah, I don't think so, Liv. I think you could need a nap. How do you think about giving me the paper work and sleep a bit in the rest room?" Elliot raised his eyebrows. Olivia smiled and stood up. She handed him a big pack of papers and chuckled. "Here you are. And don't miss something." She said and walked to the rest room. Before she walked into it, Olivia turned to her partner. He made a face and sat behind his desk. He took a pen and began to work.

No, that wasn't the point he could go away and leave her alone. Maybe he fought with his wife again. That was often the reason he came too late to work. But in the back of her head Olivia knew it didn't work out.

If so, his things would be there after all. There would be the frog on the monitor, the mass of pens and pencils in a mug… Even the picture of his kids. Nothing. The whole desk was empty. Then her computer made a beep. She woke up out of her daydream and realized that Craigen's meeting was finished.

Olivia went to the office door and walked in. Her captain looked up and put the newspaper away. "What's up?" She sighed and sat down in the chair opposite of him. "Where's my partner?" Olivia asked and glanced at her boss. He looked at the ground first.

Then Craigen looked her in the eyes and said: "I can't tell you. I promised him that I won't tell you." She opened her mouth in surprise. "WHAT?" But he didn't answer. Olivia stood up angry and walked out the door. She couldn't believe that her own captain didn't want to talk to her.

When she reached her desk again, she sat down and decided to ask her partner herself. Maybe he would come later that day. Maybe tomorrow. But she had to know what happened. By hook or by crook.

But Elliot Stabler didn't arrive at the precinct. Not an hour later, not two. Olivia began to wonder. Why was he staying away? Was he mad with her or someone else? What had happened? When she couldn't hold it anymore, she stood up, took her coat and walked out the precinct. On the streets, she went to her car.

While she drove, Olivia tried to reach Elliot's cell phone. No answer. After five tries she gave up. She sighed once again. That couldn't be. Elliot wasn't away. He had told her first. He was her best friend. He was her partner. He SHOULD have told her. But Elliot hadn't. Olivia was a little bit worried now. Something bad happened to him. That was for sure. He wouldn't have left without telling her… wouldn't he?

She was not that sure about it. She couldn't even tell where he was, so she drove to his apartment. He wasn't living with his family anymore because Kathy, his wife, kicked him out. While she waited for the elevator, she mentioned the places where he could go: to his former house, to his apartment, to the bar, to the precinct when she was away, in the park… T

here were too much places to search them all. Suddenly Olivia came a thought: What if he was kidnapped by some dude he was hated of? She shook her head. That couldn't be. Elliot was always careful. He wouldn't have left his gun at home. Maybe. Now Olivia was in front of his apartment, staring at the closed door. She knocked twice, and then waited a bit.

Then knocked again. No one at home. She knocked again and called: "Elliot! It's Olivia. Just open the door, please!" But no answer came. She decided to use the spare key. Elliot hid it over the door. As always. When she entered the apartment, Olivia noticed the little smell of dirty dish.

She walked through the whole apartment, but there was no Elliot. Nowhere. Away. Olivia sighed loud and turned. She closed the door. Walked out the house. Stood near her car and was worried about her best friend and partner Elliot.

Where could he be? What happened to him?

Those questions followed her in her mind, even in her dreams. She dreamed of kidnapped Elliot's, dead Elliot's… every sort of things that could happen to him. When she woke up the other morning she decided to e-mail him. Olivia hoped he would answer her. He must.

A/N oh man... its 18.11 p.m. here in germany now and I'm bored... o. my. gosh. I'm going to go crazy. so... if you're confused about that, I decided to write another story. But this time with the fabulous amber3234. And it's NOT about CSI:NY. wow... I can't believe it. my cousins make me crazy. can someone stop them? xD