A/N: I came up with this story a while ago, but because of rules on here, I had to change it some… hope it has the same effect. ENJOY!
Ps. Olivia is MARRIED to a guy named JOHN, and they have a kid named GEORGE! Basically Olivia and Elliot have the same HOME-LIFE, minus the amount of children!
"I'm tired, Chris. I don't want to go out," Kathy groaned as her husband stood in the bedroom of their New York home, changing from his work clothes into jeans and a clean shirt. She watched from the doorway, admiring the body that she had stared at for the last 15 years. He had always had a nice form, good strength; he'd always made it a point to work out at the gym whenever he had a spare moment, it was no wonder his body was built like a Greek God.
Elliot turned to his wife as he buttoned his shirt, oblivious to her eyes wondering over him. He had stopped seeing that many months ago. "You're always tired, Kathy, unless we're visiting one of YOUR friends," he pointed out.
"I'm very patient, El, but there are only so many hours I can take spending time with Olivia and John. You spend enough time with her at work, all day, everyday."
"It's work. It's not the same thing," he answered hotly. He always felt the need to defend that accusation. As far as he was concerned, work was a separate issue, between criminals and victims they could chat for a moment, but never enough to get down to important issues before the next case. "And since when did this become an issue. I thought you liked them."
Kathy sighed heavily. "I'm tired. I don't want to go out, and that's the end of this!"
"You know what?" he laughed bitterly, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration. "You can do what you like, I'm going, come or not… I don't care anymore!" Elliot stormed out of the room, tired of her attitude where his friend and partner, Olivia Benson, was concerned.
Within ten minutes, Elliot was ready to go. The kids were staying with friends, which meant it would be a night of adult conversation, since Olivia's son, George was being taken care of by the nanny. Elliot knew that Olivia hated that, she loved being a mother, and she worked extremely long hours, but once in a while she needed a night of adult conversation.
Elliot stopped in the loungeroom, and looked at his wife, who was positioned on the couch, with her feet tucked hidden under her. "Are you coming?"
Kathy threw him a look of disapproval. "Hardly!"
"What's the problem?" he asked unable to keep the strain out of his voice. He felt his body tense.
"I told you, I'm tired."
"So am I," he stated. "I work hard all day, too."
"Oh yeah, it must be a tough life standing around all day talking to people and finding out their dirty, little secrets!" her words were bitter and cheap. Kathy was a full time mother, and it took a lot of effort raising his children alone. But sometimes she forgot that Elliot's work was important too.
Elliot shook his head. Maybe it was better that she didn't come, right now he wanted to be as far away from her as humanly possible. "I'll be home later," he called as he headed for the door.
Once outside, he pulled his phone from his pocket. It was polite to at least tell Olivia about the change in plans. She answered after two rings, sounding slightly irate. "Hi El," she greeted almost coolly. "What's up?"
"Change of plans… Kathy is in a mood and isn't coming," he said with the same tone that Olivia had used when she answered.
Olivia sighed heavily through the phone. "Must be the night for it, John has taken off somewhere, I don't know when he's coming back." He did that some times, Elliot knew, when life got too much for him, he fled, leaving all responsibility to Olivia.
"Maybe we should call it a night," he said with disappointment. He wasn't ready to go home yet, and the local bar was within walking distance…
"Why should we suffer because-"
"Meet me at CHARLIE'S bar?" he offered.
"Give me half an hour," she agreed without hesitation.
Elliot hung up the phone and buried it in his pocket. He shuffled his feet along the sidewalk of New York City as he made his way to CHARLIE'S bar. He ordered himself a neat scotch and sat stiffly on the bar stool, thinking about Kathy. He could picture her sprawled out on the couch, with a sour face. He'd be in the doghouse when he returned home. But as he nursed his drink, he found that he didn't care. Her attitude of late was terribly moody, and Elliot was beginning to feel the effects. He was tired. He missed coming home to the woman he married so long ago, she had always been so happy to see him. And her smile, when she smiled, she lit up the room. He hadn't seen her smile in months, despite his efforts.
He gulped the rest of his scotch and placed the empty glass on the bar in front of him. The bartender joined him a moment later, and Elliot ordered a second drink. "Same," he gestured to the bottle of scotch on the top shelf. He was sipping his second drink when Olivia pulled out the bar stool beside him. His eyes lingered briefly on the red cotton halter neck dress, she was wearing. Olivia hung her black leather jacket on the chair, and sat down.
Kathy never dressed up for him anymore.
"What do you want?" Elliot asked once she'd settled comfortably on the stool.
"A new husband," she groaned.
Elliot smiled weakly. "I'll swap you for a new wife."
"We could just trade them both in for something newer and hotter," she shrugged.
"Yeah," he nodded sipping at his glass. He knew that neither of them would seriously consider walking away from their marriage. But at this point, all it was, was growing frustration.
"Vodka?" Elliot slapped a crumbled ten dollar bill on the bar.
Olivia hesitated. "Bacardi,"
Elliot pulled back mildly. "Wow… things that bad?"
Olivia shrugged as the bartender handed her the drink. She skulled it all in one long gulp making Elliot shift uncomfortably on his stool. "Another," she waved the bartender, who instantly poured another rum.
"You're almost caught up," he smiled, mildly impressed. Elliot had known Olivia long enough to know how much liquor she could hold. Only when life hit hard did she drink rum. It was the only drink that went straight to her head. But with her mother's past actions, she didn't drink too often.
On their third round, Elliot was beginning to see the change in Olivia, she was border lining drunk.
"El," she said placing her hand gently on his upper thigh, obvious to her actions. Elliot winced. Olivia was in his personal space, and he felt the proximity of her hand too close for comfort. "I'm tired, El."
"Let's get you home then," he offered.
"No," she protested openly. "Elliot, I just don't- I'm tired. I don't sleep. George keeps me awake. John is never home. Work is SO emotionally straining. I just, I can't do it anymore. I'm thinking about quitting…"
The words hung in the air like a bad odor. Eliot's eyes widened. "Quit?" he scoffed. "You can't!"
Olivia cocked her head slightly and looked at him, an air of sadness about her. "I'm sorry. It's too much right now."
"God, Liv, quitting? That's a little extreme, don't you think?" he was still gripped by shock. "Can't you just… I don't know, leave John," he smiled only half-joking. He would have done just about anything to protect the well-being of his best friend. He knew she was being irrational. The decision was too quick. She hadn't spoken to him about it, and he knew she would have, had it been plaguing her mind.
Olivia laughed shortly. "Maybe,"
"We should probably think about getting you home,"
"Mmm," she moaned leaning her head on his shoulder. "Thanks El, I don't think I could get through the day without you, sometimes."
"I know, Liv," it was the alcohol talking. Elliot took his glass and polished off the remainder of his drink before slipping an arm around her waist and helping her from her place on the stool. He waved to the bartender with his free hand, and walked her into the night air. "Come on, I'm going to get you a taxi…"
As Elliot made his way home, he felt the cold air whip his face, and he dreaded the scene that awaited him when he walked through the door.
I'd like a review or two before I post the next chapter… you know how I work. But I did LIKE this story, so I am hoping you will too. Be kind. Rewind… NO, wait, its be kind… REVIEW! :)