Deep Running

Chapter One

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They belong to me in my dreams only.

Author Notes: I read about this special program at Quantico and remembered that Elliot was there during the episode when Sonya was murdered. I thought it would make a great backdrop for another scenario where Liv and Elliot are brought together again. Captain Cragen makes a decision that he hopes will change Olivia's life forever. He wants to see her happy and knowing what he now knows he thinks he has a way to make that happen.

Donald Cragen leaned his elbows on his desk and looked out his office window into his squad room. He sighed, looked down at the paperwork in front of him and then back up at his best detective. She was like a daughter to him and since the man he thought of as a son was gone, he was determined to look after her for him.

Olivia was sitting at her desk clicking her pen over and over again as she did her paperwork. She had that wounded look again. It broke his heart to see her giving away another piece of herself. She bled for the victims more than ever and the hole in her heart left by her partner only seemed to get bigger every day without him. Fin was watching her openly and Amaro was watching her out of the corner of his eye.

He liked Nick a lot. He had watched how the young man had gradually earned Olivia's trust and he knew without a doubt he would have her back if this plan of his didn't work. He knew in his heart this was meant to be, but it might be a rocky road and Olivia would need his support. The two of them were gradually working into a great partnership.

Their most recent case of an abandoned baby who's mother had been raped and killed had taken a toll on Olivia though and her face looked wearier than it ever had. He knew the decision he was about to make would either bring her happiness or destroy her, but either way there would be closure. He signed the paperwork and stood up, crossing to his door.

"Benson. Amaro. My office now."

The two detectives looked at each other startled.

"What did we do?"

"I don't know, Nick. What did you do?"

Nick held the door for Olivia. As she hesitated, he put his hand gently on her back and guided her forward.

"Have a seat detectives."

"Captain what's going on?"

"Relax Olivia. An opportunity has arisen for both of you as a result of the fine work you've been doing for the last year together. I've been given the opportunity to send two of my best detectives to train at The FBI Academy at Quantico for ten weeks. I've chosen you two."

Amaro looked stricken.

"Captain Cragen, my wife is still deployed and I would hate to leave my daughter for that long."

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn under the country's best teachers of law enforcement. Only one percent of law enforcement officers ever get this kind of training. It's a combination boot camp and academics. You'll be stretched. You'll train and team up with other officers from around the country. I think you'll both learn a lot about the new technology that's coming up out and be able to network with other agencies worldwide. Besides, you'll get a well-deserved break from the grind here. This is the West Point of law enforcement."

The two both started to argue at the same time and Don stood up in anger.

"Now this is not a request. It's an order. Spend the rest of the day getting caught up on your DD5s, pack your things and spend a couple of days with your daughter Nick. Olivia, visit Calvin and do the same. You leave on Monday. Dismissed."

Fin watched a seething Olivia approach his desk.

"What's going on Baby Girl?"

"He's sending us to train at Quantico for ten weeks Fin!"

"Wow. That's a long time."

"Tell me about it. I won't get to see Calvin for almost three months."

Nick walked up, brushing shoulders with Liv.

"What about me? My little girl is gonna think her parents don't care about her. My mother is gonna hit the roof. She offered to come and live with us and help, not be a full time guardian. I can't believe Cragen is doin' this."

"All I have to say is this better be one hell of a training opportunity."

Fin grinned at both of them and then suddenly grimaced.

"Think about us. We'll have to pick up all your cases."

Olivia patted Fin on the shoulder.

"Sorry old man."

"Who you callin' old? I still got it."

Liv plopped down in her chair, more depressed than ever and started on her stack of files. Don hoped he wasn't making a mistake as he watched her shoulders slump and her face become an unreadable mask. He prayed his plan worked. If it didn't he was worried about picking up the pieces.

Four days later Nick and Olivia arrived at Quantico. They were placed on a bus and sent to a collection of buildings in an isolated, heavily wooded facility. Here they would train and live together in close quarters for the next couple of months. Nick and Olivia found out they would be sharing a tiny room with two desks and one set of bunk beds. It was like a really bad dorm room.

"Oh, hell no."

"I'm not any happier about this than you are Liv."

"Please tell me you'll take the top bunk."

"Not a problem."

Each desk had a folder with information and schedules, some schools supplies and a notebook with dividers.

"I really do feel like I'm back in college or at basic trainin'. Oh man, look at this schedule."

"What?"

"Liv we go from 8-5:30 every day except Sunday. We get a day off as long as we stay at the training center. Some day off. There's homework every night. I am seriously startin' to think we pissed the Cap off really bad to get sent here. It feels like prison already."

Liv picked up her folder and groaned.

"We have to do two hours of physical training three days a week. It is basic training all over again. I'm too old for this."

Nick grinned at her.

"At least I'll finally get to beat you at somethin'."

"Oh yeah?"

"I'm just sayin' I can probably take you in anythin' physical."

"Oh really pretty boy? Well, bring it on man. Bring it on."

Liv was already starting to relax a bit. She had to admit it did feel good to get away from the horror for awhile and who knows, she might learn something new, maybe get a promotion out of Cragen. She had damn well earned it.

"Wow, did you see the list of participants? There are people here from all over the world."

"Uh, oh. We're due in room 101 for a welcome and to meet our instructors and trainers in ten minutes. We better head out."

They put their stuff away quickly and grabbed their folders and notebooks to head out and find the room. Nick was still reading up as he followed Olivia down the hallway.

"Hey Liv, listen to this class schedule. Computer Environments for Law Enforcement, Investigative Interviewing, Youth Violence…Labor Law Issues for Law Enforcement Administrators. It goes on and on. Yikes! Is it possible to flunk this thing? If we do will Cragen give us the boot?"

With his nose buried in the folder, Nick was oblivious to the scene unfolding before him until he ran smack into Olivia's back. She had stopped dead in her tracks.

He looked up to see what had caused such an abrupt halt to her progress and was unable to figure out what was going on. There was a man standing only a few feet away at the end of the hall talking to a tall willowy blonde.

Olivia took in a sharp breath as her eyes fell on the man she had missed for over a year. He was leaning against the wall just like he used to lean against her locker with that cocky posture he always had. She watched as he reached out and swept the blonde's hair over her shoulder with his left hand. He was flirting with her! When he brought it back to rest on his right bicep she focused on only one thing. Where there had once been a gold ring she saw only bare skin.

Nick watched as the man suddenly tensed up, apparently sensing Olivia's presence. Olivia squared her shoulders and walked straight towards him. The blonde patted the man on the arm and said she would see him inside.

He put his hands in his pockets and steeled himself as Liv approached him.

"Liv."

"Elliot."

"Uh…how've you been?"

"After a year all you have to say is how've I been? Go to hell Elliot."

Nick stared openly at the man now. So this was Elliot Stabler, the man who had done so much damage to the woman he worked with every day.

Elliot watched as the man with Liv moved up to rest his hand on her lower back before leaning forward offering his hand.

"Hey. I'm Nick Amaro. I'm Liv's partner."

Elliot tried to control his anger as the man used the nickname he had given Olivia so long ago. He watched as Liv leaned into the guy. She easily had ten years on him, but it was obvious the young man was smitten. He couldn't blame him. He'd been smitten from the first day he'd met the fiery woman. He'd been in love with Olivia Benson for over a decade.

It wasn't lost on him that they seemed connected emotionally and physically. It made him instantly jealous. He had never allowed himself to go there with her. Well maybe in the early days when they were close friends…before the love went so deep…before the pain of never being able to be together set in ruining what they had. He'd been married their entire partnership. Ironically now he was free and yet he knew could never have her now. He'd hurt her too badly.

That's why he'd stepped away from her that day after the shooting. He needed to protect her from him and his destructive behavior, the behavior that ended his marriage and bankrupted his relationship with his kids. Besides, he was no good for her. Hopefully this guy was.

"Cragen sent you here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It's just…"

"Spit it out Elliot."

She was mad. He couldn't blame her. She obviously knew nothing about his relationship with Don.

"I talked to Don just last week and he didn't mention at all that he was sending you here for this training."

Liv's eyes went wide as she realized what Cragen was up to. Oh, hell no. Her voice came out sharp and clipped.

"It's good to see you Elliot. Take care."

As they started to leave, Liv couldn't help herself.

"Tell Kathy hi."

Elliot held up his left hand.

"We're divorced."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Let's go Nick, we'll be late."

As they walked past, Elliot couldn't help but turn around and look at Amaro's hand placed protectively on Liv's back.

He wore a ring. Married.

Nick looked down at Liv, whose eyes were wet. She was holding back tears. He bent to whisper in her ear.

"So that's the guy that's had your guts all twisted up for almost a year?"

The tortured chocolate brown eyes that lifted to meet his told him everything he needed to know. His partner was in love with Elliot Stabler.

It was going to be a long ten weeks.