Conditions Of The Heart
(Chapter Two: Nothing But The Truth)
The next morning Olivia woke early and went for her morning run as usual. She returned home and took a shower before waking Elliot who was still sound asleep from the pain medication he had taken the night before.
"You're up early," he said.
"It's isn't that early," she replied.
"Liv, it is 7:15 am on a Saturday and you are already showered and dressed for the day!
She laughed. "Are you hungry? I could fix something?"
"Starving," he replied.
Olivia made breakfast for the two of them. She was a pretty good cook, he never would have thought this of her. Usually when he had come over the refrigerator was littered with half empty take out containers. He had just assumed, she didn't cook.
That afternoon they sat on her sofa discussing a case they had been working on. In the middle of the conversation Olivia looked up at Elliot.
"Oh, did you remember to call Kathy?" she asked.
Elliot closed the file between them and sat it on the coffee table.
"I didn't call Kathy," he answered getting up to look out the window. "Liv, I haven't been completely honest with you lately. Kathy left me."
"Elliot, I'm sorry. I'm sure you guys will work it out. You always do," she said trying to be understanding of his situation.
"Not this time. She took the kids and left me, I have not seen them since."
"El, when did she leave?" Olivia asked.
"Three weeks ago," he answered unable to face her.
"You have kept this to yourself for three weeks? Why didn't you say something?" she asked.
"Because I thought it wasn't a big deal, you know? I figured it would be like all of the other times and we would get back together. But it never happened. This time is different, Liv. She took my kids and wont let me see them. She said that there is a chance that Eli isn't even mine. She packed them all up and left and said she wants sole custody. She said she isn't going to let me hurt them anymore. She is tired of me not being there for them."
"Have you called her?" Olivia asked.
"A dozen times. That is why she changed her number. I didn't give you her new number, Olivia, because I don't have it. That was my last line of communication with them. I have not seen or heard from my kids in three weeks."
Olivia hated hearing this. Because she knew how bad it hurt him. Elliot was gone a lot with work, but his kids were his life. They were the most important thing in his life.
Olivia had secretly been in love with Elliot for years now. She would never admit it, but it was true. And there were times that he would look at her just right and she could swear she saw it in his eyes, too. But he was married with children. And Elliot was very much a one woman at a time kind of man. He had never cheated on his wife and Olivia knew he never would, not even with her. And she would never compromise his relationship with Kathy, by even allowing him to know of her feelings for him. The only thing she wanted in the world was for him to be happy.
"I should go." He said standing up and heading for the door.
"Elliot, you don't have to go. I have a guest room, you can stay as long as you like."
"No, I have a lot of stuff to get done at the house. Thanks for listening, Liv. It feels so good to finally be able to talk about it," he said.
"No problem. If you change your mind or decide you need someone to talk to, my door is always open." She said.
"Thanks," he replied.
"You know, we're all supposed to meet up tonight for Cragen's birthday…. You going to be there?" She asked.
"I don't know," he answered.
"Oh, come on. I'll buy you a drink," she stared at him with those eyes he couldn't say no to.
"Maybe for a little while, I wouldn't want Cragen to think I skipped out on his birthday bash."
"Okay," she said with a smile, "I will see you tonight."