Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Wheel of the World
Chapter Three
Five hours later, they were on the freeway back to Manhattan. In that short time they signed papers, packed up all of Kacy's stuff, (both in storage and at her foster home), and set up an adoption hearing.
Olivia was relieved to find out that the hearing would be in Manhattan. Thankfully Melanie's Lawyer knew some people and pulled some strings for them. They were off to deal with everything in Manhattan.
There was a four and a half hour road trip they had to deal with though, and plenty of awkward moments.
Kacy was in the back seat on the passenger side looking out the window. She had her elbow propped up on the side of the window.
"Are you guys dating?" Kacy asked randomly not taking her eyes off the scenery outside the window.
Elliot's eyes widened and Olivia glanced over at him just in time to see it.
"No, why would you think that?" Olivia asked
Kacy looked over, "Why would I think that? Okay…well for starters you guys got a hotel room with one bed. Secondly, you guys flirt like you're in middle school. I could go on but I think you guys get the jest." Kacy stated confidently.
Olivia glanced over at Elliot, "Well at least she's not shy."
A smile sprouted on Kacy's lips at the moment she just created. She could see the love, and she wanted to unmask it.
----
Elliot had just brought in the last box into the apartment as Olivia thanked him for his work. There were about eight medium sized boxes stacked along one of Olivia's walls.
Kacy looked at them and sighed. She ran a hand through her long brunette hair. Olivia then realized that it was going to be so hard to keep the boys off of her.
"Can I go for a walk?" Kacy asked, "I just wanna be alone right now."
"Uh…" Olivia stuttered thinking of all the predators.
"Yeah," Elliot said answering for Olivia, "Just take your cell phone."
"Thanks," Kacy said grabbing her cell phone off the coffee table and making a beeline for the door.
As the door shut Olivia looked at Elliot. "I thought I was the parent."
"She needed her space, and you looked like you were debating if it was safe enough."
Olivia laughed knowing he pinpointed exactly what she was thinking.
"What do you think of her?" Elliot asked
"She's beautiful; the boys are going to be glued to her." Olivia said
Elliot smiled, "You just need to express how important it is that she protects the goal," Elliot said using a line that Olivia had used with him so many years ago.
She smiled wondering how he remembered that, "She's very straight-forward."
"Yeah," Elliot said
There were a couple of moments of silence. Elliot came over and sat down on the couch.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" Olivia asked breaking the tension
"Umm no, I'm good." Elliot said, "Tired mostly."
"Yeah me too," Olivia said.
He laid back against the couch, getting more comfortable. He watched Olivia stare off into space. She looked like she was deep in thought.
"El," she said, "Why'd you go with me?"
"What do you mean?" Elliot said
"Well I mean, you had quite some lack of sleep, and lots of driving…why?" Olivia asked
"You needed the moral support. That's what friends are for." Elliot said cringing that he had to use the word friend.
Olivia just nodded, and laid back getting comfortable too. She closed her eyes, just resting.
----
The next thing she knew she was waking up in her bed. She rolled over, not wanting to wake up, and jumped feeling another body next to hers. She sat up, pulling the covers off of whoever was in her bed.
It was Elliot; he was curled up in a fetal position. She smiled at his vulnerability, and the fact that he was comfortable enough to climb in bed with her.
Olivia slipped out of bed discreetly, and tip-toed out of the room. She found Kacy on the couch watching the television. Olivia walked over and sat down next to her.
"Hey…" Olivia greeted her.
"Hi," She replied
There was a couple of moments of silence. As Olivia looked to see what she was watching.
Kacy suddenly said, "Thanks."
"For?" Olivia asked
"I don't know…being my guardian. Your sleep deprivation, putting up with me."
"Putting up with you?" Olivia asked, "I'm just sorry you have to live with me until your eighteen."
Kacy smiled at Olivia's attempt to lighten the mood.
"I'm just glad your mother raised you like she did." Olivia said, and after a couple of moments of silence she added, "You're really taking it good."
Kacy seemed to be thinking about that, which made Olivia regret that she said it.
"I guess I just knew so I was prepared. Plus I'm only taking it good on the outside." Kacy said
She rested her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand.
"Well if you want to ever get anything off your chest…I'm here okay?" Olivia asked resting her hand on the non-occupied knee.
"Okay," Kacy said quietly.
Olivia rose to her feet, "Are you hungry?"
"Kinda," Kacy stated
Olivia headed to the kitchen, "I'll make something."
She disappeared behind a swinging door. Kacy sat there looking at the door, and sighed.
-----
Elliot walked into the kitchen groggily. Olivia looked up from the frozen pizza she was trying to get out of it's plastic wrap. She had a knife in hand and Elliot felt a little threatened.
"Morning Sunshine," Olivia said
"Evening," Elliot corrected, he stood there looking at her trying to pry the package open with a knife.
He came up behind and grabbed her hand that was clutching the knife. He held it there for a second.
"El, you're scaring me." Olivia said jokingly.
"Liv, put the knife down." Elliot said calmly
She opened her hand releasing the knife onto the counter. Elliot sidestepped and pulled the plastic cover open from a tab in the corner. Olivia glared at him for a second before softening her look.
"You cook it," she said stepping away and jumping onto the counter.
He took over, putting the pizza on the pan and sliding it into the oven. He threw the trash away and walked up to Olivia.
"It's okay…you can't open a pizza." Elliot said, "I still love ya."
Olivia smiled, "Since when?"
She was joking, but was surprised when his answer was, "Ever since I met you."
Their eyes locked, she was trying to figure out what he meant by that, he was trying to see how it affected her. They both were too wrapped up in each other to notice that Kacy walked in.
"See what I mean?" Kacy said, "That was a love stare."
Elliot distanced himself from Olivia. She jumped off the counter, "It was not."
Kacy mocked her in a whiney voice and walked over to the fridge. "Can I have some OJ?"
"Yeah, if you pour me a glass." Olivia said pointing to where the glasses were, "Want some El?"
"Oh…aren't you going share?" Kacy asked, "After all that's what couples do."
Olivia rolled her eyes, and started to do the dishes to distract herself from the very tense situation she was in. Elliot sat amused in the corner.
Kacy made her exit with the orange juice saying, "Have fun."
Olivia turned around drying her hands, "Did you mean it?"
The words slipped out of her mouth like a waterfall, before she realized she was even saying them.
"Mean…that I love you?" Elliot asked
"You…you don't have to answer that." Olivia said trying to avoid an awkward conversation and protect her heart. She didn't know what she would do if he said he was kidding
"Of course I love you, I thought you knew that." Elliot said
"Well, this is the first time you've told me," Olivia said pointing out the obvious.
"I should tell you more often, but you know how people assume things." Elliot said.
Olivia's heart dropped, he was implying that he loved her only as a friend.
"Do you…" Elliot started to say, "Nevermind."
A smile sparked onto Olivia's face, "I love you."
She had just confirmed his greatest suspicion. A suspicion he had for eight years, but never got the chance to tell her. He knew he wanted her now more than ever, and the thing was...he didn't care what he had to risk to get her anymore.
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