Disclaimer: Clearly, I don't own Law and Order: SVU.
Summary: Olivia and her husband of one year are having problems. Will unexpected news bring them together? Or will it push her into her partner's waiting arms?
QUICK NOTE: Okay, so i know some of you are wondering why i haven't updated my stuff in awhile. Well, as you all know, it's October now and school is in full swing. I'm a biology/pre-medicine student and I get very preoccupied sometimes, so PLEASE bear with me. I updated this at like 1am on Saturday cuz i finally got a free moment...but those don't come very often, so I'll be getting to my other stories whenever I can.
Big shoutout to all my faithful reviewers!
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Olivia pulled into her parking garage, putting her car in park. She sighed deeply and took the keys out of the ignition, stepping out of her car. The day had seemed to drain her of any energy she would've normally had when she came home. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Elliot was frustrated with her, which meant he wasn't speaking to her. He'd barely looked at her all day. She didn't know how much longer she could take it.
She stepped off the elevator after riding it to her floor, glancing back down at the keys in her hand.
"Crap," she mumbled, pausing mid-stride. It was only then did she remember that she had taken her house key off the ring last night. Jacob, who had misplaced his, had promised to be home before she was so all this drama could be avoided. His Volvo definitely hadn't been in the parking garage. So much for promises.
"Great," Olivia sighed, turning around and preparing to take a trip to her husband's job.
She pushed the number designated for his speed dial and waited for him to pick up. "Hello, you've reached Jacob Young…" the familiar sound of his voicemail greeted her. She rolled her eyes and dialed again. "C'mon, Jacob…what are you doing?" she asked herself, noting that it was almost seven-thirty. Still no answer.
She parked a couple of blocks away and hoped the security guards would recognize her and let her in. She hadn't been to the building that often- a few times she'd brought him lunch and when she and Jacob were dating, he brought her in and introduced her to a few of his co-workers. Luckily for her, one of the nicer guards that had let her in on previous occasions was on duty tonight.
She stepped into the lobby of the well-lit building, riding the elevator to the fifth floor. Olivia glanced around at the other offices, many of which were dark. Every other person in this firm had work to do too, but they knew when to come home. She bit her lip as she walked down the corridor to his office. She was so upset with him. Why wasn't he answering his phone?
As she approached his door, she heard someone laughing. 'Wait a minute,' Olivia thought, 'that was definitely a female.' Olivia suddenly felt very uneasy, feeling her heart beat faster. She turned the doorknob, opening the door wider.
Jacob sat at his desk, leaned back in his chair and grinning. A petite blond woman was leaning over his shoulder, a little too close for Olivia's liking. Was she leaning in to kiss him?
They both glanced up at the same time, Jacob looking surprised to see his wife in the doorway. "Olivia. Wh- what are you doing here?" he got up quickly, walking toward her.
"Nice to see you too, Jacob. Who's your friend?" Olivia asked, turning her eyes to the object of her husband's attention. "Uh…oh. This is Jennifer Walsh. Jennifer…this is Olivia. My wife," Jacob said, looking more uncomfortable by the moment.
"It's nice to meet you," she extended her hand. Olivia gave her a half-hearted shake, letting her eyes wander to her blouse. "Do you always leave that many buttons undone or are you making a special case for my husband?" she raised an eyebrow, moving closer to the smaller woman.
"Olivia-" Jacob quickly stepped between his wife and Jennifer, who had turned red. She looked down, fixing her blouse and glaring at Olivia. "Excuse me," she glanced between the two as Jacob closed the door behind her.
"Well…at least I know why you're always late," she crossed her arms. "Olivia, let me explain- we've been working on this case together. That's it. Nothing's going on," his hazel eyes bore into hers.
"Oh really? Didn't look like that when I came in! She was all over you Jacob!" she frowned, putting her hands on her hips.
"Olivia, it's the truth! You've gotta know I would never do that," he pleaded with her. Olivia sighed, suddenly feeling sick. She needed to get out of there.
"Whatever," she left his office, feeling his hand wrap around her arm. "No…wait. We need to talk. Why'd you come all the way down here in the first place?" he asked.
"Look…I'm really tired and I don't have time to argue with you. I came down here to get the house key, but-"
"Okay. Let's go home…let me get my things," he began, but Olivia shook her head. "No. Just forget it Jacob. I need to be alone," she turned on her heel, ignoring his protests.
Fresh tears immediately sprung to her brown eyes. She quickly stepped off the elevator and left the building, the wind quickly drying her tear-stained cheeks. How did this happen? She and Jacob had been so happy once. Now he was on the verge of cheating on her. Had she done something wrong? Was she not good enough?
Olivia got in her car and slammed the door, catching a glimpse of her tear-filled eyes in the rearview mirror. Seemed like all she was doing was crying nowadays. She tucked her shoulder-length hair behind her ears and wiped at her eyes, holding back sobs as she started her car. What was she gonna do now?
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Elliot sat the remote down and gazed at the ESPN classic football game, attempting to focus on anything other than his brown-eyed counterpart. She made him so mad sometimes. He just wanted to make her feel better, but he couldn't do that if she never opened up to him.
He opened his cell phone, scrolling down to her name under his contact list. He contemplated calling her, but wasn't sure if she'd want to talk to him after how he ignored her all day.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He got out of his chair and glanced out the window, immediately recognizing her car. He opened the door, wanting to be upset with her, but finding that difficult once the light hit her eyes. Her cheeks were dry, but she'd definitely been crying.
He stepped aside and closed the door once she had come in. "Hey…" Olivia greeted him in a soft voice, averting her gaze.
"Liv," he stepped closer to her, "what's wrong?" Elliot watched her inhale deeply. When she glanced back at him, her eyes were filled with tears yet again. "Everything," she replied, as her voice broke.
Elliot wrapped his arms around her, her sobs muffled in his shirt. "Hey…it's gonna be okay," he told her soothingly, slowly moving his hand up and down her back. Olivia finally let herself really cry, feeling safe in his embrace.
Her cries subsided after a few minutes and she pulled back slightly, looking into Elliot's worried eyes. He cupped her face, wiping her tears away. "You ready to talk?" he asked, watching her nod solemnly. He motioned to the couch in the living room, sitting next to her.
"What's got you so upset?" he leaned forward, watching her intently. "It's Jacob. We've been having problems," Olivia told him and continued, "that's what's been bothering me for the past few weeks."
Elliot nodded, waiting for her to speak again. "And tonight…I walked in on him and his coworker…they were about to kiss. I don't know what to think, Elliot. I don't know what to do." She admitted, breaking down again. She felt him pull her closer to him on the couch.
Elliot sighed, becoming more upset at the thought of Jacob hurting her like this. How could he do this to her? Was he crazy? Didn't he see how blessed he was to have this woman as his wife?
"Everything's just such a mess…he doesn't even know about-" Olivia paused, momentarily forgetting that Elliot didn't know everything.
"He doesn't know what?" he wondered, feeling her body tense up. "What is it Liv? Tell me."
"I'm pregnant." She admitted, biting her lip.
"You're pregnant?" Elliot asked, watching her nod. A small grin formed at the corner of his lips at the thought. Olivia was going to be a mother…and a damn good one at that.
He noticed she didn't share his enthusiasm. "I'm scared Elliot. What if this baby tears us farther apart? I don't know if this is what we need right now. I just wish it had happened earlier," Olivia said, staring at her hands.
"Because of everything that's going on with you two?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded, taking another deep breath. "I honestly don't think he cares anymore," Olivia's mocha eyes rimmed with tears at this statement.
"What? Liv, he does care. He loves you…you two just need to talk about everything that's happened…" Elliot rubbed her arm, amazed that with his feelings he was still pushing her back to her husband.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, pulling away from him and standing up. "Sorry for what?" he wondered, watching her walk to a window. He stood and moved closer to her. "For burdening you with all my problems. It's just…I didn't know where else to go and-"
"Liv," he interjected, "you don't have to apologize. You can always come to me…it doesn't matter what it is. I'll always be here for you, Liv. You know that," he told her, resting his hands on her shoulders. Olivia turned around, gazing into his sincere blue eyes of her best friend. He pulled her into a bear hug and she wrapped her arms around his frame letting out a sigh.
"Oh, Elliot. You're too good to me. I don't know what I'd do without you…" she mumbled into his shirt. "I think it's the other way around," Elliot replied, burying his nose in her hair and relishing the scent.
"Everything will be okay, alright? I'll help you get through this- no matter what," he told her, caressing her back. Olivia sighed, feeling more at ease. They stood there for awhile, Elliot holding her close until she pulled away slightly.
"You gonna be okay?" he asked, searching her eyes. "Yeah…I will," Olivia replied. "You need anything? You hungry? I made some food earlier," Elliot motioned toward the kitchen. "Just water. I'm not hungry right now. Tired maybe," she chuckled a bit, taking the bottle of water from Elliot.
"It's been a long day for you. Go ahead and get some sleep Liv. You can crash in either of the guest bedrooms or mine if you want," he told her.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and gave him a small smile. "Okay…thank you," she told him. He watched Olivia walk down the hallway and disappear around the corner.
Elliot walked into his bedroom and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of his sweats for her to put on. "Olivia?" he called her name. "Hmm?" she asked from behind the door. "You can wear this to bed, okay? I'll sit it in the bathroom for you."
"Alright…thanks Elliot."
He sat back down in front of the muted television, attempting to absorb everything Olivia had told him. No wonder she hadn't been talking to him- she was so stressed she couldn't think straight. And Jacob. How could he even think about betraying Olivia like that? She loved him and this is what she gets in return- heartache.
He heard the shower come on, knowing she needed to relax after today's events.
She'd already been through so much in her life. She didn't deserve to be hurt again. She deserved happiness. Olivia had come to mean so much to him…at one time he'd vowed to keep his feelings to himself because she had found happiness with Jacob. But things were different now…
He shook his head at that thought. No. He didn't need to reveal his feelings. That would be selfish. She was having a baby- Jacob's baby. He just needed to be there for her right now- even if it meant keeping his emotions bottled up.
He turned the t.v. up a little, resting his head on a pillow…
Elliot's eyes popped open as he attempted to adjust his eyes to the light of the living room. How long had he been out? He concluded it'd been a few hours after glancing at his watch. He turned the lights and television off and headed towards him bedroom.
He paused to peek in the guest room across from his. Olivia lay curled in the fetal position with a comforter wrapped around her frame. Elliot grinned slightly at how little she looked in the big blanket.
He walked into the room, kneeling beside her and gently touching her cheek. She looked so peaceful- completely opposite of how she'd felt today. He continued to watch her breathe steadily, wondering how and when he had become a lovesick fool.
He glanced back at his watch and realized he'd been sitting there for too long. Elliot stood and kissed her cheek softly, standing in the doorway to look at her once more. "Love you," he whispered, turning away and heading to bed.
EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOE
Alright guys…lots of OE-ness in this chapter but I couldn't help myself! Please review!
BTW…was Elliot's late-night whisper of a confession really that quiet? Or did our sleeping beauty detective hear? Hmm….
