Thanks again to everyone reading & reviewing!!! You guys ROCK!!!
BTW, I jumped the rating up to an 'M' because I realized I do swear an awful darn lot in here and there are 'M' things to come down the line so I did it now before I forget later.
DISCLAIMER: Nope
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Olivia's POV
My alarm goes off at 6:30am and I roll over swatting the clock off the nightstand. You'd think I'd have no problems getting up in the morning by now. Well I do. I'm totally dragging myself out of bed this morning. Stumbling into the kitchen I start the coffee maker up so I'll have a hot fresh cup of coffee ready and waiting when I get out of the shower. I walk back to the bathroom and hop in the shower. It's a good thing I have a few extra minutes because man this hot water beating down on me feels great.
45 minutes later the hot water is running out and it dawns on me what time it is. I quick jump out of the shower and towel off. Grabbing a bottle of lotion out of the cabinet I smooth it on and begin the unbearable task of trying to detangle my wet hair. Why is it I decided to leave it long again? Oh yeah, Elliot made a comment about it once. After finally getting that done I go into my bedroom and pick out a pair of light pink lace boy-shorts and a matching bra and slip those on. So what if no one ever sees my underwear anymore. It makes me feel good with that bit of femininity in my line of work.
As soon as I've got that part of myself dressed it's time for my coffee. Stealing a glance at the clock I realize I only have about 30 minutes tops to do my makeup, finish getting dressed, have breakfast, and head out the door. I suppose my breakfast may have to wait. I can always stop once I've picked up Elliot. Shit. Elliot. I didn't call Don last night to tell him I won't be in this morning. I'd better do that. Picking up the phone I dial his desk.
"Cragen."
"Hey, it's Olivia. I need a huge favor."
"What's up?"
"I need to take the morning off. I know it's extremely last minute. I meant to call last night."
"Why?"
"Elliot's being discharged today and for whatever reason Kathy's decided she has more important things than going to bring him home." God I sounded bitchy just then.
He chuckles. "Go, take the whole day. Get Elliot settled in. He needs you."
"Alright, see you tomorrow." He needs me? What does Don know that I don't?
Oh well, no time to think about that now. I finish up my coffee and pour two travel mugs full to take with me to the hospital. Running in the bathroom and putting makeup on I'm getting nervous about picking up Elliot. Nervous? Why? I have no idea. Nor do I have the time to think about that either. I go back into the bedroom and now I'm standing in front of my closet trying to figure out what to wear. I grab a pair of jeans off a hanger, the ones from Abercrombie that hug my ass perfectly. Moving down to the other end of the closet I grab a chocolate brown Henley. If I do the buttons up to just the right spot it accentuates my breasts so well. Stop! What am I doing? It's then that I realize I'm dressing for Elliot. Not only is that wrong on many levels, but he can't see what I'm wearing anyway. Oh fuck it! I grab the clothes anyway and put them on.
Finally finishing up, I pick up the two mugs from my kitchen counter, grab my keys off the hook, and head out to the parking garage. Sliding in the driver's seat of my black BMW X5 I slip on my sunglasses and put the key in the ignition. Thankfully traffic isn't too bad and soon enough I'm pulling into the visitor's parking lot at Mercy General.
Taking the elevator up to the third floor I look at my watch and realize I'm a little early. Early is good. I walk down the hallway to his room once the elevator has reached the right floor. Stopping to say a quick hi to Stacy, his morning nurse, on my way by. When I walk in I notice Elliot isn't in bed. Just then I catch the strip of light under the bathroom door. Not thinking anything of it I sit down on his bed. Right as I sit down the bathroom door opens and Elliot comes strolling out in just a towel, chest still glistening with a few drops of water. Holy Jesus! Now it's not that I haven't seen him half naked before. I have. But fresh out of the shower? Wow! That towel, by the way, not hiding anything. I'm actually glad, for his sake, that he can't see right now. I'm sure I'm all sorts of red which would make him embarrassed and then he'd hide the show I'm enjoying so very much right now.
"Livvie?" Oh fuck. Wait, he can see? No, I know he can't. "Baby, I know you're here."
Okay, so sitting here quietly won't work.
"El, I'm so sorry. I didn't think being early would be a problem." Does he realize he's in a public place strolling around looking that hot?
"Calm down. I'm sure you're blushing up a storm right now." He laughs.
"Shut up."
"Seriously, it's all my fault. I left my jeans and boxers out here when I went in the shower by accident." Well, I guess that answers my earlier question.
I pick them up off the chair and hand them to him. "Here you go. I can umm…I can leave while you get ready." How wrong is it that I'm staring at this one droplet making its way down his abs while he has no idea I'm taking advantage of him being blind?
"No. Stay, please. I don't like getting naked out here anyway. Too many people walking in and out." He winks at me then takes the clothes.
"And Olivia? If you really want to check me out again sometime just let me know. I'd enjoy giving you another show." He says as he walks back in the bathroom.
How the--? Okay, I'm done trying to figure this man out.
Three minutes later Elliot comes strolling out of the bathroom. I can smell his toothpaste and cologne now. It's the cologne I bought him last Christmas. The one I've noticed him wearing everyday since.
"So what needs to be done before you're clear to leave?" I ask, hoping it's not much because I could sure use that breakfast right now.
"I have to sign some papers is all I think." Not bad.
Stacy comes walking in then carrying said paperwork. After she reads it all to Elliot so he'll know what it says, he signs it all and we are free to go. I grab his bags, take his arm, and we're on our way.
"So, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry." I tell him.
"Me too. Starving. Where do you want to go?"
"Where do you want to go?"
We used to do this all the time, this little game. We both ask then count to three in our heads and yell out where. Most of the time we pick the same place.
One, two, three…
"Skylark!" We both yell out.
We did it again. Looks like we're headed to the diner over by the station. I load up his bag in the back seat of my SUV and help him into the passenger's side. Hoisting myself into the driver's side I turn the key and we're on our way.
"This must be torture for you right now." He suddenly says.
"What?" No clue what he's talking about.
"You hate driving with me." He's right. For whatever reason I do hate driving when I'm with him.
"Temporary issue." I say, lightly squeezing his left thigh.
Before I know it we're pulling into the parking garage at the station. We can walk to the diner. Why would I pay to park when I can park here for free?
"Can we…would you mind if we go up after breakfast?" He asks.
"Sure." I get out and walk over to the other side to help him out of the SUV.
He takes my hand, lacing his fingers in mine, and we walk down to the diner. We're still holding hands as we walk in. As we grab a table and wait for our waitress I know he's glad we came somewhere familiar. That's just the way he is. Our waitress, Jenni, comes over to take our orders about two minutes after we sit down.
"Elliot, good to see you back. Olivia, you too, we've missed you both around here. Two coffees, ham and cheese omelet for Elliot and oatmeal with cinnamon for Olivia, right?"
This is what I like about this place. We haven't been here in almost two weeks and the waitress still knows our orders. I glance over to Elliot and see him nod.
"Yes Jenni, that'll be perfect." She turns and leaves.
"So what else haven't you done in the last eleven days?" He chuckles.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Jenni pretty much said you haven't been here since I've been in the hospital. What else haven't you done?" What does he care? It's none of his business.
"So?"
"So, I just…well, I just was worried about you while I was in the hospital." He did not just say that.
"Stabler, I can take care of myself without you around you know!" How dare he imply I need him to function.
"That's now what I meant. I just didn't hear from you for a while and couldn't get a hold of you. I thought maybe something was wrong." Oh.
Before I can comment Jenni brings our food and sets it down in front of us. About time too, I'm starving. We sit there in peace and quiet eating our breakfast. When we finish Elliot reaches in his pocket for his wallet.
"My treat El." I tell him as I reach across the table and take his arm, pulling his hand back up.
"Okay. But I need one thing from you." He smiles.
"What's that?"
"Help me find my cell phone."
"Done. It's actually in the top drawer of your desk." I tell him as we get up to walk back to the station.
The whole walk to the station we're holding hands, his fingers laced with mine. I could definitely get used to this. It sucks that this will all end after he has his surgery and doesn't need my help at all anymore. I like having him depend on me like this for once. Not to mention, yeah I've had a bit of a crush on him since Day One. Okay, fine, I've been in love with him. But there is one thing standing in the way of that. Kathy. No matter how much Elliot needs me today, he's always got Kathy.
We get to the station and take the elevator up to the 1-6.
"Livvie, let me try and find my way to my desk on my own, okay?" He says, and I know it's because he's afraid to let the guys see him so dependant on me.
"Sure El, no problem." I tell him then give him a reassuring kiss on the cheek.
Getting off the elevator I let him go ahead of me. Like I said, he needs to feel in charge and independent.
He opens the door and all of a sudden everyone turns around to see us. Then it's like a grand reception. Elliot's being pulled left and right by the guys which I actually find pretty funny. For all they talk about how tough they are they are suddenly a bunch of softies here.
Shortly after we get there Casey comes in. She's about the one person who actually comes over to me first.
"Hey Liv. How's the morning going?"
"Good. We had breakfast." And I say there drooling over my partner.
"Olivia Serena Benson, you're blushing." She whispers, knowing I'd kill her if she ever brought that to the guys' attentions.
I look over to the other side of the room to make sure no one's paying attention to us. Nope, Lake's in interrogation with Fin now and Munch and Elliot are over at Munch's desk chatting about something.
"I got there early, sat down on the bed. He was in the bathroom. Apparently I got there just as his shower was getting over. He comes strolling out in just a towel, chest still wet, looking hot as hell."
She laughs. "You sat there checking him out didn't you? Took advantage of the fact that he couldn't see you."
"Guilt and all, yes. It was so wrong on many, many levels."
"Couldn't tear your eyes away though, could you?" She smirks.
"No." I blush harder.
"Liv, it's not as wrong as you think. With that said, I've got something to tell Elliot and then I'm due in court." She heads over to Fin's desk where Elliot is.
I see Casey lean down in whisper something to Elliot who starts blushing before she says goodbye and leaves. She better have not told him anything about me drooling over him. Elliot then gets up from Fin's desk and walks over to where I am at mine.
"Not doing too bad, am I?" He asks, chuckling.
"Nope, not bad at all." I squeeze his hand.
"Why don't we head out?"
"Alright, sounds good." We go around saying goodbye to everyone before heading back down to my SUV.
"How about we go over to your place? Watch some movies, well I'll listen and you can watch. What do you say?" He asks nervously.
"Won't Kathy and the kids be looking for you?" Okay, something's up.
"You can help me call the kids. Maybe they can come join us. If that's okay with you of course."
"El, what's going on with you and Kathy?"