A/N: Quick update today!
This chapter is really upsetting and hard. I hope you still like it though. Reviews, please.
Olivia took a deep breath and looked around the quiet living room before looking up in Elliot's blue eyes. She pursed her lips together and then looked down again. She had made up her mind.
"Come on Liv. It's okay." He put his hand on top of hers and looked at her lips.
"Elliot… I have a reason to believe that—"she was interrupted by the door bell ringing. "Let me get it, El." She had a pretty good idea of who was at the door and she didn't want Elliot to find out in that way.
"What? Why?" he got up and followed her to the door.
"Elliot, go sit down."
"Liv—"
"NOW!" she said louder. He listened to her and watched as she slowly walked to the door and peeked through the curtain on the window. She opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight.
"Uh… Hey, where's… uhm…" the guy on the other side of the door was flustered and at a loss for words. He had no idea who the woman in front of him was. He was here to see someone else.
"Kathy? Oh, she is at the hospital with her daughter." Olivia said giving him a look.
"Kathy? Who is Kathy?" he nervously giggled and looked all around. "Who are you?"
"How long have you been coming here?"
"None of your business."
"Her husbands inside and if you didn't know, he is a cop. Want me to get him?" she smiled.
His eyes got wide and he looked down to see the empty gun holster on her hip and the NYPD shield beside it. He turned and ran through the yard, down the street to where she was sure his car was parked. She didn't mind if Kathy ruined her marriage, she just didn't want Elliot to get hurt.
She laughed to herself and walked back in the house.
"Who was that?" Elliot walked out of the front room. He had been watching from the window.
"Let's go back to the couch, El. I have to explain to you."
"You're having men over at my house? Just don't let Kathy find out."
Olivia sucked in a breath as she sat down. "Not me, El."
"Huh?"
"Kathy… Kathy, she has been cheated on you." She said quietly, shifting her body sideways so she was facing Elliot. She laid her hands gently on his thigh. "I don't know for how long, I wasn't snooping in your house I swear. I found out because, I knocked this book off of the table last night." She picked it up off the table beside the lamp. She opened it up and there were pictures and letters. She handed them to Elliot.
He looked through the pictures seeing Kathy smiling wide with some guy; the same guy that was talking to Olivia outside his house a few minutes before.
No. This isn't happening. This can't be happening.
Olivia saw the tears well up in his eyes. He through the pile of photos and letters in Olivia's lap and he stood up and put his hand over his eyes.
"El… I'm so sorry…" she stood up put her hand on his arm.
He shook her hand off his arm and turned quickly to face her. She saw the anger and hurt that filled his blue eyes. She knew she would feel horrible after telling him. She couldn't let him find out any other way. Especially if his kids were around at the time; a risk she wasn't willing to take.
"Elliot…" she wanted to make him feel better. Nothing could have ever prepared her for what came next. He raised his arm and slapped her as hard as he could, causing her to fall back on the couch. She held her cheek in her hand as she turned to face him. Hot tears stung her cheeks.
He looked down at her and then at his hand. His jaw fell open and his brow furrowed as he stared down at her. She was only trying to help him out. He watched the tears fall down her face, silently. The fear and hurt in her eyes only made his heart ache further. He wanted to reach down to her and apologize and help her up. He wanted to comfort her, but he just couldn't get his body to connect with his mind at that moment.
Olivia stood up slowly, walking backwards until she was on the other side of the couch. "Elliot, I have no idea what the hell has gotten into you, but I sure as hell hope you don't hit your children like that. Please, go lay down or something." She began to walk towards the door but Elliot caught up to her. He grabbed her shoulder and she reacted by throwing her elbow back into his rib causing him to let go.
He stumbled back and grabbed his side. "I know I deserved that. Shit, Liv, no wonder no one ever walks away from a fight with you…" he looked at her, still keeping her distance. He needed to make this right before she left. "Olivia, I am so sorry…" the tears that had threatened to spill before came pouring out. "Olivia, you are everything to me. You have got to know that. I don't know what to say about what just happened. It wasn't right, it shouldn't have happened. That was meant for Kathy, that's the only thing I can think of. God, I'm so stupid… Liv, please just listen to me…" he looked up at her, his eyes pleading. "I love you, Olivia. This is the final straw. Since I got home this morning I've only thought about how great you are and how perfectly amazing you are. I will never be with Kathy again. I will file for divorce first thing after my daughter is discharged from the hospital. I can't walk away from them; you have to know that of all people. I just don't know why it took me so long and how could I have not known about that… I have suspected it for about three years now… God, I'm so stupid, I let myself get hurt and I hurt the one woman that has ever given a damn about me. Olivia… please say something…" he tried to wipe the tears away but they kept falling.
Olivia walked over to Elliot who was leaning his back against a wall and awkwardly holding himself up by leaning down on the glass table in the foyer. She walked up to him and he stood up straight. She placed one hand on the side of his face and she grabbed his hand with the other. "Elliot, I have never know you to hit a woman. I will never ever forget this… I'm sure it's going to be a friendly reminder there for a month or so…" she looked into his eyes, "But, Elliot Stabler, you have the hold over me. I need you in my life. I'm sorry it had to happen in this way, but I am glad I'm finally going to get a chance at happiness. I love you and have loved you for the past twelve years of my life. Every time I dated someone, it never worked because they weren't you…" she leaned in and let her lips softly touch his. He brought his hand up to the side of her face that was already beginning to bruise. He softly rubbed it and kissed it softly.
"I'm so sorry…" he whispered.
"I shouldn't, but, I forgive you Elliot." She softly kissed him again. She had so many emotions running through her mind. She couldn't wait to finally get a chance with him.
"I'm going to make you happy. I'm going to give you what you deserve and everything you want. I promise." Elliot whispered the truth, holding her close.
