Chapter Eight

a little more...

Olivia didn't know what to do. She wanted to get out of the car and go up to her apartment, but for some reason she couldn't do it. She knew she should go see Elliot. She needed to go see Elliot. It was that need that kept her from opening the door. She couldn't run away forever, part of her reasoned, but the other part countered that she wasn't ready to tell anyone. She really wasn't ready to tell Elliot until after she healed a little. But will I heal if I don't tell him? She wondered. She put the key back in the ignition and pulled out of her space. It was later; about ten at night. She didn't care, at least if it was this late he would be home, right?

Olivia made it to the steps, but turned around twice. She went up to the door finally, but hesitated before knocking. She couldn't do it. She turned away for the third time. She couldn't take it. Either way, whether she was brave enough to face Elliot or she turned around and went home, she couldn't take the pressure. It drove her crazy. She knew he deserved to know, however, and she deserved to share the pain. She didn't have to carry the burden all by herself. She had others that were more than willing to help.

Without even considering the possibility that the family would be asleep, Olivia started banging on the door.

"Elliot!! ELLIOT!!! I need to talk to you, please! Elliot. Please…" her screams died to desperate cries. She realized how foolish she must look at the moment and turned around shamefully.

"Olivia?" a quiet and somewhat frightened voice asked from behind the screen door.

Olivia whipped around. Under normal conditions, Olivia would've been embarrassed and would be apologizing to Kathy, trying to remain on her good side. Kathy always saw Olivia as a rival for Elliot's affection. This time, however, she didn't care.

"Kathy," she started breathlessly. She was frantic to see Elliot and she begged, "I need to see Elliot, please. Is he there?" she looked behind Kathy, half expecting to see Elliot show up behind her in his pajama pants. No luck; he never did show up. There was a silence as Kathy inspected Olivia's hysterical nature. A baby cried and Kathy looked behind her. She looked at Olivia once and then disappeared into another room.

Olivia wasn't sure whether Kathy's look was permission to come in or not, but she didn't care. She let herself into the Stabler house. She looked around the corner for any sign of Elliot coming on his way to greet her. Again, no luck. She walked to the living room where she found Kathy trying to rock Eli back to sleep.

"Why do you need him?" Kathy asked protectively.

"I need to tell him the truth now," was all Olivia was willing to reveal until she could figure out how Kathy was feeling about her showing up at the house late at night.

Kathy relaxed and sighed. She couldn't be that kind of person; she actually did like Olivia and knew how she felt about Elliot and even how Elliot felt about her.

"He does love you."

"Kathy-" Olivia could barely stammer out a couple syllables out of surprise.

"you're the reason he's like that, though…" slight anger and defeat was detected in her voice, "he rarely comes home. He's always a mess. I hope you do tell him the truth. He deserves it. Especially from you," she added giving Olivia a look.

Olivia looked around as if searching for an escape route.

"Kathy, I'm so sorry. I just- I don't even know how to…"

"No, Olivia, it's okay. I'm jealous of you two, but Elliot's given me more than I could imagine. He loved me, supported me, and was a better father to all of his kids than anyone can hope for. I don't have to like the fact that you've had my husband's heart for years, but I do like you. I hope you work it out. He's not in love with me anymore, but I've come to realize that it doesn't mean he'd be tearing the family up. As I've told you before, you know him in a way I never could. You give him stability, but while you were in the hospital, you took that form him. As soon as he found out you weren't as strong as you let on, he crumbled to pieces."

Olivia shifted slightly in her spot.

"I don't mean to get all sappy like this, Olivia, but this has been coming. It was inevitable. Everyone's noticed. You're only up when he's up with you; he won't fly knowing that you'll be left on the ground."

Olivia was about to respond. She didn't know what to say, but she didn't need to think of what to say. A slamming screen door alerted both women that Elliot was home.


okay soo... hope i finish. if anyone cares i did well on my speaking part ofr my spanish final!

more on the way

reviews please