A New Start
Chapter Nine
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: They belong to me in my dreams only.
Author Notes: Thank you so much for leaving over a hundred reviews! This story has more reviews than any of my stories other than Deep Running and it had 14 chapters. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for liking this. I am so excited to have Elliot come to the precinct. This time he plays a different role there, but ends up helping out anyway.
Olivia literally floated into the precinct and into the squad room. She saw Don leaning against his door when she came in and Fin was grinning from ear to ear as he took in her appearance and "afterglow". This could not be good. Could it?
Cragen's finger crooked towards her beckoning her to his office. She sighed and put her things in her locker as she cast a menacing look at Fin.
"Hey, I didn't say a thing."
"Uh-huh."
Nick looked up as the exchange went down.
"Say anything about what?"
Fin scowled at the young detective.
"Nothin' Just do your paperwork Amaro."
Liv gave Fin a compassionate smile as she headed into Don's office.
"It's okay Fin."
He leaned against his desk and gestured to one of the "hot seat " chairs. The detectives never liked being beckoned to sit in one of those chairs. She and Elliot had often found themselves seated there side by side as Don ranted at them for something lame they had done.
"Have a seat Olivia."
"Uh-oh. You only use my first name when it's something serious. Are you going to give me a lecture?"
"From the smile on your face and the happiness I see there I am only going to tell you how happy I am the two of you got your heads out of your asses finally."
"Fin told you?"
"No, I guessed when he said it wasn't Haden. The only man I know that can make you that happy has to be Stabler. How is he?"
"He's great Cap. He's been to hell and back, but he's healing."
"I take it he and Kathy aren't together anymore."
"No, they aren't."
"I'm sad for his family, but I saw it coming eight years ago."
"You did?"
Cragen's eyebrows went up.
"I am a detective Liv."
Liv grinned at him.
"You always knew didn't you?"
"I did. I also thought you were going to be the one to get hurt and I was right. No one deserves to be shut out like that, especially after staying with him for so many years. Has he paid his dues with you?"
"He has and then some."
"I take it you two are in a relationship now?"
"We are."
"Tell him if he hurts you I will make his life a living hell."
"I think he knows you and Fin will hunt him down."
"Along with Munch and Amaro."
"Nick's a good partner. How do you always know what I need?"
"Thirteen years in the trenches together Liv. I know you like you were my own daughter. I…uh…think of you that way you know."
"I do and when I think of family you are the one person who has been like a father to me."
Liv could see the talk was becoming uncomfortable. She needed to give him an out. The Captain didn't do mushy.
"Well, I better get back to work."
"When's he going to drop in and see everyone?"
"I think he's afraid you guys will jump him, so he's laying low."
"Tell him to get his ugly mug in here soon or I will send out a detail to fetch him."
"Thanks Cap."
"Now get out of here and start acting like a detective and not a lovesick schoolgirl."
"Hey!"
Cragen just grinned at her.
"I am going to have so much fun with you two."
Liv stood and was shocked to be pulled into Don's arms and given a hug. The man rarely showed emotion like that and she was touched.
When she came out Nick was looking at her with wild eyes. He had seen the hug.
"What? Are you dyin' or quittin' or somethin'? I never saw Cap hug anybody."
"Relax Amaro. It's all good."
"Okay, so as your partner I think I have a right to know what is going on."
"I'll tell you, okay? Just not right here."
Nick looked back down at his paperwork. This discussion was not over.
"Fine."
Liv looked back to smile at Cragen only to see him on the phone scribbling something down. His face always told her when they had a case.
"Benson. Amaro. Body in Central Park. Get there now."
"You got it Cap."
Liv snatched the information from Don, grabbed her gun and badge and took off after Nick who was already heading towards the elevator.
"So?"
"Um, white female approximately sixteen to seventeen years old, strangled and evidence of sexual assault."
"That's not what I meant Liv. What is going on with you? The whole planet seems to know except for me. I'm your partner Liv."
"I know. I just…I don't want you to think less of me when you find out."
"Find out what? For cryin' out loud, Liv. Spill it!"
"Okay. Okay."
They climbed in their sedan and headed out towards the park.
"You uh, know I had a partner before you."
"Yeah, Stabler. I've heard the skinny. You guys were tight. He killed a kid and left you without so much as a word. What an asshole."
"Yeah, well, this is why I didn't want to tell you. I knew you'd judge."
Nick felt bad when he saw Liv stiffen up and shut down.
"I'm sorry Liv. I had no right to say that. I just feel protective of you and the stories make you two sound like some kind of super heroes, but there was a lot of talk about you being too close for partners."
"We were too close, but we never acted on those feelings until now."
"You're with Stabler? Isn't he married?"
"Not anymore. He came back into my life and we are trying a relationship. I just wanted you to know before it gets around the precinct, so you will know what to say if people question you."
"Wow! You could knock me over with a feather Liv. I had no idea. You acted so professional when I came that I thought it was just water cooler talk. You love the guy?"
Liv sat silently as they pulled up to the curb and Nick put the car in park. Once he turned off the engine, she spoke.
"Yeah, I do, very much."
Nick looked at her and gave her a genuine smile.
"Then I'm happy for you Liv. I'm really happy for you, but if Stabler hurts you I will…"
"Yeah, I know. So will half the squad."
They laughed and then sobered up quickly as they got out and pulled their badges out, slipping under the crime scene tape. And that was the last they got to talk about Elliot as the case quickly went to three murders and rapes in three days.
By the third day Liv was exhausted and angry. After she lashed out at Nick and Fin for the third time in a row Cragen sent her upstairs to the crib for a rest and she used the time to call Elliot. She hadn't talked to him beyond a few texts during the hellish days and she just needed his voice to ground her.
"Hey. How you holdin' up?"
"El. I just need to hear your voice for a few minutes. Help me get out of my head for a few minutes. Tell me something funny Eli said or something Max did. Please El?"
Elliot had never been in this role with her before, but he felt honored she turned to him.
"Okay. Let's see…Eli drew a picture of us in the park and one of us at the beach. I'm bald in both."
Liv snickered.
"Max ate Eli's rubber duck and barfed it back up all over the kitchen floor. I couldn't be mad at him. At least he didn't do it on the carpet. Eli was devastated. We had to go to FAO Schwartz and buy another one. Max…"
"Thanks El."
"Can I do anything else for you?"
"A hug would be nice, but we can't do that over the phone."
"Where are you now?"
"Cragen sent me to the cribs and told me not to come back down for at least two hours, but those girls, Elliot. They haunt my dreams."
"You're a good cop Liv. I don't know if I ever told you that, but you are. The fact that you think about and care about the victims is what makes you so good. You will catch this guy Liv. It's what you do and you're damned good at it."
"See, this is what I needed…you. Thanks El. I'm going to try to catch some sleep and then eat something."
"Okay. I love you. See you soon."
"I hope so El. I really hope so."
Liv lay down on the bunk and threw her arm over her eyes and fell into an exhausted sleep.
An hour and a half later Fin looked up from the situation board to see a casually dressed Elliot Stabler entering the squad room with a visitor's pass and a brown bag.
"Yo, Elliot, you finally got the nerve to show your sorry ass back here?"
"Hey Fin. It's good to see you."
The two men embraced as Munch came around the corner with a file in hand.
"Stabler, as I live and breathe. I never thought I'd see you hanging out here again."
Nick looked up from his paperwork. So this was the infamous Elliot Stabler. He sized him up. They were about the same height, but the guy was more muscular and imposing. Nick figured he could take down a guy twice his size. So this was the guy Liv was in love with. He hoped he deserved her.
"I want to catch up guys, but first, where's Liv? Is she still up in the cribs? I brought her some dinner."
"Say it isn't so. Stabler has a romantic side?"
"Munch, I'm a complicated guy. Didn't you ever figure that out?"
The three men took a moment to enjoy the banner. It had been too long. Fin broke it up.
"Yeah, man she's up there. She needs you to balance her like you used to do. Our girl has really been on edge with this one."
"Thanks Fin. Tell Cragen I'll stop by on my way out."
Elliot took the stairs two at a time. He had missed Liv so much. He hadn't seen her in almost four days.
She was dead to the world and part of him hated to wake her. He had often been sent up here to get her during a long case and would always stand for just a minute and study her while she slept. It was the only time he really got to look at her. After he watched her for a minute he did something he had always wanted to do, but never had the guts.
Moving over to the bed she was in, he leaned in and woke her with a soft and tender kiss.
"Mmm. El…"
Her eyes shot open.
"What are you doing here?"
"You said you were hungry and you could use a hug, so here I am."
He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his arms.
Liv sank into his embrace and just breathed him in.
"Oh yeah. This definitely helping."
Elliot reached for the bag he had set on the floor.
"Chinese anyone?"
"Oh, you didn't."
"I did."
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Not in the last few days. No."
Liv stood and took his hand leading him out to the lounge area to sit on the couch and spread out their food.
"You are the best boyfriend ever."
"Wow, boyfriend. That sounds weird coming out of your mouth."
Liv looked at him for a minute.
"You're right. It does, but I like it."
"Me too."
They ate and snuggled on the couch while Liv talked to Elliot about he case. At one point she said something about one of the girls having an American Girl Doll and that's when it hit Elliot.
"Do either of the other girls have American Girl Dolls?"
Liv looked confused.
"Uh, maybe. Yeah. I think Sara did, victim number two."
"I bet you so does your third victim."
"What are you getting at El?"
"That's the connection! When Lizzie was younger, her favorites place in the world was American Doll Place at Fifth Avenue and 49th. I would take her there for the day. It has a restaurant, a bookstore, a t-shirt shop and a photo studio where the girls get their picture put on the cover of the American Doll magazine to take home. They can get their doll's hair done at the doll hair salon and then shop for stuff for their doll. I only took Lizzie there for her birthday because the place is so expensive. What if the perp works there?"
"What are we waiting for? Come with me to talk to Don."
They made their way downstairs holding hands and headed straight to Don's office. Liv had the rest of the team follow them.
"Hey guys. Elliot has an idea on a lead to our perp."
Cragen looked up from his paperwork to see an excited Liv leading Elliot into his office followed by the entire team. He frowned and stood up.
"Uh, Elliot, it's good to see you, but I wasn't made aware we were going to party with the team in the middle of a big case."
"Captain, I was talking to El about the case and he hit on something."
"You just can't stay away, can you Stabler? Okay, spill it."
"So Lizzie has this doll…"
A/N: So will Elliot's idea be the break they needed? Will everyone on the team accept his help and will he realize just how much he misses the squad? Hmmm.
