A/N: Hi all, Countdown is back and I think you guys will love this chapter.
I'm personally happy right now. Got a 98.6 on my Seapower exam. Was about the two World Wars; ever exam in college should be like this, subjects that actually matter, lol.
Disclaimer: SVU isn't mine, and US History is definitely not mine.
Anyway, I've decided to dedicate this story to LaceNLeather24. Her comments and words of encouragement helped me tremendously :)
If you guys want to read some great EO, check out Where it Began by Olivia Hargitay.
Enjoy and please review :)
Chapter Ten: The Love we Share
11:32 PM, December 31st; Flanagan's Pub, New York City
The bar was packed with revelers, taking the annual opportunity to get drunk and usher in the new year. For Olivia Benson however, the drinking had nothing to do with celebrating. Slouching at the bar in a navy blue blouse and knee-length black skirt, she knocked back half of her second vodka on the rocks, wanting to forget everything tonight as the clear liquid burned down her gullet.
Having graduated a semester early from Radcliffe, in a ceremony only attended by Casey, she packed up her things and moved to the Big Apple as part of her fully paid acceptance to Columbia Medical School. It was her dream, but why did Olivia feel so lousy?
"That's easy to figure out," she muttered, nursing the drink. "I'm fucking alone." Everyone was gone: Kathy still in Radcliffe, Casey having moved back to Houston for a while, Fin and Munch in Japan helping the war effort (they were hush-hush about it in their letters), and then there was…
She shook her head, wanting to forget. Lifting the glass up, she downed the rest grimacing.
"Boy, you drink like a pro," a haggard voice said beside her. "Can I buy you another?"
"Fuck off," she spat, not wanting to deal with this right now.
"Liv," the voice said back, causing her to freeze. "Don't you recognize me?"
Hearing the hurt in his voice, Olivia turned around and saw a wraith. The man's expensive suit was a size too big, hanging loosely on his frame. The muscles were still strong but leaner and not in a good way; the face was lined with stress marks and a small bullet scar on his left brow, sunken in by general bad nutrition. Hiss foot was wrapped in a cast, two crutches resting on the bar counter. But it was the eyes, the same azure blue she remembered that made her heart clench. The sparkle in them was gone, replaced by a dull, listless stare. "El?" she whispered softly.
"A little worse for wear I'm afraid," he smirked weakly. "But yeah, it's me."
"EL!" she screamed, lurching out of her seat and squeezing him in a tight embrace. "I was so worried about you," Olivia gushed, tears streaming. For nearly a month his unit, the 1st Marine Division, had been trapped in the Chosin Reservoir in the northeast DPRK, hammered at by the winter cold and tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers as they covered the retreat of the UN forces. The daily reports of casualties and the lack of any of the letters they had been sharing since the day he left for basic training made her think the worst. "I thought you were dead."
Elliot chuckled dryly, his chest vibrating against her cheek. "Believe me, some of the crap I went through was worse than death."
His words just made her squeeze him harder. "At least you're here and alive."
"Mostly here." Seeing her pull back and gaze at him curiously, Elliot elaborated. "Frostbite; we were stuck in subzero temperatures for weeks while the Chicoms threw everything they had at us. Lost my left little toe."
"Oh El," she lamented, hugging him again. Olivia felt guilty, knowing that the only reason he was there in that Godforsaken land was because of her. "I'm so sorry."
To her surprise he began chuckling. "I knew you'd do that Benson, but don't feel guilty. It was my choice, and if given the option I'd do it again."
"You would?" At his nod she embraced him again, losing herself in his arms. Hearing a small whimper, Olivia looked up to see him yawning widely, the dark bags under his eyes all the more evident upon further reflection. "You need to sleep El. Where are you staying?"
"At the Ritz-Carleton on Central Park. Have my own room and everything."
"Ok then, let's get you there." Before they could leave though the crowd began chanting the countdown to 1951.
"Five." Elliot looked at Olivia.
"Four." Olivia stared back at him.
"Three." Elliot smirked, the familiar twinkle returning to his dull eyes.
"Two." Olivia blushed at his implication.
"One!" Elliot leaned in.
"Happy New Year!" As the revelers blew horns, released confetti, and screamed at the top of their lungs the two friends' lips met. While the kiss was chaste, Liv and El felt a warm feeling rush through them, losing themselves to the passion of the moment.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…
12:51, January 1st, 1951; Ritz-Carlton Central Park, New York City
An arm thrown around Elliot to hold him steady (the wounds and the hospital stay had really done a number on him), Olivia unlocked the hotel room door and led him in. "Here you are Elliot, home free. Oh my God." She took a look at the entire suite. It was amazing, expensive furniture, finely crafted light fixtures, hell, there was even a baby grand piano right in the living room. "I had no idea they had pianos in hotel rooms. This is yours?"
"Yep, curtsey of my dad. Of course, I could sleep in a dirt foxhole if I had to," he clarified. "Wouldn't be an easy sleep afterwards though." Yawning again, he looked to the bedroom. "Haven't slept well in a long while."
"Oh El," Olivia soothed, smiling at him. "Let's get you into bed and then we can start feeding you in the morning."
"Get the walking skeleton back up to par huh Liv?" he quipped, chuckling dryly.
Olivia sighed, leading him to the bedroom. On the way there from the bar they had talked about everything that had happened since June, the gritty details that Elliot had omitted from his letters. The high spirits after Inchon, the sudden reeling of the UN forces after the Chinese invaded, and of course the harsh conditions of the battle around the Reservoir. Elliot had detailed how he watched his best friend in the Corps die right in front of him. "There was a company trapped in a vital pass needed for the retreat. A Lt. named Davis led our battalion to rescue them but the going was tough. We battered our way through three successive ridges but we made it, Davis giving us inspiration. However, my buddy's squadron was trapped by a Chinese counterattack. All other men busy fighting it off, I charged with the medical supplies to the unit." Elliot had shivered, remembering the cold. "After fighting off God knows how many Chinese, I reached them only to see them all wounded, needing me to fight off the enemy until more men reached us. My buddy, he was wounded in the gut. Bled to death in my arms." The tears that flowed needed several minutes of Olivia's gentle embrace to stop. She was heartbroken for him, but at the same time proud. He truly was the greatest man she had ever known.
The fact he told her that Fin and Munch were arranging a newer assignment for him just increased her worry. From what Fin told her it might be even more dangerous than what Elliot had already gone through.
Setting him down gently on the bed, she helped Elliot remove his suit, dress shirt, and pants to leave him in his boxers and undershirt. To her surprise, he removed the shirt and exposed his bare chest to her. While he was obviously tired, Olivia blushed anyway, Elliot looking unbelievably handsome even in his battered state.
Sleep seeming to overtake him, she placed a kiss on his cheek, rubbing it softly with her thumb like that night the summer before. Her mind drifted to the kiss they shared then, and the kiss they had shared tonight. "Goodnight Elliot. Sweet dreams."
Just as she was about to slip out the door, Olivia heard him whimper. "Liv, please stay."
Her heart fluttered at the tone of his voice, as if he were a lost child needing comfort. How could she deny him? Slipping out of her dress and skirt, Olivia picked up Elliot's shirt from the ground, figuring it was better to sleep in than only her bra and panties.
Sliding in beside him, Olivia wrapped her arms around the now snoring Elliot. "Sleep tight El, everything's fine now. I'll be here as long as you need me." Soon she passed out as well.
Neither of them had ever slept so well before.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…
12:15 PM, January 20th, 1951; Penthouse of Joseph Stabler, New York City
"The meal was delicious Bernie, thank you," Olivia smiled.
"You're welcome dear, but please have another bite of cake," Bernie Stabler replied, holding out a tray of the chocolate dessert to Olivia.
"No no, I'm stuffed. I couldn't eat another bite," the younger woman laughed, causing the assembled Stabler's to chuckle as well. Sitting beside her, Elliot clasped her hand and squeezed it under the table, beaming at Olivia. When she smiled back, he moved his hand to the top of her thigh, an innocent look on his face.
Shocked, Olivia accidently tipped over her glass of water, spilling some on her dress. "Damn," she breathed, dabbing it with a towel. "I need to dry this up, excuse, me."
"Now Olivia," chuckled Joseph Stabler, "Did I give you permission to leave the table?" Elliot rolled his eyes at his father; he quipped like this all the time.
Absentmindedly Olivia replied, "Well, I'm not dating you am I?" Everyone's eyes widened and Olivia clasped her hand over her mouth, immediately realizing what she just said. Joe Stabler's temper was said to eclipse that of his son's.
Luckily, the patriarch of the family began to bellow with laughter. "You have good taste Elliot, I like this girl," he said between bouts of laughter. "Go ahead Olivia, no one's stopping you."
Looking relieved, Olivia smiled at everyone (with a lingering look at Elliot) and left for the bathroom.
Happy his family all liked Olivia, Elliot sat back and reflected on the last several weeks. He and Olivia had spent most of every waking moment together, enjoying the sights around the city and learning more and more about the other person. Thanks to her care and diligence as well, his healthy, muscular frame returned, feeling better than ever. Elliot couldn't help but think that some of that was due to her rather than his newfound health. The fact that she got along so well with his family only made his love for her grow.
Her statement had been accurate, since they were technically dating, enjoying one another's company and getting into a fight every few days or so; they'd sulk for several hours each time until a teary eyed Olivia hugged him or Elliot did something romantic. Afterwards they'd be as good as new.
Every time she was near he'd feel a longing in his heart, a strong desire to be close to her in every way possible. However, except for a few chaste goodnight kisses they had not gone any further.
"So mom, that was lovely. Elliot, can you help me clear the table?" asked his older brother Marcus.
"Uh, sure," Elliot replied, standing up as well. Grabbing several plates, he followed his brother into the kitchen.
"Good job bro," Marcus said when they entered the kitchen. "I'm glad you know what you're doing."
"Huh?" Elliot wasn't sure where his brother was going with this.
"Nothing." They settled into a washing regimen in the sink. "Have you told her yet?"
Elliot hung his head, knowing what he was talking about this time. "No, I'm scared to how she'll react."
The throaty sounds of her laughter wafted into the room, the sound Elliot loved to hear. A contended smile forming on his lips at the sound, he looked up to see his brother smirking at him. "Don't worry about that Elliot, she loves you too."
Silence returning, Elliot really didn't know how to respond to that.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…
2:30 PM, January 20th, 1951; Ritz-Carlton Central Park, New York City
Fresh from lunch with his family, Olivia threw her coat onto the couch in his room, sighing. "You have a wonderful family Elliot." Not having much of a family herself, she appreciated one far more than the average person.
"They loved you too Liv, I can tell." He replied, reaching forward and pulling her into his arms. "Even though you have no tact."
She blushed. "Oh my God, I can't believe I said that to your dad. I thought he'd go Stabler on me."
Elliot raised an eyebrow. "So now I'm a verb?"
"Yes," she replied with a grin. Wanting to laugh at the glare, she brought her lips to his and kissed softly, the same chaste kiss that had become their trademark. However, she sensed a slight hesitation in him. "El? You ok?"
"Uh, I'm fine."
"Liar," she remarked; in the last few weeks Olivia could read him like a book. "I don't want there to be secrets between us El. Tell me."
Sighing, he rose and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm shipping out to Okinawa next week."
The words were like a knife to Olivia's heart; there were no tears, it was still the shock stage. "One week?" Only one week more with Elliot, and then it was back into the war, back to crying on her pillow at the knowledge that he could die at a moment's notice. "When did you find out?"
"Last night," Elliot stated softly, not wanting to hurt Olivia more than the news would. In a sense the new assignment would be more dangerous than his position during Chosin. "I wanted to tell you then but you were so happy this morning that I decided to wait until after our lunch."
The tears were now welling in her eyes, but Olivia blinked them back. "One week," she murmured, as if it was the last moments she'd ever see him again. Without warning she lunged herself at him, her arms wrapping around his waist and squeezing tightly. "Don't go El; don't leave me."
He returned the embrace, burying his face in her hair. "I don't want to leave you Liv."
"Then why are you going? You more than did your share in that hellish reservoir!" she cried out, cursing the unfairness of it all.
"I have to do this Liv. If good men like me do nothing then evil will infect the entire world. Communism is evil Liv."
"I know El, I just don't want to lose you." With those words she pulled her head back and brought his head down to hers, mouths meeting in a kiss. Unlike their previous kisses this one was far different, a passionate melding of lips and tongues, as if they were trying to memorize the taste and feel of each other.
Breaking the kiss, the two stared into each other's eyes. Olivia gazed at Elliot hungrily, memorizing every single detail of his face not wanting to forget anything: the strong set of his jaw, the small bullet crease above his left brow, the impossible blue of his stunning eyes. Looking into those eyes, she saw him doing the same.
"Can I have a picture of you?" she blurted out, wanting something of his unlike the first time he shipped out.
"I don't carry headshots of myself around," he told her with his signature smirk. "What am I? Frank Sinatra?"
She giggled; leave it to Elliot to make her laugh at a time like this. "Please?"
"Let me see what I have." He ran into the bedroom. After a few minutes he came back in with a small picture frame that opened up like a book. Opening it, Olivia noticed two pictures; Elliot removed one and handed it to her. "Here, it's a picture of my family after I graduated basic training."
It was Olivia saw. The family was clustered around a handsome Elliot in his marine uniform, all looking proud of him. Elliot though was smiling, his humility shining through; it made her want to melt. "You're giving me a picture with your family?"
He shrugged. "I carried it through the war; it gave me strength in the darkest times of the fighting in the reservoir knowing what I was fighting for, fighting to come home to. I want you to have it, to get the same strength I did. I can always get another one from my mom anyway."
'He carried this through the war?' "May I see the other picture?" she asked softly.
Usually so self-assured, Elliot hesitated nervously before handing the frame to her. Olivia opened it and immediately gasped. The picture inside was one cut out of a Radcliffe yearbook. It was one of her; Elliot had carried a picture of her all throughout the battle, all through the carnage. She gave him strength. The damn broke and she began to sob, hard.
"Liv," he said, immediately worried. "What's wrong, why are you crying?"
"Because I love you!" The sobs were wracking her body and soul but Olivia somehow was able to speak. "Because you also love me!"
"You love me?" he asked, the confidant man he usually was replaced with someone more timid.
"Yes," she said through the tears. "I love you Elliot."
Without warning he crossed the gap and wrapped her up in his arms, heart breaking at her tears but soul warmed by her declaration. "I love you too Liv. I've loved you since that night in the car."
He said it, he loved her too. The admission caused more tears to flow from her eyes. "Why didn't you say anything?" she wailed, her passion morphing into rage. "Why'd you leave without telling me?"
"I'm sorry Liv, but I couldn't hurt Fin or Kathy that way. If we had gotten together then they would have been crushed."
Typical selfless Elliot, Olivia thought, always putting others before himself. It was one of the reasons she loved him so much, but right now that blessing seemed like more of a curse. "To hell with them!" she yelled, pummeling his chest with her fists. Instead of letting go however, Elliot just held her tighter. "Let go of me!" she seethed, knowing if she remained in his arms her anger would crumble. "How could you put their happiness over mine you asshole?"
"It would have been dishonorable to have done anything Liv but yes, I should have at least told you," he admitted. Every single day and night in the freezing hell that was the reservoir he had thought of Olivia, how much he loved her and regret for how he just left. Now was his chance to make it right. "I was just so scared, scared that everything would have been fucked up more than it already was."
"We could have had longer," Olivia murmured, prediction coming true as her anger evaporated, dropping her head into his chest. "More time to be together."
"We have now Liv," Elliot replied, kissing her hair lovingly.
"One week, we only have one week." The thought of him heading off to war again was killing her.
"Then stop crying and kiss me Benson."
Looking up into Elliot's eyes, Olivia's heart melted at the sight. His azure eyes were sparkling, shining with love; in her entire life no one had ever looked at her like that. "You have the best ideas Stabler," she breathed, leaning forward and planting her lips on his.
This kiss was more frenzied than the first one, an animal hunger and desperate desire to be as close as humanly possible governing it. Lost in his kiss and focused on giving back as good a she got, Olivia let Elliot walk her backwards into his bedroom, her legs hitting the mattress in no time at all. Breaking for air, Elliot moved his lips to the column of Olivia's neck, kissing, sucking, and licking from right behind her ear to her throbbing pulse as he eased them onto the bed.
Olivia's mind was spinning. Here she was with the man she loved more than life kissing her, caressing her, about to make love to her. 'Oh God.' Elliot Stabler was about to make love to her; wetness gushing from her core, Olivia grasped Elliot's head and pulled it upward till they were staring at each other, her eyes black with lust and love. "Don't tease me El. I need you." She leaned forward and kissed him hard before pulling away. "Make love to me."
Blue eyes darkening as well, Elliot pulled Olivia into another hungry kiss. Impatient with desire for this woman, the woman he loved, his hands ran up from her side to the buttons of her dress, tugging hard and ripping it off. Two sharp tugs and it loosened, Olivia raising her arms so Elliot could lift it off. The sight of her in nothing but her bra and panties, bronzed skin shining in the low lamplight and lithe curves shifting shyly, sobered him quickly to what he was about to do.
"Liv, are you sure about this? I... I… I've never done this before," he admitted, a blush forming on his cheeks.
'What?' Olivia was shocked, never thinking the confidant and self-assured Elliot Stabler would say that to her; it was so adorable. "El," she said softly, cupping his cheek. "That's alright, I haven't either. There is no way you could disappoint me."
Their movements continued, though this time was slower, the two lovers removing clothing and discovering new territory with loving care, though quickly proceeding. Soon, they were both fully naked with Olivia positioned under Elliot with his member ready at her entrance. Running a hand softly down her face and neck, he kissed her cheek. "I love you Liv. Are you ready?"
Olivia nodded, happy tears running down her cheeks at the obvious love in his eyes. "Yes El, I love you too. Just go slow please."
Accepting her answer, Elliot brought his lips to hers, dueling with her tongue just as he pushed inside her.
Gasping in his mouth, Olivia cringed at the slight pain. Casey had warned her about this, how whether her fist time would be painful or enjoyable depended on the man and how caring or callous he was. Detaching his lips and kissing down to her breasts while moving slowly inside of her, Elliot proved to be the former and oh how amazing it became, the pain forgotten as Olivia moaned in ecstasy.
"God Liv," Elliot said through clenched teeth. The feeling of being inside her, surrounded by her was indescribable. It was as if he needed this woman, all of her; grunting in pleasure, he buried himself to the hilt inside her.
Eyes rolling inside her head, Olivia screamed and bit down on Elliot's shoulder. "So good El. Faster please." The pain was completely gone, replaced by a pleasure so intense it was like a drug in her system. Elliot beginning to rock inside her more and more, she knew that she wouldn't last long. "God Elliot, I'm so close." Tilting her hip slightly, Olivia was rewarded when Elliot slammed into her, hitting a different spot while crashing their lips together. "Ellllllll!" she screamed into his mouth.
Elliot felt like he had been lobotomized when she clamped down on him. The contractions of her walls on his member brought him to the edge and one additional thrust sent him careening over it. Groaning into her mouth, Elliot shot into her while continuing to thrust, prolonging both their climaxes. Finally spent, he used his last remaining strength to flip them over, collapsing onto his back with Olivia resting on top of him.
Hugging her close, Elliot kissed the top of her head. "I love you Olivia. I promise I'll always come back to you."
Nuzzling his chest, Olivia placed a loving kiss right above his heart. "I love you too Elliot. And I'll always be waiting for you."
They were joined at the hip for the rest of the week, never leaving apart and never returning apart. They spent all of their time together, walking in Central Park, eating side by side, but for the most part staying inside and expressing their love. Days were spent pressed together in every form of sexual pleasure imaginable, only ending when they passed out exhausted, curled up in each other's arms. For Elliot and Olivia, it was the single most magical time in their entire lives.
When Elliot had to head back to San Francisco, Olivia joined him on the train further extending their bliss. Seeing him off on the large transport ship for Japan, she felt something pressed into her hand while they kissed on the pier. "For you Olivia, so that you'll never be without me." She looked at her palm and found a gold necklace, emblazoned with the words: Semper Fi.
For weeks afterward, clutching the necklace to her chest, Olivia cried for the love of her life, beseeching God every day to keep him safe.
Eight weeks after he shipped out, she found out she was pregnant.
A/N: Bum, bum, bum! And still more questions. It's actually kind of fun, lol.
Anyway, aside from the ending how did you like it? Finally showed how they got together in the first place.
The description of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir is accurate. In order to block the Chinese advance so that the UN forces could evacuate out of Hamhung, North Korea, the US 1st Marine Division endured blistering cold and constant attack. Seventeen Medals of Honor were awarded and the 1st Marine Division, the 41st Royal Marine Commando, and the Army's RCT-31 were given the Presidential Unit Citation. Lt. Ray Davis, the man I alluded to in Elliot's story, was a real MoH recipient and the action described did happen.
As a clarification, the baby alluded to at the end is not Maureen. Maureen is too young to have been born in 1951 in this story. Don't worry, the circumstances of her birth will be said :)
Be sure to enjoy and review (a sneak peek will be given for the latter).
God Bless
Alex