Chapter 10 – Cacophony
A/N: Read, enjoy…I hope, review. Let me know what you think! " ) Bensler
Chapter 10 – Cacophony
Stabler Apartment • Tuesday, August 26th • 8:40 p.m.
Something woke him. He opened his eyes and looked around the apartment. He must not have dozed that long because the Yankees' game was still on. They were trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Olivia was heavy against him in her sleep. He smiled, placing several kisses upon her head. Hearing the door open, he realized the noise had been someone turning the lock. He looked up to see Maureen coming in. She froze in her tracks when she saw her Dad sitting with Olivia, his arms around her, she sidled up to him as close as she could get, fast asleep.
How could she do that? How could he let her? Had he forgotten Olivia had a date just a few nights ago? Probably sat just this way with another man? Maybe he didn't think it was a big a deal, but Maureen sure did. She was not surprised to see them like this together. They had actually become quite affectionate with one another and that was a big reason why she thought there was a lot more to this relationship.
She really liked Olivia. She might even venture to say she loved her. She had become her confidante in matters of the heart and other things she could not discuss with her parents. She also knew Olivia was good for Elliot. He was a different man when she was around, settled, happier, always joking and kidding, smiling. That was why she felt betrayed that Olivia had gone out with another man, even if Elliot chose to overlook it. She did want to see Olivia right now, much less have to talk to her. Or her Dad either, for that matter.
Elliot gently released Olivia, gently slipping his arm from around her, trying not to wake her. "Hey, sweetheart," he met Maureen as she finally found her legs and shut the door behind her.
"Hey, Dad," she leaned up and kissed him, then fixed a glare toward Olivia who was now awake and standing up, stretching.
"Hey, Maur," she smiled coming to give her a hug which Maureen did not really return.
She noticed the puzzled looked on Olivia's face and decided to put some distance between them. "So, any pizza left? I'm starving," she headed for the kitchen.
"Plenty of pizza. Liv made sure to get all veggie for you and her…she only ate two slices," Elliot opened the frig and started looking in each box. On the third one he found the veggie.
"How's school?" Olivia asked as she handed a paper plate to Maureen.
"Fine," she replied, icily, and then turned to Elliot. "Have you heard from Mom?"
Giving Olivia a quick glance, he looked back at Maureen, "Not since when she first got there…said Gramps was stable and now they aren't sure if it was a heart attack."
"That's great! Right? I mean, it couldn't be something else that would be as bad?" she wanted Elliot's reassurance.
"Well…they're doing a catherization in the morning…checking for blockages," he handed her a Dr. Pepper and a napkin.
"But I thought you said…he didn't have a heart attack?" she popped the top of the soda can.
"Well, something caused enough chest pain for the ER to think he was having a heart attack. If they find blockages, then they can take care of them before he does have an attack." Elliot explained.
"And if it comes to that, they do wonders these days with heart surgery…look at Captain Cragen," smiling, Olivia pushed a strand of Maureen's dark blond hair behind her ear.
Maureen jerked away from her and pulled the hair out from behind her ear, leaving Olivia with an open-mouthed gape as the hurt flashed across her face. Elliot frowned as he wondered what was going on with his oldest daughter.
"Yea…that's why Dad is acting as Captain…they did wonders for him," she snapped.
"Maureen…that's not fair. You know it takes time to recuperate from an operation like that, but Don's doing great. And Gramps will, too, if he has to have surgery," Elliot tried to pull her into a hug to comfort her, but she pulled away from him.
The way he flinched when she pulled away from him made her realize she was being rude and she tried to make amends.
"You're right…I'm sorry I snapped…it's been a long day and I…I'm worried about Gramps…and my new job is stressful…" she explained.
"New job?" Olivia decided to try again to be a part of the conversation.
Maureen looked over at her and then back to her pizza, "I signed up for a program through the psych department at school. It's sort of a cross between being a Big Sister and mentor…this was my third time," she explained.
"They paying you for this?" Elliot wondered. He knew these types of programs were generally volunteer.
"The city gives a small mileage allowance, and I get 3 elective credits," she told him.
"Sounds interesting. What do you do exactly?" Olivia took a seat across at the table from Maureen.
"Liv…you want something to drink?" Elliot asked her.
"Water, please," she smiled and he brought her a bottle of water as he came and sat beside her.
Maureen rolled her eyes as he twisted the cap off for her. Usually, she would have found this gesture sweet, but not tonight. Not when Olivia had been out with another man just days ago.
"Thanks," she smiled at him and turned back to Maureen. "So, tell us about your job."
"Well, they hook us up with kids that are considered high risk…you know, single parent or divorced families, alcoholic or drug addicted parents, new students from other cities or countries, kids that aren't doing so well in school," she explained.
"What do you do with them?" Elliot leaned back in his chair and yawned.
Olivia popped his mouth, "You getting old on me, Stabler? It's barely nine o'clock."
He grabbed her hand and held onto it, "You wanna talk about getting old, Benson? You're the one who fell asleep watching the game!"
Their laughter came easily and she pulled her hand from his, turning back to Maureen who was watching them stone faced. "What exactly do you do with these kids?"
Maureen looked down at the greasy napkin in her hand, wiped her mouth with it, wadded it up and dropped it onto her plate. "Depends on what the kid needs. The ones I have right now have some family issues and just need some help building their confidence. They are immigrants and they speak English pretty well, but we still go over some of the language basics and I get them to read to me so I can help with pronunciation and word meanings…I help them with homework…talk to them about things that bother them, if they want…you know that kind of stuff."
"Another slice?" Elliot asked. She nodded her head. "Can you take them to do fun things…like Big Brothers Big Sisters?"
"Yes…if it's okay with their parents. In fact, next time…I am taking them to the mall," she looked at Elliot and wiggled her raised eyebrows.
He laughed, sliding another slice of pizza on her plate, "Figures. Just leave my credit card out of it!"
A knock at the door as it opened, revealed the twins. "Hey, you better have left some pizza for us!" Dickie hollered.
"Don't worry…there's plenty left, pal," Elliot stood up and hugged his son.
Dickie scooped the remaining slice of pizza from Maureen's plate and stuffed half of it in his mouth as she popped him. "Hey! Get your own!"
He then turned to Olivia and gave her a quick hug. "Mmmph…hey, Lif," he mumbled around his full mouth.
"Hey, Dickie," she hugged him back, laughing at him.
"Hey, Daddy," Lizzie came to kiss Elliot on the cheek.
"Hey, sweetheart," Elliot pulled her close.
She stepped around her Dad and hugged Liv, "Hey, Liv."
"Hey. Got you double-cheese," she told her.
"Great! Thanks!" Lizzie went to the stack of boxes Dickie had pulled from the fridge.
The door opened again and Kathleen entered. She said her hellos and before long was seated with her siblings chomping on pepperoni pizza and guzzling Mountain Dew.
Olivia watched as Elliot and his children talked while the kids ate. She added a comment every now and then and answered questions but for the most part she just watched and listened. This was Elliot. The caring father. His children were his world and she loved being able to see him in this world. See his lips smiling, his eyes lit up with joy and love and pride.
Nearly two hours later they had finished up their second round of Scrabble, Olivia having won the first time and Kathleen this time. The girls were cleaning up the kitchen and Dickie had taken out the trash.
Olivia and Elliot had returned the letter squares to the bag, put the pieces and board in their place and put the lid on the Scrabble box. They sat side by side again on the couch, close but not touching.
Knocking her leg into his as she leaned over toward Elliot, and whispered, "That was fun."
"It was lots of fun," he agreed, moving his leg to knock into hers.
She looked at her watch, "Well, guess I need to get going."
"I'll take you," he stood and pulled her to her feet.
"I drove, remember?" She smiled as he pulled her against him. For just a second.
The sound of the girls talking and Dickie entering the apartment caused them to pull away from each other.
"That's right…well, I'll still walk you out," he went into his bedroom and came back with his running shoes on.
"Do you mind?" She motioned toward the hallway. "I…uh…I need to use your bathroom," she laid her keys and cell phone on the kitchen counter and went down the hall.
Eli's soft crying could be heard and Elliot started to go see about him. "Dad, I'll check on him," Kathleen told him and headed to Eli's room.
Elliot and Dickie were sitting at the table and talking when Liv's cell began to vibrate. The vibration caused it to begin to move and slide toward the end of the counter. Lizzie caught it just before it slipped over the edge.
Glancing at the lit up screen, she asked, "Who's Peter?"
Elliot stopped talking and Maureen looked up from the counter she was wiping but no one said a word. Maureen and Elliot traded looks and she saw the hurt pass across his face.
"Probably Olivia's boyfriend," Maureen hissed, emphasizing 'boyfriend'.
Lizzie and Dickie just looked at her. "Maureen…" Elliot said in a voice full of warning.
Olivia came into the kitchen about that time but she did not hear what was said.
"All right, gang. It's been fun and good to see all of you guys, but I'm heading home," Olivia smiled and looked around the room, realizing suddenly how quiet it had become.
Lizzie handed her the cell phone. "Peter called."
Olivia took the phone, her eyes narrowing as she looked at her and then shifted her eyes quickly to Elliot and back, "You answered my phone?"
"No! It was…uh…vibrating and about to fall off the counter and I caught it…the I.D. showed his name when the screen lit up," Lizzie explained.
"Oh…uh…thanks." Olivia looked at the phone again and then stuffed it into the front pocket of her shorts.
"Is he your boyfriend? I didn't know you had a boyfriend," Lizzie said innocently.
"What? Peter? No! He's not…uh…he's not my boyfriend," she rolled her eyes. Even If he were, it certainly was no one's business but hers.
"Was he your date last Friday?" Maureen glared at Olivia as her father shot her a look that said he would deal with her later.
"Maureen!" Elliot snapped angrily at his oldest child.
Olivia stared at the beautiful young woman before her. She snorted, "You know what? That's really none of your business, is it?" It was no one's business but hers. Yet somehow she got the feeling they all thought it was and she was trying hard not to let it anger her.
"Oh, so it was him," Maureen stated triumphantly, nodding her head.
"Maureen! That's enough!" Elliot now took a step toward Maureen and she knew she needed to zip it.
She stared at Elliot, then gave Olivia the eye before turning back to finish wiping the counters.
Olivia said her goodbyes to the kids then she and Elliot headed for her car. The walk downstairs was quiet. She knew Elliot was upset about the phone call, but she was not about to broach that subject. Besides there was no reason for him to be upset and even if there were, he had no claims on her. And she was mad that he had told Maureen she had a date. Why would he have done that, she wondered?
As she opened the door to her car, she turned to Elliot, "Tonight was a lot of fun. I'm glad you invited me."
"Sure. Anytime," he searched her face with his eyes, the blue darkened in…not anger…hurt.
He was hurt and it bothered Olivia to know she was the reason, but she didn't know what to say or do about it. And really, she had done nothing wrong. Yea. Well, if she had done nothing wrong, why did she feel so guilty?
He waited for her to bring up the phone call, but she did not. He kept thinking about her going out with Peter last Friday. He wondered why he had her cell number. She usually did not give out her phone number to new 'boyfriends' until she got to know them better. He wondered why she had his number and even programmed it into her cell phone already. Peter. Peter called, Lizzie had said. And Elliot's heart stopped.
Liv waited to see if he would kiss her or maybe at least hug her, but he made no move. Neither did she. Neither did they talk. After what seemed like an eternity, she broke the silence, she sighed, "Well…I guess this is good night then."
"Yea, I guess…good night, Liv," he held the door open for her.
She stared at him for a moment then slid into the seat, "Good night, El," she said and he closed the door behind her.
He turned and ran up the steps of his stoop. She cranked the car and looked up at him standing by the door to his building. He waved, she waved back and he turned and entered the building. She sat there a few moments gripping the wheel so hard her knuckles were white. Her stomach was in knots and she wasn't even sure why she felt like this.
Elliot stood, leaning against the wall just inside the door. He could still see her, just sitting there, gripping the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. He felt like someone had punched him in the gut. His stomach hurt and he wanted to hit someone. Peter. He wanted to hit Peter. He shook his head. What was wrong with him? He and Olivia had just had a perfectly good evening together and then one phone call screwed up everything. One lousy phone call. Not even a real call because she didn't even talk to the jerk. Why didn't he just tell her he didn't want Peter to call her? He didn't want her to date Peter. Or anyone else.
Why couldn't he get the nerve to just out and out tell her how he felt about her? Even if she turned him down, could it possibly be any worse than this not knowing? This agony he endured every time she went out on a date? This sharing her with other men? Nerve? He couldn't even find the nerve to ask her if she was seeing the jerk again, let alone spill his guts to her. She had acted jealous about Jessica this morning. That had to mean something. Didn't it? Maybe she was just trying to protect him. Like a good partner. Sighing deeply as he ran his hands over his face, he slowly climbed the steps to the fourth floor.
Entering his apartment he saw that the blankets and pillows were already piled on the pulled out sofa bed and Dickie was in his sleeping bag on the floor watching ESPN. Lizzie had changed into her pajamas and was leaning on the archway between the living room and dining room. Maureen was absently flipping through the pages of a magazine.
"I wanted to say goodnight before going to bed, Daddy," Lizzie told him as he came in.
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head, "Goodnight, baby."
"Can I ask you something?" Lizzie asked him while he still held her.
"You know you can," he murmured into her hair.
"I thought you and Liv kind of…you know…kind of…uh…had a…thing…so…why is this Peter guy calling her?" she stammered.
"Olivia's a grown woman, Lizzie. She's allowed to have anyone she wants call her. And we don't have a thing…we're best friends," he explained. Or at least he hoped he explained.
"Best friends!" Lizzie, Dickie, Maureen and Kathleen, who was just coming into the kitchen, all exclaimed at the same time that Elliot said it.
"You only call her 'Olivia' when you are upset or mad at her," Maureen quietly pointed out, not bothering to look up from her perusal of the magazine.
He looked at his children, eyes widened in complete and absolute shock. "You know what? I think it's time for bed," he told them resulting in a clamor of resistance from them.
"Not you guys. Me. I'm going to bed," he headed toward his room. He needed to be alone. Away from prying eyes and questions. Maureen noticed that he only called Liv 'Olivia' when he was upset with her? Was he really that transparent to his children?
Kathleen stopped him at the doorway, "You need to doing something, Dad. Soon."
"What are you talking about?" he frowned at his daughter.
"She means about Liv, Dad," Dickie said as he shut the bathroom door.
"She's not just gonna keep hanging around forever if you don't," Kathleen kissed his cheek, shook her head and joined her sisters in the living room leaving Elliot standing at the bedroom door.
He lay awake nearly the entire night thinking about the situation with him and Olivia and Peter. Even his kids knew how he felt about her. How come she could not see it, he wondered? She must not feel the same. But, she put her arms around him tonight. She fell asleep against him. Did she do that with every guy she knew? Dated? He was driving himself insane with these thoughts of her with other men. He had to get some sleep. Seven a.m. came early and it was nearly three-thirty now.
Benson Residence • Wednesday, August 27th • 1:45 a.m.
After tossing and turning for two hours, Olivia got up and made her way to the kitchen to brew some tea. She now sat on the fire escape of her apartment, mug in hand, sipping the tea and staring at the lights of the city around her. She liked to come out here to think, but lately she found less and less time to do so. The sounds of horns blowing, vehicles passing in the street, people talking and laughing were soothing to her in an odd sort of way. The breeze was still warm yet cool enough to be bearable in her tank top and shorts she had been sleeping, or rather not sleeping, in.
What did he want from her? Did he want anything from her? Or was he content with things as there were between them. It had been over four months since the divorce was final. She was sure Elliot had not dated anyone else. She was sure things between the two of them had shifted. But she was not positive what that meant. She desperately wanted to believe it meant that he was interested in her romantically, but the signals he gave her were mixed. Mixed up. Just like she was.
I mean, one minute he's telling her he is not interested in the new ADA or anyone else, but then he totally ignores the phone call from Peter as though he could care less if she went out with him. That was not true. He may not have said anything about the call, but she knew he was upset by it. She just knew. Tipping the mug to finish off her tea, she stood, looking out one more time at the scene around her before going inside. She loved the city, but she wondered if she could be happy somewhere else. If things didn't change soon, maybe she would find out…maybe she would leave. Again.
SVU Squad Room • Thursday, August 28th • 4:40 p.m.
Yawning had become nearly second nature for Olivia over the last two days. She gotten very little sleep last night or the previous night after the missed phone call from Peter when she had been at Elliot's. The little sleep she had gotten had been sporadic. Her only consolation was that Elliot appeared to be in the same boat. Some consolation when that boat was sinking. Fast. They had not had the opportunity to talk much since that night because Elliot had been at 1PP most of the day Wednesday and on the phone and in meetings today.
Jake watched her eyes tear from the yawn as she covered her mouth only to have a second and then a third yawn escape. "Must have been some night. What'd you do?"
"Or should we ask 'who'?" Munch added, grinning suggestively.
"Shut up, John!" Olivia hiss gave him a look to match her menacing voice.
"Ooooh…touchy, too, huh?" Munch continued.
"Just having a little trouble sleeping, that's all," she mumbled as yet another yawn built.
"Hmmph…looks like Stabler got the same problem," Fin nodded toward Elliot's office and they all turned in time to see him yawning wide and stretching, then shaking his head in an effort to shake free of the fog his sleeplessness had induced.
Olivia felt the heat of the blush as it crawled up her chest and neck to cover her face. Trying to hide it, she busied herself in a file in which the words held no comprehension for her exhausted mind. Thankfully, it had been a quiet day in the squad room. A rarity, to be sure.
"Uh-oh. Here comes trouble," Jake's eyes flitted to the double-doors of the squad room as Jessica McDaniel entered looking around.
Wearing a navy, pin-stripped suit, the skirt just above her knees, her long blond hair flowing in soft ringlets around her shoulders, she was stunning. "Hi, everybody," she smiled, still looking around. "Is Elliot…uh…Captain Stabler here?"
Apparently, he had stepped out of his office unnoticed because he was not in there now, Olivia noted. "Did I hear my name?" his voice sounded as he came from the hallway with a canned soda in hand.
"How are you, Captain Stabler?" McDaniel asked as she smiled broadly and flirtatiously.
"Fine. You?" Elliot grinned, looking her over quickly and he hoped discreetly.
"Well, I have to say you are looking fine," she smiled again. She had her back to the group, but Olivia's viewpoint allowed for her to see Jessica's eyes travel his body.
Elliot laughed somewhat embarrassedly, clearly enjoying her attention. If anyone should be embarrassed, Olivia thought, it was Jessica McDaniel. Had she no pride?
"I was fine until just a bit ago. Dante Delgado made bail. Probably already out. I knew you would want to know," the ADA informed him and the group.
Olivia's head snapped up and she was suddenly focused on what McDaniel had to say. "Has Lupe been informed?"
Olivia's concern for Lupe Delgado and her girls overtook any jealousy or discomfort she was presently suffering at the hands of the ADA and Elliot.
"No. That's why I'm here. I thought the SVU would want to do the honors," she looked at Olivia sympathetically.
"Yea…thanks," she looked at Elliot and then Jake.
"You two get on it," he said to Olivia, then turned to Jessica. "Restraining order in place?"
"Of course…" she answered indignantly, frowning at him.
"For what good that will do," Jake muttered, as he turned to log off his computer. "Let's go, Liv."
"Yea," she began logging off, too. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jessica step closer to Elliot. Her stomach was suddenly filled with knots twisting and tying around one another.
"So, I was thinking…if you're free this evening…how about us grabbing dinner?" she asked quietly, but not quiet enough because Olivia heard every single syllable. And saw how she smiled up at Elliot.
Elliot looked at her for several seconds, bit his lower lip, caught Olivia's eyes and stared at her through his narrowed eyes even longer before turning back to Jessica, "Sure, why not?"
Right. Why not? Peter had called Olivia last night and she probably had a date with him this weekend. Well, two could play this game. And he had to admit, Jessica McDaniel was a knock-out. So, why wasn't he more excited over the prospect of dinner with her? He laughed to himself. Like he didn't know why?
Fin and Munch quietly stood by, realizing the under currents flowing between Elliot and Olivia were capable of pulling all them under in a matter of seconds. Drowning them in the swirl of emotions thickening the air. Realizing that McDaniel was treading on thin ice and in doing so endangered not only herself but the whole squad, they collectively held their breaths.
Olivia was simply caught off guard at Jessica's very public invitation and more so at Elliot's acceptance. She wanted to get in Jessica's face and tell her to get away from him. That he was off limits. Wouldn't that be a spectacle to behold? Instead, the look she gave Elliot, though she intended it to be an 'eat crap and die' look, she knew was more likely a 'how could you do this to me?' look and she could not get out of the squad room quick enough.
Grabbing Z by the arm, she practically dragged him from the precinct and out of the presence of Jessica McDaniel and Elliot Stabler. "Come on, Z."
Almost immediately Elliot wished he could take back his answer to Jessica. The look on Olivia's face would haunt him during the dinner and most likely for a very long time to come. Perhaps forever. He sighed deeply and ran his hands over his head. Jessica was staring at him, so he conjured up a smile.
"Around six? Meet you outside?" Jessica asked him
"Yea, whatever," he agreed and went back to his office.
Police Cruiser • Thursday, August 28th • 4:55 p.m.
"Hey, I know you're uh…ticked off…but, I'd…uh…really like to live to give old age a try," Jake halfway joked about Olivia's maniacal driving.
"What? Ticked off? I'm not ticked off," she responded between clenched teeth. Her hands wrapped around the steering wheel in a death grip as she sped around a slow moving vehicle and slipped back into the flow of traffic, braking hard not to rear-end the car in front of her.
"Hmmm…okay. Well, could you at least slow down then…just a little?" Jake's right hand was on the overhead strap above the passenger window, the left was flat-palmed, braced against the dashboard.
A short laugh devoid of humor rose from her throat. "You ride a motorcycle and my driving shakes you up? You're a wimp, Z," she rolled her eyes at him and snorted though she was not amused.
"Yea? Well, I'd like to one day be an old wimp. Besides, when I'm riding, I know what I'm doing and I don't trust…" he began but she quickly cut him off.
"You saying I don't know what I'm doing? You don't trust me? Doesn't say much for our partnership!" She hissed, gunning the car as she hit a straight stretch of highway.
"Come on, Olivia. We both know you're upset and shouldn't be driving in this mental state!" he countered, hanging on for dear life.
"Mental state? Now, I'm a mental case?" She swerved the car to the side of the road, tires squealing as she brought it to an abrupt halt.
The sudden jerk of the car almost caused Jake to fall into her lap. "Olivia! That's not what I meant and you know it!"
She shut off the engine, undid her seatbelt and was out of the car slamming the door with all her might before Jake could even begin to figure out what was going on. Realizing she was not coming back to the car, he got out.
Pacing the side of the road, her hands were everywhere. On her hips, rifling through her hair, scrubbing her face, crossing over her chest and then back to her hips. These actions were interspersed with deep sighs and mutterings about smacking someone. Her breaths were uneven, and she kept shaking her head as she bit her lower lip.
Jake leaned against the car and quietly watched her, somehow sensing that she needed to work this, whatever it was, out in her own mind. And she did not need, nor want, his input. After roughly ten minutes, she leaned over and put her hands on her knees, head down and then straightened up, stretching. Walking toward him, she dug the keys from the front pocket of her black slacks and tossed them to Jake. He reacted in a timely fashion, smoothly catching them midair.
"You're right, Z. I shouldn't be driving," she gave him a slight, apologetic, thin-lipped smile and a lift of her eyebrow, opened the passenger door and slid across the seat into the vehicle.
With a deep release of the breath he had been unaware of holding he sprinted around to the driver's side thankful for an extension of his life.
Delgado Residence • Thursday, August, 28th • 5:40 p.m.
"Yes, Lupe, the girls need to know he's out. There is a restraining order, but, he may not heed it and the girls should know to be on the lookout just in case," Olivia seated beside the Hispanic woman, spoke softly.
"Mrs. Delgado, if you see him or get any kind of harassing calls or contact from him, call 911. They will come immediately. Also, mention our names, Benson and Zoumberis, so they can let us know," Jake told her.
"You still have our cards?" Olivia asked.
"Yes," Lupe nodded her head.
"Okay…you can call us directly if you want, but 911 will most likely be quicker. And remember, you can call me anytime of the day or night. Anytime, Lupe," Olivia emphasized the word. "I mean it."
"Yes…thank you, Detective Benson," her fear was evident in her eyes and her voice.
Olivia and Jake left the Delgado residence. Jake knew she was still upset and he struggled with whether or not to ask her if she wanted to get something to eat, unsure if she would be up for eating at all.
"You hungry?" she asked him.
Surprised that she had seemed to read his thoughts, he looked over at her, shifting his eyes from the road to her and back, "I am. You?"
"I could go for something…not sure what," she replied, meeting his eyes and smiling at him.
"How about that diner we passed on the way here…wide variety of food," he suggested.
"That'll work," she turned to look out the window again.
All American Diner • Thursday, August, 28th • 6:30 p.m.
Thirty minutes after leaving the Delgado's, Jake had inhaled a double cheeseburger, a plate of home fries, a huge piece of apple pie, downed two sprites and a cup of coffee. Olivia had spent the thirty minutes picking at her Caesar salad, eating only a few bites but she had drank nearly a whole bottle of water.
"Thought you were hungry?" Jake asked as he put the last forkful of pie in his mouth and dragged his napkin across his lips.
Laughing lightly, she told him "Guess I wasn't."
Jake looked at her then out across the diner. Turning back to her, he leaned across the table, "Listen, Liv…if you want to talk…I'm a good listener. I may not have any answers, but I can listen. Or you can just tell me to shut up and mind my own business, but I just want you to know…I'm…uh…here for you. I want to be here for you…if you'll let me."
She nodded, rearranging the romaine lettuce leaves still on her plate. "There are no answers," she looked up and smiled into his green eyes and for a moment was taken aback by the concern she saw in them.
Her smile. It was such a sad smile, Jake thought. He wished he knew what to do to help her, but before he could, she had to tell him what was wrong. He was not stupid and was fairly sure he knew exactly what was wrong…how obvious can you be? But for whatever reason, she did not want to admit to being jealous or let anyone else know she was even if her actions proved otherwise.
"Well, if you talk about it maybe…"
"Z…shut up, okay?" she smiled, hoping that took the edge off of her words.
His eyes widened in surprise just a bit for just a second then he smiled, too, and nodded.
Spinner's Steak House • Thursday, August, 28th • 7:48 p.m.
Elliot had been unusually quiet during dinner. He found that although he had been very hungry, he could not barely tolerate the food. He had eaten maybe a third of the steak and only a few bites of his baked potato but it was heavy on his stomach and he was concerned that he may not be able to hold it down.
Elliot wanted to be anywhere but here and he kept asking himself why he agreed to come to dinner. He knew why and now he was reproving himself for his attempt to make Olivia jealous. It was obvious she did not care or Peter would not have her number and be calling her.
Jessica kept trying to keep a conversation going but was not having much luck. "You know, it's rather difficult to carry on polite chitter chatter by myself," she leaned across the table and placed her hand on top of his.
He stared at the hand. Her hand. It was so pale in comparison to Olivia's. More like the color of his complexion and that his children. She had said she was Irish. And Catholic. Not that being Catholic had anything to do with skin tone. He couldn't quit looking at her hand. Her fingers were shorter than Olivia's and she obviously had the nails done. They were long and painted. Bright red. Olivia's nails, though well manicured, were shorter, the polish more conservative. The more practical length was suitable for snapping cuffs on a perp, aiming and shooting a gun, and bare fisting a suspect. The polish was more a protective coat than for looks.
And her fingers? They were long, slender fingers. Tan. Naturally tan from her olive complexion. Even though her hands could ball into a tight fist capable of taking down a man twice her size, her hands were soft. Gentle. He had always wondered but never thought they would be. Now he knew they were. He had felt their softness and gentleness in his hands, against his face, on his skin. He wished the hand upon his now was tan. Was Olivia's. Suddenly, he snatched it from under Jessica's touch, grasping it with his other hand, rubbing it as though wiping her touch from his skin.
She was startled by his sudden movement and he was shocked at himself as well. "Uh…I…uh…look, it's been a long day, Jess. Mind if we call it a night?"
Bewildered at his actions, she simply nodded her head. He motioned for the waiter to bring the check. Ten minutes later they were standing on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant, and Elliot was hailing a cab for Jessica.
"You could come with me. I'll make us some coffee…or if you would rather get a drink somewhere…" she suggested, not one to give up easily when she wanted something.
"Sorry, Jessica, but what I want is to get home, take a hot shower and go to bed," Elliot told her as a cab pulled along side them.
She smoothed her hands around his shoulders then trailed them down his tie, taking it in her hand and pulling him a bit closer to her. "Well, that's moving a little quicker than I wanted, but with a little persuasion…"
Pulling her hands from him, he shook his head, "No. I'm going home. Alone." He opened the cab door holding while she got in. "Good night, Jessica."
Narrowed eyes searched his face before she slightly nodded her head and smiled, "Good night, Captain."
Though he knew he was unnecessarily short with her, the sense of relief he felt when that cab pulled off felt like a newly discovered freedom. He stared at its diminishing taillights, sighed heavily and turned to walk the eight blocks to his place.
Manhattan Apartment Building • Thursday, August, 28th • 8:47 p.m.
Seventeen blocks in the opposite direction of his apartment, he stopped across the street from the building to which he had subconsciously been drawn. Not even heading in the direction of his apartment, he instead had turned the opposite way as though led by an unseen hand. Now, his eyes scanned the windows until he found the right one. It was darkened. No lights. Not even the wax and wane of dim lights from the television. Looking at his watch he knew it was too early for her to have already gone to bed. He situated himself on the stoop directly in front of her building and began his wait.
Jake had talked Olivia into stopping by an antique bookstore he noticed across the street from the diner. They spent nearly an hour browsing and reading. Sitting at small round table with plush, upholstered chairs she felt content as Jake read a paragraph or a line from what he was reading. She shared a couple of things from one of the books she had. She really liked the ambiance and decided that the next time she had some time on her hands, she would come back.
He insisted on dropping her off at her place before taking the cruiser back to the precinct and catching a cab home. He also insisted on walking her up to her apartment and making sure she was safely inside before leaving.
Elliot was lost in his thoughts when the familiar cruiser pulled into an empty space barely fifty feet from where he was sitting. He watched as they got out of the car at the same time then crossed the street. He could hear Olivia's laughter and their voices but could not make out any words. At the bottom of the stoop, they stood for a moment, close but not touching, then made their way up and into the building. He felt his heart skip and his breath hitch. She invited Zoumberis up? She invited her partner into her apartment? She had known him less than two weeks. He felt like someone was twisting a knife in his gut. It hurt that bad. Literally. Physically.
Once the building swallowed them, his eyes shifted again to her window. He counted the seconds until he saw the light appear. Almost simultaneously with its emergence upon the sheer lace curtain in Olivia's apartment, came a sound that stopped his heart from beating, his lungs from expanding and the blood from flowing within his body. The riveting, echoing sound rocked his very core, blasting him completely off center. Gunshots. And the glass from her window fell to the sidewalk, the shattered pieces tinkling an eerie, haunting melody, creating a cacophony of terror that sliced through his being.
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Okay...click that little button on the bottom left and review Bensler looks over her shoulder at the small, purplish button and nods " ) Bensler