"Captain…" Elliot began, closing the office door behind him. "I need to ask you a favor…"
"No problem Detective, I'm always here…"
"I'm gonna need to take this Tuesday off, sir…"
"Look, Elliot. I understand that this is a difficult time…"
"This isn't about me, sir…"
"I was just gonna say, take all the time off you need…"
"Oh…thank you…"
"No problem…in the meantime, get downtown, Olivia and Munch are already down there surveying the scene."
"Thanks again, Captain…" Elliot replied, somberly, but with gratitude. It was back to work, once again. It occurred to Elliot that, ironically, although his job was to help save lives, he was helping Kathy deprive a life. He didn't care if it was his child or Anthony's, but it was too late. The appointment was made and Kathy was headstrong.
"Hey, Elliot…" Olivia greeted him as he arrived downtown.
"Hey, what do we got here?" he asked.
"Munch is interviewing witnesses. Girl was attacked in broad daylight by what appears to be a homeless man."
"Oh Goody." Elliot sarcastically replied. "Welcome to the Real World."
"Exactly…girl was sent to the hospital, they're conducting a rape kit right now, so all we've got is time." Olivia smiled. "Wanna grab a coffee?"
"I'd love to…" he replied smiling back at her. They walked down the street to the nearest Starbucks, and grabbed the only available table left. Elliot wiped the coffee stain off with his bare hand.
"So, how's the…"
"Kathy's pregnant." he announced.
Olivia stared out the window, and her eyes slowing glanced over to Elliot. She was shocked. "Oh shit, Elliot…." she replied, feeling as if she was just hit by a stray bullet. "I dunno what to tell you, I mean…"
"It might be mine…"
"Congratulations?" she offered sarcastically.
"She's having an abortion…"
"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry…" she replied caressing his cold hand. Immediately, he felt his blood circulate throughout his body. A flood of silence engulfed their conversation, and Elliot grew increasingly uncomfortable.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"What am I supposed to say, Elliot? I was just about to ask you how your weekend was and you slam me with this?! Are you gonna let her go through with this if it could be yours?"
"It's her body…"
"Wait…so you guys slept with together?"
"It was that night me and you were supposed to meet up for drinks and you didn't show. I was wasted, and she was at my house and we had sex…That was it…We're not getting back together, even if the baby is mine…"
"You didn't use a condom?"
"No, Liv, I was drunk."
"She didn't think of one then?"
"She says she still loves me…"
"Maybe you guys should give it another go, then…"
"No, no…definitely not…"
"Well, maybe this is a sign. Look, Elliot, we all make mistakes…"
"She's still seeing the bastard!"
"Oh…oh, I see…Have you ever thought of dating again?"
"Of course. But, I'm not really interested in anyone in particular…" he lied.
"Anyways, we better get back to work…" They finished their coffees and headed back outside. They found their suspect, and called it a day.
Tuesday came, and Elliot was a nervous wreck. He pulled into Kathy's mother's driveway; it was decorated by the picturesque scene of falling leaves. He walked slowly to the door, but Kathy was two steps ahead of him, as usual, and saw him pull into the driveway.
"This day can't get any worse…" Kathy greeted him as they walked toward his car.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's Anthony…" she replied.
"He still doesn't know you're pregnant?"
"No one does, except you…" she replied. Elliot pulled out of the driveway, and the forty five minute drive into Manhattan was a quiet one. As Elliot parked outside the clinic, there was no doubt in his mind that Kathy did her research. The clinic was in an upscale neighborhood, and as they entered the office, everything was pristine.
"Mrs. Stabler, the doctor will see you in a couple of minutes. Please make yourself comfortable…" the secretary told her. Kathy smiled and took a seat next to Elliot. "Mrs. Stabler" Elliot laughed in his head. He didn't ask her if she was sure she wanted to go through with the whole thing; she had her mind already made up. A couple of minutes later, a nurse called Kathy in, and Elliot sat in silence.
When Kathy emerged from the office, Elliot wasn't there, and according to the secretary he was downstairs getting a coffee. The truth of the matter was, he couldn't stand the office; the cleanliness of the floor, the shine off the tables in the waiting room, the pictures of the pretty models on the walls. It was all fake, it was despicable to him. The cold autumn wind blew through him as Kathy joined him outside. He turned to her and she shook her head. "She couldn't go through with?" he asked himself, "maybe she isn't made of stone after all."
She said nothing...
And collapsed into his arms.