Disclaimer: Dick Wolf owns Law & Order SVU.
Happy Trails
Chapter 11
Olivia's head rested on Elliot's chest as she listened to distinct rhythm and tempo of his heartbeat. It was slowly lulling her into calmness. She inhaled deeply taking in Elliot's scent letting it fill her senses helping her to relax more. Her hand rested on his lower abdomen holding on to his shirt. She let her eyes drift shut vaguely hearing the conversation between Munch, Fin, Elliot, and Ben. She fought it, forcing her eyes open only to have them drift closed again. She was afraid to fall asleep afraid to wake up with that seem feeling of fear and dread that had stayed with her for the past couple of days. Every time she closed her eyes, she would picture Jeffries in that drawer or worse yet images of Casey being tortured.
Elliot's hand moved in slow circles up Olivia's back as he held her in his arms while he talked with Ben. He would feel her start to relax only to tighten up in his arms again, he did not have to look at her face to know that she was fighting sleep. He had watched her do that several times in the cribs, fight her body's sheer exhaustion until she passed out. "Liv, you need to sleep," Elliot whispered softly.
"I am fine," Olivia sat up, lifting her head off Elliot's chest and forcing her eyes to stay open.
"Liv," Elliot softly cajoled. "We have at least another hour on the road there is nothing to stay awake for,"
"I'm good," Olivia said.
"You're exhausted," Elliot said his eyebrow arched as if he dared he to contradict him.
"Not to interrupt here," Ben started. "But I bet you're hungry,"
Olivia nodded even though she wasn't sure she could eat.
Fin leaned up from the back cab. "You got food?"
Ben laughed. "Guess, I should've mentioned that before. Behind that seat is a cooler with drinks and some sandwiches the wife packed for me. I have some chips back there too,"
Fin and Munch scrambled searching for the cooler and chips.
" !" Fin exclaimed causing Munch to laugh wholeheartedly. "Hey, I don't think I have ever been this happy to see anything as I am to see this Dr. Pepper,"
After drinking lake and river water, Elliot had to echo Fin's sentiment. "Hey, pass some of those up this way,"
"Are you sure this okay, Ben? We don't want to eat all your food," Olivia asked.
"It is fine. Y'all need it more than I do. Besides, I can have an excuse to hit the drive-thru," Ben replied smiling at Olivia.
Olivia grinned back so very thankful for this old man who for all purposes saved them.
Elliot took a drink and sandwich from Fin's extended hand. He handed them both to Olivia first.
"I am not really that hungry, you take it Elliot," Olivia said handing back the sandwich. She didn't think she could eat right now. Her stomach was still clenched from the episode in the woods and fear of what might have happened to their friends.
"Can I have Liv's?" Munch managed to mumble around a mouthful of sandwich.
"No," Elliot said glaring at him.
"Well, if she is not going to eat it," Munch started.
"She is going to eat," Elliot said.
Olivia took a sip of the cool drink feeling its bubbly coolness all the way down to her stomach. She did not say anything to Elliot, not relishing the argument that was sure to be coming.
Elliot broke the sandwich in half. He extended it to her. "Come on, Olivia half for me?" Elliot wiggled sandwich under her nose invitingly.
Olivia gave him a small smile taking the sandwich.
Elliot ate his half in two bites watching Olivia eat hers much more slowly. He was worried about her. He knew that expression on her face, trepidation. He also knew her well enough to know that she was worrying about Casey and Lake. Hell he was beyond worried himself. Ben didn't have a cell and was worried that another trucker might pick up a CB distress call alerting the men who attacked them. They just could not take that chance. He relaxed a little bit more when Olivia finished the last bite. "Why don't you try to get some sleep," Elliot pulled her back to his chest.

Olivia sighed as she returned to her former position this time no longer able to fight the sensation.

Elliot kept up a steady stream of conversation with Ben as a steady rain began to fall. He looked in the back seat to find Munch dead asleep on one side and Fin slumped against Munch's shoulder snoring lightly. He shook his head turning back to the front.

"Ya'll are close?" Ben asked.

"We work together in New York City. We're detectives with the special victims unit," Elliot answered. "We have worked together awhile,"

Ben smiled. "I imagine that makes you close,"

Elliot nodded.

Ben gestured toward Olivia who stirred in her sleep gripping Elliot's shirt tighter. "She's a detective too?"

Elliot smiled. "The best, she is my partner,"

Ben's eyebrows rose. "Work partner?"

Elliot actually blushed; he could feel the redness flood his cheeks. "She is everything," he answered quietly.

"Kinda gathered that," Ben smiled at Elliot. "She is the prettiest cop, I have seen,"

Elliot grinned. "Yeah that is exactly what I thought when my captain introduced us," Elliot chuckled remembering his exact though which was that his wife now his ex-wife was going to kill him. "She is beautiful. Actually, she is amazing inside and out,"

Olivia moaned gripping Elliot's shirt tighter.

Elliot pulled her further onto his lap to relax her.

"No, no, no," Olivia moaned under her breath before abruptly sitting up wide-eyed and awake.

Elliot cupped her face. "It is okay, Liv. We're safe," Elliot reassured her. "You were dreaming,"

Olivia was trembling as she moved to wrap her arms around herself.

"Liv," Elliot pulled her back into his arms. "You're safe,"

Olivia nodded wordlessly.

"What were you dreaming about?" Elliot asked softly hoping that opening up might calm her down.

Olivia shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it," Olivia had been dreaming about the men in woods, that they had killed Elliot and raped her. It had been so vivid she was still shaking. It had felt so real it shook her to her core.

Elliot looked at her and knew immediately what she had been dreaming about, what had scared her so bad she was shaking. Elliot kissed her softly ignoring the fact that they weren't alone. He kissed her repeatedly before pulling her into his arms. He brought his lips to her ear. "I will always protect you, Liv. Always."

Olivia nodded against his chest keeping her head nestled against the solidness and security.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter next will be longer I promise.