Elliot and Olivia had both over slept the next morning. They were completely exhausted after making love several more times the night before. Essentially because they couldn't keep their hands off of each other but on a deeper level it was a new found way of expressing their love, so much easier than words. Olivia's alarm clock had sounded at seven am but had failed to rouse them from their deep sleep. Olivia had automatically reached over and hit the mute button in her sleep before snuggling back down against Elliot's warm body. She remained asleep until Elliot's loud cursing woke her making her very aware that Elliot was over an hour late for work.
She felt guilty at first but it soon faded as she took immense pleasure in watching Elliot run frantically about the room looking for his clothes, he finally found a shirt, tie and suit trousers that he had left there previously. After getting dressed he gave Olivia a quick kiss before running out the door.
With Elliot safely off to work Olivia settled down in front of the TV to watch some trashy chat shows. She didn't normally like chat shows but recently she felt drawn to them, something about them left her intrigued. The nature of her work meant that she was never surprised by the stories or the families on these shows in fact she took comfort in knowing that Elliot and herself were somewhat normal compared to the couples on the TV screen.
Currently on the screen was a twenty-five year old who had been getting it on with her sixty year old step father. Olivia watched the heavily pregnant woman scream words of abuse at the aging step father who looked like he was about to have a heart attack. The step father of course was denying the whole relationship as his wife sat in tears beside him and the foul mouthed step daughter demanded a paternity test. It was all sadly entertaining and helped pass the time as she was under strict orders not to come back to work yet.
The door bell sounded and Liv quickly grabbed the remote to turn off the TV, the last thing she wanted to be caught doing was watching that trash. She slowly opened the door only to be greeted by Lizzie holding Eli tightly in her arms.
"Hey Sweetheart. Everything okay?" Liv questioned as Eli flung himself into her arms, he placed a sloppy kiss on her check and snuggled his head into the crook of her neck.
"Ugh can we come in?"
"Of course Honey. You never have to ask, you're always welcome here."
Lizzie slowly walked in behind Liv, keeping her eyes on the floor the whole time mainly to stop Olivia from noticing the tears.
"Hey buddy, are you being a good boy for your sister?"
"Yup, me good!"
"Why don't you go grab some toys little man while I talk to your sister?"
"K"
Olivia gave Eli a quick kiss on the forehead, put him down and watched him run off to the spare room to get his toys before turning to Lizzie.
"Has something happened?"
"Eli's been up since five am asking for you. Mom went crazy when I asked if we could come see you. I never meant to upset her, I thought I was helping by getting him out of the house for a while. She shouted a lot and then screamed at me to get him out of her sight. I didn't know where else to go."
Olivia brought Lizzie into a hug and allowed her to cry on her shoulder.
"I don't know what to do anymore, shes not the same person she used to be. What am I supposed to do?"
"You have to make her feel loved. Shes in a pretty low place right now and probably feels like shes losing every one she cares about. You have to be strong for her. I'm not saying that shouting at you guys is right but it's probably the only way she knows how to cope right now."
"Why do you stick up for her after everything she has said about you?"
"Because I love you kids and she will always be your Mother. I doesn't matter what happens in the future. Even if you decide one day that you don't want to know her, that won't stop her from being your Mother. I can't be responsible for any decisions, you guys have to make them yourself. It's not my place to bad mouth her and I guess I can understand her pain."
"You're amazing Liv, you know that right?"
Olivia just smiled and watched as Lizzie disappeared into the kitchen. Eli came running back into the room with an armful of toys, he seemed to have grabbed as many toys as his tiny arms would allow him to carry plus a few more for extra measure. Several dropped onto the floor as he navigated the couch.
"Liv play!"
"Alright buddy what did you want to play today?"
"Detectives." The little boy squealed causing Olivia to laugh loudly.
"How about we just play cars for today?"
"K!"
Olivia had just lowered herself onto the floor and picked up one of Eli's toy cars when the phone began to ring. Within seconds Lizzie was at the side table with the phone to her ear and Olivia smiled gratefully at her as she turned her attention back to Eli.
"Uhm sure...yeah...I'll just get her for you."
Lizzie covered the receiver with her hand.
"Liv it's for you."
Olivia got up and walked to the side table half expecting Elliot to be on the other end of the phone checking up on her. Although she pretended not to she loved his protective side immensely.
"Hello."
"Hello Olivia."
"How did you get this number?"
"You gave it to me, you don't remember?"
"If stealing it from my cell phone counts as giving it to you then you have a funny perspective of right and wrong."
"I love it when you get feisty!"
"Did you actually want something or where you just phoning to taunt me."
"Olivia you know I'd never do that. I care about you. I'm calling because you look tired, I was worried."
Olivia froze and gently pulled back the net curtain to look out into the street, seeing no one around she casually reached over for her cell phone.
"Don't even think about it."
Olivia quickly pulled her hand back to her side.
"God damn you. Why can't you just let it go?"
"Now now Olivia there is no need for that attitude. Meet me so we can get this over with."
"You know I can't do that!"
"I meant what I said last time. This game is mine, the rules are mine and it's only over when I say it is. If you play by the rules you get out alive, that's the way it works."
"I don't give a damn about your stupid game. You've had your fun." Olivia whispered into the phone to stop the children hearing.
"You know she really is one pretty girl......"
Olivia sighed.
"Okay okay you got me. I give up."
"So I'll be seeing you shortly?"
"I guess you will."
"I'll meet you at your car."
With that the phone went dead and Olivia's mind went into turmoil. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, Elliot would kill her if he ever found out. His anger would be so great that it could ruin the foundations they had been busy setting over the previous days, she definitely didn't want to lose that. She also knew that the likelihood of Merritt actually doing anything to the kids was very slim. The pure mention of Lizzie was enough to convince her to not take the risk, she could never forgive herself for making the wrong decision. If she made the wrong decision for her and Elliot she'd get over it eventually but she would absolutely not put his kid's lives in danger.
She was frustrated with this man for what he was trying to do, he had his fun but he wasn't ready to let go. Maybe she could convince him to leave them alone. It was a long shot but the only hope was to meet him.
Olivia told Lizzie to watch Eli while she went out for a few minutes. The young girl just nodded without asking any questions, she wanted to but the look in Olivia's eyes told her not to. Olivia exited the apartment building, got in the car and drove round the corner, she'd only been sitting there for a few minutes when he arrived. He pulled open the passenger door and climbed in for shelter from the rain outside.
"It's nice to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same to you."
He smiled a little.
"One would think that you would be a little more grateful to me for what I did for you."
"If you want me to thank you for all of this then you can forget it. I won't condone what you did."
"But you aren't disgusted by it either. I did you both a favour. Isn't it nice to know that your man loves you so completely that he would die for you? Does that not make you feel good?"
Olivia sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"What exactly do you want Merritt? I'm far too tired for all these games."
"I don't want anything Olivia. I came here to give you the chance of revenge."
"Excuse me?" Olivia turned to face him clearly in shock.
"I'm giving myself up to you. I don't regret what I did, I brought you two together. I knew the moment I met you that you were in love with him and I knew he felt the same way. He had that look in his eyes, the same look I had for my wife....the look of complete and utter love. I watched him for a long while to make sure you were what he wanted. He never looked at his wife like that, hell it was like she didn't even exist to him. You were the only woman he ever saw."
"We would have figured out things eventually and he loved his wife so don't try telling me otherwise."
"Maybe so but you had a limited time scale with the pregnancy. Like I said earlier I don't regret it but I know I caused you pain throughout and I'm sorry for that."
Olivia smiled.
"No pain, no gain."
"Ah a girl after my own heart. I'm sure Elliot wouldn't be as understanding."
"No and he is going to kill me if he comes home and finds you in my car."
"So do something about it before he gets here."
"I'm hardly in a fit state to shove you from my car although believe me I am tempted."
Merritt laughed.
"Temptation is a beautiful thing Detective Benson. I was actually thinking of something different."
"And what would that be?"
"You keep spare handcuffs in here Detective?"
"Of course."
Merritt held his hands out in from of him.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
Olivia looked at him blankly and sighed as realisation set in. He was playing her all over again, testing her one more time to see if she would let her heart rule her head. She wondered when all of this would end before deciding that beings he was offering her the choice to end it all that if she declined she would have to put up with him forever.
"Come on arrest me. I mean it wouldn't look good if people found out that one of New York's finest was sitting in a car with a criminal and hadn't slapped the handcuffs on within five seconds."
"Get out of my car now."
"Excuse me?" Merritt raised his eyebrows.
"I mean it, get your ass out of my car before I change my mind."
"You mean you aren't going to arrest me? Well this is something you don't see every day."
"Merritt I swear this is your last chance, either get the hell out right now or your one time offer is up."
"Detective..."
Olivia holds her hand up to silence him.
"Don't push me because changing my mind is looking more and more plausible with every word that escapes from that big mouth of yours."
Merritt opens the door and slowly zips up his jacket as the cold wind rushes into the previously warm car.
"And if I ever see your sorry ass again I'll arrest you without a second thought. Count yourself lucky that I'm rather emotional today."
Merritt laughed.
"I'll be counting my blessings every day Detective don't you worry. Say hello to Elliot for me."
Before Olivia had the chance to react the car door was slamming and Merritt Rook had disappeared into thin air.
*****
"Is Olivia not here yet?" Fin called to Munch as he walked into the room.
"No sign of her yet, I tried calling but no answer."
"Elliot's gonna have a heart attack if he gets back and she ain't here. You can be on standby to give him mouth to mouth."
"Well thanks Fin I'm sure Elliot would be impressed by your lack of compassion."
"Hey it's not like I was suggesting to leave him on the floor, I kindly volunteered your services and if you are as good at CPR as you are at making coffee there won't be any complaints."
"Very funny. Why is she supposed to be here again?"
"I dunno, the cap said he needed everyone here including Liv. Maybe it's about Merritt."
"I doubt it, he'll be long gone by now. Vanished without a trace, just like last time!"
"Cap's blinds are closed, whose he got in there with him?"
"No idea, he came out ten minutes ago and asked to not be disturbed until everyone is back."
"Something fishy going down here."
"What was that about fish Detective?"
Fin turned round to see Cragen standing in the doorway of his office, from his facial expression he could tell he wasn't best pleased.
"Nothing cap."
Cragen's expression soon turned to concern when he realised that Olivia had still not arrived.
"Where's Olivia?"
"Dunno cap. No sign of her yet."
"She was supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. Don't you think one of you should be out looking for her?"
"I was just going to." Fin stated before turning and running out the door.
Please don't kill me. I know some of you may think that was out of Liv's character but I think it fitted the situation, exactly why she did will be explained later on, when Elliot finds out. Well if he finds out....
