Illusive Perception

(Chapter Eleven: Stir-Crazy)

Olivia walked into the bullpen for the first time in nearly four months. After two surgeries and numerous physical therapy sessions she finally seemed to be healed enough that it was safe for her to return to work. Though she was left pretty much only with a couple of scars from the bullet wounds, Cragen was still babying her and placed her on desk duty for a while.

Better than being stuck at home, Olivia thought to herself as she sat down at her desk and turned on the computer. She spent the next few days sitting at that desk typing up reports and finishing paperwork, typing up her statement on the DeLuca case and answering phones for the SVU. Olivia was bored out of her mind.

"There she is," Munch said returning from court and tossing his jacket onto the chair in front of his desk. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Completely healed up!" She boasted. "Well, pretty much."

"Good to have you back," Munch said handing her a cup of coffee.

"Thanks. I kind of missed being around here."

"Please. You got to lay around, sleep in and watch soap operas all day. Beats being here any day."

Olivia laughed. "I'm not one for soap operas."

"So what did you do for four months?"

"Read, mostly. Elliot kept me stocked up on tabloid magazines and crime novels."

"Nice."

Olivia smiled. "Yeah, keeping up on the latest celebrity news. Did you know that Madonna adopted an Martian baby a few weeks ago? But she has to keep it hidden because it's green skin is sensitive to sunlight." She joked with a smile.

"Isn't Mars her home planet?" He joked.

Olivia laughed.

"It's good to have you back, Liv."

"It's good to be back. I was starting to go a little stir-crazy."

That evening after work Olivia went home and kicked off her shoes. She opened a container of Haagen-Das rock road and fed herself two bites before replacing the lid. Then she moved to the back of the apartment to take a shower.

Olivia had just settled in on the sofa with a diet soda and a bag of Doritos when she heard the door bell ring. A smile spread across her face as she stood up and walked across the room to let him in.

"Hey El," she said with a smile.

"I brought food," he replied carrying in two bags of groceries. "Thought I'd make dinner."

"I have food you know?"

"Oh yeah? Doritos again tonight, huh?" Elliot said nodding at the bag of chips on the coffee table. He cupped his hand and placed it on the side of her face as he stared into her eyes and in seconds he was kissing her passionately. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he returned his attention to the groceries on the counter.

"Amazing after that kiss," she said with a smile. "It there anything I can help with?"

"As a matter of fact there is," he said pushing her toward the sofa and handing her the remote control. "You can find us a movie to watch."

"Elliot!"

"Olivia! You are never going to get well if you don't eat right. And rocky road ice cream and tortilla chips are not healthy foods."

"So what are you making?"

"Steak fajitas."

"That sounds so good."

"Well, I knew you didn't have food in the apartment."

"I just went shopping. Where do you think I got the chips and ice cream?"

Elliot opened the refrigerator to reveal one egg, a small tub of butter, half a gallon of expired milk, three slices of cheese, bottled water and diet soda. He shook his head and laughed. "What exactly were planning on eating tonight?"

"Grilled cheese."

"That's not bad," he admitted.

"Then I realized I didn't have any bread."

Elliot smiled. "I swear."

"There is always take out. I have Mr. Choo's on speed dial. And menus for the pizza place on the corner and the deli down the block, by the phone. I am not going to starve."

"Not while I'm around anyway."

Olivia smiled again as she slid down into the sofa. The truth was in the four months since she had been shot, Elliot had been at her apartment every night to take care of her. They had kind of been dating. Kathy had filed the divorce papers and next week he was due in court for the final appearance before the divorce was final.

She knew coming over here and taking care of her was helping to keep Elliot's mind off of Kathy and the kids. Or not Kathy so much, but the kids. He had never been away from any of them for more than a few days and now his time with his children was about to be reduced to every other weekend and holidays.

About three months ago Elliot had gotten his own apartment about six blocks from Olivia's. And someday he would actually spend the night there. Lately however, he had been staying here with her and waiting on her pretty much hand and foot. Including cooking dinner for her every night. She knew that tonight would be no exception.

Elliot carried two plates of food to the dining room table and lit the candles in the center. He poured two glasses of her favorite wine and pulled out the chair for Olivia. He smiled at her across the room and extended his hand as she placed hers in it.

"Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?"

"I would love to," she replied with a smile.

That night they fell asleep together on the sofa watching a movie. Olivia slept curled up in Elliot's arms with her cheek pressed against his chest listening to the gently thump of his heart beat.

The next morning as Elliot and Munch sat across the room going over the details of their case in court, Olivia noticed a woman wondering around the bullpen.

"Can I help you ma'am?" She asked as she approached the woman.

"Umm, I needed to speak to someone. It is Jennifer," she said holding up a photo of a dark haired woman, "she is missing."

"Okay," Olivia said trying to comfort the woman, "you are going to want to speak to someone in missing persons and file a report." Olivia pointed the way to the elevator.

"But they sent me up here."

Olivia looked confused. "How long has Jennifer been missing?"

"I have not seen her in three days."

"How old is she?"

"Twenty two, I think. She goes to NYU."

"Okay ma'am, why don't I walk with you down to missing persons? I will make sure that we get you to the right person to help you find your daughter."

"Oh, Jennifer is not my daughter."

"I'm sorry, I must have gotten confused. I thought that…"

"No. Jennifer is pregnant with my baby."

Olivia stopped and looked at the woman as the elevator doors opened. A pregnant twenty two year old college student missing for three days, Jennifer just became an SVU case.