Chapter 12 - Root

Fin insisted on taking Olivia home. She had thrown up twice at the precinct, becoming very upset once again when Munch and Fin tried to talk to her about what happened. She was still a bit shaky, too. Cragen had come back from 1PP just in time to witness her second round with the trash can. They had still been up in the crib when he came up looking for everyone. Between the three of them, they managed to pull off the story that she must have food poisoning and he seemed convinced.

When the cab pulled up to her building, she tried to get Fin to go on but he was determined to see her settled in for the evening. While she showered, he made her some hot tea and fixed a salad for her. Coming into the kitchen, she was both surprised and touched at his thoughtfulness.

"You didn't have to do that, you know." Smiling, she patted him on the arm.

"I figure you ain't gonna fix yourself anything...gonna say you ain't hungry...or you too tired or too somethin'." He was shaking his head and laughing.

"You know me too well, Fin." She pulled the towel off of her wet head and ran her fingers through her hair. She had on a long sleeved navy blue NYPD t-shirt that had seen better days, white socks and blue, green and purple plaid flannel pajama bottoms. It was almost 7:00 and she had not eaten lunch, so maybe she would try to eat the salad.

"You gonna be okay?" His voice was low and full of concern, his eyes searched hers.

Giving him a hug, she said. "Yea. I'm gonna be okay."

"You call, if you need anything, girl, no matter what time. Eat that salad I went to the trouble to make. Get some rest." He closed the door behind him.

Now that she was alone, she could begin to analyze what had happened, all the emotions that ran through her, let go of all the bottled up tears. Before she could start on her crying jag, the ringing of her cell phone interrupted. It was Dean. On the nights when they had no plans to see each other, he had taken to calling her just to make sure she had gotten home safely. They would talk sometimes briefly, sometimes for hours. With everything that had happened, she had forgotten she was suppose to go by his place after work. He was calling to see where she was. He worried when she did not show up or call. She told him she was not feeling well and made the call a short one.

When she thought about how her and Elliot's relationship had gotten to this point of seemingly no return, she just shook her head. She would never have thought it could be like this, volatile to the point that she really did believe, if only for a second, he could have hurt her. She was thankful that Fin and Munch showed up when they did and pulled him off of her even though that meant they knew about the two of them. Sort of. She kept thinking about what Casey had said about love making people do crazy things, but jealousy making them do dangerous things. How many times had they investigated a crime only to be told by witnesses that the suspect seemed like such a nice person. Completely normal. Friendly. Held a good job. Was well educated. Law-abiding up until the point of the crime. That could be anyone she knew, any one of her friends, co-workers, even her self given the right circumstances. Love gone wrong. She could not admit to herself that he might, indeed, love her. He had given several indications that it was possible. And he sure was acting like a jealous lover...yet they had never even kissed. He was married, for crying out loud. She should not be thinking these things at all. There was a thin line between love and hate. Can't he see he does not have the right to feel this way. And that even if he can not stop those feelings, he certainly can not act like he did today. Like she was a cheating wife, breaking their vows and trampling their marriage. There was no commitment between them to be broken. She was angry at him for acting like there was.

As much as she hated to think about it, she was beginning to realize she and Elliot may not be able to remain partners with they way things were between them. She began to play with the idea of talking to Don to see what he thought she should do. Of course, she had to be sure she was willing to live with the potential consequences before she went to him, because there was little doubt that he would split them up even against her protest if she told him even part of what has been going on this last couple of weeks. There was absolutely no doubt he would separate them if he knew what happened today, how Elliot acted. She thought he might even consider having his badge or at the very least insisting that he be put on a leave of absence and get counseling before he could return in the full capacity as a detective. Either would kill Elliot. But she could not continue to ride this roller coaster of emotions much longer or it was going to kill her.

- - - - - - - -

It was just after 10:00 when Elliot got home. After leaving Casey's around 7:30, he stopped in at a bar, ate some chicken fingers, drank a couple of beers and mostly sat and beat himself up mentally for what he had done to Liv. He could only pray that she would know she deserved better. That he was the one that was screwed up, not her. Kathy was nursing the baby and watching Law & Order: SVU when he came in. He hated that show and all the shows like it that tried to show the life of cops and the world they dealt with, the things they see. No TV show could ever begin to portray the evil, the depravity, the debauchery that infiltrates the world of a real SVU detective. But Kathy said that watching it gives her just a little insight into the world he never discusses with her. Whatever.

"Hi, El."

"Hey." He walked over to her and rubbed the baby's head. "Hey, little man. Hungry?"

"Oh, Fin called several times looking for you. And so did Munch. I told them you were on case."

"Say what they needed?" Great. Now Fin & Munch know I lied. This must be why he has never been one to lie. Too many people to remember what you said what to and you had to tell more lies to make the first lies seem like truth. Liars always get caught. Not to mention, it is a sin.

Just then there was a soft knock at the front door. Elliot looked out the window of the door and saw Fin. Wonderful. "It's Fin." He said to Kathy as he opened the door.

"Hey."

"Hi, Fin." Kathy called out.

"Hey, Kathy. How ya doin'?"

"Great."

He turned back to face Elliot. "Man, where'd you go?"

"Let's step outside. She's nursing and I don't want to upset the baby." He shut the door behind him.

"Kathy said you caught a case...I know that ain't so..."

"Had to have some reason for not coming home on time."

Fin nodded his head. "So, where'd you run off to?" He was bouncing on his toes. A nervous habit.

"None of your business." Elliot said calmly.

Fin cocked an eyebrow at him and just stared. "Is that right?" He stepped closer to Elliot. "You made it my business when you got in Liv's face. What is wrong with you, man? She suppose to be your friend...that ain't how you treat friends."

"Look, this is between me and Liv...not you...not Munch..."

Fin had been trying to contain his anger, but now he unleashed it upon Elliot. "Nah, uh-uh. That ain't gonna fly, man." He was shaking his head. "You was all over her like a madman, crazy as hell, like you was gonna beat the crap out her, we have to pull you off, and you got that woman so upset she cryin', shakin' and passed out and tossin' her cookies two or three times and you gonna stand there and say this is between you two? I don't think so!" He closed the space between them and poked a finger in Elliot's chest so hard, it caused him to stumble backwards a bit. "I just made this between me and you. Liv is my friend and you go messin' with her like that again, and you gonna have me on yo' butt. You got that, man?" The look in his eyes made it clear he would carry out his threat.

Elliot was several inches taller and probably twenty to thirty pounds heavier, but Fin was solid and would give him a run for his money, especially with the added adrenaline he'd have if he was defending Olivia. Elliot had no desire to physically fight with him. Liv passed out? She threw up? He did that to her. Fin and Munch thought he was going to hit her. She thought I was going to hit her. If anything, he deserved for Fin to beat the crap out of him. Maybe it would knock some of the guilt and shame out of him. And when he got finished, Liv could have a shot.

"Yea, I got it." Elliot looked down at his feet and nodded. He knew Fin was justified in coming to Olivia's defense but he was deeply ashamed that Fin felt he had to defend her from him.

Fin sighed and stepped away. He rubbed his forehead with the fingers of his right hand. "Look, man, I didn't come all the way out here to nail you your butt to the wall 'bout what you did. I'm here cause Liv asked us to find you."

"What?" Elliot's head snapped up. He could not believe what he heard. Liv wanted them to find him? After all the indescribably horrible things he had said and done, she thought about his well being. How much more guilt could he take!

"Yea. She was real upset 'bout everything that went down, but even though she was about as bad off as I ever seen anybody, when Munch told her whatever she needed or wanted we would do for her, what do that girl say? She must have it bad cause she said she wanted us to go find your sorry butt and make sure you okay..."

Elliot just stood there trying to process what Fin had just said. He ran his hand over his head and rubbed his neck. Then he put both hands on his face, bringing them down to his mouth in a praying position. He doubted God would be hearing anything he had to say right now.

"So...you okay?" Fin watched him, wondering how he and Liv ever got to this place.

His head shaking back and forth, Elliot whispered. "No. No, I'm...I'm not okay." He felt tears stinging his eyes and he wiped at them with the back of his right hand. He didn't think he could feel any more guilt than he did. He was wrong.

"You wanna talk about it?" Fin really did not know what he would say and this was so awkward for him, especially seeing Elliot looking like he was going to really start crying at any moment, but if that is what Liv wanted, then he would figure out a way to do it. Awww, man! Don't you go cryin, he thought to himself.

"Thanks, but...I spent most of the evening talking about it...just got to work it out now between me and Liv."

He and Fin just stood there staring at each other. Fin acted like he wanted to say something else, but was unsure of himself. After several long minutes, Fin spoke, softly. "You ain't the only one who loves that girl...difference is, me and Munch, we love her like a sister...if you hurt her again, we gonna whoop up on you like her brothers. You gotta figure out where your head is, man and what you gonna do, cause this is ripping both of ya'll to pieces." He paused, then continued. "You know where to find me, if you need me." He playfully punched Elliot in the shoulder then turned and bounded down the front steps.

Elliot knew this would be yet another night without sleep. He watched Fin get in his car, heard it crank up, saw him back up and drive away. He watched as the tail lights disappeared into the cold, dark night. He didn't know how long he stood there on the porch without a jacket. But when he finally went in, he was shaking like a leaf in the wind. The weather may have been partly why he was shaking, but the other reason was the coldness he felt in his heart when he thought about the possibility of losing Olivia forever. He knew that shaking would not stop once he was warmed by the heat of the house.

Closing the door and locking up, he was surprised to see Kathy still up, waiting for him. Having put the baby to bed, she was reading in the recliner in the living room.

"What did Fin want?" She got up from the chair.

"Something about a case." He was not in the mood to talk.

"Oh. Are you hungry?" She kissed him on the cheek. "I can heat up the plate I saved for you..."

"No. Thanks, anyway." He started up the stairs.

"Elliot, I waited up for you. Can't you take just a little time to talk to me?" Her voice held more sadness than irritation.

Sighing, he rolled his head around on his shoulders to try to relieve some of the tension he felt. "Kathy, it's been a long, rough day and I just want to take a hot shower and go to bed..."

He felt her hands starting to massage his neck and shoulders as she said, "Then let's do that."

Turning around to face her, he took her hands in his, leaned down and kissed her lips quickly, and hugged her. "Not tonight, Kath. Okay?"

He could tell she was hurt by his rejection, but she covered it quickly. "It's okay." She smiled.

"It hasn't even been long enough since the baby, has it?"

"No." She shrugged her shoulders as she raised her eyebrows and scrunched her face.

He was halfway up the stairs, when she spoke again. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Olivia is coming for dinner tomorrow night and bringing a date. I told her 6:30, okay?"

Bounding down the stairs, he nearly bellowed. "You what?! How could you do that without talking to me first?!"

She didn't know what to think of his outburst. "I...I did talk to you about it. I've been asking you for over a week to find out when would be a good time for her and you kept telling me you forgot. So I asked her the other night at Carmine's"

Never. Never is a good time. Oh, man! The thought of Olivia at his house with they way things were between them lately would not be good. But after what he had done and said today...he thought dying might be a more suitable alternative to the dinner.

Rubbing his hands over his face, he stared at Kathy. "You should have asked me first."

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like you don't want her to come over..."

"It's not that...it's just...we...uh.." Something Kathy said earlier just clicked in his mind. "Did you say she was bringing a date?"

"Yes. Dean. How come you didn't mention that she was dating anyone?"

Porter! This is just fantastic. Not only does he have to have dinner with the woman he is in love with, in his home, at his table, with his wife sitting right there, but now he is going to have to deal with the boyfriend of the women he is in love with, whom he would like to tear apart with his bare hands. His stomach was churning, he felt a headache coming on, he was beginning to feel shaky. In short, he was starting feel just like that night at Carmine's.

"Didn't think about it. Her dates never hang around for long anyway."

"Well, this one looks like he might..." She brushed past him to go upstairs to bed.

Suddenly, he was not the least bit tired. He made his way upstairs to the shower. Once he got in, he stayed until the water ran cold. He dried off, put on some sweats and lay down beside Kathy who was now sound asleep. He didn't know how long he lay there thinking, but the last time he remembered looking at the clock it was 3:07 a.m. Every time he felt sleep would overtake him, Kathy's last words would echo his mind, 'this one looks like he might' over and over, until he was wide awake again.

- - - - - - - - -

Tuesday morning broke clear, sunny and cold. Liv thought how ironic it was that the brightness of the sun enveloping her in its shine, only contrasted with the dark heaviness of her heart while the clear skies mocked the fog and haze of her mind. She had thought of calling out sick, but since that rarely happened, she knew Fin or Munch or both of them would be on her doorstep in no time. Did normal people go through all this emotional turmoil all the time? Sure there are things that happen in life from time to time that cause upheaval, but it seemed to her that this constant chaos was her life. Normal ever day life, for Liv, was turbulent, unstable. Could the root of all this be that she had the UnStabler for a partner and best friend. She laughed to herself. She keeps referring to him as her best friend. Best friends share every thing, they do things together and even nothing together. They laugh, they cry, they bring each other coffee in the middle of crappy day, or show up on the other's doorstep in the wee hours of the morning for support. They call just to say 'hi' or 'I need you'. They are always there just because. This used to be them but now she could not remember the last time she and Elliot had been or done any of those things. She was not even sure they were friends anymore. She was not sure what they were anymore.

Walking toward the elevators in the precinct, she saw Elliot standing down the hall, about 50 feet away, in front of the bay of elevators waiting for one. He had on those tight black jeans she liked, a maroon dress shirt, solid black tie and his black leather jacket. He was early. She almost always beat him in by 15-20 minutes. She stopped and hesitated, trying to decide if she should just go wait with him and pretend that nothing had happened yesterday or hang back to take a second elevator. Like always, he seemed to sense she was near and turned her way. Her choice was stolen from her as he started toward her. His face void of any emotion, he seemed to lack his usual confidence and bigger than life persona.

"Hey. We...uh... need to talk..." He chewed on the insides of his cheek, something he did when he was extremely hurt or nervous. His eyes glanced at her, taking note of her appearance. She was wearing brown pants today. She almost always wore black or dark blue. She had on that gauzy looking white shirt...what do they call that style? Peasant? A button-up sweater vest that was a bit darker than her pants was over it. She wore her tan leather coat that came down past her knees. He hadn't seen it for long time. And brown boots. She had more boots than anyone he knew.

"No. No. Let's just not do this...not now." She pleaded, not only with her voice, but eyes as well.

Taking her by her right arm, he pulled her into a small, empty break room. "Yes, now. We have to put on our game faces so Cragen won't suspect anything and Kathy told me you are coming to dinner at the house tonight, so we have to at least be civil to each other. And I have to apologize, Liv. For the way I acted, the things I did...said...I can't expect you to ever forgive me...I'll never forgive myself...but I am so, so sorry, Liv. I had no right to be angry...to ask you...if...you...Liv...if there was a way to turn the clock back, I would do every thing in my power to change that day...it was like it was someone else...doing and saying these terrible things...a madman...it wasn't me...I swear..it..it..."

"I know, I know..." She spoke the words softly.

"Liv, I could never raise a hand to hurt you...when I reached to touch you...and you...flinched...it nearly killed me...I made you think I could do that...I know it's all my fault...all mine...but I c-could never hurt you...never...you...you know that, right? The look in his eyes begged her to know this one thing.

She had to touch him, let him know she was not afraid of him. She put a hand to his face, softly caressing his cheek. "Elliot, I know you could never hurt me...not like that..." She tried to smile.

He reached up, took her hand, pulled it to his mouth and covered her fingers in kisses. She gasped. "Elliot, don't...please..." She could not take this...this blatant show of affection...of love.

Tears welled in his eyes and he blinked them back. He nodded and tried to smile, too. It didn't work very well for either of them. He still held her hand.

"Can we get through this day and tonight, at least, and then we can talk more about this later?" His voice shook just a little and she realized how unsure he was of himself.

"Yea. We can get through anything, El...together." Together? She did not know where that came from or why she threw that out to him, almost like a lifeline for a man overboard.

She used his nickname! He could not remember the last time he heard her say it. His second smile lit up his eyes, as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. She couldn't believe he did that and neither could he. He just could not help himself even though he knew it did not help the situation between them. Before they had time to analyze what had just happened or fall into a true discretion, he opened the door and ushered her back to the elevators.

- - - - - - - - - -

The sound of a feather falling could have been heard when Olivia and Elliot walked in, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, to the squad room at the 16th precinct that Tuesday morning. Fin was sitting at his desk and Munch was pouring coffee into his mug. They both froze in wide-eyed, open mouthed shock as the two partners walked in looking for all the world like the old, best friends Benson and Stabler. Just as Munch and Fin glanced at each other as if to say, 'What the...', Munch yelped in pain when the steaming hot coffee he had been pouring overflowed his mug and ran over his hand and all over the table and floor.

"Look at that, Liv. Hey, Munch, where'd all that mud on the floor come from?" Elliot laughed at his own joke, insinuating that Munch's coffee was so strong it was like mud.

"Better clean that up before Cragen sees it." Liv laughed, too.

They went to their desks, sat down and started working, leaving Fin and Munch to stare in wonder at the 180 degree change in them since last night. How could two people so utterly at odds one day be so buddy buddy with each other the next. Shaking their heads, Fin went back to his file as Munch cleaned up the mud.

As the day wore on, there was a case that the four of them worked together. Gang-related rape in the alley behind a local arcade, a hangout for teenagers, resulted in seven gang members being arrested and hauled in for questioning. The four of them spent the better part of the afternoon going over and over the interviews. Not one time was there a cross word, or even a hint of any disagreement between Olivia and Elliot.

"Man, this ain't right. I ain't never gone through a day with Benson and Stabler being so nice to each other. It just ain't right." He remarked to Munch outside the interrogation room, while they listened in on Olivia and Elliot questioning one of the suspects.

"I know what you mean. I keep thinking any minute now, Liv is going to say the wrong thing and Elliot is going to fly off the handle. But they keep on... 'hand me that file, please'... 'here you go..is there anything else'... 'thank you'... 'would you mind'... 'oh, I'll get it for you'... It's like being in the 'Twilight Zone'!" Munch stood with his arms crossed, peering through the one way glass as they continued their interrogation.

"Yea. Or 'Unsolved Mysteries'! The name of the story would be 'How did so much anger yesterday turn to such sickening sweetness today...not even 24 hours later'. Or how about 'Missing Detectives: Please help find the real Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler' All that anger didn't just go away like that, man." He snapped his fingers. "They gotta be holding it in? Gotta be about to explode. It's downright scary!"

"All I know, is that when the you know what hits the fan, I do not want to be any where near them!!"

"I hear ya, man!"

They heard footsteps behind them and turned, seeing Captain Cragen just as he came up. "What do you hear, Fin?" He asked.

"Uh..we..uh...we was just talking 'bout Liv and Elliot how nice they been being to each other."

"Oh?" A smirk stole across his face, as he thought maybe that little talk did some good after all. "Well, that's good."

"Yea? They 'bout to make Munch and me sick, they so syrupy sweet! I can't take it no more. They just ain't right!" He turned down the hall and headed back to his desk.

Munch simply shrugged, holding his hand up in answer to the Captain's questioning look.

Truth be known, they were both putting on an act, albeit, a good one. Olivia could feel his tension almost as if it were her own. And she had more than enough of her own. They were overly polite, considerate and acquiescent of the others requests no matter how trivial. This was made all the more difficult by the fact that she really was still angry about all he said and did the day before. She was not letting him off the hook on that so easily. Being nice, walking on eggshells, careful not to offend, Olivia thought, was as stressful, if not more so, than fighting, hollering, being sarcastic and coming up with the vicious verbal weaponry they wielded so well. By the end of the day, she was exhausted and quite stressed out from her performance and she still had the second act to survive...'the dinner' with the Stablers.

Elliot wished making things right between them could be as easy as he and Liv made it seem to those on the outside. He knew her well enough to know that she was doing her best to just make it through the day and dinner tonight without any issues between them. New issues, anyway. He already felt like he put a new issue between them by kissing her hand and cheek. He knew that when she touched his cheek it was her way of telling him she did know that he could never hit her. He had been so overwhelmed with relief, he could think of no other way to express it. He could still feel her on his lips. But he also knew this did not mean she forgave nor would forget so easily, what he had done and said. He sensed the interplay of opposing elements, the two of them, and the conflict it created within her. He could feel the confusion, the tension in her because the same thing was going on his mind. Besides, no matter what happened between them, they were inexplicably bound as though tentacles from their minds and hearts reached out for the other, taking root and intertwining them in a death grip. For himself, he knew without question, it would require death...his...to sever the grip Olivia Benson had on his heart, mind and soul. Even then, he was not sure that grip would be loosed.

- - - - - - - - -

They both left work a little early to get ready for 'the dinner'. Kathy had said casual dress, but when Elliot told her about the dress Kathy had out to wear, Liv opted for a bit less casual. She chose a pair of pin-striped black dress slacks, with an emerald green sweater that had tiny flecks of gold woven into it. The v-neck of the sweater was modest and it's long sleeves slight ruffled at the ends and were long enough to cover the bruises on her wrists. Bruises from Elliot's hands holding her wrists so she could not hit him. She tied a gold sash at her waist over the sweater, and wore a gold herring bone necklace and gold double-hooped earrings. Slipping on a pair of very pointed, 3 ½ heeled, black boots, she completed her outfit. After showering, she had completely redone her make-up, going just a bit heavier on the eye shadow, liner and mascara. Her trademark gloss was there, but she chose an almost wine color, darker than she wore during the day.

It was now only 5:20 p.m. meaning she had half an hour to try to calm her nerves. She thought about fixing a drink. Or two. Dean said he would be there by 5:50 and she wished he would just come on. Maybe having someone to talk to would help get her mind off of the evening to come. Her new companion, the tightness in her stomach, wanted her to know it was there and was not to be ignored. Her heart was racing. Her palms sweaty and hands trembling just slightly. Oh, what the heck. One glass of wine will not hurt anything. She went to the kitchen, got a wine glass and the bottle of wine in the frig, sitting down on her couch, she poured a glass. The wine was smooth and soothing as it slid down her throat. Within a few minutes, she began to feel calmer but not nearly calm enough. Twenty-five minutes and almost three glasses of wine later, she heard the knock signaling Dean's arrival. When she stood, she was just a little unsteady on her feet, and it was at that moment she remembered she had not eaten since breakfast, giving the wine more potency than normal.

She opened the door to find Dean dressed in a red sweater over a green and white shirt with small stripes, black dress slacks and black loafers. He had his black leather jacket, too. He was so handsome!

"Getting a jump start on the evening, I see." He smiled, noticing that she was swaying a bit. He could not get over how she looked. She was absolutely beautiful.

"Oh...uh...yea. I was just going to have a glass to take the edge off..." She was very surprised that her words were not slurred.

"And did it?" He smirked, knowing she had to have had more than one glass.

"No," she said, shaking her head back and forth. "But either the second one or the third one did the trick." She started giggling and fell against him. Mmm...his cologne... Oh, no, this is not good, she thought. She never giggles unless she is drunk or on the way.

He was amused at her giddiness but also knew it would not be wise to show up at the Stabler residence with her like this. "Tell you what, we'll stop and get you a cup of coffee...or two...on the way. You said it would be a good thirty minute drive, right? By that time, you should be sober enough to wing it."

He helped her to his truck. A 2003, black Ford F250. He helped her in and went around to his side, jumped in and turned the key. They were on their way to Kathy and Elliot Stabler's home for dinner. Well, as soon as they made a stop for coffee they would be on their way. He knew she was nervous about the dinner but could never quite get her to tell him why. Maybe those couple of glasses of wine, had loosed her tongue and he could get to the root of all that apprehension.

"Liv, you really are nervous about this dinner, aren't you." He tried to keep his voice light.

"Hmmm...a little." Watching the traffic, she did not turn to face him.

"A little?' I don't call three big glasses of wine to 'take the edge off' a little. What gives?"

"Nothing gives." She rolled her eyes.

"I mean, gee, you've been partners for almost nine years, you know his wife and kids, so what is there to be nervous about?"

"I don't know...it's just...it's like he has these two worlds...Kathy and the kids and home are one world...and SVU with all of the squad is the other world..."

"What about you..."

"I don't belong in his family world...only the work world...and when the two get mixed up together...it always...it just...it causes...friction...I don't know..."

"Friction? Between you and Elliot?"

"Between me and Elliot, between Kathy and Elliot, between Kathy and the kids, between me and...and...between everybody."

"Between you and Kathy?"

"Yea."

Why?"

"I've known his kids since they were really little. Lizzie thinks I'm her second Mom, Dickie has a crush on me, Maureen thinks I'm one of her best friends...she comes to me about things she knows her parents would freak out about, Kathleen...well, she didn't like me so much for a while, but it's been better since...well, it' just been better. But Kathy doesn't like that her kids like me..."

"Why didn't Kathleen like you?"

"She thinks I'm the reason her mom and dad split up."

"Why would she think that?"

"Because of the things Kathy was always saying. Acting like she's jealous."

"About you? How do you know she's jealous? Did Elliot tell you that?"

"No. Maureen told me. She said her mom was jealous that her dad spends more time with me than her and that not only did I have her husband all the time, but now her kids seemed to prefer me over her."

"So, she thinks you and Elliot..."

"No. She knows Elliot and I have not...we do not...she knows there is nothing going on...we talked about it...when she called me wanting me to...to talk him into signing the divorce papers."

"She wanted you to get him to sign their divorce papers?" Wow. This story was becoming bizarre.

"They were separated for two years and he would not sign. She was ready to move on."

"Why'd she come to you, especially if she was jealous of you?"

She laughed. "Because she said he listens to me." Not anymore. You have to talk to someone and hear what they are saying to be able to listen to them.

"Did he?"

"Never talked to him about it. Didn't think it was my place."

"How come he wouldn't sign the papers?"

"I don't know...a Catholic thing, I guess...didn't want to feel like he failed...who knows?"

"But he got her pregnant again..."

"Don't remind me." She mumbled under her breath.

"Excuse me?"

"Yea. That's the story. So, there you have it. I'm nervous about eating dinner with a woman who thinks I spend too much time with her husband, even though its our job, who dislikes that her kids like me, and her husband is a pain in the butt most of the time, so I am not real thrilled about eating with him either. But they think I saved Kathy's and the baby's lives so they feel like they have to be nice to me." She sat up and pointed. "There...McDonald's...I think I need two coffees."

Wow. He was going to have to stock up on wine. He found out more about Olivia in the last few minutes that he has in the last two weeks. If she ever realizes what all she told him, she will probably deck him.

- - - - - - - -

A/N: You do not know how much your reviews inspire me! Thank you so much! I know it takes time to read and review and I do appreciate it. And all the pointers about my writing style or lack thereof. Thanks!

bloodymary2: YES! They frustrate me to no end. But right now, in MY story I have them completely under MY control and they WILL come to their senses and there shall be EO!!! Your review of the rage scene blew me away! Thanks! It was so intense when I was writing it, that I was on the edge of MY seat. Then when I went back and reread it, I almost impressed myself! LOL!!

svuaddiction: I thought your comment about it taking too long for the E/O was hilarious! "We've been waiting for this to happen for 9 years...we can wait a few more chapters!" Thanks for your support!

svuluvr: You wrote: 'I'm going nuts over this story! I honestly ca't wait for more. :)' Here you go!! Merry CHRISTmas!!