Chapter 13: The Truth May Be the Most Dishonest Thing You've Ever Said

Disclaimer: Damn. Not Mine.

A/N: Okay, so this chapter doesn't focus on any Urban Legend in particular. This is basically El and Liv telling everyone what's really going on…and how they react to it.

If you guys haven't seen Juno yet, you must. It was amazing!!

ENJOY!!!

Late that night, Elliot and Olivia sat on a cot in the crib discussing the situation at hand. They knew that the rest of the precinct had to know what was really going on, but had no idea how to break it to them. It wasn't an easy thing; sharing the most dishonest truth you've ever known. But, the truth was, in and of itself, impossible…right?

No, Olivia knew that it was true. She knew that they were all in danger. And she knew that the arrangement between her and Elliot would never work. They were too close to be 'just friends,' but too distant to be anything more. So where the hell did that leave them? Friends with benefits? Olivia didn't think so. The idea wasn't that appealing to her.

Taking a deep breath and glancing up at Elliot, who was pouring over the latest case files, she realized that she could either have all of him or none at all. Right now, the latter looked to be the most likely option. He was with Kathy and they had had another child. She would never tear Elliot from his family, no matter how much it hurt to goodbye to him every night.

Letting out her breath in a ragged sigh, Elliot looked up at her. Concerned, he asked, "You okay?"

Olivia nodded staring at the frosted glass that separated the crib from the stairs that led down to the precinct.

"We don't have to do this now, you know that, right? We can wait till tomorrow." Elliot said half closing the file.

"No. We need to figure out the best way to break the news."

"I know. We could do that tomorrow."

Olivia shook her head vehemently. "Uh-uh. I have a bad feeling that the next time this happens, it's gonna hit a lot closer to home."

Elliot stared at Olivia for a long time. He'd been trying to get in her head for the last couple of hours, but she's too guarded. He didn't know if it was because she was terrified of the case…or him. He knew that it was probably him. He'd been hurting her for the last three or four years. No doubt unintentionally, but the fact of the matter was, was that he had and there were no excuses. He just wished…no. He wanted more than anything to tell her how he really felt. About the last few years, about the case…about her.

But he couldn't. He'd made prior choices that blocked him from doing two of the three things. He couldn't tell her how he felt about the last few years because that would lead him straight to how he felt about her…and that was a path that he didn't deserve to go down. She had no obligation to forgive him and by the way she's been acting since the confrontation, he could tell that she hadn't.

'She probably never will.' Elliot thought ruefully. How drastically things had changed in the last few hours. And, looking back, how they were to change in the next few days.

………………………………………………………………………………

"Good morning, Detective Tutuola. How was your night?" Munch said as he swaggered into the squad room the next morning.

Fin looked strangely at his partner. "I don't know, John. How was yours?" Fin raised his eyebrows.

"Fine. Just fine." Munch intoned airily. "But I think two people had a better night than we did."

"Huh?"

"Elliot and Olivia." Munch said in his best "Duh!" voice. "Their cars are exactly where they were last night, their coats are still on the coat rack, and Elliot has about 20 missed calls from Kathy."

"How do you know Elliot has missed calls?" Fin asked.

"His phone is sitting on his desk and I sneaked a glance at the screen."

"Greta, John. You're a great friend."

"What? I'm just concerned." Munch feigned innocence.

"Uh- huh. Sure. And I'm Paris Hilton."

"Naw. You're too ugly." Munch ducked as Fin tossed a pen a t him. "Anyway, I'm going to head up to the crib and check on our two favorite lovebirds."

Fin shook his head and continued with his paperwork.

…………………………………………………………………………

At about four am Elliot had finally fallen asleep. The file lay open on his chest and his eyes flitted with REM sleep. He was a quiet sleeper. He didn't move or talk in his sleep. This struck Olivia as strange because, for as long as she had known Elliot, he never slept peacefully. 'Well, just one of the many things that had changed about him.' Olivia thought as she entertained the possibility that she didn't even know her own partner anymore.

Too exhausted to go back over the cases for what felt like the millionth time, she laid on the cot that lay furthest from Elliot's. Tossing and turning, Olivia fell into a restless sleep, plagued by grainy images of a car, headlights, and Elliot's terrified screaming of her name.

Jolted awake by a door opening Olivia sat up, Elliot's panic-stricken eyes still etched in her mind and his screams still echoing in her ears.

Across the room Elliot also bolted up, his hand already on his gun.

"Jesus, Munch." Olivia breathed as the horror of her dream faded as she fully entered the waking world. "Ever think about knocking?"

Elliot groaned and swung his feet to the ground as he rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?" He asked, voice thick with sleep.

…………………………………………………………………………….

A cursory glance of the room told Munch that nothing 'interesting' had happened here last night. The room was spick and span except for a few papers that had fallen to the floor when Elliot sat up. In fact, the two detectives seemed more distant than they usually did. First of all, they were lying on cots that were on complete opposite sides of the room. Secondly, when Elliot looked at Olivia she refused to meet his eyes, looking down at her sheets. Munch didn't miss the cloudy hurt in Elliot's eyes as he looked away and stood up. And, thirdly, their body language was completely guarded. Olivia had crossed her arms over her chest and kept her eyes downcast. Elliot kept his back to her and was slightly hunched over, as though he was trying to protect himself from some invisible thing.

"Is everything okay?" Munch asked the two.

"Yeah." Elliot intoned as he shrugged.

"Mm-hmm." Olivia mumbled also standing.

"Um, yeah." Munch said as the awkward silence stretched making even him uncomfortable. "So Fin is downstairs and I brought muffins."

"Coffee?" Olivia asked stretching. Munch glanced at her and Elliot again. The partner's standoffish-ness towards each other was really starting to get to him.

"Yeah." Munch said, a slight edge to his voice. He took a step towards the door, but stopped. "You know, if you guys ever need to talk Fin and I-,"

Olivia cut across Munch. "Actually, we do need to talk to you. Can you call Fin up here? The captain too, if he's here."

"Sure." Munch said, slightly confused, but happy that they were reaching out. "Back in a sec."

……………………………………………………………………………………

Twenty minutes later the four detectives and the captain were gathered in the crib. Casey and Huang were there too because Olivia had also suggested he call them.

Elliot looked at Huang. "What we're about to tell you is going to sound absolutely insane, so this is off the record Doc."

Huang nodded, but continued to stare at the pair with a calculating gaze.

"So what do you want to tell us?" Cragen asked slightly annoyed by the fact that they were stalling.

Olivia took a deep breath and jumped right into it. There would be no beating around the bush today.

"You guys know the cases that we've been getting lately? The ones that all involve children?" At the other's nods she continued. "Well, we've found a link between all of them." She paused bracing herself for what was coming.

The others were waiting. Elliot glanced at Olivia, thinking she had maybe lost her steam, but, pushing her bangs aside with a careless flick of her wrist, she continued.

"They are…they're all…well, they're all Urban Legends." Silence followed her words. A thick, suffocating silence that palpably filled the room.

"What, so you're saying that these cases all resemble Urban Legends?" Fin asked, eyebrow raised.

"No, we're saying-" Olivia started.

"We're saying that these cases are identical to these Urban Legends, in every way, shape, and form. We're saying that these Urban Legends are coming to life. For some unholy reason, someone is recreating these Legends and the victims and apparent 'criminals' have no choice in the matter." Elliot finished, his eyes shadowy.

Olivia looked at him, frustrated. He'd cut her off. She shook her head resignedly. 'It's not a big deal.' She told herself. 'No matter who says it, we have to get our point across.'

Munch, Fin, Cragen, Huang, and Casey all stared at the pair unblinkingly for a moment before Casey finally breathed the question they were all wondering.

"Are you serious?" she didn't say it in a disapproving tone, more like a 'please-be-joking' sort of way.

"Yes." Olivia nodded grimly. "Something unnatural is happening and we have to stop it..."

Huang had remained silent throughout the 'session,' but now spoke up. "From a professional point of view I would look into getting you both committed. But, on a personal level, I'm willing to believe you."

Elliot and Olivia looked at each other, relieved, but Cragen suddenly spoke.

"Hold it." He held up his hand. "You expect me to believe that Urban Legends are coming to life? Like prophecies?"

"Yes." Olivia said again.

Swallowing hard, Cragen nodded his head. "All right. I believe you, but I am going to look into this."

Olivia briefly closed her eyes, but opened them when Munch cleared his throat. Opening her eyes Olivia saw that he looked positively exuberant.

"I knew it!" Munch exclaimed. "Those cases were way too coincidental. You see, my theory is that it is some sort of conspiracy from-," But Fin cut him off.

"Alright. We're all with you guys. Just tell us what we need to do."

Letting out his breath Elliot looked at Olivia. He hadn't thought this far ahead. His friends had been way more understanding than he had expected. But, apparently, Olivia had thought this through.

"I need you guys to find out as much as you can about Urban Legends. I want to know when and where they started. I also want to know if there are any that might explain why this is happening. Casey, I need you to see if this has happened somewhere else before. And Doctor, I need you to see if you can piece a pattern together. I need to know if there is a specific order that things are happening in."

The five of them nodded and stood. Leaving Olivia and Elliot in the room alone, another uncomfortably dense silence fell between them.

"Olivia-," Elliot started, but she cut him off.

"I need to talk to someone." Olivia said standing and walking to the door.

"O-okay." Elliot said standing. "Well, I'm right here..."

But Olivia shook her head. "He's a professor at NYU. He teaches philosophy. He may have some answers for us."

"Alright. I'll grab my coat." But Olivia stopped him with a light hand on his shoulder.

"I'd rather go alone. It's a long drive and I need some time to think." She explained quietly.

'Yeah.' Elliot thinks staring into her eyes. 'Meaning she wants to be away from me.'

Olivia gave him a weak smile and headed downstairs. Elliot followed grabbing her coat off the hook for her.

"Thanks." Olivia said as she pulled it on and started to turn away.

Elliot gently placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him again.

"Be safe." He said, a strange growl in his voice. It wasn't an order, but more of a plea. "I don't want you hurt."

"I'll be okay." Olivia said to reassure him.

"Bad things are happening, Liv. I don't want you to be the next case. I couldn't handle it." Hesitating for a second he pulled her into a hug.

Closing her eyes Olivia allowed him to hug her. She buried her head into his chest briefly before pulling away. "I'll call when I'm on my way back." Olivia said as she left. Heading down the hallway she didn't look back because if she had she would have broken down.

TBC

A/N: What do you think? Much reviews, please!! 2/1/08