Olivia sat in her apartment, it was almost three in the morning, and she couldn't sleep. She curled up on her couch in her flannels and tank, holding onto a pillow. Her tv glared old reruns of 'I Love Lucy' but she wasn't watching, she was too busy thinking.

She loved Elliot, She did, but upon seeing him again, she didn't want to break up a marriage. She left so he could get on with his life.

She picked up her cell, and dialed Cragen's number. "Hello?" Cragen asked sleepily.

"Hey, it's Liv."

"Liv, you sound terrible, are you okay?"

"No, I know I just started but I need to take a few days off." Olivia started to cry once again.

"Please since it's Thursday, take today and Friday off, and the weekend, come back Monday, though okay?"

"Thank you so much."

"Just get better okay."

"I will, Bye."

"Bye."

They hung up and Olivia went into her room and pulled out her academy duffel. She walked over to her dresser and packed a few things for the weekend. She was going to her friends apartment deeper in the city. Alex Cabot, she was her best friend, and currently the Assistant to the Homicide ADA. (A/N: Season 1 not yet, SVU ADA)

Alex was always there for her and she knew all about Elliot and Kathy and High School, the shooting, putting her mom away, and spending two weeks with the Stabler family.

It was around six in the morning when Olivia pulled out her cell to call Alex. She had showered, dressed and finally packed.

"Hello?" Alex asked sort of sleepily.

"Hey, Al, it's Liv."

"Liv, what is it?"

"I need to crash at your place for the weekend. I saw Elliot again."

"oh my, Liv. Sure you crash here, I have to work today, but I'll leave a key under the mat, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, Al." They hung up, Olivia grabbed her purse containing her phone, badge and gun. Her duffel, and keys, locked the door and left.

Alex Cabot walked into her apartment 14 hours later, exhausted from her day at work. She saw 

Olivia on her couch sleeping holding onto one of her throw pillows. Alex sighed, completely forgetting that Olivia was crashing with her.

She quietly creeped her way to her bedroom as slowly as she could, so she wouldn't wake up.

"I'm not asleep, you don't have to sneak away like the pink panther."

"Sorry, hun." Alex came over, while Olivia sat up so Alex could sit next to her. "What happened? Where did Elliot come from?"

"He's my new partner."

"No." Alex asked completely shocked.

"Yes, he is." Olivia said, putting her head in her hands.

"How did this happen?"

"Do you remember when I said my mom was raped and I was the result?" Alex nodded, "Well, I finally got to join SVU, what I wasn't expecting was Elliot to work there and be my partner. Cragen brought him into his office and I met him in there."

"What did you say?"

"I extended my hand, and shook it like I had never met him before."

"Wow, I can understand why you're here then." Alex said, pulling beers out of the fridge.

"Yeah, well that's not all of it."

"There's more?"

"Yeah, well after I met him in Cragen's office. I went to the roof, and he followed me. I told him why I left and why he couldn't find me. I told him that as long as he was with Kathy, all I would be is his partner."

"Liv, wow."

"Then last night, he came up to me, and told me that just filed for divorce, he never let me go, he never let me go, Alex."

"He's divorcing Kathy for you?"

"He must be, I don't know what to think about this."

Alex pulled her into a hug, "Like I said, You can stay as long as you need."

"Thanks."

"I gotta go to bed. I have to be at the office tomorrow early."

"Okay, thanks again Alex." Olivia watched Alex walk into her room and close the door. She looked down at her phone, and noticed she had 12 missed calls and two new messages.