21. Better Halves

Ken knocked the door. He could see the dim light coming out. He tried to think what he should tell.

"Come in.", a gentle voice was heard.

"Hello, George."

"Ken? Long time no see. How are you?"

"I have to talk to you. Are you waiting someone?"

"No. You can tell me."

"I want you to get tested for HIV."

George Huang stood up and headed to the window.

"Are you…?"

"Look, I have no idea when I got it. I know we were protected, but I inform all my former sexual partners."

"You should."

"And that's what I'm doing. Acting responsibly."

"I get tested frequently. I'm negative."

"That's good. I don't know if I should tell my father. I already feel guilty about the transplant."

"Patients with HIV can have a normal life if they are in treatment. The most important thing is the support of their environment. You should let the people around know about you and your needs so they can help you and embrace you."

"You think that my environment will support me? My father?"

"Your father will."

"My boyfriend told me that we can beat it together. I left Baltimore and I told him never bother me. I asked him to stay the hell away from me!"

"He tried to support you. He wanted to stay with you no matter what. And you sent him away. Ken, don't try to keep people away from you. You have so many things to offer."

"I don't think that Nick could stand that. I mean, of course I care about him, but…"

"Do you love him?"

"None of your business, George."

"He wanted to be with you. He loved you and you rejected him."

"Just like you did with me."

"Ken, we couldn't do that anymore. I liked being with you, but I had to think of your father, my job…"

"It was all about you, George. Now, the thing is that Nick was depended on me, emotionally. He had difficult childhood, he was abandoned and finally found someone to care about him. I wanted to leave him a long time ago, but I was afraid he would be shattered. And it happened, I left him, I left Baltimore and I didn't take some time to think about him. His feelings."

"I guess you can still fix that and find peace inside you. You need that."

"Thanks for the advice, George."

"Ken, go talk to your father. He needs to know."

Kay Howard entered the 16th precinct and headed to the Special Victims Unit squadroom. A blonde detective urged to help her.

"Good morning, I'm Detective Rollins. Can I help you?"

"Hello, I'm Detective Howard from Fugitive Unit, Baltimore."

"What brings you here, Detective?"

"I'm looking for Detective Munch. John Munch."

"Look, who came from Charm City!", John's voice was heard and Kay turned her head.

"Hey, Munchkin! It's been so long!"

The two of them hugged each other.

'You look good, ghost-talker!"

"And you look… old!"

"You missed me? How it came you brought your ass in New York?"

"I missed your jokes and those X-files theories and all those freaking stuff you used talking about, but I'm here as a messenger."

"Amanda, we'll be at the cafeteria across the street for a while. Call me."

"Ok, John!", Rollins said.

They sat at the café and laughed for a while about Baltimore's good old days.

"Oh, I really miss those days! But, tell me why you travelled so many miles away?"

"Well, John, I came to meet Elliot."

"What? Come on, Kay! You fell for that moron, too?"

"Nah! I have some news from B'more. Someone was looking for him. Where can I find him?"

"That's an easy question. At my place."

"Divorce?"

"Not yet. The three of us we'll have lunch at "Gina's". He's at Queens now, fixing a nasty water-leak."

"Wow, he has many talents."

"He's a Jack-of-all-trades. I should go back at work."

"John, I forgot to tell you. Do you remember Maggie Cameron?"

"Maggie? Of course I remember!"

"She died about a month ago. Aneurism."

"That's awful."

"Yeah. Too bad, she has a daughter."

"Really?"

"She raised her all alone. Her death was so unexpected. She was so good."

"She was.", he said sadly.

"I think she had a crush on you. See you later, John!"

Brian went at Olivia's apartment with a flower bouquet.

"Hello, Brian."

"Olivia! Can I come in?"

"Yeah. Coffee?"

"No, I'll stay for a while."

"Thanks for the flowers."

"Are you ok?"

"I'm a little dizzy and I feel tired, but I have plenty of time to lazy around and play with Ellie."

"I came to apologize. You shouldn't be alone now. It's my fault."

"Partially, yes."

"I screwed your life the very moment I came back. And I feel so so sorry about it."

"I forgive you."

"Look, Olivia I was a jerk. I was in love with you and I only thought about myself. I wasn't prepared about you having family and I ruined everything."

"Things between me and Elliot…"

"Elliot loves you. He loves you so much that he could kill for you. He can't live without you. He can't even think apart from you. You, guys, were so close and you kicked ass! It's a shame you are separated. And I'm to blame. And I can tell that you can't live without him, too. That's you. Two bodies, one soul."

"We're done."

"No, Olivia. You still have time."

Two o'clock at Gina's. Elliot, John and Kay sat on a table and ordered their lunch and wine.

"I was rude to leave like that, but I was informed that my wife was shot. I was panicked!"

"No hurt feelings, Elliot! You did what you should do. Is she ok now?"

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Never ask a good-wedding advice from Uncle-John, the man has three divorces!"

"Four!", Munch corrected her.

"Yes, four! Gwen was the funniest of all!", she bursted into laughter.

"Knock it off, Howard! Gwen was ok!"

"She liked conspiracies, too. That's why you liked her."

"Hey, kidos, there are people around us!", Elliot tried to calm them down.

"Elliot, let's get serious now. I came to bring you some news."

"I'm all ears, Kay."

"Nick Atkins came to find me. He said that Ken Randall told him about who you are and who I am."

"Ken? Fin's son?", Munch asked.

"Shut up, John", they both said in unison.

"He was worried about Ken when he came in New York. He wanted to know what happened. He knew that you brought bad news, Ken left and he didn't answer his phones or emails. I couldn't help him, but the poor kid… man, I felt sorry for him!"

"That's all?"

"I was informed that he was found dead four days ago."

"Fuck! How?"

"He killed his self. He sliced his veins. And he left that, it's for Ken."

They ate their lunch in silence.

The next morning Elliot went at Charleston Hotel to meet Ken.

"Every time I come to you I'm a bad news messenger."

"What is it about?"

Elliot sighed and gave him Nick's note.

"Ken, I couldn't stand living without you. I thought that I found a family, someone who loved me. I was wrong, you rejected me. Being alone again? No, thanks! You ought to know that I love you.

Goodbye, Ken."

Ken felt a knock in his stomach.

"What? What happened to Nick?"

"He cut his veins."

"No! No, no, no!", he screamed and sobbed.

"Ken, don't do that to you!"

"It's my fault! It's all my damn fault!"

"You didn't mean that to happen!"

"Why you came to find me? Nothing of all these…"

"Hey, Ken! You had to know. Don't shoot the messenger, ok?"

"I'm sorry, Elliot! I have… I have to go back. He has no one. He had no one. I must arrange his… oh, no!", he cried.

"Everything you need, call me!"

Elliot felt a need for a drink. He took a card from his coat's pocket.

"Patricia? This is Elliot Stabler…"

It was almost nine o'clock and Elliot put his tie.

"Someone has a date! How much perfume have you put?", John teased him.

"Should I wear the red tie?"

"No, I like that one."

"What's wrong with you, John? Why you have that long face?"

"Someone I knew died lately."

"Really?"

"Yes, she was a secretary at Homicide. Maggie.", he felt tears forming in his eyes.

"She was close to you?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Elliot. Have fun tonight."

He finally went at his date. Patricia Collins looked really beautiful. They had a nice time. When they left the restaurant he felt light-headed.

"Should we have one more drink?", Patricia asked.

"We already had wine."

"I wanted some Gin. But, it's ok if you want to go. Maybe you got bored with me."

"No, no, you're a great company. I just thought that we should call it a day."

"You know, Paul is with his father. I'm home alone. What about a drink at my place? I want to ask you about a Mercedes-Benz."

"Um, Patricia…"

"Please, Elliot! I don't take no for an answer."

They went at Patricia's home. It was a luxurious large apartment at Upper East Side.

"It looks nice!"

"Thanks. I'll show you around. Let's put us a drink first."

She gave him a glass of whiskey and she grabbed his hand. Elliot was impressed by the decoration of the house.

"And that's my bedroom."

She turned on the lights. Elliot was caught off guard when she put her lips on his. He tried to avoid the kiss, but she insisted. In the meanwhile his mobile was ringing. Patricia kissed him once again and touched his chest. She started stripping.

"Patricia…"

"Let's have fun, Elliot."

She unbuttoned his shirt and lied on the bed.

"Take your pants off."

He was fully undressed and lied next to her. His mind was set on Olivia.

"Patricia, I'm sorry, I can't…"

"Relax, drink."

Munch was asleep and his phone was ringing.

"Munch.", he told still sleepy.

"John, that's Olivia is Elliot there?"

"Olivia? No, he's not! What's wrong?"

"I called him again and again… oh, my God, John! I'm so in pain!"

"Hold on, Liv!"

He immediately called Elliot.

"That's my phone!"

"Don't go now, Elliot!"

"I have to answer."

He went directly at the living room where he left his coat.

"John?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm…I'm with Patricia."

"Oh, I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but you have to run at your home."

"What happened?"

"It's Liv! It's an emergency!"

Patricia was standing behind him. He saw Olivia's missed calls.

"Everything ok?"

"I have to go."

"Ok, I understand. Will I ever see you again?"

"Maybe. I can't tell you now!"

He went at home, he cleaned Patricia's lipstick and urged at his apartment.

Olivia was crawling on the floor semi-conscious and bleeding.

"Olivia!", he yelled and kneeled next to her.

"Oh, Elliot, you came at last!", she tried to breathe.

"Let's go to the hospital immediately!"

"Ellie's sleeping."

"Don't worry about Ellie."

Olivia felt a sharp pain once again. She grabbed Elliot's hand.

"I don't want to lose my baby!"

"No you won't, sweetheart."

"I want to have our baby. Our baby!"

"Shh, it's ok. It's ok, Liv!"

She passed out. She woke up at the hospital.

Elliot was standing next to her. She turned her head to look at him. He held her hand and shook disappointed his head.