Set after Season 11, Episode 24 "Shattered"
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I am not sure how many chapters this fan fiction story will be. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.
"Stepping Time" Chapter 25 of ?
#-#
"What are you doing?" Erin asked walking into her guest bedroom.
"I'm stealing one of your Army PT shirts," Olivia smiled. "Your list says you need seven. You have nine. So I figure you don't need this one."
"Really detective," Erin laughed and then paused. "As adorable as I find that, I'm thinking Alex will view you in it much differently."
"So what….you want me to get with Alex, and we're just done," Olivia said looking at her watch, "when you leave in about 43 hours."
"No, I'm not meaning that," Erin said sitting next to Olivia on the floor. "I'm sorry. I just finalized my 12 female troops with the Reserve battalion commander. It is just an awesome responsibility and it affects so many lives."
"And that's why you shouldn't try to handle it all alone," Olivia said.
"It's tough being back home when someone you care about is deployed," Erin said.
"I can't just turn off my feelings for you," Olivia said. "And it would be a hell of a lot harder not hearing from you and wondering if you were ok. Look, I know when you get over there you are going to be busy and focused, but I want to know you are okay. I want to know how you are doing and be there for you at least as a friend."
"You know I'm really hating being in the Army right now. Ironically, if I would have been told three years ago I would be getting orders for an assignment like this I would have been salivating for what it could mean for my career," Erin said.
"As much as I don't want you to go, if I was one of those young soldiers I would want you as my commander," Olivia said.
"Thank you," Erin said as her lips met Olivia's. Olivia quickly intensified the kiss and pulled Erin on top of her as she lay back on the floor.
Erin smiled and glanced at her watch. "Thirty-five minutes until the cookout crowd arrives. Is there something you want detective?"
Olivia grabbed Erin's hand and guided it under the waistband of her shorts.
"Lord," Erin sighed feeling how wet Olivia was. "I didn't think folding my laundry…"
"I was thinking of other things while I was doing it," Olivia said.
"Maybe something like this," Erin whispered sliding two fingers inside her and massaging her clit with her thumb.
"Yes Erin," Olivia said, arching her hips seeking deeper contact. "Harder baby."
#-#
"Erin, I love you, but just relax now. You've packed up more than enough. I told you that yesterday. Everything is fine," Jeff said.
"Well, I just don't want to put too much on you," Erin said. "I made a master list of contacts from the movers to the plumber to the vet and stuff like that."
"If I have any questions along the way we'll just handle them via Skype or e-mail," Jeff said. "It's not like we have to mail letters across oceans and deserts."
"I think you are my real brother," Erin smiled "and Dylan is an annoying imposter."
#-#
"Come in," Olivia said opening the door for Elliot and Kathy. "Appreciate you guys coming. I know it's a bit of a drive, not to mention a Monday evening."
"Stop it Liv," Elliot said. "Means a lot that you included us."
"And as long as there isn't a pool table I might get a chance to talk to Erin a little more than I did at Humphrey's," Kathy smiled.
"No pool table. And we kept it small. Just you two, Casey and Jeff, and Stacey and Tonya. We play softball with Stacey and Tonya is her partner. They'll be here about seven," Olivia said.
"Hey Kathy. Hey Elliot," Erin called walking into the living room with Jeff. "Welcome to the abode of boxes and bags."
"Casey is on her way. She had to stop for beer and ice," Jeff said after greeting Kathy and Elliot.
"No tequila tonight for me Stabler," Erin said. "I don't even think I have any here," she added as she looked through her small liquor cabinet.
"Erin I say we save our next shot of tequila for when you come back home," Elliot said.
"Cheers to that," Erin smiled. "That was really sweet of you to say."
"Yeah honey," Kathy kidded. "You should be sweet and charming more often."
#-#
"Kathy I'll take Petraeus inside. He's been on your lap almost the whole evening," Erin said.
Erin reached for the small dog and carried him in the house and put him in a small crate in the study. As she turned to walk out of the room she saw Elliot walking past in the hallway.
"Elliot, you have a minute?" she asked.
"Sure, I was hoping we would get a chance to talk a minute or two."
"I'm not even sure what I want to say. I keep going back and forth between my head and my heart," Erin said. "I want her to be happy and worry about me as little as possible."
"She's going to worry about you," Elliot said. "But I'll be there for her and try to get her to talk about it. And you know Erin we're all going to worry some. You can't change that."
"Well I know from a few things she's said that it was really tough on her when Alex was in witness protection," Erin said.
"It was, but a part of that was not knowing where she was and how she was doing," Elliot said. "And not being able to talk to others. Liv and I were the only ones who knew Alex was still alive and in the program."
"You know if she chooses to be with Alex this deployment will at least help me to cope with that," Erin said.
"Well she hasn't said much to me, but I'm kind of thinking she has already made her choice," Elliot said. "And she's here with you… You two are great together…do you love her?"
"We haven't even known each other that long and so much has happened in the last 10 days especially," Erin said. "But, yes I do."
"Then tell her," Elliot said.
"But…" Erin started.
"She's been my partner for 12 years," Elliot said. "Trust me on this. Now let's get back outside before she gets suspicious and interrogates us both."
#-#
Olivia rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. 3:30 a.m. She crawled out of the bed, threw a t-shirt on and walked towards the living room looking for Erin. She saw Erin seated on the couch wrapped in a white robe, Petraeus in her lap and a photo album in her hands.
Erin turned her head hearing Olivia approach. "Did the light wake you?
"No," Olivia said taking a seat on the couch next to Erin. "Photos from your Iraq deployment?"
"Yes, and a few letters from relatives of those in my battalion who were killed or wounded," Erin said. "As a battalion commander I had 402 troops under me, and I tried to get to know as many of them as possible, but I didn't know four out of the seven who were killed on a personal level at all. Like I told you, the first four were killed within a week of being in country and I only had a few months in command at that point."
Olivia put her arm around Erin and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
"I guess what is bugging me the most is that in Iraq the troops I had, for the most part, were trained for what they would be doing," Erin said. "Now I'll have 22 under me with only five that either have significant training and/or experience in what they are going to be ordered to do."
"Erin that's not your fault. I know it sucks, but all you can do is get them as ready as possible and use your training and skills to do so. And they'll learn from you, and those under you who do have the training and experience," Olivia said.
"I know you're right," Erin said. "I need to get them trained, and fight for what they need… and make them believe in themselves."
"And I know you can and will do that," Olivia said getting up from the couch.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to get something I was going to give you in about three hours," Olivia said walking to the kitchen to grab her purse. She sat back on the couch and secured the small box from her purse with her hand.
"Okay," she said nervously. "I talked to Elliot and looked up some uniform regulations so I know you can't really wear-but you have said you like mine…" she continued, handing the box to Erin. "And you play with mine a lot."
"I love it," Erin said as she opened the box to see the slate "Fearlessness" tablet pendant with silver chain. "Thank you." She kissed Olivia and then got up and returned with her dog tags. She removed one of the dog tags from the silver chain and threaded the chain through the two loops on the pendant.
"I was hoping you might wear it with your dog tags," Olivia said. "That's why I got silver."
Erin slid the second dog tag back on the chain so the pendant rested between the two tags. She fastened the clasp of the chain and slid it around her head and down on her neck.
"Sexy," Olivia said, giving Erin a quick kiss. "Let's go back to bed. I'm freezing."
Erin took off her robe and placed it at the end of the bed and crawled under the covers. Olivia snuggled up next to her, resting her head on Erin's shoulder. Erin placed a soft kiss on the top of Olivia's head.
"I love you," Erin said.
Olivia tilted her head to look at Erin. "I love you too," she said.
#-#
"Thanks partner," Olivia said sitting down at her desk. "Like a buffet of breakfast options," she added looking through the bags on her desk.
"I ate a breakfast sandwich and a donut already, so take whatever you want," he said. "I'm figuring you didn't eat."
"Nope, cried about half the way here," she said. "Not to be morbid, but really could use a new case about now."
"I understand," Elliot said. "Don't have a new one, but Munch and I were working on this Tulley case from 18 months ago Monday and yesterday."
"And?" Olivia asked.
"Captain thinks it is worth re-interviewing a couple of people and a few new ones," Elliot said sliding the case file to Olivia.
"Sounds good," Olivia said. "I'll eat quick and read up."
"Hey, I was wondering, since you,.. well Casey said you all have a Bye tonight…do you want to come over for dinner?"
"I appreciate that El. And I'm glad we don't have softball tonight," she said. "I'm just going to go home tonight. I haven't been there in a week except to grab clothes."
"Ok," he said. "But if you change your mind…"
"Thanks," she smiled.
#-#
"Hell Alex," Olivia laughed. "If you are going to be at my door each time I buy groceries, I'll just give you the list."
Olivia grabbed her keys out of her pocket and opened her apartment door. Alex followed and closed the door behind her. Olivia started unpacking the groceries and opened a beer.
"Can I have a beer too?" Alex asked softly.
"Sure," Olivia said. "But I'm not thinking I'm real good company right now."
"I don't expect you to be," Alex said. "That's why I thought you could use a friend."
"That's sweet Alex," Olivia said. "But we have more than friendship feelings."
"True, but among other times, you were there for me with the Connors' trial and that wasn't easy," Alex said.
"How did you know I would be here? I usually have softball Wednesday nights," Olivia said.
"I talked to Casey and she said you didn't play tonight," Alex said. "I fly to California Sunday night. I'm meeting with the attorney Casey hooked me up with and several other people through her."
"Congrats," Olivia said. "Obviously the conference call went well on Friday. When are you coming back?"
"Redeye back Thursday night," Alex said.
"Okay, I was going to spend my evening doing laundry, having some pizza and beers and watching Miss Congeniality," Olivia said. "Nothing heavy…including conversation?"
"That movie makes me laugh and I like pizza," Alex smiled.
"It's DiGiorno's pizza," Olivia said holding up the box.
"How about I buy some pizza for delivery because I want some wings too," Alex smiled.
"Partial pizza truths are fine as long as you're buying," Olivia said. "And just for the record," Olivia said as she put the pizza in the freezer. "It's pretty good for frozen."
"Operative word is frozen," Alex said.