CHAPTER 52

"So, what exactly are you saying?" Olivia asked Elliot softly afraid of his response. She had never even thought of having kids...well that's not true she thought of it the day her mother told her what her father was. "What if I end up passing along bad blood.? What if I abuse my own children. What if, what if, what if." The thoughts swirled relentlessly through her mind on a daily basis.

Elliot knew he'd embarked on shaky grounds by opening the subject. "Liv, I am not saying right now, or even in the near future." He took hold of her hand and tucked a tendril of her hair behind her head. "I just don't want you to make a decision based on fears...or 'what if's". Olivia smiled at his words. Elliot knew her so well, knew her likes and dislikes, her pet peeves and now it seemed, even her private thoughts. 'Promise me you'll at least consider it?" Olivia opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by a knock at the door. "Un- friggin- believable." She thought to herself. "Who know's we live here?" She mumbbled outloud.

When the door was not answered promptly the unwanted visitor rang the doorbell, which triggered two little puppies into a freenzie. Cracker and Jack tried desperatly to gain their footing on the hardwood floor, they would have to learn to navigate the house overtime. As they rounded the corner Elliot was already opening the door, the puppies tried to stop, tried to apply their brakes but it was futile against the hardwood, they slid infront of the door on their sides just in time for Casey Novak to see them.

"Ahh, Puppies!" She exclaimed walking in and scooping one up. "Ahh what's your name little fella?" She asked as if she would get a reply out of the pup. Elliot closed the door and gathered the other wiggly pup. Olivia emerged from the hallway in a pair of Jeans and one of Elliot's undershirts.

"Casey!" Olivia smiled embracing her best friend. "This little guy is Jack and that one," She pointed to Elliot's captive. "Is Cracker."

"Cracker and Jack?" Casey smiled at the name. "That's messed up." She laughed rubbing the puppies belly.

"Well, I suppose I could have named them John and Deere." Olivia smiled retreating to the kitchen "Or how about Harley and Davidsson?" She laughed to herself. Retrieving glasses from the cabinet. "What brings you by Casey? Not that I haven't missed you, I was gonna call you." She filled the glasses with peach tea and offered one to Casey and then Elliot.

"In a sec." Elliot was still trying to get Cracker under control when he motioned for Casey to relinquish Cracker. "I am putting these little battery packs in the back yard, hopefully drain the energy letting them run." Elliot walked out of the door of the kitchen leading into the back yard. "Talk amongst yourselves ladies, I am gonna bond with my boys." He smiled disappearing.

There was something about the way Elliot said 'My boys' that made her realize he wanted children, he wanted to be a father. Olivia's face drew downcast.

"Liv?" Casey snapped her back to attention. "You okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah." Olivia bit her lip.

"You know Liv, to those of his who know you...your a terrible liar." She grinned. "When your ready to talk I am always available." This was perhaps why Olivia connected so well with Casey.

Don't misunderstand. Olivia hated Casey when they first met. She was a cocky ADA who was always medling in their cases, always at the crime scenes. However, over the past years she had become more down to earth, and even though she pushed Olivia in their work she would never push her to talk about something personal if she wasn't ready. Somehow Casey understood Olivia.

"Hey, I got something for you." Casey lowered her voice and smiled as if telling some giddy school girl gossip. "Well two things actually." she removed a wrapped box out of her bag and slid it over to Olivia.

As Olivia took hold of it she suddenly heard an ear curddling scream come from the back yard. "NO BAAAAAADDDD!" "BAD CRACKER!" The girls peeked their heads out of the window to see Elliot shaking a finger at the beagle as he wagged his tale. "I am telling your mother!" Elliot said as he retreated back into the house.

"What's wro-" Olivia stopped as Elliot turned to face her. His face a fake seriousness he was trying to hide his smile. "Cracker..." Was all he could say motioning to the large urine stain on his shirt.

Olivia almost keeled over in laughter. "Maybe we should of named them Urine and Pistol?" Elliot laughed at her corny joke while Casey rolled her eyes. Neither had seen Olivia exude such freedom, but they enjoyed this new facet of her. "I am gonna shower."

He spoke starting to unbutton his shirt. "Disgusting." He mumbbled down the hallway.

"OPEN!" Casey nudged the box. "Open, your killin me." She smiled.

Olivia pulled the paper off exposing a box. A lamp box. Olivia smiled. "What is it?"

"What do you mean 'What is it?" She furrowed her brows. "It's a babies lamp!"

A large lump rose in Olivia's throat. "A babies lamp?"

"Yeah, you know, the shade has all the cute little designs cut in it. When you turn it on the shade rotates and projects the designs on the wall to sooth the baby to sleep." She pointed to the box reading parts of the advertisment.

Olivia smiled sheepishly and hugged her friend. "Your such a goofball, Casey."

"And that, my good friend, is why you love me." She said arrogantly as she held out a blue brief.

Olivia stared "What's that?"

"Read it." Casey was serious. "Maybe it's a better present than a funky lamp."

Olivia opened the legal brief holding her breath, not exactly sure what she was looking for. Casey could see Olivia's eyes racing over the page.

"Liv, it's official, were bringing your father up on the felicitation counts, and because of you, we got him on the attempted murder. After the trial...he'll never see the light of day again."

Olivia took a deep breath and placed her hands in her back pockets stretching her neck in small circles. "So he's arraigned?" she asked knowing he had to have been within 24hrs. And it had alread been two weeks.

"They arraigned him after he woke up from surgery. Theres more, if your up for it." Casey smiled. "He's ready to be interrogated."

Olivia peered out the window, watching the puppies play in the grass. She took a sip of her cool tea and turned around placing the glass down on the counter. "I'll get Elliot."