Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.

Olivia and Elliot faced Sunday morning with the same eagerness and excitement that they had Saturday. They began their day by hitting the breakfast buffet before it could get too crowded, and talked over their plans.

Since they both wanted to spend more time outdoors, they decided to go back to the State Park again, this time taking a different trail. They discussed perhaps walking a more challenging course than the day before.

It didn't take them long to get ready once they'd returned to their room, and soon they were on their way back to the park. Elliot shouldered the drawstring bag again, ensuring they would have water and snacks if they should need them. Then they set out in the opposite direction as they had yesterday.

They did keep one thing the same though, and that was the distance that they walked. After two hours, they decided to stop for a break, knowing they still had to cover the journey back. The trail had indeed proven to be more difficult, and both Elliot and Olivia were in the need of boosting their energy. In addition to sharing a bottle of water, they also each had a granola bar.

It didn't escape Olivia's notice that Elliot was quieter today than he had been the day before. She was pretty sure she knew what was on his mind, but she still wanted to check in with him. High on the trail, they were isolated with no one else around. It was the perfect place to talk.

"Penny for your thoughts, El."

Elliot turned toward Olivia. It didn't surprise him that she was calling him out, if anything he was shocked that she hadn't done it sooner. Despite all his promises to himself that he would return back home ready to take on everything he'd left behind, he didn't want to leave the magic this place had provided. How could he tell her that, though?

Still delaying in answering, he glanced around their surroundings. Spotting a fallen tree off to the side of the path, he knew that would be a perfect place for a conversation. Not thinking twice about his actions, he took Olivia's hand in his and led her over. Without even questioning his intentions, she sat down with him. That was when Elliot realized he was still holding her hand. He started to let go, but she squeezed his fingers, so he kept her palm in his.

"I'm sorry, Liv, I know I've been quiet. I'm just thinking about tomorrow. I guess I don't want to go back."

"Neither do I. I can't think of anyone who actually wants a vacation to end."

The fact that Olivia shared his feelings about not wanting to go back to their daily routine made Elliot feel a little bit better. It enabled him to open up even more.

"It's not that I'm afraid of anything back home. For the first time in a long time, I'm not running from things. Just these few days here have been so..."

"Peaceful"

Olivia finished the sentence, her brown eyes locked with his blue. Not wanting to ask the next question, but knowing it was necessary, she pressed ahead.

"El, are they going to schedule you for another round of Partial when you complete it next month?"

"I don't know. Dr. Simpson hasn't said one way or the other yet. If not, there is a good chance she will recommend me for an Intensive Outpatient Therapy program for three months."

Olivia nodded, mulling over the ideas running through her mind. She knew her questions were probably only confusing him, and now was the time to better explain.

"So, you figure it will be at least another four months before you are fully done with the strict therapy schedules altogether?"

"Yeah, Liv. But why -"

His furrowed brow crinkled even more when Olivia pressed her free hand to his lips to silence him. Their other hands were still joined together from when he'd led her over to their makeshift bench.

"What do you say that once we get back, we make plans for another trip when you're done – an even longer one?"

A feeling Elliot couldn't quite describe began to swell up inside him. Olivia wanted to go on another trip with him? Still, there was a part of him that wouldn't allow himself to believe it.

"That's a long time away from now, Liv. What if you're seeing somebody by then?"

It didn't escape Olivia's notice that he'd made no mention of whether or not he would be seeing someone. She supposed that was because he was still upset over the divorce. Still, that didn't matter. She reminded him of something that he had told her years ago.

"It doesn't matter who I do or don't date, Elliot. They will have to understand that you're the longest relationship I've ever had with a man. You will always be a part of my life."

The words warmed his heart, but also resurrected the guilt he still felt for having left her without a word. He reminded himself that she didn't hold it against him, and he had all the time in the world now to make it up to her. Even if their next trip together would end up being just as platonic as this one had been, he would enjoy every minute of it.

"I think it sounds like a great idea, Liv. Let's start planning another trip as soon as we get back."

With that, he raised her hand to his lips briefly, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. Then he helped her to her feet. They resumed their way back down the trail so they could drive back to the hotel.

When they got back, it was a mutual decision between them to skip the hotel pool. Instead, they headed to the restaurant for some lunch, figuring it would be less crowded now than later. Their plan was to get room service for dinner and stay up late watching movies together.

Though they skipped the pool, neither could turn down the hot tub. This time, though, they used it earlier than they had previous nights, and it was still light outside. Sitting side by side, they were able to watch the sunset. Much like when they'd seen the deer the day before, both were in awe at the beauty of the moment.

"I can't remember the last time I've sat and watched a sunset."

Elliot remarked to Olivia quietly, knowing she was as affected by the moment as he was.

"Me either. I wish I had the time to see more of them."

"That's one thing I always took for granted with the job. I always expected there to be another sunrise or sunset waiting for me."

Elliot's words were reflective, and she knew where his mind was going. He wasn't only thinking about his own struggles, but what had happened recently with Nathan, too. Looping her arm through his, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"You still have plenty of sunrises and sunsets left to see, El."

He turned his head to the side, brushing his lips against her temple.

"I know."

There was no need to thank her again, but he had to stop himself from asking if she would be there to watch the sunrises and sunsets with him. It wasn't that he thought it too forward a question, but when he looked inside himself, somehow he found he already knew the answer.

Their time in the hot tub ended too soon, but they knew they couldn't stay there forever. At least the heat had soothed the aching muscles both were feeling from the two days of hiking.

While Olivia took a shower, Elliot ordered their dinner from room service. It arrived at their door just as he was emerging after taking his turn. They brought their meals over to the sofa, intent on eating while watching their movie selections. Olivia noticed that Elliot must have made a trip to the hotel gift shop while she was in the shower, because they had some snacks for their movie night as well. In addition to popcorn and drinks, there was some candy, too.

Later that evening after dinner, Olivia found herself leaning against Elliot's shoulder as she'd been doing the past few nights. She wasn't sure when exactly she'd picked up the habit, but he wasn't complaining. If anything, he would encourage it by wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"More popcorn, Liv?"

"No, thanks."

He couldn't see her face fully, as her head was tucked under his chin. Still, he could tell there was something going on. He hadn't known her for all these years to not be able to read her.

"What is it?"

"You'll laugh."

So there was something on her mind. Even though his own thoughts were still all over the place in regards to leaving tomorrow, he still worried about her.

"I won't, I promise. Just tell me."

As though he could imagine her face perfectly, he saw Olivia bite her lower lip. He felt the tension in her body relax as she ultimately decided to confess to him what was on her mind.

"I want more of that chocolate cake we had last night at dinner."

That did it. Despite his promise to her mere moments before, Elliot felt the laughter bubbling forth from his lips. That was what she had been worried about? Trying to hide his mirth, he instead tried something else.

"Well, it was some damned good cake."

She lightly smacked his chest with the back of her hand, letting him know that she wasn't fooled or impressed with his statement. Again he tried to make the situation better.

"They have all the desserts from the restaurant on the room service menu, Liv. We could order some."

"Really?"

Now he had her attention. She'd apparently forgotten the detail that room service was available twenty four hours a day. If she wanted chocolate cake at midnight, he would make sure she had it. That didn't mean he wouldn't take advantage of another opportunity to tease her.

"Something tells me you're not going to share this time."

He received another smack on his chest for his efforts. Laughing, he placed a kiss to the crown of her head, then headed for the phone to order their late night sweets.

Fortunately for Elliot and Olivia, check out at this particular hotel wasn't until noon. They had been so involved in their movie night that they hadn't gone to bed until two in the morning. They had managed to get up for the breakfast buffet, but then took a brief nap once they returned to their room.

This was the morning Elliot had been dreading, and it didn't help his mood any that a steady rain was falling. Still, he reminded himself that nothing could take away his memories of the wonderful time he'd had. Yes, it was sad that the trip was coming to an end, but this wouldn't be the last vacation he and Olivia would take together. That thought alone boosted his spirits.

The drive home didn't seem to take nearly as long as it had to get to the Poconos, even though they had taken the same route and driven the same distance. Maybe it was because neither of them were ready to go back. Either way, they ended up back in the city around three. Olivia checked her mail then followed Elliot up to the apartment.

"I know we've been eating out all weekend, but I know neither of us feels like cooking tonight. What do you say we order in?"

The question came from Elliot, knowing that the fridge would be low on supplies, and feeling the fatigue from their drive.

"Technically, vacation doesn't end until tomorrow morning. Ordering in tonight sounds fine to me"

Olivia answered with a smile, and Elliot loved her logic. He placed her bag in her hands, and they went into their rooms to unpack. They may be home, but they still had one more night before they had to return to their normal routine.

Elliot was in his room unpacking his things when his phone rang. It was Kathy. He hadn't expected to hear from her until later tonight, but figured she had just gotten back from her mothers and was checking in.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Elliot. Is now a good time for you to talk?"

He assured her that it was, and let her know that he and Olivia had just returned from their trip a few minutes ago. It turned out his guess was correct, too. Kathy and the kids had just arrived home from their trip as well. He listened while she told him a few of the details of their weekend, and even shared a few stories of his own.

"So, I know you are probably wondering the other reason why I was calling. Do you still have your appointment with Dr. Simpson tomorrow afternoon?"

Elliot remembered then. He'd asked Kathy to come with him to his next appointment, but hadn't seen the doctor the previous week because she'd been out of town. Could it be she was still willing to come to a session after all? Even though they would no longer be married, he still valued her support.

"Yes, I see her at three."

He held his breath then, awaiting her answer to the unspoken question in the air.

"Is it still all right if I join you? I'll understand if you've changed your mind."

"Please, Kathy. I'd like you to be there."

They spoke for a few minutes more, ultimately agreeing that she would meet him at the doctor's office the following afternoon. Elliot asked to talk to the kids, but Kathy sadly told him they weren't available. Eli was napping, she'd sent the twins out to get a few groceries, and Maureen and Kathleen had already left to head back to school. Trying his best to hide his disappointment, Elliot said he understood, and would talk to them soon. He told Kathy he would see her tomorrow, and the two ended their call.

Elliot finished unpacking and changed into a comfortable pair of sweats and a tee shirt, then walked out to the living room. Olivia was already there, and she had clearly had the same ideas that he had. She, too, had shed her clothing in favor of a pair of leggings and an NYPD tee shirt that looked all too familiar. He'd wondered about it before when he'd seen her in it, now he was almost certain that the shirt had been his at one point in time. Going off the deeper connection they had built this past weekend, he decided he would call her out on it.

"Hey Liv – I swear I've seen that shirt somewhere before. In fact, I'm certain of it. Could it be the one I left behind in my locker but was never returned to me?"

The slight flush that appeared on her cheeks made her look so endearing, he had to resist the urge to walk up to her and wrap his arms around her. So lost was he in his thoughts, he almost missed her confession.

"You're right. This is – or was- your shirt. By the time Cragen made me box up your things, you'd already been silent for such a long time. I wanted something of yours to hold on to."

Elliot was still being quiet, and Olivia was concerned that she'd upset him.

"If you want, I can give it back."

That statement prompted him to act. He was by her side in seconds, his lips brushing against her forehead as he hastily assured her he wasn't upset.

"Don't worry about it. It looks better on you anyway. I was only teasing."

She nodded, then turned so she could lean against him. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, they sat together contentedly. After some time sitting together in the silence, they both dozed off. Olivia's head was resting against Elliot's shoulder, and his cheek rested atop the crown of her head. They were each perfectly content as they napped.

On Tuesday morning, it was a very tired Olivia who met Elliot in the kitchen. She was grateful that he'd already made the coffee, and had a cup waiting for her. Without meaning to, she'd hit 'snooze' one too many times on her alarm, and was now in danger of running late for work. He wanted her to eat something before she left, but they were low on groceries, and there wasn't much she could grab in a hurry.

"I'll stop at the store on my way back from my appointment this afternoon, stock up on a few supplies."

"Sounds good, El. Thank you."

Even though he still had some time before he had to leave, he walked with her to the door. Holding her jacket up so she could slip her arms in the sleeves, he watched as she grabbed her bag and was ready to head out. Calling to her one final time, he caught her eye as she turned to face him.

"Be careful out there today, Liv. Please."

"I will, I promise."

Soon, it was time for Elliot to head out, too. He navigated his way through the city streets, and soon found himself at Partial. Though he still wasn't expecting it just yet, part of him was hoping to see Nathan this morning. He wondered how his friend was doing. He'd sent him a few messages, but knew it was likely he didn't have access to his phone while in the hospital. Still, he'd wanted him to know that he hadn't been forgotten. He knew that privacy laws would prevent any of the staff from telling him about his friend's current health status, so all he could do was hope that he was doing well and getting better.

As far as his own health was concerned, it seems that the weekend away with Olivia had done him a world of good on more than one level. Besides feeling more relaxed, he also wasn't feeling as anxious as he had anticipated in regards to the upcoming meeting this afternoon with Kathy. If anything, he had a positive outlook that any remaining issues between them could be resolved.

For the first time in a long while, the groups didn't seem as mundane as they had been. Not that he hadn't been getting valuable help from them in past weeks, it was just that the pattern was getting stale, monotonous almost. It had felt like he was just going through the motions of the routine and not really actively participating.

Before he'd realized it, the day was over, and it was time to meet Kathy for his appointment with Dr. Simpson. As it turned out, she was coming up the sidewalk in the opposite direction just as he was headed toward the building, and they met one another at the door. They embraced briefly, then headed inside.

Minutes later, they were seated together in Dr. Simpson's comfortable office. None of the tension from their last visit was present. Both Kathy and Elliot were making eye contact with one another, and their body language was relaxed.

"Hello Elliot, Kathy. It's good to see you both here today. Is there anything specific that either of you want to talk about?"

At the question, the two shared a glance. Without even thinking about it, Elliot extended his hand in Kathy's direction. He was hoping she would accept the gesture, and let go of the breath he was holding when she placed her palm in his. She also gave him a slight nod, indicating that it was okay for him to share their most recent news.

"There is a great deal I need to talk about, actually. The majority of it happened not this past weekend, but the one before."

Dr. Simpson's brow furrowed in concern. She'd read a little about his troubles in some of the other counselor's notes from group, but none had gone into extreme detail. Certainly if there had been an emergency, someone would have contacted her.

She listened carefully as Elliot detailed the weekend in question, first relating the story of what had happened with Nathan. It was no secret to her that the two men had become friends, and it wasn't as though friendships were discouraged in group. The whole purpose of the group was to provide a support system. Still, she understood how upsetting a situation like that must have been. It didn't matter that he had been trained to handle it during his days of active duty on the job, it was a difficult and emotional situation for anyone.

Elliot's emotions did take over then, and he became choked up. He squeezed Kathy's hand, and shook his head, indicating that he couldn't continue. Reaching over to take his hand in both of hers, she took the initiative to speak. Having been the first she'd heard of what had really happened that day, her voice was shaky.

"Later that day, Elliot came to the house. I hadn't known then what had happened, only that he was upset and needing to see the kids."

She licked her lips nervously then, feeling a moment of self-consciousness. Would what she was about to reveal paint her in a bad light? Ultimately she realized it didn't matter. This wasn't about her, it never was. She was here to help Elliot. He needed her to speak right now, so she would do it.

"He'd gone upstairs to put our youngest to bed for the night. When he came back, he walked in on a conversation I was having with Olivia – one in which I was blaming myself for not actively participating in his treatment."

There was a lengthy pause, and silence fell over the room. Dr. Simpson wisely kept quiet, knowing that Kathy would continue in a moment's time. She didn't need a prompt, she just needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Sure enough, after a few measured breaths, the woman was speaking yet again.

"We spoke at length, the most we had since he left the house that night two months ago. Though we never intended the conversation to lead that way, we ultimately decided to divorce."

With a revelation like that, she could keep silent no longer. Dr. Simpson simply had to ask a question. She went with the first one on her mind.

"Was the decision mutual?"

"Yes."

The couple answered in unison, and though their voices wavered, she could tell it was from emotion and not hesitation. After a few more follow up questions, she was able to come to a conclusion. Elliot may be sad about his marriage coming to an end, but his reaction wasn't having a negative impact on his mental health.

The topic shifted then to the events of the most recent weekend, and Elliot was able to relate positive experiences. It was no secret to Kathy that he'd gone away with Olivia, as he'd told her ahead of time of his plans.

By the end of the appointment, Elliot felt a great deal better. Though he'd always talked openly in his sessions for awhile now, he couldn't remember a time when he'd monopolized the conversation quite so much. When leaving, he was able to make an appointment for the following week, glad to get back to the normal routine.

"Do you have plans, Elliot? Or do you have some free time?"

"I had just promised Liv I would do some grocery shopping on my way home, but that isn't anything that can wait for a bit. Why?"

Kathy raised her hand and brushed her hair behind her ear. She couldn't believe that now, after all this time, she was nervous. It was only Elliot, after all.

"I thought maybe if you wanted, we could go and get a cup of coffee or something?"

She raised her hand for the third time, trying again to brush the same invisible strand back yet again. He caught her hand in his own, stilling it.

"Coffee sounds great, Kath. I'd love the chance to talk with you some more."

They'd spent a little over an hour together at the coffee shop. Even though she'd heard most of the details of his weekend with Olivia during the appointment, Kathy still had some questions. None of them were accusatory, just brimming with curiosity. In turn, she answered all of Elliot's questions about her weekend with the kids at her mothers. They had been so busy talking that their coffee had grown cold before they could drink it.

The time had eventually come though, that Kathy had needed to get home to Queens, and Elliot had needed to move along to his errands. She couldn't resist the urge to tease him about doing the grocery shopping, as it was a chore he'd always tried to avoid when they were together.

They said their goodbyes, and Kathy promised that she would bring Eli to visit on the upcoming Saturday. She even mentioned arranging an overnight or weekend visit sometime in the near future. Elliot felt his heart swell at the sheer thought of that, and hugged Kathy to him closely, unable to put into words the emotion he was feeling.

An hour later, he was back at Olivia's and putting away the groceries he had bought. He was also trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Right now, pasta seemed like a good option. That way, it wouldn't require too much preparation ahead of time. All he'd need to do is start the water boiling as soon as Olivia got home.

The day was quickly starting to catch up with him. Elliot headed into the living room and sat down, propping his feet up on the sofa. He kept his cell phone close by, but didn't think to set an alarm. He was that convinced that he wouldn't fall asleep.

As he lay back against the cushions, he couldn't help but think that he hadn't heard from Olivia at all today. Not even so much as a simple text. Usually she would send some type of support or encouragement, especially on days when she knew he saw Dr. Simpson. He shook his head, figuring that her day likely had not gone as well as his had. If she hadn't been able to get in contact, then she must have been swamped with work. She would likely be missing the hot tub from their hotel room even more than he would tonight.

So lost was Elliot in his thoughts, that he didn't hear his phone the first time that it rang. He picked it up on the third ring, bringing it up to his ear without even checking the display. His voice was already sympathetic, as he was anticipating who the caller was going to be.

"Don't tell me – you've caught a case, and you aren't going to be home until late, if at all."

Instead of a voice on the other end, Elliot was greeted by silence. Though he couldn't explain it, a nagging feeling began in the pit of his stomach, and his heart began to beat just a little bit faster. The hairs on the back of his neck started to stand on end. He tried his best to ignore the sensation.

"Liv? Is that you?"

"No, Elliot. It's Fin."

Fin. There was only one reason for Fin to be calling him, and that was because Olivia couldn't call herself. A million scenarios began to play out before his eyes, and a cold sweat broke out on his brow. The rushing sound in his ears grew louder and louder. He thought back to the last thing he'd said to her this morning when she'd left. He'd told her to be careful. He always told her to be careful. How could it have gone so wrong so fast?

A/N: First off, many apologies for leaving you on a cliffhanger. I try my best not to do them to often, but this was the best stopping point I could find. Secondly, happy to report the new computer has arrived and I am getting acclimated to it quite well. Also, since all my stories are kept on an external hard drive, I didn't have to worry about doing too much work transferring files. :) Just glad that I can keep writing! Thanks to all for your continued support!