Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.
After the two women returned to the apartment from their lunch, Kathy stayed with Olivia for awhile longer. She patiently waited while the other woman took a lengthy shower, then applied a fresh bandage to cover her stitches. It wasn't easy for Olivia to request help, especially from Kathy no less, but the more she thought about it, she just wasn't ready for Elliot to see how bad her back really was. If she could protect him for one more day, she would do so. Olivia thanked Kathy for all her help, and after the woman left, lay down on the sofa to take a nap. She slept fitfully a couple of hours, only waking when she heard the keys in the door, signaling that Elliot was home for the day.
"Welcome back, El."
"Thanks, Liv. How are you feeling?"
"Still in some pain, though its not as bad as it was. The doctor gave me a new script for some heavy duty ibuprofen instead of the painkillers I've been taking."
He was about to offer to go out and fill the prescription for her, when Olivia informed him that Kathy had stopped at the pharmacy on their way back. He made a mental note to thank her tomorrow for all of her help today. It had been an immense relief for him knowing that Olivia hadn't been alone.
It was then that he noticed that Olivia's hair had been recently washed, and he could smell the scent of her shampoo. He wisely decided not to tease her about having been able to take a shower, knowing how much she had missed that luxury the past few days. Instead he offered something that would go the extra mile in helping her enjoy how she felt.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Liv, but I noticed you were able to shower. The reason I'm asking is – did you want me to change the sheets on your bed? I thought you might appreciate some fresh ones."
Olivia's smile of gratitude was the only answer he really needed. Before doing anything for himself, his first stop was to head for the linen closet in the hallway to grab some clean sheets. He made quick work of changing the bed, then as an added measure, threw Olivia's comforter in the washing machine so it would be clean too. Only after he'd ensured she was taken care of did he head into his bedroom to see to his own comfort.
He returned to the living room several minutes later, changed into a pair of sweats and a tee. Joining Olivia on one of the sofas, turned to face her.
"We didn't get to talk for very long earlier, Liv. You just gave me the basics about your appointment. How did things really go?"
He listened as she relayed her morning in more detail than she'd previously been able. Again, she repeated the fact about the new medication she'd been given. The relief that she no longer had to take such strong painkillers was apparent in her voice. As she was explaining the care needed for her stitches, Elliot spied the items on the coffee table. A box of sterile gauze pads sat side by side with a tube of antibiotic ointment. Next to that was a roll of paper tape.
As though she had anticipated his next question, Olivia explained that Kathy had helped her with today's bandage change after her shower. She would however, be needing his help tomorrow. Hearing the anxiety in her voice, he immediately brought both palms up to cup her face.
"Olivia, stop. I already told you, I'll help you with whatever you need."
She nodded, but still had a nagging worry deep inside. She reminded herself that she had to trust Elliot when it came to his saying that he was strong enough to handle this. Truth of the matter was, she did need him right now. There were going to be things she couldn't do on her own. Even so, she couldn't stop worrying about him.
"Are you going to see the kids tomorrow?"
Elliot recognized what she was doing. She was trying to change the subject. There was still more he wanted to talk to her about, but he would allow her the reprieve for now.
"Maureen and Kathleen have plans this weekend, and the twins have to work. I will call Kathy later on and make arrangements to see Eli."
Olivia opened her mouth, and Elliot pressed his fingertips to her lips before she could speak. He already knew what she was going to say.
"I also plan on taking care of you this weekend, Liv. Not to worry, I will see my son, but you are my priority, too."
Still gently silencing her, he leaned forward and placed a kiss to her forehead. Then he continued speaking the words on his mind.
"I've done as you wanted the past two days, and gone to my group – even though I wanted to be here with you. Now I have the ability to be here with you all day, I'm going to take it."
That said, he lowered his hand from her mouth, and waited. He was certain that she'd argue with him, that she would insist that she wasn't that important. To his surprise, she leaned against him and tucked her head under his chin. Instinctively his arms wrapped around her. He didn't say anything else, just sat there, content to hold her and grateful she was accepting the comfort he was offering.
Much later that night, Elliot and Olivia were sitting in the living room watching television. He'd spoken to Kathy, and was disappointed to learn that Eli had a friends birthday party the following afternoon. After more discussion, though, Kathy had offered to bring the boy by afterward. She also said she would bring an overnight bag for him, so Elliot could keep him until Sunday night. Tears had sprung to his eyes at the thought of getting to spend so much extra time with his son. He'd put his palm over the receiver to ask Olivia if she would be okay with the arrangement, but one look in her eyes and he knew. This must have been something the two women had discussed during their lunch together. No sooner had he hung up the phone, than he was sweeping Olivia up in his arms. He kept his hold gentle, mindful of her recent injuries, but words alone could not convey the depth of his gratitude. After releasing her, he changed the subject to keep things from getting awkward.
"Olivia? Did you want something sweet before bed? We still have that ice cream I bought the other night."
"That sounds great, El."
Elliot retreated briefly to the kitchen only to return with two pints of ice cream and two spoons. He had put each serving in the microwave for about thirty seconds to soften it, making it easier to eat.
"What flavors did you get?"
"French vanilla with apples, caramel, and chocolate covered toffee bits for me; Chocolate with brownies, strawberries, and chocolate chips for you."
"That sounds amazing."
They each ate their own respective sweets, but from time to time would taste samples of each others. Once, when Elliot caught Olivia reaching toward his ice cream with her spoon, he stopped her. Before she could get the wrong idea, he got some ice cream on his own spoon, and offered it to her, feeding it to her himself. She accepted with a smile, then repeated the gesture with her own dessert for him.
They'd managed to eat about half of their treat before both had to stop. After putting the ice cream back in the freezer, Elliot stopped to retrieve Olivia's medication for the night. He had a feeling she wouldn't be up for too much longer. She'd had a long day, and she still needed her rest to recover properly.
Sure enough, fifteen minutes later Olivia announced that she was ready for bed. Not wanting to hover too much, Elliot stood first, and offered her his hands. That way, she could use them as support to lift herself up. He knew how independent she was, and now that she was free of the sling, realized she might not want him to help her stand like he'd been doing. However, the day had taken its toll on her, and she was struggling. After her second failed attempt at making her muscles work to lift herself from the sofa, Olivia conceded defeat.
"El, I need your help."
Without a word, he gently wrapped his arms around her and helped her stand. As soon as she was upright and steady, he released his hold, letting her walk on her own power. To his surprise, she grasped his hand. With her eyes still cast toward the floor, she made another request.
"I know this is a lot to ask, but will you stay with me again tonight? I still have such a hard time getting comfortable."
Elliot let go of her hand, only so he could enfold her into another embrace. He brought his palm up to cradle the back of her head, running his fingers through her hair in a soothing gesture.
"Liv, it's not too much to ask. Of course I'll stay with you."
Still holding her, he turned his head to the side, so that his lips brushed against her temple. He was worried that she had stopped taking the prescription painkiller too soon in favor of the high dose ibuprofen, but had to trust she knew her own body. The last thing he wanted was for her to be in any unnecessary pain.
"It's only been three days since you were hurt. Besides, I promised you I would take care of you. That means doing whatever it takes to make sure you're comfortable."
He felt then, as she relaxed fully in his arms. Not that she hadn't been content in his embrace, but it had been an acceptance of his words as a whole.
Several minutes later, they were lying in her bed together. As had been the habit of the past two nights, Olivia was leaning more against Elliot than she was her own pillows. He had one arm wrapped around her shoulders, and the other cradling her head against him. Unlike before, though, her right arm was no longer restricted by a sling. Wrapping it around his waist, Olivia allowed herself to nestle more closely into Elliot's hold. Whenever she would feel the nagging feelings of guilt creeping into her subconscious, she reminded herself of the conversation she'd had with Kathy at lunch today. Whatever these newfound emotions were going to develop into, she wasn't going to run.
It was Saturday afternoon and Elliot was in the living room while Olivia took a shower. She had said she wanted to get her own needs out of the way before Eli came over, so she wouldn't take any attention away from his son. He had tried to assure her that wasn't possible, but she had insisted.
Elliot was lost in his thoughts, not paying a bit of attention at what was playing out on the screen in front of him. Instead, his mind was thinking about what he was about to see – Olivia's injuries. He tried his best to remain calm, knowing he had to for her sake. He'd already promised her he could handle this, and he wanted to be there for her. She needed his help to change the bandages, he couldn't fall apart on her now.
"Elliot?"
He heard Olivia calling for him from the other room, and took a deep breath. Now was the moment of truth. Even though she had already requested his presence, he still knocked when he reached the bathroom door. Only when she gave her permission did he enter.
She was standing in front of the sink, already dressed in a pair of leggings. A tank top and oversized tee were nearby for her to change into. In the meantime, she was holding a towel against her body to cover the front of her. The placement of the wound on her back was such that she had to remain shirtless while the bandage was changed.
It barely registered to Elliot that she was topless, save for the towel covering her breasts. Instead, his eyes were drawn to the garish bruises covering the expanse of her back. There were so many it seemed as if her entire back was one giant bruise. They seemed to be present along her rib cage as well, as he could see shadows of more bruises along her sides where the towel was draped against her skin. Did that mean there were more along the front of her torso? Just how badly had she been injured in the fall? Another thought came to him then – the many times that he'd held her since she was discharged from the hospital. With the extensive bruising to her body, how had his hold not been too forceful? How much pain had she been concealing from him?
Meeting his eyes in the mirror, it was as if Olivia had read his mind. Holding his gaze, she offered him reassurance.
"You haven't hurt me, El."
Feeling a lump in his throat, all he could do by way of answering was nod. Lowering his eyes once more, he focused on the one area of her back that he'd been avoiding looking at. There, just in the cleft of her right shoulder blade, was a gash several inches in length. He wasn't able to judge the depth of the wound, but the stitches that were there told a story all of their own. Tracing the injury with the lightest of touches, he couldn't help but count each individual stitch for himself.
Olivia remained standing silently in front of the mirror while Elliot looked at her back. Aside from calming him when he'd seen the bruises, she wasn't saying much. She knew he needed time to process everything he was seeing. Even though she'd told him about all of her injuries, this was his first time actually looking at them with his own eyes.
"Olivia?"
His voice was barely a whisper. There was also a tentative quality to it, as though whatever he were about to ask would be met with rejection.
"May I kiss your shoulder where your wound is?"
Olivia felt her heart skip a beat at his question. This would be the most intimate contact they had ever shared. She was anxious, but at the same time, also was aware that she was nodding her consent. Without realizing it, she held her breath as Elliot's palms curled gently around her shoulders and his head bent low. His lips ghosted softly across the spot where her stitches were, then as soon as the sensation had begun, it was gone. When she opened her eyes again, he was reaching for the antibiotic ointment and dabbing it on. By the time he was ready for the gauze pad, Olivia had returned to her senses enough to pass him strips of tape so he could fasten it to her skin. Then Elliot slipped out of the bathroom so she could finish getting dressed.
When Olivia arrived in the living room mere moments later, he was standing there waiting for her. Not questioning her actions in the slightest, she walked right into his embrace. It wasn't lost on her that he was paying more attention to keeping his hold gentle.
They pulled back from their hug, yet Elliot kept his palms resting on Olivia's shoulders. His eyes searched hers. Neither wanted to interrupt the moment by speaking. It seemed that whatever had happened while they were in the bathroom had changed the energy between them. The air was charged with electricity.
Elliot lifted his left hand, and raised it cup her injured cheek. Brushing his thumb across the bruise gingerly, he remembered when he'd kissed her there earlier this week. Right now, his heart was thudding in his chest, and it was because he wanted to kiss her again – only not on the cheek.
As he looked back and forth between Olivia's brown eyes, he reminded himself of how much closer they'd grown over the past few months. Their connection had only grown deeper. What he was feeling now had nothing whatsoever to do with revenge or a rebound. It wasn't misguided feelings because of the way Olivia had helped him either. He genuinely loved her. The more he studied her, the more he saw those same emotions mirrored in her expression. That freed him of all doubt with what he did next. Cupping her face in his hands, he dipped his head down so his mouth met hers in a tender kiss.
The moment his lips touched hers, Olivia wrapped her arms around Elliot's shoulders. His hands dropped from her face to hold her in return. As the kiss continued beyond what either would have expected, it gradually deepened, but didn't morph in any way from its tender quality. Elliot's tongue gently touched the seam of Olivia's lips, seeking entrance, which she granted with a soft moan. Clinging to one another as their tongues mingled and danced together, they only separated out of a need for air. Still, they were unwilling to break their connection, and kept their foreheads touching as they clung to one another, seemingly the only thing keeping themselves standing upright.
There was so much that he wanted to say in that moment, so much that he needed to tell her. Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, there was a knock at the door. They both knew it would be Kathy arriving with Eli. Still, Olivia found a way to put Elliot at ease.
"Your son is here. Don't worry, we can talk later."
She affirmed her words with a kiss to his cheek and as squeeze of his hand, assuring him she meant what she said. Then she excused herself and retreated to her room. He knew then that whatever had just happened between them, she wasn't going to run from it.
Elliot let Kathy and Eli in, and swept his youngest son up into his arms. It was clear the child was very hyper from the party he had attended. Elliot knew that meant he would likely need to burn off that excess energy. Even so, he would still crash early tonight, likely before his usual bedtime.
"Sorry, Elliot. I know he'll be a handful. They served both cake and ice cream at the party. Not to mention fruit punch and candy."
"Don't worry about it, Kath. I'm just glad to spend time with him. I can take him to the park, let him run around for a bit."
Kathy nodded, agreeing that sounded like a good idea. She started to leave, but then as an afterthought, turned back to Elliot once more.
"Does Olivia need any help changing her bandage today before I leave? I don't mind helping again."
Elliot was touched by her offer, and knew Olivia would be, too. Shaking his head, he explained that he had just changed Olivia's bandage before she arrived. Kathy didn't miss the look that had passed over his face, and reached for his hand.
"Are you all right, Elliot? After seeing her injuries up close, I mean?"
"I won't lie, Kathy, it was hard to see. But I'm not the one who was hurt. Olivia has it much harder than I do. She's the one in pain."
Squeezing his hand once more, Kathy tried to offer some reassurance.
"I'm sure it helps her a great deal knowing she has you to take care of her."
"Thanks, Kath. That means a lot."
The two embraced, then Kathy said goodbye to Eli, giving her son a kiss. She saw herself out, and closed the door behind her as she left. As soon as she was gone, Elliot picked Eli up again, and went in search of Olivia. He found her in her room, resting on the bed.
"Liv? Did you want to join us at the park?"
"I'm sorry, El. I think I'll have to pass. I was just going to take a brief nap."
He studied her expression, determining that she was telling the truth. Underneath it all, he could read the pain in her features that she didn't want to speak about out loud. Leaving Eli with Olivia for a moment, he headed to the kitchen to get her one of the heavy duty ibuprofen so it could hopefully provide her with some relief. When he returned to the bedroom, his heart swelled at what he saw.
Eli was sitting on the bed with Olivia, leaning against her. Her arm was wrapped around his son's shoulders, and he was telling her all about the party he had been to that afternoon, talking a mile a minute. Elliot wasn't certain how much Olivia was able to get, as the faster Eli talked, the harder he was to understand, but she was listening intently.
She accepted the pill without argument, and Elliot placed a kiss to the crown of her head as he grabbed Eli by the hand and helped him off the bed.
"We'll see you in a little while, Liv. If you need anything, call. I'll make dinner when we get back."
"Sounds good. You two have fun."
It was a much calmer Eli that Elliot returned with when the two came back from the park a little over ninety minutes later. After getting his son settled on the living room floor with a few toys, Elliot went off to check on Olivia.
He found her just as he'd left her, in her bedroom. She was curled on her side, sleeping. There was no mistaking the pain in her features. He hated that she was still hurting. Deciding that he would let her rest for a while longer, he headed back to the kitchen to start on dinner.
He was just getting ready to plate their meals when he heard the sounds coming from the far end of the apartment. Moments later, he heard Eli call out to Olivia, along with her response. He turned to watch her interact with his son some more. When she looked up, their eyes met, and she smiled at him.
"Hey, El. Sorry I slept so long. I meant to offer to help you with dinner."
"Don't worry about it, Liv. I told you earlier that I would handle it. In fact, it's just about ready. Why don't you and Eli come and sit down?"
Olivia knew that if she tried to pick up the small boy in her current state – even if she thought she could handle it – Elliot would likely only worry about her more. Instead, she reached for the toddlers hand, and he gladly took it. Together the two met Elliot at the table where he was bringing food over.
As they ate, Eli chattered to both adults in a near constant stream. It was a struggle for Elliot to get the boy to eat the food on his plate, even if dinner was one of his favorites. Eventually, Elliot figured that getting Eli to eat half his meal was a victory in itself, and didn't force his son to eat any more.
It was Olivia who insisted on cleaning up after dinner. Elliot tried to stop her, but she was already clearing plates and taking them into the kitchen before he had a chance to say anything. To his relief, she seemed to be taking the duties lightly, and not overdoing it.
Trusting that Olivia had things well in hand, Elliot took Eli into the bathroom to give him his bath and change him into his pajamas. It was a little earlier than normal for this routine, but he could already see how tired Eli was. This way, the boy would be free to play the rest of the night, and they could hopefully avoid a temper tantrum come bedtime.
When Elliot returned to the living room thirty minutes later, he was relieved to see Olivia relaxing on the sofa. Eli returned to his former spot on the floor, drawn there by his toys. He pointed to the television, his way of asking without words if he could watch something.
"Olivia, do you mind if I put something on for Eli?"
"Of course not, El. You don't even need to ask."
Elliot tuned the television to a kid friendly channel, then joined Olivia on the sofa. An hour later, Eli was rubbing his eyes with his fists and yawning. Knowing it was time to put the boy to bed, Elliot picked him up and carried him into the guest room. After tucking him in, he read him a story. Then, he surrounded his son with pillows as an added precaution before kissing him goodnight and tiptoeing out of the room.
"He's out like a light already."
Olivia looked up at Elliot at his announcement and smiled. She could see the change in him at having his son here in the apartment. He seemed lighter somehow. She made a promise to herself that now that he was stronger, these types of weekend visits would happen more frequently.
Sitting down next to Olivia on the sofa, Elliot wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He noticed that she had already changed the station to their favorite channel to watch together. He was about to ask her something when what she had to say completely blew his mind.
"I think I'm going to go back to work on Monday."
Before he'd even realized he'd moved, he'd turned to face her. In addition, he'd pivoted her so that she was facing him. His hands were still resting on her shoulders as his eyes flicked back and forth between hers. With every second that passed, he hoped that she was kidding, but a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that she wasn't. He had to find a way to convince her to give herself more time to heal.
"Olivia, are you sure? It hasn't even been a full week since you were hurt. What does your doctor say?"
"I'm sure, Elliot. I'm going crazy sitting around at home all day. As for the doctor, I didn't ask."
It was just as he'd figured. She didn't ask, because she didn't want to know the answer. If she had, the doctor likely would have told her to take more time off. As it was, there was a high chance that Cragen wasn't going to allow her back on Monday anyway. Best for him to keep his mouth shut and not overstep. Still, he had to say something.
"Believe me, Olivia, I know more than anyone how hard it is to be sidelined by an injury. I had my own fair share over the years. But the last thing I'd want is for you to go back too soon."
He lifted a hand to her face, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. He kept his palm curled around the back of her neck, squeezing gently. Pulling her in toward his body, he was pleased when she didn't fight, but leaned against him.
"I can still see how much pain you're in, Liv. I would never tell you what you can or can't do, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to take a few more days."
He both felt and heard her sigh in response to his words. But unlike what he was expecting, it wasn't out of frustration or anger. This was acceptance. Could it be that she was conceding the fact that he was right? He hoped so.
They sat together contentedly for the next two hours, watching a movie they had both been looking forward to. When it was over, Olivia announced she was going to bed. Elliot was wondering if she would ask him to stay with her again tonight, but it seemed she was determined to show she could do things on her own, most likely in an attempt to prove her case that she was capable of returning to work.
He was digging in the linen closet for spare blankets and pillows when she returned from the bathroom.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for something I can use to make the sofa into a bed for tonight. I'm too afraid of waking Eli if I sleep in my room."
Olivia was looking at him as if he'd suddenly sprouted a second head. There was an incredulous expression on her face, followed by one filled with doubt.
"You're still welcome to share with me, that is, if you still want to."
He shoved the items in his arms back into the closet and crossed the distance to her in three long strides. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close. Those were precisely the words he had been longing to hear. Especially after their kiss earlier this afternoon before Kathy had arrived. It reminded him they had yet to talk about it. Maybe now that they had some quiet time, they would have their chance.
A short while later, after he had locked up for the night and looked in on Eli, he was joining Olivia in her bed. Rather than their usual position of the past few nights, they were each lying on their sides facing one another. It seemed both had sensed a mutual need to talk.
Reaching for her hand, Elliot decided to open the conversation.
"So, this may not be the best way to do this, but I can't think of any other way to begin. I don't know if you remember or not, but I kissed you earlier."
There was no mistaking the smile that broke out over Olivia's face. Her eyes shone, and Elliot instantly relaxed. This was not going to be a tense situation between them at all.
"I did notice, yes. But which kiss are you referring to? I remember two."
Now it was Elliot's turn to react. He felt a slight flush wash over him as he remembered his request to her in the bathroom earlier today. That had been an impulsive move on his part, where the words had left his lips before he'd even realized what he was asking. Not that he had regrets, for it was that kiss of the wound on her back that had prompted him to really kiss her in the living room just a few moments after.
"Both of them, I suppose."
"I have no complaints."
Again, Elliot felt relief and happiness wash over him. But there was something else he needed to say. Something he should have told her earlier.
"I do."
He held her gaze, and brought a palm up to cradle her cheek before she could even begin to get the wrong idea. Olivia nodded, indicating that he should continue.
"I don't regret kissing you, but there is something I should have told you before I did. Something that I've felt for awhile now. I should have told you last weekend, but I was too scared."
Olivia felt her heart begin to race. Judging by the quality of Elliot's breathing, his heart was racing too. She hadn't expected a confession of this magnitude when she'd said that they would talk, but for the first time in her life, the last thing she wanted to do was run. She wanted to stay and hear it all.
"I love you, Olivia. I've loved you for a long time, but those feelings have changed recently. I'm falling in love with you."
He started to say something else, but Olivia stopped him. For a moment, his heart began to clench with fear. Had he revealed too much, too soon? Then he saw the look in her eyes and knew that he hadn't. She just wanted to speak, too.
"I love you, too. I can't remember a time when I didn't love you, El. I've been falling for you, too."
Nothing more needed to be said. He dipped his head and their mouths met in a kiss. It was only the second they'd ever shared, but it felt like they'd been doing it for a lifetime. Everything about the action felt so natural and right.
When they separated, Elliot pulled Olivia closer against his chest, and she wrapped an arm around his waist. They had now gravitated to their typical sleeping position of the past few nights. Goodnights and words of love were whispered into the air, and the two gradually succumbed to sleep nestled in one anothers arms.
