It was an exhausting, most devastating day for him and for his partner. It happened so fast, shots were fired all over the squadroom, killing some of their colleagues and Sister Peg. Him shooting the teen in order to stop her.

Him realizing her killed the girl.

The squad was trying to convince him that it was a clean shot. But he knew the way she looked at him that it was over for both of them, For him.

He was sitting at the rooftop floor hands bloodied when he caught a glimpse of his partner. "You shouldn't be here. Go home."

"Figure out you would be here, I've been looking for you everywhere." She said.

"Go home. Get some rest." He said.

"I can't."

"They're gonna come for me, Liv. I'm gonna lose my job in no time."

"I told them, It was a clean shot. You did your job, Elliot."

"I killed her. It wasn't part of the job." He said.

"If you didn't do that she probably killed a lot more," She said

"Including you." He said looking at her.

"No." She whispered.

"She was aiming her gun at you, Olivia. I had to act fast. Or else…" He trailed off.

"Or else, what?" Olivia said "Don't make this thing about me, Elliot."

"Or else, I'm going to lose you."

Silence.

"You choose again over the job, Why?"

"Don't you know?" He said.

Then he kissed her.

"See you." He said against her lips. And then left, leaving her with so many questions in her mind.

Days turned into weeks, turned into months, he ignores her calls, massages and letters. He completely shut the world until he came upon realization.

It's time to end it.

Olivia and the rest of the squad was busy taking leads in their ongoing case when he went, taking it as a great opportunity to tell Cragen his decision. The older man was surprised by it as he was going to lose one of his best detectives.

"Are you going to wait and tell her?" Cragen asked, he knew how close the two were. Elliot sighed, "I figured out you're the one who can tell her. I can't face her right now."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, Cap."

The captain pats his shoulders, "Thank you for your service, Detective Stabler."

The next day, he received numerous calls and texts from Olivia he often sent it straight to his voicemail until he had enough.

He texted her to see him in Central Park.

She was sitting on the bench when he approached her. "Hey"

"Hey."

"How's everything?"

"Nothing's the same."

"Liv–"

"Why? Why do you have to do that?"

Elliot sighed, "I had to."

"Bullshit." She said.

"You don't understand." He told her, she rolled her eyes

"News flash, I really don't. You didn't answer my calls, hell, It was Cragen who told me you put your papers in, am I not really important to you, Stabler?" She said.

She calls me Stabler when she's mad at me. He told Morales once.

"You're mad. I get it. But I have to do this. I have to save you from the fall out."

"I don't need saving, Elliot. I...I need you." She said and he knew it was coming.

Silence again.

"The night you kissed me, I have so many questions in my mind. Then I realized that I…"

"You what, Olivia?"

"That I love you."

He brought her hand on his lips, "You deserve better, Olivia." He told her, he saw the tears streaming down her face. He brought his other hand to wipe it.

"I love you."

Silence.

Beat.

"It'll pass."

She was crying. He is too. They're both grieving the twelve years of them being together. He kissed her on the forehead and then finally stood up.

"Liv?"

She lifted up her head and looked at him.

"I love you too."

Then he walked away as his heart was breaking for her.

Days, turned into weeks, turned into months that turned into years, It didn't pass.

Not in the least.