AN: I can not express how happy and excited I am that Bensler is now canon. I am thrilled we have the season ender to look forward to.
We know they talk and work together in the next episode, and there are magical spoilers for the finale, so...
Olivia Benson laid alone in her dark bedroom, drowsy buy not really sleeping. Even in a pandemic, the streets of New York City were loud and obnoxious below her window.
But she heard only one thing above the din.
I love you.
Elliot Stabler finally said those words to her.
Those three words in his voice, from his mouth to her ears, was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard and all she'd ever wanted for the last 22 years.
Once again, her phone lite up, his name staring back at her.
This was the third time he called since he ran away from her and the kids after they reached out.
This was the third time she let him go to voicemail. She flopped back against her pillow and let her arm splay across her forehead. She closed her eyes.
What the Hell was she doing?
Elliot Stabler sighed. The... intervention... worked. Just not immediately or the way his family wanted it to. He was thinking clearly and refocused after this new piece of evidence.
He reached out to the one person he knew would respond: Olivia Benson.
Only she didn't respond.
But like he told her in the second voicemail he left, he got it.
He abandoned her for ten years. He returned to her life unexpectedly and now this horrible mess. He told her to back off. He knew all she wanted was to help him. She was destroyed when he left, he knew that. He had been cruel, unfair, and what he did was unforgivable. He didn't blame her for turning the tables and ignoring him.
He told her he loved her for the first time only a couple of hours ago. Well, the first time out loud. The letter... He knew she read it, she told him she did. And she wanted to talk about it. And he ran from her then, too.
Flopping back down on the couch, he closed his eyes and let his arm splay across his forehead.
He had no idea how much time passed before he heard a timid knock on the door. One of the kids? He slowly got to his bare feet, glancing at his watch. 7:30.
He opened the door. The smallest, most heartfelt smile crept across his battered lips. He watched her watch it spread like she was watching the sunrise.
"I brought breakfast because you have no food in this place..." she said.
Her shoulder length brown hair was pulled into a haphazard ponytail. Her big, brown velvet eyes were watery, as if she'd been crying. He watched her throat as she swallowed. She'd re-dressed in the white, bell-sleeved sweater, dark leggings and thick heeled brown ankle boots. Knowing Liv, she just grabbed what was closest to rush to him. She didn't know she was beautiful.
She watched him watch her as she sighed. His handsome face was as battered and bruised as his soul. He was in a white sleeveless undershirt, allowing her to admire his bare broad shoulders and the large Christ on the Cross tatoo that graced his right bicep. The plain gold cross glinted in the light from the hallway. He wore a pair of soft, well loved grey sweatpants.
He stepped aside, but just barely, their bodies brushing from shoulder to hip as she moved inside. He slowly and softly closed the door behind her.