A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews! I'm always super self conscious about my writing, so it's so nice to have some encouragement! I hope y'all enjoy chapter 2!
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Elliot Stabler finished his chicken and waffles at the soul food cafe with Sargent Bell before deciding to walk back to his apartment.
His thoughts were firmly on Olivia- on the talk they had outside of Noah's school. It had struck him how different she was while still being his Liv. She was wiser and expressed her feelings in ways that surprised him. Sitting next to her, he felt stunted, he felt he'd barely changed while she had blossomed. He had felt a shift within himself. She made him feel his age, in a good way.
When he was with her, he wasn't the man he was 20 years ago. He was a man who could admit his struggles. He could admit his love for her- she did mean the world to him. He could own up to his mistakes with his Sargent because Olivia had told him to. He had grown more in the few moments in that car than he had in years.
He'd tell her that when he saw her again. They'd discuss what he was going through because no one listens like Liv. And he would shift even further.
His thoughts were interrupted as he saw Eli step out of his brother in law's car. Elliot was about to wave him over when he saw a man in a mask jump towards his young son.
After that, it was a blur, he fought hard, but two against one led to defeat. He was left beaten bloody on the sidewalk.
He feels hands on his face and realizes they are his sons.
"Call Olivia." He grunts out.
"I tried, she's not answering. I called 911 instead. An ambulance is on the way." Eli answers with tears in his young voice. He hates that Eli is having to witness this, he's gone through too much.
"Ok, ok, good boy. We're going to be ok." Elliot repeats his, at this point, my mostly unbelievable matra, grabbing his son's hand.
When the ambulance arrives, he doesn't refuse or pretend he doesn't need the help. When Sargent Bell shows up to the ER and asks him how he's feeling, he tells the truth. He hurts and his memory is a blur and he knows the old Elliot wouldn't have answered like that. It's all part of the shift he felt in the car with Liv.
When the ER doc deems him fit to go home, Bell asks him if there is anyone she could call. Before he could even think, her name falls from his lips, as if it's a reflex, but just as quickly old Elliot steps in, "actually, no, that's ok. I'll have Eli call her if I need her. "
He had told her to back off for a reason and while he has never needed another person as much as he needs Olivia Benson, he can't put her in danger.
"We could use a ride home, though." He says to Bell.
"Ok, I'll get your paperwork and pull the car around. I'm putting a protective detail outside your building tonight. Eli should feel safe in his own home." She says as she walks away.
The old Elliot would have fought that because, damn it, he could protect his family. Now, in this new era, he is acutely aware of how inaccurate that thought is- his wife is dead and his son had narrowly missed a similar fate.
Bell helps him and Eli settle in his apartment. She stopped and filled his prescriptions for him. He's grateful. She's a good egg and he's glad good eggs still exist.
When they are alone, Eli is quiet and it worries his father. He asks him if he needs to talk, the boy declines, before retreating to his bedroom, turning to add a quick, "I love you. I'm glad you're ok."
He decides to give him some space - he was at the age where that mattered. He would certainly talk to him later.
He felt himself doze off. He didn't know if it was hours later or mere minutes, but the scenes of Kathy's murder played in his minds eye.
In his dream, he knew what was about to happen as she opened the car door, but was unable to stop her. He'd scream her name, but she'd get in just the same. It played on a continuous loop until after probably twenty repeats, two men in masks pull him away from the burning car and begin beating him.
His screaming prompted Eli to wake his father.
"Dad! Wake up, you're going to hurt yourself!"
Elliot jolted awake and felt the pain in every muscle. A strangled cry came from his throat. Eli had seen his dad hurt before, but to see him actually holler out in pain was new and it scared him.
"Ahh," Elliot groaned, sitting up, holding his side protectively, "I'm sorry, buddy."
"Dad, you look like you're really hurting. Do you want another pain pill?" The concern in the young man's voice was heartbreaking.
He thought about it, he hurt badly, but he was afraid the narcotics would make his dreams worse, "No, maybe just a Tylenol for now."
Eli knew that his dad needed more than Tylenol, but he couldn't quite figure out why he turned down the pill. He also knew that, as mature as he was, he was still just a kid and this was above his pay grade. He thought his dad might kill him, but he decided to call Olivia again.
He disappeared into his room, closing the door behind him. The phone rang three times, but this time, she answered.
"Hello?" Her voice was husky with sleep.
"Olivia?" He sounds like the scared kid that he is.
He can hear the surprise and sudden alertness in her voice, "Eli? Are you ok?"
"Yeah, it's dad, he got beaten up tonight. He went to the hospital, but I'm worried. Can you come?" He pleaded.
Olivia, even in her current state, couldn't say no to the boy she held during his first moments of life.
"I'm on my way." She pulled her own battered body out of the bed and without a second thought to how she looked, made her way across town to her partner.
He needs her and some things just never change.