A/N: A shout out to SVUSHIPPER4EVER. So glad you enjoyed it! A little E/O coming up and... well you'll see. ;)


Chapter 7

Munch didn't even ask any questions when Elliot called him later and told him that he wasn't coming back in for the rest of his shift. The sergeant said that they had the case in hand and he didn't expect him in the next day either. If anyone asked, he had family stuff to handle. Elliot thanked him and hung up the phone.

That's when he heard the sound of retching from down the hall. Elliot ran down to the bathroom to find Olivia hunched over the toilet. Quickly, he maneuvered into the bathroom and held her hair back as she retched again. Cold sweats and trembling followed as she slumped up against her tub and her partner flushed the toilet.

"Feeling any better?" he asked.

"No…" was all she got out before quickly returning to the porcelain bowl. Elliot grimaced as all the came up this time was bile. There was literally nothing left to get rid of. Again, she slumped back against the tub and Elliot flushed the toilet.

"How about now?" He asked. She just gave him a look. He went to the bathroom counter, grabbed the Listerine, and a paper cup. He put some of the mouthwash in the cup and handed it to her. She swished and spit into the toilet. He took the cup from her and gave her some more. This time she gargled and then spit it into the toilet. Elliot took the cup, threw it out, and then flushed the toilet one more time. Then he bent down and scooped her up off the floor. She didn't even try to fight him as he headed to the bedroom and set her down on the bed. He left her in a seated position as he covered her legs with the blankets. Then he gently sat down on the edge of the bed, near her feet.

"Liv…" he wasn't sure what to say next, but he knew he needed to do something.

"I've done it. I tried so hard to avoid it and I did it anyway," she finally spoke her first complete sentences since waking up about thirty minutes ago.

"Slow down, did what?" Elliot had an idea of what she meant but he didn't want to suppose anything. She needed to be honest with not only him but also herself.

"I've become my mother," there it was. While they did not suffer the same trauma, they both resorted to the bottle to cope. The department shrink was supposed to be talking to her, but the appointment wasn't until tomorrow. Olivia needed to be sober for that if she intended to keep her job.

"You haven't become your mother. You slipped a little, we all do. But you have one thing that your mother didn't have," Elliot said.

"What?" She gave him a look.

"A support system," he told her.

"How many of them know?" Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"Just the guys. We keep this from the Captain and IAB and you keep your job. You go to that shrink appointment tomorrow and get the right kind of help. We'll be right there supporting you. Anything you need. We're here for you," Elliot promised.

"Until you aren't. Don't make promises you can't keep El," she said.

"Liv, I'm your partner," he said.

"With a wife and kids at home. One of which is a toddler. I can't be monopolizing your time or Fin's or Munch's or Kenny's. How long do you think we could keep that up until the Captain figures out that you guys are keeping me afloat? That's if IAB even clears me. I don't keep my job and all those promises go away. Besides this isn't the first time I've had to fire my weapon on the job. Not the first person I killed. Once Tucker's goons left today, the writing was on the wall. I'm screwed and, in order for the Captain to keep his job, so is the poor bastard who let Jenna waltz passed the metal detectors. I appreciate you trying El, I do, but don't let yourself get dragged down by me. Save yourself and make sure you take care of that family of yours," Olivia told him.

"I'm not letting you off so easy. You're more than just my partner. You're my friend. My sounding board. You…" he stopped short. There was definitely more he needed to say but he debated what he should do.

"I'm what El? More baggage? A pain in your ass? What? What could possibly make me worth endangering your career and your family life?" She was demanding an answer, so he gave her one.

"You're the woman I love."

To Be Continued…