Prompt #58: Elliot is sick


Sponge Baths and Chicken Soup

~oOo~

Olivia pulled up outside Elliot's place. She frowned at the lack of lights. Ayanna had texted her to say she'd sent him home; he'd been sick as a dog, apparently. You haven't changed, have you?

Grabbing her purse and the shopping bag, Olivia made her way through the gate to his terrace. She sighed at the dry desert of ruin that he'd turned Bernie's garden into. She shifted everything into one hand and grabbed her phone.

She sent a text to Lucy, who had a cousin who did landscaping. A young woman who'd just recently started her own business. The terrace would be a challenge, but maybe they could make it something that not even Elliot could kill.

Olivia used her key to get inside. She set the shopping bag on the kitchen island. "El?"

Nothing.

Unpacking the bag, Olivia immediately put the juice, Gatorade, and soup into the fridge. She carried everything else into his bedroom. He was curled up on top of the covers.

"El?" Olivia knelt on the bed, reaching out to rest her hand against his forehead. "Elliot? Baby?"

"Sick," Elliot groaned. He smiled weakly up at her when he'd rolled over on his back. "You called me Baby."

"Idiot." She rubbed her hand along his neck. "Have you taken anything?"

"I'll be fine," he slurred, rolling back on his side.

"You're sweaty. Come on, El. Let me help you have a hot shower." Olivia took him by the hand, tugging to try to get him to work with her. "Elliot. I'll give you a sponge bath if you get up."

Elliot groaned, then tried to get out of bed. "Can't."

"All right." She helped him sit up long enough to take some of the medication that she'd brought. "I'll be right back."

Elliot grabbed her hand before she could move away from the bed. "Thanks, Liv."

"Just saving Ayanna from having to deal with you when you're sick," Olivia teased him. She pulled her hand away from him, making her way into the bathroom. She warmed up the water and then wet a cloth. She could at least wipe some of the sweat away until he felt strong enough to get out of bed. "Here."

"Liv."

"I'll heat up some soup for you in a minute." Olivia gently dragged the warm washcloth along his upper body and neck. She tried not to think about the muscles and scars. His body. The map of all the scars she knew and ones that she hadn't seen before. "You shouldn't be alone when you're sick."

"How many times were you alone?"

"For thirteen years? I was never alone." Olivia kept her tone neutral. She was simply stating facts. He'd been the one to check in on her for their entire partnership. It was the first—and only time in her life when someone hadn't let her be alone during difficult moments. "Figured I could repay the favor."

"Olivia."

"Views not half bad—even if it's got a feverish flush to it." She set aside the washcloth. "Rest, El. I'll get you the soup."

"Liv." He caught her hand again, stopping her from leaving. "Just stay here with me."

"And get sweaty and sick?" Olivia kicked off her shoes and then climbed onto the bed beside him. She laughed when he wrapped himself around her like she were a giant stuffed animal. "Elliot."

"Shh." He awkwardly reached up and brushed his fingers against her mouth. "Shh. I'm sick. I need rest."

"Rest?" Olivia tried to tilt her head to look at him, but he nuzzled against her neck. "Is that what we're doing?"

"Yep. I'm going to regain my strength. Then I'm going to take you up on the sponge bath before we go on an official first date." Elliot sounded half asleep already. "I've got plans, Benson. Plans."

"Do they involve letting me up at some point?"

"Maybe." He tugged her in even closer. His arms tightened around her. "I'm feeling better already."


Note: The author of this SVU: Fall in Love story will be revealed in November