Title: Genesis 2/9

Author: csiphile/redwing

Rating: PG13 for now

Disclaimer: Me no own. K?

Summary: When Elliot is forced into a decision, what will he choose….family or work? (E/O)

AN1: Now it gets good, Elliot's made a decision, but can he live with it?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, y'all make my day. Seriously. And of course to my fabulous beta, she knows who she is.

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Chapter 2: Decisions

Squadroom, 11 AM

Without warning, a mug of hot coffee slides into his line of sight and is placed on his desk. Following the slim hand that had placed it there, he sees his partner smiling at him.

"Look like you need it." She turns and sits at her own desk, grabbing a file off her inbox.

She knows him as well as he does her. "Yeah, I do. Thanks."

"Kathy get on your case?" she asks and looks down at the file.

Something about that startles him, and Elliot stares at the top of her head for a minute before answering. "No." He lies, for the first time, he lied to her and he feels guilty as hell about it.

"Good, but you still look tired. Did you not sleep well?"

"Not really. A lot on my mind."

Now she looks up. "Anything you want to talk about?"

`I wish I could, Liv,' he thinks to himself while answering in the negative. "Got it under control."

"Okay, El. But you know…"

"I know. Thank you."

She gives him a contemplative look before turning her attention back to the file still open on her desk.

Staring at her head again, he hears the strains of some song coming from her as she scribbles her notes on paper before transferring them to the computer to be typed up for the official file. This is going to be harder than he thought, much harder.

Two Weeks Later, Squadroom, 7 AM

Olivia walks into the squadroom and hangs up her coat, checking her messages on the way to her desk. Sitting down, she finally looks at the desk across from hers and is surprised to see Elliot's coat tossed over the back of his chair. She almost always beats him in if there were no pressing cases, and today there weren't any. Putting it out of mind, she goes through the pink slips of paper with the desk sergeant's handwriting on it, making two small piles, one of critical calls, the other ones that can wait until she has time.

Thirty minutes later, she realizes that her partner is still has not returned to his desk. Frowning, she looks up and finally notices that Cragen's door is closed, but the lights are on. The investigator in her wants to know what's going on; this is not usual behavior for either her partner or her boss at this hour of the morning. They have been in there 30 minutes that she knows of. She knows it's not about a recent case, otherwise she would be in there also. `Probably nothing,' she decides and goes back to sorting out her day. It's a rare morning that she can prioritize paperwork and calls without a case hanging over her head.

Finally after another 15 minutes, the door opens and Elliot comes out looking almost dejected. She cocks her head at him as he approaches their desks and is about to question the nature of the meeting, but before a word can escape her, Fin strides in the door and Elliot's expression swiftly changes back to his neutral look. Her opportunity is gone for the moment, but she is determined to find out what's going on.

"Man, you guys are in early," he comments and goes right to the coffee machine.

"Just using some quiet time to get organized again before the next case blows through," she says.

Elliot says nothing, just sits in his chair and stares at her a second before sorting through messages as she had done earlier. There is something odd in his expression, she can't quite put a finger on it, but something is definitely going on.

The day passes in relative peace. When she returns from court at 4, the place is silent. Fin and Munch are nowhere to be seen, Elliot is at his desk working on the never-ending pile of paperwork. Again hanging up her coat, she addresses the only other person in the room.

"Where is everyone?"

"Call came in, it was Fin and Munch's turn," he says with almost no emotion.

He's been withdrawn like this all day, and it's starting to concern her. Even on the days where all they work on is paperwork and follow- ups, Elliot is joking around or throwing assorted items across the expanse of their desks at her. They almost always go to lunch together, but today he had begged off with some lame excuse.

Sitting down, she leans over her desk slightly and speaks to him in low tones.

"What is wrong with you?"

He looks up at her with another of those strange expressions that she would almost swear was sadness if she didn't know better. "Nothing."

"Don't nothing me, Elliot. I know you better than that." Pausing, she chews the inside of her cheek slightly. "You have been acting off all day, starting after that meeting with Cragen this morning. What's going on?"

"Can we talk about this later?" he asks, and his serious expression sends a shiver through her.

"Yeah, of course. Everything ok with Kathy and the kids?"

"Yeah. Later, k?" This time she can hear the tiredness in his voice.

"Sure."

"Thanks, Liv."

She nods and slides back into her chair, watching him closely. He does nothing except go back to his background checks, all but ignoring her.

Knocking at her door brings Olivia out of the book she is reading. Raising one eyebrow, she looks at the clock in the living room and realizes it's 9 already; last she knew it was 2 hours ago. More knocking inspires her to get up off the couch and head to the door cautiously, since she isn't expecting anyone. Looking through the peephole, she is surprised to see her partner. When he had said later, she didn't think he'd meant tonight at her apartment. She opens the door to find a very wet Elliot Stabler. Quickly, she waves him in.

"El," she says in greeting.

"Hey, Liv. I hope you don't mind the visit."

"No, but when you said later, I didn't think you meant tonight. Hang on, let me get you a towel." She walks away and down the hall in her apartment, raising her voice so she can talk as she walks. "What did you do? Walk here from Queens?"

"No, though I might as well have. Parking in the city is a nightmare…thanks," he says as she hands him a towel to dry off. "I had to park 2 blocks down."

She shrugs and enters the kitchen. He follows behind her. "Coffee?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"It could have waited until tomorrow, you know. When it's not raining." She turns to him after setting the coffee maker and leans one hip on the counter. He's standing at the other end of the kitchen, mostly dry now.

"No, it couldn't."

"All right, what the hell is going on?" Her expression is terse; she's had enough of whatever it is.

"Sit down, I have to tell you something."

Slowly she sits, her eyes never leaving him. "What?"

He sits across the table from her and sighs loudly. "First, I want you to know something. You are, bar none, the best partner I've ever had."

"Elliot…"

Finally he spits it out. "I've requested a transfer to Narcotics."

Nothing could have shocked her more; that is the last think she ever expected to hear from him. She literally cannot speak. Too many thoughts are flowing through her head to grab one and form a coherent sentence. She swallows the lump in her throat and stands up, getting both of their coffees, still silent. Returning to the table, she sets his down in front of him but before she can sit back down he lightly grasps her hand.

"I know it's a shock, and it's not you Liv, god, it's so not you. It's just….Kathy has been putting pressure on me about hours and the kids are growing up without me. I only have a few more years before Dicky and Elizabeth are lost into adulthood. I've already lost Kathleen and Maureen."

She looks down at him and gives him a sad smile. "You don't have to explain your actions to me, Elliot. I understand, really. But Narcotics? They work close to the same hours we do."

"There is a new position that they are starting. Its basically coordinating all the bust information from all 5 boroughs so they can better track what's going on and improve department communication. It's as close to 9 to 5 as I can get. Cragen put in word and I heard today I got it."

Pulling her hand away, she sits back down, staring down into the coffee. This time he gives her time to think and says nothing. She scratches at the bridge of her nose the way she does when she is tired or frustrated. "I…" She pauses and looks up at him, pressing her lips closed, taking a deep breath through her nose. "I'm going to miss you El. God, its been what? Seven years now? I guess I should have figured it wouldn't last forever, but it's so unexpected."

He reaches across the table and places his larger hand over her small one. "I know. Maybe I should have said something when I started asking around, but if it didn't work out then…" He takes a deep breath. "I'm going to miss you too Liv."

They both sit in silence for a while, contemplating what the future will hold. Elliot breaks the silence first. "I'm sorry."

She snaps her head up at him. "For what? Wanting to be with your family? That's nothing to be sorry for."

"No, I mean for leaving you with Munch and Fin," he deadpans.

At that she smiles and laughs lightly before taking on a tone of mock annoyance. "I hadn't even considered that, thanks."

He smiles back. "You have no idea how much I agonized about this, Liv."

"Leaving me with Munch and Fin? I think I can handle them." She raises her eyebrows at him and pulls her hand out from under his.

He sighs and shakes his head. "You know what I'm talking about." At her nod of assent, he continues. "I love my job, hard as it is, it's equal parts frustration and fulfillment. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with either, especially you. We've kept each other sane over the years. I don't know who is going to keep me in line now."

"Hmmm, well if you think you're getting out of control, just give me a call. I think I can straighten you out over the phone. Your not leaving the state, El; we can still talk to each other you know."

"Yeah, but why does it feel like I'm never going to see you again."

She shrugs slightly. It feels that way to her also. "We'll just have to make an effort not to let that happen, ok? You're still my friend, Elliot."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Aren't I always?" She gives him a quick wink and they both smile.

Finally he looks up at the clock in her kitchen and realizes he has been there for over an hour already. Kathy hadn't been pleased about his need to talk to her in person away from the office, but Elliot had informed her this was not negotiable. Now he had spent more time then he intended at his partner's- no, former partner's- apartment. "I have to go. I'm still on for another 2 weeks before I transfer. Cragen will probably talk to you tomorrow about a partner, I know he has been looking for one."

"Great, I get stuck with the newbie."

"You always put the newbie with the best." He stands and heads to the door, sliding his now dry shoes back on.

Turning to open her door, he surprises her by turning back and pulling her into a hug, his arms wrapped around her waist. Startled by his sudden show of emotion, she doesn't react, but eventually wraps her arms around his waist. They stay like that for what seems like an eternity to her, but is really only 10 seconds or so. She never realized how strong his arms were, or how good they felt around her. Startled for a second time, she wonders where that thought had come from. At that moment, he chooses to release her and step back to the door.

"Bye, Liv." She swears she hears his voice cracking a little.

"Bye, El."

Quietly, she shuts the door behind her and leans against it. She takes a deep breath to control the emotions she feels welling up. This feels worse then a relationship break up. She has come to depend on Elliot; she always knows he will be there for her no matter what. Someone had once told her that partners were like blood. She denied the implication at the time, but now she understands. She feels like part of herself is missing, and he isn't even gone yet.

tbc………………………….