Title: Numbed

Author: ArtemisEyes14

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: The SVU characters still aren't mine, and I can't persuade Dick Wolf to give 'em to me. Gosh darn it.

A/N: Well, while I do believe that people on TV have no morals and should stop running around behind one another's backs, there are also times when I wish people would forget their stupid morals because they are meant to be. And then there are those times when I want both, and SVU is always one of those times. So the gist of that is, I've introduced a semi-pairing of OE, but not really. I tried to please both of the little voices in my head. And as always, please R&R. I was slightly disappointed with feedback last time, even though it was totally my fault for not updating sooner. Just, hit the purple button. You know the drill.

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Olivia couldn't bring herself to go home after confronting Cassidy. So, though it was the first day in months she had got off early, she headed back to the precinct. Expecting to be the only one there, Olivia was surprised to see her partner still sitting at his desk, poring over files. Usually when Elliot had time off, he went straight home to Queens. It was now nearing ten and he remained in the squadroom. But then again, the day was shaping up to be the opposite of everything Olivia thought she knew; she was tired and confused, and flopped down into her chair with a sigh.

The action startled Elliot, who had been engrossed in his paperwork and evidently hadn't sensed his partner's presence. "What are you doing here so late?" he inquired with an air of concern.

"I could ask the same of you," Olivia responded with a laugh, putting Elliot more at ease. "I don't have a wife and kids who probably don't even recognize me."

"Something doesn't feel right on this case," Elliot said, shoving the file across the piles of papers that covered their workspace. As the folder slid from desk to desk, a photo of a black and blue Giselle Kennedy fell out. Elliot looked Olivia directly in the eye; her smile disappeared. "Plus, I was worried about you. I thought you might call, after talking to Cassidy. I decided to stay in the city, in case. Because even if you'd needed me, I wouldn't have endured an extra commute back and forth from Queens," he teased. "So how'd it go?"

Olivia groaned; Elliot understood. He hadn't exactly expected it to go well. "He didn't believe her, Elliot. It was as if he didn't even care. He made it all about him, how she didn't like him, how she was a trouble maker. Bastard. He's married, his stepdaughter's been raped, and all he wants to do is hit on me." Olivia crossed her arms on her desk and laid her head down on them. Elliot stood up and walked over to the exasperated Olivia. He sat on the edge of her desk and tousled her short locks.

"Wow," Elliot said, taking in the news. "Not that I blame him," he added sincerely. "Olivia, this job's tough. I don't know why Brian thinks the way he does...why he's changed... but you believe Giselle. We believe Giselle. We can help her, and that's what counts. You can't let Cassidy's behavior get in the way of helping this girl. If she can't trust her stepfather, well, we can give her someone to trust."

Olivia raised her head and looked Elliot in the eye. "If this happened to Maureen, or Kathleen, or even Lizzie, they would need you to believe them. They would need to be able to trust their dad. Even if she has us, Giselle needs a dad too. She needs Cassidy."

"You can't make him believe her, Liv. I don't know why Cassidy's become such a jerk over the past five years, but you can't change that. You tried to convince him and it didn't work." He urged, "Now let's get back to looking for Giselle's rapist."

Olivia had tried to keep her cool but was obviously starting to cry. Elliot placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered "C'mere."

Olivia stood up; Elliot embraced his tearful partner. They stood like that for some time, until Olivia broke the silence. "I'm sorry," she whispered, stepping back and holding his shoulders arms length away. "El, I'm sorry I was a jerk to you today and I'm sorry I've spent more time thinking about Brian than catching Giselle's attacker." Elliot said nothing, but brought Olivia back into his arms, still weeping. She fit perfectly against his body.

After a while, her crying subsided and Olivia spoke again. "I'm sorry that you had to see me like this. I'm such a mess. And I'm sorry to keep you away from Kathy."

"Liv, stop apologizing. It's okay. Everything's okay." Olivia always worried about Elliot's marriage. She knew how hard it was to have any relationship; in SVU your only real relationship was with the victims. But Elliot had explained the whole situation to his wife. Kathy was fine with it. She knew Elliot was a good guy, and there were certain things he felt obliged to do. Olivia was his friend, and she needed his help.

"Okay," Olivia simply said. She gazed at Elliot, his pointed features and his crystal blue eyes. She had worked like this for a long time. Too long. She put her hand on the back of Elliot's head and pulled him close to her face, softly putting her lips to his. They lingered like that for a moment, both in a state of disbelief at what Olivia had taken the initiative to do. Elliot suddenly pulled away.

"Olivia..." he began, shocked.

"Listen, Elliot, I've been sorry about a lot of things tonight, but not that," Olivia interrupted, her teary eyes glittering in the dim light. "I know you're married, and I know that after Brian I promised myself I wouldn't do... this... again. But don't deny you've wanted it for a long time too."

"Liv," Elliot started again, "I have a wife. And I have Maureen and Kathleen and Dickie and Liz. And you're beautiful and sexy and probably my best friend in the world, and sure, I'd be jealous of any man who had you. But I can't do this." He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, trying to hold to his principles. "You're upset. Look how your relationship with Brian has impaired your judgment on this case. We're a team, and we can't do that to the victims. Or to Kathy. It's a kiss and it's over; nothing more can happen from here."

"Elliot..." Olivia began, when she was sure his argument was over. She seemed to think about her next words for a while, until she finally chose. "I understand." Disappointedly, she added, "It was nice, though... You're a good man. To your family. Strong. I admire it. Listen, I gotta go, early day tomorrow, but I'll see you in the –" Olivia was cut off by the old- fashioned ring of her desk phone. "Benson," she answered in typical police style.

"Olivia?" whimpered the voice on the other end of the line. "I-I-... I'm sorry it's late. He tried...," the voice apologized, trailing off.

"Giselle?" Olivia inquired, "He tried what? Are you okay?" She shot Elliot a worried glance.

"It's kind of cold out here. I stole B-Brian's phone..." the girl said before she broke into sobs.

"Where are you Giselle?" Olivia asked.

"I d-don't really know," she stuttered. "I just ran until I couldn't run any more. I'm somewhere in Central Park."

"Okay, we're going to come get you, okay honey? Just stay where you are." Olivia hung up the phone and gathered her things. Keys...check. Badge...check. Gun...check. She looked at Elliot, who was staring at her somewhat absentmindedly. He loved how compassionate his partner could be. "Elliot," she said, snapping him out of it, "we have to go get Giselle. I think she ran away." Olivia paused. "Listen El...thanks. For tonight. For listening to me whine about Brian. For comforting me. And for... you know... I needed it."

Elliot smiled at her with almost an air of pity. He didn't want their encounter to ruin the deep friendship they had. His partner had made an error in judgment, but that was it. The incident could be forgotten. His thoughts were interrupted, however, by Olivia planting another quick kiss on his lips. "If this is never going to happen again, I may as well get one for the road," she teased. "Now, Olivia," she said out loud to herself, dabbing the corner of her eye with a tissue, "compose yourself. It's time to be professional."