Olivia and Elliot went into the office they next day and told Cragen that
they would go to Miami. Cragen gave them the contact information for the
Miami office and information about the hotel and rental car. Tuesday night
Elliot and Olivia packed for a two-week trip. Elliot made Olivia call the
doctor to make sure that she could fly. He gave her the okay.
They got up early Wednesday morning so they would have plenty of time to get to the airport. Once they got past check in and security they boarded the plane and prepared for the two and a half hour flight.
"So what do you think they want us down there in person for?" Elliot asked once they were in the air.
"Maybe to look at evidence," Olivia replied.
"Something just isn't sitting right with me about this."
"Like what?"
"I don't know yet."
Olivia took his hand in hers, "Listen, let's just do what we have to do and enjoy our time away."
"I know, you're right," Elliot sighed.
"Just think, we can go out to dinner and not have to worry about bring seen."
"It's a date."
"Good. I'm going to try and get some sleep."
"Sleep tight," Elliot said as he kissed her hand.
Olivia turned away from Elliot and leaned against the window. She was quickly asleep. Elliot leaned his head back against the headrest and decided to try to get some sleep himself. He had just dozed off when the plane hit some turbulence that woke him up. He glanced over at Olivia, who was still sound asleep. He began thinking about everything. Before Maureen had shown up they agreed to try a relationship, but haven't talked about it since. She had told him that she loved him; he knew she meant it, but it was only once. He knew that he wanted to be with her, but he also knew that if he pushed her he would only wind up pushing her away. He thought back to about 3 months ago, they were working a case and the victim had had brought her newborn baby to the station. Elliot and Olivia took the baby while the victim talked with Munch and Fin. He remembered just watching her with the baby. He imagined her holding his baby, their baby. In 8 months that fantasy would become a reality. He took her hand in his.
"Olivia, I love you, I wish I knew what to do to ease your fears about everything. I just want you, me and the baby to be a happy family," he whispered.
"Me too," Olivia replied.
"You're awake?" Elliot said, somewhat surprised.
"You woke me up when you grabbed my hand."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I guess now would be a good time to talk."
"If you want."
"What were you thinking about?"
"You."
"And?"
"What I need to do to ease your fears."
"Elliot, I just need time. A month ago I was single and dedicated to my job. Now I'm pregnant and I've admitted that I'm in love with my partner." Olivia shifted in her seat, "Elliot, trust me, I won't leave you, but I need time to accept everything."
"I just don't know where the line is."
"What do you mean?"
"Like what is appropriate. I don't want to push too much, but I don't want you to think I'm changing my mind."
"Elliot, you have to remember, you've done this before, I haven't. You and Kathy had been dating for a while before Maureen came around. You and I were friends, but nothing more. It's all new to me. I've never been in a relationship this serious."
"I'm sorry, I just don't want to lose you."
"I promise that by the time the baby comes I'll have my act together."
"Then I want you to have this," Elliot said as he handed Olivia a box.
"Elliot, I can't now," Olivia said extremely nervous.
"No, no. It's not an engagement ring," he said taking the box and opening it. "It's a promise ring. You wear it on your right hand. I have one too," Elliot said taking out another box.
"It's beautiful."
"It represents our promise to each other."
"I love it," she said as she took the ring from the box and putting it on her right ring finger.
"I'm glad you like it."
"I told you that this trip would be good for us," Olivia said leaning over to kiss him.
"You should get some more sleep."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
This time Olivia shifted so she was leaning against Elliot's shoulder. He put his arm around her and rested his hand on her stomach, thinking of the little life inside her.
Elliot woke Olivia up when they landed. They deplaned and headed for the baggage claim. They gathered their things and headed for the rental car. They agreed to go to the hotel then check in with the Miami police. The hotel wasn't that far from the airport. Elliot went inside and checked in. Once they were in the room Olivia started putting some things away and Elliot dialed the number for the Miami office.
"This is Detective Elliot Stabler. I'm looking for Detective Santarmo," Elliot said when someone picked up.
"Hold one moment please," the voice on the other end said.
"Santarmo," the detective answered.
"Detective Stabler, Manhattan SVU."
"Your Captain didn't call you?"
"No. Why?"
"We caught the guy last night. The ADA said he would call your Captain."
"So you don't need us anymore?"
"Not in person, we may need cooperation depending on how we decide to prosecute the guy."
"So we can go back?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry you came all the way down here."
"We needed a break."
"I hear ya. Thanks for the anticipated assistance though."
"Sure. Thanks for telling me."
"Have a safe trip back."
"Thanks," Elliot said as he hung up.
"So where do they need us?" Olivia asked as she came out of the bathroom.
"New York."
They got up early Wednesday morning so they would have plenty of time to get to the airport. Once they got past check in and security they boarded the plane and prepared for the two and a half hour flight.
"So what do you think they want us down there in person for?" Elliot asked once they were in the air.
"Maybe to look at evidence," Olivia replied.
"Something just isn't sitting right with me about this."
"Like what?"
"I don't know yet."
Olivia took his hand in hers, "Listen, let's just do what we have to do and enjoy our time away."
"I know, you're right," Elliot sighed.
"Just think, we can go out to dinner and not have to worry about bring seen."
"It's a date."
"Good. I'm going to try and get some sleep."
"Sleep tight," Elliot said as he kissed her hand.
Olivia turned away from Elliot and leaned against the window. She was quickly asleep. Elliot leaned his head back against the headrest and decided to try to get some sleep himself. He had just dozed off when the plane hit some turbulence that woke him up. He glanced over at Olivia, who was still sound asleep. He began thinking about everything. Before Maureen had shown up they agreed to try a relationship, but haven't talked about it since. She had told him that she loved him; he knew she meant it, but it was only once. He knew that he wanted to be with her, but he also knew that if he pushed her he would only wind up pushing her away. He thought back to about 3 months ago, they were working a case and the victim had had brought her newborn baby to the station. Elliot and Olivia took the baby while the victim talked with Munch and Fin. He remembered just watching her with the baby. He imagined her holding his baby, their baby. In 8 months that fantasy would become a reality. He took her hand in his.
"Olivia, I love you, I wish I knew what to do to ease your fears about everything. I just want you, me and the baby to be a happy family," he whispered.
"Me too," Olivia replied.
"You're awake?" Elliot said, somewhat surprised.
"You woke me up when you grabbed my hand."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I guess now would be a good time to talk."
"If you want."
"What were you thinking about?"
"You."
"And?"
"What I need to do to ease your fears."
"Elliot, I just need time. A month ago I was single and dedicated to my job. Now I'm pregnant and I've admitted that I'm in love with my partner." Olivia shifted in her seat, "Elliot, trust me, I won't leave you, but I need time to accept everything."
"I just don't know where the line is."
"What do you mean?"
"Like what is appropriate. I don't want to push too much, but I don't want you to think I'm changing my mind."
"Elliot, you have to remember, you've done this before, I haven't. You and Kathy had been dating for a while before Maureen came around. You and I were friends, but nothing more. It's all new to me. I've never been in a relationship this serious."
"I'm sorry, I just don't want to lose you."
"I promise that by the time the baby comes I'll have my act together."
"Then I want you to have this," Elliot said as he handed Olivia a box.
"Elliot, I can't now," Olivia said extremely nervous.
"No, no. It's not an engagement ring," he said taking the box and opening it. "It's a promise ring. You wear it on your right hand. I have one too," Elliot said taking out another box.
"It's beautiful."
"It represents our promise to each other."
"I love it," she said as she took the ring from the box and putting it on her right ring finger.
"I'm glad you like it."
"I told you that this trip would be good for us," Olivia said leaning over to kiss him.
"You should get some more sleep."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
This time Olivia shifted so she was leaning against Elliot's shoulder. He put his arm around her and rested his hand on her stomach, thinking of the little life inside her.
Elliot woke Olivia up when they landed. They deplaned and headed for the baggage claim. They gathered their things and headed for the rental car. They agreed to go to the hotel then check in with the Miami police. The hotel wasn't that far from the airport. Elliot went inside and checked in. Once they were in the room Olivia started putting some things away and Elliot dialed the number for the Miami office.
"This is Detective Elliot Stabler. I'm looking for Detective Santarmo," Elliot said when someone picked up.
"Hold one moment please," the voice on the other end said.
"Santarmo," the detective answered.
"Detective Stabler, Manhattan SVU."
"Your Captain didn't call you?"
"No. Why?"
"We caught the guy last night. The ADA said he would call your Captain."
"So you don't need us anymore?"
"Not in person, we may need cooperation depending on how we decide to prosecute the guy."
"So we can go back?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry you came all the way down here."
"We needed a break."
"I hear ya. Thanks for the anticipated assistance though."
"Sure. Thanks for telling me."
"Have a safe trip back."
"Thanks," Elliot said as he hung up.
"So where do they need us?" Olivia asked as she came out of the bathroom.
"New York."