"Elliot! Watch out for those kids!" Olivia screamed as she grabbed the wheel and made a sharp swerve.

"Oh, geez! I'm sorry Liv, I guess I wasn't paying all that much attention, I don't know where my head's at today." Elliot apologized and pulled the car over and put it into park.

Olivia turned to her partner, thinking of the right words to say as to not offend him. "Listen, I've known you for too long to know that something isn't up. Now we can sit here all day if you want, but you will tell me what's going on. For God's sake you almost killed a group of kids!" she grabbed the keys out of the ignition and stared at him waiting for him to give her and explanation.

"Okay, I'll tell you what's going on." He said reluctantly, he never liked bringing his home life to work, and there was definitely no way he would ever bring his work to home. Although on occasion it couldn't be helped, his worst cases always seemed to be on the news and his family would somehow see it.

Elliot took a deep breath and cleared his throat, "I've been up since 3:30 this morning. I woke up to get a glass of water and when I went back to the bedroom Lizzie's light was on and I heard her crying. So I went in to see what was the matter. She went off on how I was never home and how I've missed all the school things, like soccer games and parents night, stuff like that."

"Well, Elliot, I'm sure she understands that you have a job, and that you have to go to work whenever you're needed. You've been pretty good about going home early though." Olivia said as if she was trying to defend him.

"There's more to it Liv. When I left for work this morning Kathy and I discussed going on vacation. I had told that to Lizzie as well, but when I walked out the door Lizzie just looked unhappy. I know my kids, I know that I may not always be there for them, but I sure as hell know that there is something more going on with her than she's telling me." Olivia could tell that Elliot was becoming frustrated. She knew that his kids had always been able to talk to him.

"Elliot I'm sure that if something we really up that Lizzie would have told you. Remember though she is sixteen now, she's going to become a little rebellious, you know that." Olivia had meant to be comforting, but she also knew that she had to be straight with her partner.

"I know Liv, I lived though both Maureen and Kathleen, but they were never that bad. They knew their boundaries and of course they were going to push them. I'm not saying that she won't be rebellious. She's hiding something from me! It bothers me to know that my own little girl can't even talk to me anymore." Tears had formed in his eyes and his was trying to hold it all back. Then as if a barrier broke, Elliot broke down and began to cry. Olivia had known Elliot for a long time, but she hadn't seen him this upset in a long time. She wasn't really sure how to handle this. She'd seen her partner cry over dead children and things like that, but this was different

"Elliot, it's going to be okay, it's going to be okay. Don't worry. Maybe a vacation wouldn't be all that bad. I'm sure Cragen would understand, you do need to get away." Olivia was trying to be as comforting as possible, but she couldn't forget the case they were working on.

"Listen Elliot, how about I drive to the school on the way there we'll pick up some breakfast and then you'll have some time to breath and calm down okay?" Olivia had taken the keys out of her pocket and put them in the ignition. She got out of the car walked around the front and opened the driver's side door. She gently guided Elliot to the passenger side. He had finally stopped crying and now ever once in awhile there would be a whimper.

They drove to a little café and ordered bagels. They sat down in silence at a little table near the window. Elliot had finally become himself, or close to it. His eyes were still red from the tears, but he looked like a train had hit him. He realized he hadn't eaten since five that morning and it was pushing eleven now. They ate their breakfast slowly with Olivia looking up at Elliot every few minutes to see if he was doing okay. She had never seen him like that it was almost, scary. It was like Elliot had reverted into a little boy. She had seen plenty of grown men cry, but never her partner. If he did, it was from laughing too hard at one of Munch's jokes, or when his kids were born.

Out of the blue Elliot spoke up, "Do you think I'm a bad father?" Olivia was startled by the question. She wasn't exactly sure how to answer it. She knew he was a great father. He just wasn't always there for the kids, or Kathy.

"Oh, Elliot. You are a wonderful father! You love your kids and they love you back. I mean sure you may miss a few things here and there, but at least you don't beat them or completely forget about them. Right?" Olivia hoped that she had answered that as well as she thought. She didn't need Elliot to go into another crying fit.

Elliot took a few breaths, blinked and then said, "You're right Liv. I'm sorry if I scared you this morning it's just all the stress of the job and everything else. It all came together and I couldn't control myself, it won't happen again."

"You're right it won't happen again partner. Besides whose the one wearing the pants in this relationship?" She joked hoping that Elliot would see that and laugh. He did, and when he started it was like he couldn't stop, then Olivia couldn't stop. The laughed for a good few minutes and then reality hit. They had to go to Fiona's school and work on the case.