Fall to Pieces

Chapter Nineteen

Disclaimer: Ugh, they don't belong to me.

A/N: Oh! I am so mad at myself right now. I had half of this chapter written. It was really good, too! Then I had to go and do something completely stupid! I clicked out of Microsoft Word and didn't save what I had; I didn't even realize what I was doing! Grr, I'm so mad right now. I can't remember everything that I wrote down! This sucks. I guess there's a reason you're supposed to save your work like every five minutes, huh?
I am such a ditz. Grr!
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"Alright." Cragen paused again, then continued on. "Are you two dating each other?"

"Well I wouldn't really...." Olivia began.

Elliot went next, "We're not exactly-"

"You see," Olivia added. "The truth is - Yeah ... we are."

"I see," Cragen mused, a frown settling on his face. "Well, you do understand that I'm going to have to do something about this."

"Yes sir," Elliot replied solemnly. "We do."

"Right then ... Elliot ... Olivia..."

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Cragen trailed off, glancing between Elliot and Olivia, the look on his face unreadable. He was silent for a little under a minute, then as he leaned back in his chair he continued, "You both understand that a relationship between partners is highly frowned upon, right?"

They both nodded.

"And that I could either separate you two and give you each new partners or send one of you to another precinct?"

They looked at each other and nodded again.

"Then, you should also know that I'm not going to send one of my best detectives to another precinct just because they have fallen in love, or whatever it is between you two. However, I do have to do something about it, even if I'd rather not. If it was possible, I wouldn't be doing anything about this, it's apparent to me that you two work perfectly fine together, no matter what your out-of-work relationship may be. And if the big wigs could have their way they would send one of you to another precinct, maybe even to another squad. So, since I have to do something, I'm going to have to split you two up. Elliot will be working with Munch, and Olivia, you'll be partnered with Fin."

Olivia felt her stomach turn, they were being separated. She didn't want to work with Fin, Elliot was her partner, they were great together. Looking over at Elliot she saw the same look in his eyes, he-of course- didn't want this anymore than she did. Turning back to Cragen she sighed, "We understand, Captain. It has to be done."

The corners of his mouth twitched in his attempt to stifle a smile, a harbinger of things to come. Somehow, Elliot and Olivia both missed the sign. "Of course, it is still my decision who works what case. And it is common knowledge that you two, Fin and Munch, are my best detectives, but that you tend to work better when partnered together. So ... it wouldn't be that hard to believe if I occasionally partnered you two together, or maybe more than occasionally."

"Do you mean-" Elliot started to ask before Cragen cut him off and continued with his explanation.

"I've already explained this to Munch and Fin, they're fine with the idea. This is, of course, just a precautionary method, in case somebody gets suspicious and wants to check things out and make sure this is legit. While I will keep you two together for most cases every now and then I will have to assign you a case with your actual partner, so it's not so obvious. Now, you two are OK with this, right?"

"Better than ok, Cap." Olivia replied. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," Cragen replied.

Glancing at her clock Olivia sighed, "As much as I'm enjoying this conversation, sir, I've really got to pick up the girls. There's only about fifteen minutes left for me to get to Heather's, and she can't watch them late tonight. Her and her husband are going out for their anniversary dinner," she explained. "I need to head out."

"Of course," he replied. "You're shift is up, you're free to go whenever you want to."

She nodded and stood up from her chair and made her way out of the room. After she had opened the door she turned back around and looked at him, "When does the partner switch become official?"

"It's going to take a few days," he told her, "probably not until sometime next week."

She glanced at Elliot, then back to Cragen. "Right ... well, I'll see you tomorrow."

Elliot watched as she left and then turned back to look at Cragen, "I don't know how to thank you for this, sir."

"You don't have to," Cragen said. "The way I see it I didn't have any other option than this, at least none that I would consider. If you really want to thank me then don't screw this thing with Olivia up."

"I'm trying," he confessed. "I already did something really stupid, though. She's pissed at me for it."

"Threatening the uniform," Cragen supplied. "That was idiotic, you know?"

"Yeah, it's just been a long time since I've been in a serious relationship. Even longer since I've been in a relationship where I've gotten this jealous ... it's going to take some getting used to."

"Some advice, Elliot, the jealousy never goes away."

"I was afraid you'd say that," he told him with a sigh.

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Olivia managed to make it to Heather's apartment before 6 o'clock, without speeding. She took on the stairs two by two, her mind still buzzing from the conversation she had just had. Although she understood why the captain had to separate the two of them, she wasn't too thrilled with it. But, she mused, what the captain had come up with was much better than either her or Elliot being sent an entirely different precinct.

As she knocked on the door she thought about her earlier argument with Elliot over his treat to the uniformed police officer. It still got to her that he had the audacity to say that she was taken. She calmed herself down as Heather opened the door, clad in a robe and hair curlers.

"I just started getting ready," Heather explained, after receiving a look from Olivia. "Come on in, the girls are getting their things ready."

Olivia nodded and followed her into the apartment, "So ... ten years, huh? Congratulations."

"Thanks," she replied with a smile. "It makes me feel old, though."

"I'm older than you are," Olivia told her.

"Yeah, I know." Heather said. "You must feel really old."

Olivia groaned, "Don't remind me."

"Sorry," she replied. "You and Chris were married for what ... eight, eight in a half years?"

"Almost eight in a half," Olivia told her. "I couldn't imagine ten! You've got a lot more patience than I do, I guess."

"Oh, it's just if you find the right guy or not. So maybe you made a mistake, I think you've made up for it though." A smile spread across her face, "Before you know it you'll be celebrating your ten year anniversary, then you'll actually be old."

"Heather, Elliot and I just started dating. Don't you think that it's a little too soon to be thinking about our ten year anniversary!"

"No," she said nonchalant. "I've seen the way you two are together, I can already tell you that this one's going to last. Chris ... well, we won't get into that one. He gave you two beautiful girls, who knows, maybe Elliot will give you some boys."

Olivia rolled her eyes; "At the rate he's going the only thing he'll be giving me is a headache."

"Oh no, trouble in paradise already?"

"Funny, huh?" she asked.

"Well," Heather sighed, "what happened, exactly?"

"It's stupid really," Olivia explained. "It's so different with Elliot than it was with Chris, Elliot can get so jealous. Like today, we were walking in the precinct and a young uniformed cop whistled at me. Elliot nearly lost his head, he actually told the guy that I was taken-"

"Taken?" Heather inquired, her eyebrows climbing up her forehead.

"Let's not even get into that," she told her. "The thing is, if I had been with Chris when that happened he would have looked at me like I gave that uniform some reason to whistle at me. It surprised me ... I guess I'm going to have to get used to the idea that he's a jealous person."

"Oh, honey, I can tell you right now that you'll never get used to it. It'll piss you off until the day you die. It still gets on my nerves when Brad gets green, and I've been married to him for ten years, not to mention the two we dated before he proposed! There's nothing that you can do about it, when he stops getting jealous is when you have to worry."

She smiled, "Well ... I shouldn't be keeping you from getting ready for your dinner. I'll get the girls and we'll go- you're sure you don't need anybody to watch Mia and Robbie?"

"My mom's going to drop by in about an hour and watch them, thanks anyway."

"Alright, let me know if anything changes." She got off of the couch she had been sitting on and made her way to Mia's room, where the girls were. After knocking on the door and receiving confirmation to 'come in!' she entered. "Girls, you ready to go home?"

Becca nodded and climbed off of Mia's bed, running up to Olivia and throwing out her arms to be picked up. Olivia obeyed, taking her in her arms and lifting her up. "You're getting to big for this, Bec," she groaned. "Or maybe I am getting old."

"Momma's old!" Becca squealed, tugging at her hair.

"Yeah, yeah. So I've been told." She looked over at Cassie, "You ready, hon?"

"Yeah," Cassie replied, shutting her book and sliding off of the bed. "Are we going to get dinner?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Booger King!" Becca suggested, looking back at her sister for agreement.

"Fine," Olivia sighed. "Burger King it is."

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Four hours later, after both girls were asleep in the room, Olivia stretched out on her couch and allowed her eyes to drift closed. Half awake and half-asleep she tried to ignore the knocking at her apartment door, but the longer she ignored it the louder the knocks got. Whoever it was wasn't going to give up or be fooled that easily.

Willing herself off of the couch she slid across the living room floor and made her way to the front door. "I'm coming," she called out as another loud knock left her wincing.

Opening the door a groan escaped her lips. "Didn't your mother tell you that patience is a virtue?" She asked, stepping aside and allowing him to enter the apartment.

He shrugged, "I'm sure she did."

"Why are you here, Elliot?"

Looking around the room he sighed, "I ... wanted to apologize."

"Oh?" She asked, "Go ahead."

"I was a jerk earlier," he explained. "I had no right to say what I said, I couldn't control myself." Taking a step towards her he continued, "I just get so damn jealous." Taking another step closer he pulled her into his arms, "Do you forgive me?"

"I guess...." she sighed. "You do look cute when you beg."

A smile spread across his face, "Oh ... really?"

"Really," she repeated. "Very cute ... sexy even. Although, I too prefer seeing you angry. As long as it's not directed towards me."

"And how long have you thought this way?" He asked, leaning closer to her.

"I don't know ... it's been awhile. Why do you think I always let you be the 'bad cop'? I don't do it to feed into your male superego, you know?"

"I'll keep that in mind," he told her just before capturing her lips with his own. "I love making up," he said when they broke apart. She grinned and leaned forward, kissing him passionately. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Breaking the kiss she was surprised by the intense look in his eyes.

"Elliot...." she whispered.

He shook his head and kissed her briefly, "I should go...." he told her, starting to pull away.

"Don't," she said, pulling him back. "It's ok ... you don't have to go."

The intensity in his eyes still burned, "Are you sure?"

Nodding she kissed him again, "I want you to stay."

"The girls-"

"Are heavy sleepers," she finished for him. Leaning closer she whispered into his ear, "I'll be quiet." Taking hold of his hands she pulled him with her down the hallway and stopped outside her bedroom door.

"Are you sure?" He repeated, "Because if you're not that's alri-" She silenced him with her lips. Reaching behind her back she twisted the doorknob and pushed it open, pulling him in the bedroom, pausing only to shut and lock the door behind her.

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She woke up the next morning wrapped in two strong, bare arms. Yawning she carefully turned to face the clock, it was only 5:21 am, she still had more than half an hour until the alarm would sound. Allowing her eyes to shut she snuggled closer to Elliot and his arms tightened around her instinctively. Smiling to herself she slowly drifted back to sleep.

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A/N: That would have been out earlier today but like I said early, my ditzy self went and did something stupid. And I'm normally not that bad, I swear. My sister is much more ditzy than I am! Oh well, it turned out almost the same as it was before, anyway. Now, though, I have a huge test tomorrow that I should have been studying for all day ... and it's now almost 10:00. Guess I won't get that much studying in, and I have the test first thing in the morning!
Wish me luck, it's worth 20 of my grade!
Review, too!