Chapter 8: Courage

Olivia let out a sigh of relief. She'd been keeping her feelings for Elliot a secret for awhile, and she knew why. Elliot still loved his family, and she didn't wanna mess that up. She was glad she'd finally told him, though. Those feelings were beginning to eat away at her, and she was sure she wouldn't have been able to keep them bottled up much longer. "El?" she asked quietly.

"Hmm?" he answered.

"Was I wrong?" she asked.

"About what?" he wanted to know.

"Was I wrong about what I said?" she wondered.

"Not if that's how you feel, Liv," he replied gently. "Feelings are never wrong, and you don't have to be ashamed of them. I'm not."

Olivia smiled. Elliot always knew how to make her feel better. "Thanks, El," she said.

"Anytime," he told her, returning her smile.

"Ya know, if Cragen finds out about us, we're toast," she said with a laugh.

Elliot laughed, too. "I know. He'd flip. Don't worry, though. I'll make sure we're not separated."

Olivia smiled. She knew Elliot would keep his word.