Disclaimer- I don't own Law and Order: SVU or any of the characters.
A/N- I'm so sorry it took so long to update this but I wanted to make this last chapter… perfect (although it still isn't!) Its been so much fun writing this and I hope you all like the end!
Tapmastflash22- Wow, thank you so much for the compliment! I'm really glad you liked reading this story your insight was really appreciated!
Future cop- Yeah, I liked the FBI agents too! I'm so sorry that I didn't get incorporate more of them into the story, but thanks for your review anyway!
Kateliz76- Once again you have left me another review that has really helped me shape the story, asking questions that I didn't know of! Thanks a bunch for your help!
Moonjava- Thanks for all your reviews!
CincyRedsAllTheWay05- Even though you didn't revew my last chapter, I wanted to thank you for all your reviews too! Cause you review a lot, so thanks!
Beep. Beep. Elliot woke up groggily to the rhythmic beating of his heart monitor. He moaned in pain and rubbed is forehead he vaguely remembered what happened. The last thing he remembered was seeing Kathy's blood pooling on his basement floor, and Olivia telling him to hold on, that an ambulance was coming. But it didn't make it in time, did it, at least not for Kathy. After losing that much blood and losing that much heart, you're far beyond saving.
Elliot hated hospitals, especially having to stay in one. I mean how could you not hate them, usually you go there is if something absolutely terrible happened. Or in the least of cases a miracle, like the birth of a baby. And the idea of sleeping in the bed that someone's already died on didn't sound too appealing either. He shivered and fidgeted slightly at the thought that a life was lost on the very bed he was sleeping on a moment ago.
He closed his eyes and lay there motionless, trying to concentrate on what took place at Kathy's house. It came out a little sketchy, just flashes of moments and Kathy's voice yelling in a drunken rage. Unlike what you would think he felt not guilty, but calm. Like the sun had just set, and tomorrow he would be able to rise again new. The feeling of closure may not be a happy one but it was refreshing. And right now, he needed a paradigm shift more than ever. Although the biggest worry on Elliot's mind though was not his being able to handle it, but Olivia. She's developed an uncanny habit of blaming herself for people she can't save. It must be chewing her up inside to something like that happen right before her eyes.
As if on cue the hospital room door slowly opened a crack, and Olivia's head popped through. She smiled when she saw Elliot awake and opened the door fully, walking over to his bed.
"Hey, " she said sitting down in a chair by the bed, "How are you doing?" she asked gently.
"I've been better," he said casually, sensing her hesitation toward what really needed to be discussed.
"Good," Olivia gave a small nod, "Do you remember anything that happened?"
"Bits and pieces," Elliot took a deep breath, "She died didn't she." He said it more like a blatant fact rather then a question.
A trembling sigh escaped Olivia's lips, "Yes," she whispered looking down at Elliot's hands, almost afraid of what his reaction might be.
Elliot lifted her chin with two of his fingers and looked her straight in the eye, "This wasn't your fault-"
She cut him off with a scowl, "Isn't it though," She said defensively, whipping herself around to face the wall.
He ran a hand over his face and sat up in bed, "No," he stated clearly, "You always do this Olivia, you blame yourself."
She remained silent, got up and leaned against the wall still refusing to face him.
Elliot continued, "This just hit you hard, cause you knew the person this time."
Olivia spun around furious and almost horrified at his calmness toward the situation, "What do you mean 'this time'!" Olivia shouted, "This is your wife who killed herself, not one of our victims!"
"Ex-wife," Elliot corrected getting up from the hospital bed, "And I can talk about it so freely cause I've accepted it, and I'm going to move on."
She maintained her silence.
"Kathy would have wanted that," he said quietly, walking over to her.
He winced a little and faltered in his step, Olivia immediately ran over to him and supported him. "Thanks," He said cringing slightly obviously he was still sore.
No sooner did Olivia seat Elliot down on the bed, than her cell phone went off, "Benson," she answered swiftly flipping it open.
Nodding her head a couple of times she finally answered, "Right of course," talking as she opened the door, "I'll be there in a second." She flipped her phone off and shoved it in her pocket.
"Going some where?" Elliot questioned.
Opening the door slightly she inhaled sharply before continuing, "Yeah the captain needs me to answer some questions,"
"I want to finish this conversation Liv," he said with much emprise.
"We will," She paused hesitating, "Later." And with that she exited the room leaving a very worried Elliot behind her.
3 days later….
"Ow!" Olivia Benson waved her hand frantically in the air, cooking was definitely not her strength. Rushing to the sink she dosed it in cold water, breathing a sigh of relief. It had been three days since Elliot's kidnapping and Kathy's suicide, Elliot had still been in the hospital but he was discharged this morning. Olivia suggested that he come over for dinner, she was going to cook, Elliot's response was raising an eyebrow and putting a playful smile on his face, "You cook?" he said in disbelief. She had put her hand s on her hips and answered sarcastically, "Of course I cook," Olivia had said in mock stern, "I cook better then you do even."
She rolled her eyes and looked over at the smoking pot on the stove, hopefully Elliot wouldn't hold her to that statement. If anyone was watching Olivia she would look quite comical, there was a pot on the stove shaking uncontrollably, the oven with the roast was making the weirdest noises. And she didn't look that good either, her hair was in a frizzy mess, she was wearing a 'kiss the cook' apron and she had black suet marks all over her face. Looking over at the clock, she sighed in frustration, it was already seven twenty five Elliot was going to be here in five minutes. Olivia tried to look on the bright side thinking, 'Maybe he'll be late.'
Ding. Dong. She threw her oven mitt down with a loud, "Dammit!" A bit louder then she should have said that. Her hands flew over her mouth, making sure she didn't start getting into the real profanities. Slowly she brought her hands to her side and took a few calming breaths, trying to settle her nerves. They hadn't really talked yet, it wasn't official that they were going to do it now but it's getting seriously hard to avoid. She untied her apron and took a second to straighten her hair; Elliot was starting to get worried so he called through the door, "Are you ok Liv?"
"Yeah I'll be there in a second," She answered walking out of the kitchen and over to the door. Olivia opened the door to be greeted by a very handsome Elliot and a dozen roses.
A smile light Olivia's face, "Wow, those are beautiful," she said as Elliot handed her the roses, "Come on in I'm …uh…. almost done with dinner," She said unsurely pointing towards the kitchen.
He put a casual smile on his face and took a seat on the sofa, "Please, take all the time you need, " Quickly slipping in there, "After all it needs to beat my cooking," he said boastfully.
Olivia tried to contain her laughter, looking at her pitiful situation, she was a complete mess and everything was burnt, man would she be a terrible housewife. "I'm go… going to go… go finish up in there, she said hurriedly whizzing off to the kitchen, afraid that if she stayed there longer looking at Elliot's confused face she might start rolling all over the floor from laughter.
The next few minutes consisted of Elliot aimlessly flipping through channels on the TV while Olivia frantically tried to take control of the situation in the kitchen. Elliot finally got bored and decided to go into the kitchen and have a little fun.
"You're burning the food," A warm voice whispered into Olivia's ear as she stood facing the stove. Surprised by the warm breath on her ear she quickly turned around to find Elliot standing uncomfortably close to her. He had an amused grin on his face, almost teasing her.
Feeling that she was standing a little too close to Elliot for her own good, she squeezed by him over to the oven, afraid she might get caught between Elliot and the stove. "Sorry about the wait, " She said pretending to fiddle with some of the buttons on the stove, "I just need to adjust some things here…"
Elliot tried to hold in his laughter putting a hand over his mouth; Olivia saw him and rolled her eyes, "Ok I can't cook for my life!" she said defeated, "Are you happy now?"
"Very much so," Elliot answered sarcastically, taking a step closer to Olivia.
"So I guess I should order take out?" Olivia asked looking at the phone.
He walked over to the oven stepping past Olivia, and looked into it then turning back to face her, "Unless you like your roast extra crispy,"
She shot him a playful glare, "Ha. Ha. Very funny, just keep laughing at my cooking and you'll find it stuffed down your throat."
Elliot winced slightly, "Sounds painful."
"Very." Said Olivia teasingly picking up the phone.
"Wait, Liv." Elliot said nervously, expression growing a bit pale.
"Yes?" she asked slowly putting the phone down.
He sighed ever so slightly and said the words every woman has nightmares about hearing, "We need to talk."
Olivia's mouth dropped open, she knew this was coming but not so quickly, "About?" she asked her voice hoarse.
"You know the 'about' Olivia." He said solemnly, hands behind his back.
"I do, " Said Olivia taking a seat, "And I wish I didn't." she said staring at the closest wall.
Taking a seat across from her at the table Elliot jumped right into it, "Do you remember what I said that night?"
"Which night," Olivia said grimly, "They were both very shocking nights…" She trailed off.
"The first one." Elliot said calmly.
Olivia blushed slightly some memories of the evening slipping back to her, "Most of it,"
"Good," He took a deep breath building up to what he was going to say. Olivia's eyes twinkled slightly and a slow smile graced her lips as almost expecting to hear the most incredible news escape his lips, "Cause were probably going to need you to testify in court, " He said abruptly.
"Oh," Said Olivia suddenly disappointed.
"AndthatIreallymeantitwhenIsaidIlovedyou," Elliot quickly rushed in before getting up and beginning to walk out of the kitchen.
"What!" said Olivia her chair falling behind her as she stood up.
He sighed deeply and turned around to face Olivia's astounded expression, "I love you…" Elliot mumbled.
Olivia's eyes widened and tears started to fall down her face, Elliot noticed this and turned around whispering, "I'm sorry, I'll just—"
But he never got to finish his sentence; Olivia put a hand on his arm startling him. He turning around and looked at her in utter confusion, "For what?" she asked as an enormous smile formed on her face and tears of joy followed it, "I've never been so happy,"
And just like that Elliot pulled her closer to him bringing her in to a soft sweet kiss. They broke after a couple of seconds, just molding into each other's arms. Holding each other closely, never wanting to let go after having to be apart for so many years.
"Elliot?" Olivia asked looking up form their embrace.
"Yeah?"
She looked straight into his crystal blue eyes and almost like a naïve child asked, "Can we stay like this forever?"
"Sure," Elliot answered pulling her close again.
They both knew that what they dreamed of was the impossible. And if that dream came true, forever was not enough. But for the moment, nothing else mattered, not the roast that was burning in the oven, not the opinion of their friends when they found out, not the world outside. All that mattered at the very second was that…they had each other, and they loved each other.
And it felt so amazing, it felt so right. For this one short and fleeting moment, everything was perfect.
A/N- Well that's the end! Please review and tell me what you thought of the end!