Drive

A/n: Okay, anyone else sensing a pattern with my story titles? Not yet? Okay, well, it'll become obvious to The All American Rejects fans. Anyways, my second SVU fic, and this time it IS EO.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Law & Order: SVU, nor do I own the characters I mention that are on the show. If I did, there would be lots of flying monkeys, Cassidy would still be on the SVU, and there would be more FEMALE detectives on the show.

"I signed the papers yesterday," Elliot said, not looking up. Olivia looked up at him.

"El, I'm sorry…"

"It isn't your fault. Kathy couldn't control her jealousy," he said, still not looking up. Olivia knew it was killing him to keep what he was feeling inside, but he'd never cry in front of the guys.

"C'mon. Let's go get some coffee," she said, standing up.

"We've got paperwork to finish. There's a coffee pot over there," he said , pointing in the exact opposite direction of the pot.

"Paperwork can wait. And that coffee tastes like mud anyway."

"I'm not ready to talk about it, okay? Some other time."

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Maureen looked over at her father, watching him eat. She'd come over to his apartment without her mother's knowledge, wanting to make sure he was okay. Despite the rough times they had had when she was younger, she loved her father. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"You're just like Olivia. You say that too much, even when it isn't your fault," he replied, not looking up at her.

"I know you weren't really with her. I tried to tell Mom, but she wouldn't listen," Maureen said, putting down her fork.

"Just eat, Maureen. We can talk about this later."

"Dad…"

"I don't want to talk about it, alright? Just let me deal with this, Maureen, okay?" he said. Maureen nodded and picked her fork back up. She finished eating, and then took her dishes into the kitchen, turning on the sink to wash up for him. He followed her a moment later, setting his own plate and fork next to the sink. "I'm sorry for yelling. I'm just not ready to have that discussion yet, okay?" He watched as Maureen washed the dishes, setting them in the drainer to dry after she'd rinsed them. "I love you, Maureen. I don't say it enough."

"You say it every time you see me, Dad. Just by the way you smile." (A/n: Don't you just love some father/daughter fluff?)

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Olivia stood outside Elliot's building, cursing herself for being so stupid. What had she been thinking, just showing up in front of his place? That's right, she hadn't been thinking. She'd been drinking. She wasn't sure why she bothered. She'd seen how hellish alcohol could make life. She'd seen it almost every night of her childhood. She'd slipped through a crack in the system, and to this day she could still see all of the bruises that had marked her as a victim.

"Olivia?" she heard. She looked around, spotting Maureen standing next to her.

"Hey Maureen," she said, forcing the fake smile she was so used to giving.

"He won't talk about it. Maybe he'll talk for you," she said, holding the building's door open just enough to keep it from locking Olivia out. Olivia took the hint and went in, immediately beginning to mentally kick herself for being such an idiot. He'd never talk, not to her. But she went up the stairs anyway, thinking that maybe talking to Maureen had helped some. She knocked on his door and waited, hoping he wouldn't slam it shut in her face. He opened it and looked out, not at all shocked to see her.

"Okay. Let's talk."

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Elliot relaxed in Olivia's arms, but still didn't stop crying. "I really thought I loved her. And now she's gone, I realized it was all just a big lie."

"It's okay, El. We all make mistakes some times."

"I missed out on nineteen years of my life because I thought Kathy was the one," he said, looking up at her. "I realized it six years ago, Liv. But I kept living that lie anyway. I wanted things to be the same, for the kids."

"You did what you had to, El. Your kids needed you," she said.

"I wasn't even around if they did. I was always with you." She heard him sigh. "I guess I can see why Kathy thought I was having an affair with you." He looked up into her eyes. "I wish that was the truth," he whispered, moving towards her face.

"El, no," she said, moving away from him. "It's too soon."

"You're right," he said, moving away from her. "Stay the night?"

"Okay."