Title: Just Another Gamble
Author: Sara and Lizzie
Rating: T
Disclaimer: We don't own Law And Order: Special Vicitims Unit. If we did, our favorite dectectives would be together. We don't own anything that we mention in the story that is owned by anyone else.
Author's Note: Review. Please, please review. It's so encouraging and helpful to us when you reveiw.
"And the weirdest thing," Olivia continued, "is that she was raped in an unused guest bedroom, not her own bedroom. But it was like a scene set up around her. A stuffed animal was there, but also things I'm assuming the perp got from her room. Condoms. Eyeliner. A bra. Birth control pills. It was arranged like she might have used it all. It was bizarre."
George Huang nodded. "Almost like he's symbolizing her loss of innocence."
Elliot knew now was the time was to bring up the daddy thing. He had carefully gauged Olivia's reaction to it when Emily had told them, but she remained stoic. Typical. He was about to bring it up, when his cell phone rang. He checked the number and grimaced.
"Kathy. Better take it. Be right back." He said shooting a meaningful look at Olivia.
Olivia looked at the faces of Cragen, Munch, Fin and Huang looking back at her. This has nothing to do with you, she reminded herself. "We talked to Emily about Blair's parents. Her mom and stepdad live at 5th avenue and 82nd street, across from the Met." Olivia paused. "Real dad's not in the picture. He raped the mom and along came Blair."
Munch and Fin immediatley busied themselves looking somewhere else. Neither Cragen nor Huang tore their gaze from Olivia.
Elliot was outside on the street. It was 2:46 in the morning, but it didn't bother him. He wasn't about to have this conversation with Kathy inside.
"Hey Kath." He said softly when he picked up. When she spoke, he could tell she had been crying.
"I'm sorry Elliot."
"So am I. Kathy, if you want this to work…" He would stay with her for the sake of his children.
"How about a 9-5 job?" she whispered, not really meaning it. "But what if you left Special Victims?"
"You mean to get away from Olivia?"
"I don't know what I mean, Elliot. All I know is this marriage isnt working. And it hasn't worked for a long time. I don't think putting on a brave face for the kids is going to fix anything."
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"You fell in love, Elliot." Kathy told him, fresh tears falling, " It's not something you had control over. I'm not sure it's something that requires an apology."
She hung up.
Elliot stood on the corner outside the precinct for a long time. And just like that, it was over. He was struck by a painful ache inside him. He knew it was for the best, but couldn't help thinking that somewhere along the lines, he and Kathy had failed each other.
When he sauntered back into the station, Olivia was pulling her leather coat over her shoulders. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Blair's parents. Cap wants us to wake them up with the good news."
Elliot checked his watch and turned his eyes to Cragen. "It's 3:15 in the morning. Can't this wait?"
Cragen shook his head. "The vic's not with it enough to talk. You've got nothing else to do." Olivia was half way out the door when Cragen gave Elliot a look. Elliot, being a man, wasn't blessed with the intution to read looks, but being a cop, he knew what this one said. Cragen's look was conveying something along the lines of 'Keep your partner feeling productive.'
Elliotgave a quick nod to show he understood.The only time Olivia ever wallowed or made mistakes was when she felt helpless. Elliot was worried about her. This case would be difficult, and she would refuse to show any emotion.
The talk with the parents was easier than usual, considering the child in question was still alive. They were shocked and horrified, and the mother broke down in tears. Elliot watched in amazement as Olivia managed to console her and extract information at the same time.
They prepared to leave the apartment at 4:49. "We'll know more after we talk to Blair. We'll call you as soon as the hospital says you can see her." Olivia said, smiling warmly.
They made their way back to the squad car. They got in, and buckled their seat belts at the same time. The dectectives looked at each other, and smiled.
"Quite a day." Elliot remarked.
"Let's see. We started in Yorkville, made it down to Columbus Circle after a bit of light tailing, had a minor scuffle, where I sustained some light injuries. Next stop on our tour was Chelsea. Then back to the Upper East Side."
Elliot rolled his eyes at her. Olivia lowered her own eyes. "Oh yea, we woke up together, you shot someone to save me and then your wife told you she wanted a divorce."
"Liv." He groaned. "It's almost 5 am. Couldn't we have this conversation after a little sleep?"
"What did Kathy say when she called?"
Elliot turned the key in the ignition and started to drive. He drove all the way back to the precinct while Olivia asked him questions that he refused to answer. He parked the car outside the station and started to get out. She put her hand on his arm.
"El." She said. "You used to tell me things."
"Before it got like this."
"Before it got like what, Elliot? Obviously it's like something, but since you won't talk to me, I don't know what that-."
She was going to say is. But she couldn't, because her partner's lips were suddenly pressed to hers. She forgot everything for a minute, and deepened the kiss. When they broke apart, she stared, wide eyed at him.
"Liv," he said huskily, pressing his forehead to hers, "I'm getting a divorce."
She stared at him, blankly, more lost than she had been before that moment. She had no idea what he meant by kissing her, by saying her name that way, by telling her he really was getting a divorce.
They walked into the precinct. Olivia felt herself getting angry. It was typical of Elliot. He always fell back on her. Now that his marriage was crumbling, it was really no exception.
No sooner had they shed their coats, they heard Cragen's voice. "Elliot and Olivia, my office. Now."
Putting aside what had just happened, the partners raised their eyebrows at each other, and headed in.
Cragen was sitting at his desk, hands folded over a file. "Imagine my surprise when I read the reports filed for this morning. I see that not only did Dectective Stabler let a suspect go before cuffing him, he also shot and killed another suspect."
Olivia opened her mouth to speak on Elliot's behalf. She was growing angry at their situation, but she couldn't let…
"Detective Stabler." Cragen continued, cutting her off. "You would have had plenty of time to get the suspect away from your partner without putting a bullet through his back, wouldn't you?"
Elliot's eyes met Cragen's. "I was afraid I wouldn't. I wasn't going to play guessing games with Olivia's life."
"With IAB constantly on your ass about uneccesarily roughing up suspects, with them breathing down my neck all the time, I expect you to have common sense, Elliot."
"Olivia's life was on the line. I did what I had to do. I'd do it again."
"With a suspect now running loose and another one dead?"
"You heard me Captain."
Olivia stepped forward, and put a hand on Elliot's arm. "El." She said.
Cragen looked at the two of them and shook his head. "What the hell is going on with you too?"
Elliot averted his eyes, but Olivia's rising anger helped her find her voice. She removed her hand from Elliot's arm. "I'm not sure that Detective Stabler and I are sure where we stand."
"Well I expect you to figure it out." Cragen barked at them. "Olivia, you can go." He turned his gaze to Elliot. "Kathy filed for divorce yesterday."
"I noticed."
"Work it out Elliot."
Elliot burst of the office and headed to his desk. He fixed his gaze on Olivia. "What's going on, Liv?"
She threw him an icy stare. "You're gonna have to tell me, Elliot." She said. She turned on her heel and marched up to the roof.
Alex Cabot stood in the corner of the precinct, eyebrows practically hitting the ceiling. She gave Elliot an appraising glance as she followed Olivia up to the roof.
Olivia was standing by the edge, staring at the skyline when she heard the cclicking of a feminine shoe. She turned around and saw the ADA striding purposefully toward her.
"Couldn't help but overhearing." Alex noted.
"Guess it's part of your job desccription."
"Funny detective. You look awfully pissed off for someone who just found out the man she's in love with is getting a divorce."
Olivia fought to keep her jaw from dropping. "Alex, I'm not, I mean…"
"Right." Said Alex, nodding briskly. "There's enough sexual tension between the two of you to blow the Brooklyn Bridge, you're flustered in the morning because you wake up in the crib with him, and you glow everytime he looks your way. You must really feel platonically about him."
Olivia just stood there. Maybe it was time to accept it. She had known it since her first month in SVU. She just never really accepted it as factual.
"You can deny it to me all you want Liv." Alex said softly. "Or you could tell me why you're suddenly angry."
Olivia sighed. This is why Alex was so damn good at her job. She got you to tell the truth, even if you really wanted to hide it.
"Things have been tense between us lately. I assume you've heard about this morning?"
Alex just nodded, a somewhat bemused expression playing across her graceful features.
Olivia forged ahead. "On the way to the hospital, Kathy was driving the car. But he was holding my hand."
Alex nodded again, her expression returning to somber as she began to understand.
"He kissed me in the car."
"He kissed you? Nothing else?"
"Of course not."
"I'm not George, Olivia, but I can see you're angry. And hurt. And maybe a little scared."
"Hit the nail on the head, huh?"
"It's my job." Alex glanced down at her watch. She groaned. "And it's 5:30. I have to start crusading for the people. But Liv, if you ever want to, uh, talk…" she trialed off.
Olivia nodded, embarassed. She turned her face back to the sun rising over city, when she heard the now too familiar click of women's shoes cross the roof.
"Alex. It was just a kiss. I don't want to talk about it. I don't know what it means." Olivia said without turning around.
She heard nothing coming from behind, so she sighed heavily and turned around again. Instead of peering at the inquisitive face of Alex Cabot, she found herself looking at Kathy Stabler.
Guys, we're beggin you to review, and tell us how we're doing thus far. We're trying to keep everyone in character and develop Kathy. Please give us your thoughts.