CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The ringing of the telephone jarred Olivia from her thoughts. She had been staring at the sleeping Detective Stabler, marveling at the love they had just made, yet cringing at the predicament they had just stepped into.

This could never work she thought sadly, as she reached for the phone. "Hello?" she cleared her throat, trying to rid it of sex.

"Olivia?" The captain's voice filled her ear.

She bolted upright and glanced quickly at Elliot. He was still sound asleep, spared from the brutal ringing. "Yes…yes Captain. What's up?"

"Olivia," he sighed. He felt helpless. "Olivia, I need you to come down to the station."

The note in Cragen's voice fired a panic in her that she wasn't used to feeling. How could she know about Elliot, she thought unrealistically. Did he tell someone –

"Olivia?"

"Yes…yes. I'll be there in a few."

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Olivia walked quickly into the precinct. She had left Elliot sleeping soundly in her apartment, scribbling a quick note about her whereabouts. The subway ride afforded her time to think more clearly. Obviously, this wasn't about Elliot, it was four in the morning and the Captain would never bring it up in that manner. Plus the fact that there was no way anyone else would know. It must be about the Elden case she had been working on, she reassured herself.

She tapped lightly on the Captain's door. He summoned her in. Olivia took note of his disheveled appearance. "What's up?"

Cragen gazed at her saddened. First Elliot's aunt, now this. "Olivia, I received a call at home…it's your mother."

Olivia shook her head puzzled. "My mother? She's at…" Home? Was she? Olivia was so wrapped up in Elliot, she wasn't sure if she had seen her come in…

"She had an accident…on the subway steps on 74th…she suffered massive head trauma. I'm sorry Olivia."

Cragen was surprised at Olivia's reaction. She seemed almost deep in thought, moreso than shattered. "…and they called you?"

"Your courtesy shield was in her wallet…they contacted the precinct first."

Olivia braced for her next question. "Was she drunk?"

Cragen hesititated. "I really don't know. She's down at the M.E.'s office-"

"Was she drunk?" Olivia interrupted sternly.

Cragen was silent. "You need to see the M.E. for the id," he said finally.

"Okay," she said brusquely, turning to leave.

"Olivia, wait! Do you want me to go with you?"

She turned and looked back at her captain, a face unreadable. "This I do alone."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Olivia shuffled quietly into the M.E.'s office. She was in a state of shock and she was experienced enough to recognize it, yet her head was killing her. The M.E. on call was Sanders. Eradicating the small talk, she asked to see her mother's body.

"Would you like me too…" Sanders started gently.

"Please leave me alone," she grounded out. It was difficult with the pain in her head and she could feel the tears she had been fighting to hold back threatening to burst through.

Nodding his consent, he left her with the body. Gingerly picking up the sheet, she peered down. One look at her mother's lifeless body and she was assaulted with a pain so fierce it nearly knocked her over.

"AAAUGH!" Olivia let out a strangled gasp as she gripped the side of the gurney. She remembered the waxen look of her mother's face before the darkness swallowed her whole.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Elliot woke up with the rays of the sun beating him in the face. He absently reached for Olivia, but was met with the feel of cool sheets. Startled, he swung his head around the room. Was she in another part of the apartment? Without even climbing out of bed to check, he knew she was gone. It was then that he spotted the note, with it's hasty scrawl: The captain called me down to the station…be back soon. Make yourself at home. Love, Olivia.

His heart skipped a beat at the "Love." Feeling foolish, he climbed out of bed and padded into the bathroom. He searched through her mounds of toiletries, makeup, and what have you, trying to find a new toothbrush. Bending down to search the cabinet, he found several bottles of pink nail polish scattered at the back. He counted out seven bottles in several stages of use.

How odd, he thought. Olivia didn't strike him as the "girly" type that would require such a color. He thought about the type she was. She was perfect, he thought happily. What they were going to do about this "relationship" he didn't yet know, but he did know that he wanted to give it a try.

He straightened up and decided to head home, clean up and get ready for his shift. He left Olivia a note of his own, then headed out of the apartment.