A/N: Ok…brace yourselves. This is a little angsty, sad chapter. But I PROMISE, the next one will be HAPPY and it WILL be up soon.

"She's my ex-fiancee."

It seemed like an eternity until Olivia could close her mouth and start processing what she'd just heard. Elliot had just rushed off to the hospital with his ex-fiancee…one she'd never even known about. She thought she knew Elliot well, she even knew him better than she knew herself, and then something this big came to light…Olivia was hurt. She'd never admit it to him but he'd hurt her like all the previous guys in her life had. She never would have imagined that Elliot would be like all the other guys.

God! What's wrong with me? Have I not learned my lesson? Why did I let him in? I was fine…I was doing fine before him...I thought he was different, but the moment I tell him I love him…oh god! I told him I loved him…and he didn't say it back. she thought sadly. Her mind reeled with thoughts and feelings and she couldn't seem to catch up. The only thing she did know for sure is that she didn't want to cry in front of all these people. She didn't want to cry over a guy…again; even if it was Elliot. Feeling the tears well up in her eyes, she ran to her car and sat in the driver's seat, trying futilely to calm down. After a few minutes, she decided to leave and let CSU do their jobs and since there was nothing more she could do here, she left, heading the car toward the precinct.

20 minutes later, Olivia pulled the car into the precinct parking lot. She hardly realized she had arrived, too lost in her own thoughts to recognize that she'd made it to her destination. She just sat there, staring out the windshield at the wall in front of her. She'd never felt like this. The other men were just that; other men. She hadn't felt for them the way she felt about Elliot and now she'd been burned. At this thought, she felt the familiar fire of anger in the pit of her stomach. She was angry at herself for letting herself get fooled again, but mostly she was angry at Elliot. He was supposed to be her partner, her friend. He was supposed to be there for her, to watch out for her. A little voice inside her was yelling that he had been there for her, that he always watched out for her and that what she thought was going on, was actually a big misunderstanding. That voice had helped her in many circumstances, but Olivia didn't trust it anymore. She was realizing that it was also the culprit in helping her fool herself into believing that Elliot was the one. Because he's very obviously NOT the one.

At that moment, she subconsciously decided to run. It's what she had always done to save herself the heartache; her heart would shut down, letting her mind pick up the slack. And her mind was furious. There was only one thing to do. She wiped her eyes and walked in.

"Hey Olivia! Where's Elliot?" Fin asked, obviously unaware of the current situation. He was about to be rudely brought up to date. Olivia didn't say anything. She didn't even stop walking. But what she did do was shoot the detective a look so full of scorn and fury that it would have any grown man running for cover.

"Whoa…ok, ok." he said, holding his hands up defensively. Then he muttered to Munch, "Wonder what happened there…what's your take?"

John looked up from his computer screen at the retreating woman, "lover's spat…" he tempted. Olivia didn't hear their theories; she'd already disappeared into the washroom.

"Think we should call Elliot and ask?" Munch asked his partner.

"Probably should leave it alone…" he said as they caught each other's eyes, and Fin reached for the phone. Elliot answered on the second ring.

"Elliot, man, where are you?...The hospital? …oh…what happened between you and Olivia?...What do you mean nothing?...she stormed in here like Hurricane Benson on a bad day and gave us the Ice Queen glare!...Ok, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…but she's royally pissed, and if my assumptions are correct man, she's mad at you." Munch listened to the one sided conversation intently, trying to figure out what Elliot was saying.

"So what happened?…What? Your ex-fiancee?...That's bad….You and Liv aren't uh…you know…are you? Oh…then you ran to what's-her-name? That's really bad, man…"

Donald Cragen sat in his office, staring out the open door, his thoughts on the current case. He hardly noticed Olivia stomp passed his office. Ooh, she looks angry. Mental note: stay out of her way today. I wonder what happened. he thought. As it turns out he wouldn't have to wonder much longer as he heard Detective Tutuola call Elliot. All he needed was half the conversation to figure out why Olivia was so angry. Only that wasn't it. She wasn't angry, that was a cover-up. She was hurt. So much for staying out of her way… he thought. Nothing could stop him from trying to comfort the woman he saw as his 'daughter'. He got up and walked out of his office as Fin was hanging up the phone. They made eye contact and Fin shrugged sympathetically to his superior. Cragen turned in pursuit of Olivia. Moments later he found her in the crib sitting against the wall between two beds.

"Did you know El was engaged to the vic's mother?" she asked without looking up.

"He's engaged?" Cragen asked, surprised and now suddenly very angry too.

"No. Was engaged." Whew! His anger subsided somewhat.

"No. I didn't…you ok?"

"I told him I loved him, cap." She responded quietly after a few seconds

"He didn't already know?" he queried which got a small smile from Olivia; although, instead of appeasing the captain, her smile just increased the sadness he felt for her.

"No. Not officially, I guess."

"Oh."

"I can't stay here like this…" A tear escaped as she shut her eyes tightly.

"Do you want to lay down for a while…or you can take the rest of the day off…go home…." He offered.

"No. That's not what I mean." She sniffed and looked up wearily at the best substitute father she could ask for. Don could then see how deep the hurt ran.

"What do you mean?" he asked, fearing the answer.

"I'm asking for a transfer to another force…I'm sorry. I hope you understand." She said and a few tears stained her cheeks on the way down as she put her hand gently on his forearm.

"Are you sure?" he asked and she nodded solemnly.

"I'll make some phone calls."

Elliot sat beside Melissa's bed, holding her hand in his and resting his head on them. How could this have happened? Why did stuff like this keep happening to Melissa? She'd been through so much already…I don't get it…it never stops…Please, Mel. You've got to pull through this. We'll find Jen, I promise Elliot looked up at the woman he had once saved…hoping to god he could do the same for her daughter.

His mind wandered to the day's events. Olivia had told him she loved him. Olivia loved him. He had been so happy at that moment, he had loved her for so long and now they were together…Then the phone rang and they'd gotten to the crime scene and found Melissa. Thinking back on his exchange with Olivia, he realized he'd been a little harsh with her. Actually he'd been horrible to her. Why did he yell at her like that? Because he's the kind of person to deal with one thing at a time and at that moment he was dealing with Melissa. Because it was someone he knew, someone he cared about, he wasn't being objective and he'd snapped at Olivia. Not that that was an excuse…he'd screwed up…bad.

I can't believe I shut her down like that. She told me she loved me and I treat her like that! I'm such an idiot! She's perfect…she could even be …the one, and I go and treat her like I that! I have to find her, NOW. I have to apologize…tell her how much I love her… his thoughts were interrupted by his ringing cell phone.

"Stabler"

"Elliot, man where are you?"

"I'm at the hospital, why?"

"The hospital?"

"I'm with the victim's mother"

"Oh…what happened between you and Olivia?"

"Nothing, Fin" he replied, hoping the detective would buy it.

"What do you mean nothing?"

"Just that. Nothing. Why? What did she tell you?"

"She stormed in here like Hurricane Benson on a bad day and gave us the Ice Queen glare!"

"Don't talk about her like that Fin!" Elliot warned.

"Ok, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…but she's royally pissed, and if my assumptions are correct man, she's mad at you." Elliot's eyes went wide. Damn. He knew exactly why she was mad and he totally agreed. She had every right to be upset. He had to talk to her. Elliot was about to hang up when Fin continued.

"So what happened?"

Reluctantly, Elliot answered. "The victim's mother is my ex-fiancee."

"…What? Your ex-fiancee? Since when?"

"Never mind that. When I recognized her, I gave her a hug and she started crying again, so I held her…then I came to the hospital with her…I might have overreacted, I yelled at Liv a little."

"That's bad….You and Liv aren't uh …you know…are you?"

Elliot hesitated to answer. He didn't know how much Olivia wanted to tell the team…but under the circumstances, Elliot wasn't in his right mind.

"Yes. We are…as of last night."

"Oh…then you ran to what's-her-name? That's really bad, man…"

"Yeah. I know." Elliot was feeling worse and worse. Talking about this out loud was making it real and it was horrible. He'd put the woman he loved through the worst emotional ordeal. He'd have some big explaining to do, if she let him. If not, this would make things really bad at work…

Fin snapped Elliot out of his musings. "Don't you know how bad she's been hurt?"

"Of course I do."

"Than how could you do this to her? She's in love with you, man! And you go off comforting and caressing another woman? Especially one who's been such a big part of your past?"

"Oh my god." The realization of the gravity of the situation hit Elliot like a freight train.

"Yeah." Fin emphasized.

"I gotta go." He hung up and noticed that during his conversation, Melissa had woken up.

She spoke up first. "You and Olivia are…?"

"Yes."

"Do you love her?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes." He replied simply.

"Does she know that?"

"I never got the chance to tell her…" a tear slipped out through his tough façade.

"Go. Now. Find her, Elliot. Find her and tell her."

Elliot got up and quickly kissed Melissa on the cheek. Then he was out the door.

Olivia's cell phone rang loudly. She looked at it and noticed it was Elliot. I can't handle this now… she thought and put the cell phone back on her belt without answering it. She was sitting at her desk, typing up the resignation letter she never thought she would have to write. She thought she'd spend her career with the guys she now viewed as family.

Her desk phone rang and the little 'line 1' button lit up. She knew it was Elliot. She didn't answer. She couldn't talk to him now; or ever, if she could get away with it. The hurt had already happened. Why subject herself to more? This way, she was already dealing with it and moving on. The phone stopped ringing and she returned to her computer. Her cell phone rang again. Without missing a beat she got up from her desk, walked over to the coffee pot and nonchalantly slipped her cell into the boiling liquid.

Fin and Munch just stared at her as she stepped back to her desk, avoiding eye contact. They knew well enough not to bother her. She'd come around when she was ready.

Once she was done her letter, she hit the print icon and walked to the printer. Picking up the sheet of paper, she walked directly to the captain's office.

"Is she doing what I think she's doing?" Fin asked aloud, to anyone who would answer him.

"I think so. She must be hurtin' something awful if it makes her quit…" John answered the floating question.

Olivia now stood in front of the captain's desk looking him in the eye with her resignation letter clutched in her hands. One tear rolled down her face, then another and soon she was crying openly.

"Olivia…" Don started but she didn't let him finish. She slammed the letter down on his desk and placed her gun and badge with them. Don walked around the desk and Olivia leaned up to kiss him gently on the cheek, then walked out.

Fin and Munch both stood when they saw a red-eyed Olivia step out of the

captain's office, both with worried looks on their faces. This did not help Olivia's current flurry of emotions. She kept crying as she kissed each of them, as she had her 'father'; bidding her 'brothers' goodbye. She scribbled a note and threw it on Elliot's desk. Grabbing her coat out of her locker, she gave the precinct and its occupants one last glance and exited the building.

"Come on, Liv! Answer! Please answer your phone!" he pleaded as he sat anxiously in the back seat of a cab.

"Can't you go any faster?" The driver gave him a sour look through the rear-view mirror and kept his speed. Elliot got an idea. He pulled his badge out of his pocket and flashed it to the driver.

"Look, I'm a cop and I have a situation. If you get pulled over, I'll talk to them…they won't ticket you…please!" The driver mulled this over and silently agreed, nodding his head and picking up the speed. Elliot thanked him and tried Olivia's phone again, to no avail.

When they finally arrived at the station, Elliot threw 50$ at the driver, even though his fare was only 35$...he figured it was a good 'thank you' tip for the speed he'd asked the driver to drive. Elliot took the steps two by two into the house and his eyes immediately scanned the room for Olivia. Fin noticed him first and said, "She's gone, man."

"What?" Elliot panted.

"She quit…she left…she's running again." John added, getting up from his desk.

Elliot looked around, his eyes not seeing anything. His eyes then settled on his desk. It was as he had left it, save one little note. In red ink, the note read 'Goodbye'. It was Olivia's writing. Elliot's face twisted in pain but then determination took over. He couldn't lose her.

"NO! No she's not…not this time! Keys!" he shouted and caught Fin's keys as he threw them. Elliot turned and ran out the door once more. He would head to her apartment. She couldn't very well leave town without grabbing a few things. I just hope I'm fast enough… don't let me be too late... please Liv don't do this

"Sure, thanks. The Super can let you in and the faster it can get done without breaking anything, the better. There's nothing really that heavy to move, so it shouldn't take long to pack the truck….Thanks again and I'll see you guys in San Francisco." She hung up the phone. The movers would be there in about an hour and a half. She was surprised to find movers who would do this on such short notice.

Olivia allowed herself a short moment to think about what she was leaving behind, a short farewell of sorts, then picked up her travel bag and locked her apartment door.

Elliot steered the car dangerously around a corner, desperately trying to reach Olivia's apartment before she left. He'd already called her at home, hoping maybe she would answer, but she hadn't. She was really furious with him. Furiously hurt. And he had been the one to hurt her.

Finally, he reached her building. Without even bothering to park the car properly, he drove up on the curb and threw the stick in 'park', he jumped out, leaving the door open. He took the front stairs in one bound and pressed the elevator button impatiently – many times. What was taking it so long? He decided to take the stairs. After hurdling seven flights of stairs, Elliot was out of breath but still he ran to her apartment door and banged his fist on the grey paint. No answer.

"Liv!...Olivia, open the door!" he shouted. Still no answer.

He ran back down the stairs to find the super and after only 5 minutes of trying to convince him to let him into her apartment, the super told him that she'd already left for the airport, and that movers were coming to pack her things.

"Airport? Why? Where is she going?"

"Um…don't know. I think she mentioned San Francisco…maybe San Jose…Not sure. San – something." The super replied, trying to be helpful.

"Ok…thank you." And with that, Elliot knew his next destination.

After taking a cab to the airport, Olivia sat in a very uncomfortable chair, flipping through a magazine she had absolutely no interest in and waiting anxiously for her flight to board.

How could he? Maybe he just doesn't feel the same? Maybe this was just a one time thing for him…maybe he doesn't see a future with me in it as more than partners, like I do with him… she thought sadly. As much as she tried, Olivia just couldn't get Elliot out of her mind. She could feel the already too familiar prickle of tears behind her eyes. Her mind wasn't taking over her heart like it was supposed to; it just wasn't working this time. Elliot meant too much to her to just get over him like that. But she wouldn't let herself get fooled again…so she kept trying to push thoughts of him out of her mind.

"Liv?" she heard. Oh god. It's him. Olivia's head whipped around; anger instinctively taking control of her emotions.

"Get away from me El…Elliot." she spit out the last word like it was something disgusting on her tongue.

"Liv, please…" he begged but she interrupted him.

"Don't call me that. You lost that right. You hurt me Stabler."

Elliot winced at hearing his last name. She no longer wanted to use her nickname for him; not even his full first name. This is not going well. Elliot thought but continued.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered.

"Sorry! I told you I love you…loved you and you …you were engaged to her…I never knew…I don't even know who you are anymore…" She yelled and had to turn around to avoid him seeing her cry. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Elliot didn't miss the use of past tense on the verb 'loved'. He could feel his heart break but couldn't stop trying. He had to explain, he had to try and make her understand…

"Melissa was before Kathy…Liv, please…let me explain…"

"Shut up!" Olivia screamed, glaring at him, eyes barely betraying the hurt and sadness through her bubbling anger.

Overhead, they heard the familiar airport speakers crackle to life. Attention all passengers for flight 519 to San Francisco, we will begin boarding in 5 minutes.

Olivia got up from her chair, picked up her bag and with a mumbled "Goodbye, Elliot", she stepped past him.

"Liv…" She didn't stop at the sound of her nickname. "Olivia…" Elliot reached out and touched her arm at which she pulled away from him aggressively, a tear finally breaking through her self-built wall. Her lips forming a tight line, she whispered, "Don't touch me! I don't ever want to hear your name again!" and stalked off, leaving a destroyed Elliot behind her.

Nothing has ever hurt this much, Elliot thought Not even the divorce. What he didn't know was that Olivia was just as broken as him at that moment, but she was determined not to show it until she was out of sight.

Elliot could only watch as the airport staff checked her ticket and she boarded the plane. He slumped into a chair and watched numbly as the remaining passengers happily boarded the plane behind the woman he loved. He almost resented them because he knew he would never be that happy, now that Olivia was no longer in his life.

A/N: I know, I know…you all hate me for this chapter. But it's a cliff hanger and trust me, there will be some good, happy stuff next chapter. I'm a die-hard EO fan so…no worries everyone. It's just a little angst to get the heart pumping.

I promise the next chapter will be up soon...but in the meantime, please let me know what you think about this one!