Chapter 4

Elliot made up his mind. He jumped off the bench and started sprinting up the street to Olivia's car. Something told him that if he didn't move now, he'd never get his chance to redeem himself. He'd never get his chance to prove his self to her. She must have seen him jogging toward her for she hadn't driven off yet. She hadn't even started the car yet. He got to her car and bent down to look at her. She had clearly been crying and he thought she looked all the more beautiful.

"Uh..." he started. "Why don't we go back to my place? Ya know...we can...talk..." he said, hoping she'd agree. She only smiled. She loved how he suddenly grew shy and was stuttering.

"Sure, I'd like that El."

"Good, but can we take my car?"

"Sure, might as well, mine won't start," she laughed. Elliot loved the way she laughed. He found himself staring as she got out of the car. He suddenly realized she meant more to him than he thought. They walked side by side toward his car. He had his hand planted possessively on the small of her back. Unconsiously, he bagen to rub him hand up and down. He was admiring the muscle in her back and didn't notice when she stopped walking.

"El...?" she half asked, half stated.

"Hmmm?" He suddenly realized what he was doing. "Oh, sorry..." He quickly snatched his hand back and stuffed it into his pocket. He was now blushing and grinning sheepishly. She gave him her trademark grin as she closed the gap between them. She raised herself up on her toes and kissed him softly on the side of his mouth.

"Not out in public...wouldn't want people getting the wrong idea, would we?" she whispered so softly, he almost didn't hear her. Her lips twisted back into a smile as she turned and started to the car. He stood there, stunned. Aside from the greeting she had given him when he came home three months ago, she hadn't made any contact with him. Hadn't she just run out of the diner in tears? Wasn't she just pushing him away? He was confused and hoped that something wasn't going on and she was simply using him as a means to get away from her problems.

"Elliot?" Olivia was at his car and turned to see him standing some ten feet away. She hoped she hadn't sent him the wrong message. She hoped that he realized that she had been crying earlier because she was so damn happy. She wasn't sure and could see he wasn't either. Smiling, she walked back to him and led him by the hand to the car.

He seemed to snap out of whatever he was in and unlocked the car. He, once again, found himself in a trance as she pushed him into the passenger seat, take the keys out of his hand, and walk over to the driver's side. A grin crept over his face as he realized how much he liked that she took control of whatever situation she was in. He watched her close the door and turn to buckle her seat belt. He was fasinated as she adjusted the mirrors and seat. He was mesmirized as she turned the ignition and set the radio to soft rock. Turning her head to look at him, she grinned and put the car in drive. It was then that Elliot remember how erratically Olivia drove at night.

FLASHBACK

Elliot had been avoiding Olivia for the past few weeks. They had slept together and it had been...something else. He had found himself wondered why his wife wasn't like Olivia and if that was the reason they were having problem. He instantly kicked himself for thinking that. His phone had gone off. They both had hoped it wasn't Cragen. It wasn't, but now, he wish it had been. Instead, it had been one of Kathy's friend's husbands, Howie McCall, warning him that Kathy was taking the kids and leaving. She had found out about his affair and had talked to her lawyer the day before. As Howie was explaining this, Elliot was rushing to get home in hopes of stopping Kathy. he had forgotten about Olivia, who was struggling to catch up with him. He remembered seeing her slide down the frame of her front door as the elevator doors closed. He thought to say 'Screw this' and go back to Olivia's waiting arms. He knew it wouldn't be right for his kids, though.

Elliot really wished Howie had told him earlier. He just knew that during his cutody battle, her lawyer would bring up his work. He didn't mind his discussing the long hours, and would have settled for joint custody. Knowing Kathy, she would probably want full custody and bring up his prior mishaps at work. Most recently, he had used unnecessary force on a supect who turned out to be not guilty. Put the guy in the hospital. Cragen had risked his own job keeping it under wraps. Now Elliot was worried that the wrong person would find out and the end result would cost him his job.

Elliot had been right to be nervous. Kathy's lawyer had, in fact, brought up this very topic. The judge, who had been rooting for Elliot, instantly switched over to Kathy's side and now the IAB was all over him. They had been threatening to take his badge. They gave him an option of resigning or transfering, for Kathy had announced quite loudly about his affair with Olivia. Deciding he'd rather give up his life than his job, he opted for a change in pace. He had just come from telling Cragen this when he spotted Olivia. Faster than he had time to comprehend, she was on him. He attempted a get-away, but she wasn't having it.

"Elliot." She was clearly upset. "Wait. What's going on?" He decided to play dumb.

"What are you talking about?" He could tell by the way her face reddened that it wasn't the smartest move. He hoped that everyone was watching her pull him into the interview room. He had a feeling he would need witnesses.

"Uh, it's been a couple of weeks..." Elliot decided to keep up his act.

"Since what?" He instantly regreted saying that. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

"Since you walked out on me. You never gave me an explanation, Elliot. What's going on?" He could see her hurting. He really didn't want to hurt her, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. He shrugged his shoulders.

"You...don't...know?" He saw nothing but anger in her eyes as she said this through clentched teeth. He knew he really would regret what he was about to say.

"I don't owe you an explanation." Olivia blinked in shock.

"What?" Her voice was low and deadly.

"I...don't...owe...you..." She had finally hauled off and slapped him. He did admit it hurt, but he had been expecting it. He was glad she walked off because he didn't want her to see him crying.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Olivia slowed the car as they approached the light. Elliot had spent most of the ride gripping the seat. It had never ceased to amaze him how riskily she drove. She took chances and if she got pulled over, she dared the unlucky soul to try to give her a ticket.

"Wow...ya wanna slow down?" She only laughed. "My God, I can only imagine how many points you must have on your license...what?" Her eyes went big.

"I left my purse in my locker. We have to go back." They had gone several blocks and, naturally, she put the car in reverse and back the car down the seven blocks-right through busy intersections: she simply put on the siren. Elliot was only slightly worried. He was more excited than anything. She parked his car across the street form the precint. It took all of five minutes to get into the squadroom and get the purse. Elliot had spent the whole time teasing Olivia over her driving tatics. Perhaps this was why they didn't see two punks breaking into her car.

"Hey!" The youth looked up to see the two detectives staring at them. They leaped into the car.

"Stop!" The one in the passenger seat egged the other one to drive off. Elliot and Olivia were about twenty feet from the car. They heard her car resist turning on. He tried it a second time and the entire vehicle blew up into a cloud of smoke and flames. Olivia sat there in awe. Elliot snapped out of his shock and quickly looked around. He saw someone ducking around the corner. Olivia saw him too, and they both chased after him. Elliot was a little behind Olivia, so he didn't see the guy waiting on the other side of the wall with the metal bat...

TBC

A/N: Mwuhahaha...

I have to thank my beta again. In fact, lets all clap for NothingMoreNothingLess. Without ya, my story would only be good, not pretty good. Anyway, for all the reviewers, you can tell me how cruel I was when you leave your review. :hint, hint: