Olivia sat silently at her desk. Three weeks had passed since the 'experience,' and still, no one but she knew about it.
"Here I am!" John called out as he walked into the precinct.
"With food!" Olivia exclaimed, seeing a fast food bag in his hand. "I'm starving!"
"Nice to see you, too, Liv," John replied, watching in amusement as Olivia helped herself to a breakfast sandwich and a hash brown. "Hey... that was mine!"
"You snooze, you lose." Olivia laughed, unwrapping the sandwich.
"Hey guys." Elliot walked in.
"Hey," John replied. "You hungry?"
"No, thanks. I already ate."
"FOOD!" Fin ran in as soon as the smell of fast food hit his nose. Olivia laughed at his childlike behavior.
"Wow, Fin. That was completely out of character," John observed.
"I haven't eaten normal food in forever!"
"Hey, can I have Elliot's share?" Olivia cut in.
"Hungry?" Elliot teased.
"Very."
John handed Olivia Elliot's hash brown. "I get his sandwich, since you took mine."
"Fine." Olivia happily ate her second hash brown.
"All right guys, let's get a move-on." Cragen entered the precinct, followed by Casey. He handed Elliot a piece of paper containing an address. "I just got a call about a rape in Barry Hotel."
"We're on it," Elliot said, nodding toward Olivia. "Come on, let's go."
Elliot and Olivia stood and walked out, to Elliot's car. He backed out of his parking spot and began driving to the hotel.
About halfway there, Olivia felt her stomach flip. "El, I need you to pull over."
"Olivia, we need to get to the-" Elliot stopped short, seeing the sick look on his partner's face. He quickly pulled the car onto the shoulder, where Olivia bolted out and ran as far into the woods as she would dare.
"You okay?" Elliot asked when Olivia returned to the car.
"Mmhmm." Olivia nodded miserably.
"You ate one too many hash browns."
"I guess."
"What took you so long?" A tall, plump police officer made his way to Elliot and Olivia when they arrived.
"A... mishap." Elliot quickly said.
"Whatever. Follow me." The officer led them to a room on the first floor of the hotel. "Vicky Stanton. Twenty-one years old. Raped, then suffocated with the pillow."
"Any leads?" Olivia asked.
"Not yet. But we're working on it. The guy was pretty smart. No sign of any prints, and it looks like he used protection."
"Hmm." Elliot looked at the girl, instantly seeing his eldest daughter. He shuddered, the thought quickly shoved aside. "Okay, well, keep us posted. We need to go talk to some of the workers here."
"El..." Olivia whispered, tugging at Elliot's sleeve as they exited the room.
"Yea?" he replied, turning to face her.
"I need to go back. I feel like shit."
Elliot sighed. "Fine. I'll take you back to the precinct and bring John or Fin back here with me."
"Thanks." Olivia flashed him a grateful smile.
The two made their way to the car. Olivia rested her head against the window for the entire ride. When they returned, Olivia bolted inside making her way to the ladies room.
Casey was walking past the restrooms when she heard coughing coming from inside. She peered in. "Hello? Everything okay?"
"Casey?" a sick-like voice answered.
"Oh my God. Olivia? Are you okay?" Casey ran to the last stall where she found Olivia, miserably slumped over the toilet seat. Olivia shook her head. "Elliot and I both thought it was that extra hash brown, but I think it's that stomach flu that's been going around."
"Probably." Casey gave Olivia a little hug. "I'm going to go and get you some water, okay? I'll be right back."
"Everything okay in here?" Elliot's voice echoed through the ladies room. Casey stood and saw the door cracked open, Elliot's face turned to the side.
"Yea. Olivia's got a little bug," Casey replied.
"Really? Poor thing."
"I'll say." Casey squeezed past Elliot. "I'll be back in a sec."
Olivia groaned as she brought herself to her feet. "What am I going to do? I can't work if I feel like this, and I can't go home because I can't do anything for myself."
Elliot shrugged. "I'll stay with you for a few days."
"No, El. You have to think of Kathy."
"Olivia, Kathy's still with her mother. She called the other day and told me that she needed some more time away and would be staying for the week."
Olivia thought for a moment. "You wouldn't mind?"
"Not at all. We both could use some time off anyway."
"I guess." Olivia emerged from the bathroom, mentally laughing at Elliot's face, which was flushed with embarrassment at peering into the ladies room. "Let's go talk to the cap."
"Wait, Liv!" Casey returned, holding out a water bottle to Olivia. "Here. Drink this."
Olivia obeyed. The three walked back into the precinct. Olivia and Elliot separated from Casey, making their way to Don's office. Olivia knocked on the door.
"Come in," Don said. The two entered. "Stabler, what are you doing here? I thought you were going back-"
"John went with Fin when I told them I needed to check on Olivia," Elliot replied.
Don looked at Olivia. "Liv, you look awful."
Olivia nodded. "Cap, would it be okay if Elliot and I stayed away from here for awhile? I think I have that stomach flu. And Elliot offered to stay with me and help me out, which was extremely nice of him..."
"Sure. Go ahead. Take all the time you need." Don's face became sympathetic as he listened. "Stabler, as soon as she's able to manage on her own, I expect you back here."
"You got it," Elliot said.
"All right. Go. Olivia, feel better."
"Thanks, cap."
Elliot and Olivia left the office. Elliot put his hand on Olivia's back and led her back to his car. "Wait, what about my car?" Olivia asked.
"Get everything you need from it and bring it to mind. It'll be here when you get back," Elliot replied. "Make sure the doors are locked!" Elliot called when Olivia walked away.
Olivia got to her car and began pulling a few personal items out. When she finished, she locked all her doors, then slumped over the car. Damn it. What did I eat that made me feel like this? She slowly made her way back to Elliot, who held the door open for her.
"This should be fun. Just you and me, alone for awhile," Elliot joked.
Olivia smiled and nodded slightly, afraid that the slightest move would make her stomach churn. "Let's get out of here." She rested her head on the back of the seat. This should be interesting.