16th precinct, 11:50 AM.
Olivia had just finished getting Fin up to speed on the carjack rapist, Munch was on the phone with Barba regarding a trial he was supposed to testify at soon and Nick and Amanda were doing paperwork as the door to the squad room opened "hello hello hello! I come baring lunch!" Elliot said in a cheery voice for Izzabella's benefit who was right behind him as she giggled and smiled
"Hey El, aren't I thrilled to see you guys!" Olivia said as she hugged him then their daughter.
He smiled "I'm glad we were able to make you smile, here you go my love," he said handing her her pizza sub as he then put the pizza box on Fin's desk.
"No fair! Why didn't we get pizza subs too!" Amaro complained as Elliot chuckled "because none of you guys are my wife," he said as Amaro just chuckled "I swear you guys are the definition of true love."
Elliot smiled "I hope we are because I love her so much," he said as they kissed passionately and every one started helping themselves to some pizza.
"What do we have here?" Cragen asked stepping out of his office.
"Ohh I just brought the squad lunch," Elliot said doing his best to remain nonchalant and not show how truly frustrated he was at Cragen this very moment.
Cragen nodded his head and gave Elliot a small smile as he took a piece of pizza out of the box "were you guys able to find d'angelo Smith?"
"When we stopped by his house he wasn't home but we put a bolo on his car, we'll find him," Rollins said.
Cragen nodded "alright , the quicker the better I want this case solved as quickly as possible, Fin , my office," he said as Fin nodded and followed him in.
"Do you have any idea what's been up with Olivia the past few days? Your the closest person to her besides Elliot," Cragen said through a sigh once Fin was seated and the door was closed.
Fin sighed "I don't know much captain but she's said some things to me."
Cragen nodded "I'm listening."
Fin sighed "she feels like we take her for granted, like we've forgotten that she has a family to go home to now at the end of every day."
Cragen frowned "did she actually say that to you or is this just an assumption?"
Fin frowned "she said it, no shouted it is more like it she's really hurt captain."
Cragen frowned "hurt? Why is she hurt?"
Fin sighed "you know what I shouldn't say anything else I feel like I'm betraying her confidence here."
Cragen sighed "please Fin, I really want to understand. I mean she never and I mean never asks for time off, much less a month of time off and if somethings going on here I want to fix it."
He sighed and looked Cragen in the eye "I'm not gonna go into a lot of detail because I'm not willing to betray her confidence but I will say they have a lot going on at home right now with their daughter being sick, Elliot's PTSAID... If you want my advice let her have her time off captain, she deserves it , probably more than any of us do and for the love of all things holy let her go to the doctors appointment. She can finish catching me up on the case files later."
Cragen sighed and became defensive "do you really think I wanted to tell her no today Fin, break my word to her? No I didn't want to do that I had to do that."
Fin sighed "why captain, she's been difficult as hell to work with all morning and she feels betrayed by you."
He sighed "Tucker came in to talk to me last night after you all left, accused me of playing favorites, giving some of you more time off than others... And Olivia's taken the day 3 times in the last month and a half for Izzabella's doctors appointments. I knew Elliot could handle the appointment himself, that's why I went back on my word, trust me I've felt guilty about it all morning."
Fin sighed and nodded "who the hell told Tucker that your playing favorites? You haven't been playing favorites at all if 1 of us had been in Liv's situation you would have done the exact same thing for us."
Cragen sighed "all I know is that it was 1 of the unis, and yeah I know I would have but that's the drawback about Liv being so damn private. No one knows that she has a sick daughter , hell most people don't even know that she has a daughter so who ever it was that reported me for it was just under the assumption that I let her take off just because."
Fin sighed "jealousy is an awful thing, did you explain your reasoning to Tucker?"
Cragen nodded "I tried but the way Tucker sees it is that Elliot is more than capable of handling it on his own. You know how Tucker is, he couldn't lock Elliot up back in the day so anything he can do to make their lives miserable he's gonna do it."
Fin sighed and nodded "look captain it's not to late to make things right, you never let Tucker run over you before are you gonna start now? Make someone that you love dearly, see like the daughter you never had lose respect for you? Lose trust in you?"
Cragen sighed "I... I..."
Fin sighed I'm gonna head back to my desk but think hard on what I just said. What you can do that'll let you sleep tonight," he said as he then stood up and left the office, leaving Cragen slack-jawed and deep in thought.
"Every thing okay Fin?" Olivia asked as she was now through eating her sub as her, Elliot and Izzabella were drawing together at her desk.
Fin nodded "yeah every things fine Liv," he said through a sigh as Nick then looked over "we have a location on D'angelo, you wanna go pick him up?" He asked Liv.
Olivia shook her head "take Rollins with you, you guys have been here long enough to not need a senior detective with you at all times," she said as he sighed, nodded his head and they headed out.
Elliot chuckled once they were both gone "you told him didn't you."
Olivia slightly smiled, then sighed "yeah I guess I did... It's just they've both been here long enough to not need me or Fin to help them with every move they make. The way I see it it's like riding a bike with training wheels, they've had their training wheels, us, for 3 years although Munch was partnered with Nick for the 1," she chuckled "but anyway now it's time to let them try with out us and see how they do."
Elliot smiled "you make a good point, you'd be a great captain 1 day. Let me ask you this though how would you have felt if I had sent you out in to the field with Cassidy, made you lose your training wheels as you call it?"
Olivia smiled slightly "well it depends El, i wouldn't have minded if your wife and kids had been here or if it was only temporary , but permanently? Oh permanently I would have been crushed," she said as he nodded his head knowingly and they kissed again then went back to drawing as Cragen stepped out of his office "where are Nick and Amanda?"
Fin smiled "Liv sent them to go get D'angelo Smith, she's a natural leader," he said as Cragen sent her a proud smile then looked over at Munch "Munch, my office."
Munch nodded and followed him in there as he shut the door quite puzzled "what'd I do?" He asked as he sat down.
Cragen chuckled "you didn't do anything John I just wanna talk to you a minute."
He nodded and relaxed noticeably in his seat "what is it Captain?"
Cragen sighed slightly "has Olivia talked to you at all, given you any insight at all as to what's been going on with her here lately?"
He shook his head "she hasn't told me per say but I have an idea as to what it is."
Cragen nodded "I'm listening."
Munch sighed "it's Rollins."
"Rollins? What did Rollins do?"
Munch sighed "she gossips, gossips and gossips more about Elliot. How she thinks Elliot acts, how he should have come around sooner etc. And you know how Olivia is about Elliot and anyone talking about him in a negative light."
Cragen sighed heavily "yeah I do all to well..."
Munch just nodded "yeah and she's been doing it constantly for a while now, honestly Olivia has tolerated it longer than I thought she ever would but I think she's finally had enough of it."
Cragen sighed "that's possible but I can't punish Rollins for having an opinion or expressing that opinion no matter how wrong it might be."
"Even if it's hurting Olivia's emotional wellbeing?"
Cragen sighed "even if that's the case because the bottom line is Olivia is an adult , so is Rollins and it's free speech."
Munch sighed "well in my honest opinion that's why she's taking the furlough is because she needs a break from it," he said as he then stood up "did you need anything else captain?"
Cragen shook his head "no that's all," he said as Munch nodded then left the office.
"Is something going on that I should know about John?" Olivia asked as before he could answer her question the squad room door opened "hey y'all I'm lookin for my sister," Kim Rollins said.
"She's not here right now Kim is there something we can help you with?" Fin asked.
She shook her head "ah it's alright, I'll just wait," she said as she sat down at a desk then took a long look at Elliot's chest.
"What are you staring at?" Munch asked after a moment as Olivia scooted her desk chair closer to Elliot.
"Him, he's hot," she said paying Olivia no mind as she then glanced up at his face "you wanna go out sometime?"
Elliot shook his head and held his left hand up so she could see his ring finger "sorry I'm taken, and by the looks of things you are too, he said pointing at her left ring finger which had a ring on it as he then wrapped his arm around Olivia as she relaxed into it and smiled at him.
She chuckled and smiled "oh me and Jeff are over, besides wouldn't you like to sneak around?"
Elliot frowned and shook his head "no I would not," he said firmly as she just sighed, nodded her head and stared at her phone.
"Daddy? Why was that lady looking at your chest like mommy does?" Izzabella asked as Olivia blushed.
"Because he's hot," Kim blurted out before Elliot could think of a response as he glared at Kim harshly.
"What does hot mean?" Izzabella asked then as every one but her and Kim's faces were bright red "ummm sweetheart your to young for me to explain what that means... I... w-we... we'll explain it when your older, much older," he said as she nodded her head and dropped the subject realizing that he was uncomfortable "can I have a piece of candy?"
"Of-of course..." Olivia said recovering as she stood up from her desk chair and took Izzabella to the vending machines and Kim went to the ladies room.
"Wow... That was somethin else..." Fin said as Elliot nodded his head agreeing "this day has been strange as hell."
Munch nodded "yeah it has been man, I think your woman got a tad bit jealous too, did you notice how close she scooted towards you?"
Elliot chuckled "she has nothing to be jealous over she's the only one for me and she knows that, she just scooted over to send her the message that I was taken."
Munch chuckled and nodded "mmhmm," he said as Nick and Rollins walked in with D'angelo in handcuffs "I shouldn't be here! I didn't do anything!"
Amaro nodded "well the faster you give us an alibi for the time that your ex girlfriend was assaulted the faster you'll get to leave."
"I told you I was home!" He shouted as Olivia and Izzabella were walking through with her bag of m 's as she shrank back seeing the man in handcuffs and hearing his raised voice.
"Lower your voice!" Elliot shouted, growing protective seeing his daughter scared as Amaro sighed, frowned and quickly rushed him into the interrogation room as Elliot quickly scooped Izzabella into his arms.
Once she was calmed down he gently sat her down and looked at Olivia "we're gonna have to go in about 20 minutes."
She nodded "I understand, I'm still sorry that I can't go."
Elliot nodded and rubbed her back "like I said earlier you have no reason to be sorry this isn't your fault," he said as Cragen stepped out of his office Fin go take over for Amaro, I need to see him in my office."
Fin nodded "copy that Cap," he said as after a couple minutes Nick was in his office "what's up Cap?"
"Have a seat, shut the door," he said as Amaro did as he was told "your Olivia's partner, has she told you anything at all about what's going on with her?"
Nick frowned some "not really I mean the main things that she ever talks about in the car are either Elliot or her daughter. She misses him a lot."
Cragen frowned "I don't understand, they're married, living together how does she miss him?"
Nick sighed "yesterday when we were in the car on the way to mercy hospital she told me she wishes they were still partners."
Cragen frowned and shook his head "has she talked to Elliot about this?"
Amaro shook his head "no she hasn't, she asked me not to tell him either said she doesn't want him to feel bad for doing what he needed to do for himself."
Cragen sighed slightly "she's to selfless sometimes for her own good, Elliot would wanna know this."
Amaro nodded "yeah I'm sure he would too, I'm hoping during this time she takes off that they're able to get some alone time together, and that she'll be recharged and ready to work again when she comes back."
Cragen nodded maybe so, thanks for your insight, get Rollins for me would you?"
He nodded "of course captain," he said as he smiled and left the office.
"Seriously, what the hell is going on guys?" Olivia asked confused when Amaro walked out of the office.
"Good question," Elliot said as they watched Rollins step in "what's up captain?"
Once the door was closed and she was seated Cragen looked at her "has Olivia happened to talk to you at all about what's been up with her for the past while? I know your not the closest of friends but your both women so..."
Rollins chuckled slightly and smiled "honestly no she hasn't we don't talk that much but I'm sure her husband is most of the problem."
Cragen frowned but nodded listening "why do you figure that?"
Rollins sighed "for starters he's a loose cannon."
Cragen nodded elliot Stabler has always been a loose cannon of sorts, Olivia is used to that though."
Rollins nodded and sighed "having a temper is 1 thing captain, my dad had a temper but this man? I think he's bipolar I watched him go from yelling at the top of his lungs , to apologizing for yelling at the top of his lungs, to fighting with me again then to kissing Olivia all in a 10 minute timespan. You can't tell me that his mood changing that erratically doesn't stress her out."
Cragen sighed "honestly I think she's used to his behavior, she's a strong willed person too if she felt unsafe in the relationship she'd leave."
Rollins nodded "I hope so, I think distance from him is what she needs, maybe give her more hours?"
Cragen frowned "I can't deny her furlough request and there have been no dv calls to their home. I think you have Elliot all wrong."
She nodded "for Olivia's sake I hope your right, is that all captain?"
He nodded and sighed "yeah that's all," he said as he rubbed his temples.
She nodded her head and left his office with a small smile "okay please, please tell me what's going on," Olivia insisted.
Rollins nodded her head "the captain was just asking me some questions about you, I told him that I think your husband is bipolar."
"Oh shit!"
"Damnit Amanda!"
"That's not true!"
"YOU SAID WHAT!!!!" Munch, Fin, Nick and Olivia said in unison.
"hey, hey don't bight my head off guys I only said what I think is the truth." She said as her sister then cut in "Amanda I need 50!"
Cragen then barged out of his office "okay every one quiet!! Olivia Elliot go take your daughter to the doctor before your late, Amanda , give your sister the money, don't give your sister the money I don't care, either way get her out of here, every one else get back to work."
"y-your letting me go?" Olivia asked shocked.
Cragen nodded "yes Olivia you can go, I'm sorry I said no earlier, it's a long story that I'll explain later, come back once the appointment is through , finish briefing Fin on your open case files then as far as I'm concerned your officially on leave."
"T-thank you captain... thank you..." Olivia said as she went over and hugged him.
Cragen shook his head "don't thank me Olivia, thank Fin, he's the 1 who made me see the light," he said as once Izzabella also hugged her unofficial grandfather in thanks the 3 of them left the precinct.
A/n: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I laughed while writing a good portion of it. Played around with cannon a bit in regards to Kim so she'd be available to hit on Elliot. I hope you guys enjoyed this fluffy chapter because it's the last 1 for a while and the villain returns next chapter. benslerfan4ever I hope that this properly explained Cragen's behavior in the chapter before this. I look forward to reading every one's reviews and thoughts, until next time every one.