"Doc, honey," Elliot said as he glanced at them both then took his seat next to Olivia "why are you holding your arm like that? Does it hurt?" he asked softly.

Olivia sighed "t-the spot is bigger, El are you okay?"

Elliot sighed "I should be the one asking you that, honey I could never think you were clinging to me to much especially right now, you have to believe that."

Olivia started to nod her head slightly as Lindstrom took that opportunity to cut in "instead of pacifying him and keeping your fear inside Olivia you need to discuss it with him."

Olivia shook her head slightly and lowered her gaze as Elliot rubbed her back gently "whatever I've done to give you this impression I really wanna fix it."

Olivia sighed "El I-it's not anything you've done I promise, t-this is just me not being able to forget the past and that's on me not you."

Elliot sat there in silence for a moment deep in thought as it then clicked with him as he pulled her closer to him and strummed his fingers through her hair "baby I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry if I could take those words back I swear to god I would," he said softly as Lindstrom looked to him "can you tell me what you said?"

A tear streamed down Elliot's cheek and Olivia sighed, preparing herself to hear the hurtful words again "I-Is that really necessary? I-I don't think Liv needs to hear me say it," Elliot said.

Lindstrom nodded "I believe it is yes so I can better understand Olivia's fears besides talking about it is the best way to work through it and put it behind you."

Elliot just nodded slightly as he gently held Olivia's hand and stroked her hair "i-it was right before me and Olivia got together, Victor Gitano, one of our perps stabbed Liv in the neck and I saw it, thought she was hurt worse than she really was so I ran over to her, in that time Gitano grabbed the boy and slashed his throat a-and in my grief I said some things that I'm not proud of now and that are so far from the truth..." he said as he said the last part softly as his words were meant for Olivia.

Lindstrom nodded slightly "is this the case that you started to tell me about earlier Olivia?"

"Y-Yes," Olivia said through tears as Lindstrom nodded and Elliot quietly tried to soothe her by steadily stroking her hair and rubbing her hand "a-all that matters anymore about that case is Liv knowing that what I said back then isn't the truth and she knows what I said I don't need to say it again," Elliot said to Lindstrom adamantly.

Lindstrom nodded patiently "I understand where your coming from Elliot and that you only want to protect your wife but I get the sense that you two never really properly talked about this after it happened and the only way to truly move on from something like that is to talk about it openly."

Elliot sighed slightly and lowered his gaze as he never stopped the soothing motion of his hands "w-when we got back to the precinct after the situation at the bus terminal was through things got heated and I-I ended up telling her that I couldn't be looking over my shoulder anymore making sure she was okay and that I needed to know she could do her job with out waiting for me to come to the rescue."

Lindstrom nodded as Elliot teared up when he saw the look on Liv's face as she looked like she had been punched in the gut "I-I regretted it as soon as I said it, s-she didn't deserve that from me she was grieving Ryan as much as I was," he said as he then leaned into her ear "I'm so sorry baby, so so sorry, you're an amazing cop you always have been, I I never meant what I said I promise, I promise."

Olivia nodded her head slightly as she scooted impossibly closer to him "i-it means a lot hearing you say that El, I-I don't want for you to feel like you have to look over your shoulder to make sure I'm okay though, at work or at home."

Elliot nodded "I don't baby I promise, a spouse is different than a work partner though so you better believe I look over my shoulder but it's not because I feel like you can't take care of yourself, it's because your my wife and I love you more than I can put in to words."

Olivia gave a slight nod to his statement "I love you too El so much."

Elliot smiled and gave her a gentle kiss as she returned it in kind as Lindstrom smiled "do you guys feel a bit better now that you've discussed that day together?"

Olivia sighed "in a way yeah b-but it was also painful opening up that old wound."

He nodded "I understand but at least you know where he stands now," he said as after a brief pause he turned back to them "since the kidnapping happened do either one of you have any abnormal triggers or fears that you'd like to talk about today?"

Olivia kept her grip on Elliot's hand as it was a little looser now but still there "I-I have a hard time seeing handcuffs up close, keys too, it's hardest for me when I see them in a person's hand about to be used especially when the hand is close to me."

Lindstrom nodded his head "a little tip for you to remember is the objects can't cause harm to you by themselves, just because someone is standing near you holding a pair of handcuffs doesn't mean that the metal is gonna automatically end up around your wrists, someone would have to put it there."

Olivia sighed "I know that I do it's just hard for me to separate it sometimes, I'm getting much better with keys though now it's mainly just handcuffs."

Lindstrom nodded "it will probably take a little time for you to be 100% comfortable around them again but the advice i'll give you is instead of focusing on the handcuffs when you see someone with them think of the person who is holding them. Ask yourself: has this person ever used handcuffs against me before? Do I feel safe around this person? Do I trust this person? And if you can answer positively to those questions then trust what your head is telling you and stay calm."

Olivia gave a slight nod as Elliot was rubbing her knuckles with his thumb "too baby if your ever afraid all you've gotta do is let me know and I'll get them away from you however I have to, weather it's getting you away from whoever has them or locking them away and out of your sight if I have them. As far as I'm concerned I'm happy throwing the pairs we have away anyway you feeling safe with me is my number one priority."

She sighed "we can't throw them away Elliot not if I'm ever gonna go back to work, besides my fear is stupid anyway."

"Your fear isn't stupid Olivia, if you learn one thing from this session today I want it to be that all fears are valid and worth discussing no matter what they are," Lindstrom said as Elliot nodded his head in agreement "the doc is right honey and I'll tell you right now if I had gone through what you've been through I wouldn't want anybody around me with them either," he said.

"Y-You wouldn't?" Olivia asked Elliot shocked.

"Of course I wouldn't sweetheart," he said softly, knowingly as Olivia just hugged him tightly and Lindstrom decided it was time to shift the focus "Mr. Stabler have you had any triggers since this happened?"

Elliot shook his head "no triggers like she's had no but i've felt a compulsive need to stay with in eyesight of her almost all the time since it happened."

He nodded "how do you feel when you can't see her?"

Elliot sighed "afraid, afraid she won't be okay when I get back."

Lindstrom nodded "what do you worry about happening most when your away from her?"

He sighed "I mainly worry that something will trigger her and I won't be there to stop it, or if we're out somewhere in public I'm afraid someone will harass or hurt her, when we were at the precinct I was afraid that the perp they were holding there would break out of his cell and try to attack her."

Lindstrom nodded and looked to Olivia "how do you feel about these fears that Elliot has? Does he respect your requests for space when you ask for it?"

Olivia sighed "it hurts my heart that Elliot has these fears, I understand them though and yeah the rare times I ask for space he gives it to me, I don't need it from him often though because he's really good at being protective of me while still allowing me to be my own woman," she said as her eyes were growing more sluggish and she was fighting to keep her head off Elliot's shoulder.

Elliot used his hand which was still gently stroking Olivia's hair to gently coax her head down "go ahead and rest it there baby it's okay," he whispered while Lindstrom was nodding to Olivia's previous statement "you would tell Elliot if you needed space right?" he asked.

Olivia yawned slightly and gave a slight nod as Lindstrom frowned "Elliot could you ease up on your caresses for a bit so Olivia doesn't fall asleep during the session?"

Elliot shook his head "they keep her feeling calm and safe," he said quietly.

"I get that but we're almost through here and I want her to be able to participate fully."

Elliot nodded slightly and sighed as he slowly withdrew his hand from her hair as she gave a slight whimper of protest in her half asleep state "shhh," he whispered softly.

It took Olivia less than a minute to wake with the absence of Elliot's soothing motions as she rose her head quickly "s-sorry about that doctor Lindstrom."

"It's not a problem Olivia what's the last thing you remember?"

"Telling you that I hardly ever need space from Elliot."

Lindstrom nodded "okay you didn't miss much then, do you feel comfortable asking Elliot for space when you do need it?"

She nodded "I do yes."

Lindstrom nodded "that's great, do you guys have anything else you wanna talk to me about today before I give my report on you guys and your homework assignments?"

"Homework assignments? What are we three?" Elliot asked shaking his head.

Lindstrom smiled "it's not homework homework it's just activities you guys can do that will help in both of your recoveries."

Elliot nodded "I see, I do have one more thing I wanted to mention doc if Liv doesn't have anything else."

"I'm good El," Olivia said softly as lindstrom nodded slightly "do you feel like her needs are more important than yours?"

Elliot nodded "she's the one who went through it not me."

"That doesn't make your trauma matter any less," Lindstrom said adamantly as Olivia nodded agreeing.

Elliot sighed slightly then nodded and faced Lindstrom "since Olivia was hurt my temper has been a lot more easy to rile up, it'll fester then calm within a few minutes, that or I'll be shouting at one person then in my next breath be speaking softly and calmly to Liv is that normal? Or do I have a mental illness? One of Olivia's coworkers thinks I might have bipolar disorder and there is a history of it in my family."

Lindstrom nodded "from what you told me earlier in our private session what your describing to me sounds like normal human behavior of your personality type in stress. You have a lot of rage inside you sir and it has to come out somehow," he said as Olivia nodded "Rollins has no idea what she's talking about Elliot," she whispered softly.

Elliot sighed "that's exactly what I'm worried about doc, what if I snap at Liv? I mean I haven't yet, not really b-but what if I do?" he asked as he gave a discreet nod to what Liv said.

"I'm 99.9% sure that you never will Elliot," Lindstrom said confidently as he noticed his nod to Olivia but said nothing about it.

"What makes you so sure?" Elliot asked skeptically.

"Your protective instincts towards her, your rage is for her, for what was done to her not at her and you are a man with good morals, a few minutes ago you said one thing was your number one priority can you tell me what that was?"

Elliot nodded "Liv feeling safe around me after all she's gone through."

Lindstrom nodded "I don't see you ever jeopardizing that, if you want though I can sign you up for some anger management courses."

He sighed "I can't really sign up for anything that'll keep me away from her."

Lindstrom nodded "you can keep a rage diary then."

Elliot nodded "what's that?"

Lindstrom smiled slightly "it's a bit like the dream diary you used before but instead of writing down your dreams in this book you can write out your angry thoughts, sometimes writing them down helps clear your head of them."

Elliot nodded "I'll give it a try," he said as Olivia glanced to Lindstrom "I've been thinking about booking him for some time in a rage room do you think that would help him?"

Lindstrom nodded "I believe it would yes but you guys should keep one thing in mind in regards to rage rooms, they are only a temporary solution for the anger. Like for example lets say you have a stomach ulcer that gives you terrible heartburn every day and you take a tums every six hours."-

"It only treats my heartburn not my ulcer," Olivia said understanding.

"Exactly," Lindstrom said as Elliot sighed "I honestly don't see my anger completely going away no matter which option I choose I'm gonna want vengeance until the bastard is dead."

"Of course you will but hopefully these alternatives will help quell the need enough that it won't be a problem in your daily life."

He nodded "if they aren't Liv and Izzabella will be I made a promise and I intend to keep it."

Lindstrom nodded and smiled as Olivia kissed the side of his head "we're running out of time today guys so I'd like to give my report on you guys and some tips for your healing before you both leave."

Elliot and Olivia both nodded and held hands as Lindstrom slightly smiled "from the papers you guys filled out today, the information that was faxed over from other therapists you've seen in the past and our sessions today I can see that you both have a mutual reliance and emotional dependence on each other that I have to admit effects most people in a negative way."

Elliot frowned "you better not be suggesting"-

Lindstrom held his hand up as Olivia gripped El's hand tighter "however you aren't most people and in embracing this mutual reliance it seems you've made yourselves stronger as people, Elliot you are most definitely Olivia's protector, I knew that from the moment I introduced myself to you, you come across with a sort of body guard mentality which is probably what intimidated Olivia's colleague. Olivia relies on that protection as well, probably much more than she's ever told you and it empowers her to be strong and the person that you admire so much in the face of difficult times."-

"That doesn't make sense doc Olivia was courageous from the moment I met her I didn't make her courageous."

Lindstrom smiled "no you didn't, you made her more so," he said as he focused back on the report "Olivia is also your protector too just in a different way, where as you protect Olivia with your physical strength and gentle touch, she protects you with her words, defending you to others and quelling your temper when necessary."

"H-How did you know that she's able to calm my temper? W-We didn't tell you that."

Lindstrom smiled "I'm good at my job and I read your files," he said as he sighed "I'm sorry but I'll have to finish going over this with you both next session my next appointment is in five minutes."

"It's no problem doctor I was starting to feel a little exposed anyway," Olivia said.

Lindstrom smiled "you're both supposed too, I've found knowing the inner workings of relationships helps the couple better understand what their partner needs from them to help them recover from the traumatic event as quickly as possible."

Olivia and Elliot both gave slight skeptical nods as Lindstrom slightly smiled "Olivia I encourage you to start writing a dream diary along with your husband, he can show you how. Have you held a key since your assault?"

Olivia shook her head slightly "I tried but ended up not being able to pick it up."

He nodded "well since seeing keys isn't so triggering for you now I want you to attempt unlocking a door, it could be the car door or the front door of where ever you guys are staying, just any door I think that would be a good first step for you to take in confronting your triggers and you can tell me how it goes when you come back."

Olivia gave a slight nod as he looked to Elliot "Elliot I want you to try to leave Olivia's side for a few minutes, go for a walk around the block, take a relaxing bath maybe, just find something to do where you can prove to yourself that she didn't vanish or get hurt while you were gone for a few minutes."

Elliot frowned "what if she doesn't want me to go though? She wants me with her just as much as I feel the need to be beside her and if she needs me she won't call me, when we had Izzabella's birthday party the other day she didn't call me, she suffered for hours and I found her passed out in the kitchen."

"I'll call you if I need to El I promise," she said softly as Elliot nodded his head slightly "I'll try doc but that's all I can give you."

Lindstrom nodded "that's all I expect from you, I'd like to see you both back here in a week to see how things are progressing."

Elliot nodded his head as he and Olivia stood from off the couch "have a good rest of your day doctor Lindstrom, we'll see you next week," Olivia said.

"You as well Mr. and Mrs. Stabler," he said with a slight smile as Liv and El left the office as he smiled watching their footsteps as they were perfectly in sync.

"You alright honey? I know he touched on a lot of deep stuff today," Elliot said softly as he opened Liv's door for her.

Olivia nodded slightly "y-yeah I'm fine El," she said as she sat down in her seat and let him buckle her in.

Elliot smiled slightly "and I'm fine when you say it is secret code for not really but I don't wanna talk to you about it," he said knowingly as once he was finished buckling her in he stood beside her door, keeping it open giving her a chance to answer.

Olivia sighed "I'm just mad at myself for letting Gitano get brought up today."

Elliot nodded "he should have left that alone I-I'm sorry you had to hear me say those words again I know they were the last thing you needed to hear come out of my mouth."

She sighed and nodded "they were but for what it's worth actually hearing you tell me you didn't mean them when you said them meant more to me than you can imagine El."

He nodded slightly "I should have told you sooner baby I'm sorry I didn't."

She shook her head "no I'm sorry that I hadn't already forgotten them."

Elliot smiled slightly "we're something the two of us, we can't even apologize to each other with out defending each other."

She smiled and nodded "I wouldn't change it for the world."

"Me either beautiful," he said softly as he kissed her gently on the lips and she returned it in kind "shall we make our way back to Cragen's? If I remember correctly we're gonna have my favorite dish of yours tonight."

He smiled "that we are," he said as he gently shut her car door and walked around to his side while turning his phone back on since he had turned it off while they were inside the office as while he was getting in he frowned seeing he had 14 missed calls from an unknown number "what the hell?" he grumbled as he buckled up.

"What is it?" Olivia asked calmly.

Elliot sighed "I've gotten 14 missed calls from 305-555-2323 in the last hour," he said as his phone rang again.

Olivia frowned "answer it El that's a Florida area code something could be wrong," she said as he nodded, immediately going from frustrated to worried "Stabler," he answered hands free as he drove off.

"What the hell is your fucking problem!!!?" the man on the other end of the line demanded.

"Excuse me? I don't even know who the hell you are pal," Elliot said.

"I'm Jim! Jim Smith and I wanna know why the hell you had my daughter cancel her flight!"

"Your daughter? Are you talking about Lizzie?"

"Damn right I am!" Jim said angrily.

Elliot's face turned bright red "she's not your daughter she's mine! And how dare you tell her that she'd be a bother to me and Olivia if she stayed here! She has every right to see us as much as she wants you piece of crap!"

"Yeah like you even want her, Kathy practically raised that little girl you've seen her what four or five times since they moved away so Kathy could marry me?"

Elliot glared "how dare you Jim! How fucking dare you I fought like hell for Lizzie to stay with me because that's what she wanted! You really think she wanted to leave Queens just shy of the 12th grade? She didn't she had friends here. Honoring that judges decision was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life."

"Your forgetting that judge Ambrose said you could keep her if you retired from special victims."

Elliot glared "I wasn't gonna leave Olivia with out a partner who would have her back while she was pregnant."

Jim nodded "you just proved my point asshole Olivia always comes first, I'm a better father to her than you ever were!"

"Don't you ever talk to El like that!" Olivia said as she was glaring too now "you must be the famous Olivia," Jim said.

"Yes I'm Olivia and I don't know you but I guarantee you that Elliot is a better father than you can even dream of being."

"What makes you think that you bitch."

"You talk to my wife like that again Jim I swear to god..." Elliot fumed as Olivia just slightly smiled, unfazed "because Elliot doesn't treat his nineteen year old daughter like she's ten for starters," she said to Jim.

Jim smiled over the phone "you know I might not if Lizzie didn't make it so damn easy for me, anyway I want her flight rescheduled and her back here in Florida where she belongs before 9 PM tonight do we all understand each other?"

Elliot glared "we don't understand each other Jim because Lizzie is nineteen years old now meaning she has the right to stay where ever she wants too, now the moment that she wants to be back in Florida she'll be there, I'll make sure of it but until then she's my daughter and we're gonna spend some time with her this summer."

Jim glared "I'll get Kathy involved and call the police if necessary."

Elliot smiled "go ahead and try it Jim because Kathy can't change it and the police will tell you that Lizzie is old enough to make her own decisions, we have to go now, good day sir," Elliot said hanging up the phone just as they parked.

"I'm really proud of the way you handled that El you were the bigger man," Olivia said as they walked into the house.

He sighed but gave her a small smile "I tried to be honey, you know you didn't have to stand up for me like that with him right?"

She nodded "I know El but you would have done it for me, you did do it for me," she said softly.

He nodded slightly "true, hey honey can I take a look at your arm? You said the spot was getting a little bigger during our session."

She nodded and held it out "i-it is I'm not sure what's wrong with it."

Elliot nodded "everything's gonna be okay I promise sweetheart," he soothed as he rubbed her arm gently for a minute "I'm just gonna roll your sleeve up okay?"

Olivia gave a slight nod as Elliot did that gently "the bump seems to be about the size of my thumbnail now," he said as he gently prodded at it and Olivia winced "sorry sweetheart," he said softly as he gently kissed her temple "this can't be a mosquito or nat bight though because if it was that wouldn't have hurt and it definitely wouldn't have so much heat around it, can you describe to me how it feels?"

Olivia sighed "it's like I got sunburned there or something that's the best way I can describe it."

Elliot nodded slightly "alright I think I might try putting some Aloevera on it then maybe that'll help," he said as he started searching through Cragen's medicine cabinet.

After a couple minutes of searching he managed to find a bottle with a small amount in it "this might be a little cold but it won't hurt I promise honey," he said as he walked back over to her.

Olivia nodded slightly as Elliot gently applied it then rolled her sleeve back down for her "that should help to soothe it some, I'll look at it again in a little bit."

Olivia gave a slight nod "I think I might kick back on the couch for a little bit and rest my eyes."

"Sounds good baby," Elliot said with a slight smile as once she was settled with the tv remote he headed into the kitchen and got started making their dinner.

At around 5:30 Elliot walked into the living room having finished making the chicken parm and salad and putting the cheese cake into the fridge to set as he smiled when he saw Olivia open her eyes "did you have a good nap baby?" he asked.

Olivia nodded "mmhmm dinner smells amazing El."

He smiled "thanks love, can I look at your arm again?"

Olivia sighed but gave a small nod as Elliot nodded, rolled up her sleeve and frowned when he saw that the spot had grown a little more in the two hours since he had put the aloe on it "baby I need to mark the edges of this spot with a pin so I can keep a better eye on how fast it's growing, I'm gonna try and put some antibiotic ointment on it too but if it keeps growing like this I'm gonna have to take you to the ER."

Olivia shook her head franticly "no hospitals El I don't want a bunch of doctors and nurses poking and prodding at me."

Elliot nodded warily "I-I don't think we're at that point yet baby, hopefully this antibiotic ointment will be what it needs to stop spreading," he said as he grabbed a pin from beside Cragen's recliner then walked back over.

Olivia glanced at it with a slightly nervous expression as Kathleen, Lizzie and Izzabella walked quietly into the house "no need to be afraid sweetheart this won't hurt," Elliot said softly as Izzabella ran over "daddy? Are you drawing on mommy?"

"Umm, umm"- "yes he is sweetie it's umm, a game," Olivia said giving her a fake smile and taking over for Elliot.

"Cool! Can I play too?"

"Sure kiddo just let me finish with mommy first, Kathleen? Fix her a plate please?"

"S-Sure dad, sorry about that I tried to stop her is everything alright?"

Elliot sighed "I don't know," he said as he discreetly pointed at the three quarter inch spot on Olivia's arm.

Kathleen glanced at it as she frowned slightly "I'm fine guys really I'm sure the swelling will go away on it's own," Olivia said not liking all the extra attention.

Kathleen shook her head "it looks kinda big though maybe I should take a picture of it and send it to mom."

"No, no don't," Elliot said as he gently put small marks on the ends and sides of it then applied some antibiotic cream to it "I'm not getting anyone else involved before I give this ointment a chance to work Liv is more comfortable when I take care of this stuff."

Kathleen sighed "your worried she'll tell you to take her to the hospital aren't you," she whispered.

Elliot just gave her a small nod "we'll be in the kitchen in a few minutes," he said as Izzabella ran back over there "is it my turn to play now?"

Elliot gave her a fake smile "sure kiddo let me see your hand."

Izzabella smiled and handed it to him as he quickly but gently drew a smiley face on her wrist "there you go."

Izzabella smiled "thank you daddy," she said as she ran off and had a seat at the table as both Olivia and Kathleen were chuckling slightly.

A few minutes later everyone was sitting together at the table eating "Jim is mad," Lizzie said.

"I know he is he can kiss my ass for all I care," Elliot said.

"Daddy..." Lizzie said frowning slightly as Elliot just nodded and Olivia looked over to her "I won't go into detail but Jim said some hurtful things to your dad and it might take him a while to get over them."

Lizzie sighed slightly and nodded "I've never liked Jim, I pretended for mom's sake but he's always been a sorta mean guy."

"Did he hurt you Liz? Or neglect you in any way? Please tell me the truth," Elliot implored softly.

She sighed "he didn't he was just super strict, like super super strict."

"Dad was super strict," Kathleen said chuckling slightly.

Elliot chuckled slightly "I was strict on you because you gave me reason to be Katy."

"Yeah yeah I know I know," Kathleen said with a small smile as Olivia looked to Lizzie "how strict are we talking?" she asked redirecting the conversation.

Lizzie sighed "I had a 7 o'clock curfew every night, he didn't want me to make friends and when I did make them hanging out with them was out of the question, he drove me to school every day."

Elliot sighed "I can see a 10 o'clock curfew but 7 was a little harsh for you being almost 18, I'm sorry the judge didn't let me keep you honey."

She shook her head "you and Liv both tried and I told him I was okay with your jobs he just wouldn't listen."

He nodded "I know, hey what matters is your here now right?"

Lizzie nodded her head with a smile as Cragen walked into the house "something smells delicious," he said as he put his cuffs and gun in his safe beside the door and removed his shoes.

"I made chicken parmesan and caesar salad, it's Liv's favorite," Elliot called with a smile.

"Ah I see, can't wait to taste it," he said as he walked through and ruffled Izzabella's hair as he passed "what's with the smiley face on your hand? Were you extra good for your mom, dad and sisters today?"

Izzabella smiled "it was a game," she said with a mouth full of food.

"Don't talk with your mouth full sweetheart," Elliot said gently as once she swallowed Cragen smiled "what kind of game?"

"I donno, daddy drew on mommy then he drew on me too, it was fun."

Cragen gave Elliot a puzzled look then faced Izzabella again with a smile "that's cool," he said as he sat down and started to eat.

Izzabella nodded with a smile as a couple minutes later Elliot looked to Kathleen "were you able to talk to Brad about getting on a Skype call with us tonight?"

Kathleen sighed "I asked him but he said his computer is broken, I'm sorry dad."

"It's okay honey we'll figure something out," Elliot said with a slight smile.

Kathleen nodded "I know we will," she said as her and Lizzie finished their plates "I booked us a room in the motel a block away for tonight so we'll be nearby if you guys need anything."

Elliot nodded "sounds great honey, you know you guys are welcome to stay for dessert, the cheese cake isn't fully set yet but it still tastes good if you want me to fix you both a slice."

Lizzie nodded "I'd love one," she said as Kathleen smiled "I'll have a small slice too."

Elliot nodded with a smile as he got up from the table and fixed everyone's slices "oh my god dad this is amazing!" Lizzie said enthusiastically.

"She's right dad it's really good," Kathleen said with a smile as Elliot smiled "I'm really glad you girls enjoy it."

"We do daddy, we really do can you give me the recipe?" Lizzie asked.

Elliot smiled "I'll give it to you before you go back."

She smiled and nodded "thank you thank you thank you," she said as Cragen chuckled slightly at her overexcitement "you really did outdo yourself El," Olivia complimented with a smile.

"You say that every time Liv," he chuckled "but thank you honey I'm really glad you enjoy it."

Olivia smiled "no thanks necessary," she said as Cragen started to eat his piece "Elliot you should open a candy store I'm serious," he said.

Elliot shook his head with a chuckle "I don't have the time or the money captain but I'm glad you like it."

He nodded "I don't like it," he yawned "I love it, and with that I'm off to my recliner," he said as he left the table with a smile and Kathleen and Lizzie prepared to leave.

Elliot, Olivia and Izzabella spent the rest of the evening chilling as Cragen was called to a crime seen at around 8:30 "I feel really bad that so much is on him El he's to old and has to much seniority to be responding to crime scenes anymore."

Elliot nodded and sighed "yeah I know, he's only got another week until Fin and Amaro are back though."

Olivia nodded "true," she said as she smiled "Izzabella's asleep you want me to carry her to bed?"

"I will," he said with a smile as he went and tucked her in then went right back out "you know we've gotta let her open those presents Cragen brought here for her."

Olivia nodded "I'd rather wait till we're home if that's alright that way she can open what we got for her too."

Elliot nodded "I'm good with that, how about the stuff that Cragen brought back from CSU? When should we go through it?"

She sighed "honestly I don't really wanna go through it I know what all's in there and the only thing that I ever wanna see again is the metal."

Elliot nodded "I understand baby, I'd also understand if you never wanted to see the metal again either."

Olivia sighed "I had that metal six years before Lewis did what he did to me with it and El my only regret is not wearing it more often once I had it. I-I'm not ready to see it right now but one day I will be and when I am I'll never take it off."

Elliot nodded slightly "I'll keep it safe for you then until your ready, I don't want you to rush yourself but the moment you want it back you tell me and you'll have it, it'll always be yours baby I promise."

Olivia nodded and hugged him tightly, a lot of thoughts running through her head but she chose not to speak them and just enjoy their loving embrace as after about ten minutes or so he pulled away slightly to face her "I should probably take a look at your arm again sweetheart," he said softly.

Olivia gave a slight nod as he checked it "looks like the spot is the same size, no bigger no smaller."

She smiled "that's good that means the ointment has stopped the spreading right?"

Elliot nodded "I think so baby," he said with a smile as his phone rang and he sighed "Kathleen," he said as he grabbed it "Stabler," he answered.

"Hey dad it's me, how's Liv's arm doing?"

Elliot smiled "the spot hasn't gotten bigger so I think the antibiotic ointment is helping."

Kathleen smiled "that's great, I've thought of how you can meet Brad."

"How's that?" Elliot asked.

Kathleen smiled "you can fly to Chicago with me tomorrow and meet him then."

Elliot sighed "honey I told you we don't have the money to fly until the end of next month."

Kathleen nodded "I remember that's why I'm paying for your flight."

"Honey I can't ask that of you it'll be several hundred dollars."

She nodded "yeah I know but like I told you our relationship is getting really serious, like really really serious and he has to meet you before we go any further."

Elliot sighed "I get what your saying Kathleen but it's hard for me to agree in good conscience for you to pay for our flight besides I'm not even sure that Liv is up for flying right now."

Kathleen sighed "paying you guy's flight is no trouble at all dad I won twenty thousand dollars off a scratch off ticket a couple weeks ago, besides Liv seemed just as eager to meet him as you were when we were talking about him this morning. Please dad? Please say yes?"

Elliot sighed heavily and glanced at Liv who could hear the conversation because of their close proximity as she gave a slight nod and Elliot gently kissed her temple then sighed and turned back to the phone "what time does the flight leave out?"

Kathleen smiled "I'm gonna book us all for the noon flight and we'll board at Laguardia, they're gonna be coach seats though."

"That's fine honey we pretty much always fly coach when we travel."

Kathleen nodded her head relieved "me and Lizzie will be at captain Cragen's around 10 or so in the morning."

Elliot nodded "sounds good honey if something comes up and we can't make it I'll call you and let you know."

"Sounds good dad, I love you guys sleep well."

"We love you guys too, good night Katie, congrats on the twenty thousand dollar win too."

"Thanks dad, goodnight," Kathleen said with a smile as she hung up and Elliot sighed slightly putting his phone down "if only I had that kind of luck," he said.

"Right? But you know what El just having you and our baby girl makes me happier than I can put into words."

"Same here Liv, same here, thank you for saying yes too I know this wasn't really in our plan."

She sighed "your right it wasn't but we can make this fun after we meet Brad we can go see Millennium park there's tuns to do there."

He smiled "very true, for what it's worth I have a bad feeling about Brad the more that I think about it his backstory is really strange and by the way Kathleen is talking it seems like he's moving to fast with her."

Olivia nodded "I agree with that, we'll get to the bottom of it tomorrow though."

"You bet we will," he said with a smile "you ready for bed? Sadly sleeping in isn't gonna be in the cards."

Olivia chuckled and nodded "I am," she said as once she took her morphine they headed to bed and fell asleep quickly holding each other close.