The Ante

Chapter Four

By: Lizzie B

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Author's Note: Like Chapter Four of The Bet, this chapter will be more serious and full of lovely hurt/comfort fluff. A very popular theme for Elliot/Olivia romances I've noticed. So, here's my attempt at it. Good luck to me! Please, read and review.

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There were no words, nothing that could be said that wouldn't sound stupid and useless. What could he possibly say that would ease the ache inside her. Elliot glanced at Olivia as they drove back to the station house, after seeing Alex Cabot for the last time. She had her head turned so look out the window, but he could see her reflection. It tore at him, destroyed him to see her so crushed. Alex's death was breaking her heart and it was killing him.

She leaned her forehead against the glass, trying to be strong, trying to hold it all in. She had to just accept it and move on. Except this wasn't just any other victim, this was Alex. This was her friend, one of the best friends she had ever made on the job. What was she going to do? She wanted to be strong enough to get past this, but desperately wanted someone to share her grief with. She wanted it to be Elliot, but he wasn't hers to rely on like that.

Still silent they pulled into the garage and he turned of the engine. She bolted and he scrambled after her, calling her name.

She had to get out of there, find some place where she could be alone and break. She wasn't going to start bawling like a baby around Elliot. Oh she wanted to, desperately, but leaning on him would just lead to problems. She wasn't fast enough however and he caught up with her on the second flight landing.

"Olivia," He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him, "Olivia there was nothing you could do."

"Let me go, Elliot," She said, trying to pull out of his grasp, but he just grabbed her other arm and held on tighter. Please, Elliot, she thought, don't be nice to me, don't be there for me. If you are, I could ruin everything and tell you everything I've been trying to hide.

"No," Elliot gave her a small shake, "It wasn't your fault, it wasn't anyone's fault."

"We should have known he'd send someone after her!" She yelled in his face, "She should have been in protective custody!"

"She was with us! Liv, how much for safe could she get?"

"We should have…there had to be," She tried to think of an excuse while blinking back tears, "El, there had to be something."

"Liv," And he caved. He pulled her into his arms and held on tight. She clung to him, her face pressed tight against his shoulder and it was the saddest, yet most terrifyingly perfect moment of his life. She shook in his arm from sobbing so hard, her tears soaking his jacket. He stroked his hands up and down her back while he whispered reassuring nonsense in her ear.

"It'll be alright, Liv, I promise."

"How can you make it right, El? She's dead. You can't fix that, no one can. She was…was my friend. We were so close."

"Hey, hey," Elliot pulled back and cupped her face in his hands, later he'd think about how perfectly it fit, "I'm your friend, Munch, Fin, Cragen, everyone up stairs, we're here for you. We're not going anywhere."

"I can't believe she's gone, Elliot."

"I know," He held her gently, this time just for himself.

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Author's Note: Oh man, sappy. I blame Fault, lol.