"Ow! Noah, please come pick up your backpack and put your cars away. I just stepped on one. Living room should not be a place where we leave our toys all over the place. Noah where are you?" Olivia asked as she walked in the hallway.
"Sorry, Mom. Can I play on PS4 for awhile?" Noah asked as he ran from his bedroom into the living room.
"Ok, sure but you need to go get ready for bed. Brush your teeth and wash your face. I'm going to finish loading the dishwasher and then lay on my bed for a while. When I come and get you time for bed and no arguing or no PS4 all weekend. Deal? " Liv asked as she was picking up the living room.
"Deal, thanks mom."Noah said as he ran past her again. If only to have an ounce of that energy again Olivia thought as she walked in her bedroom.
Olivia loved being a mom. She had wanted it for so long and then feared it would never happen. She came close once adopting a boy before Noah but wasn't meant to be.
Past few weeks have been a whirlwind. It had felt like she was drowning in everything Elliot Stabler. He was her best friend, partner, and the meaning and extent of their bond was beyond words explaining. She didn't even know how much he had meant to her until one day he disappeared. She always remembered what Elliot's mom Bernie had said. Elliot walks away from those he doesn't care about. But never did Olivia think the person she loved and trusted the most would be the one who would ever break her heart. Never did she think Bernie's words would be her.
Twelve years they had been partners on the force. She knew what he was thinking with just a look. She could anticipate what his next move would be. They had gone through shootings before.
She would have been there.
She would have helped him through anything.
She would have died to save him if his life was in danger. He had a wife and kids. He was her everything.
And one day he just disappeared.
He walked out on her like she was nothing to him. Like everything they shared meant nothing. Day he left a part of her heart had shattered. She had never felt pain like that before or since he left.
And then a few weeks back she gets a call for an incident on her route to a silly award she was to receive. And then she sees her. Kathy. Kathy Stabler. Her friend. But also the person she felt insane and mind numbing jealousy over for every day Elliot Stabler was in Olivia's life. Kathy was hurt. She could die. As she saw her placed in the ambulance she was so confused. Why was she in New York?
And then the man she had loved and hated reappeared. Elliot.
Of course Olivia would be there for Elliot and the kids. She could always fall back on work and do her job. She needed to know what happened and who would kill Kathy. Anything personal would have to wait.
His words he had said made no sense.
Liv, you mean the world to me.
If I heard your voice I would not have been able to leave.
Ten years ago to hear those words she would have felt happiness, love and even though complicated she would have known they would get through it together.
But to hear those words now made her angry and seemed convenient because Elliot needed her. Where was Elliot when she needed him? When she was a broken shell of herself after William Lewis.
He was gone.
If she had meant that much to him he would have told her he was leaving. He would have returned a call or sent a Christmas card in the ten years he was gone. He would have shown some resemblance to the man she knew.
Elliot had given her a letter but she had yet to open it. She had gone to talk to him and he didn't have time. She could tell he wasn't well and probably looking for info on Kathy's murder.
Last she saw him in her car three weeks ago she told him he needed help. He of course brushed it off in a normal Elliot response. He was superman and could do everything himself. Once again he told her to back off. So she did even though she would have helped.
Olivia snapped out of it at the sound of her phone ringing. "UGH, where is it? I'm coming. Hold on." she was saying as she searched near her dresser for her cellphone.
"Benson. Can I help you?" She didn't recognize the number.
"Olivia, it's Kathleen. Can we please meet tomorrow. Dad needs help."
"Kathleen, hi honey. Sure, would dinner at Joe's cafe work around five?" Olivia asked as she wondered how bad Elliot had become.
"Yes, it would. I really appreciate it Liv. Dad really needs you and needs help. He is doing really bad right now." Kathleen said as she was sobbing on the phone.
"Honey, thank you for calling. You know no matter what I'm always here for your dad, you and the rest of the kids. You are my family. Bye, honey. See you tomorrow."
Olivia knew she meant those words. No matter how much of a son of a bitch Elliot Stabler was he was her family. She didn't know what would happen or how close she would let him back in her life. But if he and kids were ever in need she would always be there.
