Layover
Chapter 12-- Working It Out
A/N: I know, it's scary to have a chapter so fast from me. I wrote this whole chapter during a blackout that lasted…wait for it…2 ½ hours! Good ol' PA electricity, we don't fix nuttin fast! But anywho…here you go!
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As Olivia neared the bottom of the stairs the sound of screaming reached her ears. She stopped mid-step, turned to Elliot who was only a few steps behind her with a questioning look.
"This is not a playground people!" Cragen's voice boomed. "Now let's get to work and quit horsing around. And where the hell are Benson and Stabler?"
"I saw them go up to the roof a while ago," Munch said.
"Well someone go up there and bring them down."
"No need," Elliot called as soon as he and Olivia entered the Squadroom. "We're here."
Cragen cocked his head in their direction, a look of anger on his face. "Well it's about time. You two, my office." He didn't wait for the two detectives to follow him before storming back into his office.
"This isn't going to be good is it?" Olivia asked, chewing on her bottom lip in nervousness.
"No it's not," Elliot answered. Placing his hand on the small of her back, he led Olivia into his boss's office where he was sure his job or his life was going to be in jeopardy. 'I should probably leave my gun out here,' he thought idly. Closing the door behind them, Elliot took a seat next to his partner and waited for the volcano that was Captain Cragen to explode.
Cragen stood motionless behind his desk for what felt like an eternity. He eyed each of his two best detectives, like a father disciplining his children, before asking in a calm voice, "When were you going to tell me?"
Neither Elliot nor Olivia raised their eyes, but merely stared at the same two spots on the front of Cragen's desk, hoping that the other would speak.
"Well?" Don asked again, this time with a harder tone.
Elliot looked at Olivia, whose eyes were still downcast, and decided to sacrifice himself. "How did you find out? Did Munch and Fin…?"
"I was at the airport," he divulged. "I thought it would be nice for you to see a familiar face when you came home."
"Oh God," Olivia sighed under her breath. She had thought they would be safe, completely anonymous, but she had been wrong. Never in a million years would she have wanted Cragen to find out this way. If she knew he was there she would have….well she really didn't know what she would have done, but make out with Elliot would not have been it.
"Look Captain," Elliot started, "you weren't suppose to see that."
"I figured that much," Cragen said with a hint of sarcasm to his voice. "What happened in D.C.?"
"I don't know," sighed Elliot. "Maybe it was being cooped up in that room for so long, but we just…I don't know."
Don considered his words for a minute before looking at Olivia who had been silent throughout the whole conversation. This was bothering her more so than Elliot; he made a mental note to talk to her later. Cragen took a moment to gather his thoughts before asking his next question, knowing that it would open more doors than he or they knew existed. "How serious is this?"
Olivia's eyes finally strayed from their spot on the Captain's desk to his questioning face. She felt like she had disappointed the closest thing she had to a father. 'How do I say this to him? God, why is this so hard?' Before she could form the words, Olivia felt Elliot's hand tangle in her own. She squeezed it tightly, drawing a sense of courage from their contact. "I'm in love, Captain."
"And you feel the same way?" Don asked Elliot after a short pause.
Elliot squeezed her hand and locked eyes with Don. "I do. I've never felt anything this strong before."
Cragen sighed softly, finally taking a seat behind his desk. He placed his hand over his face, closing his eyes as if to concentrate. He had been waiting for this day for a long time; waiting for their emotions to finally spill out on the floor. Now all he had to do was figure out how to contain the flood.
"Okay," sighed Cragen, finally lowering his hand to rest atop his desk. "You know if the Brass gets wind of this it's all our asses on the line." Elliot and Olivia nodded in silent agreement, their hands still intertwined but their eyes now focused on their boss. "We could separate you."
Both Elliot and Olivia stiffened at the suggestion, but it was Olivia that spoke. "Don…please. Don't do that."
"I'm sorry Olivia," Cragen spoke softly. "I really wish there was another way, but you both know the rules and you know how adamant 1PP is about that stuff."
Olivia dropped her eyes in defeat. Her logical side was telling her it was a good arrangement, neither of them would have to leave the unit and they would still get to see each other every day. But there was something deep within her heart that wouldn't let go. It wouldn't be the same anymore. He wouldn't be her partner., wouldn't be sitting at the desk across from her anymore. 'But then he could be so much more,' her conscience spoke softly. 'Would you rather be with him at work or have him at home?' As that thought settled in, she made her mind up. No matter how much she wanted things to stay the same, she knew change was inevitable. "I guess there isn't another way."
"Is that your decision as well?" Don asked Elliot.
He exchanged glances with Olivia and nodded his agreement. "It is."
"Alright then," Cragen sighed. "Starting tomorrow Olivia will be paired with John and Elliot, you'll take Fin. Do you want me to tell them or--"
"We'll talk to them," Olivia interrupted. She stood up from her chair and smiled at her Captain before leaving his office. Elliot rose to follow her but was stopped by Don's voice.
"Elliot, a word?" he motioned for his senior detective to come closer so the words would only be between them. When he was sure he had Elliot's full attention Don continued, "You know I think of that girl--woman as my daughter." Elliot nodded and waited for him to continue. "If you hurt her in any way, physically or otherwise…"
"I'll hand you the gun myself," Elliot finished. The look the two men shared told each of them that they had come to a complete understanding. Without another word being spoken, Elliot left Cragen's office.
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It had finally come time to leave, after what seemed like the longest day of her life. Olivia had never wanted to get out of the stationhouse so bad before.
Munch and Fin had been informed of the situation and after a few grueling minutes of jokes and the exchanging of money that had been bet as to when the partners would 'jump in the sack together' as Munch had put it, had finally offered their congratulations.
With everything dealt with, Olivia wanted nothing more than to make it home and crash into her bed. Grabbing her coat and briefcase, she planned on making a quick stop before finally leaving.
"Can I come in?" she called through Cragen's door.
"Sure," he answered. When Olivia finally entered and closed the door Don became worried. "Don't tell me something else happened. I already did the paperwork."
"No, nothing like that," laughed Olivia. "I just…I wanted to tell you that…I never meant for you to find out that way."
"I know," he whispered gesturing to the seat across from him which Olivia gladly accepted. "Trust me when I say that's not what I came to JFK for."
"I know. I spent my entire weekend trying to figure out how I was going to tell you but everything I came up with just sounded so….not right. I can't explain it, but I just felt like you would be disappointed in me somehow."
Hearing the cracking of her voice, Cragen wheeled his chair out from around his desk until he was sitting next to her. Reaching over, he took Olivia's hand and smiled at her. "Olivia there is nothing you can do that would disappoint me. You are one of the best detectives I have and one of the greatest people I have ever met."
"Thank you," she whispered, silently willing herself not to cry.
Don sensed the emotions threatening to spill out. "And if you want to waste your time with Stabler, well then who am I to stand in the way?" Olivia laughed loudly, thankful for the change of subject. Don knew she was never good at expressing herself and was happy to make her laugh. "Now get out of here. I'm sure someone's waiting for you."
Olivia smiled as she rose from her chair. She turned to leave, making sure to grab her briefcase as she went. "Thank you," she called just before she crossed the threshold, "for everything."
Cragen sat at his desk and watched her leave, knowing that those two would make it and praying that the system wouldn't challenge them every step of the way.
