OK, so we have to set up a new deal. I'm going on vacation in like 2 days. Wehich means no update 4 a week. But…. The story is finished, and just has to be posted. So the faster you all review the quicker I get the last few chapters up. OK? So hurry up and get to it! ;)

SVU Squad room
July 9th

Elliot sat at his desk trying to finish up some last-minute paperwork so he could go home to Olivia. He had been staying with her to help her recover ever since she had been released from the hospital. It had been a long uphill battle, but he had been there for it all. The nightmares, the fear, the grief, the sadness, and slight depression. He recalled the many nights that he would have to stay up with her soothing her and practically rocking her back to sleep. But the grief had been the worst. It was hard to comfort somebody when you were feeling the same pain they were. They would cry together one day and he would hold and console her the next. It had been weeks now since their last crying session, and she was doing better. Almost as good as new, which was a big relief for him.

Elliot looked up to see Cragen heading towards his desk.

"Hey, so how's Olivia doing?" Cragen asked.

"She's fine. Almost completely back to her old self."

"Well that's good. When was the last time you checked up on her?"

"I went over to check on her this morning," he lied. No matter what was going on between them, they still had to keep up pretenses. "I've been busy here and haven't been able to check on her since."

"Well, why don't you go check on her? You can finish whatever you're doing tomorrow."

"Thanks, Cap," he said quickly. It was the break he had been looking for all day. He quickly gathered his things and left.

About an hour later Elliot walked into Olivia's apartment carrying a bag of Italian food. He looked up and found her sitting on the couch, starring at basically nothing.

"Hi," he said hoping to get her attention.

"Hi," she replied quietly.

"How was your day?"

"Fine."

He was puzzled by her one-word answers. Usually she had more to say when he came home. She would ask him about his day and how everything was going back at the Squad room. He decided to ignore it and continued on. "I picked up some Italian for us tonight. stuffed shells and chicken parmesan. How does that sound?"

"Ok."

He walked over and sat down beside her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Liv, don't lie to me. Please tell me what's bothering you."

She took a deep breath afraid to tell him what she had to tell him. She finally found her courage and began. "I think that you should move back into your place."

Elliot was suddenly confused. "Liv, I'm not going to leave you here by yourself."

"You don't have to worry. I'm going back to work tomorrow."

"Going back to work? Liv, you're in no condition to go back to work."

"Doctor cleared me today. I'm allowed to ride a desk for a couple of weeks and then I can go back to regular duty. So now you can go back to living home. I'm fine and I can take care of myself. "

" I know that Liv, but I was wondering what exactly are you getting at?" He knew exactly what she meant but wanted to clarify just to be sure.

"Elliot, just because I was hurt doesn't mean that things have completely changed. We still have things that we need to work through. I still have things that I need to work through."

" Liv, I don't understand this," he said shaking his head and began pacing the room, "I don't understand YOU!" He stopped and pointing at her. "What about everything that happened at the hospital?" He began pacing again.

"Elliot, please don't think that I'm not grateful for everything you've done for me. Staying up with me when I couldn't sleep because of the nightmares. Taking care of me when I couldn't do it myself. Waiting on me hand and foot. I'm grateful for all that. Believe me I am and I love you for it. I love you, but… There are still just some things that I have to work through. I need time."

He stopped pacing. "Oh, not this again. Don't give me that bullshit about you needing time again! Time for what! I don't understand you. Tell me, Liv, why is it that every time I get close to you, or we get close to working something out you always push me away?"

"Elliot."

"No, Liv, why? Tell me why because I need to know!"

"Because!"

"Because what!"

"Because I'm scared!" She threw her hands up in frustration then walked over and sat down on the couch. "I'm scared ok?" she said softly. She rested her elbows on her knees and placed her face in her hands.

He finally calmed down and sat down beside her. "Scared of what?" he asked softly, as he rubbed her back.

"I'm, scared that if Cragen finds out I'll lose my job."

"Liv, you know that I would never let that happen. I would transfer out before the thought could ever cross his mind. We both know that he wouldn't give up both of his best detectives."

"That's just it! I don't want to lose you as a partner. I saw how things were between you and Kathy and I don't want that with us I really feel that it's our partnership that keeps that from happening."

"Liv, c'mon you know that we are so much more than that. I wouldn't let that happen."

"But what if this doesn't work?" she asked tears strolling down her face.

He whipped her tears away and answered, "And what if it does? Isn't it worth the risk?"

"I don't know," She sobbed.

"Liv, tell me what you're afraid of so that I can help you."

"A lot of things."

"Like what?"

"I'm afraid that I still might lose my job. You're not Cragen, you don't know what the hell he would do. I'm also afraid that I might not only lose my partner, but also my best friend…" she sniffed. "I'm afraid that I also might end up with my heart broken and I just. Can't. Handle that. What if you stopped loving me?"

"Impossible."

"Anything's possible, you and I both know that, " she said softly as she starred down at her lap.

He tilted her chin upwards bringing her eyes up to meet his. "Liv, I would never stop loving you. I would never dream of hurting you like that. Like it or not, Liv, I'll love you until the day I die."

"Yeah, but you don't know that."

"But I do."

"Regardless, I still have some personal issues that I have to work through. Alone."

"I know, Liv, you still need time." He sighed. "Look, Liv, I love you and I always will love you. No matter what. And I'll wait. However long it takes, I'll wait. Because I believe you're worth it, and because I love you that much. And I believe we're worth it. Take your time and think all you want. I'll do my very best to be patient, He gave her a kiss on the cheek, then stood and left.

So you know the drill review for the next chapter and I'll be sure to keep up my end of the deal as always. :)