The rest of the day had gone smoothly back at the station house. Elliot and Olivia hadn't spoken a word about what had happened with Jackson. They silently agreed to drop it.
Elliot shut his lamp off and stood up to stretch. He cleared his throat and saw Olivia look up in his direction.
"Hey, El. You headed home?" She didn't wait for an answer before returning to her files. She was finishing up the last paragraph. Overall, they hadn't had much luck. The rest of their day had been spent making calls. They were still waiting on DNA from the milk bottle. Since they weren't dealing with a kidnapping, they were at the bottom of the list to get their sample worked.
"Yeah, come on. I'll drive you home." He sat back down in his chair, determined to wait the rest of the night if he had to. He'd seen the signs of pain etched in the corners of her eyes and the crease in her brows. She was overdue for pain killers, he knew. She wouldn't take anything on the job.
"An offer I can't refuse. One more second." She stifled a yawn with the back of her cast. She was still getting used to having it on. She quickly jotted down the remaining sentences and shut the file before placing it in her desk drawer until the morning.
"Great. After you, Liv." He made a flicking motion with the back of his hand, motioning for her to go first.
"Oh, it feels so good to get up and move. I haven't sat that long in ages." She took in a deep breath once she got outside. No matter how hot it was, the fresh air always seemed to help her mood.
"Know what I'm thinking?" Elliot unbuttoned his collar.
"Ice cold shower?" She stood by the door, waiting for him to open it.
"Better. Ice cold beer. I'll even spring for a pizza. What do you say?" He saw her hesitate a moment, mulling over the decision.
"You know what? That sounds fantastic. I'd take a be…damn. I…hang on." She patted her pockets even though she knew it wouldn't be there.
"What?" He frowned, unsure of what she was trying to find.
"Oh, you reminded me of something. I can't have alcohol with my meds. I forgot them inside." She sighed and glanced in the general direction of the station. She loathed having to go back.
"I still have them. They're in the car. I didn't think you'd want to take them at work and I wouldn't have accepted anything other than you to accept my offer to drive you home. I just left them there for you. I forgot about the beer thing, though. Sorry, Liv. If it makes you feel better, I won't have one. We can suffer together." He knew how good an ice cold beer sounded. He couldn't drink one right in front of her. If she couldn't have one, they both would do without.
"Oh, thanks. I should have known you'd do that. I'm slipping." She chuckled and got in the car after he'd undone the locks.
"Nah. I think all that ass time is affecting your brain. You're used to using it more on the streets." He started the car and pulled into traffic. The air was muggy and he was sweating already. He welcomed it, though. He was going home, finally.
"Must be. I like your theory. Let's get some food. I'd take anything, at this point. I'm famished." She laughed when she heard his stomach growl as if agreeing to her statement.
"So, who were you talking to earlier? Someone give you a hard time?" He remembered her call in the precinct earlier and chalked it up to her being frustrated. She'd been snippy ever since the call, though. As the day progressed, she seemed a little more relaxed, but he couldn't help but wonder what the call was all about.
"Huh? When?" She feigned innocence.
"You know what I mean. You weren't exactly a ray of sunshine in there after the meeting with Cragen. I know he pissed you off, but I also know you well enough to know it was more than that. Who do I need to take care of?" He cracked his knuckles and made a fist.
"Oh, you mean Adam. Oh, it's nothing. Just a rough patch. Well, our latest rough patch." She rolled her eyes as she recalled the conversation. Lately all he wanted was sex and she wasn't home enough to give it to him. He was such a nice guy the first month or two. It wasn't until lately that she noticed a change in him. She stopped inviting him over, hoping he'd get the hint. He didn't. His calls were growing in frequency and she was tired of dodging them.
"Adam? Who's that?" He frowned, trying to remember what they'd talked about earlier. He figured her power had been restored.
"Adam as in…semi-boyfriend, Adam. We're sort of seeing each other." She braced herself. It was inevitable they'd discuss him at some point.
"Oh, okay. Uh…how is he? Wait, stupid question. Are you okay?" He fumbled for words. He wanted to ask her when she'd started dating the guy but held his tongue. She'd obviously been upset about something. No use asking about the guy unless she felt like volunteering the information.
"Yeah. I've been trying to find a way to break it off with him for a while. It just isn't working out. You know, with my schedule and all." She felt like a broken record. Most guys she'd dated got tired of her schedule. Years ago she'd welcome a date that wouldn't mind and now she seemed to be using it as an excuse to get out of a relationship.
"As long as you're happy, Liv. You don't seem very happy, though." He knew there was more but it would have to wait until she felt like sharing more.
"Thanks for not pushing. It's just that he's kind of bothering me lately. I don't know, maybe I'm being paranoid. He's calling my cell phone. I finally quit checking my messages today. I knew I'd be near the desk phone if anyone needed me. He used that one. I can't have him calling there. I'm already in hot water with the Captain without that adding to it." She crossed her arms, noticing it would be time soon for some meds. She'd put it off long enough.
"Do you think he'd take it further?" He grew antsy. He felt bad for not helping her earlier. He was surprised she was even talking about it with him.
"What? No. Not Adam. At least, I don't think so. It's really no big deal. He's just…how can I explain this? This is so embarrassing, but it's like the guy can't take no for an answer. I just….you know how it is. You get home after seeing these horrible things and you want to take a hot shower and there the guy is propped up on the bed. It's like 'here I am.' Can't a girl relax?" She was rambling. She was too worked up to care. She deserved to unwind. She was used to being by herself and if Adam didn't understand her need to be independent occasionally, then screw him. She laughed bitterly at the though. Yeah, bet he'd like that.
"Sounds like a creep. How'd he even get in, Liv?" He grew more irritated. He had half a mind to find out where the guy lived.
"It was a couple months ago. He said he was worried because I hadn't called. When I got home he was outside my door. He was so worked up. I couldn't figure it out. I just thought he was upset that he couldn't get a hold of me. I told him if it made him feel better he could have a key but he damned well better call first that I wasn't going to just let him roam around without me there. He swore he'd call. I know it was a mistake but I honestly didn't think anything would come out of it. I guess you should always trust your gut instinct. I knew there was something funny about him. I see it all the time at work. I should have just listened to my instincts." She ran a hand through her hair and pulled down the visor to check for any errant strands.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it. It's okay for the guy to be upset but for him to be calling you all the time is not. Sounds like you need to drop that guy like a bad habit. Get your key back. Better yet, get your locks changed." He pulled up by the pizza joint and killed the engine in the car.
"I don't want to cause any trouble. I should have ended it when I suspected something." In the back of her mind, she was growing more scared of Adam. He'd never hit her, but he had a temper she'd seen more than once. She'd always given in. She felt like she was being used.
"Don't want to cause trouble…Olivia, the guy's harassing you. Let him go before he hurts you. You don't mess around with guys like this. I've seen it a million times and so have you. Please? If not for yourself, for me? Olivia, you're my friend and I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to you. I know we've had our issues but it doesn't change the fact that I care about you." He was using her first name. He did that when he was serious about something; about getting his point across. She gazed back at him, hanging on his every word. Good. She was listening.
"I don't know what to say to him. I told him that I needed some space and that if he couldn't handle that then we should split up. He seemed fine with it. It's hot and cold with him. I thought he'd just let it go." She made no attempt to get out of the car. Her appetite had been ruined at the thought of Adam's slimy hands all over her and her silent protests for him to just get it over with. She hadn't noticed the tear fall from her eye until she felt a hand on her shoulder as Elliot turned her to face him.
"Olivia, did this Adam guy do something to you? Did he…did he hurt you?" It felt like hours while he waited for an answer. He watched her eyes intently. The fact that was even considering how to answer his question scared the hell out of him.
"I…Adam…we aren't intimate. We just…you know. Can we talking about something else?" She sniffled and wiped the moisture from her eyes. She hated that he'd made her cry. She'd been so emotional lately, trying to keep it all in. Elliot's fears were confirming her own. Was it rape? She clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Oh my god, that son of a bitch. That filthy, son of a bitch!" He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, seething. He couldn't say the word. He couldn't say it. He was shaking, he was so angry. All he could feel was the heat from his rage. All he could see was red. Pure anger made up his entire being at that moment. He had enough sense to pull her into an embrace when she started sobbing. He felt like shit. His own eyes watered as he watched Olivia struggle with the truth she'd obviously just found. That son of a bitch.
"Elliot?" Her voice cracked. She looked at him, begging for answers. The gravity of the situation hit her full force and she was struggling to grasp reality. She held onto him so tightly her knuckles were white. Her wrist throbbed and she pulled away, hissing in pain.
"I. Am. So. Sorry." He breathed heavily, muttering each syllable slowly as if trying to believe the news himself. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes for the first time since she'd told him.
"I can't believe I was so naive. I didn't want to upset him. I can't believe I let myself be put in that position." She heard his breathing evening out and his eyes had a clarity in them she hadn't seen for a while. For once, she was glad for his protective role.
"It's not your fault, Liv. Don't you ever blame yourself for that asshole doing that to you. You might have suspected something, but you had no reason to believe the guy would escalate. As far as you knew, he just had a temper and he wanted sex. Did you ever tell him no?" He shut down the mental image of her being taken advantage of before it entered his mind.
"No." She mumbled the words. She was barely heard over the car starting once again.
"But you made every indication you didn't want it. Like today. That guy had you backed into the wall, Liv. You had nowhere to go. That's what Adam did, wasn't it? After you told him you weren't up to it or you just didn't feel like it? He didn't leave you a way out. You don't have to say the word no for it to be implied. He knew you didn't want it. It wasn't your fault." He stared at her, completely lost. She never looked more broken to him than at that moment.
"I just froze in that room today. It's like the mouse that stays still so the cat will think it's dead and will just leave it alone, only it doesn't. It just gets even more mad while the mouse tries to become invisible." The last word was whispered, almost inaudible.
"I wouldn't have let him do anything to you. You know that, right, Liv?" He wanted her to understand she'd never be a victim if he could help it. The thing was, she already had been and he never even knew Adam existed. He pulled out into the street again. He saw her nod, unable to speak. They were both talked out and had lost their appetite.
Neither said a word as he pulled up next to his building. He didn't want her to be alone. He wasn't about to send her off to be taken advantage of. If Adam was as bad as he sounded, Elliot would have to have a little talk with the guy, man to man.
"Hey, Elliot?" Olivia unbuckled her seat belt and faced him as he did the same.
"Yeah, Liv?" He pulled the handle but didn't open the door.
"Thank you for…being there. Thanks for being here tonight. Well, today and tonight. I know things have been weird between us but I'd like us to start over. I don't want to fight anymore. I can't take it." She placed her good hand on his free hand and gave it a squeeze.
"You don't have to thank me for being your friend, Liv. I couldn't not be here. I'm just sorry all this was going on and I didn't know about it. If you'll let me, I'd like to help you. I don't want to fight anymore, either. So, starting tomorrow, we start fresh. Okay?" He rubbed his thumb over her fingers and smiled.
"'Kay. I have something to confess to you. Friend." She gave a small grin before growing serious.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me." He pulled his hand from her grip and placed it on her forearm.
"Uh…I did have noisy neighbors but they moved out a week ago. I couldn't sleep last night. Adam had called so many times and I finally convinced him not to come over and by the time I had gotten to sleep it was early morning, the power had gone out, and then you called. I'm sorry I lied to you." She looked down, averting her gaze.
"Then we're both sorry, because I shouldn't have given you such a hard time. I shouldn't have been such a prick. I'd still give them a talking to if you did have neighbors like that." He reached down and grabbed the pill bottle from the floor of the passenger side before pushing the door open. He patted her arm and got out of the car.
"I know you would, and I'll take a rain check." She got out of the car and met him on the sidewalk.
They walked up the stairs to his building. Their hands would touch briefly. Occasionally, they turned to meet each other's gaze. It was a small gesture to let the other know that they were okay again. This time, it would be for good.
Elliot nudged Olivia with his elbow, jokingly. When she didn't laugh, he saw she was staring across the street.
"Go. Go inside, Elliot." She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the door. Once inside, she let out a breath she'd been holding.
"What? What's wrong?" He let her lead him up the stairs to his floor. She finally spoke as they reached his door.
"I just saw Adam's car drive by." She linked her arm with his, needing to feel protected.
"Get in. He's not touching you. He's not going near you. He's going to have to go through me first." He closed the door behind them and went into the kitchen to make the coffee. They could both have the caffeine.
"Oh, God. He must have gotten your address. He went through my things. Shit." She walked to the couch and set the cup on the table. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Finish your coffee. Take a shower, relax, do whatever you need to do. Take my bed. I'll sleep out here but you are not going home tonight. Not until we get this guy off your tail." He cursed his choice of words. She made no move to get up but opened her eyes and picked up her cup. He noticed her eyes growing heavy as she drank. He was wide awake, though. He hadn't planned on sleeping, anyway.