Close Calls

Summary; See ch1

Disclaimer: Not mine

A/N: Glad that you all seem to like it so far, stay tuned though because there are twists a coming!

Bath Time

It was Monday night, and Elliot sat alone in his apartment. He was watching some drama on television, but wasn't really paying attention. He was too bored. He wouldn't have clearance to get back to work for a while, and had a hard time moving around yet, so he was stuck home.

The weekend hadn't been that bad being that his kids and Olivia were there to keep him company. But today, his kids were back at Kathy's and Olivia was back at work.

To fill his time Elliot had watched just about every afternoon talk show that had been on, and began formulating a plan for his own.

It was while he was contemplating the concept for his first show that Olivia finally let herself in the font door.

"Honey, I'm home!" She joked as she walked in. She would never admit it, but the fact of the matter was, that she enjoyed having someone to come home to. She had been thinking about it all day at work. It was the first time in a while that she wasn't coming home to an empty apartment.

"Finally." Elliot said with a smile. "I thought I was going to eat my own gun if I had to sit here alone any longer" He added as he struggled to get himself off the couch, and let out a grunt as he straightened his stiff chest.

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing I got here when I did." Olivia smiled as she put down her belongings and walked over to Elliot to kiss him.

Elliot wrapped his arms around her small waist to pull her closer to deepen their kiss.

"You really were lonely, weren't you?" She smiled after pulling away. "I brought you some food." She added as she walked back over to the entry way where she had left the bags of food. "Thought I'd cook you dinner tonight."

"Cook? You?" Elliot asked truly in shock. As wonderful of a woman as Olivia Benson was, she never seemed all that domestic to Elliot.

"Yes cook." Olivia answered. "You know, just because I'm a ball breaker all day at work doesn't mean I can't be fragile and feminine at home." She smiled. However, even she couldn't help but laugh at the thought of her acting like a fragile feminine Martha Stewart.

She just brought the groceries into the kitchen and started taking them out of the bags. Elliot snuck up behind her and enveloped her into his chest.

"I never said that you couldn't be feminine." He whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Just never knew you could cook is all."

"I'm just full of surprises Detective Stabler." She said back over her shoulder. Before they started dating, the two would use names like "El", or "Liv" to show their hidden affection for one another. Now that they were a couple however, they would call each other "detective" to flirt.

"And I can't wait to find out each and every one." Elliot said as he delicately placed small kisses down her neck, causing Olivia to sigh quietly. She loved what he was doing to her.

"Don't start something you can't finish." She warned, knowing what he was doing to her body, but also knowing fully well that he was no condition to get to far with this intimacy.

"I can't help it Liv. You just have this affect on me." He said, switching his lips to the other side of her neck. "Every time you walk into a room I just have to touch you." He smiled.

"Well that might cause a problem once you get back to work." She smiled, trying to keep her mind from completely spinning out of control.

Elliot just laughed. "I really should take a bath." He said quietly. He knew just as well as she did that if he didn't stop now, they may not be able to, and his chest was in too much pain to do anything more than kiss.

He reluctantly let go of Olivia's waist, and headed out of the kitchen.

"When was your last bath?" She called out.

"Friday, before I left the hospital." He answered with a slight blush.

"Ah, so that's what smells!" She joked.

"Hey, its not my fault. I've been too stiff to sit for that long, and the doctor said I can't take a shower until the stitches in my chest are taken out." He defended.

"You think you're gonna need any help?" She asked as she began placing groceries in Elliot's refrigerator.

"I'll call if I do." He answered, hoping that he would at least be able to do this by himself.

Olivia had decided to cook Elliot lemon chicken with risotto and mixed vegetables. It was one of her favorite meals, and she figured Elliot would like it too; considering that he usually stole half of all her meals anyway.

As she prepared the chicken she heard the water go on in the bathroom. She had to stop herself from picturing Elliot in the tub, but it was a hard image to get out of her brain.

She was so close to having the image fully gone, as she placed the seasoned chicken breast into the oven, when she heard Elliot call for her.

"Uh Liv… I think… I may need some help." His reluctant voice came from the bathroom.

"Great" She thought. Watching out for Elliot had become a form of torture for her. She helped get him dressed and undressed, slept in his arms, received passionate kisses from him, yet she couldn't make love to him the way she yearned to. He was still in no condition for that, and it killed her.

"Coming." She yelled back as she stirred the risotto on the stove.

She made her way over to the bathroom door, and knocked.

"Come on in." Elliot said in a whisper.

Olivia walked in to find a filled tub, and Elliot sitting on the closed toilet wrapped in a towel.

She had to fight to keep her eyes on his face. "What… what's wrong?" She stammered.

Elliot kept his eyes on the floor. He was embarrassed, but needed her help. "I, uh, I can't get into the tub." He told her. "It hurts to lower myself in." He explained.

Olivia's mind went blank. She didn't know if she would be able to control herself for this one.

Elliot could see that she didn't really know how to answer, so he answered for her. "Look, I'll keep the towel on, just help lower me into the tub."

"Okay." She finally breathed. She should have been able to figure that one out, but seeing Elliot in nothing but a fuzzy blue towel seemed to make her mind turn into Swiss cheese.

Elliot stood from where he was seated and walked over to the tub. Olivia supported him by holding onto his harms as he stiffly stepped into the tub. He put all his weight onto her as she helped lower him into the water.

Although it hurt, Elliot knew that it had to be done. He needed to clean himself. He hadn't realized how much he used the muscles in his chest until now. Holding himself upright to walk hurt, keeping his upper body steady as he sat down hurt, even lowering himself into a sleeping position was a task. He was thankful to have Olivia here to help him.

When he was fully submerged he thanked her.

"Don't mention it." Olivia smiled. "Just call me when you're ready to get out."

With that she left. After closing the door behind her she had to take a deep breath to slow her blood. "Why does he have to be so good looking?" She wondered as she made her way back to the kitchen to finish dinner.

After she finished cooking, and setting the table for their dinner, Olivia began to worry. Elliot had been in the tub for a while. So, she decided to check on him.

When she walked over to the closed door she hurt grunting coming from inside. She knocked gently. "You okay in there?" She asked, concerned.

"Fine." Elliot simply said. But she could hear the pain in his voice.

"I'm coming in." She told him before pushing the door open to find him, bottom half draped in a sopping towel, trying to lift himself out of the tub.

"What the hell are you doing?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Trying to get out of the tub, what does it look like?" He asked, annoyance in his voice.

"I told you to call me." She simply said walking over to the side of the tub, taking his bicep in her hand to help pull him up.

"I'm a grown man, I should be able to get myself in and out of a bath." He grunted as he emerged from the tub.

"Elliot, you were just shot. Your body needs time to heal." Olivia tried explaining as he grabbed a dry towel. "You're already doing better than when you came home."

"Yeah, I'm a 40 year old man who can actually dress himself and lower himself into his bed. Amazing." He mocked.

"I'm sorry." Olivia whispered, guilt once again taking over.

Elliot realized what he had said, and knew what Olivia was thinking. His demeanor quickly changed. "Liv, I didn't mean…" He began, but stopped when Olivia left the bathroom. "Damn!" He cursed out loud.

Olivia knew that Elliot didn't blame her, but that didn't stop her from feeling guilty. She stood in the kitchen, and began cleaning up the dishes she had used to make dinner.

As she was finishing Elliot emerged from the bathroom fully clothed. "Liv." He called gently from the entrance to the kitchen.

Olivia turned, leaning back against the sink. "Look Elliot, I'm sorry for what happened. I'm sorry that you're in pain. I'm sorry that your pride is hurt. I'm sorry." She apologized.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." He said sternly. He wished that she would believe it as much as everyone else did. He walked over to her, and wrapped his arms around her, but she didn't move.

"I would be in so much more pain right now if I had lost you." He whispered into her hair. "You didn't do anything Olivia. Had the roles been reversed, I know that you would have done the same for me."

"Well…" Olivia said with a smile.

"Oh, nice Liv." Elliot smiled back. "Good to know you care."

"Just kidding." Olivia clarified, although he already knew that. "Come on, let's eat."

TBC... Just a little more fluff for you guys out there, and there's more to come, plus action is also headed this way, so stay tuned!

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