Close Calls
Summary: See ch1
Disclaimer: Still don't own anyone
A/N: Sorry I didn't update last night, but my school had a bunch of memoral servies for the anniversary of 9/11. My heart goes out to all of you who may have lost a loved one on that day. And, of course, God bless the police, firefighters, and soldiers who both risked and gave their lives on that day, and still today.
Tonight
Elliot was finally back at work after another excruciating few days sitting at his apartment with nothing to do.
The doctors had told him that it would still be another 4 to 5 days until he was allowed back in the field though, but he accepted it gratefully.
It was mid afternoon and the rest of the squad was just returning from questioning their latest suspect.
"I've been here for 6 years now, and those creeps never fail to make me sick." Fin noted as he pulled out his chair to sit.
"Yeah, well at least they don't make eyes at you." Olivia huffed taking her own seat.
"Long interview?" Elliot asked, making a mental note to ask Olivia about those 'eyes' later.
"Not really. Just your typical, run of the mill sick, perverted, psycho." Munch answered. "The kind that makes you desperately want to take shower after breathing their air. You know the type."
"Ah. I see." Elliot answered.
"You missing it?" Fin asked.
"Missing what?" Elliot asked.
"Bein in the field?" Fin answered.
"Yeah. But to tell you the truth, I've never been so happy to be on ass duty before. I was going out of my mind sitting home all day." He smiled.
Before the small talk could continue Casey walked in, looking rather pissed off.
"Someone steal your cheerios consular?" Munch asked over the rim of his glasses.
"Worse, Billy Richards is out of jail." She answered; everyone could tell that she was clearly angry.
"What are you talking about Case?" Olivia asked standing from her desk and making her way over to Casey. "We just left the interrogation room five minutes ago."
"Yes, well it seems that Mr. Richards forgot to mention that he is currently an informant for the Marshalls." Casey answered, annoyed.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me." Olivia huffed. "That's the second time this months they have screwed up a case for us."
"I wasn't aware that the Marshalls gave immunity to rapists and murders." Cragen said. He had entered the bullpen when Casey had arrived.
"Well apparently they do." Casey answered. "Two of them came in right after you left. They informed me that they would deal with him for the time being, and we could have him when he had 'fulfilled his purpose.'" She explained.
"Yeah, we'll never see him again." Munch snorted.
"Every time I'm ready to call John a crazy old man for his conspiracy theories, those damn Marshalls come along and make me second guess myself." Fin said in annoyance.
"Casey, is there anything you can do?" Cragen asked.
"I tried. It seems that whatever the Marshalls are using him for is more important than the fact that he raped and murdered a twenty year old girl. He's long gone." She sighed.
Cragen could see that his team was feeling defeated so he said, "Alright people. There's nothing more we can do now. Let's just move on."
"'Just move on'?" Olivia asked. "Captain, we've been chasing this guy for two weeks now. He killed a twenty year old girl because she wouldn't sleep with him. How are we just supposed to move on?" She finished, almost yelling.
"Because there's nothing else we can do, and there are other cases we need to get to." Cragen said evenly. He knew that she was upset, so looked the other way when she yelled.
"This sucks." She blurted before turning and almost running out of the bullpen.
Elliot quietly got up to go after her as the rest of the squad went back to their work.
"Poor man." Fin stated quietly.
"What are you talking about?" Casey asked.
"He is clearly in love with her, and he has no idea." He answered.
"Has no idea about what?" Casey pushed.
"That she's seeing someone." Munch sighed. "It really is a shame."
"What are you two babbling about?" Casey asked once more, she was beginning to grow irritated with all their cryptic talk.
"Haven't you seen how happy Olivia's been lately? I mean, at first we thought it was just because she and Kevin broke up, but the other day, I heard her talking on the phone about a date she was going on." Munch explained shaking his head.
"I'm beginning to think that those two will never get past their stubborn pride, and see that their perfect for each other." Fin added.
"And here I thought that you two were cynics. Who woulda thought you were just a bunch of mushy romantics." Casey mocked. She reveled in the fact that she knew why Olivia was so happy, and those two didn't.
"They'll see it, in their own time." She added, secretly knowing that that time had already come and gone. With that she left with a large smile on her face.
In the hall way Elliot rushed to catch up with Olivia. Unfortunately for her, he was feeling better and caught up to her easily.
"Liv, wait." He called, reaching out and grabbing her arm.
"How the hell is this justice Elliot?" She demanded. "That son of a bitch raped and killed that girl, and now he's getting away with it!"
"I know it sucks Olivia. But getting mad and storming off isn't going to change anything." He tried soothing, keeping a safe distance lest anyone walk past them.
"I'm not 'storming off.'" She answered.
"Then where are you going?" He questioned.
"To talk to Andy." Olivia answered simply. "I still have his cell number. I'm gonna call him, and see if there's something he can do."
"Liv, if the Marshalls need him that badly, what do you think he'll be able to do?" Elliot asked.
"I don't know, but it's worth a try." She answered.
"Just don't let Cragen catch you." He warned.
Olivia just smiled and walked away. It made her happy to see that, even though she knew he wasn't thrilled that she was going to be seeing her ex-boyfriend, he still supported her as a partner.
Later that night Olivia found herself sitting at a bar waiting for Andy. She was dressed in her work attire, and was sipping a beer. She just wanted to get this over with.
When she felt a hand on her shoulder, she knew that Andy had arrived.
"Hey Liv." He said with a friendly smile. "What was so important that you needed to meet with me tonight?" He asked sitting on the stool next to her.
"Billy Richards." Olivia breathed quietly as Andy ordered a beer for himself.
"Billy Richards?" Andy asked. "And here I though this was about something more personal."
"Andy. I already told you that there was no chance of that ever happening again. When will you get over it?" She asked irritated.
"Sorry, just wishful thinking I guess." He answered drinking his beer. "So, what about Richards?"
"Why is he so important to you guys that you'll just look the other way after he raped and murdered a college girl?" Olivia asked.
"He's our main informant on a serial killing case." He answered honestly. He knew that he could trust Olivia.
"And that's more important than the fact that he killed a woman?" Olivia asked as she forcefully put her bottle down on the counter and turned to him.
"Olivia, our guy has killed fifteen people. Richard's is the only link we have to this guy. With him, we've been able to prevent 5 more murders." He tried to explain. "We're in the middle of setting up a sting operation to catch this guy. Sometimes we have to way one life against fifteen." He answered.
"I cannot believe that you just said that." Olivia said, unable to control her laugh. "How credible do you really think this guy is if he himself has no problem torturing and killing people?" She asked, trying to get her point across.
"Look, Liv, you can have him as soon as we're done with him." Andy told her.
"And how long will that be Andy? As soon as you catch you guy, as soon as he testifies against him, as soon as the trial's over, or as soon as your guy's dead?" Olivia asked drinking from her bottle once again. She knew how the US Marshalls worked. There was no telling how long they would keep someone hidden away, look at Alex.
"As soon as the trial's over." Andy answered, resulting in Olivia rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She knew how long trials could be, especially when there were fifteen victims. "Come one Liv. We need him to look credible when he's on the stand. That's the best I can do."
"Yeah, and what happens when he demands immunity in exchange for his testimony?" Olivia asked.
"We won't grant him that." Andy answered.
"Remember it's me you're talking to Andy." She said smugly. "I'm not all that naïve. I know how you guys operate. You'll promise anything as long as you get your testimony." She said shaking her head, and rummaging through her purse for money.
She got up, and placed the bills on the bar. "By the time this trial's over, Richards will be sitting on a Beach in Costa Rica with a whole new identity, and a whole new life. So don't BS me." She said into his ear. "Nice talking to you though." She added before turning around. "But hey, if guys change your minds, and want to do the right thing, you know where the precinct is." She said over her shoulder as she left the bar.
She was too angry to go home by herself. So Olivia made her way to Elliot's apartment. She let herself in with the key Elliot had given her when she was taking care of him. He didn't see any reason for her to give it back.
She dropped her work stuff on the coffee table near the door and rubbed her temples before realizing that there was something off about her surroundings. She quickly picked her gun up off the table and readied it. She tiptoed to the light switch and turned it on to reveal Elliot sleeping on a set table with two candles, unlit in the middle.
She couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. Had he set this all up for her?
She put the safety back on her gun, and placed it back on the coffee table before making her way into the kitchen.
She shook Elliot gently. "Hey." She smiled when he finally woke up.
"Oh, hey." Elliot smiled back. "Was I sleeping?" He questioned.
"Yeah, unless you snore when you're awake." Olivia answered with a small laugh. "What is all this?"
"Well, I figured that Eckerson wouldn't be munch help, and I knew you'd probably be annoyed, and wanted to give you something nice to come in to." He answered.
"How did you know I'd come here?" Olivia asked.
"Because I know you, and I know that you'd be too frustrated to go home and have nobody to vent to." He answered smugly.
"You are really something else Stabler." She smiled, kissing him deeply. "So, what's for dinner?" She asked.
"Linguini with clam sauce." He answered.
"You cooked linguini with clam sauce?" She asked, truly astonished, and a little nervous being that she was going to be the one eating it. Clams could be dangerous if not cooked right.
"What, you think you're the only one who knows how to cook Benson?" He asked with a smiled, getting up to retrieve the dinner out of the oven where he was keeping it warm.
"Well I must say, you don't ever cease to amaze me." She smiled as he placed her dinner before her.
He poured two glasses of wine before sitting across the table from her. He raised his glass for a toast. "To you, for not killing Andy even though I'm sure you wanted to." He said.
Olivia just laughed. She loved being with him. While he could make her crazy and bring her to the point of actually wanting to kill him, he was also the only man who had ever been able to make her smile this much.
After some good hearted conversation the two finally finished their meal. "Let me clean up." Olivia offered, as she began clearing the plates and brining them to the sink.
"Leave them." Elliot whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arm around her waist from behind her. She loved it when he did that.
"But El…" Olivia began.
"Come on Liv. This was to let you unwind. Leave them until tomorrow. I'll throw them in the dishwasher." He pushed. "Come on, dance with me." He suggested pulling her away from the sink and into the living room.
Olivia obliged and let him lead her away from the dishes. He stopped momentarily to turn on a CD. As Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" came through the speakers he wrapped his arms around Olivia's waist and began swaying around his apartment to the music.
"I love you." She whispered into his ear.
He knew her so well, knew what the job did to her, and knew how to make it all go away. She truly did love this man that was holding her tightly in his arms. Something sparked inside of her. For the first time in her life, she understood what it felt like to want to give your whole self over to someone else.
She had slept with many men before, but it had always been to make herself feel something other than pain and depravity; to remind herself that she was human and to have another human's touch. Tonight though, she wanted Elliot, but not for herself, she wanted to show him just how much she really loved him, to show him that she trusted him with all of her.
She searched his eyes silently, and found the same spark in them that she felt in herself. She gently placed her lips on his, and let him deepen their kiss. As it became hungrier, her pulled away only to trace her jaw line with his lips.
"I want this Olivia." He whispered as his lips returned to hers.
"So do I." Olivia answered matching his desire filled tone.
She let him walk her back into his bedroom, and fell onto his bed trusting that he would brace himself so as not to fall on top of her.
She kissed him hungrily as she unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall to the floor. The two separated only for a moment as he pulled her shirt over her head, and returned his lips to her now exposed collar bone.
Olivia didn't fight the sigh that escaped her lips. She simply let it come out freely, as she moved her hands to Elliot's belt, and made quick work of removing it and letting it fall among their shirts.
As they moved up to the top of the bed, Elliot stopped for a moment, and hovered over her.
"I love you so much." He said, as if to reassure her, although tonight, she didn't need it.
"I know you do." She simply smiled. "Now will you come back down here, and make love to me already?" She asked with a smirk.
Elliot didn't need any more of a green light to let him know that she wanted this as much as he did.
He returned his lips to hers with a smile. The night that both had seemed to be waiting for their entire lives had finally arrived, and they were ready.
TBC...
So there you have it, they finally 'got together'! Hope everyone liked the way it came about.
There are still more twists to come, so stay tuned, and REVIEW!