Chapter Four

The next day, Elliot dropped Aaliyah and Eli off at school and then made his way over to Liv's office. He wasn't sure how he was going to bring up the topic but he knew he had to be gentle with it.

"Elliot, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I was in the area and thought I would stop by. Heard you're helping your old partner with a case."

"Yeah, it's a cold case, though."

"And I heard your old friend Burton is involved."

"He is," she said in a non-committal tone.

"Liv cut the crap," he suddenly blew up.

"What?"

"Liv, you were 16, he was an adult. That's abuse."

"Elliot it's not—"

"Not like that? What if one of my daughters were 16 and dating a 21-year-old guy, and I came to you for help, what would you tell me?"

"I would tell you that it's their choice."

"Liv, what don't you get? He abused you, he groomed you to the point to where you're now blindsided to this case."

"Elliot—"

"Screw this," he said and stormed out.

One phone call later, he found the hotel Burton was staying at. The long elevator ride up to the writer's floor only fueled his anger. Three rapid knocks against the door and he was face to face with the man.

"Hello?" Burton answered the door. "Do I know you?"

"You don't know me, but I know you."

"And you are?"

"Detective Elliot Stabler. Look, here's what's going to happen. You're going to admit that your groomed not only Captain Benson but you groomed and assaulted all the other women who have come forward."

"Is she saying I abused her? If so, that isn't true."

"You were 21, she was 16, that's assault. You just don't see it. Look, I want you to admit to the assaults and then don't come back into her life ever again."

"Oh, I think I do know who you are. You're the cop whose wife got killed in that car crash. And then said 'I love you,' to who? Ah yes, Ms. Olivia Benson. Now I understand why you want me out of her life. It's got nothing to do with me and everything to do with you. You want to have her to yourself," Burton rambled.

Elliot finally took the man in. His eyes were a little bloodshot, his words were slurred, and he was having a hard time standing on his own. Burton was drunk.

"Let me just tell you, she does wonders in bed," the man added.

Elliot wasn't sure if it was the fact he had brought up his wife's death or it was the fact he was using his and Liv's sex life against him, but the next thing he knew, Elliot punched him.

He threw a hard punch and Burton wasn't hesitant to retaliate. They knocked each other around for a few minutes until Burton bashed Elliot's head into the wall hard enough, that it left him unconscious for a few seconds. Burton disappeared down the hall.

A few moments passed until Elliot fully came to again, aided by the buzzing of his phone. It was the secretary of Eli and Aaliyah's school, wondering if he was still coming to pick them up. Knowing he was in no shape to appear at school, he called Liv and asked if she could get them.

~oOo~

Olivia picked up Eli and Aaliyah from school and drove them back to the precinct to finish her workday. Walking into her office, she found Burton waiting for her.

"Burton, what happened?" Liv asked worriedly, taking in his swollen cheek and bruised knuckles.

"Your ex-partner," he said. "He came to me saying that I groomed you and all those other women."

"You know, Burt, maybe he's right. I was 16 and you were 21 and technically that is assault."

"What do you mean? You wanted it, I wanted it."

"Yes, I did want it. But you knew how badly I wanted to get away from my mother as well."

"But we were in love."

"In love with the idea of love."

"I can't believe you're siding with him, with the others."

"The other women are right. And Elliot… Elliot knows me better than anyone."

"Liv I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know. I think it's best if you leave."

During their conversation, Elliot had come into the precinct to pick up his kids. He had a swollen black eye and was limping from the fall he took earlier at the hotel. As he was walking towards Liv's office he saw Burton in her office. Instead of interrupting, he sat down next to Amanda's desk to wait.

When Burton walked out of Liv's office, Elliot stood up and made his way to her. He stopped and glared at Burton as he walked by, then continued his way into the office.

"Elliot," Liv said alarmed when she saw Elliot's face. He looked worse than Burton.

"Liv, I can explain—"

"I already know," she said.

"I'm sorry."

"Elliot, you can't just walk on in and tell him he's in the wrong. Even if you were right. Look there's been a lot going on lately and I will admit that he did abuse me and that you were just looking out for me."

"Thanks for picking up the kids," he said and got up.

"Let me walk you out," Liv said, walking Elliot to Eli and Aaliyah.

"Elliot?" Aaliyah asked as he came in and hugged her.

"Ja?"

"Kan Olivia komma över på middag?" (Can Olivia come over for dinner?) she asked.

He looked at Olivia. "She wants to know if you'd like to join us for dinner."

"Oh uh, I think I can swing by for a bite." Olivia smiled.

"Alright," Elliot said. "Is there anything, in particular, you'd like to have?"

"No, anything is fine."

Olivia followed Elliot to his apartment in her own car. She told Lucy she wasn't going to be home for dinner and that Noah could have whatever he wanted and she'd pay her back.

"Sorry, the place is a bit messy," Elliot said getting his keys out. "We still haven't finished unpacking everything."

"No it's alright, I get it," Olivia said.

Elliot opened the door. The first thing Liv saw, was a living room filled with boxes, some empty, some still full of items. Aaliyah tugged on Olivia's jacket.

"Can I show you my room?" she said in broken English.

Olivia looked at Elliot then back at Aaliyah. "Sure," she said with a smile.

"I'll start dinner," Elliot said, walking into the kitchen. "Is pasta ok?"

"Sounds great," Liv said and then followed Aaliyah to her room.

Her room was small, with a twin bed, a dresser, and a closet. Her walls her white and her bedding was light pink. Other than that, the bedroom was bare. Aaliyah sat on her bed and Olivia followed her.

Aaliyah looked at Olivia's badge and grabbed it off her belt buckle. "Are you police?" she asked looking at the badge.

"I am," Liv replied. Aaliyah got up, walked to her dresser, opened a drawer, and pulled something out. "Elliot's police too," she mentioned, showing her Elliot's old SVU badge. She handed the badge to Olivia.

"How do you know Elliot?" Aaliyah asked.

"Well, he and I used to work together." Olivia handed Aaliyah the badge back.

"Keep it," she said and ran off.

Olivia walked into the kitchen to see if Elliot needed any help with dinner. He, of course, said no. "Hey, so Aaliyah gave me this, thought you should have it back," she said handing him his old badge.

"Oh, no, you should keep it," he said. "She wanted you to have it."

"Don't you need it?"

"No, I have a new one now. First-grade detective."

"Wow, Elliot, congrats."

"Thanks," he said, bringing the food over to the table. "Hey look, Aaliyah doesn't have a lot of female role models, or females in general in her life, mind if she comes to you with any issues she may have?"

"Well, she's three, Elliot, but of course. And your daughters, don't they want to help?"

"Well, of course, they do, but they see her more as a sister than a daughter. I meant, could you be more of a motherly figure to her? Since you know, Kathy isn't here anymore."

"Of course, I will help."

"Great. Can you take her to Ikea this weekend? I told her I would help her decorate her room, but I have to work."

"Sure, I can take Saturday off."

They all sat down for dinner. Eli didn't say much, he just ate, then left. Aaliyah happily sat in her chair and ate her dinner.

"So, Aaliyah," Elliot said. "Would it be ok if Olivia took you shopping this weekend?"

"Ok. I like Olivia." The little girl beamed at the other woman.

After dinner, Olivia helped Elliot with the dishes and cleaning up.

"Thanks for coming, Liv," Elliot said, walking Liv out of the apartment later that night.

"Always," Liv said.