Chapter 29
A few minutes later she exited the elevator and found her apartment door open.
"Hello? Anyone in here?" she asked while stepping inside.
And then she saw it, a huge hole in the middle of her living room ceiling. Although she knew about it, she was pretty shocked. Her sofa was full of dirt and her TV was broken, it was crazy. She could see in the apartment above hers.
"Detective Benson?" Liv turned around.
"Yes, that's me." she said friendly.
"My name is Peter Madison, I am the site supervisor. Mr Wilson told me that you needed to get into your apartment but as you can see, it's not safe in here so I have to ask you to get your things and get out as fast as possible."
She nodded and started to pack her things. He didn't say it harshly and she totally understood that he didn't want her to get hurt, at least not as long as her safety was his responsibility, but she didn't really like him.
About ten minutes later she was finished with packing and putting important things in her safe or in her bedroom which she locked up. She didn't feel good, having strangers in her apartment without her being there. She had three big bags full of clothes, documents and other stuff she needed. When Mr Madison saw her with the bags he said," Wait a moment, I'll send you one of the guys to help you with your bags."
"Thank you, but I can handle it. My car is right in front of the building."
But it was too late, he had already called for someone.
"Mr Thornton here will help you with your bags." Liv couldn't believe who was standing in front of her, in her apartment.
It was Liam from the waterpark yesterday. He looked at her at least as surprised.
"Don't stand there like an idiot! Help her with the bags." Mr Madison snapped.
"It was nice meeting you, detective." he said to Liv before leaving the room.
Liam took two of the bags and said,"I didn't think I would see you again and now here you are."
"Well, that's my apartment so I would say, I wasn't expecting to see you here either." she said smiling.
"I am working as a builder to earn some money while studying. It's really great seeing you again." he said shyly.
"It's nice seeing you too." Liv said, smilingly. "You really don't have to carry my bags, I told Mr Madison that I can handle it but he didn't really listen."
"Yeah, he never really does." Liam said, shaking his head, "And I really don't mind helping you."
"Okay, thank you. My car is right outside the building." she started to walk towards the door. Liam followed her.
"So, can you tell me anything about the hole in my apartment? How bad is it?" she asked.
"Well, the whole ceiling is pretty unstable, so we need to stabilize it before we can even start working on a plan on how to go on."
"That's not what I was hoping to hear." Liv said, sighing.
"I am sorry. It really sucks being kicked out of your own apartment." he said sympathetically.
"It really is. But at least I have a few things now." she said pointing at the bags.
"I want to be honest with you, although I am not really a professional but it looks like you won't be able to live here for at least 4 to 6 months, if it is fixable at all."
Liv stopped abruptly and Liam didn't expect her to stop, so he bumped into her.
"Oh. I am sorry." he said embarrassed but Liv didn't even realize that he bumped into her.
"At least 4 to 6 months?!" she whispered shocked.
"I am sorry. Maybe I am wrong, I am just a student."
"You don't have to be sorry for anything. You are the first one who tells me anything. It's good to know that I may have to move out. I really didn't think it was going to be such a huge thing."
"Do you have a place to stay for awhile?"
"Yes, I do but.. well it's complicated." she said still in thoughts.
"You can always stay at my place for a few nights." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them.
"I mean, why would you? That was dumb, sorry." he scratched the back of his head like he did in the waterpark. He always did that when he was nervous and insecure, Liv thought. It was really sweet.
"No, that's really nice of you. Thank you." Liv said. He smiled sheepishly when Liv's phone started to ring.
"I'm sorry." she said to Liam and picked up.
"Benson."
"Hey. It's me. Where are you?"
"Hey. I am at my apartment, picking up a few things."
"You want me to come? Helping you carry the bags?"
"No, I already got help. Thanks." she said smiling at Liam. He returned the smile and she could see pride on his face.
"Are you still at work?" Liv asked.
"No, I am at home. I thought you were here too, that's why I was pretty surprised when I found the apartment empty. I have dinner."
"Oh good. I am starving. Give me 30 minutes." she said and Liam's look changed. He seemed to be disappointed.
"Okay, I think I have taken enough of your time and I really need to get going now." she said to Liam.
"Don't worry. We were about to call it a day anyways and I like your company better." She smiled at him, picked up her bag and walked over to the elevator.
"So, you've got any plans for the evening?" Liv asked.
"There is this party the others go to, but I am not really in the mood."
"Sounds like fun but it also sounds really exhausting. Shit, I sound old." she said laughing while entering the elevator. Liam followed her inside.
"You don't." he said a little bit too fast. "I mean, .." but Liv interrupted him.
"That's nice of you but I am "old" compared to you and my 'during the week party times' are long over. I am way too exhausted after a work day like today." she said, shaking her head grinning.
"You are not. Come on. Most of the girls I know, could only wish to look as good as you and I wouldn't even get through a workday of yours. I guess you've arrested a few bad guys today and saved someone's life." They walked out of the elevator.
"You are way too nice but no, my day was pretty boring. A lot of paperwork and preparing for court, not as exciting as you might think. I didn't have time for anything today, although I didn't chase perps through New York City." she said laughing.
"You're still amazing." he said while looking her deep in the eyes. He moved closer and tried to kiss her. Liv stepped back and turned away.
"I am sorry. I don't know why I did that. I am so sorry." his face was a deep red. Liv unlocked the car.
"It's fine, really. It's just that I am with someone and .." she was interrupted by Liam.
"I know. You are with this guy from the waterpark. I am sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." He opened the trunk and put her bags inside.
"Don't worry, Liam. Nothing happened." she said, putting her bag inside the trunk too. Liv's gun was visible when she reached up to close the trunk and it caught Liam's eye.
Liv saw his expression and covered the gun with her jacket again.
"Oh my god. You're a fucking cop and I tried to kiss you. You're a cop with a boyfriend who is a cop too and I tried to kiss you." he looked pretty overwhelmed.
"Liam, it's fine. Relax!" Liv said, comfortingly.
"Let's just forget about it, okay?"
"I can't. Because I wanna do it again. Can you believe this?" he shook his head and walked past Liv.
"I am so sorry." he said again and then he disappeared in the building.
Liv stood next to the car, not sure about what had just happened. She felt so sorry for him. He was such a sweet guy.
"Finally." El said when she entered his apartment. He relieved her from her bags and she went straight to the kitchen.
"Thank you. I am so hungry." she said.
He smiled and they started to eat.
When they were finished, Liv said," You won't believe who I saw at my, well more like in my apartment, today. It was Liam, the student from the waterpark yesterday."
"I know who he is." El said drily.
Liv ignored him.
"He works as a builder besides studying." she continued. Elliot looked at her expressionless.
"What's wrong?" she said annoyed.
"Nothing. I just think it's a strange coincidence." Liv shook her head.
"I didn't even tell you what happened with him and you already overreact." she said annoyed.
"What did happen with him?" Elliot asked while sitting up straight in his chair. Every single muscle in his body was tense. Liv looked at him while shaking her head in disbelief.
"Liv, what happened?" he asked again demandingly.
"Oh my god. Are you serious right now? Stop interrogating me like this!" she got up and put her plate in the dishwasher.
"I am going to take a shower and you better calm the fuck down."
Elliot was left alone in the kitchen. He knew he messed up.
Why did he react like this when this Liam guy was involved? He knew why, he saw the way the guy looked at Liv, with nothing but desire and admiration.
He knew he could trust Liv but his reaction was telling her the opposite. She had every right to be mad.
"Liv, can I come in." he said carefully.
"Mhm." He took off his clothes and entered the shower. Liv's face was turned away from him. He gently touched her back and she turned around. They looked each other in the eyes.
"I am sorry." he said. "I do trust you. You have to believe me." he said a bit desperately. She smiled and moved closer.
"I know you do. But it still annoys the shit out of me when you act like this." she said, punching him softly in the chest. He started to smile.
"I know and I am sorry." he touched her neck gently and kissed her.
When they came out of the shower a few minutes later, Liv said, "He tried to kiss me." Elliot stopped in the middle of his movement.
"I moved away and he felt so embarrassed and sorry. You should have seen him, he felt so shitty. It was hard to watch."
Elliot still didn't move. Liv moved closer, took his face in both of her hands and said, "A guy tried to kiss me but I moved away. No skin contact. You hear me?" she smiled.
"He didn't get pushy or something like that.
I am sure he feels worse than you do. He couldn't even look me in the eyes afterwards."
Elliot finally regained his composure and pulled her close.
"I love you." he said. Liv looked at him surprised but pleased.
"That's not what I expected but I love you too." she said grinning.
Later in bed Liv remembered what Liam had said about her apartment.
"There is something else I need to tell you." she said. "Liam said that he thinks that I won't be able to live in my apartment for at least 4 to 6 months, but he wasn't even sure if it was fixable at all. I mean he also said that he isn't a professional and that he can't tell me for sure but I saw this huge hole and it really doesn't look like it could be easily fixed. I guess I have to look for a new apartment, at least one for the next few months but maybe forever."
"You can stay here as long as you want. I like having you here, you know that."
"I know." she said thankfully, "I guess I just have to talk to the landlord and the site supervisor in a few days and hope they can tell me more by then."
She snuggled closer to his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. A few minutes later they were both sleeping.
