Casey looked at Cragen, her eyebrow cocked. They stood outside the interrogation room, watching Olivia and Elliot's interrogation tensely. "Are you sure they're ready?" She asked after a while. He nodded.
"Huang says they're making progress. Munch and Fin are in court. Do we have a choice?" She sighed, knowing the answer to that. But that didn't mean she wanted to blow this case.
Olivia circled the table like a shark, glaring at their suspect. "Is that why, Harris? You can't get it up? So you beat women senselessly?" Harris smiled up at her, turning to face Elliot.
"She's pretty sweet. How many times did you fuck her to break her in-" He barely finished the sentence before Elliot snatched him up by the collar, his eyes black.
"Elliot?" She said suddenly, watching him raise a shaking fist. "Ellliot, wait. Stop!" He slammed Harris on the table, the bang echoing through the small room. "Elliot,"
He leaned over into Harris' cowering face. "What did you say?" His hand now gripped Harris' neck, squeezing tightly. Olivia was trying to pry him off now, Casey and Cragen rushing in to help.
"Enough, Elliot!" Casey screamed. Cragen shoved Elliot forcefully away from the suspect.
"That's enough!" He roared, Elliot's face beet red. "Both of you, out of here. Now!" Elliot rushed out and didn't stop walking until he was out the precinct. Cragen caught Olivia before she could slink away too.
"Now I have been more than understanding," Cragen began. "But our cases and our credibility are suffering because of you two." Olivia's gaze fell to the floor. "Now. Your both on paid time off. And you aren't coming back without written permission from Dr. Huang and I'm being generous."
Olivia shook her head. "But captain-"
"Work it out." He interrupted, stalking around her to his office.
"Elliot." He heard her but he said nothing, trying to listen to or see something that might tell him what time it was. Tate had stepped out and they both knew he might be ready to finish everything the next time he came back. "Elliot."
He shh'd her instinctually. "Don't talk, preserve your energy." He barked, his brow frowning with worry. Simon had taken it all out on Olivia, and Elliot couldn't feel any worse about it. She blinked determinedly.
"Elliot. If you get free, you need to go." She said calmly, causing Elliot to yank at his restraints.
"Are you crazy!" He cried out, his face red. "I'll never leave you-"
"I won't make it." She said, getting exasperated because they didn't have much time. "My ankle is blown out, my shoulder is probably dislocated, my ribs..." She trailed off as he realized she wasn't going anywhere fast.
"All reasons why I'm not leaving you." He answered, frowning. Olivia blew on her hair.
"Elliot, I'm serious. If you get out you have to go. I can't-" Tears interrupted Olivia, making Elliot feel utterly helpless and terrified. "You can get help."
"I'm not leaving."
"How did that make you feel?" George asked after a tense moment. Elliot snorted.
"What?"
"Not being able to protect Olivia." The words stung him and he leaned back. All he could think about was how many times she had backed his play and got him out of trouble. She needed him and he hadn't been any help.
Elliot sighed. "It made me feel smaller than anything else in the world had." Olivia made a small sound. She looked at Elliot in surprise.
"Elliot, you've never failed to protect me, ever." He dropped his gaze from her eyes.
"You know I did, Liv." George watched carefully.
"You both have to reflect on things that happened without trying to assign blame. Or remove it." Elliot and Olivia exchanged unsure glances. "Why don't I give you some homework. The sooner I can approve you the sooner you get back to work." Olivia and Elliot nodded wearily.
"Okay, good. You two. Go out and have a bite together after this. Hey, maybe even a drink! Just go try to have a normal moment." They nodded and rose, both wondering if they would ever have any semblance of normal with each other again.