Chapter 5
Elliot came out the bedroom as the van pulled away from the service station.
"Here you go," said John handing him his bag of food.
"Thanks," he said sitting down next to Olivia, and opening his burger taking a large bite.
"We are meeting up with Fin at a small rest stop about four hours from here. He is going to rent us another van so we can swap over," yawned John.
"Look man, I know you guys want to get me back to New York as soon as possible, but you need to rest. You and Don have been sharing the driving for three days now. We need to pull over somewhere so you can get a good night's sleep."
"We can't risk it," said Don from the driver's seat.
"Elliot's right," said Olivia. "You guys are so tired; John almost fell asleep at the wheel earlier. Surely there must be somewhere we can go and spend the night. Let me look at the map and see if I can find somewhere. We could meet Fin and then head there."
"Okay," said Don. "But it needs to be somewhere quiet and away from tourists and any local people."
Olivia grabbed the map and spread it on the table between her and Elliot and they both looked over it trying to find somewhere. Since their little talk the night before things had been a lot better between them. They had stopped snapping and actually talked to each other.
Elliot looked over at Olivia as she followed a route with her finger looking for somewhere they could rest up.
"Well we were going to meet up at Pinetop Lakeside before we got stopped by that prick last night and we changed course," she said her eyes still fixed on the map. She stopped talking and moving her finger as she felt Elliot's eyes on her. She lifted her head slowly and met his gaze staring into his blue eyes. "You okay?" she asked him.
"Erm…. Yeah, I'm good," he croaked.
"Okay, well quit staring and find somewhere for us to stop," she smiled. Elliot smiled back and looked down at the map.
"How about here," he said pointing to a small lake. "Only one road in, no locals around and it looks pretty quiet."
Olivia nodded "And not too far off the route we are on, looks good to me," she said standing up and taking the map to show Don.
John watched Elliot as he never took his eyes off Olivia.
"She's still got a great ass huh," he chuckled as Elliot snapped his head around and glared at him.
"Fuck you John," he snapped as John stood up.
"Oh I don't think it's me you want to do that to," he laughed as he walked up to the front and to Olivia and Don. Elliot sighed as he picked up a fry then threw it back down.
"Fuck," he said under his breath as his eyes went back to Olivia and saw her staring at him, quickly looking away as Elliot caught her. Elliot smiled to himself before taking a large bite from his now cold burger.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We are going to pull in here and get some supplies," Don said over his shoulder as they pulled up outside a small store. "We can't risk stopping anywhere else for food."
"Get some beer as well," said Elliot from the floor where he was doing press ups.
John and Olivia left the van and headed into the store. Elliot turned onto his back and began doing sit ups, as Don kept his eyes on the store and the road leading up to it. They still had a few hours of sun left to give them time to find somewhere to park up.
Don watched John and Olivia at the checkout paying for everything, they were the only ones parked up.
Elliot stopped his sit ups when he heard the low rumble of motorbikes.
"Shit," said Don standing up and pulling out his weapon checking it was loaded.
"How many?" asked Elliot.
"Only two that I can see."
"They wearing colours?" he asked him as he stood up. Don turned and looked at him confused. "Do they have patch like I did on my jacket."
Don waited until the stopped their bikes and he got a look at their backs.
"Yeah, a large skull surrounded by smaller ones," he told him as he looked towards Olivia and John as they looked at the two bikers who were climbing off their bikes.
"Shit," said Elliot grabbing his gun from his bag. "Death Riders."
"Death Riders?" asked Don.
"Yeah, they don't care what or who they hurt. Most of the time they are off their heads on drugs. They don't get any worse than these guys."
"Just what we need," he said as he watched John and Olivia pick up their bags and head towards the door. John opened the door and Olivia stepped outside. She glanced towards the bikers quickly then turned towards the motor home and began walking towards it.
Don watched as one of the biker's nudged the other and nodded towards Olivia and John and then pointed to the motor home.
"Hey Sweetheart," one of them called out towards Olivia. She ignored them and kept walking.
"Hey Bitch, I'm talking to you!" he called out again.
Elliot moved so he could see out the window.
"Stay back," Don warned him as the biker ran towards Olivia and grabbed her arm.
"I said I'm talking to you," he said pulling her around to face him and she almost dropped the bag she was holding.
"Sorry I didn't realise as my name isn't Bitch."
The biker laughed as his friend came over.
"Look my friend we aren't after any trouble," said John.
"Yeah well I wasn't talking to you pops, I was talking to this feisty one here," he said standing between Olivia and the motor home.
"Well we don't have any time for talking so if you would excuse us, we have to be on our way."
"That motor home yours?" asked the other biker who was stood by John.
John stepped forward and gently took hold of Olivia's arm. "Come on let's go," he told her.
"But we weren't finished talking yet," said the first biker taking hold of the top of the bag Olivia had and looking inside. He reached in and took out the six pack of beer. Olivia watched as he opened the can and took a large drink.
"Help yourself why don't you," she said staring at him.
"Oh I plan to," he smirked. "I plan on taking exactly what I want," he said to her as his friend punched John in the face knocking him to the floor.
"John!" she screamed dropping to the floor beside him.
"I…..I'm okay," he groaned putting his hand to his mouth and wiping at the blood as the two bikers laughed.
Olivia felt one of them grab her arm . "Come on Bitch time for us to get to know each other," he told her as he began to pull her towards the motor home as the other biker kicked John in the stomach.
"Get the hell off me!" she yelled trying to pull her arm from his grip but he was too strong for her. "Leave him alone!" she shouted as John was kicked again.
The door to the motor home burst open and Elliot leapt out followed by Don.
"Get the fuck off her," he shouted as Olivia struggled in the man's hold and he got closer to them.
"Back up," the man warned him as he pulled out a gun and pointed it towards Elliot.
"Yeah not gonna happen," growled Elliot as Olivia elbowed the man in the stomach and he loosened his grip enough for her to pull away. Elliot charged the man knocking him to the ground. He straddled him and punched him in the face.
"Get John in the home!" he yelled as Don pointed his weapon at the other man's head.
"Back away," Don told him and the man smirked stepping back.
"You don't know who the hell you're messing with," he told Don as he helped John to his feet.
"Get to the van," Don told him. John nodded and slowly hobbled to the motor home holding his side. Don backed up slowly keeping his gun on the man. "Get in the home!" he shouted across to Olivia as she watched Elliot as he continued to punch the other man.
She picked up their grocery bags and quickly put them inside the home.
"El come on!" she shouted as Don climbed into the driver's seat. "El!" she yelled again, "We need to go."
Elliot punched him once more and slowly got to his feet.
"You are fucking dead," said the second biker slowly walking towards him.
"Yeah, I've been hearing that a lot lately," he replied smirking at him as the man charged him and knocked him to the floor.
"Shit," said Olivia as Elliot hit the floor.
"Olivia get him in the damn van we need to leave!" yelled Don starting up the engine. Olivia pulled her gun out and jumped back down the step.
She pointed the gun towards Elliot and the man but couldn't get a clear shot.
"Back off!" she yelled hoping to get his attention as he pinned Elliot to the floor and straddled him. She put the gun to his head. "I said back the fuck up."
The man raised his hands in the air and stood up as Olivia kept her gun on him.
"Now you're fucked," he grinned when they heard the sound of motorbikes coming closer. Elliot and Olivia both turned and looked down the road and saw the bikes in the distance. The man lashed out and punched Olivia in the face knocking her to the ground. Elliot spun around and kicked him in the stomach winding him and he fell to his knees.
"Get out of here!" he yelled to Don.
"Get in here!" he shouted back not wanting to leave without them.
Elliot kicked out at the man knocking him to the floor, before dropping down next to Olivia.
"Liv you okay?" he asked her as she groaned and sat up.
"Yeah," she nodded as Elliot helped her up and she picked up her gun.
"Let's get out of here," he said to her as she reached for her gun from the floor and they could hear the bikes getting closer.
"I don't think so," said a voice from behind them. They both turned and saw the first biker holding a gun pointing it at them, blood trickling down his face.
Elliot looked down the road at the bikes getting closer. "Don get out of here!" he yelled.
"I can't leave you," he told him.
"You don't have a choice…. We will meet you were we arranged," he told him. "Now go!" he shouted. "We will be okay."
"Shit," said Don putting the vehicle in drive and pulling away as quick as he could.
"You are well and truly fucked now," smirked the biker.
"That's just what I was thinking about you," said Elliot grinning back as he grabbed the gun from Olivia and pulled the trigger hitting the guy in the chest.
"Elliot," she said shocked as the man hit the floor and Elliot turned towards the other man and shot him. "You …. You just killed them."
"I didn't have a choice," he said grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the bikes. "It was us or them," he said climbing onto the bike. "And trust me, they wouldn't have killed us so quick, now get on," he ordered her as he started the bike up.
Olivia just stood staring at him.
"Get on the fucking bike!" he yelled at her as he watched the bikers getting closer. "NOW!" he screamed at her.
Olivia quickly climbed on and Elliot screeched away. He got to the junction were Don had gone straight on and turned right as he picked up speed and powered down the road. Olivia held on tight and looked behind her the gang of bikers were nowhere in sight for now. Olivia guessed they had stopped at the store and checked on their men first.
The road was long and when she turned back the next time she saw the gang in the distance.
"El!" she shouted in his ear. "Their coming."
"Hold on," he told her picking up the speed as the neared the top of the hill. The road began to wind down through the trees and Olivia lost sight of the chasing gang.
Elliot braked and turned off the main road onto a side road and picked up the speed again, about a mile down the road he slowed again and turned down another small road and hoped the bikers had kept on the main road.
"Hold tight," he told her as he slowed the bike and turned off the track completely and into the trees. Once he was well away from the track he stopped the bike and turned off the engine. "Climb off," he told her and she quickly climbed off. He lay the bike down carefully behind a large bush and pulled Olivia down with him.
They both sat in silence listening for the bikes and heard nothing.
"I guess we lost them," said Elliot sitting back against the tree. "We will give it a little longer before we move."
Olivia just nodded as she sat opposite him and just stared. Elliot pulled out the gun and checked the magazine before tucking it back in the back of his jeans.
"You got something to say to me?" he asked her when she sat staring at him.
"You didn't even think about it, you just shot them both."
"I told you I didn't have a choice."
"You could have just incapacitated them, you didn't need to kill them."
"Yes I did. I couldn't have them telling the rest of the gang about us. They would have hunted us down …"
"And you don't think they will do that now you killed two of their men."
"Yeah they probably will. But they think they are after only two people not four. They never saw the motor home and they never got a good look at us. I done what had to be done. And I would do it again if it kept you safe."
"I don't need you keeping me safe," she snapped at him and he just glared at her. "I can look after myself."
"Those men are murderers and rapists," he said glaring at her. "They wouldn't have just let us go after giving us a beating. They would have tortured us. They would have raped you and me, and they would have made us watch each other as they did it. Then they would have slowly killed us having fun as they did it. So I don't care if your female pride is pissed off that I saved you, that I shot those two thugs, get over it."
Olivia was about to reply when they heard a bike in the distance. They both moved quickly back behind the bush and crouched down in silence. The bike was still some distance away and the engine noise finally faded away.
Olivia reached over and placed her hand on top of Elliot's.
"Thank you," she said quietly calming down when she had thought about what he had said. Elliot looked down at her hand on his before looking her in the eyes and nodding.
"I will always protect you Liv. No matter how much it pisses you off."
"I know," she smiled squeezing his hand before moving back towards the tree and taking out her phone.
Elliot turned and leaned against the bike.
"No signal," she sighed holding up the phone.
"We will give it another hour then make a move," he said to her. "Hopefully they will be gone by then. They won't want to hang around to long because of the cops. They can't afford to be hauled in by them for questioning."
Olivia nodded and sat back staring at Elliot.
"What now?" he asked her.
"I hate that beard," she grinned and Elliot laughed.
"Oh I don't know, I have grown quite fond it," he said stroking it.
"Nope, I like to see your face," she told him smiling, before dropping her head back against the tree and closing her eyes.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Olivia wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. They had been riding now for over an hour keeping off the main highways as they headed back to where Don and the other would be. A few times they had pulled off the road and just listened to make sure they weren't being followed.
Elliot looked down at the fuel gauge it was almost on empty. After ten minutes more of riding he saw a diner but no fuel stop. He stopped at the top of the hill and scanned the area out the front all he could see were cars.
"What's up?" asked Olivia.
"Almost out of fuel," he told her pointing to the gauge. "So I guess we need to change vehicles," he said riding the bike off the road and into the trees. They both climbed off and Elliot let the bike fall to the ground on its side, and they both walked back out onto the road.
"So what's the plan?" she asked looking at her phone and seeing she still had no signal. She had been trying to call Don every time they stopped. But because they were sticking to back roads a signal was hard to come by.
"We get a new car," he smiled as they got closer to the diner.
They walked into the parking lot and Elliot scanned the cars.
"That one," he said pointing to a four by four near the rear of the lot near the back of the diner.
"El we can't just steal a car, we are cops," she said following him as he took out a small knife from his jeans pocket.
"Well we could walk but I reckon we still have another 40 mile to go," he grinned as he popped the lock on the door. "Keep watch," he told her as he opened the door and climbed in.
"Since when do you know how to hot wire a car?" she asked looking around the lot.
"Since I was about 14 years old and trying to impress girls," he chuckled. "I also used it quite a few times with the gang."
"Of course you did," she said as the car started.
"Let's go," he said slamming his door closed as Olivia ran around and climbed in.
Elliot put it in gear and wheel spun on the gravel and out the parking lot . Olivia spun around in her seat and looked out the rear window expecting to see someone chasing them, but saw nothing.
"Kind of a buzz ain't it," he smiled at her as she turned back around.
Olivia shook her head. "Just drive," she told him as she looked out the window and watched the setting sun.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"How you feeling?" Olivia asked John.
"I'm okay," he smiled. "Except for the broken ribs I think I have."
"I just wish I could have stopped him before he hurt you," she said taking hold of his hand.
"Well I'm just glad Elliot took care of them before they killed us all."
"Yeah, me to. Don has said we are staying here till Fin, Amaro and Rollins get here. He thinks it would be a good idea for Rollins and Amaro to ride with us for a while, mix it up a little. Plus he wants to give you time to heal."
"Sounds good. How are your injuries anyway?"He asked her reaching up and touching the cut under her eye.
"I'm okay, just a little bruised up."
"We are really earning our wage on this job," he smiled as Elliot came in.
"Foods ready," he told them. Olivia stood up and helped John to his feet as Elliot went to the fridge and got some beers out.
The place they had found was secluded and miles from any roads or houses, down an over grown track. They hadn't seen or passed anyone on the drive down to the lake and Don said they hadn't seen anyone since they had arrived hours earlier.
They had lit a small camp fire and barbecued some steak and burgers. Elliot popped the cap on the beers and handed one to Olivia.
"John you want one?" he asked him.
"Best not," he said holding his ribs.
Elliot nodded and sat on a log and took a drink. "It's nice to not have to hide away in that motor home, even if it is just whilst we are here.
"Your gonna have to stay hidden once we set off again. We are going to have to stay to the main highways for a while and get some distance covered. At this rate we are never going to make it back," said Don picking up his steak and taking a bite.
"Yeah sure," said Elliot looking at Olivia as she fussed over John and got him a burger.
"Just promise you won't be your normal pain in the ass self and give Rollins and Amaro a hard time," he said to him.
"I will try my best. I still can't believe you're putting my life into the hands or Barbie and Ken."
"Their good cops Elliot and from what I saw today you don't really need much help in defending yourself."
Elliot shrugged and rubbed his knuckles which were swollen and red from hitting the biker.
"It's good to see you and Olivia are being a lot more civil to each other now," said Don as he watched Elliot watching Olivia.
"I never meant to hurt her Don, I know it might not seem like that at times, but the last thing I ever want to do is upset her."
"I know," he smiled and stood up as Olivia came over. "How's he doing?" he asked her looking at John.
"He's okay, but get him some stronger painkillers tomorrow once Amaro and Rollins get here."
Don nodded and walked over to John and sat next to him.
"It's so peaceful here," she said looking up at the sky. "You never get to see the stars like that in the city."
"It's pretty amazing huh," he said looking up with her. "I used to go up on the roof of the club house and just lye back and look at the stars. Gave me time to relax and think, so I didn't lose myself completely."
"Was it that bad?"
"At times. You always had to watch your back, there was always someone who wants to take your place."
"So why stay for so long, why not get out?"
"I wanted to take them down. After seeing how they would treat the women and girls. I just wanted to do some good."
"Even if it cost you your life and your family?"
"Like I already told you, I felt I had nothing to lose."
"And now?"
"And now," he said sitting forward and the log and resting his elbows on his knees. "Now, things are starting to look up and I'm starting to think I have something to live for again."
They locked eyes and just stared at each other in the light of the campfire.
"I'm erm….. I'm going to erm…. To take a shower," she said standing up and breaking eye contact with him. "Yeah, I …. I need a shower," she said walking away and back to the motor home.
Elliot sighed and stood up and reached into the cooler box and got a couple more beers out.
"I'm going to sit down by the lake," he told Don and John.
"You sure that's a good idea?" asked Don.
"I just need some time," he told them. "I will be fine," he said walking out of the campfire light and down to the lakeside.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Where's Elliot?" Olivia asked coming out the motor home feeling refreshed from her shower.
"He went down to the lake, he said he needed sometime," said John.
"And you guys just let him."
"Like we could have stopped him," laughed John as Olivia walked away and towards the lake.
She walked quietly down to the lake and took her shoes off as she got to the small sandy area. She peered through the darkness looking for Elliot. Just as she was about to call out when she heard splashing in the water, and as she carried on walking to water's edge she stood on something soft and looked down and found Elliot jeans and t-shirt on the sand.
She licked her lips and gently bit on her bottom lip as the splashing came closer. She stepped back slightly her eyes focusing on the water.
Her heart began to beat harder as Elliot walked towards the sand from the water. At first it was just his head and shoulders the rest of his chest and stomach appearing as he got closer to the sand.
He stopped when he saw Olivia stood there the water just above his hips.
"I didn't hear you," he told her.
"I just got down here. You shouldn't be down here alone, especially not swimming in the dark."
"I was fine," he told her still not moving.
Olivia's eyes moved slowly over his chest and stomach the water making it glisten in the moonlight. His body was perfectly toned, he had certainly looked after himself over the years.
"How's the stab wound?" she asked him.
"Not too bad. Seems to be healing okay," he said looking down at it.
"Yeah it does," she said licking her dry lips. Elliot grinned at her as she just stood there watching him.
"I was just about to get out," he told her.
"Do you need a towel?" she asked him and felt her cheeks going red at such a stupid question.
"No I should be fine, it's just that…." He stopped talking before he finished the sentence when he saw Olivia biting down on her bottom lip as she watched him.
"Just what?" she asked. She knew she was making it totally obvious that she was checking him out and she was surprising herself by not trying to hide it.
"Nothing," he said smirking. The way he smirked made her uneasy as he started walking out the water again.
Olivia gasped as the water level dropped below his waist, he was completely naked.
"Jesus El," she said spinning around and she heard him laughing. "It's not funny, you prick," she said and she heard him coming up behind her.
She swallowed hard when felt him right behind her and he leant forward water dripping onto her shoulder.
"Are you blushing Benson?" he asked her his breath on her ear.
"No…. it's just. I didn't know… You could have warned me you were naked."
Elliot chuckled in her ear. "Well you seemed to be enjoying the view so I thought I would let you see the rest, give you something to really look at."
Olivia couldn't help but smile.
"Well I guess the water must have been cold because I couldn't see much," she smirked.
Elliot grinned. "Ouch Benson, that was a bit harsh," he said his beard brushing against the skin on her neck. "And I never took you for the shy type, turning around like that."
Olivia couldn't believe how cocky he was being. He was always sure of himself, but this, this was something new, he was flirting with her and she was flirting back and she liked it. Despite everything that had happened she was enjoying this side of him.
She looked down to the floor and saw his clothes at her feet.
"Could you hand me my clothes?" he asked her stepping back slightly. Olivia grinned to herself and stepped over his clothes before turning around to face him.
"Two can play at this game," she thought as she looked at his smug face.
She slowly crouched down her eyes staying fixed on his as he looked down at her. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes as she reached down and grabbed his clothes dropping her head downwards.
Elliot kept his eyes on her as she crouched in front of him. He couldn't believe he was stood naked in front of her as she picked up his clothes.
"Liv," he said his voice deep and low.
Olivia slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head licking her lips slowly, she was eye level with his groin.
Elliot stood in silence as she slowly stood up right her eyes meeting his again.
"You better get these on," she told him handing him his clothes. "Don't want you catching a chill," she said before turning around and walking back to the motor home the best she could with her jelly legs and racing heart, leaving Elliot stood alone in the dark, naked and with a raging hard on.
"Jesus fucking Christ," she heard him say as she walked away.
"You can say that again," she said under her breath, as images of Elliot's naked, wet body and his large erection flooded through her head, and she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.
Could be time to get them a little closer. And for Elliot to finally meet Amaro and Rollins.
