Thank you for all the great reviews for the first two chapters they have been great.

It was pointed out to me that Gibbs would use Jethro and not Leroy so I have taken that on board from now on.

I'm sorry if my timelines are a bit out, I have tried my best with them and as I haven't really watched a lot of SVU especially the last couple of seasons I sometimes get a bit lost.

However it is fanfiction so I can be slightly out lol.

Chapter 3

They lay holding each other tight gasping for breath as Elliot sucked softly on her skin. They both jumped at the knock on the door.

"Time to eat," he smiled down at her. "And then we need to decide how we are going to tell everyone about us," he said pulling out of her slowly and grabbing a pair of sweats pulling them on.

"El," she said as he got to the door making him stop. "Before we talk about telling the guys, I need to tell you everything what happened."

Elliot nodded "Okay, if you're sure you're ready?"

"I am, but I need to tell you because I don't want to go to my IAB interview alone, like I said earlier. I want you to come with me. I need you to be there with me."

Elliot was about to reply when there was another knock on the door louder this time.

"I better get that," he smiled at her before turning away and heading to the door, as the banging continued.

He took the chain off the door and pulled it open "Alright I'm here," he snapped glaring at the person on the other side.

"Elliot?"

"Captain."

They both just stood in the doorway staring at each other both shocked to see the other person.

"Erm….come in," said Elliot standing to one side as his old Captain walked past him. He closed the door and took a deep breath before turning to face him. "I err…. I thought you were on vacation?"

"I was," said Cragen staring at Elliot.

Elliot just nodded not quite knowing what to say.

"I got a flight back from LA as soon as I heard what happened, I wanted to make sure she was okay…..is she?" he asked him.

"I don't know…she hasn't talked yet, but she will she just needs time."

"Yeah."

They both stood looking at each in silence.

"Jesus, come here," said Cragen stepping towards him and pulling him into a hug. "It's so good to see you Son," he said patting Elliot's back as they hugged.

"It's good to see you to Cap," said Elliot hoping Cragen would hear his voice as it cracked.

"Am I disturbing something?" asked Olivia from the bedroom doorway. Cragen and Elliot pulled apart and Cragen turned to Olivia.

"God, I'm glad you're okay," said Cragen walking quickly to her and pulling her into a hug. "I was so worried and scared when I saw the news," he said holding her tight. "I should have been here."

"I'm okay," she said as tears fell from her eyes. "But I'm glad you're here."

"I would have been back sooner if I had known but I didn't see any news till this morning, I was up in the mountains fishing and camping," he stepped back to look at her. "You sure you're okay."

"I will be," she smiled. Cragen nodded and turned back to Elliot.

"So is one of you going to tell me what the hell is going on here and how long you have both been back in each other's lives. When I left you were with Brian."

"Yeah, I guess we have a lot to explain" she smiled as Elliot came over and wrapped his arm around her.

"I will just go and throw a top on," he said kissing her forehead. Cragen smiled when he saw the affection and love pass between them. Olivia nodded and turned to Cragen.

"You want a coffee?" she asked him.

"Sure," he smiled getting up and following her into the kitchen. "So come on how long has he been back?"

"Back in touch about nine month, but we have been together, together, three month."

"Nine months, you mean he got back in touch after the first time with Lewis."

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I …. I wanted him to myself. I didn't want everyone knowing and telling me I was wrong to let him back into my life after the way he left. I knew you all felt like he had let me down, but I know now he didn't. He had his reasons why he had left and why he never got in touch. I wanted time to get our friendship back on track without everyone interfering. He has a whole new life now and I wanted to get to know him again without any interference."

"I would never have told you it was wrong to let him back in. Yes I was angry with the way he left, but I knew he must have had his reasons."

"Maybe not, but I just didn't want the hassle."

"And you say you got together, together three months ago, that would have been around…."

"The time you retired."

"And you were still with Brian?"

Olivia nodded. "I wasn't happy with Brian and you all knew that. The more time Elliot and I spent together the more….. I have always loved him Don."

"I know he smiled."

"I really tried with Brian, but there was always something missing, something was never quite right."

She handed Cragen his cup of coffee.

"I take it the guys still don't know about you and Elliot."

She shook her head. "We were waiting for the right time," she gave a little laugh. "They think I'm still with Brian and he is away working undercover, Fin even asked if I had called him."

Elliot walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arm around her protectively.

"Just spoke to Dickie and Lizzy, they send their love," he told her as she dropped her head against his shoulder. "So she filled you in?" he asked Cragen.

"A little," he smiled. "I'm just glad you have each other again, even if it did take you all these years to get there."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"That will be the food," said Elliot heading to the door.

"I will go and let you eat," said Cragen putting his cup down.

"No!" said Olivia. "Stay please, there is so much to talk about, you should know everything. And believe it or not, I have missed you as well," she said letting him pull her into a hug.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

9 Months earlier.

Olivia sat looking out the coffee shop window as Gibbs put their order in. She was still shocked and confused after her quick video call with Elliot. Gibbs sat down opposite her and put her coffee in front of her.

"Thank you," she said quietly before reaching into her bag and taking out her pain meds and taking some with her coffee.

"You still in pain?" he asked her.

"Yeah, just my wrist really, the rest are healing okay."

Gibbs gave her a little smile as he took a drink of his coffee.

"So what's Elliot doing out in Afghan?" she asked him.

"Surveillance work."

"Surveillance work?"

"Yup."

"What type of surveillance work?"

"The type where he watches people," said Gibbs giving her a smirk.

"You're not going to tell me are you?"

"Nope."

"Well is this surveillance work dangerous?"

"Only if he gets caught, but he is good at his job so he should be okay."

"You do know Elliot said you would answer any questions I had."

Gibbs leaned forward over the table. "Try asking me the right questions and I will," he smiled before sitting back.

"Okay I guess the first question is how come he is working for NCIS. I mean I know he used to be a Marine, but he had never shown any interest in going back."

"Did Stabler tell you much about his time in the Marines?"

Olivia shrugged. "No not really. It came up a few times and he would mention the odd thing but didn't say much. I never pushed I just figured if he wanted to talk and tell me things he would."

Gibbs took a long drink of his coffee.

"I was Stablers Gunnery Sgt We served together in Desert Storm. We all saw things out there that we would share with people back home. You become one big family looking out for each no matter what.

I got a phone call eight months ago from Stablers son Dickie. He said he had been going through his dads stuff and found stuff from his Marine days. I asked what I could do for him and he said his Dad needed help…..

17 months earlier

"Gibbs," he said answering the phone.

"Erm… Hi Sir. You err, you don't know me but my Dad used to serve with you, I don't know if you will remember him his name is Elliot Stabler."

"I remember him, Is he okay?" asked Gibbs. He hadn't heard from Stabler in over 18 years. However he had kept tabs on most of the men he served with in Desert Storm after they had left the Marines.

"No …. Not really Sir….. That's why I'm calling. I don't know who else can help him. I found your photo and name in my dad's stuff, along with a diary he kept. I kinda sensed you two were quite close and he listened and respected you… he needs help and I don't know what to do," he heard the young boys voice begin to break on the phone and he heard him sniffing.

"What's your name?"

"Dickie, Sir."

"Okay, well why don't we drop the Sir and you can call me Jethro okay."

"Okay."

"Does your dad know your calling me?"

"No… but then he doesn't know much about what is happening these days. He is drunk most the time or sleeping off a hangover. He sometimes doesn't make it back to his apartment for a few days and when he does his hands and face all beat up where he has been in fights."

"When did all this start?"

"About a month after he left the force," said Dickie.

"Why did he leave?" asked Gibbs.

"He shot a girl. I mean he had no choice and he was cleared of the shooting but….. But he kept blaming himself and no matter what any of us said to him he wouldn't listen. I wanted to call his Partner but he shouted at me not to. All he said was he didn't want her involved and it was nothing to do with her. He has cut off all contact with her and the guys he worked with. Which I don't get cause he was really close to her. He even pinned me against the wall and threatened me before throwing me out of his apartment. It's like he wasn't my dad anymore, the look he had in his eyes. Him and Mom are getting divorced cause she can't handle it anymore… He doesn't bother with any us anymore. I'm scared he is going to hurt himself or someone else."

"Okay," said Gibbs. "Where are you living?"

"We live in New York in Queens. Dads apartment isn't that far from us."

"I will be on a flight out there first thing in the morning text me your address."

"Do you think you can help him?"

"Honestly, I don't know, but I will give it a good try. Once a Marine always a Marine, we always have each other's backs."

"Thank you," said Dickie. "I will text you his address."

"Okay…. And Dickie, try not to worry."

"Okay Sir, thank you again," he said before hanging up.

Gibbs put down the phone and took a deep breath. He opened his draw and took out his Purple Heart running his fingers over it before dropping it back in the drawer and standing up.

"Tony!" he yelled.

"Yes Boss," said DiNozzo jumping up.

"You're in charge."

"You going somewhere Boss?"

"New York," he said dropping his weapon into his drawer and locking it.

"You're going alone… unarmed?"

"Yeah, behave when I'm gone," he said walking out. "And I mean all of you."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gibbs climbed out his car and looked up at the small apartment building. He checked the names on the mail boxes and stood and patiently waited for someone to come out of go in. Twenty minutes later and elderly woman came out he held the door open for her before quickly slipping inside.

He walked up the flight of stairs and up to Elliot's door. Noticing it was open slightly he gently pushed it open and walked in. He looked around the room it was littered in newspapers and empty alcohol bottles, dirty clothes flung over the chairs. He heard a thud from the other side of the apartment behind the closed door.

He carefully made his way across the room making sure he didn't fall on the empty bottles. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and looked in. The room was lit only by the light coming in through the small gap in the curtains. He saw Elliot sitting on the floor under the window, he was only wear a pair of jeans, he could see that his chest and stomach were covered in bruises, dried blood on his face. He was holding a gun in his battered hand.

"What do you think you're doing Sergeant?" asked Gibbs standing in the doorway. Elliot lifted his head slowly and looked towards the voice squinting his eyes.

"Who the fuck are you and what the hell you doin in my apartment," he slurred raising the gun and pointing it towards Gibbs, not recognising him in his drunken state and the bad light. "And its …..Was Detective," he chuckled. "Apparently I wasn't good enough to …. To….." he squinted again as he waved the gun about. "Get the fuck out…..Now!" he yelled picking up a beer and drinking it.

"I don't think so Marine," said Gibbs striding across the room and kicking the gun from Elliot's hand before he had the chance to react.

"What the fuck," he said staggering to his feet. "Who the hell do you think you are? "he asked as he fell back against the wall. Gibbs yanked open the curtains and the sunlight flooded the room. Elliot closed his eyes and put his hand over them shading them form the light.

"I'm the person who's gonna save your sorry ass…. Sergeant!" he yelled standing in front of Elliot his hand pinned him against the window holding him up as Elliot swayed.

Elliot opened his eyes blinking fast as his eyes got used to the light and they focused on Gibbs.

"Gu….Gunny," he said shaking his head and rubbing his eyes. Gibbs nodded but didn't speak. "What hell….how the fuck…..what you doing here?" he asked as he swayed to the side and almost fell over again.

"I heard one of my Marines was in trouble."

"Yeah well I'm fine, and I'm not one of your Marines… I'm not anything, not anymore."

"What the hell do you mean your nothing, You're a father and right now your letting your kids down. What the hell has gotten into you? What happened to the Marine who stood by my side in Desert Storm? What happened to the Detective who helped and defended those people who couldn't do it for themselves?"

"He's gone," yelled Elliot pushing his way past Gibbs and stumbling into the kitchen and grabbing another beer off the table, twisting off the top.

"No you don't," said Gibbs grabbing the bottle from him and throwing it in the sink.

"What the fuck," snapped Elliot going to grab another beer. Gibbs picked up the rest of the 6 pack and threw it across the room smashing them off the wall.

"Fucking prick," growled Elliot spinning round and grabbing hold of Gibbs and throwing him against the wall, raising his fist to him. As he swung Gibbs ducked and Elliot's fist hit the wall. Gibbs quickly spun him around and pinned him to the wall.

"You don't scare me Stabler, I'm not your Son, You can't pin me against the wall and threaten me."

"Get the Fuck off me," he said gasping for breath.

"Not until I know your gonna calm down," he said to him as Elliot carried on struggling trying to break free. "I'm here to help you Dammit…. Just calm down."

"I don't need your help, I don't need anyone's help," Elliot told him. "Just leave me alone. I don't deserve any help."

"Well according to your Son you do."

Elliot stopped struggling and looked at Gibbs.

"What?"

"Dickie reckons you deserve help."

"D….Dickie called you."

Gibbs nodded. "He's worried about you, he is scared your gonna do something to hurt yourself or hurt someone else. Despite threatening him he went through your stuff and looked for someone he thought might be able to help… If I leave loose of you, you gonna go crazy on me again?"

Elliot shook his head, and Gibbs left loose of him. He sank to the floor and dropped his head into his hands. Gibbs sat down opposite him and looked across at his former Sergeant.

"What the hell happened?" he asked him.

Elliot shook his head without lifting it. Gibbs could help him sniffing and knew he was crying. Elliot lifted his head and looked up at him his eyes red, tears running down his face.

"I killed a kid," he sobbed. "I shot a young girl and killed her…. again," he sniffed and wiped his nose on his arm. "I keep killing innocent young girl's, I keep taking their lives before they have lived them."

"Elliot, they weren't innocent young girls. You shot them because you had to."

"No…." he sniffed. "I…. I could have just shot and injured them but I didn't, I killed them, I took their lives. I joined SVU to save children, to look after them, I couldn't even do that."

"If you hadn't taken those shots… your partner, Olivia would be dead now. If you hadn't taken that shot in Desert Storm I would be dead."

"They were just kids…. sixteen and…. And nine years old. Nine. She hadn't even began to live her life."

"She was nine years old and pointing an automatic machine gun at my chest as I lay unconscious, after her and her brothers had just blown me up with a road side bomb they had planted. You had no choice, she may have been nine but she was a soldier and a killer."

"No, no , no, no," Elliot mumbled as the tears continued to flow.

"I looked into the other shooting the one you quit after. She came into the station after purposely buying a gun and opened fired. She killed a nun, a prisoner and shot three other cops. Footage shows she turned the gun towards your partner just as you took that shot. It was a clean shoot….. You did nothing wrong."

Elliot stared at him. "It doesn't feel like that. I have nightmares all the time. All I can see are their faces staring up at me. After I shot Jenna, I kept getting flashbacks to that day in the desert. The explosion, you lying there. I would fall back to sleep only to dream that Olivia got shot, that I didn't save her. I would wake up screaming her name."

"Did you talk to anyone about the dreams."

Elliot shook his head. "I found drinking helped, I would just pass out so I didn't dream… Why did you come?" he asked. "I haven't seen you since I left after we got home, and you got out of hospital."

"I came because I was asked. I came because once a Marine always a Marine. And I came because I owe you. You saved my life now it's my turn to return the favour."

"I'm a pretty lost cause," Elliot sniffed. "My wife has left me, my kids are scared of me. I've got no job. And I have alienated everyone I used to work with including the woman I love." Elliot sighed and let out a shaky breath as he wiped his eyes.

"I've dealt with worse…. You think your steady enough to get yourself in the shower, when I put on some coffee."

Elliot nodded and Gibbs stood up walking over to him. He held out his hand and help Elliot to his feet.

"I'm sorry," said Elliot. "You probably have better things to do than babysit me."

"Nah, what makes you think that," he said giving him a quick smile.

"It's really good to see you again Gunny," he said before turning and walking away.

Gibbs nodded and started to make the coffee. When he heard the shower running he took out his phone and called Dickie.

"Hey Dickie, it's Jethro. I'm with your Dad… He is gonna be okay….Listen I'm going to take him back to Washington with me okay. I will have him call you in a few days when things settle… Try not to worry about him….. I know it's hard not to…..Yeah I will tell him," he said hanging up the phone and taking a deep breath.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

9 months ago.

Olivia wiped away the tears from her face and Gibbs handed her a tissue.

"I didn't realise he was in such a bad way, I should have gone to see him."

"He wouldn't have seen you Olivia, he didn't want anyone or anything. He had killed two little girls to save people he cared about it all got too much for him. When we got back from the gulf the first time, we never got counselling for what we had seen and done. He shot that nine year old girl as she pointed a rifle at my chest. He was only twenty yards from her and he saw her face as the bullet hit her. He held her in his arms as she died."

"Just like he did with Jenna," she sighed. "Why didn't Kathy call me, why the hell didn't she do something when he started falling apart. She knew I would have been there for him I was his partner."

Gibbs gave her a little smile. "Before the shooting him and Kathy were already going through a bad time. Arguing all the time about his job and….you. The last person Kathy was going to call was the one woman she didn't want in his life."

"What the hell do you mean?"

"Kathy was jealous at how close you and Stabler were. When he left the force she was happy at first. She had him home every day and he wasn't with you. She seen it as getting her husband back. She didn't want you back in his life."

"Jesus," she said shaking her head. "Nothing has ever happened between me and El."

"Nothing has to happen, doesn't mean the feelings aren't there," he smiled. "The reason he didn't want Dickie to call you was because he felt like he had let you down, that you would hate what he had become."

"I would never have thought that."

"Yeah well, that's Stabler for you. He doesn't really think about things."

"I take it that him and Kathy aren't together anymore."

"No their divorce was finalised a few months ago. She lives in Florida now with Eli and Kathleen. Maureen is studying in London and Dickie and Lizzy are in Uni I LA."

Olivia smiled "It's good to hear they are all doing well," she smiled. "Does El get to see Eli much?"

"Quite a bit, he either goes to visit or has him for the holidays, him and Kathy actually get on a lot better now."

They sat in silence for a while.

"I'm glad Dickie called you and you helped him."

"Me to, I now have a good agent working for me," he smiled.

Olivia wiped her nose and eyes before taking a drink of her coffee.

"I'm going to suggest something and you don't have to say yes straight away okay."

Olivia nodded.

"Why don't you come back to Washington with me, just for a few days. Maybe getting away from the New York will help your recovery. I have the keys to Elliot's apartment, you could stay there for a while, get a little peace and quiet. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"I can't," she said giving him a small smile.

"Why not? You can't go back to work just yet."

"There's Brian."

Gibbs leaned over the table to her. "I'm not being funny but from what I heard and seen of him, he is a bit of an idiot, even DiNozzo thought so and that's saying something."

"What do you mean, what you know and what you have seen of him, how and when did you see him."

Gibbs winked at her "Special Agents remember," he said standing up. He handed Olivia his card. "If you want to talk, just call anytime. I will let you know when he is on his way home." He bent down and gave Olivia a small peck on her cheek. "Look after yourself Detective Benson

"But wait you haven't told me everything about what happened," she said turning in her chair. Gibbs shrugged and headed to the door.

"I'm sorry but I have to get back to my unit. You want to know what happened I guess you will have to call or come and visit."

"Fine I will come with you back to Washington…. Just for a few days," she said. She needed to know everything that happened with him, and as strange as it was she felt comfortable and safe with Gibbs. Safer than she had felt for a long time. Since Elliot was her partner.

"DiNozzo will pick you up 7am tomorrow make sure you're ready," he said without turning around and heading out the door, a big smile on his face.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Present day.

Elliot lay in bed holding Olivia as she slept on his chest.

She had told him and Cragen everything that had happened with Lewis. His body had began to shake in anger as she broke down in front of them as she told them about holding the gun to her head and pulling the trigger. He had to fight the urge to hit something.

After she had told them what happened she had wanted to change the subject so they had told Cragen about how they finally got together. As Elliot and Cragen had talked Olivia had curled up into Elliot's side and fell asleep resting on him, exhaustion finally taking over.

After Cragen had left Elliot had carried her to bed and crawled in beside her. He had tried to sleep but couldn't get the images of Olivia holding a gun to her head out of his mind. Tears ran down his face as he lay there.

"Elliot, stop," she said quietly reaching up and wiping away the tears.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he sniffed pulling her tightly to him.

"It's okay," she told him. "You want to talk?" she asked him lifting her head up and moving up the bed turning onto her side and rest her head on her hand looking down at his face, as she wiped away his tears before turning his head to face her.

"I….. I could have lost you today," he told her. "If one of those rounds had been in the chamber…" more tears fell from his eyes.

"But there wasn't Baby, we can't keep thinking that way it will drive us crazy."

"I can't lose you Liv…. I just got you back and that bastard tried to take you away from me."

Olivia dropped her head and gently kissed his tears tasting the salt from them on her lips.

"I'm not going anywhere sweetheart, I'm right here."

"What if next time you're not so lucky?" he asked her brushing her hair behind her ear.

"El, that's the risk we take doing the jobs that we do, you have always known that. How do you think I feel every time Gibbs sends you back to Afghan or another war zone. I worry every minute of the day."

"I know but…."

She put a finger to his lips. "We do what we do because we are good at it. If we quit then the bad guys win, and neither of us want that."

Elliot let out a shaky breath, he knew she was right but it didn't stop him worrying.

"Promise me from now on, you will always have back up. No running off by yourself trying to be a hero. You have a Partner for a reason….. okay."

"Okay, I promise. As long as you promise to not go off half-cocked again," she said bending her head forward and kissing the still healing scar tissue on his chest, just above his nipple. "I can't go through all that worry again, believe it or not, but I need you just as much."

"I promise," he said kissing the top of her head. "I will be having a word with Fin and Amaro when I finally see them again though," he sighed as she continued to kiss the scar.

"Excuse me," she said as moved her mouth away from the scar to his nipple and gently sucked it between her lips as her fingers lightly brushed over his stomach, making him flinch.

"I'm gonna tell them if they don't look after my Girl better when I'm gone, then we will be having more than just words."

"Your girl, Huh." She grinned up at him.

"Yeah," he smirked, rolling her onto her back and pulling her t-shirt over her head, as she pushed her panties down her legs and kicked them off. Once she was free of them Elliot moved on top of her and between her legs. "If Fin thought I was protective over you when you were just my partner, he will hate how bad I am now I have seen you naked," he chuckled.

"Oh I see, so you only want him to look after me for….oh god!" she gasped as he slipped into her. "You only want me for my body."

"Your body," he said thrusting gently into her. "Your soul…. Your mind… Your heart," he said as he moved in and out of her. "I want everything and all of you," he said moving his mouth to hers as they kissed softly and continued moving together slowly as one.

Please don't forget to review and let me know what you think.